Chapter 4

Chapter 4

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“Live like strangers, so be it.” Their days ran in parallel in the same house.  Both woke up at 4:30 am. Maan went for a jog, Geet on her treadmill. 

Geet freshens up in her room, Maan in his room. Geet is served juice and breakfast on the table. Maan goes to the kitchen, crushes lemon in a glass of warm water, makes his salad and leaves for his room.

She gets ready and leaves from the front. Maan gets ready and leaves from the back gate of society. Back gate, for two reasons. First, the road that side is closer to his office. Another is, he takes an auto, till his bike arrives and does not intend to make it obvious that Geet Handa’s husband is taking an auto to the office. No one in society has seen them together to know he was her husband. There are many people in society who take auto, cab or rickshaw, he is just one of them.

Days pass by and both co-exist in the house as strangers. Geet is busy in her projects and meeting and answering her relatives that she has protected her rights to property and empire as she is now married and they should stop dreaming

Maan is busy in his research, His management, his job, planning money for Anwesha abroad studies and last but not the least, his own big dream. The dream which he is working ardently without making a single noise of it. Thus he had no time to sit and think on what meaningless marriage he has been pushed on to. People thought of him as being boring or anything of that sort, does not matter to him. For him these things were his least priority compared to his responsibilities and his own dream. That kind of focus he had to achieve his goals and responsibilities.

Geet is at peace, as now not only does her husband come to her for showing his rights on her room and stuff but also her relatives who have been eyeing her property due to the weird will of her grandpa, are quiet. She is able to fully focus on the projects and growth of the company. 

But how come this man, who came with a husbandly claim on the first night, is not seen ever since. She is sure he has demanded money from her Dad. Dad must have shut his mouth with money. 

Maan on the other side, though busy in his own responsibilities, also started interacting with attendants. Geet did not like much crowd in her space so she had just four people to attend her in this house. One was Mina, her personal attendant, Sanjay the chef, Jigar and Charu maintained the house and ran at calls. 

Maan was in the habit of always guiding his siblings to do things right and wrong. And himself being a researcher had a habit of correcting and guiding people around him. Though now he was additionally doing MBA for his entrepreneur dream, he could not help but check on how the staff in house were doing. 

Also, being a health freak he was not comfortable to be served by anyone other than his mother, so he made his own breakfast, lunch and dinner.Soon staff learnt that Maan, who maintained a simplistic outlook in all ways, was internally very passionate about healthy habits, his gyming, running and his physique. Be it mental or physical, he believed that roots of one should be solid. Exterior can be done anytime with minimal effort.

Other than that, if Geet Handa has not given him rights of husband then what rights does he have to use the services of people she paid for her own maintenance. But this was secondary.  

Seeing him doing all his stuff on his own, never asking them for service, instead keeping track of all their issues and happenings, guiding them for their life and children, they all fell for his charm and became his ardent followers.

Maan learnt that Geet had got their kids admission in a good private school but then they did not utilize it properly. Good education and healthy living was his weakness and he could not tolerate people around him not taking it seriously.

He kept a few hours of his time to guide kids of different age groups. He would go to the society community center and give some counseling sessions. This act of his inspired other residents, not only elderly citizens to do something but also few ladies, students and working men. They just needed an hour or two of theirs in a week to give to the kids or all workers and attendants in the society. 

Maan was a man of few words and kept to himself. He also was busy with so many things at hand that he had no time for socializing. But still his initiative and leadership skill automatically draw people to him. 

For his physical activity, he used to run on society tracks daily, in his inner vest and track 😜. Many girls and even ladies changed their timings to admire this silent handsome man. In the evening he would make sure to go to Gym. 

At first, seeing gyming equipment at home, he was very excited and used it in the evening when Geet was out. He avoided crossing paths with her.

But after a week, he heard Geet shouting at Mina for her equipment not being in its place or she doubting the attendants used it. Mina did not say that her husband was using it as she did not want her boss to think wrong of her husband. But since then Maan joined the reputed evening Gym located on his way back home.

