ALMOST LOVERS
Chapter Thirty
Beginning of the end
I await for the flames,
To burn and perish,
I await my fate
I await for you,
The day you walk away,
So that you come back to me.
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"She…she means the world to me. So, I am asking you for her hand in marriage"
Maan spoke the words with such conviction that there was only silence at their wake. But he just stood there letting the words sink in.
"You only give pain…..you are a burden" The words that had he been told as a kid hit back at him, reminding him that he was made on a legacy of pain. His chacha's words echoed in his heart, never letting him forget that he was unworthy of happiness. Yet he couldn't give up Geet, let her get away but more importantly he needed to help her. After all it was his own actions that led to this.
"No" Geet's voice was soft, yet held iron in them, "I won't let you marry me just because of the scandal. I won't let you ruin yourself to protect me. Where is honour in hiding behind others?"
Maan opened his mouth to say that she was to be his making, not his ruin and that he would give up his life just for a moment to call her his.
But before he could speak it was Mohinder who spoke, "No Geet, this is the best option. Otherwise Handa Constructions will have to sack thousands of workers and stop many projects. This isn't just about us but about the people we support"
Geet felt the words as a visceral slap to her face. Sense of betrayal filled her, more potent as it was from the last person she had expected. She could understand what her father was trying to say, understood it importance but still it hurt.
Maan looked disgruntled by Mohinder's comment and instead turned to Geet, "Before you agree I want to talk to you."
Geet gave a small nod and led him into one of the smaller sitting rooms in the house, walking past her parents.
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Present
Maan stood, alone in his office. Again he was contemplating his situation and the mess that he had created with his own hands.
There were few people capable of destruction as he was, few who were able to spread such venom as he could.
"You are responsible for all this!" His Uncle screamed at him, "You little idiot" Maan then felt the sting of his slap across his face. "Worthless idiot!"
Maan had grown to believe that only those who took could achieve what they needed, you could never be passive. It had been a lesson he learnt from childhood, a lesson that pain had solidified till it became his way of behaving.
But Geet had changed that.
She had made him understand the beauty in giving everything to another person, to open ones soul to another till there was no barrier or distance. She made him understand how lovely yet daunting such vulnerability could be.
She made me understand love.
In his love for her, he had given her everything she could want; his wealth, his power and all that was his. He had given himself to her. But it hadn't been enough, he hadn't been enough for her.
Maan clenched his fingers and shut his eyes, trying to see the path he should take. In the end he knew there was only one thing he could truly do to save his honour.
"Sir!" Adi rushed into the room after a quick knock on the door, "Have you watched the news? Our share prices have gone down even more."
Maan frowned, feeling his world start to cave in, "Okay, call a meeting with the board of members"
"Umm….sir there is something else you should know" Adi tugged at his tie nervously, "The NCCA is trying to get in contact with us, regarding one of our projects"
"What!" Maan roared. An investigation from the NCCA was the last thing the company needed, "Which project are they worried about?"
"Sir…it's the….the project" Adi stammered, not needing to name the project.
Maan wanted to smash his office, destroy everything. But instead he managed to stay calm, "Okay, make it an emergency board meeting. I want everyone to be present"
As Adi walked out, Maan felt the pressures of his situation. He was losing control of his company and his relationship. Everything was drowning.
I wish we could go back to a simpler time, when this bitterness didn't exist between us. He thought helplessly, as his mind went back to beginning of their relationship.
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Past
As they sat next to each other, alone in the room, Geet felt the awkwardness of the moment. She didn't know how to break this silence but felt the need to.
Just as she opened her mouth to say something inane to break the silence but he beat her to it.
"Geet please hear me out" He turned towards her, looking straight at her. "I want to marry you. Not because of the scandal or because of the business. Just that I want to marry you and be with you"
While his words were potent, it was the look in his eyes that had her glued there. There was no way she could escape the intensity of those eyes.
"I don't want you to marry me because you have to" Maan urged, resisting the urge to pull her closer to him, "I want you to need me, the way I need you. Not for some obligation but still I will marry you regardless. For me, being with you is enough. I want to know what you want."
Geet clenched her fingers, fighting the urge to lean into him, to agree to the spell he cast around them.
"But, the decision has to be yours" Maan bowed his head down, fighting the need to say more, to lay his heart even more at her feet. This wasn't who he was, this desperate need of someone else and the way he just opened himself up for her.
He stood up, "Take your time Geet"
With that he started to walk away but Geet caught his hand and pulled him to sit down.
"Why do you want to marry me?" She asked him, mimicking him by staring right into his eyes, wanting to see the truth in them.
"Because I love you" He frowned as he said the words as he knew that she was cognizant about his feelings for her.
"Love is great" She smiled at him, "But I've been in love before and it made me understand what is more important than love. Trust, honesty and more importantly, friendship. I can offer you all of these but will it be enough for you?"
Maan couldn't believe that she was actually considering his proposal and felt a lightness in his heart that had never been there before, it was elation.
"Will it be enough" He repeated, "It would be more than I deserve"
"Well, then…what are you waiting for" Geet smiled, a hint of sadness but also pleasure, "Propose properly!"
Kneeling down, he took her hand, "Marry me Geet Handa." He didn't say anything else, for everything that needed to be said had already been spoken and everything he felt was in his grasp.
"Yes, I will" She squeezed his hand, sealing their fate.
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Present
Maan sat straight and proud as he watched the board members take their seats. As always, the CEO of Khurana Corporation could never falter or show weakness.
However there was some obvious anxiety amongst the other members, clearly worried about what was happening but not brave enough to directly ask the questions.
"Good to see all of you here" Maan spoke out, "This situation has gotten out of hand and we need all the major stakeholders here to create a plan on how to move forward."
"Not all members are here, darling" Geet's voice was sweet as it was sharp as she strolled into the room. "You cannot forget the main shareholder of this company."
There was shifting in the seats, as everyone felt the tension but Maan had eyes for Geet only.
What is she doing here?
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AUTHOR's NOTE:
Thanks as always for the lovely comments and compliments!
As you can see, the stage is set for Geet to take action...
And get more insight into their relationship with the next update...
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-SanjanA
Parineeti
Chakravarti Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan
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