SS: What Love Is ~MG~ Part 3 Pg 22 23/09

PART 1

He closed his eyes as he took a deep breath of sea fresh air trying to calm his frenzied nerves. His heart was racing frantically and his mind puzzled. Whereas on other days, strolling by the sea side could be considered his way of seeking solace and indeed he always found tranquillity just by sitting in seclusion by the shore but today, it gave him everything but a sense of peace. Till just a few days back, if he needed to process his thoughts all he did was come to beach, sit on the shore, watch the waves rise and fall in harmony, and automatically his thoughts would clear. But today, he was unable to decipher his own feelings. Keeping his heart and mind in command was something which came natural to him but now he just couldn't get a grip over himself. He was a man who needed control over his life and being uncertain of his own self was something which did not go well with him.

He watched as the sun dipped into the horizon and in that moment in time, it dawned on him that soon the sun which brightened up his life would dip never to rise again. He felt like his life was slipping out of his hands and the more he tried to hold onto it the faster it slipped. An unknown terror shook him to the core as the gravity of the situation at hand struck him like a flash of lightening. He was on the verge of losing something he never in all literal sense claim to be his, and neither did he ever bother to think about just what it meant it to him until he knew he was about to lose it forever.

She smiled wryly as she shook her head dejectedly. She had been standing behind him for the past five minutes and he had no idea whatsoever. Ironical as it is, where as she could sense him even among a thousand people with her eyes closed, she doubted if he even cared a damn about her. Did he even know she existed? Not in literal sense though . . . as of course he knew of her existence, after all more than her house she would always be wandering around in his. They grew up together as they were family friends and next door neighbours. They knew each other as their parents were childhood friends. They met daily as she worked as a Junior Architect in his company, Khurana Constructions. To him she was a mere acquaintance and his employee but to her he was much more than just a mere acquaintance or her boss. Whenever he'd look at her, her stomach would give a lurch. Whenever he'd receive the call ' work related mostly but at times blank calls which she would on purpose do to hear his voice, her heart would jump to her mouth. Whenever their hands would brush against each other accidently, chills would run up her back. If only he felt the same but alas . . . he did not. And she had long accepted it.

While he was staring out at the sea aimlessly, trying to get a grip on himself, he hadn't realised someone was standing right behind him until a light breeze rose and wafted her scent pass him. For the very first time, he sensed her presence. He wanted to turn and look at her eye to eye but then he also wanted to wait and see her reaction. Would she come over to him? Would she stand next to him? Interestingly, they had known each other all their lives, did exchange pleasantries if they happened to come across each other, they'd discuss work and the likes, but then that was it. Yes one odd time, they did end up winding together. Once they were stuck in a lift . . . he'd helped her when she had a flat tyre. He did once in a while drop her home, at times even ask her opinion about what he should gift Meera and Anwesha' his sisters on special occasions. Then this one time, she'd sprained her leg whilst running after Meera and Anwesha, for some girly reason which he did not wish to mull over for obvious reasons, but he had carried her to the room. When they were kids, he remembered her being her naughty self, and hiding his books and at times even using them as painting palette. Now that was annoying. These were the simple memories and times which till a few days back he did not care two hoots about. And now that, they would soon be irrelevant, it was just not easy on him to . . . Let go.

She took a deep sigh as she turned to leave and right that instant he whipped around to face her. He saw her turn away from him and something snapped inside of him. He opened his mouth, wanting to stop her but his voice was caught in his throat. He was simply uncertain about things and his feelings. Well, it was better he left things be the way they were shaping round. And so, he watched as she left.

His heart leapt in anxiety. Would she turn to look at him . . . once? Wait! Why did it even matter if she turned? God was he really uncertain . . . or was it his denial he was covering up with a facade of uncertainty. Damn! He needed to get away from . . . all of it . . . from her. He turned his face to look at the wide expanse of the sea yet again.

"Aah" He heard her shriek in pain. And he was by her side . . .

She closed her eyes as she wished for him to just stop her . . . Once. Should she turn and have one look at him? Would he even be watching her? Well, even if he would be . . . would it be accidental or deliberate? God she needed to get a grip. Why would he watch her leave? As though he cared! Well, what if he did? She heaved a dejected sigh as even she knew, all her hopes would shatter if she turned and found him not looking at her. Though that would be nothing new to her. Whenever she'd turn to look at him, he was never watching her but then again, damn the traitor heart which always forced her to give it a try and so like it has always been she succumbed to her heart as she turned with hope . . . With batted breath she turned to her side . . . as usual he was least bothered about her. With wet eyes, she smiled as she walked away. It was then that she felt prickling pain in her heel as she nicked herself on an abandoned thorny rose and a yelp escaped her lips.

