Enchanted – Chapter 62

“She’s hungry. You go ahead, I need to feed her.”

“So feed her. I’m not going anywhere,” Maan said simply.

Geet smiled and adjusted herself to feed Mayra. Maan had his eyes fixed on her.

“Maa-aan” she called out, getting shy. He shrugged his shoulders and lay down even more comfortably on the bed.

“Feed her, she is hungry.”

His expression softened as he watched mother and daughter settle into their rhythm.

There was no limit to their happiness. They were ready to fill each other’s lives with all love and passion.

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The luxury van was well equipped with an extremely comfortable baby seat. But such a long journey was not easy for a week-old baby. Mayra, by now, was completely irritated. She had been cranky and crying. Her throat had dried from all the crying, and it was not possible for Geet to feed her continuously.

Maan could see how exhausted Geet had been trying to handle Mayra.

He finally took charge of little Mayra.

“I’ll make her sleep. You take some rest.”

He cradled Mayra against his broad chest. He lay flat, placed the tiny baby on his chest, and covered her gently. Very softly, he tapped her back, creating a gentle rhythm with his fingers. The protective coziness finally calmed Mayra, and she went into sleep.

When Geet opened her eyes after catching half an hour of power nap, a sweet smile spread across her face with at the sight before her.

The father-daughter duo was in deep sleep, finding ultimate comfort in each other.

Geet, very softly tapped Maan. Maan opened his eyes, and Geet shushed him before he could make a sudden move.

After carefully placing Mayra in the child seat, he got up and settled beside her.

“We are almost there,” Geet said, her lips shaking slightly with the realization.

Maan took her cold hands into his and rubbed them.

“Nervous?” he asked, pulling her closer.

Geet simply smiled and placed her head on his shoulder.

“You will soon be in your home; the place you own.” He said, trying to soothe her anxiety.

“Mujhper bharosa hai na?” he asked in a low voice.

“Khud se zyada. I am not nervous… maybe anxiety. Finally… we’re back as a family”

Maan placed his index finger delicately on her chin, lifting her face up, making her look into his eyes.

Their eyes locked as they met. There were so many emotions in his deep, intense gaze. They told so many stories at once. There was pain of separation, a request for trust, and the flood of passion he still held for her.

He cupped her face, moved his eyes down to focus on her lips. They were shivering –– again, so many emotions doing a roller coaster in her heart. Driven by his passion and wanting to calm her, he pressed his lips on hers. She parted them instantly – not even trying to hide her longings. Maan cupped the back of her head in his one palm, positioning her and pushed his tongue deep inside her. Their tongues rolled, went deeper as they tried pouring all their long-held emotions into that one kiss. Maan finished the kiss by nibbling her lower lips before parting — as if it was so hard to let go.

“Thanks for finding me. You gave me my life back.” She confessed.

“I had to. Each breath was painful to take, with my life being away from me.”

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Nostalgia hit Geet as the vehicle entered the vast premises of Khurana Mansion. The trees stood tall in rows, elegantly forming the fence throughout, leading the way to the beautiful landscaping of flowers, bushes, cobblestone pathways, and a premier grassland. And as the vehicle took a turn, Geet knew he pond at the back of the mansion was still there, well maintained, with the unending, curving running track extending from it. That is where she could still spot Maan from her window, whenever her eyes opened early in the morning and he was not by her side.

This was her home; their home.

Maan once in a while glanced at her, quietly observing her, but not disturbing her. This was her moment to feel all the emotions rushing through her.

The car stopped at the grand porch right in front of the main entrance of the mansion. A smile formed on her face as her eyes fell on Meera standing along with the whole staff there; all eagerly waiting to welcome them.

Geet smiled when her eyes went on little Sayu in Meera’s arms. He was just few months old.

The guards opened the door for them to step out. Geet unbuckled Mayra from her car seat and carefully picked her up in her arms.

“Ainnn hainnn…” the little baby cried as her sleep was disturbed.

An elderly helper, took Mayra from Geet’s arm, freeing her to meet Meera.

Meera too handed Sayu to his caretaker and jumped forward to hug Geet.

“Thank God, you’re back” each of her words was filled with relief.

“How have you been?” asked Geet.

“Burdened. Relieved now that you are back” Meera said, her eyes glistening with tears.

Geet took little Sayu in her arms “How are you, big brother?”

The one-year-old looked at his mom, ready to cry anytime.

After giving the two women some time to catch up and exchange greetings, Maan joined Geet’s side.

He looked at the mansion staff.

They had missed their Raja Saheb and his orders. But even more, they had missed their ever-graceful and innocent Rani Sahiba. Finally, she was back—and that too with an angel. The mansion already felt alive again.

Maan, with Geet, and little princess in Geet’s arms, stepped inside the mansion, with Meera welcoming them with aarti.

Geet looked around the magnificent interior of their home. It looked even more magnificent, more now, as she had spent a good few months in the simplistic ‘Humara Ghar’. But, more than its grandeur, the familiarity hit her.

This is her home, her palace, the place where she has really felt like a queen, not royal but Maan’s queen. This is her home where she has never been judged for not being able to pull off royal manners. Instead, he had made sure she is just herself and never hesitated to shower his admiration for whoever she is.

“Everyone!!!” Maan’s one bold call for attention brought silence in the hall.

