FF: Serendipity [Completed] - Page 19

Chapter 14:

"What are you doing here?" Nayantara asked the moment she looked past Maan and saw Geet standing few feet away from him. The tone was sharper than she intended to if Maan's frown was anything to go by.

"Planning your engagement party," Maan answered instead. Geet flushed at the obvious lie which she didn't believe Maan was capable of lying. But knowing him, he would have a rational reason as to why.

"Why are you wearing his t-shirt?" Nayantara asked again. Geet and Maan looked at her wearily and before Geet could explain the accident with green tea, Maan interjected.

"Why are you here Nayantara?" He asked stepping aside from her door and silently inviting her in. Nayantara slipped past him with an unreadable expression and looking between Maan and Geet.

"Um..." She trailed and chewed her lips to bring her thoughts back into order. Her fingers fiddled with the handle of the bag in her hands. Remembering the reason, she waved the bag she carried with her in front of Maan and offered a weak smile.

"I brought you this gift as a thank you for everything you have done." She handed him the bag she was coddling in her hands with a self-deprecating smile. Maan smiled at her flushing state and accepted the bag. "I didn't know you were here Geet..." Nayantara wrung her fingers but didn't look at Geet. She was intently watching Maan's reaction to her gift.

"It's a nice suit...and nice watch...and nice cufflinks - are they gold?" Maan asked, wide eyed. Nayantara laughed, tension leaving her shoulders.

"They are custom made. I designed it myself." She said looking at the cufflinks now resting on Maan's palm.

"It's a four leaf clover," Maan said, smiling softly. "You still remember?" He asked looking up from his palm. Nayantara came closer to him and plucked one of the cufflink from his palm.

"There was a clover leaf stuck in my hair and somehow no one had made me realize that. It was sticking at an odd place and it was obvious that it wasn't strategically placed. You came in, walked towards and plucked the clover leaf right from my hair. You smiled and walked away without as much a backward glance." Nayantara's voice was soft and fond. The bond she shared with Maan was different from what she had with Dev. Seeing Maan's face once again made her question her decision.

"Thank you Tara. Thank you for this." Maan smiled and took back the cufflink from her. "Would you like to eat?" He offered politely.

She looked abashed and realized for the first time that she was crashing on dinner.

"No, I am sorry for coming unannounced. I didn't expect you having any company," she replied, her eyes momentarily darting toward Geet. Geet swallowed and looked away anger coloring her cheeks at Tara's implication.

"How about we do dinner tomorrow?" Tara asked Maan instead. "We can go to your favorite place where they serve fresh salad and cilantro soup." She stomped the urge to scream when Maan and Geet exchanged a not-so-subtle glance. It was almost as if Maan was asking permission and the sudden tensed set around his mouth relaxed when Geet a tiny nod.

"I'll meet you there at seven. Thanks Tara," Maan replied.

Nayantara nodded her head and let out a forceful smile. Somehow the happiness she usually felt in Maan's presence didn't come and Geet's presence was too suffocating for her to stand there further.

"See you Maan," she said and rushed towards the door when she heard the collective good-byes of both Maan and Geet.

Once she was back in her car, she let out the breath she was holding and gripped the steering wheel tightly. She had no idea Maan felt so comfortable in Geet's presence. Maybe her engagement and wedding preparations were bringing them close.

But the fact that Geet was a constant presence in Maan's life left a bitter taste in her mouth.

*****

"What do you think I should do with this suit? And this watch?" Maan asked shoving the suit and watch in Geet's arms. Geet chuckled at his lack of enthusiasm. For a guy who mostly lived off jeans and t-shirt, this was very out of characteristics.

"Wear them for the engagement party. I am sure Tara will be happy with that," Geet replied what seemed to be the most obvious answer. She fathomed this gift was specifically meant to do that.

"I should?" Maan asked not knowing the protocol for things like these.

"If you want to, you can. It's your wish, you know?" Geet reasoned. She almost felt like a parent trying to explain to a young one the basic things of life.

"If I wear, it will make her happy." He asked reaffirming what he just learnt. Geet didn't know where they were going with this but she nodded anyway.

"I will wear it then." He decided. Geet chuckled and nodded again. "Let's finish your amazing one pot meal," he said walking towards the table. "Share the recipe, will you?"

"It's a secret Maan. If I share this secret, I won't have a reason to come here and cook you this recipe," Geet said nonchalantly, shoving a large spoonful of vegetables into her mouth. It took her a moment to realize what had come out of her mouth and winced at the words. Now she sounded pathetic. Harboring a school girl crush was one thing but acting whimsical was something else entirely.

"I'll be here," Maan said after swallowing. "Isn't that a good enough reason for you to come?"

Geet's eyes blurred with sudden onslaught of emotions.

"I didn't expect you would want to meet me after the engagement and wedding." Geet said softly, her curls cascading around her making her look vulnerable. Maan looked up from his plate to look at her.

"Geet," he began, softly urging Geet to look up. He waited till the curls moved away from her face and her eyes peered at him. "Is it weird if I say that I feel more comfortable around you when compared to Dev or Tara?" Geet whipped her back straight and looked at him open mouthed. This, she didn't expect. But what came next both broke her heart and elated at the same time.