MG FF: Maan the Arrogant: Ch14: Pg76: 13th Nov - Page 14

Originally posted by: desigurl953

omg...this is sooooo nice...i love this...can't wait for the next update

thank you soooo much

Originally posted by: Neetu2825

Very nice story...plz add me to ur pm list if u have one.

thanx and will do

Originally posted by: pakirani

heyy love your FF!!! please add me to your PM list to notify me with your updates! and please update soon! thanks 😊

thanx u sooo much...

Originally posted by: asmara19

hey as usual ur maaneet ff is going rocking like the other AR ffs and the premeer ones. pls do pm me for this ff as well wenever u update.

thank you sooo much

Originally posted by: -afsha-

Nice update

Liked that Maan kept his words

Geet was really innocent

Loved her talk wit NT Mr Prakash n Maan also

Wit Maan it sweet one Maan jus isnt getting that why is he doing so much for her wen she is inferior but he also thks she isnt inferior

Liked the way Mr Prakash handled the tutor situation

Dev is jus forcing his decision on Armaan n Geet

I really wish Armaan speaks up n says he love sumone else if im not wrong

Update soon

thanx alot hun glad u enjoyed it.....

Originally posted by: sadaf.12

WOW i love ur ff, can u plz add me to ur pm list?
sadaf x
</3

Love Jane Austen, love your story. Please add me to your pm list!

Originally posted by: saomom

Love Jane Austen, love your story. Please add me to your pm list!

thank you and will do 😃

In the drawing room, Geet sat in a corner by herself to wait for their company to arrive. She chose a simple ivory gown to wear and put her mass of curls on top of her head. Mr Prakash sat in another corner, book in hand, and amusement on his face. He looked over at Geet and said, "Why are you nervous my dear?"

"I beg your pardon, Sir?"

"You seem easily distracted and I wondered if it was nerves?" he repeated.

"No Sir, I am not nervous," she said. She lied. She was nervous, as she was anxiously awaiting Lord Maan's arrival. She wanted to see him again. She wanted to talk with him again. She must not let that show, however, so she opened her book and pretended to read. Dev walked in with Mr. Armaan and Miss Naintara.

Dev said, "Look who has arrived!" Geet and Mr Prakash stood and exchanged greetings with the new arrivals.

Armaan walked over to where Geet sat and said, "What are you reading, Miss Geet?"

She was not really reading she merely held the book as a means to have something to do with her hands. She placed the book on the floor by her chair and said, "Nothing of importance. How are you this evening, Sir?"

"Fine, thank you," he said. He looked over at Dev and Naintara, who shared a small loveseat and he said, "We are all hoping for a happy event by the end of the summer."

Geet looked at the pair. The way Dev laughed at everything Naintara said. They way she put her hand on his arm, to touch it lightly, only to draw it away, and the smile on their faces. They were in love. There was no denying that fact.

The butler came in and announced that the rest of their party had arrived. Shashank Gupta and Maan Khurana walked in the room. Geet stood again and was immediately struck by the differences in the two men. "Mr. Shashank, may I present my cousin, Miss Geet Handa, your future pupil" said Dev.

"Miss Geet," he said, drawing out her name. He merely bowed. Geet was not sure she liked this man, but she would keep an open mind. Mr Shashank turned to speak to Mr Prakash, as Maan walked over to Geet.

"Miss Geet, how do you find yourself this evening," he asked.

"I am well, Sir," she said.

"You look very nice tonight," he said while smiling charmingly and looking at her from head to toe. Actually, he thought she looked absolutely lovely. She looked every bit a proper lady. She gave him a small smile, and the blush returned to her cheek. He smirked and said, "Why is it when I pay you a compliment, your cheeks turn scarlet? Could it be that you are not used to compliments, or could it be that you are not aware of your own beauty?"

His boldness shocked her. She looked towards the rest of their party, and no one seemed to hear his words. She said, "Sir, please do not toy with me. I know I am no great beauty." She said it with such sincerity. Maan wondered if she really thought that. It was rare to find a woman who was not full of conceit and pride.

He leaned closer to her and whispered, "I assure you, I never lie."

"Never?" she asked with a smile.

"Well, perhaps that in itself is a small lie. I know we all tell falsehoods from time to time, but at the moment I am completely sincere," he said, returning her smile.

At the dinner table, a while later, Geet was conversing freely with Shashank Gupta. She was right in her first assumption, she really did not like the man, but his intellect rivaled her own, and she found him easy to converse with, for which she was grateful.

He had just spent the better part of fifteen minutes telling the party that women made terrible medicine makers.

