Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Geet withdrew slowly and lifted her head. Her eyes locked on Maan’s.

He stared into her eyes and cradled her cheek lowering his head. Geet felt her heart pounding harder when he pressed his lips on her and kissed her. She hesitated but returned his kiss after a moment. Maan pulled away and pressed his forehead to hers.

“You’re not going to change your decision, are you?” she questioned him.

“No. No. Not anymore” he replied with a promise. He couldn’t let her go. He wouldn’t. “Forgive me, Geet. For the pain I put you through you”.

“I’m going to try. I’m still hurt, but I will try” she answered honestly. She had suffered for a year, she had yearned for her rights as his wife, she had yearned companionship, she had craved a friendship, and a relationship with him. He was finally going to give them a chance. But the hurt for the last couple of months in her heart was engraved and it would take time to recover from that.

Maan nodded in understanding. They were going to start afresh, and she was going to give him a chance. He had to tell her the truth, soon. If she learned the truth from elsewhere, he didn’t think she would forgive him for such a grave mistake of hiding this from her.

Before either said another word, a knock sounded on their door. Maan released Geet and glanced over his shoulder. “Who is it?” he called.

“It’s me” Naintara answered.

Geet walked across and opened the door.

Naintara looked between Maan and Geet curiously, she darted a concerned look at Geet who’d smiled faintly in return.

Naintara returned her smile and said, “Dadima wants us all downstairs. Some of the family members are leaving this morning”.

“Please say Kavita and Naina are one of them” Geet pleaded mockingly. She could not forget those two who had taunted Maan and mocked, pitied her when Maan wasn’t anywhere to be seen during Karwa Chauth.

“Most probably” Naintara responded.

Geet grinned and glanced over her shoulder at Maan. “Are you coming?”

Maan’s attention had been drawn to his phone again, he looked away from the screen and hummed in agreement. “Yeah, I’ll join you shortly. I just need to make a call”.

Geet nodded and walked out with Naintara.

Maan dialled Sameera’s number.

“Hello” Sameera answered.

“I… I want you to meet someone”.

“Who?”

“My… wife”.

Sameera tightened her fingers on the phone. A sharp pain piercing her heart.

“I’m going to bring her soon. I need to tell her the truth. I can’t hide this anymore; I’m hurting her and… I’m hurting my marriage”.

Sameera hummed hesitantly.

“It’s just going to be us three”.

“Ok” she murmured softly.

Maan joined the rest of the family downstairs after the call. Geet’s parents had joined shortly afterwards having relaxed a little and he made small talk trying to push away the concerns that clouded his mind. A knot formed in the pit of his stomach as he was plagued with the different scenarios of Geet’s reaction when she learned of the truth.

The next couple of days, they returned to a somewhat normal routine. Geet re-joined him in the morning drive to work and had Sandeep drop her off a couple of streets away and walked the short distance into work.

Geet also informed Armaan that he no longer had to play her boyfriend.

“Why?” he questioned.

Even the others had been curious staring her and waited for an answer.

“What I wanted; I’ve achieved so you don’t need to do it anymore” Geet replied. She wasn’t going to give them anymore at this stage.

“Well, tell us so we know” Viren piped in.

“Not now, one day I’ll tell you. But not now” she answered.

“You’re no fun, girlfriend” Armaan sighed shaking his head.

Geet shot him an apologetic smile and shrugged.

Their nights were no longer spent in separate furniture. They shared their bed and every night, Geet and Maan found themselves in each other’s arms. On the other hand, Maan hashed out a date and time for Sameera and Geet to meet. He wasn’t sure whether to tell Geet about Sameera first or make them meet before he tells his story to her and explains everything. He was torn on how or where to start.

He looked down at Geet. She was curled up next to him and hugging him in her sleep. Her face smooth and peaceful. There weren’t any worry or pain in her face. He dipped his head pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead and closed his eyes.

Where do I start Geet? He thought inwardly. They were giving each other a chance. Would she pull away once she learns the truth?

A couple of short days later, Geet’s parents had bidden their daughter bye as well. Once they’d been satisfied to see that their daughter was living comfortably and was happy, they were happy to return home with peace in their heart. Geet had clutched onto them crying. Maan held her arms pulling her away when she refused to let them go. She turned burrowing her face into his chest crying silently whilst her parents climbed into the car with tears in their eyes and drove away promising to see her soon.

The following day in the office, Geet knocked on Maan’s door.

“Come in” he called out and looked curiously wondering why Geet had come. “Is everything ok?”

“You need to fire Sasha” she stated.

A small smile curled on his lips, and he leaned back in amusement. “Why would I do that?”

“She’s driving me crazy. She makes all these googly eyes whenever you walk past and always dreaming up of becoming the next Mrs Khurana. And only she has the right to call you MK, apparently. I say it, she blows a fuse” she huffed crossing her arms.

“I see. But that isn’t a good reason to fire her” he replied.

“You should do it because your wife said so” she answered.

He chuckled and raised his brows when there was knock and the door opened before he answered. Sasha stepped in unaware Geet was already inside.

“MK, I was…”she paused seeing Geet and frowned. “What are you doing here?”

“Why? Do you only have a free pass to see the boss?” Geet countered sharply.

Sasha sputtered in surprise and glowered once she got her bearings together. “Geet, is this how you speak to your colleagues, especially Seniors?”

“You’re definitely my senior” Geet agreed. “Is that by 10 years or 20? I should really be gentle on your hearing given your old age”.

