The Burnt – Chapter 28

The smile that formed on her lips, didn’t let her hide the effect that he was having on her.

“You didn’t ask me before planning. I could have plan” she said, lifting her eyes to finally meet his

“Morning 7, I’ll wait to you in my car. If your plan is not that urgent, I’ll see you there” he spoke with a smile and left.

Surprised Geet kept looking at his retreating figure.

Wow… that’s Maan Khurana. Not at all easy to challenge his smartness. He didn’t give her an option to reject, nor did he force his will on her. He left the ball totally in her court.

########

They were done with dinner at their usual 7:30 PM. The dinner time was filled with smiles today. Maan wore a meaningful, confident smile; Geet had a shy yet happy smile; Savitri Devi had a positive smile; and Advay, as usual, had plenty to say to keep everyone engaged.

When Geet returned after a long walk with Dadima. Savitri Devi confirmed to her that Advay will have a great time with his great granny, and that Jenny will be there with her daughter.

As she stepped in, she got a message from Maan

‘Tomorrow, at 5am, I will be waiting. The weather is pleasant. Early drive will be good.’

Well, he wasn’t even considering that she wouldn’t be there. And why wouldn’t she be there? For the first time in her life, they were going on a long drive, and Maan had planned it for them. Her dream of a beautiful life with him seemed to be waiting for her at her doorstep. She was all set to welcome this positivity into her life.

Geet didn’t respond. Why would she make her intentions so clear? Let him guess.

##########

Geet dressed for the long drive, comfortable yet not overly casual. She wanted to dress for him, conveying the significance of this drive with him without words. She wanted it to be casual yet convey the message – How special this trip was for her!

Outdoor drives, camping, and hiking are Maan’s favorite outings, and Geet was curious about what awaited her. However, she didn’t need to worry; he would take care of everything.

Apart from his plans, the most exciting part was the opportunity for them to be alone, spending quality time together, and engaging in silent conversations.

With butterflies already taking flight in her belly, Geet quickly checked on Advay and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek, which he wiped off in his deep sleep. Geet smiled and left.

As she stepped onto the driveway, her gaze fell upon her husband. Her heart skipped a beat for a moment. He appeared so athletic and youthful in a leather jacket, semi-leather pants, and a black tee underneath. He stood against an exclusive black sports car parked at the other entrance of the Mansion.

How is it possible for a man to become sexier and more desirable every day, and yet he wants to waste all that on guilt? No way is she letting that happen.

Maan’s eager eyes went to his wife approaching him. He couldn’t believe his eyes. She had dressed not only to surprise him but to steal his heart in every way possible. He dreamt of an old-fashioned Geet, and he knew that Geet was deeply settled in his heart. But he also admired how Geet had matched herself for this new corporate, foreign world. And today, she had dressed for him—totally! Not what he had in his heart, but going beyond and showing him what more, beyond his imagination, was in store for him. Such a complete surprise package she was!

Maan’s eyes were so captivated by her that he forgot all about the beautiful morning view he had been enjoying before she arrived. Everything seemed blurred in front of her radiant beauty.

Both their hearts were racing – their journey partner so desirable; the hope of embarking on a new journey of life together and, for the first time, doing something as partners – just for them!

He greeted her with a smile, “Good morning!”

“Good morning!”  She responded. A shy smile formed on her face, though she pressed her lips trying to hide the excitement.

Maan ran to the other side and opened the door for her. “Thank you,” she said, taking her seat.

Maan settled behind the wheel, and soon the car picked up speed on the empty highway at five in the morning. “Beautiful morning!” Geet couldn’t stop expressing how beautiful it felt.

“Thanks for considering this above other urgent work that you had,” he teased her

Geet looked at him,

“Lucky me, I didn’t miss this handsome avatar of yours.”

She didn’t want to hold on anymore.

“You don’t find me handsome otherwise?” Maan was quick to come back, as he took a turn in the road towards the suburb.

Geet was surprised by his quirkiness. She didn’t answer. She knows how well aware he is of how head over heels she had been crazy about this part of him.

Back then as well, he had caught her multiple times lost in him. The teasing smirk that he used to give her before leaving clearly indicated that she was caught.

She had never been able to decline his physical advances. Everything about him was her weakness, and everything about him is still her weakness.