She felt him touch her ankle to lift her leg and place it onto his own as he bent down on one knee. His touch sent shivers down her spine as a thousand butterflies fluttered inside her stomach. Involuntarily her toes curled as he ever so softly caressed the injured heel. She bit her lower lip in pain as he pulled out the thorn and fresh blood oozed out of her skin. She closed her eyes as she felt him press at the cut to stop blood from flowing out.

"Is it hurting" He asked still examining her minor slash.

Her eyes fluttered open as she heard his voice laced in care . . . for her. It was overwhelming to see care for her in not just his touch . . . his voice . . . but also his eyes. "I'm fine" she assured him. Well, she indeed was fine after all he was soothing her injured heel she just had to be fine.

He glanced at her from the corner of his eyes, whilst caressing her hurt foot. She was biting her lip, probably in pain and he then did something which he knew she never saw coming. He wound his hand under her knee as he lifted her in his arms. "Wrap your arms round my neck." He whispered as his hand encircled her waist. "It'll be easier for me to carry you"

"I can walk"

"HOLD ME" he commanded and she knew from the sound of it, she had no other option but to do as he says. She slid her hand behind his neck and held him firmly at the shoulder. Their eyes met and her breath was caught in her throat. Was she seeing it right? Did she see something close to affection . . . no how could that be? Come on, what did she have in herself that could make a man like him fall for her? Neither was she an epitome of beauty nor did she have that level of sophistication required to match up to his status bar. Indeed she too belonged to the same lot of high society as his but then ever since childhood she felt a sense of estrangement. She had always been the simple one from the lot rather the odd one out. Now was that a short coming, she couldn't draw the line on it.

Her hands wound around his neck felt so right . . . her velvety touch made him want to lose himself to her . . . her head placed at his shoulder right over his heart . . . it was all so natural. As he walked towards the parking lot, he looked round for her car but spotted none. "Where's your car". He inquired as he darted his eyes around the place.

"I am fond of walking" she replied with her eyes fixated at his chiselled features. He was handsome in every sense of the word. His dark brown eyes, oh so deep, the intensity in them was something which made her go week in the knees, as and when she looked into them. Though at that moment since she was in his arms she couldn't possibly go weak in the knees but no harm in sighting examples now, was there. Had she been standing on her feet, she would have gone weak in the knees, certainly. At times like these she wondered, what if she literally fell on the ground while staring at him. Now that would be embarrassing. Oh wait, for the matter what in her life was not embarrassing. Just last month she crashed into Dev and poor him, his specks fell on the ground and the glass came out of the frame. Of course that was accidental and nothing big a deal but then later on when she tried fixing them she ended up breaking the frame into two. Much to her misery, Dev had to prepare a presentation for a meeting with his hot-headed brother and well, she had to make it for him as she broke his spectacles. Besides she couldn't say no to Dev. He was her best friend and soon he would be something more than just a friend. By the way, she still wondered why Dev couldn't use lenses. Anyway, if reaching late to work the following day, as she was up all night preparing the presentation, wasn't enough, she had carried the wrong CD. Guess what! The CD also happened to be a chick flick. She so wanted the earth to tear apart when that god damn kissing scene screened. Did the movie have to begin with a kissing scene? Damn the Hollywood movies. For once she wouldn't mind playing old days melodramatically funny . . . mera naam chin chin chu' blah blah blah' how do you do . . . for the presentation but a kiss, as in a proper open mouthed kiss, that was embarrassing. God sure did love her.

Just then her gaze fell at his lips . . . wow! How would it feel to have her own lips placed against his? Shut up you dirty mind, she chided herself for even thinking on those lines. But not like it was her fault, after all who could resist him. But then she should not look at him that way as she had to stay away from him. What if Dev saw her with him?

"So am I" he said as he headed towards the road whilst carrying her in his arms. Could this moment not last for forever? That was all she could think of at that point in time. She tightened her hold around him as she cuddled in more into him, hiding her face in his chest. Her nose brushed against his skin near his neck line as she felt a sudden sense of belonging seep through her. Oh god he was wearing a wide neck T-shirt instead of his usual formal shirts. Stop . . . thinking . . . on . . . those . . . lines, she mentally chided herself again. Think of Dev . . . Yeah . . . Don't think about anything else.

