Laws of love:Season 3 link on index - Page 36

Geet said bye to amma ji and put the mobile on bed sadly. This was the first time that geet had forgotten about the shraadh of her father. It was tomorrow and geet hadn't done any preparation. Last year, geet had done to Hoshiyar pur with maan and dadi ma and done joined ceremony for maan's parent and her father but this year, she had totally forgotten. Geet looked at time, it was 8:30

maan was still at office. Dadi ma was not at home. Since, dev and meera had gone away, she spent most of her time with her friends. Geet didn't blame her, she wasn't as close to dadi ma as meera was and the age difference and generation gap was so huge that despite dadi ma's friendly nature and caring attitude, geet couldn't seem to be very close to her.

Geet sighed, her thoughts runing back to her father. The one person whom love she can never question. There were so many pictures of him at hosiyar pur and even here with maan and his family and there were pictures of geet with him, pictures in which geet was barely a month olds, and few were when she was nearly 1.

amma ji and everyone she had ever met who knew her father had said good thing about him. After so many years, dar ji still laughed at some of his sons old tales. A sheen of moisture coated his eyes while he told everyone about a tale he had told 100 times before and each word was filled with love.

Amma ji said that geet was just like her father, she used to say when you smile, you look just like yash.

A tear escaped geet's eye. She should have remembered, he was her father, he deserved that his only child would at least remember his shraad. Geet continued crying for sometime and then, she started to collect herself.

She chided herself, she would have remembered, may be late at night but she refused to believe she would have completely forgotten it. She went to wash room and washed her face with cold water. Then, dried it with a tissue.

''what to do now?'' geet thought loudly. ''how can I arrange for a pandit this late at night?'' then, a thought struck her. She had forgotten but what about maan, he remembered these things, even when he was very young, geet remembered him participating in every part of ceremony, even saying the complex ritual mantars. She tried calling him but his mobile was switched off and no one was picking phone at office.

'...

geet woke up groggily at the sound of closing door. She had been sitting on sofa waiting for maan and next thing, she know, she was waking up at the sound of closing door.

Geet looked at maan who was puuting his wallet and keys on table. He tugged his tie loose while looking at geet. ''you are still awake?''

geet looked at time, it was 2 in the morning.

Geet shook her head to clear the drowsiness. ''hmm, I was waiting for you.'' geet got up from sofa and went to him. Maan hugged her closer and then, said,''you should be sleeping.''

geet inhaled his scent, it calmed her further. She hugged him more closer, her arms going around his broad shoulders. It was unfair, she thought, to be so beautiful.

Maan closed his eyes trying to forget the memories which haunted him at this time of year. Each scene repeated until all he could do was to be with his friends who shared his sorrow, understood and never questioned. But now, he had geet but her face it triggered more memories than he could bear but he didn't have the strength to push her away. So many conflicting emotions, they scared him from within.

He felt her lips on his shirt, the touch wrenched him away from past to the present.

Geet,''its papa's sharaad tomorrow.'' and maan remembered that she had lost someone as well. He picked her up in his arms and sat on the sofa with geet in his lap. ''I know. You should sleep, everyone will be here early.''

geet,'' amma ji called, she was waiting for us there.''

maan,''dadi ma forgot to tell her but I called brij.'' dadi ma was getting very sad day by day, with dev here, dadi ma was always happy because he filled the gap produced by dev's mother. He let out a weary sigh and closed his eyes for a second and then, opened them. Geet's face filled his vision, for a moment it blurred with another and maan nearly lost his calm but then, she smiled, innocent smile, geet's smile, his geet's smile and he was at peace for the moment. He picked her up and carried to the bed, and tucked her in bed. He sat on bed and kissed her on forehead.''i am going to shower and change and when I get back, I want you sleeping, okay.''

geet smiled sleepily,'' I am not ten.''

maan,''humor me.''

geet sighed,''you always have to get your way.''

maan put his finger on her lips. ''sleep'' he commanded. Then, got up and went to wash room. Only when he was under the shower that memories invaded again. The water falling on his face took him back, way back, in the memory lane.

'...

FLASH BACK

an impish smile tugging on his little face, a little boy slowly edged into the forbidden zone, his 5 year old brain egging him to break the rule. A little giggle escaped his mouth but he covered it. No one will find him here because no one will think he was here. He entered the room, a room which made people stop and look around in awe, he passed between the small space between the sofa's and emerged to other side. He crouched on floor and slowly moved forward. He stopped once in a while to peek back to see if someone was coming but it was empty. His goal were huge white draperies which covered the whole south wall and covered the huge windows overlooking the garden.

But some one was already standing there. His lips moved in a pout. It was his secret place. He got up and looked at the person standing with her back to her. Long, thick black curls rolled back on delicate shoulders and fall in a cascade near to knees. on the white modern western dress, they were enhanced.

On the sound of dragging little feet, Rashi Malhotara turned, her gaze went to the little boy standing

10 feet away from her. His face was covered with dirt and there was an attitude, even at this young age. She assessed it quickly, he must be vinod's son. She sent him a smile.

Maan froze, with white draperies blowing around her due to wind, it looked like wings to his young mind and when she smiled, he breathed,''angel.''

'...Present...

Maan rubbed his hair with shampoo vigorously trying to erase the image but it wouldn't go away

'...Past...

she bent to her knees, so they could be face to face,''hi, I am rashi and you are?'' she said extending her hand.

Maan shook her hand like he had seen his father do. '' I am Maan Singh Khaurana. Have you come from heaven?''

rashi shook her head, a smile on her lips,''no, I live on earth.''

maan peered at her shoulders but her wings weren't there. Oh, she must be hidding them from me, I am human and I am not supposed to know about her, just like in the story.

At that moment, a man entered the room, his features eye catching, his personality dominating and his face sombre. Both women and child watched the man with adoring eyes. But man's eyes fell on child and didn't move to women. She felt insulted at this slight. Men adored her, worshipped her but they never ignored her.

Vinod Singh Khaurana pulled his little son into his arm who was giving him an innocent smile. He smiled, his little baby knew he shouldn't be here in this room and like always he could be found here. He gave a conspirational smile to his son and said, she is looking for you in ma's room, you can hide in mine.

Maan giggled and when vinod set him on feet ran toward the door but there he stopped and waved at rashi,'' bye angel'', then he was shooting away.

Vinod's smile became polite and impersonal, miss rathore, have a seat. She sat poised and let the slight pass, he treate dher like they were just business partners but she was more, much more. it would not leave him alone.