Chapter 25: Leave
Me, Never
~PRESENT~
Geet didn't know how to react after Maan left her with his
painful monologue. She had feared for his happiness when she came to know she
was pregnant with Kritika. He would blame himself and his anger would have cost
three lives. Thus, she had left him abruptly, shamelessly lying that she was
starting a new life, new family, very far from him. He tried to convince her
even assured he would give her a new life right by him, so that he could keep
her always near him. But she refused to budge from her decision of leaving him.
She had put up a brave face although she had despised her own decision. She
dreaded her further stay in India would ruin his marital life and unnecessary
questions would rise against him. She didn't want him to be part of some
nonsense gossip, costing his happiness. So she had quietly resolved to keep
herself away from him although it had killed her every second to do so. Now she
realized that her absence had had left them both devastated. It had killed her
to see his sullen and sorrowful face. In her decision to prioritize his
happiness, she had forgone her promise to always stay as a friend no matter how
their relationship changed. No she would not leave his side anymore, she would
stay with him no matter what.
She jolted towards the conference hall that was now
converted into a small ballroom dance floor and the lights were dimmed for the
mirror ball effect. She strained her eyes to find Maan but the dark lit room
didn't cooperate with her searching.
Suddenly the room went pin drop silence and completely dark.
Next second a spotlight fell on her, illuminating her presence. She shielded
her eyes from the sudden brightness when she heard him announce, "Could I
please have this dance Geetanjali?" A smile crept upon her face at his request
but soon it was followed by a frown for she knew she was a bad dancer. She
wondered why he would put himself to be ridiculed when he knew she couldn't
dance.
Geet was about to about to leave the dance floor when she
felt a strong jerk, making her fall on a strong, broad, and chiseled chest.
"Maan please, aapko pata haina I don't dance?" she reminded
him.
"Mujhe pata hai magar I thought you would be up for some
challenge. Kyun Ms Handa dar gayi?" Maan teased, his cool breath fanning her
ears and his baritone voice sending chills down her spine. She winced at his
contact but didn't want to fight the urge to go away from his embrace. She
turned to face his handsome face, yet his sunken dark eyes said a different
story. The usual sparkle in his eyes was missing, leaving her puzzled. She had
concluded the separation would be the only reason for his sunken eyes, unaware
of the fact that it was just a part of the reason that had led him to withdraw
himself into a shell away from everyone. She let her hands run freely on his
stubble and traced her fingers on his jawline. He knotted his eyebrows at her
gesture and twirled her, making her stand beside him, as he held her shoulders.
He walked her to the middle of the floor when she heard a familiar tune in the
background.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmIKq7tB-Q4[/YOUTUBE] tag
As though in trance both began clapping to the beats of the
music. Once the music began in full swing he turned her, holding her left hand
with his and his right hand on her hips. They moved a few paces, in synch with
the music and she turned to face him. They swayed holding each other in an
embrace. He let his grip loosen a bit, allowing his hands to stretch to her as
she moved back a little. Once she stood an arm's length away, he instantly
pulled her back, making her spin and fall into his secure arms. His fingers
brushed her bare waist, rekindling her feelings for him. Her breath turned
shallow due to his near proximity while her heart pumped away erratically. Unable
to take his hot breath fanning against her neck, she jerked off his embrace. But
he instantly caught her wrist and brought her towards him, molding her within
him. She turned to look at his expressionless face, while he mechanically spun
her around him. He bent down holding her securely in his arms while his gaze
rested on her face. She blinked uneasily while balancing to stay in pace with
his exceptional dancing skill. He turned her locking his arms with hers while
pushing her off his embrace slightly before pulling her back and instantly
lifting her up. He turned around a few times before carefully letting her slide
down.
Geet inhaled sharply at the contact of each of his buttons
on her body as she slid down his chest. His intoxicating scent re-evoked a
thousand emotions in her while she felt hundreds of butterflies dancing in her
stomach. Both stood facing each other, intently lost in each other's eyes. She
then hugged him tightly, as though apologizing for leaving him, assuring that
she would never leave him. She felt him hug her back, his grip tighter than
ever, fearing if let go, she would disappear. His silent tears wet her
shoulders releasing his pent up emotions.
