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.
Please stay safe everyone. Let's do everything that is in our power to help people who need it in these turbulent times. Take care everyone.
Part 47
Breaking and mending
It was strange how little things can make some big impact. It was a simple case of financial discrepancy that he was handling for one of his clients. He had handled many similar cases. But those cases didn’t have connection to underworld.
He had dug deep for his client and had uncovered things that made many powerful people uncomfortable. Next he knew he was receiving threats. He was being followed and he was helpless. Arjun never thought he would face such situations. He panicked. Instead of thinking rationally he reacted emotionally and broke up with Annie.
And now after a year everything have changed. Annie had a boyfriend and he was alone. Today Annie asked him to meet but something told him that she would break his heart. With a surprise he realized that he was thinking of her as Annie. It was as if his heart already knew that his Esha was gone.
Arjun looked up to see Annie coming his way. He smiled and she smiled back softly.
“Arjun, do you want anything or should we just walk along?”
“Anything you prefer. I don’t want anything.”
Arjun already had coffee waiting for Annie and he paid while Annie waited. They walked towards juhu beach. Annie was silent, tentative even. All those other meeting had been different. Annie had always been angry on all those encounters but this was different. It was as if it was too much for Annie to hold onto her anger anymore.
As if reading his mind Annie began talking.
“This time away had been good for me. I am not angry with you anymore.”
Arjun didn’t know what to say. It sounded so much like resignation than forgiveness.
They walked on silently and reached the shore. They walked along. And when they reached a spot that was comparatively less crowded they sat down.
Annie looked on to the sea while he watched her.
“Arjun, I am…... I have decided. I had asked for time and space and am thankful you gave it to me. The time away had been good for me. I didn’t realize how much I was resenting you until I went away. “
“I am sorry Annie. I really am sorry.”
“I know, believe me, I know. I guess, the time away had made me understand your perspective. You wanted to protect me and I can respect that choice. But the way you left, without an explanation…. That broke me Arjun. I spent nights crying thinking if I was just a fling, if you dated me only because I was available. I worried that you were only physically attracted to me and left once you got what you wanted. But most nights I cried thinking why I wasn’t enough for you. You cannot imagine how humiliating and crippling your own vicious thoughts could be. You coming back and asking forgiveness doesn’t erase those nights Arjun and not enough time has passed to heal those scars. Somedays they still bleed.”
Arjun was silent. He had never pondered this deeply about the effect of his rash break-up on Annie yet he should have.
“You chose him, didn’t you?”
Arjun couldn’t help some anger from seeping into the statement.
Annie looked at him with blazing eyes.
“The ‘him’ you are speaking about fixed what you broke. He spent nights beside me holding me while I cried for you. He made me feel loved when I doubted if anyone would love me. When I thought that only thing people were interested about me was my wealth he made me feel confident in being just me. He loved me Arjun, cared for me even when I was too busy loving you to love myself. That ‘him’ you speak about with derision taught me self love when I needed it the most. And in all these, slowly, unknowingly he had crept into my heart and made a place for himself. So yes, I am in love with him and I chose him.”
Annie spoke watching the ocean so she didn’t notice that with each word Arjun was crumpling within himself and tears were pooling up in his eyes. She looked at him towards the end and immediately the guilt was all over her face.
“I am so sorry Arjun. I didn’t mean to be so harsh. I wanted to break this words to you gently. I didn’t mean to be cruel.”
“You love him then?”
“Now I do.”
“He sounds like a good guy.”
“He is.”
They were silent again.
“I have to know Annie, if Vicky wasn’t in picture would you have given me a chance?”
Annie sighed. It was difficult to analyze ‘what ifs’. Still she tried for Arjun’s sake.
“I will be honest with you Arjun. It is difficult to think of what I would have done if things were different. But you have to understand that without Vicky in picture I probably would still be too broken and with a battered self esteem. I would like to think that I would have enough self respect to think things through but I think I would have accepted you just because I would feel I need you to be okay again. And in the long run, we would have destroyed each other. I would be too broken probably to stand up for equality in our relationship and someday the resentment would have grown. So probably I would have accepted you back Arjun but it would have been wrong for both of us. Because I could never trust you not to break me again. Do you understand what I am trying to convey?”
