Part 89
She smiled, leaning into his embrace, her heart full. “But we do,” she whispered, her hand resting against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart.
And as they held each other close, they knew that, for the first time, they were free. Free to write their own story, to take on the world together, and to keep them guessing—all while savoring the love that was theirs alone, hidden in plain sight.
In the days that followed, Geet and Maan’s mysterious appearances continued to captivate the media and the public. Every move they made seemed perfectly designed to spark questions, to set the rumor mill spinning, while they quietly enjoyed each moment together, hiding in plain sight.
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Then, one weekend, they decided to take things up a notch. An invitation arrived for a high-profile charity gala, an event that would bring together everyone from movie stars to influential business figures. Geet and Maan exchanged a knowing glance. This event was the perfect opportunity to play their biggest move yet.
---
On the night of the gala, Geet stepped out of their home dressed in a stunning, floor-length silver gown that shimmered with every movement. Her hair cascaded in soft waves, and a quiet confidence radiated from her. She looked every bit the star, and tonight, she felt like one. Maan watched her, a small smile playing at his lips as he adjusted his cufflinks, a gleam of pride and admiration in his eyes.
“You ready to give them a show?” he asked, his tone playful yet serious.
Geet’s lips curved into a mischievous smile. “Absolutely.”
They arrived at the venue separately, as they had planned. Geet entered first, walking the red carpet alone. Flashbulbs erupted as the paparazzi scrambled to capture every angle, her elegant look sparking whispers and curious glances. She posed calmly, giving them her usual mysterious smile, saying little, letting the anticipation build.
Inside the gala, she mingled with various attendees, her poise and elegance only adding to the allure she had carefully cultivated. The media watched her, waiting, speculating. She could almost feel their eyes on her every move, hanging onto the mystery she and Maan had woven over the past weeks.
About an hour later, Maan arrived. He stepped out of his car in a perfectly tailored tuxedo, exuding an effortless confidence that sent a ripple through the crowd. The cameras went into overdrive as he walked the red carpet, giving nothing away with his stoic expression, merely offering a polite nod here and there. People started to murmur, curious to see if he and Geet would acknowledge each other, to see if they would finally reveal the truth—or at least give them something new to speculate about.
Inside the gala, he moved through the crowd, exchanging pleasantries and shaking hands, but his gaze occasionally drifted to Geet from across the room. She felt his eyes on her, and every so often, she’d glance his way, sharing a brief, knowing look, as if they were the only two people in the room who understood the secret they were keeping.
Finally, as the evening wore on and the guests grew more relaxed, Maan made his way toward her, as if by accident. He stopped just inches away, turning to her with a perfectly calculated look of casual interest.
“Enjoying yourself?” he asked, his voice low, a hint of amusement in his tone.
Geet’s lips curved into a small smile. “I am, actually,” she replied, her gaze lingering on him, her eyes sparkling with that familiar gleam of mischief.
In the corner of her eye, she could see the photographers adjusting their lenses, reporters scribbling down notes. The crowd around them was buzzing with curiosity, their whispers intensifying as Maan extended his hand to her, inviting her to the dance floor. She accepted, and they glided into the center of the room, each movement carefully restrained, enough to feed into the mystery but not enough to confirm anything.
As they began to dance, his hand at her waist, hers resting on his shoulder, their closeness became magnetic. The room seemed to fade away, leaving them in their own world, and they allowed themselves a quiet, shared moment that felt genuine amidst all the games. Maan’s gaze softened as he looked at her, and Geet felt her heart flutter, the thrill of their plan melding with the warmth of his presence.
“You know they’re watching,” he whispered, his tone teasing but filled with something deeper.
She smiled up at him, leaning in just slightly. “Let them. They’re not the only ones enjoying the show.”
The song ended, but the electricity between them lingered, a tangible connection that kept every eye in the room trained on them. As they broke apart, Maan leaned in close, his lips just brushing her ear. “You look stunning tonight,” he murmured, just loud enough for a few nearby guests to hear, leaving them with something new to chew on.
Geet felt a warmth flood her cheeks as he pulled back, his gaze twinkling with the knowledge that their plan had just taken another successful turn. They parted ways, each moving to opposite ends of the room, letting the suspense build, the rumors swell, and the whispers echo.
