New FF: New York times with Maan and Geet - Page 61

Hey Hasini,

I really like the sequence of events on here, it seems so realistic!!
Also, Love the way u write....its so deep/meaningful and makes this FF Brilliant :)

hey hasini

thats another great 1

luv the way they openup every time

happy diwali

luv u

nisha

Part 35: Wild life observer.

<Geet's monologue>

I knew Meer will be alone, but I wanted to spend time here as well. Main kitni matlabi ban gayi thi…but I was not ready to let go of this opportunity. I felt like I was working for National Geographic, getting to observe him in his habitat.

Observation # 1: He was working once again on his laptop. His concentration was too keen on something. Jumping back and forth between screens and I adored him for being dedicated inspite of my presence. Vaise…I don't expect him to give me all his attention, but it will be nice if he could sometimes, which he did, but only occasionally, like the night at Niagara. I yearned.

Inference # 1: Kaam ke aage kuch nahin….

I was keeping up with my mental notes.

I could hear grumbling sounds from my stomach…time to eat…I was pretty hungry and I bet he was too.

Maan:"Hmmm…do you want to order something?"

I wonder how he always said the right thing at the right time. Could he read me?

Geet:"Hmm…Kuch bhi chalega…lekin…usse pehle…kya main 15 mts ke liye parole pe jaa sakthi hoon. I want to have a shower."

I made a face. He laughed and was embarrassed that he had me here locked and kept away from the world.

Maan:"Hmm…I was thinking Chinese….and before the order comes, you better get back alright."

He wanted to add something else…and seemed to building it as he was speaking

Maan:"Hmm..kaane ke baath hum kuch kaam kar le they hain." <Maan's monologue> I needed a better reason to make her stay back after lunch, and ended up asking her to work?. Main tho in baathon mein sach much tubelight hoon.

<Geet's monologue>

Kaam? I'm not interested in work. It's a Saturday and now way I was going to work.

I hurried home. Meer had a sly smile on her face. I told her that I was pretty tired and ended up sleeping at his place. She was in a hurry getting out to go for shopping. Babji main toh bach gayi…Nahi toh! She would have definitely wanted to know what is going on. I was glad I didn't have to face her now. I showered and quickly came to the closet. I couldn't decide what I wanted to wear. Should I switch to jean and a top or…should I go for a suit…?

I remembered the time we had gone out for shopping Daadima's gift. He kept his eyes on me all the time and I had not been any different that day other than being in a suit. I wanted to see at close quarters what would happen if I was available as his prey. Main toh badi shaitain nikile... I smiled and changed, but soon my guilt took over, was it even the right thing to do? Main bahek rahi thi…

I didn't want to change again either. I wore a sweater to cover my low back and wore the dupatta and went back to his apartment.

While going through my guilt trip, I had forgotten to dry my air…koi baat nahin…sook jayega…and little did I expect that it would turn out to draw him closer…like a hunter to his catch.

The door bell rang. I wish she had keys to come here on her own. We weren't there yet, I sighed.

I opened the door and she was there in a suit and a sweater, but don't we have the heater running. Is she ok? She looked much fresher…prettier…dainty…I was getting carried away…Her hair was wet and was forming ringlets up on her right shoulder. I couldn't take my eyes off her. Her perfume was musky and I didn't need any more than her wet hair to drive me crazy. I could hear my mind screaming that it is such a bad idea to have her home alone.

<Geet's monologue>

Observation # 2: He was affected by my presence. I couldn't understand what it was. I had removed the thought of tempting him and had taken every precaution I could. Was it the suit? Or was it my perfume? I couldn't figure it out.

Inference # 2: I affect him either ways. It didn't matter what time of the day it was.

<Maa's monologue>

She settled on the couch and just then the delivery guy buzzed from downstairs. I went down to collect the food and came back. She was surfing the channels. On the way up I had decided I was not going to be any close to her. I also decided that I was going to be inert to any crazy comments she was going to make for all I know she might not even know the right meaning. Yesterday's meeting moments came back to my mind. I winced in pain. That was the lowest I had gone with any girl and it ached that I had stooped to that level with her. I could end up losing her forever. It was going to be a real test today. I regretted my idea. I placed the setting down on the floor. I was sure she was going to eat seated on the couch. She took her plate and was digging through the bag for a fork.

