So, a card was bought and Geet wrote birthday wishes and her confession on it. Then, the time and place was debated and finally, it was decided that Geet will put card along with gift in Maan's room tomorrow in afternoon. Then, she will get ready for the party early and wait for his response.

...........

Next day

Maan was getting ready for office when there was a knock at the door. Maan opened the door lock, it was Vishal(servant). Sir, dadima is calling you in her room.

Maan went to her room. He was surprised to find everyone except Geet and Dev sitting in the room. Dadi ma was on lying on her bed with her shoulder propped against the headboard. Dad was holding her hand and saying something to her. When raj saw him, he became quiet. Dadi ma asked Maan to come and sit beside her on the other side of the bed.

Maan,' what happened dadi ma? Are you ok?'

Dadima didn't reply.

Raj,' Maan, have you seen the newspapers today?'

Without waiting for his response, he picked some newspapers sitting on the bedside table and handed over them to Maan.

Maan quietly looked at the headlines

''MYSTERY BOYFRIEND REVEALED''

''TOP MODEL DATING KHAURANA HEIR''

''Are wedding bell ringing for Sameera Roy''

Under all the headlines was a photograph of Maan and Sameera entering the a Hotel where the birthday party of a top businessman was taking place.

He put the newspaper away and looked questioningly at Dad.

Raj,'are you serious about her? If you want to marry her then, at least you should have told us Maan. Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is to learn about our own son through gossip. Yesterday, you turned up at function with her and remained with her the whole time. What do you have to say for yourself?'

Maan,'Nothing.'

Raj,'nothing? What do you mean nothing, yo...'

He was about to say something further, when Darji said, 'Raj.'

Raj fell silent.

Darji,'Maan, we just want to know that do you plan to marry her? We are your elders, we have at least the right to know.'

Maan,' I don't want to hurt anyone darji and of course, I respect you all and you have the right to know about me. what I object to is this ceremonial summoning  I'm not a ten year old and please don't treat me like a child.'
He paused. Then said.

'No, I am not going to marry her because I have already asked and she refused. She is my best friend and as important to me as my family.'

Dadi ma,' Maan, can I ask you something?'

Maan,'you don't have to ask for permission dadima.' He hugged her. It broke his heart to see her looking so worried.

Dadima,'get married maan. I really want to see you married before i die. Choose any girl but make it official Maan.'

Maan sighed. 'I am really busy right now dadi ma, I am going to take dad's place and that will consume all my time.'

Dadima,'okay, then get engaged.'

Maan,'ok, then choose the girl you like and just tell me the time and place, I will be there.'

Dadi ma,' Promise?

Maan,'Promise.'

...............................

Geet pulled her door open and peeked out, no one was in the gallery, she knew Maan was in Maama's room. She went inside his room and put the card, rose and gift on the bed. Then, said a quick prayer to ask baba ji for help.

She opened his room door and was about to go outside when she heard Maan's voice.

She quickly closed the door and looked wildly around for a place to hide. She saw balcony door and quickly moved there. She closed the balcony door. The window was open, she could hear everything.

She heard Maan coming in the room followed by others.

Maan: this is absurd. Geet is so young. How can dadima even think about it?

Simran: she is going to be 17 today and anyway, we are just asking for engagement.

Maan replied: yeah and wedding, next year.

Roshini: calm down Maan, you promised, geet didn't. If she refuses, then there will be no wedding.

Maan: dadima will manipulate her.

Simran looked at the card with a single white rose near it. There was a gift beside it as well.

She had seen the gift in geet room. Roshini and Maan were still arguing. She opened the card and read it. She was quite shocked for some minutes but then, suddenly grinned. She said, i don't think Geet will say no.

They looked at her. She handed the card to them. Both read the card same time. Maan looked really bewildered while Roshini thoughtful.

Simran winked at her, Roshini winked back.

Simran: so, now what?

Maan: maybe this is a prank.

Simran: i don't think that it is a prank.