---
The next morning, the internet was flooded with pictures from the gala, every photo fueling the mystery they had cultivated. They were the headlines again: *“Maan and Geet: The Gala Game—Are They or Aren’t They?”* and *“Secret Affair or Star-Crossed Lovers? Maan Khuraana and Geet Keep Everyone Guessing.”*
Amidst the swirl of gossip, Geet posted a single photo—a close-up of her hand in his from the dance floor, with the caption, *“Not everything needs an answer.”*
Maan followed up with a post of his own: a picture of her reflection in his wine glass, her figure blurred yet unmistakable. The caption read simply, *“The best secrets are worth keeping.”*
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It was a cozy afternoon, and Geet decided to do a casual Instagram Live, sharing a cookie recipe from her kitchen. She greeted her fans with a bright smile, her phone propped up on the counter as she talked them through each ingredient. Comments poured in from eager followers, most of them complimenting her, asking about her day, and throwing in questions about her rumored romance.
Geet kept things light, skillfully dodging any personal questions as she stirred the cookie dough, adding chocolate chips with a cheerful, “And here’s the best part!”
But just as she was getting ready to put the dough on the tray, a familiar figure appeared in the background. Maan walked into the kitchen, casually munching on one of her earlier cookies, looking totally at ease, unaware of her live broadcast. His relaxed presence was the polar opposite of her calm, collected demeanor.
Without saying a word, Geet’s eyes widened ever so slightly as she spotted him in the camera’s view. Her face flashed with momentary panic, but she recovered quickly, giving Maan a subtle, pointed look. Without breaking her smooth narration, she shot him a silent, almost imperceptible warning: *“Leave. Right. Now.”*
But Maan, blissfully unaware of the live audience, took another slow bite of his cookie, oblivious to the intensity of her gaze. The chat lit up immediately:
- *“Wait… who’s that???”*
- *“OMG, is that Maan Khuraana?!”*
- *“She’s totally ignoring him LOL!”*
- *“Her face says it all… this is GOLD.”*
- *“Guys, are we getting a glimpse of her ‘secret boyfriend’ right now?!”*
Geet continued speaking as if nothing had happened, her voice steady and her focus on the camera, completely ignoring Maan’s presence. Without acknowledging the comments or breaking her flow, she proceeded to spoon the cookie dough onto the baking sheet, carefully explaining each step with a sweet, unaffected smile.
Finally noticing her expression and the way she was meticulously avoiding his presence, Maan froze mid-bite, glancing between her and the camera with sudden realization. She didn’t have to say a word—her pointed, unflinching gaze said it all. He had been caught in the act.
Instead of reacting or causing a scene, Maan raised his hands in exaggerated surrender, as if silently saying, *“Alright, I’m leaving.”* But instead of sneaking out, he continued to take deliberate, dramatic steps backward, slowly fading out of the frame, all while holding her gaze with a smirk. Geet maintained her calm, offering her fans nothing in terms of explanation, brushing right past the incident as if nothing unusual had happened.
The comments went into overdrive:
- *“Did she seriously just ignore him? 😂”*
- *“The way she’s acting like he’s not even there… a QUEEN.”*
- *“Wait… they’re in the same house? What is happening??”*
- *“She’s not addressing this AT ALL… this is too good!”*
- *“This just confirms she’s hiding something! There’s NO way he’s just a ‘friend.’”*
Despite the frenzy in the comments, Geet kept her tone steady, avoiding any reference to Maan’s appearance. Instead, she cheerfully continued with her recipe, explaining baking times and tips, carefully ignoring the hundreds of comments asking about the man in the background. Her face remained calm and collected, as if she hadn’t just had an unexpected “visitor” on her live broadcast.
With a composed smile, she finished the session, not even hinting at what had just happened. “Thanks so much for joining, everyone! I hope you try out this recipe and love it as much as I do.” She ended the live with a friendly wave, completely dodging the chaos her fans were experiencing in the comments section.
---
The moment the live ended, clips of the mysterious moment exploded across social media. Fans analyzed Geet’s every expression, zooming in on Maan’s dramatic exit and Geet’s cool, unaffected demeanor. Theories abounded, some humorous and light-hearted, others filled with intrigue and even a hint of judgment:
- *“This was the most ‘caught in the act’ moment ever, and she IGNORED him. Iconic.”*
- *“She’s totally hiding something. Who casually ignores a guy in their kitchen on LIVE?”*
- *“The internet needs answers—who is the mystery man?!”*
- *“I think she’s with Maan Khuraana, but why isn’t she admitting it?!”*
- *“She could’ve laughed it off or introduced him… but she didn’t. This is SO interesting.”*
Soon, hashtags like #GeetMysteryMan and #CookieGate began trending as fans speculated on the relationship dynamic between Geet and her “mystery man.” Some people were charmed by the chemistry and playfulness, seeing it as evidence of a hidden romance. Others, however, raised more critical questions, wondering if there was a reason she didn’t want to acknowledge him openly.
