The Burnt – Chapter 20

Her tears brought more restlessness in him “Geet please stop, don’t cry. Please.” 

His hands automatically went up to wipe her cheeks but he stopped midway and folded his fingers back .

“Mumma—Daaddy” Advay came running and stopped still seeing his parents sitting so close to each other. Nakul came running behind

“Sir-ma’am, Advay Baba didn’t listen to me” Said Nakul all worried

Geet quickly wiped her tears. “No Problem” She got up and took Advay with her.

*********

Geet sat in her room, gazing at her palms. A smile spread across her face. She had touched him. The sensation was incredibly ticklish, and the thought of feeling his hands in hers, not as anyone else’s, but as her husband’s, sent shivers down her spine.

She can still visualize how his hands trembled into hers, telling the story of how vulnerable he has become. How careful he was for her, as if his touch would harm her and how her touch affected him. She needed no proof to feel the enormous love that he held for her. His restrain – as if he knew, if he releases his love for her, it will not come out in token but will come out as a flood from his heart. He was scared, she will be swiped off in that flood or maybe drown in his love.

But however hard he tries to hide; she has witnessed it all and has already been swept off her feet. Now, more than her childhood dream, it was for him -to show him that love is not harmful, not to her nor to him.  She has to do it. They have already burnt in her childish love. Now it was time to bring him into this love and show him how beautiful love is. Make him experience the most beautiful thing of life.

One can think, how can she still love the man who had humiliated her. But it was her love for him that always overpowered everything. And now, she has fallen for him all over again.

Maan was staring at his palms, no idea for how long. She had shown her rights on him and held his hands into hers

“Kashhh,” he exhaled, looking up. He swallowed hard, his jaw tightening.

“Kash yeh haq pehle jataya hota tumne, Geet. Now, how can I just enter into your life and burden you to shower your love to a monster like me”

That night, they had a quiet dinner. With Geet serving Maan even before he reaches for a bowl. Maan signaled the servers to take the bowl from her but they simply bowed their head.

Next evening, dinner time – Geet was putting plates on the table 

“Geet, why are you taking so much trouble, dear. We have so many people working around. You have already done most of the cooking”

“Dadima, this is my house.” Geet replied with a soft smile

“Okay. You are just going to spoil me once again”

“Dadima, just do not tell him that I have done…”

“Do not worry, I won’t. But dear…”

“Dadima”

Savitri Devi shook her head, giving up

Geet looked at Advay and said, “Advay, go call Daddy.”
Advay smiled and turned to leave. Geet knew very well that if it had been anyone else, Maan would have sent them back empty-handed — but not Advay. As she had guessed, Maan soon came down, carrying Advay in his arms.

Maan placed Advay down and their little one happily took his seat. Advay was just five years but in these five years, it’s just few months that he is enjoying both his parents close to him and only since yesterday, he has the luck of seeing his parents in the same house, and sharing the dinner time, like any normal family. His childish heart was elated and he prayed it stays like this always.

Geet moved around, serving everyone, including Maan. Her heart raced wildly each time she neared him.
As for Maan — words would fall short. Every time she was close, his heart surged and stumbled, while his mind fought desperately to pull him away. But Geet, knowingly or not, was making it impossible. Each time she bent toward him, she brushed against him ever so slightly, filling his senses with her intoxicating fragrance and overwhelming presence.

“You can have your seat as well. There are servers waiting to serve” he said at last. If she will be around him, it would only make it harder for him to endure the distance he was forcing between them. Though she stood far above any personal desire he harbored he still prayed the things only be little easy for him if she keeps away. The closer she stayed, the stronger he would have to make his self-restraint around her.

“Why? You don’t even like me serving you?” Geet asked, letting a hint of sadness lace her voice — fully aware she was playing the emotional card. But in love, all was fair, especially when you were fighting to win your man.

Shocked at her misinterpreting his words, Maan kept staring at her. Geet made a sad smile and turned away, creating some distance between them. No, he couldn’t make her feel unwanted when he was trying to tell her that he certainly didn’t deserve her such attentive care.

