Okay, two more days and this party will be over. After that I will be free of Maan and no longer would have to see him. After today's lunch, I was just glad that Raj did not get suspicious and even more glad that I did not do anything stupid in front of him. I really should tell Raj everything before something happens that will be out of my control. Why is my life so bad? As far as I can remember any happiness that comes my way has been stopped abruptly by some incident. Am I that unlucky? Do I not deserve any happiness?
Geet laid on the bed looking at the blank ceiling trying to figure out her life. Whom to trust and what to trust. Maan being all flirty with her was not making any sense. At the back of her mind, there was always that fear as if he is pretending. I mean am sure he knows who I am from college and is still plotting with Sameera to humiliate me. Right?
Yeah, I did embarrass him by throwing up on him and Sameera did show that to the whole college embarrassing us both. So is he doing this to revenge me? Maybe, Meera is right. I need to maintain my distance and treat him only as my client nothing more. I am engaged to Raj and I can't let betray him like this. It won't be fair to him at all. I haven't told him about my past or how I used to look in the past so maybe its time I let him know. He was honest enough to share his past relationships with me and I should do the same. I don't want any misunderstanding to come between us especially since we are engaged to be married.
Ugh why is my life so complicated? Why can't I live like any other normal girls? I hate this so much! I hate it! She covers herself with blanket trying to sort her life out when her phone rang. Great just what I needed a phone call to distract me. Wow, Babaji you do know when I need a distraction. She smiles and quickly retrieves her cell phone. Pari. Why is she calling me this late at night.
"Pari, what's going on?"
"Geet I need you to go to the Khruana's house tomorrow. Our client is changing everything and we cannot handle him anymore"
"What! what do you mean changing everything?"
"Well, that maharaja decided at the last minute that he doesn't like anything at all. We are half way done with his decoration, we have ordered everything and now all of a sudden he said he doesn't like the color of the fabric, the designs and even the food. Geet, I don't know what to do. I can't handle this anymore. I am so sorry. You gave me this responsibility and I failed."
Geet could tell that Pari was about to cry over the phone. If there is anything that she hates is tears and especially tears of those that she loves and cares about. Geet knew that Pari would do anything to prove herself to her but Maan made it quiet impossible for her to do anything alone. Even though she doesn't want to, she has to face her nightmare one final time before moving on.
"Pari, tell Mr. Khruana that I will be there tomorrow and I will speak with him personally regarding the designs and layout"
"Thanks Geet. You are the best"
"Get a good night sleep and order the rest of the merchandise we need. We are not changing our design"
"But he"
"Don't worry about him. I have dealt with worse customers before. I will take care of him"
Geet hangs up the phone with anger. What does he think of himself changing designs as he pleases. Just because he is paying for this doesn't mean that he will do what he pleases. I wil have to sort him out and his arrogance. She turns off the light determined about tomorrow's confortation.
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Maan sat in his home office as everyone outside of the office was paused until the one person he wanted to see shows up. Yesterday, itself he told Pari to hold all the designs and changed the desgins randomly knowing she would have no choice but to call her boss and that too at the last minute. He even listened to her phone call conversation with her boss as she was leaving his place. Everything was falling in its place. He had to get answers to his questions even if it meant putting his big party on risk. He didn't care. Why does she ignore him? He needed to know and he will get bottom of it. He smirks as he takes a sip of his daily coffee while looking at a file. It was just matter of time before she comes here knowing how professional and dedicated she is toward her client.
Geet stood outside of the house looking at it with pain. She had swore never to step anywhere close to this road let alone his house. Now, she is once again standing outside of his house with same fear and anticipation she felt years ago. Before, when she stepped in the house she was humilated in front of all now she doesn't know what to expect. Will she get the same treatment again? Her hands held on to the gate waiting for that one push to open the gate but she doesn't have enough strength to do so.
Everything was coming back to her again. Her feeling happy and at the same time fearing what she would do when she had to go to his house for the project. How Meera had to puruade her to go inside no actually threaten her. The smile on her face when she saw Maan coming towards her from the grand stairs. She still wondered if everything inside the house looked the same as she had left it.
"Who are you here to see ma'am?" Geet comes out of her thoughts and looks at the elderly man standing before her.
"I am here to meet Mr. Khruana. Could you tell him the owner of Bright Start is here to see him."
"Sir was expecting you. You may go inside."
"Tell him that I will be aiting for him at the garden.
