MG FF: Quantum of Solace -Updated Pt 46- Apr 28 - Page 5

The Khurana Hamptons Mansion was as occupied as it ever had been but it was also as quiet as ever too. Dinner had been an awkward affair with no discussion of the ever-present elephant in the room despite Piyu bringing up New York every other minute. It got to the point where Maan abruptly left the table being able to take no more. All eyes turned to Geet expecting her to follow suit but she remained staring blankly at her plate. Frustrated with the lack of communication Dadima thought it best to sort this out once and for all now because the longer they waited the more problematic the situation would get. With that conclusion, Dadi asked Meera and Vicky to put Piyu to bed after she was done eating, gently took Geet out of the room and signaled Mr. Chopra to follow her.

That was nearly an hour ago. In that time, Dadima's family room transformed into a makeshift strategy room with all the usual characters, the pessimists, the optimists, the peacemakers and the clueless helpers with the best intentions. With little difficulty it can be ascertained who fits where but it truly doesn't matter because as usual is the case with strategy rooms, there is little strategy and more internal strife.

Vicky, who obviously and rightly felt left out, sat in the corner thinking this was a perfect plot for a movie. One guilty broken angry heart meets another equally guilty broken heart (minus the anger), add in twisted family jealousy, money hungry opportunist, concerned loved ones and an adorable child. Yes, it indeed was filmy he concluded dejectedly. He rubbed his pounding forehead wishing he was watching this absurdly depressing reality on the silver screen instead of suffering the sight unfold right before his eyes.

While Vicky focused on the ridiculous, Meera focused on the facts of the individuals she loved and had grown to love. She could tell from the words each spoke, their emotions were running high and it wasn't going to bode well. Geet was reverting to her sentimental, concerned tendencies while Maan was appropriately bursting with bouts of anger at her insensible conclusions. Mr. Chopra tried to reason with Geet by using intellect and Dadima with her heart but she was stubborn as a mule.

"I'm going to do this because I feel it is right!" Geet stated with forceful vigor in her voice.

Maan grew more and more irritated by the minute with her ludicrous train of thoughts. "It is right for who Geet? Maybe for our companies, shareholders, and board members it is but what about you? You're just going to give up without a fight?"

"There's nothing wrong in giving up Maan when the outcome is suitable in more ways than one."

"Geet, I told you to drop that notion!" His tone gradually turned icy and face had taken on a boardroom mask.

She couldn't bear being civil after the tone he had just used with her. It made her feel like a child, as if her thoughts were insignificant to him despite it being her life hanging by a weak thread. "Will you stop treating me like I'm incompetent Maan? I know what I'm doing and there is nothing left to talk about. We will talk whatever they offer."

His aggravation could be noted in his narrowing eyes. "Why? Why is it Geet that you can't think about yourself for once? Why do you feel the need to sacrifice yourself for others?"

"I could ask you the same question Maan!" She retorted immediately then turned to Mr. Chopra, "and you Uncle…I could ask you all the same question." Geet looked at each of them one by one. "Why are you all willing to suffer financial and personal consequences because of me? Especially when I can stop it…"

"Geet beta, we aren't sacrificing anything for you and neither are we going to suffer any consequences. We are here because we love you and want to be your support." Dadi chipped in with her abundance of wisdom.

Mr. Chopra walked to stand by her and placed a fatherly arm around her. Feeling the heaviness of the situation finally settle on her already weakened state Geet placed her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes to escape just for a moment. But there is no escaping reality not even for a fraction of a second.

He took a deep breath and attempted one last time to make Geet realize while this path was noble, it wasn't right. "Geet tell me one thing. How do you think your father would feel about this decision, especially when you're not guilty? You, the girl that fought her way against all circumstances to be here, is the same woman willing to lie in defeat against that snake?"

Her resolve to not let a single drop escape failed simply at the mention of her father. Mr. Chopra understood it was painful and wiped her tears but continued knowing she needed to hear it. "Do you think your brother will appreciate you discrediting yourself for the sake of the company? He'll be heartbroken and angry Geet. The same way Maan feels now because stocks and business will always have their ups and downs, a little bad publicity means nothing."

He paused momentarily and found her eyes averting his gaze. By turning he made her look at him. "All that matters is honesty and truth. Those are the reasons you need to fight and win this case because by giving up you're going against all your father taught you."

