BEZUBA, PART 29

~BEZUBA~

~PART 29~

 

*Haan, agar wo Maan ho toh.* Geet thought grinning inside her head then turned red hitting Armaan again on the arm. They entered her hand looped around Armaan’s.

Kuch bolo toh problem na bolo toh problem. Armaan was muttering. Geet was pretty sure that Maan wouldn’t be there at the moment because it was too early and even at the seminar he had come just for an hour. But, she was so wrong. She recognized him immediately although his back was turned towards her and like he sensed her he turned around his eyes searching then fixing on her like dart on target. She understood his heated expressions only when his eyes dropped down to her hand wrapped around Armaan.

Guiltily she snatched her hand back smiling nervously. Armaan’s cousin, Akshay, came to them. Geet, you look lovely. He said mouth open and Armaan gave her a ‘told ya’ look. She smiled genuinely, happy at the compliment. Come I want to introduce you guys to some of my associates. Geet and Armaan followed Akshay and she glanced at Maan from the corner of her eyes. Her heart burned when she discovered with whom Maan had been talking- Simi and her dad.

He completely hated the sight that had filled his vision a few seconds earlier and now his mind. Why she had to come with that scumbag who had face of a gorilla and body too big for a human. Hell, if in his hands he wouldn’t have left her alone for a second much less let her come to any occasion with someone else.

God she looked ravishing, completely ethereal and utterly sexy in that saree. He had seen her in sarees before but they were more traditional, this was absolutely different from them. Sheer white material wrapped around her curvy figure in a sophisticated manner leaving a large amount of her waist bare. The shimmery blouse was held to her chest with two scanty straps on shoulder and one at her back. Almost her entire back was unclothed, playing hide and seek from behind the curtain of her wavy, long, dark brown hairs. His throat went dry as she moved gracefully to meet people and her back flexed. His eyes slid down where the saree was tugged low at her waist. In that moment he wanted nothing but to pull it out and slowly unwrap her like a gift for his taking.

Mr. Khurana…

Ah, yes.

Simi- Do you want to have a drink?

I don’t drink, Sunny.

It’s Simi.

Yes. That only. He said mildly irritated. Why did it matter if she was Sunny or Simi or Samantha? Since morning she was behind him when they had met at the seminar and he couldn’t shrug her off because of her father.

Simi- Oh, come on. Don’t be a party pooper Mr. Khurana. She batted her eye lashes and Maan rolled his eyes smiling inwardly at her stupidity. They always thought they could get to him.

Simi’s father- You are a young man. Go on, it’s your age to enjoy.

Maan unwillingly sat at the grand bar while Simi ordered their drinks. The father-daughter duo was damn persistent.

I told you I don’t drink.

Simi- Well, that’s a shame. Isn’t it? But it’s mild you won’t burn. I promise. She chuckled and winked.

He picked up the glass only to get rid of her while having no intensions to drink it. He had given up alcohol a long time ago and had no plans on returning to it. His eyes landed on Geet who was standing with Armaan and some other people. That scumbag was translating her talks to others. He knew sign language very well. Maan’s grip on the glass just tightened. That idiot must have said some joke because she laughed hard holding his arm. How easily and without a tad-bit of hesitation she touched him. They seemed close. Were they more than friends? Was something going on between them? For some reason he could see it in Armaan eyes… he didn’t like how the guy looked at his wife. With a territorial growl Maan emptied the glass in one gulp.

Woah. See, I knew you had it in you.

Armaan walked towards them and Maan’s eyes zeroed upon him.

Armaan- Hey Sims. Wassup?

So they knew each other. Maan should have guessed, ‘birds with same feathers flocked together’. He turned his head away not to look at them lest he did something… like taking that scumbag’s head in his hands and banging it on the bar. Yeah, he liked that picture.

Armaan- Hello, Sir. I am Armaan Malik. Big fan of yours.

Maan ignored his outstretched hand mumbling a ‘hey’ and taking a sip from his newly filled glass. It was absolutely rude. Armaan raised his brows and Simi shrugged her shoulders. Yeh aisa hi hai. She whispered in his ears.

