Maneet FF: Finally Found Ya, Epilogue (p102) Mar19,2015 - Page 33

Originally posted by: darkice7_12

Sorry guys. It's been a crazy month. Some family issues came up. I'll still update. Just please continue being patient.

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Chapter 13: Unexpected Feelings

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Geet's unconsciously moved forward, wanting to get closer to him. Her hand was halfway to his back, ready to give comfort; her fingers inches away from his warmth. She stared at that strong back, the muscles and bones that revealed his hidden strength. It was the back of a man capable of carrying the burdens others had forced on him, but she had never thought about those burdens. She had never questioned his strength and his ability to handle everything.

She bit her lip, a film of tears appearing in her eyes. This was the man she had come to like, and she hadn't known this much about him. Her heart ached to comfort him and let him know that everything would get better. It would take time, but one day all of the bitterness and pain would wash away, until only the scars were left behind. And those scars would slowly fade away, too.

Her heart trembled, and her other hand came up to smooth over her own scars. These scars would never fade, but she was learning to live with them. If his scars didn't fade, at least he could learn to live with them the way she had.

Her eyes focused on his back once more, watching his muscles flex beneath that tight shirt and vest. He leaned slightly back, and Geet backed up a half-step, wanting to touch but still too afraid. She bit her lip, wanting to tell him that she would stay by his side, but her words could mean nothing to him. She wasn't anyone special to him.

But she had to say something. The silence had grown too long. As her fingers drew closer to the warmth of his back, he turned around to glare forbiddingly at her. His arms were folded over that big, strong chest.

Her hand, continuing its trajectory, landed against it. Geet, having seen him begun to turn, had only had the chance to curl those traitorous fingers into a fist. And that fist landed gently against his heart, which, for some reason, was beating furiously.

Geet's gaze fell to her loosely curled fist, watching it rise with every breath he took. Her eyes widened in surprise, when she saw his large hand covers her, completely engulfing it in his grasp. She tugged lightly, but his hold tightened, keeping her hand against his chest.

The two had frozen, startled by this moment between them. A flush began to appear on her cheeks, and she began to breathe rapidly, her heart beating furiously in tune with his. His warmth, the feel of it beneath his thin shirt felt strangely intimate. She wanted to stay here forever. And, because she did, she tried to pull away once more.

His hand tightened again, keeping her there.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, worried that he could feel how rapidly her pulse was beating beneath his fingers.

"Trying to hit me, Miss Handa?" he asked with a smirk.

"I would never!" Geet protested hotly.

"Then what were you doing, standing there so closely behind me?"

Geet's eyes widened in shock, her gaze flying to the window behind them. She saw their reflections clearly in the glass. He had seen her standing behind him. He had seen her hesitating, with her hand raised halfway to his back. He had seen everything!

'That rat,'e she thought to herself. 'He knew exactly what I was about to do!' She seethed silently to herself, hating him for putting her in this situation. She ignored the fact that she was the one who had felt too sympathetic in the first place. It was that sensitive heart of hers, she thought darkly, a hand absentmindedly coming up and lightly pounding on her heart. Her lips formed into a tight line, and she glared at him.

She couldn't tell him the truth. She just couldn't.

"Yes," she blurted out, blinking at him rapidly.

Her response caused him to step back in surprise, his hand falling away from hers, and his arms falling to his sides.

"Do you have any idea how much your words hurt me?" she demanded, poking at his wide chest with her now freed hand.

The smirk fell away from those sexy lips, and he opened his mouth to protest.

"I don't want to hear it," Geet interrupted, holding up a hand imperiously. She turned away from his too handsome face when she felt herself melting. She was afraid that the longer she looked at him, the faster she would give in. And Maan Singh Khurana already had too many people in his life letting him get away with too much.

"Mr. Khurana, I am sorry that all of those horrible things happened to you. No one deserves to suffer such betrayals in their lives, not even someone like you."

He frowned at those words, his brow wrinkling when he realized that she had just insulted him. He opened his mouth to say . . . something, but she didn't give him the chance.

"You've been let down by more than one family member in horrible ways. These people have hurt you," she said, turning back to look at him in sympathy. She reached out a hand and briskly patted him on the shoulder, quite forceful in her efforts to proffer comfort.

