PART 22
THEY'RE grading all the kids for the soccer teams tomorrow,' Daksh announced on the way home from Lake Shore. 'Can you come, Daddy?'
'Your father has other things to do tomorrow,' Geet quickly inserted, panicking at the thought of having to withstand Maan's pursuit of marriage with her a second day in a row. Besides, a Sunday visit was too much for her to handle. Her hands clenched, the need to fight against any pressure racing through her mind.
'I bet all the other fathers will be there,' Daksh grumbled.
Maan's hands tightened around the steering wheel. Geet's heart sank.
She knew what Maan was thinking—robbed of five years of fatherhood and still being blocked from taking part in his son's life. It violated his sense of justice and threw Geet into confusion over what was fair and what wasn't.
Was she being selfish, limiting his access to Daksh? Did she have to protect them both from the Khurana family when Maan had placed himself so unequivocally beside them, prepared to ward off any harmful interference in their lives?
'It's not until four o'clock,' Daksh informed, his voice brightening with the hope the late time might make a difference. 'You can have all day to do other things.'
Geet closed her eyes despairingly. It wasn't Maan using Daksh to pressure her into doing what he wanted. Their son was doing a good job of it all by himself. She heard Maan's swift intake of breath hissing between his teeth. He hated this, and God help her, she hated it, too.
It wasn't how it should be for Daksh.
Maan spoke, determinedly testing her resistance to the idea. 'Perhaps I could come by the soccer park…'
Words left hanging for her to pick up on, words carefully strained of any forceful persuasion, words that begged this concession from her.
And she heard herself say, 'Daksh would like that.'
Maan's relief was palpable.
The thin edge of the wedge, Geet thought, but it was difficult to regret it, listening to Daksh's bubbling pleasure in the possibility his father would come to watch him.
Not possibility.
Certainty.
Geet had no doubt about that. Maan confirmed it before he left that evening, pausing on the front porch to thank her for stretching their day outs and thankfully not pressing her for anything else.
Though his eyes did. His eyes bored into hers, intent on smashing every barrier between them. She knew he wouldn't be content until there were no limitations on their relationship. But she wasn't sure what was the driving force behind the burning intent.
Love…possession…revenge?
All of them powerful feelings.
Long into the night Geet lay awake, feeling her own way through Maan's current conflict with his parents. He'd thrown down the gauntlet to them—lose him or accept her as his wife and Daksh as his son. He expected to win the challenge, but would he?
The method used to separate them last time had been an extreme act, demonstrating the depth of his family's opposition to a relationship which didn't fit into their world. To Geet's mind, their grief over losing their younger son, was highly unlikely to change their attitude towards her. They would want Maan to fulfill their plans for him even more now—their one son left to uphold all they stood for.
Maan thought Daksh would be a swaying factor—their one grandchild—but Geet doubted her son had the power to pull them into acceptance. He wasn't wanted any more than she was.
They probably saw Maan's reaction to Dev's deathbed confession as a rebellion against having been manipulated into giving up a woman he'd wanted—shock at discovering he had a child. His knowledge might stay their hand from any further interference with her life or daksh's, but there would surely be mounting pressure on Maan to drop them from his life.
It could become a very bitter battle.
Maan had spoken of his parents losing but Geet couldn't see them rolling over to oblige what might be considered as only wounded pride on his part. Yet it wasn't pride she felt pulsing from him when he was with her and Daksh. It was need. And it kept stirring need in her, as well. Even more unsettling…need in Daksh.
Where would it all end?
Dev's deathbed revelations had set in motion a train of action she had no way of stopping. Maan was the engine driver and she and Daksh were captive passengers. All she could hope for was they didn't crash against an immovable force which would break them apart with worse wounds to carry into the future.
Eventually Geet fell into a fretful sleep.
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A weighty silence filled the dark night as the busy city turned into a ghost town. Its past midnight. Maan stared at the dark silence of the patio. It's one another sleepless night for him… another night of loneliness… another night to repent… But, there is a difference from past 6 years, if all those years he was burning in rage, now he is burning in guilt….in his loss…. His love, his Geet and their son, is only a hand distance, still they are too far from him. Will he ever be able to make it upto her?
