When Their Love Stood Strong
"Shut up. Just shut your mouth up." He shouted, turning his back towards her. The much she was taken aback with his outburst, it scared her more witnessing his that side, which hardly had come in front of her since the time they had met for the first time.
"Maan, listen to me please." She pleaded, catching the hold of his wrist. He visibly looked blinded with the anger. Shrugging off her hand in no time, he stepped away from her, showing her that even being near to her, disgusted him.
Her condition was same as that of a fish without water, a human without air. It suffocated her, that he hated her. She could bear any damn thing, any pain... be it physical or mental, any anything but his hatred? Never! That one thing shook her inside out.
The one, she loved more than her life was accusing her for something that left her with numbness. Being almost blank to react anything, she heard him screaming once again.
"Don't. Don't touch me with your hands... with those hands by which you had touched that..."
He stopped in middle, unable to utter what had bothered him like anything. Something flashed before his eyes again and again. Recalling that, he felt the pain of being stabbed by several knives in his heart.
Closing his eyes, he let out his frustration as his hands picked up the Vas kept on the right side of it, and threw it in the air making it to break into pieces, scattering on the floor. Her petite figured stumbled backwards not being able to handle the way he was reacting.
But no! She could not fall weak now. She must tell him everything. She wasn't at fault. She did not do anything wrong and she would have to let him to know that. Gathering courage, she first wiped the tears from her eyes and walked towards him, slowly.
He turned her face away from her, as she came and stood in front of him. She felt her knees giving up, seeing that anger and disgust in his eyes in which, she once used to find immense love and respect.
"How can you even think of something like that about me, Maan?" she asked, helplessly. Staring in his eyes, she tried searching for the answer of her question. "Do you think of me, that low? You think I can ever cheat on you? You know, I loved you... I love you. I have given my every-thing to you." Her voice choked. Disappointment clouded her mind, leaving her with a thought that did she deserve it?
"You betrayed me." He spoke, stopping her gaze at her. For a moment, he wanted to take back everything he said to her. He felt an urge to pull her and hide her in his embrace. He wanted to wipe those unrolled tears, console her. But,
"You betrayed me, Geet." He repeated again, trying to gain strength which he was losing, seeing her breaking every moment with his accusations.
You betrayed me, Geet.'
You betrayed me, Geet.'
You betrayed me, Geet.'
Those words from him rang in her mind again and again, quivering her inside out. She stood still for good 30 seconds. "I betrayed you. Yeah right! I betrayed you. You know what Mr. Maan Singh Khurana, you don't deserve me. You don't. Despite of knowing me for more than six years, being in relationship for more than five years and being marred for three years, you still don't know me. You never did and you never will. You don't even deserve an explanation. I thought I owe you one but no, I was wrong. I was wrong. Good bye Mr. Khurana. Hope to see you never again." She glanced at him once before she found her way to get out of that place... that place which had left nothing for her, which used to be her home once and now it was anything but not her. She could not bear it anymore. She had enough. He had dared to point on her character, had disrespected her, as a person. She would never tolerate questions over character.
Quietly listening to her, he watched her leaving. No No No! He cannot let her go. He cannot. She can't leave him. He has to stop her. "Stop right there, Mrs. Khurana."
Her legs betrayed her. Or to be specific, her heart betrayed her, after hearing Mrs. Khurana' from him. Tears flickered through her eyes. She wanted earth to split and jump right in it. What had she ever done to deserve that?
"Correction, Mr. Khurana, Its Ms. Handa now. The moment, your trust over me vanished, our relation ended right there." She answered back, turning towards him. Though, it was taking almost everything within her to pretend that strong in front of her, but she could not afford to make it visible. "For me, there is no relation without a trust. So, it ended. It ended, Mr. Khurana... it ended." She said, letting everything slipped from her mouth, which was killing her from inside.
"Till the time, we get divorced, you are still my wife." He declared, making a walk near her. "Do you get me?" he asked, roughly grabbing her arm.
"Why? Why are you even doing this? You don't trust me. You think I have betrayed you then why don't you let me go?" she was confused, tired of his behaviour. At one moment, he was disgusted even by her touch, not willing to even see her face and the next moment, he was stopping her from leaving.
Staring at her for a while, he laughed bitterly. "I will never let you go. Yes, you are right. I hate you, for betraying me, for betraying my love but how can you even think that I will let you go so easily? You will have to pay the price of hurting me. I will make YOU pay for it! I will not let you go, because I want to punish you. Must have heard the term Revenge' right?"
