Intezaar – Scene 5

His cell vibrated as it was close to him. He immediately took it out, saw Sam’s number there. Without a flick of thought, disconnected it so that his wife’s beautiful dream does not break… Ohh he knew he was there.

Maan quietly got the cushion from the sofa, placed his head on it, very slowly slipped on the bed, softly took the quilt she was covered with and went inside it. 

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It was as usual 6 am, the time when Geet’s eyes opened. She opened her eyelids, not expecting anything different this morning. With the morning laziness still hovering, she tried to pull the quilt to cozy up for a few minutes. Still sleepy, she ignored the first resistance in pulling the quilt. She tried once more and this time opened her eyes to see what was causing the resistance. Geet turned to the other side lazily but all her laziness flew away with the scene in front of her.

Her husband was peacefully sleeping, tucking the same quilt close to his chest.  She observed properly to realize he was in the same quilt as hers. Did he slip inside the same quilt in the same bed beside her? Her heart skipped a beat with that realization. She saw his head was on the sofa cushion. Knowing her habit she immediately looked on her side

“Siyaapa… jhalli” she cursed herself realizing she had, as usual, captured the pillow from his side as well.

Geet took the pillow and placed it near his head and then moved her hand towards his head, so that she could place his head on the proper pillow. She slowly took her hand near his head, but the moment her fingers got in contact with a few strands of his thick hair, current ran through her with various sensation and she curled her fingers, backing away. 

Geet turned with the feeling of immediate shyness , her shaky lips making a smile on her face. Why not, something that she has dreamt day and night, her husband in bed, beside her and she had a chance to really really touch him. But then, why had she backed out.

“Hmmm..” she sighed. She still does not know if he has accepted her or not. But then she looked back to see him sleeping peacefully. What does this mean?

As much as she has learnt about him, by hearing about him from others and watching all the videos of him, throughout his life, in loop, observing him deeply.  She has learnt, how his face shaped in different scenarios, how he behaved when he did not accept things, how he would be calm like a .. when his mother had lovingly caressed his face on different occasions 

His slipping inside the quilt  said a lot – He had accepted this marriage and the peace on his face said he had fully accepted this relation. But suddenly? 

Did he???

Geet, the gold medalist in psychology from the university in her city, took her own case as the subject of her research. Topic to analyze and dissect the personality of a person without meeting the person. She intentionally chose the topic as it would help her understand her husband in his absence. That was her way to be connected with her husband in his absence.

Him marrying her just for the wish of his mother and for the promise to an old man in ICU, whom he didn’t even know has seeped in a deep respect for him in her heart. The moment marriage happened she gave her heart to her husband. Her culture and those rituals just added to her feelings and she knew it was only her husband whom she had to love. But his leaving her suddenly after marriage had confused her along with the hurt. Thus the diary and research had been her way to keep herself busy, positive and get to know him more and more. 

Thus Geet knew her husband well enough to read his acts.

Thus this sudden change in him, raised doubt in her. Geet got up and went to the wardrobe to get her clothes. She checked things there, turned and looked at her husband and left the room after freshening up.

Geet was peacefully working in the kitchen. Sandhay also joined in with an excuse to help her. She wanted to observe Geet. Maan was not found anywhere, meaning he had shared the room with Geet. Sandhya wanted to get an idea of how it went between them but did not have the guts to ask directly. 

“Mom, you go. We have so many helpers in the kitchen, they will help me.”

“In that case, you don’t need to be here as well. Just take coffee for Maan. Wake him up, it’s already 7”

Geet smiled “Due to jet lag, he came pretty late at night. I don’t think disturbing him is a good idea .”

“Then you must have a good chance to have some talk with him . Kuch batein hui?”  She asked, not liking to probe between husband and wife, but her only curiosity was if it went positive or not.

“We will Mom. Actually I was so tired and by the time he came, I was asleep” Sandhya smiled and left. 

Maan woke up at 7. The movement in the room had awakened him. He found that his wife had already left the room.

The thought of her wonderful diary brought a smile on his face but then reality of  his deeds brought guilt in him.

No – he has to fix it. Yes, he has made a mistake, actually a blunder. Now that he thinks, he knows it was silly of him to forcefully try to find a girl of his type. What was he up to? Thankfully his heart never let him break that one thin line but still trying to do so was itself a sin. He was forcing his heart to be pulled to Sameera, when in reality it never crossed that level of liking or else who knows he would have crossed that line. 

Anyways, there was no explanation and running away from his deed. There is no measure of how much wrong he did, he was wrong and there was no excuse. He has to win his wife now, confess his sins and be prepared for punishment and then win her love and trust back.

His confession will hurt her. He cannot afford to hurt her further. How will he do it? 

One night, seeing their relationship from her perspective, had raised a desire in him.Be hers the way she has dreamt and beyond.