Slowly the words spread in society that this man was Maan Khurana, husband of The Geet Handa. With his middle class life and not a single time showing off, it was hard for them to imagine that this man could be the husband of The Geet Handa. How they flaunted everywhere that Geet Handa, the industrialist lived in the pent house in their society. 

Though Geet’s pent house was double in size than any other in society and specially designed for her high standard. Her staying in society was a matter of pride for these high class people themself. But this man never ever gave a hint that he was the husband of Geet Handa. 

Geet had her own busy life. Getting new projects and working hard on them to gain every project. Geet was getting addicted to getting most projects under her wing. This addiction was also causing stress for her as it was getting difficult to deliver best in so many projects. But she cannot let The Handa Group name down and thus worked day and night. 

Another thing that kept her busy between her hectic schedule was her far away relatives. The relatives who lost the chance to get the empire in their name because she married. With the careeristic Geet and her showing  no interest in any man and having no love affair, they were sure she will never marry before she turns twenty six and according to will, if she does not marry by then, the property will be distributed among the cousins of Mohinder Handa. But her father got her married before she turned twenty six, thus making them lose the golden chance.

Though Geet was aware they would not sit silent. The huge empire owned by one single girl and they had namesake of the holdings in this huge business Empire. This was not easy for most close relatives to digest. 

The Handa group was ranked tenth top company in the country.Thus they could not sit still. They strongly believed it was a fake marriage and if they prove it to court, they still had a chance.

Chitra and Sahil, her second cousin met her in the club

“So Geet, how's your husband doing?”

“Great. Busy” Geet gave a crisp confident response

“Never seen you both together” 

“Because we both are busy and don’t need to make public appearance together to show off”

“Really? Why don’t you say, husband that your father bought for you is not worth seeing in public ”

“Ohh, I did not marry to prove my husband to you all. I don’t really care what you think”

“But you definitely married to prove to the court. Or how did you end up marrying that middle, service class man.”

“I married a man my Dad selected for me. And I knew my Dad loves me more than this business empire and if he has selected someone for me he has to be special. And I have enough money to not marry any man just because he is rich. It doesn’t matter to me if he is rich or middle class. The man and his core values matter.”

“Why does it feel that you wish this for your husband but you don’t know yet if he is what you have dreamt?” Said Chitra and Geet knew she was right. 

Geet didn’t know if Maan was the person of such core values. Her dad has selected him for her, so is he the one she has dreamt of?  But then why would Maan, a middle class man marry her and agree to stay in her house. If he is bought with money then he is not the man with those core values that she has wished for. She could not think of a reason a man would marry a girl and come stay in her house, just like that. He definitely had money in his mouth.

It was difficult for Geet to imagine that there really existed a man who was confident enough of himself and whose ego did not hurt to come and stay in his wife’s house. How she wished it was true.

She had no idea that Maan has much bigger responsibilities on his shoulder and a big dream to work on than to waste time on pampering an orthodox male ego. 

“I am not here to give clarification about my husband to you all”

“Yes you will when we prove he has married you for your money” Geet left them with their rubbish.

Geet had been facing such allegations for her husband and thus avoided seeing him. She was trying to avoid facing the fact she feared was true - her husband has no core values and was bought with lots of money. 

Two months passed. Geet being busy managing projects she has taken. She had the whole team to manage the projects, the sales team for getting the projects and different production units to deliver the projects. She has to just keep an eye on all happening and be on top of all heads and approve the innovative ideas. But overlooking everything from top and making sure things ran fine and stats are up, shares keep rising was not an easy task. 

Maan on the other side was busy with his research job in BioChemical. He had moved to Bangalore with a raised salary thus work pressure was even higher. Other than that, his evening classes of the MBA program and its assignment kept him busy after normal office hours. He has also been working on the blueprint and strategy to start his own lab and business in the BioChemical industry.

On weekends, he did some cooking for himself ,interacted with the workers in the house and took classes for their kids in the community center of the society. The attendants and their kids started waiting for the weekend for his lectures and guidance. Though most of the time he would scold them for not following his instructions or being casual with things but still they waited for his lectures to them. They felt they got a guide in their life. The irony was he never behaved bossy for them to do his work, in fact he never needed them for his work, he did his work on his own. Only cleaning of his room which was part of the house was done by the cleaners.

