Chapter 4: Faislon Ke Mod Par
The next morning in Shimla was deceptively calm. The sky was brushed in soft pinks and blues, the hills basking in early sunlight. But inside Geet’s heart, a storm brewed quietly — relentless and confusing.
She stood in front of the mirror, brushing her hair absentmindedly. Her eyes fell on the diamond ring on her finger. Aryan's ring.
Safe. Steady. Promising.
Then, uninvited, her mind drifted back to last night. Maan's voice, etched with pain and truth, echoed in her memory.
“If even a part of your heart still remembers us… I’ll wait. No matter how long.”
She shut her eyes, gripping the edge of the dresser.
Why now?
Why did fate drag old wounds back into the light just when she had almost learned how to forget?
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At the breakfast buffet, Meera was sipping her coffee when Geet walked in, her expression unreadable.
“Hey,” Meera said, watching her closely. “You okay?”
Geet hesitated, then sat down. “I talked to Maan again last night.”
Meera raised an eyebrow. “And?”
Geet looked away. “He said… he still loves me.”
Meera didn’t look surprised. “And you?”
Geet blinked. “I don’t know. I thought I moved on. I thought Aryan and I… made sense. But Maan… he’s always been something else. Something raw. Real. We didn’t just love each other. We felt each other.”
Meera softened her tone. “Geet, choosing someone because they’re safe and kind is not wrong. But choosing someone just to run away from your pain? That’s not fair to either of you.”
Geet sighed. “That’s the thing. I don’t know if I’m running away… or holding on to the one thing that never let me heal.”
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Later that afternoon, Geet walked into the event hall with a file in hand, trying to focus on the Oberoi wedding checklist. But Maan was already there, speaking to a vendor about fabric arrangements.
He paused when he saw her, his expression calm but alert — waiting.
“We need to finalize the lighting for the mehendi ceremony,” she said, strictly professional.
He nodded. “I’ve marked the soft yellow and peach tones for approval. You used to love those.”
She hesitated. “That was a long time ago.”
“Not long enough for me to forget.”
Geet looked away.
He continued, softer this time. “You’re angry. You should be. I deserve it. But I need you to understand… I never stopped loving you. I just stopped believing I was worthy of you.”
Geet met his eyes. “You don’t get to decide that for me, Maan.”
“I know,” he said quietly. “But I’m here now. Not to force a place in your life, but to give you back the choice I once stole.”
His words hit deeper than she wanted to admit.
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That evening, Geet found herself sitting across Aryan again at Café Bloom. He smiled warmly, his hand sliding gently over hers.
“I’ve been thinking,” he said, “about us. Our future. I know things are moving fast, but I’m willing to slow down if you need time.”
Geet stared at him, her heart aching.
Aryan was everything a woman could want. Caring. Supportive. Honest.
But… he wasn’t Maan.
And the guilt of even thinking that made her feel like the worst person in the world.
“I need to tell you something,” she said softly.
Aryan’s smile faded a little. “Okay…”
“I ran into someone from my past here,” she admitted. “Someone who once meant everything to me.”
He didn’t speak, just waited.
“I thought I had buried that part of my life,” she continued, “but seeing him again… it’s brought up a lot of confusion.”
Aryan’s voice was steady, though laced with pain. “Is it someone you still love?”
She didn’t answer immediately.
But silence is its own kind of confession.
Aryan looked away for a moment, then met her eyes. “Thank you for being honest. I deserve that much.”
“I never meant to hurt you.”
“I know,” he said gently. “And I’d rather you break my heart now than marry me with half of yours somewhere else.”
Geet’s eyes welled up.
“I need time to figure things out,” she whispered.
He nodded, forcing a small smile. “Then take it. And Geet… whatever you decide, I hope you find peace.”
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Night fell again over the quiet hills, stars blinking in silent sympathy. Geet walked alone along the resort lawn, the grass cool beneath her heels.
That’s where she saw him.
Maan stood under the canopy lights, inspecting the stage setup for the sangeet. He didn’t see her at first. Not until she said his name.
“Maan.”
He turned immediately.
She took a deep breath. “I told Aryan about us. About you.”
His eyes widened. “You did?”
She nodded. “I owed him the truth. He’s a good man. But he’s not the one who still makes my heart ache.”
Maan took a step forward, his voice trembling. “Are you saying—?”
“I don’t know what the future holds,” she interrupted gently. “But I know this — I never stopped loving you either.”
Relief washed over his face, mixed with disbelief. “Geet…”
“But I’m scared,” she confessed. “Scared of getting hurt again. Scared of trusting someone who left me once.”
Maan’s voice was low, honest. “Then let me prove to you every day that I’m not that man anymore. I’ll wait. I’ll fight. I’ll love you like I should have then.”
Tears fell freely from her eyes now.
And this time, when Maan stepped forward to wipe them away, she didn’t stop him.
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Hope you all like it. Thanks for earlier chapter likes and comments.
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