Maan freshened up quickly and got down in his joggers. The mansion looked lively. Vicky, his brother, entered with the basketball in his hand, Annie was chatting with her uncle, his Dad. She was his favorite and was the only one allowed to have an argument with him. Dev, Annie’s elder brother, next to Maan, in the family, was seated at the dining table. He was ready to escape with Maan Bhai as Maan’s Dad was after him to learn the business. Maan cherished the love and unity of his family. No one from outside could ever guess who was whose child. Maan’s Dad was head of the family and there was no question about it. His words were the last word because he thought of everyone else above him. And Maan, due to his exceptional capability and responsibility owning capability, held the same position for the current generation.

His Dadima was busy with her daughter in laws – his mom and Tayii Ji. 

Knowing his family, he knew how Geet was part of the family and he does not even need to make any guess that she was his family’s main priority and concern now. In his family, whichever child undergoes any problem, that child becomes the priority of the whole family and they don’t rest till the child’s problem is sorted. Geet, being the first daughter in law of the new generation, he very well knew what value she held for his family and how much concern she was for everyone. And all this due to him. In his wonderful spotless family, he had brought the spot of selfishness. He was supposed to be the torch bearer of the family, what had he done? What example has he set for his siblings?

His eyes were scanning the whole grand living area and the broad allays leading from them but it could not find his wife. Where was she? He thought of asking someone but then thought otherwise.

He went down and wished everyone good morning “Good Morning dear.. Let me get coffee for you” offered his aunt, Rukmini

“It’s Okay, don’t bother Tayi ji, I will make my own” Rukmini smiled at him and looked at Sandhya. Sandhya signaled her to let Maan go

“Okay dear..” and he left for the kitchen.

Geet was done sauteing Broccoli and asparagus, placed them aside and was now stirring pasta in garlic and red pasta sauce. The servants saw Maan Sir at the door and he signaled them to quietly leave from there.

They bowed their heads and left. 

“Mohan, hand me the black pepper,” she said, still busy stirring. The black pepper was placed near her and she picked it, her focus still on the wok.

“Now this is almost done, just finely chop the red bell pepper now. I will brew the coffee in the meanwhile” 

After switching the machine to freshly brew the coffee from the roasted beans, Geet turned to see her husband standing with red bell pepper on chopping board and knife in his hand

Her eyes widened for a moment but then she could not hold herself from admiring his perfect feature, held on the perfectly toned body. His features, chiseled yet approachable, hinted at a ruggedness tempered by a manly charm. His black round neck Tee hugged his body to highlight his forbidden beauty and the slight loose track at the bottom gave him the look of laid-back cool, the kind of person you couldn’t help but admire from afar . 

“Good Morning Geet” Maans said with a smile, placing the knife beside the bell pepper, trying to be normal as if he has known her for a long time. Geet gave him a smile, coming back from dreamland.

What was he doing here?

And then she realized, just the two of them were there

“Good Morning”  Geet returned the smile but obviously, questions, written over her face. 

 Maan knew  she was reading him. 

“You leave it, I will cut them. You can settle on dining area with others, I will send the coffee”

“I can cut bell peppers for you” he said, slitting the bell pepper from middle

“We can catch up as well. We were not able to catch up yesterday.. Aur wahan sabke beech, we will not get chance for one to one talk”

With that Maan started to make thin vertical slices of bell pepper. When he felt Geet’s eyes fixed on his cutting 

“I know a little bit of cooking,” he informed her with a smile . Was he already in the process of impressing his wife? If yes, this really weird step to start with.. he taunted himself .

“You are very good at cooking, especially these continental.” she added. Her voice, coming out exceptionally confident. How opposite he had assumed of her.

“Hmmm… sab pata toh hai tumhen” he paused “mere bare me..” he added. Maan was nervous, very very nervous. He was trying hard to keep normal. 

Her immense love in their story and his stupid experiments were not balancing.

Geet looked at him, and he took that opportunity to admire her beauty.

Ohh how beautiful his wife is. In her colorful, salwar-kameez, with little mirror work on the neck, Her hair loosely tied in bun such that the few stands fell and touched her milky soft skin, and some near her nape, shone like golden silk thread. The kohl in her beautiful hazel, could encapsulate him for infinity. They were pools of endless depth, held secrets untold and dreams yet to be discovered. She was a captivating symphony of grace and allure.

“In that case I can also tell…” she paused, quietly taking the chopped bell pepper from him to spread over the pasta

“What..,” came instantly from Maan. Ooops, did he let his guard down and bared his nervousness to her

“That…” but before she could continue

“I will check on coffee.. I am good at making coffee as well” he interrupted her and quickly moved to the brewed coffee.

Hell… what the hell is he doing? Maan could have easily handled this situation better but  instead he was behaving like a kid caught off guard. What could he do? He was laden with guilt for doing wrong to her. He was her culprit and that was making him nervous. On the top, she knew how to read him. From where did Mom find this magician?

Yes, she was a magician – Not only the way she read him, her calmness, her love, her elegance , her beauty.. Everything about her was doing magic on him and the mighty Maan Singh Khurana, who could handle the toughest scenario with calm, ease and confidence, felt powerless in front of her. 

Maan held the handle of the jar when Geet coming from behind placed her beautiful fingers in the handle as well

“Aisa bhi kya ker diya aapne jo itne nervous hain.. Aap aise toh nahi hai” She came straight, stopping the hide and seek game that he was playing. Maan closed his eyes tightly, letting out the sigh. 

