Part 21
As they sat down for dinner that night, Geet noticed Maan's tensed look. He was
playing with his food. "Something wrong?" Maan looked up to see Geet's
concerned face and gave a soft smile. "Ah...No...Nothing..."
"I...I was just pre-occupied due to a meeting that will take place
tomorrow". She nodded at his reply and went back to her food. But she
knew, something is there. She was so getting used to a carefree Maan and his
intense looks that founding him this serious was making her worried. Maan on
the other hand had already made numerous calls to different people, saying one
same sentence. 'Find out what Akshay Handa is upto...? Is he here for Business
Meeting or its a personal visit.' All assured him that they will get back to
him asap, but Maan knew, this stabbed snake is definitely upto leave his venom
somewhere. "Annie called me in the evening...She told how fabulous her
show went..." Geet decided to start up. Topic to distract him. The serious
look was not-at-all suiting him now. Maan smiled at the mention of Annie.
"She always had this straight ahead mind...Always knew what she wanted to
do...Though I was a bit apprehensive when her first collection walked on the
ramp...But she was confident even then...Not to mention, she got highly
praised.." Maan fondly remembered the day he went to give her the moral
support, she needed. She was just 23 and a few months old, freshly passed out
Masters but she made her way in the industry with her good behavior and Khurrana
Unmatched charms. "She is a charmer..." Geet voiced out his thoughts,
making his smile broad and proud. "That she is..." He agreed in a
proud brotherly voice.
"Tell me...What you are planning to do...Is there something specific, you
want to take forward your career in?" Maan gave his full attention to her,
making her know that he will be supportive to whatever she wants. After dinner,
they were now sitting in the front garden, enjoying the hot coffee in cool
nights of arriving winters. "Hmm...Right now, I just have these exams in
my mind that will start from next week...But after that, I am planning to join
a Dance Institute here. Painting will be my minor profession which I will like
to perceive from home and that's it...Art is my life" Her twinkling eyes
made Maan feel relaxed. He was happy to know that she was confiding in him with
her plans. Giving a soft smile in reply, Maan covered her small hand with his
in a friendly gesture. "And I know you will do great in whatever field you
wish to pursue your career ...And we will always be supportive of you.."
He gave a light squeeze to her hand before pulling his hand away. "I wish
you achieve all your dreams Geet...I want you to feel independent...and it will
be starting with...One minute" He stopped and get up to bring that blue
file, Rahul gave him today before he handed it over to her. Geet looked at him
confusingly as she put her cup down on soft grass and opened it to see the
context. "Your financial in-dependency. I am sorry it took a bit time but
the process went on a bit slow..." He apologized and took out the cheque
book and 2 cards along with it. "Here, it's your new Account cheque
book...Your Debit and Credit Card...And their pin codes are mentioned in these
papers..." He passed on a sealed envelope that was having the bank stamp.
"The share of your profit from your company will monthly get transferred
into it...You so don't need to depend on anyone or suppress your desires or
wishes for anyone now" He told her taking a breath of relief. Finally, a
huge burden was taken off from his chest. He will be in peace now. "But Maan...It's
you who are going to take care of it then why should I get the whole
benefit?" Geet argued, only to see Maan shaking his head. "No...I
will take care of the business but on papers, it will always be you who is
going to be the owner and I so don't want it another way. I am already having
good amount of earnings from my work...You deserve each penny of the hard
effort your mother and your Nana put into this business". He said with a
tone of finality.
Geet gave a look to the file and to him before she got up, standing across him
and put her hands around his waist. His breathing stopped as he felt his muse
of fascination standing in close proximity of his being. Her head rested on his
chest and her hold tightened but that grip, seemed to be getting tighter on his
heart which was getting too hyper with the sudden turn of events.
"T...Thank you Maan...Thank you for being here for me now...I ...I missed
my friend always." She choked on her words. "I...I wish you would
have find me earlier...I wish you would have been their when mom died...I was
so alone." On having someone's constant care now, Geet was feeling
overwhelmed. Maan's hand itched to go around her waist, to grip her tight, to
keep her still at the place as she was standing now. Make her know that with
his support, she also has him and his love. But for now, he had to avoid it.
She was looking for her friend right now and he will give her exactly what she
desires. So instead of making his hands way around her petite waist, he settled
them over her shoulders, letting the moment sink into her system and his own.
"I wish I had Geet...I so wish..." He repeated her words, meaning
them. He felt her slight shivering shoulders. "Let's go in...You are
cold..." He pulled back from her half half-heartedly and bent down to get
their cups from the ground. "Why haven't you started wearing sweaters? You
do know how quickly you catch the cold..." And scolding her lightly, Maan
made her get inside the house.
