New FF: New York times with Maan and Geet - Page 39

But before commenting on this part, I'd like to add some comments on part 25.

I really liked that Maan brought Geet to the same place where she had shared her personal life with him. Maan, in order to infuse the urge to be her happy self, decided to share his experience with her because its true that one does believe when someone shares their own personal experience, what they went through since the person can then relate one's situation to others.

Maan shared his bitter past which he might have not shared with anyone! He doesn't want her to enclose herself in a shell like he did. Hence he is ready to take every possible step.

He's ready to be with her in every step, be it small or big!

And the most important thing in this part is that Geet could differentiate between Maan and Dev, how the two are poles apart from each other. She's been deceived by her own life at every point-leaving studies, family forcing her to marriage, Dev etc. Its not easy for her to trust anyone now but the way Maan said it about expectations, trust, marriage and all, she can trust him! I liked it when she compared his words with that of Dev.

Part 26

Birthday celebration! 😊

Bithday-the special day of one's life but the truth is that the day is special only if one has one's special people with them. For Maan, after his Dadima, its Geet!

I liked Geet taking efforts to make his day special. She had very little time to think and she did a fantastic job! Cup cakes part was really good! Making cup cakes taking care that he doesn't come to know was an achievement.

And the special card Geet made by writing on his hand was too good!!! It was really a sweet gesture😊 I loved this part a lot😊

Now coming to the Polaris part!

Maaneet moment😛 Both of them are affected by being close to each other. I liked the fact there are no more apprehensions between them Remember the kitchen scene during brunch part, Maan felt bad for what he did but Geet made him feel better. Today, none hesitated when the personal space was crossed! This shows that they have moved a step ahead in their relationship! Though they both were going through lots of emotions inside them but they didn't display them. Thats a big achievement for both of them. Both are ready to give time to this budding relationship which, may be, even they themselves aren't fully aware of.

Liked how Geet is questioning herself that why Maan affects her life so much!

Waiting to see how his bithday goes. I am sure they gonna have lotta fun😊

love it..do continue soon.

This is the longest I have ever written...Hope you guys like it...and please post and discuss...
I saw some lovely comments out there for the last couple of posts..thank you so much...I hold it close and dear.

Part 27: Sweet Nothings…

<Geet's monologue>

I was awake…but I didn't feel like waking up to the world…the cozy feeling from being with him still lingered on my skin…"Hot Chocolate…" I smiled…It was quite some time since I felt that way…but I wasn't ready to accept it…I brushed the thought off…

There were so many moments where we could have easily slipped and messed up whatever it is that we shared…but he was in full restraint…and I didn't know what it was that was holding me…It was the best day…best time I had ever spent with him…he had opened up to me finally…I didn't know what it meant…I wasn't sure about the journey ahead…How should I process this? Is this still random? Can I trust him?

I got out of bed…if my evil twin was to spoil the morning for me, I might as well just get going with the day…

I picked up my toiletries and walked towards the bathroom…Apparently Canadian cabins were weird…Only the bathroom and the shower were behind doors…the sink was in a common area by the hallway…opposite to the bathroom…My eyes were half closed…I was crawling my way to the sink when I saw him brushing...

Ok…this I didn't expect…I didn't know if I should come back…but what was so weird? The people who built the place would have thought about it before designing such a layout…it wasn't all that weird after all…

I placed my bag on the sink countertop…I smiled at him…

Maan:" Good…Morning…"

I yawned….

Geet:' Good Morning…and once again…Happy birthday…."

He mumbled…probably meant to say…thank you…

He already looked tempting…Did I just say that? Tempting…

He was in his vest and tracks…his shoulders….aah! I guess he already made my morning…

<Maan's monologue>

She could really dazzle people…I couldn't take my eyes off her when she walked in her white silky pajamas…I wasn't sure which was silkier…her night wear or her skin?

