Chapter 5

Chapter 5

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“Mom-Dad…You guys actually came?” This is how Geet welcomed her parents getting down from her stairs

“This is how you welcome your parents ?” scolded Rano. Geet laughed and hugged her

“Was missing your taunts” Geet made faces by bringing her nose and lips together.

“Where is Maan?” asked Mohinder, hoping they must have started their married life as husband and wife.

How would Geet know, she has not seen him face to face after the first night.

“He is busy”

“On Sunday?”

Luckily Mina came to Geet’s rescue “Ma’am, sir will be busy in his lab the whole day.”

Rano turned to Geet “You don’t know? She knows more about your husband”

Geet shrugged her shoulders “I said he is busy”

Geet made them settle in their room and got busy catching up with them. But no mention of Maan irked Rano

“Have you guys started married life or not Geet”

“Mom, we are adults and know how to take our marriage. I don’t want to discuss our personal things with anyone. I married the boy of your choice, you should be happy”

“You married our choice  because you know we will find the best for you and additionally he agreed to stay here with you”

“And you guys were able to push money in his mouth to agree to stay in his wife’s house”

“He agreed because his house does not have space. He could not take his parents or Grandma and sister out of the rooms to fit you in. He slept in the hall and he was practical enough to know that was impractical. So he moved in” explained Mohinder

“You should be proud that he didn’t make it an ego issue to move in to his wife’s house and kept your comfort above normal man’s stupid ego”

“As if I would have moved in that apartment. Why had he to agree to marry such girl”

“Is he complaining?” Enquired Mohinder

“Getting this luxury for free and servants at service, why would one complain? He is typical middle class greedy”

Rano was shocked “Geet, you two really have not interacted in these four months of marriage? Or else you would have never said such words for him” Rano was so angry

“You should trust your parent’s choice and try to know your husband. You will then be proud of your parents” said Mohinder. Geet trusted her parents  or else she would have never married a man of that status but the fear that her husband was greedy and her parents were too innocent, stopped her from facing that reality.

Monday Geet was gone and Maan came home early in the morning. He had a whole night shift due to some observations and some cases coming up for research. So he had a day off today.

Maan woke up later in the afternoon with the knock on his door. He opened the door to find Mohinder Handa there

“Can I come in?”

“Your daughter’s house, you don’t need my permission” Maan taunted and gave him the way

Mohinder saw the condition of the room. It was almost empty with no fancy stuff. The furniture there was only as much as it was initially set up. His clothes are still basic. The self was filled with books and no space for anything else. The dresser had a comb, a lotion and two body fresheners, that’s it. He was proud of the mid range Titan watch that he owned. Study table had  books piled up and three Desktops with different programs and readings running on them.

“Yes, you must have come here for something? Well my parents are not here to pressurize me, so this time do not come up with another weird unmatched proposal”

Mohinder sighed. He knew Maan was upset with him. He had denied this marriage knowing it’s non feasibility but Mohinder had convinced his parents to convince Maan. Innocent people were swayed  in emotion of respect shown by such rich and famous and pressurized Maan. Or else this would have not happened, Mohinder knew. He had met Maan and since then knew moving Maan’s decision was near impossible otherwise. And these qualities of Maan have determined Mohinder to get his daughter marry with Maan only.

“You guys have not started your married life”

“You guys did what you had to. Now we will decide to get into it our way. I don’t feel the need to explain our marital status to anyone.” The answer was the same as Geet’s. These two are so different yet so similar, though Mohinder

Mohinder smiled within, Maan just did not have money, or else he had everything his daughter needed. Geet didn’t need money but a man who would stand with her in any circumstances and he could see that in Maan. 

Mohinder knew Geet does not have an easy life out there going forward. Now that she is married, the relatives are not going to leave any chance to bring hurdles and danger in her life. And in all this she needed a rock solid partner like Maan. He had looked all around, rich, poor, educated, middle class, upper middle class and where not. But in all this he zeroed on Maan as Maan could not only easily handle Geet  but most importantly he will withstand and be solid support for Geet in her upcoming life’s hurdles and danger.

He had done deep research on Maan and his family before approaching him and there was a surprising truth that he had found. Thus Mohinder knew Maan had his own motive in life and the reason he was so focused. He also had a deep understanding that this marriage will only create further hurdles in what he is trying to achieve and thus Maan’s irritation was very understandable to Mohinder. Mohinder had been selfish in getting Maan married to Geet. He only wished that his daughter soon fall in love with this gem and give him so much support that Maan himself can forgive him

“You are now upset with me but one day when Geet will fall in love with you, you will not regret this marriage. You will forgive me that day.”

