*Love Story Online:3*27/Epilogue/End note Pg81 Ap2 - Page 18

Once Maan came out of the house, it struck him. Uh-oh! It's almost midnight. Nothing will be open! He looked around and went towards the garden. He talked to the rose. "I know it's wrong to pluck flowers after dusk, but I have to. Sorry!"

Saying so, he plucked out a bunch of roses and bunched them together. Then with a satisfying grin, he took off on his bike on full speed.

***

Geet screamed but it wasn't heard as someone had covered her mouth with their hand. She struggled to go free but then the person whispered, "Happy birthday Geet." she knew that voice. She smiled screaming. But then, her eyes went wide. Maan! What is he doing here right now!!

She moved her hand away and scolded, "Maan! What are you doing here at my room at this hour of the night? Don't you have any decency?"

Maan gaped at her. "Great! I come all the way to your house to wish you on your birthday and this is what I get?!"

Geet reasoned, still in angry tone. "You could have just called me silly."

"Like you would have picked up! You didn't even realize when I came in the room and did all this. How would you have heard the call then?"

"DO all what?" she asked him. She could see nothing in the dark. He went towards the door wall and turned the lights on. A frown turned into a grin as she saw the decorations. Small balloons hung here and there and on the wall, a calligraphic writing read 'Happy Birthday Geet'.

She looked at him with pleasure. "You did all this for me?"

He shrugged his shoulder. "I had help." He replied truthfully.

She was impressed. "And why?"

"I need to ask before wishing someone on their birthday?"

"No. Not at all." She replied and went to him. Taking him by surprise, she hugged him. She didn't know why, but she just wanted to hug him. He didn't know how to react, but after a brief pause, he hugged her back too.

"Thank you." She whispered. Parting from the embrace, she continued, "Thank you very much. Till now, only Yash and Pari celebrated my birthday. It feels good to have someone else."

He smiled genuinely at her. She was different. A girl who gets happy in the smallest of the happiness in life.

Geet thought. Sometimes, he behaves so much like MK! And sometimes, totally opposite. Today' I'll have to find out about these two.

Maan was having his own thoughts. That Geet and this Geet. So many similarities and differences. Well, today I'll know. Then it struck him. How will I manage both? Geet's party and Geet's friends' party?

Pari pulled both of them out of their thoughts. "There are people in line to wish her too you know Maan!"

"Oh yea. Sure. Wish her. I think I'll leave now." To Geet, he said, "I'll see you at party." She nodded and then asked teasingly.

"Did you bring those roses to take them back with you?"

He bit his lips. He totally forgot to give them to her. "Opps. Here, happy birthday." He said handing them to her. They were red roses. He explained, "It was too late and these were the only flowers at my garden."

Geet smiled back. "It's alright. Thank you." Maan nodded and left.

Pari squealed and took Geet in a tight embrace. "Happy birthday!!!"

***

The night seeped away and the next day too. The first thing in morning, she decided to find a temple in NY and then dadi called and wished her. They agreed on meeting with mom right before the party started. Then she got busy arranging things for the party that she didn't have time for anything else.

It wasn't until 3:00 that Pari managed to pull Geet away from the venue place and make her eat lunch. Once over with dinner, she sent her straight to get ready. Geet objected that she didn't want to get ready this early. But Pari wouldn't listen a word that Geet said. She didn't know about Geet meeting MK but she did know that she was going to meet Rano, her mother after decade! She wanted Geet to look her best today.

***

It was around 6:00 pm when there was a knock on Geet's door. She jumped up getting happy that finally she wouldn't be alone. The past two hour, alone, in her room had been the worst and very boring.

She opened the door happily and her happiness turned into huge excitement as she saw her in front of her. Her mother. Rano. Tears brew up in both of their eyes and they hugged each other tightly and stayed that way for time to come.

They didn't care for how long. The separation couldn't have been any longer. The hug seemed to transfer their feelings, happiness, sadness, and all other emotions from one to another and vice-versa.

Dadi stepped up and patted both of their heads. They finally parted but still looked at each other in awe. Geet saw her mother after so many years and she still looked the same; as beautiful as ever. No sign of distress on her face.

Rano was in the same state. Her daughter her grown out to be so mature and pretty! Just plain beautiful. She patted her cheek and Geet held her hand, pressing it more towards her cheek.

Dadi said, "You both have lots to catch up on. We'll leave you alone."

Pari and dadi left the room closing it quietly while Geet and Rano looked at the possibilities and wondering where to begin. But one thing for sure, both were uncountingly times happy to re-unite, even if the reason for Rano's disappearance seemed illogical to few people, it didn't matter at the moment. What mattered was that they were in front of each other and together.

***

The party began downstairs and one by one everyone came in and the whole place was filled with people of all kinds. Some in groups, some over by the bar, some just hanging around. The noise eventually reached Geet's room where both the mother and the daughter were sharing a good laugh over things.

Rano said, "Now get ready. I'll see you downstairs."

Geet looked at herself. "I am dressed though ma."

Rano brought a bag that was kept on the desk. "I brought you this. I don't know if you'll like it but I want you to wear this."

