SS: Near to you: Teaser 22/6 pg 120 - Page 21

Originally posted by: mayurmaaneet

amazing yaar.. u made me cry.. so maan in love with geet.. she will eventually fall in love.. cont soon hun

Awww...sorry hun! 😳

Originally posted by: bubble333

just love this ff...already read it twice.

Pls update soon

Thanks dear! 😳
Glad you enjoyed!

Time

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PLEASE LISTEN!!!!!!!!!!!

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2Rch6WvPJE[/YOUTUBE]

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Death of a loved one can never be explained but be felt. People had consoled her but very few could understood. How can I tell them about the gaping hole in my heart? How can they understand the loss of a soulmate?

Some days she would hear the softest of whispers, the sound of him calling her and she would look all around, only to be met with nothing. Yet she wanted to answer his call, to go to his arms but he had gone to a place she couldn't follow.

Time was relentless, as much as she wanted to hold on and be oblivious to his absence, she couldn't avoid the silence that engulfed her ad the coldness within her soul.

It was a week before she could sleep in her bed, it was a month before she could open Vicky's closet and it was two months till she could bear to do normal things like pay the bills. But still she felt the coldness of her bed as she slept alone and the lack of life in her house.

Days went by without her speaking to people but she made sure that she called Gauri once in a while, more to keep her calm than anything else. She went through the motions of life but the truth was that there was no life within her.

After all you took my soul with you, she thought with such misery as she stared at one of Vicky's rare photos, hanging on her drawing room wall. He had such a beatific smile, one that told everyone he was special. And Vicky had been special, a person that glowed bright amongst ordinary people. He was the life of any party, always the centre of attention. Her fingers lightly grazed his face, wishing to touch his skin but only meeting the cold glass. Why make me love you so much when you were to leave me?

Taking a step back, she stared at all the photos in her room. Vicky was a photographer, a world famous one, as such he had been obsessed with taking photos of her and other family members. Indeed one walking into the house wouldn't realise that it was Vicky's house because there was only a couple of his photos and more of Geet with Maan.

In fact right in front of her was one of the first photos Vicky had taken of her and it was of the two of them sitting on the grass. As always the memory bought both a twinge of happiness but also the overwhelming sense of loss.

It was hard to say how or why Maan and Geet became friends but it seemed that they just were. Both spoke few words but they weren't needed as they seemed to understand each other very well.

Maan's presence felt very soothing to Geet, for he gave of an aura of confidence and calm. There was no show or anything fake about him, for he seemed to care not a whit about other people's opinions. He hardly cared that there were so many girls after him, for Maan Singh Khurana was above them and only gave attention to them when necessary. He could control everyone in the school with a single word, yet he used it only in need and held everyone's respect, including hers.

So it was for that reason they were sitting together on the grounds, both reading books and interchanging words infrequently. There was no incessant chatter or the need to fill the silence, they seemed to understand the value of their words.

Today they were reading To Kill A Mockingbird, one of her favourites and also one of the class novel. Sitting side by side, they seemed to read at the same speed, almost always on the same page. Geet didn't feel a bit self-conscious about the fact that she sat so close to him that her hair was on his shoulder or that their legs brushed against each other, for Maan was her friend. He was like an extension of herself.

"Best thing about Atticus?" Maan asked her, earnestly seeking her opinion.

"Integrity and independence of thought" Geet answered promptly, "Atticus can do no wrong"

"God you two are real nerds!" A voice broke their interlude, "Doing homework during lunch break"

Before either one of them could retort, a flash went off and there was Vicky standing in front of them, holding his camera.

"If you are so interested in doing homework, please do mine!" Vicky gave a puppy dog look that made Maan roll his eyes.

Geet found it hard to believe that they were brothers as they were so different in temperament. Maan was like the still air; calm and blanketing her. Vicky on the other hand was like a brook, flowing and rushing along, taking everyone along with him.

While Maan made her feel calm, Vicky made her self-conscious and her heart thud. A slow blush spread across her cheeks by his very presence.

"Stop annoying everyone Vicks!" Maan said to Vicky, while playfully jostling Geet with his shoulder. And that one action was enough to calm her down, as her friend anchored her back and she was able to look straight at Vicky.

"Do you need help?" She asked in a soft voice to Vicky.

Vicky rushed over to her and slung an arm over her shoulder, basically leaning against her, "Yes!" Glaring at Maan from across her, "See Maan, some people are willing to help those in need" to which Maan just snorted in amusement.

Geet froze as she felt him so close to her, so aware of him and she hesitantly shifted a bit away from him.

"Ignore him" Maan told Geet while shoving Vicky's arm away from her as he had seen her reddening face, "Give him an inch and he'll be following you around like a puppy"

Geet's eyes stung as she recalled the memory, so vivid and fresh in her mind. She had hardly understood the feelings that Vicky had brought out from within but slowly it had morphed into a love that had shaped her into who she was today.

It was as she was lost in these thoughts of Vicky that the doorbell rang, breaking her reverie and forcing her to see who it was.

As if he had been summoned by her thoughts, there was Maan standing at the door.

"Hi Geets" He spoke in his usual quite manner but his expressive eyes showing his concern. He didn't need to say anything about why he was here, for Geet understood.

"Maan" She stepped aside letting him enter, knowing that even as he walked in, he was assessing her and seeing how well she was coping.