Maan angrily threw the card at the bed and looked at them. I have nothing to do with it. I don't know how she even thought it.

Roshini: nobody is blaming you Maan but i don't understand why you are so angry? Do you still dislike her, i thought you two have become friends.

Maan,'I don't dislike her, I just.... I'm eight years older than her.'

Simran,'your dad is seven year older than me. It did not create any problems.'

Maan,'you were 25 years old while she is only 17.'

Roshini and Simran remained silent.

Roshini,'So, what is your decision?

Maan said angrily, 'I promised didn't I? And stormed out of the room.

Geet heard maan go out. Then, simran mom said to mama, you go and handle him, i will take care of geet. Both went away.

Geet felt tears rolling down her cheeks.she stood still like a statue. Maan's word kept ringing in her ears, too young, just a crush, don't think about her that way. It started raining, she slowly slid down and lay on the floor, and let the cold seep through her veins and numb the pain she was feeling. She looked up at sky, it blurred. She did not know how long she was there. She thought about all the things, she had planned, the future she had thought about. To wake up each day and see his face first and to sleep each night in his arm. Sometime, she had thought that she will be the best wife, never saying no to anything he said and then, other times, she decided to rule his heart like a queen and make childish demand to him, like asking him to take her to disneylan twice a year. But now, her dreams lay broken.

She heard someone calling her name. It was him. Maan was standing in the balcony door.

geet! What are you doing here?

It was raining harder.

You are not suppose to bath in rain. Stop being so childish. Everyone is searching for you, only 1 hour is left till party. Now, get up and get ready for the party. Geet looked toward the sky, it was still crying with her. She closed her eyes and ignored him. Maan looked irritatingly at her.was she mad?he looked at his watch, he has to get ready as well. He called her name again but she did not answer.

He angrily strode into the rain. He went to her and grabbed her arm and made her stand. He left her arm and said, now go and change. She swayed, he automatically grabbed her. Her head was on his chest and her eyes were still closed. She felt totally limp in his arms. His arms encircling her waist was supporting her. Maan, geet are you alright? She said, nothing. Maan looked down at her face, rain drops were clinging to her closed eyelashes. He gently shaked her, geet, geet.

he picked her up and took her inside. He took her inside and placed her on the bed. She was shivering. He quickly got the towel and tried to dry her. She did not move. He put his hand on her forehead to check if she had temperature. She was burning. He was about to call mama, when he saw tears rolling down her cheeks. He suddenly knew she had heard his conversation.

He cleared her tears away with his hand and said, don't cry. Geet opened her eyes, they were blood red. Maan stared shocked at her. Tears still rolled down her eyes.

He felt like somebody ripped his heart out. He had never seen like this. She never cried easily. He hugged her and said,'' please, don't cry, don't cry geet. I am sorry, i was really angry, I don't know what I said in anger but i did not mean it.''

A shiver went through her body and then,she said hoarsely, her head still against his shoulder,'' you don't care about me, you don't love me.''

Maan, ''of course, I care geet.''

She pulled back and looked at him, ''you really mean it.''

Maan looked at her and said, ''I mean it.''

Geet quickly kissed him on lips. He was surprised. Then, she put her head on his chest and tightly hugged him like she was never going to let him go.

He quietly moved his finger through her hairs, thinking about what to do next. He closed his eyes and put his chin on her head, gently caressing her back, giving her silent comfort. He took a deep breath inhaling her scent.

There was something familiar about it. He frowned. Then, said to geet, ''you are wet and you have temperature, you should go and change clothes.'' She moved away and nodded. Her face was turning red, maybe just realizing how she had behaved.

She got up from the bed but again swayed and fell on top of him her back toward him. Her hairs covered his face and that scent, it engulfed him. He involuntarily buried his face in her hairs and inhaled deeply, his arms taking her closer to his body and he felt that overwhelming desire run through his veins again. He remembered that night in the disco. That passion...

Geet moved out of his arms and said, i will go and change. She went out of his room.