Chapter 7

Finally the restriction lifted... I had wanted to post this yesterday with OY but due to hitting the 10th post mark I could not. Anyway I'll just have to be wise and become senior quickly. 😆

Chapter 7

Dadima had returned with Dev and Naintara, Geet wasrelieved and so damn happy. The last couple of days, they had returned to anold routine. Maan leaving early and returning home very late. Geet had focusedon learning more about the household duties and the duties that Naintara andDadima carry out.

She had prepared for her return to college finishing offher assignments, Dadima noted with great sadness that the pattern had notchanged. Maan left early and returned late.

With Geet's college now open, she had become busy herselfburied in assignments and preparing for her seasonal mock exams.

The seasons changed in the beautiful city of Delhihowever the atmosphere remained the same between the two married individuals.

It had been nearly 7 months of their marriage and neitherinteracted as always, Maan had not gotten around to drafting the letter ofinterview and avoided it every time Dadima approached him. Geet had busiedherself, with her exams over she was now serious about her part time job beforegoing to university and pursuing further. She wanted to be fully fledgedfinancial adviser, she knew the courses were hard but she loved maths, sheloved crunching the numbers and challenging herself.

Maan had not yet found out what had occurred that nightand given their distance he had not asked Geet again. He hadn't thought thatGeet would give him the silence treatment for the following day but she had notcome in front of him once and she avoided looking at him. She'd done that for acouple of days and he didn't make any effort either. She clearly did not likehis presence. He would have gladly left the room had it not been for hisgrandmother.

Geet had bonded over the months with Dadima even more,she learned of her medical history and always accompanied her to herappointments. She had shared a friendly bond with Naintara and learned Naintaraand Dev worked in the same law firm. Whilst Dev handled criminal cases offraud, Naintara handled the housing estate cases.

"Geet, what are you saying bete?" Dadima saidas Geet informed her of applying for a job.

Geet planned to home study for the first year as thiswould allow her a flexibility to her working. She already had made plans, herfriends had opted to go straight to university and study, Geet being a nerdyworm they knew she would be able to home study with full concentration but theywould not. They did however make plans on meeting every week to study together.

"I've got 3 interviews lined up, I'm waiting to hearfrom another 2 companies" she explained.

"But I want you to join Maan, he's..."

"Dadima, please don't" Geet pleaded shaking herhead, "I don't want favours".

Dadima sighed heavily, she patted Geets hand and nodded.

"What is going between you and Geet?" Dadimaentered the gym where Maan was working out.

Maan turned his head and frowned, "what do you mean?"

"I asked you months ago about the interview and youpromised. Now she has gone and applied for different places, Maan I want Geetto learn from the best and give her a platform to start from. She's still newhere, she's adjusting and I want the best for her" she stressed out. "Isthere something wrong? Are you and Geet even... even making an effort?"she asked, tears welling in her eyes concerned for both Geet and Maan.

"Dadima..." Maan embraced reassuring her andpromising to offer Geet an interview some time this week. Pleased with that,she patted his cheek lovingly and left him.

Maan worried for his grandmother, she was in her early70s and was frail even if she didn't seem it. He didn't want her stressing overminute things, he decided it was maybe time to speak to his estranged' wife.

Maan entered the bedroom and found Geet curled up in bedfocused on a book. She'd stolen a glance and returned her attention to thebrown pages in front of her.

He moved and sat down on the edge of their bed near herside, this prompted Geet's attention and she now sat up leaning against theheadboard.

"Interview letter" Maan held out the envelope.

Realization dawned on Geet, she pushed away his hand, "I'mnot working with you".

"I'm not guaranteeing a place, it's an interview.You'll be interviewed by the head of our finance department" he replied.

"I've got other offers, I'm not going to join you"she crossed her arms stubbornly.

"Dadima is stressing, she doesn't like that you'regoing to work for someone else when we've got a business. Look, she's gettingold and frail, I don't want her to be burdened with all this stress. Sheshouldn't even be doing anything anymore but resting. It's just an interview"he explained.

Geet pondered silently, would she be able to toleratehim? It's hard enough at home, months passed by and they barely acknowledgedeach other's presence. What was held in her future for her? Did she continueliving like this? A loveless marriage and two separate individuals. She wasonly 20yrs old and married, she couldn't even explore her options, she'd alwayswanted a long engagement so she'd get to know her husband to be and maybe fallin love before their wedding. It would have been so easy but with Maan it wasalmost impossible to imagine a life filled with love and happiness. She hadn'tseen him once sit with the family interacting and enjoying an evening of eatingdinner together. He'd always come late from work, it was always after everyonehad gone to sleep.

"Geet" Maan called out seeing her unresponsiveand seemingly day dreaming.

"I'm only coming for dadima" she said takingthe envelope.

Maan nodded shortly, he had hoped she'd be interested inworking with him but she seemed as if she didn't give a damn.

"What? You've got an interview with Maan Khurana'scompany?" Misha spluttered in shock. Aditi slapped her back as she coughedand turned to Geet equally surprised.