Maan saw that she was wearing white. Not a typical saree or kameez but a white shirt with white capris. It was almost as if she was subconsciously wearing her widow's colours while trying to give the impression that she was alright.

But Maan knew her too well to fall for her automatic gestures, for he could see the slight shaking of her hand and the fact that she had lost weight. Oh Geet, he sighed at the way she was wasting away. He wished he could just shield her from this pain, take away her grief but it was impossible.

As he sat he looked around the room, seeing pictures of Geet and of himself but also the picture of Geet and Vicky on their wedding day. It was obvious to everyone that they had been crazy about each from the way their eyes lit with happiness and the soft smiles on their faces. As always that picture reminded him of who she was and that he could never truly be hers.

Made for each other, he thought, resigned to the idea. It didn't matter how much he loved Geet but the truth was that Vicky and Geet had loved each other with a true depth. I am the intruder.

This had been their usual haunt after she had married Vicky. Every Wednesday night Maan would come and visit Geet for her blue berry cheesecake or on some special occasions her peanut butter chocolate cake. They would have their usual conversations, while Vicky would interrupt at regular intervals, stealing food and taking some pictures of them, sometimes even joining in their conversations. But it had always been a date night with her best friend.

"You are here to see if I doing alright?" Geet asked as they sat opposite to each other on the table. "You want to see if I am alive, whether I am eating or if I am languishing."

Maan just stared at her for a second. He knew that he could ask her all those things and she would brush away his questions. Indeed what was he meant to say, get over your dead husband? Forget my cousin?

But because he was her best friend he only said, "I don't know what you are talking about. I am here for my cheese cake. Unless you ate it all"

Geet eyes widened in surprise for a moment, caught off guard and then they softened with understanding. With only a hint of a smile, she got up and took out the cake that she had in her fridge, cutting two big slices for them.

"Yummm'." Maan said with gusto as he took a spoonful of cake, "Haven't lost your touch Mrs Khurana!"

Geet shook her head in amusement for this was Maan's normal response. "Tell me about the women Maan"

This was also part of their usual banter as Maan would complain about his obsessive stalker women in his life (in particular in his office) and she would help him think of plans of how to get rid of them while Vicky would interrupt and tell Maan to enjoy the attention.

But today it was just Maan and Geet.

Maan told her about Sasha, one of his junior staff, he had apparently tried to slide a slip of paper into his trouser pocket.

"It was so embarrassing Geet, she had her hand in my pocket" Maan shook his head in disgust, "I nearly jumped a foot into the air when I felt her hand."

"Why that hussy!" Geet sounded indignant. "How dare she manhandle you that way!"

"I think I need to keep mouse traps in my pocket from now on" Maan joked.

And for the first time in 3 months Geet laughed. It was a soft laughter, not overwhelming but a laugh none the less and it lightened both of them.

"Oh Maan. What are we going to do with you? Hide you in a cave I think or as Vicky would say, you can act as a pied piper for all the women"

And suddenly with the mention of Vicky, all the mirth left the conversation. His absence again hung over them, leeching out any happiness.

But this time it was Geet who looked at Maan and saw the dark circles around his eyes and lines of worry. She saw the stress and sorrow on his face, the very one she saw in the mirror everyday.

"Maan, are you okay?" She asked and reached across to take his hand, squeezing it gently. At that moment she was more Maan's friend than she was Vicky's wife. "Vicky belonged to both of us. It wasn't only I who lost him"

Maan stared at Geet and realised again why he loved her so much. She had a such a loving heart that despite her own loss and grief, she was concerned about him. Despite her own pain, she wanted to take away his. He had come to console her but she was the one offering her shoulder to lean on.

"I miss him" Maan said, letting out his grief, "I miss my brother."

Geet reached over and gave him a hug. They shared their common grief and the pain of losing a loved one.

It was a while before they pulled apart, calm enough to talk again. But even then Maan felt the need to address his concern.

"Geet please don't let yourself waste away" He earnestly pleaded, "We can't see you do this to yourself, I can't bear this!" And it was true. Seeing her in pain only heightened his own.

"I....its so hard Maan" Geet closed her eyes, "Everywhere he is with me. Yet he isn't. Just when I feel he is here, I remember that he isn't"

"Geets, I know! Everyday I feel his loss but for my sake start to live" He continued to beg. "Do it for me Geet"

Geet stared at her friend and knew that there were still some things worth living for, as there were still people who cared. It was only for her best friend that she could say, "Okay..I'll try."

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AUTHOR's NOTE:

So hope you all enjoyed! I loved all the comments 😃

So you guys can see how deep the friendship between Geet and Maan is, as well as how important Vicky was in both their lives...

PLEASE DO COMMENT and press the LIKE button!!

Nothing motivates me as much as reading your comments!😃

-SanjanA

amazing one yar... loved their friendship...

wow... the bond the three shared...

emotional

very beautiful...u emoted their feelings really well...continue soon

It was a very touching chp.I have read a few ffs where Maan and Geet are friends at the beginning and all but I must say that out of all those ffs you have managed to capture the friendship aspect perfectly👍🏼 I loved their interaction,although most of it was sad and very emotional,it didn't take away the essence of the scene,i.e, their friendship,so kudos to you for that👏 Really looking forward to the next chp and thanks for the PM😊

loved their friendship. nice one

amazing update

feeling bad that vicky is not with them...feeling bad for geet...awesome part...beautifully written