Chapter 5

Chapter 5

With the college break and dadima away for a couple ofdays, Geet was relieved. She did not have to face anyone, she knew for surethat none of the household staff would say anything to dadima either. Just for herown piece of mind, she told them firmly.

She didn't need the elderly woman returning and her heartrate spiking if she ever comes to learn of Geet's bruises.

The next morning had been different, Maan wasn't gone asusual instead he was sat downstairs on the dining room table angrily talking tosomeone over the phone whilst Nakul set the table.

"Dev, what the hell are you there with dadima?"Maan snapped.

...

"Make dadima see sense" he growled.

...

"I don't care how stubborn she is"

...

"Damn you" he hissed pounding his fist on the table,Geet started and turned her head to him. Maan noticed her body jerking infright, he grated his teeth and said bye to his brother harshly cutting the call.

Geet avoided looking at Maan, she grabbed herself sometoast and poured herself a cup of tea and started eating. It was awkward for sure,she was usually having breakfast with Naintara, Dadima and Dev. Maan would notbe here.

Now it just her and him alone.

Maan was served omelette and black coffee this morning,he picked his knife and fork and started eating his breakfast. His eyes hadwandered curiously to Geet and drawn to her cheek, he noted the bruise wasalmost invisible and figured she must have used some sort of makeup product tocover the bruise.

He had bothered him when she had not told him, he didwant to know but he wasn't one to ask twice for information. He will just haveto find out himself.

They finished their breakfast in silence, he stoodgrabbing his phone and turned to leave only to glance over his shoulder at her,"Would you like a ride to college?"

"It's our holiday for two and half weeks" sheanswered.

"Oh, okay" he nodded then walked out leavingher to stare curiously.

He's never askedbefore Geet thought to herself and suddenly he was asking. It was clearyesterday had changed something, she didn't want to be pitied howeverespecially not by him.

Following the close of college, Geet was going to bebored here and she couldn't just go shopping as she always loved to do backhome because it was after all Maan's card and money. An idea interested herthough, she called her friend Misha as Aditi was away visiting her relativesduring the holidays.

"Hey girl" Misha answered enthusiastically.

"Mish! What are you doing today?"

"Babe, I'm in bed still sleeping" Mishaburrowed her face into the pillow.

"Can you meet me? I want to discuss something withyou" Geet asked.

"You wanna meet up at lunch at the KK restaurant? Yashand Ryan are meeting me there as well".

"Okay, I'll see you guys at lunch then" Geet agreedsmiling.

She then made a call to dadima to see how she was doing.Dadima was elated hearing Geet's voice and they both chatted for a quite sometime discussing all sorts with Naintara piping in from time to time. Geet chuckledhearing Dev complaining how the trio were like phone kitty partying whichNaintara and dadima told Geet they'd talk later as Dev was getting hungry.

"Dadima, can I first just speak to you aboutsomething?" Geet asked before they'd hung up.

Naintara and Dev understood that Geet may be wanting tospeak alone so they'd left the room giving some privacy as the two ladiestalked.

"Um..." Geet wasn't sure how to start.

"Geet, are you okay?" dadima sounded concerned.

"Would it be okay if I was to get a part time job? It'sthe holidays and I would like to do something you know..." she trailed off hopingdadima would understand.

"Of course, Geet. But if you are wanting to workpart time, why not ask Maan if there's anything that might be available at hisoffice?"

Geet didn't want to work alongside him though, but beforeshe could answer dadima said "Actually, I'll speak to him. You leave it tome".

"I could find job elsewhere, I'm doing financing soit would be easy to find anything in a bank or something" Geet quicklysaid.

"Nonsense, Maan has a big financing department. Aaphumare bahu hain Geet, it wouldn't look good if people come to know that theKhurana khandaan bahu is working elsewhere and Maan would not like it if youhappen to find a job in a rival's company"

I don't think he'dcare Geet said to herself. Sadualready thinks I'm living off his money and he'd think I'm answerable even moreif I was to work in his company.

Geet sighed and said bye to dadima, dadima did not soundlike she was going to listen to whatever Geet may have to say so she keptquiet.

She could always pretend that she applied but failed tomake it to the interview stage and apply for a different company or bank.

Sandeep knocked on the office door, he pushed in and stoodwaiting, "Sir".

Maan looked up from the blueprint designs in front of himand nodded in acknowledge, he then turned to Sasha. "Sasha, give me a fewminutes please" he told his colleague, Sasha nodded and stood leaving theroom.

Maan stood and looked at Sandeep curiously, "Did youfind anything out?"

"From one of the cctv cameras near the college, Geetmadam was walking with some friends around 5ish. I think she'd gone to cinemasor something because she was seen on the cctv in the cinema hall. The nextcamera footage Ali pulled up was Geet madam being dropped off near the busstation near 8.30pm and waiting until there was some guys stood waiting. It seemedlike Geet madam was walking away and they followed, Ali couldn't find Geet madamon any other cctv cameras" he explained.

