Partner of Life – Chapter 26

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“The condition is, your company will come under the wing of Synthesis. You will be sub brand of Synthesis and your standards have to be approved by Synthesis”

“What?”

“Yes.. that is the only small condition that I have. Take a month, think about it and get back to me…. With an appointment” he added and emphasized the last part

“Mr. Khurana….”

“I am sorry, Mrs Sharma. I have a busy schedule. I squeezed in this meeting somehow for you. If you can excuse me now” and he got up and Nina had to leave.

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Sandhya, Meera and Annie were busy trying jewelries on Geet. But it was not those exclusive jewels on her that made her uncomfortable. Maan had positioned himself at the doorway, casually leaning against the frame, his gaze shamelessly fixed on her face

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment as she struggled to maintain composure under his intense stare. Her lips trembled, and her facial muscles ached from the effort of appearing unaffected.

Their eyes briefly locked, and he smiled at her. Geet responded with a pleading expression, silently urging him to cease his intense scrutiny

To worsen her situation, Meera called him in

“Veer ji, why don’t you join us and help us decide. Geet we know will love to have some of your choice too.”

Maan smiled as he entered the room, prompting Geet to wonder what he would say. Despite the exclusivity of the jewelry, she questioned whether it truly suited her. While Geet had a talent for designing remarkable pieces, her life had been far away from royalty and here, surrounded by opulence and nobility, even the man before her exuded a regal aura, awed her.

“Well all are designed by Mom, ought to be brilliant but mom has to say..” he paused only to give her anxiety, she thought.

“Even though they are so wonderfully designed, each one looks ten times more elegant when on my fiancé. So, I have to give credit to her. Sorry Mom..”

 He shrugged his shoulders casually to revert her fears into blush as they all looked at her with teasing looks.

Sandhya shook her head – “Joru ka gulam” she muttered. Geet blushed while Meera and Annie giggled

“So, what’s bad about that? I learned the reason for Dad’s peaceful and happy life” 

“Achcha..” Sandhya playfully pulled his ears. Geet covered her lips to hide her laugh

Maan looked at her and laughed at his own condition.

“Bhai, if you don’t intend to help us, what was the reason of your visit here” asked Annie

“What a silly question Annie, Geet is here” added Meera

“Are you guys done? Well yes, I was here for Geet.” he turned to Geet

“Your darling is madly looking for you, for her project submission tomorrow.”

“Ohh yeah.. I should rush. It’s final but we decided to check once and get her revised”

“Maan, you could have not helped her instead of finding reason to see Geet” scolded Sandhya

“Mom, she rejected my help. She thinks I cannot help her, only Geet could”

“No Mom, Maan cannot help. I will go”

After Geet rushed out “See how these girls don’t trust me. I handle whole Khurana Enterprise and they don’t trust me with grade 1 project”

“Bhai, it’s not your cup of tea. Don’t give it a try” Maan left them, shaking his head. They all laughed. 

A month passed, Geet was busy in her new store launched in Delhi. She was in Mumbai but was coordinating from here. 

Both their Brand store had picked up Marketing was taken care by Maan’s best men thus high end Mall approached for their brand store in their location as well. Also franchise stores opened.

Not only in professional life but on a personal front as well she was kept busy by her soon to be family. They had so much shopping to do for her and she was always pulled.

 Geet tried several ways to divert them from being that extravagant for her, but they have their ways. Maan had already warned her in his first proposal, if she was ready to bear his family whole life. These people have their ways and no one can escape when they are on their mission to shower love. So overwhelming for someone like Geet, who has meager experience in spending on herself.

It was Sunday morning, Geet was sitting on the relaxing chair at the wide French window of her bedroom, sipping her coffee.  Her eyes were fixed on the beautiful landscape of the grand lawn. It was early hours and though the sun was  glowing bright yet it still had the softness of early hours in its shine. 

The gardeners and workers had started pouring in and were already at work. They will maintain the already maintained garden. But it was also true, their daily maintenance only made it possible to look so well maintained. 

By now Geet knew how it worked in her fiancé’s world.

That led her to think how far she has come, both on the professional and personal front . Her life was bland, blank and filled with struggles. Earlier in her personal life it was only Megha that she was attached to and all other relationships, she was just carrying on her shoulders for the sake of it. There was no heart attached and thus it felt so heavy to carry them, making her work like a robot. But back then all she knew was that it was her life and no way out. That’s why, even a day’s dance with Maan Khurana gave her life to carry the burden for the whole next year.

Her professional life was so demotivating as well. After all the hard work, she was just an employee with no power of decision taking in the business that was family owned. 

