FF: New York times with Maan and Geet Thread 2 - Page 104

Are you waiting for this thread to reach 150 so that you can post the next update on a new thread?😉😛😳

Part 55: Live bridges: HMMMM!!! I wonder where this is goin'…guess I have to right till the very end to find out…you usually tie in the meaning of the title near the end!! Very very very interesting titles!!!

Geet oh Geet…where must the morning after be so troublesome! Why darling??!! Poor soul…I wished she wasn't so bothered by last night…but it makes sense as to why she feels this way! OMG!! When Maan said they aren't like other couples….that hit me too…I guess the real daing and courting and getting to know you for THEM starts after marriage…no wonder why the have disagreements over petty little things b/c they don't know each other completely…the wedding game was a good indication of that! OMG! She's comparing her relationship w/Dev to her relationship w/Maan…def did not like this at all! Poor Maan!!!!

But I liked her situation….spending more time together! Maan's formal dating suggestion…Def likin' the sound of that! Oh boy….Geet light headed…hopefully nothing bad will happen! Finges crossed! Well loved the getting to know you part! And Maan's "my wifey is super emotional today" part!!!

Tree bridge as a segway to the bridge between them….nice! You know I love symbolism and this was symbolism at its best…take a bow sweetie!!! This is pure genius with here "withstand the agents of erosion that life will throw at us"!!!

Maan out of the shower…wet hair…towel around neck…oh man def getting some dejavu feelings again!!! Loved that scene on the show! Loved how you made Geet you passionate and drawn to him at that particular instance….he was irresistible and she didn't act on her feelings…so much restrain on the poor girl, how does she do it?! LOL!!! OMG! She got caught…that was such a hot scene and uber cute, but more on the steamy side…he was a few inches away from her and the droplets falling on her sari….AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! And Maan's economy line….ROFL! Ok and tracing nose down nape…I'm official dead…actually nope I'll be dead once I'm done with this chapter!

My favorite line: "were you concentrating on me"….that was so smooth!! And then dum da dum dum dum (that's my mystery BG music)…BLOOD!! Ok, now I know why you hinted on part 58 with the crying emoticon!!! Ok maybe I don't know b/c this part ended on a positive and optimistic note!! So fingers crossed b/c live bridges for their life….I'm so far liking the sound of that!!!

Originally posted by: 6thElement

No coco...in a good way...if this was good enuf to call me a romance writer...I wonder what you would call me when you read 58...I'm crying...

Maneet are still good....This is what I can let my mind go for..

wovvvvvvvvvv

Originally posted by: 6thElement

No...nothing of that sort...I'm not behind opening new threads as much as I'm behind clicks...

I actually go to old posts and see how many likes are there He! He! crazy I know...😊

Sorry....Posting it tonight for sure....Just finished the same dadiwala phone script I had posted earlier...

Moving onto the next scene...

ha.. thanks dear.. so waiting for it..... can't really wait to see Jealous geet :)

Originally posted by: 6thElement

New York Times

reaches 150773 clicks....

🥳

Not a big deal...but a big deal for me...

Originally posted by: Water.

Badhaai ho Badhaai

151378 clicks ke liye Badhaai ho Badhaai

Part 64: Entryway for exit.

<Geet's monologue>

"Haan Daadima...Boliye..mujhe sunaiye de raha hain...Aap kaise hain" I asked as Daadima called in the wee hours of the morning. I had just come out from the shower and he was now dressing up to leave early to the bank and then to the office.

"Main teek hoon Geet beta...tho kya kiye the aap log is weekend ko?" Daadima was curious.

"Daadima pehle ye batayiye ke aapka tabiyaad kaisa hain? Dhawai tho teek tarah se le rahe hain na...Aap mera jawab dijiye pehle" I insisted.

"Haan beta...aap tho hum par bhi hukoom chala shuroo kar diya...bechare Maan" Shocked I was when I heard Daadima's statement, and quickly responded to clarify the same.

"Daadima...voh main...sirf" I struggled to explain my concern for her, when she cut me off.

"Gabraiye maat...hum sirf mazak kar rahe the...Shrivastav hain na hamare dek baal ke liye..." She spoke to relieve my fears.

"Ji...Daadima...Hum...actually is weekend ko hamara first week anniversary tha na, tho hum NY goom aye...aur lunch bahar kiye the.. Vunho ne mujhe earrings bhi gift main diye the..." I was shy not knowing if I could share that piece of information.

"Achha hamare ankhon main tho asoon bhar aaye...kitne din hogaye...Maan ke baare main aise baatein sune hue...Geet beta...aaphi ek ho jo Maan ko sambal sakte hain...Mujhe ab koi fikar nahin hain."

