FF: Humesha Saath 1 - Link to 2 pg150 - Page 94

*~* Back to Present *~*

"Aur vaise hi meri zindagi ke char saal katgaye. Uss hadse ke baad mujhe paata nahin tha ke yahaan Amritsar mein mera koi hai," Maan said.

"Char saal tak tumhe kuch paata nahin tha?" Geet asked.

"Nahin, bilkul paata nahin tha," Maan said.

"Aap, inhe pehle se jaante the?" Pinky asked. Her question was for Maan, but was hinted at Lucky.

"Lucky ko? Haan, chota bhai hai mera," Maan said as he smiled at Pinky.

"Lekin kaise? Lucky toh…" Brij wanted to say so much but he was tongue tied. What was going on?

"Pinky ki zindagi mein, maine hi Lucky ko beja tha," Maan said.

"Kyun? Kaab? Kaise?" Teji asked.

"Kyun ke jaab mera yadash vapas aagaya tha, tab hi maine faisla kaar liya tha ke joh Geet ke saath hua hai, woh meri Chulbulli ke saath nahin hoga," Maan said as he got up and went over to where Pinky was sitting. He placed a hand on her head and said, "Pinky ke zindagi barbad hote hue main nahin dekh sakta tha. Issi liyeh, jaan buj kaar maine Anne ki dosti Pinky se karvaiya aur phir dhere dhere Lucky ko bhi Pinky se milaya. Mujhe pata tha ke dono ek dusre ke liyeh perfect hai."

"Lekin tumhe saab kaise yaad aagaya? Kaab?" Geet asked.

"Theen saal pehle," Maan answered. "Saab kuch mujhe theen saal pehle yaad aagaya tha."

*~* Flash Back *~*

(3 years ago)

(Maan = 24, Lucky = 19 & Anne = 16; Geet = 22 & Pinky = 16)

"Maan Veerji dekho naa LB meri book vapas nahin deh raha hai," Anne wined as she chased Lucky throughout the house.

Maan looked up from the file he was studying to see Lucky standing next to him waving the book at Anne while she tried to get it out of his grasps.

"Lakku yeh kya kaar raha hai tu? Chal book vapas deh deh," Maan ordered.

"Haan Lakku Veerji, book vapas doh," Anne teased.

"Eh! Mujhe Lakku sirf Veerji bula sakte hai, tu nahin," Lucky said.

"Whatever, book vapas doh," Anne pleaded.

"Lakku Book vapas doh, aur Anne phirse Lucky ko Lakku nahin bulana," Maan said.

Anne winced at hearing her name. Maan only called her Anne when she was in trouble or he was upset with her. Other than that he always – always – called her Sweetie.

"Sorry Veerji," the two siblings said at the same time.

Maan went back to his work only to have Lucky hovering over his shoulder.

"Kya hua Lakku?" Maan asked.

"Yeh kya hai Veerji?" Lucky asked.

"Yeh humari nayi factory ki plan hai. Yeh factory tere naam pe khul raha hai," Maan said.

"Mere naam pe? Kyun?"

"Kyun ke kuch saloon mein jaab tera degree complete hojayega, isse tujhe hi sambhalna hai."

"Akele?"

"Haan, bilkul."

"Kaise? Mujhe toh kuch nahin aata," Lucky pointed out.

"Tujhe bohot kuch aata hai. Aur tu fikar maat kar, main hoon naa tere saath," Maan said.

"Maan, Lucky, Anne," Mrs. Singh called from the hall.

"Hum saab library mein hai Maa," Maan called back.

Less than a minute later Mrs. Singh stood in the doorway looking at her three children with a smile on her face. She had just returned home with her husband after a very long day at the hospital.

"Tum saab ka packing hogaya hai naa?" she asked.

"Kiske liyeh?" Maan asked.

"Uff Maan! Kya hoga tera. Hum saab ko Nandini ki shaadi mein jaana hai," she reminded.

Nandini was Mrs. Singh's niece who was due to get married next week in a typical, big Punjabi wedding.

"Oh haan. Lekin Maa main nahin jasakta, office mein bohot kaam hai," Maan said.

"Nahin, koi bahana nahin chalega. Humesha tu office ke kamoon mein busy rehta hai aab baas. Amritsar gaye hue bohot din hogaye, tujhe toh iss baar jaana hi hoga," she announced.

"Magar Maa…" Maan began.

"Maan," Mrs. Singh said.

Maan knew there was no getting out of this. When his mother took that tone, no one fought her, not even his father.

"Kya chal raha hai yahaan par?" Mr. Singh asked as he too walked in.

