MG OS - Forced Marriage

FORCED MARRIAGE

Geet always found Khuranna Mansion intimidating and the vast size was not the only reason for it. The people were intimidating. The family had their share of mystery that comes with money and the house perfectly reflected the eccentricity of its occupants. If only a psychiatrist writes his thesis on the weirdness of Khurannas. Geet wanted to chuckle at her mental joke about how she compared Khurannas with the Cullen family, always in a monologue with themselves. However, she can't chuckle, not even snicker, anything more than a whimper in her situation will make her look crazy. After all, she is the bride of, read as forced bride of, Maan Singh Khuranna.

Geet looked at her husband of few hours as they both stood in front of the Khuranna mansion. His face was expressionless as always and Geet had to depend on her creative mind to fill up what he must be thinking.

What does a heartless monster who marries a girl by blackmailing her thinks? Wondered Geet.

It was Daadi who walked towards them first with a servant tailing behind her with arti. Geet looked wide eyed at the old woman who didn't once flinch while smiling at her and welcoming inside the house. Doesn't she have anything to tell to the grandson who kidnapped and married a young girl who was still in college?

"I know whatever happened didn't happen the right way, but trust my Maan. He would have had his reasons." she told Geet.

All through the conversation in the house, where every member were more or less convincing Geet to trust Maan's instincts and believe him to do the right thing for everyone he loved, Geet looked at her husband who maintained a straight face without a tint of guilt. What was he made of?

Geet sat in the common balcony overlooking the garden the night of her wedding, her supposed to be wedding night. She didn't know if she should be thankful to her husband for leaving to business meeting the very same day of their wedding or angry. Well, considering the circumstance of their wedding she should swoon at his feet with gratefulness for leaving her alone, however after what he did to her never in her life Geet can't be grateful to the man who ruined her life. There can be nothing that he can do to make her forgive him.

"Geet..." the silence was disturbed by a familiar voice

Geet looked over her shoulder to find Vicky standing there with an apologetic look that he has been carrying ever since he heard the news of his brother marrying her. Geet didn't know if he was apologetic about his brother's behaviour or her plight.

"Are you okay?'" he asked, but he didn't expect her to answer as he crossed the distance between them and sat on the other edge of the sofa where she was sitting.

"Maan bhai shouldn't have done this." he said

Of course, Geet thought and she wanted to roll her eyes. That is what everyone said. Maan shouldn't have done this but now that he has done it there must be a reason for it. Geet zoned out for another couple of minutes where Vicky was trying his best to justify his brother without sounding like a jerk.

Geet's thoughts went back to that day's morning. It started as usual day with her taking the regular 8 O' clock bus to college, but she didn't get down in her college bus stop, but ended up in a luxury car in half sedated state.

"You will marry me."

A command, something Geet was never good at handling while at the other receiving end. She was all ready to jump into her rowdy avtar until Maan laid down his terms.

"If you want your sister to be happy, settled with Dev without any problem, you have to marry me."

Geet didn't know what was Maan's problem. He blabbered absolute non sense about Anwesha, his sister's, well being and what not, but Geet's mind stooped at 'your sister's happiness'. Yes, she wanted nothing more than her sister Meera's happiness even if it meant sacrificing her life.

"You don't' have to worry, Geet." she heard Vicky say and Geet realized that she wasn't listening to him.

"I am not worrying, Vicky." she said. "Not anymore." With that Geet stood up and walked to her new room.

*_*_*_*

The huge dining table of Khuranna mansion was empty except for two persons who occupied the either end of the huge table. All Khurannas found one reason or other to go out of the country, as if they were running away from facing what has happened with Geet, and both Geet and Maan were happy with the distance. Nothing has changed in the past six months.

Adi, Maan's most trusted man, came to the dining room with bundle of files that needed Maan's signature disturbing the silence.

"These are?" asked Maan as he held pen in one hand, fork in another that effortlessly picked omelette without much attention thrown at it while his eyes were quickly skimming the files. Not first time in six months Geet was awed by Maan's multitasking ability with perfection. Though a wife hated her so called husband, a management student couldn't help but be awed by world renowned businessman, MSK.

"RK Enterprises file." Adi said.

