Chapter 35:
"What's going on Geet," Maan asked handing her a Styrofoam cup.
He had come looking for Geet with two cups of coffee and one question. One look at him, Geet knew the reason why he was there. Their phone call an hour and thirty minutes ago was short and had lasted less than thirty seconds. "We need to talk," he had said and hung up without giving her a chance to speak.
"You spoke to Emily, I suppose." Geet asked taking the cup and sitting next to him on the staircase under dim lights. She didn't know why he had asked her to come there. She could only make out his profile and had to squint very hard to get a good look at his face.
It seemed as if he had purposefully chosen that place for them to meet. Hiding in shadows, she could speak the things that were alien to him. He knew that it was completely her choice – to help him or not. But there was this stupid little emotional part of him which refused to accept that Geet was clinically disassociated from his problem completely.
"I won't ask you why nor will I ask you to help me." Maan said softly. Geet had to strain her ears to hear him properly.
"Then why are you here Maan?" Geet asked flatly.
"I only hope that you aren't doing this under the guise of vengeance," Maan replied and turned to look at her.
Besides the play of light on her face, her hair had fallen in front of her face curtaining her from the entire world. He marveled at the way glimpses of her face reflected light through her hair.
"So what if it is about vengeance Maan? Dileep Uncle destroyed my father. Once I destroy him, balance is retained in my world," Geet said, her voice reflecting the hostility she felt at his words.
Maan chuckled. Geet turned and looked at him sharply, her hair flying in a dramatic sweep.
"You aren't capable of belittling the relationships you respect or the blatant disregard for the financial freedom both our families have enjoyed over last two decades. So please don't insult my intelligence and tell me the truth," Maan replied.
"What good can truth bring, Maan?" Geet asked resting her elbows behind her on a step and stretching her legs in front of her. She was suddenly utterly calm and her relaxed posture slowed Maan's accelerated heart beats. There was an implicit acceptance of his words which mercilessly exaggerated his elation.
So it wasn't about vengeance or something as inane as revenge. He could live with that.
"Closure," he replied gaily. He turned and sat facing her side profile, resting his back against the wall drawing his knees close to his chest. She looked at him as he readjusted his position and suddenly he reminded her of the Maan she once knew as a child. It was his way of sitting when the two spoke of things he deemed extremely important and it delighted her to realize it was the first time she saw him sitting like that as an adult.
Certain things were more important than love and relationships; like personal definition of moral specification.
"I guess I can tell you then," she replied. They were quiet for several moments; Geet collecting and organizing her thoughts and Maan patiently waiting for her to speak. He knew that it was a definitive moment in their relationship; one that would greatly influence their times together in future. Spending this lifetime with her was an inevitable certainty but moments like these exemplified the relationship they shared to a notch higher than what was prescribed as expected or absolute necessity.
"It takes a village to raise a child," she said her voice lacing with unbridled emotion. He rested his head on his knees and swayed gently. A hum had settled around them silence sliced by her words, their breathing and distant noises of creaking wheels on shiny corridor followed by urgent footsteps.
"We are like that, in a way. We grew up faster than any child of our age and we have seen things people wouldn't even imagine during their entire lifetime. The exclusivity isn't something I am proud of. Normalcy is overrated for those who have no clue that living on the other side is like being in fugue; a dreamlike state of altered consciousness which lasts throughout our lives." Geet said and shook her head.
"What?" Maan asked, confused at the abrupt termination of her speech.
"I am not making any sense, am I?" Geet asked looking at him squarely.
"Just talk Geet. I know and understand what you are talking about. When I feel you are being incoherent, I will tell you so, okay?" Maan replied. Geet nodded and threw her head back and arched her spine in a way to relieve stress.
"Why did you accept to fix Khurana Capital Maan? There was a time when you didn't want anything to do with Khurana Group but now you are ready to even forgo your own inheritance." Geet said. Maan looked at her in surprise. "Damini aunty called me as soon as you left from her presence. She was worried that you would do something brash like that," Geet answered his questioning gaze.
"The thought that I could be joking about it didn't pass your mind?" Maan asked raising an eyebrow.
"It did. But the thought died the moment it was born because I know what you are capable of," Geet replied easily. Maan chuckled.
"And what might that be Geet?"
"I think it was the time around when you tasted your first defeat everything that you did became personal. The antagonism that you had felt towards the group slowly dissolved and you were more immersed to the benefit of the company than ever before. I agree that in the beginning it was merely to fix the mistake you caused and after that it was a genuine case of performing better and simply meeting a challenge head on and making the best out of it. I could see it – the pride that danced in your eyes after a successfully signed contract."
"Are you saying it's my growing ego that needs me to be always successful? Is that what you think of me Geet?" Maan frowned. Geet shook her head.
"No. I am not saying that. The battles you fight on a periodic basis may give positive results more often than not but you are never going to win the war. So instead of that happening, which mind you is going to be extensively devastating, I am hoping that your defeat in your current battle will leave you with much less scars and much less pain from other people," Geet replied gingerly.
Maan lolled his head to the side and closed his eyes. The exhaustion of more than a year suddenly crashed on his shoulders bringing a sharp pain behind his eyes. He exhaled slowly and loudly as if his lungs were refusing the oxygen he was supplying.
Geet was right, of course.
He didn't want to admit it. Since the moment he entered Khurana household when he was a child, he was sure of one thing; he was not the first preference.
"How long have you known?" Maan asked softly.
"Venkat calls me often and keeps me updated about Khurana Group and Dileep Khurana himself. The decision has been made. You are not going to be the heir," Geet replied.
"I am sorry Maan," she said when he didn't respond.
"I want to say that it is unimportant for me but I cannot, you know? For the last two years I truly busted my ass and tried really hard to fix the mess my brothers and sister has made. I actually thought at one point that I had a shot at it," Maan said shaking his head. He continued, "I shouldn't be disappointed about it because I never seen it coming but the pangs of bitterness is twisting my stomach."
"I am really sorry Maan," Geet said again. Maan shook his head.
Silence once again enveloped them in its arms and devoured the two in its massive belly. Maan broke out of it first.
"I was truly joking about the inheritance thing when I spoke to mom Geet. I am not naive in that way. But I am not going to stop trying to fix and save Khurana Capital. I am not going to abandon it now," Maan's voice was decisive.
"I won't be helping you there Maan," Geet replied tenderly. Maan smiled and shook his head understanding her own issues with his decision.
"I wonder why things are never transparent between us," Geet mused idly picking up ignored coffee cup.
"Because we are always changing, evolving and defining ourselves along the way," Maan replied bring his head back to rest on his knees.
"So translucence it is, then." Geet said.
The two clinked their coffee cups and smiled.
Future never looked brighter.
To be continued.
Music companion of the day: Benediction by Thruston Moore
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