BEAUTIFULLY FLAWED
PART 33
When at night he reached back, Geet was the one to open
the door and not Neena. The sight that welcomed him had him taking in a sharp
breath. Holy-fucking-hell, dressed in a magenta saari she was angelic. Maan
forgot his complaints and anger. Damn, he even forgot how to speak.
You can come in
you know. She blushed hiding a silly grin by staring down. Maan balanced
his falling heart and willed his legs to move.
Never… saw you…
saree. He stated idiotically.
Yeah I know. How
do I- Unfortunately for her, the gorgeous saare over which Maan was going
all wide-eyed and jaw-slacked didn’t cooperate so well. As she took another
step it got stuck under her foot and she tripped over it falling flat on her
face.
With a curse, Maan came to her side.
Ouch… She
winced, stars dancing above her head. Maan was saying something but her brain
couldn’t process it. Arms wrapped around, he took her to the couch. That hurt. She rubbed her forehead,
eyes brimming with tears. This wasn't what she had planned. Maan removed her hand and examined the injury.
Neena. He
called. Neena came hurrying. Go get an
ice pack or something.
I think I draped
the saree too low. But they had showed like that in the video. She
complained pouting like a two year old.
You learned on
internet? You could have asked Neena for help. For god sake, you didn’t have to
wear a bloody saree if you can’t carry it off. He yelled and Geet flinched,
surprised and hurt by his anger.
It was my first
time. Tears spilled out of her eyes.
Maan bit his tongue. I…
I didn’t mean it that way. Shit, what had he done. She had worn it for him;
don’t know with how much difficulty. One glance at her face and he knew he’d
caused serious damage. She was touchy about all these things after their
wedding. And he had downright shouted on her for trying to please him. Now she
would always remember his harsh words while wearing a saree, if she ever wore
it again.
You were… so happy
when you saw me at the door and then I had to trip and ruin it all. I am so
stupid. Why do I even try? I can’t cook or wear anything traditional without
making a fool of myself. I am such a horrible wife. Geet cried more when
she remembered that she had redecorated his room. How will she show him now?
What if he got angrier? She hadn’t asked him before shifting all her things
into his personal space. If he felt stifled by all her impositions, she
wouldn’t be surprised.
Neena bought and handed the ice pack to Maan. He first
wiped her tears with his handkerchief then carefully pressed the pack over the
swell on her forehead. I said that in
anger. I shouldn’t have. There is nothing wrong with you wearing saree, love. But
when you fell, I lost control. Can’t you see hurt baby, that’s all.
He blew on her swelling and she closed her eyes, the ache
in her head replaced by his tantalizing smell. Thank god you aren’t bleeding. Come, I will take you to bed.
No. I mean, let’s
go to my room.
Maan frowned. What
room? Old one? Who said that’s your room? Neena must have kept your things
there because she didn’t know better and I forgot to tell her this morning
since I had to leave early. He picked her up and she practically jumped out
of his arms.
What is wrong with
you? Your will hurt yourself again.
What is the
problem with my old room? Can’t you stay one night there? How can you be so…
biased?
Maan could have banged his head on the wall. Is your brain fine after the hit? He
asked quizzical then his expression eased like he had figured out whatever it
was. What are you hiding, Geet?
Geet bit her lip. Busted! Nothing.
He strode upstairs and she moaned. Not even god could
stop him now. Bracing herself she went behind, holding the saree above her
ankles. God forbid if she tripped again and ended up in a hospital.
As Maan opened his room door, she lurked behind all the
while cursing herself for not asking, for thinking too far along, for trying to
please him only to get him angry in the end. First the saree then the room, she
was a free ticket to disaster.
His mouth hung open. It was like he had entered someone
else’s room and still it held a strange familiarity-intimacy. Curtains were
changed, furniture was shifted or altered and her things were adjusted with his-
mingled together. Everything was stylishly arranged. However, the centre of
attention was the big, monochrome photograph of them from Croatia surrounded by
eight other small ones on the front wall at the bed’s head. The room seemed
fuller, livelier. Better.
This was what kept
you busy whole day? His face was impassive and voice stern. New tears
formed in her eyes as she nodded. An apology was on her tongue when she got
surprised seeing a smile break out at the corner of his lips.
Maan shook his head. You
are more insane than I am. You thought I wouldn’t like this?
Geet heaved a sigh of relief. For a moment I thought you wouldn’t like me in your room since I am
such a mess and you also need your privacy. I know how much you cherish it.
And then I changed everything. She
looked around wearily. You sure you
don’t mind? I can keep everything back at their places.
No. I like how it
is now. I would have gotten all your things shifted into my room anyway. We are
always going to live and sleep together from now so that only makes sense. You
talk about privacy? I want it with you. Here. He opened his arms and she
shuffled in. One big palm cupped the back of her head, while he softly laid his
lips over the lump on her forehead. What
am I going to do with you, Mrs. Khurana?
Geet buried her face in his chest. I have to ask you something.
Later. Did you
have dinner? She shook her head. Then
I will change and we’ll go downstairs to eat. Her clasp on him didn’t
loosen and face didn’t rise from his chest. Love, what’s wrong?
