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Previous Chapters -- Part One: prologue + ch 1 / ch 2 + 3 / ch 4 + 5 / ch 6 + 7 / ch 8 + 9 /
ch 10 + 11 /
ch 12 + 13 /
ch 14 + 15 / Part Two: ch 16 /
ch 17 /
ch 18 /
ch 19 /
ch 20 /
ch 21 /
ch 22 /
ch 23
Personalized thank you messages for those who commented on the last chapter (chapter 23) are here!Chapter Twenty-Four
"Sameera is my ex," Maan repeated. He flicked his eyes toward Geet's hand on his arm, but made no move to pull away.
"We were very close," he continued, his voice monotone. "I had . . . been through something in my childhood, and she was the only who . . . ." Maan stopped, memories of his past settling heavily on his heart. This would be more agonizing than he thought.
"You don't have to say anymore, Professor," said Geet softly. Although she was undoubtedly curious about what had brought him to such an uneasy state, this conversation was obviously distressing for him.
And she knew all too well what it was like to want to keep one's life private.
Maan shook his head. Without a back story, how could he justify what he had told Sameera about his marital status? Further, that Geet recognized and respected that his past was a sore subject was actually encouraging.
"Sameera was the only girl I ever let myself love," said Maan, avoiding Geet's direction. "We were deeply involved with each other, and I thought she was the woman I would spend the rest of my life with."
Geet nodded slowly, although it was peculiar to hear the austere professor speak about romantic love.
"And then I found out that she was pregnant with someone else's child," said Maan. His eyes had dulled.
Geet's hand flew up to cover her mouth. *Oh, no . . . .* she thought.
"Needless to say, it was over after that," Maan said flatly. The sky was growing darker by the moment, but the hollow expression he wore was painfully visible.
"I'm so sorry that happened to you, Professor," said Geet. She squeezed his arm instinctively. After such an experience, no wonder he was so aloof toward others.
"I really thought she was the one," murmured Maan. He now appeared to be talking more to himself than to Geet. "After my mother left me, I didn't think I would ever --" He paused, as if he had divulged too much.
Unshed tears pierced Geet's eyes, and she blinked rapidly. So, the professor had grown up without a mother.
Like she had.
Maan coughed, fighting to regain composure. "After you left the cabin, Sameera suggested that we . . . reunite." There. The appalling details were unnecessary.
"What?" Shocked, Geet snapped her head back. "Why? How could she think you would want her back after what happened? You must have been furious!"
Maan watched as ripples moved across the surface of the lake. Everything in the cabin had happened so fast, and he had nearly let himself be reeled in by Sameera's seduction. How could that possibly have happened, especially when he hadn't even felt attracted to her? But now was not the time for introspection.
Turning to face Geet, Maan was taken aback by the concern and indignation in her eyes. Guilt began fizzing inside of him; not only for what he was about to reveal, but for his previously frosty attitude toward her.
"It was definitely an awkward situation," Maan said slowly. "And I think she was driven by the assumption that I was single, like her."
"Okay," said Geet. She crossed one leg nervously. What was he getting at?
Maan took a deep breath. Beating around the bush was assuredly not his style. "Geet, I told her that you are my wife in order to stop her advances."
Geet blinked. Certainly, she had misheard. She uncrossed her leg and leaned closer to Maan. "I'm sorry, what?"
"I told her that you are my wife," Maan repeated. He looked directly into Geet's eyes, and the intensity in his orbs was almost as staggering as his revelation.
The two held a steady gaze as a breeze whistled through the trees.
Geet knit her brows together, then scooted backward on the dock and began to rise.
"Wait," said Maan, grabbing her wrist and stunning Geet once more. The professor usually avoided touching her . . . until now.
"I apologize," said Maan lowly. "I felt out of my element at the time, and I couldn't think of anything else to say."
"But you could have told her that you were simply single and preferred to stay that way," Geet pointed out, her voice strained.
"That wouldn't have stopped her," said Maan. In truth, the thought hadn't occurred to him.
Geet stayed silent for an excruciatingly long beat. "You didn't even . . . you didn't even consult with me before telling her this," she said.
"I know, but things were going so fast and I felt like I had no --" Maan shook his head, cutting himself off. He firmly believed that excuses spoiled apologies. "I am sorry, Geet. It would only be until the end of the field trip."
At this affront, words began to tumble uncontrollably out of Geet's mouth. "I know you must not think very highly of me, Professor. But contrary to what you may believe, I actually do value myself and the institution of marriage. And pretending to be someone's wife for a weekend certainly clashes with those principles."