“As you all can see, the queen of this palace is back. And I want everyone to clearly know, in this small world of mine, my queen is above all – above the king. So, none of you should ever be the reason for her sadness.”

“We are all so happy that the happiness of this mansion is back. With our love and care, we will make sure that she never ever thinks of leaving us again. “Said a head attendant, Brinda.

“I love you all and I’m sorry for being so childish,” Geet said with teary eyes.

Maan wiped the teardrop formed at the corner of her eyes. He moved closer to her, took Mayra from her, and handed her to the elderly, longtime helper, Chaya.

 “Baby has been tired with the long journey. Freshen her up and bring her to her mother in an hour.”

Chaya took little Mayra with her, followed by few more – all so excited to pamper their princess.

“Okay, thank-you everyone. You may leave for your regular duties. We need privacy and no disturbance till you are called.” he announced, and everyone left the place.

Maan picked Geet in his arms. “Maan…” Geet hissed with his sudden move.

Maan smiled. “Let me take you to our room.”

As Maan moved up the stairs, being in his arms, raced Geet’s heartbeat. About five years of their marriage, still it all felt so new, so cherishable.

After losing the hope of ever being with him, feeling his touches, his hands around her, made her heartbeat go erratic.

Maan placed her on the bed as the door closed behind them.

She settled on the bed with her back resting on the cushioned headboard. A shy smile spread across her face, and Maan leaned over her, placing a hand on either side of her.

Geet had her eyes lowered — she didn’t dare to see the passion in his eyes. His closeness; she could feel it. Maan lifted her chin up, making her look into his eyes. He wanted her to face the passion that he held for her and what she had robbed him of.

“I could have walked,” is all she could say – barely audible. When the heart spoke louder, the words failed. He didn’t need her words either. The redness of her face; the shiver in her voice, said it all.

“I cannot take the chance of letting you escape my life again.”

“Maan….” “Sshhh…”  he placed his finger on her lips. He took a moment to absorb her beauty.

“I had been blessed with someone so precious—beautiful inside and out—and I failed to preserve what I had.”

Geet parted her lips to speak, but he shook his head, asking her not to.

“Now, I want to make sure to do anything and everything; I cannot let you leave me empty again. I know it is a very selfish need, but I cannot spend my life where each breath is a pain to take.”

“Maan…” Geet hugged him tight. Tears streamed from her eyes.

“I am sorry; so sorry to let you go through all this.”

Maan shook his head, placing his index finger on her lips. Stopping her from speaking further, he cupped her face and pressed his lips into hers. His hands, unable to hold back any longer…, slid inside her kutri, landing into her bare skin; burning them both.

There was no stopping then; Maan’s hand moved restlessly over her; her bra’s hook snapped open; his hand slid to her breasts but he immediately let it go; in the meantime, he lay her down on the bed.

His lips travelled down her, pressing kisses over her jawline, reaching to the crook of her throat. His lips rolled there, sinking in the taste of her skin, as his hands pushed her clothes off her.

“Maan…” Geet moaned with the bliss of becoming his once again.

“I held myself back for so long; fighting my raging heart; giving in to the situations. But no more.” He spoke, in a low husky voice amidst his kisses on her soft skin.

And then, there were no words—their clothes completely off, his lips and hands travelling over her, rediscovering the familiar softness he had missed for so long, while the room filled with her soft moans of pleasure.

Geet was melting at his touches; sinking into the feeling that being his once again was actually real.

“Maan, please…” she groaned.

Maan pushed himself inside her as if he were claiming his life. In rhythm, one hand cupping the curve of her hip, the other holding her wrists in its grip.

He finally lay beside her, both of them catching their breath. Maan turned to look at her, and as their eyes met, Geet almost jumped to give him a tight hug.

“I’m sorry,” Maan made her look at him. “Not so easy, Jaan,” he lifted himself slightly, resting himself on the elbow of his one arm, while tracing her face from the other.

“You won’t say but I know I have upset you.” She accepted.

He pressed his lips on her forehead. “I am not upset with you; I can never be. I am scared — the fear that refuses to leave me.”

Maan sat up and softly pulled her into his embrace.

“Jaan, I know, I had had failed to win your trust enough, at least enough for you to confide your darkest fear to me.” Geet nestled closer into his chest — silently telling him that she was there. She didn’t want to interrupt.

“But…” he continued. “However hard I try to give you the benefit of the doubt, I am not able to justify your decision of leaving me.  My unbearable pain of separation is one thing; you went through it as well, but the uncertainty of your whereabouts, the fear of your safety, each day, every moment was nerve-wracking. As much as I blame myself for not earning your trust, I cannot give you a free pass for shutting me out completely.” He took a deep sigh.

Geet sat up and cupped his face in hers. “I promise I will never leave you. I will be by your side till my last breath.”

“Don’t promise. You don’t know what other situations the world will throw at you. I promise myself to make sure such a situation doesn’t arise. I just need one promise from you.”

“Anything you say.”

“Promise, in the future, ever again, if you face such situations, you will never leave me without, at least informing me. Unknowns about you, the fear for your safety—that would be the most torturous thing for me to live through.”

She hugged him tight “Never ever will I leave you, no matter what. Trust me, I hate seeing that fear in your eyes.”

He looked at her with a smile “Just keep the promise that I asked. Rest I will take care of. I will get our little one now”

“Hmm… I can feel – she will soon need the feed.”