“Dadi Ma, Geet thak gayi hai aur use phir se chakkar bhi aa rahe hain. To use aaraam karna chahiye,” Maan told Dadi Ma as soon as the formalities of grih-pravesh after their wedding were over.

“Haan, haan bete, hamein…”

Maan didn’t even wait to hear Dadi Ma’s reply and picked Geet up in his arms. Dadi Ma cut short her sentence and gave a broad, naughty smile. Everyone else tried hard to suppress their giggles.

Geet was highly embarrassed, “Maan aap kya kar rahe hain? Main bilkul theek hoon. Sab ke saamne…”

But the look in his eyes told her that he was not going to care for anything or listen to anyone. Her voice drowned, as the possessiveness evident in those eyes and his body language became clear to her.

As they entered her room, Geet was lost in him. He was the first to notice the decorated room and his expression changed to that of surprise. This brought Geet out of her reverie. She also noticed the room and bed and blushed heavily.

Maan settled her on the bed and himself sat on the edge of the bed close to her.

“Maan! Ye aap kya kar rahe hain?”

“Kya kar raha hoon?” Maan made an innocent face.

“Aise sab ke saamne mujhe utha kar laane ki kya zaroorat thi?”

“Ye kya baat hui Geet? Maine to wahi kiya to jo tumne kaha tha.”

“Maine? Maine kya kaha?” Geet was surprised as well as irritated.

Maan leaned closer to her, “Achchha! Tumne nahin kaha tha ki main shaadi jaldi karwaun. Tumhein jaldi se Mrs. Maan Singh Khurana banna hai.”

Geet was exasperated, “Lekin Maan…”

Maan shut her up with his hands, “Chup. Bilkul chup Geet. Ab to mujhe legally permission mil gayi hai – tumhein har pal apne saath rakhne ki. Ab na to tumahre koi kayde chalenge, na hi duniya ki koi rok-tok. Samjhi tum?”

More than his words, his penetrating eyes had shut her up. She could not meet them any longer and started looking down shyly. He came closer to her and took off the dupatta from her head. She immediately closed her eyes.

Maan smiled slightly as he saw her closing her eyes. He then took off her maang-teeka and ran her finger over the sindoor he had placed a while back in the mandap. Geet realized this. She opened her eyes and placed her hand on top of his and held it there for a while. Both of them captured the moment. It reassured them that they finally belonged to each other – not only in their souls, but also in the eyes of the world. Nothing could come in between them now.

Geet brought her hands down and Maan’s slipped down caressing her forhead and cheeks.

“Meri taraf dekho Geet,” Maan lifted her chin and made her look into his eyes.

“Geet – hum dono ne is din ka bahut intezaar kiya hai, hai na?”

Geet gave a shy, nervous smile as she nodded and downcast her eyes again.

“Aur Geet. Hum apne rishte ko aage le jaane ke liye thoda aur intezaar karenge. Abhi tumhein aaraam ki bahut zaroorat hai.”

Geet was surprised on hearing this and became sad as she realized that Maan was once again sarificing his happiness for her well-being. She felt so bad that she almost had tears in her eyes as she looked up, “Maan ek baar phir aap mere baare mein…”

“Geet. Dubara tumne kuchh aisa kaha ya socha to hamara jhagda ho jayega, samjhi tum? Aur aakhiri baar main tumhein samjha doon ki main sirf aur sirf apne baare mein soch raha hoon. Apni zindagi ke baare mein. Agar mujhe tumhara saath nahin mila to meri to zindagi hi khatm ho jayegi na Geet. To poori zindagi ke liye kuchh dinon ka intezaar kya badi baat hai?”

“Aap hamesha aisi baatein kar ke mujhe rula dete hain, aur phir kahenge ki rona mat kyonki main tumhari aakhon mein aasoon nahin dekh sakta,” Geet lifted her hands to wipe her tears, but Maan held her hands and stopped her.

