Shackles of Love#6#MG - Page 83

Thanks a lot for ur support guys..I was severely pissed off yest

Avi, Muski, Ruchi, Sudha, Pooja, Deepu, Harika, Krishnaluv94, Maneetfanatic(Sorry dont know your names)

🤗

But, Alls' well that ends well

❤️❤️❤️❤️

And i am sorry but i couldn't reply to all individually. Thanks loads for all the lovely comments. They mean a lot to me.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Please join me in wishing our

FEMME FATALE aka Sanju(Maan-ki-sanjana)

very Happy Birthday on this

LINK.

Without further ado, let's proceed.

This is freaking 11 pages, to make up for the delay.😃

How about compensatory comments too😆

CHAPTER 28:

The rays of the sun heralded the dawn of a bright new day. The destruction caused by the storm lay in wait of the soothing caress of the sun to start anew.

A similar storm had passed through two lives too, destroying their thin layer of understanding, causing the chasms to widen so far apart that joining them again would be well nigh impossible.

But it hadn't counted on the determination of one woman who was ready to give her all to hold on to the tattered remnants of her marriage, to painstakingly follow the path shown by an angel in guise, take the first step to mend the tear.

Nor had it taken into account the turbulent emotions seething below the surface of the calm exterior of one man. The want pulling him towards his destiny, fighting against all he thought was right to reach the brink once again. He knew one wrong step and he could fall deep, deeper than he had ever fallen before, maybe to never arise. But his soul called out to him to take a chance, to admit that he wanted to take a chance. He wanted to fight against fate and destiny, even himself to obtain the unobtainable.

However, the silent war waging in their minds was not visible on their faces. On the contrary, they reflected a glow, serenity and peace shining through.

There they lay. All cuddled up.

Sometime during the night, Geet had shifted over such that she was sleeping on his lap, with her dupatta covering them both. Her arms were around his waist and her head rested against his heart, its steady sounds lulling her to a peaceful slumber while Maan's hands held her securely in place.

====

If serenity ruled here, the other half of their small world was in utter chaos. Naintara having found both of them missing was raising hell. No one had seen either of them and their phones were coming switched off. The workers from the site could only say that Maan and Geet had left just before the storm had blown stronger, adding to their worries. Annie and Naintara were ready to cry and their men had a tough time handling them. Everyone was gathered around, having failed to find either.

The situation was tense, no one having a clue what had happened in the fierce storm, when suddenly Sasha got an idea to check for Maan in the office.

Half heartedly they made their way there, not really expecting them there, as Pari said she had been there and the office was locked from outside.

=========

The sight meeting the eyes of the search party brought more than just a smile to their lips. The soft smile adorning Maan's face was a sight for sore eyes. It had been missing for quite a while now. Their heavy hearts were calmed with the serene aura emanating from the couple lying cuddled up on the sofa.

Dev was glad to see that things were better between the two. Maybe his advice had borne fruit.

Naintara, Annie and Arjun were happy for Maan. The slight hesitance they had felt over their relationship vanishing in the presence of the proof before their eyes.

Virat was happy for his friend. He had seen Maan suffer a lot in the past years. Cutting himself off from life. First the whole Savitri Devi fiasco, then Sameera.

Pari was embarrassed to view her dreamy boss in such a state. Not that she had not fantasized about his perfect abs, but her dream turning into a reality was something else! She looked at Sasha who was staring at Maan and Geet with open mouth and decided to act prudently. She pulled Sasha out.

Unaware that the emotion within Sasha was not embarrassment but a latent rage.

====

"Ye lo! Hum yaha pareshan ho rahe hai inke liye aur ye dono chain se so rahe hai!" Naintara whispered. "Nazar na lage inhe! Babaji mere Veerji ke chehre par ye muskurahat banaye rakhna!" She prayed. Annie seconded Naintara, wiping a tear from her eye as she took out a phone to capture the elusive moment forever.

On everyone's questioning look she explained, "Kodak moment hai Di! Ise to capture karna hi padhega!"

