Ab ke Baras! Chapter 14 up! On 12th Apr! On Page 41! - Page 20

Loved it. Like this maan he is not so standoffish...geet tho is a masterpiece. Love her

Originally posted by: idunno

Dino Ka Safar vaho interesting and full off knickjoke Raha chalk ab dekhte hai kaise would ek dune ko pahechan payenge.?

Barso beet Gaye

Humko mile mile be

Ku h sochu to Yaad Na Aaye

Kuch sochun Nahi bhule

Wow saavan ke Jule

Yaado ke ye bich bhavar Mae deti hai dilasha

Phirbhi Mera maan pyasa.

CHAPTER 10. FRIENDSHIP

"Handa Mahal mein aapka swagat hai!, Geet announced as they stood in front of her locked house. Geet had given him directions and Maan had driven accordingly. As they neared their destination, Maan started to notice how the population was becoming sparse and the houses were also turning desolate. By the time they reached Geet's house, most of the houses nearby were empty and some had even burn marks. Geet's house was the only thing standing without any destruction or damage. Maan continued to look around as Geet looked through her purse for the keys and then started to open the door.

"What's wrong with the houses? Yeh jagah ko hua kya hai?, Maan questioned.

Geet, who was in the process of opening the door, looked at him curiously. Then she noticed how he was looking around and she sighed, "Aapko yaad hai, maine kahaa tha ki yahaan saalon pehle aag lagi thi aur yahaan sookha bhi pad gaya tha?

Maan nodded but frowned as he wondered what sookha meant. Sookha means dry! He remembered Geet telling him about the famine in her village and connected the dots. Sookha means famine! Got it!

Geet continued to explain, "Woh aag sirf humaare ghar mein hi nahi lage! Kuch aur ghar bhi jale the! Isliye kuch ghar tab se khaali pade hain! Aur jo log aag se barbaad nahi hue, woh sookhe se barbaad hogaye!

Geet took a deep breath as she finally opened the door, "Ab yeh sab ghar bik gaye hain! Ab yahaan humaare ghar nahi rahenge, maal rahega! Maal, hotel... yahaan sab kuch badal jaayega! She chuckled sarcastically and entered the house. As Maan followed her in, she sighed, "Humaara gaao pehle jaisa kabhi nahi hoga! Na phir kabhi yahaan ghar ke khaane pakenge, na barsaat mein jhoole lagenge aur na kabhi khet mein bachche khelne jaayenge! Poora gaao toh waise ka waisa rahega, lekin yeh humaara ilaaka bilkul badal jaayega!

Geet let out a sob and Maan, who was looking around, looked at her in alarm.

Geet continued, "Kuch din aur! Phir yahaan mera ghar bhi nahi rahega!

Maan felt bad for her. He couldn't even imagine how she was feeling. He raised his hand to place on her shoulder but stopped, not sure if he had the right or not. He cleared his throat and mumbled uncomfortably, "I am sorry for your loss!

Geet gasped and whirled around, "Hey Babaji! Yeh kaise hogaya?

"Kya hua?, Maan looked at her surprised.

She grinned impishly, "Aapne jo Angrezi mein bola, mujhe poora samajh aa gaya!

Maan growled at her and then both started to chuckle. Their chuckle turned into full blown laughter and for a while both forgot their worries and just relaxed.

As their laughter petered down, Maan again looked around, "Tumhaara ghar bahut achcha hai!

And he was right. The whole house was roomy and airy. The door had opened to a closed courtyard. Surrounding the courtyard were the rooms. Maan imagined Geet's big family coming out of their rooms and sitting in the courtyard, chatting and having some family time. Right in front of him, across the courtyard, was the kitchen which seem to look into the courtyard. Maan wondered where the family sat and ate.

He asked Geet that and she gestured to the courtyard. Maan's eyebrows raised. Interesting!

Geet informed Maan that she needed to get spices and vegetables to cook for the next few days. Maan offered to go with her to the village center and both left after both dropping off their bags in the house. Once shopping was done, Geet went to cook while Maan seated on the stairs leading to the upper floors and pulled out his laptop to work. He was not getting a good internet signal there but he somehow managed to get some work done.

Soon it was dinner time and Maan was a bit surprised to see Geet pull out a small stool and place a plate on it. Maan was even more surprised when Geet pointed to the floor in front of the stool where there was a mat spread. He blinked and slowly went to sit there. He was so confused. They sat on floor and placed their plates on a small stool! Wow! Talk about culture change. He was wide eyed when Geet started to bring the food in the pots she cooked them in and started to serve them in his plate. Last time he was served by a person who was not the family help was when he was a kid and his Daadima used to serve him food. Being served by someone who was not a servant or a waiter was really a new experience for Maan.

As Maan took the first bite of sabzi with roti, he was impressed. He had seen Geet buy very little spices and to make something good from so less ingredients was impressive in his books. He complemented Geet for her cooking, "Geet! You cook really good! Tum bahut achcha khaana banaati ho! I am impressed!

Geet blushed at his comment and Maan was surprised. She shyly looked down as she thanked him and continued to serve him. He had to admit, he was tempted to lick his fingers; her food was that good.

Once Maan finished with his lunch, he noticed Geet sit down to eat. He frowned as he realised that Geet would have to get up every time she wanted to serve herself. If she can serve me, why can't I serve her?

Geet was surprised when she was about to get up to get herself another roti. She looked with wide eyes as Maan came out of the kitchen holding the one roti in her hand, "Want some? He asked her.

"Yeh aap kya kar rahe hain?, she was aghast.

"Tumhein serve kar raha hun!, he answered casually.

Geet blinked, "Par kyun? Main khud le leti!

Maan shrugged, "Why not? You served me! So now I serve you!