“I think so.”
“A part of me still loves you Arjun and I still cherish the memory of what we had. But I am not your Esha anymore. I don’t think I can ever be Esha again. Someday I hope we can be friends again. But for now we must part. There’s a man who had been waiting for me for a long time. It’s time for me to love him back as he deserves to be loved.”
Arjun was silent. He was too numb to speak for sometime. If he could not bear Annie speak of another man for few minutes how did Vicky bear it for months? Because he had no doubt that Vicky loves Annie. He had lost her due to his own actions. He had left her broken for somebody else to pick up the pieces and glue them back. He couldn’t blame on Vicky or even Annie what necessarily happened because of his own actions.
“Will you be happy Annie?”
“I will. I plan to be very happy. And Vicky makes me happy.”
“This is goodbye then huh?”
“Yeah it is. You are my brother’s bestfriend. Maan bhai has only handful of friends. I would hate to come between you two.”
“I care about Maan too you know. Don’t worry. We are adults. I am sure we will work on our friendship. I can’t lose him too.”
“We will obviously meet again but this intimacy ends today. I will be civil. I think we need to have some space. Someday, when the hurt is gone, maybe we will be friends again.”
Arjun nodded. There was really nothing left to say anymore. Only one thing.
“Goodbye Esha!”
“Goodbye Arjun!”
Arjun remained seated watching the waves of the sea.
Annie stood up and slowly walked away. She had been strong and almost detached in front of Arjun but now her eyes teared up. She slowly walked away wiping away her tears.
She walked towards the taxi stand to get a taxi home but saw a familiar figure. Vicky had come after all. He said nothing, just held her hand and gave it a squeeze. It was so easy to communicate with him without any words.
Like always he was just waiting patiently to support her if she needed him. They got onto a taxi and she kept her head on his shoulder. This would be the last time she would mourn for what could have been with Arjun. Her life with Vicky awaited.
********
Maan had a busy day at office. Though he had a much lighter load now that Rey was working as well. Rey had changed. He had grown more serious. He was still prone to pranking but he was more settled. Something had calmed his brother down.
He was about to ask his secretary to get him a sandwich when he heard Rehaan asking to come in. Maan asked him to come in and mentally readied himself to skip lunch once again.
Rey came in and they both discussed the file Rey had just completed. Once done, Rey lingered a bit.
“Rey!”
“Yeah?”
“I am really glad you are more active with the operational side of our company you know?”
“I know. Maan, you had always taken care of us. We got used to it. I joined office but didn’t take serious responsibilities. I always had a safety net that if things go wrong then I will have you and dad to watch my back.”
“There’s nothing wrong in it. Initially I had same kind of support from Gill uncle.”
“Yes, initially being the keyword. I got used to it and so instead of helping you with your work load I added to it.”
“Don’t be so harsh on yourself Rey.”
“Maan I know, you double checked my work and stopped a big screw up at least twice. While you scolded me you also protected me. “
“You are my brother Rey! I did it because I knew it would help you learn. And now I can see you taking everything so seriously.”
“Thanks Maan. We are so used to you taking care of us that we forget to show our appreciation.”
Maan was silent for some time before he asked the question burning in his mind.
“Who is she Rey?”
“Huh!”
“Who is this lady that have taught you to take life seriously?”
“Why should there be a lady? I just grew up.”
“I know you Rey. You are always taking life lightly until few months back that is. Something changed you. So should I guess or will you enlighten me?”
“There’s no one Maan.”
“I have to be guess then…Well…... This changes started soon after I came back from Darjeeling and Brij’s father was ill. You met two new ladies round that time. Now as much as I admire Geet, you hardly met her. And you are always eager to go to Arjun’s for paperwork… something you absolutely hated… So my guess is it’s Pari.”