It was not suprising to hear her praise me, to give me the same importance as him in the family, but now the questions I had in my mind were different. Was I really handling Maan? Or was he handling me? We knew we were balacing each other in the end, but it didn't happen right away as the problems came in.

"...had you instead spent time to think through this and had reached out to me...I probably would have been sitting next to you right now...What is wrong in asking me for help? How does it make you inconsequential in any way?"

His words came back to my mind, as Daadima updated me on the goings in the mansion from the other side of the phone line. He had walked away from me after that very remark. How could I best make him understand? I wondered, for it was not just he, but the moments that defined me to him were precious too just the way he was. I was trying every second of every minute and it ached now for I didn't know, if he understood my struggle to overcome the situation I was in. I knew I had decided to cross to the other side and I was even there for the most part, but did he know that?

"Aah..." I voiced out my pain. It was him, being his playful self, had me pinned to the closet door and as he came close to kiss my neck, my hair had tangled with the door hinge and I had shrieked in pain. It didn't concern him much, as he moved to get my hair off the metal joints while holding onto the coffee cup in the other.

"Kya hua Geet beta...teek tho hain na" Daadima now sounded worried.

"Ji Daadima" I assured her and muted the phone for a second to attend to him. "Maan...please...choidye mujhe"

He had a wide smile on his face for unknown reasons and had brought the cup for me to have the routine first sip.

"Daadima...kaise hain aap?" he enquired as he took the phone from my hand and gave me the cup. After my first sip, I took the cup back to his mouth for him to go ahead with the chai that was almost not so piping hot. It was my routine to wait for him to bring me the chai for the tasting, given that I was the one who prepared it in the first place. As the thought ran my head, I couldn't help break into a smile and that had a chain reaction, for he was now beaming too.

<Maan's monologue>

"Main roz khana ghar se hi tho kaata hoon...haan Geet dopehar ko bhi khana leke aati hain...yakeen maniye mera" I convinced her for she was now complaining about my food habits.

"Tho aap mujhe bata rahe hain..ki aap ghar se DABBA leke jaate hain" she yelled with happiness. I had known this was coming and I had it in the speaker as she stood there a few inches from my face, buttoning me up to my collar.

This was yet another regimen that I had added to my list and my take on it was not to have one unless it was just me that made up the cermonious act. Routines could pull you down or throw your day off even if one went awry or missing and for now I didn't want to venture into that place when it dealt with a whole another person.

She had come into my life at a point in time, I least expected her and before I could process the turn of events she had flooded into all parts of me. I didn't regret it in anyway, but worried that she was my one weakness now that I was vulnerable too in every way.

Breaking away from the thought, I got back to the call as Daadima further went on to pull my leg.

"Achha...tho aap ab jewellery store bhi jaana shuroo kar diya Maan beta?" she jumped to the next big topic of the day, our one week anniversary.

"Daadima...Aaap seeda seeda boliye ki aap kya jaana chahte hain?" I asked.

"Maan beta, hum tho sirf aapka taang keech rahe the. Sach bole tho, hum bahuth kush hain" she exclaimed and her voice cracked towards the end, telling me she was definitely breaking into tears now.

She now had the phone and consoled Daadima, as I moved to get my cup from the dresser she had placed it on. They spoke for another 5 minutes and towards the end I had walked out to take another call on my cellphone. As I stood by the living room, with my attention in part going to the status call, the other half could not help notice the sound of laughter that came from the changing room, where she was still continuing the call with Daadima. She sounded happy and I for one couldn't believe my ears for all the range of emotions she had gone over the last 24 hours and still hear her chukle her heart out.

"Haan Daadima main vunhe dedoongi locker main rak ne ke liye. Aaap fikar mat kijiye..aur apna khayal rakiye ga. Teek hain..Ab main rakti hoon. Bye Daadima" she ended the call after a few seconds as she waited for Daadima's farewell speech from the other side. I was now counting and that was three smiles in a row since the morning; it clearly dropped me the message she was indeed cheerful. Thanks to the vows last evening, for now I had a day to look forward to.

"Aap ko bank main safe deposit box hain?" she asked, as she ran between the kitchen and the dining table to get the breakfast spread going. Her towel tied to her hair loosened up and she took it off to wipe her ringlets down and hurried to the changing room before she could halt to hear my response.

My status call was 5 mts away from the close and so I waited before I could follow her.

