Thank you all for the amazing response. 🤗
I know you are all waiting for NT-Maan-Geet confrontation and that will happen soon. 😊
Here we go...
KHURANA MANSION
Savitri Devi had returned earlier from the reception of her grandson's much awaited wedding. She was truly happy for both her kids, Maan and Geet. But then her heart ached thinking about what she was about to do. That had to be done though. She had let it go all this time but now that things have gone so out of hand Savitri Devi Khurana had decided that she had to let go of her second grandson Dev Khurana. It wasn't about choosing Maan over Dev nor was it some sort of punishment for what Dev had done. But Dev Khurana needed to learn that life was not that easy or simple to just run away every time. He had done that at every single opportunity. He would always find the easiest path and choose it. This time Savitri Devi made sure that there was no easier path for Dev. She had consulted the lawyers and cut him off of all the Khurana Industries shares. The diluted shares, whose worth was actually increased only by Maan's hardwork was also snatched away from Dev. OWing to Dev's callous behavior and his doubts on NT's intentions, Maan had made sure that Dev was never the true owner of the few percent of shares he possessed in KI. The real power to sell, invest or withhold those shares rested with Savitri Devi and only after her lifetime it would be passed on to him. Until then he was only eligible to reap all the benefits from his shares. Savitri Devi used her veto to withhold all of Dev Khurana's shares and cut him off from any of his ancestral possessions.
It was time to tell him the same.
Dev stood there baffled, "But dadima, why would you do this to me? I know I have made mistakes but please give me a chance to prove myself"
Dadi's tone was brusque,"You had enough of that!"
"But dadima where would I go?"
Dadi looked straight into his eye, "I am not sending you out empty handed like we did to Geet. I am leaving you enough money to survive. Ten lakhs worth a lot Dev! You only need to make the rest of it. Didn't Geet live even if she had nothing"
Dev snapped, "But I am not like Geet, you know that!"
Dadi repeated in a melancholic tone, "True! You are nothing like Geet."
Dev knelt in front of dadi and rested his head on her lap. Dadi couldn't help but stroke his hair," I know beta, it is hard for you but eventually it's for your own good. You will see that one day."
Dev raised his head and took off his glasses. He wiped the drop of tear threatening to fall from his eye, "But Nain Tara will leave me if she knows about this. I can't live without her dadi! She is my wife!"
Dadi cleared her throat, "If she loves you, she will stay with you even without the money."
Dev smiled sadly, "Her love for money is a bit more than her love for me. I know that!"
"Leave Dev! Don't make this any more harder than what it already is!"
Dev got up to his feet, "I will. Just don't say anything to Nain Tara now. I will reveal it to her myself a few days later."
"But how will you explain leaving this place?", inquired dadi.
"I will manage that. Some alone time together, something like that!", he shrugged and took his leave.
When Annie returned later that night from the reception she was surprised to find NT and Dev leave with a whole lot of baggage. "Some vacation it seems!", she thought and went to sleep.
That dance with her beloved bhai lifted a huge weight off her chest. And now Nain Tara was gone too. She was relieved for the night. But there were things that needed to be resolved. A simple apology won't do any good to her bhai and bhabhi. She had to think of something else.
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Somewhere after midnight, Geet was lying spooned by her husband after a tiring love making night session. Maan seemed to have possessed some raw energy with all that passion that now made her legs sore. She snuggled closer to him feeling his bare skin against her. It felt incredible.
"Maa..n?", she cooed lovingly in that hoarse voice.
"mmm"
"Actually Maan, I was thinking that I kept my promise and gave you my gift. In fact everyone has given me my wedding gift by tonight. Everyone but YOU!"
Her last words were cutely accusing him. Maan kissed on her bare neck lovingly and assured her, "Wait my mishty! Wait and you will find it!"
"It better be good Maan!", she rolled her eyes.