The disturbance caused made Maan frown and he turned to nuzzle his face into Geet's neck, holding her tighter when the click of the camera woke him up. His sleep tousled brain took some time to take in his surroundings. He tried to disentangle their entwined limbs but Geet wouldn't let him.

"Maan!" she protested huskily, "Sone dijiye na! Waise bhi you didn't let me sleep properly for the last two nights." Snuggling back into his warmth after dropping her bombshell.

Maan strove to hold down the blush at her misleading words, especially when he saw everyone taking in their state of undress and the clothes scatters around. The men laughed outright at his plight while the woman giggled. He quickly dropped Geet beside him and got up, ignoring her clutching hands and the sniggers which followed his plight, but not without ensuring that she was covered up properly with the dupatta. He didn't know why. But he didn't want anyone else viewing his wife in her current state.

His "It's not what you think!" was drowned out as Virat's laughter filled voice. "Maan, why are you giving so many explanations? Believe me, if it was me in your place then it would definitely have been more than any of you all would have thought!"

"Seriously Maan!" Dev teased, "If you guys really didn't do anything, then I guess we should be worried about your'" but was cut off by Maan's glare.

"Haan Veerji!" Annie chimed in, "Don't you think you should think beyond your 'impotent mittings' now?" making everyone double up with laughter except for Maan who was wishing the earth would open up and swallow him. He cursed himself for moving here last night! His wrathful "Annieee!!!" was ignored by one and all.

Geet woke up amidst this laughter, surprised to see everyone gathered around. She was embarrassed at being caught in such a situation and decided to feign sleep, but Naintara noticed her and teasingly said, "So Sleeping Beauty? You are finally awake. Hume to laga ke we would have to get your Prince Charming to kiss you awake!" making Geet go red all over.

Annie not one to be left behind added her two cents. "Sleeping Beauty and Prince Charming? Geet and Maan Veerji? Rehne do Di, aisa bundle mat maro! These two are more like Beauty and the Beast!" earning herself another glare from Maan, while the others crackled up.

Looking at Maan from beneath her eyes, Geet saw that he was as usual scowling and said unwittingly, "Beast nahi Annie! Danav! Dusht danav!"

Before Maan could burst, Dev thought that matters needed to be taken in hand and he ushered everyone out, on the pretest of giving Maaneet privacy to change, which Maan thankfully grasped to save himself from further ribbing.

As soon as the door closed, Maan turned to glare at Geet. "Kya kaha tumne?" making her gulp in trepidation, regretting her impulsive outburst.

"Woh'woh'.sahi to kaha maine'aap ho hi aise'." She stuttered moving backwards, while he stalked her, almost pinning her to the wall. His closeness was having its effect on her, making her loose her senses, and talking became difficult. He grasped her wrist, twisting it behind her back, pushing her against his body.

"Accha? Aur tum apne aapko kya samajhti ho? Koi Pari?" he stared at her, her beauty calling out to the male within him. He was watching his effect on her and enjoying this closeness. The feel of her soft body against his, fitting each other like two halves of a whole. He wanted to taste those trembling lips again, this time without the any intoxication ruining the moment between them. Geet was right; he was unable to handle his hormones and so was making her bear the brunt of his frustrations.

Closing his eyes, he inhaled her scent, filling himself with her essence; his lips were near her earlobe, nearly touching her, but not quite.

He whispered tauntingly, "Tum itni bhi koi haseen nahi ho!" and watched as her eyes widened and she pouted in anger.

"Itni bhi buri nahi hu! Mai aapko bata du, Rajji kehti hai ke agar mai chahu to mere liye koi bhi haste haste apni jaan de de!" She added indignantly.

Her words were like a horn blaring, waking him from his stupor, jealousy burning in his veins, "Maan tu Darji ki baatein kaise bhool gaya!" and he lashed out, "Haan to jao na! Mere peeche kyu padhi ho? Maine tumhe nahi roka hai! Kitni baar kaha tumhe ke mat aao mere pass. Door raho mujhse."