Praying to God in heart, Geet slowly moved a step away when Maan held her wrist from behind. Geet smiled to herself

“I didn’t mean that in any case. Your serving is an honor for me, the one that I do not deserve”

“So, can I?” She cut his not deserving theory in mid

Maan gave a slight nod and loosened his grip on her wrist, soon realizing what he was doing.

Geet bent down to pick up the bowls of sautéed vegetables, taking them one by one — sometimes letting her forearm brush lightly against his cheek, sometimes leaning low enough that her breast grazed his shoulder. After subjecting him to this sweet torture, she finally finished serving him.

Maan, throughout it all, sat perfectly still, swallowing hard to hide how deeply he was affected. Dadima, however, noticed it all — the flush rising on his face, the tension coiling in his body. Geet smiled innocently over his shoulder, while Maan’s veins strained against his skin, his fist tightening around the spoon as he fought for control.

After serving, she settled into the chair beside him. Geet felt no guilt over her actions; she had decided to step beyond her naturally shy nature. After all, they say everything is fair in love and war—and Geet was determined to follow that rule to the letter. She knew Maan would resist, would try his best to retreat, but she was ready. She would have to be bold, playful, mischievous—maybe even a little shameless. Though, she was quickly realizing: a little shamelessness wouldn’t be enough. If she wanted to pull her man into the game, she would have to break freer, leaving her inhibitions behind.

And then, the moment Maan took his first bite, a wave of nostalgia hit him hard. He knew instantly—every dish had been prepared by Geet, and all for him. These were the very recipes he used to savor, even though he had always mocked them as “rustic cooking.” Oh, how the years had passed, and only he knew the true weight of her absence—the countless moments he had secretly longed for the taste of her hands, the warmth of her cooking that no gourmet meal could ever replace.

She must have changed in dressing and improved her version of cooking as per Advay’s taste, but he could tell in just one bite, it had all flavors of her.

Later, Geet took Advay for his study time, while Maan retreated to his room. He tried hard to focus on the files and documents from various projects, but nothing seemed to register. Her presence clung to him, wrapping around his senses. He could still feel the brush of her hands—and the subtle, teasing touch of her breasts against him. Her fragrance lingered in the air, her soft smile kept flashing before his eyes, and the memory of her serving him, offering the food that carried her familiar taste, her face—serene and beautiful as she chatted with Advay and Dadima at the dinner table, played on an endless loop in his mind. 

Maan closed his eyes and threw his head back. Everything about her, flooded his mind, made him swallow hard to push away his thoughts causing the subtle bone at his neck shifting under his skin.

Savitri Devi, stood at the door, observing her grandson. Her heart ached witnessing his sufferings. She been punished enough or has he additionally not punished himself.

Yes, the sins he had committed—humiliating Geet in those dark days, could never truly be forgiven. But still, could a man who had been punishing himself every day since not deserve a single chance at redemption? Was it wrong for her to silently wish for happiness in his life? His son had been torn away from him, yet he harbored no complaints. His love for Geet, intertwined with the heavy burden of guilt, had grown so immense that he no longer believed he had any right to question anything when it came to her. For Maan, whatever Geet chose to do was always right—except when it came to her trying to bring happiness back into his life. That, he could not accept. Not for himself.

But now, when Geet herself desires a life with him, can’t he give her a dream life? Can’t he give her a chance to show him that her happiness is intertwined with his?

“Maan” she called out as she entered the room. Maan jerked with the sound of Dadima’s voice and straightened himself on his seat

She took a seat on the arm chair opposite to him

“What happened? You look disturbed”

“You don’t know Dadima, what is disturbing me?”

“I know what is disturbing you? But dear, don’t you think you are being too hard on yourself and Geet”

“Dadima – it should not happen, the way it is all happening. You must have stopped Geet from making me shift here”

“You could have declined to come here”

“I am in no position to refuse her anything—especially when she misunderstands it as rejection. How could I ever make her feel unwanted? It would be an insult to her, a lie to myself, and utterly disrespectful. And then there’s Advay… ever since I came back, his hopes have gone high. But then, this isn’t right for Geet. All that she is doing… it’s unfair to her. She’s pouring her heart into bringing happiness to a man who once caused her the deepest pain, a man who wronged her in the worst possible way”

Dadima was silent for few moments. She then gathered herself

“What if Geet’s happiness lies in life with you?”