"Papa, dekhiyeh naa Maa kaise zabardasti kaar rahi hai mere saath Nandini ke shaadi mein jaane ke liyeh," Maan complained.

Mr. Singh exchanged a look with Mrs. Singh.

"Aare beta, I'm sorry. Iss baar main kuch nahin kaar sakta. Tum toh aapni Maa ko jante ho. Ek baar koi plan dimag mein ghus jaye, toh woh khabi hatthi nahin," Mr. Singh said.

"Kaunsa plan?" Anne asked as she sat in a chair next to Maan's.

"Shaadi ka plan," Mr. Singh said.

"Kiski shaadi?" Lucky asked.

"Maan ki," Mr. Singh said.

"Kya!?" all three of them yelled.

Mrs. Singh gave her husband that shut him up right away. She knew her son wouldn't agree to a marriage, which is why she wanted to keep it a surprise. That plan was clearly down the drain.

"Dekho Maan tum kuch nahin kahoge," Mrs. Singh ordered. "Tumhara MBA bhi complete hogaya, tum business bhi bohot aache tarha se sambhal rahe ho. Aab waqt aagaya hai ke teri shaadi karvadeh hum."

"Lekin Maa mujhe shaadi nahin karna hai," Maan said as he stood up.

"Kitne din akela rehga tu?" she asked.

"Main akela kahaan hoon?" Maan asked as he went and hugged his mother. "Aap saab ho naa mere paas."

"Batein banana band kaar. Iss baar tera ek nahin sunungi main. Shaadi wala ghar hoga, ek aachi ladki toh milhi jayegi," Mrs. Singh said.

"Maa…" Maan began to complain.

"Aapni Maa ke liyeh itna nahin kaar sakta tu?" she asked.

Everyone in the room suppressed giggles while Maan groaned out loud. That was the one thing that Mrs. Singh needed to say to get Maan to do pretty much anything she wanted him to do.

"Tik hai Maa. Aap ke liyeh kuch bhi," Maan agreed.

Mrs. Singh turned to face Maan with a big, beaming smile spread across her face. She squeezed his cheek and said, "Haye, mera aacha beta!" Turning to her other children she said, "Kuch sikho aapne bade bhai se! Ek yeh hai ke mere liyeh kuch bhi karega, aur ek tum dono ho ke meri ek bhi baath nahin sunte."

Now it was Lucky and Anne's turn to groan. They knew that as soon as their parents left the room Maan would give them his usual lecture about how lucky they are to have such wonderful parents. Blah, blah, blah is pretty much all they heard.

The next morning the family headed out to Amritsar for the wedding. It was the first time Maan was returning to Amritsar after he had moved out here to Mumbai with the Singh's. After moving to Mumbai, a part of him felt a twinge of pain at leaving behind his past and his memories. He felt like he owed it to himself to find out what had happened and who he was. However, he owed his life to the Singh's. Had it not been for them God knows where Maan would have ended up. After moving to Mumbai he had been able to adjust into a life with the family. Slowly he had pushed back any memory of the incident and focused on his present, his family and his future.

However, as the plane they were in began its final descent, an uneasiness settled over Maan. It was an odd feeling that he just couldn't seem to shake even after they had reached the farmhouse where the wedding was going to be held. Maan busied himself with work that needed to be done around the house. The rest of the week passed in much the same manner, except for the one day he went shopping with Mrs. Singh to pick out his clothing for the wedding.

It was the night of the sangeet and Maan, like all the other men were forced to seclude themselves on the lawn since the function was for ladies only. Maan, Lucky and a few of the other men were just kicking around a soccer ball when some of the guests began to leave. He watched as a BMW pulled up to the drive way and four women walked out.

"Pinky, dekh naa ke Geet kahaan hai," one of them said.

When the woman mentioned the name 'Geet', Maan felt his heat give a funny jump. However, Maan pushed that feeling aside as he watched the youngest girl of the group head back inside.

"Geet ko lane ke liyeh thanks," Nandini's mother said to the older woman.

"Aap toh Geet ko jante hi hai, khabi ghaar se nikalti hi nahin. Aagar yeh Nandini ki sangeet nahin hoti toh woh khabi nahin aati aaisi function mein," another one said.

Maan went back to his game with the other boys and stopped paying attention to what the women were talking about.

"Thank you for coming beta," Nandini's mom said again.

"Aare aunty, iss mein thanks kis baath ki? Mujhe toh aana hi tha," someone said.

Maan immediately stopped what he was doing. That voice, it sounded so familiar. Maan turned his head in the direction that the voice was coming in but couldn't see the person who had just spoken. She was hugging Nandini's mother and then got into the waiting car so quickly that he only managed to get a glimpse of the side of her face. The windows of the car were tinted so he couldn't see through them.

