Chapter 25: Leave Me, Never
~PRESENT~
Geet didn't know how to react after Maan left her with his painful monologue. She had feared for his happiness when she came to know she was pregnant with Kritika. He would blame himself and his anger would have cost three lives. Thus, she had left him abruptly, shamelessly lying that she was starting a new life, new family, very far from him. He tried to convince her even assured he would give her a new life right by him, so that he could keep her always near him. But she refused to budge from her decision of leaving him. She had put up a brave face although she had despised her own decision. She dreaded her further stay in India would ruin his marital life and unnecessary questions would rise against him. She didn't want him to be part of some nonsense gossip, costing his happiness. So she had quietly resolved to keep herself away from him although it had killed her every second to do so. Now she realized that her absence had had left them both devastated. It had killed her to see his sullen and sorrowful face. In her decision to prioritize his happiness, she had forgone her promise to always stay as a friend no matter how their relationship changed. No she would not leave his side anymore, she would stay with him no matter what.
She jolted towards the conference hall that was now converted into a small ballroom dance floor and the lights were dimmed for the mirror ball effect. She strained her eyes to find Maan but the dark lit room didn't cooperate with her searching.
Suddenly the room went pin drop silence and completely dark. Next second a spotlight fell on her, illuminating her presence. She shielded her eyes from the sudden brightness when she heard him announce, "Could I please have this dance Geetanjali?" A smile crept upon her face at his request but soon it was followed by a frown for she knew she was a bad dancer. She wondered why he would put himself to be ridiculed when he knew she couldn't dance.
Geet was about to about to leave the dance floor when she felt a strong jerk, making her fall on a strong, broad, and chiseled chest.
"Maan please, aapko pata haina I don't dance?" she reminded him.
"Mujhe pata hai magar I thought you would be up for some challenge. Kyun Ms Handa dar gayi?" Maan teased, his cool breath fanning her ears and his baritone voice sending chills down her spine. She winced at his contact but didn't want to fight the urge to go away from his embrace. She turned to face his handsome face, yet his sunken dark eyes said a different story. The usual sparkle in his eyes was missing, leaving her puzzled. She had concluded the separation would be the only reason for his sunken eyes, unaware of the fact that it was just a part of the reason that had led him to withdraw himself into a shell away from everyone. She let her hands run freely on his stubble and traced her fingers on his jawline. He knotted his eyebrows at her gesture and twirled her, making her stand beside him, as he held her shoulders. He walked her to the middle of the floor when she heard a familiar tune in the background.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmIKq7tB-Q4[/YOUTUBE] tag
As though in trance both began clapping to the beats of the music. Once the music began in full swing he turned her, holding her left hand with his and his right hand on her hips. They moved a few paces, in synch with the music and she turned to face him. They swayed holding each other in an embrace. He let his grip loosen a bit, allowing his hands to stretch to her as she moved back a little. Once she stood an arm's length away, he instantly pulled her back, making her spin and fall into his secure arms. His fingers brushed her bare waist, rekindling her feelings for him. Her breath turned shallow due to his near proximity while her heart pumped away erratically. Unable to take his hot breath fanning against her neck, she jerked off his embrace. But he instantly caught her wrist and brought her towards him, molding her within him. She turned to look at his expressionless face, while he mechanically spun her around him. He bent down holding her securely in his arms while his gaze rested on her face. She blinked uneasily while balancing to stay in pace with his exceptional dancing skill. He turned her locking his arms with hers while pushing her off his embrace slightly before pulling her back and instantly lifting her up. He turned around a few times before carefully letting her slide down.
Geet inhaled sharply at the contact of each of his buttons on her body as she slid down his chest. His intoxicating scent re-evoked a thousand emotions in her while she felt hundreds of butterflies dancing in her stomach. Both stood facing each other, intently lost in each other's eyes. She then hugged him tightly, as though apologizing for leaving him, assuring that she would never leave him. She felt him hug her back, his grip tighter than ever, fearing if let go, she would disappear. His silent tears wet her shoulders releasing his pent up emotions.