Geet:'You know what? I think I will try the chop sticks today."

Maan:"Do you know how to use it? "

Geet:"No but I want to try…"

It was already 5 mts and she couldn't pick up one morsel of rice from the plate.

She got down and sat next to me.

She was observing me as if I was demonstrating something, and all I was doing was eating with chopsticks.

<Geet's monologue>

Observation # 3: Extremely skilled at eating with chopsticks, linking it with the French and the French caf and all the good places he chooses to eat, he must be very interested in fine food. My mind started linking the events from the Niagara trip….his plan to spend the birthday with me….the vacation home, the breakfast place…

Inference # 3: A food connoisseur and loves everything exotic and different.

I was amused that I was so good at this job. He was indeed a different breed and a class apart. I should probably consider talking up a job at one of those life science channels to be a Wild Life observer.

I smiled.

Maan:"Kyon has rahi ho…"

Geet:'Ji Kuch nahi….I really really want to eat with these sticky things…" I made a face…

Maan:"Ok…here let me show you…"

He placed his plate down and asked me to mimick him…he brought the first three fingers starting from the thumb together and was moving the chop sticks together and was able to pick up just one morsel of rice. I tried the same, but the chopsticks fell down…I was ready to give up. He placed his right hand on mine and made me pick up the chop sticks and then made my fingers move and once again the chop sticks fell down.

Maan:"You know what forget it…here…"

He took my plate and used the chop sticks scooped some rice between them and was holding in front of my mouth.

I couldn't look at him. I lowered my eyes and let him feed me. I wasn't sure where this was going to end up. My mind was racing between all that had happened yesterday and so before he went for the next one …

Geet:"Actually I think I will settle with the fork" I got up and went to the kitchen to grab a fork.

I came back and I went on to relish the food on my plate. He continued watching CNN. I wanted to ask him something that was lurking on my mind since that morning.

Geet:"Maan…main aapse kuch poochoon toh aap bura nahin maanenga na?"

Maan:"I think that depends on what you want to ask?"

Geet:"Nahin…toh main nahi poochongi."

He smiled asking me to proceed.

Geet:"Maan…woh album…jo hallway closet main…."

Maan:"Hmmm.."

Waiting for me to ask the question…he continued eating.

Geet:"Aap usme bahuth different dikthe hain…Aur bahuth sare dost bhi the…vun sab logon ke saath aap ab bhi touch main hain?"

I didn't know how else to find out if he missed her and so I started with a safe question.

Maan:"Nahin…that was something from my past and I'm not in touch with anyone…And I know who you want to ask about in particular…no I don't even know where she is"

Geet:" Aur….aap…unko miss…"

I wasn't sure if I could even go about asking that question.

Geet:"I think I'm going too far…I'm sorry Maan…

Maan:"Geet…its ok….Nahin…she is like the scar that is always there to remind me of what happened, but over time, it has stopped hurting completely. I don't even think about her for me to miss her"

Geet:"Aur main kya yeh pooch sakthi hoon…ki aap dono ke beech yeh sab…"

He was done. He got up to go to the kichen and I followed him.

Maan:"Voh nahin jaanthi the ki main khurana khandan ka waaris hoon…I always maintained that way in college and school. We went on a back packing trip to Europe and there she met another friend who was loaded. She thought she would have better opportunities with him and moved on....The last set of pictures in the album is from that trip."

Geet:"Aapne vune sach kyon nahi baathaya… Was that other person really wealthier than you?"

He placed the plates in the sink…and turned towards me. He was leaning on the countertop.

Maan:"No….not at all in any way" he smiled "But what is the point, if money is what she was really behind then I didn't need her. Ofcourse she came back and gave it to me very polished, that she didn't feel any love between us and that there was an instant spark with the other guy, blah, blah. But I didn't buy it."

Geet:"Toh kya aapne vunhe phirse milne ke liye bhi koshish nahin kiya?"

