SS-Life partner,CHAPTER12-PG142DEC.9 - Page 62

Sudden pressing of the breaks by him made tiers screech and geet fell forward towards the windshield with a jerk.."what the hell???"she almost screamed at maan. Next minute she felt sorry for yelling at her husband like that but she could not help.She was hell annoyed and mad at him..

"I am sorry.."maan said in meek voice,Geet turned her face towards the window of the car and looked outside with a frown on her face. He looked at her annoyed and sad face and pang of guilt hit him with more force.He wanted to apologize sincerely. His grip on the steering wheel tightened as the thought of "asking forgiveness" for rest of his married life crossed his mind. Yes,he would have to apologize to her many times in future because of bundle of his priorities over his married life and wife. Bundle under which his married might get lost..He cleaned his mind and put together all his wits.Its high time he had to talk to her..

"I am sorry geet..really very sorry..not only for halting the car at sudden but also for bringing you back form your mummy's house at this hour of night..I know,plan was to bring you back in tomorrow afternoon but then a sudden work emergency popped up for which i have to reach Agra tomorrow. Since i won't be present here tomorrow and its a custom that a bride should comeback from her pagphere with her husband only,only option left was to bring you now..."He said everything in one breath without a pause betweeen.Geet was looking at him with wide eyes,even surprised with speed of his speech..

"you have told this story earlier at mum's place too.."She replied with a shrug of shoulders. Her words made him stoop his shoulders in disappointment.

"Can't you forgive me??? i was expecting you to be little understanding regarding these work emergencies..They are going to happen in future too.."he said now tracing his fingers on steering wheel with his head hung down..

" i understand your work emergencies maan and i am not angry because of leaving mum's place earlier than schedule..."She answered gritting her teeth.He immediately turned towards her .When her gaze met with his,instantly a softness spread in her because of sincerity and tinge of hope that his orbs held.."I am angry because you could not wait for dinner even..you could have taken dinner with us..mum was requesting you so much but you did not listen.." Her voice was one octave down at the end.Rather than being angry,She was hurt more by his behaviour. She had no idea when maan got down from the car till she found the door of her side being opened. She looked upwards and saw him giving her a hand for getting down from the car..

"Lets go for a walk.."He said now holding her hand.

They were sauntering on the empty road with slow pace.Traffic was null. It felt like road was allowed to breath at night.He was still holding her hand.

"I would have eaten there if i was welcomed there as their "son" not "son in law""..he said breaking the silence of night.His words made her stop in the track as she tried to push back her hand from his hold.."what do you mean maan???"

"you people were going to have pizza for dinner,right???"he asked out of blue.

"yes.."She answered remembering how she had insisted her parents to order pizza in order to avoid her mother cook dinner that night.Her parents were hell tired attending as well as bidding "byes" to mass of relatives..

"Do you think aunty would have allowed me to share that pizza???She would have made herself busy in preparing lavish and large meal for her son in law at this much late in night..."he said looking towards her.."am i right or wrong???"

"yes you are right.."She answered now understanding his meaning behind those words..

"Thats it..I just didn't want to trouble aunty at this time.."

"She will accept you as her son one day only if you stop calling her aunty.."She said in a mocking tone,bringing a smile on his lips..

"i will call her "maa" right from this moment.."he answered.."can i hold my wife's hand now???"

"Sure,dear husband.."She answered crossing her arm with his and grasping his bicep.

She did not know why she did that but she wanted to be more close to him at that moment.They had walked few steps ahead when her eyes found icecream vendor at a corner. She had not eaten pizza.Her stomach grumbled suddenly expressing her hungry state which was subdued little due to anger..

'I want chocolate chip icecream.."She declared pointing towards the vendor with a childish gleam in her eyes.Her voice broke maan's reverie who was lost in mild fragrance of her shampoo as she had put her head on his shoulder while walking. Little proximity was soothing his anxieties little..

"you want icecream???"he asked

"Yes..chocolate chip..i am famished"

"ok, i will get it for you" ..As she unclasped her hand form his elbow,he felt a sudden loss of warmth.He did not want that separation that time..he ignored the emptiness and took long strides towards the vendor hoping to get her choice of icecream..

"make it two for me.."He heard her yelling behind..After few minutes,he came back with two large cups of chocolate chip icecream.

