Chapter 1
A lavish farmhouse is buzzing
with a big corporate party on its terrace. Sophisticated businessman, high
ranking officers ,all the 'Who is who' of the social circle of Los Angeles have
graced the party. Why not, after all the party is being thrown by the one of
the biggest tycoon of New York, The Maan Singh Khurana. No body wants to be in
his bad books. Otherwise the next much talked victory accesion of Maan Singh
Khurana may be their enterprise. No body is capable enough to take that risk.
Secondly rubbing shoulders with the mighty Khurana can bring you a lot of business
if somehow you can interest him. So all in all they have to be here, talk
animatedly sipping wine in tall glasses, whether interested or not. Another
thing which was infact the un-stated rule of such social gatherings was that
you are simply not expected to turn up alone. Otherwise you will be seen as a
doomed loser. So whether you bring in your wife, girlfriend, a hired woman
putting your promiscious side upfront, no body cares. The bottomline is NEVER
TURN UP ALONE in a party!
Dev moves swiftly from
greeting one guest to other, making a
small converstion with each of them.
'Why hasn't Maan turned up
till now? Its strange..for how long I would have to play the host myself' he thought
to himself.
'er..Adi, have you seen Maan?
'
'No. I haven't. By the way
great party Dev' said Adi smiling politely while raising his glass.
'Thanks to my wife Naintara'
Dev smiled. 'She went through a lot of trouble to make it this happening..She
is the one who arranged for the caterer' he added.
Moving quickly towards the
next guest before Adi could ask him about Maan's whereabouts'
'Hey Sasha and Vikrant, how
are you doing'
'Oh hey dev, pretty good. So
I understand Mr. Khurana is taking over the Raichanda's industry? True?'
Vikrant asked in a breath.
'Yeah, well, he's not here to get a sun tan'
Dev replied sarcastically.
'Can I get in on it?' Vikrant asked eagerly
'Yeah. Call me.'
- When?
'Just call me'. Saying that Dev quickly made
an escape before Vikrant nags him any further to get his hand on a deal that
was solely his hard work (or should I say cunning mind work). He was not a fool
to help these wannabe people get rich riding pillion to him.
Moving to Mr. Chopra next, dev introduced himself.
'Hi I am Dev Malhotra, Maan Khurana's lawyer.'
Shaking hands with him Mr. Chopra replied 'So where is the guest of honor?'
'He is probably off in a corner somewhere
charming a very pretty lady.' Dev replied with a wink gaining a grin from Mr.
Chopra.
Moving away from him dev thanked his stars, as
Mr. Chopra did not prod further. It is getting way beyond control. I have to
talk with Maan, Dev thought.
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In the presidential suite of prestigious Regent Beverly Wilshire is a man sitting in the mini bar talking on the
phone.
'How are you Maan' cooed the
woman on the other side.
'Sameera, let's come straight to the point. I told my secretary to make the arrangements. Didn't she call you?'
'Yes, she did. I speak to your secretary more
than I speak to you' she whined.
'I see.'
'I have
my own life too, you know, Maan'. She added hearing no response from his side.
'This is a very important week for
me. I need you here.' Maan uttered completely ignoring what Sameera just
said.
That just broke her dam of patience. She retorted
'But you never give me any notice. You just think I'm at your beck and call.'
Maan sighed 'I do
not believe that you are at my beck and call Sam.'
'Well, that is the way you always make me
feel.' She sniffed 'Maybe I should just move out.'
Finally, Maan could not take her tantrums anymore
and barked 'If that is what you want, YES.'
Sameera mentally chided herself as she saw
the situation getting out of her control. If she wanted the money and luxury,
she has to have Maan under her thumb. She was just trying o manipulate him to
pamper her even more and may be get her something expensive to mollify. This
was not what she expected. Her plan totally backfired.
Frantically trying to do some damage control,
she said 'All right, when you get back to New York, we'll discuss it.'
However, she forgot the person in question is
the ruthless entrepreneur Maan Singh Khurana. He can be anything but
manipulated. Her time is over now.
'Now is as good a time as any. Good-bye,
Sameera.' he curtly replied and hanged up on her face.
Having no other option, Maan decided to
attend the party thrown in his honor alone. 'I will cook up some story about
Sameera in case any one dared to question the MSK' 'he thought to himself.
Coming down to the lobby, he ordered
the driver of his limousine
'Off
to the party'
The driver nodded and drove
to the destination.
Maan had a look over the
party buzzing with non stop discussions and chattering of women. He sighed and
entered the party, putting the mask of indifference on. So that no one can see
the pain of loneliness slitting through
his heart.
Seeing Maan at the party, Vikrant quickly
lunged at him.
'Oh! Hello Mr. Khurana! I was hoping to find
you by. Dev suggested that maybe I should take a I- - '
Maan cut him up curtly raising his hand' 'Dev is just my lawyer, okay?'
Vikrant backed uttering a mere 'Yes, sir'.