"You have completely misunderstood me, Geet," he said, aggrieved by her assumptions. Maan stared at the mother of his child, the wind tossing her hair gently around her shoulders as crickets began to chirp in harmony. In the hidden recesses of his mind, Maan had no doubt that the symphony was dedicated to her. Why was it that at the most inappropriate moments -- like, oh, this one -- her beauty caught him off guard?
Geet shook her head, but her face reflected regret instead of anger. "It's all right, Professor. You don't have to fib to protect my feelings. I know what you must think about me being paid to be a surrogate, of giving up Riya, of moving into your house, of --"
"Stop," said Maan forcefully. Unflattering words about Geet, even from her own mouth, were unacceptable. "Without you, I wouldn't have the joy of my life. And your arrival has brought my daughter immeasurable happiness." Maan sat quietly for a moment, allowing his surprisingly venerative words to reverberate in his own ears.
Suddenly, Mrs. Smith, her class in tow, emerged from the forest surrounding the campground and began heading toward the campfire area. The hike was apparently over, and Maan could see adults exiting their cabins.
Silently, Maan and Geet scrambled to their feet and hurried off the dock. Although their conversation had lacked closure, one thing was clear: The winds of their relationship were changing with frightening speed.
---
"Are you *sure* this will make your parents get married?" asked Thomas as he and Riya followed their class out of the forest. On the trail, the two children had spent their time discussing Riya's plan instead of paying attention to the various trees and plants pointed out by Mrs. Smith.
"Yes," said Riya, sounding more desperate than confident. She spotted her parents walking toward the campfire area, which now included long plastic tables piled with food. A large fire, surrounded by logs upon which people could sit, was already crackling.
"I don't know if this will work," said Thomas. The flecks of doubt in his eyes were magnified by his glasses.
"Oh, you've just *got* to help me, Thomas," Riya pleaded, her eyes welling with tears. "Please?" It was up to her to get her parents married, and this was her chance.
Thomas patted Riya on the shoulder. "Don't cry. I'll feel real bad if my finance is crying. I'll do it." He sighed. *Women,* he thought. *Can't live with them, can't live without them.*
---
Maan strode toward the campfire area, Geet trailing slightly behind. He scanned the noisy group of adults and children. Most had lined up by the tables, loading supper onto paper plates. The sky above was now a deep violet blanket, the chief source of light coming from the campfire itself.
Suddenly, Riya was racing toward her parents. "Daddy! Mama!" she exclaimed.
Maan felt his heart gush with tenderness as his little girl ran into his arms. The day had been a whirlwind -- more like a tornado -- and a cuddle from his daughter was just the ticket to still the storm.
After Maan released Riya, she turned to her mother. "Mama, I would like a hug from you, too, please," she requested.
Geet smiled and lowered herself to the grass, enveloping Riya. "Oh, my dear heart, you never have to ask. How about a kiss, too?" She pressed her lips sweetly against her daughter's forehead. Only an embrace from Riya could center her after the mystifying and sapping conversation with the professor.
"I'd like you to get in line, sweetheart," said Maan, motioning toward the tables. "It's dinnertime. We'll be along."
"Okay, Daddy," said Riya. She waved as she skipped away, growing more confident in her plan. Oh, how she truly loved her parents. More than cake, ice cream, and candy combined. How could they *not* love each other? She had to get them married, and fast.
As Riya took her place at the end of the dinner line with a few other classmates, Geet rose and swept blades of grass from her legs.
"Well, wasn't that a sweet scene," said a snide voice from behind Maan and Geet. They turned to see Sameera, a hand on her hip and a scowl on her face.
Sameera squinted at Geet, as if appraising her for the first time, then shifted her eyes to Maan. She raised her eyebrows. "Really, Maan? You couldn't have done better?"
Maan clenched his jaw and took a menacing step forward. "Watch your mouth when you're talking to my --" He cut himself off. Although Sameera's patent insolence left him seething, Geet had yet to give him permission to call her his wife.
Geet peered at Sameera. How cruel Maan's previous lover had been to engage in such treachery. Geet reflected on how devoted the professor was to their daughter -- so much so that he had even allowed Geet into his life and home. Perhaps she owed it to him to play along?
"To his wife," Geet finished. Maan whipped his head around to meet Geet's eyes, which flickered with blatant dislike for his ex-flame.
Watching Sameera out of the corner of his eye, Maan wrapped an arm around Geet. "Time for dinner," he said, gently moving Geet forward. The sudden closeness raised goosebumps on her skin.
Maan threw an incensed glance at Sameera. "Not another word from you against, or even about, my wife. Got it?" He then led Geet away, leaving a woman scorned in their wake.
---
Thank you so much for reading. :)
Edited by kumari3 - 13 years ago
Ishaani
201