“Kuchh cheezon ke liye hamein intezaar karna hai Geet. Lekin iska ye matlab nahin ki main tumhein itni aasaani se chhod doonga. Baaki ke saare haq tumhein mujhe dene honge Geet. Aur ye sirf iski shuruat hai,” Maan bent forward and kissed her to wipe her tears away. A chill ran down Geet’s spine and she closed her eyes again.

Maan next moved his hand behind her neck and took off her heavy necklaces one by one. He left the Mangalsutra in its place and just ran his fingers over it. Another reminder of their togetherness for life.

He proceeded to take off her payal and other ornaments. His touch was affecting her so much that she could hardly sit straight. She leaned on the headboard, eyes closed and let herself drown in her feelings. Maan was being a tease in the process and she was enjoying it.The last set of ornaments he paid attention to were her bangles. He took them off one by one. As he was pulling out the last one, Geet stopped him, “Saari choodiyan nahin Maan.”

Maan smiled, “Tum kuchh bhool rahi ho Geet!”

He took out the set of Kangans he had given to her earlier with the promise that he would make her wear those on their Suhag Raat.

Geet was surprised, “Ye aap kab laye? Main to outhouse se kuchh la hi nahin payi thi.”

“Waada kiya tha to nibhana to tha na Geet.”

Geet didn’t say anything; just kept looking at him with deep devotion and appreciation in her eyes as he put the kangans on her.

Once the ornaments were taken care of, he said, “Geet. Tum in kapdon mein so nahin paogi. Tumhein change karne ki zaroorat hai.”

“Par main to outhouse se apne kapde lekar nahin aayi.”

She had hardly completed her sentence when she noticed that Maan was opening the cup-board. She expected him to take out one of his shirts, but she was in for a surprise. He brought a pink silk night dress, which had a top and a wrap-around skirt.

“Aap…” she started saying but stopped her sentence midway. Then she smiled and continued, “Main kya kahoon. Jab aap Delhi mein barf plan kar sakte hain, to ye bhi kar hi sakte hain. Pata nahin aap itna sab kuchh soch kaise lete hain?”

“Geet, in palon ka intezaar karte-karte maine inke baare mein itni baar socha hai ki…”

Geet was floored again, “Maan. Agar har koi aapki tarah pyaar kar pata to duniya kitni alag hoti.”

“Agar kar kissi ko meri Mishti jaisi ladki mili hoti to har koi meri tarah pyaar karna seekh jaata, lekin Mishti to ek hi hai Duniya mein.”

“Aur aapki Mishti ke liye Maan bhi to ek hi hain na!” Geet was now comfortable in conversations and was not hesitating in pouring her heart out. Maan looked at her with smiling eyes.

They were lost in each other’s eyes for a few moments. Then Geet recovered and she got down from the bed with her night dress, “Main change kar ke aati hoon.” She started going towards the bathroom, when he pulled her back.

“Geet. Tum phir meri baat itni jaldi bhool gayin? Maine kaha tha na ki apne saare haq aaj se le loonga.”

Geet did not understand him, so looked at him with questioning eyes. She found his eyes devouring her with their seductive looks. As usual, she could not meet his eyes for long and started looking down.

Then she suddenly realized that he wanted her to change there, as he had teased her before the pheras. She knew that they were husband and wife, it was their first night together and there was a lot more he could be doing to her right then; yet the idea of changing there made her extremely uncomfortable.

She looked at him, almost horrified, “Nahin Maan. Yahan nahin.”

Maan’s expression did not change as he whispered, “Kya farq padta hai Geet ki tum kahan ho. Ye karna to mujhe hi hai.”

As if she wasn’t already nervous enough that he had dopped another bomb. He was going to change her clothes!

“Please Maan,” she pleaded.

“Chalo. Main tumhari pareshaani thodi kam kar deta hoon,” he said and switched off the lights by reaching out to the switches near the bed.

He went behind her and held her at the shoulder as he spoke in his heavy voice, “Geet. Tumhein pata hai na ki main ye pahle bhi kar chuka hoon. Tab majboori thi, par aaj haq.”

