Dheere Dheere Se – Part 39

When Maan entered the room after returning, he was greeted by a beautiful sight. Geet was seated in front of the dressing mirror, wrapped in a bathing gown. Her wet hair cascaded behind her, and a few droplets of water dripped down her face. She wore only a red chura and a mangalsutra around her neck, which swung as she made slight movements, applying cream to her face.

With the sound of the door opening and closing, Geet turned towards him. A smile formed on her face as she took in his handsome appearance. He looked so dashing in his black boyish tee and track pants. She had never seen him in such a character-designed tee before. It fitted perfectly in his muscular physique.

But above all, she cannot get over his handsomeness that she has witnessed in the night; his raw nude body!

Maan entered the room and locked the door. Geet could sense his intentions with each step he took towards her. She stood frozen in her place as he locked his eyes with hers.

“Hmmm…” Maan murmured, one hand effortlessly wrapping around her petite waist while the other traced the frame of her delicate face as he pulled her closer.

“What?” Her face flushed crimson.

“How is the pain?”

The redness on her face intensified. She knew exactly what pain he was talking about.

“It will get better. You don’t need to worry,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Maan kept his eyes on her face for a while, tracing his fingers along her face, down to her jawline, before resting them under her chin and lifting her face.

“Maan…”

“Well, I have to worry. You need to be ready to face the beast again tonight and…” He paused with a killer smile.

“And every night,” he added, pulling out an ointment from his pocket.

“You got this?” Geet was surprised. Not in her wildest dreams had she imagined that he would even think of getting an ointment.

These little acts of thoughtfulness of his, amidst all the naughtiness, passion, and their fights, had made her fall for him more and more.

“Come, I will apply it on you.”

Geet pushed him away and laughed. “I am not getting trapped in your game. I need to go down.”

Maan grabbed her by the arm, pulling her back to him.

“Only after I apply it on you.”

“Maan!! No…”

He laughed. “What? I’m just asking to apply the ointment.”

“Hmm, I know you very well. Give it to me and leave the room,” she said, holding out her hand for the tube.

“Nope. I don’t trust you with that.” He moved closer. “You will push it aside for later.”

Moving his hand behind her, he placed his palm on the small of her back and gave a slight push, pulling her flush against him.

“Dard maine diya hai; dawa bhi main hi Karoonga.”

And before she could say anything, he scooped her into his arms.

“Maan… not now. We are already so late.”

Maan hovered over her. “Don’t make excuses. It’s your first day. No one is expecting anything from you.”

He untied the knot of her bathrobe, his hand making its way to her abdomen.

“I just took a bath,” Geet pleaded with a pout.

“That makes it even more alluring…” he said with a cunning smile.

“It will hurt.”

“You won’t even know.”

And he pressed his lips on hers, and his hand roamed on her soft skin, making her give up on any resistance; she forgot about all real-world formalities and lost herself into his passionate kiss and sensual touches.

“All done,” he said, placing one soft peck on her lips.

“Hmm…” Geet was still lost in their moments.

“Now, quickly get ready,” he said, putting on a serious face. “Mom would not appreciate this laziness, especially on your first morning here,” he added.

“Maan… you…” She pushed him away.

Maan laughed and left the room to let her get ready.

Soon, he peeked back through the door. “Call me if you need any help. Readily available,” he said with a wink.

Geet grabbed the pillow and threw at him. But it hit the door as he quickly closed the door and disappeared.

#####

Geet wrapped herself in her bathrobe and sat on the dresser stool. The smile wasn’t leaving her face.

She looked at herself in the mirror and felt more beautiful than ever. The feeling of his touch, of being his the way he wanted her, of surrendering to his wishes, the passion in his eyes, and the way he admired her… Everything about becoming his was so beautiful. It all felt like a shower of flowers in her dream world.

She hit her forehead. “Geet, jhalli! Stop getting lost in him and get ready now.”

After a while, Geet came downstairs and greeted everyone, avoiding Maan’s intent gaze on her.

