FF: Forever and Always........THREAD 3 updated pt 58/pg 130 - Page 83

I will sure try to incorporate...Hope you would enjoy it.😊

I will sure try to incorporate though nothing serious...Just some fun part😉

Thanks dear!!😊 I am glad you liked it.

Thanks dear!!😊 .

Thanks dear!!😊 I am glad you liked it.

Thanks dear!!😊 I am glad you liked it.

Part 55 + 56

All Geet said was "oops!!"

Geet was really embarrassed as both Dev and Tara were giving a teasing smile.

Tara:" Here we were worried about Veerji sulking alone whereas you veerji were having some secret rendezvous with your sweetheart."

Maan:" Tara!"

Tara:"Nah! I am not going to be afraid of your glares Veerji. And you missy, spill..."

Dev:"Okay Tara just give them time to breathe. And Geet, Welcome back!"

Geet:" Hello Dev, Naina!"

As all of them settled down Geet finally looked up and started speaking.

Geet:" So yeah, I came back yesterday."

Naina:" That's it. You go for college convocation and don't come back without even a call. I get a freaking message via veerji that you said sorry for not being able to attend the wedding..."

Geet:"Naina I"

Naina:" I am not done Geet. Then I come to know about you and Amy... I mean I don't know how to react about it. And you were gone...away from our lives... what were we supposed to do? Did you have any idea how much you hurt us? When you came in our lives we knew nothing about your past or rather all our shared past. But we, all of us loved you in our own way. Daadima got a grand daughter to replace her lost grandson. Dev and I got a sister to replace our brother. Maybe unknowingly but we found and helped each other Geet..."

Geet got up and hugged Naina abruptly.

Geet:" I know a sorry doesn't suffice but let me say everything out in the open."

Naina:" I don't need to know...just tell me you will be here with us forever. I don't want to see Maan veerji sulk anymore.."

Geet:" Naina... I want to tell. But not like this. Call Pari too, maybe even Adi sir and Shasha Ma'am. Also Sid and Meera will be reaching in an hour or so. I think everybody deserves to know the truth together. I want every single person of my makeshift family to be here."

And so it was decided that they will wait. Meanwhile Naina found Geet seating near the window looking outside watching the traffic.

Naina:" Okay Geet, why are you sitting here alone? I hope you are happy with your decision because as much as I love Maan Veerji I want you to be happy too. "

Geet:" I love Maan. If I am sure about anything in my life it is that I am in love with Maan."

Naina:" Then why are you here so alone sulking?"

Geet:" I am musking in the essence of Mumbai. As much as I missed you guys, I have missed Mumbai more. The traffic, the crowd, the beautiful rains of monsoon, the typical crowded locals, the calmness of Nariman point, the wild sea washing against the back stones at bandra stand, the pav bhajis of chaupati, the vada pav stalls, the festivity of Ganesh chaturthi... I have missed it all."

Naina:" I know how you feel. That is the magic of Mumbai. It grows on you slowly and makes a place in your heart permanently."

They were busy chitchatting while Dev and Maan were busy admiring their lady loves from the door step.

Dev:" Am happy for you bro."

Maan:" I had almost given up hope but she just came and held me when I needed her the most."

Dev:"It's strange how all of us were connected from such a long time. Do you think about what ifs' Bro?"

Maan:" What do you mean Dev?"

Dev:" If Amy was here... Geet would have been your youngest sister-in-law...our younger sister-in-law?"

Maan:" I don't know. But now I have accepted that Amy is no more. I cannot live anymore in the past. I have lost too many years living for the deads. Its high time I start living for the ones I have with me here."

Both the brothers embraced each other. They would always miss their parents, uncle and aunts and of course they will miss their youngest sibling. But they are still glad they have each other.

By evening the terrace looked beautiful thanks to the efficient staffs of Khurana hotel. It was a full fledged party mode even if it was just friends their.

Sid, Meera, Pari, Yash, Adi and Shasha even Teji, all had come and everybody was glad finding Geet back with Maan. Finally Naina couldn't hold her patience anymore and asked Geet:

Naina:"Geet, tell us about your adventures of past few months."

Geet smiled and looked at Maan as if asking his permission to proceed. These were the closest friend group of theirs and sharing their story with them seems like the right thing to do.

Maan came closer and took her hands into his and pressed softly. It was his way of accepting her unsaid request.

Geet took a deep breath and started with a soft voice," I think all of you here had witnessed one part or another of our story. But today I want to tell once and for all how we finally came together. Maan, I can't do this without your help."

