The Valentine |OS| Part 2, page 6.

Twelve 'o'clock

The nightfall was deadly... the darkness surrounding Geet's mind and heart alike. She sat in front of the beach, wearing the dress that hugged her so tightly that she felt herself suffocate. The beautiful stars twinkled like glitter particles, holding together the dark sky in place. Geet looked down at her red dress... how she had expected everything to turn out beautifully and how brutally it had ended. She did not feel the kind of hurt that people usually feel when the people they love break their heart. It was a different... weird feeling. Like they did not belong together and what happened may have been for the best.

There you go again, her best friend Pinky would have said if she knew what Geet had been thinking. She always nagged Geet about how good of a person she is. Instead of being angry with her supposed 'love', she was here, thinking that maybe whatever happened was for the best. Geet felt her phone vibrate a second later and she looked down to see a reminder:

Happy Valentine's Day,

It's twelve 'o' clock!

Love,

Meera

A feeling of dark loneliness embraced her as she realized that she was betrayed. Tears formed into her dry eyes and began to fall so rapidly that it was almost surprising. She sensed someone's presence that very moment. As if she was not alone. It did not seem particularly sensible but it was a possibility. Geet looked around hopefully and her gaze fell on a tall, dark figure standing idly near the coast and looking ahead into forever. She felt her feet move and before she knew it, she stood beside the guy who looked no less miserable than she was. The moonlight reflected his handsome face that was etched with an emotion that was hard to figure.

'You are finally done with crying?' he spoke suddenly, startling Geet.

'Yes, thankfully...' Geet replied, much to her surprise. 'It sucks doesn't it? Valentine's day...'

'I thought so too,' he looked at her now; his eye color was hard to figure in the dim moonlight.

'I guess I figured that on my own...' Geet replied immediately.

'How so?'

'A guy like you, alone on Valentine's Day?' Geet chuckled. 'It isn't particularly hard to figure...'

'You are smart... and what happened to you? A girl like you alone on this suck-ish day?' he smirked.

'Dumped... cheated...' she said, looking ahead out on the sea now.

'Same story...' he said. 'But people aren't supposed to be sad right now...'

'And you are suggesting...?'

Geet felt confused at the stranger's replies. Her feet were growing sore from the high heels that she was wearing and her throat had gone dry a minute ago. He looked at her with a look that seemed to disturb Geet. It was familiar... all too familiar.

'Will you be my Valentine for this one fateful night?' he asked politely, a small smile appearing.

For a moment, Geet tried to comprehend the words that were carried into her ears. After a moment or two she smiled back at him. They were not supposed to be alone and she needed someone to hold back her tears for tonight.

'A stranger for a valentine?' Geet gave a light laugh. 'I think I'll go along with fate for tonight... it seems... weird but I like weird'

Maan smiled at the beautiful faced girl. She was like an angel and it was hard to not look at her with a hint of admire in his eyes. But in this dim light, he was sure that she couldn't have seen his eyes... even if she wanted to. Everything was insensible but sometimes, it's good for a broken heart like theirs.

'So... how should we celebrate this momentous night?' Geet asked.

'Let me escort you to a place that I had booked for my valentine...' he smiled and lowered his hand to her.

She hesitantly took it and he walked to his car.

A bit of a surprise

And they stopped before the huge palace like building that was decorated with nothing of the 'Valentine' sort. It was built handsomely and stood alone in the area. A large number of security guards surrounded it and Maan got out first, walked around the car and opened the door for Geet to get out.

'You know your manners,' Geet teased.

'Yes, and I take them very seriously.' Maan replied as he held out his hand for Geet to take it once more. He wore a handsome black vest and a dark expression. The area was still shadowy and the couple walked what seemed like a mile to get to the entrance that was as bright as a usual sunny morning. Light music echoed in the lobby where the couple stood and Geet took a quick glance at him, to know what he looked like only to find herself being completely stunned.

She cursed herself for her ignorance towards newspapers and business shows. If she would have known, she probably wouldn't have freaked so much inside.

