OS: A Sealed Fate ~ MG ~

Waiting'

Waiting'

Crossing my thumbs and uncrossing them and crossing them again as time slowly ticked by and my hopes ever so slowly diminished. Waiting patiently for days for a phone call, a letter, or simple text message would have sufficed but nothing was on my side. I was going to get married and that was it. Nothing in God's grace with save me from this awful fate that I will soon after endure. Marrying a man that I sure did not know and can never love for my heart has been taken by another. Another. Laughing at my foolish thoughts, I thought of the man I lost my heart to, did he love me back?

How foolish am I? I love this man irrevocably but I do not even know his feeling to me. But that is what love is, isn't it? 'You don't love to be loved, you love to love.'

"The groom is here," chimed my little 10 year old sister. A small undetectable smile crept to my lips. But this smile didn't signify the happiness in my life but how cruelly fate as played with me.

"Geet, I am so happy for you. Today will be the best day of your life, a day you will never forget."

My mother came to me and placed a small kiss upon my forehead and my fate was now sealed with this kiss. There was no turning back now unless today the thousands of pleas and request that I asked from God will finally be answered. And if they are not, truly this is a day I will never forget but of course for not the same reasons.

"Geet stay here and don't go outside until we call for you, and I mean it?"

All the girls that game to deck me up in a bridal matter left as they giggled and left the room but not without teasing me about something.

Like I actually cared. I didn't even want to see the face on the man I was going to marry, I didn't even want to steal a glance.

Why go look at the man that will alter my future to a way that I no longer even want to imagine it. All I wanted to see, to feel, to touch was the man of my dreams but will I ever be able to. Hopes spring eternal'

Flashback'

"Do you have to go?" I asked the same question the millionth time but the response never changing.

"Geet, you know I have to do this. This is very crucial for me and you, as my best friend, should now that," he held my hands to assure me of his decision. The touch of his mere fingers took me to another place. A place where I found solace, and comfort. A place that I have grown use to with the help of him.

"Maan, Maan you will be gone for three whole months," tears started to form in my eyes as the thought of losing him, never being about to see him, touch him plagued my mind.

"I need to do this. I have to prove myself to the world and its only three months. When I finish this business deal and the project is complete I will be in with the big dogs. I will have everything and to top it all off, I will be with you once again."

My breath hitched as he said 'be with you again'. Those simplest words created a storm in my heart. Should I tell him the truth? Should I pour out the deepest and darkest secret that resides in my heart? Will I lose him or will he accept me?

"Flight 235 to London is ready to board. All passengers please go to the gate for boarding." A lady on the intercom announced and broke my inner havoc from reaching a conclusion.

"Geet I have to go. Please take care. I promise that I will be back soon," he cupped my cheeks as if he was my lover but all I could make out was that it was friendly gesture. I loathed the action for being for comfort but I still wanted more. I wanted him, no I NEEDED him. He slowly engulfed my in hug and my thought process stopped and my heart started to beat faster.

As a normal human reaction my arms wound around his neck and I hugged him tight and strong. Like a child losing their favorite blanket. I was losing something; I was going to lose man I love. Fear was in my heart. I didn't want him to go but the hug didn't let me think properly as my judgment was clouded by the turmoil in my heart.

He broke out of the hug but my state of mind remained the same.

"Bye Beet. See you soon," he grabbed his hand bag and was on his way. My hand rose to wave him off, "Bye" I mumbled incoherently.

My mind was snapped back as a man bumped into me. I notice Maan giving a finally wave as he stepped into the security check- in. At that moment I knew I was too late. My fate was sealed with that hug.

Upon reaching my home my mind was still in turmoil but my heart was facing a fate worse than death. Tears wouldn't stop flowing down my cheeks. It was going to be only three months but my heart wasn't ready to believe it. It felt that this one trip will bring so much distance between us that even saying my hearts feeling will collapse it without hesitation.

Sometimes love isn't enough.

As I entered my house I noticed guest assembled in the family room and laughing and talking away. Silence prevailed as I entered the house.

"Yes. This is my daughter. Geet." My father raised his hand to me as introduced me to the guest. He eyed me take there the blessing and I did so.

I touched both of their feet and the lady gestured me sit right beside her. Guessing that she may be a relative, a forgotten relative, I happily obliged to her command.

"She is truly beautiful. And a perfect match." Match. Was this lady crazy?

"She will be prefect for our family." Family. What are you talking about?

I was going to question their statements but father eyed me again to remain quiet. Yes, I have forgotten. I wasn't allowed to speak in front of guest unless spoken to first.

I quietly listened to them praising my beauty and talent. That I would be a wonderful addition their prestigious family. But my heart was raging in fury. Not only was it broken once but it was pushed right back to the ground when it tried to get back up. It was furious, I was furious. How could they do this to me?

