~RISHTEY~(Maaneet FF)Part 7 pg 104 UPDATED - Page 62

~Past ~

"Hey" Maan called out to her as she sat on the edge on the terrace. "I just came to see if you are doing okay" he took a calculated step towards her. She didn't spare him a glance, just kept looking ahead.

"Mind if I join you?"

She simply shrugged her shoulders. They sat quietly for sometime before Maan broke the silence. "You didn't have to do it, you know. Take the blame" he spoke softly.

"I know that" she spoke after a while, still not meeting his eyes. She looked at the sun setting at the horizon and Maan was forced to tear his eyes away from her face. He had thought she would be bawling her eyes out but on the contrary, there wasn't a single tear on her cheeks. She was calm on the outside, silent and calm. He wasn't used to this Geet. The Geet he knew was loud and chatty. She would barge into other people's houses and talk till their ears hurt. He shifted consciously. He didn't know what to say to her. He took a look at her face and observed her closely. Her cheek showed the imprint of Brij's hand and unknowingly his hand lifted to touch her. Feeling his eyes on her face, Geet turned to look at him and Maan immediately dropped his hand.

"Umm'." His eyes darted everywhere but at her face. He had come to talk to her because of his Daadima and now he was at loss for words. "Does it hurt?" he asked softly. She shook her head in negative. He knew she was lying. They fell silent again.

"I came to..to' meet'.. Yash" he stammered trying to think of something quick.

She frowned, "Lekin Veerji to ghar par nahi hain" she stated.

"I know" and bit his tongue. Shit ' what is he going to tell her now?

Her frown deepened. "You know? Then why did you'.." she trailed off. "Did you come here to apologize?" she asked innocently.

"What??? Apologize? Me??? For what?" he suddenly forgot he had come here to console her or maybe check on her. What was he supposed to apologize for??

"Yes, for your behavior" she spoke with a sly smile.

"My behavior??? My behavior???" he looked at her in exasperation. "Did you forget that you were the one waving a knife at me...in MY House" He stood up and Geet followed, she pushed the dirt of her dress. "and not to forget you broke the mirror of my car"

"And all this would not have happened, if you had just told me your true identity" she replied nonchalantly.

"Oh you mean this all is okay if I was some stranger?" His anger grew up a notch. She wasn't apologetic at all. She still thought it was his fault.

"Chilaana band karo..yeh mera ghar hai" she took a step towards him and looked at him straight in the eye. Why was he screaming??? All men are same, rude and insensitive...well except for her dad and brother. They are the sweetest'

"Listen Geet---" He rubbed his temple. He didn't mean to loose his temper but with her, it had always been so easy. She unnerved him like nobody else. He had come up here to see if she was okay and not to pick up another fight with her. What was done was done. He took a deep breath and spoke. "Why don't we start fresh? huh?"

"I am Maan, your neighbor" He brought his hand forward at which Geet looked for a minute contemplating. He felt stupid with his hand extended before a girl who seemed to be looking as if she would turn her head away any moment and walk off. But before Maan could withdraw his hand, she took it in a death grip.

"And I am Geet," "Your childhood friend" she added after a pause.

His face broke into a smile at her choice of words. She never gives up...does she??

She beamed at his smile. He hadn't given that to her often so to be a recipient of his lovely smile was something quite tangible for her. Suddenly the evening had turned out much better than she had anticipated. The glow on her face had calmed him but his heart raced. He didn't know why making her happy suddenly made him happy too.

"Geet!!!!" A voice from afar brought them both into their senses.

"I think ab mujhe chalna chahiye. Tell Yash I want to talk to him about something important. I will wait for him tomorrow morning" he pulled his hand back reluctantly. She nodded her head, her smile plastered on her face.

He walked away towards the steps and turned once again to find her rooted to the spot. She waved her hand enthusiastically. He gave her a slight nod and left.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next morning, Maan waited impatiently for Yash to come over. He had discussed with Daadima about his plans and she had agreed to it. He knew Yash would not leave Geet alone behind to pursue his further education and somewhere after last evening's fiasco, his heart agreed with Yash.

