Part 54
The morning was totally different. Maan woke up feeling completely in peace. He was a little disoriented but he could feel something soft on his chest. As he opened his eyes he could see Geet sleeping almost on him hugging him like a side pillow. She was snoring a bit and that brought some smile on his lips. Geet is back in his arms. That thought... That feeling was the best thing in his entire world.
Noticing the time he realized it was time for his daily jogging. But somehow skipping his exercise was worth it if it means he could spend some more time with Geet in his arms.
However Geet began waking up and opened her eyes groggily. She looked up slowly and found him staring at her. It felt too much intense and intimate and she hid her face in his chest getting laughter out of him.
"Are you making fun of me Mr. Stranger?"
"Would I dare Miss Song?"
"You better not."
They both tried acting serious for a moment. But somehow lying on the bed in each others arms made it impossible. They laughed. Slowly Maan sat up resting his back on the headrest and pulled Geet along as well. Geet leaned on to him and they stayed silent for sometime.
Finally Geet leaned on to him and whispered," Good morning dear."
Maan:" Where is my goodmorning kiss?"
Geet pecked him on his chin.
Maan:" What was that?"
Geet:" Too bad Mr. Khurana! Didn't someone teach you to check for the loopholes..."
Maan smirked devilishly and turned towards her.
Maan:" Oh, why should I ask from you something I know is already mine?"
And with that he smacked his lips on hers. They kissed passionately. Maan soon was demanding for ntrance and she gladly agreed and they both tasted each corner and crevices of each others mouth their toungue fighting a war of its own. Once they broke for air Maan said," Now that's what I call a morning kiss."
Geet smiled.
Geet:" I am going to use the washroom in the other room to freshen up. Why don't you do the same?"
He nodded as both of them left the bed. After both of them had freshened up Geet proceeded towards the kitchen to prepare something for breakfast. She was wearing a simple tee shirt paired with a baggy trouser. Her hair was wet. That's how Maan found her. He walked slowly and hugged her from back and nuzzled at her neck.
Maan:" What are you doing?"
Geet:" Making some breakfast. I think a sandwich would be good."
Maan:" Hmm..."
Geet:" Mr. Lazy bum, why don't you make coffee while I make the sandwich?"
Maan:"But you don't like bitter coffee!"
Geet smiled and softly," Guess I do now..."
That simple acknowledgement warmed Maan's heart. They soon started working together in kitchen and helped each other. They were truly in sync with the other as if they had been doing this for years.
Once they settled on the table Maan began the conversation.
Maan:" You know Geet, I feel like we have been doing for years."
Geet:" Doing what?"
Maan:" Staying together, making breakfasts...those things."
Geet smiled and said softly," I guess we are meant to be's. I am sorry I took so much time to realize this that I totally am in love with you and there is nothing I can do about it."
Maan held her hand and pressed softly showing that he understood her perfectly.
Maan:" So Geet, how did you enter here? I mean you returned the keys to me..."
Geet:" So you never really checked Mr. Stranger?"
Maan:" Checked what?"
Geet:" The keys I gave you."
Maan:" Well you can't really blame me about being a little preoccupied. What about the keys?"
Geet:" You remember that the night I last came here I was actually leaving for chennai? I kind of left my hostel room keys here by mistake. I never got a chance to return to them with everything being in utter chaos. And then, I didn't want to return when I finally found it in Delhi at veerji's."
Maan:" Why?"
Geet:" I guess eve then I know that I will always return back here. This is the place where I belong. This is where I feel I am home. Maybe I didn't want to let go of my home no matter how rude and proud I was about leaving you."
Maan walked up and hugged Geet tightly and said," I guess we both have done our own sets of mistakes. The best part is that we finally found each other. We are home."
They stayed in each other's arms for few minutes before Maan thought to change the mood.
Maan:" Is there a particular reason why you were wearing my t-shirt and shorts? I mean you have your dresses here!"
The amusement in his tone lightened the environment as Geet turned beetroot red.
Geet:" Ummm I wanted to feel you. I was starving for your touch. I needed something of yours...to know that I belong...That I hadn't lost you with my idiocy...that you will still be there for me..."
The insecurity in her voice made Maan frown a bit. Maan realized that no matter what Geet would always be a little insecure with her relationships. She never had a home from the time she was in third grade and her closed ones had hurt her. Armaan had been her support and even he was taken away by fate.
Hugging her once again Maan said softly," Of course you belong mishty. We both need each other and if I daresay we both deserve each other. You will always have a home here with me. I can't do without you."
Once they settled down on the livng room couch Maan finally asked," So would you like to hear my side of the story now?"
Geet:" I will but only because you need to tell me. As far as I am concerned, we both love each other and you don't owe me any explanations."
Maan:" Hmm. As you know already, Amy was the youngest all of us. I was the eldest so we had quite an age gap. You know the day first saw him; the day he was born...that was the happiest day of my life. Amy was named matched with me. Mom used to joke that he is Maan ka Armaan and it was true. We decided to send him to boarding school since he insisted that he would not be leaving his best friend Yash. Adi and I were already in tenth standard so we had so little time to spend with our younger brothers. But we still would go to mussorie any chance we got and there I met the famous five for the first time. You were a cute little thing and so possessive about Amy even then. I had a hunch even then that you both would end up with each other. With years passing I got more busy with college and stuffs and then Amy would call me up about a certain someone whose parents are really bad not being there for her. My heart went out for that unknown girl and well you must have read some of it in the diary. The first time we talked wasn't at the lakeside. It was when our family was going through financial crisis after papa passed away. You did not know and thought me as papa. You know I could hear sincere care and fear of losing your loved ones in your voice. Partly that and partly that I knew how much you all and the school meant to Amy was the reason I insisted Amy on not leaving his school. "
Geet was silent and tears rolled down her eyes.