As the car drove off, Maan once again brushed off the odd feeling he felt when he heard that voice. However, try as he might, that voice and that name refused to leave him. The rest of the night he kept thinking about that name and kept hearing the sound of her voice ringing in his ears. That entire night he couldn't sleep, every time he closed his eyes the voice played in his ears. It was early morning when he finally dozed off after sGeet exhaustion.

"Maan," Mrs. Singh called.

Maan woke up groggily and glanced at the clock on his wall, he had only been sleeping for three hours. "Haan Maa, kya baath hai?"

"Haila, yeh kya hal banake rakha hai? Sari raath soya nahin kya?" she asked as she picked up some clothes that was cluttered on the floor.

"Nahin Maa, tik se soh nahin paya," Maan answered.

"Oh ho Maan Veerji," Anne said as she jumped on the bed where Maan still lay. "Kahin kissi ladki ka chakar toh nahin hai?"

Maan was already deep in thought and didn't answer.

"Oh my God Maa, lagta hai ke ladki ka chakar hai!" Anne yelled.

"Anne chup kaar! Aaisi koi baath nahin hai. Kyun Maan?" Mrs. Singh asked. "Aagar aaisi baath hoti toh saab se pehle mera beta mujhse kahega. Hai naa?"

Still Maan was lost in his thoughts.

"Maan?" Mrs. Singh called out. Finally he looked. "Kahaan khogaye ho? Kher chodo. Ut jaao, ghaar mein pooja hai."

"Baas abhi aaya," Maan said as he staggered off of the bed and headed towards the bathroom.

After the pooja was done and breakfast was served Maan went off to help get the mandap ready for the wedding. He worked all through the afternoon only stopping for lunch when everyone else did. He would have kept working had it not been for Mrs. Singh who insisted that he go and take a nap because he looked sleep deprived. Maan agreed only too happily.

He went up to his room and laid out on the recliner to take a short nap. It was no more than five minutes later that Anne came bursting in.

"Sorry Veerji maine aapko disturb kiya. Woh kya hai naa ke LB phirse mere peeche padgaye aur mujhe padne nahin deh raha hai. Main, yahin pe bait jaun?" she asked.

"Haan, bait jaa," Maan said.

At the age when most girls were running after their parents for latest fashion clothing, makeup and other odd things, Anne was running after her parents and him for books. To say that she was a book worm as an understatement. She loved reading. If you caught her without a book, you'd be lucky. Not that Maan was complaining. When most girls were running after boys, Anne was running to the bookstore. It made Maan's life a whole lot easier. He'd be no good to his family if he was sitting in jail for killing some highschool loser who hit on his sister.

Lucky on the other hand was like all older brothers – out to annoy his younger sister. The only reason Lucky wasn't in the room now harassing Anne right now was because this was Maan's room and he knew better.

Maan closed his eyes and tried to sleep as Anne got comfortable on his bed and began to read. One habit of Anne's that Maan usually loved was the fact that whenever she listened to music, she hummed aloud to whatever was playing. Maan would have enjoyed it now, except the humming was keeping him from falling asleep. Maan was about to say something to Anne when the tune caught his ear. It sounded so familiar, but he couldn't place it.

"Sweetie, kya sun rahi hai tu? Hindi gaana hai?" Maan asked as he sat up straight.

"Nahin Veerji, English hai. Woh Suhani hai naa, usne kaha tha ke bohot hi aacha gaana hai," Anne said. "Kyun? Koi problem?"

"Zaara yahaan aana," Maan said.

Anne came over and handed Maan her earphones.

"Start from the beginning," Maan ordered.

"Magar…"

"Anne, joh keh raha hoon woh hi kaar!" Maan suddenly yelled.

"Ji Veerji," Anne said as she started the song from the beginning. Maan had said her name, it was best to not ask questions.

Maan listened as the music began slowly with the sound of violins. Then the singer came on, and he took in the lyrics. (the maneet first date song)

Find me here
And speak to me
I want to feel you
I need to hear you
You are the light
That is leading me
To the place where
I find peace again
You are the strength
That keeps me walking
You are the hope
That keeps me trusting
You are the life to my soul
You are my purpose
You're everything

"Gaane ka naam kya hai?" he asked frantically.

"Everything, by Lifehouse," Anne replied.

And how can I
Stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me
How could it be
Any better than this

As the song played, Maan was suddenly reminded of the name he heard at the party the night before – Geet – he also began to hear her voice in his head again. Then, like a ton of bricks it all came rushing back. Like the song said – everything – everything came rushing back.

