PART 30
31. New Bahu
Someone was holding her down...she felt a strong muscular arm around her waist and the presence of someone next to her...Panic seized her waking moments and she struggled to break free before her brain could register the difference in the arm that held her. Her breath hitched up with her effort even while her heart whispered that it felt safe within the circle of his arm.
"Geet..." soothed a sleep husky voice and the arm shifted from her waist, making her feel bereft. As she struggled to separate the present from the past, she felt his hand again smoothing her hair back from her forehead.
"Geet ..." called his voice again. And all was well. She sighed as she lifted her hand in the direction of his voice, knowing Maan would keep her safe. Maan? Maan! She opened her eyes as realization sank in and found him watching her, his head propped up on his hand. His expression relaxed as she opened her eyes to an indulgent smile.
"Good morning Mrs. Khurana," he leaned down to touch his lips to her forehead. "Did you sleep well?"
He was so close and the experience of sharing the bed with him so strange and new that she could only nod her head shyly.
"You know Geet you have a beautiful blush. Makes me wonder if my hand will turn rosy if I touch your cheeks." He touched her cheek as if in experiment and her blush deepened. He chuckled at her self- consciousness and decided to take pity on her.
"Do you want to get up?" She nodded her head again.
"Seems cat 's got my wife's tongue this morning. She didn't even wish me good morning!" he told with mock sadness, casting a glance at Geet.
"Good morning Maan." Se whispered embarrassed, "I'm sorry!"
"No problem. It happens... its our first morning together, na. I can understand your dilemma."
Geet craned her neck to look at the time and lamented, "Oh! It's 6 o' clock already! What will Daadi think? The first morning in sasural and her bahu is still in bed! I so want to be a good bahu." She sat up in the bed. "But I don't know anything about the traditions that a bahu has to follow. What if I do something wrong?" she asked as she cast her beseeching eyes at Maan. Maan sat on his knees and cupped her face between his hands.
"Why do you worry so, Geet? The moment you entered this house you became Daadi's pothi, her ladlee pothi. By our marriage the bond received a name. But do you doubt that you are still her ladlee? As for traditions she is there to guide you and Daadi will have the head off any one who dares to think ill of her ladlee! Don'it you think so?" Geet nodded her head smiling. "Then get ready to take charge of your home Mrs. Khurana." He chucked her under the chin.
Reaching the door of the rest room Geet turned and said, "Thank you Maan...you are the best!"
Breakfast had his favourite dish. From the way Geet hovered expectantly, it was obvious she was the one who prepared the food. He took a bite and frowned. A sidelong glance showed Geet's disappointed face. So he took another spoonful chewed it diligently and said, "this is really good!" her beaming smile at his compliment made him feel on top of the world.
Daadi could make out from Maan's expression that something was wrong. When she reached for the bowl containing pasta, Maan shook his head slightly. But Daadi served herself some and found that the dish lacked in salt. She held back a smile happy that Maan had rather eaten it without pointing out the defect than let Geet feel bad.
"Geet beta, you didn't get the dessert. It must be in the kitchen itself."
While Geet went to the kitchen Daadi quickly passed the salt to Maan. "Thank you beta. I'm happy that you appreciated Geet's effort."
Her one smile was worth eating a carton full of saltless pasta, Maan thought. "IT's my wish to keep her smiling always!" he replied and then added, "but do add some salt into the remaining pasta. Geet may decide to eat it and then she will find out."
Maan ignored the bowl of pudding that was served to him. He was about to leave the table when Geet reminded, "Maan, you didn't have the sweet."
"I'm sorry Geet. I don't like dessert, that too in the morning."
"Take just a bit Maan. It's a tradition that bahu should prepare a sweet."
"Sorry Daadi. Subah subah mein mitas ko hath nahi lagatha hoom. You know that." He tilted his head to see Geet was crestfallen and he continued with a smile. " Lekin agar koi pyar se apne hathom se khilaye tho mein kha loonga!"
That made Geet happy and she immediately sat down to feed him the pudding. Daadi sighed with obvious pleasure seeing how her match making efforts had such great results.
Maan was dressed for the office and Geet was with him in the room placing the files he had to take with him. He walked towards her with a naughty smile. As she handed him the files he said, " you know Geet, if you are so insistent about following traditions, there is one I can help you with."
"Yes, Maan I want to be a perfect bahu."
"Actually it is something that I've seen my parents follow, though they did try to be secretive about it..."
"What is it?" Geet was intrigued by Maan's words.
"Ma always used to kiss baba good bye when he left for work." His voice turned soft with remembrance, " One day I was in a hurry to leave with baba, so I went after him when he said he had left something behind in the room and saw him bend down to receive her kiss. It gave such a sweet impression that I dreamed of sharing the same with my wife."
He put a hand under her chin to lift Geet's face that was now bent in demureness. "Tell me Geet, are we going to follow that tradition?"
She closed her eyes, refusing to look at him, her heart hammering so fast that she felt the whole room must be echoing with it. Maan sighed, "Alright then...bye Geet." She felt the gentle pressure of his lips on her cheeks before he turned.
She caught his arm stopping him in his track and then stretched up to press her lips to his cheek, "Bye Maan." He traced a finger down her cheek, waiting for her to open her eyes again. When she did he cupped her cheek to say, "Thank you!" making her blush again.
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PART 32
to keep the impact of maaneet, the update is short...i hope u will like it...next update will be the one with events after the flashback...will edit later sorry for the errors...
plz don't forget to spare some moments to comment...ur comments r my inspiration😃
Edited by bangalores - 13 years ago
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