"But, Sir," Geet said, "you cannot truly tell me that you think chemistry is an art best left to men. Weren't many of the earliest medicine makers women?"

"Women do not have the attention to detail that is needed for medicine making. I will teach you the basics, but it is in my history that women usually cannot handle the delicacy of more intricate medicines." Mr Shashank turned back to his soup.

Geet sat beside him and pouted. She looked across the table and Maan Khurana had a smile on his face. She cocked her head toward him, as if to ask him what was so funny. He said, "Godfather, perhaps Miss Geet will prove to be the exception to your rule. Perhaps she will be a competent medicine maker."

"I have no doubt of her intellect, just from talking with her now, but she is still a woman," he said.

Maan's brows rose and he held Geet's gaze when he said, "Yes, on that, you are correct." Geet looked down toward her plate, and he was sure her cheeks were red again. He said, "Miss Geet, how would you feel to having your first lesson with me tomorrow?"

Dev answered for her, "Tomorrow is not good Maan. We are having a country picnic tomorrow, to take advantage of the nice weather. We will be a large party, and a few people from your acquaintance will be in attendance. You may join us if you would like, and tutor her out in the wilderness." Naintara laughed at Dev's joke.

"I can't imagine someone wanting to read a book or study, over a day spent with friends and fun," Armaan said.

"I am sure you cannot, Armaan," Maan replied.

Geet said, "Sir, I would appreciate having my first lesson tomorrow, even if it is outside. Please, join us."

"I would be honored," he replied.

After dinner, the men went to the lounge to enjoy cigars and brandy. Geet and Naintara walked into the library. "You know Dev means for you to make a match with my brother, do you not?"

Geet turned, shocked by the other woman's bluntness. "I am aware, but please, do not suppose I have asked him to push for this match."

"I have to admit, I knew you had no inclination toward my brother from the way you spoke of Lord Maan. My brother is in love with another, anyway. Her name is Shilpa Malhotra, and she will be joining our picnic tomorrow. I hope to reveal this to Dev tomorrow," Naintara admitted. "I want my brother happy, but please, do not take offense."

Geet was far from being offended. She was relieved. "I am happy to find an ally in this."

"Then I shall speak with Dev tomorrow. I think I will find a book to read," Naintara said.

"I think I will walk the gardens," Geet said, taking her leave. She walked outside, where the moon was high and bright in the sky. The night air was cold, and she forgot to bring a wrap, so she put her arms tightly around her body.

She was afraid that Dev had wanted an attachment between her and Mr. Armaan. She hoped that Miss Naintara had enough influence over her cousin to persuade him that Geet did not need a man. She bent down to smell one of the pink roses, marveling at its beauty by the light of the moon.

"It is beautiful," Lord Maan said from behind her. She turned around. He wanted to say, 'it pales next to you', but he knew he should show restraint. "My godfather was quite vexed with you, Miss Geet."

"He is an infuriating man," Geet said.

Maan laughed and said, "At times, but he is a genius. He has a point, about medicine making. I have never seen an accomplished medicine maker who was a woman."

"Perhaps you haven't seen one, because none in your company were given a chance to develop their skills," Geet pointed out. She turned and walked down the path. He followed and was soon walking by her side.

"Mr. Armaan doesn't seem overly affectionate toward you," Maan said.

"Pardon, Sir?"

"Oh, one can tell that Lord Dev is pushing for a match between you two, although I think it would be horrendous," Maan said.

"Miss Naintara tells me her brother's affections lean toward another, a Miss Shilpa Malhotra," Geet said.

Maan laughed loudly. "Goodness, now that is an interesting match!" Geet gave him a scowl, and he said, "You are not disappointed in the news are you?"

"Of course not," she said. "But you have to admit, if my cousin marries Miss Naintara, I shall be forced to find another situation, and that would leave me with finding a position somewhere, perhaps in teaching, which is why I must learn all I can in a short amount of time, or worse, I must marry." Maan stopped walking. She did not notice that he had stopped until she was several steps ahead. She turned to face him and he was smiling. "Did I say something humorous, Sir?"

"Or worse, marry?" he reminded.

She laughed as well. "I mean, or worse, marry without affection."

"So if you held affection for a gentleman, it would not be a dreadful solution?" he asked.

"I would hope not," she said.

"You suppose your cousin would toss you to the curb if he married?" he asked.

She was the one to stop walking this time. She said, "It might happen. It is what happened to me before I came here. My mother died and my stepfather's new wife couldn't abide me, so I was left homeless."

Maan saw the worry on her face. He approached her and said, "As much as I dislike your cousin, I know nothing of his character that would suggest he would abandon you, and leave you homeless."