Maan:"Vuske liye koi zaroorat nahin tha...after all she didn't miss me or try to find me either…"

He had given me the inference straight here. Once bitten twice shy.

Geet:"I'm sorry…Maan"

Maan:"No geet don't be…I'm not."

We walked back and a cold silence was lingering in the air. I didn't know how to break it either. He took his laptop and started checking something. He didn't have his headphones on, but there was some song that was playing in the laptop and I could make out the faint music.

Geet:"What are you listening to?"

Maan:"Its just something playing in the back ground"

Geet:"Let me hear..." I took the headphones and listened to the song. "I like it".

He seemed excited.

Maan:"If you like this one, then listen to this…"

And that's when it started, he made me to listen to all sorts of songs. Famous to indie, 60's to the latest.

I don't know how , but now it was videos.

We switched to youtube in his TV and he started showing me his favorite videos. They were mostly funny ones and clips from movies. Then we decided to watch Full Metal jacket movie and started watching the same. It was already 3.00 PM. Time always flew by me when I was with him. I wanted a snack.

I made some popcorn in the microwave and came back to the couch. I was digging in. The first part was hilarious and the second part was totally disconnected. Was it just me?

Geet:"Yeh! Kya Maan…is it me? Why is this second part completely different?"

He went about explaining and we were so involved in analyzing the movie that we both dug into the popcorn tub. His hand was clutching mine.

When did even moments like this started becoming so awkward? I wondered. Everything had changed after yesterday. I didn't know how to feel at ease around him anymore. I was having frequest guilt trips over yesterday. Was it the same case with him as well?

<Maan's monologue>

Given a choice I didn't want to let go of her hand, but what would she think of me. I had been a low life yesterday and I didn't want to be one today.

I took my hand out of the tub and got up to walk to the kitchen.I grabbed a glass of water and drank it down until all my desires had been extinguished.

I went back to finish the movie. She was playing with the pop-corn. The second part didn't interest her and she was probably trying to amuze herself with such silly games. The interesting part is that I played along too. I threw a popped kernel up in the air and tried to catch it with my mouth and she did the same. We probably managed to catch one or two, but most of them ended in the ground. The popcorn was strewn all around; the pillows were down and all over. The CD's and the DVD's were out of their shelves. This place was no longer my house, that afternoon it became my home.

I couldn't help think about the simple moments that we shared, silly yet it connected us at a different level.

If all this was not already driving me mad, nature added to it. It sent down the first snow of the season. She opened the French doors and walked out. I had a routine every year and today it was going to be extra special because she will be a part of it too. I went in and got the camera. I always took a picture of the city and the snow on the first shower.

I walked out. She was slightly shivering, but still seemed comfortable. She turned to look at me and that is when I noticed she had a tear drop in the corner of her eye.

Maan:"Geet Kya hua…"

Geet:"Do you know Maan, it snowed the same day, five years ago. It was my first day in Toronto…in a foreign country…"

There was so much sadness in her statement. I didn't know how to console her, but it clearly seemed like she had not shared something like that with anyone else.

I walked towards her to stay close.

Geet:"I had just been married for 3 days and right after I came home that day, it started snowing. It was the most magical thing I had ever seen. I had never seen snow until then…you know?"

She turned and looked at me. Tears were welling up in her eyes…I reflected on her statement. This meant that her marriage anniversary was three days ago. I wondered if she suffered that day. I cursed myself that I had not been close to her to know how she had taken it on Wednesday.

Geet:"There was so much tension between us at that point, given the situation that brought us together, but he wanted to make it lighter. He walked out, clumped a fresh mound of snow into a heart shape, came back in and gave it to me. He said that it was his heart and said that he was giving it away to me…I kept it in the freezer for as long as I could. I thought I would eventually love him…and he probably thought that too…"

I was surprised that I could sympathize with her. The last time she brought up Dev's name, things changed quite a bit between us and now it was changing too but in a different way. I was able to feel the hurt in her. My conversation about my past with her came back to my mind. I guess I understand now. I had no right to make her deny her past. It was very much a part of her. At that moment I resolved that if she was ever to be mine, then so would her past as well. That instant I didn't know how to make all her hurt go away.