Maan looked at Geet for a moment. She was so beautiful that it almost took his breath away. Almost. She had big brown eyes, which were beautifully glittering as they reflected the lights of the lobby, which seemed suddenly a bit too dull. She wore a short length red dress that revealed her perfect figure. Her hair was short and curly and bounced as she moved. She wore little to none makeup so Maan was sure that she was beautiful naturally.

To talk to a stranger

'Wow, you spent a lot for the stupid Valentine' Geet exclaimed as Maan led her into an isolated hall with only one table.

'I guess I did... but I hope it doesn't go to waste' he smirked as he pulled the seat for her to sit on.

'So, tell me, what are we supposed to do?!' Geet asked a little excited.

'Eat, dance, go home' Maan stated plainly.

'How bloody boring!'

'You have something else in mind?'

'Yes, as a matter of fact, I do... but I think I'll wait before telling you until after dinner,' Geet smiled.

Maan was a bit fascinated by the behavior of the girl. Usually, girls used to go all paranoid over him, giving him starved looks and drooling... but that was in a more accurate universe. Maan believed that it sort of tilted on its axis and now, everything is not how it was supposed to be.

'Well, I'm certainly curious... but I'm no cat' he chuckled as the waitress who wore plaid skirt came by to take an order. Disturbed by the way she looked at him; Geet suddenly raised her menu card and ordered hastily.

'Someone's hungry...' Maan said as he went through his own menu card and ordered something that Geet wasn't aware of.

'You're just Geet?' Maan asked as the waitresses darted away.

'Yes, my parents died when I was two and since then I've been living with a friend. I don't know who they were; I don't know who I am...' Geet's voice lowered into a whisper.

'I'm sorry,' Maan suddenly said. Maan did not have parents either and he knew how it felt like...

'Well, I know you do not have parents too,' Geet said, her voice still low. 'But I guess you have someone... that's the thing you know, I don't have anyone...'

Maan lowered his gaze and realized that the girl was not that alone... not like him anyway.

'You do have friends...' he said.

'Yes, but sometimes, they don't understand how I feel... it's tough to live like that... I was so unfamiliar... to even myself...'

'You think you are miserable' Maan smirked.

'Who else is? You're rich; you have a loving grandmother and a brother, from what I've heard and a love-

Geet stopped there.

'Money is not everything. People go crazy because you have a lot in your bank accounts... and it's hard to figure if someone really loves you for who you are or if they are just pretending because they want to be showered with fortunes as well... It was one of the things about Samira, I thought she loved me but she didn't. She loved my money... not me.'

With that, Maan chuckled. 'It's pretty easy, to talk to a stranger.'

'Yes, it really is.' Geet smiled consolingly as the same waitress strode over to her side, placed the food that she carried in her tray in front of them and darted off.

'This looks delicious' Geet said as she started to eat.

Maan gave a light laugh at the randomness, and began to eat as well.

She looked down at the hand he had lowered towards her and took it rather comfortingly. The atmosphere had become so light that it felt as if the two had known each other for years. Light music played in the background as Maan pulled her swiftly onto the dance floor. The room was strangely dark and he held her close. But the strange thing was, there was no awkwardness.

She held her breath as he snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her an inch up. She looked at him with an expression that was unfathomable. He swayed her slowly as the melodious tune echoed... their faces were less than an inch apart.

Some time had flown by and the two still stood on their spot, laughing lightly at the other's statement, talking softly and enjoying their time together. There was a dark silence then, and Maan looked into her eyes... they were warm and brown, and he wouldn't have hesitated in looking into them for ever... for their dept was unimaginable. He moved closer and her eyes trailed along his handsome face when he lowered his mouth, covering her soft lips.

She did not understand immediately what happened but decided to go along with it. His lips felt hard against hers for a moment and then slowly became so soft that Geet had a hard time composing herself. They slowly pulled away and Geet looked in daze at the handsome stranger that stood in front of her. A small naughty smile played on his lips as his finger moved to her forehead to brush off her locks.

'You are beautiful' he whispered. Geet felt herself flush and she knew she had turned red in embarrassment.

'Even better' he chuckled. Geet smiled and mouthed a thank you, wondering if he knew what that little compliment had done to her small heart.