
CHAPTER 20. GOODBYES AND CONFUSIONS
Only four weeks were left to the party or The Bet Party' as Dev called it and Geet stepped out of the Khurana Mansion. A frown was on her face as she marched ahead. The frown was due to her best friend, Viren. Viren Vadhera, another menace of her life, Geet decided. She looked up and glared as she ranted mentally. What Babaji? Wasn't Maan enough that you sent Viren to confuse me? Already Maan has me confused with his coming close and keeping distance dance! I was just trying to sort him out and you gave Viren the same disease? Babaji! Not fair!
Now you must be wondering why Viren had Geet confused. You see, after the mela, Viren stopped coming to visit her! Just like that! When Geet called him to ask why he did not come to visit her, he told her it was because she was ok and hence, he decided that the visits were unneeded! That answer irritated Geet. So he was there every evening only because she was unwell! That's his friendship? Geet felt outraged but masked it with sweetness and asked him to come over so that she could meet him. Viren's answer irritated her more. He simply cited work as excuse and refused to come. Geet was aghast. Her only thought was that she was loosing her friend! And that did not sit well with her. For days she called him, but he kept on refusing to meet her citing his work. And now suddenly out of blue, he called her and wanted to meet her! What is going on here? Geet wondered as she sat in the rickshaw and gave the address of their meeting point to the driver.
Half an hour later, Geet came face to face with Viren. He smiled at her but she was too miffed at him to even bless him with a smile.
"What? Not even a smile?", Viren asked, the smile still on his face.
Geet huffed, "You call me when you want to, you stay away when you want to! What am I? A Doll?"
"Hey!", Viren smiled, "That sounded like a song I heard recently! From Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo I think! Quite catchy..." he trailed off when Geet put her hand on her hips and glared at him. He sobered up and shrugged, "Look! I am sorry! I had some personal problems to sort out!"
Geet's anger left and she looked worried, "Personal problems? Everyone alright in your family?"
Viren chuckled but Geet felt like his laughter was sad. But she was wrong, right?
"Family is alright! It is something else!", Viren replied sadly. Geet blinked as she realised that she was not imagining the sadness. Viren was sad!
"What is it?", she asked him and when Viren did not reply she asked him again. Viren remained silent.
"Tell me! Let me know! If you don't let me know, how will I help you?", Geet was worried, "I am your friend! You won't even tell me!" Her eyes teared up at the thought of her friend in distress.
Seeing her tear up broke Viren's resolve and he blurted out, "I am in love!"
Geet's eyes widened and the tears vanished as happiness took its place.
"Kya? Really?", Geet chirped excitedly.
Viren shrugged and Geet giggled, "Hey Babaji! Kaun hai woh? Have I met her? Forget that! How did you two meet? Was it love at first sight or did it develop slowly? Did you start romance right away or some fight started first? Forget that! How does she look? Is she pretty? Is she tall? Is she giggly or is she serious types? I mean..."
"Bas! Bas! Bas!", Viren was exasperated, "Geet! Breathe! Let me speak! If you keep on asking questions non stop, how will I reply?"
Geet pouted but nodded and for few minutes both remained silent. Both were standing side by side watching the sunset. Then suddenly Viren spoke.
"Its you!"
Geet frowned and looked at him, confused as to what he was talking about.
"Kya?"
"I said its you!"
Geet was still confused but before she could ask him, he turned towards her and looked into her eyes, "I have fallen in love with you!"
Geet took in a sharp breath at his words and her eyes widened.
Viren smiled sheepishly, "Yup! You are the girl I am crazy about!"
Geet remained frozen with her jaw dropped open as she stared at the man.
Viren smiled sadly, "Don't worry! I don't expect you to love me back!"
He looked at the sunset pensively as if debating whether to say the next part or not. Finally deciding he looked at her and spoke up, "I know Geet! I know you love Maan!"
That broke Geet's silence, "Wha... huh... I... Ma...No... I...", she stammered in shock.
"Don't deny it!", Viren grinned at her as Geet continued to stammer out her refusal, "Don't! Don't deny it! What is it that you say in Hindi? Ah yes! Tumhari shakal pe likha hai! It is written on your face! The way your eyes shine when you talk about him, the way your face glows when he enters the room, the way your eyes search for him when he is not there, I can see it! You love him!"
Geet did not know what to say and blurted out the first thing that came to her mind, "Am I that transparent?" Her face took on a worried look and then she winced. Hey Babaji! What am I saying! I am supposed to be denying it.
Viren made a face, "Maybe!", and he shrugged.
"Hey Babaji!", Geet started to talk to herself forgetting that Viren was standing in front of her, "Does Maan know?"
Suddenly, Viren spoke bringing Geet out of her thoughts, "I don't think so! He seems a little dumb when it comes to matter of hearts!"
Both chuckled at the joke.
Suddenly, Geet pouted, "Hey! Don't call my Maan dumb!", she playfully glared at him.