Two days passed with Maan keeping Geet under his constant supervision. He
didn't let her go away from the reach of his eyes, keeping her busy with one
thing or another. He could not take risks with her till the time That Handa was
here in the town. She was asked to come to office by him and when she asked
why? Maan had his answer ready. "For the papers of your office...A new
project is coming up for which we have to file quotation...so we have to
prepare the authorization papers on urgent basis...There will be a series of
signs that you have to do and getting back home from office and vice versa, won't
help us much..." And Geet couldn't argue being unknown to all legal
procedures of a business. She would take her studies book along with
herself...In breaks, she would read a light-hearten romance novel on Wattpad.
Every intimate scene would make her feel blushed. Every arrogant, well built,
passionate and possessive hero somewhere would make her remember Maan and she
couldn't help thinking, "Is he the one who was always destined to be
her's? Was their fate interlinked from all those years?" She wondered. 11
years kept them apart. Anything could have happened? He could have found any
beautiful girl and may be, would have married her. She could have been married
to Abhinav right after a month of their engagement. Actually, it would have
been decided if only Abhinav's mother would not have fell from stairs and had a
bone dislocated. Doctor's strictly advised her to have bed rest for minimum 2
months. "Was that an indication from God that he was not my soul mate? Maan
was all through my actual destiny and destination?" Geet thought deeply.
His constant care and attention in the last few days has done its magic over
her small torn heart.
Later the 2nd day, she was sitting in the living room, trying to learn about
historic art when the door was flanged open by an exciting Annie,
screaming..."I am home". Surprised, Geet got up with a broad smile
and went to greet her friend in a warm happy hug. "Oh...I so missed you Geet"
She said hugging her back, making the carry on fell down on the floor.
"Missed you too Annie..." Geet said before hugging her once again. Annie
in her excitement get in to greet her brother while Geet smiled at her back
before bending down to get the carry and pulling it in.
Annie was freshened up and both friends shared a happy meal along with Maan.
The life of the house seemed to be back. And making it cherry on the top, the
glee, easiness and comfort between Maan and Geet assured Annie that things were
progressing in a good way. She wondered why none from them had thought of it
before. Leaving them alone with just each other. The two months whole effort to
bring them closer seemed waste by seeing the progress she was witnessing now.
But then, she was well aware of the fact that everything looks and works well
at its own time.
Maan opened his blanket as he was feeling cold and get in it along with a file,
he wanted to review. He had another novel placed on a side table that he wanted
to read next but his beloved sister had some other plans. After having dinner,
she faked yawned and changing into her night suit, she barged into Maan's room
from the attached glass door built in between their rooms. Hoping against hope,
she looked at the glass door shared by Geet and Maan's room only to see the
blinds on the other side were still down. "Did she ever pull that
up?" Annie questioned with a hopeless look only to see Maan looking up at
her with a assuring smile. "She needs time...Let's give that to
her..." Annie would have questioned 'How much more time?' if she just had
been Maan's sister but she was Geet's best friend too and knew what it is
taking her to believe all of them. "Yeah...You are right..." "In
between...Update me on things now...And I want details..." She jumped onto
his bed and sat on the foot rest side. Maan put the file away knowing that Annie
won't let him work anymore and sighing, gave a sweet smile to his sister.
"What you want to know?" He teased her even though perfectly knowing
what she wants. "Bhai...now don't start with you teasing tactic ok...I
want each and every detail...What happened in our absence?" She adamantly
inquired. Maan leaned forward with an excited face as if telling her the
biggest secret of his life. "Actually...We..." He stopped short with
each word, making her smile bigger with an expectation of something huge.
"Went to office together and had many lunches and dinners without you
Haddi-s" Maan said all of it quickly that left Annie was left open
mouthed. "Bhai..." She screeched as soon as she realized what Maan
did while Maan started to laugh at her dumbfounded face. "We are haddi
haan..." She got up from her place and took away the pillow from behind
his back before starting to hit him. He laughed at her sister's antics while
getting beat up.
Geet was getting fed up with her studies. She had got them all and right now,
her tummy was craving for some ice cream. She had seen some of it in the fridge
yesterday when she was baking few cupcakes in the kitchen. Cookies and Cream.
Her favourite. She could feel her mouth turned watery and her hands itching to
get that cold bowl of yummy ice cream. Getting up, she put her books away and
marched out of her room. "Let me ask Annie and Maan too...What's the fun
in eating ice cream alone?" She thought with a happy smile, while
remembering their childhood when they used to have such cosy moments of eating
ice cream from the school's canteen. She remembers how sometimes when she would
have less money, Maan would fake stomach ache and made her eat from his money.
A smile lingered at her lips while she tucked a strand of hair behind her ears.
He was caring of her then too. But before she could take 5 steps, she was
stopped to hear the giggles of the bro-sis duo.
