Shackles of Love#31#MG Chapter 69-72 - Page 2

CHAPTER 69:

The next morning, again Geet got up to find herself cocooned in Maan's arms. She lay there for some time, enjoying the warmth, pouting as she remembered last night's incidents. She had thought over what had happened and was still unable to see what was so funny that everyone was laughing about it. She had wanted to wait up for Maan to ask him, but hadn't even realized when she had slept off.

She looked at his chiseled features as she deliberated over whether she should ask him, knowing it could very well be some plan of his to annoy her more. By this time, Maan had woken up and was watching her expressions, he pulled her chin up to gaze into her eyes and wished her a, "Good morning, Geet." nonchalantly as if it was every day that he woke up with her in his arms, gazing at him. A disconcerted Geet tried to free herself while wishing him a flustered good morning too, but his hands banded over tightly making escape impossible.

She looked at him pleadingly, but he ignored her attempts and asked her instead, "Itni subah subah kya soch rahi ho? You seemed to be in grave contemplation of something when I woke up."

"Wo mai …." She started, but broke off cribbing, "Nahi rehne do, aap mera fir mazaak udaoge kal jaise."

Maan smiled indulgently and promised, "Nahi udaunga. Pakka!"

Geet looked at him, summing up his words and blurted out, "Sab log kal mujhpe hass kyu rahe the?"

An unholy glint appeared in his eyes as he replied, "Abhi tum Aunty Scrooge ki tarah entertainment provide karogi to log to hasenge na."

Geet looked at him angrily, hitting out at him, her puny punches making not the slightest dent, as she complained, "Aapne promise kiya tha, aap mazaak nahi udaoge." She continued with her shower of punches, until Maan caught her hands when she scratched him slightly, "Ouch!" he muttered, "Abhi is abla pati pe tum haath bhi uthane lagi! Hey Geet ke Babaji, kya din aa gaye hai!" Maan jibed.

Geet left him and got up, sniffing in disapproval but Maan caught her hand and pulled her to sit beside him, thinking of ways in which to answer, as he didn't want to tell her and scandalize her, adding fuel to her annoyance over him.

"Are aisa kuch nahi tha…hum to bas yuhi…" he started off, only to have her fight free, "Aap ne mujhe bewakoof samjha hai? Mujhe samajhta hai jab aap log mera mazaak udate ho!"

"Nahi Geet, aisa nahi hai…we were just..."

"Aap rehne do! Mai Annie ya Naina Di se pooch loongi…" she muttered irately and got off the bed, heading towards the kitchen, leaving behind a dismayed Maan. "Arre Geet suno to…" he quickly got off the bed to follow her, knowing Annie would definitely make things more difficult for him if Geet asked her that particular question, but she ignored him. Thinking of ways to convince her, Maan was about to head to the kitchen when to his ill luck, there was a phone call from Pari, stating some emergency and called him immediately for a client meeting. On hearing that the client was Sameera and she was throwing tantrums and insisting on meeting him in person, Maan was furious. He knew Sameera was up to something and he decided to nip her game plan in the bud.

Cursing under his breath, he quickly walked into the washroom to freshen up. However, when he opened his wardrobe, he was surprised to see half his clothes missing.

He couldn't find anything in BLUE. No pants, no shirts, not even a single tie.

"Geeettt!" He yelled out, knowing she had to be behind this.

When she heard him scream, Geet knew he had found out about her yesterdays doings. After coming back from Naintara, she had been in an angry and sulky mood.

She had known, he was playing games with her in an attempt to woo her, and truth be said, she was fed up of trying to fight the attraction. So she made a plan, 'Na rahegi bans na bajegi baasuri...' and had taken all the blue stuff out of his closet and dumped them into the laundry, to give it to the dhobi who took the longest time. That should solve it. If he was playing this game with her then she was going to end it. She needed time to compose herself.

When she entered the bedroom, the smug smile which had been playing around her lips fell away as she gazed wide eyed at the magnificent view afforded to her. He had just come out of the shower with just a towel wrapped around his hips. As the wet droplets landed on his wide shoulders and his back, she felt herself wanting to touch each of those droplets which were so lovingly following the line of his spine, gleaming in the sunlight. She however controlled her wayward hormones as he turned to demand an answer from her and coolly replied that all his clothes were in the laundry. Maan gave her a telling look, letting her know that he knew what she was doing. But he was too busy thinking about Sameera and ways to thwart her to deal with his impish wife right now.

However, in return she just gave him a grin, happy at having bested him for once, and turned away from him escaping to the kitchen. She set the table for breakfast pulling out the paper and pretended to read it while she waited for him. With almost a smirk, she looked up from behind the paper when he came out almost to feel her breaths escape her. Oh Babaji! What had she done!

