Part 7
Maan had been very twitchy since his meeting with Mr. Kapoor. Though he agreed to give him time to sort things out at his end, the wait was again making him what he wasn't.
Meanwhile he sorted out the nanny thing on his own. His first instinct was to fire her, no discussions whatsoever. But he had to relent when dadi interfered stating that the nanny really needed the job with deceased husband and 3 kids to support. He relented then, considering she'd been working for them for a long time now and her eagerness to make amends. However he made it clear that this was her last chance.
In all this dadi grew suspicious of him, his being lost more than often and reduced patience level with everyone except antara worried her. She tried to talk to him about selecting some other girl just to see his reaction but he completely avoided it making her worried. Though he didn't want to hide anything, he didn't want to disclose it prematurely too. It was like his silent prayer, the one he feared to not come true if shared.
That's when he received the much awaited phone call. Oh! It was like a rainfall in his arid life. He couldn't believe he would be meeting her today. He was excited like never before jumping mentally. But as the details of the conversation registered in his brain, he frowned.
Why would they meet at India gate? It's always crowded with tourists. And it's not safe for her to go there alone. He can pick her up why would she refuse to that? He contemplated for long and decided that maybe she wants to buy some time. That's okay but definitely the venue should change.
He called Mr. Kapoor immediately sharing his concerns about the venue.
But then he thought it would be good to meet in public. It can offer a neutral ground for them to open up easily and communicate. In fact it was one of their hangout spot during college times. Yes, it's best to meet there.
He called Raj uncle again to let him know that the venue is okay for him.
"Maan bete... I'll give you geet's number why don't you talk to her and you both decide mutually.
His face burned with heat hearing the chuckle in uncle's voice but he couldn't say anything in embarrassment. And sure enough he received a text after minutes with geet's contact number. He stared at the screen so hard that the numbers stared to dance in front of his eyes. He closed his eyes, deciding there was no need to contact her now as the plan was same as before though he just wanted to call her or text her at least.
Happiness was radiating from him like an isotope and that's how dadi caught him before going to office.
"Maan... Aap kahin ja rahe hai?
"Dadi office. Ye kaisa sawal hai? It's routine.
"Bete routine me aap itne khush hokar office nahi jate hain.
Maan gave a sheepish smile. It was like one of the times when she used to catch him stealing ice-cream as a kid.
"Nahi kuchh nahi... haan wo aaj ek badi deal sign hone wali hai.
Dadi smiled and cupped his face.
"Chaliye nahi batana toh yahi sahi. Hum dua karte hai ki aapki deal sign ho.
"Dadi...
He hugged her and left. Off course it was a big deal, but a personal one.
"Bete shaam ko meetha lete aana...
She teased him again. He turned and gave her a knowing smile before exiting.
Passing the rest of the day was really difficult. He'd already cleared his morning schedule not wanting to daydream in any meeting and tried to lose himself in some file. But all the designs and figures kept dancing in front of his eyes. The conference at noon was an important one, so he decided to review its details. After the conference he would leave for the day, he also has a date at 5:30 p.m. There he said it, that one word filled with so many possibilities.
It was a usual day for geet. Except that she had thoughts full of this meeting. She wasn't expecting anything initially when she said yes to papa. Oh! Come on who was she to expect? She was actually one of the luckiest out of thousands of young widows in the country for getting a chance to remarriage. No matter to whom she gets hitched to, a black thread and a pinch of vermilion brings colors in the lives of her likes.
But there was more to it, she was getting a choice, right to decide her future course and that scared her more. She didn't trust herself to take such a big decision. The last decision she made was which college to study in, as far as she can remember. And that was easy because it only affected her life; this one however affected many including two families, but most importantly a child.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Anjali di came to her room half panting half shouting.
"Kya baat hai di...?
Geet asked concerned.
"You didn't get ready yet?
"What for?
She asked clueless
"Are we going somewhere?
"Uff... You are going. To meet maan. Papa told me, now hurry up.
Geet glanced at the clock.
