Geet smiled, overwhelmed and leaned on to his chest as he put his arms around her. She replied, “Kuchh bolne ke liye chhoda hi kahan aapne Maan?”

Maan smiled and broke the hug, “To jab hum itne alag hain Geet, to hum duniya ki rasmein kyon nibhayen? Hum to apni rasmein khud banayenge. Chalo mere saath.”

He led her to the balcony. A coffee-table and two chairs were laid out in the balcony and Geet noticed a decorated pooja thali containing sweets lying on the table.

“Geet. Ab se har saal hum karwa chauth par saath mein chaand ko dekhenge aur humme se kissi ek ki umra ke liye nahin, balki hamare rishte ki lambi umra ke liye dua maangenge.”

Geet did not say anthing; just kept on looking at him adoringly. Maan made her sit on the chair and pulled the other chair also close to hers. Then he sat down on it and put his arms around Geet’s shoulders. Geet happily leaned on to him.

When they spotted the moon, they looked at each other and made silent wishes for their relationship. Maan picked up a piece of sweet from the pooja thali and made Geet eat it. Geet also picked up a piece of sweet and took her hands close to Maan’s lips, but Maan stopped her by holding her hand. Geet looked at him surprised.

Maan did not give her the time to comprehend his intentions. He quickly pressed his lips against hers, probed her mouth with his tongue and scooped out some of the sweet from her mouth. He broke the kiss, chewed on the sweet and looked naughtily at a startled Geet. She saw him licking some pieces of sweet from his lips and it dawned on her what he had done. She blushed heavily and started moving away from the balcony towards the room, but Maan held her hands and pulled her back to him.

“Mera vrat tode bina tum kahin nahin ja sakti Geet,” he said in that seductive voice of his, which made Geet go weak in knees irrespective of what he said.

“Aapka vrat? Par humne to saath mein khana khaya tha…” she managed to protest.

“Bhookh sirf khane ki hi thode na hoti hai Geet. To vrat bhi sirf khane ka kaise hoga? Do dinon se bhookha hoon main,” saying this he lifted Geet in his arms and started moving towards the room.

“Maan. Aap…” Geet was crimson red as she realized what Maan was talking about.

“… bahut bura hoon na? Woh to tumhein abhi pata chalega Geet.”

He put her down on the bed, then straightened up, crossed his arms on his chest and looked intently at her. His unwavering gaze made Geet really nervous.

“Aap… kya…. dekh rahe… hain.. aise?” she managed to ask, breathing heavily, in broken words.

Maan climbed on the bed to sit beside her and then said, “Soch raha hoon ki jiski soorat aur khushboo itni achchhi hai uska swaad kaisa hoga?”

Geet visibly gasped. She actually felt like a defense-less prey and Maan was the hunter waiting to pounce on his prey. She got up and sat with her back supported by the headboard of the bed.

Maan took one of her hands in his and looked at the haath-phool she was wearing. Then he grabbed one of the rings of the jewelry with his teeth and took it out of her finger. He stopped and took a quick look at Geet. She had closed her eyes, but her face was still giving away how affected she was. Maan then repeated this exercise with the other fingers and also with the other hand of hers. Then he unlocked the bracelet of the haath-phools and took them completely off her hands. He planted a kiss the top of her middle finger and moved upwards through the back of her palm towards her hands. At the wrist he was interrupted by her bangles. So, he made them his next target. Slowly and carefully, he took off all her bangles. He could feel how her breathing was getting heavier. His own heart was beating furiously. But this was going to be a slow, long and beautiful evening.

After all the bangles were out, he ran his hands over her shoulder, arms, hands and palms sending a chill down her spine.

“Maan,” she hissed his name and hugged him tight. Maan responded to the hug and while keeping her in his arms, moved her hands up her back to her nape. He unhooked her necklace from there and then also untied her hair.

Then he broke the hug and took out her necklace. Next to go was her Maang-Teeka, which she had worn for the first time since their wedding. He kissed the teeka after taking it off and before putting it away on the side table. They he leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. Then he looked at her closed eyes and kissed on her eyes too. After that he almost lost his control as he kissed her face senselessly all over ending it with a furious attack on her lips again. By this time Geet had also drowned in the sensations created by his touches and she responded zealously to his kiss. They were panting by the time they broke the kiss. Geet’s eyes were still closed. Maan took a quick look at her, head to toe and then proceeded to take off her pallu. He quickly undressed himself. By then he did not even have the patience to undress her completely. His hands roamed all over her body, grabbing, pinching and squeezing her as he settled on top of her and slipped up her saree and petticoat to break his fast!

—

As they were lying on the bed all spent, someone knocked on the door startling them.

“Kaun hai?” asked Maan.

“Chhote Sahab. Dadi Ma aap logon ko khane ke liye bula rahi hain.” Nakul replied from outside the room.

And they realized that they hadn’t even met Dadi Ma after coming from the office as was their usual routine. They gave each other a “we-are-caught” mischievous look and Maan asked Nakul to leave as they were coming soon.

Their glowing, washed up faces at the dinner table did not skip Dadi Ma’s attention and she decided to tease them a little, “Kya baat hai? Aap log aaj ghar aaye to hamein pata bhi nahin chala. Geet?”

They were caught unawares and they looked at each other wondering what to say. Geet was quicker in making an alibi, “Woh… Dadi Ma… Haan. Main Karwa Chauth ki pooja kar rahi thi. Phir chaand chhip jaata na…”

“Pooja? Aapne vrat rakha tha kya?”

“Nahin Dadi Ma! Ab Maan ne vrat nahin rakhne diya. Lekin pooja to karne ki hoti hai na.”

“Bilkul, lekin phir aap kapde aur gahne bhi pahan leti. Achchha lagta.”

“Woh pahna tha Dadi Ma!” Geet spoke without thinking.

Maan glared at her and she realized the mistake. She thought of the saree lying crumpled in their bedroom.

“Arre. To badal kyon liya. Hum bhi to dekhte ki aap apni nayi saree mein kaisi lag rahi thi.”

“Woh… Dadi Ma… Haan! Mujhe laga ki khate hue kahin kuchh gir na jaye saree par isliye maine… badal li.” She looked at Maan to get an assurance she was being convincing enough. But Maan looked like he was ready to run away from there to avoid embarrassment.

“Oh! Achchha… Haan hum samajh gaye,” Dadi Ma gave them a meaningful look and mischievous smile and then started eating as if nothing had happened! Maan and Geet sighed in relief.

– The End –