He was sure now that this would work out for the betterment of everyone. Geet, Yash and his own Daadima. Daadima had agreed. They would agree to it to too, right? He asked himself. Of course they would. The optimist in him screamed back.

"Maan bete, Yash aa jaayega...aap aaraam se baith kar naasta kar lijiye'" Savitri Devi poured him a glass of juice.

"Kahan reh gaya Yash?" he murmured as his eyes saw Geet coming inside the house.

"Geet'" he yelled " Where is Yash? Did you not tell him to meet me?"

She looked at him "And Good morning to you too" Mr khadoos she added under her breathe. She went to give Daadima a quick hug.

"Good morning beta."

"Juice?" Savitri Devi asked Geet as she took the seat next to her on the dining table.

"Oh Daadi'. You made paranthas'. " Geet looked at the plate topped with paranthas and scooped a few into her plate. " Oh' these are so yummy" she stated as she took another bite. "Aree Maan tum khade kyun ho?? Baitho na' Tumhe pata hai Daadi kitne swad paranthe banaati hain?" It wasn't a question but a statement.

Main yahan pareshaan ho raha hoon aur is ladki ko paranthon ki padi hai?

"Geet, Where is Yash?" He asked again, his voice laced with a hint of anger.

"Meera se milne gaye hain. Abhi thodi der mei aa jaayenge" She managed to reply in between the bites.

"Wah Daadi' aapka to jawaab nahi" she took a sip of the hot tea "Garam garam chai aur paranthe"

Maan shook his head and turned to leave. "Maan beta, tum kahan chale?"

"Yash se milne" he replied. Savitri Devi gave him a nod and understood his frustration. She had promised to talk to Yash and Geet with him. She looked adoringly at Geet who sat munching on the food. The girl, who everybody loved. The girl for whom both the boys were sick worried. The girl who was oblivious to their worries and anxiety. Suddenly Geet's eyes popped out. "Wait. You can't go"

"What?" Maan stopped in his tracks and growled back at her. "What do you mean, I can't go?"

Geet got up from her chair and ran towards him. She whispered,"You can't go to Meera's house"

"And why not?" his hands on his hips, he was loosing his temper fast.

"Because I said so" she folded her arms across her chest and blew a whiff of air.

Maan looked at her for a minute and then walked out, taking long strides. Geet followed him behind. "Wait... wait... Maan"

He stopped and she rammed straight into him. Turning around he steadied her and then pushed her back, "What the hell Geet!!! I leave this evening. I told you I want to talk to Yash about something important. Ek choti si baat tumhe samajh mei nahi aati. Why can't I go to meet Yash?"

"Because Yash and Meera are not at her house." Her reply stunned Maan. "They are meeting at the old mill near the fields. Because they are in love and if you go, you will spoil everything. Yash Veerji is going to marry Meera and make her my Bhabhi and I won't let anything or anyone spoil that" She glared back at him right in the eye. "As soon as Veerji gets back, I will send him here."

And with that she left him standing gaping at her back. He knew there was some undercurrent of something between Meera and Yash but he hadn't known exactly. Love?? Affection?? Weren't they too young for that? Meera was 18, Geet's age. What did they know about the matters of the heart?

2 hours later, they were all sitting in Khurana's haveli. Yash and Geet held hands together as they listened to what Daadima had to say. Geet was surprised to learn that Yash had decided not to join college for the fear of leaving her alone behind. He was happy to do his degree through correspondence but the vital points Maan laid out had her thinking.

"Lekin Daadi, is baat le kiye Maa aur Bauji kabhi nahi maanenge" Yash said.

"Mohinder aur Rano se main baat karoongi. Uski tum chinta na karo." Savitri Devi replied. She looked at Maan "Main aur Maan pehle tum dono se baat karna chahte the"

"Geet, tum bhi kuch bolo" Savitri Devi looked at the girl who had till now not uttered a single word. "Tum mere aur Maan ke saath Delhi chalogi?"

