MG FF: The Innocent - Chapters 20-27 on p. 41 - Complete - Page 20

Chapter 13

Wow

Maan the gangster is showing shades of the real maan ....,,

Hmmmm interesting how he revealed about how he became a gangster

He didn’t want this but inherited it

Maan is actually being nice to geet .... “ please “ ....... that was shocking & he wants geet to stay for her safety

Her taking care of Neil is a nice proposition...,,,,,

Wondering if maan has already started falling for geet ?? 🤔

Thank you

I can’t stand Sameera ughhhh 😡

How the hell does Maan like her or why is he putting up with her??? She is such a bi*ch!

It’s unexpected that Maan would actually become vulnerable in front of Geet like that so it’s quite shocking 😲

One thing that he’s right about is that Geet obviously won’t be as safe on the streets as she is at Maan’s place so she will have to reconsider her decision

@ ferdouz - So glad you liked it, thanks so much! He did have a point about her staying!

@ priya_21 - Thank you for reading and commenting! Let's see what Maan does next....

@ simranDi - Many thanks for your kind words! I love how closely you read the chapter, what awesome plots those would be lol!

@ taahir004 - Thank you so very much for taking the time to write out such a thoughtful and nice comment! Maan did make some good points there!

@ Alamelu - Thank you for reading and posting your thoughts. :) Geet was definitely bold in the gazebo!

@ aparna3011 - I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment, thank you! She was surprised for sure at him sharing his past!

@ MA1970 - Thank you for reading and sharing your feedback! Maan really did surprise Geet!

@ khwaishfan - Your feedback is sooo kind, thank you so much! Really appreciate your amazing insight into this chapter. :) Geet is perplexed for sure about what's going on!

@ babelicious - Aww, many thanks for your extremely sweet comment! So glad you are enjoying it so far. :) A different side to Maan for sure!

@ maangeet.gmmg - Thanks so much for the kind feedback, so glad you are reading along. :)

@ vaishu_belwal - Thank you so very much for such a nice and thoughtful comment, it means a lot to me! Really appreciate you checking out all chapters so far! The next one should be going up soon!

@ maaneetsangel - So glad you are finding it interesting, thank you! Let's see how the story unfolds....

@ UmaDevi97 - Thank you so much for your insightful and kind comment! Love how you talked about mafia vibes versus the loneliness factor! <3

@ kabslocks - Many thanks for reading and for your sweet comment, much appreciated!

@ sanum23 - Ooh, I love how you noticed that he made sure she wouldn't go to sleep on an empty stomach! Thanks so much for following along with the story and commenting. :)

@ Creampuff - Love your thought about Maan the gangster versus shades of the real Maan! Thank you very much for reading and posting such thoughtful feedback, I appreciate it so much. :)

@ anmirza - Thank you very much for reading and posting your thoughts! Agreed that Maan was right about that point!

Hi all! I am soooo grateful for your comments, they are very encouraging and motivating. :) Chapter 14 is below!

(Link to chapter index)

Chapter 14

One week later, Geet still hadn’t technically made up her mind about whether to stay in Maan’s house or not -- even though she had continued to sleep in “her” room.

Geet had stayed partly because she had nowhere else to go and partly because . . . well, she couldn’t quite put her finger on that. Maybe because she genuinely did want to spend more time with Neil, who seemed like he needed a nurturing presence in his life? Or maybe because she hadn’t had to deal with Maan’s typical rudeness lately, since she had barely seen him over the past few days.

Geet spent her mornings and early afternoons searching for a job. The quicker she could start earning a salary, the quicker she could start paying Maan for rent and for the new clothes that had suddenly appeared in her closet. When employed, Geet would also be able to save up for a security deposit to put down on her own apartment.

In the late afternoons, Geet babysat Neil after his school day ended. Sadly, Geet suspected that Neil’s father was happy to be rid of Neil for a few hours every single weekday. Neil’s father never came into Maan’s house, simply dropping Neil off and honking as he drove away.

