A Sudden Change Of Heart - Page 11

CHAPTER-31

"Geet.." Maan murmured, moving closer to her. He stared at her passionately, looking deep into her teary hazels and cupped her face. His voice was a whisper, a comforting and soft whisper, as it said,"Itna dard aapne aap mein lekar ghumti rahi, aur mujhe bataya bhi nahin. Ek baar kaha hota mujhse, I would have taken all your pain away."

Geet raised her eyes and saw the devotion and sincerity in his. More tears trickled down her already tear-stained cheeks and she sniffed softly. Life is so unfair, yeh mujhe pehle nahin mil sakte the? All those times I wasted with Dev, couldn't it have been him? she thought, as she gazed into the depths of Maan's irises. Nahin, yeh thik nahin hain, Geet Handa. Tu itni selfish nahin ban sakti. Don't put him through hell by making him a part of your life.

She placed her hands over his and moved them away from her face gently. Looking away from him, she muttered in a flat tone, "This is all that I have to tell you."

Maan stared at her back in surprise, and jerked her towards him. Looking into her eyes, he said, in slight anger, "Matlab?"

"Matlab," Geet sighed softly, and looked down at the hold of Maan's hand on her elbow, "Matlab yeh, Mk, that this is it. Humara saath yehi tak ka tha."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Maan demanded, with gritted teeth, pulling her even more closer.

"We'uh'we didn't talk for the past few weeks properly, so..uh'I didn't get a chance to tell you. I'm leaving for Mumbai tomorrow morning," she saw his eyes widen in confusion and surprise, and continued,"I want to stay with my parents for two days. After that, I'm flying to Bangkok for seven days. But, before I do any of that, tonight'."

She trailed away as Maan bit out, "Mujhe kuch samajh nahin aa raha hain, Geet."

"Tonight, I'll sign the papers for the deal with Patel. His company Staples. It's an 8-month contract. I don't know all the details, just that'I'well, I have to work directly'with'.uh'with Patel for the whole time," she bit her lips in nervousness, as she saw Maan clench his fists and his face turned white with rage.

'You're not going to do that," Maan said in a cold voice, letting each word leave his mouth clearly.

"I have to," Geet whispered, as Maa pulled her closer by her waist, 'It's what I do. Infact," she added, with a slight startle in her eyes as she stared into Maan's, "This is the contract I was supposed to work on after coming back from my leave. Your contract was supposed to be handled by Romeo only."

They stared at each other, as Geet's words sank in and started making sense. Is this what's called destiny? Both of them thought the same thing, as they realized, that they probably would have never met or worked together if Geet's marriage had not fallen apart. She would probably be in one corner of the world with Dev, Maan thought bitterly. He looked at her and held her waist even tighter and whispered, "Geet, you don't have to do this."

"Mk," she whispered, closing her eyes.

"You don't have to," he said, stubbornly, cupping her face again.

"Mk," she said painfully,"Listen."

"I won't let you go away, no," he said, urgently, pulling her more closer.

"Mk,suniye'."

"Nahin, I don't want to'"

"Maan!" she cried out loudly, putting a stop to all his musings.

Maan stared at her as she called out his name. It sounded so pure, so serene coming from her lips. She looked at him with tears in her eyes and murmured, "My life is very complicated, Maan. I will not make you a part of it, and ruin your life. You have to understand. What happened with me is a sign from the universe telling me that I have to stay alone for my whole life."

Geet started crying again, and put her hands out on his chest. She lowered her eyes and said, between her hiccups, "It was a sudden change of heart. It was a sudden change of his heart that ruined my life, Maan. It ruined everything, it shattered hopes, dreams and all the plans I had made."

She lifted her eyes only to see him staring at her blankly. "I cannot put you through this. I've got no right to."

"The hell'" he muttered, stopping as his emotions choked his voice.

He let go of his hold on Geet staring at her strangely. She wiped away her tears and said, "It's been nice working with you, Maan. Thank you for everything that you've done for me. Thank you for being there with me everytime I needed you. I just wish'.."

Geet trailed away, as her words felt insufficient in front of her simmering feelings. She felt a lump in her throat, which wouldn't go away as she looked at Maan. She wanted to complete the sentence, wanted to tell him the reason why she decided to tell him everything, but her courage was exhausted. She had no strength or willpower left in her to tell him about her maddening heart. She had no power to say the words to him.

I just wish I had met you before. I just wish it had been you, and not Dev. I wish I didn't have this darkness in my life, so that I could hug you right now and tell you how much I love you. How much I hate your habits, your nature, but how much I love you.

Geet stared straight into his irises and spoke in her heart, the words she held so little significance to her for all the years of her life, but now, they were the most meaningful.