Geet looked lost in her thoughts. Maan and Daadi wanted her to move with them to Delhi whereas Yash Veerji would leave for London to pursue his degree. He had already gotten the scholarship. Maan had said he would get the admission papers for her. She could join Annie's college and stay with them. If their family agreed everything would work out well with them but what about Meera?

"Geet, bachcha.. kya soch rahi hai tu?" Yash rubbed her back bringing her out of her thoughts.

Savitri Devi left the kids alone to talk to eachother and clear out the air before she went to talk to the parents. She hinted at Maan to leave with her.

"Agar tujhe yeh sab theek nahi lag raha to bol de. Main nahi jaaunga. Maine to vaise bhi man bana liya tha"

"Nahi Veerji. Aap mere liye apni padhai kyun chod rahe hain? Aap be-fikar ho kar jaayiye. Main ab badi ho gayi hoon. Apna khayaal rakh sakti hoon" She spoke with a slight smile.

"Geet, tujhe pata hai, main tujhe yahan akela chod kar nahi jaane wala" Yash stern face had her stomach turning. She knew what he meant. Brij Chacha would never hurt her when Veerji is around. If Yash moved out, she would be at his mercy.

"Mujhe chod kar ya fir Meera ko chod kar" she whispered trying to lighten the moment.

"Geet!!! Be serious" Yash chided her. "I love her but I love you more" he cupped her face.

"I know Veerji'I know" She sighed. She twisted her lips "I am going to miss you. Yeh Maan bhi na... one weekend and he turned our lives upside down" she said. Yash smiled at her antics. Atleast she was thinking about it.

"Excuse me?" Yash and Geet looked up to see Maan standing near the doorway. Yash smacked his forehead. Maan ko bhi isi waqt andar aana tha.. the baffled look on his friend's face was funny to be least.

"Maan I think I cannot take a chance of leaving Geet with you. Woh tumhe paagal kar degi" he laughed.

"Veerji...yeh to pehle se hi paagal hai" Geet chimed in as she gave a sideways hug to Yash.

"Main paagal hoon? Main?" He looked at the two siblings "Tum dono behan bhaai paagal ho..tumko pata hai na is baat ka??" He walked towards them before flopping onto the opposite chair.

Yash and Geet looked at eachother and laughed "Yes we do"

"What did I get myself into?" Maan spoke to himself as he rubbed his forehead. He had tried to help Yash and his sister, but it looked like it wasn't going to end well for him.

"Veerji, Don't worry, Meera will wait for you" said Geet as she looked at a lost Yash.

"Look at you... Expert on such things.." Maan laughed.

"Love trumps all" she winked as she stood to leave.

~Present~

Her words "Love trumps all" rang in his mind as he got out from the car. He looked up towards the sky. The clouds were gone and sun shone brightly. Maybe the clouds in their life would be cleared too but for that they needed to talk and sort out all. Making his mind, he walked towards Geet's office. He wasn't going anywhere till he got some answers.

~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Hey Geet" The husky voice came from behind. "Rishi!!" Geet squealed. "When did you come? I didn't even hear you" Geet turned around as she gave the man a small smile.

"Oh that's because you were again in your thinking mode. Care to share?" He took the sunglasses off his head and put them on the table nearby and made himself comfortable.

"Nahi. Kuch bhi to---" she started to say " Nahi" Rishi completed the sentence for her. "Oh Geet, you really need to come up with something else than just your regular excuse. It's getting lame"

Geet just smiled back in response. Rishi was Arjun's friend and his business partner. The man who had once rescued Geet's life. He never understood why one would not want to live? There was no reason to give up your life for somebody who didn't value you or your love. It was a coward's way out. He had made Geet see how life could still go on when all doors seemed closed, because when one door closes, another opens. He had been her friend when she wallowed in self pity, a companion when her days were good. Just being there for her, not asking anything in return. He was a player but he knew a girl like Geet loves only once. He knew her heart beats for the one and only, her soul mate. But what he didn't know or understood was why a man would turn his back on somebody who gave her whole life up for her love. He was in awe at how one could love somebody so dearly and not say a bad word about them when they betrayed you. Geet's day began with Maan's remembrance and ended with pining for him. He had seen Geet when she was in the lowest of the lows, in the pits of agony. Pinky, Aditya , Arjun and Rishi were the ones who gave her a reason to keep going. They helped turn her once forgotten dream into a reality. Her company was something which kept her busy, kept her mind off things and today after many days, he was seeing Geet slipping back to relapse. It frightened him. He may seem to have made peace with the fact Geet loved somebody else, but he couldn't stop his heart from caring for her.