Maan smiled and said," I am always there whenever you need me."

Geet smiled as they shared a sweet little eye lock broke only because of the loud throat clearing from Tej which lead to a laughter among all.

Geet: "I don't know how to start this story. So I am starting at the very beginning. Teji veerji and I, we come from a broken family. Our parents for one reason or other could never really be the part of our growing years. It was like the only family we had were the one we found in the hostel. I think Teji veerji still had a better deal than me."

Tej, who had been standing nearby, came near her and side-hugged her. She was cooconed by the two most important men in her life.

Geet:" I met Armaan there. Actually Armaan, Sid, Meera and Yash became a part of my family. But Armaan had always been the special one even back then."

Everybody who had known Armaan became a bit teary remembering how amazing Armaan truly was.

Geet:" We fell in love just like that. And who can not love Armaan? He was such an amazing human being. We had been typical high school sweathearts but the love we shared was deeper. We all five friends had been family over years. Armaan and me, well we were each others support systems. We joined our engineering and things started falling apart for some people. But that is not my story to tell so I am going to skip that part."

Geet looked at Meera and Yash. Both have come a long way from being the break-up but something would always connect them how much hard they try to deny. They blinked trying to convey their gratitude of not bringing them to limelight.

Geet:"And then came that day he was chosen as one member of inter-college quiz championship. He had been so proud. You know Maan; he always used to say how proud you would be of him, of what he achieved."

Maan held her closer and said in a pride filled voice,"I have always been proud of him. He had always made me happy."

Geet:" Do you want to tell the next part?"

Maan:" Amy had called me up just before leaving for airport. He wanted to go along with me the next day. I wish I had listened but I wanted him to enjoy with his group. Also you can never be sure with all these deals so I did not want to risk his chance in the competition. You know that day he had talked to me a lot about you. He wanted to tell you all about his family. I wish he had told me your name."

Geet smiled softly being reminded of Armaan and anybody watching her could tell how genuinely she had loved or still loves Armaan. A part of her heart will always love Armaan.

Geet:" That was the turning part of our story Maan. I did not know that he was a khurana and you did not know that I am his girlfriend. Else, life would have been different."

Shasha:" It definitely would have been different had you guys known each other. But some how I feel like you both are meant to be's."

Geet looked at Shasha and smiled. If she had loved Armaan with her innocent her she loves Maan as well with a strange fierceness.

Geet:" Meera and Sid knows this especially that how broken I was when Armaan left us. I fainted at the accident site and only later did I come to know that it was Maan who had taken care of me like he had once promised Armaan. But Maan held himself responsible for Armaan's ... Maan , I had told you this yesterday and I am telling you again. You were not responsible for anything. It was all destinies."

Maan:"I understand now. But that time, after losing Amy I couldn't help but held myself responsible. Dev, Naina, Adi, Shalu... I know I really hadn't been much of a brother or a friend over the last few years. The fact is I was afraid of being close to anyone. Losing people always hurts and losing the ones close to your heart hurts worse. So I cut off everyone not to get hurt anymore. I am sorry everyone. Especially Shalu. Thank you for stubbornly being my friend even when there was nothing friendly about me.(Line credit: Greetings card I once received.)"

Dev:" We understand bro. And we knew you needed time. You don't know how happy I am to finally have my elder brother back."

Shasha:" MK, there are no sorry and thanks in friendship remember? "

Adi:" And Maan, friendship is all about silently understanding without any explanation."

Maan:" I am blessed."

Geet:" Anyway, moving fast forward I had always been brooding and mourning over Armaan. But during the last painting competition which daadima judged, I think I was almost to a point where I was getting lost in the darkness of my own heart. My days used to pass in silence and nights sleepless. Only high point of my day was when I used to share my day with Armaan in my diary. Both Sid and Meera were getting worried. I was really losing myself when I met my saviour."

Geet looked at Maan as he pressed the hand he was holding. They seem to speak through their eyes as everybody could witness the love they have for each other.

Maan:" Even I was getting lost in the dark. So we can safely say that we have been each other's saviour."

Geet:" I met him at the spot that had been my and Armaan's. It was the lakeside and the first meeting had been really dramatic, wasn't it?"

Maan:" In my defence, I actually thought you were falling into the lake. So I wanted to save you."

Geet:" In short, you wanted to be my knight in sighning armour?"

Maan:" Maybe..."

Meera:" Wait a minute; you had met Maan bhai before coming to Mumbai?"

