~RISHTEY~(Maaneet FF)Part 7 pg 104 UPDATED - Page 31

Pinky ran into the Geet's office "Sameera is here" she announced.

Geet nodded her head in response to Pinky's statement. She closed her eyes as she sent a silent prayer to her Babaji. She was trying to play it cool. This was just a normal appointment as any other. But both Pinky and Geet knew it was not. This was totally different and a very important meeting. This could well prove to be THE meeting which changed the future of Celebrations forever. So it was but natural that both were on edge with anxiety.

Geet took a slow deep breath and pressed a hand to her tummy, trying to overcome the butterflies that were fluttering inside. After almost a year of hard work and scrupulous planning, she'd finally started to build a standing for Celebrations. Pinky had been her support through and through. They needed his contract to keep the company afloat and going. They were not desperate but this was a once in a life time chance. She wondered if her babaji had finally started to listen to her prayers.

Geet looked at Pinky and was surprised to find that she didn't look similarly ecstatic. In fact, the deep furrow between her eyebrows and the pale look on her face gave her a feeling that she was seriously worried about something. Maybe the anxiety was getting to her now. But Pinky was a replica of the old Geet; always smiling and chirpy. There would be chaos everywhere but Pinky would bring joviality in the environment with her jokes. So her apprehensive look frightened Geet. There had to something seriously wrong for Pinky to be upset.

"Pinky, sab theek hai na?" Geet asked her.

Her teeth sank in her lower lip as she looked down "She is not alone. She is with a man" she replied.

Geet let out the breath she had been holding as she waited for Pinky to reply. "Oh Pinky! Tune to mujhe dara hi diya tha… aree mostly the bride-to-be don't come alone. They are accompanied by their moms or fiancs. I guess then she is with her fiance." Geet spoke lightly.

"It's Maan" Pinky swallowed the lump in her throat as she looked at her friend's reaction.

Geet held the side of the table as words hit her with a force. She only knew one man with that name, the man who was her whole life, the man who resided in the confines of her heart. Maan Singh Khurana. The room spun as she sank into her chair. Her hand on her quivering mouth, tears brimmed behind her closed eyelids.

"Geet!!!" Pinky ran to her side "You don't have to do this. I will handle it alone. Tu chinta na kar" her eyes filled with sympathy seeing her friend's anguish.

"It's been two years Pinky. Why has he come back now?" Just remembering the pain and frustration from those years made her gut twist into a knot and she couldn't stop the tear that escaped her eye. She quickly wiped it off. She was stronger than this and she won't let the tears hinder her. She gritted her teeth, lifted her chin and turned sharply towards the door behind which stood the man who had destroyed everything she ever believed in.

She wasn't that meek Geet anymore who Maan took for a ride every time he fancied. She had always given him her trust and love and what did she get back in return? Criticism and condemnation? No, she won't let him or his family rule her life anymore. She was free from his shackles, even if her deceitful heart refused to break its ties with him. She would not listen to her heart anymore. It had caused her enough pain as if was.

~Flashback~

She tentatively moved closer and peered inside. People dressed in white filled the main hall of the house. She could see Maan's mom and Daadima hugging eachother and crying. Fear gripped her. What was happening? Why was everyone crying? Where was Maan? Her eyes searched frantically everywhere before they fell on Maan's Dad's portrait. It was covered with a garland. She gasped as she took a step back.

Maan stood far away as the fire engulfed his dad's body, alone. He was numb and frozen. He hadn't spilled a single drop of tear for he was in a state of complete shock. He was emotionally and physically exhausted. He did not know when the pundit chanted the prayers and handed him the pyre to lit the dead body. He didn't recollect any of it. All he knew and understood was his dad was no more and his mom, Daadima and sister stood crying in eachother arms. He was suddenly jolted when he felt a warm small hand pulse along his own and intertwined the fingers. He turned to look and saw Geet's sad and forlorn face beside him. Next to her stood Yash as he gave him a small nod of his head.

Geet had come home bawling her eyes out when she bumped into Yash. After telling him all she saw she broke down again. "Veerji Maan ka kya haal hoga? Main to soch bhi nahi sakti agar bauji ko kuch ho jaaye to hum sab kya karenge"

"Maan needs us Geet. He needs his friends with him" saying he hauled Geet along with him.

Geet held Maan's hand tightly through out the whole ordeal. She was just a little kid but without her knowledge, she gave him what he needed more than anything else in the world at that moment. She gave him her love.

A month later, Maan and Annie with their mom left the small city of Hoshiarpur, leaving Daadima behind. The older lady refused to leave the small house where she cherished the memories of her son and her long gone husband. Maan had begged his dad to go back to the city but when it was finally happening, nobody could be glummer than him. His heart broke as he told the news to Yash and Geet. While Yash hugged and wished him a good life, Geet stood with tears in her eyes. She hugged Annie as the two girls cried silently, one cried for the lose of her father, other for the lose of great friends. Maan said a hesitant good bye to the brother sister who had being his only friends in the past two years. He turned to look at Geet one last time before leaving. The chubby little girl hadn't changed much in the last two years he had known her, but her eyes were sad. They no longer twinkled with delight. He closed his eyes for he couldn't bear to see her tear stricken face. Unknown to him, she had made a place for herself in his heart with out any effort. He would miss her silly jokes, her silly banter and her funny remarks. He realized, he would miss her!!

~Present~

"I am fine. I can do this. I can face him" she spoke with a determination in her voice.

"Yes, You can face him, but to plan his wedding?" placing a soft hand over her arm. Pinky didn't look convinced. She had seen how Geet had survived those days without Maan. She was not ready for this.