---
Later That Evening
When Geet finished the live and joined Maan in the living room, he was grinning, holding up his phone, which was already filled with memes and reactions from their unplanned moment.
He chuckled, showing her one of the memes. *“When you’re caught red-handed, and she ignores you like a ghost.”* The caption showed a picture of Maan mid-bite, eyes wide, with Geet’s serious expression beside him.
She raised an eyebrow, leaning against the couch. “Look at you, Mr. Khuraana, accidentally fueling the internet with theories.”
He laughed, clearly amused. “It’s not every day I get ignored so publicly. You didn’t even give them a clue!”
Geet shrugged, a sly smile on her lips. “Well, they wanted a baking tutorial, not an introduction to my ‘cookie thief.’ Besides, a little mystery keeps people interested. And look at the internet—they’re having a field day.”
Maan chuckled, leaning back, his gaze softening as he looked at her. “I have to admit, I’m enjoying this. Let them wonder.”
Geet smirked. “Exactly. It’s all part of the game. For now, they can keep guessing.”
As they scrolled through the posts and comments, they shared a quiet, conspiratorial smile. The beauty of their relationship was that it was theirs—free from outside pressures, defined only by what mattered to them. They were in control, crafting their narrative in a way that was both genuine and guarded, keeping the best parts just for themselves.
As Maan wrapped his arm around her, Geet leaned into him, content in their shared secret. Together, they watched the internet spin itself into a frenzy, knowing they held the real story safe in their hearts, hidden in plain sight. For now, they’d let the world wonder—until they were ready to reveal the truth in their own way, on their own terms.
As they shared a quiet breakfast together the following morning, scrolling through the latest articles, they couldn’t help but laugh. They had turned the game on its head, using the very forces that had tried to control them to create their own narrative.
Geet looked up at him, her heart full. “What’s next?” she asked, a glint in her eye.
Maan took her hand, his thumb tracing gentle circles over her skin. “Next,” he murmured, leaning in, “we take this game to the next level.”
And with that, they sealed the plan with a kiss, ready to continue the adventure, no longer just a contract couple but partners in every sense, willing to write a love story that was as daring, defiant, and enduring as they were.
Over the following weeks, Geet and Maan’s “game” unfolded with increasingly elaborate twists, each move building their intrigue. They continued to attend events both together and separately, carefully orchestrating moments that appeared almost accidental, leaving the media in a frenzy. The allure of their mystery had elevated Geet’s career, bringing attention to her work as an actress, while Maan, known for his reserved demeanor, was suddenly thrust into the limelight in a way that fascinated the public. They were no longer just names in the press—they were a phenomenon, an enigma that kept people on the edge of their seats.
One evening, Geet received an invitation to a talk show. The producer hinted at digging into her “relationship status,” hoping for a ratings spike from the public’s obsession with her and Maan. When she showed Maan the invite, they exchanged a conspiratorial smile.
“You should go,” Maan said, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.
Geet raised an eyebrow. “And reveal all?”
“Not quite,” he replied, his eyes gleaming. “But a few hints here and there wouldn’t hurt. Let’s keep them on their toes.”
She grinned. “Alright. I’ll give them just enough to keep them guessing.”
---
Geet had been invited onto a popular Bollywood talk show, presented as an interview about her latest projects. But she knew better; she was aware of the show’s reputation for veering into gossip territory. The host, Rhea Malhotra, was well-known for her ability to extract juicy details from even the most tight-lipped celebrities, so Geet had come prepared.
The cameras rolled as Geet took her seat, dressed elegantly yet simply, with a calm smile that hinted at her readiness for anything. The interview started light, with questions about her latest projects, her journey as an actress, and her recent foray into the world of social media with her cooking lives. But soon, Rhea’s questions took a turn.
Rhea leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with interest. “So, Geet, your fans are just as captivated by your cooking skills as they are by… certain moments on your lives.” She paused, giving Geet a knowing smile. “Especially the recent one where… someone walked into your kitchen. Can you tell us more about that?”
Geet returned the smile, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she dodged the question effortlessly. “Oh, I suppose I didn’t realize people were that interested in my baking sessions,” she replied, shrugging lightly. “I was just sharing a simple cookie recipe, that’s all.”
Rhea raised an eyebrow, clearly hoping for more. “Come on, Geet. You know it wasn’t just about the cookies! People are curious about the ‘mystery man’ who made an unexpected appearance. Some say he looked… very comfortable in your kitchen. Care to comment?”
Geet chuckled, maintaining an air of mystery. “Well, it is my kitchen, and anyone who knows me knows that cookies are my favorite. As for ‘mystery men’… I’ll leave that to people’s imagination.” She took a sip of her water, keeping her expression perfectly serene.
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