<Geet's monologue>

There were hoards of jewellery I had gotten, as gifts from him and from Daadima for our marriage and it needed safeguarding. I was now clearing out the closet locker to get all the valuables out into another duffel bag. There were numerous boxes and so I carefully opened to see what each one contained, before I put it in the bag to be taken to the bank. As I was at that, now came the grand neckpiece I had worn for the night of the wedding and strangely I had a smile come to my face. I remembered all the beautiful moments that lay frozen in time, in which I was his and he was only mine. Seconds passed and the color amber came into the scene, crashing down the serene image that I had just pictured in my mind. Not wanting to dwell on it for long, I moved to the next long rectangular box that was now on top.

It was my thin waist chain that I had picked up myself when I had gone shopinng in the little time I had left before marriage. Given the theme we had for the wedding, it didn't have an antique look. Resembling a large anklet, only meant for the waist, it was a simple, two flimsy gold strands that ended with a hook and three golden rounded bells tug to a small ring that hung from the same peg. A devious piece of jewellery it was, meant in all ways to be an eye catcher, especially when worn with a saree, it called for a snug fit around one's waist. I knew it sat well at the right place on the wedding day, but would it still fit me? I was very worried now and grabbed the chain instantly in a fit of nervousness and hurried to unhook the same and tugged it around my waist. I just had to know if there was any layer of flab that had formed from the time since our marriage.

I breathed out in relief as I saw in the mirror that it still sat at the same part of my hip, exactly where it had some 10 days ago. I turned away and relaxed my tensed shoulders first as I went on to remove the slinky piece off my waist... He hugged me from behind.

My eyes closed down instantly in a prayer. Babaji...Please inhe yahan se leke jaiye...

There was absolutely no way in the world, or nothing in the world, that could stop him from moving ahead to...if he were to eye this one trinket hinged to my hip and his hand was right where my prayers had asked for it not to be.

"Yeh....." He was curious as his hand came in contact with the thin metal strands. It was not plain in view and was hidden by my aanchal and so he turned me to examine the same. I quickly covered my waist and resisted.

"Maan...yeh tho...Main abhi aati hoon" I fumbled as I attempted to get out of the room as he eyed me villanously.

I tried to get away, but he had gotten hold of my saree's tip and yanked it in one swift moment as I was away from him by a few feet. The pull had me twirl and come to a stop and now my back faced him. Pausing momentarily to come up with an excuse to have tried on the piece of jewellry, I turned to gather the essential piece of my saree that lay strewn on the floor

"Maan...apako der ho raha hain..." I said as he came closer and now I could see his iris switch to darker shades that instilled fear in me that same instant.

Having grabbed me with force by my waist, he pinned me to the wall and my hands now rested on his chest trying to put some distance between us. His nose traced my cheek and moved to whisper into my ears.

"Sirf ek sawal hain tumhare liye...shaadi ke raat ye kyon nahi pehni thi?...jhoot mat bolna, kyonki main jaanta hoon ki shaadi ke waqt, yeh tha..."

I closed my eyes, unable to face him in shame for I had purposefully taken it off before I went to seat myself on the bed that night.

"Aur ab bhi mujse ye chupana chahti thi...kyon?" he said imposing another question on me, still sounding playful.

"Main...raat ko...Maan please..." I fumbled as my words failed me.

"Nahin chalega...tum jab tak mera is sawaal ka jawaab nahi deti...tab tak...yeh mera paas hi rahega..." he said in an impish tone and meant every word of it for his hand now traced around my waist and unhooked the chain.

Moving away from me as he walked backwards, he threw the chain up in air and caught it as it jingled mid air to pocket the same.

"Maan...yeh kya bachpana hain...dedijiye mujhe" I called out from the room, but he had no intention to respond back. The bank plan was out and so I quickly changed to office attire and advanced to follow him into the living room to pick up my satchel, laptop and our lunch.

"Geet...Tum bus mujhe itna hi samaj payi?...I would have never...." He started off and hesitated as I stood close to him fidgeting with my watch, head down as he started to sound serious.

"Dekha...What have you done to me? I'm struggling to speak frankly..." he sighed as he slipped into his shoes by the door.

"Maan...please...aap..." I stuttered as anxiety came over me as I stood there wondering where this was leading. I wanted to catch the look in his eye and it spoke of disappointment, which only confirmed what I had already assessed in my mind.

"Geet you really thought I would lose control because this?" He asked in a tone that still gave out his surprise in just having found out that I had weighed him low.

Speechless I was, unable to confront him I sat down by the chair near the entryway. He walked to me as he saw me in my low spirits and sat on the footstool to come up to my eyelevel.

"Maine tumhara mood kharab nahi karna chahta tha...lekin tumhe ab tak tho mere baare main pata hona chaiye...ki main....kabhi..." he hesitated for a moment.

Raising my chin to meet his eyes, he spoke again with a pun in his voice.