Maan calculated the time mentally, Geet had told dadimashe would make it home by 9pm and he had gone searching for her at around9.40pm and Sandeep had found her at around 10.30pm. Which meant Geet had beenin danger for 2hours, and she could have been... the images that flashed in hismind had him coursing with anger. He clenched his jaw and suddenly grabbed thepaperweight and swung it across breaking the glass wall shattering it into pieces.

There was shocked yelps as everyone stood, shards ofglass everywhere. Maan snapped his head to the side glowering at his shockedstaff.

"Get back to work!" he bellowed loudly, hisvoice echoing in the entire floor. He turned his attention to Sandeep."Find them!" he stated firmly and stalked out of the office, Sashahurried over and looked at the mess of shattered glass and one of Maan'sguards.

"Sandeep, what happened?" she asked.

"Nothing" Sandeep murmured and walked past her.

"Pinky, call the cleaners and tell to clean this up"she ordered, and turned to Aditya, "Call someone to replace the glasswall, he's going to see his office back to how it is" she said.

Aditya agreed and left to make the call.

Sasha was stunned, she had not seen Maan lose his angerlike this, she had seen the angry side of him, it was evident when things didnot go his way and he usually took it out on the staff by pointing out thelittlest mistake and disciplining them harshly.

But, Maan resorting to breaking the glass wall. This wassomething new.

Geet cancelled lunch with Misha, following herconversation with dadima there was really no point of asking Misha for help inlooking for a job yet. Once Maan says no to her joining, she'd call Misha backand ask her for help.

Geet had been sat lying in her bed for the last hourreading her book, now bored she climbed out of their bed and headed downstairs.It was almost nearing 1pm, she decided to check on the household staff which wereprobably holed up in the kitchen.

She entered and smiled seeing them making conversationand eating.

"Geet madam" Nakul immediately stood.

"Sit back down" Geet frowned.

"Did you want something? I'll make..." Nakul didn'tsit down.

"I said sit" she demanded. "I am not yourboss or something" she rolled her eyes. "What are you eating?"she asked looking at the plates.

"Pav bhaji" Chanda pointed. "Aap khayenge?"

Geet shook her head, "kitna unhealthy hain" shesaid. "Main apna khana khud banadungi" she said.

"Mera hogaya, main banata hoon" Nakul stood, Geetnoticed his half empty plate and knew he had not finished.

"Tum chup chaap betoge. Khana khatm karo aur mainkhana banaungi" she said in a stern tone. "Yahan bait ke mujhe bataoyeh ingredients kahan hain" she said and gave a list of ingredients. Nakultold her and chewed his food faster. He finished then washed his plate, he was quicklyfollowed by Chanda and Mohan. Once they'd finished they offered to help Geet who'dshut them up and told them to stay quiet as she worked.

Once Geet started on her task of cooking, she startedspeaking to the household staff. She had asked their work history and evenasked about their family.

"Wow itne saare loug tumhare ghar main?" Geet lookedamazed at Chanda who informed she lived with her 4 sisters and 3 brothers andtheir elderly father. "Mere ghar mein sirf main hi ti papa aur mama kebaad" she said.

"Haan madam, bade ghar mein maza kuch aur hain"Chanda smiled.

"Haan, yahan bhi zyada loug bhi nahi hain" Geetsaid, "I don't know why we're living in such a big mansion. There's only afew of us".

Geet dumped in her chicken in the fried spices that were nowproperly cooked fused, she smiled pouring in carrots, sweetcorn, potatoes, peasand lots of spinach.

She licked her lips excitedly and covered the pot with alid letting it cook for a while, she then started on clearing up the rubbishfrom the chopping board.

Nakul, Chanda and Mohan moved forward to help.

"Stop it" Geet said loudly, Maan's attentionwas drawn as he had just entered and he hurried to the kitchen wondering whatwas happening. He stopped by the door and noted his staff stood in a linebesides each other as Geet pointed her finger at them continuing her tirade.

"I cooked so I'm cleaning, you stand there and waitfor instructions if I want any help" Geet huffed. "Meri baat hi nahisunte tum loug. Main tumhari malkin nahi hoon, tum Maan ke staff ho, mere nahi.Isi liye tum loug chup chaap yahin kadhe raho" she told them. "I canclean up after myself, samjhe".

"Ji madam" Nakul nodded.

"Good" Geet smiled cheerfully, she grabbed thedishes she'd dirtied placing them in the sink then wiped down the counters."Anyway, what year did you study to?" she asked curiously.

"10th" Nakul answered first,"mere papaji pehle yahan kaam karte te. Jab unka death hogaya, maine shurukar diya".

"Study nahi ki uske baad?"