With the lights off, Geet’s protests gave way to desires. She let herself go. It was Maan. He had all the rights over her. And didn’t she enjoy his rights? Didn’t she want him as much as he wanted her? Wasn’t it he who had always controlled himself to keep their relationship in the limits? Otherwise, when did she ever have the strength to resist his charms? Letting go was the key to the happiness, for both of them.

He started off by unpinning the dupatta from her blouse at the shoulders. One that was off, he wrapped the skirt around her, ‘accidentally’ touching her belly and waist in the most sensual ways, before he took off her lehanga. He unbuttoned her blouse while standing behind her, but the buttons for the top of the night dress were in front. His ‘accidental’ touches were once again enough to make her go insane.

One she was dressed, she did not feel him near her for next couple of minutes and then suddenly the lights came back. He was standing facing her. As she blinked to adjust her eyes to the light, she saw that he had changed into his black vest and comfortable black pajamas. Seeing him in his vest reminded her of the time when she had seen him practicing tai-chi long back and despite her attempts to escape his attention, he had caught her. He was wearing his black vest then. He had made her wear the ear-ring she had dropped while escaping and had told her in no uncertain terms that he will not let an ‘outsider’ insult her. She had, for the first time, then, admitted to herself how he meant so much to her. And the desire for a man had fuelled in her for the first time. Desire for Maan.

Today, thanks to how he had pushed her to the brink, that desire had increased ten-fold.

When she saw him standing there in front of her, with as much desire in his eyes as was there in her heart, she could not stop herself. She just went ahead and hugged him, her hands caressing his back. He responded in kind, but soon came back to his senses.

He just could not risk it without first getting her checked up completely and knowing her condition. He also wondered if he drove her too far and if this could be harmful to her already stressed out body.

“Geet,” his voice brought her back to her senses too. She suddenly felt embarrassed at her behaviour and stepped back.

Maan noticed her embarrassment and could not help smiling. That was his Mishti. A sherni in a moment and a scared chuhiya the next. The comparison amused him even further.

He could not resist teasing her and asked innocently, “Kya hua Geet?”

She was looking everywhere except at him, “Woh.. Main… Kuchh nahin… Sorry…”

He went forward and held her hands. His voice was serious again. “Geet. Ismein ghabrane ki ya bura mahsoos karne ki kya baat hai? Mujhe to ye bahut achchha lagta hai ki tum bhi mere kareeb utna hi aana chahti ho, jitna main tumhare kareeb jaana chahta hoon.”

She smiled, still nervous, but no longer feeling bad. What else did she need other than his approval.

“Chalo Geet. Ab aaraam karo.”

As they lied down with Geet in his arms, she said, “Maan – aaj bahut kuchh kahne ka man kar raha hai, lekin munh se jaise lafz nahin nikal rahe hain.”

“Achchha hai Geet. Abhi waise bhi tumhein aaraam karna hai. So jao.”

“Maan please. Main theek hoon. Aur aaraam bhi karoongi. Lekin hum thodee der baat kar sakte hain na. Please!”

“Geet. Tumhare saath to main zindagi bhar baat kar sakta hoon. Ya yun kaho ki tum bolti rah sakti ho aur main sunta rahunga,” Maan started teasing her again. He had decided to give in to her urge to talk. Sleep could wait for a while.

“Maan – mera mazaak mat banaiye.”

“Meri aisi mazaal. Ab to shaadi ho gai hai. Ab to mujhe tumse dar kar rahna hoga.”

“Maan!”

“Mishti!”

He caught her off-guard by calling her Mishti instead of Geet. But she didn’t take long to get back in her form, “Jaiye. Mujhe koi baat nahin karni aapse.”

She turned to face away from him. But he forced her back and told her lovingly, “Geet. Aisa mat karna. Tum mujhse baat nahin karogi, to mere hothon par muskurahat kaun layega?”

“Ab aap mujhe makkhan laga rahe hain?” Geet was still irritated.