The guard nodes his head as he makes a phone call to the boss while Geet looks at the open gate. She takes a deep breath before stepping inside. The garden was still exactly the same expect the trees grew and there are more flowers blomossing. She saw a swing outside of the lawn and decided to sit there while enjoying this garden. She loved flowers especially tulips. They were her favorite. She plucks one from the nearby flower bush smelling it with a smile. She tilts her head sideways to place her flower in.
"here let me help you."
Geet drops the flower on the floor after hearing his voice. She turns around looking at him where he stood looking at her with a smile while crossing his arms. Maan looks at the flower on the ground while Geet's eyes automatically follows his eyes. The flower was lying between them on the ground. He bends down picking up the flower. Geet steps back a little when he took another step closer while twirling the flower in between his fingers. She looks around to make sure no one was here or else this situation would be hard to explain to anymore. Maan hold her hand pulling her closer while Geet tried to avoid his gaze.
"if I had known you love tulips then I would've planted this whole garden with them."
"let go of me Mr. Khruana"
"sorry sweetheart am sure you have heard the line "Ek baar jo maine comitment kar di toh mein apne aap ki bhi nahi sunta" waise hi mera haal hai."
"I am here to talk about the party not to hear your crap"
She tried to wriggle out of his grip but it only made him hold her tighter and started pulling her clsoer and closer. He slowly turns her face sideways placing the flower in her hair gently. Geet closes her eyes to keep herself from going crazy. His perfume was the first thing that always made her go mad. His perfume depicted a strange aura that no girl could resist and the cherry on top would be his handsome face. She still remember when she first saw him entering that college.
At that time, she was just starting to apply for colleges with her friend Meera. Geet wasn't really intersted in that college but because of him she chose that college. She knew she had no chance to be with him since they are from opposite planet but she couldn't resist. That very same moment, she walked past him as he talked with his friends ignoring her presence his perfume was the first thing that hit her senses making her go wild. Yeah, call her weird and a physco she didn't care.
Geet comes out of her memories when she felt a slight tug on her hand. She saw Maan trying to drag her inside the house where she least wanted to be. She quickly stopped in her tracks loosing his hold from her wrist.
"Mr. Khruana I just came to tell you"
"Before you say anything why don't you see the decoration that your designer did. I am not very happy"
Geet could tell he was lying he was avoiding looking at her straight in the eye when he said that line. Instead, he just looked past her. Ohh if only he know how much she really knows him.
"Listen, Mr. Khruana I know you are not telling the truth and as for the designs I don't need to look at what my designer did. I have full faith in her and don't require me to micro-manage her work. Now, if you would like to hire someone then you can but just so you know we won't refund your money back."
"ohh really?"
"Yes, it is written in the contract you had signed. Now, please tell me your final decsion so that we can stop wasting each other's time"
"Well, I guess I could stick around with you guys but on one condition. I would like you to join the party tomorrow so I could thank you properly for the decoration and pick up the remainder of the check"
"Thank you but the credit goes to Pari so you should thank her not me. Enjoy"
She turns to leave when Maan pulls her in his embrace with anger.
"You are coming tomorrow or else I will make sure to insult your so called designer in public and make a big issue. Its my promise" (He lets go of her. Geet turns to leave replaying his words again and again. She knew he was right. He will do what he said he will do. Ugh he is making everything so much harder for her.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay here goes nothing. I don't have another option and this will be the last time I will see Maan. Its better to rip the bandage off right? She stood outside of his home where the event was starting soon. She did decide to come to the party not that she had any choice in this matter. She couldn't let Pari or even her company be humiliated because of this arrogant person. She worked way too hard for someone to ruin it within minutes. Taking a deep breath she marches inside along with the guests. She just had to show him her face and hide somewhere for the rest of the party. Geet was amazed at the decorations that Pari did; everything was perfect even the designs.
"Geet thank god you came to the party. How did I do?" (Geet smiles and hugs Pari with proud look)
"You did wonderful. I am glad that I gave you this responsibility. You did a great job. Now, where is that khudus?"
"Don't mention him and spoil my fun but since you asked the maharaja is taking his sweet time getting ready even though the party had started about half hour ago"
"hmm you know how rich people can be. Anyway, until then why don't we double check on everything"
Maan comes out of the shower with a smile. She will be hear today and if everything goes as planned then he will find out why she has been ignoring me for so long. He puts on his perfume before going toward the closet. He throws all of his clothes on the bed not finding anything perfect enough for this event. He was about to close the closet when he saw something all the way of his closet. He finds a white shirt that he never wore before.