You calm the storms
You give me rest
You hold me in your hands
You won't let me fall
You steal my heart
And you take my breath away
Would you take me in
Would you take me deeper now

And how can I
Stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me
How could it be
Any better than this

He remembered his name, he remembered his mother, he remembered his childhood, but above all else, he remembered Geet – his Geet.

And how can I
Stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me
How could it be
Any better than this

Cause you're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything
Everything

He remembered seeing her for the first time on the playground of their old school. He remembered helping her with the bullies. He remembered the first time they talked, the first time they held hands, the first time they hugged and the first time they kissed.

You're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything
Everything

He remembered sneaking into her room to see her. He remembered taking care of her when she was sick. He remembered crying on her shoulder when his mother died. He remembered her face, her voice, her smell, her smile and her beauty.

You're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything
Everything

He remembered running away with her. He remembered marrying her. He remembered her red shaadi ka joda, her mangalsutra and the sindoor he placed in her mang.

You're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything
Everything

He remembered that night, the night she was taken from him. He remembered the storm. He remembered the ambush. He remembered the pain and the tears. He remembered saying that he loved her. He remembered the feeling of her fingers slipping out of his hand. He remembered losing her.

"Geet," Maan called out in a barely audible whisper.

Maan raced out of the room looking for Mrs. Singh as Anne called out after him. Maan was running all through the house yelling "Maa!" as he went.

"Kya hai?" Mrs. Singh finally called from the kitchen. She came towards him with flour all over her hands.

"Maa aap mere saath aaiyeh," Maan said as he grabber her arm and pulled her along with him.

"Pehle haath toh doh loon," she said.

Maan didn't stop until the reached the secluded library.

"Maan kya kaar rahe ho?" Mrs. Singh asked.

"Maa, Geet kaun hai?" Maan asked.

"Kaun Geet?" Mrs. Singh asked confused.

"Woh, ek ladki thi kaal sangeet mein."

"Oh, woh. Woh toh Nandini ki saheli hai. Bechari, itni si umar mein kya kya sehna pada usse," Mrs. Singh said.

"Matlab?"

"Geet baas 22 saal ki hai, aur iss umar mein vidva bangayi hai. Shaadi ke din hi uski paati ka mauth hogaya tha."

"Uske paati ka naam?" Maan asked. He could feel his pulse begin to race.

"Umm…mujhe yaad nahin."

"Maa, please, yaad kihiyeh. Please," Maan pleaded.

"Kya tha…umm…haan!" Mrs. Sing said as she remembered. "Uska naam Ma…" suddenly her voice died down "…uska naam Maan tha."

Hearing Mrs. Singh say that validated everything that Maan had remembered and validated everything he was feeling. Tears formed in his eyes as he said, "Main hi uska Maan hoon, Maa. Main hi uska Maan hoon."

"Kya?" Mrs. Singh said.

"Mujhe saab kuch yaad aayga Maa. Saab kuch. Main hi Geet ka Maan hoon," he said over and over again.

"Hey bagwan," Mrs. Singh said.

"Mujhe abhi usse milna hai. Abhi!" Maan said as he headed towards the door.

"Maan ruk jao! Tum toh yeh bhi nahin jaante ke woh rehti kahaan hai," Mrs. Singh called after him

"Mujhe saab kuch paata hai Maa." That was the last thing that Maan said as he raced out of the house.

"Lucky!" Mrs. Singh called. "Jaldi jaa. Maan ke peeche jaa! Jaldi!"

Lucky raced off after his brother not asking any questions. He could hear the worry and fear in his mother's voice. Questions could be answered later.

Maan didn't even bother to take a taxi or rikshaw, he ran the entire way to Geet's house. As he came up to the main gate he stopped. He knew that he couldn't just waltz in like he owned the place. Then he remembered the back pathway that he used to use when he snuck in to see Geet all those years ago. He quietly found that path again and snuck in. He didn't realize Lucky was behind him. Maan peaked into Geet's room to find it empty but then he heard a soft chuckle and the patter of feet.

Suddenly, a chubby and unstable little girl ran into Geet's room displaying a sweet smile. Maan immediately hid and nearly knocked Lucky over in the process.

"Tu yahaan…" Maan began to say to Lucky but stopped when he heard the voice again.

"Maansi, badmash kahaan chupi hai tu," it came.

Then she appeared. His Geet, in front of his eyes after four long years. How could he have not remembered her? How?

"Massi," the little girl called.