He felt her nose rub against his skin and just as his muscles clenched, he held her even close. Her face lifted as he squeezed her to him and her lips met his well chiselled jaw. He gulped feeling her feather soft touch against his chin. His breathing hitched as he found it hard to concentrate on walking.

"You can put me down" she whispered against his chin. As much as she loved the feel of being in his arms, she couldn't risk it. One more accidental brush of lips over his skin and she was so dead. She was no superwoman and she had no super control over herself that much she very well knew. And her self control was the last thing she could afford to lose at the moment.

"You're hurt" He stated as he continued walking. He dared look in her eyes as he knew he couldn't afford such a huge mistake. He got the feel, that if their eyes met, it would without a doubt prove not so good for him. But there was no way he was letting her walk with a hurt foot . . . no way whatsoever.

"I can walk" she replied as she slid her hands away from him.

"No you can't" He said as he tightened his hold around her.

"Put me down Maan"

His name had never felt so good to hear. But she always called him by his name ever since childhood days, what was new to it now. He better not get there as he sure as hell wasn't ready to face it yet . . . the inevitable truth about his feelings for her.

"No ways in hell Geet"

"Put me down" She squealed right into his ears.

"Chup! Bilkul chup" he said through gritted teeth. She gulped back in fear as he glared at her. Well, that was his signature glare which she knew for a fact, meant danger. She did not dare open her mouth again as she encircled her arms around his neck yet again while he continued walking, looking straight ahead.

As he felt her ease in his arms and slither her hands round him once again, he couldn't help the tiny winy smile which creased at his face and his eyes glinted with certain satisfaction . . . having her in his arms.

Geet relaxed in his comforting hold, as she placed her head at his shoulder and her lips curved into a knowing smile. Screw everything and she would live in the moment. If Dev found out, she kind of knew how to handle him.

As their brief walk from the beach to their respective houses neared its end, his grip around her changed from firm yet soft, to possessive, as though he did not want the moment to end. But all good things come to an end, now don't they. He placed her on her feet as he stopped in front of her house. She winced as her foot came in contact with the ground and instantly he lifted her in his secure arms again. Now she was conscious.

"Please, we are home, Put me down" she requested as her eyes scanned the place in worry. What if someone saw her in his arms? What if Dev saw her with Maan?

"No" he refused blatantly.

"We are home and you HAVE to put me down NOW"

"Keep dreaming"

"Please" She made one of those cute faces, and he just couldn't refuse.

As he set her onto her feet, her cheek brushed against his subtle, sending a thousand jitters through her nerves and she tumbled as she clutched his shirt for support. She fell backwards as his hand came around to encircle her waist.

He pulled her towards him as she crashed into his chest. Her braid hit his eye as he flinched. Impulsively his hand reached out to rub his eye but she held it mid way as she shook her head in negative. Rising on tip-toe, she gently blew into his eye. His fingers rested at her petite waist and that sent tingles up her back. His free hand, as though on its own accord, slid to her waist and up her back. The tickling sensation in the pit of her stomach made her all the more jittery. She looked up to meet his eye as her hands fond their rightful place over his broad shoulders.

Their lips were mere inches apart and as their mingled breath fell onto their face they lost all earthly sense of logic. His hand reached to grab her nape as her breathing hitched in nervousness. Her eyes closed involuntarily as she held onto him for the life of hers. Had it not been for his hand which firmly held her waist, she would have long fallen on the ground.

He adored her angelic form . . . how could he have never noticed how divinely beautiful she was. He watched as she bit her lips, probably she was nervous. With his one hand securely holding her in place, he cupped her cheek with the other hand as he stroked her lips with his thumb urging her to stop biting them. Lowering his face over hers he closed his eyes . . .

And then . . .

Just when their lips brushed, her cell beeped and he realised just what the hell he was about to do. For God's sake, she was his brother's to be wife. What the hell was wrong with him?

And so he abruptly walked off.

Her eyes slowly opened as she felt his hand slid off of her waist and soon the warmth which followed his touch vanished as she saw him walk away from her. Her eye's pricked with unshed tears as the realisation that he had left her dawned over her. Wait, what the heck was she about to do? She had been about to kiss Maan. What the hell was wrong with her? What if Dev found out? Hell no, she couldn't afford Dev knowing anything . . . absolutely anything.

waiitng for the next

btw how are u feeling now? back pain kaisa hai?

love

Sana

pls isko peeto and who s this didi ka bday..