Rule Breakers – Part 5

“Bad boy, Maan. Very, very bad. That hottie’s gonna hate you. What was all that silly stuff you blurted—judging her, labeling her, categorizing her type… damn, everything. Was that really you?” He laughed at himself, shaking his head in disbelief.

“But not my fault totally. With the boring job that Dad’s forcing me with, I need to find some fun in it, right?”

He ran his fingers through his hair, and once satisfied with his look, turned to face his dad—and the fuming expression of the hottie.

**********

Maan reached to his Dad’s study and found the hottie already present there.

“Uncle, I will be fine. You do not need to trouble Maan for my security. He has his life”

“Yes, he has too much of his life. He needs to give time to family as well. You should not worry dear”

“Uncle, I will manage. Don’t burden yourself and Maan. And Vicky will be there with me in college.”

“Darling, answer two questions for me,” Raj said gently. “If your answer is ‘yes’ to either, I’ll pull Maan away from your security.”

“What?” Geet blinked in confusion.

“First—are you ready to get married right now and drop your post-graduation?”

“No, Uncle,” she replied immediately.

“Second—would you be okay marrying that minister’s son?”

“No way. Never. That would be the end of my life.”
Geet’s face flushed red in anger just imagining it, her breathing turning uneven.

“Then no arguments, dear,” Raj concluded firmly. “Maan will be in charge of your security. You’re my responsibility here, and I’ll make sure you’re safe. I won’t allow anyone to even think of laying a hand on you. And Maan… is the best man for the job.”

Maan had been listening from the doorway, and the moment he heard Maan is the best, he made his entrance.

“Dad, you don’t need to praise your son. Let Miss Geet witness it herself,” he said with a proud smirk, raising his brows teasingly at her.

“Maan!” Raj’s expression hardened as he turned toward him, anger surfacing across his face. “Where have you been?” he demanded in a stern voice.

But Maan only grinned, walked straight to his father, and pulled him into a hug. Leaning close, he whispered…

“Dad, the girl won’t trust your claim of ‘Maan is best’ if you shout at me at our first encounter in front of her.”

“Your acts make me lose my control. Why are you after my blood pressure?”

“Then why do you plan to give this beautiful responsibility on my irresponsible shoulders?” Maan said with a smile

Father and son were having their low-volume confrontations, which Geet couldn’t understand. All she hoped was that this spoiled richie somehow rejects this responsibility and she is set free to lead her college here, her way.

“You will take up this responsibility and perform it to the best of your capability because I am serious when I claim that otherwise you will be thrown out of my share. I know how to get work done, son.”

“Dad, I love you—you know I can’t say no to you. I’m taking this up.”

“You don’t have any other option, son.”

“Dad, I love you. It’s all for your love”

“Oh really?”

Maan slid an exquisite bottle of whiskey across the table.

“The very first batch from Nanaji’s vineyard. I thought I’d gift it to you before it even hits the market.”

A smile instantly tugged at Raj’s lips.

“And Dad, we’re launching a couple of amazing products this year. All of them will come to you first. And… there’s one more surprise.”

Raj already knew his son’s tactics—this charm, this buttering. And like always, he was falling for it. What could he do? The boy had a way to his father since childhood.

“I’ve decided to get your cocktail centre redesigned. The new look will be a surprise.”

“Don’t think all this buttering is going to work on me. You’d better take your responsibilities seriously.”

They both knew very well—it had worked.

“Dad,” Maan said with a grin, “Maan Singh Khurana’s word.”

Raj looked at Geet and called her, “Why are you standing so far, dear?”

“It’s okay, uncle.” “No, it’s not okay, come.”

Geet walked up to him. “Dear, you’re staying with the family. Never feel like you’re not a part of it. You may be away from your parents, but I won’t let you miss having a family around you. That’s what I was trying to explain to Maan—you’re family, and he needs to care for you as family. And don’t hesitate to argue with any of these boys if you have to.”

