New FF: New York times with Maan and Geet - Page 92

Part 45: Open Sesame

Driver:"Sirji madam so rahe hain"

<Maan's monologue>

I didn't know she was already there.

Maan:"Tum jao. Main abhi aata hoon"

I finished my call and walked out to meet her at the main door. I opened the door and she was asleep.

I was pleasantly surprised for she had no traces of NY in her. Her hair was plaited, Patiala salwar and kurta and jhumka. I had no itentions to wake her up. Aur mera bas chalta toh…I would have lifted her to the comforts of her bed, but this was India.

I bent down to tap her on her shoulder.

Maan:"Geet…vuto…ghar aagaya hain.."

She was still half asleep. She mumbled.

Geet:"Please mujhe sone dijiye na Maan."

I wished this was NY. Things could have been different, but for now I hated what I was to do next.

Maan:"Geet…vuto"

I shook her by her arm. She didn't wake up, not until I persevered a couple of times. The driver stood there, mouth agape with disbelief. He couldn't believe it was I, Maan Singh Khurana.

Maan:"Apna moo band karo…aur apna kaam karo…"

Geet:"Sorry Maan…I was very tired aur jet lag bhi hain"

We walked to the guestroom. I didn't care who else was to see me falling for her, for I was carrying her bags. It was indeed a strange sight for everyone else who met us on our way.

Geet:"Aur aapka tabiyat kaisa hain ab?..."

Maan:"Main teek hoon, Achoon…"

I was still down with cold, but that didn't bother me in anyway now that she was here.

Geet:"You are just too careless Maan. Tell me what did you eat?"

I was about to answer when I saw something unusal on her cheeks. Streaks of grey marks resembeling fingers and that to me didn't seem good. I went closer to take a look at it. She tried to walk away, I pulled her closer and turned her face to examine the same.

Maan:"Geet….yeh kya…"

She couldn't meet my eyes. Her head was down, perhaps ashamed by her family's behavior.

I caressed her cheeks, to see if it still hurt her in anyway. She winced. I was right it did.

I didn't know what to do. My anger knew no bounds that minute.

Geet:"Maan…please aap shanth ho jaiye."

Maan:"Tum pagal ho gaye ho kya…aise jaanwar jaise harkath koi kar kaisa sakta hain…aur voh bhi tumhare saath…"

I had to take my anger out somehow else I wasn't sure what I was going to do.

<Geet's monologue>

He banged his hand against the table. He immediately took out his phone to call someone.

I had never seen him so agitated. He truly was a different person and I had never seen his raw anger before. He scared me more than Brij, but something told me that they were not the same. I went close to him and took the phone out of his hand. I cut the call before the call could get through.

He saw me tremble.

Maan:"Oh! Geet…please…tumhe dar ne ki koi zarrorat nahin. I didn't mean to…"

Geet:"Nahin…Maan…please…batiye na…"

Maan:"Nahin Geet…That guy needs to be locked up…and please tum mujhe rokna math"

He stormed out of the room. I had no idea how to stop him. He again took the phone out to call someone. I ran but I was still behind. He got into the merc and started his conversation on the phone.

Geet:"Maan, please meri baath suniye…aap poori baath sune bina…"

He started the car and lowered the window.

I went close to the car to convince him.

Maan:"Geet tum andar jao….aur I cant help it…Just don't even try…Aur tum Hoshiarpur vapas nahi jaavogi. Period"

His eyes were red with anger and he was a beast out of control. He stepped on the gas and sped.

<Maan's monologue>

I wanted to calm down, but no one…just no one can hurt her.

I looked through the side mirror to make sure she had gone inside. What? Did I do that? I had to break hard for I was already clocking 60..

I stopped the car and ran to her.

Maan:"Geet tum teek tho ho?"

Geet:"Aaahhhh….Maan....."