Father I understand, but mother. Bhaiyya didn't say anything. Was I all alone in this family?

"Geet you will be our Bahu, right?" the lady question me. I wanted to say no, I truly did but father's deathly stares told me to otherwise.

Tears threatened to come but I swallowed them as I swallowed my love as I said, "Yes."

Present

"Geet, beta. It time to go downstairs. Vaar maala ka waqt hai." My mother spoke to my from behind.

I glanced at the mirror. I noticed my make up done in the most beautiful manner. My entire neck and face adorn with such precious and extravagant jewels. My body clothed in the finest material in town. I was dressed to be a queen. But if you looked closely you, you would see the tear brimming in the eyes. Frown marks upon my forehead, a small frown upon my lips and a sense of anticipation glistening in my eyes. Like I said, Hopes spring eternal. I half- heartedly rose from my seat and turned to look at my mother.

"You look beautiful. It is true that every bride looks beautiful on her wedding day," my mother chided at me. But if you looked mother you would see that behind this beauty is a truth that wants to come out but has no way to do so.

I checked my cell, no messages.

I glanced at the phone, no ring.

I looked at the mail, no letter.

I walked over to my mother and we left the room with her arms holding me. We started to slowly descend the stairs'

Flashback

Mr. and Mrs. Khanna left the house and said to come back in a week's time to set up a date for the wedding. A simply smiled and nodded my head as they asked. I would have responded as the question was directed to me a little. But my voice wasn't my friend right now and if I would have spoke than the cracking in my voice would have ticked someone off about the matter going on in my mind and heart.

They left and in a matter of seconds I rushed to the stairs to reach my room. I heard noises downstairs addressing me to come back down but I couldn't. Facing them would just cause more fuel to the fire. I was already enraged with their decision that anything that would come out of my mouth would threaten whatever relationship we had. Truly, the world is beginning unkind to me.

I ran straight into my room and slammed the door shut and locked it swiftly so no would intrude on me grieving about the cruelty life is giving me.

Slamming it shut I turned to face my desolated room.

I was alone, again.

I slide down the door of room as today's event played in my mind. Maan leaving, my heartbreak, the marriage proposal, the acceptance to the proposal, setting a date for the marriage, living with someone else, and eventually living without Maan.

Tears streamed down my face like a faucet. They were no where near stopping, and I didn't want them to stop. I was scared of facing reality but this helped me let go of all the pain and misery buried in my heart. A heart that only beats for one man, Maan.

Maan. Maybe he can save me.

I reached in my pocket and tried to ring him but it went straight to voicemail.

"Duh, Geet. He is on a flight, his phone would be turned off." I spoke to the empty walls to convince myself that everything will be alright.

A day passed and I called him again, but no answer.

Another day passed and another failed attempt.

Two days passed and voicemail was all I heard.

A week passed and I resorted to letter.

Two weeks and a call, a letter, and a text message.

A month passed thousands of calls, a hundred letters and millions of texts.

Two months passed. A reply never came but my hope never stopped. Hopes spring eternal.

Almost three months and my wedding date near. No call, no message or not letter. In these months, my countless prayers and pleading to Babaji were in vain.

After the first week in anger of not beginning able to talk to him I threw my phone upon the pavement and it broke just like my heart.

My heart that shattered and I was only left to pick up the pieces, but I didn't have the strength.

I would lie in bed and call him countless times to get his voicemail and to listen to melodious voice, "It's Maan Singh Khurana, you know the drill."

I faint smile would come to my lips at those line, but quickly fade away as the prolonged BEEEPPP would occur until I would call his phone again.

In these few months my mind thought the worse. What if something happened to it? But heart knew that he was okay but just little out of reach but we waited together for the day he would come back to us'.The day I can finally tell him my feelings. Whether he likes it or not.

Present

We reached the last foot of the stairs and my feet were hesitant. Mine and Maan's memories flashed before me. How we meet in college. I helped him in accounting. We became friends. Our endless calls at night talking about the random things. Our 2 p.m. strict no late policy coffee dates. Secretly sneaking out at night to watch a movie with all our friends. Laughing at each other and making up a later. Our prom night, our first dance. His thriving business. International offer to do business. Our party in that honor. Him leaving at the airport. And our last hug'

No amount of self-control would have stopped the tears from coming. I wept again but this time because my eternal hope had finally decided to fade away.

"Beta, you don't cry like that." My mother chided at me as she wiped my tears, "You are always welcomed at your Maayka."

I wanted to plaster a fake smile but I couldn't so I again simply nodded.

I stepped down the last step. My fate was sealed with that last step.

I slowly made my way to the groom, Chirag Khanna, I believe that was his name. I didn't even know what the name of the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with.

I stopped right in front of him and turned to my side to reach the mala. Grasping it loosely in my hands, I cared less if it would fall to the ground.

