BEAUTIFULLY FLAWED, PART 47

BEAUTIFULLY FLAWED

PART 47

Shit! What did I do? Maan thought as he cut the phone call. He had been doing so well for more than a day; well, as good as he could. He hadn’t called her; he hadn’t let her thought interfere with his work.

Who was he kidding? She was there with him even when he was oceans away; when he didn’t want her to be with him. He just had to close his eyes to see her. Her happy face full of light. Her naughty face, lips twisted in a smirk. Her face in throes of passion… And, he could clearly picture her tears. Her face when she came to know he was leaving. Her wide, bewildered-unbelieving-eyes when she’d stood out of the house as his car zoomed past the gates.

He had looked back through the tinted black window to see hurt in those beautiful hazels.

It’s nothing but wishful thinking of your mind. She hadn’t asked you to stay after all, did she?

When he discovered he had to leave for Japan, Maan had considered it a perfect opportunity for his own house had begun to bite him. The distance that existed between him and Geet was unbearable. Although, Maan had promised himself that he wouldn’t go to her. Geet was the one who had created the void between them. And he wanted her to suffer, no matter if he had to suffer ten times more.

Geet had been surprised if not tormented by his abrupt departure. Throughout the flight to Japan he had waited for the contentment to surface, for the sting to lessen. Nothing of that sort happened. He had thought going to another country for a couple of days and maintaining distance would be easier than staying in the same house and maintaining distance. It hadn’t. If anything, his situation only worsened.

Most of his time went in making himself believe that he wasn’t really agonized and rest of the time he was plain, simple agonized.

A day and a half without Geet or her sight n he was almost breaking apart. He regretted leaving home, his son and his wife. He regretted coming to this over-illuminated, over-joyous country. Even though he knew he had to for the deal to take place. But he could have arranged for Manan n Geet to accompany him. How much they would have enjoyed here. They would have appreciated all those things that he couldn’t. He would have been busy but at least at nights he could see them. Geet would be beside him. No, staying away and tormenting was definitely not better than staying close and tormenting. He would take the latter choice any day.

Only it was too late now.

Thinking all this, he didn’t realize when it was nearly five in the morning n he hadn’t slept a bit. Jet lag wasn’t the case; it was Geet-deficiency that he was suffering from. He looked at the hotel phone resting on the table. One moment he was just looking and the other he had hopped off the bed, picked it up n was dialing her number like crazy. He would call her anonymously like he had done so many times during her college days. He had a good practice at that. Her voice would surely sooth the ache in his heart.

She picked up the call n he heard her bed voice. He recognized all her voices. Of course she was sleeping. Didn’t she miss him? Here he was dying to listen to her voice n she was sleeping peacefully?

Hello, who is it?

He was going to listen to her silently until she hung up thinking he was some stupid prank caller but she did the unthinkable. She said his name. She said it with an air of surety, like she knew it was him n no one else. How did she know it was him? Her voice full of belief called to his very soul n he lost control. I miss you.

Maan didn’t recognize his own voice as he said that. There was so much vulnerability n longing in those words, he was amazed the words didn’t rip his throat out. Upon realizing that he had actually spoken-confessed-against his resolve he hung up.

His heart beat fast, happy to hear her voice where as his mind cursed him for his idiocy. She had identified it was him without him saying a word-without anything. How- Damn he wanted her. He needed her to be there with him. If he hadn’t been such a fool as to think that she would suffer and he would somehow endure the separation both physical and emotional, things wouldn’t have been this bad.

I have to go to Maan. Geet told Nikita who raised a brow at the ridiculous demand of her friend and sister-in-law. She had arrived as early as possible at Geet’s urgent call only to discover that she had lost her mind.

Geet, we are rich but we are not gods. By the time all formalities would be done and you could leave for Japan, it would already be the time for Maan to return.

You don’t understand, Niks. We had a fight… he- he needs me and I have to see him. I HAVE TO.

Too bad I don’t have Doraemon’s Anywhere door. At Geet’s glare, Nikita defended herself. What’s bad in watching cartoons? Manu is rubbing off on me, I guess. The said kid was sitting in the living room eating sandwiches and watching cartoons while Geet and Nikita were out sitting at the porch. Nikita was calmly sipping a glass of wine. But Geet was restless to a degree that she couldn’t eat or drink anything. Babes, you need to cool down a bit. It’s just a matter of few days. Maan will be back soon. Have some wine?

No. I am a mother now. Geet told Nikita what she told herself when she felt like drowning herself in alcohol. Please, help me. Know that this is important, very important. To me and Maan… and our relationship. I’ll forever be in your debt.

Okay, fine. You can be such a pain in ass.

Geet grinned sheepishly, relieved that she finally had an ally. So you will help?

No choice. I can arrange for the visa n all from my sources but it will take a day or two-

But I have to leave today.

Damn. Nikita hit her head. I’ll see what I can do, okay?

After that Nikita left, Geet counted seconds. She had faith in her. Nikita was very resourceful; after all she was the one who had gotten documents arranged to back Geet’s new identity.

At around midnight, Nikita called Geet telling her that her flight was scheduled at 2 o’clock. Geet already had a bag packed, she was ready to go. Manan cannot go with you, bring him to the airport though, I will hand over your Visa, tickets there and take Manu with me. Did you get information about where Maan is?

Yes, I know the hotel where he is stay at in Tokyo. Geet had contacted the only person that wasn’t contemptuous towards her at Maan’s office- Adi. He told her where Maan was staying and had said he would arrange for a car to pick her when she landed at the airport.

Good. Meet you at the airport then.

By the time Maan got back to his hotel, he was royally pissed. The breakfast had stretched over hours as the MD of the company he was entering into business with decided to be over friendly and kept discussing the market, and how this trade was going to benefit both the parties. They had ended up having lunch together too. Now he had to attend an evening party the next day kept in his honor and to celebrate the deal that would be signed just before the party.

Maan didn’t care for the party or anything. All he wanted to get to his suite and force himself into some semblance of sleep. He had not slept in the last 46 hours, as a result his mind was exhausted and eyes were burning. He felt something different when he stepped into the main foyer of the Hotel. He hadn’t felt it before passing through it before.

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