“Geet!”

“Enough” Maan intervened. “Sasha, did you need something?”

“The annual fundraiser with Prateek Sinha is coming up. I was coming to ask whether you’re attending and…”

Maan already knew the direction of the conversation. “I’ll be going. With Ms Geet” he pointed. “She’s come to ask me about that, she’s very interested in Mr Sinha’s succession and the wealth of knowledge he could impart during the fundraiser”.

Sasha’s eyes widened. Geet frowned in confusion not knowing who this Prateek Sinha was and why had Maan said she will be going with him.

“MK… but she’s…”

“Anything else, Sasha?” he interrupted.

Her cheeks reddened and she flustered and shook her head. “N…No…”

“You’ll still have to attend, maybe come with Adi if he hasn’t got anyone” he suggested.

She hummed and jerkily nodded excusing herself and walked out.

Sasha’s eyes burned in jealousy and her heart crushed. He wasn’t going with her this year. She always attended with him, even if they’d all go together as a group. She had been his plus one during this fundraiser. Their peers looked at her with respect when they learned she’d come with Maan. And now, he was going with Geet. The new intern.

“When did I agree to go as your plus one?” Geet quirked a brow questioningly.

“I can call Sasha back and say you’ve withdrawn your request” he replied.

Geet glared. “Don’t you dare do that, Saru”.

“Thought you’d say that and appreciate that I did say you asked first”.

“What is this fundraiser?”

“Prateek Sinha is…” he stopped when his phone rang. He held a finger to her and answered. “What is it, Arjun?”

Geet gestured that she’ll speak to him later noting the direction of the conversation. He smiled grateful for her understanding and watched her leave as he engaged with Arjun.

~~~

Sameera watched Maan across the table. The air between them filled with tension, despite the warmth and comfortableness that surrounded them in the restaurant. Maan had told her he was married, but he hadn’t said anything further.

She had requested he meet her before they’d set a date to meet Geet together. She wasn’t sure where to start or what to ask.

“Does she make you happy?” she quizzed after a beat of silence.

Maan pondered over her question and nodded. “She does” he said with a small smile. “She has a way with words. She doesn’t mince them. She’s… the light in my darkness”.

Sameera sucked in a deep breath and swallowed hard. It was difficult hearing the man she’d loved had another woman in his life and it wasn’t her. She had no one else to blame but her. Maan noted the unshed tears glistening in her eyes.

“Sam…”

“No, I need to know. I should know” she murmured. “It’s difficult…”

He nodded in understanding. “Have you…”

“No… not yet” she replied shaking her head. “I… I couldn’t” she sniffed and blinked back her tears. “Anyway, tell me about her. You only said you’re married but other than her name, I don’t know anything else. How did you meet?”

“Through dadima. She… Dadima fell ill during a trip to Hoshiarpur and she coerced me to get married. I was against the idea. She still doesn’t know about you and I or our life. I couldn’t say no this time, though. I’ve already lost papa and he couldn’t… he couldn’t see his dream fulfilled of seeing me married, so… I agreed for dadima” he explained.

Sameera felt guilt swarming its way through her. Goosebumps skittered her skin.

“I’m sorry for keeping you away from them” she darted him an apologetic look.

“It’s my fault, I should have come clean to them, but papa falling ill and everything else going on… I just didn’t want to burden them” he said shaking his head at her. “Geet and I agreed to a platonic relationship as she didn’t want to get married either. But… as the months went by, she was direct and telling me she wanted a relationship and… I wanted to give her a chance. I felt something, but I wasn’t exactly sure of my feelings for her…” he said and didn’t explain that their relationship derailed because of his torn feelings and the emotional battle within him. “I really like her. She’s… she’s like a breath of fresh air in my life. After you… I… lost everything, Sam” he whispered. His eyes filled with the painful memories that he’d lived through. “I was walking through life without appreciating anything. I wasn’t really living. My life revolved around work… until Geet…”

Sameera reached across the table clasping his hand that was on the table. A tear sliding down her cheek. “I’m so… sorry, Maan… I’m so sorry for leaving you like that”.

Maan closed his eyes, and he squeezed her hand back. “I… I know you are” he exhaled deeply. “I’m… ready to move on, Sam. I can’t continue hiding this, our past from my wife. She’s… she’s agreed to give me a chance despite the ass I’ve been. I don’t want to ruin my marriage again”. He didn’t want to live with the past clouding his mind.

She nodded slowly. “I’m… I’m just happy you found someone. Thank you for telling me”, she murmured.

Sasha’s eyes focused in one direction only. The woman who was holding Maan’s hand. Her eyes burn with fury. Is that who Naintara was talking about? Her lips trembled and she gritted her teeth trying to keep herself together. She wanted to stalk over there and pull the mystery woman by her hair and throw her out of his life.

He was hers. She wasn’t going to let anyone take him away from her.

She had loved him. She’s the one who noticed the loneliness in his eyes and been there to distract him with work, so he wasn’t plagued with his loneliness. She had been there for him. Since the moment, he had taken charge of the company, she’d been by his side. She had helped him pull in clients, building his portfolio, increasing the demand for Khurana constructions, she had been through it all for the last couple of years, she’d been there for the losses and wins. And she’d loved him silently. She’d conveyed her feelings through her actions, her eyes, her silence, in hidden words, but he’d remained unaware due to the loneliness in his eyes. And now… Someone else was going to take her place in his life? No. She wasn’t going to let this happen.

He was hers and only hers.