Geet understood his words were true but her father through his own life example taught her that there was something more important than honesty and truth when it came to the people you loved. "But how can I forget my father teaching me to protect all that I love?" Her voice was quiet and barely whispered but everyone heard her.

Maan having had enough stormed outside to the patio for fresh air to clear his mind. He was frustrated with Geet on so many levels but mostly because he saw himself in her. That was the one thing Maan didn't want to happen to her. He needed Geet to think about her career and future not everyone else's. He needed her to think about her relationships with people especially Rohan but nothing was seeping into her convoluted mind that was bent on protecting them all.

Hearing the heavy door slide Maan realized someone followed him out. He expected it to be Geet coming to explain her misplaced notions but it was actually Dadi, who had questions and advice of her own to give him.

Staring at his tired face she truly didn't want to bring it up but it was necessary. She walked to stand in front of him and broke his statuesque gaze into the blackness. "Adi has been trying to reach you for hours but your phone has been switched off. You need to call him. The board members want to speak with you."

Maan's face hardened and turned away from her, "I don't need to answer to any of them about my life choices."

Dadi frowned understanding where this was headed. "Beta, I know it's personal but they won't stop until you respond. Remember when your Dadaji was sick? I handled the situation by giving them enough information to keep them at bay. That's all you need to do."

But he knew nothing would keep them at bay, especially not now with photos of them from the park having been spread all over the media. If anything, they'd want nothing short of his full history with Geet. "It's none of their concern what relationship I have with Geet. All they need to worry about is their work, I'll handle everything else."

Immediately he clenched his fist realizing what he let slip but that was exactly what Dadi wanted to talk about and was grateful the opportunity lent itself. She crossed their distance and gently touched his arm.

She knew Maan was walking into trouble the day he crossed his own set line of not mixing business and his personal life. But she didn't have the heart to stop him then because she loved him and Geet too much to get in the way of what could be possible between them.

Not only that, a part of her sensed it was good trouble he was walking into. And now seeing their bond grow validated her choice of remaining quiet and observing happily from the sidelines. The only thing she prayed for now was that they continued on this path and weathered through this storm.

Her eyes welled with tears of happiness and despite fully understanding why he was being so protective her heart wanted to hear it from his own voice. "Maan, at least tell me what relationship you have with Geet."

He averted her eyes refusing to admit his feelings to even his own Dadi but she recognized a besotted heart. A gracious smile swept her face and in softened voice questioned, "You love her...don't you?"

Maan looked up from the ground to find a tear trickling out of the corner of her eye. His own watered seeing this because it finally hit him just how desperately she was waiting for such a day. A day where in he broke free of his own barricaded heart and finally began to feel freely again. It was what his Dadi had prayed and wished for years and now that it was here she couldn't be anything but joyous despite the circumstances in which it came about.

Maan recognizing the importance of what he felt and wanted out of their relationship decided to come clean. He knew this probably meant equally if not more to Dadi than him. He strained a soft smile while nodding yes. "It's why I can't do it...I can't watch her fall."

Dadi hugged him and prayed that they remained happy always. "She's not going to fall as long as you are there to catch her."

Maan frowned, "You heard what she said in there. Geet's in her own world, ready to fall because she's afraid to let anyone of us catch her…even me."

"You have to understand how worn out she is Maan. It's been a stressful time for her. Let her sort her thoughts and have patience, I know she'll come around."

Maan dismally nodded hoping Dadi was right because there was nothing left in his power to make Geet realize what he saw. There was no way to show her that sacrificing at this time in point would not only shatter all she had built but her own principles. The very principles she revered were the ones she was willing to let go for the sake of love.

Her adamancy made him realize how truly complicated the emotion was. It convoluted the thought process. It caused one to sacrifice logic, volition and strength. It made a person attempt godliness forgetting altogether we are mere humans. We are humans, whose only great endeavor should be to love without weakness, nothing more and nothing less.

But Maan recognized that would be asking too much of Geet for the moment. She suffered her father's fate. Like him, love was not only a strength that made her go on but a weakness that made her compromise against all wrongs. But ironically, despite all this Maan had to admire Geet because her sacrifice showed him how genuine her heart is, how deep, and pure her love is. The only thing he wanted now was her to behave and love herself the same way.

Enjoy! :)