Geet soon came back. The beautiful start in this beautiful morning, with her loving husband – Why should she even let the dark phase memory lurk in her mind?

The drive became more scenic, with green farmlands, lush green trees, and the curvy route.

There was silence for a while as Maan seemed to be focused on the road and Geet was enjoying the scenic beauty, listening to beautiful music playing. But they were both cherishing it beyond the music and scenic view…

“Thanks!” he said in the midst of morning silence. Geet looked at him

“For considering the invite. I always take this drive when I need some peace, but the whole meaning of this drive has changed with you accompanying me. The same path that gave peace to my heart is today having a whole different meaning. It looks so vibrant, full of energy, and fills my heart with bubbling emotions. The emotions I have never dared to feel.”

His words felt like music to her ears. He had been such a reserved person all his life due to several reasons: traumatic childhood, taking on huge responsibilities at a young age, feeling cheated, and, lastly, guilt. He had never opened his heart before. This was probably the first time he was speaking from it. She would not intervene.

“Don’t want to think, if I deserve this or not. But life is being kind enough to give such a wonderful opportunity.” Geet answered him with a soft smile. No words, just letting his emotions hang there in the air between them.

After an hour drive through winding roads flanked by towering trees and the occasional picturesque farm, Maan finally pulled out the car into the quaint parking lot of the local café to relax and savor the aroma of freshly brewed coffee that wafted through the air.

“Wow, beautiful,” Geet expressed as she stepped out.

“It’s so beautiful, cozy yet private here.”  She said, looking around.

“This is my favorite halt station. Thought you would like it too.”

“I love it.”

They were silently sipping their coffee.

Geet, for a long time, could not lift her gaze because she could feel Maan’s eyes deeply fixed on her face. Geet tried looking everywhere but at him.

Not that this changed Maan, will pull her that tight and passionately into his arms like back then, just right away, but she knows what goes inside him when he has his eyes glued to her like this.

Geet remembers very well – how can she even forget?

Among family, there were many times when she was chatting with someone, laughing with Annie or Dev, or serving food. Whenever his eyes were on her, she felt it, even from a distance.

No one knew that he ever noticed her, but she could sense how his intense gaze followed her each movement. Sometimes when Dadima saw him like that, she thought Maan was getting angry with her for something, but Geet knew – When his gaze followed her then that night, they were going to be awake the whole night.

The way he pulled her to him, filling her into his arms, wrapping her hands around his waist – Dare she even try to remove her hands away? Soon her face would be cupped into his palms, her lips taken into a deep, passionate kiss, and before she could register, both of them were undressed, and then she ended up being under him for the whole night.

“Coffee is so soothing,” she tried to break his trance. Her voice was coming hoarse due to anticipation of his passion.

“It’s not that you do not look breathtaking every day. But today – “he paused, with that addictive smile on his face

“You very well know how to click that cord of my heart.” Maan, who was still holding his fist tight to keep his urges in control, released them, lifted his hand, and placed them on top of hers over the table.

Feeling shy, Geet tried pulling her hand slightly, but Maan pressed it, holding it at its place, very slightly towards him.

“Geet, I know you are looking forward to witness my deep feelings for you and that is what you deserve.”

“Not just feelings” she said and then turned the other side to hide the shyness that covered just after.

Maan smiled.

After letting her words settle between them for few moments, he spoke further

“I will have to give my wishes priority if I want to be true to you and that mean, I have to think about my wishes, my desire –  I have to live.”

“The true, real and raw you, is what I am waiting for. Not coated with curtsey. I want to feel wife….”

“Thinking of myself, I feel is a sin. But I am all in to be that sinner. This is the last time I am asking, because once I get into that, you know I won’t be asking.”

He paused “Are you ready to witness that sinner. You know how he is”

Geet looked down and nodded “I am” her voice barely came out of her lips. Even the thought of witnessing that Maan send warm fluid rushing through her spine.

They were done with the warm coffee and restarted on their journey further.

Maan was driving calmly while Geet was filled with so much sensation.

This was just the glimpse of Maan when he removed or buried that guilt from him. It needed to be dumped for her and he has dumped it. How raw his questions were and how clearly, he put forward as what she should expect.

Maan let her absorb it. Deep within he knew his life was for her wishes but for that he had to unleash his wishes.