I wanted to see what was wrong. She was seated down and her dupatta had covered her feet. I removed it to see what was causing her that much pain. It killed me that instant for I realized I ran over her left foot. She had tire rash and it was blood red.

Maan:"Sorry Geet….main…"

It was too much for me to handle. First Brij and now I gave her my share too.

<Geet's monologue>

He once again banged his hand against the wall. He had so much pain in his eyes, but I was actually mad at him. Not because he almost ran over me with his car, but because of his anger that blinded him.

He couldn't even finish his sentence.

I was not going to talk to him. He cannot be Brij, not in anyway.

Maan:"Geet…bahuth dard ho raha hain…"

I kept looking at my feet and winced in pain. I had no idea how he was going to get me to talk to him and before I could finish with that thought, he lifted me into his arms. I…..I didn't expect that. I was sure in his arms before but I had not been awake to know that this was how it felt like. I was probably an eyelash away from his cheek. My arms were tied around his neck and he was carrying me away into another world.

He carried me slowly perhaps just to prolong the moment. Everyone at the mansion was frozen at their places. We were gaining steps. How far had we come?

I couldn't look away for he had me fixed at him. He laid me on the bed and sat down close to my feet. He took my feet and placed it on his lap and held it with both his hands.

Maan:"Geet…I'm sorry. I just don't know that you were so close…"

I turned my face in anger.

Maan:"Maine sorry kahan na…mujse baat nahi karogi?"

I heard Daadima come in.

Daadima:"Kya hogaya Geet beta?...sab teek haina?"

She entered the room and stood there. I wondered what had happened.

<Daadima's monologue>

Maan abhi se pair dabana shuru kar diya? Hame pata hain, itne attitude dikhane wale hamesha joru ka ghulam hi hote hain.

Geet:"Ji Daadiji…actually car ke neeche mera pair agaya tha"

Daadima:"Dikhaiye hame…"

<Geet's monologue>

She came close to see my feet. She wanted to touch the swollen area and I pulled my feet back. I didn't want her to touch my feet, given her age.

Daadima:"Beta, bahuth dard ho raha hain?"

I looked at him. He placed my feet on the bed and went to make a phone call.

Geet:"Ji Daadiji"

Daadima:"Shrivastav…zaara ice pack leke aana"

The man at the door ran before she could finish her sentence. I wondered what had slowed down Maan. He was normally very reactive in such situations. I remembered how he dressed my cut from the exercise bike.

With him around me I had failed to realize that this was not my room. I was in his room, in his very bed. He had carried me all the way up to his room. It was a beautiful white for felt I had come into white country. Everything was white, from the curtains to the bed spread to the furniture. There were colored artifacts thrown around to spice it up. In the corner was a huge fish tank. It was calming.

Daadima:"Hum khane ke liye kuch intezaar karte hain…aap aaraam kijiye hum abhi aate hain."

She left and he got back from his call.

He came and stood next to me.

I turned my face to the other side. He sat next to me but faced the door. He was strangely calm. I wondered if this was the silence before or after the storm. Will he go ahead with whatever he had in his mind before the car incident?

Maan:"Geet….I apologized. You are still not going to talk to me?"

I acted out for him to get me a paper and pen.

Maan:"Geet yeh bachon jaise harkatein kab chodo gi"

I nodded my head. I don't know what he made of it; he opened the bedside table and got me a pad and pen.

I scribbled down my answer for him.

Maan:"Main aapse baat tabhi karoongi, jab tak aap sorry nahin kehte…"

Maan:"Geet..maine sorry keha diya hain…"

I again wrote something for him.

Maan:"Car ke liye nahin…aur aap bhi jaante hain main kis sorry ki baat kar rahi hoon"

Shrivatav came in with the ice pack. Maan took it from him.

He moved back and took my feet again and wrapped the ice pack around my feet. He held on it.

He got up and stood next to the window. He was in deep thought. I was frustrated that he was not trying to make conversation. I wanted to find out what he was thinking. I couldn't call out to him. He wasn't looking at me. I got up from the bed and limped towards him, with the one good foot that I was left with.