She splashed some water on her face…took out a round sponge and squeezed some gel on it and cleansed her face…It was weird…I was getting to watch her morning routine…

She started brushing and the whole time we were just occupied finishing our daily duties…

I walked out…I couldn't stay in the same place any longer…It felt like we were a couple…trying to get ready to get on with the day…

I wasn't sure if this could repeat another day…I was too far away from knowing such answers…

<Geet's monologue>

I saw that he was already with his coffee…standing by the window…There was fresh snow in the ground…

Geet:" You know…that was weird…I'm sorry if I pushed you out of the bathroom…"

Maan:" No…its fine…I was done any way…"

Geet:"Seriously…it was so weird for me…like I was sharing my space with a stranger…"

He didn't expect that…he almost spurted the coffee back into his cup…

Maan:" Stranger….what do you mean…?"

Geet:" Common Maan…except for where you live and work, and some stuff about your lifestyle and your cars…I don't know anything about you…in every sense you are a stranger…"

I took my coffee cup and seated myself next to the window…

Maan:"Hmm…then what are you doing with a stranger here?"

He was definitely sly…

Geet:"Hmmm…may be stranger was too strong of a word…I…"

He cut me off…

Maan:' You are not wrong…mujhe pata hain ki maine tumhe mere baare mein kuch nahin kahaa hain…bolo kya jaana chahte ho.?"

Interesting…I wanted to know everything there was to know about him…

I had no idea…why the coldness in me was slowly melting…but I just wanted to go ahead with the flow…

Geet:" You want to play…20 questions?"

Maan:" Yeah…something like that…"

Geet:" Then it's not 20…its probably 200…"

<Maan's monologue>

It was good to know that she wanted to hear about me…

Maan:" Then let's do it through breakfast…I was checking out in the internet and there is this french couple that serve breakfast 20 miles north of here…it looked nice…and good reviews…do you want to try there.?"

She agreed…we took turns to use the bathroom… instantly showered and were out in 45 mts…

<Geet's monologue>

Our drive to the breakfast place was a pleasant one…a beautiful sight through the pine forests and they all had a fresh coat of snow…

The cabin was rustic with smoke coming out the chimney…and being far away from civilization made me feel like I had moved to another era…

We entered the cabin…

Maan:"Bonjour…" (Hello)

Male Owner: "Bonjour…combien?" (Hello…How many?)

Maan:" Juste nous" (Just us)

He spoke so fluently…I didn't know that about him either…there were so many things I didn't know about him at all…

On our way to the table…my eyes fell on two strange tiny puppets at the bill pay counter…I picked it up…

Geet:" What is this?"

Maan:" Oh! Those are thumb fight mittens…good…grab them even better…"

Geet:" For what?"

Maan:" Get them…I will show you…"

We sat at a table by the window…it was the coziest old school type place I had ever been to…

He took the mittens from me and put it on his thumb as if it was a glove…He took my hand and put the other one onto mine…He engaged me in a thumb fight…

Maan:" You said you wanted to play 20 questions right…or 200 for that matter…then this will make it interesting…we will question each other and you have to answer the first thing that comes to your mind…this way we are not going to think too much before answering our questions…I don't want you to think and hide…"

He kept going…the cabin owner…came to take our order…

Owner:"Que voulez-vous manger aujourd'hui ?" (What would you like to eat today?)

Maan:" Geet what do you want?"

Geet:" Hmmm..french toast, eggs well done…that's it for me…"

Maan:" Le toast franais et les oeufs bien faits, pour la dame, et le mme pour moi aussi" (French toast and eggs well done for the lady, and the same for me as well)

Owner:" Trs bon, caf ?" (Very good, any coffee?)

Maan:"Geet…coffee?"

Geet:" No…I'm good"

Maan:" Aucun merci" (No thank you)

Owner:" Trs bien alors. Il sera sorti bientt" (Very well then…it will be out soon)

He was so fluent…

Geet:" So you speak French…what else do you speak?"

We kept on going with the thumb fight…it was funny…he had already beaten me 4 times…and I was able to beat him only once.

Maan:" Yes…it was my second language in school…I can only speak four languages…Punjabi, English, Hindi and French…and you?"

Geet:"I only speak three…English, Hindi and Punjabi…"

Maan:" Still good…ok…now rapid fire… Favorite place?"

Geet:"New York and you? "

Maan:"Delhi…"

Geet:"Favorite comfort food?"

Maan:"Hmm…"

Geet:" You said..no thinking…"

Maan:" Ok…ok..Sarson da saag and makki di roti…your turn"

Geet:"Paratha…aloo ka…wait …my turn to ask…favorite drink?"