He felt suffocated… like, his life breath was squeezing out of him… He slowly rose from his chair and headed towards the open terrace. The warm night breeze stirred the leaves and caressed his face. No stars tonight. Geet always loved to sleep under the starry night, he thought sadly. A car raced down the street, piercing the silence of the night. Maan's eyes fall on the electrical maintenance work going on the other side of the road. Must be some work, which they cannot do at day time with, the busy streets and people. He was about to turn, when something caught his attention… A ladder!
'Geeet'. He whispered closing his eyes…
That was a summer. Every summer daadimma insisted to spend some time in their, Mansion, in Mussorie. Climate will be really cool compared to Delhi, and she has special memories of daadaji, in Mussorie. From their, school days, it has become more like a custom, summer means Muzzorie. It was one such summer which changed his life entirely…
Maan too preferred to spend some time alone with his favorite peoples – Daadimma and Dev. Back in Delhi, he do not have much time to give them. So he always, took few days off from his Office, and meetings. Rest of the important works, he handled from Mussorie itself. Dev and Maan, always liked fishing and sailing. They were equipping their bag with necessary items for fishing next day, when they find, the twine for fishing is not adequate. Dev suggested a supermarket nearby. Maan has seen it many times, as its very near to their Mansion as well, but has never visited it, as there was never any need for it.
Cursing Dev, he headed towards the section, where he can get twine as per Dev. The moment they entered the shop, directing him to some place, Dev disappeared. Maan was in an important call, he hardly checked, where he is heading for.
That was when he saw, her. Maan stopped in his tracks. He forgot all about the call. She was wearing a white T-shirt and 3/4th Capri. One leg in the aluminium step ladder and other, placed in the tall five tier shelf, humming a song, and slightly swaying her hips, lost in her own work and enjoying it to the fullest. Maan has seen many girls, girls throw themselves at him, and he always avoided them. He saw them only as distraction. And he knew, more than him, they were all behind his so called Khurana name, and money. But, do not know why, he felt a special attraction to this unknown girl. He wished to see her face, he can only see her back, as she is turned other side, . 'Maan, what's wrong with you? She is just another girl.'
Lost in the thoughts, he was about to pass side by the aisle, but as the aisle width was comparatively narrow, his shoulder hit the ladder. What happened next, totally took his breath. She is falling! Ohh God! His eyes widened….A moment he froze, then next immediate second; he took her in his arms… She falls gently into his open arms…Light as a feather... His eyes closed from the sudden touch of her body to his. He cocooned her until her face buried in the crook of his neck, comfortably, snugly. Still, obstinately he holds her to him, and timorously, his hands wrapped the compact brilliance of her body.
Moments passed by. He could feel her hands around his neck. The only sound he could hear, was the irregular pounding of his heart mixed with his own breathing. Both of their chests heaved up and down…with the uneven breathing. He slowly opened his eyes to see the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen, in his arms. He felt his heart race underneath his ribcage, thumbing erratically against his chest. She was nothing like the girls he'd seen before, nothing like anyone he would have thought he'd ever notice, and he couldn't stop looking at her.
And just like that, it begins. He can't tear his eyes off her. She is still clutching around his neck tightly. She lookes like a dream, and he feels a story writing itself in his head. Maan closed his eyes, brifly blocking her from his vision. He forced his body to be calm, his breathing to become steady and even. He discarded emotion from his body, brushing it from his soul like dirt off his skin. After so many years of practice, he knew exactly what to do, he thought with pride.
Then he opened his eyes, and discovered he had learned nothing!.
Her eye's were still closed shut. Maan was worried now. He shook her lightly. No response. 'Oh God, She is fine right? She has to.' He took a deep breath to calm his nerves before he gathered courage to speak.
'Uhhh Are you alright?' Somehow he managed to voice his thoughts.
