CHAPTER 11
All during the dinner Maan's body was filled with pure rage. He had thought to put a proposal infront of Geet which she could never ignore. But he never got a chance, because for one- she was ignoring him like anything and two- she was seated besides Jeh Khurana, one of a successful businessman in Mumbai, but not as big as Maan Singh Khurana. He was a man Maan never liked or trusted, without having ever analysed why. It was an instinct, a gut feeling, which was getting stronger by the second.
He couldn't concentrate on the food that was going inside his mouth, or the conversation the people beside him were having. All he could concentrate was on how that bas***d was staring at her with predator eyes.
All Maan could imagine was Geet's blue eyes begging Khurana to invest in their business. He had to physically restrain himself from walking over, pulling her out of the chair and carrying her away.
Geet was trying to look attentive towards what Jeh Khurana was speaking about. But that was not happening as she was uncomfortably aware of Maan's gaze on her all through the dinner. She was doing her best to ignore him, but her body was not obeying her, it was shifted towards his direction.
The dinner reached its end and people were moving out of the hall. Jeh took Geet's hand and guided her from her seat.
The way he touched her, was far away from her liking, but she squashed that doubt.
"So we have discussed the outline of things, but before proceeding i would like to have a detailed knowledge about the entire plan. I have an important call to make, but i'll be available in 10 minutes if you'd like to continue the discussion?"
Geet was happy with the pace things were happening. " i really would like to mr. Khurana."
"Call me Jeh." He smiled. " Why don't you meet me at my room in ten minutes...ummm to discuss important things.?"
A sudden panic gripped Geet on realizing his demand. Their conversation had taken a turn she hadn't expected.
"Ummm...Jeh, why don't we talk tomorrow, probably in a coffee shop?" she asked hoping for a yes.
" I'm a busy man, Geey...but if this deal is not important to you..." His voice trailed off and Geet picked up the meaning, seeing their chance floating away. " No no. Your room is fine."
Jeh nodded and telling Geet about his room number left the place. Geet tried to walk, but Maan blocked her way. His jaw was tensed. " I don't trust that man."
"Oh please." Geet answered. " He's ready to invest and i trust him. Atleast i felt more safer with him than I'm feeling with you right now." That was a pure lie which came from her mouth, but now she did not want to take back her words.
Maan's eyes flashed red hot. Moving his hands towards her shoulders he shook them, trying to put in some sense into her system and spoke with an irritated voice. "You don't understand what he really wants to invest into Geet." Maan exploded as he continued." For crying out loud Pia, you are inexperienced to deal with someone like Jeh Khurana. He'll eat you up once you step into his territory."
Geet looked up at Maan and tossed her hair, trying to build up some confidence to reply. " I've met people like Jeh before. And i know his type. He just needs to be played in a tactful manner."
Maan dropped his hands from his shoulders as if he was touching poison. " I'm sorry for thinking, even for a second, that you might not be equipped to handle such situations. If you're really willing to do what it takes, then clearly i've underestimated you." Taking a deep breathe he stepped away from her and turned to leave. He decided to take a room in the hotel itself. His mind was not stable after this conversation and home was the last place he wanted to go.
Geet felt slightly ashmed the way Maan behaved with her as if she was dirt, but pushing down that though she made her way to Jeh's room.
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Geet was shaking all over. She had no idea that things would turn out this way. Carefully she stood up from the ground, not making any sound. She looked at her self in the mirror on the wall of Jeh's room. She was in a mess- her dress torn, her hair open, her lipstick smuged all over her face and blood oozing from her lip side. She was still in a shock and couldn't believe what had happened.
Tears fell from her eyes as she remembered the way Jeh had turned into a monster as soon as Geet had stepped into his room. He was badly drunk, not at all the same person she'd met over the dinner.
In the struggle he had ripped her dress, slapped her face and tried to do all wrong things with her. But by God's grace, he lost his consciousness soon, being over drunk, before anything wrong could happen.
Nearly crying with relief now, Geet made her way to the door and ran out of Jeh's room. She was shaking so badly and didn't realized the figure in front of her and bumped into him.
**********
All this time since he'd left Geet, Maan had been restless. After a lot of debating with himself he decided to go and check on Geet. He took Jeh's room number from the reception and rushed towards it.
He cursed himself seeing Geet right in front of him. She was trembling and ger face all wet with tears as she bumped into him.
Anger rose like a swift tide of lava inside him. Instinctively he put his hand around her shoulder and made her stand still. " Geet...what the hell? Did Jeh do this?"
Geet jerked herself from him. She did not want Maan to witness her awaful humiliation. " What Maan? Aren't you going to say- I told you so?" She looked at him, tears stinging her eyes.
He sounded tortured. " When i said that, i had no idea he was capable of violence." He was bitter now. " When did he do this to you? After...?"
Geet looked at Maan in horror. He'd thought that she had slept with him? " I didn't sleep with Jeh. That was never my intention." She shrudred refliexively. " You can call me naive, but i went to his room believing that he would just talk about business. But then...he was all over me." To Geet's horror she started crying.
Suddenly she felt herself drawn into embrace of solid muscles and finally after so much of torture, she finally felt safe.
Maan's protective instinct was overwhelming. He walked her towards his room. He wanted to believe her so badly. But found it hard. How could an experienced woman like her be so naive?
Deep inside Maan was shame that he'd allowed her to walk into that situation. He felt pathetic.
He held Geet for a long time, until her sobs had stopped. His hands moved up and down her back, soothing her as he made her sit on his bed.
Loosining his hold on her he asked her to take a bath.
***********
Geet stepped out of the bathroom, covered by the bathrobe. SheCalled out Maan's name but he was no where.
Suddenly the door opened and Maan stepped in. Geet noticed the look on his face and spoke out of concern. " Where did you go?"
Maan tried to move away, but Geet held him firmly and looked at him. He answered tightly. Jeh's room. That bas***d had to be taught a lesson."
Overcome by emotions Geet moved her head high and kissed his forehead. " Thank you."
For a moment Maab stood still and then spoke. " Jeh is claiming that you slept with him."
Geet looked at him. Someother time she would have felt sick, but today she smiled. " You think I'm lying?" Her voice was flat.
Maan moved away from her. He had no clue whom to trust. His heart was shouting at him to trust Geet, but he was a coward right now. " I'll get another room. You can sleep here. We'll leave tomorrow morning...i want you to leave Mumbai and my life tomorrow morning first thing after moving out from this hotel. As far as Kabeer is concerned, things would get sorted out soon." Saying this he turned to leave.
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