Couple of days more passed. It was evening time, Maan was in deep thought. He was in Brij’s room as Brij has moved to Geet’s room.

Ranoo came and he immediately got up “Aunty aap?”

She came near him and ruffled his hair, Maan closed his eyes, could not believe it. Still was absorbing her affection.

“Maaf kerde puttar”

“Aunty please No, don’t say so” he held her hand in his

After a while she said “Today I have prepared something nice for dinner, all of your taste. Not professional chef like yours though”

Maan got so emotional, this was so special for him. He had craved for such gestures from her and today he did not want to judge. He had never judged them anyways.

Ranoo stayed there with him for a while and then got up to leave

“Aunty” she turned

“woo.. just wanted to assure.. woo there in London… I mean I am there”

He then came forward “Aunty, I mean to say I am there in London and anything there I am enough to take care. My ways can be different”

Ranoo smiled “Puttar I have full trust on you. I will not ask you any question. See you at dinner and don’t think too much.”

              *************************

One week has passed. Maan was back in London. So many things going on his mind.

It was Saturday and Geet as her weekend ritual, cleaned her apartment in detail, ran dryer washer, dishes etc. and just came out of bath. Her hair was still wet and she had put one of her casual T- shirt and loose pajama. She was about to pick up her hair dryer when she her the bell ring. Who can be at her doorstep. She thought someone by mistake rang her bell. Maybe the kid of next apartment.

Maan was standing at the gate. Whole feeling was so different. First he had been shocked when his informer told him the society she was staying in. He had been restless from that very time

“What level of twisted brain this girl has” he had thought

“How will family think if they know she is staying in such locality” and then obviously when he had planned to come here, whole setup was done for security internally and it was hidden that Maan Singh Khurana was coming. He had just landed there in his casual white polo shirt and faded black tight fitted jeans and casual sports shoe.

He pressed the bell again, Geet was about to plug her hair dryer when bell rang again.

Geet opened the door and jerked her head to see who was there. The water droplets fell on visitors face but it directly hit his heart. Her wet fresh natural face and fragrance, hit him. He very well knew this girl held unnatural power over him

but avoiding and running was not an option now, especially after the under toned comments of Yash.

Ok, he will go on Yash talks and care later. First deal with this girl gapping at him.

Geet simply stood there frozen for long trying to grasp, he was actually on her doorstep. Maan Sir on her doorstep.

Yes, Maan Sir but still why the heart was behaving shamelessly knowing she didn’t mean a thing to him. First time looking at him in casual since she has landed in London. Well, how many times has she actually seen him? Some 2-3 times. How her heart was beating as he looked so much Maan now. But was it her dream?

Maan took some time to get hold of his heart and got back his business look on his face.

“Will you let me in or…”

This brought her back in sense

“Yes-yes sir. Please –please come in” she almost stammered. Gave him the way as he entered, Geet felt life came to her small dwelling. He made his presence, it was like blessings for her. As he placed his leg inside the apartment Geet closed her eyes, he was really there.

{Listen to this song, to get the feel of Geet}

Gali Me Aaj Chand Nikla

Tum aaye to aaya mujhe yaad,
Gali mein aa chaand nikla
Jaane kitne dinon ke baad
Gali mein aa chaand nikla
Jaane kitne dinon ke baad
Gali mein aa chaand nikla
Gali mein aa chaand nikla
Gali mein aa chaand nikla

Entering, the small hall, he took look at it. He was coolly but intently looking at whole thing. Geet on other side, was still in shock that he was here. Her heart was just out of control. Ohh he looked so much her Maan, but so unapproachable.

“Sir take seat please”

“Hmmm” he looked around before taking the seat. All furniture were overused types. She took seat on other side.

Both sitting quiet lost in their own thought. Geet stealing glances at him every couple of minutes. Uff… her heart felt going away from her.

