Translucence - Finished. - Page 14

Wow..awesomee update..❤️

superb dear..

luvd it..

cntnue soon..

Chapter 4:

"Are you okay?" Maan asked turning to look at Geet who while climbing down the stairs had stopped.

"I don't want to remember it, think about it or talk about it." Geet said flatly. He saw storm in her eyes and suddenly he was angry with her. He was angry with the irrationality of it all. Mr. Handa being victimized in a grand plan involving him and his father, Geet's mother executing her own agenda and his family making deals to save their own asses.

"I wonder what sort of deal your mother made with my father that let him go off the hook because it really changed all our lives; yours for the worst, unfortunately. Poor Mr. Handa was collecting evidences against my father and your mother betrayed him by selling it off to father. That must have been a hard blow to your dad. What else did she sell my father? No wonder your father..." Geet grabbed his collar from back and slammed his chest on the wall twisting his cut arm in process and locking it behind his back. He groaned and winced at the pain that shot through his chest and arm at the same time. He heaved breaths to catch his racing heart when she leaned in real close and whispered in his ear, "And you wonder why your mother abandoned you."

She climbed down the stairs and as soon as she hit the floor, she went to the nearest elevator and left him alone. He stood in the same position as she had left him, his forehead touching the wall and eyes closed. "What happened to all of us Geet?" He murmured. His phone rang at that moment and he contemplated avoiding it at the moment. But decided that a distraction was probably what he needed. When he saw the caller id he sighed.

"Yes?" He replied the call knowing very well the name and position of the person who was on the other end of the call.

"Chairman wants to see you," Venkat said in his husky voice.

"I am not interested in meeting him. If that's the reason why you have called me..."

"Wait." Venkat interrupted. Maan waited patiently for Venkat to speak.

"Varun is also going to be here. Chairman wants to see both of you together." Venkat explained. This was new. His father had made efforts to pair him up with Mitalee and Vikram in the past and never with Varun.

"What did he do now?" Maan asked fully knowing the way his second brother's mind worked.

"Chairman didn't tell me about it but I am guessing he got a wind of Varun's new movie venture," Venkat replied.

"I have no interest in getting myself involved in Khurana group, you know that. Why can't you tell father that I am not interested to work? I am happy with my inheritance." Maan replied tonelessly. It had taken him several weeks to practice and say the words without giving away his inner turmoil. Now he said it so effortlessly that the mask he thought he was putting on himself had now clenched his skin in its poisoned claws.

"Cut the crap Maan. Get over here as soon as you can. I have a feeling that the chairman wants to talk to you about something else entirely." Venkat said and hung up before Maan could formulate a response.

-- o00o --

"He is waiting for you," Varun said coming out of their father's office wiping his forehead in a handkerchief. He complained that the ocean breeze made him sweat and he hated the humidity. Maan hadn't cared to ask him to elaborate further. He had ignored the presence of his brother when they had met outside.

Maan merely shrugged and walked inside the office.

"Play a game with me," his father said motioning him to take a seat opposite to him. His father had discovered Weiqi or Go when his business took him to Japan. He had brought back home a traditional board and all the required accessories. He had been at it for at least thirty years now and he played Go whenever he had to make a decision or get his thought processes channelized to a single line of thought. Venkat played with him whenever necessary which made Maan terribly surprised about the whole arrangement. What was the old man up to?

It was thirty minutes into the game and Maan hadn't spoken a word yet and neither had his father. Had there not been all the bullshit that was going on in his family this kind of bonding with father was something he would have loved. Only that during games likes these he would talk about odd things that he had read or observed and made his father reminisce about his youth.

But the Khuranas were a f**ked up lot with lots of bad blood, scary history and too many skeletons in their closet which meant that this bonding between father and son carried an ulterior motive.

'Not that I am any different from them,' he thought bitterly.

"Does it hurt?"

Maan looked up and his jaw hung open. Did he hear what he thought he did?

"Why are you asking?" Maan asked furrowing his eyebrows.

"It's a simple question Maan. As a father I was concerned about what happened yesterday so I thought I will ask you in person."

"Why do you care?" Maan blurted out before even realizing what he was saying. He was always in control of what he spoke of and spoke to others but his father's new concern had thrown him out of the loop.

"I mean I have had worse accidents before due to drunken driving, groping in public etc. This sort of bruises is practically nothing," Maan waved his hands in bored fashion. When he actually heard the concern that he always wanted to hear from his father, it didn't give him the satisfaction that he thought he would get. The neglected child of the family was practically hated as he grew up and his father somehow was indifferent to him a child. There was no love or hatred between them which had made young Maan terribly angry.

"Thank you for coming. I didn't expect that you would," his father said finally looking up from the board and paused to look at his face which reflected the surprise that he was definitely feeling. Maan shrugged and didn't bother with a response.

"I know that I haven't been the greatest father Maan but trust me when I say that I am repenting every minute of it. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me before I die," he sighed deeply took off his spectacles. Maan only watched the entire deal under the umbrella of surreal but his mind rapidly making notes of every gesture, every word his father was saying.

He didn't believe a word his father had just said. His father was up to something.

"My days are over now Maan and I want you to be a part of Khurana group as much as the other three are. I cannot let you become the perpetual black sheep of the family. You are the youngest and you are the smartest of the lot. If you aren't interested in business then do something to keep yourself occupied." His father said slowly. Maan still didn't understand where this was all going. Was his father really being genuine or was there a catch somewhere?