She could not believe her ears. One little hope was ignited within her, that he might still trusts her but, there he was, planning to keep her with him just so that, he could take revenge from her. Now that literally broke everything within her. "You want to take revenge from me? You want to hurt me? Fair enough. Do it. Let me also see, how much and till how much time, you can do that. Let me also see till which extent you can go in your hatred and revenge?" she reverted back, challenging him.
"You have seen my love, now see my hatred too." His words escaped, hitting directly her heart. She could not believe, he had changed so much. The one, who claimed to love her, had no longer remained with any trust on her. Looking at her painful state, everything died within him.
Holding her gaze at him, for a minute, she left the hall walking back to her room, as fast as her legs could take her. She ran inside her room, closing back the door with a force. His ruthless behaviour scarred her delicate heart. Her world came crashing down, hearing him calling her a characterless woman' indirectly. Falling on the bed, she took a pillow hiding her face, sobbing and weeping badly as the tears, she held back down in the hall burst out, echoing in her entire room. Being dejected, her shivering figure became still, slipping in slumber. Sleep took over her, being drained out, emotionally.
------------------------------------------
He was left in the hall, alone. He himself didn't know how long he stood there like that. Forcing his legs to take him back to his room, realizing it was past midnight by then, he walked back.
"I can't even apologize for whatever I have said to you, Geet. But I had no option Sweetheart. I hope, you'll forgive your Maan after knowing how helpless I am. I love you, Geet... I love you." Speaking to her photo frame, in his hand, he confessed something which he could not confess to Geet. Maan Singh Khurana, one man, as strong and hard as rock, that day was in tears, in agony of hurting his innocent lady, calling her by what not, accusing her by what not. Loving her, had brought him at one point, he never imagined in his wildest dreams, where he had no other option rather than hurting his own love, his Geet!
Geet rubbed her eyes, when her sleep was disturbed by a nightmare. Waking up, she sat straight on her bed, her forehead covered with all sweat, her eyes tearing with pain and her heart caught up with some unknown fears.
Covering her face with her palms, she took a deep breath in order to calm herself down. But seemed like nothing helped. Giving up, she got off the bed, and went into washroom for freshening up. She came back, taking a cold shower, hoping it would made her feel little better.
Her eyes fell upon clock, striking 4 in the morning. Standing in front of the mirror, she saw her reflection while drying her hairs. How life had taken a turn for her? It seemed just few hours ago, that she was all happy with him and now, her life had turned into nothing but a bitter nightmare. She never, ever expected that someday, they would be standing on any such point.
He has changed, Geet. He has changed. She repeated in her mind, forcing her heart to admit the fact that he was not the same person, he used to be.
That he is not the same person, for whom, she mattered the most, over anything and above everything.
That he is not the same person, who loved her like she was the only one on the planet and no one, was like her.
That he is not the same person, who cared for her forgetting his own self.
That he is not the same person, that her one tear and he would move earth and hell for soothing her pain.
That he is not the same person that her one small injury and he would panic like its life threatening.
That he is not the same person, whose eyes will soften and agonized in worry and concern if she was in trouble.
He has changed. He is not the same.
She felt a thin layer of tears forming in her eyes as her mind wandered in the past time, when they were happy together, living their blissful moments together.
"Maan..." Geet unknowingly moaned as he snuggled his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent.
"Stop it, Maan. We are in college, for god's sake." She said, bringing an angry face pushing him away.
He frowned. "So?" he was in no mood to stay away from her, that day. Sliding his hands around her petite waist, he pulled her towards him in a swift. Her palms rested on his chest, and she shook her head at his behaviour.
"What if someone sees us like this?" she asked, still trying to get off her.
Her every attempt of getting away from him, was resulting into nothing, absolutely nothing. She was too soft for someone so hard like him, who had spent hours in Jim, making his body rocky enough. Even if she tries to hit him, he would feel like roses showering over it. He always laughed over her, whenever she tried hitting him and she used to get so annoyed that it always used to results in she getting upset and then his start of making up for it, to his lady love.
"Let them see. You are mine and everyone should know it. Everyone stares at you like anything and I feel like killing each one of them." He told her, anger flickering through his eyes, remembering the gazes of all the boys of their college over her.
