DUA.... The Unusual Love Tale - Thread 2 - Part 61 On Page 10- Page 10

61. The Aftermath

"I trust you, Maan... More than anything.. anyone..", She whispered.

He held her cheek and made her look at him. A moment later, their lips fused into their first kiss..

It was neither just him nor just her.. If you ask, it was both of them surrendering to each other at that moment.

He brushed his lips against hers in an impulse and the current that passed through them in shock and pleasure, froze them. Yet they didn't move away, instead her hold tightened around him, as if she feared to loose the control.

His hold on her waist and cheek was just there, holding her softly as if assuring her that he was very much there.. present with her.

Their hearts felt the ultimate joy.. as if they had found unmatchable treasure.. as if they had found their God.. Unexplainable..

A second or two later her lips parted and his lips were so close to hers that it rubbed against his. He leaned in and took the invitation.

He kissed her like someone who knew she wasn't fragile but still chose gentleness anyway.

She kissed him like someone who was afraid of breaking something precious.

When they finally pulled away, it wasn't abrupt. It was gradual like neither of them wanted to break the gentleness of it.

Her eyes didn't open immediately. As if she needed a second longer to hold onto what she had just felt... to believe it had actually happened. And when she did look at him, there was still hesitation there.

"I shouldn't..." she murmured, more to herself than to him. "You deserve..." she began, but her voice faltered.

Better, she meant.

Untouched.

Uncomplicated.

Easy.

Not someone who came with scars, with decisions like adoption, with a life that didn't fit into neat expectations.

And before she could complete her thoughts he placed his finger on her lips,"Shuh... chup bilkul chup..", he warned in a low yet angry tone.

"But.."

"I Love You.."

She looked stunned with all the happenings yet she recovered to quickly blurt out.

"Love alone is not enough Maan! You will regret it later!"

"Then tell me what is stopping you! Explain!"

Geet was now frustrated with her own feelings and how complicated it was getting with Maan.

"Maan its very easy to talk not always practical to do! I come with a baggage. Emotional baggage, trauma of being subjected to Marital Rape. I may not be even aware of what it feels like to be really loved emotionally & physically.

On top of it, I have owed not to have a biological child of my own. I know myself that I will never be able to get over it and change my decision on it.

And the final nail on the coffin is that I am already on my way to adoption.

Now, how can I promise you anything close to a normal outcome of a union/marriage?", she blurted out everything and stood there breathing in and out furiously.

There it was.. Everything that was nagging her was out without any filter. Yet he still stood his ground with all the calm and patience in the world. And that unnerved her more!

"Maan, LEAVE..", she didn't even want to discuss this further. This was all so messed up and definitely not something that she was ready for.

"You don't want to even listen to my response?", he asked with amusement.

"NO.. LEAVEEE.."

He moved but instead of going towards the door, he came toward her, held her by the waist and gave a quick kiss on her cheek.

"Good night, jaan..", he smirked as she gaped at him with her mouth wide open and left.

.......................................................................

Couple of days passed by and Madam decided to live in a rabbit hole. He decided to give her some time and stay away.

Since Dev-Meera's wedding date was finalised to happen in a few months, KC started to schedule project works accordingly, making life busy for all. One of their major projects that was going on in Europe needed an on-sight inspection and Maan had to travel the same week.

Though his soul, mind and body could never forget the burning kiss of love that he shared with Geet, he ultimately accepted that this inevitable distance was going to aid their feelings.

It was 1 AM and he was at the airport lounge for his early morning flight but his mind was restless. He hadn't met her post their encounter, neither had he called her. His control broke and he decided to give her a call before going.

The phone rang through yet no one picked. He very well knew that she was sitting wide awake, looking at his call and avoiding to pick it up.

No special points for guessing, she was absolutely awake!

Geet, too, had had a very hard week. Apart from her chaotic encounter with Maan, she was also under constant emotional pressure from her mom and sister to let go of the adoption idea. And to top it all, the adoption center had informed her that in a week or two she would be ready to meet the children and seal her destiny in their grace.

She was somehow holding it all together, in the hope of a beginning that she has been dreaming of.

Maan was constantly on her mind but she was running away from those thoughts and her situation helped her to the fullest. She was now at a point were she didn't feel like sharing anything to anyone at the moment and wanted to keep shut till she sorts out her own feelings.

The sudden call at this time of the hour startled her off her lala land but even before looking at the screen, she instinctively knew that it was Maan. She avoided it for obvious reasons.

Then came a message: Geet...

Followed by another: I am travelling to Germany..

And Another: Important work..

She was reading it all in the preview without opening the message and the messages were small enough to be read without opening. Arghhh.. She hated to acknowledge how well he knew her!

And then there was his call again. She could swear to God that her hands acted on their own accord! The call was attended and there was silence on both sides.

"Geet.. Take care"

"Hmm.. Have a safe trip"

"Hmmm..."

"Whe..", she wanted to ask when he will be back but kept quiet.

"I'll be back in 2 weeks.."

"Hmm.."

Then came the announcement for passengers to board the flight he was travelling in.

"Bye..", She drawled

"Bye.. Shona..", the last word was like a whisper but she could hear it of course.

