PART 26
Three people were seating on the Khurana private jet. For the world they were the family yet nothing could confirm that. The cold stares and thick silence between them was telling different tale.
S:"Vicky, are you going to stay with us in the Khurana guest house?"
V:"No dadi, anyway by the time we reach it will be already evening. So I will directly go to venue. After all it is Adi bhai's sangeet...I cannot miss that."
A:"How many times have I told you Vicky to maintain some distance with that Adi. He is our employee and you are the owner. There should be a distance maintained. "
Vicky smirked at his so called father's comment and retorted back,"And how many times have I told you Mr. Khurana that you should get used to the fact that you don't have any sons. Maan veerji does not treat you as father and for me you never existed. So better get used to it."
Abhisekh was little perturbed by the comment but he had other important issues to take care of. He wondered who could be the major share holder. In his mind he hoped it was maan...If it is someone else he might lose his control over Khurana enterprise.
Vicky on the other hand watched his father in utter disgust. How can a man after destroying so many lives sit peacefully? He remembered how broken Maan veerji had been for initial few days, how he used to drown himself in work to stay away from the memories of past...That was the time Vicky wished he knew more about Geet. He tried knowing about her but all he could get was there was some Geetu who had captured his brother's heart...
Savitri devi watched her son and grandson converse. She remembered how abhisekh had tricked her into thinking Geet was a gold digger who will use Maan for money. The day she had come to know the truth from Samaira she had cursed herself for helping abhisekh. She had wished she could go back in time and stop everything saving her family.
All three of them were engrossed in their own thought as they landed in Vishakhapatnam. This was the place where it all had started and strangely this will be the place where things end as well...
******
Geet was cursing herself. She had been helping pinky with her dress this evening and now she is super late. The sangeet starts in an hour and here she is not even dressed let alone be prepared. Frustratingly she tried wrapping the saari she planned to wear cursing herself for choosing the most time consuming attire to wear.
"Need some help?"
A sudden voice made her turn around to find Samaira standing at her doorsteps. She cursed herself in mind to have not locked the door.
Sam:"I know I should have knocked but I thought you were ready. Do you need some help?"
Geet watched on to the girl standing in front of her. Nobody could tell this was the same Samaira Roy she repeatedly had so many verbal fights with. She looked broken yet the way she showed her nonchalance made Geet respect her more. As if to sign the truce Geet replied,
Geet:"Am in dire need of some help!!! Thank you Samaira."
Sam:"You can call me Sam."
Samaira efficiently helped Geet in wrapping her saari. Once done she started with her accessories. Geet had tied her hair into a bun and already had put on the slight make-up. Samaira opened her hair and let it flow and did some touch up for her.
Geet:" Sam, why did you open my hair? You know it took me half an hour for this silly bun."
Her cute pout made Samaira smile and Geet pouted some more.
Pulling her cheeks Sam said," Oh Geetu!!! You are truly adorable...but someone out there loves your hair open."
Geet:"You are wrong Sam. He loves you not me."
Sam:"No geet. He had never loved me. Neither at that time, nor now."
Geet:"But he is marrying you?"
Sam:"No. We broke up yesterday. I can't be with someone who does not love me and whom I don't love. I had been a fool no doubt. But I realize finally where my heart belongs only when it is too late."
Geet:"Who said you are late? For years when you had been infatuated to his brother Dev never ever gave up on you. Then don't give up on him now when he needs you the most."
Sam:"You know, you and Maan said the same thing. Maan had made me swear not to tell you or Dev anything. I won't since the truth will unfold on its own Geet. But you are one lucky girl. You had been the only one for Maan. He had loved only one you. No girl existed for him ever...neither before you, nor after you."
Geet felt her heart accelerate so much as if Sam could hear it beat. For years she had wanted to hear someone say that her heart had been right, that Maan had not betrayed her. Watching her silently Sam said in a remorseful voice," Our engagement was forced upon Maan. I had forced my papa to take the alliance forward even though I knew somewhere Maan did not love me. I in my vanity had thought Maan won't be able to resist me once we were together. I joined Maan's college for my interior designing to be near him. Maan had always been cordial with me; we became friends slowly after joining college. But that was it. Then in my third year I watched you come and propose him. That was the only time I watched Maan Singh Khurana to be perplexed by the presence of a girl. I slapped you and for the first time in life he behaved harshly with me. I could feel it in my bones that you both share something deeper. But I was blind in my jealousy. I guess I would have destroyed the budding relationship had Dev not come in between. I never knew you guys were in some serious relationship until final year when I saw you guys at RK beach. I became blind. My jealousy and ego crept in. How could you, a mere girl, get something which Samaira Roy could not get? I informed Abhisekh Khurana about everything and he came and announced our wedding publicly. But watching helpless Maan at the farewell made me realize that I had been wrong. I promised him that day that I won't interfere anymore. If he wants he can walk away but I won't be the martyr and free him as well. "
Geet was stunned with all the revelations. Samaira had been emotionally drained with the confession. She sat down on the sofa and continued," I had thought it will be easier to watch Maan loose you. But it was not. The way he was broken, the way he lost his own self, the way he turned into ruthless Maan Singh Khurana was heart breaking. You know Geet, he never blamed me for the happenings even when he knew I was the cause. It was absolutely frustrating. He took the punishment of my sins. I don't know how Abhisekh Khurana compelled him to hurt you but whatever I have watched him die every second for past four years. It is time he gets his peace back. Geet am truly sorry. I know sorry is not enough for whatever you both had to go through. Maan had forgiven me long back making me guiltier. But i have not forgiven myself."
