Winter's End T2 - Epilogue - 15.7.14 - Page 20

Originally posted by: tabby999

waiting /...

NOTE

Thank you all for all the encouraging comments. Because I have such lovely readers, I added more chapters with more maaneet moments. I hope it won't be too disappointing.

Chapter 38

The news was given to the Khuranas, who were shocked and overjoyed all at once. Wanting to see both Maan and Geet, all of them left to Khurana Mansion, not before giving all employees the rest of the morning off.

"Stop." Geet halted at the door step, a little unsure how the Khuranas will handle the news. But Divya and Naintara welcomed her in with an arti, Shashank standing behind them with a smile. Geet was taken into the arms, congratulated and welcomed, Maan's ear was pulled and scolded and warned to start behaving nicely with Geet. Armaan in particular agreed to this and giggled sweetly.

"I will call the pundit and ask for an auspicious date for marriage." Dadi said.

"Ji maaji. I can't wait to see Geet come to us as our bahu." Divy said lovingly.

Dadi called and asked the pundit to come right away. In a speeded up process, they got two dates that were very auspicious. Once was a week away, the other one was in two months. Maan was going to protest the elders' decision of holding the wedding in two months but Dev and Vicky put their hand on his thigh. Geet agreed, two months was good time to arrange a wedding, settle her stuff in their new home, arrange for Riya's college and Armaan's school and do all the things that needed doing before she tied the knot.

"Dev, why do we need to wait two months?" Dev felt like laughing, seeing his older brother pace back and forth in anger. But he controlled himself and said:

"Bro, think practically. Geet has agreed to marry you but that does not mean she is ready to jump into this new responsibility. Moreover, she needs to get used to the concept of a big family, of people who will take care of her rather than her having to look out for others. Most importantly, she will need to get used to the more private you. Between the two of us, I had to face many embarrassing moments with Naintara after we got married. I had rushed into it too, wanting to marry sooner rather than later and found that there were many things we didn't know about each other, things that were basics. You have the chance, be a gentleman and date her. Show her what you feel for her and how you imagine your life with her. Then, when you get married, the transition will be smooth." Maan had to agree to Dev and hugged him for his advice.

Dev had been right, Maan thought in hindsight. He had two months to date Geet, make her feel the love he felt for her, make her mentally and emotionally ready for this marriage. He knew that Geet hadn't agreed because of herself but rather because of others and he didn't want her to regret. That was in his hands, how he dealt with this. So, he made a plan: Wooing Geet.

Geet was pleasantly surprised seeing a large bouquet of red, fragrant roses in her cabin on Monday. A card was stuck between the flowers saying:

To my dear would be wife. Have a wonderful day. Yours Maan.

A smile spread on her lips. It had been ages she had gotten flowers. Sohan had always gifted her something. She asked Muskaan to find a suitable vase for the flowers and started her work.

"Thank you, Maan. Lunch was delicious." Geet was full. Maan had invited her for lunch and she had been taken aback seeing him in an apron. She had doubted his cooking skills and had offered help but she had no idea that Maan was a master. She had joked that after marriage, he will have to cook for her, she wont to which he agreed, happily. Geet looked at his smiling face. Maan was so happy, for her. Like Sohan. Her heart filled with warmth. It was as if Sohan was close to her. Maybe, marrying Maan will keep her close to her memorise of Sohan. After the meal, their topic of discussion turned towards Geet's past. Encouraged by Maan, Geet started to narrate:

"I was born in a small town in Germany. My dad had gone there as a student and after marrying my mom in India, he took her with him. I loved it there, the place was my home. If you asked me, I always said that I am a German. I did my schooling there and also did my BSc in Biology in my home town. Actually, I met Nikhil then. No, it was earlier." Geet rubber her forehead, trying hard to remember.

"Anyways, Nikhil and I gelled well. The two of us were the only Indians at our school so we stuck together. Things were going pretty well but my sister Rajji was diagnosed with a medical condition that had no real cure. Papa had heard from a friend that homeopathy had often helped such patients so we moved back to India. It was the most difficult time of my life. I was in a place that should have been home but everything, everyone was so alien to me. On top of that I had to do my MSc from Delhi University. That is where I met Sohan, a business student. You told me that the two of us started on the wrong foot, Maan. You should have seen us. We got into a fight on the first day and most of the days after that. It came to a point where we fought without knowing why and when we figured that out, we laughed and became friends. Well, that was it I guessed." Geet smiled brightly with her hands in her lap.

"And the company? I heard many talk about it but what company did you work in?"

"Ah, one of the best parts of my life. After my MSc I did an internship at a laboratory in a research company. Since our department was quite new, we had a lot of freedom in our work. My colleagues and I always used to fool around and make our boss' life hell. After his MSc, Nikhil also applied for that company. Our goal was Lab Tec. In our field, that is the best company to work in." Geet had a dreamy look on her face.

"Geet, if you like you old job so much, we can figure out a way..." Maan started but Geet interrupted him.

"It is ok, Maan, I love working in MC a lot more. Plus, at least Nikhil got his wish." Yes, another thing he wanted to know about.

"Doesn't he have any family?"

"Not really. He lived in Germany with his aunt who passed away when he came into Uni. From then, he was practically part of my family. It was only when I got married, we kind of lost contact. I don't know why..." A terrible suspicion rose in Maan's mind. Did Nikhil like Geet? It must have shown on his face because Geet said:

"Don't misunderstand. Nikhil and I were close but he didn't have feelings for me in that way. I am not his type. He likes calm and no nonsense women, I was always to spontaneous and crazy for him. In fact, he encouraged me to accept your proposal..."

"And how was Sohan?" A moment to late he realised his error. Geet looked at him shortly but averted her gaze.

"I am sorry. I shouldn't have."

"No, I can understand your curiosity. Sohan was... he was a carefree person. He loved his family and me, he knew his responsibilities but he found it hard to work. Even before he proposed to me, my mom had to help him out occasionally. He was that hopeless."

"Your mom?" Maan asked.

"Yes, she had a degree in international business. My dad insisted on her studying further so she went to university and developed many skills that even dad lacked. She was a strong woman, a pillar of our family."

"Was?" Maan whispered.

"They all died." Geet whispered back. This was probably the most difficult thing for Geet to talk about but one day or the other she had to.

"Dad, mom, Rajji, Sohan and Sohan's dad who started MC were driving in a car. They were on their way to a wedding when they got into an accident and..." Maan engulfed Geet in his embrace, wanting her to pour out her sorrow.

"Rajji, maa, papa and dad (Sohan's father) died on the spot. Sohan was badly injured and brought to the hospital. I reached in time to talk to him a last time before he died...in my arms." Maan rubbed Geet's back, feeling the sobs rattle through her body. His eyes filled with water, hearing what all she had to go through.

"How did the accident happen?"

"The police don't know exactly but they think that someone must have driven into the car and then fled."

As Maan recalled Geet's words, one thing stood out to him. Geet's and Sohan's story seemed to have started like his and Geet's. Maybe it would develop a similar way. At least, he had hope.