Sid:" You didn't tell us anything about it even later Geet."

Geet:" Somehow, I don't know why but it felt too private. Like that moment was only for me and Maan. Guess even then Maan had an impact on me."

Maan:" I was blown away just by your first look. I guess these hazel eyes just stole my heart in the blink of an eye."

Geet was red with his open declaration and others hooted.

Geet:" Anyway, Maan was the reason I started living. You know he inspired me to live the life gifted to me instead of wasting it away. I guess now I know how Armaan got his passion for life. You know Maan, being with you had always reminded of Armaan one way or other. Your eyes used to remind me of him. Even when we were strangers I felt this unknown conncetion with you. After all you and Armaan does share similar eyes."

Maan:" And when I saw you all I wanted were that you should be okay. You seemed so broken, so fragile. I think even then your pain made me restless."

Sid:" So did you guys like talk? "

Geet:" We talked a bit. You can't call that a conversation I think. But we did not exchange our names. Kind of left it upon the fates to see if we would meet. But yeah, I did start living from then. I felt I would be insulting Armaan if I would let myself wither away in the name of his love. Daadima asked me for the painting which now I am guessing is for Armaan's eyes. I gifted it to her. And soon college was over for me and I came to Mumbai and joined KE."

Maan:" I knew that the painting was by Amy's girlfriend. But I didn't meet her cause I wasn't present for the competition finale. Somehow meeting Geet and advising her made me rethink my own decision of staying aloof. May be that was the time I stopped running away. During that time I think I got a call about daadi finding out about my involvement in Amy's ... I thought she would never forgive me for killing Amy. But of course I was wrong."

Adi:" That's because Maan there was nothing to forgive."

Geet:" Yes Maan. You are not at fault. Anyway, coming back to the story... I met Maan again at Nariman point the day I came to Mumbai. It was strange how easily we became friends. I did not know he was the owner of the company I would start working in. We kept touch through texts and I would crib about everything from Naina's shopping trips to the dreadful training sessions."

Geet's face was red remembering all the silly things she would crib about with Maan. Maan smiled watching her.

Maan:" I think that was what hooked me to her. She is such a child at heart yet so matured if the situation demanded. I was slowly falling for her more and more. It was like I found my lost self with her. I would joke with her and laugh at her antics. I was slowly coming out of my dark life being more approachable to my friends and family."

Geet:" Then I came to know about him being the Maan Singh Khurana. I was so angry but understood when he explained. After that, in office we would be strictly professional yet friends outside the office. He knew I have some hidden pain in me but never forced me to open up. Being with him soothed my heart like I finally was getting the balm for my open wound."

Maan:" I had fallen in love with her by then. Shalu, you would remember that time I confessed to you."

Shasha:" Confessed or I pried it out of you?"

Maan:" Whatever!"

Geet:" It was the party night that everything started I think. I danced with Maan but in my trance I was actually seeing Armaan. I even said I love you' in my trance only to realize I was with Maan. The guilt was too overbearing and I left the party immediately."

Pari:" So that's why I couldn't find you after the party?"

Geet:" Yeah."

Maan:" It had hurt like hell. My love in my arms was declaring her love for another man. I didn't know till then that the other man was Amy. I had fallen for the one girl I had promised myself I would never meet. But Geet was in worse condition so I took her to khurana villa after calling Dev. There on the swing Geet told me about her past though she didn't tell me the name. By then I was afraid. I knew which flight accident she was talking about too well but I was hoping against hope that she should not be the one I thought she was. Next day I was passing through Daadi's studio when I found Geet standing with a paintbrush in her hand. I came to know that she was the one to draw the painting Daadima brought back with her. That was the moment I came to know who she is but by then I was in too deep. I was irrevocably in love with her."

Geet:" I realized his love for me that day and we painted together Armaan's eyes. Soon he surprised me with Lonavla trip and Teji veerji. It was so sweet of him. I had started feeling for him or rather falling for him but I was in denial. But soon I understood that it is not wrong to fall in love the second time. I wouldn't be cheating Armaan if I move on and moving on doesn't mean I would stop loving Armaan."

Meera:" No Geet. Loving Maan bhai doesn't mean you don't love Armaan. After all Armaan would have wanted you to continue living happily."

Geet:" Yes Meer. And I am happy. Maan is like a positive force in my life. He makes me want to be a better person."

Maan:" Same as you are in my life Mishty."

Geet:" We didn't tell anyone about our relationship though I think almost everyone was guessing."