Suddenly she felt so lonely after the call. As if she needed someone to face the days ahead and that feeling was unexplainable. Because technically she had all her friends around yet why was her heart aching? She could do nothing to stop the tears this time.

Days started rolling...

Gayathri Singhvi couldn't contain her eagerness to get Maan-Aarti's marriage fixed. Her daughter had come back from the party and had given mixed signals but she was not ready to let go of this rishta for silly reasons! So she just didn't care about Aarti at the moment. She thought that she will get things fixed and then explain to her daughter as anyways she had told her that Maan was really nice to her.

Dadima was upset with Gayathri's advances and then started to get confused about what everyone was having in their minds anymore! Also, Maan had promised that he will take care of everything, so she decided to remain neutral till he gets back.

Geet completed her sessions and she was invited to see the kids the next day. She was excited and overwhelmed but at this moment she didn't feel like telling anyone anything. So she quietly prepared herself for her big day!

Geet completed her sessions and was invited to see the kids the next day. She was excited and overwhelmed but at this moment she didn't feel like telling anyone anything. So she quietly prepared herself for her big day!

The following morning came too slow for she had not slept a wink. Excitement and anxiety were at peak. She was happy, nervous, sad, overwhelmed, a complete mess of emotions in short.

She quick got ready, booked a cab and reached the orphanage they had asked her to come to.

There were so many children aged between 2-15. Some were playing in the garden, some were sitting in clusters and doing some activities. She hoped that they all found their happiness in life someday, as she walked to the office.

The NGO was run by an organisation of Christian sisters. The current head was a 50 year old woman, Mother Rebecca George, a very polite, calm and kind human.

She invited Geet inside and made her comfortable with some introduction and chatting as she completely understood how anxious she was! She also discussed the challenges faced by the NGO as she could see that Geet was genuinely a person who took interest in the welfare of the kids. And she was proved right when she was promised that she will get voluntary assistance in any form whenever needed.

They had coffee and once Mother was satisfied with Geet's demeanour, she was at peace with the decision that she was going to make. Because the child that she had chosen for the candidate today was delicate. Mother wanted the child to have a reliable parent and home from the very beginning.

She had been restless since 2 days that if God wills, the candidate scheduled to visit for the week may become the child's home. Turns out, God had heard her loud and clear because Geet seemed like a perfect choice!

She rang the bell for her clerk to come in.

"Param Ji.. Amelia sister ko bulayiye please."

"Ji, Mother..", he sprinted out.

In less than 5 minutes there was a knock on the door and Geet instinctively knew that it was time! Her throat went dry while her body broke through a cold sweat as Param Ji came in followed by another pair of soft footsteps, probably Amelia sister.

She could sense that its just the 2 of them without even turning when a tiny little finger hooked the crown of her hair strongly before she could turn sideways and see them fully.

She had Zero idea about the child she was to meet. Was it a boy or a girl? What would be the age? How will she/he look at her? Would the child be aware of her arrival? Will the child like her? NO IDEA!

But at this moment, even without turning around, she knew that it was her baby standing or being held behind her!

Her eyes welled up as she heard a tiny yet clear squeak and the other 3 people in the room gasped and smiled in surprise. Amelia sister freed the hold off her hair so that she can finally turn around. And when she did, it was a mother turning around to see her child. Her eyes were blurry with tears.

She quickly whispered a sorry and used a tissue before looking up again.

There stood a sister in her 30's, holding a tiny little baby in her arms!

Geet gasped in surprise as she least expected it to be a newborn.

The baby had its big eyes, wide open as they roamed around curiously as if searching for something or someone. Geet sat their gobsmacked, frozen in time.

Mother Rebecca had to call out to get her out of her state.

"Geet.. Are you alright?"

"Huh... Ye..y..yes, mother.. How is the baby too small?", she blurted out as she got up to see the baby better. Her hands itched to grab the baby and hug him/her. But she wanted to act calm.

"The baby's family were sleeping on the footpath when a truck crashed over. Everyone passed away. The mother gave birth at the hospital and passed away just a few minutes after.", she exhaled in despair as a heavy silence prevailed.

"Life is not very fair with everyone, Geet. I have been seeing this every single day ever since I understood that I was an orphan living in an orphanage to this day where am still seeing babies like this. But the pain just seems to grow. I never really got used to it.", Mother Rebecca's wobbly voice sounded so vulnerable as she took the baby who started to cry like meowing in a feeble voice.

Geet gulped down the painful knot in her throat as Sister Amelia's and her own eyes misted.

"Can I...?", she whispered as she hesitantly held out her hand.

Mother Rebecca smiled at her with warmth as she gave the baby to her. Geet felt like her heart was taken over by so much warmth as she received her sunshine in her arms and instinctively hugged to herself.

"It's a 2 months old baby boy.. He was pre-term and was born when his mother was half way through her 7th month, but completely healthy now."

The baby stopped crying as Geet gently rocked him in her arms with her eyes fixed on his little, angelic face. Soon his little eyes closed shut as he slipped into a slumber.

"Geet.. You think you are ready for this?", Mother Rebecca asked with a mixture of concern and strictness, showing her commitment toward every child under her care.

"He... I am grateful that you chose me for him, He chose me as his mother.. Now I promise that I will give my everything for my SON.", she stated as tears of happiness, years of pent up pain and conviction overflowed her eyes.