"Nahi, tanqha bohut accha ta. Sab study karte haina take unka job ho aur paise mile. Mujhe job mila aur paise bhi, main ghar meinakela hi ta jo apne behan ko padha saku" he responded.

Maan didn't know that, he watched Geet interacting withhis staff as she started on washing the wishes, wiping them dry and puttingthem away with Nakul's direction of where the dishes go. Geet then turned aroundand lifted a lid, Maan smiled as she grinned widely and stirred and sprinkledsomething over the dish and switched off the cooker. He had returned home wantingto demand answers, but then seeing her smoothly moving around the kitchen and chatteringaway non-stop had calmed down the growing frustration within. Geet wasn't goingto speak if he were to order her around, from his observation she was much strongerin her stance than he first assumed. She could have told him what happenedyesterday and she must have known he could have done something about it right? However,he wasn't sure about that. They had not known one another, since their weddingnight they had barely interacted at all. It was only yesterday they had talked no he had yelled.

"Smells amazing na?" Geet asked looking over atthe staff. She grabbed a spoon and dipped it in, she slurped the sauce and grinnedwidely.

"Bohut accha madam" Chanda agreed.

"Bowl le aao" Geet told them.

"Nahi nahi madam, aap khaye" Nakul said shakinghis head.

"Maine order kiya hain" Geet answered.

Maan stepped inside, Nakul and the other two straighteneddipping their head.
"I'm sure I just heard you saying you're not their boss" Maan lookedamused.

Geet bit down on her lip and squeezed her eyes, sheslowly turned around and saw him looking all amused.

What was she goingto say to that?

Geet looked here and there, then puffed out her chest. Whywas she getting conscious, she didn't do anything wrong. If anyone was wrong,it was him. "Very bad manners, you shouldn't be eavesdropping" shecrossed her arms.

Maan gestured for Nakul and his staff to leave.

"Wait" Geet called but they left hurriedly. "Whydid you send them away? I wanted them to try my stew" she pouted her lips.

"I'll try it" Maan proffered.

Geet sceptically eyed him, "Why are you being socalm and nice today? You're usually a saru"

"Didn't we agree on not calling one anothernames?" Maan reminded.

"Well, I broke it" Geet responded turning backto her stew. "Saru".

"Geet" Maan stated her name firmly.

She looked up at him matching his narrowed eyes.

"Dekho Geet, last night I..."

Geet turned away, "I don't want to talk about lastnight" she grabbed herself a bowl and spooned some chicken stew, and heldout for Maan.

He looked surprised and took it, he then moved to the drawerpulling out a spoon whilst Geet poured herself another bowl and grabbed aspoon. He was about to head off into the dining room when he saw Geet settlingherself on the counter taking a seat on the stool and slurping her lunchnoisily.

She looked so comfortable eating in the kitchen, he hadnever sat in the kitchen and eaten, he was always served by his staff in thedining room.

He walked around surprising Geet as he took a seat besideher and started on his bowl of stew.

Maan was pleasantly surprised and looked at Geet who'dbeen eyeing him from time to time and staring at the half empty bowl.

"What?" he arched his brows.

Geet shook her head looking away and continued eating allthe while thinking inwardly, Saru isnearly finished eating, he could have complimented once. Why am I even wastingmy thoughts on him?

Maan finished and stepped down, he grabbed a napkin andwiped his mouth and tossed it on the counter besides his bowl. He startedmoving away when Geet spoke.

"You could at least move your bowl and place it inthe sink"

"Nakul kardega" Maan answered, he glanced over hisshoulder and said, "Waise the stew wasn't so bad".

Yeh praise kar rahahai ya mera insult? Geet rolled her eyes and looked at the empty bowl,before he could step out she said, "Didn't you ever learn housework?"

"Kya matlab?" he turned around frowning.

"Its such bad manners to leave your plate like this.At least put it in the sink".

"Geet I pay very well to have someone to cleanup" Maan replied.

"Toh? If you do it one day, your hands won't fall off"she countered climbing off the stool and placed her sink in the bowl andstarted washing up. Before Maan could retort back, she said, "Do you knowmy papa cooks and cleans in our house, mumma and papa take turns in sharinghousehold duties. One day he'd cook and she'd do the washing up, and other daysshe would cook and he would wash the dishes. Doing simple jobs like this allowedthem to spend time together".

"And I don't have the time, Geet I run a company. Yes,I could do that, but why do I keep staff here? I don't pay them to twiddle theirfingers" Maan replied.

Geet looked away angrily and he shook his head stalkingout, Kaisi ladki hai yeh. Maan SinghKhurana se kitchen ke kaam karwana chahti hain.

OMG I somehow wrote nearly 3000 words *doing bhangra now* 😆

Hope you like it

Will post another update probably tomorrow because I am liking write for this.

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