"Why are you both looking like so shocked? Iprobably wouldn't even get it, I'm more inclined to the Arora's business"she smiled. Geet had not informed her friends she was married, she didn't wantto come across the behenji, Misha and Aditi were gladly single and she didn'twant to be the odd one out. And in some sort of sense, she was single even ifshe was tied down. Their marriage was just a word, husband and wife had nomeaning between them, so she was single she concluded.

"Geet, do you know what a great start you'd have byworking with the Khurana's?" Aditi said excitedly. "You have no idea whata great start it would be for you. My cousin Riya works there and OMG Geet sheloves it. Her hard work is recognised and she's so well known in the businesssector because of working with the Khurana's. Riya's gotten so many goodproposals and she's even been approached by other companies for her work, butshe's been loyal and stayed there" she explained.

"I'm going to work in the financing department, notthe design department. I don't think I'd have much recognition and I don't wantthat either" Geet rolled her eyes. "Waise bhi Maan Khurana looks likea saru" she mumbled. It's enoughthat I see him for an hour at home, seeing him for at least 8-9 hours is goingto make me explode.

"Anyway, where have you applied?" she brushedoff the topic and inquired.

"I've been accepted at the Singhania's insurancecompany" Misha responded, "I had my interview last week. There is alot of bonuses for working with the insurance company" she grinned widely.

"I'm so happy for you" Geet gave her friend acongratulatory hug.

"Still working on interviews" Aditi said,"Hey do you think they'd have another placement at the Khurana's?"

"Um... I don't know... maybe call and check for vacancyspots" Geet muttered unsurely, she wasn't sure at all. Did Maan just giveher an interview and not even have a placement role ready? Or did someone leaveand he was looking for a replacement?

"Sorry, we're late" Yash apologised joiningthem at the table.

"Finally idiots! Where have you two been? We've beenwaiting" Aditi scowled.

"Don't even ask" Ryan shook his head."What have you ordered?"

"We didn't place our food order yet, we've beenwaiting for you" Misha said.

Though eating out didn't appeal to Geet much, she didmake an effort to meet her friends and join them for dinner a couple of times amonth. Given their new journey towards their adulthood, they didn't have asmuch time as they would have liked.

The waiter came and took their orders, Yash looked at Geetcuriously.

"Why are you such a health freak? You could cheatyou know" he said.

"I prefer to stay slim" Geet chuckled grabbingherself a glass of water and sipped. "And it's good for my body. Healthylife means happy life" she winked.

"I hope this place is okay, Mr Khurana" RohanMalhotra smiled holding out his hand.

Maan shook his hand and nodded, he pulled out the chairtaking a seat with Sasha and Aditya seating themselves around them.

The waiter approached them and asked to take an order.

"I'll just take a black coffee" Maan said.

"Mr Khurana, please eat something small atleast" Rohan insisted politely. "It's been a long day and it would begood to finish off the meeting with some good food" he said in a goodnature.

Maan nodded, he then ordered himself chicken steak withroasted vegetables. Aditya, Sasha and Rohan then placed their order.

"So, I've had a look at the designs. Thank you forthe prompt email" Rohan started and they all fell into a smoothconversation discussing the final details and ironing out any issues that mayarise.

"So, Geet madam is there a reason you're consciousof your body?" Yash teased. "Is there someone we should knowabout?" he winked.

Maan glanced to the side having heard his wife's name, henoted his wife sat around a table with two guys and two women. She was settledbetween one of the girls and the other guy who was teasing her.

I thought madamdidn't eat out Maan recalled dadima once saying Geet didn't eat out unlesshe'd remembered wrong.

He turned his attention back to the table, none seemed tonotice his attention was drawn to the side.

Though he gave his input and conversed, he did have anear out for his wife's answer.

"C'mon Yash, don't be so typical yaar" Geetlaughed, "Just because I'm health conscious and love to be healthy andlook healthy doesn't mean ke I am doing it to impress someone" she rolledher eyes.

"Good one, Geet" Misha agreed. "Why do menalways assume there's always a side piece for us? Like we need a reason to dosomething. We put makeup on so we're obviously dressing for boyfriend, or we goout wearing short dress date night..."

"Okay, got your point ladies" Yash held hishands up laughing.

"Good" Aditi smiled.

Maan had smiled inwardly and was quite impressed with herresponse.

An hour and half later, Maan's meeting concluded and hehad bid goodbye to his client then excused himself after he paid the bill forhimself, his colleagues and his client. Sasha and Aditya followed anddisappeared in their respective directions.

Maan looked over his shoulder checking over Geet and sawher standing up with her friends and they're chattering as they advancedtowards the door.

Sandeep smiled opening the door for Maan then walkedaround climbing into the front.

"Sandeep, wait for a moment" Maan said."Geet is here and she looks like she's leaving as well".

Geet had not even realised Maan was waiting in the car,due to the tinted window she couldn't even tell that it was one of their cars.