Maan:"Geet…I know these things never leave the mind. They are always there to remind us of the mistakes and make us regret for that time. As I said they are like scars, they will always be there to remind us of the time that we were once part of …but trust me, it will stop hurting eventually. You just have to trust now that you will get over it"

She acknowledged it with her silence. She couln't stop crying though.

Maan:"Geet…No one can make these things go away. They will always be the skeletons in your closet…"

She went back and she was crying pretty badly…she took the pillow and was tugging it hard, as if it could absorb all that she was going through. She lay down on the couch and contined sobbing.

I was glad I was a part of her healing process. It was much needed.

I kneeled down on the floor next to her and held her hand. I patted her back slowly. I wondered if it was soothing her…I removed the hair that was getting wet in her tears and dried her cheeks with my fingers.

I got her some tissues..and continued stroking her back to calm her down. She was holding my hand tight.

Maan:"Geet…its ok…you will be fine…."

She gave in and finally fell asleep. I got up and sat next to where her head was resting on the pillow. She was hurting, or probably was even having a bad dream, as she would squeeze my hand from time to time as if to indicate that she was experiencing something bad at that moment. She was deep in sleep and once I was sure of that I walked out and took some pictures and came back inside.

I didn't know if I could take a picture of her sleeping like this, but resisted the thought and went back to sit next to her.

8.13 PM

She woke up and was leaning on my shoulder. Her left hand came around me to hug me tight.

Geet:"Why didn't you wake me up Maan? How long have I been sleeping"

She was still half asleep and so was I. I hugged her back.

Maan:"Its ok…ab kya hogaya hain…it's just a Saturday"

My eyes were still closed. I turned and gave her a peck on her lips…..

I jolted. Did I just do that? I opened my eyes to see what I had done.I was stitting next to her and she was still asleep on the couch. Our hands were tangled tight. It was a dream and a bad one that scared the bejesus out of me. I made sure that never happened. When I had jerked, she woke up too as I had pulled her hand as well. I was embarrassed that my dreams had become so much to do with her.

I got up went to the washroom to splash some water on my face. I was out and she was sitting herself up, but was still in a half dazed state. I didn't want to concentrate on her. I started cleaning up the CD's and DVD's.

<Geet's monologue>

Even as I was waking up, I couldn't help observe that he was putting things back where they belonged.

I had ruined the evening for him and I so I wanted to help him out with the cleaning. It was the least I could do.

Geet:"Maan…main karde thi hoon…"

Maan:"No…I'm just putting these CD's and stuff back, Aur tumhe pata bhi nahin ki yeh sab kis order mein rakna hain… Bakhi ka cleaning Nakul karde ga. He will be back tomorrow"

Observation # 5: He puts things in the same order and in the same place, but doesn't care about cleaning though.

Inference # 5: He was very particular about his stuff. Not too picky about cleaning and that's probably because he knows it will be done tomorrow.

I got up went to the restroom,washed my face and came back. It was stuffy, I took off my sweater and went to get the vaccum.

Maan:"Tumhe abhi kuch karne ki koi zarrorat hain….Nakul…aake…"

His words trailed off…I turned to look at what had happened.His eyes were fixed on me.

<Maan's monologue>

Her skin looked much smoother. Her hair was on her left shoulder and her back…..

I was pretty frustrated that I was getting carried away by her everytime.

Maan:"Maine kahan na…ki cleaning mat karo…then just don't…"

Geet:"Yeh Lai…and I was thinking MK didn't show up today…"

I was angry for the same reason that I was still not controling my thoughts and I was displacing it on her cleaning act.

Maan:"Geet…please can you stop treating like I have Multiple personality disporder…"

Geet:"Ok…Sorry…What I meant was…there is not a day that goes by without you getting angry"

She continued vaccuming. She was almost done. Only the pillows had to be put in its place.

