Thank you everyone for such overwhelming response. Before I start I would just say this is not just an ordinary story. Neither Maan nor Geet are perfect people here. they are both imperfect and here's a story of few people who are no where near perfects. This is the story of their flaws...their imperfections...their incompleteness. Do comment and press like. They inspire me to write better. In case anyone wants pm please add me as buddy.Awaiting your honest opinions.
Part 20
Safe haven
Annie struggled trying to answer when she felt a pair of arms wrap round her waist. She relaxed realising it was Vicky. Her safe haven; Vicky kissed her on her cheeks.
"I am sorry baby, the traffic jam was a killer. Sorry to keep you waiting."
Annie turned and hugged Vicky abruptly. Vicky being ever perceptive pried her off him and asked her softly," What happened Annie? Was anybody disturnbing you?"
Annie shook her head. She cannot tell the truth to Vicky that her almost lover of past was here reminding her of the reasons she fell in love in the first place.
"I just missed you."
"That's a lie and we both know it. Why don't we go and dance for a bit and then later you can tell me whatever it is you are not telling me."
Arjun watched Vicky and Annie go to the dancefloor with jealous eyes. He had to grudgingly agree that the Vicky guy did love Annie. It was clear in his eyes. But the question remained as to why Annie was with Vicky. She clearly didn't love him.
As Arjun watched Vicky protectively dancing around Annie keeping any unwanted advances away from her Arjun realized the reason Annie was in that relation. Vicky was the safe option. Vicky won't hurt Annie because Vicky doesn't have that power, he doesn't have her heart. Her heart belonged to Arjun and Arjun hurt her in the past. She doesn't want to be heartbroken once again. She is scared.
Annie was feeling grateful for Vicky being there. Vicky truly was caring and being with him healed the hurt Arjun had left in her heart.
A slow song was coming up as the DJ announced. Unwillingly her eyes turned towards Arjun. He was drinking and watching her intensely. She turned her head and looked at Vicky smiling down on her. He brought her near and they swayed around. Annie kept her shoulder on his shoulder.
Vicky whispered into her ears," Do you want to go Annie?"
"Hmm."
"Okay."
They got out of the pub and the sudden decrease of the noise level made Annie relax.
"Annie, did you bring your car?"
" Nope"
"Okay, lets get a taxi. "
"What's wrong with your bike?"
He gave her a sheepish smile. Vicky looked adorable and Annie couldn't help but smile.
"It is in the garage for servicing. That's why I was late."
"You should have told me. I would have been less angry that way."
Vicky gave her an impish grin which was too adorable for her not to cave in.
"I like you angry Annie. You look hot when you are angry."
"Hmm... You are still not off the hook mister. So what's the plan now?"
"I am at your service ma'am! You clearly did not enjoy the disc. So... how about a romantic walk by the sea madame?"
"Sounds like fun kind sir."
"Come on Annie."
They both got into a cab and went for Marine drive. They paid the fare and got down. As usual marine drive was quite crowded as it was weekend. Vicky held her by her waist as they both walked by the sea shore.
"Annie..."
"hmm?"
"Are you going to tell me what is bothering you or am I going to have to pry it out of you??"
"Ummm..."
"Annie, I know something is bothering you. I really want you to share with me what went wrong. You are not the Annie I talked with this afternoon."
"Can't we drop it Vicky?"
"Not really!! At least tell me something. I am worried about you Annie."
Annie was silent. It wasn't that Vicky did not know about Arjun. He knew all about Arjun and the heartache he caused. But somehow it was difficult to talk about it with Vicky.
"Arjun..."
"What did he do this time?"
"I was waiting for you when he came and sat beside me. He tried chatting up... I was ignoring him but somehow I hate how easily he can get under my skin. How come he still has so much power over me?"
"Because you do love him I guess. But that isn't the important question. The question is if you are going back to him? Do you want to go back to him?"
"Vicky..."
"No Annie, I may be your boyfriend but you are also my best friend, the one friend who had always been there for me. If you think you would be happier with him go for it Annie."
"Do you have any idea what you are asking me to do? You are asking me to leave you?"
"I am asking you to do whatever makes you happy. If Arjun is the one to make you happy you should be with him."
"But what about you, you're feelings..."
" Annie, I may be a prankstar but I can be serious . And I had always been serious about you. And I do know that you cannot make someone fall in love with yourself. And I am not going to try. Love should be spontaneous and without any conditions..."
"I do love you Vicky. I do. Why don't you believe me?"
"I believe you Annie. I really do. But I also know that you love him more. I know he hurt you badly Annie. And a part of me wants to beat the crap out of him. How can he hurt you and still have the guts to face you? But another part, the one who loves you so much that it wants you to be happy even if without me is making me tell you all this. If you think you are going to regret not hearing him out for the rest of your life go for it Annie. Don't worry about me. I am a big guy. I will be okay."
