Part 57 Phool aur kaante
<Geet's monologue>
Daadima was teary eyed. We were leaning on the steel rails with our bags already checked in and it was indeed separating us from all our family on the other side that had come to bid farewell to us given our impending journey. Papa had come to the airport to see me off to NY. He coudn't get Rajji or Tito for people at home were suspecting their random trips to Delhi and papa had no intentions to stand and answer Brij's questions. I hugged Papa and consoled him for he was crying now and I was pleasantly surprised when Maan joined me.
Maan:"Papa, aap fikar mat kijiye…main Geet ka khayal rakoonga…"
And the next was Daadima's turn and I pitched in along with Maan. She was hugging the both of us and gave a peck to her laadli pota first followed by one another on my forehead.
Daadima:"Juk juk jiyo aap dono…aur jaldi se hame ek potha ya pothi ko bhi de dijiye ga…"
It was not weird for such wishes to come our way now that we were married, but I had never picturized it in my mind. Until that instant, I had never seen a mental picture of Me and Maan going the family way. My cheeks were flushed and he quickly turned to catch me before the moment passed. He had a smile on his face that acknowledged what Daadima had just asked for. His thoughts that moment were not consipicuous to me for we had never stumbled upon that topic, not even by mere chance. It was something to be discussed before we drove our relationship one step ahead physically, but for now, I was more occupied with the sorrow that came from parting with my dear ones here and at home.
He held me and we waved together as we walked backwards towards the immigration counter. I strangely didn't cry that minute; perhaps my heart was well assured that I was in good and safe hands. My mind played back the moments that had driven me to start on this very trip to India. 2 months to date and Darji was more stable and my life had taken a 180 degree turn from where it was and now I had a man in my life for me to pursue and to be pursued.
Maan:"Mujhe yakeen nahi ho raha hain…yeh Khwaab hai yaa haqeeqat…tum sach main meri Geet banke NY laut rahi ho?"
His eyes were processing the moment. It was indeed something to be talked about, but not now, for I had other questions for him.
Geet:"Kyon aapko yakeen nahin ho raha hain? kya karon aapko yakeen dilana ke liye"
I pinched him close to his wrist and his skin turned a deep pink with the greenish tinge of his veins giving away the blood that rushed to the very spot I had just affected.
Maan:"Aah! Tumhari is chutki se bachke rehna padega"
I went ahead with the one question that was bothering me.
Geet:"Maan, hame sab ko hamare shaadi ke baare main announce karna padega kya?"
He was checking his email on his iphone, when my question called for his attention and he raised his eyebrow anticipating a deliberation between us.
Maan:"Tum kya chahte ho?"
I gave it straight to him without any cover-ups.
Geet:"Maan, main sirf ek hafta ke liye wahan pe rahoongi, main chati hoon ki mere jaane ke baad aap email beje…"
He continued to look at me trying to read from my eyes if there was any shame associated with what I had just proposed. I struggled to explain the real reason to him.
Geet:"Aap tho jaante hain ki log wahan pe ye bhi nahain jaante hain ki mera past…"
He didn't let me finish and raced ahead to give me a response.
Maan:"I have no intentions to send an email to anyone. I like to keep my colleagues out of my personal life…Lekin"
He paused and I sensed his eagerness to find out something from me.
Maan:"I'm not planning to keep anything in the wraps…I think you know what I mean…Office mein main tumhara boss hoon Geet, but if someone questions what we are to each other, I will give it straight to them that I'm your husband. I believe that is what you intend to do"
He commanded the air. I couldn't speak back for his voice was stern now almost telling me he was not ready to take up any altercations realted to this very topic. I was covered at office for the next one week for I had been troubled for the last two hours or so with graphic scenes of Shasha and me bickering about my character over my relationship with him. I was in no mood to explain myself to anyone, especially to someone who sat at her desk all day, sanding her nails and waiting to pick on people. I had to give him back an answer for he was still curiously eying me as we had completed our checks in the course of the conversation and were now seated ready to board.
Geet:"Ji…I don't know why you doubted it…I just didn't want to announce it from our side, while I was still there and face unnecessary…"
He cut me off.
