Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Please please look this way she pleaded silently. Sasha was pulling the manager role right now and if she countered, Sasha would get some excuse to make a spectacle of her here and publicly humiliate her.

Thank you, thank you babaji she profusely sang out when Maan looked around and his eyes locked onto hers. She gestured with her eyes. Maan frowned then excused himself approaching them.

“Is everything okay?” Maan inquired as he stopped by the table. He looked between Sasha and Adi for a response rather than looking at Geet.

“MK, I’ve informed Geet to choose another table as this is reserved for you and your family, but she is stubbornly refusing to leave” Sasha murmured sweetly. “It looks inappropriate for a trainee to just take a reserved table and be stubborn about it. On top of that, its such a bad example she is setting for others”.

Before Maan replied, Adi intervened.

“MK, she’s got blisters on her toes from her heels and is hurting”.

“Oh…” He walked around and noted her toes then said, “It’s fine, Sasha. Whilst this table is for me and my family, Geet is also Naintara’s friend. We don’t mind” he told her with a gentle smile.

“Uh… Oh… But…”

“Sasha, it’s fine” he smiled. “Anyway, come with me, Mr Malik would like to thank you for handling his project so well” he gestured.

She nodded with a sweet smile following him, she did glance over her shoulder scowling at Geet and promising that this was not over.

Geet only watched and smiled once Sasha was gone.

“She is such a nautanki!” Geet muttered. “She is all sweet and smiley when MK comes here then when he’s gone, she’s changed her colours and turns into a viper”.

“Viper” Adi laughed. “That’s a good one”.

When dinner was announced, the Khuranas joined Geet at the table and asked why she was sitting alone.

“I wasn’t sitting alone. Adi was here until dinner was announced” she told them. “After dinner though, I need to go upstairs to change my heels” she said and proceed to tell them about her blistered toes.

“After dinner, we’re going to share out the awards to the employees then we can leave?” Maan told her.

“Do I have to get up at any time?”

“No, after dinner we can sit here until its time for the appreciation awards and just thank everyone. Usually, remainder of the night is them all drinking and dancing, unless you’d like to stay to dance?”

“Dancing is what got me here” she pointed to her toes. “No more, thank you very much” she chuckled shaking her head.

Maan smiled faintly nodding his head.

They’d made small talk whilst the starter, main and desert courses were served. Half an hour after dinner had finished, Maan walked to the front taking the microphone and called for everyone’s attention. He thanked all of his employees and clients for everything, he thanked his dadima for being the support and pillar for him when he’d taken over the business and took it to new heights.

Sasha joined him and gave a small speech and thanked her department. She then took over the announcement for the awards and handed the certificate along with gift voucher of 2 Lakh out to the best employees who’d stood out with their innovations during the projects. Maan returned to the table and applauded as each employee went to the front and were gifted.

“What’s in the envelope with that scroll?” Geet asked curiously.

“Scroll is a certificate for the innovation to show that they’ve been recognised. The envelope is a check of 2 lakhs” Maan replied.

“2 lakhs. They get 2 lakhs?” she gasped.

“Yeah, they get 2 lakhs. It’s the least we can do for their hard work and going the extra mile. Dadima suggested to dadaji one day and the tradition continued. Obviously back then, it was couple of thousand. It’s been a good motivator for our employees though and getting recognised leads to them being asked for when it comes to new projects”.

“Oh, wow…” Geet murmured nodding her head and was impressed.

It was just past 10pm, when Maan suggested to Geet that they could start leaving as the appreciation dwindled down and everyone started standing and mingling once again with booze and dancing. Dadima, Dev and Naintara had left just a while ago. Dadima headed home as she was tired, whilst Dev and Naintara went back to the hotel room to grab their things before they returned home.

“I’ll meet you outside in the car? I just need to say bye to a few important clients” he told her as he stood.

“Oh, ok. I just need to say bye then grab my things from the room” she said. She almost yelped when instantaneously her friends pulled the recently vacated chairs and plopped down.

“OMG! You had dinner with the Khuranas” Neha gushed. “How was it? Was MK nice or like cold? What did he say to you?”

“Ok. First take a deep breath” Geet laughed. “Dinner was nice, they’re not celebrities or the royals or something you know. They’re still human”.

“They might as well be…” Piyush remarked.

“I need to go and change my heels. I’m tired as well” she told them as she stood and winced. She didn’t bother slipping on the heels and grabbed the straps.

“Ok, ok but what did MK say to you?” Pinky quizzed.

“Nothing, just how I am enjoying it…” she muttered. “My toes hurt so I need to go” she told them quickly and exchanged quick byes before skipping out. Thankfully with everyone mingling, dancing and drinking, she was able to leave unnoticed.

Geet whined once she got into the hotel room, she tugged the zip off her dress and grabbed the robe. Once she’d tied the robe around her, she walked into the washroom and ran the bath. When the water had filled up slightly, she sat on the edge and dipped her feet into the water that reached her ankles and sighed. The cold water soothed the burning sting of her blistered toes. She learned for next time that she wears the heels a few times before another event. She had assumed they’d be comfortable, but it seemed the tiny straps were unforgiveable on her toes.

“Geet…” Maan’s voice carried into the washroom.

“In here” she called.

“What…” he paused and looked inside the bath. “What’s this?”

“Cold water helps the sting” she informed helpfully.

“Still hurting?”

“Yep”

“Do you need anything else?”

“No, but will the hotel mind if we steal their slippers? I don’t think I can wear heels – even my comfortable ones” she told him.

