Her house looked lifeless…haunted!!! And the biggest thing that ate her within was how she was going to live though her days!
INDIA
They landed in delhi…finally he was home! His dad was there to receive him at the airport. Nothing was as beautiful as getting back to his family after such a long time. Avantika waited at home…seeing her son in skin and bones…hale and hearty…she couldn't stop her tears. It was all welcome for Maan!
LONDON
She focused on her studies…her exams were due next week. She didn't have any choice either! Either it was him or her studies in her mind. She chose the later because, for now, he was not coming back. why is it that every time, a person comes into her life, changes her entire life and walks away leaving her all alone? She waited for his call…it felt as if she has llived through this phase earlier… she shrugged the feeling! She blocked it from her mind and concentrated on her studies!
INDIA
He was so tired. Avantika had said, she had been preparing his room for the past one month! He followed her to his room. It was beautifully done according to his taste—the colors, the curtains, his bed, everything! There his large photos of childhood hung on the wall. He went to the washroom to freshen up while Avantika arranged his clothes.
It was around 3am. He was dead tired. Avantika emptied his bags and arranged his clothes in the cupboard. She was about to keep that bad aside, when something fell down. It was some kind of an old tape. She wondered if Maan needed it. Just then Maan came out, yawning, wiping his hair.
Avantika: Maan ye tape kya hai bta? Tere bag se mili.
He was not in a condition to open his eyes. He fell on the bed with a thump.
Maan: table pe rakh dijiye mom…I'll see it later!
He dozed off. Avantika smiled. She covered him with the spread and sat by him caressing his hair. She could still remember his tantrums when he gets angry.
LONDON
A week went like that. she was a complete mess. She talked very less. It was the day her exams commenced. Even exams reminded her of him…how pathetic!
It was 6 am. She hadn't slept a wink. She couldn't! and strangely she was even expecting him to call her….may be because he had learnt her lesson big time! But still a part of her was waiting and waiting…and still waiting. Her cell beeped mercilessly. She felt irritated. It was an unknown number. She didn't feel like taking it. She kept the phone aside and buried her face in the pillow. Time had become too slow and she felt so lonely. She didn't want to talk to anyone.
Her cell cried again with the same number. She sighed and took the call.
Geet (annoyed): hello..
And she heard her beloved voice, deep and husky, "Geet…"
There was a sudden silence between them…the only thing that was heard were their irregular breaths. She didn't want this to happen…yet she needed this desperately!
Her vopice choked, "M…Maan…"
He so much wanted to hug her there and then and he had so many things to talk about but his voice suddenly left him. He just managed to whisper, "kaisi ho?"
Tears threatened her eyes, "I… I am fine I guess.. aur aap?"
He so wanted to see her right there…he felt frustrated at his own self. Why can't he speak?
Maan: you have exams today right?
Geet: umm…you tell me, where are you now?
She could hear people talking around. He became excited like a child.
Maan: guess what shona..aaj mere office ka pehla din hai..not official though but I am accompanying dad and am in my own cabin! OMG I still can't believe it…
She smiled at his happiness…she smiled after so many days. He always casts a spell on her and she forgets everything! They talked about how they lived through the week, what all they did! She heard someone call Maan from the other end.
Maan: okay sweetheart…I need to leave. Will be travelling with dad so busy busy! Don't know if I'll be able to call but yeah will mail you. Reply karna..and take care! Love ya byeee
She smiled and left for college. Her exams went really well. She got his mails and replied aback. They kept on telling their daily routine. She even asked him some doubts from her question paper and he answered them too…just like they used to!
It was holidays for her. Dan and Rahul planned so many things but she refused politely. Nothing was fun without him. All she wanted was to spend her days and nights with that laptop of hers, reading his mails over and over again! Every time she opened a mail, she'd see him sitting beside her and reading it to her! She had started to confine herself in her own world with him.
INDIA
It was almost going to be a month. He was keeping busy a lot lately. Yash had asked him to help him with projects and deals and he was in no way going to let him down. It would be so late at night when he'd finish up reading files and give his observations and inference. He could hardly get time to mail her, but every time he opened his, there would be unread mails from her…probably she mailed him every single day without fail! But he'd be so tired. It was only on Sundays when he'd reply to all her mails in one single reply.
He was so tired that day. It was 00:30 at night. He was fast asleep after a hectic day. His cell beeped loudly. He ignored. It rang again and he ignored this time too. It was the 3rd time and he was hell irritated. He was about to disconnect it when his eyes fell on the caller id. OMG it was geet! He immediately answered, though drowsy and found her screaming.
Geet: Ohh Maan Maan Maan Maan…..maaannn….I love you sooo much…you are awesome!
He wondered why this sudden shower of love!
Maan: what happened shona?