The car turned onto a more scenic route. The road passed through the green farmland, with beautiful trees, fine grass, and a slight hill on both sides. After an hour, Maan stopped the car behind an enchanting mountain, with a waterfall falling from the top to a creek. Colorful wildflowers made it even more magical.

“Wow… I have lived in London, never got to explore these scenic places”

He pulled out the picnic mat and spread it on the grass.

“Relax, while I pull out some stuff “

“I will help”

“Umm… hnn… not needed. Just few stuff”

Geet sat down on the mat, her legs straightened on the mat, hands behind her supporting her, absorbing the beautiful morning.

Maan was soon back with two outdoor chairs and a picnic box.

“Maan, you did all this on your own. You must have told me that we were coming for such a long drive. I would have arranged.”

“You didn’t confirm you’d come,” he teased her. She smiled in return.

“Now, do the honors. Open the box and serve us. Nakul did it all, I don’t know what’s all packed in there.”

They ignored the chair, and Maan settled beside her.

Geet opened the box and handed him a sandwich, and she took one herself.

“Geet, I wanted to ask something. “he took a pause

“Actually, it is something that should have never happened if I had some sense back then.”

“Maan, we are not going back there”

“We need to go back, not to hold on to it but correct things…. But this is not about that”

“Then?”

“The part of your life that evolve you and you were able to find a real you. The journey from Geet to Misti Khurana”

Geet smiled “The Mishti Khurana was born out of need. Becoming this was never my ambition. I just wanted to live my life being your wife and still love that idea”

Maan took her hands in his, pressed them, slightly caressing them

“I am very proud of how far you have come. Not that you need to be Misti Khurana for me to be proud of you. The way you took stand for yourself and build your life to single handedly gave best life to our child and also took beautiful care of yourself. I am so proud of you. “

“I could have not afforded to give our child just any life. If I had separated him from his father, I could at least try to give him the life that you had wanted for your child”

“He had you as a mother, nothing is above that.”

He again paused for a while before speaking further

“Will you share with me your journey, Geet?”

Geet went even closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder “I will but not now. This is a magical moment for me, I just want to absorb this moment, absorb you, absorb being by your side – just two of us”

Maan wrapped his hand around her shoulder. “Whenever you feel like.”

They sat there for some quiet time, absorbing the feel of each other in their arms, dreaming of their life together — That was actually happening!

It was the impossible dream becoming true.

After a while, Geet could feel Maan’s fingers moving above her coat material. The thick material couldn’t stop his feelings from reaching her.

“Maan, you are still holding yourself,” she reminded

“I won’t. You know it’s not possible with you around. I am just training myself to be human around you”

Geet cozied herself in his chest “I want unfiltered you – No guilt, no ego”

“I promise. I want to give you everything that you have missed.”

They returned home by eleven and then the whole of their day was taken up by their darling son.

#######

Maan had a busy couple of weeks with trips abroad. He has signed a deal that has spiked the stock prices of Khurana enterprises. And that deal was keeping him into back-to-back trips and continuous meetings.

He had just been back a couple of days and had been catching up with his sleep, like a horse.

Today, he was all fresh and ready for his office. He had instructed Pari to schedule his meetings with business partners, stakeholders, and the board.

Geet was excited that he was back from his hectic trip and also back in shape after two days of complete rest.

She was herself in the kitchen, preparing lunch for him.

“Geet, are you not going to the office today?” Dadima asked.

“I messaged Chetan. I’m on leave today. Maan has been back after so many days, and I want to send his favorite food for his lunch. I love being his wife.”

“The chef would have made whatever you wanted to send over for him.”

“I know. I wanted to do it myself.” Savitri Devi looked at her and smiled, seeing her excitement and the fact that she was no longer holding it back.

“Then why don’t you take the lunch to his office yourself? That will make his day.”

Geet looked at Savitri Devi in shock. This thought never crossed her mind, nor had she ever planned to make her appearance in his office.

“Nahi… woo nahi… he will be busy in meetings, and I will disturb him by being there.”

“It is your right to disturb him. One day, he took you for a long drive, showed you dreams, and then returned to his office. How is your story going to move forward if you leave Maan in his office like this?”

This was a completely unexpected idea, and Geet was left thinking

“It won’t be odd?” she asked, skeptical yet liking the idea

“Geet, your husband owns that place. How is your visiting him be odd?”

Precap –

The office scene

Unwanted Guests

Showdown with Maan