“Why does he keep looking at me like this in front of everyone?” Geet thought, feeling utterly shy.

“Why can’t I take my eyes off her? Maan, she is your wife, only yours. Stop gazing at her!” His mind tried to reason with him, but his eyes ignored the advice.

No heavy makeup or elaborate jewellery. Nothing special, yet how could anyone look so beautiful?

She wore a light baby-pink net sari adorned with tiny red flowers, a small bindi on her forehead, kohl-rimmed eyes, and a hint of lip gloss. And that red chura that proudly proclaimed she was his.

“Bhai, stop gazing at Bhabhi,” Vicky’s whisper brought him back from his trance.

“Hmm… I am not. I was just thinking…” Maan tried to defend himself.

Vicky laughed.

“Come, dear. Take your seat,” Raj invited her after she had greeted all the elders.

Both maternal and paternal relatives had come to stay for a couple of days.

Geet took a seat amidst the close-knit family gathering—Bua ji, Phupha ji, Taya ji, Tayi ji, two Massis and their children, Maan’s first cousins.

She felt overwhelmed witnessing such a family gathering. People laughing, talking, teasing, and discussing things around the dining table. It wasn’t all happy talk, but real conversations that made the atmosphere warm—arguments over general topics, differing opinions about someone’s approach, and even gossip about other relatives.

Later in the day, both were pulled into different conversations by their relatives.

Maan’s siblings and cousins were busy with their own laughter and teasing, while Geet was surrounded by Sandhya, Bua ji, Massi, Tayiji, and Naintara.

Naintara teased Geet. “How is Maan?”

Geet looked at her, confused. “Ji?”

Naintara gave her a sly smile. “Simple question, darling. Is he good… good enough?”

Geet turned red the moment she caught her meaning.

“Naina, why are you making her shy? It’s her first day,” Bua ji scolded, though she was laughing herself.

“Geet, there’s no need to be shy in this house. This is your home, and you can be as blunt and free-spirited as you like here,” Sandhya explained to her.

“Well, Sandhya Bhabhi and Raj Bhai’s love and pampering will spoil you anyway,” said Bua ji.

“It doesn’t stop there, Bua ji. Maan toh jaan chhidakta hai ispe,” Naina teased, nudging Geet’s shoulder.

Geet was turning redder. “It’s nothing like that,” she said, a smile naturally forming at the mention of his name.

Soon, Vicky and the other younger cousins joined them.

“Bhabhi, you don’t need to sit with these oldies,” Vicky said, looking at Naina.

Naina pulled his ears. “Where were you guys till now? Hmm… all of you first went to your Maan Bhai…”

“That’s because we have endless things to talk about with our new Bhabhi,” said Nitin, Maan’s Massi’s son.

“So, let’s see how well and how long you guys can entertain your new Bhabhi.” She signalled them towards Maan, who kept stealing glances at Geet every now and then.

And so, the younger lot, along with Geet and Naina, planned to go out and chill. A naughty plan to pull the two newlyweds apart for a while.

Naina wanted Geet to mingle with the whole younger lot. She had a whole lifetime with Maan, but these people were here for only a couple of days before everyone got busy with their own lives.

#######

On the other end, Dev, Maan, and Mihir, the eldest in the family and Maan’s Tayaji’s eldest son, joined the conversation.

“Maan, with Dev’s transfer to another state, it’s now your turn to step into his shoes and be a responsible son,” Mihir said.

“Mihir Bhai, Maan is even more responsible than me. It’s just that he has his own ways of taking care of people,” Dev defended him.

“Dev, stop protecting Maan,” Mihir said, turning to Maan. “Now that Dev is leaving, you need to be mindful of your actions, especially your behavior with Chachu. You have already hurt him enough.”

“Mihir Bhai, where did I go wrong? Do you, too, believe that choosing the career path of my choice was wrong?”

