This is a small attempt from me. I wrote this one for Maaneet farewell party. A lot of you must have read this in that thread but still I thought I could post it now that the writer's names are all revealed and we have moved on from that. Now would be a perfect time to post this as an independent OS on the occasion of Valentine's day!! đł
I am not that familiar with this territory. It's actually more easier to express when you write a long FF but to contain all that in a single story is actually a tough task. I found it the hard way đ
A note about the OS, the concept actually came from a song sequence "Ente Kannil" of the Malayalam movie "Bangalore days".
~~~Discovering Our Love~~~
Farewells are never easy. But it felt easy to him, Maan Singh Khurana when he send his wife off. Six months to their marriage they had a furious row.
"Geet Maan Singh Khurana", he remembered her screaming it out to him.
"Your name is just a piece of trophy in front of mine just like my presence in your life. I am tired of this. I can't live like this Maan. I can't end up being your shadow, a rich disgruntled, bitter housewife!" She had tears in her eyes as she whispered, "I'm leaving."
Fury was the only word that could describe his expression when he heard her say that. She wanted to leave him? What more did she want? He was too busy in his life, his career his goals, chasing after his dreams for Khurana Constructions. Yet, he did make time for her that night. He took her to a business dinner with his clients where she sulked for most of the part. No one brought their wives but he did because he cared for her, can't she see?
Well, what Maan didn't know was when he said a dinner, Geet had high expectations. She dressed up for a romantic dinner for just the two of them and it was only when she saw others she realised it was a client dinner. It literally made her feel like a trophy wife sitting their among aliens talking stuff that she had no idea about. The indifference on his part hurt her most and she burst out. She didn't even mean it when she said she wanted to leave.
But he was quick enough to book her tickets on a Volvo bus to Hoshiarpur and even dropped her in his car making sure she had a safe seat and all. But not once did he ask her to stay. Not a single word. She would have stayed if he asked. And then she was gone.
Until that moment Maan didn't know how much of an influence his wife had in his life. It wasn't his idea to get married. They were a match made by the elders. He didn't think or rather he was not aware of the responsibilities he would have to bear when he brought a life partner into that luxury apartment in Delhi. Maan was never comfortable with sharing his space with anyone. It didn't have to change just because he brought a wife. A young one she was, Geet Maan Singh Khurana. He remembered the first time she looked around this apartment with wonder and hope in her eyes. It was new to him like a wave of fresh air in his monotonous life. He was never the one to express with grand gestures or romantic poems. Yet he showed his affection in subtle ways. Like how he always made two cups of coffee every morning and kept sugar cubes next to her cup.
Maan smiled fondly at the memory.
"I will wash that", she had said that in her obedient wife tone. Maan frowned. He wasn't used to it. His parents had settled in abroad and ever since high school he had always fended for himself. "I like to do things on my own", he had said in that curt commanding voice. And then he happened to hear that sassy muttering, "Fine, then why don't you wash mine too?" As she rolled her eyes, Geet felt his warm breath on her neck and looked sideways feeling conscious all of a sudden. He just took the cup from her and washed it. It had become a ritual since then, well until she left.
That was just a start. He opened the fridge and frowned at the orange juice on the counter. He loved apple juice but it was only when her friends came he heard them say, she loved oranges. Well, he didn't go out and buy oranges to surprise his wife. She had full access to his credit card. All she had to do was go out and buy whatever she wanted. Since she left, the orange juice was like a reminder that she was a part of his life once.
A month had passed after that fight. He tried calling her once but she never picked up. Instead her father answered with a curt tone and the next thing he heard was from his lawyer that she had filed for a divorce. He tried to remain unaffected but it tore him inside. The thought that she wont be there in his life anymore. To brighten up his mornings with that warm smile and quirky remarks. To sooth his evenings with her floral pajamas and those retro songs she hummed in her husky voice.
And then One month, two weeks and three days later, there she came barging into their apartment without a warning. She didn't even make eye contact when he opened the door for her.
Maan rained questions on her. "Geet! are you back?" "I..I thought I lost you."