Maan:"I don't think you should give too much thought to others…and rather use that time to think about me…"
He finally gave out a smile. It was a warning and a tease all in one. I would have to take lessons from him for such making such pithy statements that delivered content.
<Maan's monologue>
I exactly knew where she was going with this, but it was too early for a bashan. Petty office canard was not for me to deal with and she had to learn to overcome them too. Her staggered walk from time to time gave me jitters for the few moments she would stumble and recover. SF was a big move and I hoped she would recover fully before that, for I was not going to be around to hold her everytime she swayed in mid-air. Thanks to Obama all visa transfers were taking ages to have them approved, but I only had 8 more days of her at the NY office. The dichotomy in her role as an analyst and as my wife was something interesting to look forward to for the polarity dictated a challenge for me in handling her at office. Mrs. Maan Singh Khurana presenting numbers to me sounded interesting and got be revved up for the day we would be in office together.
17 hours was a long time and she kept turning around in her seat, trying to manage the pressure difference without letting a teardrop roll down her cheek.
Maan:"Geet bahuth takleef ho raha hain?"
She turned and tried to lean on my shoulder uncomfortably. Damn the first class seats for they were spaced quite far and she had to pull herself out of the seat to come close even if it was to receive momentary comfort from me.
Geet:"Maan, I think I should be fine once we land…aur uske baad hamare ghar main honge…"
She smiled and winced in pain. I was counting time literally and waited to get off the plane, more for her than for me. The moment arrived and I wanted to carry her off to our very own sanctuary amidst all the craziness that drove the world in Manhattan. I was not someone who resisted authority in the US, but today was different for I had to move away to the immigrant counter for immigration stamping. My eyes were on her for all of the 15 mts, she was away at the non-immigrants line. She walked out and I scooped her waist and pulled her closer to get our baggages and the entire time, she didn't take her eyes off of me and I strangely enjoyed her stare.
Geet:"Mujhe chod ke padhra mts bhi rahe nahin paye Maan?"
She spoke in an alluring tone and I was prepared to let her know that her absence from my side was not indiscernible.
Maan:"Pandra minute tho kya, pandra second bhi nahi reha sakta hoon…"
Our bags were already there and the car was waiting outside too with Meera and Yash at the receiving counter. It must have been Daadima's arrangement for Geet and I did not ask them to come down at the wee hours of 3.30 AM, after they left for NY and before our return from Sohra.
Meera:"Ab tumhara tabhiyat kaisa hai Geet…"
<Geet's monologue>
She was her usual concerned self. I leaned to hug her and lost balance for a moment and thrusted my body weight on her. We both moved from the ground we were on. Yash and Maan caught their respective prized possesions and we were now back on our feet.
Yash:"Tum tho badi kamzor nikhli…sab teek tho hain na?"
He needed correcting and I wanted to refrain from coming across as a show off and hence put it lightly to him.
Geet:"Yeh…sab andar ka maamla hain"
They all broke into a laughter as I was pointing my index finger to my left ear.
We were at the apartment complex in 45 mts with two cars and Yash and Meer helped with the luggage to our floor. Nakul was up and I had not expected that. I was suspicious that there was more to the eye that it seemed. I was right for he stopped us at the door and placed a kalash and a plate with red water for me to complete the grahapravesh rasam.
I was overjoyed for this was to be my home afterall and it meant more to me here than at the mansion. I made a mental note to call Daadima later and thank her for the arrangement.
He was leaning at the entrance wearing an amused smile on his face, arms folded up to puff up his biceps that pompously declared that I was now the female of this house. I graciously accepted my new position and pushed the kalash to step on to the thali of red water. I laid my footprints all along the tiled entryway and stopped just before the white carpet bagun. Meera stuffed a big motichur ladoo into my mouth and broke off some to shove the rest into his mouth.
As I stood there trying to chew on the sweet, Meer screamed to let us know that she was leaving.
Meera:"Ab hum aap dono ke beech haddi nahin banna chahte hain…Kal office main dekte hain"
It was time for him to carry me to the bathroom for I was not ready to stain OUR white carpet.