Geet asked in a soft voice," Why are you telling all these to me Sam?"
Sam:"Because I know despite your pretence that you love him. You guys are meant for each other. I am trying to rebuild the beautiful relationship which I had once destroyed."
Geet:"But he hurt me Sam. He hurt me worst way possible. I can't forgive him for that."
Sam:"I won't compel you to. But do try to know the reason behind it. Maan had been many things but he had never been disrespectful to anyone, not even to me who had her hands in ruining him. So don't you think it is strange, all of a sudden within weeks of his leaving college he said you those brutal words?"
Geet:"What do you mean Sam?"
Sam:"I can't tell you the reason Geet. I had promised Maan I won't. But when he comes to tell you the truth do listen before judging him. All his life everybody had judged him without a fair trial. Even yesterday, Dev did not give him a chance to explain himself and bashed him. Dev is right in his reaction as your brother, friend yet in all these he stopped being Maan's brother. Don't repeat that Geet, please. Whether you decide to walk with him or away from him will be yours decision completely and I won't try influencing that. But listen to him, let him try at least."
Samaira stood up walking towards the door and turned back saying," Everybody is waiting for you downstairs. Come soon. And dare you cry and ruin your make-up."
As sam left, Geet sighed loudly. It is going to be a long evening indeed.
******
The sangeet ceremony was real fun. Geet and her friends had prepared a skit for pinky and adi. It was so much fun. Then there was a dance item by Meer and Geet. It was a hit as well.
Maan watched from corner. His geetu was looking awesome tonight. But then he would think that even if Geet had come in her night dress.
The girls v/s guys antakshari was about to start when Adi came and pulled Maan to the guys gang. Adi had seen Maan hiding in a corner. He wanted Maan to participate. Maan stood there but did not come in the limelight. Dev had watched him with his cold eyes and Maan shivered under that look and thought he deserved every bit of the hatred he is receiving. In a way he was happy he is getting some punishment at least.
The guys' gang was stuck in m'. The antakshari was in full mode and they had exhausted most of their stocks. Finally one of the guys asked Maan to help. Maan raised his eyes only to witness another pair of hazel watching him intently...he immediately sung out...
Main tenu samjhawan ki,
Na tere baajhon lagda jee!
Tun ki jaane pyar mera,
Main karaan intezar tera!
Tun dil, tunhion jaan meri!
Main tenu samjhawan ki,
Na tere baajhon lagda jee!
Main tenu samjhawan ki(repeat)
Main tenu samjhawan ki(repeat)
The words came from his heart and Geet could feel the intensity. It was as if a lover begging to be heard. The rule was to just sing few lines but everybody was too engrossed in his song to stop him...
Mere dil vich reh k,
Mere dil da haal na jaane!
Tere baajhon kalleyan beh k ronde nain nimaane!
Jeena mera haye marna mera,
Naale tere c!
Kar aitbar mera,
Main karaan intezar tera!
Tun dil, tunhion jaan meri!
Main tenu samjhawan ki,
Na tere baajhon lagda jee!
Main tenu samjhawan ki,
Na tere baajhon lagda jee!
Geet could feel the Goosebumps. It was as if no one exist other than the two of them in the room. Without her will her steps took her forward... as she sang out her heart...
Ooo Ve changa nahion keeta beeba,
Ve changa nahion keeta beeba,
Dil mera tod ke!
Ve bada pachtaaiyaan akhaan,
Ve bada pachtaaiyaan akhaan,
Tere naavain jod ke!
Maan slowly shook his head in a no as if trying to tell that he cherished their togetherness, that she should not regret them as well...
Sunjhiyaan sunjhiyaan dil dian galiyaan,
Sunjhiyaan merian baawan!
Aaja terian khashbowan nu,
Labhdiyaan merian saahanvaan!
Tere bina haaye,
Kiven karaan door udasi,
Dil bekarar mera!
Main karan intezar tera!
Tun dil, tunhion jaan meri!
Main tenu samjhawan ki,
Na tere baajhon lagda jee!
Tun ki jaane pyar mera,
Main karaan intezar tera!
Tun dil, tunhion jaan meri!
Main tenu samjhawan ki,
Na tere baajhon lagda jee!
Main tenu samjhawan ki,
Na tere baajhon lagda jee!
His every word was from his hear. Once the song finished Maan realized how much of himself he had given away lost in emotions.
He was about to go away when he looked up to find three known faces at the entrance of the hall. An excited and smiling Vicky, satisfied Dadima and shocked abhisekh khurana was staning at the doorway. At that moment he knew he had to choose a subtle way to show abhisekh khurana his ultimate choice. He slowly held the palm of a stupefied Geetu and took it near his lips. His lips lingered at her hand a second or two more than necessary as he in a perfect gentlemanly manner said," That was awesome my lady. "
Leaving a stunned crowd, horrified yet blushing geet and enraged abhisekh he left the hall. It was time for him to become Maan Singh Khurana again for one last time...
Sorry I couldn't reply to all your coments but I have read each one of them 😊.
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Anupamaa
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