Chapter 20

Chapter 20

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Geet was in her happy world these days and she had good reasons. One, Maan was in Mumbai, which means if not daily, he gave a round to her place if not in two then in three days of gap. Other, as he was taking care of the workplace setup, she was able to put complete focus on design.

But today has turned out a bit different. It was getting hard to focus though she was trying hard

“So ma’am, how's the work going on?” Geet’s trance broke with Maan’s words.

“Maan” she looked at him as he settled on the chair opposite her

Geet did not want to always shower her worry on him, especially today’s

“Maan, I am so happy. You know, I was able to get two base designs at last. One with Indian style dominating, mixed with French and other with French style dominating, mixed with India. See”

Maan peeped on the sheet, “Looks something unique. So only for females”

“Ohh no, this is just a start,” and she went on explaining to him her vision. Nothing that Geet said went much into Maan’s head as he was lost all the while in her gestures.

“And thanks Maan,” she placed her hand on his

“Now what’s that for?” “handling the workshop setting up”

“Hmmm.. if you are forgetting let me remind you, I am a partner in business as well. So I can come to some use other than investing my money in it”

“Not only money, a major chunk of it.” She then got serious

“Maan, thank you. I could have never imagined this global venture”

“Geet” he pressed her palm

“dear, I have placed my money as I know it is going to give me great profits. Your talent, dedication and passion for this work is sure to bring me profits. And talent like you deserved this opportunity. You are an uncut diamond and this venture will shape you and show to world the shine of real diamond”

“Thank-you Maan, for being such a rock solid support for me”

He placed his palms on her cheeks “Always, always my dear. And your thank-you hurts me. Doing for you is a pleasure for me” he paused, “in a real sense.”

She held his hands that were on his cheeks “What do I do, I can’t believe this is all happening in my life. I get…”

“Shhh..” he said placing his finger on her lips “come”

He got up and delicately lifted her and softly brought her closer

“Let's change the mood. Let me play some nice music. We need a good dance to remember what an awesome partners we are” Geet smiled, a little blush and nodded

Maan played soft romantic music and pulled Geet’s hand to make her hit his chest “It’s been a long time. We need a dance to remind ourselves what great partners we are.”

She nodded. Music started, Maan placed his one hand on her waist and wrapped one around her shoulder. Geet placed her both hands on his either shoulders and the song started

Lover - By Taylor Swift - Listen to this song

We could leave the Christmas lights up 'til January

And this is our place, we make the rules

And there's a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you dear

Have I known you 20 seconds or 20 years?

Maan pulled her closer, securing her in his arms as they moved in sync together. His arms on her waist and around her shoulders, while hers secured on his shoulder and they moved from one side to other in rhythm.

Can I go where you go?

Can we always be this close forever and ever?

And ah, take me out, and take me home

You're my, my, my, my

Lover

Maan then released her a little , still holding her hand, to make her go bit far and then moved forward in fine style to bring her closer

We could let our friends crash in the living room

This is our place, we make the call

And I'm highly suspicious that everyone who sees you wants you

I've loved you three summers now, honey, but I want 'em all

Their eyes met, smile formed and he held her finger moving her around her own self, again pulled her delicately to bring her closer to him

Can I go where you go?

Can we always be this close forever and ever?

And ah, take me out, and take me home (forever and ever)

You're my, my, my, my

Lover

They again swung together in rhythm. This time he held her even closer. By now they were completely aware of their closeness but none wanted to break the rhythm. The song was only raising their hearts in this private space of theirs.

Ladies and gentlemen, will you please stand?

With every guitar string scar on my hand

I take this magnetic force of a man to be my lover

My heart's been borrowed and yours has been blue

All's well that ends well to end up with you

Swear to be overdramatic and true to my lover

And you'll save all your dirtiest jokes for me

And at every table, I'll save you a seat, lover

As the lyrics changed , they smiled at the words, lightened their heartbeat. Maan again took her finger and swirled her around him and lifted her up, his hands on her waist, sending tons of sensation though her. Maan slid her down, his hand traveling through her petite frame in the process.

Can I go where you go?

Can we always be this close forever and ever?

And ah, take me out, and take me home (forever and ever)

You're my, my, my, my

Oh, you're my, my, my, my

Darling, you're my, my, my, my

Lover

Their heartbeat beating fast. Geet lay her head on his chest and soon there was a loud sound of thunder and lightning. Maan pulled her even closer and they looked outside the long window and realized it had been raining heavily and clouds had made the surrounding dark.