Maan:" Glenfiddich on the rocks…" He smiled…

Geet:" Chi Chi babaji…lassi…"

Maan:" Favorite beverage? Please don't tell me your Starbucks complicated order…"

Geet:" Nahin…adrak waala chai…"

Maan:" Mine too…lekin..I take coffee now…I don't get such good chai here…"

Geet:" Ok…I will make it one day…then you are never ever drinking coffee…"

Maan:" Favorite movie…?"

Geet:"Casablanca…Mughal-e-azam…Bridges of Madison County"

Maan:" Seriously all love failures…Godfather…"

Geet:" I don't know what's with men and Godfather… Favorite actor?"

Maan:"Amitabh Bachan…Morgan Freeman…And you?"

Geet:"Clint eastwood and Aamir khan…"

He was laughing out loudly…

Geet:"No joking please….Favorite actress…"

Maan:"Meryl Streep and Megan Fox…"

I thought what a combination…I laughed out loudly too…

Geet:"Sushmita Sen…Meryl Streep…Favorite music/band?"

Maan:"Too many…I'm big on rock…to show some respect…Led Zeppelin first, Eagles…Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Temper trap, Rogue Wave, Green Day of course Kings of Leon…"

Geet:" That is too many…I like AR Rahman…Elton John…soft rock chalega…no pop…"

Maan:"Favorite song?"

Geet:"Nothing is coming to my mind now…If I have to pick just one…then its Roja's Yeh haseen wadiyan…"

Maan:" No way…Stairway to heaven…Sweet Disposition…"

Geet:" Never heard of it…"

In the meantime…The food came…we kept working through the questions…it was fun…we felt like school kids out on a picnic…It was getting personal…

Geet:" Have you ever kissed a girl?"

He looked up in surprise…

Maan:" Hmm…Yes…when I was 18….my first crush…."

Geet:" Hmm aap tho bahuth tez nikhale…"

Maan:"And…you…"

He didn't want to give up…

Geet:"Hmmm…actually I didn't…lekin gaun ka ek ladkha tha…he came running…kissed me on my cheeks and ran away. I think I was 16…"

I blushed…we went on and on…

Geet:" What's the most embarrassing thing you have ever done?.,..like really really mushy…"

Maan:" Hmm…It has to be this one time…"

He broke out into a laughter…he was actually embarrassed..

Maan:"…I memorized a poem and recited it for my girlfriend….to impress her…"

Geet:" Do you still remember it…?"

Maan:" Yes…"

Geet:" Then you should say it…"

Maan:" Are you sure you want to hear it?"

Geet:" Yes please…I want to know how it would be if the angry young man turns a romantic…"

Maan:" Trust me…you don't want to hear that…Its actually embarrassing in the first place that I did something like that…I was what 17 – 18 years old…so smitten… "

Geet:"Please Maan…this could be like our inside joke…I promise I will never tell anyone…Please…."

<Maan's monologue>

That's all she had to say…I couldn't stop myself…

Maan:"It's a sonnet by Pablo Neruda…I had just watched the movie Patch Adams…and thought it would be the perfect lines to woo my girlfriend at that time…"

A very long ago…I had memorized and recited that poem for someone who I presumed to be the one …but now…it was different…as the words left my mouth… I understood what it truly meant for the first time…it struck a chord with what I felt for her…

"I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.

I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms…"

Maan:" You know what…I actually don't remember…"

It was definitely not a good idea to continue…I feared as if I was walking into a trap…

<Geet's monologue>

He started off with the right tone…he paused at the right words…his voice rise and fell where it was needed…a perfect recital in progress…when

His eyes locked with mine…once he came to that sentence…He seemed as if he meant every word of it…I broke our gaze and looked away…It was deep…I couldn't remember the sentences correctly…It seemed as if he had given away a deep secret of his…" I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between shadow and the soul"… I didn't know why…but that sentence lingered on my mind…Was it just me or did he have an extra stress when he recited that sentence…I regretted asking that question and forcing him to do it…I was sure it was going to haunt me for a long time…

For now…I didn't want to be stuck on it…It could be all too random for what I know…I moved on…

I had learnt so much about him…they were all sweet nothings…I wanted to know more…I wanted to ask the last one question…I couldn't stop myself…

Geet:" Tell me something…that you have never ever told anyone…never….like no one knows…"

Maan:"Hmm…No one…and you will tell no one right?"