Maan nodded swallowing another bite of omelette. Adi in practiced motion kept passing file after file to Maan and the latter signed. Maan paused at one paper and his one eyebrow lifted in surprise.

"This?" he asked Adi.

Adi hesitated a bit, his eyes shifted to Geet for a moment before he answered Maan. "Permission letter for field trip."

The moment Adi's look shifted to Geet briefly she knew what letter it was. Her husband didn't look at her but his snicker proved that he was thoroughly amused by the idea.

Geet picked at her paratha forcefully to show her anger on her HOD.

"Geet, get the permission letter signed by your guardian, else we can't take you to field trip."

"But mam, my sister is not with me anymore. She is settled in the US with her husband. You can't expect me to fly there all the way to just get a letter signed. "

"I am not talking about your sister, Geet. Get it signed from your guardian, your husband, MSK."

"What?"

Geet hated the idea of anyone knowing that she was married to Maan Singh Khuranna, but the lapsed date after the time of her term fees made sure everyone knew about it. Three days after last day to pay fees, Geet was sent out of the class. No matter how hard Geet tried, she was not able to get money for her fees and neither her begging and pleading nor her good results were enough to let her continue without fees. Geet spent the whole night weeping and for the first time in her life, without her sister beside her, Geet felt like a true orphan that she was.

Geet would have continued sulking in her room without food and water if not for her friend Trisha who called her with the juicy gossip of Maan Singh Khuranna storming into the principal's office and firing at him for sending Geet out.

"He did what?" Geet asked surprised

"Oh, God! Geet, he is sooo hot when he is angry. You should have seen him walking out of principal office with style his goggles on and his lips slightly curled with smirk. He was treat to eyes. I am totally jealous that he is your husband."

"Husband? How do you know?" Geet panicked.

"Everyone knows, especially after the way he roared at the principal asking how dare he send Maan Singh Khuranna's wife out of college for not paying a mere fees of few thousand. He even threatened to buy the whole college. You should have seen how Mr.Banerjee trembled in front of your husband."

"He said all that?"

"That and more." her friend said.

The next day principal and HOD personally called and apologised to Geet and that day onwards everyone started behaving different with her.

"Now you are going to be treated like a queen in college because that is what your husband demanded." Trisha said

Geet was not even out of the shock of being addressed as Mrs.Khuranna everyday in class by professors who thought that only by being nice to her they can please Maan Singh Khuranna, who out of blue became the main trustee of the college.

Geet didn't try to find how he got to know about the fees thing, because doubting MSK's resources will be like insulting his ability and power. She only wished he hadn't created a scene while self proclaiming himself her husband and official guardian.

"Mam." called Adi in a soft voice that he always used with her. "Sir, wants you to personally meet him and get the letter signed." Geet glared at Adi for no reason before snatching the letter from him and walking away.

Geet loved the library at Khuranna mansion; however she has never entered it when Maan was present. This was her first.

Geet cleared her throat to get Maan's attention. He was busy reading a file. When he didn't look up, she placed the letter on his table and tapped her finger on the table.

Pushing the file he was reading, Maan leaned back on the table and looked at Geet. Not knowing what his gaze meant, Geet narrowed her eyes at him. With a hint of smile on lips, Maan took the letter from her and read it.

"Not safe." he declared and threw the letter away.

"Excuse me!!"

"Shimla, not safe in December. Singhania Industries, not a flourishing company. Arjun Singhania, a douche bag. So, you are not going."

"Who are you to tell me that?"

"Your husband, your guardian and an intelligent man to know the facts."

"Husband!!!" Geet scoffed. "Dont even go there." she warned. "You are no one to me, okay? Just because I am staying in your house don't think I will accept all your bull shit. What happened between us was joke of a marriage. Don't ever call yourself my husband."

For a minute Maan looked like he wanted to say something, but then he grabbed a pen signed at the bottom of the letter and threw it with a annoyed, "Whatever."

Geet wondered if she had to thank him, but decided against it as she saw him attend a call.

*_*_*_*

Shimla was a bad idea, Singhania Industries was a disaster and Arjun Singhania was indeed a douche bag.