"Dekha...Tumhare saath rehkar, mere zubaan me ek jigak si aa gayi hai....aur main apne dil ke baat saaf saaf nahi keh pa raha hoon..." And at that I had a smile creep in by my lips.

"I would have never made love to you Geet until I knew you would want that too" he declared and he did it candidly as he came close to kiss my cheek.

We had never spoken about it and now that it was out in the open without as much as a sign, I didn't know how to respond to him. Not that I was in denial assuming this was never to come up, but just not this morning. I paused to reflect on my last statement and it dawned on me, giving a lucid picture that I had turned a blind eye to a whole another side of our relationship. Who am I kidding? Heck I'm in denial.

"Iska matlab ye nahi ki tum choot rahi ho...Tumhe abhi bhi mujhe mera jawab saaf saaf dena padga ki tum kyon chahti thi main tumhe isme na dekhoon?" he said as a sly smirk showed up with all traces of his dissatisfaction wiped clean off his face.

"Maan..." I called out in a hurry and grabbed his hand as he got up to get out of the door.

"Ab phir se kyon mujhe is sankat main dal rahe ho?" I questioned as he made me skittish with the task he had presented me on my last day of work with him.

"Sankat?...dekho Geet...ab tak tho tumhe mujse apni dil ki baat batane main koi harz nahin honi chaiye...lekin dekho tumhe ab bhi sankhoj ho raha hain...kahin tho shuro karna padega tumhe" Loud and clear was his message to me, as we got up to get ahead with the day.

"Thank you Babaji" I offered prayers, for any other person would have turned this into an unendurable conversation, but inspite of having felt put down by me, he wrapped it up and held me by my waist as we stood in the crowded subway. That was Maan...he was not only breaking the barriers with his words, he wanted me to move further with him.

I processed all that happened in our living room and now I had to make sure he got the facts about me straight, but it had to wait until later in the day for I needed perfect words to put forth the same to him.

I had yet another task on my list as I needed it badly and so there was an expedition to find my way to his pocket. If only I had paid attention to Indian Jones in the theater, for this was sure a heculean task as retrieving the ark itself. I had a lot of explaining and ofcoursing kissing to do to get it back into its velvet blue rectangular box.

Back at the office, my team was still hiring to find another analyst for our team and that left me busy scanning resumes at my desk.

"Tum please jaavo...ab tumhara baari hain" Meer let me know, as it was my turn to sit with him to assess the suitability of the candidates. We were running out of time and as the team was short on resources we were doing group interviews with the director, which was not customary.

I sat on the same side of the candidate as he sat in his usual place, the other side of the desk, to let us know who is the boss.

"Geet...Why dont you go ahead and start? I will pitch in when needed" He ordered away.

For each candidate I first started with my usual icebreakers and then went for the technical and "Put-You-In-The-Spot" questions. He would occasionally ask a tech question and only a lucky few out of the seven we had interviewed so far seemed to be of caliber to even get a question from him. Once we were by ourselves in the room, he asked for my feedback.

"Tho tumhara feedback chaiye mujhe" he asked as he continued to check something on his laptop, without the least bit of intention to meet my eyes. Hmmm MK saab on the prowl...I thought to myself.

"Haan...1st one Briana...too dumb...jaise aapko kaam chaiye vutna tho isse nahin hoga" I offered my opinion.

"Hmmm...aur" he said still occupied with his system.

"2nd one...Aarti...yeh tho overqualified dik rahi hain, agar aap koi choti kaam karne keliye kahenge tho attitude dikhaa sakthi hain" I said, calling to his attention and he responded by taking his eyes off what had taken his interest to meet mine.

"Teesra woh ladka...ye tho bilkul slow lag raha hain mujhe, IQ ke baare mein tho idea nahin, baar baar ek hi shabd use karta hain...analytical nahin hain...sirf personality teek hain, lekin vusse tho hamara kaam nahin chalega na...anyways" to which he smiled at the way I was slicing and dicing people.

"Next waali tho sirf secretary ki role kar sakthi hain...yeh numbers vuski baat nahin..." I added and now he eyed me even curiously.

"Haan paanch vi tho bikul analytical kaam nahi kar sakthi..." I said.

"6th thi Elizabeth aur, ye tho aapki team ke liye bahuth slow hain...kaam ke baare main bhi nahin baat kar sak the hain" I commented for him to grasp.

"7th...Alisha...yeh tho aap ki gussa dekh ke hi rone lagegi...isse nahin hoga" I stated.

"Aur Pari...voh tho teek haina?" He asked with a glee.

That was the shock that held me frozen to my seat when Yash walked in with Pari and had left her for the interview. It was unsettling when she had answered all my questions precisely and professionally, even when we were accquaintances from the dance class.