Maan gave a sarcastic laugh “How can that even be slightest true, Dadima. You are being selfish for your grandson and that is not fair for Geet. It is only her great heart that she is working to bring happiness in life of a man who has only given her pain”

Then something struck Maan “You know Dadima, I have a solution to this”

“Solution?”

“Geet is doing all this because she thinks I am sad and in pain”

“Are you not?” Dadima asked, peeking deep into his heart

“No, because I have left feeling for myself long back. My priority is only Advay and Geet and of course you all”

“And what solution do you have?”

“She needs to see how happy and content I am in life. Once she sees that, she will be able to move forward in her life”

“She always had power to see through you, right? Even when you showed her that you hated her, even when you did not realize that you loved her. She was very clear that you loved her and all she needed to do was make you realize your love for her. You think she does not have power to see though you anymore”

“Dadima, I just cannot sit and let her jump in the fire to burn once again”

“Okay. Do as you wish but keep in mind, if she really still loves you deeply then your solution can hurt her once again, deeply”

“But Dadima, why would she still love me”

“Because she is Geet” Dadima left from there, leaving Maan even more confused.

But Maan did not take time to get back to his resolve. Dadima is getting greedy on his behalf and he cannot let anyone’s weakness come between his resolve.

The next morning, Maan, following his usual routine, woke up early and headed to the gym. Pari had sent him his daily calendar update, including personal and professional appointments and meetings.

He performed each routine with increasing intensity, solidifying his resolve with every rep. He engaged in various exercises, including trade mill, pushups, weight lifting, heavy rope exercises, punching, and more. Exhausted and sweaty, he headed to his room.

He’ll take a refreshing shower, grab a toast and juice that Nakul has already prepared, and then embark on a hectic day routine.

But just as Maan was about to step into his room, her intoxicatingly fresh fragrance wrapped around him, stirring something deep within. She was there, like the most exquisite dream come to life — draped in a delicate baby pink chiffon sari that clung to her alluring curves. Her slightly damp hair sent glistening droplets cascading down, some teasingly trailing along her slender, creamy waist. Maan stood frozen, captivated, as if he had stumbled into a dream world, completely mesmerized by her enchanting presence.

His legs moved on their own, defying the restraints of his mind, carrying him toward her, the move he couldn’t control.

Geet was busy arranging his wardrobe, carefully placing everything so he could access it with ease. As a shirt slipped from her hand, she bent down to pick it up, only to collide with a hard, unyielding chest. Strong arms instinctively caught her, steadying her, and in that moment their eyes met — and held, as if time itself had stilled. All of Maan’s logical resolve faded into the background, powerless against the pull of her gaze as he could not help but melt into those beautiful innocent serene almond-shaped eyes, a dance of hazel and gold, which held a warmth that could melt even the coldest winters.

Geet was lost in his dark orbs, lost in him. How deep, she wanted to keep drowning into it all her life.

A stray tendril of her curl brushed near her eye, teasing Maan’s senses. His fingers, almost on their own, traced a gentle path along her chin, gliding up to her cheek before curling the wayward strand around his finger. Slowly, tenderly, he tucked it behind her ear.

Did he even realize what his trance-like caress was doing to her heart, to her very soul?

“Maan” a soft moan came out of Geet’s lips and that brought Maan out of his trance and he immediately moved away, turned and closed his eyes tight, frustrated at himself

But Geet felt no guilt. She was still lost in the moment, her heart once again catching a clear glimpse of what truly hidden inside his heart.

This was the part of Maan — the part that had kept her faith alive even in the past. In his full senses, he had been harsh, rude, even cruel in his attempts to push her away. Yet, in those rare, unguarded moments when he had lost himself in her, she had glimpsed his vulnerable side — a tenderness of his heart towards her, the one he could never quite hide.