He stared at that hand for a moment, his brow raised. She smiled weakly at him, and quickly pulled her hand away.

"Their egregious behavior gives you the right to be wary and cautious around strangers. It gives you the right to protect yourself and your remaining family. And it probably even gives you the right to withhold your trust until that stranger has earned it."

"That's what I was trying to sa'," he began, smiling at how quickly she had gotten his point without him having to jump through any more hoops.

"What their behavior does not do," Geet continued, ignoring his efforts to speak, "Is to hurt everyone else that remains in your life . . . it doesn't give you the right to withdraw your trust from those few that have remained loyal to you and by your side. These past betrayals don't mean that you distrust someone despite everything they have done to earn your trust."

"Miss Handa," Maan began, speaking softly when he saw the tears in her eyes.

Geet turned away. "I like you, Mr. Khurana."

Maan was silenced by her words, his voice dying away. A small smile appeared on his lips, as he heard those words. He turned away for a moment, unsure of how to respond to that surprising sentiment.

"You're a good businessman. You work hard and fulfill your responsibilities," she continued quickly, wanting to drive home the fact that hers was an impersonal preference. "I respect you and the love you have for your son and your grandmother. But you can also be quite rude and arrogant. And when you get angry . . . you don't think. You just lash out and hurt the first person that crosses your path."

"Don't you think you're overreacting, Miss Handa?" Maan asked through gritted teeth, turning back to glare at her. The smile had suffered a quick and silent death. "I might have misunderstood the situation a little and mishandled a few things, but that doesn't mea'"

"You hurt me," she said again, her voice breaking in the middle of that admission. She stopped and swallowed, trying to get her emotions under control. "What did I ever do to deserve the poisonous words you threw at me? You made me feel this small," she said, holding her thumb and forefinger an inch apart. "So, from everything you said today and how betrayed I feel from your betrayal, am I supposed to go off and scar the next person that presumably betrays me?" she demanded, poking a finger at her chest. "Do you think your actions are justified just because someone else did that to you in the past? When does that stop? When will you stop punishing others for the betrayals in your past?"

"Others?" Maan asked softly, moving towards her, closing the distance that had grown between them during her tirade. He towered over her, attempting to intimidate her with his size.

But Geet stood her ground, leaning back only slightly in the face of his aggression. "Adi Jeeja ji has worked for you for years. Why do you still treat him so horribly? You would think a man who has shown how loyal and trustworthy he can be deserves some respect in return."

"Miss Handa," Maan began, grinding his teeth at her continued presumption.

"And Rahul. You say you stepped back because Dadi Ma told you to give him space, but wasn't it just an excuse? Hadn't you become afraid of leaving yourself vulnerable to more hurt? You were afraid to get close to your own son, Mr. Khurana."

"Geet," Maan barked angrily, reaching out to grab her by the shoulders. He shook her lightly. "You are overstepping your bounds." He leaned in close, and stared into her eyes. "How dare you call me a coward?"

Her eyes widened at his anger. What right did he have to be angry? "Why can't you just say you're sorry?" Geet demanded, closing her hands around his collar and twisting the cloth between her fingers. She felt the tears begin to fall. She had thought there weren't any more left, but she'd been wrong again. "Do you see these?" she asked, angrily wiping a wet cheek against her shoulder, refusing to let him go for the seconds it would take to wipe those tears by hand. "Do you have any idea how much I've cried this evening because of you and your words? Tell me you're sorry!" she shouted at him, trying to shake him in return. He barely moved.

Maan took in her disheveled appearance and the tears in her eyes. He saw her trembling lips and the hurt that still lingered. Maan's hold softened against her shoulders, until he was no longer clutching at her. His hands began to smooth up and down her arms, as if to soothe her inner turmoil.

"I'm sorry," he whispered softly, gazing into her tear-drenched eyes. "I am sorry."

Geet was silenced. She fell back a step, her hands falling away from his collar.

"Does that make you feel better?" he asked, stepping closer to her once more. His hand came up and his fingers gently cradled her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "When I realized how wrong I had been, the anger fell away. It was only then I could see how I had torn you apart," he said harshly. His thumb smoothed against her trembling lower lip, soothing its quivering movement. "I tore at your vulnerabilities, called you a gold digger. I ignored your scars. The look in your eyes has been tearing me apart ever since."