"Oh my my! Someone is getting jealous. God, I don't believe this. Like really? Maan Singh Khurana is jealous???" she giggled, slightly surprised hearing him. He never had really vocalized that it affected him so much.
"Haan to? Yes I am jealous. That is my right, isn't that?" he asked, staring in her eyes.
She stopped laughing, seeing him so serious. "Haan baba." She replied, wrapping her arms around his neck, realising that he was very disturbed.
"What happened, Maan?" she asked, feeling something was wrong.
Shaking his head, he said, "Nothing."
"Maan, is there anything, that is disturbing you?" she asked, being concerned. She was noticing him to be disturbed from some days.
"No Sweetheart. There is nothing like that. It's just I miss you these days. You went for that training... I was feeling incomplete without you." He told shrugging her off.
"Even I didn't want to go Maan, leaving you like that. But did I have any option? That came under my course and I had to go. But forget it now. I am here with you and I always will be with you." She promised, dropping a peck on his forehead, assuring him, asking him to relax. Geet had gone for training... out of the campus for four days. She had returned back just yesterday. He had missed her the most in those four days. He kept calling and messaging her every now and then. That was something surprisingly weird for Geet because she had never seen Maan behaving like that, since the time their relationship had started. But later, she only smiled realizing he indeed was missing her.
"I will die without you." He spoke instantly, with a fallen face.
"Shut up, Maan." She placed her palm on his lips, glaring at him. How dare he utter any such thing?
"Have you lost it? One more time, say that and see what I do with you." She scolded, getting upset over his words.
"I didn't not mean, to hurt you Sweetheart. Sorry." He apologized, not liking the fact that he had upset her.
"But you did. Never say that again." She cupped his face, "I love you Maan. I will never leave you." She promised him once again, confessing her love to him.
"I love you too Geet, more than anything, more than anyone. You are my heartbeat. You are the reason I am alive." Saying this, he embraced her, holding her close to his heart.
******
A noise from outside brought her back to reality. Her fingers wiped the few tears from her cheeks. It was so not digestible that he actually had questioned over her loyalty. "I don't know. I just don't know." She cried softly. Quickly drying her hairs, she made her feet take her outside, to see what exactly happened there.
"Ah" he winced in pain, as he accidently spilled hot coffee over his hand. Her senses got alert, forgetting about everything happened between them, she headed towards him. Rushing towards him, she took his hand in her, blowing air onto him. "Are you blind? Can't you be careful?" she burst out, ending up shouting at him, for not taking care of himself. He just couldn't help but kept staring at her. Dragging him to the tap, she held his hand below it, and started running cold water over it. "You have always been like this... Never take care of yourself." She said, painfully still her gaze fixed at his hand.
Turning off the tap, after a good amount of time, she pulled him aside. She searched for something in one of the racks of kitchen, and took out an antiseptic cream. She always kept the needed first aid in the kitchen, knowing one can get hurt while working in the kitchen. "Is it paining much?" she asked softly, caressing his hand, after applying some cream over it.
"Oh please, keep this care to yourself only. I want nothing but to take revenge from you... to hurt you." He jerked her hand, saying rudely.
Tears brimmed in her eyes. "Sorry, I forgot." She mumbled. "You want to hurt me, don't you? Let me make it easier for you." Looking here and there, her eyes stopped at the burner of the gas. Turning it on, she held her palm over it flame. His eyes widened in shock over her act. He was too much taken aback to realize anything. He took few moments to understand what was actually happening there.
"What the hell are you doing?" he screamed, taking her hand back from the flame, switching off the gas. "Have you lost it?" he ran towards the fridge, taking out ice from it. Silently watching him, she decided to observe him and then analyze things, which surely was turning complicated.
Coming back, he delicately rubbed ice cube on her palm, over the area, she burnt. She hissed in pain, as it pained her. His expressions softened, and he kept blowing air frequently over it. Lifting gaze, he saw her face, clenched in pain, slightly teary eyes. His lips touched her hand, lingering over it, unknowing to him. All he wanted to do was, to soothe her pain anyhow and she could see that.
His behaviour was getting out of understanding. "Why?" she couldn't help asking.
"What?" he asked.
"You wanted to hurt me right? Then why can't you see me in pain? I don't understand you Maan. What exactly do you want?" she asked, in a tired voice. His face changed into a shocked one hearing her. His hand immediately left hers. The moment he looked into her eyes, it did not come out good. He couldn't take it anymore. Shaking his head, he left from there, without saying anything.