"You can start looking into our business where one of your brothers or your sister is not involved. Start with something smaller, like the hospital. Understand what is needed to run a business and before all that it will teach you discipline," his father's voice had reduced to a whisper that an old man would sport when talking about good old days.

Was his father going senile? But the word 'hospital' brought in flashes of images on his mind which were only couple of hours old. He realized little too late that he had crossed the line.

"And if that doesn't interest you then work with Varun." Maan looked at his father sharply.

So that's what he actually wanted.

"Varun isn't as intelligent as you are or smart in business as Vikram or has the balls like Mitalee. He is a meek mouse who is always taken advantage of. He wants to work outside the shadows of Mitalee and Vikram and I agree that it's time he is given a chance. And I want you to be with him when he starts working independently." Even though he had suspected his father's intentions he couldn't help but feel disappointed. He placed a stone and looked at the board and looked calmly at his father.

"I refuse. And you lose father," Maan got up from the chair and walked towards exit.

"I meant every word I said son," his father said.

His throat closed up and his bandaged palm stilled on the door knob. It was the first time his father had addressed him as "son" and he was choking up like a girl. He stood in that position for a minute and said, "Thank you father," and walked out without looking back at his father.

-- o00o --

"I'll take it from here," Geet said shooing away the nurse who was cleaning up Maan's palm. Maan looked up in surprise hearing her voice. Maan had driven down to hospital and saw that ER that day was fairly empty. He had asked a nurse to clean the wounds up for him and also give him couple of painkillers. Something seemed to be stuck in his throat as he saw Geet diligently working without sparing as much as a glance in his direction. But his mind did a victory dance once he realized that she had volunteered.

"I apologize for this morning," she said softly, his hand in hers. The thing that was stuck in his throat seemed much bigger than before and he was having a terrible time swallowing. He thought he was going to choke.

"I need to apologize too. I overstepped my bounds," Maan said, his voice hoarse.

"You said the things which I am unable to face for the past sixteen years Maan. I know that I should start looking for answers but I don't want to get into it all over again. We all have moved on so let's leave it that way, alright?" Geet said.

"Please Maan," Geet said again seeing how hesitant he was to give his word.

"Okay, fine." Maan conceded. She smiled at him wanly and before he knew what he was doing he was already smiling back at her.

"I need a painkiller now." Maan said morphing back to old self.

"You want it for these cuts and bruises? You are such a sissy," Geet rolled her eyes. Maan scowled.

"Not for these wounds darling but for my shoulder that has turned blue after the slamming of my body to the wall this morning," he said haughtily.

"You deserve it. Let me check it. Take off your shirt," Geet said.

"I knew it Geet. I knew that you always wanted to see my chest so now you are making random excuses. I think you should call over few nurses also here as I am sure they would love a free show as this one." Maan said and gave her a lopsided smile. He flicked the top button of his shirt first and then second. When he was on third button, Geet swallowed and narrowed her eyes.

"You know there is another way to find the extent of damage. Do you know that I have a very special specialization?" Geet asked. Maan looked at her as if she was the biggest idiot in the world. He nodded her to continue.

"Well I can repeat the process again and by the decibel of your moan, I will know the extent of damage," Geet said packing up the bandages.

"Do you think we have time for foreplay? Whatever you just said sounds like fun," Maan asked seriously. Her eyes widened and slapped his good arm.

"Nurse!" He shouted. Geet looked at him alarmed when a nurse came and stood in front of him.

She was surprised when he pulled her to his side and made her sit next to him. Nurse's jaw had hung open as she saw Maan being in his element. Maan ran his forefinger tracing her eyebrows and took it downward. He retraced the path and his fingers finally stopped working at her temple. He noted the very faint blush on her cheekbones and it took a moment to realize that his heart had decided to speed up a little. 'It isn't time yet,' he repeats in his mind as a mantra.

"I very sorry Geet for doing this to you," he said and plucked her hair, grinning.

"Owww!! What was that for you idiot?" Geet yelled. As usual Maan ignored her as he pulled a hair of his own.

"Please take it to the lab and test it for Zinc and Copper in them. Give her the report if I am not around, okay?" He finished giving order and ended with a smile. The nurse giggled unnecessarily and both Maan and Geet rolled their eyes.

"Should I even ask?" Geet sighed.

"You know intelligent people have more Zinc and Cooper in their hair?"

"What? That's bullshit." Geet discarded the latest tidbit without even stopping to think for a minute.

"Says the woman who has less Zinc and Copper in her hair than me," Maan practically chirped.

"I will get painkiller for you okay? Go home, pop one of them and take rest." Geet said leaving his side. Her heart skipped a beat when she was jerked softly when his hands caught hers. She didn't turn but waited for him to speak.

"I am going to find out the truth." He said softly. Her shoulders slumped and her tired sigh didn't escape his eyes. She feebly nodded and yanked her hand out of his and walked away.

To be continued.

Ok seriously dude im glued to this FF now

I really wanna know the dark secrets between the Khuranas and Handas.

Also how old is Geet? I dont think i read it anywhere.

Plus...is it ever gonna be time...i mean comeon...its fairly obvious their in love...and Maan knows it!!!