He took her hands in his large ones and pulled her close. "Seriously Geet. What is wrong?"

Why did Maan come back? Her mind screamed as she looked up to meet Rishi's gaze. Her eyes sparkled as they filled with unshed tears. She bit the inside of her cheek from crying out loud.

Rishi wiped the tears slowly as he cupped her cheek. "Hey!!! Geet you are scaring me now. Did something happen?" He hadn't seen Geet so low for a long time now. Infact she had started to come out of her shell and enjoy life. To see her in tears again scared him.

She shook her head as she gazed at the floor. She tried to compose herself. There was no use saying anything to Rishi. Nobody could do anything. There was nothing left to salvage. Nothing had happened. Maan had come and gone without a word. The fact that they came face to face with each other was just a coincidence. Neither of them was prepared for that. An unknown fear gripped her heart. She had thought about the moment a million times, but all had Maan coming to her with a smile on his face not a scowl. All had him wrapping her in his arms, assuring her all was right, none of them had been about Maan acting like a stranger and leaving without a word. It might have been her dreams but now she knew better. It was all lost. For once and for all.

A loud thud made both Geet and Rishi look at the door with shock. Rishi looked confused where as Geet looked horrified. Maan stood at the entrance of her office, his eyes wide in anger, his jaw clenched. He gave a murderous glare to them before he took two large steps and held Geet's wrist in anger, forcibly pulling her towards him. Rishi was too stunned to comprehend what just happened. But he matched Maan's anger as he gave him a glare back and moved forward to pull Geet back.

"Hey. Leave her hand." Rishi yelled.

"You stay out of it" Maan glowered back. "Geet" Rishi looked at Geet's wrist in Maan's grip and back at her. Maan clenched his jaw and his grip on Geet's wrist tightened.

"Who the hell is he?" He jerked Geet towards him. "It's none of your business" she spat back at him.

"The hell it isn't" His grip tightened, leaving his finger's imprint on her soft skin. She tried to wriggle out of the grip without any luck. She was in pain but her face showed anger.

"I said, leave her" Rishi yelled again as he tried to pry Maan's hands off Geet's wrist. The touch of another man's hand on his Geet's skin boiled Maan's already over heated blood and he couldn't help but claim her for himself!

"Who the hell are u to interfere between a man and his wife?" He growled at Rishi and looked at the door indicating for him to leave. Rishi's anger shot up the roof. He was Geet's husband? He was Maan singh Khurana? The one who took away Geet's every reason to smile and left her. He made a gruff sound before he took step forward as if to kill him, but Geet's free hand on his chest stopped him.

"Rishi Please" She shook her head slightly asking him to leave.

Maan looked in disgust as Geet and other man shared an eye contact. The worry in the man's eyes for his Geet had his blood boiling. Did they share something? Had he interrupted them? Unable to control his anger anymore, Maan shoved Geet behind him and laid a straight punch to the man's jaw. It all happened in a blink of an eye, Geet pushed behind, Maan's fist on Rishi's jaw,and Rishi staggering back with a force.

"Rishi!!!" Geet shrieked.

Before she could say anything further, Rishi recovered from the blow and lunged at Maan. His fist came in contact with Maan's jaw making his lower lip bleed. Rishi hadn't wanted to fight but he was raging mad. Maan decked his next punch and swung over to hit him directly in the stomach, making Rishi curl up due to the excruciating pain.

"Rishiii !!!" She pushed Maan out of the way as she lunged herself to take a look at her friend. "Are you okay?" she asked him before she turned to look at Maan. "What the hell is wrong with you?" She screamed at Maan.

