Chapter 33

Queen0fDarkness

@Queen0fDarkness

MafiaQueen

@MafiaQueen

Chapter 33

“You look even hotter outside of the office” Armaan remarked.

“Thanks, I think” Geet rolled her eyes with a chuckle and introduced her friends Misha, Aditi and Yash to their friends. After quick rounds of introductions, they headed into the restaurant where Armaan had booked them a table. They spent time getting to know each other outside of the office and having a laugh. Geet felt relaxed after ages. It had been quite some time since she felt unburdened. It didn’t feel like she was harbouring a secret of hers. It was like Naintara stated, why mourn for something that isn't there? After dinner, they collected their things and made their way to the local night club for a round of drinks.

As they lined up by the bar to order their drinks, Armaan slipped in beside Geet placing his hand on the bar and around Geet though he didn’t touch her.

“So… are you ready to go out with me yet?” he inquired.

“Seriously, Armaan?”

“Yes”

“I watched you flirt with Neha, Pinky, Aditi and Misha”.

“I was innocently flirting with them – but I like you, Geet”.

“And what do you even know about me to even like me?” she questioned.

“You’re very beautiful” he grinned and leaned forward. “You always smell amazing, your eyes… I feel like I could get lost in those big eyes. And I” he paused eyeing her lips and smirked. “Well, I should leave some of the compliments for our date” he winked.

“What makes you sure I am going to go on a date with you?”

“I’ll convince you” he smiled cheekily and waved over the bartender.

Geet chuckled shaking her head and noticed the girls wiggling their brows cheekily.

“If you say yes to him, then you’ll have to agree to go out on a date with me” Piyush stated having overheard them both.

“When did your name come into the hat?” Pinky laughed.

Geet looked at him incredulously.

“Since forever, Viren always told me she wasn’t looking for a relationship, so I avoided pestering her” he replied.

“Wow, Geet. Not one, but two guys asked you out” Misha mockingly clapped.

“Guys! Viren is right, I am not looking for a relationship”.

“But you will consider dating?”

No, no and no” Geet laughed shaking her head. “I’m 20 years old and I don’t want to be doing anything except sort out my career and focus on just having fun”.

“I can show you fun” Armaan winked.

“Not like that” she responded.

“I’ll try again in a month’s time” he responded.

“Of course, you will” she replied shaking her head. “Anyway, can we order drinks now? I want a sunset orange mocktail” she told them.

“No alcohol”

“Nope. Mocktails only” she answered.

The friends moved to a booth with their drinks chattering and joking together. Viren held out his hand to Neha and tugged her to the dance floor and the others slowly followed. Geet laughed when Armaan held out his hand to her wiggling his brows playfully. She played along clasping his hand and let him lead her to the dance floor.

She smiled warmly when he placed a hand on her hips and guided her to follow his moves. She laughed when he dipped and pulled her to him.

Maan entered the local club for a drink. He needed it after the night he just had. He cursed inwardly and walked across to the bar settling on a stool and ordered himself a scotch on the rocks. He rubbed his jaw as he pondered over the nights’ events.

He picked up his glass sucking down the first tumbler and ordered another.

His thoughts wandered to Geet, the last couple of months between them and the tension. The hurt in her eyes haunted him. Her cracked voice in pain on the night of Karwa Chauth echoed in his mind. Her tears. He closed his eyes every time he saw her tears. He picked up his second drink swivelling around his stool and sipped as he looked around the bar watching groups of friends laughing and chattering. He watched couples dancing closely on the dance floor, others gyrating and others…

He squinted and blinked in surprise.

Geet

His eyes zoned in on her in the arms of a man laughing and dancing as he twirled her around and muttering something into her ear making her laugh.

He stiffened when she was turned, and the man’s face came into view. His newest member of staff, Armaan Malik.

Maan curled his fingers around his glass and gritted his teeth. A wave of jealousy washed over him setting his skin on fire seeing where Armaan’s hands were and how he made Geet laugh and smile.

Maan had not accomplished doing that in their almost a year marriage.

He swivelled in his bar stool trying to ignore the burning sensation that coursed through his blood. He finished his second shot of scotch and ordered a third.

I fasted all day for you, I prayed on this night for your long life and you rewarded me with breaking my heart. Tonight, you broke my hopes and dreams, Maan. You’re accountable for the breakup of our relationship. It’s all on you. You are responsible

You once said that I don’t want you and you don’t deserve me, I didn’t believe it that night. Today, I do. I don’t want you. You don’t deserve me.

Her words echoed in his mind. He’d pushed her away. He did this.

Yet it felt like he had been sucker punched across his throat and found it difficult to almost breathe. He closed his eyes sighing heavily.

“Hey, isn't that Maan sir?” Pinky pointed as they returned to their booths to collect themselves and hydrate.

Geet turned and looked over in the direction. She tensed and watched him sitting alone and drink.

“Seems like it” Adi answered. “Shall we invite him? He’s alone”.

“Yaar, no” Neha shook her head. “It’s going to be awkward if we invite him. He’s our boss” she explained.

“He’s not our boss now. We’re off the clock and enjoying a night out” Armaan reasoned. “There’s no harm in asking, right?” he stood ready to walk over and invite Maan to join them.

“It’s getting late, I need to be getting home” Geet stood grabbing her purse.

“What? It’s not even 11” Misha responded and Armaan paused looking at her.

“There’s no work tomorrow so you can sleep in” he added.

“No, seriously it is getting late. My family are going to worry” she lied. She wasn’t going to be able to spend time with her friends as normal if Armaan did invite Maan and he agreed to join. She wouldn’t be able to be in proximity and not feel burdened by his silence and ignorance to her and their relationship.

“We should also get going then” Misha told them.

“Aww no” Pinky pouted her lips.

Geet smiled and hugged them quickly. “We’ll do this again soon” she promised.

“Fine” Pinky nodded hugging her back and kissed her cheek.

“Do you need a ride?” Misha asked as they collected their things together.

“No” Geet shook her head glancing at her phone. Mohan had already replied he was waiting for her. Even informed that Sandeep was also parked.

“So, when is our second date?” Armaan asked her as she turned to say bye to him.

“I didn’t realise this was our first” she laughed.

“I’ll convince you” he winked and embraced her quickly.

Geet bid him goodnight and walked out with Misha and Aditi leaving the others to enjoy the rest of the night. She avoided looking in Maan’s direction not wanting him to notice her. Geet waved at Misha and Aditi as they got into their respective cars and walked across to where Mohan was parked and climbed in.

“I’ve sent Sandeep home, no point of us both waiting. Maan sir is coming out in a few minutes as well” Mohan informed as she buckled in.

Why! Geet screamed mentally. She hid her disappointment and nodded. She was glad she had slipped into the passenger seat and not into the back. This way at least there was space between her and Maan.

Maan arrived a few minutes later, he glanced at Geet and looked over at Mohan through the rear-view mirror questioningly. He reiterated the same of sending Sandeep home and agreeing to drop both of them together at home.

Maan nodded silently and dropped his head against the leather closing his eyes.

Geet stared out the window as Mohan started driving towards their home.