Geet's lashes fell at that, concealing her torment from his inquisitive gaze.

"Saying a mere sorry would not be atonement enough for my actions," he uttered, pinching her chin lightly to get her attention.

She jumped slightly and lifted her lashes once more, gazing at him with her hurt gaze.

He froze for a moment, mesmerized by her beauty. His head unconsciously tilted to the side, and he forgot for a moment the words he'd intended to speak. Shaking his head forcefully, he brought himself back to the subject at hand. "I had to show you my scars and reveal my vulnerabilities. I had to open myself up and let you do your worst." His hands dropped away from her chin and he stepped back. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. 'Why are you so short of breath?' he asked himself silently. He had no answer.

He turned his attention back to the lost woman in front of him. He had been the cause of her pain, and for that, he could try to be a little jovial. "You really go for the jugular, don't you, Miss Handa?" he said with a small smile. "I really thought you'd try to comfort me," he revealed.

"I strive to be different," she muttered in a small voice. She bit her lip, as his eyes caught her gaze once more. She couldn't look away from that small smile. She wanted to say something . . . do something that would make that smile grow bigger. He was always so somber, and it was strange, but seeing him smile, even in this situation, made her heart sing. She could feel herself melting, and she didn't know if that was such a good idea. She moved forward unconsciously, wanting to bask in that smile a little more.

"Miss Handa . . . Geet . . .," he began hesitantly, wanting to prod her for a response. Where did they go from here? He wanted to hear her say that she would come back. He paused for a moment, unsure of why he cared so much. 'Don't become so involved that you forget everything that's happened before,' he cautioned himself. He turned away abruptly, remembering the pain and embarrassment those other women had dealt him. Despite what Geet had said, he couldn't help but be wary.

The door slammed open behind them, causing the two of them to startle in surprise. Geet jumped away from him, putting distance between the two. Rahul barged inside, screaming for his Geet Didi.

Geet turned to smile at Rahul, happy to see him become the same joyful young boy he had been earlier in the day. Her eyes widened in surprise when Rahul lunged at her. He slammed into her half opened arms, and Geet stumbled from the impact. She fell back and felt her foot catching on her dupatta. They were going to fall. She knew they were going to fall, and she wrapped her arms protectively around Rahul, ensuring that he wouldn't be hurt.

But instead of meeting the hard floor, she fell into strong arms that caught her carefully and cradled her within their warmth. She looked up and saw Maan gazing at Rahul admonishingly.

"Rahul, how many times have I told you to be careful?" Maan said to the young boy.

"Sorry, daddy," Rahul said. He hugged Geet close, largely unrepentant of the chaos he had caused within the heart of the woman he was hugging. "Will you come back, Geet Didi?" he asked, looking up at her expectantly.

Geet struggled, trying to get out of Maan's hold, but he refused to let go. Her back was plastered against his front, and she could feel his warmth through the thin clothes covering her body. She stiffened her body, fighting against the instinct that urged her to melt against him.

"Let go," she whispered furiously to him. She struggled in his arms, but he only tightened his hold until she could barely breathe. He stilled her efforts with a minimum of fuss, remaining silent all throughout.

"Geet Didi," Rahul said insistently, "Will you come back?" He tugged at her hand, trying to bring her attention back to him. "Have you forgiven us?"

"Tell us, Geet. Have you forgiven us?" he murmured in her ear. Geet flinched at the sensation of his breath against her ear. She squirmed inwardly, wondering what he had thought of her telling reaction.

"Geet?" he murmured again. She could feel his face inches away from the side of hers.

Geet did not answer, refusing to be seduced by Maan's proximity into agreeing to something that might end up hurting her in the long run. Did she want to go back, only to find herself falling even more deeply in love with these two? Did she want to risk heartbreak when they rejected her once more?

"Let go," she muttered again, trying to unwrap the arms he had placed squarely around her waist. She struggled, growing frustrated by his refusal to let her go and her own worrisome reaction. "I'm not playing with you," she uttered softly, not wanting to bring Rahul's attention to them. She stopped for a moment, waiting for him to let her go, but his hold didn't loosen. She was surrounded by his scent . . . by his warmth, and it was seductive. She closed her eyes and inhaled strongly, trying to shore up her weakened defenses.