Thanking her silently at having stopped him from any further mistake. He had no choice; he had to keep her away from him. No matter what he was feeling right now, his life was never meant to be shackled with anyone else's.

He didn't want her raising her hopes, wishing for the impossible. And he knew his self- control would only last so much. It was better to push her away than to risk her closeness affecting his life.

"Haan! To door hi gayee thi na! Aap hi aaye the yaha! Mere peeche peeche! Meri pooch banke!" she claimed smugly.

Maan knew he was caught, and was all flustered, "Tum se na baat hi karna bekaar hai!"

"To kyu kar rahe aap mujhse baat? Mat kariye!" she snorted.

Maan smiled at her innocence behind her back but it was not reflected in his, "Abhi statue banke kyu khadi ho! Go and change! Ghar nahi jana hai kya?"

=====

Silence reigned once again between them as they arrived home. Both were lost in their own thoughts, their closeness of the night could have been a mirage. Geet sat there making faces and scowling at him in between, while Maan looked at her acts from the corner of his eyes but pretended to ignore her.

As soon as they reached home, she got down instantly and ran home after giving him a scowling look. Maan laughed at her childishness and made his way in.

=====

"Geet I am going back to the site. Don't wait up for me. And don't you dare leave the house at night alone ever again, okay?"

But Geet ignored him, turning her face away, while pretending to enjoy her tea. Maan shook his head at her childishness. "Accha to tum baat nahi karogi? Great! Aaj ka din accha jayega, shayad subah subah kuch aisa dekha jo mere liye lucky tha." He taunted, but then went silent as he remembered that it had been Geet's beautiful face he had woken up to. Geet oblivious to this fact cribbed looking at him out of the corner of her eyes, "Aur maine pata nahi subah subah kis dusht danav ka chehra dekha jo mera din itna bura start hua hai!"

"Geeettt!"

She ignored him and looked up, "Babaji aap inse keh dijiye ke mujhe inse baat nahi karni!" and added a "Dusht Danav" under her breath, which obviously didn't go unheard by Maan.

He glared as he got up to keep his used cutlery in the basin, before making his way out.

=====

Sasha was seething with jealousy after seeing Maan and Geet so close together in the morning. Pari had taken her out instantly so she didn't know what happened, but the contented looks on everyone's faces as they had come out of the office did not bode well for the future to her.

"Kuch to karna padhega! Aur wo bhi jaldi! Warna wo Geet'." Sasha couldn't even complete the thought.

"What should I do? I have only MK; unke ilawa there is no one who loves me'" She removed her mother's picture from beneath her pillow and sobbed, "Why did you leave me mom? Dekho na, sab kuch bikhar gaya. Kyu gayee aap'" her heart wrenching cries could be heard outside and Virat who was passing by her room was stricken with remorse to hear his only daughter cry her heart out.

He entered Sasha's room to find her lying on her stomach with Madhu's photo in her hands. The tears streaming down her face shredded his heart. Unable to see her in so much distress, he went to her and caressed her head soothingly, trying to lessen the grief he could feel emanating from her in waves, "Sasha honey, what happened?" but Sasha threw his hand away. "Beta please tell me." he begged, powerless against the depth of anguish his daughter was in. "Tum kahogi nahi to mai tumhari madat kaise kar sakta hu?" he asked brokenly.

She got up and wiped her tears, the vulnerable face of a few moments ago replaced by a cold mask. "How come you are here dad? Don't you have some work that needs your urgent attention?" She queried venom and pain dripping from each word. "I know where I come in your list of priorities."

"Sasha'"

"Please dad! Stop with all this false sympathy. I can manage my own life. I am used to it. I don't need you. Just leave me alone." And she turned her back to him.