Rehaan was initially smug but as Maan continued his expression changed and in the end his mouth fell open with surprise.
“From your expression I think I hit the bull’s eye with my guess.”
Maan was looking awfully smug.
“Oh fine Sherlock Holmes. I admit that Pari’s friendship made me realize how previelledged my existence was. Her seriousness rubbed off on me and I daresay my playfulness should help her.”
“Are you sure it is just friendship Rey?”
“That’s all it is.”
“From what I have heard from both Brij and Geet, she doesn’t make friends easily nowadays. You have to be very careful with her Rey.”
“We are just friends Maan.”
“But you want it to be more. You have to be patient.”
“Is that experience talking?”
Maan didn’t bother replying and just rolled his eyes.
“Anyway, I have wasted enough of your time so I will leave you to it. And Maan?”
“Yeah…”
“Next time I interrupt your lunch just ask me to come back later. I will send something for you. Take care.”
Maan smiled. Rehaan had started noticing things more. It means trouble but his care was touching.
“And Maan, don’t think I will forget your statement of admiring Geet…”
Rehaan gave Maan a cheeky wink and left his office. Maan groaned. The teasing would increase but this time Maan had ammunitions of his own to tease back.
Part 48
Party time
The night of party was soon upon them. Dev had arrived for his monthly visit and took Muskaan with him so Geet was free for the night. Pari had been strangely silent about her attending the party and Geet realized that Pari was actually very nervous.
“It will be alright Pari.”
“Maybe. I am just so nervous. The last time I went to any party seems like a lifetime ago.”
“It’s same for me too Pari though our reasons are different. I am nervous too. We can be nervous together.”
Pari gave a tentative smile. Geet was wearing a red cocktail dress at Pari’s insistence. Pari was wearing a black dress. They were both ready and trying to not let their anxiety overwhelm them.
“Should we get going Pari?”
“Rehaan is coming to pick us both up. Let me see where he is right now.”
Any other time and Pari would have been questioned many times over. But today Geet was nervous even if she didn’t understand herself fully. Why was she so worried about this night? In away she knew. This night when mostly everyone would be in pairs the already blurred lines between her and Maan would be difficult to maintain.
But Geet was tired of being afraid. She won’t jump in too fast but maybe it is okay to take a small step forward.
Soon Pari informed her that Rehaan was here to pick them up and she left their apartment. Seating at the back she took the time to compose herself.
The living room décor had been changed and furnitures shifted to accommodate the guests. Maan was talking to a distinguished looking elderly gentleman but he looked up as soon as their group entered the living room.
Maan smiled at Rehaan and nodded and greeted politely. Only then did he come up to her. His eyes caressed her and spoke to her the words his lips didn’t say.
“Hello Geet! You are looking beautiful.”
“Flattery Mr. Khurana?”
Maan smiled.
“No Geet…. just fact.”
They had people to greet so they parted. Geet was talking with Annie when she saw Brij veerji approaching her. Smiling she went ahead and hugged him and he gave her an indulgent smile.
Geet was standing by a painting on the drawing room wall and quite secluded. Geet had forgotten how much people liked gossiping in these things.
‘who is that with Brij?’
’Is elusive Brij Handa finally getting ready to settle down?’
’don’t you guys know who that is? It’s Brij’s sister’
’I had forgotten about the Handa daughter…. I heard she had eloped and the family broke ties with her’
‘I heard she is divorced’
‘God knows what caused the divorce’
Geet sighed. She had truly forgotten how irritating society can be. Putting on the red dress had boosted her confidence. She could still feel the heat that was in Maan’s eyes as he had taken her in. Her good mood disappeared as she heard the whisperings'. What had she expected when she had come.
“You know you shouldn’t let them get you.”
She turned back abruptly to see Maan watching her. He had an understanding smile on his life.
“How did you know what I was thinking?”
“You are pretty easy to read Geet.”
“Funny you should say things like that. I have always been referred to as an impenetrable fortress.”
“I find you very easy to read. I like to think that you trust me enough to make it easy for me.”