Geet:"No….pakka promise…"

Maan:" I deliver flowers…."

Geet:" What? But why would you do that?..."

Maan:" How do you think I got by for 6 years? I needed to make someone feel nice too from time to time?..."

It blew my mind away…This is Maan…I wondered if anyone could ever guess?….He had broken all my beliefs I had ever had…Is this what he was trying to protect underneath his hard shell?

Geet:" Who would you deliver them to?"

Maan:" To anyone…somebody random…I would just leave the flowers and run…or place them at the doorstep, knock and would disappear…but I would always stick around…just long enough until their surprise would slowly turn into a smile…"

He was mysterious in so many ways…I wondered how carefully I'm to handle him…I could never ever hurt him…one wrong turn or one wrong step…he will close down…and perhaps forever…that thought scared me…The fact that he trusted me and revealed himself to me spoke volumes of how he much he wanted to contribute, for me relate to him on a different level…just so I would feel comfortable to trust him in return and walk along with him…just to give me back my lost hope…just to make me feel again…

The owner came back with the check and dessert…but we had not ordered it…It was a delicious looking molten hot chocolate cake…there was a crack on the top of the cake and chocolate was oozing out from the opening…mint leaves on two raspberries placed on the side of the plate…I couldn't wait to devour it…

It was a perfect winter dessert…There was a tiny note by the cake…Maan picked it up…and read it aloud…

Maan:" Pour nouvellement weds"(For the newly weds…)

The owner spoke a long sentence in French and walked away…

He was blushing…

Maan:" He thinks we are newly married and this is on the house…his wife apparently has been watching us…and couldn't help noticing our…"

He hesitated…He re-phrased…I was sure he was not going to tell me the exact sentence…

"She thinks we are too perfect…"

I couldn't help it…my cheeks turned a deep pink…

He was about to explain ourselves to the owner as he was walking away…

<Maan's monologue>

She placed her hand on mine...and stopped me from calling out to him…

Geet:" Let's not spoil their notion of perfection…"

She looked into my eyes just a moment longer…and turned away…

I agreed….I didn't want to disturb my notion of whatever I was doing either…I didn't kidnap her…she wanted to spend time with me as well…all the closeness there was…I wish I could have rightfully owned it…beneath all the happiness…this one thought disturbed me…

I tasted the cake…it was perfect…just like how my day has been so far…my best birthday ever…I had never shown this side of me to anyone…She was capable of bringing out shades of me that I didn't know existed…It seemed like she was mixing colors in a palette and painting me…every time she mixed colors…I was that new shade…did she really know what was going to come out next?

It was actually a last minute thing…On our drive back…we went back to the same spot where we spent out last evening…The sun had already gone down….the night sky was up in full splendor…

Once we arrived there…he quickly texted something…He got out and seated himself on the car…I followed…I was cold and shivering…I really wanted to get back to the heater…

Geet:" Maan…we should be going…I'm actually…feel…"

I couldn't finish my sentence…It was mesmerizing…fireworks from all over shot up and sparkled in the night sky…over the Niagara…It was a sight worth standing for through hundred cold winters…

I didn't realize that tears were flowing down my eyes…he always did the right thing…and just the right thing…a grand finale to our perfect day…

<Maan's monologue>

During our little question and answer session, I found out that Diwali happened to be her favorite festival…and that she missed it this year with her family…I was able to read her sadness in her eyes…She was away from both the homes she ever had…

I wanted to do something for her in return for the great birthday she had given me…

I didn't see her sob that way since that night at the airport…I walked and stood beside her…I held her close…She acknowledged all that was happening…she rested her head on my shoulder…

She was crying…tears were flowing down her cheeks…and this time I didn't want to dry them…I wanted her to break down and pour out all that she was holding inside…

I wanted to set her free from all that was holding her back…

"Hot Chocolate…" She said…her tear filled eyes were telling the truth…right then I knew my mission was accomplished…