She began to wriggle once more, once she realized that he wasn't going to listen. What had gotten into him? When had he become so touchy feely with his employees? She could see Rahul begin to notice the situation. His eyes were growing wide in his small face, as he stared up at his father hugging Geet.

"Maan!" she shrieked in frustration. "Let go! I'm not playing," she said roughly.

He had frozen the moment she spoke his name, his eyes widening at the feelings her voice calling his name provoked. He slowly let her go, realizing just what he had been doing to his own employee . . . a woman he wanted to willingly return to his home to work. What had been going on in his mind?

Why had he thought, even for a moment, that this would be okay?

He moved back, putting some much needed distance between them. "I'm sorry," he said, his face reddening. He rubbed at his forehead in confusion, wondering what had gotten into him. He glared blackly at her, knowing that this was all her fault.

"Don't you glare at me," she snapped at him, her cheeks still red from his proximity. "It's not my fault. Are you drunk?" she asked suddenly, her eyes narrowing as she stared into his eyes.

"I . . . might have had a drink or two while I was . . .," he muttered in response, his voice trailing off at the end of that admission.

"While you were what? Brooding over your incredibly bad behavior?" she snapped at him.

He opened his mouth in protest.

"I don't want to hear it," she said with a glare. "I cannot believe you! You came to my house in this drunken state?" Geet squealed in horror. "What were you thinking?" she demanded, folding her arms across her chest, unconsciously mimicking him.

"I wasn't thinking," he snapped back at her. Why was she talking so much? "Are you coming back or not?" he demanded, folding his own arms across his chest.

"Geet Didi, it's okay," Rahul said. "I'm not mad."

"What?" Geet asked, turning to look at him.

"Daddy was just hugging you, so that we could show you how I won't get mad at you anymore," Rahul explained impatiently.

Geet turned to look at Maan in silent query.

Maan nodded quickly in agreement.

"Now you guys can hug all the time," Rahul said happily. "I won't get mad."

Geet gasped at his words, and turned to look at Maan. She noted that his cheeks had turned slightly red, as well.

"Enough talk of hugging," she said briskly to Rahul. "We won't talk anymore about what happened today, okay?"

"But . . ." Rahul began worriedly.

"What is it?" Geet asked gently, taking his hand in hers.

"We won't talk about it from now on, right?" Rahul said, clasping her hand close.

"Why?" Geet asked suspiciously.

"I kind of told Pinky auntie that I got angry at you for hugging my daddy, and that's why we had a fight."

"What?" Geet said, her eyes growing wide. "There was no one else there, right?" she demanded, jiggling Rahul's hand.

"No . . . Adi Uncle was there."

She turned to glare at Maan, as if reprimanding him with her eyes.

He crossed his arms across his chest, and shrugged his shoulders. After all, it was only Adi and Pinky. He could intimidate Adi into remaining silent.

"And your mommy and daddy were there," Rahul continued in a chirpy tone.

Maan's arms fell to his sides.

"Maan Sir, why don't we go talk to my parents?" Geet suggested through gritted teeth. She was kind of surprised that no one had come barging in after that story. Only, when she gazed down at Rahul, she realized they had chosen the best distraction. Clutching Rahul by the hand, she moved to the door.

"Geet," Maan called out from behind her.

She turned to gaze at him.

"Are you coming back to us?"

She turned back toward the door.

"Please," he murmured from behind her.

She stopped at the door, frozen for a moment by that surprising word. She turned her head to look at him once more and allowed herself a small frustrated smile. "I don't know why I'm doing this," she finally said. "But yes, I'll come back."

Chapter 14: Bare Naked Truth

A/N: Sorry for the long wait everybody. Crazy things have been happening in the past two months, and my responsibilities on the homefront have doubled for the foreseeable future. Thank you for everybody who's waiting (patiently and not so patiently). Hope you liked the chapter.

Also, if you would like to know about future updates, please follow or subscribe to my blog: darkice712

you finally updated! This was awesome. Loved to see their growing feelings for each other and the cute Rahul!