A Sudden Change Of Heart - Page 55

CHAPTER-36

It was him..it was him the whole time…the whole bloody time…maine pata nahin kitni buri aur negative baatein soch li thi aapne career ko leke Bangkok se aane ke baad, lekin…it was him the whole time…that's why..that's why Romeo told me it's an agricultural company who did the takeover… because he was given this wrong information by Adi…Mk told Adi to tell that to Romeo, so that he could come and tell me and throw me off the scent! Sab kuch inhone kiya…every single thing..he had eyes on every move of mine…. Mk ne yeh takeover mujhse badla lene keliye kiya hain…haan, he's come to call the deal off…..

Geet's train of thoughts broke, and her fists clenched harder, as she heard her name being called out by one of the associates. She heard Romeo look at her apologetically, and gesture towards the stage, where Maan stood, his eyes still fixed on Geet's and a smirk outlined on his lips.

"Geet, move…jao. Quick," Romeo muttered, giving her a slight and gentle push.

Geet held her saree carefully and walked to the stage, staring at the dark irises which looked into her soul through her hazels. She saw his gaze softening and becoming passionate almost immediately and her pulse raced a bit. Stop it, Geet….

He held out his hand and grabbed hers, as soon as Geet put out one foot on the first step of the stage. He guided her up, holding her hand tightly in his, and his eyes stared at her unblinkingly, with passion in them. He didn't let go of his grip on her hands even after he had got her up and Geet started feeling her heartbeat flutter a little, as Maan held her extremely close to him, in a hall full of professional people. Worse, she could FEEL his gaze on her every second of every passing minute.

Her reverie broke, as one of the director associates of Emporium Constructions spoke into the microphone, "Well, as Mr.Khurana is finally here, we'd like to know what he has decided about the deal which Emporium has signed with Staples, before its takeover."

Maan stared at Geet for some time, and moved to the microphone, making sure that Geet was not standing very far from him. He looked at the crowd of business people and press in front of him and said, in a powerful voice,"Though I've worked with Emporium Constructions on a previous deal, I'd like to have speak alone with Ms.Handa, before I announce my decision."

Geet snapped her head towards him and stared at him, full of stunned surprise. Maan looked at her, and spoke into the microphone again, holding her gaze,"I hope you don't mind, Ms.Handa."

Without waiting for her reply, Maan grabbed her hand and walked off the stage, taking her with him and moved towards the end of the huge hall. Geet stared at him, as he took her away from the crowd towards the exit, holding her hand with confidence and an unquestionable sense of belonging. It's almost as if he has some kind of an undeniable right on me… she thought, too shocked for her brain to process things properly.

*****

He took her to the vacant terrace of the convention hall and finally, as they stand alone under the starry night, he let go of her hand. Cupping her face lovingly, he stared deeply into her hazels. Geet felt herself drawn into his eyes, as he muttered,"These curls look so beautiful on you. I always wanted to see you in a black saree."

Geet was dumb-founded as he continued, holding her face steadily,"Kitne dino baad tumhe dekh raha hoon, Geet. Kaisi ho tum?"

She blinked, as the reality sunk into her veins. She slowly put her hands up and moved his away from her face. Walking away from him, she said, "Why did you take Staple over?"

Hearing no reply, she turned around, only to see Maan staring at her with his arms crossed over his chest. Geet asked again, "Aapne suna nahin maine kya poocha? Kyun kiya aapne yeh? Why did you take over Staple?"

Maan grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him ,causing her to land on his chest with a thud. He held her closer by the waist and murmured into her ear, "Tumhe kya lagta hain?"

"I don't know," Geet said, trying to push him away, when Maan held her waist tighter and cornered her against one of the walls of the terrace, holding her close to him, "There is no need or reason, at least no plausible reason for this takeover. Kyun kiya aapne yeh? Jawab dijiye!" she asked him, her eyes slightly blazing.

Maan held her calmly against the wall, and squeezed her waist slightly, saying, "Koi wajah nahin hain?"

"No, atleast, there is NO feasible reason…no business reason," Geet argued stubbornly, trying to control her heart which was not in complete control, with Maan's closeness.

"Accha? Tumhe kaise pata sweetheart, ke koi reason nahin hain?" he murmured, in a lilting voice into her ear.

Geet felt her pulse race, as the word sweetheart sunk into her brain. She quickly got a grip on herself and bit out,"Because…I have worked with you. I know ke you don't need any takeovers at this moment. Everything is going fine…aapka business stable hain and it's going good. This was absolutely unnecessary and stupid."

"Oh! No. it was NOT stupid," Maan said, with an amused chuckle and then, looked at her lovingly, "Itna kuch janti ho mere baaremein?"

She didn't reply, and so, Maan said, "Do you really think that there is no reason for this takeover, love? No good enough reason?"