Geet opened the bag with a smile and took out a beautiful knee length, while dress made out of silk. She loved it! But moreover, she was surprised that a mother would encourage a child to wear a strapped dress.

Rano giggled at her expression. "I don't have to doubt you Geet. I may not know you well but I do know you are my daughter. And my daughter will not do anything inappropriate. So just go out and have fun."

Geet smiled pleasantly and hugged her mother. Oh, how much she had missed the times one can spend with a mother.

She disappeared in the wash room while Rano got up and left shortly after.

***

Maan, Emma, Ana, Vicky and Dan, all five of them entered the hall together. Pari saw them from the other side and quickly excused herself to greet them. She hugged Emma and Ana and then welcomed them all in.

The party began then. Maan looked around for Geet but he didn't find her anywhere. He looked up and was thinking to go to her room when Vicky said, "Maan, whom are you looking for?"

"No one. I'm just looking at the decorations." He said covering up.

Pari further teased, "The one you're looking for is getting ready."

Maan replied with a straight face, "I'm not looking for anyone." Truth was that he was looking for Geet. If he didn't have better knowledge of his friends and their teasing, then he might have ended up blushing a bit. But he knew better and covered up the blush.

Minutes later, Geet walked down the steps graciously wearing the white dress. All eyes shifted to her and one pair of eye she caught from the crowd were Maan's. He gazed upon at her in admiration. He couldn't take her eyes off of her. She looked mesmerizing.

Pari pulled Geet down the stairs whispering, "Why are you coming down like a bride? By the way, you look really hot in that dress. I'm sure all the boys will be out of their mind soon."

Geet gave her a look to 'shut up'. Nevertheless, she felt her cheek's getting hot red from blushing at the comment. She looked up at Maan who smiled back. Pari excused herself to take care of catering when Maan saw the opportunity and grabbed it.

He walked towards her and said, "Can you look any hotter?"

Her eyes widened and she blushed deeply at the comment. To Maan's bad luck and Geet's good luck, Emma and Ana came there to wish her. After a few laughs, they both took Geet with them. She looked back at him while going with them. She could see he wanted to tell her something.

***

Maan tried to find a time alone with Geet. But his luck wasn't with him. One after another came and kept Geet occupied. An hour later, he had had enough. He walked up to her and said to the girls, "Excuse us." And grabbing Geet's arm, pulled her away to a quiet corner.

She struggled a bit and opposed his action. "Maan… Maan what are you doing? Maan, it's rude!"

Maan let her keep talking and then interrupted once they were by themselves. "Chup. Bilkul chup. Kitna bolti ho tum!"

Geet 'haw-ed' "I speak too much?!!!"

Maan ignored that and said, "Listen, I have to go somewhere."

Geet snapped, "Then go. Why are you telling me?"

"I wanted to tell you before I give. I…"

She listened closely and understood that it was more than just that. She asked, "Maan, what is it? It's much more. Tell me."

"You'll probably think it's silly but I'm going to meet a friend I met online. Actually… she's more than just a friend."

Geet understood that too. "Oh! No – it's not silly. Even, even I have an online friend."

"So you understand my feelings? Should I tell her?"

Geet said with a heavy heart, "Yeah, if you're sure, then tell her."

Maan was still unsure. "But what if she says no?"

She didn't feel like assuring him as her heart was breaking but she held it together. "Don't worry. Only a foolish girl would say no to you. Now go."

Maan hugged her with a happy face on. "Thank you Geet. Thanks." Geet smiled back half-heartedly and gave a tight nod. He left.

She stood there rooted to the place. Unknowingly, she had fallen in love with him. She didn't want to accept it before but now the thought of him loving someone else hurt her. It left her broken. She knew she shouldn't be. But she was. Her heart wasn't in her control and tears started flowing from her eyes.

No one expects the other person to love them back. He hadn't made a commitment, a promise, to her. Then why am I hurt? She questioned herself. She wiped her tears a while later when she saw Pari coming towards her. Her eyes were red but she tried her best to hide that. Good for her, today she had decided to wear waterproof mascara.

Pari asked, "Where were you? It's time to cut the cake. Everyone's waiting for you." Geet nodded silently and let Pari lead her to the middle of the room. Everyone clapped as she bent and blew the candles. She wished with her eyes closed. "I hope Maan stays happy with whomever he loves and gets all the happiness he deserves."

She cut the cake and fed it to her mother with a smile planted on her face. She accepted the piece Rano forwarded towards her mouth. She then excused herself not able to tolerate everything around her. Her heart was creating more trouble for her to stand straight and keep on smiling. She wanted to cry. Not smile.

It was her birthday and look at the gift she got. She finds out that the person she fell in love with is in love with someone else. She couldn't blame Maan for it but how can she accept that with an open heart?

And look at fate's nature. Little did she know that Maan was talking to Geet about herself only! Only if she knew that the person he was in love with is none other than herself!

***

This isn't the full update. It tells me that the words are overlimit. So I'll post the rest in a new post. Till then, enjoy this! Waiting for views :)

Also, have a look at this please! Important. https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/geet-hui-sabse-parayee/2784178/khushis-blab-on-maaneet-lso-upd-pg2-feb20

-Khushi