"Don't worry, I will be fine." Geet squeezed her hand in assurance "Let's go meet our new clients"

As she was about to enter the room, she peered inside from the glass window and took in the sight of him. He looked just as he did the last time she had laid her eyes on him. That had been exactly two years ago when she was in his arms and he has kissed her like his life depended on it. It seemed like a lifetime ago. She paused momentarily and her lips tightened as the memory came back making her breath caught in her throat. Maan was in front of her eyes. Gorgeous as ever, Handsome as ever, ruthless as ever! She reminded herself. His face was front of her again as she took a second glance at him. The arrogant posture with which he always sat, his high cheek bones, his dark eyes and long eyelashes that she always thought were meant for a woman, made her twist her mouth. She shut her eyes and let the pain sweep over her. Pain she left every waking minute. She could weep, cry and agonize but what was the point? If he had ever loved her, he wouldn't have left her. Would he? No this was Maan. He hated her. She knew. She had felt it when it plunged deep into her heart, slicing her up. She left Pinky's hand in her back bringing her back to the real world. Forcing her eyes open, she took a long bated breath and opened the door.

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Maan squirmed in his chair next to Sameera. He thought he was prepared to see her after all those years. But then she entered the room, the whole world disappeared. All he could see was her, she looked exactly the same, just as perfect as he remembered her. Her hair was tied in the same braid that came and rested on the shoulder, curls marking the side of her face. She was dressed in the exact same way he remembered and involuntarily his lips curved into a smile. She had always hated western clothes and was grounded to her roots.

His smile faltered as he looked at her more closely. Her face was pale, the smile she wore on her beautifully shaped lips didn't reach her eyes. He tried to look into her eyes which were his mirror to her soul but they were blank. Their eyes met for a brief moment and Maan could swear he had never seen more ice cold eyes than hers. The eyes which were once filled with love and warmth were so cold that he felt a shiver run down his spine. It was like a blow to his heart. What the hell was she mad about? Wasn't she the one who ran away and gave up on their life together? She killed everything with her bare hands and he was the one who was made to look guilty.

Geet didn't let her gaze linger on Maan for long. A fraction of the second their eyes met, time had stood still. Her palms were sweaty, blood drummed in her ears and her heart hammered hard in her chest. At a point she felt, she would just faint and drop flat on her face making a mockery of herself. But she held her head high as she walked past Maan and took Sameera's hand.

"Hello Ms. Rathod. It's a pleasure to meet you." She gave her a warm smile ignoring Maan.

Maan looked at her as she shook hands with elegance and poise and felt his heart swell in pride. She had ignored his presence which irked him. Was he really that non existent to her now? She had gotten what she wanted, so he was dispensable?

"Geet, Call me Sam. All my friends do" Sameera chirped. "Please tell me you can plan this wedding by the New Year's Eve"

"But that's just three months away" Geet exclaimed. Surely she could do it…with Pinky beside her, she could manage the whole thing. Geet's mind went into a overdrive instantaneously.

"I know, I just that I want to start this new journey as husband and wife on new year's eve" Sameera had a look on her face that Geet recognized. She once had that look, when she was hopelessly in love.

"That's so romantic" "That's so crazy " Maan and Geet chimed in together.

Her head snapped towards his direction on his comment. Of course, for Maan Singh Khurana, everything that had to do with love or romance was crazy. He was never a romantic at heart. All the time she had known him, she was the one who tried to keep their relationship working. She had tried so hard, so hard yet she had failed. Maybe she was never the one. The one for whom he could forget all. The one who is so embedded in your heart and soul that you forget the whole world. She had loved this man her whole life. But it wasn't necessary that he should love her back. She had asked nothing in return, just a little trust and his companionship. But he had failed to give her that too, breaking her entirely. She knew now, Maan was never meant to be hers.

"I am sure we can arrange that. We can go over the details as soon as possible and get things rolling" She spoke to Sam, ignoring Maan's comment. "Did you have a particular theme in mind?"

"Theme?? Are you serious?" Maan asked her incredulously. If she wasn't going to pay attention to him, he would keep pestering her to talk. He needed her to at least look at him and acknowledge him presence. Why wasn't she looking at him in the eye? Was she ashamed of what she had done? Did she have any guilt over their broken relationship?

Geet closed her eyes momentarily, keeping her rage in check. Was he there to criticize her again?

"Well if you don't like my way of working, you are most welcome to take your business elsewhere" she snapped at him.

She glared at him and he glared back.

Sam looked at the two people in front of her, the tension in the air was so thick that one could actually feel it. She glanced at Pinky who looked equally terrified of the upcoming storm.

Sameera asked "Tum ek doosre ko jaante ho??" she didn't know why but she felt that she was standing right in the middle of a battlefield with two long lost enemies waiting to strike.

"Yes, bahut puraani baat hai…that was a long time back" Geet kept her eyes on Sameera and swayed a hand in the air as if the topic wasn't important. She didn't want to look at him again.

"Itni bhi puraani baat nahi hai…" he stated "aur tum ek bahut zaroori baat bhool rahi ho Geet" his voice dipped a notch as if challenging her. Geet looked at him and thought she saw a smile or was it a smirk? He wouldn't. No, he wouldn't dare.

"What? Konsi baat Maan" Sameera asked curiously.

Maan had been looking at Geet this whole while. He saw the slight changes on her face; saw her mask of in-difference slip away and his lips curved into a wicked smile.

Two pairs of eyes looked at him baffled and in surprise as he spoke, "Geet meri patni hai"

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