Looking up at him to see a smirk on his face. Disgusting. This is the man I have to marry. I only meet him once and his talks indicated that he was a very conceited man.

I slowly raised my hands to adorn it around his neck, as I was in no hurry.

Reaching right at right above his head I glanced at the entrance of our house. Looking for one face, his face.

Seeing nothing that my eyes wanted I turned to look at the Chirag when I heard faint footsteps at the entrance of the door. My head snapped right back to the entrance to see what my eyes were thirsty for. Maan.

Not waiting for a single moment I threw the garland on the floor and ran towards him. Ignoring the gasps and petty remarks from the people in the crowd.

I stopped right before him. He wasn't a dream, right? A moment passed as drunk his sight. What if he was dream, I had to live with it for a moment at least.

"Geet'" he questionably asked me.

My dream had become a reality. I encased him a death hug. My arms went around his neck and I found my place again. The place that was lost for three months came back. Solace and comfort.

A moment or two later Maan's hands went around my waist. He touched my bare skin for the first time due to my blouse. It caused shivers to run down my spine and Goosebumps to form. My heart beat rose and mind stopped working.

We where lost in our own world and oblivious to the surroundings, we just didn't care.

"Virag beta let's go. We don't want to have relation with a family that lets their daughter have affairs."

Of everything Mr. Khanna said, Virag stuck. I really didn't know his name.

The guest quickly start to leave our house and only mother, father, Bhaiyya and Payal were left.

Maan and I slowly came out of the blissful feeling. Coming out of our hug I rested my forehead upon his and I was about to say those three words that have been haunting me but he beat me.

"I love you," whispered in small a voice so only we can hear, "But I never knew if you'"

I covered his mouth, "I love you, always have and always will," I felt a smile come form on his lips and he kissed the hand that was on his mouth.

"I have loved you ever since we meet. This heart fell when it meant yours and has been yours ever since. You completely cool attitude and small but very impulsive temper tantrums. Your down to earth behavior and your foolish pranks. Your smile that makes my world go round and you frown that makes it stop. Your never ending intelligence and your total blonde moments. Your very expressive eyes or pointy nose. The frown lines on your forehead when you are stressed for a test or your laughing face. Your touch or your hug. Maan I love everything about you and this heart does not know how to live without you. It only beats one name, Maan. Only it knows how it lived these past three months. And if you ever leave me again, I promise you that I will find a shotgun and hunt you down and'"

"Geet," I stopped me in the middle of my rants, "I love you to but'"

His eyes indicated the people in the background. My family.

I turned out of the hug, "Papa'"

I stared at him for split second but than he walked off in a very anger walk and slammed the door to his room.

"Mama."

She gave an apologetic look and walked to the kitchen.

"Well, I have to prepare for presentation tomorrow so I will be going," bhaiyya told me but not before he winked at me, "Payal come on, you have school tomorrow."

"But Bhaiyya I want stay with Didi."

"Payal'"

"No, what if he is going to take Didi away like the other man."

"No he wont, and if you want ice cream come with me."

Payal walked off with Bhaiyya but right before he left he said, "Have fun!" and gave cheeky smile.

I blushed at what was going on in my head.

"This blush," he caressed my cheeks, "I have missed it for months."

My head shot up to him, "Months, no call, no message, no letter. Yes, you truly have missed me."

His face was hung in shame.

"Geet I lost my phone in the taxi I took so I wasn't able to get any of your phone calls."

"Well, you must have gotten a new phone."

"I did and every time I called you it went straight to voicemail."

Crap. That was my fault, I did break my phone.

"I broke my phone because I was angered that you weren't responding to my calls," I nonchalantly said, "But you could have called home."

He chuckled and I looked to see what was so funny, "Have you ever given me your house number. You were always afraid. What if Papa answered the phone? You wouldn't even risk it."

"Well my letter, you could have responded to them."

"I could have but I didn't. My secretary hid all the letters. Let's say that she was jealous. I found them a week ago. And seeing your constant pleading in the letters, I postponed all my meeting and came over. Just in time to. Hearing about your wedding killed me Geet. Just the thought of you being someone else's killed me. You don't know what I would have done if I was just second late. I too loved you from when we became friends. Your innocent laughter and priceless smile. Your optimistic look on life and never fading smile. These eyes that tell a million stories and a smile that tells a tale. I fell in love with all of you but I didn't know if you loved me to and I didn't want to risk our friendship. But seeing that you could become someone else's I had to say it. I cant lose you."

"You didn't. I am here with you."

A big bright smile came to both of our faces and he leaned down and captured my lips into this. Sweet bliss. It just perfect. The kiss was perfect. How his tongue probed my mouth and I obliged. They knew exactly where to go and they danced in perfect harmony. He sucked on my bottom lip and I sucked on the top. We were going to be together and no one can stop.

Because my fate was sealed with this one kiss.

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