Maan raised his eyebrows and curved his lips to downward for a taunting smile

“Fall in love…Great!!” he threw his hand in the air

“Only, if  ‘The highness’ thinks of giving a single look to this mediocre husband of hers….. Falling in love…hnnn. You can dream on, spare me”

“Okay, if Geet falls in love with you, will you accept it” Mohinder enquired 

“Aree re re re… iss nacheez ke kya aukat, to turn down , ‘The Highness’ ”

“Bete, it's not about status, it's about love. When love will happen all this status will vanish. And you are her husband. Kuch galat fehmi hai usse bas”

“Wow… it's about love and no status. Do you think I am emotional like my parents, whom you trapped in your sweet talk. Sorry, but I am very practical and know how practically this world runs. It is exactly about status and nothing about love here.”

Mohinder stood patting Maan’s shoulder. Maan stayed cold. 

After he left, Maan stood in front of the mirror and looked at himself from all angles. He ignored his good looks, his great physique, his core inner values, his genius brain, his hard working habits. From Geet’s point of view, he only looked at his simplistic self with average dressings and talked to himself

“Why the hell does this old man want his ‘dream-like daughter 'to start her life with a mediocre like me?” 

Couple of weeks passed by.

Geet’s other second cousin, Chahat along with Chitra, Sahil and Rajeev planned a party to invite their friends and Geet’s friends. All those who had partners or were married were expected to come with their partners. This they did especially to prove that her marriage was fake just a show on paper. She cannot come to party with that middle class husband of hers. Or if he comes, their fakeness will be in front of all.

Geet was looking at the invitation. They have been accusing her of a fake marriage for the last four months and if she does not go with her husband this time, they will get a golden chance to talk about her and spread rumors.

There was no option left, she had to talk to her husband. Why not? , he should serve the purpose for which she has married him. But thinking of him, she wondered, why have he never approached her to proceed their relationship or even questioned her thoughts about this marriage.  He was just a middle class man and he got Geet Handa as his wife and this man was least interested in this marriage. No it was not possible for any normal man to resist her, her status, her persona and wonderful killer body and her beauty. Opposite to Maan, Geet very well knew her worth. 

Whatever be it, the fact was after she had declared them as strangers, her  husband had taken it literally and never looked at her. So it will be her who has to go and initiate the talk.

Geet was standing at the door of her husband’s room, tapping the invitation in her hand. She moved her hand forward to tap on the door but then moved backward. She took a deep breath and turned to find all the four attendants were peeping in line. She showed them her eyes and they hid behind the pillar. She again turned to knock on the door and they again bent to peep in. 

“I am about to knock on my husband's room, why are they peeping as if it's unusual. Any wife can knock on the door of her husband.” She, this time forwarded her hand and did a real knock. But there was no answer.

She knocked again, no answer and again… five times but there was no answer. Ohhh he is showing attitude, let it be. She turned to go but then realized that currently talking to him was more important than her ego.

She pushed the door to find the room empty and then the shock covered her face. The simplicity of the room nowhere matched the modern and high class status of the penthouse. There were only books all around. Dresser with nothing there. Bed had bedsheets and pillow covers that looked old. Curious, she moved to check the big closets in the room. Surprisingly there were nothing other than two pairs of shirts and pants. At the bottom rack was nicely placed three pairs of shoes, one sandal, one running shoes and one formal and beside it were shoes polishing stuff. The formal shoes were nowhere formal by her standards. They looked pretty worn but shined due to polishing done on them.

“Who survives with three pairs of shoes and three pairs of clothes.” she wondered

There were a couple of nightwear sets as well.

Over all, other than furniture of the room, total numbers of stuff available in the room could be counted on fingers.

One thing that could not be counted were books. Books were stacked everywhere. Geet’s curiosity about her husband increased and she tried checking the drawers, they were either empty with random stuff or completely locked. What were those? 

She moved to the lavish washroom that had been done on her instruction for her husband’s luxury.

The washroom was dry and his few clothes were hanging there. She found that a few luxury brand toiletries that had been provided initially were untouched except the basic products like soap and shampoo. Even for soap and shampoo, initially provided luxury brands  have finished and been replaced by the mediocre brands like “Luux”. 

“Bollywood heroin” she laughed to herself, remembering the brand's advertising style.. Okay, if we have not discussed this before, let me tell you, Geet Handa, the business woman, does watch ITV and Bollywood movies other popular drama series to destress herself. As per her, they do not require her brain to work and helps her destress from high pressure work .