Her eyes flew open and looked straight into his eyes. Their gazes locked. Her hazel eyes captivated him.He missed a beat…. His breath caught in his chest… For just a moment, time stood still. Neither moved. No one blinked. Their ragged, uneven breaths were the only sound. He got transfixed and hypnotized by the life in her eyes. He instinctively knew, that this was a turning point in his life. He was amused at the way she was looking at his face, her beautiful eyes widened, the hands still around his neck, her petite and vivacious form in his arms, like that is where she belonged to… He felt a sudden urge to hold her more to him, unknowingly, his grip tightened on her, the feeling to comfort her, protect her, was overwhelming as the fresh wave of desire that coursed through him, was more intense than anything he had ever experienced. Nothing could harm her while she was in these arms, he thought.
Pleasure shot through him, the way she looked at him. He was handsome, and he knew it, but never has he felt so blessed about it, as her eyes observed him with admiration. A smile, tugged at the corner of his lips. He raised a thick, dark, well shaped eyebrow and looked down at the doe eyed beauty in his arms. All his experience of proximity with stylish, beautiful women could not give him immunity to her innocent charms. He felt electrified with sheer physical desire and took in her dewy soft magnolia skin, two incredibly sexy black beauty spots-one above her lip and the other on her cheek, her large doe hazel eyes, still wide with shock and her luxuriant, wavy dark brown hair tied in a top knot. Tendrils escaped to caress her forehead, making her irresistibly desirable to him— Maan who had the reputation of being a stone hearted businessman, who had not yet shown any inclination to explore matters related to the heart.
A driving ambition to be the best in the industry possessed him and women seemingly had no place in his life. But that was till now. He was trying to conquer his irresistible desire to kiss her full, soft, sensuous mouth.
'Miss'— Maan called her with a slight teasing tone.
Then the spell broke. Her eyes widened and without sparing a moment, she pushed herself from his arms to the floor and straightened herself. Maan felt a sudden loss of warmth. All good things cannot last a life time, he thought sadly. Still, he felt too good. A unknown happiness and warmth spreading through him. Like, he has found his soul… He ran his fingers through his hands to divert his racing mind. Her charms enticed him in. Her full lips and brown eyes drew him to her, and he wanted to enfold her in his arms and kiss her endlessly. 'God what's happening to me. Maan have a control over yourself man. You are not on your first date with a girl.'
Her gaze pierces him like dagger to his heart. He held his gaze, and said slowly.
'Its ok. You don't have to thank me'.
Maan wanted to slap himself. He intend to say something, and said something else. But, if they both continued staring at each other like this, surely, something may go wrong.
Her trance broke. 'Oh Please, I would rather chew my hand off than thank you. Its all because of you I fall down!' She snapped quickly, making him gasp.
'Now what was that for? What did he say to make her, so angry? Ohhh God! Women!. No he was wrong. This girl is no different from others. Maan, definitely vacation is taking a toll on you. Sitting and relaxing is making your mind filled with unwanted thoughts. Or else, how could you even think, she is different.' He got irritated to no end. He saved her from falling, and here she is snapping at him. Its true that, he caused her fall, but it was unintentional. In a narrow aisle like this, who asked her to stand in such a ladder. Still, she looked too cute even when angry. 'Maan Control your stupid thoughts'. He Scolded himself, before he gathered his stern composure. No way, he will let her know, how deeply she has affected him.
He rolled his eyes, becoming annoyed. 'Yeah yeah…! Whatever. Listen girl, just watch your step, 'coz, every time, there won't be someone to catch you'.
She pointed her index finger towards him, 'There won't be a next time. And, if you even dare to touch me again, I will show you your place, you—'
Now… now that was a bad thing to say to Maan Singh Khurana. What this girl think of herself. His own anger bubbled up from nowhere, threatening his usual control, and the emotion caught him by surprise because he'd thought he had himself well in hand. He caught her arms, pulled her towards him, drawing her close to his body. The sudden force, made her collide to his chest, her palm falt against his chest and other hand around the shoulder. He locked his gaze with hers… his one strong arm locked around her waist and other, tightly held her towards him. Feeling the warmth of her body against him, makes it harder for him to struggle awake. Knowing that it's affected him so deeply made him shudder.
He met that gaze full on, with accusation of his own. Silent communication raged between them and the atmosphere was so thick with the tension that, both of them forgot how their bodies were against each other.