“You are back and having accepted this relationship is enough for me. “  She consoled herself more than him. Geet was now nervous due to his nervousness. Is she heading towards the hurt.. in their story she has cited one fear. Will that come true and wash all the other parts of the story that she has woven.

“Geet, when you know me so well, you must also be aware that I really want us to  start afresh. I know I have…” 

Geet kept the freshly brewed black coffee jar, milk pot and  bowl with sugar cubes in the tray, ready for everyone’s personal preference. She handed him the tray, which he took like an obedient kid

She went to place pasta in the big bowl  and turned to him “because you read my diary and you feel pity on me..”

“No, because I…..” he paused. With what right will he confess that he had fallen for her in one night. His sins need to be stated first.

“Because you…. what?” 

“Because…I… I mean you… look at you. Only a fool will not want to start his life with you” 

All this while ten times Maan’s phone has vibrated and he knew who it was. He was not even planning to pick it up. His all focus was on his wife. 

He was also confused with Sam continuously calling him. She had been so sorted and knew he was going to start his life with his wife. They already made unsaid promises that they would not contact each other and let the other move on in life.

He wondered, why was it so easy for him to avoid Sam. Was it really just a superficial forced liking which came as a reaction. 

Geet, after placing pasta sautéed broccoli and asparagus in the rolling tray, turned to Maan and took the coffee tray from him and placed that as well in the rolling tray

“All set” she said, giving a slight nod “ you settle on the dining table “ But Maan walked side by side, giving a pleasurable view to all. They were all enjoying the show as Geet was walking with the tray, nervous of his good boy acts suddenly and Maan could not remove his eyes from his wife. The more he looked at her the more he was getting mesmerized. 

What was this love of her that was making him fall for her even harder? 

“Tayi ji, are you sure Bhai and Bhabhi never talked while he was away” asked Vicky taking his  bread

“Vicky, what do you mean?” Asked Annie innocently

“I mean, see the ease they are walking as if this was just another meeting after one of his tour”

Even his Mom-Dad, Uncle-Aunt were wondering, how come this change in Maan this sudden.

At the breakfast table Geet intentionallygot busy with others after serving Maan. Maan had no option but to behave and get busy with his Dad and Uncle. 

It had been an hour, Geet had lingered a lot but now she knew she had to go to her room. She was nervous. What was coming up? What has he to say? His accepting the marriage was different but his being so coy in just one night? 

“No Geet, you should be happy, Maan has accepted you in his life. This is what you have been waiting since marriage”

She stepped towards her room where she was told her husband was waiting for her. “But why am I feeling nervous when everything is getting on track after this long never ending wait”

Geet opened the room and that very moment the washroom door clicked and appeared her husband with wet hair, bare body and towel wrapped on the bottom.

Geet kept looking at him, unable to tear her gaze away.. Why was everything since morning so beautiful? Much more beautiful than her dream. He was so handsome, beyond her imagination. The water droplets on his bare shiny torso were taking their path on curves of his body muscle. After gathering courage to tear away from the dreamy view, she turned away.

Maan was looking at his beautiful wife. He had read her dreams and wishes of touching him, feeling him, him touching her, feeling her… he had to fulfill all her desire and in the process know if he had that level of passion that she was expecting from him. But how?Does he have the rights to it?

He has to accept his deeds to her. Geet moved to his closet as Maan was standing lost in thoughts. She pulled out a white shirt and a pair of jeans and forwarded it to him, this time keeping her looks away from him. Maan moved close to her and then reached near the wardrobe. His masculine fragrance hit her nostrils and his bare body so near her, she felt she would burn with that closeness…

“Underwears…” he said and opened the drawer to pick one. Embarrassment covered Geet and she turned to run away

“Itna intezaar kiya tumne abb bhag rahi ho Geet” Maan said getting shirt on him

Her name from his lips; it was the most beautiful music.

Geet turned and her eyes went on the wrist watch he was putting on

“You got this new watch… It looks very expensive and exclusive. Where is the other one?”

Maan narrowed his brows and then realization hit him. When Sam gifted him this exclusive watch and he was about to put the old one in his pocket, Sam took the watch from him

“Do you mind, I keep it in memory of our friendship?”

“Of course not. But this is so simple, I will gift you a better one”

“No, this will be with me as a memory of our friendship” He had gifted her the one he was wearing without realizing that it was a gift that Geet’s Daarji had given him as part of blessings.

What he did not know was Geet had selected it for him. But Maan now somehow got the hint.

Another blunder – he closed his eyes and took a deep sigh

“You…your… it was your choice..”  Geet looked at him. 

Damn!!! This girl could read him in-out. 

Maan looked down, took a deep sigh, raised his head “Geet, we need to talk…”

Geet stumbled  backward“Whhaat…. What talk”

Maan immediately held her. He gathered himself  and his nervousness “Geet, we are going to start our life. Should we not talk and know each other”

She nodded but was scared, What lay ahead.