Tum aaye to aaya mujhe yaad,
Gali mein aa chaand nikla
Jaane kitne dinon ke baad
Gali mein aa chaand nikla
Jaane kitne dinon ke baad
Gali mein aa chaand nikla
Gali mein aa chaand nikla
Gali mein aa chaand nikla

Jaane kitne dinon ke baad
Gali mein aa chaand nikla
Maine tumko aate dekha
Apni jaan ko jaate dekha
Jaane phir kya hua nahin yaar
Jaane phir kya hua nahin yaar,
Gali mein aa chaand nikla
Gali mein aa chaand nikla
Gali mein aa chaand nikla
Jaane kitne dinon ke baad
Gali mein aa chaand nikla.

Maan was on his side trying hard to keep himself only to business. Seeing her sitting opposite like this, all in surrender mode, the condition in which she was staying – it was so easy for his heart to go emotion ways. But he kept strong. He has designed himself for hard rock surface. Inside, whatever it was, no one can see, so he was good with it.

“Coffee Sir?” her heart ached each time she called him Sir, her Maan was lost from her. But she tried making it very smooth as she said.

“Hmmm” he nodded. Geet got up to make coffee. The small kitchen was in the hall itself. He kept looking at her for a while. There were many beauties he has seen but the trigger that her curls hanging on her cheeks did to his heart was unmatchable. It was so beautiful between them why did she break all, how could he forget and forgive. Maan turned his face to see outside – Hold on Maan, focus on what you are here for.

As Geet went to the counter, she fiddled with jars for a while, not knowing what she was doing. She turned other side, closed her eyes and let her tears fall. Why his one act and all her resolution felt like failing. Geet quietly wiped her tears and tried to focus on making her best coffee for him. He was here, it was a miracle for her.

Tum aaye to aaya mujhe yaad,
Gali mein aa chaand nikla
Jaane kitne dinon ke baad
Gali mein aa chaand nikla
Jaane kitne dinon ke baad
Gali mein aa chaand nikla
Gali mein aa chaand nikla
Gali mein aa chaand nikla

Tum aaye to aaya mujhe yaad,
Gali mein aa chaand nikla
Yeh naina bin kaajal tarse
Baara mahine baadal barse
Suni rab ne meri fariyaad
Suni rab ne meri fariyaad,
Gali mein aa chaand nikla
Gali mein aa chaand nikla
Gali mein aa chaand nikla

As Geet was making coffee and getting snacks out, Maan got up to check on whole area. Everything was in rugged state, her kitchen too looked just like a temporary setup, with minimal stuff. This was place she found in whole London to stay? He was so pissed off.

Maan was at door of her bedroom when she brought coffee where he was

“Sir” she forwarded him his cup. There was pang in both their heart, both trying hard to control. So near yet so far, there was no way out as pain was unbearable.

“Can I?” he asked as he signaled towards her room. She simply nodded in yes. Why would she stop him, whatever he was here for, whatever he wanted to do, it was all his right. He has full right on anything and everything of her. Maan looked at the room, checked her wardrobes. Again all were just almost temporary types in rugged state and how her wardrobe was almost nothing compared to his old princess. He felt as if his heart will bleed.

Maan kept checking stuff and all this while Geet just stood at door checking him. She wanted to capture this one for herself. He was here at her home, whatever it was, it was not professional. This was enough for her.

Tum aaye to aaya mujhe yaad,
Gali mein aa chaand nikla
Aaj ki raat jo main so jaati
Khulti aankh subah ho jaati
Main to ho jaati bas barbaad
Main to ho jaati bas barbaad,
Gali mein aa chaand nikla
Gali mein aa chaand nikla
Gali mein aa chaand nikla

Maan by chance opened a drawer and he could not remove is gaze from the anklets in the drawer. He picked it up in hand involuntarily and their eyes met. For a fraction of second his complaining eyes looked at her, she looked down with shame as the memory related to it resurfaced in both their mind. But soon he recovered and brought the coldness back.