He saw me close to him and he reacted.

Maan:"Geet. Tum vuti kyoon?"

He was getting mad and I was not going to give in. Perhaps I was even underestimating how angry he was. He came close to lift me up again and I moved away.

Maan:"Har baat pe zid…I'm done Geet…People can walk up and down on you and I cant question it?"

I was done. I couldn't give his answer on the paper. I had to open my mouth and talk to him.

Geet:"Voh…"

Maan:"What were you thinking? Why did you have to stand so close? Mai toh gussa mein tha…tumhari akal kahan gayi?"

He was screaming at me and I didn't like it.

Maan:"Kya zaroorat thi mujhe rook ne ki. Mere har baat ke liye Na. Ab main tumhari is na se tang aa chuka hoon Geet"

Geet:"Aur main aapke gusse se"

He rolled his eyes and stood next to me with his hands on his waist.

Geet:"Main kar bhi kya sakti thi. Aap itna gusse mein gadi le ke jaa rahe the..Main sirf aapke gusse ko tanda karna chahti thi"

He was listening to me.

Geet:"Main toh peeche peeche aagayi thi…I don't know what I can say or do to just calm you down"

He turned away. He continued to be mad at me.

Geet:"You said it will come to me, that I will know exactly what to do...but it just didn't"

Maan:"And you want me to look at those marks and sit around do nothing? If that is your expectation, then I'm sorry."

Geet:"Maan aap baat samaj the kyon nahin. They are family and I cannot hurt them back because…"

He didn't let me finish.

Maan:"And me? Main kaun hoon Geet?"

Geet:"You really want to know? Agar main is baat ka jawaab de dethi hoon tho kya aap meri baath sunenge?"

<Maan's monologue>

I didn't expect that. That was indeed a surprise. I was all ears.

Maan:"Yeah...anything you say"

She was silent for some time as if she was living through something in her mind, mentally rehearsing while fidgeting with her dupatta.

She turned and looked at me and with perfect poise she started off.

Geet:"You know how it is like when you are drowning and the water is freezing cold that it cuts through your skin. Your lungs hurt and your brain is doing all it can to push you to survive, but then the pain is so much that you think dying is better than living and you give up and then if you are lucky, you float up for a second and then you take in the first breath of air after a long time when you gasp...and that breath of air reminds you what it is to live...and then you push yourself harder to come up and stay alive"

A single drop of tear was sliding down her cheek from the corner of her eye. I didn't know where she was going with this, but it came from a deep place.

Geet:"True, you need so many of those breaths to get you to the shore, but that first breath of air that actually gets your desire back to live...that is you...."

In one contiuous stretch she had given me her answer. She had given me a glimpse of the pain she had lived with all these days. I didn't need anything more from her. Did you need me so much Geet? Will I ever matter the same way to anyone else? It was an open-ended statement from her that I meant so much to her for her existence, but that was enough for now. She had lived though it. The day she came back dripping from the swimming pool played in my mind. I winced in pain, for it ached in me too.

It convinced me that we were tied together a long time ago. We were living though the same pain but in parallel worlds. I wondered when our worlds would collide to fuse, for I no longer wanted to be in a different plane than hers.

She still wanted to stand, for when I moved closer to her, she moved away. I pursued her.

She had more to tell me and I wondered what was making her open up to me. Which part of what I said implied "Open Sesame" to her? Why today?

Geet:"Upar se toh teek hi thi...what not right? Hot chocolate and all...and you for sure didnt know that I had not felt hot chocolate myself..."

What? Toh phir vus din why was she convincing me so much. There was still so much that I didn't know about her. She was now crying. I got closer to her.

She continued. Her strong gaze shot right into me.

