Part 16
One month later
Annie entered the house, holding her purse while
the bodyguard name, Samar was following behind with the grocery bags in hand. Annie
went to the kitchen straightly only to feel intoxicated by the aromatic smell
of food. "It smells heavenly" She said taking a sigh and looked at
the two girls standing behind the stove and stirring. "Thank you...I hope
it will taste even better" Geet hoped. Annie went forward to check the
dishes. "They definitely looking great...Whats in the dessert?" She
asked out allowed while her finger was dipped into curry and tasted it right
from the pot. "I haven't decided on it yet" Geet said and turn off
the stove before she turned back at the girls with a raised brow. "Any
suggestions?" Annie just shrugged her shoulders in response and then the
gazes were on Shaina who was having a hesitant smile. "Can I
suggest?" "Of course" Geet and Annie nodded, giving her a bit
confidence. "Can you bake those chocolate cakes you used to make? I used
to love them" She asked with hope only to see Geet stunned for a moment.
"Sure...But I thought that your friends liked them?" Geet said
getting closer to her baby sis. "That was just an ...excuse" Shaina
expressed before she was enveloped in a warm hug by a teary Geet. She smiled
and hugged her back. "You can always ask me for it anytime" Geet said
in a whisper. "I love you Geet...I am sorry for hurting you all
through" Geet just broke the hug and kissed her forehead in love.
"You were the only one who kept me going into that house too..."
"Hey...Now I am feeling ignored here" Annie said coming closer to the
sisters before she was pulled in for a hug too. "You know I never knew I
will be friends with you Shaina...But you are a good person...I am so glad to
have you as my bhabhi" Annie winked making Shaina blushed. "Ok now
enough...How about we make some tea while Geet will prepare the batter...There
is sgill some time left for the men to come back..." They agreed and Shaina
went to make tea. Annie took out the snacks, she just brought to go with the
tea and started to serve them in platters while Geet get on with the quick
choclate cake recipe liked by Shaina.
Maan, Aryan and Rahul entered the home to hear the giggles of the women. A
smile automatically get curved on their lips. All the tiredness of the day
seemed to be gone on just feeling that cozy home coming atmosphere and not to
mention, the aromatic smell of food in the air, which awoke those sleeping rats
in the stomach who fell asleep due to the ignorance of their workaholic
masters. Geet and Annie had planned a grand dinner in order to celebrate Geet's
birthday and so have invited Rahul too. Though Maan has recommended a dinner
outside is a posh restaurant but that was straight away rejected by Geet and as
per his given words to her earlier, he has to agree upon it.
They get to the dinning area to see them enjoying their conversations. Infront
were placed empty tea cups and plates with the crumbs of biscuits. "Seems
like, we missed a party" Aryan said with a teasing smile that got th girls
attention. While Shaina quickly looked up at Aryan and Annie at Rahul, Geet
avoided to look up but she could certainly feel Maan's gaze at herself. Right
then, their moment was distracted by the screeching voice of the chair as
Shaina pushed the chair back and got up. "I will bring you water" She
said while playing with her fingers and rushed to kitchen. Aryan just smirked
at her retreating back and took a sigh. "Bro...Whats going on here? I feel
something fishy" Annie asked teasingly making Aryan go red but he
maintained his composure and get back. "Why are you so interested? Its
between me and my wife..." In response, he just heard a loud Ohooo from
her. "So keep your nose out" Aryan lightly pinched her nose, making
her moan as all giggle. After taking the water, the boys dispersed to take a
shower and be back for the dinner.
"Geet...Get up and go get ready..." Shaina pushed her while sharing a
look with Annie. "But why...Its not something special" Geet argued
but was pulled up by girls in the mean time. "What do you mean 'Its not
special'...It is special and you better move your butt now" Keeping her
engaged in an argument, the girls pushed her into the room and closed ot
behind. Geet took a deep breath and smiled. "They are crazy" She
whispered and went towards the closet to take out one of the dresses, she and Annie
shopped for in last one month. But before she could made up her mind onto the
purple red suit, her eyes fell on the bed where a rectangular wrapped box was
placed at the end. Wondering she went to it and found a folded note placed upon
it. Sitting down on the bed, she carefully unfolded the paper and read it.
"Geet,
Happy Birthday to you.
Its after years that you are actually with us to celebrate this day.
I just Can't thank God enough for it.
So here is a gift from a friend to a friend.
Do wear it if you feel that we can be best friends once again.