She was right. My inner child keeps showing up now and then. In her words MK. It always gets what it wants. It showed up everytime, there was a challenge or threat. And now the threat was that I could loose my self control and end up doing something stupid. To me it was my shield but I'm sure it had hurt many a soul for its own goodness. It was high time I realize it was getting over crowded. There was not too much space for my inner child between "US".

Today was as good as any other day to start pushing it out, else it would be the classic camel and the tent story and I would end up with my self again. I was not going to let that happen, I calmed down and tried positive affirmation…

Maan you can do it. She is just another girl…calm down and act normal. Think for yourself, if you make mistakes, you can end up losing her for ever…One wrong step and a giant leap into your own doom….

Maan:"Yeah I guess….may be you can help everytime that happens…and it probably will stop showing eventually…yeh lo…Now even I'm talking like I have MPD."

Both of us laughed.

Geet:"Hmmm Main…Kya kahoon…What is the one sentence that can calm you down?…"

I thought of it and smiled.

Maan:"Lets not get into details…It will just come to you….because right now I don't know what it is either…"

We were done with the clean up.

Geet: "Do you want to catch some dinner?"

Maan:"Yeah…anyways we have been vegging out inside all day"

<Geet's monologue>

So after dinner, I would be going back to my place. I sighed. I was sad for some reason. I would miss him terribly.

Geet:"I have been hearing about this ethiopian place, do you want to go there? It's quite a drive though."

He came and sat on the couch next to me. I was using my inference # 3 to delight him and make up for the evening I ruined by bringing up my sob story. I was still glad I got to spend the whole day with him..Babaji…thank you.

I had learnt so much about him. Every day I spent with him, I was falling for him one step deeper.

Maan:"No…we should try…let's change and start…"

Geet:"Alright I will go and change."

I got up to leave when he stopped me by tugging my wrist and brought it close to him. I sat back on the couch.

Maan:"Geet…"

He cupped his hands around my cheek…

Maan:"Tum ab teek tho ho na…"

I was taken back. All those ruckus that would break out between me and Dev came to my mind and there was not an instance when he would came back to me to make sure I was ok…It didn't matter how badly I had cried…and here he was making sure I was ok when I had cried myself to sleep because of the hurt I was carrying from my past, of which he was not a part of.

Inference # 6: He was nothing like Dev and that to me was the biggest revelation I had the whole day.

Geet:"Ji…I'm sorry I ruined your evening. I didn't expect the snow would…"

He cut me off.

Maan:"Geet…its not easy. There is always going to be something that will keep reminding you of the past, but it will get better with time. And I promise, things will never change if you ever want to share that with me. Infact I'm glad you did"

I simply smiled and he let go of my hand.

I was lost in his words…"Tum ab teek tho ho na…"

I smiled at all the craziness I had been doing since the morning. Right then I knew that I could not be a wild life observer in any channel…it was only him that I wanted to observe and be a part of.

<Maan's monologue>

It was a perfect day. We seemed more like a couple that anything else.

I was thinking and considering about too many things that needed to change in my life. What piece is she really? Where was she all this time? Was it me or her? Do I love her more than I loved Sameera? Or is it that I didnt love Sameera at all? I remembered all the time I had spent with Sameera and I for once never questioned myself if I needed to bring out the better part in me. True, she made change the only constant thing in my life.

This is more like two parts in one. Making up for not posting yesterday and sorry people, I had to write this lengthy one... I just couldn't get the closure between them for the upcoming parts. Forgive me if its too much in one post. Hope you like it.

I was very tempted to stop the post at the dream scene and leave you restless until the next post. But I had already started writing the next ones and so I couldnt change course now.
This post is a true indulgence. I think I totally get it now why Quentin Tarantino made that opening scene for 20 minutes in Inglorious bas***ds. The post was only supposed to be like 4 pages longs in Word and here I have 8 and half pages. What can I say? You guys have done it to me.
Thanks and keep posting.

Such a long and fabulous part deserves a longer comment so I'll be back later with more ;-)

Ooh I forgot to give you one in my old comment

Maan is carry person i hope they confess there feeling soonnnnnnnnnnnn awesome update pls cont soonnnnnnn