"Bolo...agar kuch nahin mila tho...yeh bhi tho bol sakti hain ki vuski naak tedi hain..." He spoke and it was nothing less than a taunt.

"Kya?" I questioned back in a serious tone.

"Ab tak 7 logon ko reject kar chuki ho..." He added.

"Haan...woh sab yeh kaam nahi kar sakte...bahar do aur hain...hume abhi thodi na decide karna hain..." I fumbled trying to convince him to get to the others before we made a decision.

"Nahin...tum pehle ye batao ki hum Pari ko kyon nahi hire kar sakte?" He questioned me once again as I was now washing down with jealousy, as my mind played back the dance practise they had a couple of months ago. To blame my ill luck and nothing else, I had never had a chance to dance with him even after our marriage and she had experienced something I never had the opportunity to. Unable to overcome my emotions I closed my eyes and answered him as my forhead lined with worry that he was rooting for her to get the position.

"Nahin ji...bus nahin tho nahin..." I said and got up to walk away, when he reached over from his side of the desk, to stop me. As he held my wrist and had me walk over to him, I pulled out his laptop and seated myself on his lap. Holding him as my hands encircled his neck, I leaned to rest my forehead on his, when his hand ran around my waist to get to my back and pulled me closer.

"Geet apni personal opinions beech main mat lao...profesionally decide karo" he stated in an alluring tone as his nose traced my cheeks and moved down my by the side of my neck.

"Maan...bus main nahin kar sakti...aap hi select kar lijiye...mujhe beech main mat laiye" I whispered for he was one step away from having me convinced to have her hired for his personal assistant for such was the passion that was moving me.

"Aur char gante ke liye main tumhara boss hoon...aur tumhe vahi karna padega jo main kahoonga..."

He ordered, as his voice now grew intense as he continued to thrust short pecks around my neck, while I simply scrunched his collar unable to bear the love he was driving into me.

"Boss?...Main nahin Karoongi...aapko jo karna hain kijiye" I revolted with a sheepish smile and to which his hands moved to hold my cheeks forcefully and went on to kiss me with devilish passion.

"Nahin tho tumhara Dhusht Dhanav…kuch bhi kar sakta hain..." and his voice commanded the air.

"Maan...aapka professionalism ko kya hua?" I questioned as I moved closer to give him a short peck on his lips.

"4 gante hi tho baaki hain...mujhe apna share ka office romance bhi tho karne do..." He pleaded as he showered me with kisses with all that was visible to his view.

"Bahar log wait..." I started to stop him, but he cut me off to add " Rahne do...vunhe job chaiye tho wait karna padega..." and to that he looked up to give me a smirk.

"Main bilkul sahi thi...aap bilkul Dhust Dhanav hain..." I spoke slowly as his hand moved inside my sweater to feel my bare skin by the narrow of my waist.

"Nahin...sab ke liye nahin...sirf apni Mishti ke liye" he assured as he inched to kiss me by my nape.

"Teek hain...aap jo chahe kar lijiye...Hum Pari ko hi hire karenge…" I agreed with a smile and now I didn't know how he had recieved that for his face still rested on my shoulder.

"Nahin...tumhe mujhe yeh batana padega...ki tum vusse pehle inkaar kyon ki thi" he asked as he moved back to rest on the chair and now had me in his observing gaze.

"Agar main keha deti tho mujhe kya denge..." I asked of him.

"Meri Mishti ke liye kuch bhi...bus poochna baaki hain" he answered.

"Maan...main bahuth......" I hesitated as he lifted my chin to face him, but instead I moved closer to hug him, while remaining in the steated position and gave him the one burning truth.

"Main bahuth jealous thi...actually hoon...vus din se leke jab se maine vusse aapke saath dance karte hue dekhi thi..."

I pulled out of my hug and fumbled with his shirt button close to his collar. He had a pleasant smile as I spoke of my mind about Pari.

"Main aapko kisi ki kareeb nahin dek sakti...aur iska matlab ye nahin ki main aap par vishwaas nahin karti..." I nodded as I made that statement.

"Main bus...doosre log pe yakeen nahin kar thi...Aap hain hi itne...." I was shy to compliment him openly but I realized he deserved to hear it from me.

"Main kya?" His impatience gushed out.

"Apna tareef sune main itna accha lagta hain aapko?" I questioned with an evil smirk.

"Aur woh bhi apni biwi ki moo se...bilkul...koi shak?" he asked as held me by my waist once again and pulled me closer.

"Aap hain hi itne handsome..." I uttered and instantly buried my face in his chest, tugging him closer by his shirt collar.