Her tired form leaned back, resting himself on the headrest, of his bed. Why... why I have to do this? I can't do this. I can't see her upset. I can't bear her tears. She looked so broken. And today, even she hurt herself. No! It's breaking me seeing her dying every minute. How can I do this to her? I want to wipe those tears which are making her eyes stressed. I want to take her in my arms. I want to hide her in my embrace, shielding her from every pain, hurt and agony. I want to kiss her forehead, assuring her that I Love her and only her, that I can never in my wildest dreams that she can betray me, that I trust her more than I do anyone, even more than myself. Geet, I am sorry. But this is the least I can do now, for you.
"These are divorce papers. I have already signed on them." She forwarded a set of papers towards him, providing him information about the papers. Her voice went cold, saying it but she had partially become kind of emotionless. Holding herself from feeling any damn thing which would make her take back those papers, she just pretended to be still. She maintained her gaze at every other place except him because she didn't trust herself when it came to him. She had loved him with her all heart, body and soul. It wouldn't be a surprise to her if she looks in his eyes and ran straight in his arms. Not that, she was a lady who would go to that person who had doubted on her character. She was someone for whom nothing was above her, self respect. But then again, he was the love of her life. Though she had witnessed him being questioning over her loyalty towards him but what she was supposed to do with her stupid heart, which wasn't ready to accept the things seen and heard by her senses. Every time she tried hating him for what he had said to her, for his accusations on her but her heart refused to hate the one, she loved with all her almighty.
Taking divorce papers from her, he stared at them for a while before he tore in into pieces. "I will divorce you once I finish punishing you." Ah! He again did it. He again scattered her broken pieces which probably would be impossible to put back.
"As you feel right to do." she said, without arguing anything. It came as a surprise to him but he didn't make it visible. Looking in her eyes, he tried figuring out what exactly was going inside him but she averted her gaze, turning back. Damn it. Cursing himself for putting her into that state of sufferings, which was painful more than anything, he did let her go, watching how still she had become. His words had affected her to the extent that she had made herself look like a rock whom; nothing would affect now, no words, no actions.
"Yes Aman, any news?" he immediately asked in a desperate tone, picking up his ringing mobile. A sudden hope rising within him, made him look nothing but a kid who got to know the possibility of finding his favourite lost toy. His face fell, hearing the response of Aman. Once again, a tide of sadness hit him, and he was again all helpless.
"Geet, How are you? Long time..."
She heard him say, receiving her phone which rang for fourth time. Being lost in her own world of thoughts and more upset over the happenings in her life, she let her phone ring for first three times. But at the fourth attempt of someone's calling, she finally gave in.
"Hey Dev. I am fine. You say..." she spoke feebly, as if had no strength of talking with anyone. Staring at nothing particular, her fingers playing with the piece of cloth of her Saree, she held phone in tender grip, but quickly changed the hand as it pained her with the burn she caused herself few hours before. "What's wrong Geet? You sound so upset, so low. Is everything fine?" Dev asked, in a concerned tone.
"Nothing Dev. It's just... nothing," Geet was apprensive about talking her personal issues with anyone. Dev was Geet's college friend. "Come on Geet, you can tell me anything." Dev said, again wanting her to say something regarding her off mood. "Wait... does anything happened between you and Maan?"
Geet was shocked to hear that. How on the earth he got to know that? Wait, maybe that's quite obvious after getting married, that off mood refers to fight between couple, isn't that? "That's not something you need to know Dev." Geet replied coldly.
"Fine fine! I won't force you. Can we meet today? Actually I am in Mumbai. So was wondering if we can catch up?" Dev asked.
"You are best friend of Maan right? Why don't you call him? In fact, I have never seen him with you, since our college ended. He didn't even invite you on our marriage." Geet asked suspiciously. That one thing was something which always bothered her... Maan's sudden cut off with his best friend Dev. Dev's sudden call made her recall everything. She never asked Maan, because she trusted him and decided to wait until he opens up on his own.
"Geet, thats nothing. Just a little fight we had. Today is my birthday Geet. And I have no one here to celebrate with." Dev replied quickly.
"Okay fine. I will meet you." Geet said yes, after thinking for a while. "Um... New Life coffee shop? In two hours??" she asked, rather stated. He happily agreed.