"How can you stand there and convince me to give chance to another man Vicky?"
"I am not convincing you about anything. I am just asking you to think before making any decisions. You are angry Annie and rightfully so. But we mostly make wrong choice when we are angry. So think and choose what won't make you think of what if's all your life. "
"Why do I have a feeling Vicky that you have no idea how much I love you?"
"I do. Believe me I do. But I want to be sure Annie and I want you to be sure as well. Ten years down the line I don't want you or myself to wonder whether I was the second best in your life. "
"Why do you think so? "
"The fact that I am thinking like this must mean that something is wrong. So do it for me Annie if not for yourself. Go home. Take your time and think. If you think you want to talk to Arjun after cooling down then go for it. Talk to him, listen to his reasons and then choose between us. If you still choose me then I will be honoured to be with you Annie."
"Are you breaking up with me Vicky?"
"Hell no if you don't want to. I am just asking you to take your time and decide when you are not so emotionally overwhelmed."
"Why do I feel like I am losing you then?"
Vicky went near her and cupped her face softly before pressing a soft kiss on her forehead.
"I love you Annie. I really do. And you are never going to lose me. Now I know today had been emotionally draining Annie. Why don't I drop you at your home? You need a good night's sleep after tonight. "
Annie nodded her head in acceptance as they hailed a cab to her home. If she indeed was not losing Vicky why did she feel like she is? The thought that she can never again be in the security of Vicky's arms was too fearful to even contemplate.
******
Maan had just come back in Geet's room and was thinking about going to sleep when his phone rang. Picking up his cellphone he found Annie calling. Annie had been way distant with him from the time he had announced his impending divorce so he was not expecting a late night call. A shiver ran through him thinking about the number of situations in which Annie would be desperate enough to call him and none of them were good.
"Hello Annie."
He could hear Annie crying on the other side. His tensions sky rocketed and he was having half mind to just fly back in the next available flight.
"Annie, what's wrong sweetie? Please talk to me? Do you want me to come back? I can take the next available flight."
"No Bahiya."
The sad tone of his sister tore through his heart.
"What happened, Annie? Talk to me sweetie. I can't make it right if I don't know what the problem is."
"You can't make it better for me this time round bhaiya. I have to do it on my own. "
"But I can listen. Sometimes the best thing we can do to a person is listening."
Annie was silent. Maan could feel her trying to control her tears and get a hold of her emotions. What was it about this night and him trying to soothe distraught women of his life?
"Bhaiya, there's a lot of things I haven't told you about. I am not sure if you would be angry or hurt. But please hold onto your emotions for tonight. I need you tonight Bhaiya."
That was not a good premonition. But he hoped he can be strong for Annie's sake.
"I can't promise I won't react but I will try Annie. Now tell me everything."
"Three years ago you remember I had required help with my college Maths project and you had been too busy?"
"Yeah..."
"Well I couldn't really ask help from Brij bhai because he was busy and same was right for Bhabhi. So I asked help from Arjun."
"I know this Annie. I was the one to ask Arjun about it."
"Hmm. But what you don't know is that Arjun wasn't just my brother's friend any longer. I don't know but he and I never had problems sharing stuffs with each other. It was like he got me. I think I got him too. We had this strange level of understanding that was rare. We became really good friends in a short time. And soon it turned into something more."
"So what went wrong?"
"How do you know Bhaiya that something went wrong?"
"Iif everything was alright you wouldn't have been crying over phone to me. You would have been sharing your issues with him."
"Well things weren't so easy. Arjun had to go abroad for some reasons. He was not even clear about his reasons. But when he came back it seems everything had changed. I waited one year for him and when he came back it was as if he wasn't my Arjun anymore. He took me out one evening. I am sorry bhaiya I lied about that to you. I wasn't spending that night with bhabhi but I was with Arjun. Don't blame bhabhi. She wasn't even in town. Anyway, Arjun just told me that he cannot be with me. No explanation, no soothing words. It was as if he was using me as a time-pass or something. It was humiliating bhaiya. I wanted so much to tell all this but I didn't want your friendship to be jeopardized."
"I am not going to tell you that I am not hurt. I thought you could tell me anything Ann? But we will talk about that later. And just for the record I would give up my friendship with Arjun in a second if it meant I am doing the right thing. You are far more important."
"Arjun said the same thing..."
"Huh?"
"Arjun told me that he would stand against you even to be with me."
"I understand. You might not know it but you are special Annie. You have always been. Now tell me the rest of the story. I am sure you are not crying your eyes out for something that occurred months ago."
"It gets pretty complicated from here."
"I am all ears Annie."
CID
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
198