"I missed you Geet," he said, his tone reflecting deep pain, near her ear. "Mujhe kabhi chodke mat jaana," he complained like a child. She looked at him with her eyes brimmed with tears.
She nodded in the negative and hugged him back, "Kabhi nahi," she managed to whisper, suppressing her urge to break down.
The music came to an end, followed by a thunderous applause from the spectators brought Maan and Geet back to reality. They looked around to see everyone appreciating their performance. Maan curtly nodded, acknowledging their claps and appreciation. He led her off the floor to the nearest table.
Geet wanted to talk to Maan about the reason for his withdrawn look, his sunken eyes, the problems that were troubling him, but decided against it as he was already in too much pain and she didn't want to probe him further with her question.
"Geet," he called, interrupting her flow of thoughts. "I am sorry if I have hurt you in anyway, ennai mannipaya (will you forgive me)?" he asked getting emotional again.
"Nahi Maan, you were never at fault. Its me who is to be blamed for hurting you, for forgoing your trust," she said regretfully, her words signifying a deeper meaning.
"Chup, bilkul chup" he said putting his finger on her lips. "Don't you dare blame yourself. Dare you blame my best friend, main yeh kabhi nahi bardasht karoonga samjhi tum?" he said sternly. Geet smiled through her tears at his possessiveness over her.
"Ji jahanpana," she smiled through her tears.
"I think I should leave, it's getting late," he said glancing at him watch that read 11:30PM.
"Magar kahan?" she asked alarmed.
"Hotel, aur kahan?" he asked with a quizzical look.
"Maan, aap kahin nahi jayenge. You are coming home," she said firmly.
"My dear loosu penne (pagli), main kabab mein haddi banna nahi chahta," he winked.
Geet realized what he was referring to she looked away concealing her pain. How would she explain to him? She had already lied in the past and now she had to lie more to keep up the reality he thought she was living in. "Nahi aisa kuch nahi, he, he went on a business trip," she lied callously. She hoped this would cover up for today and she would later make up something else, if the need arises.
"Accha? Aane do unhe, how could he leave such a beautiful wife for a business trip?" he said crossing his arms over his chest.
"Maan," she squeaked, hitting him lightly on his arms.
"Chalein?" he asked.
They headed towards the coat stand. The keeper in the stall brought their coats and grinned hugely when he received a generous tip from Maan. Geet called for a taxi and they slid into it while she told the driver her address to her apartment.
They reached the apartment within few minutes. Maan took out his wallet to pay but Geet insisted she would. They fought over the issue and bickered like little children. Maan finally convinced next time she could pay, but this time he would. She reluctantly agreed and slid out of the taxi and rummaged through her purse to find her apartment keys.
Geet opened the doors of her apartment and led the way while Maan silently followed her. She took his coat and hung it in the coat closet.
"You want to eat something?" she asked for she knew he wouldn't have eaten at the conference.
"Nahi, I am fine."
"Maan, stop lying to me, you are biting your lower lip," she said with her hands on her hip, "and you do that only when you are hungry. Ab chaliye, fresh up hojayiye I shall arrange something."
"Oh God Geet, why do you know me so well?" he said shaking his head, accepting defeat.
"I wish I knew you so well," she whispered to herself, once he was out of earshot.
"Geet, bathroom kahan hai?" he yelled from the hallway.
"Oh sorry, I forgot, go straight and turn left. The second door on the left," she replied back.
Maan walked past the main living room, keenly observing the layout. Everthing seemed to be neatly arranged. A pile of magazines lay in corner, Geet's favorite flowers, calla lilies along with few orchids and rose, was neatly arranged in a crystal vase by the huge window. The china showcase contained a few wine glasses in various sizes along with angel figures, wax fruits, and few photos of Geet with her parents. He always knew her as the messy person, known for unkempt room. She always declared, things strewn all over the place makes it a home. If things were kept as it is in its same place, then it would a museum. He was a control freak, who kept everything in order, and always chided her for her carelessness. He wondered how much she changed since he had seen her last.
