ALMOST LOVERS
Chapter Fourteen
Act Two
Love is pure,
Love is tainted,
It creates beauty,
It leaves a path of destruction.
We can be amazing together,
Yet create a chaotic mess.
We would shine,
Yet we burn to cinders.
PAST:
Geet was apprehensive as she met up with Rehan. She knew that their relationship was strong enough to withstand many obstacles but she wondered whether this would put them over the edge.
"I was just changing my clothes after getting wet in the rain." Geet explained, hoping that he would understand.
"I believe you." Rehan said without any hesitation but then he continued on. "Its not that Geet, I just want to know whether you have any feelings for him. Please be honest."
"What!" Geet said loudly. "No! I don't have feelings for him. It's only a case of admiration, nothing more. We are just friends."
"It's just that I don't trust him." Rehan had his head bent down low. "He''seems to have a hidden agenda."
Geet bit her lips and chose her words with care. "I kind of agree. There does seem to be more to him than what meets the eyes but that might just be his personality. I don't think he is the sort to make friends easily."
"But he is your friend." Rehan gave a sigh. "It might be better if you stay away from him." He echoed his previous request, albeit in a gentler and more approachable manner.
"That's not possible." Geet said in a sad tone. "After yesterday's news I need to spend some time with him to make the media believe that I am not some an "easy" girl or a one night stand. It's important for the company because our share prices have plummeted. Dad didn't even want to tell me about this, it was his PA who had to tell me about the problems that have come out because of this."
"What the hell!" This time Rehan was truly livid. "Why do you have to do that?"
"Handa Constructions relies on its good name and with our name being dragged down it will upset the shareholders and the business. You know what Handa Constructions means to my father and what it means to me."
"I don't like this." Rehan said gloomily.
"It'll be fine as long as you are with me." Geet put her head on his shoulders. "As long as we trust each other nothing can come between us."
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PRESENT:
Life teaches us lessons in various ways. Maan had been the greatest tutor in that sense for Geet. He had taught her about the vagaries of fate and how trust could be used against a person.
She remembered his advice, never let people understand you fully for it will put you at a disadvantage.
At that time she had scoffed at his words, being the over optimistic person she had wanted to believe the best in ever one. But now she understood the truth in the words.
And that is why she had made herself understand Maan Singh Khurana. To defeat an enemy one needed to know their weakness and that was what Geet had done. In the end it hadn't been that difficult at all because Maan had only two weaknesses.
His ego which would never allow him to lose to even a worthy opponent. It was the in a way his strength as well, for it motivated to win at all cost.
"Mr Lawrence, how are the rumours about the lotus project coming along?" Geet asked while lounging in her office.
"What rumours?" Mr Lawrence asked in confusion because the truth was that not a peep had been released about the latest Khurana project.
"The ones that we will start. Lotus project is having problems because there is a copy right issue'..or at least theoretically there is." Geet smirked onto the phone. "Let's get the ball rolling."
Geet had a weapon that Maan could never fight against; herself. For she was his greatest weakness and she was counting on using that to accomplish her goal.
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PAST:
Maan had never thought of himself as devious, only determined. He had never accepted failure as an option in either his personal or professional dealings.
He had always done what was necessary to win. So it was no surprise that he was watching Geet and Rehan covertly. He wanted to know how successful his plan was.
Still it felt like he was doing something that went beyond the acceptable. It went against his usual behaviour to do something underhand for he had always faced things upfront.
Then again he wasn't going to take any chances as Geet was too important for him to risk losing. The way she spoke about Rehan told him that she was too attached to the man to leave him unless something broke the two apart. She would never fall in love with him unless Rehan was out of the picture. So he pushed aside the sudden emergence of a conscience that he couldn't afford now.
And he watched the two surreptitiously as they sat in a cafe. He had hoped that the media reports would be enough to break the two apart. But it seemed that he had been able to achieve that yet.
He felt a moment of guilt as he saw the look on Geet's face, filled with apprehension and sadness. He didn't want to hurt her in anyway, he only wanted her happiness. But how can I let her go?
And then he saw the two clasps hands. He clenched his own as he felt the unfamiliar emotion of jealousy and pain.
I must do what is required.
He picked up the phone and made a call to Adi. "Adi I want to get in touch with Mr Parekh but before that get me all the details on the Parekh family."