It brought a roll of laughter as everybody was claiming how obvious they both had been.

Adi:" And Maan was more concentrated in his intern than at his work."

Once again everybody started laughing and the emotional environment was lightened up a bit.

Geet:" I loved how Maan completely mingled into my life. He had slowly filled the void left by Armaan not only in my life but also in my friend's lives."

Sid:" You are right Geet. Maan bhai had in a way healed us."

Maan:" Thanks Sid!"

Sid:" Don't say thanks Maan bhai. "

Geet:" And then came that convocation. In Maan's defence he did try many times to tell me something, something I realized was important but always something or other would stop him. Sometimes it was Daadima's health and other times some important office work. So I got a big blow when I found out Maan as the chief guest and also that he was brother to Armaan. I felt betrayed, cheated. Both the brothers had wronged me. Armaan never told me about his family and Maan never told me that he was Armaan's brother."

Everybody was quiet. It had been a sensitive topic for almost everyone present at the convocation. Slowly Maan's voice broke the silence.

Maan:" It was the hardest thing I had ever done in my life. Hurting Geet was like stabbing at my own heart. I would never forget the look you gave me."

Geet:" I guess I was hurt. It wasn't anymore about Armaan. It was more about you and me, about us."

Everybody remained silent as the two shared an eyelock reading each others emotions in their eyes. Maan slowly raised his hand and kept on Geet's shoulder engulfing her in the warmth of his love.

Geet:" Here however I am totally mad at my sweet, possessive friends. I know you cared for me but the way you behaved with Maan had been wrong. Especially since others were present. He is elder to all of you and most importantly he had in reality done nothing to deserve your harsh reactions. You know even when I thought he had given me the worst pain I had never thought of disrespecting him. I love him but I respect him even more."

Maan:" Mishty, its okay baby. They had done that because they love you so much and honestly I am not mad at any one of them."

Geet:" But I am. They had been so rude. How could they?"

Meera:" I am sorry Maan bhai. I know Geet is right. I had said this before also and once again I am saying this. I am truly sorry for that. Will you forgive me?"

Maan:" Meer, I told you earlier and am again telling you. I am not mad at you. I deserved it. "

Pari:" No. You didn't deserve any of it. And since I am the reason they thought ill of you I am truly sorry. Sorry doesn't suffice what I have done but please forgive me Maan sir."

Maan smiled and slowly went near Pari. Sid and Meera joined him as well.

Sid:" Maan bhai, I too am truly sorry for everything. I know you think that you deserve it but you don't. We were the ones who were wrong. Please forgive us."

Maan smiled gently at all of them.

Maan:"You all are not going to let this go right? Okay if my saying it out loud helps you feel at ease and let go then I forgive you. But now don't think about the incident after today. And Pari, you are not at office so please don't call me sir. I would be really glad if you consider calling me Maan bhai like Yash does. It is up to you though."

Pari smiled a beautiful smile.

Pari:" You know Geet is right. You are a gem of a person Maan bhai."

Everybody was watching Maan interact with the group with a smile in their face. Finally everybody settled again and Naina decided to question Geet again.

Naina:" So Geet, now tell us about the last few months."

Geet:" I was hurt. I wasn't thinking straight when Maan came to meet me at the lakeside after the program. He confessed there that he forced Armaan on that flight. You know for a very long time I had no one but destiny to blame for Armaan's death. So suddenly when I found a person to alme I took the opportunity and did the worst sin of my life. I blamed Maan for his death. This is something I couldn't forgive myself for ever."

The atmosphere was thick and few tears rolled down Geet's eyes. Maan quickly came to her and hugged her soothing her heart and whispered softly," Oh Mishty, it is okay. You didn't do anything wrong. You reacted based on the situation."

Naina:" Geet, Maan veerji is right. It was not your fault. You reacted at the heat of the moment."

Geet controlled herself and then continued on.

Geet:"I was angry and hurt and I needed time to heal. So I asked Maan a promise not to follow me and said I would find him when I am ready to listen to his side of story. Of course I knew even in that moment that I can never live without him and would always find my way back to him. I decided to go to Teji veerji's place."

Tej:" Maan had guessed you would be coming Geetu. He even came to Delhi and met me and Prachi and asked us to make sure that we took care of you explaining us the situation."

Geet turned to Maan at this new information and asked," How can you love me so much?"

Maan placed a chaste kiss on her forehead and replied huskily," Because you are you my love."

Everybody hooted in unison making the couple blush.