Arjun Singhania tried to misbehave with one of the students and she slapped him due to which everyone was sent out of Singhania Guest House. They were forced to prepond their departure and began travelling at night. The driver lost control and they met with an accident. Everyone was severely hurt and Geet couldn't blame her luck enough when she realized she had broken her leg.

The total area was a chaos with people from different hospital and help group trying to help them and moving injured to ambulance and hospital. Geet sat under a tall bush holding her knees. She had to wait till someone comes and carries her.

The sound of ambulance and cries came to a lull when a chopper landed on the empty land beside the accident zone. Geet's mouth literally felt open when she saw Maan Singh Khuranna get down from it. His eyes were covered by sun glass yet his disoriented movements showed that he was worried. He didn't stop his barking of orders until his eyes fell on Geet. He ran towards her. Everything happened in fast motion for Geet because before she knew, she was in Maan's arms.

"You are a stupid, stupid girl. You should have listened to me." he whispered in her ears while his hand kept caressing her hair as if to assure himself that she was with him.

Geet could hear nothing but his warm breathing near her ears and unabashedly she let her arms engulf him into a hug. Assurance to his panic and protection to her helplessness that is what they were to each other that minute.

She held his hands for the first time and didn't leave it through the journey to hospital, when her leg was being wrapped in a cast, when chopper flew them to Delhi, when Adi drove them to Khuranna Mansion, when Maan carried her to bed room and placed her on the bed. When it was time for him to leave, strangely, Geet didn't want him to leave her hand.

"What if I need something at night?" she asked him.

He could have told her that she could ring the servant quarters or he could tell one of the female servants to stay with her, but Maan took off his coat and took the empty side of her queen sized bed. When Maan was busy checking pending mails in phone, Geet fell asleep with effects of pain killers. Few hours through midnight, Maan looked at Geet sleeping peacefully. He will never be able to tell how he came to care about her so much. His Daadi is convinced that it is in his blood to care unconditionally about people who is close to him. Maybe he just sees her as his responsibility and that is why worried about his safety. Now that she carries his surname he should make sure that she receives everything that Khurannas deserve. Maan's feelings were all over the place and it gave him a head ache at least that is the reason Maan gave himself to have decided to sleep beside Geet that night.

*_*_*_*

It has been three months since Geet met with an accident and since then Geet and Maan try to find accidental excuses to sleep in each other's room. Sometimes it was trouble with the AC, sometimes it was Geet's pain killer, sometimes it was horror movie and sometimes it was catching up of her syllabus. But that morning after the cast came out, Geet and Maan didn't know what excuse to come up with to stay with each other.

"Err..." Maan scratched his head unsure what to say after dinner.

They both began to have dinner together though not in dining table. They again found excuses to have dinner with each other in library or bed room or pool side or balcony. One time even Maan decided to have dinner in garden with decorative lights and cake though he pretended that it had nothing to do with Geet's birthday. He didn't even wish her yet Geet was not surprised when in place of her old Samsung phone that Geet has given to Adi for repair, she received latest iphone.

"So?" Geet promoted.

"Good night, I guess." he shrugged.

Geet frowned at him not coming up with any excuse this time. Generally, he was master of excuses.

"Oh!... I mean... yeah.. Good night." she replied/

"Good night?" he looked disappointed.

Geet narrowed her eyes at him. He only shrugged his shoulder.

"Good night." she repeated again and began to take slow steps towards the stairs to reach her bed room.

"Geet." she heard Maan call. Geet stopped in her tracks but didn't turn. She waited for her husband to catch up with her.

"Are you sure you can climb the stairs?" he asked eyeing the stairs. Geet had to bite her inner cheeks to stop herself from grinning for she knows what is going to follow next. "You can sleep in my room until you are ready. It is in the ground floor after all."

Geet smiled at her husband softly. There comes the business tycoon with another believable excuse.

"Sure." she nodded trying not to sound excited.

As Geet began to walk towards his room, Maan's hands automatically reached for the small of her back and she leaned her body weight on him. All this became natural for them now.

The same night, Geet and Maan were lying on his bed staring at the plain ceiling.

"I will be ready in couple of days to climb stairs and go to my room." she said.

Maan turned to look her. "Won't I?" Geet added with a cheeky smile.

"I want you to be healthy enough to climb stairs as soon as possible. " he said before Geet could react to that, he added. " But I don't want you to go back to your room."