"Annie...Stop that...Oh my" Maan was laughing and pleading at the
same time. "Ever call me a haddi bhai..." Annie warned before a last
hit and then settled down beside Maan who pulled her in a side hug. "Ah! I
love you" Maan said kissing her in hairs. "I love you too bhai...And I
am so happy that you both are progressing in the relationship..." Maan
took a deep breath. "I think so...you know she almost got me
bankrupt" There was laughter in her tone that made Annie feel extremely
happy. "Haha...How?" and Maan explained the events from the Ball
night as briefly as he could. "And you put that cheque in the box?" Annie's
eyes were wide open. "Well, it was the first time she showed her rights on
anything that related to me...How could I not do it?" Maan answered like a
hopeless lover. "Oh you both were looking such a stunning pair of
beings...Ishita Bhabhi sent me a pic from the event". "Did we?"
a lopsided smile itched on his face and in reply he saw Annie nodding her head
briskly. Maan gave a dreamy sigh, praying that they will be a couple soon
before he turned all serious. "She told me that she wish I would have
found her earlier" A helpless escaped his mouth. Annie looked up on his
brother face. "Bhai...I know, if it would have been in your hands, you
would have never let her and Smriti aunty go right at the first place..." Maan
got up from the bed and pursed his lips. He for the first time wanted to voice
his fears from all those years and explain his actions to someone, he knew
would understand. "You know Annie, you believe me don't you that I didn't
want to marry her this way...I wanted to woo her...made her belief on my love
for her...All those years, you and Aryan have warned me that I should prepare
myself for a heart break...that may be she would have been married by now with
a kid or two hanging in her arms..." A sarcastic chuckle escaped from his
mouth as he imagines Geet with the image. One baby up in her hands and other
attached to her waist. "But you had a belief bhai...That she will be
yours...That if your love is true, she would end up with you" Annie
encouraged his torn looking brother. Maan turned around and nod. "Annie...Will
you believe that I would never have forced Geet with this marriage if I hadn't
known about Akshay Handa's plan and Abhinav's reality...Will you?" And all
Annie could say in reply was. "I believe you bhai...I believe cause
hurting her is the last thing you can even think off..."
Geet was surprised, is the understatement. She was stunned. But still, holding
herself she went to her room and sat down on the bed with a deep thoughtful
look. Ears' dropping was not her trade but for the first time, she didn't
regret it. This discussion that she overhears has provided her bags of information
and each one has made her heart jumpy. She was tongue tied. Caressing her
scalp, she ran her fingers in her hairs as she re-run the words in her mind.
'He loves me...He...All those years, he was trying to find me just to...Ahh'
She covered her lips in wonder. A beat was skipped from her heart. Goosebumps
appeared on her skin just with a mere mention. 'He...he... didn't want to force me
in anything...He...He just want to keep me close to himself' The way he was
talking to Annie, it was completely evident that how much he was mad about her.
All his actions from last days proved how much he was protective and possessive
of her. "It wasn't due to the friendship but the love that he felt for
me". She answered her own unasked question. He has already started to make
a place in her heart from last few days. A warm feeling seeped in her body and
a slow smile rose on her lips as she remembered his possessive touches and
actions but soon, a frown took place on her forehead. "What is it about
Abhinav that they were talking about?" She wondered. Was there something
that she wasn't aware? She had known him from two years and has been engaged
for few months. Was there something she missed to notice? Biting her nails
under her teeth she thought.
Whole night she passed with twists and turns and that cause her to wake up a
bit late than usual. But thankfully, she met Maan out in the porch before he
was about to leave for office. "Maan..." "Maan.." She
called him from the back who was busy on a call. "Yeah...I will be there
on time..." He heard her and rashly ending the call, he turned to look at
her. She was looking beautiful while being breathless. Her open hairs were
flying. Her breath rate was fast and her cheeks were red due to it. She was an
epitome of beauty in each state. Sighing inside, he straightened up his posture
and asked in his usual voice. "Yes Geet...".. Geet played with her
fingers below as she once again rehearsed her words in her mind. "Wo
actually Maan...I want to tell you that...I need to go back to Dehradun
tomorrow as my finals are starting 3 days later." Hearing of Dehradun made
him stern. His eyes turned hard. But he knew that her exams are important for
her future. Geet observed his expressions and knew its reason too. He made up
his mind and cleared his throat. "Ok...But I will go with you". He
stated. It wasn't something Geet had not expected but somewhere, the way he
said it, made her giddy. "But Maan...It's not needed...I mean its just
for my exams...I will be back right after that". She lamely tried to
argue but Maan was adamant. "Geet...Either I am going with you or all of
us...You plan what you want" He gave his decision and giving her a
departure note, he left. On the way, Maan re winded their convo and re-consider
his decision. "I think...I did right...I can't let her go to Dehradun,
near that Handa alone...But first..I need to know why he is here" Maan
thought and taking out his mobile made a call. "Mr. Sahani...I hope you
have the information..."
Next: Akshay's 1st revenge tactic. 2nd Hug and Maan-Geet in Dehradun. May be First
close moment too.
(Don't worry Dehradun main exams part kam hoga and close part zyada...hehe)
Do read, comment and hit LIKE.
Muwah
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