Maneet FF:Dreams ~4~ Part 39, page 125 :) - Page 77

The phone call had brought Maan back to the nightmare where nobody was safe. It had been three months since anybody heard from Dev. Police had been unable to find him, maybe because he wasn't in the city anymore. Why would he go to Naintara's when he knew they were after him? He had always played his cards right. This was a bad move. His head throbbed as he tried to put the pieces of the puzzle together. What ever Dev's motives maybe, he would see that he harmed nobody. He would make sure of it. He looked at Geet who sat nervously in the middle of the bed, her legs crossed, chewing on her lower lip. His eyes moved a little lower to her abdomen as he took in her sight. His Geet, their child. No, He needed to put an end to it all. He made a call to Adi asking him to book a flight for him while Geet looked at him with wide eyes.

"Maan—" Geet tried to speak but Maan shut her up with a finger on her lips. He knew what was coming

"Trust me Geet. You need your rest and I will be back as soon as possible. You cannot travel in this condition. I won't allow it" He spoke with authority.

"But---" She tried one more time but Maan pressed his finger again. "No arguments"

"Lekin---" she gave one last try but stopped as he glared at her. Suddenly her eyes got wide and she stood up "I am going to---"

"Geet-" he stopped her with his hand over her shoulder. He was loosing his patience. "Tum kahin nahi jaaogi samjhi tum!!!!" He glared at her in anger.

"—to the kitchen" she completed her sentence as she threw a causal look at her shoulders where he had gripped her. She turned her gaze back at him and cocked her head to a side.

"You are hungry?" he threw a glance at the clock. "Now?" He looked at her surprised.

"No, I am not hungry" she shook her head as she slipped her feet into the slippers. "I want ice cream"

"You what?" How had she gone from fighting over accompanying him to Mumbai to getting an ice cream in such a short spam of time?

"I said, I want to eat ice cream" she spoke again making herself clear of her intentions. Please Babaji let there be some in the freezer. She prayed in her heart.

"I heard you the first time." He stopped her with his hand in the air. " ice cream at this hour? Seriously?" he lifted his eyebrows at her thoughtfully.

"Tell that to the baby, not me" She rubbed a hand over her tummy. He closed his eyes in defeat. Ofcourse. her cravings. He pushed her slightly towards the bed, "you stay here, I will get it"

He had hardly gone till the door when she shouted back at him "Jaldi.. and make sure it's a big scoop…no two big scoops". He waved a hand at her letting her know he heard her.

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"Adi, just tell the lawyer to meet me there." he opened the fridge and took out the tub. He fiddled around the drawers to find a spoon. "Yes, I have to leave by tomorrow's flight, Just cancel all the meetings--" A sudden presence of someone made him look up. "Geet, what are you doing here?"

Tired of waiting for him to come back with her object of fascination, Geet had made her way to the kitchen.

"Itna time lagta hai ek ice cream laane mei?" she stood with her hands on her hips. With two quick steps, she grabbed the tub and spoon from his hands and scooped up a spoonful into her mouth. She closed her eyes in relief as the ice cream melted in her mouth. She hummed something inaudible while Maan looked at her with a grin on his face. "Adi, main baad mei call karta hoon"

"I take it, it is good" He stood with his back against the counter his hands on his either side.

"Oh..this is heaven. You have no idea." she put another spoon in her mouth. "If you are waiting to have some, forget it. I am not sharing" she turned a little holding the tub of her delicious ice cream protectively.

Maan chuckled loudly. "I know. Finish it and then come to bed"

"Maan?" She called out as he reached the door. "Haan Geet? Kuch aur chahiye?"

She smiled and walked up to him. She stood on her tippy toes and placed a small peck on his cheeks. Her lips were cold against his warm skin. She offered a spoon as she winked. He shook his head before took the spoonful of ice cream in his mouth. "It is really good" he mumbled. Taking hold of her from her shoulders, he guided her to their bedroom with Geet munching on her dessert all the way.

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Dev had never hated his brother more than at this moment. He had been angry at him when he had married Geet. He had loathed him when he saw his half-brother happy. But at this moment, now, he loathed him. He plain hated how he had closed all the ways to happiness in his life. His hatred was intensified by the fact that he was going to be a dad but he really couldn't be a part of it. He had been in hiding for so long. His resources had finished. He was half dead with no means and no purpose except to find what he had lost.

It was unfair. It wasn't his fault that his father had cheated on his own wife and fathered him, kept him hidden all those years. He hated his father and he hated his brother. Maybe Maan hated him too. Otherwise why would he cut off all ties with him leaving him to fend for himself? So much for being brothers, he scoffed. His grand mom, the one who had vowed to take care of him forever had turned her back on him. Where did the so called loyalty go now? Hadn't she being the one to say that both her grandsons are equal in her eyes? Then why the prejudice? Why the discrimination? Naintara refused to even talk to him. And he knew why. She had gone to that brother of his before she left town. She was the only solace he had and Maan had taken that away from her too. He gritted his teeth as he swirled the golden liquid in the glass in front of him. He vowed to never let Maan live his peace. He would have his revenge. Once and for all.

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Maan turned and glared at the lawyer in front of him. This had gone far too long for his taste. He needed it to be over. "Did I not make myself clear?" Maan raised an eyebrow at him. "If he harasses Naintara one more time, I will not leave him. I need to have those restraining order within an hour"

If he couldn't get his hands on Dev, he could at least try to keep Naintara safe. He had promised Geet, he would. And Maan Singh Khurana never backs from his promise.