“Nahin sach bata raha hoon. Waise Geet kahna to mujhe bhi tumse kuchh hai.”

“Kya?” Geet forgot her irritation. He always had a trick up his sleeve to get her back!

“Tumhein yaad hai Geet, jab hum pahli baar mile the?”

“Kaise bhool sakti hoon?”

“Tab se ab tak kitna kuchh badal gaya hai na Geet.”

Geet snuggled up closer to him, “Kuchh bhi to nahin badla hai. Tab bhi aapne meri madad ki thi, mujhe bachaya tha. Aaj bhi aap wahi karte hain.”

She was expecting him to smile, but he turned more serious, “Meri kismat achchhi thi Geet jo usne mujhe hamesha samay se tumhare paas bhej diya. Agar aise kissie bhi mauke par tumhein kuchh ho jaata to… Main soch bhi nahin sakta…” he shuddered to think of the possibility of his life without Geet.

“Aur sochne ki zaroorat bhi nahin hai Maan. Purani baaton ko yaad kar ke dukhi kyon hona hai. Aaj to hum khush hain na.”

“Haan Geet. Aaj main bahut khush hoon aur bas ye dua maangta hoon bhagwaan se ki tumhein bhi hamesha khush rakh sakoon.”

“Bhagwaan ki bhi aisi majaal nahin ki aapki ye dua kabool na karein,” Geet once again tried to make the mood lighter.

“Lekin Geet, ek samay tha jab maine tumhein bahut dukh bhi diye hain. Main aaj un dinon ke liye maafi maangna chahta hoon.”

Geet thought he was referring to their misunderstanding over Dev’s bail and the time that followed in Indian Paints, “Maan. Aap kyon us baat ko lekar aaj tak pareshaan hote hain. Maine aapko samajhne mein galti ki thi Maan. Main aapko chhod kar gayi thi. Phir aap kyon…”

“Nahin Geet. Main uski baat nahin kar raha.”

This puzzled Geet, “Phir?”

“In sabke pahle Geet. Jab main tumse Hoshiyarpur mein mila tha, jab tum pahli baar Delhi aayi thi, jab hum office mein mile the. Geet maine bina tumhare baare mein jaane, bina kabhi tumse baat kiye, tumhein bahut kuchh galat kaha, tumhein bahut pareshaan kiya. Main un sab ke liye tumse maafi maangna chahta hoon.”

Geet suddenly sat up on the bed and started saying chirpily, “Aapko pata hai Maan, main na Babaji ki special bachchi hoon. Bhrosa nahin ho raha hai? Main batati hoon kaise! Main ek baar ek insaan se mili, jisne hamesha meri madad ki, apni jaan khatre mein daal kar na jane kitni baar meri jaan bachayi, na sirf mera sahara bana, balki mujhe khud bhi majboot banna sikhaya, apne pairon par khada hona sikhaya, apne haq ke liye ladna sikhaya. Aur main pareshaan hoti rahi ki kaise uske sab ahsaanon ke liye thanks kahun usse. Babaji se poochhti rahi aur babaji ne meri problem chutki mein solve kar di. Bajay iske ki woh insaan mujhse thanks expect kare, woh mujhse ye sab karne ke liye sorry kah raha hai. Batayie – ekdum special treatment di hai ki nahin Babaji ne mujhe?”

Maan did not say anything, just looked at her adoringly and smiled slightly.

Then Geet turned serious, “Maan – aapne kabhi kuchh bhi galat nahin kaha. Agar aapne mujhse kaha ki tum kamzor ho, to woh sach tha. Main kamzor thi. Agar aapne mujhse kaha ki jab tak tum saham-saham kar jeeti rahogi, tab tak tumhari zindagi nahin badlegi to woh bhi bilkul sach tha. Aur aapne kaha, isliye to main badli aur majboot bani. Agar aapne mujhse kaha ki mujhe duniya ki parwah nahin karni chahiye aur apne haq ke liye ladna chahiye to usmein bhi kya galat tha? Agar aapne mujhe daanta to isliye ki maine galtiyan ki thi. Maan agar aapko lagta hai ki aapne mujhe bura-bhala kaha to aisa nahin hai. Aapne sirf sach kaha. Aur kabhi kabhi sach kadwa hota hai, lekin sach se munh to nahin moda ja sakta na? Aapne mujhe hamesha sach ka saamna karna bhi to sikhaya.”

