TUM SE HI (MG) Thread 1 - Page 79

TWENTY FOUR

"Do you like him?"

"Yes."

Pari stared at her for a long moment.

"That's it?" she said finally. "Yes? Come on, Geet, could I have some details, here?"

"No."

Pari's eyes widened. "Oh, my gosh, you and Maan are lovers."

"Did I say that? I certainly did not."

"Your one word answers speak volumes. Oh, Geet, this is wonderful. Just how serious is your relationship with Maan?"

"Whoa." Geet leaned toward her. "There is NO relationship, Pari. He's The Project, remember?"

"Well, just because it started like that doesn't mean--"

"Yes it does," Geet interrupted. "I don't want any part of a serious relationship. No commitment. Maan is aware of that."

"You've talked about it?"

"It's came up in a conversation. I am concentrating on reprogramming his mind about working too hard. That's what you and Annie wanted me to do."

"Yes, we did. Yes, of course. But, Geet, I know you. You don't engage in casual sex. Therefore, there are emotions involved...caring, sharing. Correct?"

"Well, I...Yes,, okay, correct."

"Then how can you say you're not in a relationship with him? What button do you push to turn those emotions off at the end of your vacation? My dear friend, you're scaring me. Annie and I were hoping that...Oh Geet, I don't want to see you get hurt. I don't want to see Maan get hurt."

"It won't happen. Trust me. So, yes, all right, things are sort of intense between us, and there are emotions involved, but Maan and I realize we're poles apart in what we want in life. At the end of my vacation, I'll go back to work, and Maan will ride off into sunset. Meaning he'll go baack to work, too. No one is going to get hurt."

"Would you care for some dessert?" the waiter asked, appearing at the table.

"An aspirin," Pari said, pressing one hand against her forehead. "I have a sudden headache."

"Oh Babaji," Geet said, rolling her eyes upwards.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Hours later, Geet stood in front of the full-length mirror in her bedroom, straightening a new red kurti over her jeans.

Maan had suggested an evening at his apartment spent watching movies on home theatre and eating tons of popcorn.

Fun, Geet thought as she left the bedroom, and lazily perfect, due to the fact that she was exhausted from the afternoon of shopping. Pari, thank God, had not brought up the subject of Maan or The Project again, and they'd thoroughly enjoyed their spending spree.

Geet had nodded in approval as she hung each purchase in the closet after staggering in with loads of boxes and bags.

She and Maan had agreed with no argument that they'd watch classic mysteries. Maan was gping to pick her up and all was well.

Just as Geet came into the entry hall, the doorbell rang, making her instantly smile. She opened the door, and Maan entered, pushing the door closed with his foot. He took Geet in his arms and kissed her.

Oh, yes, she thought dreamily, returning the kiss with equal fervor.

The kiss deepened.

No one is going to get hurt.

The words she'd spoken with such conviction at lunch suddenly slammed against her mind.

Damn that Pari, Geet thought. She'd planned that little seed of doubt. No. she wasn't going to fall prey to Pari's lovable-but-unnecessary concern. She and Maan were on the same wavelength regarding their relationship and knew it was not a relationship.

Maan lifted his head. "Hey Geet. I missed you."

(thnx to shruti di for this pic😳)

"You what?" she said, her eyes widening.

He released her and crossed his arms over his chest. "I missed you. I thought about you all day."

"Oh, well, that's nice," she said, managing a weak smile.

He'd missed her? Well that was no big deal. She'd missed him, too, she supposed. When a person was looking forward to an event, they missed not being part of that event to begin. Did that make sense? Babaji, she was scrambling her brain.

"Let's go," she said. "I have a craving for popcorn."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

During the drive to his apartment, Maan told Geet he'd finished reading another one of her novels. Geet inwardly groaned, knowing there would be no way to keep him from talking at length about the book. She really didn't want to think about her work tonight, as it was connected to her vacation, which was connected to The Project. Babaji.

"The message is there again in the book," Maan said.

"Truth, trust. The hero courts the heroine, she agrees to marry him, off they go on their wedding trip."

"But, shame on them, they've been keeping the truth from each other. He has to have an heir under the terms of his grandfather's will, and she needs money to pay debt on the family home where her widowed mother and four siblings live. She figures she can take away money from her wifely allowance."

"Yes, I know, Maan," Geet said wearily. "I wrote it."

"Time passes," he went on, as though she hadn't spoken, "and, bingo, they fall in love. But then they discover the truth about why each married the other. They feel betrayed and used. Hell, they've really hurt the person they now love."

"Not exactly really hurt," Geet said. "I mean, okay, they were hurt, but not really hurt, with the emphasis you're putting on it. You make it sound as though they're bleeding to death."

"They are, in a way," he said, nodding. "They're emotionally bleeding. You, as the writer, made me feel their pain. Those two were in a world of hurt, Geet."

"Don't say that," she snapped, then sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bark at you. I guess I am a little frazzled because I've been on the go all day. Once I put my feet up, relax, and start watching a movie, I'll be fine."

"And have popcorn," he said, smiling over at her.

"Yes, oodles of popcorn," she agreed absently.

No one is going to get hurt.

Oh, Geet, please, she begged herself, shut up.