Maan watched and Geet fell onto her bed as she tickled the little girl until she was pink. Hearing the girl call Geet massi, made Maan realize that this was Sasha Bhabi's little girl. She had to be three years old or so. The girl managed to get out of Geet's grasp and toddled over to her dressed. Opening one of the drawers she pulled out a red velvet box. Immediately Geet was on her feet. She took the box from the child, sat on the stool in front of the dressed and pulled the girl onto her lap.

"Yeh kya hai tum jaante ho?" Geet asked the child. "Yeh meri mangalsutra hai, joh tumhare Mausa ne mujhe diya tha."

"Ooh," the child cooed.

"Tum jaante ho ke tumhare Mausa ke saath tumhara ek bohot hi gehra rishta hai. Tumhara naam Maansi hai kyun ke uska naam Maan tha. Maan ki choti si…pyaari si…Maansi," Geet explained. "Aagar woh aaj yahaan hote toh tumse bohot pyaar karta."

"Mausa," the girl repeated as she gently touched the mangalsutra that was nestled in the box.

The girl was adorable. No, not girl – her name was Maansi.

"Chalo, sone ka waqt hogaya hai," Geet said as she closed the box and put it away where it belonged.

Geet laid down with Maansi next her. She began to pat Maansi gently and hummed soothingly. Maan watched Maansi put a finger in her mouth and dozed off. He watched as Geet took a blanket and covered her little body. It was then, when Geet got up and adjusted her saree in front of the mirror that reality dawned on Maan.

There she was, his beautiful bride – dressed in white. He couldn't believe his eyes. To this day, she was mourning his death when he wasn't even dead. At an age when she should be adorned with colors and jewelry, she was dressed in plain, blank clothing. At an age when all she should know is happiness and joy, there were tears and pain in her eyes. Maan nearly jumped through the window to go to her, but was stopped when Pinky entered.

"Didi, Sasha Bhabi aapko bula rahi hai," she said.

"Tik hai, main jaar rahi hoon, tu yahaan Maansi ke paas bait," Geet said as she walked out.

Maan had seen enough. Both him and Lucky climbed down. They were about to leave when from the corner of his eye Maan saw a car pull up to the house and four men climbed out – the Handa men. Maan's blood began to boil as he clenched his hands into fists. He took one step forward but then felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Veerji, kya kaar rahe ho?" Lucky asked.

Now was not the time of place Maan realized. "Kuch nahin, chal," he ordered.

Once they reached home, both Mr. & Mrs. Singh were waiting for them in the library. Before anything else, Mr. Singh examined Maan. He explained how sometimes all it took was one trigger to set off a domino effect that caused the memories to come flooding back. For Maan, that trigger had been the song that played as he shared his first dance with Geet.

It was after the exam, that Maan explained everything to his family. He told them about his humble life with his mother. He told them about Geet and their love. He told them about the Handa family and how they had taken away everything for the sake of money. He told his family how the Handa's had tried to pawn off their daughter for monetary gain.

There was no way that Maan was going to let the Handa men get away with what they had done. That night he sat and put together an elaborate plan for the Handa's. It was a plan that would be hard to carry out but would pay off in the end. It was be a plan that they would never see coming.

His new family was only more than happy to help. The Singh family agreed to shift their lives to Amritsar. Mrs. Singh would open her own practice there while Mr. Singh looked after new branches of their company. Maan was beyond thankful to him because he agreed to put his medical practice on hold for Maan. He had said that Maan was his son, and for his sons happiness he'd do anything. It was at that moment that Maan thought about Pinky. She was sixteen now and soon her father and brothers would be after her to get married. Maan couldn't let his Chulbulli's life go up in flames like Geet's did. That is when he thought of Lucky.

Lucky was a sweet boy, who was honest and loving. Maan couldn't force Lucky to marry Pinky; all he asked was for Lucky to get to know her. This is where Anne agreed to attend the same high school that Pinky attended. Once Anne and Pinky were friends, Lucky would have an excuse to get closer to Pinky.

Maan's soul duty was to build a completely new business empire that would catch the eye of the Handa's. He had to spread the word that this young, new business tycoon was razing all kinds of hell as he reached for the top of the corporate empire. What worked the best to Maan's advantage was that none of the men in that house knew what he looked like. They had only seen him in passing for a few seconds and then on that fateful night four years ago, he doubted they even remembered that.

That night Maan once again snuck into Geet's room where she slept. Carefully, not making a single sound he sat in a chair next to her bed. He just stared at her. She hadn't changed much – she was still the most beautiful girl in the world. She still had the same smile that could light up even the darkest room. She still made his heart skip a beat. However, one thing had changed – she no longer had that warm spark in her eyes. To Maan, her eyes seemed dead and unfeeling, much like how she must have felt. All he wanted to do was hug her and tell her that he was back. All he wanted to do was make her happy again. All he wanted was her.