Both chuckled again and then silence descended.
Suddenly Geet spoke, "I am sorry!"
"For what?", Viren frowned.
Geet smiled sadly, "I don't love you! That's why!"
"Hey Its ok!", Viren spoke quietly, "Its my fault! I came late to the party! Maan entered your life first!"
Geet nodded and looked at him with glassy eyes, "You do know that if I had met you first I would have fallen for you!"
"I know!", Viren nodded, "But we are not fated for each other Geet! Maybe in some other life, some other time, but not now!"
Geet nodded and both turned again to look at the sun setting.
After few seconds, Geet could not resist from questioning him, "Now what?"
Viren shrugged as he looked at the sun, "I have made my decision!"
"What decision?", Geet frowned.
"I am leaving Geet!", he turned to look at her and then back at the sunset, "I am going to Mumbai!"
"What?", Geet turned to look at him with wide eyes.
"Ya! I am opening a factory there, I will be busy there now!", Viren spoke in a casual manner trying to make his decision seem like no big deal.
"But...", Geet stuttered shaking her head.
Viren huffed, "Geet! This is a good thing! Don't you see? I love you but you don't! Being here won't help me get over you! Only way I can do that is get away!"
"But I will loose my friend!", Geet cried out.
Viren smiled sadly, "Just give me time to move on! Then I will contact you and we will remain in touch! Our friendship will be back to normal!"
Geet sighed in defeat, "Ok!", then she perked up, "But you will contact me right?"
Viren smiled brightly this time, "I don't think I want to loose a friend over my feelings! You are too valuable as a friend Geet!"
"Thank you!", Geet choked out as her emotions clogged her throat, "So this is our goodbye!"
Viren shook his head, also looking as emotional as her, "I don't think so! I am thinking of it as a pause! Like see you in few months kind of pause!"
Geet nodded and then unable to hold herself, she lunged forward and hugged him tightly. As tears finally cascaded down her cheeks, she pulled away.
As she wiped her eyes, Viren spoke up, "Just... Make a promise to me Geet!"
"Kya?", she asked pleasantly.
"If or rather when Maan confesses his love and you will, of course, confess too, both of you will embark on a relationship! Geet, I have noticed the way Maan treats you! In his mind, you are still a waitress! For me or his family, your status does not matter! But for him, it does! Don't let that come inbetween your happiness, Geet!"
"Matlab?", Geet frowned in confusion, "I don't understand you!"
"Geet! I have seen Indian Films! They show how people fall in love and they end up happily ever after! But that is not true in real life! Love is not the only thing needed to sustain a relationship! Respect is equally important too! Don't let Maan treat you like a trash just because you love him! Your dignity and respect is important too! Get that? Promise me! Promise me that you will make sure any relationship you have in your life, you will not be disrespected!", Prem put out his hand asking for her promise.
Geet shook her head as she stepped back, "Viren! What are you saying? I don't..."
Viren cut her off, "Look Geet! I know you! I know that you accepted the way people treated you when you were waitress! They treated you based on your status and you allowed it to happen! You accepted it! But Geet, when it comes to relationships, you cannot accept it! Geet! A healthy relationship survives only if there is respect and love in it. Maan loves you, but does he respect you?" Viren looked at her pensively.
"Ek minute! Ek minute!", Geet shook her head, "You are basing all this on the fact that Maan loves me! But I know he does not! Why do you think I am so eager to get out of the house? Because I don't want to be close to him and suffer in this unrequited love! He does not love me!"
"What?", Viren spat and then started laughing.
Geet frowned and tapped her feet on the pavement as she glared at him. Why is he laughing at me?
"Geet! Geet! Geet!", Viren's laughter petered out, "My beloved Geet! Unrequited love? You don't see what I see do you?"
Geet was confused and Viren explained further, "Have you ever seen him look at you? Its so intense, love filled! Have you seen the way he glares at me when I am around? Its so jealousy filled! Geet! Even a blind person would tell you after meeting you two that you two are in love with each other!"
Geet's jaw dropped open. Maan? Love her? No! I don't think so! But Viren's words resonated in her mind and a sliver of doubt crept in her mind. But what if he is right?
"So promise me Geet!", Viren spoke up bringing Geet out of her thoughts, "Promise me that you won't let Maan or anybody infact, trample all over you, your identity or your self-respect! Promise me Geet, that you will never sacrifice your self-respect on the altar of love! Promise me! You are a lovely girl Geet, and you don't deserve to be repressed for sake of someone's ego! Promise me!"
Geet understood the severity of the situation and she nodded. Prem was right! Love does not mean you give up everything you are! It does not mean you let the other person treat you the way you want to! No! Love does not give anybody right to treat me anything less than I deserve! Geet raised her hand and placed it on Viren's hand. He pulled her close and kissed her forehead, "See you soon Geet! Hope Maan knows how lucky he is to have you in his life!", he muttered and walked away.