Geet:"Sirf baashan tha who sab…aur isiliye doosron ki zindagi se mehasoos karke phirthi thi and then when Dev left me and I was struggling there in the airport not knowing what to do. I was crazy and irrational and I didnt how to just continue living, you just showed up all of a sudden out of nowwhere and was leading me away...giving me a taste of life again...making me want to live, when I had given up"

She was pretty impulsive and was sobbing badly. She had answered my question a long time ago but I wanted to know more. Bolo Geet…I want to know everything there is about you. I let her continue for she was not letting me come near her. She kept moving to the side or the backward as I advanced. Ziddi…she was limping but still wanted to do it her way.

Geet:"I can't afford to make mistakes...my life has only been a series of failures that now I just cant afford to make any mistakes."

She looked down and perhaps she was indeed being dealt with a hard hand in life. Be it circumstances or relationships. How can I change anything in her life? She wouldn't let me. I hated that thought.

She was restless, as if something had her in its control and was gushing those words out of her. I took one step forward to hold her and she moved back.

Geet:"So many things have happened in the last three months. I just want some smooth sailing for some time. I just want life to be simple."

I knew what she meant. Things were far from simple and I had posed another dimension to her problems, by coming out with my feelings as well.

Geet:"I'm sure when you get beaten up, you should get up, get going but what if I just want to lie around and do nothing...not forever...but may be for sometime because I'm tired"

She looked at me. Was she asking me? Her eyes questioned it all. I was about to hold her shoulder; she moved one step to her side by the window. Why was I pursuing her? Didn't I want to stay away from her? My mind had gone crazy for it had heard it all…." that first breath of air that actually gets your desire back to live...that is you...."

Geet:"For a change I dont want to take care of anyone and neither do I want to be dependent on anyone. I want the spotlight in my life for myself. I want to know what I'm made of...whether I'm clay or iron or wood...if I was going to dissolve or rust or float the next time life throws another wave at me. Or maybe I'm none of them, but I want to figure it out myself. I want to be selfish for sometime. Do you think that is ok?"

Yes Geet. It was ok. You don't have to explain anything to me. I know you.

Everything was white, plain and clear…and above all pure. It was indeed a pristine moment that she declared my presence in her life. I was ready to let go of her, for I knew I didn't have to pursue her anymore. She would find me even if I were to be hiding in the underworld.

She was against the wall and couldn't move back further. Her eyes were full of tears, but more with questions. She closed her eyes and the tears flowed out. I walked close to her and dried her tears. She turned her face and rested her cheek on the palm of my hand. The moonlight hit her other cheek and the marks appeard even brighter.

Maan:"Tum jaana chahti ho ki geet ki tum, kya ho…"

She opened her eyes to look at me.

Maan:"Sirf meri Geet…samji…sirf meri"

<Geet's monologue>

Sirf aapki? I had given him the one sentence that cannot stop him anymore. I was sure, in a hope to have him listen to me, I had given away something that could make him not do that forever. His love was crazy…and probably crazier than mine, for I was still questioning what I had, whereas his had matured to go any mile to see to my happiness.

I didn't want to face him. I turned to put some distance between us. He didn't let me. He came close to me and stood by my side. His forehead was resting right above my ear. I fisted and clenched my dupatta, for that moment, I was ready to hold him and disappear into eternity.

He noticed the same. He tried to free my hand and took it around his waist. His anger had disappeared but there was another side of him that was showing up, and I wasn't sure if this side still had the better of him. I looked up to him to see if his eyes were telling me the same. I was trembling as I was still holding him and he was dangerously close by my side. His nose traced down to the same cheek that had the marks.

<Maan's monologue>

Now this was different. She was close and she was blinding me with her presence. Her skin was supple…I mean, how could he do something like this to her…She was awakening the desires in me that had become alien to me. I was torn between wanting to kiss her and…

I wanted my thoughts to freeze at that moment, for I wanted to stay frozen with her by my side. I didn't want to lose myself, but I couldn't pull myself away from her either. If only she could give me one sign…I went ahead to hold her by her waist and turned her to face me as my nose continued to trace down her cheeks.