He said only that before he shifted his head to stare at the ceiling. Seconds later Geet felt a warm hand engulfing hers and with an uncontrollable blush she moved towards her husband. Guess, they don't need any excuses anymore.

*_*_*_*

SCROLL DOWN FOR CONTINUATION

Maan checked his watch and cursed. It was fifteen past nine meaning fifteen minutes past the usual time he leaves for office yet his wife has not cut the useless call that she has been engaged since past one hour. Has it not become a ritual to send him off by walking him to the door when her college is off? Isn't she aware of the time or she doesn't care? If it was her college day then things would have been different. He has taken up duty of dropping her to college in the morning and picking her up at evening religiously. Now that she was enjoying her semester holidays she doesn't seem to miss the usual ritual as much as him.

Sighing Maan sat down on the bed with his laptop opened on his lap. He can't now ask her to have a small chat with him before he goes to office no matter how much he likes it. He has done enough damage by demanding various things from her that included her life, her freedom and her dreams. Now, demanding something as trivial as coffee from her seems like a mountainous task to him. She has already paid enough for his impulsiveness.

It all started with Meera, Geet's sister, having an affair with Arjun, Anwesha's fianc. Maan was devastated when he learned the news, because it not only meant that the only guy who seemed to have caught his sister's fancy didn't return her feelings, but also his brother Dev vowed to marry no one but Meera. He cursed the day when he hired Arjun and Meera to work for KC. Nothing mattered to Maan more than his brother and sister. He was their mother and father every since they left Punjab after a fatal accident that killed their parents. He can do anything for their happiness even it meant making half the population unhappy. Maan knew the only way to make sure Meera and Arjun marry their respective partners and stay loving and loyal is by making the apple of their eyes his pawn. His detectives were quick to inform how Meera and Geet grew in a humble locality along with their Buaji as tenants at Arjun's house. Their history goes long back when Meera and Geet were still young and moved from Hoshiyarpur after their only surviving parent left them for a better life. Arjun, Meera and Geet spent close to a decade and the latter was always protected by the other two like a mother hen especially after Buaji's death two years ago.

Maan thought about nothing while marrying her except his siblings' happiness. But once his initial worriment was over, he started to realize that he has not only changed lives of other but also his. Having a wife was strangely disturbing idea, one that he was never ready for. His Daadi was as optimistic as they come and she was not subtle in her plan to leave him alone in the vast mansion with his young wife. Maan did the only thing that he knew would work perfectly; pretend like nothing happened. Geet couldn't be more lost than him, Maan thought every time he would see her wandering in the garden aimlessly.

Maan began to recognize the weight of his decision when he was informed by the servant that Geet hadn't had food and was crying nonstop. He panicked. raising siblings brought out the emotion of protectiveness naturally to him yet instead of confronting her he went to Adi to solve the puzzle. The ever efficient Adi came back with the news about her pending college fees and her chances of getting debarred. Maan was caught between being arrogant businessman and the relentlessly protective family man the day when he, surprisingly with air of possessiveness, announced that he was Geet's husband in her college.

Things started to change for Maan from then. Realization dawned on him that she was his responsibility and Maan took nothing more serious than his responsibilities. He was compulsively designed to be the ultimate protector of family and she, indeed, is family, his wife precisely, his better half.

Maan didn't let her get a whiff of his interest over her well being. It was more due to the fact that he was good as pretending ignorant and he didn't want to complicate things. However, her accident during the trip changed things. He was scared for her and didn't rest until he had her cocooned in the safety of his house. Safety was his priority. That is what he told himself every time he came up with excuses to stay by her side. He was just making sure she was fine. Maan's mind refused to believe that there was anything romantic involved. At that point, it was true. However, now, five months after accident, almost over eleven months after their wedding, Maan decided that he was fooling himself that there was nothing romantic involved.

Turning to his right to find her sitting on the swing in balcony talking over the phone to god knows who, Maan sipped bitter coffee served by his servant. He missed how she adds three spoons of sugar to his coffee convinced that everyone had sweet tooth just like her. He never complained. He was even beginning to enjoy sugary coffee. Now, the coffee his servant made, tasted like his old coffee and Maan hated it. He hated pretty much everything that he used to be before her, including the arrogant moron who forcefully married her. His only consolation was Dev and Anwesha's happiness with their respective spouses and not to forget Anwesha's pregnancy.