“Geet. Tum to kabhi kissi mein koi burai nahin dekh pati. To mujhme kaise dekhogi? Lekin sach to ye hai ki kai baar maine apni kadwahat tumhare oopar nikali. Lekin tumhare andar itni mithaas hai, itni strength hai ki tumne meri saari kadwahat apne andar ghol li aur phir bhi hansti rahi. Thank you Geet.”

“Agar aisa hua hai Maan to kismat ne mujhe ek aur khushi di hai ye bata kar ki main aapke liye kuchh to kar payi.”

Maan smiled and hugged her. Once they broke the embrace, Geet became her comical self again, “Waise maine aapki itni tareef kar di, iska matlab ye nahin hai ki aapne mujhe bilkul bhi pareshaan nahin kiya hai. Aapne mujhe kai baar bekaar mein bhi sazaa di hai.”

“Achchha! Woh kab hua?”

“Kab hua? Ye poochhiye ki kab nahin hua. Aapne mujhe Mr. Chopra ke project se kyon nikala tha?”

“Usmein meri galti nahin thi Geet. Kasoor tumhara tha,” Maan joked.

“Wahi to poochh rahi hoon, kya kasoor tha mera?”

“Tum mujhe pagal kar rahi thi.”

“Kya?” Geet did not understand at all.

Maan turned serious, “Sach to ye hai Geet ki main dar gaya tha tumse. Tumhari wajah se main badal raha tha. Mujhe andhere mein rahne ki aisi aadat ho gayi thi ki jo roshni mujhe tumme dikh rahi thi, usse mujhe dar lag raha tha. Main usse bhaagne ki koshish kar raha tha.”

Geet realized for the first time that he had been affected by her much before she had realized it, “To aap tab se…” She did not complete the sentence.

“Haan Geet. Maine tumse kaha tha na ki main tumse bahut pahle impressed ho gaya tha. Shayad usse bhi pahle. Shayad jab Hoshiyarpur mein tumse mila tha. Pagal tha main Geet, jo apni khushiyon se itna door bhagne ki koshish karta raha. Aur uske chakkar mein use bhi thes pahuncha raha tha jo mere liye sabse keemti thi. Tum!”

Geet laughed slightly, “Aapse badi pagal to main thi. Aap meri wajah se itna pareshaan hote rahe, aur main aapko Dusht Danav samajhti rahi.”

“Hmm… Aur usi Dusht Danav ke peechhe daudti hui Dargah tak pahunch gayi, haan Geet?”

This made Geet blush, “Mera mazaak mat banaiye. Aapke phone se main ghabra gayi thi.”

Maan turned Geet’s face towards him by holding her chin, “Itni fikr karti thi meri, aur phir bhi mujhe chhod kar jana chahti thi. Meri shakal tak nahin dekhna chahti thi.”

She silence him by putting her hands on his lips, “Thank you. Jo aapne mujhe jaane nahin diya. Warna…”

“Apni jaan ko kaun itni aasaani se jaane deta hai Geet,” Maan said cupping her face in his hands. Then he suddenly changed his tone, “Waise phir bhi. Tum mujhe thank kar sakti ho. Mujhe koi aitraaz nahin hai. Lekin sirf thanks kahne se kaam nahin chalega. Mujhe ek gift bhi dena hoga.”

Geet looked up to see the naughtiness in his eyes.

“Maan!”

But Maan was too busy pushing her down on the bed to listen to her. His lips moved towards her, but she turned her face sideways in shyness. Maan kissed on her cheek and said, “Koi baat nahin, maine apna thanks dheere-dheere le loonga.”

And they chatted away until Geet fell asleep with exhaustion!