Partner Of Life – Chapter 14

“Really, because we are moving to Mumbai very soon. Mom and Bhai doesn’t know yet, so think before you speak to anyone”

Geet knotted her brows “Fine, I know you will not anyways say it there.”

m there. Big Restaurant chain, it’s tough for them to handle now. And I too have responsibilities to them and above all I want to. I want to help in my family business there. At least in that business, I will have some freedom. Because of Mom, I have stayed away from my big family.And Lately ,all she has been doing is showing me how worthless I am.”

Geet said nothing. She knew the fact of Nina.

************** 

Maan had been busy traveling. 

Geet had been busy as well. On one hand, she had to work on moving to Mumbai and on the other she had to also be involved with finance and divorce advocates. They will have their first formal meeting with Dev and his advocates.

She had contacted an agent to look for her housing arrangement in Mumbai. Within her budget, the agent forwarded her some reference. But as Maan was from Mumbai and knew in and out of it, she always thought to get his suggestions and as a result all were getting rejected.

It was now getting into Geet’s head that either she had to increase her budget or stop taking Maan’s advice. In the budget that she has set, he is going to reject all the references.

But even if she avoids taking his advice and finalizes the house in her budget, once Maan would know about it, he would disapprove. The problem was, she knew, if Maan disapproved of the house for any reason she would not say yes to it.

She had to raise her budget and then got a decent apartment in Thane, a middle class  area of Mumbai.  It was a bit far from Bandra West, the posh area of Mumbai where ‘The Khurana Mansion’ stood with all its pride.

Maan was in South Africa when he got the information that Geet had finalized the house in Mumbai. His happiness knew no bounds. She will be in Mumbai, so reachable for him to keep track of her well being. His over excited family will definitely not let her be in any problem. Though he was also scared of their over indulgence in her personal life. 

“Geet, do you want me to accompany you?”

“No Megha, I have my able advocates. Today we are just listening to both parties. Dev won’t create any hurdles. I am sure”

“Not Bhai, but Mom will definitely cause trouble”

“Don’t worry. My advocates are very capable. I have to do it all by myself, Megha. And you have relations from both sides, it won’t be good if you are there from my side.”

Geet was about to reach the location of meeting when she got message from Maan 

“Stay cool. The advocates will handle everything. You just have to give your consent to what they ask. Don’t get diverted by anyone’s talk of warning or emotional blackmailing”

“Okay” she messaged with relief. So many questions were going on in her mind. These were not the people with whom she was going to make a deal but people who were or are currently related to her in one of the most special relationships. Her mind was clouded but one message from Maan, on the right time, cleared her mind.

Dev was accompanied by Nina. Dev had wanted to come alone and finish it up, giving Geet what was hers. But Nina had insisted on coming along. She wanted to make sure not a single extra penny goes to that bitch. Already her absence from the company has made her lose two important projects as they have been rejected by the survey and investors. Though she felt lucky that as of now Maan Khurana did not know about Geet leaving their organization. He would be first to pull off his investment the moment he knows Geet is not working with them. If he pulls off his investment, she and her company will be doomed. She will do all to keep away this information from Maan Khurana.

Geet went to the meeting location, which was a high end restaurant and not the office of advocate from either side. 

Nina laughed as she saw Geet with the two advocates. 

Ohh the girl was alone in the fight with no one of her own, to guide. She can easily crush this girl. Dev can take decision on his guilt but she was here to exploit this girl.

But as Geet’s advocate Mr.Dandlani and her Finance advisor Mr.Sindhu introduced themselves, the color of Nina’s face went out. Dev was shocked too. From where did she afford such a high priced advocate and advisor when she has also lost her job. Is she planning to spend all her savings on these people? What was the need?

Nina was wondering how she got the contact of these people. It is not easy to get their appointment and here she has hired them. Fifty percent of Nina’s confidence went down the drain there. Which was exactly the game plan of Maan. He knew Geet was too naive to understand the mind game. 

Dev had a good advocate as well but no where of the level to match Mr. Dandlani.

Both the advocates talked about their point, the assets that would go to Geet and that do not belong to Geet. Nina was surprised to see Geet was claiming the High value bond that Dev had done in her name. She needed to make Geet understand that it does not belong to her. 

“Geet can you and me talk”

“Yes, we will Mom but after things are finalize here”

“I want to talk about something that’s being done here. Can we too talk and you can clear the confusion of your lawyer”

“My Lawyers have no confusion. They did the indepth work. If you want to convey anything regarding this then talk to your lawyer. Both lawyers can talk”.

“Have we become so formal Geet” Nina played the emotional card. Geet looked at Maan’s message to remind herself

“So many years of staying together as a family, now only our lawyers will talk?” added Nina with an emotional tone.

“No Mom, we can talk about everything but regarding this you have to go through the lawyers.”