"Tum bhi kam ho kya...tumhe nahin pata, mujhe tho raat main bure sapne bhi aate hain..." He said to my surprise and I pulled away to examine his face. It had a pained look.

"Tum haqeekat main mujhe doosron ke saath nahin dek sakti...lekin main tumhe apne sapnon main bhi kisi aur ka hote hue nahin dek sakta..." He spoke to let me know the extent in which he experienced the same feeling.

"Maan..." I called out and kissed him to assuage him for the moment. I knew where the deep emotion came from. It was from all the time I had been unavailable to him before my divorce, while he was tormented by Dev's presence in my life. Simple was the sentence I contained his suffering in, but in no way could I justify to explain it, for such sore was the hurt and it could only heal with time. He acknowledged my kiss with such anguish that it ran deep to covey the helplessness he had felt at that point in time. I only thanked Babaji to not have put me in a similar predicament to have seen him with another person, unreachable...in all ways.

"Aur nahi tho kya...tum ho hi ek farishte ki khwab jaise khoobsurat..." he said as he pulled away to caress my cheek and tried to make the situation less intense emotionally.

"Maan...please ab bahuth ho gaya hain..." I pleaded as I saw a smile pop up on both our faces, but unable to face him, I once again moved to hide by his neck.

"Haan...abhi tumhara yahan se jaana hi achha hain...mere samne itni bhi mat sharmavo Geet...main khud nahin jaanta hoon ki main kya kar baitoonga" He said as me moved me to face him.

Having gotten off his lap, I gathered myself to straighten my clothing and announced him my next move.

"Main Pari ko HR ke paas leke jaati hoon..." and to that I opened the door to walk away after I sighted a content smile from him, but stopped by the door as he called out to me.

"Tumhe yaad tho hain na...tumne mujhe abhi tak..." I cut him off to assure that I still owed him a response to our morning conversation.

"Haan yaad hain...lekin uske liye aapko wait karna padega..." I gave out in a quick pace to walk towards Pari.

Being my last day at office, we had agreed to meet by Cafe Lulu for our last office lunch as colleagues and while I waited for him to join me, I sighted Meer walking alone towards the lunch area.

"Meer..." I gave a shout out to her.

"Hey...MK ke liye wait kar rahi ho?" she sounded tired and in pain.

"Kya hua? Sab teek tho hain? Aap dono baat tho kar rahe hain na?" I asked hoping to get the affirmative.

"Nahin...But I think I have to make a decision now..." she said to raise the tension in the situation.

"Meer...yeh kya bol rahi hain?...tum vusse pyar karti hain...kya hua vus din?...mujse kuch tho bol" I begged of her.

"Geet...main kya kahoon...he made a pass at me to get intimate...and I forthrightly said no...That's where it at all started" she gave out the one cause I least expected, leaving me to express a gasp at her response. I was dumbstuck for I was trailing behind in that one area.

"Main kya karti...he still hasn't proposed...I still had no experience there...vupar se...I had not even waxed my legs that day, nor gone to the salon...I just wasn't ready...else I would have thought about it." she added to make a ridicule out of his move.

"Voh sab bhi karna padta hai kya?" I blurted. Oops! maine yeh kya keha diya...Babaji...

"Geet...tum yeh kya keha rahi hain...Did I hear it right?" she came close to shake me by my shoulder as I tried to get up from the table.

"Main...mujhe Maan se..." I stuttered.

"Geet...please...mujse baat kar...kahin tum...hoshiarpur..." she hesitated to finish the sentence as I looked away.

"Geet....pagal mat ban...main bhi bahuth mushkil se vus sadma se bahar nikli hoon...lekin main decide kar chuki hoon ki..." She shook me further as I failed to face her. Prodding a deep place she was that I couldn't feel the ground below my feet. I was slipping into the discourse I had had with Maan that morning.

"Ki..main...I'm going to move ahead with him...meri zindagi main Yash se badkar kuch nahin hain...aur tumhare aur MK ke beech main tho...pooch ne ki bhi koi zaroorat nahin hain..." I sat down once again and I fisted my hands to rest my forhead.

"I can only say one thing...Never take his love for granted...bahuth mushkil se milte hain aise nek dil wale...bus vus pyar ko kona mat..." she came close to hold my hands.

While I stayed still and continued to be unresponsive, processing her words in my mind, she shook me vigorously for now I had irritated her.

"Tum sun rahi ho na meri baat..." she bellowed.

"Kya nahi sun rahi hain meri biwi..." It was he and he came to hold me by my shoulders from behind my chair.

