Chapter 28: A Budding Relationship
~PRESENT~
Geet saw Maan profusely bleeding due to the impact of the wooden chessboard. She ran to his aid, "Maan!" she screamed scared about the consequences of the impact.
"Ah!" Maan screamed.
"Kritika!" Geet shouted. "Ennadi aachu nokku? (What happened to you?)" she asked as her eyes were becoming teary. "Arjun, could you please get the first aid kit?"
Kritika stood confused at her mother's reaction to that strange stalker who dared to step into her house. "Ma, what's wrong with you? Why are you cleaning his wounds instead of calling 911?" she asked glaring at Maan.
"Vaya moodu di, (shut your mouth)" Geet yelled. Kritika was taken aback by her sudden shouting. She had never shouted at Kritika the way she had blasted today. Kritika stood rooted to her spot while she saw Geet scurring around to get a bowl of cold water along with a clean towel. She made him sit straight on the couch, pulled the coffee table closer and sat on it. She dipped the towel into the cold water and squeezed it enough to keep the towel moist and slowly removed his hand from the spot. He flinched at her touch. "Sorry, sorry," she whispered. She took a closer look at the wound and found there was a deep cut on his right forehead but nothing near his eyes. She let a sigh of relief and went ahead to dab the moist towel around the spot to clear the blood stains.
Maan opened his eyes slowly when he felt the cool moisture against his skin. He saw her engrossed in wiping the wound but her lips were quivering at the sight before her. Her forehead contained lines of worry and fear and her rainbow shaped eyebrows were scrunched up together. He was staring at her almond shaped eyes that always sparkled with with joy was now wet with tears. She was continuously muttering something under her breath while tears freely flowed down her soft cheeks. He was lost in admiring her innocent yet elegant beauty and a special glow emitting off her face when she felt a sharp pain.
"Aah!" he hissed and instantly held her wrist from proceeding further.
Geet looked at him alarmed. "Sorry, bahut dard ho raha hai kya? I promise I shall do it more carefully," she said, her guilt evident in her voice. He smiled at her naive response, she was indeed his Geet, who couldn't stand anyone in pain and always put other's happiness before hers. She then found a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and poured a little bit on a cottonball. She dabbed the wet cottonball on the wound to sterilize the wound from becoming septic. Maan winced at the contact of the cotton on his forehead. She quickly blew on the cut to ease his pain. Her cool breath had pleased his senses and had a soothing effect on him and he closed his eyes to savor the moment.
"Ammulu," Arjun called, bringing Maan back to his senses. He was surprised that he got caught up in a moment. He looked away guiltily while Arjun continued, "main Kriti ko lekar neeche jaa raha hoon."
"Nahi, I need to speak with that young woman," Geet said sternly.
Kritika nervously eyed Arjun and back at her mother, who had gone back to taking care of that strange stalker man. Geet finally finished up cleaning the wound and applying some cream and bandaging his forehead up. "Maan aap aaram keejiye, I shall be back in a few minutes." "Kritika, in the room now!" she ordered.
"Jaanu," she heard Maan call her softly. "Uski koi galti nahi thi. Use kuch mat kehna please."
"Maan, she needs to know how to behave around everyone. Hitting around the people is certainly not acceptable. These days she has simply gone out of control. Hamesha apni gundagiri karti rehti hai, I have had enough of her mischief," she said with frustration.
Tears started to roll down the little one's cheek. Her mother never had a problem with her naughtiness and never scolded her for it. But today just because of that man she was yelling at her. The humilation she faced in front of the stranger was beyond reconciliable and she would make sure he would dearly pay for it.
"Kriti, could I please know why you still standing here?" she glared tapping her foot. Kritika wiped away her tears angrily and stomped to the room, cursing the man who had managed to wrap her mother into his charm.
Geet was about follow when Maan pulled her back. She looked at him puzzled while he pleaded for a no to scold that little adorable child. Kritika had definitely taken a special place in his heart the first time he saw her in Central Park and he couldn't see her crying and that too because of him. He had loved the protectiveness and love she held for her mother. Her childish antics and the way she carried around herself was something he had never seen in other kids. Afterall, she was Geet's daughter; she ought to be special like his Geet. "Geet, it wasn't her mistake. I am sure any kid would be alarmed at some stranger sleeping on her couch," he reasoned.
"Maan, stop taking her side. She is getting too pampered. She needs to understand she cannot go around hitting people," she said exasperated.
"Geet please, is baar mere liye," he said putting out his final weapon for he knew she would never refuse him.
"Maan, Stop it! Tumhe pata hai, I cannot refuse you," she whined.