"I missed you Geet," he said, his tone reflecting deep pain,
near her ear. "Mujhe kabhi chodke mat jaana," he complained like a child. She
looked at him with her eyes brimmed with tears.
She nodded in the negative and hugged him back, "Kabhi
nahi," she managed to whisper, suppressing her urge to break down.
The music came to an end, followed by a thunderous applause
from the spectators brought Maan and Geet back to reality. They looked around
to see everyone appreciating their performance. Maan curtly nodded,
acknowledging their claps and appreciation. He led her off the floor to the
nearest table.
Geet wanted to talk to Maan about the reason for his
withdrawn look, his sunken eyes, the problems that were troubling him, but
decided against it as he was already in too much pain and she didn't want to
probe him further with her question.
"Geet," he called, interrupting her flow of thoughts. "I am
sorry if I have hurt you in anyway, ennai mannipaya (will you forgive me)?" he
asked getting emotional again.
"Nahi Maan, you were never at fault. Its me who is to be
blamed for hurting you, for forgoing your trust," she said regretfully, her
words signifying a deeper meaning.
"Chup, bilkul chup" he said putting his finger on her lips.
"Don't you dare blame yourself. Dare you blame my best friend, main yeh kabhi
nahi bardasht karoonga samjhi tum?" he said sternly. Geet smiled through her
tears at his possessiveness over her.
"Ji jahanpana," she smiled through her tears.
"I think I should leave, it's getting late," he said
glancing at him watch that read 11:30PM.
"Magar kahan?" she asked alarmed.
"Hotel, aur kahan?" he asked with a quizzical look.
"Maan, aap kahin nahi jayenge. You are coming home," she
said firmly.
"My dear loosu penne (pagli), main kabab mein haddi banna
nahi chahta," he winked.
Geet realized what he was referring to she looked away
concealing her pain. How would she explain to him? She had already lied in the
past and now she had to lie more to keep up the reality he thought she was
living in. "Nahi aisa kuch nahi, he, he went on a business trip," she lied
callously. She hoped this would cover up for today and she would later make up
something else, if the need arises.
"Accha? Aane do unhe, how could he leave such a beautiful
wife for a business trip?" he said crossing his arms over his chest.
"Maan," she squeaked, hitting him lightly on his arms.
"Chalein?" he asked.
They headed towards the coat stand. The keeper in the stall
brought their coats and grinned hugely when he received a generous tip from
Maan. Geet called for a taxi and they slid into it while she told the driver
her address to her apartment.
They reached the apartment within few minutes. Maan took out
his wallet to pay but Geet insisted she would. They fought over the issue and
bickered like little children. Maan finally convinced next time she could pay,
but this time he would. She reluctantly agreed and slid out of the taxi and
rummaged through her purse to find her apartment keys.
Geet opened the doors of her apartment and led the way while
Maan silently followed her. She took his coat and hung it in the coat closet.
"You want to eat something?" she asked for she knew he
wouldn't have eaten at the conference.
"Nahi, I am fine."
"Maan, stop lying to me, you are biting your lower lip," she
said with her hands on her hip, "and you do that only when you are hungry. Ab
chaliye, fresh up hojayiye I shall arrange something."
"Oh God Geet, why do you know me so well?" he said shaking
his head, accepting defeat.
"I wish I knew you so well," she whispered to herself, once
he was out of earshot.
"Geet, bathroom kahan hai?" he yelled from the hallway.
"Oh sorry, I forgot, go straight and turn left. The second
door on the left," she replied back.
Maan walked past the main living room, keenly observing the
layout. Everthing seemed to be neatly arranged. A pile of magazines lay in
corner, Geet's favorite flowers, calla lilies along with few orchids and rose,
was neatly arranged in a crystal vase by the huge window. The china showcase contained
a few wine glasses in various sizes along with angel figures, wax fruits, and
few photos of Geet with her parents. He always knew her as the messy person,
known for unkempt room. She always declared, things strewn all over the place
makes it a home. If things were kept as it is in its same place, then it would
a museum. He was a control freak, who kept everything in order, and always
chided her for her carelessness. He wondered how much she changed since he had
seen her last.