Maan looked in hurt surprise that his Geet was defending the other man conveniently forgetting that it had been him who had started the fight! In his self righteous mind, he was right in wanting to hit any man who so much as looked at his wife! And this man had definitely done more than look. Glaring at Rishi at this thought, he clenched his teeth hard to stop the pain shooting through him that he had felt at the sight of his Geet in another man's arms. He looked in anger as she lovingly ( or so it looked to his jaundiced eyes) tended to THAT man!

"I am okay" Rishi moved his jaw, taking deep breathes, he rubbed the spot. Geet begged Rishi to leave.

"I am not leaving you with this maniac" He spoke. Geet knew the reason for Maan's anger. Having Rishi in the same room will do no good to anyone. She needed to make Rishi leave.

"Please Rishi, just go. I will be okay. Give me two minutes. Please"

Rishi gave a murderous look at Maan and then back at Geet "He won't hurt me. Trust me. Just go"

Maan glared at the two of them. Reluctantly Rishi left Geet with Maan alone.

Once left alone, Maan took a step towards Geet. "What was all that?" huh?" He gripped her wrist and twisted it behind her back. She winced in pain but it only made Maan tighten his grip.

"What were you doing in that man's arms? Did you forget you are still my wife?" Disgusted at his accusations, she pushed him hard away from her body. The push was so sudden and stiff that Maan stumbled back, his grip on her wrist loosened a bit and she freed herself. Quickly putting some distance between them, she screamed "Stop calling me your wife"

"I am just stating the fact" He frowned at her.

"The fact??? The fact is that we are divorced--"

"A piece of paper does not change anything" He retaliated.

"----You left me. End of story" She continued ignoring his remark, gripping the table for support.

"I left you??" Maan took a murderous step towards her. "I left you? Let's get some of the facts right Geet. You left me. You ran away just like you always do."

He grabbed her by the shoulders, his fingers digging into her soft skin, making her wince in pain. He wanted to hurt her as she had hurt him. He pushed her back until her hips collided with the table. "You destroyed everything. You killed everything with your hands. You----" he choked unable to bring himself to say the words. He couldn't even say it out aloud. She looked at him, he was hurting and she could see it. She never thought he was remorseful over what happened. Infact he had been spiteful over it. It wasn't her fault. It was nobody's fault. But yet he had made her feel guilty. Told her she was to blame. His eyes bore into hers and she saw it.

Please don't come any closer, her heart screamed. He slowly touched the loose tendril of her hair and wrapped it over his finger instead of putting it behind her ear. His eyes drifted towards his finger and his eyes softened a bit. "I loved you." The words were barely heard over the pounding of their hearts but the pain behind them shouted out at her.

Geet's heart thudded loudly in her chest. He had said Loved, past tense, making her doubts clearer by the second. It was all in the past. She mentally chided herself for keeping any hope for them until now. He had been in love with her. "Had" being the imperative word here.

"I loved you so damn much and you broke my trust, Geet. You broke me. Why?" he whispered into the air. His voice was shaky and laced with emotion. She closed her eyes as tears fell.

"WHY?" he roared making her jump in fear. "Do you have an answer?" Her tears tore his heart but then there was nothing left to tear anymore. She had come, she had made him fall in love with her and then she had destroyed him. She turned her head away but Maan roughly cupped her chin and forced her to meet his eye "Look at me" His gaze pierced through her soul and created an ache deep in her heart. His lip was bleeding, his hair disheveled and his shirt was crumbled.

"I didn't leave you." She sobbed. "I could never leave you" she whispered inaudibly.

He pulled back suddenly, his eyes blazing "I am not going to let you disappear into the thin air again. You are coming with me." His voice was full of authority and determination.

"NO" she shrieked 'I won't. You cannot make me" she trembled.

"Let me make this clear once and for all. You are my wife and you will stay with me" Until I get the answers, his mind spoke, I won't let you disappear this time.

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maan needs a tight slap..frankly speaking ia am hell confused who is right who is wrong..generally maan is wrong isliye usko mai laat marring😡😡 uski hi galti hogi😡

poor geet😭😭

awesome 😛😛

upadte soon dear😃😃

come one..update soon...

soni updating kya aaj????