And Maan has come to her life like a soft breeze, soothing her life and pain with the balm of his presence. She had always known the vast status difference and thus never imagined a place more than a friend in his life. But she kept needing him and he kept selflessly helping her. Is this the only reason he took her heart away? No. His mere presence around her, his persona took away her heart. When and how, the question doesn’t arise. It was just the first closeness with him that had ignited the feelings within her. But that time she was married and ethically kept her heart tight.

Geet was lost in thoughts when the person who has captured her brain and heart slipped his hand around her waist “Beautiful”

Geet turned and hugged him

“You were lost” he asked softly pushing her hair strands behind her ears

“and you do not need to even guess who had captured by thoughts” She said wrapping her hands around his nape

“Maan.. you know..” before she could start, he, as if knew what she was going to speak

“Don’t go on that. I am the luckier one here… in all ways.” he said, pulling her to him.

They stood like that for a while and their heartbeat started rising. Geet’s hand slid from his face, to his jawline, then through his neck and finally landed on his heart. Her eyes filled with passion and emotion, met his eyes. Maan had his one hand on the small of her back while the other of her face, his thumb rubbing her soft cheek. He gave a sudden push on her back to bring her closer and bent to press his lips on hers. They stayed engaged like that for a while, sucking each other’s warm liquid, exploring inside their mouths.

They separated and their eyes again met, filled with passion. ‘Few more days’ is all that their eyes talked to each other.

Marriage preparation was going on in full swing. Maan preferred to put his focus on the office as his family was going all crazy about the preparation. He let them enjoy themselves. Neither did they expect much from him. He would place his boring sophisticated choices and thus it was better he kept away. 

But Maan along with his work, separately pulled Geet with him, away from family. Geet would always find herself landing in the high end shops with him, be it jewelries, clothes or other accessories. That was Maan Khurana, nothing less would work for him, and for Geet, he wanted to give the world’s best to her. Geet was not allowed to see the prices when he selected things for her. He knew she would go all bonkers knowing the monetary worth of the things that he was getting for her. He had all the money and expenditure didn’t matter to him. And thus he just wanted her to enjoy the beauty of unique things he got for her.

For Nyra, the shopping was all done by Geet. Maan, let her take the lead there knowing very well Geet can stop him from spending for herself but for Nyra she herself will find the best and finest. 

They also did shopping for other family members and especially for little Veer.

Ten days for marriage were left. Maan was in his office. His desk phone buzzed and his secretary informed him that Mrs. Nina Sharma was on the other end.

“Yes, Mrs Sharma”

“Mr. Khurana. I am in Mumbai, can we meet”

“Sorry, my schedule is jam packed. I have five minutes now, we can talk on the phone” He clearly showed Nina her place. 

“Mr. Khurana, you very well know my company is ruined”

“There are many companies that get ruined everyday Mr. Sharma, why would I keep interest in them? Yeah, I can, if they seem profitable enough for me to merge under my wing. Seems like ‘forever for U’ does not catch my attention in that manner as well”

Nina was listening with burning heart, all that he said. This man had all power and only he can save her and thus only he can say anything and she had to drink all from him.

“I am ready for all your terms Mr. Khurana”

“Means you are ready to make your company work under Geet’s”

Nina stayed mum for a while “yes, I am”

“You understand the meaning of it. Geet will be ultimate decision maker, you understand, right”

“I understand” she said in low voice

“Okay, I will talk with Geet and place this offer on the table for her to review. As I said, the final decision will be hers. I am just a messenger here”

“Mr. Khurana, what power does Geet have? She will anyway do what you say. She won’t go against your wish. Please confirm me and you can inform her later”

“Well Mr.Sharma, to let you know and if you have not researched on the company you are deciding to merge into, Geet Handa, soon to be Geet Khurana, is the CEO of the company. I am just an investment partner and the Director of marketing sector for Synthesis. We have other partners as well but for collaboration in India, Geet is the head and decision maker. I am here just a messenger, just a messenger” he emphasized the last one

“Stilll…”

“So I will lay it on table for her to decide” He cutoff her as if he did not hear her

“Okay Mr.Khurana” And he cut off. 

Nina’s blood was boiling. Feeling helpless, her ego all crashed down and not able to accept that Geet will be the decision maker of her fate, Nina swapped her hand on her desk making everything fall on the ground. Rest what was not on the table, she picked each and everything and threw them on the floor.

But she had no option, no one was even giving her a single chance, Maan Khurana was the last hope. He was ready to help but on his condition which clearly said that she has to bow to Geet. The girl she has brought up, gave her initial start will now be the decision maker of her life. 