Geet:" It was you talking to me?"
Maan:" Yes."
Geet:" The first time I ever talked to you I managed to hurt you. Yet you love me."
Maan:" You didn't hurt me. You gave me the strength. You reminded me that my family needs me. Anyway you know how I and Tej became friends so let me go straight to ... To Amy's last day. You know he never said your name. He never showed any picture. Whenever we will talk he would smile and say that it's only fair that I won't know about you since you don't know about his family. He was supposed to tell you everything after the trip but he...he never really came back. I remember Yash saying that Amy's girlfriend had fainted and was in serious condition at the sight of the accident site. I made all the arrangements but somehow I couldn't go and stand in front of the girl whose life I ruined. When I went to collect Amy's things, well I got his diary. But I never got the courage to read it. I lost my will to paint and I even distanced myself from everyone. Maybe I was afraid of attachment. Maybe it was guilt or simply a defense mechanism to handle my pain. Then one day Daadi got the call to judge the painting competition. She was so eager to go. She felt that it will help her connect with Amy. I went there but didn't really stay in the vicinity. I was afraid of meeting Amy's girlfriend. See the irony of it."
Geet:" How did you know about the lake if you hadn't read his diary?"
Maan:" I didn't. I was simply roaming when my legs took me there. Watching you bend down at the lake gave me fright. I thought you were falling down and I had to save you. Guess we were destined to meet."
They both chuckled softly at that.
Maan:" I know what you are thinking. I had no idea about who you truly are. You know you were the one I talked normally with after years. I even flirted with you a bit I think which was truly strange even to me. Daadi proposed the idea of the scholarship and we decided we start it with Amy's batch. I worked on all the legal things and couldn't come for the finals. I should have gone there. Could have saved us so many misunderstandings!"
Geet:" I don't regret anything Maan. It made us who we are and I won't really change that. "
Maan:" Yeah I guess you are right. Anyway moving on, I honestly had no idea about you getting recruited. So when you and I met at the Nariman point it wasn't planned. After Amy's death Delhi was unbearable for us so we had moved to Mumbai and I knew Nariman point was one of Amy's favourites. I felt him nearer so I used to visit him often there. And I found you, the last connection with Amy but I swear I didn't know then."
Geet:" I trust you Maan."
Maan:" You, your personality, your care, compassion in one word you as a whole took me by surprise and I couldn't help but fall in love with you. I didn't still have the courage to read his diary so I didn't know you were the very person I never wanted to face. I guess the party night for the first time I truly realized how much I love you. Also I got to know that you loved someone else. But when you were so broken I had to help you. You told me your story but you never uttered Amy's name. Next day you remember we painted together?"
Geet:" How can I ever forget?"
Maan:" When you told me that you are the one to paint that picture...that was the moment I realized who you are. I was in love with the very person I never wanted to face. I would be lying if I say I was not a little selfish then. I wanted to know more about Amy and his life, things I have missed. I also was afraid. You would leave if I told the truth. But the thing is day by day I fell more in love with you. Tej told me to tell you everything. But somehow I couldn't. Then by some miracle you loved me too. I tried Geet. I really did try. Sometimes it was office work; sometimes it was daadima getting sick or something other. You remember on your birthday I asked you to stay back here?"
Geet:" Yes."
Maan:" Well I was planning on confessing everything. But it felt wrong. After years you had actually celebrated your birthday. I couldn't ruin it for you. You know after that I left. On your last day here I had actually planned on telling you everything. I just had been so lost in you that I couldn't tell and then I ran out of time. Stopping you from taking the flight was not an option since my flight was kind of right after yours and I had no time to explain everything, I am sorry you had to find this like that."
Geet placed her fingers on his lips and said," Hush...its okay. I understand. You did what you had to do. I can't hold you accountable for wanting to know more about Armaan. I would have done the same you know. I am not that girl anymore you met at the lake side and guess what, I am stronger now. And it is all thanks to you. The reason I could confront my parents, the reason I got a chance to have my closure with Armaan was all because of you. You wanted to tell me everything and I listened. Promise me you will never feel guilty about anything anymore. You were never wrong. Promise me, from this day forth you won't look back and let yourself feel guilty abut anything."
Maan:" I promise Geet."
Geet:" And if you ever call me Geet instead of mishty then we will have the worst fight and you would regret Mr. Stranger."
Maan smiled and held her closer. He whispered almost into her lips," Your wish is my command, Mishty."
He captured her lips into a soul searing kiss and would have continued if they hadn't heard a mild sound of coughing.
An amused Tara and Dev were standing at the door and Tara said smilingly," You have a lot to explain missy and, I am not leaving until I get the full story though I am pretty sure about the conclusion..."
Note: As you can understand the main plot of the story ends with this update though it is definitely not the end. I have some loose ends to tie and of course some weddings to planđ However if anyone of you want something in particular like a particular scene or something you might tell me in the comment. else at max 10 more updates before the ff finally ends.
Arjun
Cricket
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