Armaan- Yaar yeh Khurana kitna rude hai. Geet’s heart stopped. She hoped Maan didn’t do something to Armaan. Couldn’t even shake hands for courtesy sake. She released a relieved sigh and looked at Maan, who almost seemed unapproachable. He was talking and laughing with some elderly businessmen. But that laugh was so fake; she knew because she had seen the real thing. He looked so different from when he was home with her… that Maan was completely another person. He had so many facades. She wasn’t sure if she had seen all and which one was the real him.

*Thode rude toh hai. Aur thode sadu bhi.*

After an hour Maan was miserable. He sat in a corner and felt depressed like never before. He hadn’t drunk much but his insides were rumpled. Geet wasn’t even looking at him. He was surrounded by people but was alone and he couldn’t even show it. In this artificial surrounding he had to fake his usual air of control, charm when he felt anything but. She should have been with him, along his side. He was her husband not that stupid who maybe wasn’t that stupid in her eyes. Gosh, he was such an unfortunate man. For saying he had the whole world in his hands when in truth he couldn’t have that one woman who was his wife. That one happiness that could erase all his sorrows, he couldn’t have that. Karma knew its way. Sinners like him had to suffer this bad and burn on this very earth.

Simi- You look down.

He was down. Maan sighed. The girl was back again. I am tired after a whole day of work.

Simi- I can understand. I see my dad like this often. Would you like to have a dance?

No thanks.

So Simi stayed around him. She wouldn’t leave him without a dance. When Maan saw Geet on the floor with Armaan’s brother, he agreed to Simi.

Geet had a very bad feeling about all this. She felt betrayed and slightly nauseous and had agreed for a dance only when Veerji asked her for it. She couldn’t deny him.

Earlier it was only Simi but now Maan was not far behind either. He was talking to her and even drank with her. As if that wasn’t enough they were now coming to the dance floor. He held Simi’s hand in his and dropped the other one to her waist. Her heart burned. She wanted to nothing else than to go back to her room n cry her eyes out. She was looking down at her feet, sulking silently while moving methodically to the music when Akshay’s phone buzzed and he left to take the call.

Maan excused himself from Simi and was before Geet in an instant. She couldn’t even breathe as Maan pulled her into him.

Simi huffed out a defeated sigh. The guy was hopeless. She was giving him hints since morning but damn, every time he found escape and ran away. He was so hot and rich, pity he wasn’t interested and she didn’t want to try anymore. She turned and walked to the guy who was eyeing her from quite a long time. Maybe he was rich too.

Can I have the pleasure of dancing with you, Ma’am?

Geet stared into his eyes. *Finally you remembered that I am also here?*She signed.

He raised a brow. You are asking me that? Damn, you wouldn’t even look at me. He twirled her around gently and pulled her back keeping his hands on her waist so she could sign.

*That’s because you were busy. Aapko itna kaam hota hai, itne saari ladkiya aappe dore daalti hai. Mai bas aapko disturb nai karna chahti thi. Aapko bahut saari baate karni thi na Simi ke saath.* She told sarcastically, angry and hurt.

New song started. A slower one and lights dimmed.

That girl is damn annoying, Geet. She was forcing herself on me. But it sound absurd from your mouth as you had that scumbag tagging behind like a dog.

Scumbag? *Armaan?*

Yes. He said bitterly. She smiled at him, feeling better seeing him jealous. Laying her head on his chest she placed a little kiss there. That was enough to calm him. They swayed to the music totally at peace unlike moments ago. Now this was perfect, Maan thought. Loving the feel of her against him, they were between people and they were together. Only it was dark. He wished they could someday be like this in brightness, so he could tell everyone that he had a wife and how amazing she was. Although, some dreams were meant to be just that… dreams.

I want to go back. He said.

*Me too.*

On the way back to their hotel, she messaged Armaan that she was leaving. She knew that she should have told him in person but then he would have asked a thousand questions to which she wouldn’t have answers.

Geet smoothed the bed sheet, set her pillow and flopped down on the bed.

Maan- Why are you not in your room?

Ignoring him, she bounced up and down shaking the whole bed. *Yeh bed kitna fluffy hai na.* He kept his phone on the night stand and looked at her sternly.

Geet yeh tumhara kamra nai hai.

*Yaha koi apka ya mera kamra nai hai. Saare rooms hotel walo ke hai. I will sleep.*

Maan stared at her unbelievably. Agar tumhe yeh karma chahiye tha toh mujhe pehle batati. Mai dusra wala room le leta.