Geet forgot about the invitation piece as exploring this man seemed very interesting. She sat on the bed, the bedsheet was old but very neatly washed and placed.

“Such simplicity in this era?”

“Is Dad telling the truth that he had declined proposal on the mention of financial help”

“Did he really marry me just because his parents insisted? Was it so simple?”

“Why did he agree to come stay here?”

“Was mom stating the truth when she said he moved in here because he knew I won’t be able to adjust in his small house?”

“Is he really not using any luxury provided here? But why?”

She looked at the invitation - If that’s the case. Is this invitation an opportunity for her to get to know her husband more? Was the time for running away over? 

Curiosity was killing her. Seeing his lifestyle in spite of all facilities provided,made her curious and she was interested in knowing this man. They are staying in the same house, they are bound into a strong and pure relation of marriage, she could at least try to get to know him. 

She again looked around the room. He didn’t seem to be just any man. Dad has really found someone different for her. Geet cannot give judgment on if he was anywhere near to the man she would fall for but he was her husband and she could tell, he was at least someone who you should not just ignore. 

But where was he? Has he given up on them and left forever. But his stuff was there.

Geet found Jigar doing the dusting “Jigar”

“Yes ma’am” 

“Do you know, where is… ummm” she signaled to Maan’s room

“Sir?” “Hmmm”

“Ma’am, he will be back after three days. He has gone to Mumbai” Geet sighed in relief. At least he did not break the marriage without a word.

But then soon realized, three days!!!! Ohh party is tomorrow and anyhow she needs to take him with her. If not, they will for sure circulate the rumor that she is making an excuse.

“Do you have his number?”

‘Ma’am you don’t have it?’ teased Jigar

“You really want to lose your job, right? He smiled and nodded for no and gave her Maan’s number.

She then saw Mina “Mina”

“Yes, ma’am” 

“You wanted to talk about something?”

“Yes ma’am. Ma’am, next Saturday I will be on leave”

“Leave, on Saturday. No Mina. You know I stay at home on Saturday and need you the most that day”

“ma’am , Saturday is parent’s teacher’s meeting for my daughter”

Geet was surprised “Good. But you never took leave for it before”

“I never went there. We are not educated enough to talk to teachers. But Maan sir scolded and said, being parents of our kids, it is our duty and right to go there. He will ask for the report of how it went. If I don’t go then..”

Geet was curious ‘then..”

“Then he will stop giving lessons to our kids and will not talk to us”

Geet pocked further “if he doesn’t talk then nice for you. You will be saved from one boss’ work”

“No ma’am. He doesn’t let us do a single thing for him. He doesn’t like to be dependent on others. Aur itnee achchee achchee batein batate hain sir, he has so much knowledge” 

“Yeah that I can see” his room filled with books flashes in front of her eyes. But then something struck her 

“What.. you guys are not serving his basic needs? He does all his work on his own?”

“Yes ma’am “

“What Mina? How could you not let me know of this before? This is not correct Mina?”

“Nothing in this marriage is correct “ murmured Mina to herself which Geet heard

Geet saw how everyone was influenced by her husband 

“Not a Bollywood actress but a perfect ITV heroine, influencing everyone ” Geet again laughed in her mind thinking of him as ITV female lead, best bahu award types. 

“Ma’am, can I be on leave on next saturday”

“Of course, If your great sir is an ITV lead, I cannot be a vamp.”

“What ma’am?”

“Nothing. Go. Aur haan, I didn’t realize you have not been attending the PTM or else I would have suggested the same”

“Of course ma’am, you are so busy” she smiled and left. 

Curiosity to know him more was increasing in Geet’s heart. A little ticklish feeling occurred in her heart for her husband who till now was just someone, a middle class man from the crowd.

She smiled to herself “interesting…” She didn’t even realize that blush had already formed on her face.

Geet for the first time dialed her husband’s number.

Maan was busy overlooking birthday party arrangements for Annie. Today was Annie’s birthday and Maan had landed here by a day trip from the train. Annie has insisted on having a somewhat grand party now that Bhai was married to such a big family.

Maan did not want to bring his marital life matters in front of all and he did not wish to disappoint Annie as well. So he had further cut from his savings and arranged a grand birthday party for her in a high end party hall of Mumbai. Snacks had been served and now it was time for cake cutting when Maan’s cell buzzed with name ‘The Highness”

“Bhai, some ‘The Highness’ is calling you. Who is this?” Vicky called Maan when he saw his cell phone buzzing 

“No one.” Maan immediately picked the phone. Why did she call him? How did she get his number? What does she think, that he was some prisoner in her house that he had to take her permission to come to his own house? No way, today he will set her expectations straight.