He walked down the hallway and saw a huge life-size portrait of the child he had seen in central park kissing Geet hung on the wall. A huge grin swept across his face, so it was indeed Geet's daughter, he confirmed. He looked around to find her wedding photos but found only one photo of her and Arjun making faces at each other. It looked like a photo taken in their early teens. He wondered why she would never keep a photo of her wedding, because for her, events in life were the most cherishable moments that could be captured on film. And she would never miss to cherish her wedding picture. He made it a point to ask her but reserved it for later. He hurried to freshen up, as he was indeed hungry.
Geet had whipped up his favorite cheese sandwich along with mint chutney. Maan came back to see her finish up preparing the sandwich. He gobbled up the sandwich while gesturing a thumbs up sign. "Superb," he managed to say in between the bites. He then guzzled down the apple juice that she had kept on the side. "Tum nahi khaogi?" he asked wiping the breadcrumbs with the back of his hand. She politely nodded a no, saying that she wasn't hungry. "Poi solla koodathu nanbi (you shouldn't lie my friend)," he hummed, shaking his index finger, vaguely trying to reproduce a similar Tamil song. He shoved the remaining piece of the sandwich, causing her to hold his hands, while he guided them to her mouth.
"Pothum (enough)," she said, her mouth filled with the sandwich.
"Chup," he said narrowing his brows. "Bas ek aur lo," he said feeding her another bite. They both ate in silence, amazed at the turn of events. They hoped each other's presence would bring them the long awaited solace they both were in need of.
Clearing the plates they got ready to sleep. She brought him a comforter and a pillow while he loosened his tie and sat on the futon that was now converted into a bed.
"Geet, tumhari beti kahan hai?" he asked. She looked up wondering how he knew she had a child. "I saw her photo down the hallway," he said as though reading her mind. "Actually I have met her before," he chuckled remembering the incident in Central Park.
"Kya? Kab? Kahan?" she asked continuously.
"Calm down Geet, it's a long story. Ab batao where is she?"
"She went for a sleepover."
Geet arranged the bed for him. He lay on the bed, his legs dangling a little by the end, for it was short for his height. He put his arms over his eyes after wishing her a good night. She was about to leave when she felt him tug her arm. "Geet, tum mujhe chodke nahi jaogi na?" he asked, his eyes searching for the truth in hers'.
She smiled genuinely and cupped his cheeks, "Kabhi nahi," she assured.
"Good, now go and get some sleep," he said trying to lighten the situation.
"Ji, huzoorji," she laughed bowing her head.
Geet walked to her room, trying to piece together the events of the day. She had resolved to keep him away from her, and here she was promising never to leave him. She quickly wiped away her silent tears and decided to stand by him. If that was what destiny had in store for her, she would gracefully accept it, without complains.
okay two things: (actually three 😆) nope four silly me🤪
first of all i am really really sorry for not updating as promised but to make it up i hv given a double update. actually i am still burning with fever n about hit the bed after updating this. a promise is a promise so i made sure i write for all my lovely readers 😊 your comments n encouragement makes me forget my illness 😊
secondly, the song i chose is one the THE BEST masterpieces composed by the maestro himself, illayaraja!! i specifically chose only music without words, for it best portrays emotions. i wanted maan n geet to feel the overflow of emotions without any words to interfere. n also this music never fails to take me out of the world each time i hear it 😃
so guys how did u like the most awaited encounter of maaneet? i hope i didnt disappoint u. i kno i kno there shall be a lot of confusion (i think) dont worry, everything shall be cleared in the next present update... also plz note to read maan's current charac development carefully, u shall see a change, something he never thought he would feel, he shall start to feel...
this update really is dedicated to my darling kunju mani DIAAA... for staying with me, caring for me, n understanding 😊 luv ya my dear omana penne 🤗
and lastly this is my 600th post😲🤪 🥳
Edited by Maaneet_09 - 14 years ago
Financial markets and global economy
Ishaani
66