“I’ll let them know and reimburse them for the loss of the slippers” he replied with a smile. She nodded happily and looked at her feet.

“See how much effort we women put in” she muttered.

“Oh, did you put the effort in for me?” he joked.

“No, for my future husband” she countered.

“I don’t think anyone would be mad enough to marry you, jungle” he winked.

“Maan” she smacked his arm.

He laughed bending and clasped her chin between his thumb and forefinger. Geet looked annoyed but stuttered when he dipped his head and kissed her. As he wanted. With raw desire and passion.

“I’ve wanted to do that all night” he told her when they withdrew for air. “You looked absolutely stunning. I couldn’t look away”.

Geet grinned brightly feeling flustered with his words.

He smiled and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Are your feet feeling a little ok now?”

“Yeah, it’s numbed slightly. Can you pass me the towel?”

Maan grabbed the towel from the rail and handed it to her, Geet lifted her feet out rubbing them before she stepped out. Maan walked out for a moment then returned with the slippers in his hand and placed them down in front of her.

Geet sighed as the slippers were plush and pillowy that enclosed around her feet comfortably. “These are really good”.

He hummed nodding his head and clasped her cheek kissing her briefly once again. “We’ll have to continue at home or else we’ll never make it out of the hotel” he chuckled. She blushed biting her lip.

They’d walked out of the washroom when Maan said, “They’ll be okay with stealing the slippers, but not their robes”.

“Oh…” Geet curled her hands around the belt tightly and clasped it. “Um… I need to change” she muttered.

“You’ve changed already, haven’t you?” he asked. “Your dress is there…” he paused noticing the navy gown indeed was on the bed but so was her outfit from before. “Oh! Ok” he gave her a small smile.

Geet blushed when he looked at her.

“I’ll wait outside by the car” he told her and grabbed his suit that he’d left here.

Geet agreed and smiled as he walked out. Once he had gone, she changed quickly and grabbed her things. She’d donned on her work clothes from before which was a set of pants and a blouse. Once she’d dressed, she walked out looking smart except for the slippers she’d worn. Geet waited for the elevator and cursed her luck when the doors opened, and Sasha was inside. She contemplated taking the stairs for a second but her feet were protesting standing too long so she entered and stood at the other side watching the numbers going down.

“Very classy to wear the hotel slippers” Sasha remarked.

Geet ignored her. Babaji kyun? Why has she got my address to send all of her bullshit? Give her another address, please.

Geet hurried out once the doors parted and she headed for the exit. She walked to the parking lot and was glad to see Sandeep already inside the car. He stepped out opening the back door for her when he saw her approaching and took her things placing it into the trunk of the car.

“Maan kahan hai?” she asked noting that he wasn’t in the car.

“Sir returned inside for a client who’d arrived late” Sandeep responded. “He’s said he’ll be about 15 minutes then we can go together”.

Geet nodded and pulled out her phone. In her whatsapp group, she’d received the photographs that Pinky and the others had taken of her. They had even clicked photos of her whilst she’d eaten dinner, laughing and smiling with everyone. Pinky had captured a photo of her and Maan talking and even one with Maan smiling.

Piyush: Savitri ma’am might be on to something

Adi: Yeah. You both look cosy here

Pinky: Right!

Geet: Nothing is going on. He is my boss and my friend’s brother in law.

Neha: Leave her alone guys. When she finally opens her eyes, she can see his hotness and go along with Savitri ma’ams matchmaking plans

Geet: You guys are supposed to be my friends

Piyush: We are. We’re your very good friends

Viren: Yes! And we want to see Cinderella getting prince charming

Adi: Not medusa

Geet: Medusa? Lol

Pinky: Sasha’s new name. Viper was nice but Medusa suits the snake

Geet: Lmao

Maan returned and he seemed to be in a foul mood. Geet wondered what had happened in the short amount of time and considered asking him whether he was alright but he’d turned his head looking out the window seemingly deep in thought.

He didn’t say anything on the ride home, nor when they’d retired to their rooms. He’d simply walked into the washroom to change and walked out of the bedroom without another word.

Geet was utterly confused and wondering what the hell was going on. He was smiling and they were getting along great for the last few days so what happened. Why was he suddenly troubled in the expanse of a few minutes? She changed into her pyjamas after her nightly routine and slipped into the hotel slippers she’d brought with her then walked out to search for him.

Geet halted hearing the thuds and thwacks of something being hit and followed the noise to see Maan working out rapidly hitting a wooden item unaware of her presence. She watched silently for a moment hoping he’ll be able to work out whatever it was he was thinking about, but his hits grew harder and louder. Harsh heavy breaths escaped his lips and sweat rolled down his forehead and arms.

“Maan, are you ok?” Geet asked breaking the sounds of his hits.

He paused breathing heavily and twisted his head to look at her. “Just… please leave me alone tonight. I need space”.

Geet stared at him sadly and felt her heart crack. They were getting along so well, he’d called her beautiful, he’d told her he’d been wanting to kiss her all day and he had kissed her so hard. She’d looked forward to coming home, kissing him and sleeping in his arms. She slowly nodded blinking back the tears that stung her eyes.

“Ok” she whispered and turned away from him. I will leave you alone from now on she promised inwardly. She was not going to push him to talk to her, she wasn’t going to hope anymore. She had enough. She had promised for the sake of dadima they will try but he’d come up with some excuse or withdraw for no reason whatsoever. She’d hoped and had expectations and he’d once again splintered her heart.