She didn't look at him or wait for him to complete. She went straight to their bedroom and started collecting her things non-chalantly. Maan was walking right behind her like a lost puppy. "Geet? Is that why you came back? To get your things? Babe, I know we have issues. But I want to work on it."
She turned abruptly and collided with him. His hands involuntarily went around her waist and together they both fell on the bed. Her toes curled at the tinkling sensations in her tummy with his warm presence next to her. Maan looked in to her eyes and pleaded, "I want us to give it another chance."
Geet woke up from her trance and straightened up herself. She spoke matter of factly "I ran away from home. They wanted me to get a divorce. Well they have already messed up getting us married, didn't they? So the time that families called shots is over. Now it's you and I. "
Maan smiled. That means she was back.
As if reading his mind she continued, "It doesn't mean we are back together. I came here to do my MBA. I broke my FD and have some gold. So, I'm financially covered."
Maan's eyes were troubled hearing her talk about money. Oh, he would get her into any university she wanted!
Oblivious to his pain she continued, "But I need a place to stay and since you have a guest room free, I thought I might check in if it's ok?"
Maan nodded happily. His wife is living with him again. That sweet presence was all he could ask for.
"We will be just room mates. That wont be too hard, we lived like that for six months after all", taunted Geet. She didn't expect him to come after her like this but now that he did it felt good. She hid her smile and went to the guest room.
And that's how it began. The love story of Mr and Mrs. Khurana. Maan started making that coffee again every morning and she left that empty cup for him to wash. He stood outside her room and watched when she worked hard staying up all night. He was still a focused and driven workaholic but slowly he learnt how to keep that balance. He figured out himself her class timings, special classes, exams and internship schedules and willingly became her chauffeur. In case he wasn't available, he made sure his driver reached there in time. A simple gesture that already made her heart flutter. And then the orange juice in the fridge. "Really?, Mr.Khurana is trying too hard it seems", she told herself and smiled.
The final day of her first semester was over and Geet actually had let her hopes run high expecting him to pick her up but instead his driver came up. Her face fell but she didn't show it much.
As she opened the door of her apartment Geet was welcomed with the floral aroma of scented candles. The living room was dimly lit and the dining room had a simple dinner ready with fairy light decorations on them. Geet frowned at first and then she realised it was his gift for her and that's why he didn't show up to pick her.
He came in from the kitchen with a bouquet of red roses.
Geet looked at him her eyes playfully gleaming and teasing him, "So Mr. Maan Singh Khurana!, do you really think you can get away with a lousy dinner?"
His eyes met her with the same playful foreplay glee, "Oh no, Mrs. Khurana don't you worry about that", his arms encircled around her waist like it was a natural thing to do. She didn't resist. In fact she couldn't resist him anymore.
He leaned closer to her ears and whispered, "This is just a beginning. You have a whole fortnight of vacation left"
She hit his chest playfully, "What scandal are you planning?"
Maan feigned innocence, "Scandal and me? I am the victim here!"
Her almond eyes looked surprised as she made herself comfortable in his arms, "You? The victim?"
Maan nodded innocently,"You see there is this woman who lives next to me but doesn't even looks at me while all I do is crave for her day and night!"
Geet blushed crimson, "Maan! besharam!"
"What sharam with you? You are mine!"
She looked into his eyes and let herself drown in the ocean of love that she saw there, "And you are mine! Only mine!"
He groaned as his lips met hers, his hands sensuously roaming around the curve of her hips. Geet responded to him fiercely as she explored his perfectly carved muscles.
As they parted Geet returned back to her sassy self, "I thought we were going to eat food." She said looking at him naughtily wiping her lips. Gods! Did she have any idea how that turned him on. Maan cleared his throat, "mmm..yeah..we have food" he paused and said in a husky voice, "and more."
She raised her eyebrows questioningly. "I mean dessert", he grinned.
"And what after that?", she challenged.
"After that we sleep early." Maan put his arm around her shoulder smirking at a surprised Geet. "Because we have an early flight to catch for our honeymoon"
She smiled happily and walked with him resting her head on his chest hugging him from the waist.
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Hope you like this one đ
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