"I hope you are right, Sir," she said. .

For a while both stared at the dark sky and bright moon, lost in their own thoughts. She pointed upward and she said, "The stars are so bright tonight."

He stepped closer to her. She suddenly let her hand drop, and he was so close that she brushed her hand against his chest as she brought it back down. She quickly withdrew it to her side.

"You bewitch me, Miss," he said. "You are of lower birth and station, and yet I find myself thinking of you."

Geet said, "It is a wonder you waste your time on someone inferior to you." She started to walk away. He ran to catch up to her.

"I apologize if my words offend, but they are the truth. In our world, Miss Geet, money, status and noble background means everything. It is a fact that all the pretty girls in the world cannot change that one simple truth," he said.

"Then do not tarry here any longer. One would not wish you to waste your time speaking with someone as lowly as me," she said. She tried to hurry off but he grabbed her arm. His touch made her shiver.

"I did not say such a thing to you, so don't presume to think that I did. I do speak the truth, however. I am sorry if that hurts you. I didn't mean to hurt you," he said sincerely.

"If you are conflicted, then you must deal with it in your own heart," she said.

He expelled a small laugh and let go of her arm. "Believe me, I am not conflicted. Just because I find you intelligent, pretty, and good company, does not mean that I have mixed feelings. I know the truth." He wanted to convince himself as much as her.

"Perhaps you should not lower yourself to tutor me, then. I beg your leave, Sir," she said. She tried to leave once more, but he blocked the path.

"Indeed, you are too proud and boastful. I shall tutor you, as I am a man of my word. Again, I apologize," he began, but she halted his speech.

"Don't make false apologies! How rich you should say that I am proud and boastful. You are the most arrogant man I have ever met. I no longer wish to be tutored by you. I would rather be tutored by a swine, who I am sure has more manners! I shall linger no longer. Goodbye, Lord Maan."

He laughed at her boldness. He followed her back into the house. Miss Naintara met them both at the door and she said, "Wonderful news, my brothers Atul and Armaan have arrived, along with Miss Shilpa. We have all decided to have a small dance to finish our evening. Come Miss Geet!" She pulled on Geet's hand.

As Mr Prakash Chand played the pianoforte, the inhabitants of Sharma's Hall began to dance a country-dance. Maan sat out the first dance. He felt he was above such entertainment. However as the dance continued, and he saw Miss Geet laughing and enjoying herself, he decided to participate.

He walked over to Miss Geet and said, "May I have the next dance?"

She wanted to say no. She should say no. He insulted her earlier, but she wanted to dance with him. The music started, and she bowed to him, as an acceptance to his request.

A slower dance started. They stared in each other's eyes as they approached each other. He touched her hand and turned her around. They walked apart again, as the next couple did the same. He took her hand again, and they paced through the dancers who flanked both sides. They stood opposite from each other, neither averting their gaze. He studied her face, her expression, her countenance. What was it about this slip of a girl that made him so conflicted?

They approached again, and he put his hand on the small of her back, as he strolled with her through the crowd once more. They turned with her hand in his. The touch of his hand upon hers made her weak in the knees. Her mouth felt dry and she knew she was flushed. As they walked side by side for a second time, he looked at her from the corner of his eyes.

He hated to admit this, but he could not deny his attraction to her. As they stood on the sidelines, watching as another couple strolled down the middle, he was struck once again with her beauty. They approached each other once more, neither having spoken the entire dance. Words would be inadequate. His hand once again went to her back as he steered her through the dance. Why did he anticipate her touch? Why did she long for his? They turned, one last turn, and he bowed to her and she curtseyed.

Everyone applauded, and said 'what a fine dance'. Geet Handa looked in her partners eyes and then looked at the floor. God Help her, she thought because she was smitten with the dashing Lord Maan.

Maan Khurana had to excuse himself from the crowd. He could not stay in the same room with her one moment longer, and not admit his feelings. He would not, under any circumstance, ever admit his feelings toward her. "Excuse me; I shall bid you all goodnight. Thank you, Dev, for your hospitality." He turned and left the room.

As he walked out of the room, unnoticed by most the company, say for her, she mistook his leave. She assumed he left because he could not abide her company any longer. She too excused herself and ran from the room. She ran down the long hallway toward the stairs. She saw Lord Maan as he stood by the front door. They stared at each other once again, for what felt like time without end. He nodded his head toward her and walked out the door. She ran up the stairs, threw herself on her bed, and cried.

(Coming up, a country picnic and overheard words)

Loved it..it was beautiful!..ur pace of the story is soo diffrent n its soo nice!!