Maan looked guiltily restricting her but he definitely couldn't see Kritika hurt. "Main baat karoon use?" Geet nodded trying to smile slightly at Maan's decision. He walked slowly to the room trying to figure what he would tell Kritika.
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~PAST~
Maan found her in her room, silently sobbing on her bed. He walked near her and knelt beside the bed. She was facing her head the other side, and sleeping on her tummy. He cleared his throat to gain her attention. Seeing she didn't even move slightly, he got up and went to the other side of the bed. As soon as she saw him walk by she turned to face the other side. Hearing him chuckle at her, she cried louder causing Maan to rush to the other side.
"Sorry, Geet, please meri baat suno," he pleaded kneeling again beside. She was about to move away when he pulled her back and held her in place.
"Chodo mujhe," she said, her voice cracking.
"Jaanu," he paused for her to look at him. She stopped struggling to get away from him and looked at him puzzled by his him addressing her as jaanu. As if reading her mind he continued, "haan tumne sahi suna." He smiled at her confusing her more.
"Magar Maan, do you even know what it means?" she asked perplexed.
"Jo bhi ho, I don't really care, tum toh mera sabse khaas dost ho, and aur mujhe haq banta hai ki only I call you by that name," he said proudly. "Aur haan if you want to know the truth, yes, I do know what it means. Sweetheart haina?" Geet nodded unable to find the right words to respond. He chuckled at her baffled expression, "Toh yeh hui na baat, tum toh meri sweetheart aur my close bestfriend ho." Having declared what he genuinely felt for her, he gave his dazzling white smile, revealing all his thirty-two teeth at the same time.
Geet instantly twisted her lips at his sparkly display, "Maan, tum kuch bhi karo magar never palla ilichufy (show your teeth) at me."
"Huh?"
"I meant to say do not smile showing all your teeth," she said seriously.
"Kyun?" he asked scratching his head.
"Revealing your teeth is scary you know!" she said appalled. Before Maan could figure she was teasing him, she tried to escape from his grip.
"Geet, tumhe main nahi chodunga," he threatened lounging for her.
Geet narrowly escaped to the door and turned to look at him. She stuck her tongue out and placed her thumb on her nose and wiggled all her fingers at him. She turned to leave when she remembered something and looked at him again. "Maan, aapne abhi tak a proper sorry nahi kaha," she said narrowing her eyes.
"Magar maine toh kitne baar kaha."
"Aisa nahi," she said shaking her head. "Agar main special friend hoon toh special tareeke se kehne padega."
"Acchaji? Toh kaho what do I have to do?" he asked expecting her to ask for buying something or taking her somewhere.
"Whenever you have to say sorry toh aap 'I am sorry da jaanu' (I am sorry jaanu), hi kehne hongein," she said eagerly.
Maan was surprised by her simple request. He had expected her to make him do a lot o things or make him say it in front of everyone, or just something big, but her simple request overwhelmed him. He wondered how she found happiness in these little things in life. No wonder she was different from other women he had met so far. He smiled at her innocent request and was more than happy to oblige to it. He bent his head a little and folded his arms like a genie, "Aapka hokum sar aankon par."
"Toh chaliye chaliye, give me a proper sorry," she grinned, her eyes sparkling with joy.
"Sorry jaanu," he said, "yeh teekh tha?"
"Maan, I need those exact words. Phirse try kariye."
"Hmm, voh kyat ha?" he said almost to himself. "Haan!" he said snapping his finger as though he remembered it, "I am sorry jaanu, haina?"
"Maan," she whined.
"Kya?" he asked suppressing his smile.
"Voh aisa nahi tha," she said tapping her foot.
"Teekhai, teekhai, ek baar sikhao I promise I shall tell you properly," he said clearly his throat.
"I am sorry da jaanu," she said extending her arms and cupping in her fingers as though she was holding something. "Aise, feeling oda (with feeling)."
"Okay, abhi dekho," he said straightening himself. "Jaanu I am sorry," he said flatly.
"Argh!" she screamed pulling her hair. "Yeh poya, adios amigos (Yeh go man, bye friends)" she stomped out only to be tugged back. She stopped but didn't turn and waited for him to say something.
"I am sorry da jaanu," he whispered softly, from the bottom of his heart. She turned around to face him, her face lit up with a bright smile. He smiled back at her.
Geet instantly hugged him and jumped up and down, "Thank you," she squeaked in between her bouncing. He hugged her back, content that he had made her happy with just those simple words.
