Chapter 5[B]: Closer
Maanvi: (with a wet chuckle) That's...That's... Virat Vadhera. Viren's... brother! (attempting to smile and keep the air casual)
Jeevika could do nothing but stand and look at the fleet of emotions passing through the oval face of her best friend. She felt helpless and exhausted suddenly at the sight of Maanvi like that.
Maanvi: I, uh... (looking elsewhere and not at Jeevika) Let's go! They'll be waiting!
Jeevika could see the stains of her tears on her cheeks, but didn't reach out to wipe them, since she knew that Maanvi wouldn't be able to hold back anymore, if she took the initiative. So she smiled casually and said a bit enthusiastically.
Jeevika: (smiling widely) I know! Just wipe your face properly and come! (pointing to her and winking at her)
Viren: Those flowers were... (breathing in deeply) Really nice! Thanks, Virat! (nodding in acknowledgement)
Virat: Arre, it's nothing Bhai! (waving it off) I wanted to gift you two something else too, but, uh... (leaning back on the sofa) I couldn't really come up anything! And I remembered that all women love flowers and it would make a real good gift for her too, so... you know! (carefully choosing his words and waving his hands in mid-air)
Viren: (nodding in approval) So, how did you... (pausing) I mean, how come you dropped in... (leaning forward with his elbows on his knees) so late and without any notice?
Virat: (grinning at his elder brother's subtle question of "How did you come to know where I reside?"; slapping his thigh) Old habit bro! (honestly and scratching his head) A habit of getting to know everything beforehand! (chuckling at Viren's smiling eyes) You know what Bhai? You're one of the most famous lawyers in whole of India! (raising an elegant eyebrow and sounding really happy)
Viren: Urm... (nodding in confusion) I, uh...
Virat: You know, when I typed the Best lawyers of Chandigarh, the topmost name was yours! (excitedly) And the funny thing was in whole of India, you didn't rank in Top Ten Lawyer! (solemnly)
Viren: I'm working on it! (humbly and blinking with a smile)
Virat: Sure you are, Bhai! Sure you are! (shifting for comfort) Along with it came your Office address, so I contacted them and got your address! (jerking his head to one side concluding his answer) Tussi chha gaye, Bhai! (leaning forward and slapping Viren's shoulder) Maan--, Bhabhi badi khush hogi yaar!! (teasingly)
Viren: (nodding humbly) Thanks, Virat! (grinning at the atmosphere becoming light enough now)
And with that Jeevika went out of the room to join the two men seated in the living room.
Maanvi smiled at the retreating back of her best friend and went in to wash and wipe her face properly. She rolled her eyes on Jeevika's presence of mind. If she had said something serious, then the dam would've broken loose. Why on Earth is this all affecting her, when she knows that what had happened was nothing but in the past? It had all happened because it had to happen and not against somebody's decisions! It was Destiny! It was Fate! Maanvi!! Stop it!! You are Viren's wife and he is your husband! You are married and have a daughter! Take what God has blessed you with and live in the moment! Rather than dwelling in the past...oh that wretched past!
With a final prep talk to herself, she pushed herself out the door and smiled as she approached the three outside.
Virat: Ae, Bhai? Where's my pyaari niece, eh? (looking around with his hands clasped playfully) I brought something for her too!! (fishing out a small gift box from his coat's pocket)
Viren: Did you come directly from your office? (indicating his attire)
Virat: What? (looking back down at himself) Oh yeah! I, uh, couldn't really wait to change, so I dropped in as soon as I could, to not waste any more of your time!
Jeevika: She's sleeping! (walking up to the two and settling herself opposite to Virat) Hi! (extending her hand) I'm Jeevika! Jeevika Arora, Maanvi's Best friend! (smiling widely)
Virat: (turning and following the lady's movements) Hi! (enclosing Jeevika's petite hand in his) I'm Virat Vadhera! Viren's brother! Maanvi may haven't told you about me, has she? (eyeing her suspiciously)
Jeevika: (suddenly alert) I, uh... (looking at Viren and then back at Virat)
Virat: (suddenly laughing) How would she? She herself got to know a few days ago that her own husband had a brother! (grinning at Viren and Jeevika)
Jeevika: (confused) Sorry?
Virat: You don't need to be! (nodding reassuringly)
Jeevika thought that maybe Virat would divulge some more of what he had just said, but he didn't open his mouth any more to talk anything related to it. She saw Maanvi make her way to Muskaan's room and come out with a wide-awake Muskaan, who was more than happy to see so many people around her.
Muskaan gleefully, smiling her toothless smile, stretched her arms to beckon her Daddy dearest to take her.
Viren made a cooing sound, making Muskaan giggle and Maanvi and Jeevika smile. While Virat saw the whole exchange quietly.