I love you, Maan. I love you so much. I wish you all the happiness in the world. I love you, she screamed out in her heart, while her eyes were fixed on Maan's.

He stared back at her in a strange way. Her eyes were reflecting something, something he couldn't recognise. He thought he heard her voice, but her lips were not moving. Before, he could pay attention, she started walking away towards her car.

Maan stood alone on the dark road in the middle of the night, staring at her as Geet got into her car with a lowered and surrendered head and drove off into the darkness.

******

The dark and treacherous night witnessed the end of a relationship. The blossoming relationship of Maan and Geet. As she got home, Geet cried louder than she had on the night of 7^th June. She felt a part of her burn down as she thought of Maan and how she had lost him forever.

Maan went back to the Mansion, only to receive various bouquets of flowers and greetings about how successful the deal with Emporium Constructions was, and what great team he and Geet made. He threw away everything, flunging the flowers away ruthlessly. Everything was over.

It was late at night when Geet opened her laptop to check her e-mail. She downloaded the pdf document numbly and printed it out. She read all the lines, clauses and agreements carefully and mechanically, her brain shutting out all her pain and anguish. She picked up her pen to sign the documents, but Maan's face flashed in her mind again. The document officially marked the beginning of the deal with Staples Constructions after 15 days. By then, she would be back from Bangkok and ready to start again.

How many times do I have to start over, Babaji, before my life actually finds its direction? Geet thought sadly, as she sighed and whispering a silent prayer, signed the document in the relevant places.

Once she was done, she picked up her cell phone.

"Romeo, I've signed the contract."

"Oh, that's great, Geet. Patel toh pagal ho raha hain papers dekhne keliye," the clear voice of Romeo washed over her, "By the way, tum aaj party mein kahaan thi?"

I was busy ruining everything. She stammered slightly and said,"Actually, I wasn't doing very well. So, I came back home. Kal nikal na bhi toh hain."

"Hain. Woh bhi hain. Okay, so fax me the documents and I'll process them. It's in 15 days, right?"

"Yes," Geet murmured, "I'll be back by then, hopefully. Meanwhile'." She trailed off, trying to find the words to continue,"Say goodbye to everyone , "Say goodbye to everyone at Khurana Constructions. I don't think I'll get to meet them. Ever again'"

She hung up and dialled another number. She sighed softly, waiting for the other line to be received.

"Hello?"

Geet grabbed hold of the cell tightly in her hand and spoke, "Mumma?"

"Geet?" Rano cried out, "Beta, kaisi hain tu?"

"Mumma," she sobbed noiselessly, and said,"I'm coming to Mumbai, Mumma."

******

What happened was not her fault. Why is she punishing herself for it? Why is she punishing me? Sab kuch bata diya mujhe, lekin ek baar bhi mujhse nahin poocha that what I think about it. He flexed his arms faster, his jaw trembling in anger.

"Maan?" the sleepy voice of Savitri Devi came into his ears.

He stopped his movements, and stood still, facing his back to her. She walked up to him and gently put her hand on his shoulder.

"Bete, how did the party go? Sab thik hai na?" the elderly lady asked anxiously.

"Everything's fine, Daadima. Aap jayiye, jaake so jayiye. You shouldn't be up so late," Maan said, with gritted teeth without facing his grandmother.

Savitri Devi moved to stand facing her grandson. She cupped her sweaty face and whispered, "Beta, Geet?"

"She left. Or will leave, atleast. Tomorrow. She's going to Mumbai for 2 days to her parents and then to Bangkok for 7 days," Maan replied mechanically.

"Didn't you stop her?" Savitri Devi said, in dismay.

"Why will I? I had a business deal with her, which is over. So, she has to leave. Both of us have to move on in life," he replied, coldly.

"You don't mean that, bete. I know you better than you know yourself. You don't mean that," Savitri Devi said, shaking her head in denial.

"Bohut raat ho chuki hain, Daadima. And, I'm really tired. I want to sleep," he grabbed his towel and walked out of the gym.

I'm tired, but I don't think I want to sleep. I have to think. I have to think about so many things. Geet, you ruined something for me again. This time, you ruined my sleep.

PRECAP: 9 days later. Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

I know it was short, but I had to tie up a few last loose ends. The next parts will be long as usual, though I don't want to give you a clue on what to expect. It can go either way now!😆 Depends on...ME!😉 But, I know you all trust me and I just love you for that.

However, I have started feeling my readers are becoming a little lazy to comment. They hit the like button, but when it comes to commenting, they are *gayab*. Now, please don't be like that...tell me all that you feel about my work and updates!

Hit the like button this time, and obviously, leave lots and lots of comments. It's a new thread after all, we've got lots of pages!😆

Love

Sarzah

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