FF: Almost Lovers (6): Teaser Pg 48 22/6 - Page 20

Chapter Forty

Sincere apology

I have loved,

so I give away my pride.

I have lost,

So I repent openly.

I have sinned,

So I prostate myself.

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Present

Bitterness filled Maan's mouth as he stood in front of the man whom he had thought he would never bend down for. It went against all his instincts to even be in the same room as him but then again this was part of redemption.

If you are truly the man you pride yourself to be, then this is nothing. A voice in his head whispered, sounding suspiciously like Geet. Asking for forgiveness for a mistake is human and natural.

"Well this is a big surprise" Rehan's eyebrows were raised in absolute surprise. He knew how proud a man Maan was and that this would be the last place he would wish to be. "The great Maan Singh Khurana deigns to visit my humble office."

"I am here to apologise" Maan gritted out the words, but as soon as they left his lips he knew that they were the truth. "Despite the fact that I think you were weak in not trusting Geet or for not fighting for her, it still doesn't make my actions right. I have damaged your life in my desire to be with Geet. Indeed it was willfully done."

If Rehan had been surprised before it was nothing compared to now. "Are you seriously apologizing?" There were many things that Rehan could have expected from Maan, including a punch in the face but forgiveness was the last.

Maybe Geet does know him as well as she claims, Rehan thought to himself.

"Yes I am apologizing" Maan glared, his face a contrast with the words. But as he continued his face softened the barest amount. "Neither one of us are blameless. But my blame is greater and also I am the one that started this game."

"True" Rehan replied, "I accept that I should have trusted Geet more. But you utilized by weakness, the fact that I have always known that Geet deserves better than someone like me, against me. You knew that it was one area I would fold."

"Yes" Maan responded with utter honestly, "But you could have proven me wrong. The very fact that you didn't showed that there was a part of you that was never going to fully trust Geet to stay with you. However that is not why I am here. I wanted to make up for my mistakes. Obviously I cannot take back my actions but I will try to redeem myself. As you probably realized that there have been many obstacles in your path in Delhi, indeed all over India"

"Yes I did notic that" Rehan replied dryly. It definitely hadn't escaped his notice that there were many men here who weren't willing to do business with him; all were allies with Maan Singh Khurana. Needless to say they were powerful men and their support would have been greatly beneficial.

"Well, things will run smoother for you" Maan pushed the words out, "You won't have people oppose you as much."

Rehan's eyebrows went all the way up, "Are you serious?"

This time Maan leaned forward, showing the absolute honesty in his eyes, "Trust me, when I give my word its good as gold."

"Well...thanks I guess" Never thought there would be day when I would thank Maan. "Does this also mean you are willing to give up Geet?"

And with that he broke whatever calm there was in the room.

"Never" Maan growled out, "I am never going to lie or manipulate her but there will never come a day when I will willingly let her go. She can make her decision but I'll make sure everyone knows I'll fight for her." With that Maan turned around and started to walk away, not wanting to be in Rehan's presence any longer.

"You do realize that she loves you?" Rehan spoke out just as Maan reached the door.

With that Maan turned around with a bewildered look, "What?"

"Geet; she loves you" Rehan repeated. A part of him was kicking himself for saying the words. But the truth was that Rehan was hopelessly honest and his sense of fair play made it a compulsion to let Maan know at least a part of the truth. "Despite all that she says or does, she is still in love with you"

"What makes you say that?" Maan asked intently, knowing that Rehan knew Geet better than nearly anyone else.

Rehan rolled his eyes, "You are seriously blind if you can't realize the truth. I essentially betray her and she forgives me. Why? Because a part of her gave up on me. But she hasn't been able to let go of her anger towards you because she expects more from you. She still expects things from you"

"That doesn't make sense" Maan frowned.

"Who ever said that Geet made sense" Rehan smirked, "But to explain it in a simplistic manner; Geet cares enough about you to get angry"

"Why are you telling me all this?" Maan asked suspiciously.

"Because for some crazy reason Geet loves you...and all I have ever wanted is for her to be happy" Rehan replied sadly, "Even if it is with you. But lastly, if you want to find Geet...just think about where she would want to get lost. I think you already know the answer but you just need to remember"

With that Maan was ready to beat the crap out of Rehan but held himself back, "You of all people know where she is?"

"Yes" Rehan replied with a smirk, "But I am not going to tell you outright. Geet said you would understand the clue"

"You do realize I could beat the shit out of you and get the answer" Maan growled out even has loomed over menacingly.

"You could but she really wouldn't want to speak to you then" Rehan laughed out "But look at it this way, I really didn't have to tell you anything. Also just cause you haven't punched me yet, I'll chuck in another clue. It's a place where she can be in a crowd yet be hidden." And then turning a bit serious, "Look despite my deep rooted hatred for you, I do want you to make her happy"

Maan coughed a bit awkwardly, "Well...hmmm...thanks for that"

"Yeah, lets never have a conversation like this again," Rehan replied equally uncomfortably. "Next thing you know we will be turning into women talking about our emotions"

Maan smirked, "Me? Never but you on the other hand..." Leaving that sentence unfinished, Maan walked out of the room.

However Rehan was hardly finished with his job and picked up his phone.

"Well, Geet you really are a seer" Rehan joked, "Guess who came to my office just like you said he would?"

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PAST

Geet ran as fast as she could, away from Maan and away from the truth. She could hear Maan's voice even as she ran.

How could he do this?

How could he make our love a joke and a lie?

She ran down the stairs, nearly tumbling down but even a broken neck didn't seem as bad as her heart shattering.

"Geet!" Her dad was standing at the base of the staircase and quickly grabbed her arm, "Why are you running like that? What happened beti?"

"He lied dad!" Geet blurted out even as tears streamed down her cheeks, "This is all a lie! I need to get away from here!"

"Who and what lie?" Mohinder asked in confusion and worry. He had never seen Geet this frantic.

"Maan" She gasped out his name, "It was all a set up dad. He set the media up, he bankrupted our project and put the blame on me. He ruined me dad, utterly ruined me"

"WHAT!" Mohinder couldn't believe his ears but then he saw Maan running down the stairs. "Is this true Maan?"

"I can explain" Maan bit out a tried to reach for Geet but Mohinder pushed him away.

"Get away from my daughter" He yelled at Maan, He stepped forwards towards Maan and pushed him back again.

As a reflex Maan turned to side and pushed away at Mohinder but that was all it took to unbalance Mohinder and cause him to hit his head against the banister and fall down the last step.

Within seconds there was blood all over the carpet.

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