A Cursed Up Love T2 - Page 26

Chapter 26 (A): Standstill

'uh hum uh hum' a loud cough brought them out of their haze, only then realising their position. While Maan grew in colour, Geet grew in apprehension quickly falling to her legs, and shuffling back to put the much required distance between the two. Maan was next to get up and stand a little away although his gaze automatically trailed to Geet, who looked to the ground in fascination but that wasn't to say she didn't flush, her pinkish cheeks were clearly a sign of her shyness.

Dadi coughed again in hoax grinning at the couple in front her in affection. Vicky looked in astonishment seeing their differences and Meera who was unaware stood there with an amused expression, normally being caught romancing your wife in the open caused for teasing but the family here appeared lost, absolutely everyone.

'Dadi I' Geet started after a few minutes of bizarre silence, Maan simply pushed in hands into his pocket looking away not knowing what else to say but luckily it was Vicky who erupted in a shriek.

'I love you I love you I love you' he embarked launching into a bear hug stupefying Maan who looked castigated, he was just reeling over his own feelings when his brother declared his, agonising the inner turmoil more. A wave of fire was set loose, reaching the white flesh of his eyes and turned the matter pink. While his hands curbed into an iron fist; a profoundly tight fist that ate into his young skin.

'We're getting married' he jested pulling apart, Geet smiled feeling Vicky hold her shoulder; squeezing it slightly in gratefulness. All this while Dadi and Meera stood a few firm feet away smiling in joy. But needless to say Maan looked far beyond words, just then another streak of violence hit him. Red, barbaric savaging heat simmered within, fighting a battle of its own. His hands wanted to grab for Vicky while his eyes scorched Geet. Feeling his mind losing its grips over this angry surge, Maan quickly rushed for the stairs wanting to aim his rage at something away from spectators. Something that was mute and unspeaking, something tangible, something to dissipate his wrath. That something which he preferred not to be Vicky, why he didn't know but turning back he saw Geet smile at Vicky which provoked him further. Immediately, he felt his legs race for the stairs. The only thought was to run away from this unexplainable rage. He never really understood Geet's and Vicky's relationship and now maybe it was too late, his wife and brother were...

'Congratulations Meera' Geet rushed to hug the other woman forcing Maan to a halt, he stood there a minute before turning his head around with confused angry eyes, Geet was still hugging the other women, which was obliterated from his vision previously. By the time he fully turned around, Vicky stood near the unknown girl with a teasing smile to which she shied away forcing a giggling Geet to intervene.

'Beta are you not going to congratulate the couple' Dadi encouraged Maan forward, with half his mind he smiled at Meera and hugged his brother before leaving his family to celebrate. The thought of his reaction overshadowed everything else, why did he feel so much anger? Where did these emotions stem from? Once at the top step, he looked down again at his happy family stopping at Geet with renewed eyes. Maybe this wasn't just attraction? That thought in itself frightened him, letting him fall a step back before striding down to the library. He walked in hast hearing her mesmerising laugher echo along with the rest, but only hers seemed to have reached his inner heart making him break into a haphazard run while his hands clenched to his ears in an vain attempt to dampen her singing voice. He needed to be away from her, get away from this anger and get away from this confusion.

'Maan' Dadi called quietly walking through a passage of darkness. It was very late in the night when Dadi finally decided to intrude Maan's lonely gathering, he sat in the furthest corner on a bean bag near to the window observing the busy dark night. A lonely bottle sat beside looking abandoned and an half empty glass lay in his cold hands. He had bothered changing to something much more homely yet he looked uncomfortable. Even with the substance deemed as the magical cure' to grief and thoughts, he hadn't been able to forget her essence. His thoughts wandered to their little moments be it when she hugged him while crying or her out of happiness hug or the little mishap downstairs when he found himself looking into her mystical eyes with her laying on top of him. Moments that should have passed away tugged at his memory. He tried chugging it down much like the drink so the alcohol seemed to have increased his sensation, with each sip emery of her smell, of her smile, of her touch tortured him and in the end he just left the drink as it is and focused on stopping the plaque that slowly spread through the creeps, he switched off the light and let the darkness calm his anger.

'App teek ho beta' Dadi's questioning seized with the loud guffaw of Vicky, Meera and Geet who were having a party of their own, a celebration of some sort. However, Maan rejected to hear any noise be it of joy or pain or questioning or confusion. He chose to ignore. Getting up he tried balancing himself against the large table, it wasn't that he drank that much as the bottle was still more than half way up but he seemed dizzy; his inner self asked questioned which wobbled his core beliefs, shaking his foundation into obscurity.

'Samal ke beta' Dadi rushed forward trying to help Maan into the chair but instead he gently pushed Dadi into the seat and sat down in front of her, his head resting on her lap. Trying to find solace from the questions and these evolving feelings.

'NO NO NO NO that's cheating, I don't want to play' Geet argued throwing the board over, it was meant to be Geet's turn to roll the dice but Vicky who was too preoccupied by Meera's innocent grazes rushed to the dice, which of course didn't settle too well with Geet.