Virat looked at her, standing all alone, trying to hide her defenselessness under a tough faade. He wanted to love her, and wanted his loving daughter back. The daughter who used to idolize him, who used to come running to him every day as soon as he entered home, to hug him and tell him everything about her day. The daughter who used to love him like crazy. Who was his shadow. But it was too late now. After Madhu's death, he had been so lost in his grief that he hadn't realized that he was tearing apart his daughter by the distance he had imposed between them.

He loved his daughter, how could he not? After all she was his Madhu's replica. But Sasha refused all his overtures. She had closed herself in a shell, to wall off any hurt.

And then he had made another folly. He had sent her to a boarding school.

Not because he was unable to cope with his growing daughter, but because he was anxious for her. His way of life included late nights, staying for months at isolated sites which were not safe for a growing girl. But Sasha had taken it as another attempt of his to distance her. And that had been the end of their relationship.

"Sasha'" He whispered tired with the hell his personal life was. He had tried to mend the tear, but Sasha was not responding to his overtures. He thought that calling her here for her vacations would somewhere take their relationship forward. But to no avail. The only one Sasha listened to was Maan, and now after his wedding, he didn't want Sasha to cause any trouble in Maan's life. He was very grateful to Maan for giving Sasha emotional support when she had badly needed it. It was only because of Maan that a civil link existed between them. If Maan hadn't guided Sasha through her teens, Virat was sure she would have turned along the wrong path.

But now Maan was married and Sasha needed to understand the fact.

"Dad didn't you hear what I said? I don't need you! Just go! When have you ever been there for me? Kal bhi aapne us Geet ka side liya aur'."

Virat got alert at the mention of Geet's name, and he said sternly, "Sasha I know you have a crush on Maan, but it's high time you get over it. Maan is married now and your shenanigans must not create any problems for him. Understand?"

"What do you mean?" she asked innocently.

"You know exactly what I mean."

His austere expression warned Sasha that he meant business. "Stay away from Geet! If I find that you have done anything remotely like what you did yesterday or try to harm that girl, and then just watch out. I let you get away with a lot of things Sasha, because somewhere I am guilty, but don't take undue advantage of the freedom I have granted you." He added and left behind a fuming Sasha.

"Mai bhi dekhti hu aap kya kar loge! MK is mine and only mine! I know he loves me! And I won't let anyone else come between us!" she vowed.

After a lot of thinking, she came up with a plan.

Making sure that Maan was not at home, she went to his house. Geet welcomed her in unsuspecting of the evil trap she was about to fall in.

She pretended to be warm and welcoming Geet into their community, giving the impression that she wants to be friends as there is no one else her age. Geet totally bought her drama, feeling sorry for Sasha somewhere, after Naintara had told her about Sasha's circumstances. She knew what it was to lead a life without your parents. She couldn't imagine what Sasha must have gone through to lose her father even though he was right in front of her eyes.

They chatted for a while about college and people, finding a lot of things in common, while the TV played in the background.

A perfume commercial caught Geet's attention, making her look wistfully at it. It was the latest brand being advertised on television as THE perfume to make all men fall in love with you. Every married lady MUST have it, they proclaimed. "Will this work on Maan too?" Geet wondered. Seeing Geet's interest, Sasha broke into her thoughts saying that she had a similar perfume, which she didn't use. But Geet could borrow it if she wanted.

"After all that's what friends are for, right Geet? Aur waise bhi, if you want MK to notice you, you must have that perfume!" Sasha smirked to herself, seeing Geet falling into her trap, without any effort from her side.

Geet blushed at the thought and profusely thanked Sasha while the little minx eagerly went away to bring the perfume for Geet.

"Abhi dekho Geet! What MK will do to you!"

========

Humming lightly to herself, Geet got ready in a new saree liberally spraying herself with the perfume. "Shayad ye hi kaam kar le! Try karne me kya jaata hai, Geet!" sniffing herself, she exclaimed, "Smell to acchi hi hai! Bas us Dusht Danav par bhi apna asar chala de, aur unhe insaan bana de."