Maan had offered to pay Geet for babysitting his nephew, but she had refused out of principle because she truly cherished the time with Neil. Usually Geet would give him an after-school snack that the chef had prepared, and then Neil would start on his homework in the study on the second floor. Afterward, Geet would either read to him or they would do a quiet activity like coloring. Neil would always offer his crayon box to Geet, saying politely, “Ladies first.”

Today, however, Geet and Neil were at a local museum of natural history, which was only a few miles from Maan’s house. Neil had learned of a new exhibit on dinosaurs, and Maan’s driver had given them a lift after Neil finished his homework.

“Miss Geet, look, this dinosaur is from the Jurassic period,” Neil said excitedly as he led Geet to a mounted dinosaur skeleton under a sign reading “Brontosaurus.”

“Very interesting!” Geet exclaimed. She was amassing *much* more dinosaur knowledge than she had ever anticipated, but she was happy to do so for Neil. Geet was reading the informational placard about the dinosaur when Neil tugged on her palm.

“Um, Miss Geet, can we go now?”

Geet furrowed her brow. “But don’t you want to look around some more? We just got here, Mr. Tops.” She had started calling him “Mr. Tops” since Neil’s favorite dinosaur was, of course, Triceratops.

“I know, but I would like to leave, please.” Behind his glasses, Neil’s eyes were darting around nervously. Geet saw two boys around Neil’s age a few yards away.

“Please, Miss Geet,” Neil begged.

“Sure, of course.” Alarmed at Neil’s obvious distress, Geet quickly led Neil out of the exhibit, past a banner that read “Marine Collection,” and down the escalator.

Outside, Geet took a seat on a bench near the parking lot and patted the seat next to her for Neil to sit down. “You don’t have to,” Geet began kindly, “but do you want to tell me why you wanted to leave so quickly? I know you were really excited to see the dinosaurs.”

Neil propped an elbow on his knee and rested his chin in his palm. “Two brothers from my school came in. They are not very nice. They always tease me about how my parents are not together anymore and my mama not loving me.”

Geet felt her heart drop. Who were these mean boys bullying innocent Neil?

“Oh, sweetheart.” Geet placed a hand atop Neil’s head. “I’m sure your mother loves you very, very much. Who wouldn’t love Mr. Tops?”

“Mama says that she does love me, but I have not seen her in a long time. I miss her very much. Daddy does not like it when I see her.” Neil took off his glasses and looked away, touching his face. It took Geet a moment to realize he was trying to hide that he was wiping away tears, and she felt sick at his heartache.

Maan’s driver pulled up directly in front of the bench then, apparently having spotted them, and Geet dropped the subject so as not to make Neil feel uncomfortable. His mood was so gloomy that they didn’t bother returning to the museum.

Back at Maan’s house, Geet offered Neil a bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream to try to cheer him up. He ate just a few bites, which Geet could tell he did only to appease her. Maan’s driver finally took Neil home after Geet gave him a big hug and promised to take him back to the museum soon.

Now, Geet was pacing the foyer as she waited for Maan to walk through the front door. What did Maan know about why Neil wasn’t allowed to see his own mother? How could Geet help Neil?

The question was on the very tip of Geet’s tongue when the front door opened with a loud click. Adi and Maan both came through the door, with Maan’s arm hooked loosely around Adi’s neck and shoulder. Pinky entered the house behind them as Maan let out a bark of laughter.

Surprised, Geet stepped backward so that she was half-hidden in the sitting room. “What’s going on?” she asked Pinky, who had approached Geet and looked anxious.

“Maan Sir is totally drunk,” Pinky whispered. “Maan Sir, Sameera, Adi, and I were out at dinner. The short of it is that Maan Sir found out that one of Sameera’s father’s men attacked one of Maan’s men.”

“Oh my gosh!” Geet cried. “Is the man okay?”

“I don’t know, and it’s extra awful because we thought there would be a truce between the two gangs since Maan Sir and Sameera are engaged. Maan Sir got angry, and then Sameera got mad as well and tried to defend her father. Maan eventually went up to the bar and had a lot of very strong drinks. Sameera left the restaurant and Adi and I ended up bringing Maan Sir home.”