Geet:"Maan, mujhe vuta ke leke jaiye naa…"
He was surprised at first but sighed in disappointment, when he realized the intention behind my asking.
Maan:"Vuf…aur mujhe laga ki tum mere baahon mein aana chati thi…"
I wanted to and he had to know that. He let me down into the bathtub and was about to turn to leave, when I pulled him by his wrist and stopped him. He stood there patiently waiting for me to scrub off the red color off my feet. I was up on my feet and tugged him close by his collar and gently whispered into his ears.
Geet:"Ab mujhe please vuta ke leke jaiye na…"
His excitement knew no bounds for this time the next stop was our bed, the one he had let me sleep alone the last time I had spent the night here. It was a gentle roll, for me to move in a little closer to the center as he landed right next to me. His left hand rested on the bed right above my head while his other hand was nimble at getting off the buttons of his shirt. It was definitely not the first time, he was that close to me, but his gaze carefully examined my face. Now that his hand was done with his buttons in one swift movement, it came to lift my head off the bed and we turned, for me to partially land on his bare chest.
Geet:"Aah! …."
It ached for he had moved me in a pace that my ailing ear couldn't handle.
He got up instantly and banged against my forhead. We rubbed each other's forhead and he had a silly smile on his face. As he moved to get away from the bed to come over to the other side to check my ear, I once again squealed in pain for now my hair was tangled with his shirt button.
Geet:"Aah! Maan…sambhal ke"
He smirked and tried to free my hair off his button. He relaxed and just sat back.
Maan:"Lagta hai it's a sign…that I'm hurting you one way or the other"
He chuckled and I wore a grin to tell him that I agreed. He came around to check my ear and it appeared fine, which now called for a kiss to start with the healing. He kissed gently and let me lie down on the bed and he slept right where he had sat to play doctor.
<Maan's monologue>
I woke up to find her leaning on the window with a towel in her hand to dry her wet ringlets on her right shoulder. She was in a lemon shiffon colored saree and her sun kissed skin was smooth as the cake itself. She had no jewellery on except her mangal sutra and her bracelet and that meant more surface for me to cover her with my kisses. I jumped out of bed and she came close to give me with my morning cup of coffee, or rather tea these days.
Geet:"Good morning Maan saab…Aapkilye humara spesal adrak wala chai"
She mimicked Nakul and wore his smile just the way he did with the full front teeth in display. I feared morning breath than anything else to bring down my sex appeal and so hugged her carefully from the side and walked directly to the bathroom.
She didn't expect me back that fast, for she was startled when I hugged her from behind. Strange forces were at play, for my hand moved at a different pace now, all over her neck, arm and waist, trying to feel her fresh skin that still had a tinge of wetness on it. Did things change because this was now my playground? Or was I just plain desperate? I didn't care for she whimpered in agony too.
<Geet's monologue>
He was different for his hold on me had changed ever since we were back in NY. His kisses were shorter pecks and came down fiercely driven by savage instincts. He had to watch out, for Nakul was still very much home.
Geet:"Maan….please…Nakul hai ghar main"
He didn't stop, for he turned me to move his hand up my back and pulled the strings of my choli.
Maan:"Hmm…pata hain…lekin vuse bhi to pata hona chaiye ki ghar pe naye naye shaadi shuda log hain…aur abhi tak vunka suhaag raat bhi nahi hua hain…"
It was the first time, he had declared it openly and that confirmed the madness he was being driven by.
I had to remind him of his other duties where his sincerities were being called for.
Geet:"Aapko office jaana padega…I checked you have a 8.30."
He pulled out and raised his eyebrows in surprise.
Maan:"Abhi se muj pe tab rakna shuru kar diya?"
He walked out of the kitchen to get back to his room and I followed.
Maan:"Tum office toh aa rahi ho na?"
I didn't want to tell him anything at that moment, for I had ther plans.
Geet:"Nahin…I thought I will clear out from the apartment below and finish it off. Apparently Yash might move into that room"
He turned and had a good laugh.