Having decided on her path, Geet didn't want to leave any stone unturned in winning her husband's heart. "Subah subah to ghusse me gayee the! Geet tu bhi na! Kya zaroorat thi unhe ghussa dilane ki! Tu to unke dil me apne liye jagah banana chahti hai na, to fir ulta kaam kyu kar rahi hai? Hopefully abhi mood accha ho gaya hoga!" She sighed. "Ye bhi tu kya expect kar rahi hai Geet! Maan Singh Khurrana in a good mood! Stop dreaming!"

She looked at herself in the mirror, pouting her lips, adding an extra layer of lip gloss. "Kya keh rahe the wo? Ke mai koi Pari nahi hu! Khud ko kaha ka rajkumar samajhte hai pata nahi! Aaj dikhati hu inko!" and blew a kiss to herself in the mirror.

=========

The chiming of bangles greeted Maan as he entered his house, while the aromas wafting from the kitchen made his house seem like a home. The small homely feel emanating from his humble abode filled an unacknowledged place in his lonely heart. His musings were interrupted by her musical voice, "Aap aa gaye?" she peeked out of the kitchen and smiled at him, "Aap fresh hoke aayiye, dinner is ready."

He wondered what was wrong with her, as he had left her in a sulking state. So this about face was surprising. Shrugging off his confusion, Maan went to freshen up as he was hungry and the aromas wafting from the kitchen were tempting his senses.

He was just about to enter the kitchen when a vision of loveliness stopped him in his tracks.

There she stood, stirring something on the stove while talking along to her Babaji he assumed. She kept looking up and making cute faces all the while, frowning sometimes, lost in her own world.

She was simply dressed in a saree, her hair left open, and he could see that she had made a special effort to get ready. He admired her from afar, noticing how her hair fell over her face, playing peek-a-boo with her eyes. The pink colour of the saree was adding to the lushness of her skin, making it glow. Her spine arched with her movements, making his hand itch to run his fingers along it. Breaking off his thoughts as he felt his blood heating up, he entered the kitchen, "Abhi tak khana bana nahi? Kitni der laga rahi ho!"

She stiffened in her place, turning around to glare at him, with anger in her eyes, "Dekha Babaji aapne? Kabhi kuch accha ye bol hi nahi sakte! Jab dekho bas taane maarte rehte hai!" she twisted her lips and turned back to the stove, trying to hide her trembling lips and watery eyes.

The aromas in the air made his stomach grumble and he quickly made his way towards the stove to peek into the pan she was stirring the curry in. As he leaned forward, his breath fanned her earlobes but not wanting to admit his appreciation for her effort, he snidely commented, "Wo kya hai na Geet, aaj kal mujhe darr lagta hai! Pata nahi tum kab khane me kya mila do!" Geet was too lost in tha magic that he was weaving over her to pay heed to his words But when she saw him smirking, his words registered in her mind, but before she could retaliate, Maan stopped suddenly.

His face changed colour dramatically, and he sniffed the air suspiciously, "What's that smell?"

"Wow Geet! Sasha was right! Inhone notice kiya!" Thought Geet, ignoring his words of a minute ago. She fluttered her eyelashes as she had seen the heroines doing on TV and said innocently, "It's my new perfume? Do you like it?"

But Maan started sneezing continuously and his eyes began to water. He pushed her away from him, almost running away from her, still sneezing continuously.

Geet got worried seeing Maan like this and tried to come near him, "Maan? Maan! Kya hua aapko?" she asked tearing up, afraid that he was falling ill.

"Stay away from me!" he said between sneezes. "Tum kuch karne se pehle sochti kyu nahi ho? I am allergic to strong perfumes dammit! Aur tumne lagta hai poori bottle laga di!"

Geet looked at him in horror, saying sorry over and over again.

Maan left the kitchen warning her to stay away from him while Geet cursed fate for messing up her plans. She went to peek into the bedroom to see Maan lying on the bed, holding his head, massaging it and turning around fitfully.

"Maan, aapne kuch nahi khaya hai. Mai aapko balm laga du? Theek lage fir kuch kha lena." She ventured cautiously, keeping her distance, guilt running within her at his pain.