******
"Where are you going?" Maan asked, as Geet descended down, clad in a red Saree. On seeing her not replying anything to him, he grabbed her arm, stepping towards her. "I asked you something." Repeating himself, he pinned her to the nearest wall. She looked quite unaffected to his actions but something was different this time. She wasn't gazing down, or averting her gaze from him but was looking at him, in his eyes probably. That made him to shift his gaze first. "I am going on your best friend's birthday party." She said, in a casual tone.
"Be... best friend... which friend?" He asked, stumbling over his words. He all of sudden looked visibly tensed. His muscles tensed; eyebrows stretched, quite unstable he seemed.
"As far as my knowledge states, you have had only one best friend so far!" she made a statement, answering him in a indirect way.
"Dev?" he asked, shaking his head. "Geet, you are not going." He again said running his fingers through hairs, even before she could answer.
"Excuse me?" she rolled her eyes before she pushed him, getting off his grip. As she tried leaving, he again pulled her holding her arm. "When I said you are not going which means YOU ARE NOT GOING." Raging eyes, his tone increased. Nearly he shouted on her, stating no matter what, she wouldn't go to him.
"You think I am your slave?" she asked, which raised his already burning anger more. "You are not my slave damn it. But I can't let you go." The moment he spoke, the next moment he regretted. And there she was... standing crossing her arms to her chest with not a surprised look as if she knew it was coming. Dammit.
The next moment, she was in his arms as he pulled her closer wrapping his hands around her. The fear had clouded his mind, and all he wanted that time was, the feel of she being close to him. Remembering something, he pulled apart taking off his watch pressing a button of it. "What it is?" she asked, at his sudden act.
"I can't let you go to Dev. He isn't safe for you." He threw his watch on the couch, walking a little ahead, his eyes blazing in anger, disgust and a lot more emotions. "I knew it." She muttered softly, as her doubt turned confirmed with Maan's words. She had somewhat expected him to say something like that after she received Dev's call. Until Dev made an appearance in the story, pieces weren't falling in their places but his call, and she could see, dots seemed to be connected with him.
"I knew it. I know, My Maan can never think of that low about me, forget about accusing. Will you speak up now?" Geet asked, cupping his face lovingly. Her heart was jumping in joy that their love wasn't failed. Their relation wasn't at stake. She felt relieved to know, he did everything for a reason. But that mattered least that time, all what melted her heart was, their love was still strong enough.
Maan sighed. "Dev is blackmailing me." He spoke in low, defeated voice. Pulling her near the couch, he sat there, securing her in his arms. "It all started before two days, you left for the training. Dev... he likes you Geet." Maan said, recalling the past events. Her eyes widen. To say she was surprised would be an understatement. Dev was Maan's best friend and whatever interactions she had with him, was because of Maan. She personally considered him a friend, because of Maan but she never had imagined in her wildest dreams about what Maan said. "No, let me correct myself. He doesn't like you. He is obsessed over you." Maan gritted his teeth, going back in memory lanes when he had got to know about Dev's intentions.
***
"Maan... look stay away from Geet. She is mine, only mine." Dev held Maan's collar, warning him. Maan was bewildered seeing the absolutely different side of his best friend, the change in his tone didn't go unnoticed by him.
"What the hell, are you talking Dev? I love her and more important, she loves me." Maan pushed him back, straightening his collar. His gaze found his best friend, lying on the floor of the locker room in their college.
"No No... she is mine, only mine." Dev kept repeating.
"Dev, what has happened to you? You, you know we love each other." Maan kneeled down, trying to make his best friend understand. He was still unable to understand what was wrong with Dev.
"Shut up. Shut up, Maan. I love her, she is mine. I love her from the first time I saw her. But I kept my feelings inside me but not anymore. She is mine and I'll get her at any cost. She is so beautiful. Her skin is so soft. I just can't wait to taste..."
He couldn't complete his words. Hearing his disgusting talks about Geet, a raged Maan punched him hard. Even after getting beaten from Maan, Dev kept blabbering about Geet and that was when Maan realized, the matter had turned too serious to let go. Dev didn't seem like in understanding mood at all.
"Hahaha... Geet is mine. I'll get her." His words left Maan horrified. Two days later Geet had gone for training. She couldn't inform Maan earlier as it was a last minute announcement. She had tried calling him but his number came switched off. She called him once she had reached there. Worried Maan, kept calling and checking upon Geet every now and then.