Maan:"Sad…What's the point in moving in and taking the other room?"
He was on a roll and I moved to the closet with a wide smile to pick out his clothes for that day.
There was no banter after that, for he was busy with office calls and muched on breakfast at the same time. It was time for him leave, but he was still on a call and so came around the kitchen to give me a peck on my lips and left home.
I had to execute now, at lightening speed, to get done, all that was part of my simple but sweet surprise for him.
I knew subway would beat his car anytime and so I grabbed my office clothes and ran to catch the next one to mid-town that was about to take off from my station…I looked at the watch, in exactly 4 more mts.
I raced down the path in a yellow saree over a maroon pea coat, with flowers in one hand and dress bag in other. Thanks to door delivery, I had a few minutes saved to put my plan in action, else I would have lost another 10 at the flower shop trying to haggle over prices and the packaging. I tied up my hair into a pony and dusted me skin with a thin layer of compact in the rail and trust me that was not a weird scene for a NY subway. For crying out loud, people deliver babies here.
It was just as I had expected for Shasha was now gaping at me, with her mouth opened into the biggest O she could form as I dashed across the lobby in my weird office costume to get to our floor before he could make it. On the way I had stopped by Peet's as well to get his ever favoriate half-caff and sipped just enough to leave my lipstick mark on it.
The elevator dinged to tell me I was at the 12th floor. I rushed to his cube, placed the coffee cup on his desk and stuck my usual post-it message "Half-Caff black. Have a great day! –Geet" to it before I could move onto arrange the flowers in a nearby vase. I was lucky for none of the office souls were there to see me walk into his cabin like that and I thanked Babaji for giving me the chance to try my hand at office dalliance.
I peeped out the door to check if anybody had showed up in the nearby aisles. My luck was still working and so I quietly moved to the restroom to change into office attire. Everything was going smoothly when the all-vile Shasha showed up at the same place.
Shasha:"Hmmm Geet you are back…we all missed you"
Yeah right! Keep away from me you spineless tongue, I screamed mentally for I didnt want anything spoiling my first day of office with him as my husband/boss.
Geet:"Why Thank you Shasha…hope all is well at office…tumhe tho sab khabar hota hain na?"
She turned to continue with an evil glee.
Shasha:"Haan who tho hain…people just feel like opening up to me you know…anyways what's with the saree…tumhare husband aaye hue hain?"
I didn't want to correct her at that moment as I had no time to lose and I was almost done folding my saree too.
Geet:"Haan, he is here…" In this very office…I added mentally
Oops, abhi yeh hona tha? I had momentarily lost my balance and I grabbed on to her shoulder, as she was still close by. She turned with a hundered questions in her eyes.
Shahsha:"Sab teek tho hain? Kahin yeh good news tho nahin…"
Not yet lady…I was coy for she was pushing me to think through all that needs to happen to get there.
Geet:"Nahin…Main teek hoon. I just need breakfast and I have an ear infection that causes balance issues…"
I was sure she would not have heard the last part of my statement, for I had walked off to see if he was already there. I took a spot two aisles down his cabin in a co-workers cube, and sat there hoping that this person to whom the cube belonged wouldn't show up that day.
I was tapping my fingers on the desk, catching up on 240 emails, as I heard him down the hallway in an argument with someone on the phone over some arrangements that were going wrong for a launch party. He opened the door to his cabin and stood there frozen. He stopped talking over the phone with the headset a few feet away from his ear and turned around to see if he could spot me close by. I went down and hid by the cube separation to giggle at my silly self.
<Maan's monologue>
She was here all right, but she was playing hide and seek with me. I was simply elated by her sweet gesture. Flowers in my cabin? It was not a usual sight unless someone sent me a congratulation boquet, but this time, she had personally arranged it. It was a bunch of lilies, tulips, hyacinths and many other flowers I didn't know. It was a bright yellow and dusky lavender arrangement, that changed the atmosphere of my cabin and move me into high spirits. My eyes fell on another card that was stuck to the vase and it read, "To new beginnings…Love...Your wife Geet".