“Maan, my dear brother, it wasn’t wrong. You’ve proved that perfectly right by making a name for yourself. We’re all so proud of you. However, your stubborn and irresponsible ways have been a problem, and Dev has been your shield. Now that he’s been transferred, you’ll have to face things head-on. Take it gracefully, and don’t hurt Chachu any further.”

Maan stayed quiet. Mihir was older, and he and Dev often took turns scolding and supporting him. Maan did the same for Vicky, acting as a shield to keep issues from reaching Dev, except when he accidentally revealed things while they were drunk.

But overall, Vicky was the rule-book boy of the house. He was brilliant, though nobody could match Maan in that department. But otherwise, he was obedient, hardworking, and followed the family rules.

Maan understood where Mihir was coming from. He was stubborn, and though he tried to abide by family rules, he ultimately did what he felt was right. He had brought this image upon himself.

He loved his family and could go to any lengths for them. But when it came to his personal matters, he did what he believed was right for himself.

Geet, as his choice for a bride, was the only recent decision he could remember agreeing with his father on.

Until he knew the girl was Geet, he had been sure he would decline the proposal.

Being the brightest kid in the family, he should have been the crowned prince. But being who he was, he had brought all the lectures upon himself.

Well, today was better. Brotherly warnings were fine.

He was a little tense about tomorrow. Tayaji had expressed an interest in talking to him, and Maan could very well anticipate a face-off with him.

Dev laughed, bringing him back to the present. “In actuality, his bigger issues become the shield for Vicky and me.”

“I know. But consider what happens to him… He turns down a major offer, he’s the only one in the family whose engagement was called off on the wedding day… and it doesn’t stop there.”

The brotherly talk and warnings continued, moving on to various other topics.

########

Maan searched for Geet but discovered that his younger siblings and Naina had taken her.

Geet, on the other hand, was having a blast with the younger lot. They had chosen a cool café to hang out, and with all kinds of silly talks, they finally managed to help Geet shed her hesitation and bring out her real self.

Geet laughed to her heart’s content at their stories. Before long, she had become one of them.

And then there was no stopping her! She mimicked her Chachi and Massi, leaving everyone in splits. They laughed even harder when she imitated her high-society sisters.

“But the truth is, they are so stylish, and you all are so stylish too. I wish I had that kind of posh style,” she said with an innocent pout.

“Do you have any idea how stunningly beautiful you are? Maan Bhai cannot take his eyes off you. What else do you want?” said Annie, Maan’s cousin and Mihir’s youngest sister.

“Why worry about styling? It all comes with money. Maan Bhai is not only the richest in the family now but is also emerging as one of the richest young men in the country,” said Nitin.

“Yes, hire a stylist, join a grooming class. As Maan Khurana’s wife, the sky is the limit!” added another cousin.

“I think grace is more important. And that you carry beautifully with your simplicity embedded with your beauty” Vicky pointed out.

“Bhabhi, just be yourself. Bhai fida hain aap pe, the way you are,” he added.

The evening was settling in, and it was getting darker. Geet was getting restless. Maan had wanted her by his side in their room, but she had done exactly the opposite, staying away from him the entire day. Now, she had started missing his closeness. Newly married, all she wanted was to be in his arms.

She looked at Naintara, who didn’t seem very comfortable.

“Naina Bhabhi, you don’t look well,” Geet said in a low voice.

“hmmm… I do not know how this thing work. I was fine so far and suddenly this discomfort”

“Let’s go home. Your third month has just started. You shouldn’t push yourself.”

“I understand what’s on your mind. You’re trying to use my situation as an excuse… hmm?” Naina said with a teasing smile and a quick wink.

Geet laughed “You are too much. Even in this discomfort you do not leave the chance”

Geet and Naina left for home while the rest stayed back to hang out a little longer.

Naina’s discomfort increased on the way back home.

“You shouldn’t have stretched yourself so much,” Geet said worriedly.

“It’s okay, darling. I’ll be fine the moment I lie down.”

As soon as they reached home, the elder ladies joined Geet to help Naina settle into bed.