However, he couldn't do that. As badly as he wanted do take Geet and go some place no one could find them, he wanted revenge more. He wanted revenge on the Handa men, not for what they had done to him, but for what they had done to his Geet. How dare they make her shed even one single tear? How dare they cause for her to lead a colorless and miserable life? How dare they hurt her? How dare they!? The Handa's were going to pay. They were going to pay with tears. They were going to pay with blood. They were going to pay with what they held dear the most – their money.

Maan left Geet's room after placing a soft kiss on her forehead. He had a mission to complete, and until it was accomplished he would not show his face to Geet. It was time to implement the plan.

Maan needed a new alias. What was he going to call himself? Then like an angel, Geet gave him the answer. In one day Maan went from being Maan Singh, back to Maan Singh Khurana. That night, at the moment, he went from Maan Singh Khurana to Armaan Malik - Maan and Armaan are one in the same.

*~* Back to Present *~*

Maan further explained how starting the very next day. Lucky for him Singh Industries was a big time business corporation and the Singh's were trusted and respected throughout the business world. It didn't take them but a few hours in one meeting to convince all of their partners and fellow business associates to go along with their plan. Of course, the various companies were reimbursed in the form of having guaranteed contracts with Singh Industries for the duration of this period. Everyone was only too happy to accept.

And so, three years ago, began the biggest con ever in the Indian business industry. Three years ago Armaan Malik entered the scene with nothing but raves and success. Three years ago, even though they didn't know it yet, the Handa's had lost everything that mattered to them.

"Aaj, theen saal baad main kamyab hua hoon," Maan announced with a smirk on his face. The pleasure of accomplishing his goal was evident in his eyes. "Kyun, aab kuch kehne ko nahin raha?" Maan asked his three brother-in-laws.

Of course, no one had any response.

Geet took in Maan standing in front of her and realized how different he actually looked and why no one recognized him when he'd entered the house and why her brothers and father didn't recognize who he was. Before this whole mess had started, Maan had been clean shaven all the time with loose, unruly hair with a boyish twinkle in his eyes. Now however, he had stuble over his face, his hair was gelled back to perfection and the boyish charm was replaced by resilience and attidute. He was a much more mature and confident man then he'd been before.

MSK Before

MSK After

"Maan, jaise tum samaj rahe ho, vaise nahin hai?" Geet said.

"Kya matlab?"

"Matlab ke saath saal pehle joh kuch bhi hua tha, uss mein meri bhaiyoon ka koi dosh nahin tha," Geet said.

"Yeh tum kaise keh sakte ho?" Maan asked in his state of shock. Was Geet really making excuses for her horrid brothers?

"Joh bhi hua saab ek ghalti thi," she said.

"Nahin Geet nahin! Kuch ghalat nahin tha. Saab kuch ek soochi samji chal thi. Inke batoon mein maat aao."

"Haan chal thi, lekin inka nahin, Bauji ka."

"Kya?" Maan asked.

Geet then went on to explain what had really happened seven years ago. She told him about her brothers willingness to help them be together, she told him about her fathers ultimatum – she told him about it all. At the end, Maan stood speechless and utterly disgusted.

"Ek…ek admi aaisa kaise kaar sakta hai? Woh bhi aapni biwi aur bachoon ke saat?" he asked.

"Hume maaf kardena," Brij said with his hands folded him front of him. "Humare vaje se tum dono ko kya kya sehna pada."

"Aare yeh aap kya kaar rahe hai," Maan said holding Brij's hands. "Joh bhi hua aap logoon ki baas ek ghalti thi. Aagar main aap ke jaga hota toh main bhi vahin karta. Maa ki aur behen ki ehmiyat kya hai, woh mujhe paata hai."

"Mohinder ne aaisa kyun kiya?" Savitri asked herself.

As if on cue, in walked Mohinder – from the look on his face, he was not too happy. A crooked smile played on Maan's face because he knew exactly why Mohinder Handa was in such a foul mood.

"What is the meaning of this?" Mohinder yelled as he threw a file on the center table. "Aapne aapko kya samajte ho Armaan Malik!?"

Mohinder went on to explain how he spent the last few hours at his lawyers office attempting to gain all of Malik Industries. According to the contract Armaan had signed over 100% of Malik Industries to Mohinder. However, when his lawyer went to make all the necessary arrangements to get everything officially in Mohinder's name, he ran into a problem.

"Mere sawaloon ka jawab doh Armaan Malik!?" Mohinder ordered.

Maan walked over to Mohinder with a glint in his eyes. "Jaab koi Armaan Malik hi nahin hai, toh Malik Industries kahaan se aayega?" he asked.