I wondered why she was spooning me. First there was valentine's day eve, the rugby in the rain and now this. All of it had her personal touch and needed preparation and manual tasks to be carried out with great accuracy. I questioned if my love deserved such reciprocation from her. I wanted to find out if she was ok to have traveled by herself in the subway. I got out of the cabin as I sipped from the cup and walked towards her seat. I moved onto the break room for neither she nor her bag was to be found at her desk. I thought hard to see who would have seen her if she were to walk into the building that morning. Has she left already? I checked my emails, there was no out of office of email from her and we had a 10.30 together.
I took the elevator down to check with Shasha as I mentally organized my words not to drive out any hints that I was looking for Geet.
<Geet's monologue>
I felt like a kid chasing an ice cream truck, for I followed him everywhere he went with some distance between us. He took the elevator? I hid in the hallway for sometime and took the next one down. I walked out to see him surrounded by Shasha and other official vamps of our office. They were like bees to a flower. Hey Babaji, yeh kya ho raha hain? That very moment I regretted the decision not to announce about our marriage. More to announce that he was taken than to imply our holy union. Everything moved slowly as I walked around the group, observing his every move among the flirtatious women who were ready to pounce right at him. Ah! Their coquettish looks…And I still couldn't believe he fell for me. He slowly took his cup to his lips as he sipped the Half-caff I had got him while his other hand was in his poket to show who was in command. Huh! Am I seeing it right? Shasha's hand moved up to wipe something….Nahin…I sounded like a typical Indian soap opera. I ran to find out what it was that had raised her viscious hand to his face.
Geet:"Maan…."
I called out to him from a few feet away and he turned to see me with one of his eyebrows raised. All right I get it for I was sure now, that he knew, what made me switch from my stealth mode. He had a devilish grin as he bent his head backwards to suck out the last of the coffee that was in the cup. Yet again my fast pace across the lobby made me sway before I could come to a stop right next to him. I was about to fall on my face, when his hand from his pocket came around my waist to hold me close and I landed on his chest with inches away from his lips.
Maan:"Sambhal ke Geet"
Gasps filled the air, with every vamp around me wishing she were I for that moment. It was settled now. They didn't have to know that we were together; just that he was falling for me would do to keep them at bay. In those few moments as I was scheming mentally, he was still holding me with his eyes peering right into mine.
I pushed him away as Mr Maan Singh Khurana was holding Mrs Geet Maan Khurana in the middle of their office lobby whilst surrounded by middle aged lecherous women.
Hai Babaji, what had I done? I had shoved him in front of all his office admirers? There was no dobt MK was back. He didn't react, he simply addressed Shasha to send him the package once it was there and left without another look at me as he flinged the coffee cup into the trashcan and continued to check emails on his iphone.
Main tho gayi aaj…
I ran behind him once again. Now the pursuee had become the pursuer.
Geet:"Maan….ek minute…meri baat suniye…"
He got into the elevator and I ran to squeeze in before the doors came closing down. It was just us and so I had time to cajole him over what had happened at the lobby.
Geet:"Meri baat suniye…I just didn't expect you to hold me like that…"
He turned with a flinty look with narrowed eyebrows.
Maan:"Main tumhe pehle bhi keha chuka hoon Geet. I'm not going to deny anything. You slipped, what do you expect?"
I walked closer to him and tried to play with his shirt button as he was speaking.
Geet:"I'm sorry Maan…but I was a little uncomfortable in front of the others"
It must have angered him more, for he shoved me now. I was glad I was away from him for the elevator door opened and it was our floor. Iska badla toh yeh zaroor lenge....Babaji? Mera kya hoga? I was determined to get his good humor back if not the amorous Maan, before we could get home.
Yeh kya hogaya hain…phool inke liye aur kaante mere liye?
A very light one. I'm indoors today. i was carrying my two laptops as I toured NY yesterday and so my arm and shoulder are aching very badly. Managed to write something today. not up to my liking as I normally like to give closure on the issue that started for the update. I wanted to write more, but will continue in the next update. Let me know how you like it. Sorry for the delay.
Parineeti
Chakravarti Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan
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