They had many times offered their service to him but he would politely decline.

“Sir, you have so much to do, we will make the breakfast and call you”

“Thanks, but it just takes me ten minutes, i’ll do” and he would send them off.

In case he asked them to do anything, they would do it as a priority due to the respect that he gained from them. But mostly what he needed from them was to not disturb him and not knock on his room when he was busy with some work, his assignment or strategy planning. They would make sure the instruction is followed.

His natural instinct and nature of making sure all at home was fine, made him indirectly enquire about his wife. Attendants too, indirectly kept him informed as when she was on tour or stressed or happy due to winning or losing the project, success or failure, hurdles etc.. 

He would also observe her from far. Though at present both were busy in their career but

she was his wife and thus not today but tomorrow they have to start their life together. So he could not stop being concerned about her.

Once he had time and  he was making tea for himself and Mina indirectly mentioned

“Today ma’am is getting some awards. We will be watching” Maan smiled, knowing what she was hinting at.

“Call me when the program starts” he could see her excitement “Sure sir”

He had watched the program till the end and admired his workaholic wife getting an award. Of course he was proud of her. She for sure needed an established businessman not a struggling starter like him. 

He for sure was planning to never forgive her parents for binding her with him. Their being together in this bond made no sense to him. 

One more month passed and Maan had a bit of leisure time in the evening as he was now completely done with MBA. His all papers for the final term were complete.

He one day saw Geet with her head thrown on the sofa. He had the idea that things were going stressful for her these days. He had some suggestions and guidelines that may help her in a way and lessen her stress but he was sure she would not consider even listening to his  ideas. 

Prominent business woman, why would she consider a middle class serviceman worth giving her any idea. 

So all he did was, went to the kitchen and made a special tea, with ginger and some herbs, that his mother usually made for him when he had stressful day and asked Mina to serve it to Geet

“What’s this Mina? I don’t drink tea, bring me my coffee”

Sir had made this coffee for Ma’am and Mina could in no case not go without making her drink

“Ma’am this is special. I promise you will feel better after drinking this. Please ma’am”

“Did I ask your suggestion, go bring me my coffee”

“No Ma’am, I insist. Please” Geet at last took the cup “You are becoming very stubborn these days. Is someone training you to go against my order? 

She definitely hinted at Maan. “No ma’am” And she left. Geet took a sip and relaxation ran all through her. Smile formed on her face. Maan saw her smiling from afar and left for his room.

Days passed by, now it was four months of their marriage. Maan had his usual days but he has now started observing her - her happy state, content state or her stressed state. He could also not miss on the fact that she was one of the most beautiful women, even in her raw form without makeup. Of course no one is above his mom. Being a young man and knowing she is his wife, it was natural for Maan to start a feeling for her , not love but care and concern.

Though he had no expectation from her or this marriage and thus kept to his own self to save his self respect. Also, the first day in this house, his first and only interaction with her and her assigning him a room on the ground floor, separate from the rooms for family, was noted in his mind, not to let it go and maintain his distance with her.

Geet had completely avoided her husband but his not making any try to bridge the gap was making her inquisitive.  Being a businesswoman, she had big responsibilities and thus was busy, though she knew this was an excuse to avoid him. But then, he was just a normal nine to five office going man. He was not as busy as her, why did he not try to bridge the gap. At least he could try to convince her why he sold himself for money. She can then consider. 

She sighed. They were married and whether she likes it or not, she has to start her relationship with him. She just can’t break the relationship without even giving it  a try.

Another thing was, her parents were now done with her excuse and were planning to visit her. Geet has managed so far by herself making visits to them. Letting them know that Maan was busy. But now they have decided to visit her in Bangalore. Geet had no idea what her husband would expose about their non-existent relationship to her parents.

Dear Readers – Please press the Like and please participate with your comments. Many of you may consider this as a slow update but this build up was needed to setup the stage for further story to proceed.

ENJOY!! 🤗

tellyme2024-04-11 14:45:42