"Kya matlab?"

"Matlab yeh Bauji," Maan teased, "ke main Armaan Malik nahin hoon."

"Toh phir, kaun ho tum?" Mohinder asked confused.

"Main? Main woh hoon jisko aap aapni beti di hai. Main woh hoon jiska aap saab se bohot purana rishta hai. Main woh hoon joh aapki barbadi hai." Maan leaned in close to Mohinder's ear before he whispered, "Main…Maan Singh Khurana hoon."

Mohinder turned white, like he had seen a ghost. Of course, he had just seen a ghost. In his eyes Maan was dead.

"Nahin! Tum…nahin. Kaise…" his voice trailed off.

As Maan reiterated the entire story, Mohinder sank into a chair next to him. Maan also informed him that starting tomorrow, any and all companies that Handa Industries had contracts with would be pulling out and terminating the agreements. By the end of the week Handa Industries would be nothing but a memory of what had once been a staggering empire.

"Baas itna hi nahin aur bhi hai," Maan teased. "Aap ko Geet aur Pinky se nafrat issiliyeh hai naa kyun ke woh dono ladkiyaan hai? Aapko yehi lagta hai naa ke aurtein useless hai? Toh mera ek aur baath bhi sunlijiyeh. Mere naam joh kuch bhi hai…business, properties, bank accounts…saab…Geet ke naam pe hai. Mere paas toh ek photi kaudi bhi nahin hai, lekin aapki iss beti karorpati hai."

"Kya!?" Mohinder said in outrage.

"Maine bhi aapna saab kuch Pinky ke naam pe kardiya hai," Lucky announced shocking their audience even more. "Aur uppar se aapke saare invertors bhi back out kaar rahe hai aapke company se."

"Bechara Bauji aab toh aapke paas kuch bhi nahin hai. Kya hoga aapka?" Maan asked. "Yahaan tak ke yeh ghaar bhi aapka nahin hai. Yeh ghaar Geet ki hai."

Suddenly like a ton of bricks hitting him, Mohinder was stunned. Mohinder had originally purchased the house in Geet's name, only at Savitri's insistence. Shortly after Geet was born Mohinder's business began to really take off. That is why, when the bought this house, Savitri asked Mohinder to put their home in Geet's name – after all, she was the lakshmi of the house. Mohinder had given in to Savitri's request – he didn't know why. But no he realized that he had never fixed it and put it in his name.

"Tum kya samajte ho aapne aapko?" Savitri asked.

Mohinder looked at his wife shocked. "Tum?"

She had never addressed him like that.

"Haan tum!" Savitri yelled. "Aaj tumhare liyeh mere dil mein koi jaaga nahin hai, aur akhoon mein izzat bhi nahin. Aapni hi biwi aur beti ke saath tum aaisa kaise kaar sakte ho?"

"How dare you question me?" Mohinder roared.

"Oh shut up!" Savitri roared back. "Tum shayad bhul gaye ho ke khabi tum bhi Maan the. Khabi tumhare paas bhi kuch nahin tha. Tum bhul rahe ho ke joh business empire tumne banaya hai woh tumne mere naam pe banaya hai."

Everyone stood shocked at seeing Savitri like this. The stood confused at what she was saying.

"Tum bhul rahe ho ke main Vikram Oberio ki beti thi. Paaisa mere paas the, tumhare nahin. Izzat meri thi, tumhara nahin. Business mera tha, tumhara nahin. Mere pyaar ke saamne meri Bauji toh jhuk gaye. Meri kushi ke liyeh unhone saara business tumhe deh diya. Tum bhul sakte ho lekin main nahin," Savitri said.

Savitri explained how before turning into Handa Industries, the company was called Oberoi Co. Savitri had fallen in love with a boy who was not from their society or class. However, for the sake of his daughters love and happiness Vikram Oberio had happily turned over the reins over to Mohinder. When Savitri asked him why he gave it all, he said that he built all of this for her and if it helps her husband then that is just fine with him.

"Tum shayad aapna ateet bhul sakte ho lekin main nahin. Aaj bhi log Vikram Oberoi ka izzat karte hai. Aur main vaada karti hoon, ke aagar maine aur mere bachoone tumhe sadak paar lekar aayenge. Aagar maine aaisa nahin kiya, toh mera naam bhi Savitri Oberoi nahin," she threatned.

Everyone was stunned to see the usually quiet and reserved Savitri fighting with all she had. Looks like the saying is true, don't mess with a mother and her children. If you do, she will attack and no one will be spared.

"Now get out!" Savitri ordered.

"Aab aap jaane ki kasht karenge. Ya phir main dhake marke aapko bahar nikaloon?" Maan asked.