When not busy with his wife gazing activities, Maan spent one half of his sleepless nights thinking about what he had done and the other half thinking what he is going to do to rectify the same. The latter gave him more reason to want to spend more time with her. After all, he had only fifteen more days with her.

Stopping his feet from walking towards her and pulling her into a hug and telling her how much he has began to love having her with him or how his life will be incomplete without her, Maan pulled his laptop from the charger angrily and stormed out of his room.

On free time between the meeting with the retailers and presentation with the finance team, Maan locked himself in his cabin and spent time staring at the only picture he has with his wife. Ironically it is a picture clicked by some paparazzi for his gossip article. He had saved the picture. It was the one when they exited the hospital after her final review with the doctor after her accident. She was perfectly capable of walking yet he wound his one arm around her shoulders and another hand held her palm in his. When the picture was clicked, they both were looking at each other. He remembered the conversation. They usually had habit of having ice cream together after her visits to hospital to make her mood less depressing. They both had ordered to their security in charge at the same time to drive to their usual ice cream spot before getting inside the car. Maan also remembered the news piece clearly. It was about untimely pregnancy. 'Can we expect a Junior MSK soon?' The headlines read. Maan scoffed at it. There can be no pregnancy, timely or untimely, unless they are living in mythological era where rishi could make someone pregnant by feeding them holy fruit. Yes, they have started to share a room after her accident but they never went beyond holding hand or occasional cuddling that he swore happened without their conscious, in deep sleep.

Even his slight nudge could become a big push to her, so Maan was very careful to always leave the ball in her court. That is one of the reasons why he gave excuses after excuses to spend time with her because she will always have space to give counter excuse. Thankfully his wife has never disappointed him by using any counter excuse. However, he is not going to be preposterous in thinking that she feels the same way about him, especially when she has never expressed any hints like him.

Apart from acting as her personal chuffer to college, Maan also becomes his wife's personal patisserie when time permitted. He has even gone all clich way and made her a red velvet cake in the form of a freaking heart. Though the loud moan she gave after tasting it was worth it, the teasing snicker she gave first while she looked at it was embarrassing enough. Parties were one excuse to spend time with his wife unapologetic and he began to attend even parties that he wouldn't have usually attended. "Party again?" she would ask exasperated. He would nod sympathetically and explain how it was important for his business deal though it wasn't. And parties were bliss. He gets to flaunt his beautiful wife proudly, dance with her, share jokes about his colleagues and contemporaries and also tirelessly look at her try every beautiful dress that he has chosen for her before he finalizes the one that he thinks she looks less sensual. His eyes got all the feast he wants, he can't care for others eyes to look at her in better dresses. "You make me tired even before party starts." she would complain and he would only chuckle saying, "Whatever it means."

Yes, she was friendly. Yes, she has warmed up to him. Yes, she isn't glaring at him every time they are in the same room anymore. But all of this doesn't prove that she is interested in staying tied to him in the marriage. Especially after he heard her say to her sister how she wants to erase the day of their wedding from her life, he became certain that she wants out. That is why he had a long meeting with his lawyer and drew the papers.

Maan opened his draw and removed the papers. He knew that her pride will not let her take money even as alimony from him. So, he has arranged her fund to sponsor her education as long as she wanted to study. He has already included her in his will. She obviously can't fight his dead body. He has vowed to always shadow her and make sure she is safe. She will never have any problem in her life and he will make sure of it. If he can't stay by her as a husband, he will stay by her as a friend or just mere well wisher.

This will be his gift to her on their so called wedding anniversary.

Maan greeted the day with both dread and guilt. It was the day he changed her life for bad and his life was changed for good. This day is when he forcefully married her and this is the day when he is going to free her.

Maan wasn't going to call it a gift. He is going to avoid anything that will initiate a conversation about the day. He planned to place the papers on her desk and go on reprieve the whole day.

Later that night, when Maan returned from his long aimless drive around the city, he was surprised to see the papers lying on his desk with her signature glaring at him. This is it. This is their end, he thought. The finality of their relationship in the form of signed papers distraught him, but he has already made up his mind to only do what she wants. No more forcing.

