ALMOST LOVERS
Chapter Thirteen
Reputation
I would break the
world
For a piece of you,
I would shatter
myself,
If it meant a moment
with you
I would even destroy
you,
To covet what is mine
-----------------------------
PRESENT:
Meeting up with her parents would be the brightest and
saddest part of her day. Her mother would complain about Geet's working hours,
while making her rest for a while in her bedroom. Her father and her would as
always discuss business and other interests, with Rano joining in when she was
free.
But if clouds had silver linings, then even the beauty of
light would have to cede to the darkness. Every moment of happiness would have
a touch of sadness.
Seeing her parents reminded her of another time, when life
wasn't as complicated and when she was leading life on her own terms. And of
course seeing her father weakened was the worst part.
Gearing herself up, Geet picked up her phone to make a call.
"Mr Lawrence, are the share prices going down?"
"Not yet." He replied. "But there is development in the
Lotus Project. The software is in its final stages but it's under Khurana's top
security clearance."
"You don't worry about that, as one of the major
shareholders I can get access." Geet said thoughtfully. "I need you to start on
those shares. If they are going into such a big project, they will need new
investors and that's where we will need to come in."
"But ma'am it's a large amount." Mr Lawrence asked confused.
"Don't worry about that." Geet reassured. "I'll manage the
funds, you need to do the work."
"Of course but Mrs Khurana are you sure about this?" He
asked in concern, after all he had been a retainer for Handa Constructions for
a long time. "This is a drastic step and maybe we should reconsider this."
"Mr Lawrence, the wheels are set in action." She replied
calmly. There is no going back.
----------------------
PAST:
The brush of the cotton against her skin and the smell of
his scent so close to her, it was all too intimate. Geet tried not to get
carried away by this false feelings. After making sure that all the buttons
were done, she tentatively poked her head out of the room to look out for Maan.
And there he was standing in the hallway, wearing only his
vest. Again Geet was confronted with the unerring sense of intimacy.
Something is not
right, her conscience told her. She could feel the hairs on the back of her
arm rising in anticipation of some tumultuous event.
"Maan." Geet hesitatingly called out.
He turned around and was mesmerised by her. She looked so
pure and beautiful in the white shirt, somehow the masculine get up only
enhanced her feminine side. Seeing her wear his shirt only heightened his
possessiveness, the feeling that only she would only share such with him.
Geet could feel herself blush as she stood in front of Maan
wearing his shirt.
There was no way to escape the burning look in his eyes. At
that moment everything else ceased to exist, just them in the hallway. A moment
that made the past, present and even future meaningless.
With slow and determined steps Maan walked towards her until
they were scant inches away. Geet's eyes widened at their proximity and she
took a small step back, trying to widen the gap. But Maan only went closer.
His hand reached across, just about to touch her when
suddenly chaos broke out. Before Geet could blink there were flashes and people
started to yell out. It took a moment for her to realise that there were
reporters everywhere.
"Ms Handa what are you doing with Mr Khurana at this time of
the night?" One reporter asked but his tone clearly stated what he thought.
Another reporter was not as friendly. "How long has this
affair been going on for? We heard that you were in a long term relationship,
so have you broken that relationship yet?"
Geet didn't even know what to say, for the first time she
was speechless. Never before had she faced such a situation.
However she didn't have to do anything as Maan quickly led
her away from the reporters and back to the car.
Geet was still shaken as she sat next to Maan in the car.
Confusion and concern had her frozen, with her mind trying to analyse what had
happened.
"I don't understand what just happened." Geet asked more to
herself than to Maan but still he answered her.
"There was a political meeting happening in the hotel, so
they must have seen us coming in or someone in the hotel must have told them
that we were there." Maan explained. "Don't let it get to you, these things
happen."
Geet couldn't reply, she just wanted to block all thoughts
of what had happened. She knew that the repercussions were going to be great.
Maan took a glimpse at her and felt another pang of guilt. I am sorry for doing this Geet but I'll do
anything to win you over. One day I'll make it up to you.
---------------------------
PRESENT:
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?" Maan screamed as he sat with Geet
in their lounge room. In his hands there was a newspaper with the headings, "Geet
Khurana's mysterious past." There was also a picture of Geet and Rehan dancing
at the party.
Geet didn't know what to feel. Conflicting feelings of embarrassment,
anger and vindictive pleasure rose within her. It rankled her to be in the
media again, to have her dignity and integrity questioned. Can I not find peace from these vultures.
Yet a sense of satisfaction rose as she saw the anger in
Maan's face. The irony of the situation was not lost on her. The same media who
had aided Maan Singh Khurana was today publically humiliating him.
"Don't let it get to you, these things happen." Geet said in
a sarcastic tone, using his own words against him. "After all my reputation has
withstood many things in the past. So another on the list hardly matters."
"Don't let the past get into this Geet." He gritted out. "Don't
let your resentment cloud your judgement. Certain things cannot be taken back
once done."
"Hmmm…..you are right." Geet nodded in mock solemnity. "After
all with Khurana Enterprise's board meeting coming up, we wouldn't want our
reputation in tatters."
"It's not about the business! I don't want anyone to point
fingers at you!" He growled out while slamming everything off the table. It
killed him to see his wife on the paper like that.
Geet only smirked. "You mean you don't want anyone to point
fingers, unless you point the direction."
Her words made Maan livid. He wished he could make her see
how much he loved her and that his anger was not about him but about the fact
that she was being put down for no reason. But he knew that it was futile to
argue with her about this.
He walked towards her, trying to calm himself down. "Look
Geet, you and I both know that you will never go with Rehan. So what the
article has written doesn't matter to me but the idea that there is news like
this about you makes me angry. Whether you accept it or not, I love you. In
that love, you will do anything to make sure that person stays close to you and
that everyone knows that there is no one else."
For a moment his words stood between them, both immobile.
Maan waited for her response, hoping against reason that maybe today she would
understand his words.
But Geet could only say, "It's time to go to the meeting."
--------------------------------
PAST:
Geet had her head down in shame as she stood in front of her
parents. She didn't know how to explain what had happened because in reality
she had done no wrong. Yet she felt guilt in putting her parents in such a
situation.
Every leading newspaper had pictures of Maan and her. An innocuous
situation had become flammable, with every article making implications about
their alleged relationship.
However the worst part was the allegations on her character.
While Maan was able to get away free of these accusations, being a billionaire
man, Geet as a daughter of a respected family had to face the fingers of
society.
The heading of one of the articles summed up the situation; Geet Handa and her scandalous liaison. The
article went on to talk about how this generation of socialites were flaunting
their sexuality with no concern about morality, yet it was only attacking Geet.
"I am sorry." Geet whispered to her parents. "I don't know
how this happened."
"Did….do you like Maan?" Geet's father asked cautiously. "Did
anything happen between you two."
"NO!" Geet quickly refuted the claim. "You know I love Rehan
and I would never do anything like that."
"We believe you darling." Rano quickly reassured Geet.
But the main battle had began, Mohinder knew. Facing massive
problems, this issue could be the fire in the fuel for Handa Constructions.
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AUTHOR's NOTE:
I love you all!
I was so down...but then I thought I should update while I can.
I am not going to say much except thanks for giving such support for this story.
As I said, I'll try my utmost to continue this story. But please don't get upset if I don't update. I can't explain how difficult it was to write this part as I was so upset. I am not this emotional, so hopefully I'll be able to move on.
PLEASE DO COMMENT and press the LIKE button!!
Nothing motivates me as much as reading your comments!😃
-SanjanA
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