<Geet's monologue>

I gave in. I couldn't take it anymore for he was pushing my limit as well. My breath had already become shallow. I had completely lost my sanity for my hands no longer rested around his waist; it was clenching his collar and partly rested on his bare chest. It moved slowly upwards to tangle around his neck, pulling his shirt apart slowly. My eyes were closed for his passion was burning me alive.

He probably stood there wondering how to provide the climax to the moment we were in….

When Daadima called out to me as she was still in the hallway.

I pushed him and he instantly turned away. He was standing with his hands on his waist and wincing with guilt. I checked to see if my duptatta was still in place. I wondered how I was going to face Daadima while I was still not done recovering, but it was too late. He already scooped me in his arms and took me towards his bed.

Daadima didn't expect that, neither did I.

Daadima:'Geet beta, Khana tayar hain, chaliye"

Geet:"Maan…mujhe neeche utariye…main khud chali javoongi"

He looked at me.

Daadima:"Hame koi aitraaz nahin agar aap inhe aise hi vuta ke rakenge…mera mtalab dining hall tak vuta ke aayenge toh"

<Daadima's monologue>

I have just one word for you Mr Maan Singh Khurana. "Pakdegaye". I couldn't help smiling.

Maan beta mujhe isi pal ka intezaar ta. Hum banayenge Geet ko aapke…"Geet".

I couldn't help hearing their conversation from the hallway. Shrivastav was on my side too. We had come a long time ago to call them out for dinner, but hearing Geet sob, we had to wait outside. And then there was silence, and so before things could go too far, I had to move in, drop the dinner call. Shrivastav was in too for Project Maan Ki Geet. He was in all right but had his doubts for he didn't hear Geet tell Maan anything directly.

Woh kya samje pyaar ki baatein…

<Geet's monologue>

I was trembling. Daadima was in front of me and he was still lost in me.

Maan…please snap out of it, my eyes cried out to him. He turned away realizing the situation.

Daadima:"Beta aap teek tho hain?...Itna kaamp kyon rahe hain? Tand lag raha hain?"

Geet:"Ji…Daadiji…"

Daadima:"Chaliye neeche chalte hain, wahan pe teek hoga"

Geet:"Ji Daadiji…Maan mujhe neeche utariye" I looked at him.

He didn't listen to me. He carried me to the dining table to everyone's surprise.

<Maan's monologue>

It had awkward written all over it. It was not about Daadima, but about her. How am I going to face her now? I probably wouldn't regret so much if I had gone ahead and kissed her, but now I still don't know where she stands. She was indeed playing along, but I wasn't sure if this meant that she was ready to take the plunge. Aaah…I hate it when she gives me such open-ended answers, open for any interpretation and I sure did get carried away.

<Geet's monologue>

Babaji yeh sab kya hogaya aaj? Agar Daadima nahi aate toh yahan pet toh kuch aur hi hone wala tha.

Aur Maan bhi na…..Main unhe kyoon dosh de rahi hoon. Main tho had hi kardi aaj. Mere liye Frisco hi teek hain, nahin to pata nahin, kya kar betoongi.

He was seated at the host seat. Daadima to his left and my plate setting was to the right. He didn't look at me. He was processing something.

We silently finished our dinner, while Daadji engaged me in conversation occasionally enquiring about people back home.

Daadiji wished me goodnight and he carried me back to his room.

Geet:"Lekin mera room toh neeche hain"

Maan:"Kyoon mere saath is room mein dar lagta hain?"

He stopped for a moment and laid me on his bed. I looked away.

Maan:"Geet, kal ka appointment ke liye saare papers tayar hain?"

Geet:"Ji…."

He was normal, but something was troubling him inside.

Maan:"Aur appointment ke baad, tum yahin pe aa rahe ho na?"

