Chapter 27 | (Link to chapter index)
After the attack, Maan had his trusty personal investigator put the pieces together: The man who had knifed Maan was hired at both Sameera and *Monty’s* insistence. Following the broken engagement, Sameera and Sameera’s father -- who were naturally angry about Maan calling off the wedding -- had recruited Monty in their revenge scheme as well. Monty, who had always considered himself the proper heir to the gang and who was still incensed at Maan hiring Geet to meddle in his family affairs, was apparently swept up into the violence of it all. Maan promised Geet that he had no intention of ever seeing Monty or Sameera again.
Maan decided not to get the police involved after the attack, since his gang activity would naturally come out as well. Instead, he settled on an ingenious compromise: Monty would take over for the gang, and Maan wouldn’t press charges against him, as long as Monty gave sole custody over Neil to Asha and would make sure Sameera and her father would permanently stay away from both Maan and Geet. It was largely a no-brainer for Monty, who had little use for his son. The transfer of power went through with little friction, much to Geet’s relief. Adi stepped down as well, loyal as ever to Maan.
Geet moved back into Maan’s house and tended to him as he healed. She sometimes did take a moment to reflect that Maan would always be tied to the death of her brother. There was no escaping that. But what else could she do but continue living her life? She hoped that Rocky from the beyond was happy for her, happy that she had given love a chance like he had advised in her dream.
Geet’s relationship was not the only thing in full bloom. In just a few short months, she had moved up from secretary to being the intake coordinator, which meant talking directly to the women who came in for legal assistance. Helping these ladies filled Geet with a deep sense of purpose, and she finally felt like all aspects of her life were on track.
Ironically, Asha no longer needed the services of the organization that had drawn Geet to work there. Maan had bought Asha a house nearby, and Neil had moved in happily with his mother. Geet and Asha became close friends, and Geet still babysat Neil at least once a week. She made sure to continue practicing her pronunciation of dinosaur names.
Maan could now fully concentrate on running Khurana Shipping, with Adi’s assistance as vice president, and the company’s profit margin skyrocketed. Maan also continued to shower Geet with both affection and gifts. Six months after his release from the hospital, he flew them out to a tropical island as a getaway. It had not only been Geet’s first time out of the country but on a plane, period.
They landed on the island in the early evening. By the time they reached the private beach that Maan had reserved for just the two of them, the moon was casting a beautiful glow amid the starlight in the night sky.
“The moon is so gorgeous,” Geet breathed, standing on the blanket that Maan had laid down for them.
Maan’s teasing voice came from behind her. “*You* are gorgeous.”
Giggling, Geet spun around to face him, then gasped when she Maan down on one knee and holding a diamond ring.
“I love you,” he said softly. “More than I’ve ever loved anything in my entire life. You are everything to me, Geet. Everything.” In the background, the ocean waves undulated gently. “Will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
Geet’s hands flew up to her mouth. She hadn’t been expecting *this.* She hadn’t been expecting any part of her life, really. Who could have known that being unfairly kicked out of the shelter would lead her to this very moment?
Geet gazed at Maan, at the devotion shining in his eyes, and knew she was in safe hands. Always. “Of course,” she replied warmly. Maan grinned, slipping the ring onto her finger. Maan then embraced Geet and twirled her around in the sand, and the two laughed as the stars twinkled merrily above.
The End
---
Thank you sooo much for reading this story! All of the feedback really motivated and encouraged me to write, and I appreciate it so much. :) Thanks again and wishing all of you the best! <3
Book Talk
Shiv Shakti