Geet watched as Adi half-dragged Maan, who was clearly unable to keep his balance on his own, down the hallway. “They’re probably headed to the big couch in the den so that Maan Sir can lie down,” said Pinky with a sigh. Following Pinky down several halls, Geet passed rooms that she hadn’t even known were in the house, like a room featuring a grand piano and a game room with a ping-pong table. The women finally rounded a corner past a powder room and entered a large den. Maan, his eyes closed, was sprawled out on a sectional sofa, still in his trench coat and shiny dress shoes.

“I’ve never seen him like this before,” said Adi, shaking his head. “I’ve left a message for Sameera to come over, so she should be here soon. Geet, can you handle him for now?”

Geet had no idea how to take care of a drunk person. “Um, sure,” she said tentatively.

After Adi and Pinky left, Geet hovered over Maan’s sleeping form. He looked so innocent while he slept -- nothing like what he presented to the world: a strict, arrogant man with violence running through his veins. Geet was looking around the den to see if there was a blanket she could grab to cover Maan when he grabbed her elbow. Geet jumped, looking down into his glassy eyes.

“Are you an angel?” he asked in wonder.

Geet was so taken aback that it took her a moment to respond. “No, I . . . I’m Geet. Remember?”

Maan laughed, but didn’t let go of her arm. “Of course I remember. Geet, Geet, Geet. The girl who is just as alone in the world as I am.”

Geet swallowed hard and took a seat on the couch next to him. “You’re not alone,” she said quietly. “Adi and Pinky were just here, and you have your brother and your nephew.” She wished she could talk to him about Neil like she had originally planned, but she knew it wouldn’t be helpful to bring it up in Maan’s current state. “And you have Sameera, of course, your fiancee. She should be coming over soon.” Geet gently removed her elbow from Maan’s grasp. “You have a lot of people who love you.”

Maan gazed up at her, a half-smile forming on his lips. “Sweet, innocent Geet,” he said wistfully. “As naive as she is beautiful.”

Something in Geet’s heart began to stutter. Had he really just said that?

“Oh, wait, I shouldn’t have said that,” said Maan with a groan. “I’m getting married! Even though it will be a loveless marriage. And even though people are still getting hurt even after the engagement.”

Geet, who was having trouble digesting Maan’s revelations, was at a loss for words. “Let me get you some water,” she finally said.

“Wait.”

“Yes?” Geet suddenly felt very warm all over.

“Can you stay? Here? With me? I made sure to keep myself away from you the last few days, but I can’t do it.” Maan’s chin drooped toward his chest and his eyes fluttered closed. “Not anymore.”

---

Thanks for sticking with this extra long chapter lol!

Nice update...

Feeling bad for Neil.

Aww is that a confession from Maan? Will he remember once he is sober?

I wish we can get rid of Sameera soon. As I had suspected, he is obviously not in love with her!

My heart breaks for Neil 💔 Why is he kept away from his mom? I just hope they let him go to his mom. I am loving the equation between Geet and Neil ❤️

Part 14

Wow !!

What an update !! 👏

My heart is torn reading about Neil ...... he is being teased by classmates & he misses his mother. 😭 Why is he not allowed to see his mother ?? & why did his father fight for custody when he has no time for him ? Glad that he has geet at least.

And I have to say that I am glad that maan does not love sameera 😃

Also that there are still disputes going on b/n the two families puts another dent in their relationship...... b/c their alliance was supposed to bring a truce b/n the two Gangs.

I was shocked & delighted by maan’s drunken confession that he found geet naive & beautiful & he has been trying to avoid her but he no longer can 👍🏼

Wondering how this new revelation will change their relationship the morning after ??

Thank you 🤗

Chapter 13

Maan is right about one thing. She is better off staying. She is not safe out on the streets.

Did he know he could get her to stay by telling her about his reasons?

Chapter 14

What good is the engagement if the two sides are still fighting with each other?