Your awaiting friend,
Maan"
She read it twice before she held the box and unwrapped it carefully. The box
was opened and inside she found a happy surprise. The same pistachio sari with
half cut pearl was placed inside which she liked during the wedding shopping
with Annie. Annie had rejected it but Maan...and then she covered hrr mouth
with her fingers as she got to know the reality. Maan was actually their and
looking at her all through. Unknowingly, she smiled and took out the sari from
the box and found that the blouse and petticoat was placed in the bottom of the
box. It was her size. But how can he knew it? And then she answered her own
question. Annie.
And then she argued with herself. Is she ready to forgive him and move on? Can
she pretend that everything is OK and their friendship is intact? Definitely
not. But he just wanted to start that beautiful friendship, they once used to
shared. The hope of which had made her survive till now. Is she ready to give
up those hopes cause of her anger? Till what time, she can avoid talking to him
when they both were sharing the same home now. She looked around at her room
once again which was the exact reality of her childhood dreams. "He cares
for me...That I know..." "May be taking the first step of friendship
is the right decision" She looked at the sari once again and went to
change.
Rubbing the soap on her milky body, she remembered how Maan helped her with
everything till now. He kept himself at bay and didn't tried to influence her
in anyway the whole last month. He had hired a professional portrait maker who
helped her immensely with the projects when once he saw her struggling on a
canvas, cribbing about how she missed on few lectures at her university during
the days of his visit. He made sure, she had all her meals, giving Annie a task
to keep an eye on her. Once when she got a twist in her leg after fumbling from
last two stairs of the home, he made sure her feet will not touch the ground
for the full five days besides using washroom. She was getting treated like a
princess, quiet unusual for what she was used to be treated as before. Even
Shaina was treated in the same way by Aryan except then the first couple of
days after their marriage. And she halted. Marriage. Where they will go from
here. What is the future of this marriage?
"Geet...Come on now, we all are waiting" Shaina called from outside,
making her ignore the thoughts for the moment and after rinsing out the soap,
she quickly get dressed up .
Maan has changed into a black kurta. Rahul and Aryan too were dressed up
casually. Annie was ready with her DSLR Camera to click the pictures of this
occasion. While Shaina brought out the cake, baked by Geet and was later on
frosted by Shaina and Annie who went to severe measures to go through YouTube
cake decorating video earlier the week. They were being immature at the handy
work but they tried and i came out pretty good with those white flower patterns
over the pistachio frosted cake and "Happy birthday Geet" written in
between with edible sugar coated pearl.
Taking a deep breath, Geet gave herself a last look in the mirror before she
started to go downstairs. "Its looking brilliant" Rahul was
commenting on the cake when Geet descended down the stairs. Maan was the first
one who felt her presence and looked up l, only to be left mesmerized. God! He
loved her choice of the sari, but never imagine it will make her look so deadly
gorgeous. "I should have been warned" Maan mumbled as he felt his
heart stopped for a fraction of a second. The flash of the camera, made him
turn his gaze as he felt Geet looking at his way before she turned and smirked
at others. "Here comes my birthday bhabhi" Aryan said out loud making
others giggle. "Happy Birthday Di" Shaina said and moved forward to
hug her, taking her with surprise. "Di?" Geet whispered.
"Yeah...I was just wondering why I never called you that earlier" Geet
bit her lower lips trying to control their trembling before she hugged her once
again. "As much as i loved hearing it from you, I will still prefer if you
call me Geet" Shaina nodded holding her hand. Rahul to wished her Birthday
before Annie attacked her and made her get near the table. "Hurry up"
She said. Everyone gathered around the table and looked at Geet and then at the
cake which was colored in the same color as her sari, making others giggle. Maan
lit up the candles beside the cake as Geet bend down and blew them off, making
others clap and sing the ever famous birthday song.
Happy Birthday To You
Happy Birthday To You
Happy Birthday Dear Geet
Happy Birthday To You"
Geet cut the cake and fed Shaina, Annie, Aryan, Rahul and lastly came to Maan
who was so waiting for it. Geet looked at him for a moment and fed the cake.
Accidentally, Maan closed his mouth at the time that made her finger tips
touched his lips. She was stunned with this intimate kind of sudden contact and
looked at him with wide eyes. Maan was equally astonished by the act. For the
moment, they forget about the people around and were gazing at eachother.