"I told you to bring two for me.."She said with a scowl while snatching one cup from him..

"Both are for you, I don't eat icecream.."He answered giving her the other cup too.

"Lets go back,we have come quite far from our car.."She exclaimed digging the spoon in her cup..

"wait..i want to say something..lets sit there..."He said steering her towards a bench at the side of road..

They settled on bench.Geet had discarded her footwears and was sitting on the becnh with her knees folded.She was enjoying her icecream taking alternating bites from each cup..

'Say it before i finish my ice cream maan.."

"Geet, I am going to agra regarding a land purchase.."

"hmm.."She said while concentrating on chocolate chips more..

"Actually maya aunty want to buy that land and since jija ji is not here,she asked me to visit that land and fix the deal.."

She replied with another"hmm..."

"So it is not a official emergency but a personal emergency.."

Her lack of response made him little irritated as he snatched icecream cup from her..

"What maan???"

"Are you listening what i am saying geet???"

"Yes i am listening every word but unable to understand why are you telling me all this???"

"Are not you angry because your husband is leaving you just a day after your marriage that is too for her sister's mother in law work" he said in a higher pitch.

"Am i supposed to get angry for this???"She scowled.." maan,You yourself said few minutes back that you expect me to "understanding" regarding such matters"

"hmm..i said so..but this is not a one time situation..this is going to happen more often and you have to cope with it.."

"i will but first give me my icecream back.." he obliged her order immediately,,With in next five minutes both the cups were finished.Maan was still wondering how to put his thoughts in words so she could understand and take it seriously..Geet licked the spoon and gestured him to get up.

"What is there in your mouth??"he asked looking towards her tightly pressed lips and little bulged cheeks.She looked away trying hard to avoid him from looking at her.He immediately got up and turned her face towards him while pressing her cheeks with his one hand..

"ummm..mmm"She protested as she tried to set free her cheeks form his hold.

"First open your mouth"he demanded.

"oh..h..k"She replied in a voice less understandable.He removed his hand form her cheek,letting her open her mouth. He controlled his laughter as he saw mass of chocolate chips in her mouth.."what is this,geet??"

She chewed all the chocolate chips slowly before answering.."I don't eat chocochips while swallowing the icecream..I keep them in my mouth to enjoy together at last.."Saying this she licked her lips and made a "mmm" sound oblivious to the fact what her small gesture was doing to man standing before her.He felt his throat getting dry just by sight of her chocolate smeared lips.This was first time when he had felt something like that.He felt a shiver starting from his spine and settling down in his stomach,creating a restlessness in his body.He was unable to remove his gaze from her lips.He gulped his saliva hard as he understood his urge to lick chocolate form her lips.Is this the protocol to fall in love in an arranged marriage,he thought wondering about his behaviour at this moment as well as today's morning near the stairs."If this was the protocol then he was falling in love at quite higher pace as he had got married just a day before.."He concluded.

"lets go now.."Her words broke his chain of thoughts as she steered him towards the car.

"You were really thinking that i would create a fuss about you leaving me for kiran di's work.."She asked with a serious tone. She heard his loud sigh in response as he halted his steps..

"I am guilty geet..and fact that you are not angry is increasing my guilt more.Thing is that ..." He paused for a while as he averted his gaze from her eyes who were looking at him so intently.."Thing is that..my sister is and will be most important person in my life.I can sacrifice anything for her and her family's happiness..I can sacrifice my wife's happiness too.."His last words came in a hushed tone..He could not muster the courage to look towards her till he felt her palm on his shoulder. Firmness yet softness in her hold on his shoulder,gave him assurance and courage to continue.This time he wanted to witness her eyes reacting to his words,so he turned towards her." I love my sister alot geet and i will never be able to love you more than her..She will always remain my first priority. I never wanted to marry at first place but i let it happen because maa and kiran di wanted that...'' Her orbs reflected same warmth which was possessed by her word as she spoke," I understand maan and i respect your feelings.."

"Will you be able to save this respect if i chose aarav and aaravi over our kids???" he asked little startled and amazed by her calm demeanour..She did not answer this time but held his hand strongly.."Lets go home..you think alot about future.."She said with a smile.He felt like he had got some of his answers...