I don’t want to
let go of you. Her voice was muffled and she was no less than a little girl
in that moment. It’s the only place
where I won’t trip over silly sarees, where I feel safe.
Maan kissed the top of her head. I love you. Eventually she set him free.
When Maan came out of the bathroom after taking a quick
bath, Geet was cutely poking the bump on her forehead standing in front of the
mirror. I look comic. She turned and
took him in, all glorious bare chest and wet hair… Yumm. Maan smirked pulling
on a T-shirt.
You should be
least worried about looks after hitting your head on hard floor. There could
have been serious injuries.
I have survived
worse. She stilled when Maan’s expressions suddenly hardened. Wrong choice
of words. She blinked. I am hungry.
Let’s go.
Neena served the dinner and after all the drama, they ate
in companionable silence. Her earlier comment mentioning ‘worse’ hadn’t escaped
his mind. This time he wouldn’t just ignore his inner voice that craved to know.
He wanted more from her. He wanted to know all that was to her and her past. Neena, you can leave for the night. We’ll
clear the table. So Neena left them alone.
Geet cleared her throat. While I was browsing the internet to know how to wear a saree, I came
across few old articles. The truth was she had looked for it. Dev’s words
had left their mark and although she trusted Maan, curiosity got better of her.
The thing was not just Dev but media also thought that Maan had an illegitimate
child, born out of wedlock. Nobody had ever seen him with the child but there
were rumors that had ruled the gossip columns a couple of years ago.
It really didn’t matter to Geet if he had a child and
past with some girl. Everyone had a story; some could be discussed while others
were better hidden in the closet. She just didn’t know why Maan wouldn’t tell
her, of all people she wouldn’t ever judge him, although, he might have had his
reasons. For all she knew it could be a lie. There was only way to find out.
You know that I
would never judge you right and you can tell me things. She said twisting
her fingers together.
Geet, what are you
hinting at?
She took a deep breath. Do you have a child?
Maan stopped eating, after a moment’s pause he spoke,
face impassive. Let’s finish our dinner
first then we’ll discuss.
Suddenly, her appetite was dead. Somehow she got through
the dinner and after clearing the table, they settled in the living room. Geet
was prepared for the worst.
Geet, like you
said, don’t judge me okay? His face was ominous. Yes. Yes… I do have a son but I am not his father.
What is that
supposed to mean? Geet thought.
He is adopted. I own an orphanage
in Mumbai. The boy was brought there at the age of three. His parents might
have died or abandoned him, we couldn’t find out. He had a hole in his heart.
The first look at him and something formed between us- a connection of sorts. I
adopted and got him treated in US.
Oh. Geet
mumbled, her mind processing the information. When were you going to tell me this?
We had our plates
full. You weren’t ready to accept me; I wasn’t so sure how you would react to
me having a son.
You fear too much
Maan.
Yes I fear. When
it comes to you, I fear. And I am ashamed. He conceded. I had no clue how and when to tell you
this. I haven’t been the best dad around. I have a whole company to take care
of and I just don’t know how to be a father. I didn’t have a good example from
my Dad. I suck at it really. Maa goes to see him at the boarding school and
takes care of him during the weekends when he comes back to the house in
Mumbai. He comes to me only during his summer vacations. Geet, I really didn’t-
I understand,
Maan.
He was astonished. You
do?
Yes. When I saw it
on the internet I had decided that I was okay with it both ways. That is
whether you have a son or not. Only you keeping it from me was disturbing, but
I understand. Sometimes we are just too afraid of hurting someone or losing
them. So it’s okay.
Maan sighed, his eyes closed and when they opened, Geet
saw them swimming with wetness. When he spoke his voice was hoarse. You say you are a horrible wife but I beg
to differ. You’re the most amazing life partner ever. You realize the very
essence of marriage, its understanding and trust- an unshakable bond between
two people. My relation with him is… complicated, like every other relationship
in my life.
She nodded enveloping him in her arms. She had never seen
MSK so vulnerable and needy. The article
said you had someone in your life, even I thought so. She chuckled weakly
to lighten the air.
They write
anything without proof. And I never felt the need to explain myself to them.
He looked into her eyes. But there was
never anyone else, just you. I slept with girls, had inconsistent girlfriends
and even one night stands but I loved only one. You. He hugged her again.
Resolve in her eyes, Geet stood up. Maan, there is something I want you to see. Taking his hand she led
him to their room. She left him to stand beside the bed and when came back
there was a box in her hands. He recognized it instantly.
PRECAP- Geet preparing to meet Maan's son...
Imp note:
Hello everyone,
I am deeply disappointed with the amount of comments... there are 700+ views on each update of BF on Blog, higher than any other ff of mine since I don't post it on India Forum. Even if a single person visits the page twice to read the same update there would still be 350 readers. Out of 350, I get 20-30 comments- on the last update it was even lesser. I don't expect 350 comments. I don't even expect half of it. But what I get is really less and depressing. I don't want to make my blog private, thats not my thing. But I need your support. It's not unfair of me to ask for a little feedback. Don't comment every time or write a story. However once in a while a few words would be enough for me.
So please, consider this a humble request, take out a few minutes to make me know of your point of view. I'll be forever grateful.
XOXO