Geet took in a deep breath and then let it out. Viren was gone! Out of her life! But he left behind a puzzle for her! Geet realised as she turned and walked to catch a rickshaw to the Mansion. Does Maan really love me? Or is Viren just imagining things? Am I that lucky? Does Maan really love me? She chewed her lip in confusion. I don't know!
Few days passed and soon only three weeks was left to The Bet Party'. Annie had kept Geet busy the last few days by searching for the perfect dress for her and also the accessories. Once found, Annie hounded Geet to try it and get the size and adjustments right. Once done with that, Geet swore to respect models more. Any lady who went through the torture she went through on regular basis deserved her salute.
And now with only three weeks left, it was revision time. And right now, it was revision of dance.
Music flowed in the background as Maan and Geet took their position. Soon both were dancing across the dance floor as some song of love played in the background. In front of them, Annie and Dev sat, lost in their own discussion about Arjun arriving in town soon for the party.
As the singer crooned about love, Geet's mind went back to the conversation she had with Viren. Have you ever seen him look at you? Its so intense, love filled! Geet looked up into Maan's eyes but he seemed to be seeing somewhere. She looked down again not noticing that the moment she looked down, Maan turned his eyes on to her and stared at her with intense eyes.
Geet bit her lip as she wondered whether Viren was right. Was Maan really in love with her? Or was Viren wrong? She wondered how to talk to Maan about it without being blatantly obvious about it.
As the song crooned about love and its moments, Geet blurted out, "Pyar bhi kitni ajeeb cheez haina? Kab hojaaye pata bhi nahi chalta!"
"English!", Maan barked out.
Geet rolled her eyes. Love? Right! Maan cannot see anything beyond English! Uff!
But she could not stop herself from saying her thought out loud, "I said love is so weird right?"
Suddenly, she was dipped to the floor and Maan looked into her eyes. She felt her breath leave her as various emotions swirled in Maan's eyes. Maybe he does have feelings for me!
"Of course it is weird!", Maan spat as he pulled her up, "Its all hormonal in our body!"
Geet rolled her eyes. Of course!
Maan spun Geet out as Geet spoke, "Maan! Are you seriously comparing love to science of our body?"
He spun her in, "Yes!"
"Love is not science Maan! It is connected to feelings!", Geet spoke as Maan lifted her up from behind and spun around. As he brought her down, she turned to look at him and he froze as the emotions in her eyes enchanted him.
"Love is just chemical thing in our body Geet!", Maan spoke as he spun her out. She walked into his arms and taking their positions they started to sway to the rhythm of the song.
"So you never felt the feelings of love, romance and all?", Geet subtly asked as they continued with the waltz.
"Nope!", Maan shrugged.
"Have you ever fallen in love?", Geet asked, all plans of subtlety gone. His answers irked her and suddenly she wanted to know his reply to her question. Yes meant she had some chance! No meant no!
Maan hesitated for a second and then shook his head, "No!"
Geet felt disappointment pool in her belly, "Never?", she asked her voice filled with hope.
Maan kept his eyes trained somewhere around her shoulder, "No!"
"Oh!", Geet whispered as she continued to dance with him. Of course, he was not in love! And obviously he did not love her! She knew for ages that Maan would never love her! Then why did she feel like her heart was shattering into pieces? Oh you stupid Viren! You filled me with false hope! Then she smiled as she remembered how adamant Viren was that Maan loved her! She chuckled as she imagined Viren's reaction when months later, she would break it to him that Maan never loved her. He would be so disappointed that he was wrong. Geet could really imagine his face when she would say I told you so!'
"Has kyun rahi ho? Why are you laughing?", Maan questioned.
Geet blinked. What am I supposed to say? Hey Maan! Viren thinks you love me! But we both know he is wrong! So I am imagining his reaction when he will come to know he is wrong! Ya right!
"Nothing Sir! It was something Viren said!", Geet replied and chuckled again to add the effect. But Maan was not amused.
"Excuse me! I remembered I have something else to do!", Maan spoke as his whole body stiffened. He left her and stormed away.
Why do I feel Maan is angry at me? Geet wondered. And then Viren's words floated through her brain. Have you seen the way he glares at me when I am around? Its so jealousy filled! Hey Babaji! Could Viren be right and Maan stormed away because he felt jealous? After all, he did storm away only after I mentioned Viren! Oh! I don't know! Oh you stupid Viren! You have left me so confused! Does Maan love me or not?
Errr... yes! The Maan Geet convo was not upto my usual standards!
But in my defense I got fever few days back, so whatever I wrote after getting fever is pretty crappy! Still have the fever infact!
Ah well! Hope I am well by the time I start working on next update!
BTW, how do you like Viren's exit?
I told you he is not the kabab mein haddi!
Oh and next update, it is the day of THE BET PARTY!
And Geet overhears Maan and Dev's convo!
What do you think she will hear?
Thank you, take care and have fun,
Kalpana
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