(The interview scene will happen within PART 19.. Coming to PART 18, I am not splitting it into two this time...I am posting it as one part...but sorry to mention, there are no maaneet scenes...still I am confident that you will enjoy reading it as this part is required for the progress of the story)

Geet walks down to face her mom... rehearsing all what lies she needs to tell her and quietly escape from here.

While Nandini moves towards Rajji's room...Geet walks down slowly with a heavy heart... As per her, nothing has changed between her and Maan... "Her heart bleeds... how they were so close some time back yet they are miles apart.

Her innocent mind is not finding any answers. she is trying to console herself but she is deeply hurt as she is not able to share about this interview or anything to that matter. Her conscience is giving her message that she is doing wrong somewhere but she is forced to ignore it and again reason being HIM.

She is all lost in these thoughts while entering the kitchen and she almost jerked listening to Rano's voice.

R:

Geet slowly turns to look back at the dining area. The entire family has gathered for Breakfast. Woman take pride in serving their dear husband... Simran Bhabhi is helping her husband with his favorite breakfast and also getting his lunch box ready and amidst all this, Tej holds her hand and gives a quick peck and bhabhi was all blushing giving an embarrassed look around if someone is watching them ...where as Lucky and Preetho were having Breakfast together also feeding each other every now and then lost in their own world. A tear escapes from her eyes thinking that in this last one year she has never even for once got to have family gathering like this. She happen to have some rare meal sessions with Daadima as most of the time, Daadima got her BF, Lunch and Dinner in her room itself.

AND MAAN!!! Not even for once she got to have with him.. NOT EVEN FOR ONCE!!!

R: (Where is Son-in-law? Why you didnt come along with him?)

G: (He must be on the way)

she tells this hanging between truth and lie.

R:(What do you mean? You should have accompanied him)

Rano scans Geet now.

R:

G:

she again checks time and its 5 mins to 9 AM...

R:

G: (You please handle the situation)

Rano sighs as she very well understands that Geet is also not to be blamed.

R: (Did you tell Son-in-law about your college visit?)

Geet gulps and ST:

Geet has no other option left apart from lying to her mother on this.

G: She gulps and fakes a smile..

Rano does recalls all what happened the previous day...Maan was fighting all odds to send Geet to College. Hence she believes in Geet now.

R:

How can she answer this? during her stay in HP for the last few days, she preferred to have all Meals sessions in alone in her room like how it has been happening in KM...She wants to get used to it as she knows she will be away from both the families for ever. Geet comes out of her thoughts when Rano continues her talks.

R: (Ok Lets leave all this, now, you eat something...come let me feed you)

Rano was about to feed Geet..and right then, Manjeet walks in to the kitchen who has also been hearing to Rano-Geet conversation silently

Manjit: (Its so clear Rano)

Manjit turns her face and takes the plate of hot parathas and leaves to the dining area. Rano sighs...where as Geet seems to be lost...

R:

Rano again tries to feed her but Geet avoids this as well.

G:

She wraps a parata and places it in a plastic tiffin box and keeps it in her bag.

G:

How can Rano be happy? Geet's changed behavior is really worrying her.

Geet and Rano heard Ridzy's car horn..

G:

Geet leaves from the back door of the kitchen that has access to the backyard of the Haveli avoiding the crowd at the front entrance. She halts for few seconds before taking her seat..she wants to give one look to her room window which is accessible from the haveli backyard..but unable to. Some restlessness is building up in her. She is a different person compared to Maan...she cares and feels for everyone..and here, she is leaving her husband all alone..She consoles her restless mind... but what to do? On one end this interview and on other end, he is the one who has set the rule that they should stay away from each other and not to cross the paths and he has been following it so meticulously.... Because he is in love with someone else! She sighs and slowly takes her front seat in Ridzy's car.

At the same time on the floor above the kitchen, a pair of eyes have been watching her till the time she gets into Ridzy's Red car and the car zooms off and he is still standing there... He really wish to stop them and pull Geet to be with him the whole day. Feeling low that he wanted to take her to his office and he couldn't even initiate this even. He really wonders how she controlled herself whenever she got to see him go out of KM...and what all she would have faced during that one month when he was in London... No wonder, She has been hurt to this extent that she is not even voicing out her pain and anguish directly to him. Yesterday her talks with her cousins, and today, she was opening up her mind in front of Nandini but so many unsaid words in between. All he could do is watch them helplessly. How can he cover up the mess he has created in both their lives? Nothing is coming to his mind..

his attention gets drawn to Geet's cupboard still left open and he moves towards it...recalls all what he got to know about her yesterday...her talks with her cousins about her relationship with her husband...the shawl she made for him.. he gently takes that gift packet and hugs it close to his heart..he understands that he is the one who has been distancing from her for the last one year ; and with the last blow that he gave her before she was leaving from KM and that was just 4 days back. The wound is still fresh. She has been waiting for this long without knowing if she has the authority to do so. Now, Its his turn to wait and he will wait for her till eternity..his attempts to talk to her have failed for yesterday and today but this failure has got him face to face with her aloofness, wounds, her pain and over and above all, the depth of her love. He knows that its not going to be easy. But his determination is getting stronger with every second passing by. After all, he is MSK and he will never give up.