Geet opened her mouth to retort, but she felt herself being peeled off the wall. Maan grabbed her waist and pushed her to another part of the terrace, where a piece of broken glass hung to the ceiling. He held her tightly, and stood behind her, staring at her eyes passionately.

"That's the reason I did this takeover, darling," he said, pointing towards the mirror. Geet turned and saw their reflection in the mirror, as Maan held her closely. She stared at the mirror, shocked, as Maan looked at her through the piece of glass,"Now, tell me, is the reason STUPID?"

Geet looked away, and turned towards him slowly. She pried his hands off her waist and whispered,"Kyun kiya aapne yeh?"

The moment of silence between the two of them was excruciating. Maan grabbed her again and brought her close, so that their lips were almost touching. He looked into her eyes sincerely and whispered, "Tumhe aapna jawab dene, Geet."

She stared at him blankly, as he murmured,"Uss raat, tumne mujhe aapne baaremein sab kuch bata diya…tumhari zindagi, tumhara darr, tumhara dard, tumhara ateet, sab kuch. Kuch nahin chupaya tumne mujhse. Aapne dil ki saari baatein keh di tumne mujhse. Lekin, mujhe kuch kehne ka maukka hi nahin diya. You told me everything, but never asked me what I felt about it. I'm here to tell you what I feel. I'm here to give you my answer. My answer to your past."

He brought her even more closer, and held her face in his hands, as he said slowly, speaking out each word clearly,"And, my answer is, I DON'T CARE!"

Geet felt tears crowd in her eyes, and as much as she tried to stop them, they began to flow down her cheeks relentlessly. Her tears never listened to her in front of Maan. They ran down her cheeks as Maan continued, his eyes never letting go of her gaze,"I don't care about your past, Geet. Aur, pata hain, kyun? Kyunki tumhari koi galti nahin thi…stop blaming yourself for everything, darling….you don't deserve that."

Geet shook her head slowly, trying to stop her tears and managed to say, "Itna aasaan nahin hain,Mk. Jitna aasaan aap samajh rahe hain, utna aasaan nahin hain. Meri wajah se, everyone even remotely related to me was humiliated. Mera ateet aapka peecha kabhi nahin chorega. You will be humiliated by people, hurt by people and all because of me. Main yeh hone nahin de sakti….yeh thik nahin hain..this is not fair, not on you…not on anyone else…"

"Oh! Please…Geet shut up. Tumhari bakwaas main uss raat se sunta aa raha hoon. Tumhari sirf shaadi tooti hain, it's not like you're divorced," Maan almost bit out his tongue as soon as the words left his mouth.

Geet stared at him, her eyes clouding with pain and anger. She pushed him away and said, looking away furiously, her voice, heavy with tears, "Oh! So, aapko lagta hain, ke mere saath jo hua woh kaafi nahin tha? It wasn't hurtful enough haina? Issse toh accha hota, ke woh mujhse shaadi karke mujhe chor deta…tab shayed yeh bakwaas nahin lagti na aapko?"

Maan hugged her waist immediately, and said, "Jaan, I'm sorry. Mera woh matlab nahin tha….I don't care agar tumhari shaadi tooti ho, or if you're divorced, widowed, or whatever. Mujhe koi farq nahin parta. I'm sorry, sweetheart."

He held her in his embrace for some time, when Geet said, in a low voice, "Aapko shayed aaj koi farq nahin parta…lekin, age jaakar, when you realize what you did, you'll hate me and I can't take that," she moved away from him and wiped her tears away firmly.

"I came back only for you, Geet. I know what I'm doing. Now, chalo, sab wait kar rahe hain!" he said, making a move towards the stairs.

"Nahin," Geet said, quietly.

"You signed the contract with me, remember honey?" Maan said, with exaggerated patience.

"No, I didn't sign it with you. I signed the deal with Patel," Geet retorted sharply.

"And, I own Patel, so technically, you're all mine!" he said, airily.

"Main aapke saath yeh contract nahin karungi," Geet said, her quiet voice ringing through the night.

Maan smirked lowering his head knowingly.. I knew it, Geet…you always like it the hard way…bring it on….he turned around and saw Geet standing stubbornly.

Looking at him steadily, she said, "Chaliye, let's go downstairs, so that you can tell everyone that you want to call the deal off." Saying so, she started moving towards the stairs.

Hearing no reply, Geet looked back, only to see Maan staring at her. He held her gaze, as he seated himself smartly on one of the garden chairs in the terrace, crossing his arms over his chest. said, in a calm voice,"Aur, agar main kahoon, ke main aisa kuch bhi nahin karne wala hoon, toh?"

Geet's eyes filled with anger and impatience, as she bit out, "Fine. Aap toh hain hi ziddi, jab tak aapki zidd puri na ho, tab tak toh kuch bhi thik nahin hota, haina. Well, meri bhi baat sun lijiye. If you don't say no, the final decision comes down to me. And, I know what I'm going to say."

