Gehraiyan [2] - (Resuming) Author's Note pg. 58 - Page 5

Dev, who had arrived two days earlier, had taken Geet along with him to view the site they would be working on. Meanwhile, Heer - the tornado he hadn't seen coming - had taken a ride into town with Mr Gopal and Nayantara, whom he had met very briefly the night before.

As the water in the kettle bubbled merrily, Maan sighed in satisfaction. He had a whole day alone ahead of him, freeing him to look at as many files and - more importantly - eat as much pasta as he wished. It was going to be a good day.

The kettle whistled, momentarily pausing the search for food for the more rousing quest for coffee. Coffee was Geet's addiction but the last few days had not been kind to him and his caffeine intake now matched hers.

He found it rather funny, in a way. Seven years with her, including five years of marriage had had no effect on his two cups of coffee a day and yet, a few days without her and he had doubled his intake, at least.

The first time they had met was in his office canteen during her first collaboration with his company. It had been a filmi situation, alright. She had taken the box of pasta he'd wanted and he was in line for the last cup of coffee before the canteen closed for the day.

Neither was willing to back down but after glaring at each other from different tables for several minutes, their captive meals untouched, they struck a deal: he would give her the coffee and in return, she would choose another pasta box.

Compromise, they had repeated territorially as they swapped and immediately shielded the other from their drugs of choice.

He laughed at the memory. They had continued to strike such deals all the way until... well, until they finally got married.

Maybe that was why...

Maan turned suddenly at the sound of footsteps behind him. He couldn't be sure if it was just him but the sky outside seemed to darken as he saw his peaceful, pasta-filled day slipping away from him.

His pining was cut short by the appearance of a figure.

"Geet..."

* * *

Not even two seconds passed after she entered the house that the scent of freshly brewed coffee beckoned her. She had a problem, she knew it but frankly, she was an unashamed addict.