Maan:" Things were not easy for me but I came here and confessed everything to Daadima, Dev and Naina. They all were surprised since none knew about Amy's girlfriend. Finally Naina decided to postpone their wedding even when I insisted."

Geet:" That was risky Naina. What if I had taken years?"

Naina:" I had seen your love grow from the very beginning. If I was sure about one thing it was that you would come back soon. You can't stay away from him like he can't stay away from you."

Geet:" I had been running away from problems from the very start instead of facing them. So I decided I would start facing them. It was Maan's idea and I can't thank him enough for it. I and Teji veerji, we needed to face our parents once before we can close that chapter. So after my GRE I went to meet Mohinder Handa along with Veerji. I guess we needed that one meeting with him and I won't bore you with the details. Anyway he is not important. Then I went to meet mumma at shillong. She is settled there. Meeting mumma was such a great thing. We both bonded over our similar losses. I decided to spend some time with her. Once I made peace with my past however I began missing Maan terribly. I had been missing him from the moment I had walked away from him but with nothing to do and the foggy silence of the mountains the thought was at my forefront. Maan had been to shillong during that time and somehow passed me Armaan's diary. Why didn't you meet me though?"

Maan:" I had promised you I would not show you my face unless you want me to. How could I have broken my promise? But watching you from afar soothed my aching heart."

Geet just hugged him trying to get a control over her emotion. How can this man love her so much? How did she ever get so lucky?

After getting a grip on her self Geet continued.

Geet:" I knew it was Armaan's diary from your letter. I wanted to read yet was apprehensive. I thought I would read it with you so that you can hold me if I broke down."

Yash:" So why didn't you come back then?"

Geet:" Because it was my and Armaan's story and if I needed the closure I would have to do it on my own. I can't allow any third person in my and Armaan's story even if that third person is Maan. I think Maan understood that."

Maan:" I did. I also thought you deserve that diary. You had shared your Armaan with me when I was in need of it. It's only fair that I share the piece of Amy I have with me so you can get your closure. Everybody deserves a closure Geet."

Geet:" And I did get my closure. I know now the reason behind Armaan's each action. I know that he had lived a wonderful life, had been loved by so many people and had passed away as a happy man. It is not everything but I can live with it."

Everybody was teary eye. Everybody present had known and had loved Armaan in their own way except Pari. And even in death Armaan had played a big part in Pari's life.

Geet:" Saying the final goodbye to Armaan was difficult but I finally let him go. I understood what Sid had told me a long ago about letting go and giving up. Armaan was gone years ago in peace. It was just Maan and me who had kept him binded and refused to liberate him. Maan had helped me let him go and it was my turn to return the favour. I left for Delhi, packed my bags and essentials and came here surprising Maan. We talked and talked about us and of course about Armaan. Finally I feel he had let him go too."

Maan:" For long, I had kept him locked in my heart in an unhealthy way; much similar like Geet. Amy had lived and died a happy man and we can't disrespect him by being unhappy in our lives when I know how much our happiness meant to him. So with Geet's help I finally accepted that Amy is no more and there is nothing I could do or could have done about it. I realized that it was all fate and I wasn't wrong here."

Not one person was there who wasn't crying listening to the duo.

Meera:" You know bhai, somehow Armaan is here with us in out memories. See all of us are now bonded with each other. He will always live in our memories."

Sid side hugged her. His own eyes were teary as he thought about his best friend.

Everybody began talking slowly and to change the heavy mood Geet switched on light music. Shasha was standing there.

Shasha:" So Geet, did you find the answer to the question you asked me long ago?"

Geet:"Huh?"

Shasha:" Remember, you asked me what you have that Maan needs?"

Geet:" Oh yeah, and you had said that you can't answer that until the question has its importance."

Shasha:" So did you figure it out?"

Geet:" Nope. Please tell me."

Shasha:"Silly girl. You had Armaan's memories with you... years and years of memories of Armaan. Maan needed them and I couldn't have said the answer without telling the connection between Maan and Armaan. Maan had told me about it. However I wanted you to hear things from Maan."

Geet was thoughtful for a moment and then smiled her dimpled smile and said," Armaan's memories or not, I and Maan would have found each other. You were right when you said we were meant to be's."

Geet's eyes were shining brightly with the pride of her true love as she watched Maan talking with Adi and Tej.

Thanks dear!!😊 I am glad you liked it.

Yes, finally Maan can let it go like Geet did.😊

Thanks dear!!😊 They had their own set of pain and made their own set of mistakes but at the end they finally found each other.😆