'GEET' Vicky shouted looking at her in horror mimicking Meera's reactions

'I don't care, I won anyway' Geet fibbed running to the kitchen with the dice as Vicky sprinted behind while Meera smiled affectionately seeing them fight like any normal siblings.

'I'm sorry' Dadi apologised after a while, the echoing silence highlighted the said word, overshadowing the verbal fight from downstairs. Maan had wanted to ask why but instead lay firmly still, trying to drowse Geet's laughing screams. Could something so gentle be so haunting? He closed his eyes as an last attempt. Geet shouldn't be playing on his mind, Geet shouldn't be on his mind? Was he falling for someone again? He can't though!

'I know you must be wondering how I accepted Meera so easily' Dadi started after a few minutes, they heard the loud footsteps of Geet running down the hall and slamming her door shut.

'Meera is good for Vicky, she'll always keep him on the right track' Dadi added through the few minutes of silence before Vicky's loud threats could be heard.

'Viks stop being a child' Maan heard Meera reprimand Vicky who banged the door in annoyance hearing the mocking laughter of Geet, but everything else faded in front of her musical laughter. It vibrated loud and clear in Maan's ears. Unknowingly, it was then he raised his head to look into Dadi's stressed face.

'Sameera was bringing you down, I didn't like her because she was a bad influence and not because she was your choice' Dadi stressed caressing his face softly. She had watched him blush when caught with Geet and then fade in colour at the mention of Meera's and Vicky's love, making her feel that maybe it was to do with her approval of them. Somewhere guilt bit her strong and hard, not allowing her to enjoy her youngest grandson's joys rather wither in her eldest grandson's pain.

'I'm sorry' she cried while Maan got up to hold her, funnily enough he never even thought like that. He should have but he didn't nor could he because somewhere down the line he has accepted his new life, away from Sameera and with Geet.

'I wasn't thinking of that Dadi' he said coming out the hug with a look to guilt and sorrow, Dadi then pushed him into spilling the beans. He was sad because he felt he was cheating Sameera and Geet. He possibly couldn't fall for someone that quickly especially when splitting with another just recently.

'You're beginning to like Geet then that's good, isn't it?' Dadi face was of pure joy. Over the last few days she had smelt something was wrong with Maan's and Geet's marriage however the reception party almost certified their status. But then this morning Maan and Geet appeared different, again confusing her. But now when Maan told her the whole truth she was upset equally matched with happy, at least he was falling for Geet although he might not admit it to her yet. But she knew soon he'll acknowledge that fact too.

'But that makes me unfaithful and disloyal Dadi, how can I?' he whispered putting his head back into her lap in an effort to hide his tears. He felt small and perfidious, he claimed to love Sameera with all heart, which was now falling for Geet rather quickly. That wasn't right. He had promised both the woman something different, he was failing to keep that promise and falling in his own eyes.

'Beta why don't you give it a try, accept these new feelings' Dadi requested with little hope but seeing the shock in his eyes made her regret those words almost immediately. His eyes spoke of a clear No, a hard-hitting but confirmed No. However Dadi smiled knowing that at least Maan had bothered to share his dilemma after months and months of no conversation, of complete avoidance. He was turning back to the Maan she knew once existed and Geet was responsible for that. On one part, she was happy that she made the right decision of choosing Geet for Maan but then on the other hand she felt guilty for making her son go through this turmoil.

'You're not cheating anyone Maan, Geet knows about Sameera and vice versa. As long as you're still not with Sameera, as that would be called cheating. Its ok to move on irrespective of time' she concluded pulling Maan's hands into hers and pressing it down in diminutive pressure, as if to assure him that he's doing no wrong.

'Don't think too hard and just give it some time' Dadi advised before getting up to leave and Maan, well he watched her leave with her head held high. Somehow the strength of the guilt he felt reduced away slightly but he still needed time to adapt to these new feelings which didn't only comprise of care and responsibility like Sameera, it was weaved with many more emotions, which made his mind and body bonkers and for that he needed time. He needed to know why and how, and for this reason he decided to stay away from Geet.

'Meera hit him with this' he heard Geet shout forcing him again to close his eyes, but this time he let himself listen to her squealing laughter, the delight of hearing Vicky moan in pain was enjoyably evident. Maan very slowly walked up to the wall that partitioned him from Geet who was in the next room and gingerly placed his hands as if trying to accept the new phase in his life and then the next second immediately moved it away. He watched his shaky hands, trying to identify the scorched marks but other than the rising beat and Geet's echoing laughter, everything else failed to stand alone. Maan watched his hands and then looked to the wall where he could still hear her. He was indeed falling for her.

LOVE isn't something that is planned, it happens in the most awkward of places and at the most unusual of times. Love happens at an instant, unfortunately one cannot go hunting for love rather love finds you. Hence the terminology falling in love, because you don't force yourself to love instead you just fall. Which Maan was experiencing, irrespective of his thoughts and against his will. He was standing on a juncture, not knowing whether to accept or reject his new found LOVE.