'You will— what? Show Me…, My place. You want to play rough?' He asked in a low whisper. He felt her shudder under him. 'Because I can be rough'. He drew her from her waist, still more close to him, if its possible, almost crushing her luscious curves against him.
He looked at her, noticing the soft, pink lips slightly parted, and her irregular breathing… A heady desire to embrace her and smother her with kisses overpowered him. He gazed at her with such enchantment as he found himself entranced by her beauty….. Her chest were heaving and her full br***** crushed against his massive chest as his own breath started to become rapid.
Smack!
He froze! He couldn't come in term with what happened actually. She slapped him hard across his face. He released her in shock. Anger shot through him like fire. Anger, he recognized, as the blood pounded loud in his ears, and fire burned hot in his gut. Right now rage boiled up inside him like, lava ready to burst him apart like a volcano set to erupt.
Because the impossible had happened.
The unthinkable.
And somebody was going to pay!
Forgotten was all the attraction he felt for her…
Pure rage washed over Maan, he wasn't even sure how it happened, ... Maan raised his hand, took her arms, turned her in a swift motion to the side wall. His fists tightened her arms, up over head and pinned her petite body beneath his massive one. Her br***** crushed against his hard, powerful chest. She opened her mouth to scream, but his lips slammed down on hers, cutting off the sassy retort that was forming on her mouth before she could make a sound. She struggled under him again, her firm br***** rubbing against his hard chest. Their thin, tight costumes no real barrier to sensation. He gritted his teeth as pure rage surged through him.
Maan was in complete control until his lips touched hers. Shiver ran through him as he lost himself in her touch, her warmth, her sensuous lips… his mouth rocked over hers, hard, insistent, devouring. Unbearably exciting. He silently commanded her to open to him, and she obeyed mindlessly. Gradually her struggles began to weaken, and she gave up trying to fight… he loosened his grip on her hands, and his hands traveled down, from her arms to the shoulder to the side to her waist, stroking and pinching, locking his arms around her waist, as his tongue filled her mouth, then his other hand went behind her head and angled her as he deepened his kiss. He was pushing his body against hers, and she gasped, and again it was taken by his mouth. Her knees began to give away… but when she bagan to slump, he simply embraced her to him, as she is his most precious treasure. He got lost in her lips, her touch, in the heat emitting from her body…
He crushed her more to him… his control crumbling… He had to get control, regain his senses… His mind kept on alerting him… But he felt too powerless to stop himself… He is falling for her… He knew it… He wanted to stop badly…
His lips traced down, along her jaw and then down her neck, forcing a moan from low in her throat. His lips were tender against her skin. She moaned softly. He tried to be in control, but she is making him lose it completely. He can't help himself any longer. He wants her. He needs her. He raised her slowly from the floor, crushing her body more to his hard muscles… and her br***** compressed delightfully against his chest as he applied his full weight onto her.
He slowly opened his eyes to look down her flushed face, knowingly probably his face looks the same… his anger forgotten… Her eye lids heavy and shut closely, Her lips red and damp swollen from kiss – parted and panting, her hair wild and tangling over her shoulders and forehead, her body lightly sheened in sweat - she looked ravaged already. She is relaxed on his arms… He is losing his sanity, looking at her like this…
The instant Maan's lost senses hit him back like heavy waves…His eyes widened in shock. 'Oh Heavens!. What did I do? How could I get so low?' His heart contracted with regret. The knifing pain in his chest grew to an unbearable ache. He dropped her the next moment and backed. He saw her slumping to the floor. He wanted to take her in his arms… to soothe her… to apologize her… but, he himself was shaken to the core. The kiss was supposed to have been a warning to her, but it had backfired on him. He felt like he had been run over by a train. He held his temple tightly with his hands. 'Aww Hell!'. He turned swiftly, and made his way to the entrance. He should get out of here, or else God know, what he will do. He did a big mistake. And he will apologise. But, before taht, he has to get control over himself, and he should be queit sure, what he is going to talk to her. Never has he loosened himself in front of a girl. Not in the physical or emotional way. Then how can he allow himself to get carried away like this. How I will face her. How I will face daadimma. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, as realization hit him, 'He is not guilty about the kiss, actually he feels like he has find his soul. Maan She is the one'.
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