Nina wondered- ‘This girl was so cunning and smart, I never knew. But this is not her brain totally. Hiring these people and now sticking to their decision. But she is all alone, who is that expert guiding her.’

Nina had no option but to talk to Dev and his advocate. But Dev’ advocate clearly told her that the Bond was in Geet’s name and they had solid points ready and he had no point to counter them. They were more prepared than expected.

Meeting went for long hours due to Nina’s continuous interference and trying to emotionally blackmail Geet. Nothing worked though. 

Geet’s all savings, her investment in company, employee share and the Bond, got her gross of 15 cr. worth of money as the final decision.13 cr. Bond, which was twenty percent of Dev’s net share in a 200 cr. worth of the company with 125 cr turnover. Dev had 30 percent share of net profit and Geet’s bond was 20 percent of Dev’s share. It was her main source of assets and she cannot let it go. Though her advocates advised her for alimony as well but she denied taking anything from Dev. But this bond, she knew she deserved it. She deserved even more but let it go.

It was finalized that on the day of divorce, Geet will get the bond converted and it will be dissolved. The net worth of Bond cannot be less than the value of what it is today. This was done, so that Nina does not show the net profit low at the time of conversion.

Weeks after Nina had been cribbing and crushing Geet on a daily basis. One side the divorce date was approaching and on the other side Nina was not getting investment for her new designs. She has hired a new designer but all this new designer did was copy and modify the designs of other famous companies. The ones that they tried new, did striked but there was no match to what Geet did. Geet made them stand apart from industry; this one just had ‘one of the designs’.

“Let me see who gives her a job in Delhi.”

“Mom, she is moving to Mumbai” informed Dev

“Really? Who is behind her?”

“I don’t know, nor interested Mom. ”

 “Is she taking all decisions on own. How come? She had been staying whole life under my guidance. How can she think so far and all these aspects? As far as I know, she has no worldly knowledge to deal with the outer world. She will fall.”

Nina was thinking and pacing in her office while Dev was waiting for her to free him.

“Her money was safe with us. Someone is making a pure fool of her. I bet, the person will get all her money in the name of help and she will be doomed one day. Why will anyone help this far for no reason? I will wait for the day she will come begging in front of me for help. That day Dev, that day I will show her how worthless she is and how dependent on me.”

“Okay Mom. I have a meeting, so I have to go.” and he left

The divorce day came. The out of court settlement was decided as none wanted to go to court. 

Both sides needed the main party, their advocates and one witness.

Nina had already warned Megha to keep away. Even Geet asked Megha to not come as she was equal from both sides.

Nina came with Dev as witness. Geet was there with her advocates.

“You have no witness. How lonely are you in this world Geet. Had you bent to me, I would have convinced Dev to backout of this divorce. But no. Now you see how alone you are. You do not even have a witness from your side.”

“Our witness will be on time Mrs. Sharma. Ten minutes still left for us to start”

“Yeah, the bought witness,” she laughed. 

Geet was sitting quietly, very confident that her witness will be there on time. The only thing that she was wondering about was how NIna would  react seeing her witness.

Nina and Dev were turned back when they heard her lawyer “You are just on time sir”. The respectful welcome made both Nina and Dev turn to get the shock of their life.

Maan Singh Khurana took a step towards them with a soothing smile on his face, his eyes on Geet’s face.

Nina and Dev, looked at Geet who smiled at Maan Khurana and went towards him. She hugged him and he took her in his side embrace.

“Sorry dear for making my entry so late. The meeting ran longer than expected. I had to abort it in mid.”

Geet had a big relief and a smile on her face “You are exactly on time.”

Nina and Dev both went into a complete shocked state. Maan Khurana as witness for Geet. But how. People are not able to get his appointment for months and here he is present as witness for her divorce. How did Geet know Maan so well? Nina had kept Geet away from all investors then how could her biggest investor himself was on her side. Yes, they only danced at the annual party thrown by her. How much will they know each other in 5-10 minutes of dance on an annual basis?

Other than Maan knowing Geet, her mind popped with other worries. “That means Maan knew all the while Geet had left her firm. How much had Geet told him? Why had this girl dragged her investor in this personal issue? “

“Why have you troubled yourself Mr. Khurana for these small matters” she said sweetly

“Your son is getting divorced, is this such small thing Nina” countered Maan

“No, no, not a small thing for me. But why did you trouble yourself?” She then turned to Geet

“Geet, is this how you use Mr. Khurana’s humbless. You called him here to become your witness” She tried to win over Maan

“Geet did not call me. I have offered to be her witness. I wanted to make sure things go smoothly for Geet. Can we start now”

Nina’s mind was not working or trying to work a hundred times to figure out how Maan khurana was here as Geet’s witness. But if he is here for Geet, she can do only one thing. Be very good to Geet as of now.

Dev and Geet signed the paper. Geet closed her eyes. Maan came forward and held Geet’s shoulder 

“Are you Ok” the concern on his face for Geet was not missed by Nina and Dev.

