Chapter 4

Chapter 3

Words of Hate

As i walked back into my store, my foot hit something small and hard. I looked down and saw a black Blackberry lying there. I picked it up and realized with a start that it was Maan's when a text message was sent. MSK, we have a meeting in Seattle the day you return.

I shook my head and took out my phone punching in speed dial 2, Avensha.

I was definitely not going to attempt to return it to the arrogant Khurana. But even after i tried Annie's number at least 4 times, she wouldn't pick up. I groaned in frustration and grabbed my purse, locking the store's door on my way out.

________________________

As i arrived at Annie's house, i rang the doorbell with shaky hands and took a deep breath. He's a human being too Geet. He may act, talk and even behave like a jaanvar, but he was in fact a human being. He wasn't going to bite... at least i hope he didn't. If he did, i have teeth too!

And then the door opened and i felt my forehead starting to get wet with sweat. Maan stared at me for a whole minute with some kind of disgust and hatred on his face before speaking up. "What do you want?" He growled. I clenched my hands into fists. What exactly was his problem? Suddenly, feeling confident, i pushed him out of the way and stepped inside like i owned it. And my confidence level dropped as soon as it came when i spotted Vikram Malhotra standing in the living room smirking. I looked back at Maan and found him staring at me with a blank expression. I cleared my throat and put my hand forward revealing his cell phone. Vikram's smirk got bigger and he stepped forward with his hands in his pocket. "So, now you're stealing phones?" He asked me crossing his arms across his chest. My jaw dropped.

"What? Stealing? What the heck are you talking about? I just-" And then i was cut off when Vikram put his hand up in the air, stopping me. "Just don't even attempt to lie Geet Handa. Financial trouble and all. So you resort to stealing? I get it. You're an orphan, low income and you have pretty much no family. You're an embarrassment to your poor aunt and cousin. See Maan? Such people have no character whatsoever." Vikram spewed looking at me as if i was some trash.

This was the same man who was begging for me to take him back yesterday. I walked over to Maan who just stood there looking at the ground, his jaw clenched. I grabbed his hand causing his head to snap up to me. I stuffed the cell phone in his hand and turned to Malhotra. "Vikram, i may be an orphan but i do have self-respect for myself! If i needed to do illegal acts such as stealing to survive, i would have done it long ago!" And with that, i stormed out of the house blinking back tears.

__________________________

The next day Nandini and i went shopping where we met Annie. While Nandini kept talking about Annie's brother and how "hot" he was, Annie looked at me and rolled her eyes causing me to laugh. Finally, i decided to go the bathroom when Nandini continued to talk about Maan Singh Khurana. When i returned, Nandini was gone and only Annie was there. Confused i sat down. "Nandini had to leave. Her mom called." I nodded and sighed. "Nandini is totally heads over heels for my brother." Annie laughed. I shook my head with a smile.

"Nadini falls for everyone." I chuckled. Annie just nodded as she bit into her sub.

"What do YOU think about him?" Annie asked suddenly bringing me out of my thoughts. "I'm not sure." I mumbled. Annie looked at me before taking another bite again. I rolled my eyes. "What?" I snapped.

"What what?" She asked me acting innocent. I slapped my hand gently on the table and sat up. "What's on your mind? Spill!" I demanded. Annie put the sub down and dabbed her mouth with a napkin and then took a sip of her coke, taking her own sweet time. I was getting frustrated by the second and she obviously noticed and enjoyed it. "Geet, are you having visions again?" She suddenly asked. My mouth dropped open and i cleared my throat. And then i sighed. There was no point in lying to Annie.

"Yeah. How'd you figure?" I asked. She laughed. "I can just tell. So now, you spill! What are the visions of?"

I hesitated. "Your brother." I said simply. Annie's eyebrows rose. "His life is in danger Anvesha. Why, when, where, how, i have no idea. All i see is a masked man behind your brother with a knife."

This time, her mouth dropped open. She gulped and i knew she was worried. I put a hand on her hand and tried to reassure her. "Annie, my visions aren't always true." She just shook her head. "Geet, bhai is my only family." She whispered, her voice cracking. "My cousin Dev lives in India and he's not a big fan of my brother." She stated. I sighed.