Annie noticed it and shut off the flash, before she captured the moment in her
camera and smiled to herself. "Perfect" She mumbled. Others were busy
in cutting the cake. But before it all can get awkward for them, she said out
loud. "I need the cake too...Save for me some" And that was enough to
made them jump apart. Geet quickly turned towards the others while Maan just
ran his hands in his hairs. Damn, How hard it was to practice self control.
Geet had an awesome day. If she can recall, after her mother's death, it was
one of the best birthdays ever. Shaina and Aryan bought her a gold pendent
while Annie gifted her a beautiful self designed dress. Rahul gifted an
exclusive painting of a well known painter that Geet so loved. The theme of the
painting was HOPE and Rahul really prayed and hoped that his friend and his
bhabhi will get together soon. In short span of time, he started to like Geet
and knew, no one would ever be perfect for this angry young man than this calm
girl who was life a still shore of a high waved sea. The dinner later was
served by the maids as soon as the cake was put to fridge to be later have with
the tea and no one could left without licking their fingers
In the calmness of the night outside, Geet was sitting on the sofa swing placed
in the backyard. The coolness of the air and the greenery around made her feel
at peace. Her legs were curled up on the swing sofa while a hot cup of coffee
was rested between her palms. Looking up into the sky, she looked at the stars
and took a deep breath. "I miss you mom..." She whispered and
remembered all those happy memories of her life spent with her mother. How her
mother will slip beside her on her bed, hugging her and wish her Good Morning
with such a sweet kiss followed by happy birthday. How she used to snuggle up
to Smriti and use to engulf her mother's distinct smell. How Smriti herself
used to bake a cake for her. It was actually from her, Geet learned how to bake
the cake. She remembered how in childhood she was just used to get up covered
with flour while mixing the batter and then she remembered how her mother use
to giggle.
Engrossed in the thoughts, she didn't notice when Maan came out and stood
beside her. He observed her silently, letting himself capture her smiling face
in his mind. How he always wished to see her smiling. After being all sad and
teary, Finally she was coming back to life. He leaned against the swing and
crossed his hands on his chest. "Missing Aunty?" He questioned making
her get out from her dream world. She looked up at him stunned but nodded.
Putting her legs down, she made space for him as she corrected her sari.
"How did you manage it...I mean the revelation of her disease and then
her...death" He questioned while sitting beside her. Geet sipped her
coffee as her mind reminded those moments. "It was
surly...Painful..." She paused before starting again. "You know Mom
didn't let me know about her cancer till it worsened...I only got to know about
it just 3 months before she passed away..." Her eyes teared up. Maan's
hand came around her arm as he tried to comfort her. "You must stay brave Geet...Aunty
must be looking at you right now...She will be hurt to see you so down" Geet
nodded and wiped her tears. "And now, let me start to give you all what
Aunty want you to get...Starting it with.." He put forward the files that
he had brought with himself. "THIS" Geet wondered and looked back at
him before taking the file and opening it. "Smriti Cement Factories"
Surprised, she looked up at him. "But, It was Handa Cement Factories...Mom
has changed the name as Handa Factories after her marriage" She wondered.
"Yeah she had...but now its all back on her name as it was supposed to
be..." Maan smiled making her smile wide. Her eyes had a new glint.
"Though she has given one of the factories to your Grandpa...but all
others are now on her name and now as you have turned 25, they are yours."
Her mouth fell open. "But Maan...I can't...I mean...who will I take care
of them...I don't know anything" She pushed the papers back to him.
"You take care of them..." She requested but Maan was relentless.
"No, You will take care of it as Aunty wanted. Consider it a birthday gift
from her. You can't return it...and If you don't know, we can make you learn
but you must accept it" Maan pushed the papers back to her as she smiled.
They both looked in the front for silence till she whispered. "Thank
you...You know we just talked like friends". Maan smiled but avoided to
look at her, fearing she might get conscious and stop talking. "We have
always been friends Geet...But after this gap, we just have to revive it"
He answered. "So are you willing to give me my friend back" He
questioned still looking ahead. "I am..." She replied honestly and
then smiled. "I have wear this sari...haven't I?" And he smiled too
before putting forward his hand. "Friends?" Geet looked at his hand
and then at him. That same old but traditional way of making friends. She
thought and her palm met his before catching his hand in a tight grasp.
"Friends Again" "Friends Forever" And they both smiled
brightly. Up above on the sky, three stars twinkled blessing the two person
down and praying for their betterment.
Do comment/criticize and HIT LIKE
love ya
Ana
Originally posted by: sporthy_smile28
Please increase tge font size!!
It isn't readable through mobile.. .😕
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