Geet:"I thought I will start for Hoshiarpur after that. Agar aap chahe to hum raste mein mil sakte hain"

Maan:"Geet, yeh NY nahin hai. Yahan main tumhe coffee shop ya sadkon pe nahin mil sakta hoon"

His voice had become much more sterner. I wondered what was doing this to him.

Geet:'Teek hain main yahin aajavoongi"

Maan:"Kisiko bejun tumhare saaman lane ke liye?"

Geet:'Ji…I don't get you"

Maan:"Hoshiarpur se"

Geet:"Maan…main vapas jaa rahi hoon. Bas shall we leave it there"

Maan:"Tumne mujhe aaj rookliya, lekin iska matlab ye nahin ki main tumhe vahan vaapas jaane doonga. Bhool jao"

Geet:"Maan ab aapko kya chaiye? Why are you so stuck on this? It's very normal and I want you to accept it."

Maan:"Yeh normal hai tumhare liye..."

He traced his fingers on my cheek.

Geet:"But you promised, you will listen to me"

He gave up and regretted his statement. He got up and went away from the bed.

Maan:"Tumhara files aur papers kahan hain?"

Geet:"Neeche wale kamre main…bag ke.."

He didn't wait for me to finish. He went down and came back with my bag.

He gave it to me for me to get the file for him.

Geet:"Isme…kya…"

He just didn't care. He took my papers and went and sat on the diwan on the opposite side.

He sorted out the papers and was going though them. I was amazed at the way he took care of things. He was all about the details.

He was going through my passport.

<Maan's monologue>

Pata nahin jaldi main sab check bhi ki, ki nahin. Yeh…ye waala tho teek hain. Aur passport expire tho nahin hua hain na…I was scanning through the details when my eyes hit her birthdate.

How come I never bothered to find out her birthday? And this seemed all too coincidental for it was just 2 days away. She didn't breathe a word about it to me. Hmmm I wasn't sure what I wanted to do.

I was done. I put the papers back in order and went back to give it to her. She sat up on the bed and started off with her ranting.

Geet:"Checking aur auditing ho gaya….ab kya bakhi hain…chahe to…mujhe bhi check"

She was mad, but her crazy self again made a statement that she was regretting, I was sure.

She went under the covers, when she caught herself.

Aaj nahin Geet…par ek din….I didn't want to make it awkward for her. I placed the file back on her bag.

Maan:"Tum yahin pe so ja…aur main is diwan pe so jaata hoon…agar tumhe kuch chaiye toh mujhe vuta le na"

I went back to the diwan and settled in. She was adjusting the covers and making herself comfortable. Was this a dream? I had never anticipated that things would change so much in my life. Moonlight night, at my place, she was in my room, my bed and the whole night I could watch her without taking my eyes off her. Nature indeed had heard my inner cries. " that first breath of air that actually gets your desire back to live...that is you...."

What did I ever do to get someone who loved me this crazy? She didn't know that yet, but she will and I was sure for my love would help her with that.

She didn't tell me anything, but her inner turmoil and the stream of words she spoke had conveyed it all. I knew her, atleast for that moment. We had our own love language and I had learnt it all.

Hello people. Cant believe that instead of going to office I sat and wrote this down. I mean I had the scenes so it was not that bad. Maan's confession was crazy, and so I couldn't leave our sherni behind. True it was not a confession, but its all unsaid. I feel it heightens the senses that way. Now things will change between them. There is just one thing they know and that is their love for each other (Lets not forget Geet still thinks its a rebound) but what will that love teach them about themselves, about each other? How crazy can they get? We will see it all in the upcoming parts. I know many of you had questions about Geet's feelings for Maan but I didnt write back hoping that this part will give you some answers, but do comment and post to let me know.

As always looking forward for Geet's episode tomorrow. Cant wait for them to hold each other? By the way we did have some steamy cooking in our FF too today. I'm scared...please let me know what you think. Can't wait.

You really made me cry with this update and I wasn't weepy till now 🤗