Geet came out to the large circular verandah letting the cool breeze caressing her face. The sky was clear today unlike yesterday. Though she was feeling strange today. Her father told her she will meet Maan today, he is coming over a tea party. After five long years she will meet him. She blushed as soon as his name crossed her mind.
Geet why are you blushing huh? She said to herself and hit her head lightly. You have meet him before. She pushed the thought out of her mind and concentrated on the scenic beauty of the nature. The sun was slowly setting in the west sky. Soon the gold like yellow sky became yellowish red then slowly turned into a deep orange color. She was lost into it.
"Princess." She came back to sence hearing one of the most familiar maids voice.
"Yes?" She said straightening her back.
"Lady Blair is waiting." The maid said looking at own feet. When commoners are talking to people of higher class they have to look at your feet. Looking directly in their eyes means disrespecting them.
"Tell her I'm coming." Hearing her answer the maid left bowing.
Geet crossed the long corridor to come to the inside verandah. From the verandah she saw Blair waiting downstairs at the lobby.
"Blair I was waiting for you." She said climbing down the stairs.
"No, you weren't." Blair said in a sing a song voice.
"How did you know?"
"You always wait for me here." Both of them sat beside a tea table. "so which thought kept you busy?"
"I lost my anklet." Geet said pouting. She chose to hide the real reason of her absent minded state. The last thing she wanted was to blush in front of her friend and got teased by her.
"You have got a lots of.."
"Yes. But that one was very special to me." They became silent for a few seconds but Geet couldn't control the temptation of talking about Maan. So she started the topic indirectly.
"Blair I heard Chuck is coming here over a tea party as well as Maan."
"Hmm. That is the reason father told me to come early." She said smiling at her.
"Are not you exited?" Geet asked loosing control on her excitement.
"Me?" Blair gave a half smile. "Why should I?" She was better than Geet in case of hiding excitement.
Their conversation interrupted by the galloping sounds of horses.
"They are here." Geet said looking outside through a stony window and ran to other side of the lobby to see Maan entering the great hall. There were five stony windows in a row facing towards the great hall. As Geet stand near a window Blair came to stand next to her.
Ayushman and Henry were standing there to welcome Chuck and Maan.
"We should go and take a seat." Blair whispered in her ears and left to the tea table. But for something rather say for someone Geet couldn't move an inch. She just kept looking at Maan. He had changed a lot. His stubble has grown, maybe became a few inchs taller. Though she felt he is the same Maan she saw before five years. When she saw his eyes traveling to every stony window she let out a giggle and left to the tea table.
Maan could feel it that someone is watching him from somewhere but couldn't find from where. He kept looking at the every marble windows. He couldn't see anyone but heard a sweet voice giggling which made him smile.
After some time they went to tea table. The ladies saw four of the men to enter they stood up to welcome them.
"Welcome back Maan." Geet said looking at him. Maan looked at her thick cajoled eyes. For a moment he completely forgot to breath. She was wearing a light blue garment with white frills. She was looking absolutely regal. She was so perfect, so elegant. He couldn't find a flaw on her face, so beautiful that none could take their eyes away from her. It was pleasure of eyes to see her. The innocent beauty of her could give peace to your heart.
"Thank you Geet." After a few seconds Maan replied smiling.
As Chuck sat in front of Blair she traveled her gaze top to bottom as if scanning him. Then looked at Chuck's eyes gave a small smile saying welcome and Chuck replied with a thank you. She was beautiful indeed but her beauty was so different. There was something more than beauty was present in her which Chuck couldn't describe in words. She was just' flawless.
They started talking on common matter. It was their introduction meeting so they chose to talk about other matters rather than their job of school.
Maan was not paying attention to the conversation of others rather say couldn't. Geet's musical voice was ringing in his ears. Every time she talked left its effect on him. From past minutes Maan came to know one thing about Geet clearly. Her favorite hobby is talking. Not that he wanted to stop her. It was the sweetest sound he had ever heard. He was enjoying whenever she was smiling on something funny. From her attitude Maan could understand she has changed a lot. She is not anymore the shy Geet who lowered her eyelids every time those met Maan's eyes. A half smile escaped Maan's lips.
Chcuk was participating on the conversation though his attention was only on Blair. She was listening the conversation carefully though she talked very seldom. Every time she talked her serene voice kept echoing in Chuck's ears.
After a few hours of talking Ayushman spoke "you know before a hundred years no men could even think of coming here. It was the place only for royal women to stay." He stopped. Then again started looking at the stony windows. "you know these are called jharokha. It allowed the women to see everything from inside but people from outside couldn't watch them."
"feeling strange." Maan said looking at the windows. "I have heard the women always controlled the politics here."
"They used to but from behind." Ayushman said smiling. "every single stone of this palace has a story. Some of them I know and most of them nobody knows." Ayushman gave a half smile.
When it was almost 8 all started to leave slowly. Chuck left with Henry and Blair as Henry offered him to drop at his house which was close to his palace. Ayushman left to accompany them to the main gate.
Only Geet and Maan were left in the lobby.
"Geet." Maan called her name in a low but strong voice.
"Huh?"
"you look more beautiful when you blush." Maan smiled. A sweet shade of red overpowered her white cheek. She lowered her gaze just like before and was going to run towards her room but Maan's voice stooped her. "Don't run too first that you will loose your another anklet."
Geet stopped and came back to Maan "you have got my anklet?" She said with astonishment
"Hmm. You were so busy to enjoy rain that you didn't even notice me"
"Please give it back to me?" she said raising her palm in front of him.
"this is not the time to get it back." Maan smiled and left the lobby.
_________________________________________________________________
Ok.. At first I decided "The First meeting" should be continued. Than I thought "The Tea Party" will be better..
please comment n hit d like button..
I gave you a lots of MAANEET scns in this chapters.
now i want bada bada comments..
waiting for ur reviews...
To Jannat readers please scroll down I have a imp msg..
Book Talk
Cricket
46