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PRESENT:
Maan slammed his fist against the table. He was livid at what was happening. Flashing across the television was reports that Khurana Enterprise was starting a new project that was kept under wraps but was already facing allegations of copy right issues.
"HOW DID THIS RUMOUR GET OUT IN TO THE MEDIA!" Maan screamed out to his specially selected team, the few who knew about the project. "This was meant to be kept under top security. What's with the bullshit news about copy right?"
Adi swallowed nervously as he tried to find his voice. "Well sir they haven't made any direct mention of the lotus project, only about potential projects of Khurana Enterprise. And there are absolutely no issues about copy right for the chip is the only prototype at the moment around the whole world."
"Lets make sure it stays that way." Maan growled. "More importantly we need to find out how these rumours started."
"Well it could possibly be one of the rival companies trying to create problems for us." Sasha wisely said. "I think the top suspects would Chopra Industries, Blue Corporations and also GR industries."
At the mention of GR industries Maan stiffened. Could it be Rehan? But as he thought about the man he knew that it was highly unlikely. Rehan didn't seem like the type to be cunning enough to take such an action.
"I want to make sure we get to whoever is responsible!" Maan glared at everyone. "They will pay for this. In the meanwhile we need to start doing damage control. Arrange a press conference for me and we shall set the record straight. Also we need to tighten the security even more on the Lotus Project. We can't have even whispers about it."
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PAST:
Geet felt the muscles on her face stiffen as she continued to smile despite her annoyance with everyone.
"How long do we have to do this?" Geet mumbled to Maan from the side of her mouth. She still managed to keep a radiant grin on her face, fooling everyone into thinking that she was having a great time.
They were at a fundraiser event that was one of the highlights of the season. It had been decreed by both her Dad and Maan that it would be best for Maan and Geet to be seen together at such events. They were not meant to appear to close, that would cause more rumours, but they had to make sure that people saw them as friends.
So they had arrived separately and then met up to have a casual chat in front of everyone. Except it is far from casual having been prearranged Geet thought while feeling disgruntled.
"Is it so bad to spend time with me?" Maan smirked at her, trying to get her to relax.
"Well, it is above being shot at or getting stabbed." Geet joked back, wanting to at least make an effort to talk with Maan. After all it is hardly his fault and I should be grateful that he is helping. "I'll just have to endure it."
"Glad to see you rate me so high." Maan laughed at her.
"Well I am sure Sheila over there rates you even higher." Geet giggled as she discreetly gestured towards a socialite who managed to glare at Geet while drooling over Maan.
"Oh her." Maan dismissed the girl easily. "She tried to get me in bed a while back. It was a messy scene having to reject her."
"It must be a chore having to get away from all those fawning women." Geet wiggled her eyes. "Poor Sheila."
"You should feel bad for me!" Maan protested with a grin. He always enjoyed conversing with her and relished the fact that she was willing to at least relax with him. "I was the one who had to put up with her sharp nails and sharper tongue."
"Well what can Sheila do, Sheila ki Jawani as hi hain!" Geet cackled at her own joke while Maan rolled his eyes.
Within minutes Sheila sauntered in and tried to grab Maan away. "Maan darling it's been ages. Why don't we have a drink together?"
Maan was about to decline when Geet egged him on. "Oh Maan was just saying how he wanted to catch up with you."
Maan glared at Geet as he walked away with Sheila but couldn't help grinning as he heard her humming Sheila ki Jawani under her breath.
Geet giggled watching an annoyed Maan walk with an over eager Sheila. He is wittier and more friendly than people give him credit for. He isn't at all ruthless to me, maybe he only puts up barriers to keep fawning gold diggers away, she thought with what bordered on fondness. Maybe we can all get through all this unscathed.
She didn't notice that despite being with Sheila Maan's attention was focused on her. He watched her expressions and knew that she was at least enjoying being with him.
I'll make you happy, I'll make you love me. He promised.
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AUTHOR's NOTE:
Thank you all for the amazing comments and support!
As I promise I will do my best to keep up with the story.😃
Hope you all enjoyed that part.
AND more importantly
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
May 2012 bring happiness and peace for all.
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Nothing motivates me as much as reading your comments!😃
-SanjanA
Edited by maan-ki-sanjana - 13 years ago
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