Muskaan's eyes pried the whole huge living room, where only few of her toys were lying about. Then someone caught her eye and that was the same man who had met them a few days ago. Wasn't he? She turned to her mom. Mom? Isn't he the man who was in the big house, where so many people with smiling faces were eating? She clapped her hands on catching Virat's eye and stretched her arms to go to him. A glint on him made her want to fall from her Daddy's arms. Why is Dada not letting me go? She cooed and squirmed in his arms and called Virat with her hands.
Viren: Uh... (looking at Virat) She wants to go with you! (smiling and approaching Virat) Who is it? Huh? Tell me Muski? Who... is it? (knocking each other's forehead playfully)
Virat was unsure if he could handle her, but as soon as Muskaan was in his arms, it felt very comfortable handling her. She was quiet and was staring at his chest fascinatingly. He looked down at his chest, and found the culprit. It was his silver tie pin, clutched onto his thin, long tie, holding the two tails together. He chuckled as he saw her hands touching it and trying to take it out by pulling at it.
Muskaan's eyebrows furrowed with concentration as she tried and tried to pull the glitter out. She let out a small cry as it wouldn't budge and then lifted it and was about to put it in her mouth, when her mommy came and pulled it away and nodded in a negative.
Virat: (reassuringly) It's okay! (fishing out his car keys and showing it to the more fascinated kid)
Not fair, Mamma! I want that firefly! Woah! Seeing the car keys. This one is better than the firefly. It tingles and jingles. Taking it in her small, chubby hands, she shook it hard enough to make it sound loudly. *giggle* Hey, isn't this like Mamma's? She also has the same kind, young man! Hey where are you looking at young man? Hmmph! Nobody looks at me! She pushed herself away from Virat and tried to get down.
Virat caught her just in time, before she could slip and fall on the ground.
Virat: Muski!! (warning) If you fell? You would've hurt yourself! Aapko lag jaati na! Hain na? (pulling her chubby cheek slightly and dropping a kiss on the other)
Muskaan stared at Virat's warning eyes and made no movement. But as he kissed her, a giggle escaped and she leaned forward to drop one on his cheeks. You are sweet, buddy! She kissed her palm and pressed it on Virat's lips and grinned as she saw him look at her amused. I like you! And laid her head on his shoulder, when another hand pulled at her cheek lovingly. A familiar face, but she couldn't remember. Who is she? Oh, what the hell! So many are there to give me attention! Come on Buddy! Take me! Extending her arms and falling towards the lady.
Jeevika scooped her up in her arms and rocked her lovingly. She sang the same song, she used to sing for Muskaan when she was only a few weeks old. She grinned at the little naughty lady, as she shook the keys in her hand, and smiled widely as she sang. She placed her on her thighs and made her stand and swayed her by her arms and singing the same song again and again.
Virat took off his coat and hung it over the sofa's arm rest and loosened his tie, along with his first few buttons. He smiled at the sweet exchange between Jeevika and Muskaan. It was just adorable. Suddenly his eyes searched for Maanvi, and he saw her disappearing into the kitchen, when Viren came out the same door, smiling and holding a tray with a glass filled with the same drink that lay on the tea table in front.
Virat: (holding up the glass) Thanks! (smiling and gulping half of it in no time)
Viren: (turning to Jeevika) It's Dinner Time! (back to Virat) Now Virat since you're here, it'd be better of you to have supper with all of us. (smiling politely)
Virat: Really? (raising his eyebrows) Oh Thanks, Bhai! (hugging Viren tightly and patting his back)
Viren: (smiling) No problem, brother! (patting Virat's back and pulling back to see Virat holding an empty glass) Here, I'll take it!
Virat: (holding it away from Viren's catch) No Bhai! I'll keep it!! Am no guest in this house right? (chewing his cheek)
Viren: Uh.. (chuckling) No, but...
Virat: (cutting in) Then? I'll keep it! Give me the tray! (pulling the tray from his hands)
Viren shook his head in disbelief and went to Jeevika and Muskaan.
Viren: (caressing Muskaan's head) So Jeevika? Where's your boyfriend, now-a-days?
Jeevika: (smiling at the mention) He's out of town, actually! He'll be back soon in a few weeks time! (straightening Muskaan's messed up clothes)
Wow! What long hair! She reached out to pull at the long strands one shouldered by the lady. The sudden whine made her stop and stare wide-eyed at the lady.
Muskaan: Booboo! (instantly leaving the hair) Booboo? (pouting cutely and leaning forward to touch Jeevika's face)
Jeevika smiled tenderly at the young soul trying not to hurt her. Viren's lips curved up into a very tender smile at the sight of his daughter being so mature at such an age.