"Nothing will happen to Maan. I promise." Now, i had to see if i could keep that promise or not.

____________________________________

The next morning, i woke up determined. I knew the only way to save Maan's life was if i became his friend and entered his life. The closer i was to him, the more visions i would get. This was the first time i was actually trying to get more visions instead of less. I shook my head pulling my hair in a messy pony tail. Maan Singh Khurana surely did change a lot in my life.

After taking a quick shower, i plopped down on the sofa thinking of a way how to get him to like me. Coffee. He was a coffee addict. Annie had mentioned that yesterday to Nandini. I got up and left the house before my aunt woke up.

Entering Sherry's cafe, i ordered some black coffee and a cafe mocha for myself. Once the coffee was ready, i grabbed the cups and walked to Annie's house.

Taking a deep breath, i rang the doorbell and Annie opened the door. "Geet! Hey! Aww, you got me coffee?" She asked letting me in. I laughed and shook my head. "It's not for you Annie. It's for your brother and myself." Annie pouted and i put the coffee down offering her my cafe mocha. She shook her head. "I was joking Geet." I rolled my eyes. "I decided, why not become friends with the great Maan Khurana? How hard can it be?"

And then Annie laughed. "It's very hard Handa. My brother's like that. He doesn't trust others easily." I took a deep breath. "We'll see about that."

And just then, Maan entered the living room. He didn't even attempt to hide the fact that he was unpleasantly surprised to see me in the morning. I shoved the cup of coffee in his hand while Annie watched amused. Maan just stared at the cup confused. "What.." He trailed off rubbing his stubble with one hand. The man looked drop dead gorgeous and dangerous in the morning. "It's coffee Khurana. For someone who's an owner of such a big business, you'd think he would at least know that much." I shot at him haughtily. He glared at me.

"Bhai, it's coffee. Just drink it." Annie laughed walking off. Maan glared at me again before taking a sip. He smiled a little and i felt my heart skip a beat. "What is this about?" He demanded putting the coffee aside. I shrugged taking a sip of my coffee. "It was early in the morning. I was bored and i wanted to see Annie and then i thought, why not become friends with her brother?"

Maan just stared. "What do you, have a staring problem or something?" I snapped. I could tell he was very surprised. "Uh, no. Not at all." And then he went back to drinking his coffee.

I coughed trying to cover up my laugh. This was definitely amusing.

"So, you've become friends with Vikram, i see." I mumbled. He looked at me raising his eyebrows. "I'm not friends with him. He just came to see me. Apparently he felt the need to warn me against certain people in this town." He said with a smirk.

My heart dropped. Of course. Vikram definitely would have mentioned me.

"So, what did Vikram tell you about me? What did he call me? A thief? An orphan without a character? An embarrassment?" I asked bitterly. He smirked yet again.

"How exactly are you and this Vikram Malhotra related?" He asked curiously. I snorted. "We're not related. We were engaged. And then he cheated on me so i called off the wedding." I explained.

"I see." He muttered nodding his head thoughtfully. An awkward silence followed so i groaned. "Well, it was nice meeting you Maan. See you around." I said quickly and left the house before he could respond.

No visions. None at all. I wanted to throw something at someone. How come i never got the visions when i wanted them to?

________________________________

Just as i was about to shut the door to the house, i heard my aunt and Nandini talking. "Ma, i like Maan but the thing is, what happened with Geet is going to make it difficult for anyone to marry me." Nandini whined.

"Sweetie, she's your cousin sister. We need to support her in every way possible. As for Maan, i'll go talk to him in a few days about the rishta." She said.

"Ma, not him! Talk to Annie! And i get the fact that Geet was not at fault but ma, still! I don't want her around me anymore. I'm tired of acting like i like her!"

I didn't hear what my aunt said next because i had already left the house again. I sat down on the front steps and sobbed.

_______________________________________________

Next Chapter: Annie's party. Maaneet dance. 😳

So, comment please. Or press the LIKE Button.

-Jot.