Geet walked down the stairs, closely followed by Maan. Both of them seemed to have resolved the issue and their faces were brightened by a smile lingering on their lips. Anuradha and Arvind sighed contently seeing their daughter smile. They hadn't meant to hurt her but the turn of events spiraled out of control causing her to cry. But now they were happy Maan had resolved the issue and she was back to her own chirpy self. They had thanked the gods for introducing such a well-matured boy like Maan who took care of their Geet just like Arjun.
The doorbell rang, and Anuradha went to get it. Arjun stood shuffling nervously as though he was hiding something. Seeing Anuradha he grinned sheepishly at her and moved sideways to reveal an older gentleman who looked very similar to Arjun.
"Gowtam Anna (brother)!" Anuradha screamed excitedly. Hearing her shout everyone in the dining area rushed to the door. Arvind wondered what his wife was staring with her palms on her mouth and her eyes wide. It was none other than his dear buddy, Gowtam Singhania! His face lit up at his arrival while Gowtam walked in dropping his bags on the floor.
"Yeh dosti, hum nahi chodenge," he sang extending his hands dramatically and grinned at his best mate.
"Chodenge dum agar, tera saat na todenge," Arvind finished, pulling Gowtam into a bone-crushing hug. "Missed you my man," he said patting his shoulder. They broke out of the hug and looked at each other from top to toe. "Gowtam, it seems you have grown older, yeh dekho your hair is almost white now," he joked.
"Tum toh bade Amitabh Bacchan ho," Gowtam scoffed. "Agar meri pyaari behan na hoti tumhari seva karne ke liye tum bhi mere tarah buddha dekhte."
"Bilkul teekh kaha anna (brother), mere pati ko seva kar karke mein tak chuki hoon," Anuradha complained.
"Arvi?" Gowtam asked sternly, cocking his eyebrows.
"Maine kuch nahi kiya," he defended.
"Exactly my point," Anuradha smirked.
"Lo! Shuru ho gayi," Arvind said shaking his head. "My dear honorable patniji, I can never win an argument with you. Neither in court nor at home," he said bowing down. Everyone laughed at Arvind's gesture.
"By the way, meri choti pari kahan hai?" Gowtam asked scanning the room for Geet.
"Main yahoon hoon yahaan hoon yahaan," Geet said popping from behind Gowtam.
"Meri bacchi, kaisi hai tu?"
"Pappa yeh poochiye ki hum kaise hain isko ghar me bhitake," Arjun said walking in with the luggage. "Yeh toh aaram se ghar me bhaite hai, magar hum sab iski ghulam bankar ghumte rahe hain. Thank God for Maan, evening he comes and takes over all our positions and becomes her ghulam, nodding his head for everything she says."
Geet stuck her tongue out to him and went to Maan, "Kyun Maan, kya main aapko tang karti hoon?" she asked sweetly. Maan would have loved to tease her but just now he narrowly escaped just a few moments ago. Thus, he didn't want to take chances making her cry again for it did hurt him a lot to see tears in those most expressive pair of almond shaped eyes.
"Nahi, kabhi nahi," he said nodding his head in the negative and hugging her from the side. She smiled, a smile that could warm even a coldest heart. "Vaise, I didn't introduce myself," he said walking over to Gowtam. "I am Maan'" he began.
"Singh Khurana," Gowtam completed extending his hand. "Of course, aapko kaun nahi janta."
"Aap mujhe please aap mat kahiyega," Maan said warmly shaking his hands with Gowtam.
"Okay everyone, itne bade banglow hote hue bhi tum log yahaan kyun baat kar rahe hai?" Geet asked slapping her hand on her forehead. "Andar bhaitke baat keejiye na, my feet are hurting from standing so long."
"Humari pari kahe aur hume na sune, chaliye andar chalte hain," Gowtam said walking in, embracing Geet as she giggled and walked with him.
Maan looked at all those people who surrounded Geet whom she could call her family. A loving mother who looked after her every need, a caring father who guided her through each phase of her life, a supporting friend who kept her happiness above his own, and a great uncle who was always there to catch her if she falls. And today he had become part of that family that worked for each other's happiness. For the first time he believed life could indeed bring happiness and he promised to keep this budding relationship forever in his life.
i know i know u guys shall throw whatever is in ur hands for not updating karmas of love but these updates are just flowing n i cannot stop it 😆 i shall promise KOL update next else i am sure to get real i mean virtual beatings from u guys 😆 (okay i just dont keep promises so believe at ur own risk 🤣)
alrite sweety pies enjoy this update... until then Ciao!
oh i forgot hit the LIKE button...😉
Edited by Maaneet_09 - 14 years ago
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