She bid bye to her friends as they went in differentdirections, she then pulled out her phone dialling Mohan's number.

"I think she might be calling for a ride, I'll gotell madam" Sandeep said climbing out and called out to Geet.

"Mohan ne tumhe beja?" Geet asked walking over,she didn't even let him speak and continued speaking. "It's good actually,he didn't look too well this morning. Waise, I didn't tell anyone I was here sohow did you come here so quick?" she questioned.

Sandeep gestured to the door he was holding open for Geetto enter, she frowned and looked inside.

"Aap..."

"You're getting all the cold air in, Geet. Would youlike to sit inside then continue talking?" Maan questioned.

Saru kahin ke. Aday doesn't pass peacefully for him until he's taunted me she cursed andclosed the door. She moved aside and pulled the front door open climbing intothe passenger seat.

"Geet" Maan frowned.

She looked over his shoulder, "Kya hai? I'm notsitting at the back with you. You're boring" she turned to face the frontas Sandeep now walked around and climbed inside and started the engine.

"Sandeep, tumhari wife kaisi hai?" Geet startedyapping for the rest of the journey. Maan shook his head and focused on hisphone, though he could not block out her voice. He looked away from his phoneand watched as she animatedly talked gesturing with her hands, his eyes trailedfrom her eyes to her nose then to her lips. She was smiling so cheerfully, itcould be said that over the last couple of months he had been missing that thoughhe would not acknowledge it.

He put his phone away leaning back comfortably andlistened quietly, her voice soft tickled his senses.

"I thought you went out with your friends?"dadima said as she saw Maan and Geet entering together.

"We happened to be in the same restaurant" Maanresponded.

"Okay, Geet bete have you prepared for yourinterview?" dadima turned her attention to her.

"Haan dadima" she nodded. "Have youeaten?" she walked around taking a seat besides her and checked dadima'sforehead. "Medicine li aapne?"

Maan watched the exchange curiously.

"Haan baba maine le li hain" Dadima chuckled."You wouldn't believe Maan, I missed my medicine yesterday by mistake andshe has been on my case".

"Dadima, you were really warm in the morning"Geet pouted.

"Here you go dadima" Naintara returned to thehall handing dadima a warm cup of tea, she smiled and asked, "Veerji aapcoffee lenge?"

"I don't see the point of asking, Saru Khurana"Geet giggled, "He's probably missing a meeting right now" Dadima highfived her laughing.

"Good to see you're finding this amusing,dadima" Maan narrowed his eyes at his wife and grandmother.

"Maan, when is the last time you ever heard such asnappy response?" Dadima winked and sipped her tea.

Naintara shook her head, "Veerji?" she prompted.

"Yeah, go on. I'll have one" Maan walked aroundand settled on the opposite sofa eyeing his wife with an almost challengingstare.

"It would be good if you join our business"Dadima said, Naintara joined settling on her other side after handing Maan hiscoffee. "You'll get the best platform set up working with Maan" sheadded grabbing a biscuit from the plate.

Geet looked over at Maan then said to dadima, "Peopleshould want to work in a place where they're going to be wanted".

Maan's eyes focused on her with her words, dadima norNaintara seemed to not understand what Geet had meant and they asked her so.

"Nothing" she mumbled, she glanced at theclock. "Dadima, it's getting quite late. I'm going to sleep now, would youlike to stay for a bit?"

"Geet, you go and sleep. I'll make sure dadima hasher medicines" Naintara told her.

Geet thanked her crouching down and pressed a gentle kissto dadima's soft wrinkled cheeks wishing her a good night and left.

Once she was gone, dadima's eyes turned to her grandsonwho'd sat there quietly. Naintara had also noticed him. "Veerji, is thecoffee okay?" she asked.

Maan looked up at her, clearing his throat he said"Yeah, it is. Thanks. Where's Dev?"

"He's gone to Mumbai for disposition hearing"she informed. "He'll be back in two days, that's what he hopesanyway".

"You know Naintara, I thought by getting both Devand Maan married I would be able to see more of both my grandsons" Dadimaintervened, "But it seems like these two will never change. Workaholicslike their father and grandfather. I wouldn't see my great grandchildren atthis rate".

Naintara laughed knowing well what dadima was hinting to,"Dadima".

Maan only rolled his eyes. "I'm going to bed, thanksfor the coffee" he stood placing the cup down on the coaster.

"Before you go son, would you try to give me agrandchild in 9 months?" Dadima teased.

Maan looked over at his grandmother as she giggled, hedidn't appreciate the teasing but seeing her face he stopped himself fromresponding firmly. He decided it was time to call it a night and excusedhimself.

As usual, his wife was already curled up and sleepingdeeply.

Next: Interview

Is there anything you'd like to see in this SS? I will try to incorporate it if I deem it suitable for the story. It may not be in the next update that I will add it but as story goes forward, I may include.

As it is an SS I am taking small leaps into the amount of time they've been married. Next couple of chapters, will show some sort of progression between them hopefully. Hope you enjoy 😳

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