He doesn't remember buying that shirt. He shrugs his shoulders putting it on. It fit him nicely, even though the shirt was white thre were little white pattern of fire going from the collar to his mid waist. He wondered why he never wore this before. It was perfect. He quickly puts on his jeans giving himself the last look before leaving to finally meet the one person he wanted to see.
"Hey handsome."
Maan opens his door to see Sameera standing there with a smile. She was wearing very short and revealing dress. She leans closer to him kissing him on his cheek leaving his lipstick mark on his cheek. Maan touches his cheek trying to wipe her mark. She touches his cheek slowly removes it while caressing his face.
"who invinted you here?"
"Ohh now I need an inventation? Come on Maan just becuase we broke up doesn't mean I can't attned your function. Anyway, I don't think I need an inventation to come here."
"I have to go don't create any drama." (He holds her hand that was still on his face bringing it down. He walks past her with anger. Sameera looks at him with a smirk)
"I know Maan the person you ditched me for must be here. It is not like you to break up with someone without having a back up plan. Watch what I will do to her when I know who she is" (She smiles before joining the party downstairs)
Geet got busy with Pari making sure everything was perfect she forgot about Maan and why she was here. Maan came down the stairs but his only searched for Geet. He finally contented with a smile when he saw her near the food section ordering the waiters around. Sam who was right behind him looked toward the way he was looking at. She saw a women in plane green sari, who frankly, did not belong here at this business party.
Maan goes straight to meeting his clients but not once did he take his eyes off of Geet. The way she walked, the way she talked was interiguing. Sam walks past him with anger looking at the girl.
"Pari, everything seems okay now. I am going to meet Maan and leave. I have to go somewhere"
"Thanks Geet. You are the best. I can't beleive that I pulled it off"
"Geet?"
Pari turns around hearing Geet's name. Geet looks at the last person she wanted to see again. Sam.
"No wonder you looked familiar. My my I must say you have become a beauty from a beast. My has times changed"
"Hey who are you to talk to Geet like this?" (Pari steps in front with anger. Geet holds her arm shaking her head no)
"Looks like you still need a bodyguard to talk to people huh? Anyway, what are you doing here? Since when did Maan start inviting poor people?"
"For your information my company did all of these decorations"
"Not bad." (She walks around Geet) "Tell me is your company hiring? I would love to see how you get rich clients and how you trap them"
"Mind your tongue miss or else" (Pari was about to jump Sam. She couldn't tollerate anyone saying bad things about her boss. Whenever Meera is not around its Pari that stands up for her knowing its not Geet's nature to fight)
"Pari its okay. Sam listen I am here to work and nothing else. Now, if you will excuse me I should get going" (She was about to walk past her to leave out of this party when Sam held her hand)
"You can't leave your party right away. Stay for the whole event that way we can catch up on our last time"
"I have no interest in catching up with you nor be in the same company as you" (Geet loosens her grip throwing Sam's hand away)
"Listen you cow, your game is up. Since Maan didn't fall for you before when you were fat you decided to take revenge and loose weight to trap him. Am I right?"
"Think whatever you want. My job here is done. Excuse me"
"Not so fast cinderalla"
She holds Geet's pallu tightly almost tearing it. Geet looks back over her shoulder at her in fear. Sam smiles and lets go of her pallu causing her to loose balance falling on the floor. Everyone stops looking at Geet laughing while she just sat there in tears. Maan looks at her shocked and then at Samera who was standing in front of her with a smile. Pari helps Geet stand up while doing so Sameera steps on her sari pleats causing her sari to unravel little by little. Geet hugs Pari to hide herself while crying.
"SAMEERA"
Maan yells as he makes his way toward them. He turns Sam around before slapping her on the face. Pari holds on to Geet while Geet hold her sari as they make their way toward the exit. Maan follows them outside.
"Geet I will take you home."
"Wait. Listen"
Geet looks at Maan with anger and hatred.
"Stop right there. You haven't changed. You are still the same person from college. I knew it. I knew that you and Sam are planning again to humiliate me. What right do you guys have to make fun of a person for how they look? You guys will never change. It was my mistake in coming here."
"Geet I don't know"
"Enough Mr. Khruana." (Pari said) "You can keep the rest of the payment. We are done"
Geet sits in the car hiding her face as she experience the humiliation and pain all over again.
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