"Suna tumne...ab tho sabith bhi ho gaya hain...Hi MK..." She spoke to me first and then looked up to greet him as she got up from the chair she was seated in.

"Mujhe tho jaana hain...aur mera yahan kehna ke liye bhi kuch nahin hain..." she spoke with all her words directed at me.

"Yeh kya bol rahi hai Meera...Aap donon ki beech sab teek tho haina?" He questioned me as she walked away.

"Haan Maan...sab kuch teek ho jayega...aap fikar mat kijiye" I assured him to make everything right.

It was a light meal that we usually ordered as her words stuck to my mind just as an over chewn bubble gum would. It needed closure for I had mulled over it for too long. He noticed the restlesness in me and so to keep it under cover I went along with the conversation we were having and eventually the words faded from my conscious strata.

It was "coffee at Peet's" time and I couldn't wait to move close to the window and have him scoot in by the same side of the booth for me to cuddle into his shoulder.

"Main tho yeh sab bahuth miss karne waali hoon Maan..." I squeaked as my voice was now breaking as my emotions ran over me.

"Mishti...please...ab emotional mat hona..." his hand came over to pull me closer.

"Bolo aaj kya chaiye...order karke bait the hain..." He asked as he kissed my forhead for we were out of everyone's view at the corner booth.

"Aaj main sirf Half-caff hi loongi...aapki choice haina" I asked of it as he went to order with a broad grin on his face. As he walked back with two medium cups, I beamed as I decided to make this place more memorable. Right after the moment he placed the cups on the table, I moved in closer to have him engage in a snog, to which he was pleasantly surprised and his eyebrows moved high up to show the same.

"Yeh! kya hogaya hain tumhe...tum tho bilkul..." I wouldn't let him finish as I pulled him once again to kiss him feverishly.

"I'm sorry...agar aapko bura laga ho tho...I just wanted to do something we had never done here before..."

I spoke to clear his confusion about my strange act.

His hand came up to move my hair from my forhead to behind my ears and I went on to finish up on our morning's events.

"Main...aap se aaj subhe ke baare main baat karna chahti hoon Maan..." I sought his attention.

He remained silent, but his eyes met mine as he acknowledged my ask.

"Main...bus..." I still hesitated.

"Geet...ab tho yeh hamare beech ka parda hata do...I just want you to speak your heart...try tho karo"

He reqested and to that I attempted to look into his eyes for I had turned away initally.

"I didn't wear it because I would have been a hypocrite...It's not because I thought you didn't have control...it was me...I was the reason" I let out my agitation and he held me by my shoulders.

"It was not fair to wear it...to tempt you...even the nose pin...I had removed it because I saw the look in your eyes at the mehendi..." I winced in pain, but I was not going to break down there and so I braced myself and his warmth supported with it too.

"I knew I would just not go ahead to move our realtionship to another level and so I stayed away from even being appealing to your senses...I was just plain lucky that night...and all the other nights until the time I came out with the truth..." I confessed for which he held my cheek and had me rest on his shoulder.

"Maan...I'm not taking your love for granted...please believe me...mujpe yakeen kijiye.."

To which he instantly reacted to look me in the eye "Pagli...yeh badi badi baatein kahan se aa gaye...Ofcourse main tumhara haal samajta hoon...I only wanted you to be open with me...tum samaj rahi hain na" He shook me gently as he held my cheeks for his words to sink in.

"Haan..." I acknowledged, but my heart still ached from the misery that I was under, for being the roadblock in preventing us from reaching another level of union.

I stayed still as he sipped his coffee and eventually got to mine as his touch soothed me over time.

"I think it suits you more..." He said abruptly..."Aur aap bahuth complicated ho..." which had me break into a smile finally.

Meer had arranged for a small gathering with coffee and cake with all of our team and Josh was there too.

"So we all now know the mystery behind the pull eh! It was love after all" Josh claimed as Maan stood with his hand around me and had it rest just by my shoulder.

"What can I say? She was too charming to resist Josh..." he answered with every bit a safe word to use there.

"Congrats MK...can't agree more" Josh broke into a guffaw and came to offer his wishes to me too "Congrats Geet...you got yourself a wonderful bloke there" as he complimented our coming together.

Then the team took turns to give their best to the both of us and that had us blushing for a while. Now it had changed from my send off party to our wedding party and oddly I didn't regret that in any way. I was not surprised and neither was he, for we both knew it was as good as having the news telecasted over the best broadcasting method, if we were ever to let it slip to Shasha. The nagin was there too, but unusually she had kept to herself, ever since the day he had her mouth shut over "his coffee that suited me" conversation.