Geet left, and then Maan followed after Raj gave him a list of instructions—things that needed to be arranged for her to settle into her new life here.

A little later, Raj left for work, heading into a day full of meetings and office work.

Sandhya was dressed in her formal work clothes, waiting for Maan. It was rare for her son to be home, and she wasn’t leaving without meeting him.

After speaking to his father, Maan walked into her room.

“Mommmm!” he exclaimed, spreading his arms wide before pulling her into a hug. She hugged him back—then immediately twisted his ear.

“Why do you do this? Disappearing for days!”

“Mom, I love you. You know life keeps me busy.”

“Yes, of course. You keep yourself busy enough to feed every rumour out there. Why would you miss us?”

“Do you really think managing three different businesses is easy?” Maan replied, half joking, half serious.

“I have my own ventures, Nanaji’s business, and the Khurana Empire. Dad keeps me on edge with constant threats—if I don’t secure at least two major projects every year, he says he’ll cut me off from my share. Can you please tell him to stop blackmailing me? Who does that to their only son?”

“Yes, blame your parents—it’s easy,” she scoffed. “Do you understand anything else? Maan, do you have any idea how worried we are for you? Why can’t you live a normal life like Dev and Vicky?”

“Mom, it’s just my friends—I hang out with them.”

“Yes, the friends we’ve never met! And then all those ridiculous rumours—one day you’re at a hospital, another day at a police station—”

“Mom, chill. People just love dragging me into the news. I’m only there for my friends when they need me.”

“And what kind of friends need hospital and police help all the time?”

“Mom, we’re not discussing this.”

“Oh, we are discussing this. And when you want to avoid the topic, you vanish from home—am I wrong?”

Maan lightly held her by the shoulders. “Everything’s fine. I’m not doing anything wrong.”

“I don’t know about that,” she sighed. “But Maan… with Geet around you, you cannot afford a single mistake. Her life will be at stake—and so will your father’s promise to his childhood friend.”

“Mom, don’t worry about that part,” he said quietly.

Geet paced restlessly around her room. She didn’t need some arrogant rich boy to protect her—she was perfectly capable on her own. But her dad, in his worry, had passed all his fears onto his friends, and now Uncle had taken the responsibility to heart. With no girls in the family, he had become overly protective.
And the worst part? He had assigned that irritating character to guard her.

She desperately wanted to scream that she could manage herself and would be happier if everyone just left her alone. But she couldn’t. She had made a promise to her parents, and Uncle had made one too.

“Knock knock, Princess.”
His sexy, teasing voice reached her first, and her temper spiked even higher at the way he addressed her.

“Wow… a spoiled brat who does nothing but waste money dares to call me Princess?”

“Ufff,” he sighed dramatically as he walked in, lazily spinning his key ring around his index finger.

“The delicate princess who needs protection doesn’t like being called Princess?”

“Geet. That is my name. That’s what you should call me.”

“And you think I’m polite enough to follow your wishes?”
He stepped right in front of her. Geet drew in a sharp breath and shut her eyes for a moment—damn him and that attitude.

Maan, completely unaffected by the way her pulse jumped, traced a finger along her cheek.

“I’m not as bad as you think,” he murmured in a low, husky voice.

She slapped his hand away.

“I’ll give you two choices—pick one, or I’ll choose for you.”

“What?” she snapped.

“Princess or Hottie. Which one do you prefer?”

“Don’t you dare think of me as Princess. You’ll regret it.” She snapped with a sharp warning.

Maan’s lips curved into a cunning smirk. “Got it, Hottie.”

“What?” Geet’s eyes widened—angry, shocked, and completely thrown off by his audacity.

“Get ready and come downstairs in thirty minutes. We have things to attend to. And respect the time—I don’t have the whole day for you,” he said, and walked out.

The moment the door shut behind him, Geet froze.

Did she… actually allow him to call her Hottie?

Geet was not a typical fashionista girl. She had her sporty ways to get ready.

Maan was waiting in the patio. He was looking at his watch. If she is a minute late, he will rename her as Princess.