"But di it's only 4 now, I have to go at 5:30.
"Meri maa... toh aise jaogi kya? At least dress up a bit. Let me help you.
Geet's cheek heated up at the mention of dressing up, well those days were long gone from her life when she would dress up. But now as she was starting a new chapter she might as well start a fresh. Anjali didn't wait for further discussion and dug into her wardrobe looking for an appropriate dress.
"Di... I'll manage.
Geet tried to stop her not wanting to do anything extravagant and inviting ideas from Maan already. But Anjali turned and stopped her.
"No you don't. Just listen to me. I can't find anything appropriate in your wardrobe all are way too light colors I don't want you wearing them today. I'll bring you one of mine while you fresh up.
Before geet could protest Anjali had left. Not having an option geet complied.
Last time Maan looked at his watch it was 2:00 pm and now 5:45 where in world did the time in between go? And oh shit! He's late to meet geet. He jumped up on his chair with that thought and attracted stares of his colleagues. He excused them and rushed out of the meeting immediately. Once in the car he decided to send geet quick text apologizing and enquiring her location.
She was sitting in the caf waiting for him. She glanced at her watch again and sighed seeing the time, its 20 minutes past their appointment. Her screen flashed with a text next second.
Sorry, I am running late.
Please text your location.
Maan.
She stared at the text for a second too long before the words made any sense to her. She sent her location and decided to order a coffee and resume waiting.
Maan rushed inside the caf looking for her frantically. There she sat on the third table on his left. Dressed in yellow floral kurti with green dupatta and chudidaar, she looked simple yet classy like a sunflower. A thought did come to his mind earlier as to whether he should pick some flowers or something but he dropped it, now thinking of it that yellow rose bouquet would have been perfect.
He reached the table, still contemplating what to say and how to say?
"Geet.
He called gaining her attention as she was looking straight while he reached her from the side. She looked up to meet his eyes and smiled. Though she still had those dark circles he noticed that day but the brightness of her smile seemed to cancel out their effect to quite an extent. She got up next second and extended her hand greeting him.
"Hi
Maan settled in the chair in front of her. She kept looking down at her now empty cup of coffee and he was waiting for her to look up. Fortunately the waiter interrupted. Maan ordered for himself.
"One cappuccino.
"Anything for you?
"Same.
Silence surrounded them again as the waiter left. He looked around feeling very conscious suddenly while geet still looked down playing with her dupatta. TV was on at the nearby wall playing some random English songs. He was looking at the TV now perhaps hoping for some inspiration to come from there as someone started to flip at the channels and stopped at typical bollywood song.
Do Anjaane Ajanabei
Chale Badhne Bandhan
Haye Re Dil Mein Hai Yeh Uljhan
Mil Kar Kya Bole ,
Kya Bole Kyaa Bole
Re Milkar Kya Bole
Geet looked up immediately as the song hit her ears and looked at maan with wide eyes. Their eyes met at that very instant. The song was spot on, fitting their situation in a weird way. None of them could hold back at the weirdness of the situation and they started laughing loudly, suddenly, together.
The crowd around was now giving them weird stares but they were nowhere to stop laughing still. After few minutes maan composed himself with great difficulty making a serious face which made geet to stop abruptly. And then they started to laugh again.
Perhaps that's the bond of friendship. It doesn't matter for how long you didn't meet, but the moment you do, it's like the time in between never existed.
They finally managed to calm themselves after a long hearty laugh. When just the smiles remained, he asked her.
"How are you?
She smiled at his attempt to talk normal.
"I've been better.
He nodded in understanding it is difficult to lose a partner at such a young age and he's no stranger to that feeling. But when he looked at her next, her demure as if all gone, like she decided something suddenly, he could feel hope and positivity emanating from her.
"How are you? Did you start your construction firm like you wanted back in college?
He smiled, she remembers. He had this dream since his first year of college and who else would he discuss with than his friends? In fact he used to talk about so much that at some point all of them were fed up with this topic.