He placed the roti in her plate and walked off. Geet frowned a little, unsure of the whole thing. In her whole life, she had yet to see a man serve her. It was always women who served others. She smiled, "Kisi din kisi ladki ko duniya ki sabse khushnaseeb ladki banaaoge aap, jab aap us se pyaar karoge!

It was late in the night when Maan woke up feeling thirsty. Geet had given him one of her cousin's old room on the first floor few feet away from Geet's room. Maan got down the stairs to get some water. As Maan grabbed the water from a pot in the kitchen, a thought came to him and he frowned. Its been two days since I am here! Why didn't I have any dreams of Mahi? He drank the water and started to walk to his room. When I was in US, I used to be haunted by her day and night. And now that I am here, she is nowhere. Not in my dreams and not in my hallucinations. Why? Is it because I am exactly where she wants me to be? Or is this something else? As Maan reached the stairs, he looked around the courtyard and turned back. Suddenly he did a double take. There was someone standing by the window. It was a female figure dressed in salwar kameez. Maan couldn't see her face as she was facing the window. The window was open but Maan remembered Geet closing all the windows before going to the bed. His eyes widened. Is it Mahi? Was this a dream too? He slowly started to head towards the window. He didn't know why but he started to sweat and his heart beat built up. Maybe Mahi would finally let him see her face.

"Mahi!, Maan whispered as he reached the woman and placed a hand on her shoulder.

The girl turned around and Maan was taken aback. It was Geet!

"Mahi? Yeh kaun hai?, Geet asked.

Maan took a step back in shock and his leg hit into the stool. He winced at the pain and his eyes widened. You don't feel pain in your dreams! This is real!

"Tum? Yahaan?, Maan asked.

Geet shrugged and turned back to the window, "Neend nahi aa rahi!

Maan nodded and went to stand beside her.

For a while both stood there in silence, staring at the moon, lost in their thoughts.

Then Geet spoke up, "Kaun hai yeh Mahi?

"Huh?, Maan looked at her.

Geet huffed, "Aapne mujhe Mahi bulaaya, abhi thode der pehle!

Maan shook his head unsure what to say. Ab kya bataaun? Mahi is my last janam's girlfriend! And I am here to find her! Sounds so ridiculous!

"An old friend!, Maan lied.

"Oh!, Geet mumbled. She felt as if she was being lied to. She had heard the emotion in Maan's voice when he called her Mahi. This was not some casual friend. She must be somebody important. Then Geet frowned. Lekin mujhe kyun takleef ho rahi hai agar Maan ki Mahi naam ki girlfriend ho toh? She pushed the thought away and focused on Maan, "Aap yahaan kaise? Woh bhi is waqt!

Maan shrugged, "Paani peene aaya tha!

Just then Geet had a thought and she questioned Maan about it, "Ab jab hum gaao mein aagaye hain, toh aapka aage ka plan kya hai?, Geet questioned.

Maan frowned. What was he supposed to do now? His plan had always been till now to reach the village. He had not even thought about what to do once he reached there. Then an idea came to him. He should check out the village. See, if anything triggered his memory.

He spoke up, "My Daadaji, he always talked about this village. Toh mujhe village poora ghoomke dekhna hai!

"Arre waah!, Geet commented, "Aapko humaara gaao dekhna hai? Toh theek hai! Kal main aapko poore gaaon mein ghumaaungi!

"Tum?, Maan frowned, "Why do you ... Kya jaroorat aane ki?

Geet pouted, "Arre! Yeh gaaon mera! Toh mere mehmaan ko toh main hi gaaon dikhaaungi na?

"Lekin Geet... Why trouble yourself? Khudko kyun takleef..., Maan was cut off.

"Arre! Takleef kaisi?, Geet retorted, "Aur waise bhi, main ghar baithke karun kya? Puraani naukri toh chod di, ab karne ko yahaan kuch bacha nahi! Toh boliye! Dekhna chaahte hain mera gaaon meri nazar se?

Maan smiled and nodded, "It will be my pleasure!

"Ki?, Geet asked and Maan let out a laugh. He missed her ki's.

"My pleasure. Meri Khushi!, Maan translated.

"Aha! Toh kahiye mere saath!, Geet looked at him mischievously, "Meri khushnaseebi hogi!

"Khush... What?, Maan frowned and Geet let out a laugh. Maan chuckled and then he sobered up and looked at her seriously, "Main bahut lucky hun Geet ki mujhe tum jaisi dost mili!

Geet tilted her head to one side, "Dost? Main aapki dost hun?

Maan smiled, "Yes! Tum meri dost ho! He excused himself and headed to the bed.

Geet smiled as she stared at his retreating back. As she turned back to look at the moon, she felt delight run through her heart. She was his friend! She softly mumbled to herself while staring at moon.

"Rab Kare Teri Zindagi Salamat Rahe

Teri Har Khushi Par Fida Qayamat Rahe

Tu Ne Mujhe Dost Kehkar Itni Khushiyan Di Ae Dost

Teri Zindagi Pe Vaar Jaaun Yeh Meri Ibaadat Rahe

Oh my! The romance has begun! They are friends now!

Now time for some sweet moments in the next update!

Till then, thank you, take care and have fun,

Kalpana

thanks for the update!

Cute update maan at geet home he was impressed but was saddened to hear that she would lose her home maan was impressed by her cooking and praise her for her effort maan was confused as he didn't had any mahi dream though he lied to geet regarding mahi but geet caught it geet going to show masn around her village both became friends now

Loved part 10.
Maan and Geet become friends.
Maan hoping something in village will help him.
Eager for the next part.

superb part. They are slowly coming closer. Not attraction but friendship and liking. I'm amazed at Geet' nature. She has no job, no secure future and still she is so lively. Anyone would want to be her friend. looking forward to next.