{

“Make me wear these” she handed him the anklet

“No never. You are doing Roka with that Rohan… aur pehnaoo main… kabhi nahi. Don’t even imagine”

She had come so close to him and her hand on his chest and other on his cheeks

“You won’t really? You want that Rohan to make me wear these. His fingers will touch my skin” Anger in his eyes scared her for second. He held her both hands down, tight in his fists on her either side.

“Stop this Roka drama Geet. Don’t take things beyond limit” he was shaking from anger

“Do you want me to stop this function now? You don’t care of Dad’s respect and his business.”

He had pushed her to the wall “Don’t put up this Drama. I very well know why you agreed for this”

“Yes exactly. This is to let you know if you show me anger then what will be consequences. You don’t care to talk to me for three months, now face it. Abb haan bol diya maine, nothing can happen”

“Nothing can happen? You are going to regret it Geet. You don’t really have faced my anger. Stop this now!!”

She had handed him the anklet “Pehnaoo… or that Rohan is going to touch my skin. Mehndi in my hand I can’t”

“I will send Meera”

“Veerji and Di not talking to me. If it’s not you, then that Rohan. He will not mind I guess”

In anger at last he snatched the anklets from her hand and made her wear those anklets that she was wearing as part of Roka with Rohan. His heart bled but Geet knew how possessive he was. Ten times more than her, he can never let that Rohan touch a millimeter of her skin.

}

 He quietly kept it back, no emotion on his face. He moved forward to check all her stuff. Almost empty. As if she was just living for surviving. He went back and took seat back on the couch, she sat opposite again. His eyes fixed on her hand which did not have the bracelet, it was empty. She has removed everything which he had loved, he complained in his mind. He came back soon to his cold face

“Listen, you are not staying here. You are moving to one of renting property of Khurana Constructions. It is high end society with all facilities and Modern, well equipped apartment with regular maintenance handled by property.”

“I am fine here sir” she said in low voice

“Keep this sympathy demur for someone else. By next Sunday you are moving out there. It maybe some thousand bucks more than what you are currently paying but with employee concession, it may only be some four hundred bucks more”

“Four hundred bucks more?” she said in low voice

“I guess our package is way above the industry standard. So don’t show me money issue.”

She quietly kept sitting there, biting her lips and rubbing her hands, shaking his heart, making waves in it; he forced himself to look other side

“What is the problem here?” she thought in her mind, not having guts to voice

“You don’t need to send money home now and you are single. Don’t give me money issue at all. You are moving by next week. Fine”.

She nodded in acceptance. Did she have any option, he asks to do anything and she will do it.

He kept sitting there still for long while and then dragged himself to get up and go. He looked at her and their eyes simply got locked while their mind in their own direction.

“Not once do you care to stop me Geet!!!” he questioned her in his brain as their eyes were locked

“Just for once, become my Maan Please” she pleaded him but in her mind

“Why you pushed me so far… aisee bhi kya khata thi meri. You brought that Rohan and threw me so-so far” he cried in his heart

“For once please hug me as my Maan… please” her heart ached.

Their thought just went on “What are you thinking Maan? You show her anger and she will come to please you. If she ever had cared for your anger? Stop being emotional fool. You just focus doing your part as always.” He composed himself

“Ok, I will leave now” he forced himself to say so. His heart was not allowing him to take leave. It was so easy to be in control in office but in other premise and her around, he feared he will soon loose.

“Please stay some more” her heart cried

“Ji” she voiced. He dragged himself out of the gate and then simply rushed outside.

As Maan left, Geet simply dumped herself on bed, held the pillow and let her tears flow. It must have been just 10 minutes and her bell rang again “Maan Sir?” she quickly wiped her tears and opened the door

He did not look at her; he was feeling like a fool to come back again. Neither did she ask him to ever come before, nor did she stop him from going, but he was back again like a fool.

“Your Phone” “Ji”

She unlocked and gave her phone to him. He fed his personal number there

“Just in case. You don’t need me, I know but it’s advisable to have local one than stressing everyone in India. They are already dealings with stuff there”

She took her phone and did not say anything. Just nodded her head as acknowledgement.

Both lost in their own thought.