He kissed her lightly on the tip of the ear. "It is Maan Singh Khurana's gift. Of course it will be good!"
Geet closed her eyes feeling his strong hands tugging her closer. There was warmth, passion and loads of love in which she felt contented and slept peacefully with him.
If Geet thought she knew her man, he made it impossible to understand him every single time. There he was at her doorstep without asking a word abandoning his family the other day, making her the gushing new bride and lo now, back to square one! Geet wanted to scream out till her lungs burst "NOOO.." but she stood there dumbstruck , mute as a statue without able to utter a single word.
"So...How is it, mishty?", she heard his faint voice from behind. She thanked her stars that she was standing with her back facing him or else he would have already read that horrified expression in her eyes.
Last night was so peaceful and lovely. All of it started to collapse since this morning. Maan was being this whole different person. Well not so different. She had seen him work before even earlier when he started and in NYC. However, all those times his attention was totally devoted to her unlike this morning. Maan was up and ready even before she opened her eyes. He was in a fuss to take her somewhere. And only when they finally stopped in front of KI's head office, did Geet know where they were headed to. He put his arm around her proudly and walked in to the office scaring the hell out of everyone who thought the boss was still on vacation and walked nonchalantly into a cabin leading her in the front. Geet had no clue what was waiting for her there. He stood a few steps back as she looked around the cabin.
The decor was trendy and elegant. It was sophisticated and artistic at the same time to the point that Geet almost wished to have a cabin like that one day. Until the moment her eyes fell on the name board that was on the grand table with a glass top in front of that overtly comfortable office chair. "Geet Maan Singh Khurana, Editor-in-Chief, Pageant India"
Her world stopped then and there until she felt him tug her from behind.
"Geet? How do you like it?"
Like it? She didn't want this. This was all becoming a mess too quickly. She wanted to tell him but his eyes were so expectant that it broke her heart to disappoint him. So she just cocked her head in a very girly manner and smiled. Maan was puzzled at her unusual behavior and knitted his brows, "What happened Geet? Did something go wrong?"
That was her cue, wasn't it? She tried, "Nothing Maan. I was just thinking isn't all this a bit too soon. I mean..."
Maan smiled and shook his head, "No no not at all Geet. This is not my gift (he said pointing to the name plate almost to her relief,Almost!). In fact Ramona and I had decided this way back in New York that we needed someone experienced to lead things here. We were down to you and Sasha."
Geet's nose wrinkled at the mention of Sasha and Maan quickly stopped there.
"Anyways, the gift is this whole new cabin that I designed especially for you! How is it? Do you like it? If not, we can make changes. I have told the guys we haven't finalised the decor yet. But this, he gestured around, I thought would suit your style."
"God! That really was his gift! This!", she thought to herself.
He moved towards the corner and opened a mini cabin with a wooden door inside the cabin. "This is a baby room in case you wanted to bring Mia. There's a mini study and a retractable bed here you know, for her."
Geet sighed. He thought about everything, her Maan! It would be so brutal to tell him the truth that she didn't want to work at such a busy place.
"So, Mishty? How did you like my wedding gift?", he stood there proudly looking at her.
"Come on Geet, come clean. Now is your cue to tell him that you want to keep your profession separate from family.", she assured herself. Geet took a long breath.
And then she heard herself say, "Oh Maan! It's so beautiful. I love it!"
Maan pumped his fist in the air as if he has won some award. "Yes! I knew you would like it!"
He hugged her tightly and kissed on the skin of her neck where his lips touched. It tinkled her and she remained like that engulfed in his embrace. It was so gratifying to see this happiness in him. So what she had to tell a small lie about it! Her Maan was happy. That was worth it. Besides, it was not a complete lie, she loved the decor. It was perfect, only she didn't want that job.
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PRECAP : So, what do you think? Should Geet tell him the truth? 😕
Please let me know how that went. I was feeling a bit of a block to write anything. Will be waiting for your reviews
Cricket
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