It was just ten minutes and Geet was coming straight, wearing mini shorts, a crop top with a denim jacket, sports shoes and a high pony, coming out like a fountain from the top of her head as she sped towards him – cute, smart, young and modern – a full bundle of Hottie.

“Wow damn…” he cursed under his breath – and Dad wants him as her protector.

Geet looked at Maan, who was standing next to his stylish sports car. He wore trendy, torn jeans and a black round-neck tee. With sunglasses perched on his sharp features, he looked striking. Geet couldn’t help but think how much she disliked him, yet her foolish heart always raced at his mere glance. The desire to press her lips against his M-shaped mouth for a deep kiss rose high against her will.

Her eyes then shifted to his stylish, exclusive black sports car. It looked like a dream. Her hands itched to sit behind the wheel and race it on the roads of London.

“Can I drive?”
The words slipped out before she could stop them, her excitement not in her control.

“What?”
Maan shot her a questioning look, brows raised as he shook his head, followed by a careless shrug.

“I can drive,” Geet repeated, louder this time.

“First,” he began, lifting a finger, “I don’t let anyone drive my car. Second, being attracted to my sexy and being able to handle this high-tech, next-gen beast are two entirely different things. Not your cup of tea.”
He tilted his head toward the passenger seat. “So sit down—fast. I have better things to do today than carry you around on my back.”

Geet huffed and marched to the passenger side. But the moment she approached, the doors on both sides lifted upward like wings.
Her jaw dropped.

Her happiness exploded. For a second, she even forgot about the arrogant brat standing next to her. If she had to tolerate his attitude to ride in this car, then so be it.
Oh, how desperately she wanted to drive it—just once.

Maybe… maybe sweet-talking him would work.
Tough job, considering this man wore his attitude like a permanent crown.
But for a car like this?

She was willing to try.

Maan started the engine, and the cabin instantly filled with the music of his choice—Can’t Hold Us, followed by Born to Be Wild.
He tapped the wheel, moving his shoulders to the beat as he drove. Moments later, the rooftop slid open as he picked up speed, the wind sweeping in.

Damn, she thought, she wouldn’t have minded being called a spoiled brat or being dragged into rumours if the prize looked this gorgeous.

“Seems like you’re very fond of cars,” she said, trying to keep her excitement in check.

“Fond?” He let out a short, amused laugh, the hint of a British lilt slipping into his tone.
“You’ve no idea—not the faintest. It’s pure madness; this world is my other life. A life quite beyond the understanding of people like you, who spend half their time judging others.”

Geet felt her heart pick up. Finally, someone who looked at life differently.

The ride in the car alone was fueling her excitement.
But then she reminded herself—she must not let that side of her out. That part of her had caused her parents enough trouble, and she would not drag Uncle into it.
She swallowed her excitement and softened her tone.

“I… like cars too,” she said.

He chuckled under his breath. “You like cars too. Right.”
Then, more pointedly, “The madness I’m talking about is on two entirely different ends of the spectrum. You won’t get it. So let’s leave it.”

“Are you not judging me then?” Geet asked quietly.

“Perhaps,” he replied without hesitation. “But my judgments are based on facts. For example, if I were you, coming abroad for the first time, I wouldn’t have told a single soul where I was. I’d have started fresh. An adventure, you know?”
He tapped his fingers against the wheel.
“My family still knows absolutely nothing about my other life. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Money, power, circumstances… they can tie your hands,” she murmured.

“Chhh—rubbish. It’s all will. All about how fiercely you want something.” He shrugged lightly. “But let’s not go down that road. By normal society standards, you’re right. But I’m perfectly content as I am. And people in my world, they’re not exactly the ‘good sort’ for Uncle’s Pari, who apparently needs protecting.”

She desperately wanted to tell him who she truly was, what she actually loved, how her world looked.

But she couldn’t. Not now, not ever.

So lost in her thoughts, she didn’t realise he had already parked—effortlessly—right in the VIP parking of the Youth Bank.