*****
Geet was shocked to hear the back story of why Maan never talked to Dev after that. "Why didn't you tell me?" she whispered. "Because I wanted to keep you away from all this. I didn't want you to stress or live in fear of him." He gently stroked her hairs.
"That was our anyway last month in the college. I thought he will forget with time."
"He is beyond disgusting. He... he has pictures... of you... which he is threatening to post on social sites."
"Pictures? What pictures?" Geet was clueless. Maan took out his phone and passed it to her. Tears rolled down her eyes, and phone slipped from her hand on the floor as her eyes fell upon the photos, in his phone. "How?" her voice broke, throat chocked. Tightening his hold on her shivering figure, he embraced her, bringing closer. "I don't know how... But I think... this is from the time, you went for that training. He might have... "
Maan couldn't complete himself. He was shattering from inside but still, he needed to keep his calm. Geet already had become pale. She looked like someone had snatched out life within her. "He wants you. He wants you to hate me. On that condition, he is ready to give me those photos. This watch... this watch has a transmitter which lets him know everything I say. And that is why... he plotted everything. That evening, you being in Rohit's arms wasn't a coincidence. I asked him to do that."
Geet eyes shot up in disbelief.
"I had to Geet. I know for you it was mere hug. But I wanted something, for which I can accuse you. So..." Maan said, lowering his eyes.
"Aman... Aman is trying to track him. But... he... he has those photos, Geet. I can't put your respect on stake." His feeble voice was cracking with every word.
Geet had stared sobbing by then, hiding her face in his chest. She couldn't still digest the fact that someone could be so disgusting. "Relax, Sweetheart. I promise you, I won't let anything happen. Trust me, Geet. Relax, calm... calm down." He tried comforting her. His lips lingering over her hairs, he kept rubbing her back. Finally, after his immense efforts, she stopped crying. Her body became still. Wiping her tears, she parted from him, getting up.
"He can't do anything, Maan." Geet spoke in a firm voice. Maan was surprised, with Geet's words and the determination in her voice.
"Enough is enough Maan. This is my battle and I'll show him, what it is to get into a private space of a woman." She was disgusted with Dev. He smiled a bit, seeing the strength her showed.
"Yes Aman? Oh really? Great." Maan picked up his cell, seeing Aman's name flashing.
" Aman finally hacked his computer and deleted everything. But... I don't know if he has more copies. Wait." Maan said.
He dialled Dev's number and put the phone on speaker. "Hello, Dev... ab bas... mai aur ye sab nahi karunga. Tum to Geet se pyar karte ho na... phir uske sath itni ghatiya cheez kaise kar sakte ho" Maan said, holding Geet's hand, signalling her to keep her calm.
Dev - Keep your mouth shut, Maan. You don't have any choice rather than listening to me.
Maan - Agar maine tumhari photos dhoond li na... to tumhe maar dalunga.
Dev - Haha... tum kabhi nahi dhoond paoge. Tumhe kya lagta hai, maine wo apne computer me chupake rakhi hongi? Ese bakwas ideas mere nahi hote Maan. Chalo mai tumhe bata hi deta hu... wo photos na, ek pendrive me hai. Uske alava mere pass koi copies nahi hai. Dhoond sakte ho... to dhoond lo.
"Hello... hello?"
Dev had disconnected the call.
Maan looked helplessly at Geet. His head hung down, and he punched his hand hard on the wall, turning back. He had never felt so tied up. The thing, that he wasn't able to protect the respect of his lady love and especially a woman. Lifting himself, he turned around, feeling her hand on his shoulder. "You are with me right?" she asked, gripping his left hand. He nodded. "Then let me go." Geet softly said.
"NO." Maan screamed in horror. "I won't let you go to that bas***d. He can do anything Geet."
****
"Hi Geet"
Geet was greeted by Dev, the soon she entered coffee shop. "Hi Dev" Geet said forcing a smile.
"You look beautiful." Pulling a chair for her, he complemented. She replied with just a smile.
"Happy Birthday Dev" Geet wished him, handing over a bouquet she brought for him.
"Thanks a lot baby."
Only Geet knew, how she controlled herself from kicking him for calling her that.
"So, you and Maan are fighting." He rather made a statement, sitting next in front of her.
"Hmm." She replied.
"Maan is such an impulsive man. His anger has always been a reason of messed up things."
Oh really!