Next day, when Maan entered dining hall, he was surprised to see her waiting for him. Not that he expected her to vanish from the house all of the sudden after all a clause in the divorce papers said that she can stay in the house as long as she wants or shift to his apartments in the SR road.

"Good morning." She smiled. Her enthusiasm in greeting him pinched her heart. Can she be less obvious about her happiness on leaving him?

"Morning." he murmured broodingly as he took his usual place.

They were half way through the breakfast, when she asked the question that made him choke. "When will the divorce proceedings be finalized?"

"Seems you are too eager to get divorced."

"Of course." she said making him sadder. "Only then we can become normal couples."

He looked at her confused."Normal couple?"

"Yeah, normal couples who date, fall in love and then marry."

It took few seconds for Maan's efficient mind to process what she said.

"You mean us?"

"Who else?"

Maan sighed and leaved back on his chair.

"Us." he whispered to himself with a smile.

"Us.'" she assured with a smile

*_*_*_*

A year and a half later,

Geet was exultant. Today, after two and a half years, her sister is coming home and so is Arjun dada. She can't wait to meet them, especially the kids. She is tired of always only watching the bundle of joys on Skype. She has to cuddle them and kiss their chubby cheeks.

"I am going to unleash kiss monster."

"Wow! Is it my lucky day?"

Geet found Maan standing behind her leaning on the door frame of the kitchen where she was baking cookies for the kids.

"I am not talking about you." she said.

He sneaked his arms around her and hugged her from behind. "I am hurt."

"Acha!" she leaned closer on him. "Let me rectify." she said kissing his cheeks.

"Cookies for me?" he said taking one from freshly made batch. "Aren't there raisins cookies for me?"

"These are chocolate cookies for the kids."

"Kids!!" he sighed. "You seem to have gone into obsession mode now. Can't imagine what will happen when kids arrive."

"Ah! I am waiting for them." she said clapping her hands. "Let's have a baby." her eyes glowed while looking at me.

"Well, don't you think we should get married first?" he questioned.

Geet turned in his arms and wound his hand around his neck. "Why are you not happy with our live in arrangement?"

Maan sighed. He understood when Geet said without the baggage of marriage they should give them a chance. He also was supportive when she said they shouldn't complicate things by telling their family about the divorce. What he doesn't understand is why she refuses to marry even after all these months.

Laughter was filled in the whole mansion as one after other members of the family started to fill in. Khuranna Mansion's former glory was being returned.

"Now only I feel complete." Daadi cried.

Maan stood in the balcony as he saw his sister and Meera giggling at something Vicky said. He was very observant when it came to Meera and Anwesha. There was always a tinge of guilt in him when he considered the way both their weddings took place, more under his compulsion rather than love. Now, to see them happy in their respective lives with kids and in affection if not love with their spouses and enjoy the same being reciprocated his guilt left him slowly.

"Are you happy now?" Geet asked as she stood beside him. "Completely?" Maan turned to look at her. "I didn't want even a bit of guilt in your heart about anything you did. Now that you have seen them happily married you can forgive yourself."

"Geet." Maan took her hands in his. "I am not as bad as everyone perceive. Family is most important to me and I can't help go to any extend to make my family happy. Everyday guilt of playing with so many lives killed me a little. But, Geet, now I am at peace. Anwesha is happy. Meera is happy. Arjun and Dev are happy. "

"So I am." Geet completed his sentence.

Pulling her closer, Maan kissed her forehead. "I love you, Geet."

"I love you too, baby." she smiled. "And."

"And?"

"And I am ready for marriage now."

Maan looked at her surprised. "What has changed?"

"Now, you are guilt free man, Maan. I didn't want you to bring any baggage into the marriage. I am happy now."

"Sometimes your level of understanding surprises me." he said. "Still can't figure out why you can't join me in my business."

"That is because, dear husband-to-be, I am going to built such a strong business in few years that even you will wish to be part of."

"Can't wait for that day. I will be a proud husband standing beside you then."

That day did come in another fifteen years. At that time, Maan along with their kids Asha and Abhi stood beside Geet as she collected her best businesswoman award.

THE END