Now that it was about the both of us, than about me, we had to cut the cake together, even though it only had my name on it. He went for the knife first as he continued to hold me close and we cut two triangular pieces to pick one each. I turned to feed him first the small piece and it went down his mouth smoothly. He was not going to let go off me easily, and he grabbed a large piece of the cake, which had me instantly jump away from him.

"No Maan...please...not that much..." I appealed to his fair senses, but all in vain, he pulled me close by my waist and had the large chunk of sweet butter cream and vanilla sponge with strawberry filling, thrust down my throat to everyone's amuzement. Grabbing a square piece of napkin from the table, I wiped down the layer of cream that had stuck to the corner of my lips and we moved out with individual cake shares placed in paper plates to go ahead and wrap up the rest of our funtionable day.

I made a stop at my desk to pick up my laptop and followed him to his desk.

I took out my ID card and placed it on the laptop to hand it over to him, with tears flowing down my eyes. Unable to wait for him to grab my things off my hand, I placed it on his desk and paced to seat myself on his lap.

"Maan...I'm going to miss you so badly...main kya karoongi..." I cried out on his shoulders as I had him in a bear hug.

"Geet...tum mujhe ghar main 1 gante main dek ne waali ho..." he said, rubbing my back to calm me down.

"Aapko pata hain ki main kiske baare main baat kar rahi hoon..." I hinted.

"Haan...lekin thodi dinon ki tho baat hain..." he consoled me as I now broke into a sob.

"Pata nahin...shaadi se pehle main yeh job chod ke jaane waali thi...I have no idea how I would have handled this situation if I'm not able to be so close to you...I would have died standing there on the other side of the desk" I spoke out my pain as I imagined that hypothetical situation.

"Jaan...please…tume aise azeeb khayal kyon aate hain...hum shaadi shuda hain…tum sirf meri ho samjhi..." he sounded concrete and at that not wanting to have too much sentiments to ruin the moment, I pulled away to look at him, and searched for his smile.

He was too occupied in reaching out for the cake piece by his desk and nipped apiece off to feed me. Being the messed up self I was, with tears that still needed drying on both sides of my cheeks, I paused to wipe them and went on to take a bite of the slice he offered and he instantly moved in to bite the half that still stuck out of my mouth.

"Maan...please..." I whimpered as he held my cheeks to eat off the cream that stil stuck to the corners of my lips.

"Lo...I dont think no boss could ever give a sweet send off that comes close to this" he said as he let me go.

My laughter knew no bounds at that and he broke into one too when he took the chain from his pocket to place it on my palm and closed my fingers around it tightly. Now his smiled turned into a soft one to give me a kiss on my cheek.

"Use it wisely…" he said and at that I whacked his shoulder as we once again broke into a roar of laughter this time around.

Indeed he was right, it was the best ever last day I could have had with him, for I had followed him to all places and meetings he went to that day just as a lost puppy would if it was to spot the one soul that would lead it home.

We walked through the very hallway I had dropped the papers on my second day and he had helped me to pick it up, only to have a caused a moment of weakness in my heart. But today was different and I had no guilt in holding onto his fingers as we crossed the same spot as my fingers stayed tangled with his. Flashes of memory bombarded me with all the moments I had waited to have one peek of him by the hallway or the elevator for this was the one building I would know for sure he would be available in some corner from 8.00 to 5.00 PM, except if he was ever out on a business trip. This place had given me so many memories and I had no heart to wish to my goodbyes to the one place that had me tied to him even during his work hours.

Before heading out of the building for the last time, I made a quick stop at the break room. He was going to leave a little later and I wanted to meet him with Meer and Yash before I dashed out.

"Thank you...for everything" I said as I hugged Meer and held on to Yash's hand.

"Koi baat nahin...we are still going to meet you at the apartement..." Yash spoke in a cheerful tone hoping to rub off the same spirits upon me.

"Geet...all the very best...make us proud" she wished me as she let go of me.

"Aur subah main tumhe ignore nahin kar rahi thi...mujhe bas thoda time chaiye..." I informed her and I was glad to see her acknowledge the same with a nod.

Maan was holding me by my shoulder and we walked out of the break room. He came to see me off and as he stood there in the lobby, I was leaving behind a piece of me there for him. This was the part that did not want to move forward with me, as it still hoped to stay close to him.

"I will miss my Dhust Dhanav..." I called out to him halfway to the turnstile as I walked backwards towards the entryway that I can now only exit...

A real long one...and indeed after a long time....This is the first longest gap ever for an NY times update. So I'm sorry. Just wanted to make sure the dialogues came out ok. You will notice that there are more of dialogues than monologue in this part, so go ahead and critique it and let me know how you liked it. LIKE button...post...comment. Oh! I pulled an all nighter by the way...