“Maybe you are just more perceptive than average people.”
“Maybe it is a bit of both. But let’s not change the subject.”
“They are the reason I tend to avoid any kind of social gathering.”
“I don’t enjoy Gossiping busybodies either Geet. But I refuse to give them so much power that I will hide myself.”
“You are way braver than me Maan.”
“Then let me be brave enough for both of us.”
“What do you mean?”
“Dance with me?”
“Are you mad?”
“No Geet, I am not mad. I just want to dance with you. Please? What harm can one dance do?”
“People will talk.”
“They will talk regardless. Let’s give them something to talk about.”
“I am not going to win, am I?”
“I won’t coerce you or force you Geet. Why give so much importance to people who are basically a nobody to you?”
“They are important to you Maan. Either your relatives or you have Business relations with them.”
“And they can have no say in my personal life. They need me way more than I need them.”
“Is that arrogance I hear?”
“Maybe. I tend to be arrogant sometimes. But that doesn’t change the truth of my statement. I am just asking you for a dance. Tell me, if it was only our family here, would you have said no?”
“No. I would have danced with you.”
“Then dance with me Geet. Forget these people. Just remember that the people in our life who are really important will not judge us for a dance.”
“You make it sound so simple Maan!”
“Maybe because you always overcomplicate things.”
“I am not a very good dancer Maan! I haven’t danced in years.”
“Just follow my lead. I promise, we will enjoy the dance.”
As the conversation had progressed Geet slowly forgot her irritation and soon she found herself giving in. Maan held her hand softly. It’s strange, the way Maan held her hand was so different. His touch held no possessiveness… just support.
Some young people were already dancing on the impromptu dance floor when Maan brought her there. Here, surrounded by people simply enjoying the night, Geet instantly felt better.
They danced along some popular party song before the music changed. Maan kept his hand on her waist and brought her closer. His eyes were looking straight into her as if he could looking into her soul. His eyes were always intense but in that moment it seemed like she could be lost in his eyes for an eternity.
Aye subah tu jaa falak se
Laut jaa zara
Raat tham ke kar rahi hai
Humse mashwara
He didn’t try doing any fancy steps. He just held her in his arms and swayed lightly.
Aye subah tu jaa falak se
Laut jaa zara
Raat tham ke kar rahi hai
Humse mashwara
Baadalon se keh do jaake
Main fanaa hua
Bin bataye bin rijhaye
Bas tera hua
The way he had held her had always been like she was the most precious thing in the world. She continued looking at him. It was as if she was starved of him and could not look away for anything in the world.
Mehfooz hai meri baahon mein
Ab se tu sada
Main chal padoon teri raahon mein
Ab se yoon sada
Mehfooz hai meri baahon mein
Ab se tu sada
Main chal padoon teri raahon mein
Ab se yoon sada
She had always felt safe with him. When he had only been a stranger in a pub she had felt safe with him. That night she had been drunk and yet not once had she worried about going with him to his farmhouse. It was reckless yet he had made her feel safe even back then.
And now that she knew him, understood him, his arms were easily the safest place for her.
Aye shikayat ab zaroorat na rahiteri
Aye naseehat phir milenge hai dua meri
Ab fasana ab thikana tu mera hua
Zindagi ka har bahana tu mera hua
his eyes spoke to her the words that his lips dare not speak. And strangely her heart whispered the words back that her mind would not allow her to say. His answering smile was dazzling and made him seem younger. She knew that nothing had changed but somehow he understood. She could she it in his eyes.
Mehfooz hai meri baahon mein
Ab se tu sada
Main chal padoon teri raahon mein
Ab se yoon sada
Mehfooz hai meri baahon mein
Ab se tu sada
Main chal padoon teri raahon mein
Ab se yoon sada
It seemed appropriate to lay her head on his chest as the song completed and he held her and swayed lightly. Suddenly in that crowded room she still felt at peace knowing he was there to support her. It was too soon for anything else but she could at least acknowledge the existence of something more.
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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