Maan had to again change himself into formals as he has to be present during the interview session in his office in HP. He walks down the stairs..Daarji wonders why Geet is not accompanying him and he asks Rano who has been arranging the breakfast table.

D:

R:

D:

Ofcourse how can you expect Manjeet to hold on to her big mouth.

Manjit

Rano knew that she has to face the elders taunt today...she feels she has been cornered.

R:

Manjeet: (Why? This work can be done even tomorrow) (This girl is hard bent in putting all of us into shame in front of her inlaws)

Maan:

Everybody follow the direction of that voice and surprised to see Maan standing there. He further continues

Maan:

Manjeet is again put into mute mode...Rajinder drags her to one corner and tells her...

Rajinder:

Manjeet:

Rajinder:

Rajinder leaves fuming Manjeet behind.

Over there, Maan talks to Daarji..

M:

D:

M:

Darji sighs and continues...(now come...have breakfast)

M:

D:

Maan wonders what Ranoma knows about his likes as he loves more of Italian dishes... still he nods for a Yes. He checks his watch and he still has time.

Daarji holds his hand and gently dragging him towards the dining table.

Rano has tears of joy in her eyes and setting plates, cups and spoons for him..Nandini comes forward and as she promised Geet..she takes care of serving him breakfast...

N:

Nandini goes to Kitchen to arrange for few more things Manjeet gets irritated with this.

Maan takes his seat in the dining area and all men join him. Nandini arranges the cutleries. Maan notices there's some note hidden under one of the cup...he takes it and reads...SORRY with a cartoon baby face.. He turns to look at Nandini and now Nandini gestures him sorry...holding her ears cutely...Maan turns his face and couldnt help smiling at her plight and that smile says it all. Nandini happily starts serving him gobi parathas and wheat halwa...he really relishes the taste of it.

Rano: Patha hain puttar, you used to love these gobi paratha and Wheat halwa prepared by me. I used to make it almost every day during your visit here during your younger days.

Maan remembers just few blurry things..he doesnt recall much as it was during his much younger days. Daarji started getting into emotional talks remembering the past.

Daarji: (Those were the days to remember)

A smile crept on Maan's lips as its been quite some time since he has heard or discussed about his childhood and he wants to listen more about it.

Maan:

Daarji:

Maan's curiosity gets into a different level. He is jogging his memory to get the glimpse of those days.

Rajinder:

Mohi:

Rajinder:

All members of the family present there had a laugh..Ofcourse, Manjeet was an odd one out. Maan too had a blush thinking about his childhood days with Geet which he never knew but he is been touring to his past.

Daarji:

Mohi:

While everyone takes this as an opportunity to laugh, Maan is really looking at them amused...he actually doesn't remember all these but YES, his heart is filled with joy recalling all those sweet memories of his childhood with his parents and Geet...He never ever imagined even in deepest of his dreams that he is already connected right from his childhood with the Girl whom he got to see in his farmhouse for the first time. While Daarji continues..

Daarji: (Maan)

Mohi:

Daarji:

Maan was really wondering..there's so much to add to his and Geet relationship which he never knew or never took interest. At that rush of moment, when Geet's daadi was in death bed and their sudden wedding, he mistook this family to have taken advantage of the situation and maintained his sternness.

Once BF session is done, Nandini moves to Kitchen to prepare his black coffee...and Rano follows Maan towards Handwash area and finds it right this time to talk to him...Rano hands over towel whilst talking to him

Rano: (Son, Can I ask you something if you don't mind?)

Maan:

Rano: sach sach batao...Aap dono khush tho ho na? (You both are happy right? Be honest)

Maan's is actually startled hearing this question from Rano...He didn't understand in what context she is asking this question but still he could sense the motherly concern in it.. How did she guess that there's something wrong?

Rano: She pauses and continues...

Rano has tears in her eyes. Maan feels so low...Its not Geet..but its HIM who had not accepted this relation and didnt live upto expectations. He holds her hands and his heart is filled with guilt and not able to meet Ranoma's eyes.

Maan:

Rano takes a sigh of relief..but still somewhere she is not convinced. She feels her daughter is hiding lot of stuff. Her eyes are getting teary now.