Maan moved to Dev and asked sipping wine 'How did the Raichand stock open at the Market?'
Dev stammered 'I don't know.' He had not
expected him to ask that in the party.
'You don't know? It opened maybe
90 minutes ago.'
'Look Dev, you have to keep it on top of these
things, all right? Success bash, honor parties, award ceremonies the entire
heck can wait. This acquisition is damn important for me. I don't want any
laxity from your side. You get that?' Maan uttered softening up a bit. After all Dev is the only person he has got. From
the time he decided to be on his own, Dev has always been with him. He can be
less stringent with him. Even if he never felt like sharing his personal
details with him or felt a close connection with his philanderer nature, he can
at least be cordial to him.
'Done' Dev replied coolly.
' Hello, Mr. Khurana' Mr. Chopra greeted Maan
interrupting them as soon as he saw him. Dev excused himself seeing a hot women
enter with an old client.
' Hi. How you doin'
Mr. Chopra? I want this whole thing wrapped up as soon as possible. I gotta get
to New York by Sunday.
'Sure Mr. Khurana.'
Suddenly Maan heard a female voice calling
out to him from behind.
'Maan!'
'Sasha'! Maan responded
with nonchalance.
'Hi'
'Hi' he extended the gesture.
'I was sorry to hear about your divorce with
Pari. How are things going with Sameera?'
Sameera's name brought back the bitter
memories of the evening in his head. He ignored her question and tried to
change the topic.
'Oh, yeah. Thanks. Heard you got
married.'
'Well... yeah. I couldn't wait for you! Sasha
tried to reply wittingly but she could not help a tinge of sadness pass over
her features. Maan noticed it but tried to ignore that feeling it caused in him.
He could not help but ask Sasha
Sasha, tell me something.
Yes?
When you and I were dating...Maan did not
know how to put it in words. He stopped for a while choosing the right words
and then added
Did you speak to my secretary more
than you spoke to me?
He could not help but steer clear his head of
the conversation he had with Sameera this evening. He had to find his answer.
'She was one of my bridesmaids' Sasha smiled
meaningfully conveying his answer without using the exact word..
Maan could suddenly feel being less competent when
it comes to relationships. What else could explain him having his lawyer as his
only friend and no family whatsoever? Maybe I am the one who is not worth it'
he thought to himself. Coming out of his reverie, he faced Sasha again and
muttered clearing his voice of any sadness 'Your
husband's a very lucky guy Sasha. God bless you two'.
Sasha nodded positively and bid him goodbye.
-
Maan could not concentrate on this party cum
business meeting anymore. He needs to get out of here, away from his crowd, to
his den, to his solitude. He moved out of the farmhouse, towards the parking.
Dev who was until now busy in flirting with the same women saw him moving out.
He panicked and followed him shouting his name for attention.
Maan eyeing a luxury car (obviously not as expensive
as his) parked in the lot asked the valet standing there 'Is
this Mr. Dev Malhotra's car?'
By now Dev catched up with him. He panted
saying 'Maan,where are you goin'?
Maan completely ignored him and asked 'You got the keys to your car?'
Dev confusedly said 'Why, what's wrong with
your limo?'
Maan pointed over to his car and said 'Look, the limo is buried back there. The valet can't get it
out. So give me the keys.'
'All right, look Maan, I don't think you
should drive. Dev mumbled being fully aware of how rash Maan can be while
driving.' You' are a little excited. Don't drive my car. Let me work something
out here.'
' Fellas, what kind of a system is this?'
Grumbling he addressed the valets. 'Can you move these cars out of here?'
Knowing he cant get Maan to change his mind,
he resigned saying'
'Look,
Maan.. Uh, are you familiar with a stick shift? Have you driven a shift?'
He could clearly see Maan was not paying any
attention to any of his talks. He whined stomping his foot 'Listen, all right.'
'Yeah. Yeah.'
Maan replied still not paying any attention.
Dev heaved a sigh and defeated he said 'Just
be careful with it. It's a new car.'
Before he could say another word Maan jerked
open the door to driver's seat, knocking Dev's breath out thinking what may
follow tonight with his car.
-Dev shrieked 'Don't, uh- Just don't-'
'Maan! Give me a break, please!' He literally
shouted at his boss.
Maan who was lost in the interior of the new
car and controls mumbled 'I love this car' not
paying any heed to Dev's rants.
Dev bit back ' I love it too'. He once again
tried to change his boss's mind. 'Look, you don't even know where you're going.
You are going to get lost in the dark!
Maan looked up
and said calmly 'Beverly Hills is down the hill!' Without waiting for Dev's reply,
he switched on the ignition and zoomed past him. Dev looked up at the sky and
shot a quick prayer to God to keep his new car safe. While Maan on the other hand had no idea how his life is going to change completely in next few minutes.
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That is it for chapter one.π The next part introduces us to Geet and Maneet's first meeting.
Chapter 2- Page 3
Edited by AnonymousMG - 10 years ago
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