He walked down the hallway and saw a huge life-size portrait
of the child he had seen in central park kissing Geet hung on the wall. A huge
grin swept across his face, so it was indeed Geet's daughter, he confirmed. He
looked around to find her wedding photos but found only one photo of her and
Arjun making faces at each other. It looked like a photo taken in their early
teens. He wondered why she would never keep a photo of her wedding, because for
her, events in life were the most cherishable moments that could be captured on
film. And she would never miss to cherish her wedding picture. He made it a
point to ask her but reserved it for later. He hurried to freshen up, as he was
indeed hungry.
Geet had whipped up his favorite cheese sandwich along with
mint chutney. Maan came back to see her finish up preparing the sandwich. He
gobbled up the sandwich while gesturing a thumbs up sign. "Superb," he managed
to say in between the bites. He then guzzled down the apple juice that she had
kept on the side. "Tum nahi khaogi?" he asked wiping the breadcrumbs with the
back of his hand. She politely nodded a no, saying that she wasn't hungry. "Poi
solla koodathu nanbi (you shouldn't lie my friend)," he hummed, shaking his
index finger, vaguely trying to reproduce a similar Tamil song. He shoved the
remaining piece of the sandwich, causing her to hold his hands, while he guided
them to her mouth.
"Pothum (enough)," she said, her mouth filled with the
sandwich.
"Chup," he said narrowing his brows. "Bas ek aur lo," he
said feeding her another bite. They both ate in silence, amazed at the turn of
events. They hoped each other's presence would bring them the long awaited
solace they both were in need of.
Clearing the plates they got ready to sleep. She brought him
a comforter and a pillow while he loosened his tie and sat on the futon that
was now converted into a bed.
"Geet, tumhari beti kahan hai?" he asked. She looked up
wondering how he knew she had a child. "I saw her photo down the hallway," he
said as though reading her mind. "Actually I have met her before," he chuckled
remembering the incident in Central Park.
"Kya? Kab? Kahan?" she asked continuously.
"Calm down Geet, it's a long story. Ab batao where is she?"
"She went for a sleepover."
Geet arranged the bed for him. He lay on the bed, his legs
dangling a little by the end, for it was short for his height. He put his arms
over his eyes after wishing her a good night. She was about to leave when she
felt him tug her arm. "Geet, tum mujhe chodke nahi jaogi na?" he asked, his
eyes searching for the truth in hers'.
She smiled genuinely and cupped his cheeks, "Kabhi nahi,"
she assured.
"Good, now go and get some sleep," he said trying to lighten
the situation.
"Ji, huzoorji," she laughed bowing her head.
Geet walked to her room, trying to piece together the events of the day.
She had resolved to keep him away from her, and here she was promising never to
leave him. She quickly wiped away her silent tears and decided to stand by him.
If that was what destiny had in store for her, she would gracefully accept it,
without complains.
okay two things: (actually three 😆) nope four silly me🤪
first of all i am really really sorry for not updating as promised but to make it up i hv given a double update. actually i am still burning with fever n about hit the bed after updating this. a promise is a promise so i made sure i write for all my lovely readers 😊 your comments n encouragement makes me forget my illness 😊
secondly, the song i chose is one the THE BEST masterpieces composed by the maestro himself, illayaraja!! i specifically chose only music without words, for it best portrays emotions. i wanted maan n geet to feel the overflow of emotions without any words to interfere. n also this music never fails to take me out of the world each time i hear it 😃
so guys how did u like the most awaited encounter of maaneet? i hope i didnt disappoint u. i kno i kno there shall be a lot of confusion (i think) dont worry, everything shall be cleared in the next present update... also plz note to read maan's current charac development carefully, u shall see a change, something he never thought he would feel, he shall start to feel...
this update really is dedicated to my darling kunju mani DIAAA... for staying with me, caring for me, n understanding 😊 luv ya my dear omana penne 🤗
and lastly this is my 600th post😲🤪 🥳
Edited by Maaneet_09 - 12 years ago