Geet nodded “I am fine.” He wrapped his hand around Geet, without worrying what the Sharma’s were thinking. With Maan around, Geet ignored all social thoughts. Maan was much more important than this fake society and their talks.

As they stepped bit far “I will be fine Maan”

“You will be and I will make sure of it. You are coming with me” he declared

 Nina and Dev just kept watching how Maan’s driver opened the door for Geet. Once she settled there, Maan took his seat beside her in his exported elegant car.

“Ohh now I see her reason for flying so high. But what she does not know is that Maan Khurana is a free bird. He will be with her till he is not bored with her. Ohh this is the way she found to get over her loneliness, sleep with a richie rich. All problems solved”

“Mom Please. You have no rights to speak about Geet this way. And on your assumptions you can just not talk about the girl and her character.”

“Ohh. Please spare me your lecture Dev. Your ex-wife will celebrate this divorce in the arms of Maan Khurana and you thought you are divorcing her ”

“So what. She is free and can be with anyone. I don’t expect her to lead a life of a saint. In that case, I have a girlfriend and we share intimacy. Now what have you to say”

“So what? She was not able to keep you happy, you told her of separation and then moved on.”

“So the same goes to her. She is free with this relationship and she can do whatever she wants from her life. And Mom, for one last time, I don’t want you to brag about Geet anymore. I am done, she is done and we want to move. Whoever she is with, it is none of my concern and should not be as well.”  Nina left from there. But she would not leave Geet this easily. Actually it was getting unbearable for her that Geet got support of Maan khurana. Maan is her biggest investor, what if he backs out from investment due to Geet.

“No, this can’t happen. I cannot let Maan Khurana back out due to that, Geet”  a sudden fear encapsulated her.

Dev stopped his mother from bad mouthing Geet but he himself was lost seeing Geet with Maan. So many things going on in his mind. 

The compatibility and comfort of Geet with Maan was circling on his head. Geet had been with him like a robot and that’s the reason he has decided to part. But with Maan, she looked like a live person or a wax doll who could melt. The way Maan Khurana embraced Geet with all rights, he had never been able to do it. And how easily she went and cozied herself in his embrace. She had been so stiff with him.

Geet was extremely beautiful, everyone knew. But today was the first time when Dev felt the beauty slip from him and Maan Khurana has his beautiful wife, opps ex-wife in his arms.

“Maan where are we going?” Geet was shaking due to so many happenings. Maan saw her shaking. He moved close to her and brought her in his side embrace

“My farmhouse, in suburb of Delhi” 

“In how many cities do you have houses?” Maan laughed on her innocent question

“What’s the use when you are not ready to stay in even one. I have houses all around the world and my best friend is working with agent to find her housing in Mumbai”

“I just want to do things on my own. You are already helping so much”

“I know and am so proud of you for that. I have just one request ”

“What?” 

“Don’t do anything thinking of what society will say. People just need a chance to gossip. Live for yourself not for people. Such people will never come to help you when you need them but will come to give suggestions when you try to stand on your own. You are taking this life on your own, so take it with pride”

“I have left thinking of people. And when I have friend like you, I know I do not need to worry”

“Thanks for your trust on me”

Geet and Maan entered the farmhouse when Geet got Megha’s call

“Geee-eeeet” Geet moved her phone far away to save herself from Megha’s scream.

“Megha, I just signed the divorce with your brother”

“I know. And we will celebrate freedom of you both but for now tell me what I am hearing is true”

“What?”

“Don’t be naive. Maan Khurana was your witness, did I hear it right?” 

Geet sighed and smiled “Yes”  She placed the phone on mute and whispered to Maan

“She is all hyper. You made sensational news in my circle today.” He raised his eyebrows, questioning  “Megha” she answered

Maan smiled and asked her to hand him the phone. She signaled asking – are you sure. He nodded for yes, she handed him the phone

“Hello Megha”

“Aaaaashish, hold me. I am going faint” Maan placed phone a bit far with her scream.

She calmed down “Am I really blessed to be talking to Maan khurana”

“Of course. If you don’t believe, come to my farmhouse with Ashish and Rimmi”

“You know my cutie pie, hayyy” Maan smiled

“Are you sure you are inviting me? If I land there, don’t make us feel unwanted”

“I am inviting you all for sure. Geet needs all her friends by her side today.”

“Yeah, of course. We will soon be here” 

Maan gave the phone to Geet. “What? You invited her, in real”

Geet looked at Maan admiringly “Thanks Maan. Thank you so much” She had tears in her eyes.

“How much I needed them. I want to make sure I am not losing her due to this divorce. That idiot is my only real connect to my childhood ”

Maan wiped her tears “You are such a gem Geet. No one can afford to lose you. Only fools can. And I know Megha is not that fool or else how can she be this close to your heart”

Geet smiled. The way he gave her confidence and made her feel so special.