Raj was naturally extremely worried and angry with Dev, Maan, and Mihir for having gone out.

#######

Maan had been waiting for Geet to return. Dev and Mihir noticed his restlessness and decided to give their boy some time out.

When Dev received a worried and angry call from Raj, the three of them were seated in a bar, an hour’s drive from home.

“Naina and Geet are back. Naina isn’t feeling well. We need to rush home,” Dev informed them, and the three headed back.

“Chandra, drive faster, or I’ll get behind the wheel myself,” Dev scolded the driver.

“Sir, I’m driving as fast as I can.”

“Bhai, you just got promoted to DGP. You don’t want to get suspended. Drunk driving is a serious crime,” Maan reminded him.

“Shut up! I know the rules better than you,” Dev scolded Maan.

#######

By the time they reached home, Naina was already feeling better. Everyone else had left the room, leaving Geet and Sandhya with her.

Dev rushed to his wife’s room, with Maan trailing behind.

Maan’s eyes met Geet’s.

“Let’s give Bhai and Bhabhi some privacy,” Maan suggested, looking at Geet. Of course, hoping for some private time with his own wife.

Geet and Sandhya left the room to let Dev be with his wife.

Maan glanced sideways at Geet. She could sense his gaze and looked at him. The moment their eyes met, Maan signaled her to come aside.

But before Geet could figure out a way to make her way to him, her dear father-in-law appeared from the other end.

“Geet, dear, how is Naina now?”

“She is fine.”

“Come, I want you to meet Tayaji.”

Sandhya had noticed the brief exchange of glances between the newlyweds.

“She must be tired, Raj. Let her rest for now. She can meet him tomorrow.”

Maan breathed a sigh of relief, sending several silent thanks to his mom.

“Oh… yes, you must be tired. I thought it would be a good time to meet him, but no worries. I’ll introduce you tomorrow. Go, get some rest, dear,” Raj said lovingly, caressing her head as he blessed her.

Maan took another deep breath of relief. But it was short-lived.

“Dad, it’s okay. Tayaji is waiting to meet me. I’ll meet him. I’m not that tired,” Geet said.

With his back to them, Maan shut his eyes in frustration.

As a new bride, with her loving father-in-law asking her to meet the eldest member of the family, Geet genuinely felt that declining and heading to her room would be disrespectful.

“Are you sure, dear?” Raj asked, genuinely happy but still making sure she was comfortable with it.

Geet glanced towards the spot where Maan had been standing moments ago, but he had already left. The thought of Maan being upset made her heart tighten a little.

She put on a smile and looked at her father-in-law.

“Of course, Dad. Tayaji is the eldest, and he is waiting to talk to me.”

Geet followed Raj to his room, where Tayaji, Randheer Singh Khurana, was seated, reading a business magazine.

Geet touched his feet. “Pairi pauna, Tayaji.”

“God bless you. Come, sit.” He put the magazine aside.

Her eyes couldn’t miss the cover featuring her husband.

“Naraz ho?” she wondered, looking at his picture.

“How was your first day in the family?”

“Very welcoming, and like a dream. This family is a dream for me.”

“It’s your reality now. It’s in your hands to make it even more beautiful.”

They continued talking about her education, her life, and a few things about the family.

Raj couldn’t stop praising Geet.

Taya ji had his own logic of why Raj must have selected Geet for Maan

“You are a very sweet and understanding girl. Before meeting you, I was actually wondering what had made Raj choose you for Maan.”

“The first time I saw her, I noticed how she conducted herself, always maintaining respectful manners. There was something about her, and I felt she was the best for Maan,” Raj explained.

They chatted a bit longer before Tayaji announced that Geet should take charge of organizing something.

Geet happily agreed to plan a big party for Vicky’s selection, set for the fourth Sunday from that day.

#####

It was around ten at night when Geet finally got the chance to return to her room.

She wondered how upset Maan must be. He hadn’t wanted to let her out of their room and had been looking forward to enjoying every moment of their first day together.