The blue was gone but this was fatal.

This was the first time she was seeing him wearing formal office attire. He was dressed in black form fitting vest and pants with a crisp white shirt and a narrow black tie. The short sleeved shirt showed off his impressive arms while the shirt looked like it was plastered to his muscular frame. The pants were tight enough to give an indication of the powerful thighs under them.

The look was that of a successful businessman he was today, but when adorned by Maan Singh Khurrana, it was the epitome in hotness.

If she was not hiding behind the paper, she was sure he would have seen her face flamed up and her eyes hazy and confused. She chided herself, "Aur kar le apne mann ki Geet. Tera kya jaata if he would wear blue!"

Maan smirked at her, seeing her reaction which she couldn't quite hide and thought, "Time to meet your Uncle Scrooge Geet."

Geet was lost in her babblings, and didn't notice Maan gulping down his coffee. It was only when he kept the mug down, that she was startled out of her reveries, she looked at him in query, and he came over to her saying, "Meri important meeting hai. I need to leave now." and pecked her forehead. Geet tried protesting, and insisted on him eating something but he took no heed.

==============

Maan had built up quite a temper by the time he reached his office and found Sameera sitting there, leisurely taking in the derelict condition of his office and going through the knicks and knacks on the desk.

She looked up at him as he strode in, antagonism oozing out of every pore, as he looked at her like she was dirt. She took in his formal attire, eyebrows raised at the change.

"Maan Singh Khurrana is back?" She whistled softly, blatant appreciation underlying her husky statement.

He ignored her statements, and attacked directly, "What is your problem? Tumne site pe kaam kyu rukwaya? All the blue prints were passed and agreed on beforehand. Abhi changes karna is not feasible."

"Kya Maan, na hi na hello, seedha kaam ki baat?" She pouted as she got up and came over to him, standing in front of him. she reached her hand up and tried to touch his lapel, under pretext of straightening it but Maan held her hand tightly, not letting her touch him. "After all that we meant to each other, surely you can at least pretend to be happy to see me." she said suggestively.

Maan threw her hand away distastefully, while he backed off and went to sit behind his desk, "After all that we meant to each other" he mimicked her coldly, "You should know that I detest deceit and pretenses."

Sameera shrugged her shoulder, "Accha wo chodo," and came to sit in front him, "Tell me how have you been? Us din party ke baad se I haven't seen you at all. Geet bhi…."

"Leave Geet out of this." His voice held a threat which Sameera recognized, and she put up her hands, "I was only going to say that I haven't seen Geet after she left her job. hope she is also doing fine. Don't you trust me around her Maan?" she laughed sardonically, "Or were you afraid, that if I told her the truth about you she would leave you?" She taunted.

Maan paled for an instant but didn't react; he just looked at her from beneath his eyelashes, and asked her calmly, "Like you did?" shutting her up.

"Was there a reason to this meeting or did you just come to prove that you are still the B****?"

His reply disconcerted her for a moment as the Maan she knew was very touch about this topic, and she had wanted a reaction from him. This cold and calm Maan was a stranger to her and she wanted to chip his armor.

She decided to change tactics, "Do I need a reason to meet you?" she smiled guilelessly, "There were times when you would….."

Maan broke her off, "Sameera I really don't have time for your bulls***. If there is nothing urgent that requires my attention then you can leave. I have another meeting in an hour."

Sameera straightened up at that, dropping her playful tone, "You should know by now Maan, I always get what I want. And I want you back in my life." She spelt out, locking her eyes with him, making her determination felt.

"Why? Because I am successful and rich again? And so the illegitimate tag doesn't count?"

"You know, I ran a background check on you." She said, going off tangent, "And according to that, you did marry that little nobody for the will. And Darji helped you out."

"Sameera…" his voice rose but she cut him off, "Awaaz unchi mat karo Maan! Kyuki tumhe bhi pata hai ke sachai yehi hai!"

Maan looked away, teeth clenched as he fought to temper his anger, not wanting to say something he would regret later.

"BTW to answer your question, NO, I did not come behind you because you are rich and successful. I have always loved you in my own way. Had you but believed that."

"I am human too Maan. I have my own insecurities. Was I so wrong if I wanted the refuge of knowing that our future was settled and not in gray waters?" she asked, "You also had a choice and you made it. So why are you making out that I was the one who ruined your life?" she asked angrily.

"Sameera…" he pushed his hair back in agitation, not wanting to go back to that dreadful time because he still felt guilt eating him up from within if he went there because she was right, she had not been wholly at fault, he did have a part in it too. But he had lost too much in the bargain to see objectively.

His soul still screamed in pain when he remembered those moments he was fighting against time and fate. But he had lost.

