FF: Serendipity [Completed] - Page 16

Chapter 12:

"All we have here is coffee, tea, mug noodles and chips." Maan wriggled his palms on his lap and his discomfort was evident. He wasn't used to getting visitors at his work place and Geet was the first one ever to see him there. It has been a decade since he took up the job in the observatory. "What do you want?" Maan asked again looking glazed look on Geet's eyes.

She tried to answer his question but nothing gets out of her mouth. She tried again once more to answer him something, anything, but no words came out. She stood in front of him in the deserted pantry looking at him without knowing what she wanted or why she felt a compulsive need to be there exactly.

Gaining her voice, she whispered. "Tea will be fine." Maan sprung on his feet glad to be able to put his limbs and arms to use as he bustled around the area to make her a cup of jasmine tea. He stood his back against her waiting for the water to boil and giving her privacy with her thoughts at the same time. He handed her a mug of hot water with a tea bag dipped in it, his own hand having a matching mug.

"Let's go," he said leading her away from the pantry.

"Where are we going?" She mumbled and hurried behind him. The golden heels dug into her ankle after being on the road for several hours and her dress was far from being suited inside an observatory. She stood out like modern abstract art amidst classical renaissance valor.

"We are going to my working place," he turned back and offered her a small smile which brought out a smile on her face. His smile was contagious and she wished he did it more often.

"Is this where you work?" She asked feeling like a speck of dirt in a steady stream of sunlight. The observatory dome dwarfed them and made them feel…inconsequential in grand scheme of things.

"This is where I spend most of my time. I do have an office below but most nights I spend here. There are interns, technicians and physicists who come and go but no one really stays the whole night here." Maan said ushering her towards wider area adjacent to stairs. Geet stood in the middle of the room and looked up the dome catching a patch of sky.

"How do you feel when you look at vastness of space and then turn around to look at crowded streets and suffocating places?" Geet asked looking at her mug, her feet stuck on ground in middle of the room.

She saw pair of shoes in her line of vision making her look up. Maan was looking at her with an unreadable expression as he slowly plucked the tea mug out of her hand. He placed both the mugs on a table nearby and held his hand.

"Come and feel for yourself." She wanted to cry then.

There was open honest expression when he said those words and she couldn't help but succumb to her inner struggle of staying away from the attraction that was growing for the man in front of her. He was inviting her to his world, his inner sanctum without as much as questioning, badgering her presence in his private space. He had welcomed it easier than she had anticipated.

She placed her hand in his and he clasped it with an amused smile. She would let go of her inhibition being tied to a man with a complicated psyche but she wanted this gentle unwavering honest expressiveness he oozed whenever he was with people he could trust.

They climbed the stairs in silence and he adjusted the telescope pointing to something he believed she would love to see. Geet's heart eased when her eyes took in the sight in front of her and all the exhaustions of previous weeks melted. The sight made her scramble for spirituality and philosophy rather than science. Maan laughed easily when she said it aloud. They climbed down the stairs again in silence, her heels in her hand and the bright jacket draped across her arm.

"I work here," Maan said pointing the table. The awkwardness that had dissolved when Maan had taken to show her stars was slowly making a presence. He didn't know what needed to be done next and it was his way of letting her lead.

Geet smiled. "May I work on that table?" She said pointing to the table next to Maan. "I have some pending work and I don't feel like…being alone now." She bared her bones raw and bloody and now it was up to Maan. Sure she would lead but she would need his input to be in a path where both of them would be comfortable.

"We get food delivered around one. Tell me what you want to eat and I will place an order for you." Maan said thoughtfully. Geet's eyes had a glassy layer of tears.

"Surprise me. You don't mind if I leech off from your internet, do you?" She said walking towards the table and setting her stuff on it.

"If you are on shady websites, I will not be responsible for the actions taken against you." He said strongly. Geet giggled looking at his straightforward expression but sobered up realizing that he was actually being serious. She nodded solemnly.

With passing hours the awkwardness between them melted as they worked on their respective work in silence. Geet made them a round of coffee about midnight while he sat on the counter, his legs swinging and mouth going off mile a minute about a distant star. It was the first time she saw him for what he truly was – a passionate scientist and a true gentleman. It was also the first time she heard him speak more words than all their conversations together as she tried to keep up with his enthusiasm. And then his voice faded from science to philosophy echoing her earlier observations.

They went back to work after that, Geet's heart beating erratically yet finding an ease in that chaos.

When Maan walked her to the door, he bit his lip and looked at her. "I will help you with Tara's engagement related activities."

Geet slowly blinked and smiled widely at him.

"I'd like that." She whispered.