“Maan” Geet said, dipping her in his chest which was bare due to his top three buttons being unbuttoned. Her warm breath falling on his bare chest, taking power of a thousand horses to control the desire she was evoking. He crushed her in his arms to soothe their hearts.

After some while of silence, Maan smiled and rubbed her arms “Geet” She clutched his shirt in her fist. Geet’s heart was beating fast, Maan could hear it.

“Why?” came out of her lips after a long “Why Maan?”

“Do you trust me?”

She clutched his shirt even tighter and dipped her head more within his chest “More than my own self, you know?”

“Then I just want you to spend our time with what your heart says, without a thought. Leave all the questions, worries and guilt surrounding you, to me.”

“Maan, I don’t”

“If I have to talk these to you everytime, it’s my failure”

She looked at him and nodded for no “No, you cannot fail, never. But you do not have trust on me”

He looked at her and smile and she pouted hitting him on his chest “You are struggling alone in your problems, then what do I say”

“Come sit” he held her hand and made her sit

“You know what?” “What?’

“You are that magic wand which I can wave and win the biggest fight of my life.”

“Then in any case if I can come to your use, why don’t you let me know. I know you have been struggling. Don’t you trust me”

Maan could feel Geet was unusually troubled ‘Did anyone say anything to you, Geet? Who is that? Anyone from my family?”

“No, none from your family” “then who?”

“No, no one”

“I can find out, you know, right?” She did not say anything

“I will not. You are staying here doesn’t mean I will breach your privacy in any case. But Geet, you do not need to come under any pressure. And I want you to trust me, I will win it. I do not want to use one priority of my life for another. That way I will degrade both.”

“Then I want you to win soon.”

He held her hand and rubbed her palm “Meri pareshani dekhi nahi jaa rahi. It's been going on for long but now I will end it because both my priorities are suffering. Tum dono ke liye jitunga”

It was something implicit and she didn’t feel the need to explicitly ask why she was on his priority list nor did he feel the need to explain. He said it, she got it.

“Or else you know you can always use your magic wand.” she pouted

“Your standing by my side as a support is enough to give me strength to win”

“I am always there, standing with you” He gave a small laugh and shook his head

“What happened?”

“You made me forget the reason for my visit.” he gave her a very fine exhibition card

“Register for this. There will be renowned designers and also biggies from the fashion industry. I encourage you to participate. Do the presentation and also some talk”

“But, why do I need all this? We are working on our business”

“Geet, It’s part of business. Networking and showing your talent at the right place is necessary.”

“Okay” He asked her and that was enough reason for her to know it was needed.

Maan left from there after giving her a goodnight kiss on the forehead.

Maan was lost in thought. Someone visited Geet and talked about custody and filled her mind with something. He didn’t want to drag her into the custody matter, at all. She has her own foot to set up and in no case he will be her distraction.

He was then lost in his discussion with Sameera in the morning. It’s nice that she realized that her hubby will never give Nyra the father’s love and he wanted her to focus on his family. Why did it feel that Aashish was the one who had sent her to him? Whatever be the reason, it was good that Nyra’s custody can come to him now. His daughter will definitely be treated as secondary there and in any case he cannot let that happen.

The meeting would have gone fine had Sameera not brought Geet’s name in between. Who gave her the right to drag Geet’s name in this?

“So now that I am ready to give Nyra’s custody to you, you will now not need to use that girl for this purpose”

“What?” This was completely unexpected from her

“Hmm… Maan. I know Nyra is your only priority and you are preparing your case to get Nyra. And that girl is part of this plan. I know she will do anything for you in exchange for all favors you are doing for her. But now you do not need to. Just make a proper case, I will support your case and you can get Nyra’s custody”

“Favors? I am doing favors to whom?”

“Hmmm.. that dress designer, Geet. Don’t deny you have given her your brand new, one of the most beautiful bungalows in Worli. Not only this you are investing heavily to promote her career aspiration”

“SAMEERAAA!!! How dare you drag her name in this. Who gave you the right? With me just talk about Nyra and her custody, dare you go beyond that. You have no idea, I will drag your husband’s name in the worst way. You don’t want me to show you the power of Maan Singh Khurana”

Sameera sensed the danger in Maan’s voice and left.

“Would it be better for Sameera to not drag Geet in this? If Geet is dragged, i will make sure to hit her on weakest spot”

Geet was looking at the exhibition invitation card. What not Maan is doing for her. Between all his business and big personal mess, he takes out time to think of her and keeps coming out with opportunities for her.