"Geet! Mera dimaag mat khao! Just go from here! Jitna kia utna kafi hai!" He spat rudely and turned over, trying to get comfortable. Geet got annoyed at him, "Aap aise kyu bol rahe ho? How was I supposed to know that you are allergic to perfumes? Mujhe kya koi bhavishyavani hogi? Maine to TV pe dekha tha isliye socha'."

"Haan bas yahi tumhari galti hai! Tum sochna bandh kar do! Jab bhi tum sochti ho na, mere liye theek nahi hota hai!" He quipped sarcastically.

"Dekha Babaji! Inke liye kabhi kuch accha karna hi nahi chahiye! Abhi mujhe kaise pata chalega ke aapko kitni kism ki beemaria hai?" she asked petulantly.

"Geet apne aap se badbadana bandh karo aur jao yaha se!"

She ignored him and continued her tirade, "Ghussa karne ki, na-hasne ki, dosro ki emotions ki kadar na karne ki. Sab ko apni badi badi aaknon se ghoor ghoor ke dekhne ki! Ye sab khamiya thi hi pehle se aapme! Abhi ye aur ek sahi!" Annoyed at his baseless accusations. "Bas aap chillate hi rahiye! Maine kitni mehnat se ye sab kiya tha. Lekin aapko kya?" She stamped her foot and went away!

"Samajhte kya hai apne aapko Babaji! Jab dekho jali kati sunate rehte hai! Inko mazaa na chakaya na to mera naam bhi Geet Khurrana nahi!"

=====

Geet had a restless sleep that night, her mind darting towards the new found intimacy with her husband the previous night, which made her insides churn, but soon enough it was replaced with another rather opposite emotion. Not only had the Dusht Danav disregarded her efforts last evening, but also yelled at her, as always when it was not her fault.

But enough was enough, she would have her revenge and she knew exactly how, for wasting the food she had so painstakingly prepared. What do they say, a tooth for a tooth, so food for food, rather she should say black coffee for the DD, she thought with a devilish glint in her eyes.

======

"Maan coffee."

"Hmmm. Thanks." He muttered, his attention on the paper in his hand, missing the evil smirk Geet was giving him! He took a sip of the brew, spitting it out immediately, while wiping his face with his handkerchief.

"What the hell is this Geet?"

"Maan aap bhi na! Kasie betuke sawaal poochte ho! Jab maine kaha coffee hai to wohi hogi na!" She said trying hard to control her laughter at his expressions.

"Really?"

"Haan! Kyu chai jaisi lag rahi hai?"

"Accha? Coffee? Tumhe pata bhi hai ke coffee kaisi banayi jaati hai?"

"Haan! Doodh, coffee aur cheeni!" She beamed.

"accha? Aur kitni cheeni?" He snarled.

"5 cubes."

"5 cubes? Bas? Kyu baki khatam ho gayee thi kya?"

"Ohhh!! To aisa Boliye na! Isme chilllane ki kya baat hai!" she said calmly and hurried into the kitchen to get the sugar bowl. She came back and emptied half the contents into his cup, stirring it in. "Ye lijiye! Aapki coffee. Cheeni kam ho gayee thi na. Next time se dhyaan rakhoongi!" she murmured sotto voiced.

"Waise accha hi hai! zyaada cheeni ki aapko zaroorat hai! Aapki kadwi zubaan pe shayad iska kuch asar ho jaye!" she said while disappearing back into the kitchen before he could burst out, leaving behind a bemused Maan, staring at her back, both unaware of the fact that he would finally get his means to keep his "Zubaan meethi", soon.

Very soon.

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Kya yaar. tum log ek goof up nahi bata paye😆

Two were pointed out, which are correct but not the one i meant.

So the goof-up still persists.😆

Comment karo aur mujhe batao ke kaisa hai!

Feel sorry for Sasha yet?

Long ones preferable😛

KaminisKult