*Mujhe wo room chahiye jo aapko chahiye. I want to sleep with you.* She flushed at how that came out once his eyes widened and flashed with something. *Mera matlab hai… ke mujhe yaha akele sone me darr lagega na.* She made a puppy face.

It was around 11. Maan was already irritated from that dinner party and was sexually frustrated-not to mention a little drunk too-all his muscles were in knots and each cell needed just one thing. And here she was demanding on sleeping with him. He groaned and closed the lamp, lying down on his side not so happily.

With a winning grin she pulled the quilt over and laid down real close to Maan. Damn, it was a hell of a king size bed still she was sleeping with her body touching his. He shifted away and she did the same with him. Once more he shifted, this time to the very end of bed and she came close again.

Do you want me to sleep on the floor?

She giggled at his stupidity and shifted back pulling him along with her. He sighed as she wrapped her hand around him and positioned her head on his chest. And he loved her for doing that.

Geet thought she heard something. Opening her eyes she looked around, lights were closed and everything was just like it should be. She felt movement beside her. Maan was shivering when the room temperature was absolutely normal. She touched his forehead n he was a bit hot and sweaty. First she thought he was having fever but a faint whimper entered her ears telling her he was dreaming. She shook him anxiously. Maan.

No I didn’t. He gasped and woke up with a jolt. She had never seen that look on his face. He was anguished… and afraid?

Switching on the lights she hurriedly brought a glass of water for him. He gulped it thirstily with his head down. Her heart was sinking by the second seeing him so tensed. Why he wasn’t looking at her? She wanted to ask if he was fine. He kept the glass on stand, taking a shaky breath and raking an unstable hand through his damp hairs.

Did… I hurt you? His voice came out low and broken.

Why would he ask that? And how was she to tell him without his eyes on her, did he forgot she couldn’t speak?

She sat before him taking his hand his hers but he took it back slowly, limply. Tum thik ho na? He asked desperately-as if his life depended on it-raising his head a bit, not giving a glance to her face but enough to see her hands. *Mai ekdum thik hu.*

He gulped and nodded pushing his eyes down again like keeping them up hurt. With a gentle finger she tried to tilt his face up but he wouldn’t budge.Just close the lights. I don’t want to you see me like this.

She didn’t understand any of this. He spoke as if this was a regular issue. Cupping his face, she made him look at her and when their eyes finally met she gasped. Red and glassy, his eyes were filled with fear and so much of pain. His whole face was a picture of misery. He appeared wretched, wounded without any physical injury. If she didn’t know better she wouldn’t have recognized him.

He was ashamed. He didn’t want her to see him like that. Weak and trashed. God forbid if she wondered what was wrong with him. Only he knew how stale he was from inside. Nobody needed to know that, least of all Geet. Although now as he looked into her eyes he was amazed to see his pain reflected there. There was no one to ever share his ache.

Very lovingly and carefully without any questions she pulled his head to her chest where he buried his face and let a few tears fall. He held her tightly and in his mind he was pleading for forgiveness. He had suffered enough, he wanted her to know that, to see that he hated himself for he what did but Maan was well aware that his punishment would never end and once she knew who he was she would leave him. He wasn’t a coward initially but now he feared losing her. Still he wouldn’t let anything come in between his goal, not even if it killed him.

He tried to pull away after a bit but she didn’t let him. In this moment of time she held much more strength than him and Maan had no intensions to fight her. When she pulled him down, he sighed, a corner of his heart rejoicing. This night was different, he had arms to comfort him, and ironically they belonged to the one whom he destroyed. He had not imagined that his life would come to this, where he would need help of the one whom he had aggrieved, to a point of repentance where he so much loved the girl, who’s everything he had taken away.

She knew what she had to do. The man in her arms was her husband and he needed her. Regardless of what bothered him, Geet decided that she would wash off every inch of pain from his life. She would win him over; do everything to make him happy. He could fight all he wanted; but she wouldn’t give up. He couldn’t live in loneliness anymore and neither could she. From this moment onward, Maan was never going to sleep alone... she would be there to share his nightmares, Geet promised to herself.

PRECAP- Last one continued…

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