“But all that Sameera came and told her, has disturbed her. Why does Sameera think I am with Maan for all the money and power that he has? Why was she clarifying to me that only Nyra has rights to Maan's all property and she was his only priority. Why will I have any competition with dear Nyra? Why did Sameera think I am eyeing Maan’s huge power and money? Does it look the same to all the world? Will the world think the same about me?”

Geet remembers Sameera’s allegation when she visited her in the afternoon. Geet would have never let her in but she had seen Nyra’s excited face in the camera. How could she return Nyra from visiting her. Sameera came inside to meet her making Nyra the ladder.

“Hmmm so you let me in due to Nyra”

“Anything for Nyra” “Yeah why not? She is Maan’s heart and easy way to reach Maan’s heart”

“Sameera!!”

“Don’t shout. What do you think, why has he let you stay in his elegant and grand bungalow? Do you have any idea of the worth of this Bunglow, standing tall in the prime location of Worli. But don’t be disillusioned that this belongs to you. ”

“I don’t need to know from you what I mean to Maan or what Maan means to me”

“What does he mean to you? Really!! Does that even matter? You mean even a drop to him matters”

“I feel you know the worth of Maan. Are you regretting having left him? Are you scared of something”

“Shut up and listen. You are only his plan B to get Nyra, so don’t give yourself too much importance. Everything of maan’s is Nyra’s and no one else has any rights on it. If you are thinking in that direction.”

“I cannot even think this cheap” Sameera gave a big clap

“After divorce, directly in the arms of the country's top businessman. What a luck? Or must I say, grabbing a luck”

Geet was now burning with anger

“If you are done letting me know my place in Maan’s life, you can leave.”

Sameera had left. Geet had answered her back but of course she had been disturbed. Not for any doubt of her and Maan’s pure relationship and feelings. But she was wondering, if this is what most of the world will think of her.

No, No - Whatever world says, she knows how purely her heart beats for Maan and how true Maan is to their relation. Whatever its name is, it is purer than any relation she has lived. And she cannot let the world’s fear rule her.

She had kept her calm all the while after Sameera left and she tried to invest her mind and heart in her designs but her efforts did not work much as Sameera’s words kept ringing in her ears. Maan had then come and took away her worries in his own way.

“Sameera, why are you mum? Tell me you did not say something that is against what we had planned”

“Aashish, I cannot let him marry anyone”

“Why? Do you still have feelings for him?”

“I never had feelings for him, you know very well. It was an arranged marriage, in case you have forgotten”

“Don’t give me that Sam. He is Maan Khurana and as much as I hate to say this, but I know girls fall for him with his one smile. And you were his wife. Or is it that it's just outward look and in bed he is just” he thumbs down

“Ashish, I am your wife now. Going to be the mother of your child. Think before you speak” What would she say, however hard she tries she cannot take away from memory of the time in bed with Maan. The errotic feelings that he aroused everytime they were in bed was incomparable. She does not even consider comparing it with what she shared with Ashish.

But Ashish had an idea of Sam's craving for Maan. One day, before Sam was pregnant with his baby, she had a heavy dose of drink and was high.

“Ashish, I need an erotic night in bed” Ashish had been very happy. At last her hidden desire for him aroused. But it was very short lived. Ashish was being his passionate best but then it came from Sam

“Aashish, let’s do something that takes me to your world of touch. Just like Maan did. He did magic, Ashish, with his touches, with his lips on my body, with his passion. Take me to that world.” He had seen how Sameera was drowned in Maan’s desire

It had hit Aashis hard. In anger that day, he has taken Sam without any protection to claim her his completely his, resulting in her getting pregnant.

Sam forgot that night but it got engraved in his heart. Since that day Aashish wanted to get completely done with Maan. He had snatched Sameera from Maan but she was only partially his.

Ashish has since then been thinking and has reached the conclusion that he gets rid of Nyra and better, Maan marries off. He has snatched Sam with Maan, but he felt like a failure in all this.

“Sam listen, it is best he marries and your Nyra will get a complete focused family”

“Yes, he marries and Maan’s property that is all Nyra’s will be shared”

Aashish least cares of what Nyra would get or not “You very well know, Nyra is his priority. She will get it most”

“I want his all for her”

“Well it’s not in your control. To tell you the crude truth, nothing about him is in your control. That girl has more control over him than you. And to warn you, if you do anything that delays Nyra going in his custody, Nyra will only get very ordinary attention in this home. It’s my home, only for my wife and my baby.”

And he left.

[NOCOPY]

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-Anu