She held her saree, and started moving towards the stairs again, when Maan said, quietly, without raising himself, or moving a muscle, "I don't think you do, sweetheart."

Geet clenched her fists tightly. He has to stop calling me sweetheart….he just HAS to stop….it is messing with my brain now….

She couldn't complete the thought, as Maan got up and twirled her around to face him roughly. Hearing her gasp out loud, he said," I'll tell you what you're going to say. Down there, in front of everyone, you're going to say 'I'd love to work with Maan because I think we make a great team together!' get it, honey?"

He pulled her closer causing her chest to collide with his. Geet glared at him, as he continued holding her gaze with a smirk, and bit out, "Dream on, Mk. Main aisa kuch bhi nahin bolne wali hoon."

"Uh-uh….don't be like that, love!" he said, trailing a finger down her face, and stopping at her glossed lips, causing Geet to suck in a breath, "Tum niche jakar mujhe aapni zindagi se ek baar phir se kaat ke phek dena chahti ho, na? Main jab kahunga, ke I don't have any problem with the deal, you'll come on the stage and call it off, rejecting me all over again, haina? That's what you want to do, right jaan?" he said the words slowly, staring at her lips with great concentration.

Geet felt her palms sweaten, as Maan spoke in his husky voice. She held on to him, afraid that her feet may give way, making her land on the ground. But, her trance broke with his next words,"But, I have a problem with that. If you do that, sweetheart then……"

She raised her eyes up to him and gritted out,"Toh kya? Kya karenge aap?"

"If you don't say yes to working with me on this deal for the next 8 months, then…." His voice hardened, as he said, "I'll lay off all the Staple employees and shut down the company forever. The workers can die from hunger, live on the streets, beg to survive, or go to hell. I don't bloody care!"

Her eyes snapped open, as she heard menace in Maan's voice, and saw it in his eyes, which held hers passionately. She opened her mouth, and spluttered out, "Wwhaaat? Aap aisa…aap aisa nahin karsakte…..there are atleast 800 employees and their families which Staple supports…aap….are…are you crazy?"

"915 employees to be exact and yes, I'm absolutely crazy right now," Maan said, with a smirk, which made Geet's heart go cold.

"That's….irrational…" she managed to say, "Aap…aap kaise…"

"Staple aab mera hain, Geet. I own Patel now. Aur, maine yeh sirf tumhare liye kiya hain. So, if you don't agree to work with me, then neither Staple, or any of its employees have any use for me.. I have my own staff, remember?" Maan said, with a dangerous chuckle.

Geet looked at him, and stammered out,"Aap aisa nahin karsakte!"

Maan grabbed her wrist, kissing it lightly. He murmured, into her skin,"Try me, sweetheart." Looking up at her, he added, with a wink,"Though I would have loved if you tried me for something else, lekin, shurwaath isis se kar lete hain!"

Geet snatched her ahnd from his grip and bit out rudely,"That's blackmail."

"So," Maan held his hands up in a form of mock surrender, "Sue me darling, Take me to court!"

As Geet continued glaring at him, he said, with a smirk, "Jaldi socho, jaan. Humare paas saari raat nahin hain. Much as I would like to stay with you here for the rest of the night, there are people waiting for us downstairs."

Geet knew when she had lost. She was well and truly beaten. He had trapped her very well. She knew she had her career on stake, and now, to add to it the lives of 915 people. Fine, it's just a contract…if I can do one with him, I can do this one too…it's my job…aur pichli baar ki tarah yeh bhi jaldi jaldi khatam ho jayega…..

She spun around, and bit out to a smirking Maan,"Fine. I'll do it. Just this one last contract with you, Mk. Magar, meri ek baat yaad rakhiye ga. Jo aap chahte hain, woh kabhi nahin hoga."

As she walked past him, Maan grabbed her back and pushed her hair away from her face, as her gasp stifled. Looking at her with a mischievous grin, he murmured, "Aur tum bhi ek baat yaad rakhna, jaan. Hamesha, wohi hoga, jo MAIN chahunga."

He let go of her, as she stared at him, stunned. He came back again, after a few steps, and pulled her back into his arms. Looking at her, with a broad smirk, he said, "Did I mention you look ravishing tonight, jaan? I hope Bangkok was good, darling!"

With that, he left, his throaty chuckle causing leaving behind a stunned and furious Geet.

PRECAP: I'd love to work with Maan Khurana because I think we make a great team together.

Finally, my readers are looking a little alive!😆 It seems that the last update put some water and sugar in them, huh?😆 Well, from now on, I hope there won't be a disappointing and lousy number of likes and comments on the chapters!😛

Thank you all for the immense support on the last part.

I hope you liked this part too. Both the precaps will be covered together in the next part, until, of course, I change my mind!😉

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Love

Sarzah