This is life. One should act sensibly when it is their turn. Because when their turn is over, life throws them into the tunnel that they themself  have created.

Maan had been waiting for hours for Geet, one who had been captured by his family as marriage was now just a week after. 

In his wait for her, he got himself busy playing with his doll. Nyra was sitting on his back and he was giving her the horse ride on his back all around the lawn. Maan never minded his little princess trouble him. Ohhh she was his heart. The attendants came and requested him several times that they would give the princess the horse ride but he shooed them all. For his daughter, he was just a father, not the top rated entrepreneur. He wanted to make her feel princess not just by money but also his love and pampering. He loved just being her Dadda.

“Darling, I will take you to our farm house and you can ride the real horsey there”

“Noo… they are scary”

“My princess doesn’t get scared. You will soon be learning horse riding from your Daddaa”

“What?? You are planning to give horse riding training to my little kid” he heard Geet’s angry voice

Nyra immediately got off and ran to Geet “Geet, Dadda scary me”

“Scaring me, darling” she corrected and turned focus to Maan

“So my wait is finally over” he said with a sigh. 

“I think I should now start getting my time booked into your calendar” he teased her

Meera saw Maan and Geet in the lawn

“Nyru, come darling. I have to show you something” and Nyra ran and went to her. Maan and Geet saw the little one running. This family of his, they loved Nyra so much, would take care of her more than him. He just had to be there for her as her loving Dadda, rest all her needs were taken care of by his family and Geet. Though he himself did check on her on a regular basis and Geet did the rest of the filling.

“Geet, let’s go to your bungalow. I have something business related to talk to you” 

“Hmm…” she nodded

As they walked in the lawn, Maan’s hand swiftly came and slipped in her waist. Geet’s heart skipped a beat and he further increased it by giving a small squeeze there. Geet bit her lower lip and Maan did not miss it. His heart obviously made a somersault with her reaction to his touches. The anticipation of becoming his completely, these subtle hints by him, days of marriage approaching, were all making her so sensitive to his proximity these days and Maan didn’t leave a chance to drop hints whenever he got a chance.

They were having a quiet dinner at her place “Geet, Nina Sharma is ready to merge her firm under the roof of ‘synthesis’.” 

Geet looked at him shocked “Why are we thinking of merging them?”

“Don’t get mad. It is not my idea. She is almost bankrupt and needs financial help from me. I cannot invest in the competitor, so I advised that we acquire  her company and it will just be one part of ours and obviously you head it”

Geet nodded for NO

“You are not okay with it? You will be her boss in all ways”

“Maan, I do not want to keep any interaction from that past. But then I need to pay her for the past when I had no one and she gave me a home to live in.”

“Geet, she made you pay very well for that so-called home. She played with your life, got you married to a man you could never see as a partner. She forced you into life long torture. Luck played its part in getting you out of it. You are not at all responsible to fix her broken company, the company that she created …. ”

“Maan … I would not enjoy making her work under me… I just want my new life with you and our family and not be involved in….”

“I understand, you do not want to connect your past with our new life. I wanted to crush the ego of the lady who had shown you down on every instance  but that’s you Geet, that’s you who do not wish to use the chance of life to show others down. Most people, including me, are not like this. And these qualities of you have floored me off and how can I not fall again and again for you. Your humbleness, it’s rare in this era. Only fools can dare to lose a gem like you. I am so so so lucky to have found you” Maan took her hands in his, bent and placed kisses on the back of her palm.

Geet looked at him as he admired her “But she is in need of help Maan. I know I am not responsible for fixing her issue but I have lived with her, called her Mom. I do not want the happiness in my life to come with curse of someone, especially someone who I once called Mom”

Maan nodded “It won’t. I will not let anyone even think bad of you. I have a plan. I will invest in her company, give her one more chance as a goodwill of the old ally. That way she will not cross our life, nor would she curse you. “

“Thanks so much Maan” Geet was relieved. Geet didn’t want Nina to keep cursing her as she is ready to embark on a new beautiful journey of life with this wonderful man.

Maan had to bring Nina’s topic to get Geet’s view on it. But did not want that topic to be the highlight of their night. He wanted the night to leave its effect in a beautiful and romantic way.

He got up and went near her and asked her hand in his “Not ending our night this way. Let me pour wine for us. We have not danced for long. We are best dance partner, you remember right”

Geet laughed with shyness “Dancing in your arms have been my most treasurable moments”

“So let’s relieve it. I will set up the soft music and pour us some wine.”

The night just passed by