"Yes, of course. I will have all the necessary paper work done" He cleared his throat and raised himself up from the seat. Maan grunted and the man scrambled to his feet.

Silence prevailed in the room and Maan looked intently at the wall in front of him. He should have gotten hold of Dev when he had the chance.

"Thankyou Veerji" Naintara's soft voice broke the quietness of the room. "I didn't know who to turn to." She clasped a hand over her stomach protectively. Maan turned to face her and then looked down at her bulging figure. She was pregnant just like Geet was. Where Geet had him to pamper her, Naintara was all alone. How was that fair to her or her unborn child? She had decided to go through with this pregnancy and he had let her face the cruel world all alone. What had he been thinking? He hadn't been thinking at all. He should have never let Naintara move so far away from home. She was mature, independent woman but that didn't mean she didn't need love or she didn't need a family to look after her. Making his mind, he spoke with a certainty in his voice, "Pack your bags. You are coming with me"

"Excuse me?" Naintara looked at baffled. "I am not going anywhere with you. I am sorry I called you. I just needed your help. I was scared but that doesn't mean I am going to run and hide---" she rambled on.

"Naintara, Stop" He ran a hand through his hair in frustration, how he wished Geet was here to handle this. He had never been so patient. Taking a deep breath he spoke again getting his thoughts in line.

"I am not asking you to run and hide. You have full right to live your life as you wish." Hearing her scoff, he tried once again "Geet is pregnant too and I just thought it would be nice for her to have you in the same house. You can come live with us for sometime , just as long as you want. You are free to leave anytime. Tum hi to mujhe Veerji bulaati ho. At least let me help you".

He looked at Naintara who seemed to be lost in some thought. Getting a flicker of hope he spoke again "I give you my word, nobody will force you to do anything you aren't ready for or to stay beyond your wishes. You can choose to live your life as you wish."

He was happy to see her think about it before a small smile crept up her face and he sighed in relief. At least she wasn't opposed to the whole thing all together.

That very evening, Naintara had all the necessary stuff packed and ready to leave with Maan for Delhi. They were supposed to board a later flight. Maan had promised Geet he would be back soon and he intended to keep it. He had called and told her about their plans. As he had expected, she was thrilled with the news and had Nakul working on getting a room ready for Naintara.

"Naintara, you need something ?" He asked as he started to walk towards the nearby shop. "Uhh….just a bottle of water, thanks" she replied quickly without looking at him as she texted on her phone. He bought two water bottles and paid the shopkeeper, when his eyes fell on a bar of chocolate which reminded him of his Mishti. On a whim he bought it too. He smiled as he remembered their parting moment from the morning.

She had been sitting on the bed eating an apple when he was about to leave the room in a hurry. He was already late and if he didn't leave now, he would surely miss his flight. She called out to him…Mumbling something. He turned to look at her when she threw her arms in the air "Jaate jaate ek hug to dete jaao" Instantly his face broke into a huge grin as he took two long strides to her side and engulfed her in his arms. She grinned as Maan placed a soft kiss over her hair and bid good bye.

Life was good. It was perfect with Geet in it. She made his life pleasant and worth living. He was lost in her thoughts and didn't see the car coming at them at full speed. He didn't see a man getting out of it with a knife in his hands, his eyes blazing with fury. Naintara's scream brought his out of his reverie and he turned to come face to face with his half brother, Dev.

As Dev lunged to strike, Maan quickly shifted to avoid the plunge; the water bottles fell to the ground. Dev seemed intoxication, his eyes were blurry and he had more than a five O'clock shadow on his jaw. With one swift motion, Maan's fist landed on his jaw throwing him off balance. As Geet's face danced in front of Maan's eyes, he remembered all he had done. He threw a second punch breaking his nose with impact. Blood gushed out making a detestable sight. Dev tumbled backwards but recovered soon as he wiped his nose with the back of his hand and swung his arm again towards Maan. The knife made a gash on his arm igniting the beast within him. Maan screamed in pain, putting his left hand to his shoulder and bending slightly in pain. Dev smirked. He had wanted to see that pain on his face for so long. But this was worth the wait. His brother was bleeding, just as he had been crying tears of blood. He had received the restraining order a few hours back and he had exploded. Maan had made him stay away from his house, his family and now he took away his love. He took everything he could call his away from him. He made a sound which was between a grunt and laugh.

Frowning at him, Maan twisted and hit Dev with a quick left hook to the head disarraying him for a moment and punched him hard in his belly with all his force. Dev left the gush of air out from his lungs as he coughed loudly, his voice making a dry sound. As Dev fell off to one knee, Maan took another swung at him and Dev lay on the floor with a large gush of dark blood oozing from his cuts.

Naintara rushed to Maan, holding his arm as she looked at Dev with fearful eyes from above his shoulder. She had instantly called the police and they were right on time to drag him off to custody. He had broken the restraining order and with the past complaints, he was going to go away for a long long time. Maan talked to the authorities giving out details on the attack. The legal formalities were going to take some time and the inspector assured Maan that Dev would be transferred to Delhi Police once they were done with him. Finally the Dev chapter was over in their lives. He sighed in relief and winced with pain as he looked at his bleeding shoulder. He was going to be in a lot of trouble when Geet sees him like that.

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