Seeing him weaken, she grabbed the chance, running towards him, she kneeled down beside his chair, grasping his hand, "Maan…" she pleaded, her own eyes wet with unshed tears, "I still love you, and I know you haven't forgotten me. We can still get that old magic back. You and me…"

"No!" came the instant reply as he removed his hand from hers. Sameera looked at the man she still loved; maybe her love was weak and flawed when brought up against the harsh realities of life. But she had learned that life was all about grasping second chances the hard way. She kept her pride aside and pleaded, "Maan please, I am begging you. Please just one chance Maan."

"Sameera just leave." Maan spat.

"Why not?" she exclaimed agitatedly, "I came back because I knew you needed cash for this project of yours. I thought I could help you out. And maybe we could…." She trailed off, at his expression, but then continued, "But you had already married Geet by then. It was a shock for me to realize that you would marry anyone else."

Maan looked at her, unknown emotions clogging his throat, "Sameera I have moved on. I am married and Geet is my wife. Let the past remain where it is."

"But why?" she cried, "Maan hum…."

"There is no HUM Sameera; it was just a mirage which you broke. You didn't want me. You wanted the image that went with Maan Singh Khurrana."

"No Maan, that's not true..." Sameera pleaded, "Please just give me a chance, I really love you…."

"Bas!" he roared, "Tumhe samajh nahi aata maine kya kaha. Go before I really do something I will regret."

Sameera looked at him aggravation, "Shayad tum bhool rahe ho Maan, Sameera ne bhi kabhi haarna nahi seekha. Sameera will win. And that is Sameera's promise." Giving him one last look, she turned on her heel and left without another glance, the staccato of her heels that of a woman determined to get her way, by hook or by crook.

===============

It took some time for Maan to calm down after Sameera left, his frayed nerves still rankling.

Sameera as such had no importance in his life now, but the memories she brought with her still had the power to bite and wound. Would the pain ever lessen? Maan wondered. Because of that one incident, he was permanently scarred and he now hated what was perhaps one of the greatest boons ever accorded to humans.

He looked distractedly at his watch; he needed to leave right now if he was to reach Delhi in time for his meeting. But the old restlessness once again gripped his soul and he just sat there, resting his head against the head drop, his hand massaging his head as he felt a headache coming up.

His reverie was broken as he felt cool fingers touching his forehead, removing his hand while they lightly massaged it. He didn't need to open his eyes to see who it was; the soothing presence was already acting as a balme to his wounds. He lay still enjoying her ministrations till she asked in a voice etched with concern, "Kya hua Maan? Aapko theek nahi lag raha? Do you need something?"

He opened his eyes to see Geet standing beside him looking at him with worry stamped on her face.

He smiled as he took her hands in both of his and pressed a kiss to her palm saying, "Never better."

Feeling better after seeing her concerned face, Maan sprang to his feet and clasped her hand saying he would drop her to work and led the way out. Geet followed meekly, sitting beside him in the car and thrusting a rolled parathas in front of him while eyeing to take it. Smiling at her gesture, Maan held her hand and made her feed him, while he started the car and pulled out.

He questioned her as to whether she had eaten, knowing the answer even before she replied. Sighing in exasperation, he took her hand again and made her take a bite from the same parathas. They both ate silently, not commenting on the intimacy of sharing the same parathas with Geet alternately feeding him and herself, and finished off the two she had brought.

Maan tried to talk to her, but she twisted her lips and refused to answer back, "Mai abhi bhi aapse naraaz hu."

"Tumhari list me naraazgi ka matlab sirf baat nahi karna hai kya Geet? Baki sab to tum karti ho?" Maan taunted.

Images of his seduction routine and what he had done yesterday burned her cheeks as she burst furiously, "What do you mean? Mai kya karti hu? sab kuch to aap karte ho."

Maan controlled his laughter at that little tit bit.

"Tum kya nahi karti ho?" Maan sighed in pity, "Jab dekho mujhe daantti rehti ho, chillati ho, itna kam tha to aaj kal to mujhpar haath bhi uthane lagi ho."

Geet's eyes widened at his atrocious comments, and she blustered a denial making him smirk.

The red scrunched up nose made her look like an adorable sulky child while her swollen red face and the furious sparks shooting from her eyes made him want to pull her cheeks

"Nahi? I have scar marks to prove my point." He taunted shutting her up.

Geet looked away irately twisting her lips, "Jo bhi ho. Mai aapse naaraz hu aur baat nahi karungi!"

"Pakka? Is that a challenge?" He threw at her.

"Yes!" she replied furiously.

"To theek hai! 48 ghanto me tum sirf mujhe maaf hi nahi karogi, balki khud meri bahon me chali aaogi! Aur ye Maan Singh Khurrana ka vada hai!"

Precap:

Same

Author's Note :