"Forget about him. We are here to enjoy your birthday. So lets do that." Geet made an annoyed face, with a frown which made Dev happiest, seeing Geet started hating Maan.
"Ya Ya." Dev happily let go of Maan's topic. They ordered some pastries and pizza for them. Their talks went on, the most random. Dev was enjoying the quality time he was getting with Geet on the other hand, Geet was observing every minute detail about him, trying to search something.
"Let's have a dance." Geet said, standing up as a beautiful song played in the coffee shop. Dev was beyond ecstatic. Taking her to the stage, he kept his hands around her back, while she wrapped hers, around his neck and they started dancing. The smile plastered on Dev's face wasn't leaving even for a moment. After few minutes, his eyes narrowed as Geet suddenly stepped back.
"Maan..." Geet shouted.
Dev was shocked to see Maan getting inside the next moment. Geet threw the locket, she removed from Dev's neck towards Maan, "Here is it. It is the pen-drive. Check it."
Maan instantly inserted the pen-drive in his tablet and Geet was indeed right. It was the same pen-drive which had her pictures. Maan deleted the entire pendrive and threw it on the floor, breaking it with his shoes.
"Geet??" Dev called her name, unbelievably over what just happened.
"Don't you dare take my name from your disgusting mouth." Slapping him as hardest as she could, she held his collar.
"I love you Geet." Dev said, with teary eyes.
"I said. DONT TAKE MY NAME." She slapped him again. "What did you think? That you can get into my privacy, click cheap photos, blackmail Maan about making them viral?" she kicked his leg, which made him stumble and he fell on the floor.
Maan was watching everything just two steps distant to her. He felt it right to let Geet do whatever she wants with him.
"People like you are a shame on the name of society and men. Because of some disgusting men, every girl and woman needs to think ten times before trusting a guy or a man. Because of people like you, we need to think about woman's safety. Because of people like you, we need to live in fear. Because of people like you." She kicked him over and over as her anger, frustration was finally coming out.
Geet looked at Maan before she asked him to call police. Maan replied saying, he had already done, and they are on the way. Dev was in bad situation after getting so badly beaten up from Geet.
Just then, cops arrived. Geet backed off, standing near Maan. Blinking eyes, he gave her an assuring smile.
Cops were taking Dev, when Geet stopped them. Walking near the counter, she asked the owner if she could get some ice.
"And yeah, don't you ever underestimate women and dare you think them weaker because we... Definitely are not. Remember this always, before you get ever a thought of disrespecting women." She emptied entire jug of ice over his face with a force that he winced in pain of ice cubes hitting his skin.
"Don't mess up with a woman again. Next time, you probably won't survive." Maan joined Geet, before he took her out of that place.
They had barely reached to the car. Maan opened the door for Geet, when she pushed it back and hugged him. No doubt, she was a real strong person and showed immense strength and bravery in a situation where anyone could have lost their calm and mind but then again, at the end, she was a sensitive one. The incident happened recently, had left its scar over her. "Shh... Geet. Everything is fine," he caressed her hairs, letting her feel safe in his hold.
Dev had blackmailed Maan with Geet's privacy which he announced to put on public space. Maan, tried his best to get those photos from him but respect of his lady was over stake. Of course, he wouldn't have let his Geet in hands of Dev but he had no other option than agreeing to his sayings, at least to get some time to think of the ways of getting those pictures of her. But then, Geet, somewhere knew that Maan can't doubt on her loyalty towards him and Dev's invitation to her connected many dots. Finally, Maan removed curtains from the story, revealing the truth in front of Geet. She was sickened to know someone could stoop so low, for their selfish needs. It had broken her but she still stood strong, for her respect and fought in her own way, once again proving the fact that women were never weak and never will that if anyone dares to disrespect dignity of a woman, she can make him rot in hell. Maan and Geet were together, with each other because their love stood strong, despite of all wrongs!
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No proof read! Written in hurry and sickness.
Originally I have written this in my laptop imagining Arshi. I have just changed the names here. So if you find any typo, let me know. I'll correct.
Do drop your likes and comments.
@Dear Khwaish, I really apologize that you are still waiting for my stories and I am not updating. Honestly I do have their updates written but I am not able to post, be it due to time constrains or my health issues. My college is too hectic now. I barely get time to sleep.
But you are one such a loyal reader who has invested so much in my works. So, please just be patient till this may. I'll get all free by then and will complete all the fics and write many new ones😳
Love
-Harshada
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