"Last time you weren't so keen to know about my dream.
He accused.
"Come on yar, it was years back and you really did make our ears bleed with your plans.
He shook his head smiling.
"Tell me now.
"Yeah I did. It's pretty huge now, more than I can handle at times.
"That's great.
It seemed like she wanted to say more about but didn't.
They were quite again, not knowing how to address the elephant in the room. Seeing him not saying anything she decided to take things on her hand. After all she has to make it work on her own. She's promised to herself that she will move on and soon, she doesn't want to cause any more pain to maa.
"So, shall we move on to regular matrimony questions? Like whether I make round chapattis, and know other household chores like cleaning, laundry etc.
She asked playfully and maan looked at her amused. Well, it was right on her part to expect this. However, she didn't realize that it was 7 years from her last marriage and we have definitely moved past those particular requirements from a bride, at least in urban India.
"Well considering our backgrounds, we won't need those basic checks, we passed them last time.
He said straight and there was mixed reaction from her on this statement. The mention of their pasts did bring some pain but it was a reality that they have to face every day and trying to avoid that is useless. While it also brought a smile on her face, the fact that it was above a platonic relationship that is usually the most you can expect from a remarriage.
"Geet, we are in a very special situation. First thing I expect from my partner is to accept my daughter. She's my first priority even above myself. If that is too much to ask from you then there is no future for us.
She liked the way he was straight and honest with her. It would only work if they came clean with each other, and now she has to assure that to him.
"Maan, I... I like children. She will get a mother in me.
It was a simple statement but it had the power that helped him overcome the little doubt he had in his mind. He smiled acknowledging her efforts to assure him.
"There's another thing I wanted to tell you... about...about myself.
He gulped hard, hesitating how to say it while she contemplated whether he smokes? Or drinks? Or worse... kahin drugs... haw!!! But before she could drown in her assumptions he continued.
"I... I wanted to tell you that I am entering into this relationship with a clean slate, with no emotional baggage of last partner...
He stopped seeing her reaction. Well definitely she'll be shocked; he contemplated whether he shouldn't have told her that just yet.
"However I do not expect the same from you.
Her mouth that was open last moment due to shock seemed to close now in relief. He smiled at her antics, she's not changed a bit. Though there was confusion written all over her face, but that conversation was for another time, definitely not for the first date.
They were silent again, for geet it was more of digesting his words. While he waited for her to say something that would give him an indication of what she was thinking. Her phone rang then, interrupting their thoughts.
"papa?
...
"Ji... I am with Maan.
...
"Ji... I'll leave now.
She looked at maan who nodded in understanding.
"Come I'll drop you.
"Nahi wo car... driver.
"Kaha na I'll drop you.
He moved out after clearing the bill and she followed him however she was unable to follow his mood. Definitely he was sulking. They hardly spoke 2 sentences. Actually only he did and he didn't even get a chance to ask about her expectations, just dumped his own on her mind.
The drive was silent on account of his sulking and her confusion at his mood. They stopped in front of her house. She looked at him as she opened the door.
"Geet... bas yeh kehna chahta hu ki, dil per koi bojh mat rakhna. As I told you, I am entering into this willingly, but it's important for me that you are also doing so on your own will.
She could see some strange emotions playing on his face as he said that. But he hid that immediately and effectively before he continued.
"We can meet again if you want before you decide, and if you have any doubts or questions you can tell me.
She smiled at his care. To think of it, he was always like that.
"Ek baat kahu...?
He nodded, anxious though as what she was about to say.
"Tum bahut badal gaye ho.
She said that and exited the car immediately before he could see the slight blush that teased her cheeks. She was shocked at her own boldness of saying that rather than anything else that made her blush. She walked so fast, so much to save her dignity, she could have better ran. He shook his head and smiled. A day well spent.
A/N: Please tell me how you liked the date thing, if it was well worth the wait 😆😆
Precap: I don't know this time. Maybe geet meeting antara
Next on: 27/04
Edited by Sundari. - 7 years ago
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