“Sach mein to ‘The Highness’ nahi samajhtee khud ko” he wondered.

“Yes…”  his strong voice surprised Geet. The depth directly reached her heart

“Unnhhhnn..” She cleared her throat

“I am Geet this side” she said trying to gain his attention

“Yes, I have your number saved. What made you call me?” he said in straight, no hesitation. Once again surprised by the confident tone.

His clothes, his living didn’t match his tone. It came as surprise

“Can we talk later, I am busy here in some function” He at last spoke after waiting for a while for her to speak

“Function?” “Yes. Can we talk later?” 

“Hmm… in an hour” “OK. I will give you a call once I am free” he said and disconnected.

He disconnected and Geet kept looking at the phone and a smile formed on her face. First time she was getting a girlish tickle. The depth and confidence in his voice has already touched her somewhere.

Seeing his century old living style, his love for books, she  was feeling the need to know more about him. Somehow the idea of leading a life with her middle class husband didn’t look that impossible or odd. It felt adventurous.

“Experimental” slipped her lips and she shook her head, thinking a little too ahead. 

Geet was roaming in her room “he said he will call after an hour. It is going to be an hour”

And exactly after five minutes her cell buzzed. Geet picked at just two ring

“Hi” she started this time. Somewhat nervous for calling the first time, that too because she needed him.

“You called. I thought you didn’t know I existed” came his mocking words

Geet did not know how to say. But then with straight forward person like him she thought speaking straight is best

“How long are you staying in Mumbai”

“Ohh.. my wife is missing me”  

“I can say something if you can stop your taunts. We both don’t keep tabs of each other”

“Well it’s you who suggested we stay as strangers. Anyways, how can you say we both don’t keep tabs on each other. You can talk about yourself.” he paused for a moment 

“Anyways, what made you call me?”

Geet again cleared her throat “Listen, we are husband and wife”

“Thanks for letting me know. So?”

“I will come straight. See people have been raising question on our marriage”

“Ummm.. so untrue. Very bad”

Geet sighed, he was not being helpful at all.  

“I have been invited to a party and we are expected to come along with our partners. If we do not show up together my cousins are keeping an eagle eyes to raise a rumor”

“So you need help from your middle class husband?”

“See you can taunt me as much later but if we do not go together then they can use it as case to prove our marriage is fake and try to claim this business empire”

“Ohhhkk, so is that why you married me? Make me stay in one corner of the house so that you can pick me to show in your parties and gatherings”

“See it looks like that but it is not exactly that way. We will definitely discuss it later but this time I really need you. I am requesting”

“Okay okay…It’s Ok. I have married you so publicly or anyway when you need me I will be there. When is your party?”

“Tomorrow evening”

“Tomorrow? I am visiting Mumbai for three days”

“Yeah, Jigar told me. But if…” Geet really felt bad. He was right, she has not  kept any tab on him or how he has been doing. He has left his family and come to live in her house and she has not even for formality shake cared about him. Not even any servant or attendant has to be ignored that way and he was her husband.

And she is directly calling him when she needs his presence desperately.

“Can you please try…”

“I will be there. You need me in the evening, so let me check tickets to reach there by afternoon”

“I can see a flight ticket available for 11 am, 1pm and 2 pm. Business class is mostly available” she informed him as she was checking tickets on her system

“I will check the train tickets for early morning. I know there’s a train at 4 am”

“No no, why would you start so early. You are already in function and waking up so early..” she then realized that train tickets will be much cheaper and thus…..

“I can book flight tickets for you, in business class”

“Excuse me? Why would you book tickets for me? I will be there by afternoon tomorrow. Good night” he disconnected

Geet kept the phone and got lost in thinking. Did she offend him by offering the flight tickets? He was coming here for her and so she thought it was her responsibility to not increase his problem. 

Company pays for managers and employees when they travel for company purposes. He would be traveling for her thus she offered.

“He is not your employee Geet, he is your husband” she reminded herself.

She smiled to herself “He has not accepted a flight ticket from you and you assumed he sold himself for money. You went very wrong in your assumptions Geet”

His level headed confidence and straight talks circled again and again in her head.  Party was just an excuse now, she really wanted to know him. All that she has known about him today, his simplicity, his being a role model for people here, was surely making her eager to know more about him.

This time she has to be open minded when interacting with him. 

[NOCOPY]

Hope you like the progress 

ENJOY!! LIKE!!!! AND COMMENT!!! 

-Anu 

Tagging few. in my friend list. inviting reading