Virat entered the kitchen casually to see Maanvi's form in front of the stove, with her arm moving round and round above something.
Virat: Hey!
Maanvi's ears perked up at the voice and she turned cautiously to him. Seeing him lift the glass and tray, she sighed and walked up to it. When she saw him there, her chest had suddenly constricted and felt as if she were shocked but as her eyes saw the glass and the tray, she started breathing easily.
Maanvi: (walking up to Virat) Here! (extending her hands to take the tray)
Virat: Uh uh!! (nodding in negative and pulling his arms back) Show me where to keep it!
Maaniv: (her eyebrows narrowing in confusion) But... I'll do it, please! (stepping forward)
Virat: (holding the tray higher) No way, Maanvi! Come on.. (looking at Maanvi's perplexed expression) Am no guest right? I mean, ain't I family?
Maanvi's insides stilled at the word 'family', but she shook it off and turned to Virat.
Maanvi: But... Virat...?
Virat exhaled slowly, realising that he had actually held his breath for a long time. The sound of his name from her mouth was just reminiscing, since it brought back so many memories. Only those days they were kind of high-pitched, while here it was huskier, making it hard for him to control himself. He was brought back by her voice calling out to him again but laced with confusion.
Virat: Huh?
Maanvi: What happened? (widening her eyes a bit)
Virat: (blinking) I, uh... Sorry! Um..
Maanvi: Urm... May I..? (looking down at the tray in his hand)
Virat: (following her gaze) Oh! Yeah! (smiling and extending his arm a bit)
Maanvi smiled politely, as she extending her arms to take the tray, when some skin made her aware of herself and him and everything. She realised that her hands were resting on his long, tanned fingers that were emitting warmth.
Virat suddenly looked down at the contact, and felt a shiver run down his limbs and spine, while his gut tightened. He swallowed as he looked up to see her with a bit narrowed eyes, only to see her eyes fixed on the tray and feeling of emptiness in his hands as he felt the weight of it being taken away.
Maanvi!! Enough!!!, she thought, as she felt his eyes on her. She made a dash of getting the tray out from his hands and kept it near the sink. And she turned back to the stove to check the food.
Virat saw her moving faster than ever. Her movements spoke of some uncertainty here, but it was not long when it started to fade and was back to normal. And that was only when she started stirring that pot again and smelled and tasted a bit of it.
His hands back, he walked upto where she stood and peered down from her shoulder.
Virat: What're you making? (raising his eyebrows)
Maanvi: Hmm? (turning a bit and then back; smiling) A curry.
Virat: Which one? (peering down even more, as if touching her shoulder)
Maanvi: (breathing in deep) Spinach one!! It's Viren's favourite curry!! (smiling down at it fondly and stirring it again)
Maanvi knew what Virat was trying to do. At least his closeness, his 'deliberate' closeness told her so. Her senses were already playing her, and there was this heat, or steam, coming up from all the food cooking in front of her, making her gaze hazy at it's effect, teamed up with the proximity of him. And so she did what she could do best. Talk about Viren, because somehow talking about him brought in peace to her mind, and adoration and admiration would be shown in her features all over for that man.
Virat could do nothing but just stand there and grit his teeth at the mention of his brother's name with so much fondness from her. It made his insides burn like acid, as he saw her smile so lovingly at Viren's imaginary image that he was sure that she could see in that brewing hot pot. Here was trying to do something that his senses were telling him to do, while her actions and nonchalance were driving him bonkers. He stopped just as he was about to start trembling in anger, and breathed deeply, while pressing the bridge of his nose to calm himself.
Virat: (smiling hesitantly) Oh! Nice! (pushing his hands into his pant-pockets, before fisting them into tight balls)
Maanvi could see everything from the corner of her eyes, and blinked happily at the effect of her words on him. He did try it once, and was almost successful too, but now she couldn't let that happen again. She smiled to herself on feeling him still at the mention of Viren.
Viren stepped in to see Virat very close to Maanvi, resulting him to set his jaw tight at the sight to control from lashing out. He cleared his throat, as he walked upto Virat.
Viren: (trying to sound as casual as possible) Kya Virat? Wassup? (slapping his shoulder and smiling)
Virat had literally jumped out of his skin on hearing his brother's voice cut in through that uncomfortable silence there.
Maanvi breathed in easily on hearing Viren and turned with a wide smile lingering on her lips.
Virat: (noticing Maanvi's smile and narrowing his eyes in suspicion) Nothing Bhai! (turning to Viren and slipping his arm on Viren's shoulder) Was just watching Maanvi cook your favourite curry! (with a lop-sided smile, watching her from the back)
Edited by PhoenixRadar - 13 years ago
