Winter's End T2 - Epilogue - 15.7.14 - Page 15

Chapter 36

Maan noticed it directly. Geet, who usually liked to boss him about and rile him up, kept her distance. She had sent a message that she will work in MC for the rest of the week and if he had any problems, Adi would deal with them. Why did he have the strong feeling that Geet didn't want to see him anymore? Did he do something? Did someone say something? Was it Nikhil, who didn't like Geet spending so much time in KC? Maan didn't know what to say or do. Finally, on Friday evening he paid Geet's apartment a visit. Riya opened the door, unsure how to treat the unexpected guest.

"Please come in. Geet bhabi will be back in a few minutes." Maan nodded and kindly declined her offer of coffee. Riya wondered in Maan wanted to talk to Geet about the proposal. Did he find out? Does he want to convince Geet to say yes? Before he got a chance, Riya thought it wise to interfere.

"Maan... I mean Mr Khurana. Are you here to talk to Geet about something special?" Maan nodded.

"I... I need to ask Geet something. I am not sure how to broach the topic, though." He admitted. Riya's doubt got confirmed.

"Look, your Dadi asked Geet and although she understands that eventually she will have to get married again, she might want to choose her life partner herself. I know Dadi wouldn't force her to marry you but please don't force her either. Give her the chance to think about what she wants." Maan was flabbergasted. What was the girl talking about? Geet's marriage? Dadi? Marry him? He had to clear this up right away.

"Dadi came here to ask Geet if she wanted to marry me?" Riya nodded slowly. Maan face palmed himself and left. At home, he went to Dadi right away.

"How could you do this, Dadi?" Dadi, who was knitting a sock for Pari looked up.

"Well, I didn't know knitting is a crime." She smirked when she saw Maan's confused visage. He did look adorable, her little grownup grandson.

"Dadi, I mean what you did at MC. You actually asked Geet to marry me? What will she think? What will she say? No wonder she has been ignoring me big time." Maan slumped down onto the couch.

"Maan, I had to ask her sooner or later. And since you all were scared she might marry Nikhil, I asked her now."

"We all were scared? Who told you?" Sharp as a knife Maan asked.

"Vicky. And don't go telling off the boy. He was the one who told me about your liking Geet and I approve of her. The girl is made of a courage, honesty and power."

"I know Dadi. But we didn't start off on the right foot. Do you think she will agree?"

"Beta, Geet is not one to hold grudges. If she would, she wouldn't have been talking to you at all. Wait and see, she will agree to this. My heart says so."

"My heart says so, Geet. It will be for yours best." Nikhil and Geet were in the parking area of MC. Geet had confided in her best friend for advice and she had gotten it. But it was not what she wanted to hear but what she had feared of hearing.

"I know but it is difficult." Nikhil smiled.

"Difficult is not the same as impossible, Geet. I knew a crazy girl you told me this once." Geet smiled, she remembered the day well.

"Look Geet. It isn't as if you don't know him or his family. And knowing Vicky, he will always be there for you if Maan gives you trouble."

"Hm, I can deal with the haughty man myself." Geet announced and Nikhil pulled her cheek.

"I know that. And don't you worry about Armaan and Riya. I will take care of them."

"You don't have to. Both will move with me, wherever I go. I promise Sohan, I intend in keeping my promise."

It was a tensed day for Maan. Geet had asked him to come to MC in the morning and although he had work lined up till his neck, he agreed. It being a Saturday, most MC employees were looking forward to lunch when they will be able to go home. Geet had asked Riya to take Armaan down and entertain him till she talked to Maan. Of course, Riya had called Vicky and Adi who came to MC with Pinky. They were all eager on how Geet would answer.

Upstairs, Maan was sitting in front of Geet.

"Maan, I need to tell you something. A few days ago, Dadi, I mean your Dadi came to me and proposed marriage. Your marriage with me." Maan nodded, not wanting to tell her that he knew.

"I thought a lot and no matter how much I hate the idea of giving Sohan's place someone else, I agree to her words when she said that living alone is difficult. I have been handling Sohan's death with work and responsibility but one day MC will be taken over by Armaan, Riya will marry and I will be left alone. And that is why..." Maan was sure to be half dead due to the suspense.

"I agree to this marriage. BUT..." Maan didn't get the chance to be happy as Geet's next words were:

"I have a few conditions. Firstly, I still have the responsibility of Riya and Armaan. I cannot separate them from me. Secondly, I will promise that I will fulfil all responsibilities that come with this marriage but maybe...maybe I will never be able to love you. Sohan might be dead but the love for him is still very much alive in me." Maan averted his gaze, finding it difficult to look at her when she talked about her love.

"Thirdly, I do not want to mix our marriage with the running of the companies. You will still be MD of KC as I will be of MC. And lastly," Maan saw Geet choke. He came next to her and held her hand.

"Bolo."

"Only Adi, Vicky and Riya know apart from me but I lost my baby some time ago. I couldn't even enjoy a moment with it before it was gone. For me having a child means a lot. I have woven dreams around it since I was a small child. But now that I lost it and more over lost the child of someone I love so badly, I don't want to be forced to..."

"Ssh." Maan put his finger over Geet's mouth and then pulled her into his arms and rubber her back.

"Geet, nobody is forcing you to do anything. I don't want you to change your life for me but live it with me. And it is my promise that unless you deem it fit, we won't have a child neither will we do anything if you don't want it to. Geet, I know we started off wrong. But since you started working for me I fell in love with you. I know it is hard to believe especially since I behaved so badly towards your but my anger, insecurities and bad judgement spoke. I have many mistakes but I am not a bad person. I always craved for a life partner who will treasure me for what I am and not how beneficial I am. And you looked right through me and weren't afraid to speak your mind. I am thankful to you about that. Now, stop crying. We will have to tell the others."