Geet: OMG…results are out silly…you topped…yiipiieee
She was literally jumping on the bed. More than his results, he smiled at her cuteness.
Geet: what are you doing now?
Maan: sleeping…
Geet: what? Maan abhi to sirf 7pm hi hua hai…so early??
Maan laughed: time-lag baby! Its 00:30 here.
Her face fell…uff how come she has forgotten about this?
Geet: umm…okay you sleep..will talk later..
Maan (cutting in): geet…
Geet: hmm..
Maan: nothing leave…I will tell you later…
He disconnected the call. He took his lappy and mailed her immediately with the subject "I wanted to say that…"
"sometimes, your presence takes my breath away;
And all the things I want to say, can find no voice!
Then in silence, I can only hope my eyes will speak my heart…❤️"
LONDON
She was anyways waiting for her mails, like always. She blushed reading it but couldn't find anything good to reply with. she made a face reading the last line and replied back—
"eyes..kaaheka eyes! How am I supposed to read your eyes when you are not even near me! Anyways check your results and go to sleep!"
His reply came within a second—"tumne result dekha hai na mera…so why do I need to see? Am sleeping…goodnight!"
Her new session started and there were preprations for the convocation ceremony. She was so busy with things around that it slipped out of her mind that Maan might come back for the ceremony. She was totally occupied with new semester and the council's work. She was happy in her own world she had created with him and his mails. Rahul and Dan were doing 1 year internships in different companies and they met up every weekend. But geet never joined them.
It was a Saturday and Dan, Rahul and jess came to meet her. they had planned for the disc. As usual, she was sitting with hr lappy, reading and re-reading his mails.
Rahul: geet…lets go…come on get ready!
Geet: no…you guys enjoy…I don't feel like….
Jess: come on geet…how long do you plan to live with that lappy of yours…get a life!
Dan: jess is right geet…atleast today!
Geet refused but they were not giving in. she was getting irritated. Jess snatched that lappy from her hands and that blew the last straw. She never was this furious in her entire life!
Geet (shouting): JUST STAY OUT OF MY LIFE OKAY! I just don't wanna go…can't you people understand? JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!
They were shocked to see geet like this. It had never happened that she shouted this badly…not at least on them! Jess felt so sad!
Jess: what has happened to you geet?
She gave back the lappy and went out. Rahul followed her.
When calmness settled, she closed her eyes realizing what she had done. She looked at Dan, feeling guilty.
Geet: i…I'm sorry..
Dan held her hand and made her sit on the couch and himself knelt in front of her.
Dan: its okay geet…we all know how you must be feeling! Its just that jess wanted you to enjoy…even Rahul…ME too!
Geet looked down: i… I just want to stay alone for sometime!
He caressed her hands: I understand geet…I'll talk to jess. Take your time and take care!
He went away. It was true…she wanted to stay alone! Without him. Nothing seemed to make sense. She was unknowingly distancing herself from everyone.
INDIA
He came home cribbing, following his dad!
Maan: dad please…. You can't do this to me! Mera convocation hain…you can't miss it!
Yash: Maan… humari baat ho chuki hain! I have an important tour…I won't be able to make it beta!
Dadima was sitting on the couch. He went to her.
Maan: Dadima….dad ko samjhaiye na… I wan't him to be there…please..
Dadima: Yash…why are you not going? Apne bete ka convocation kyun miss kar rahe ho?
Yash: maa…you know I can't miss this tour! Important deal hain humare liye…trust me..i so want to go but my hands are tied!
He made a big face and slulmped beside dadi. Just then Avantika came carrying bags and a few people holding something big. She was instructing them to handle it carefully and keep it in the store for the time being.
Dadi: ye kya hain?
Avantika: finally Maan aaj ye mila mujhe…kabse iska order diya hua tha…uss bande ne aaj phone karke bulaya!! Ye Maan ki bachpan ki ek photo hai jise thoda editing and laminate karwane diya tha…
Maan was not listening to anything. He was so not happy. He wanted both his parents to be there when he received his degree. Avantika noticed it!
Avatika: tujhe kya hua Maan?
He looked away. She looked at dadi and she explained everything. Just then Yash came down after freshening up. Avantika shot him a glare.
Yash: what?
Avantika: kyun mere bache ke peechey pade ho aap?
Yash got confused: ab meine kya kiya?
Maan made a baby face and hugged his mom like a little kid.
Avantika (angry): apne hi bete ka convocation miss kar rahe ho aap…?
Yash rolled his eyes: yaar tum bhi… I've a tour with clients from the US and trust me I can't cancel it! Please tum saas-bahu milke mujhe chillana band karo!
Maan (cutely): dekkha mom…
Avantika: aap ko nahi jana hai to mat jaiye….mein aur Maa hi chale jayenge Maan ke saath par mera beta akela nahi jayega…samjhe aap not on his special day!
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