"Tum aaisa nahin kaar sakte!" Mohinder said.

"Kaise nahin kaar sakta? Main toh kaar chukka hoon," Perm said.

Maan and Lucky literally pushed a screaming and frustrated Mohinder out of the house. After instructing the guards to never let this man within even 300 yards of the house, they returned to the family. First thing Maan did was go and take ashirwad from Savitri.

"Sasha, pooja ki thali la," Savitri ordered.

"Kyun Maa?" Pinky asked.

"Humare ghaar ka bada damad pehli baar ghaar aaya hai, swagat toh karna hi padega," Savitri said.

Savitri did Maan's arti and blessed both him and Geet. The entire family watched with smiled on their faces and tears in their eyes. After all these years Geet was happy, after all these year a miracle had taken place. Taking Maan's hand she placed Geet's hand in it.

"Tumhari amanat, sambhalke rakhna," she said.

Geet hugged her mother as tears sprang to her eyes.

Suddenly the room erupted in laughter. Looking around, Geet saw Pinky gathered on the couch with their three Bhabi's laughing their butts off.

"Itna haans kyun rahe ho?" Brij asked.

"Woh…" Naintara began to say but continued to laugh.

"Aare hume bhi batana," Teji said.

"Woh…Lucky…" Pinky began but she too fell into another fit of laughter along with the other ladies.

"Kya hua Lucky ko?" Geet asked.

Pinky got up and walked to where her husband, Lucky, stood with her brothers.

"Tumhara naam…" Pinky laughed, "…tumhara naam Lakku hai!"

As Lucky cringed everyone else burst into laughter. Geet tried to fight it but couldn't, she too laughed whole heartedly.

"Tum kyun haans rahi ho?" Lucky asked Pinky. "Tumara kitne naam hai. Chulbulli aur Chutki. Ha!"

"Dono naam bohot cute hai. Lakku toh…kissi lallu ka naam hona chahiyeh," Pinky said.

Meera finally piped in saying "Lakku the Lallu!"

That was it, everyone was laughing so hard that they had tears in their eyes.

"Yeh kya kiya aapne Veerji?" Lucky asked Maan.

"Sorry Lakku," Maan said as he ruffled Lucky's hair.

The rest of the night went off with everyone getting reacquainted with each other. Maan was introduced to all the new members of the Handa family. He talked to Geet's brothers about setting up their own businesses. He joked around with her sister-in-law's and played with the kids.

The entire time, Geet held onto his hand, not once letting go. It was like she feared that if she let go, he would disappear.

As they all sat down for dinner Maan leaned in and whispered, "Aab toh haat chodo, main kahin nahin jaaunga."

"Nahin, main nahin chodungi. Tum phirse chale gaye toh?" Geet asked.

"Maine kahaan naa. Jis duniya mein Geet zinda hai, uss duniya ko chodkar Maan kahin nahin jayega. Aab humesha tumhare akhoon ke samne rahunga," Maan promised as he kissed her forehead.

Geet once again traced the angry looking scar on Maan's face. "Bohot dard hua hoga naa?" she asked.

"Nahin, isska toh bilkul dard nahin hua. Dard hua toh hiss baath pe ke main tumse door hoon," Maan said. "Inn saath saloon mein tumhe laga tha ke main iss duniya mein nahin hoon."

"Haan, bohot muskil se maine uss baath se samjota kar liya tha," Geet said.

"Mera soocho. Tum mere itne karib hokar bhi tumse door rehna pada. Yeh jaante hue bhi ke tumhare daard ka dawa main hoon, main kuch nahin kar paaya. Usska daard mujhe haar roz chubta tha. Pichle theen saal maine kaise guzra hai baas main jaanta hoon aur Bagwan jaanta hai. Bheer mein bhi tanha tha main."

"Aur main, tumhare bina mera hai hi kya? Tumhare bina kissi ka kuch maine nahin tha. Main bhi toh tanha thi," Geet added. Tears sprang to her eyes as she rememberd how much she had missed him.

"No more crying," Maan said as she wiped her tears. "Main aayga hoon naa? Aab tumhari zindagi mein koi tanhai nahi hogi. I promise…aab se…hum humesha saath saath honge."

"Humesha?" Geet repeated as she tilted her head.

"Humesha…" he answered.

That night Geet cried, like she did almost every night, except this night was different. This night she didn't cry tears of pain, she cried tears of happiness and joy. For the first time in a long time Geet looked forward to the dawning of a new day because, with Maan by her side once again, she knew everything would be alright. She knew that now on, they'd be together forever…forever.

Humesha Saath.