Chapter 6
5 YEARS LATER
Geet Handa stood in the shadows like a fugitive, just yards away, from the Taj Mahal Palace, in Mumbai. She reassured herself that she wasn't actually a fugitive, she was just collecting herself…she could see the crowd walking inside the hotel, the elite of Mumbai society.
The evening was preceding, what she promised a new beginning. Geet's soft mouth firmed and she tried to calm her racing heart. After a very long time she was back in Mumbai, the city of dreams to many, but for her the city had always been a nightmare.
Geet shook her head, trying to let go off those old memories, which gave her anything but pain and at the same time her eye was caught by the almost silent arrival of a low slung silver vehicle at the bottom of the main steps which led up to the hotel. Instinctively she drew back more. The car was clearly vintage and extremely expensive. Her mouth dried and her palms got sweaty – would it be - ? The door was opened and a tall shape came out from the driving seat.
It was him.
Her heart stopped beating for a long moment. She was not hoping to see him here.
Maan Singh Khurana. The most successful business man in Mumbai and probably the entire India by now.
Dressed in a black suit Geet could see his gorgeous, yet stern and arrogant features as he cast a bored looking glance around him. He looked darker, sexier. He had a distinct charisma and his good looks could be marked from anywhere.
A flash of movement made her drag her eyes away and she saw a tall woman emerging from the other side of the car. As Geet watched, the woman walked to his side and slid her arm through his.
Geet couldn't see the look they shared but from the smile on the woman's face she didn't doubt it was hot. A sudden shaft of physical pain lanced her and Geet, begged herself mentally, she didn't want him to affect her like this. She didn't want him to affect her at all, specially after that incident.
She'd wasted long teenage dreaming and lusting after him, and building daydreams around him 5years back. And that foolish dreaming had culminated in catastrophe. It had broken her apart.
The last time she'd seen Maan Singh Khurana had been a 3 years ago in a club in Goa. Their eyes had clashed across the room and she'd never forget the look of pure loathing on his face before he'd turned away and disappeared.
She sucked her breath deeply and controlled herself. She couldn't stand in the shadows all night. She had come home as a favour to Kabir. She had to fulfill her promise to him.
Trying tried to block out the last cataclysmic meeting she had with Maan if she went down that road to focus on the present and the future.
Geet entered the hotel hall, where the party was going on. Seeing the crowd dressed elegantly, Geet was happy that she could some how manage a decent dress for the party.
***
Maan Singh Khurana stifled a yawn. He'd been working around the clock to to ensure his never ending heights. But deep down he knew he'd been just trying to occupy himself in work so that he could forget that fateless night.
'Really darling,' came a dry voice to his right, 'am I that boring?'
Maan forced his attention back into the room and looked down at his date and quirked a mocking smile, 'Never.'
His companion squeezed his arm playfully, 'then i hope you wouldn't mind spending the night with me.' Maan's back touched her bare, sexy back and ge winked a yes at her. Saying something she disappeared into the crowd.
Maan shook his head ruefully and thanked his lucky stars that Tanya's presence tonight might at least temporarily stave off the more determined of the Mumbai man – eaters. He was in no mood to humour the mercenary women he attracted in droves. His last lover had screamed hysterically at him for an hour and accused him of having no heart or soul. Ofcourse he had no heart and soul, he had enthrusted them upon someone he considered special, until she broke him in pieces. Now he was just a ruthless business man, who just thought about his profit. He had no place of love in his life. He knew no such word. For him woman just meant one thing- a satisfactory toy, to pleasure his nights.
Just then he saw a figure appear in the doorway to the hall. Inexplicably his skin tightned. Ridiculously Maan felt the need to turn and leave, but he stood.
It couldn't be...she was supposed to be in Goa. Did she really have guts to show her face to him? Or was she here again to play with his heart.
His hands turned into fists and tighten.
His eyes moved to her body. Stunning as always. She was what one could call a stunning beauty, an intoxicating package. Their eyes met he saw the pink flush in her pale cheeks. It had a direct effect on his body, causing a hot throb of desire in his groin.
Too many emmotions hit his gut- the dominant one being the acidic betrayal, humiliation but still after all this he could feel himself drowning in her.
Unable to control the urge to talk to her, he advanced his steps to her. Geet Handa,' he drawled, not a hint of his loss of composure in his voice, 'What the hell are you doing here?'
CID
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
132