Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Geet knew she had built the gap and Maan was not comfortable coming into the relationship because he was not confident that the status gap between them would not come in between. Geet was not that naive. She was Managing director of one of the top businesses of the country.

But compared to her husband, she knew she lacked understanding the emotional depth and understanding of relationships. Why did she, deep down, feel he had a much broader understanding in any field that he has invested into?

Geet smiled, feeling proud of her husband. But then she sighed, with his many talents also comes his attitude,

“Which I think he has kept exclusively reserved for you Geet” she talked to herself. And shook her head.

Love has bitten Geet hard. He would not accept but she knew it was love. She has fallen badly for her husband. Though being busy in her schedules, Geet minimized her outstation or abroad trips. Being around him, in the same house felt pleasant. She felt more girlish around him. Somehow felt to loosen the shield around her. The guard that has naturally come around her as part of the single heir of this huge empire, was falling around him.

She not only felt but was sure, even with all his narazgi on her, he will be standing with her in any situation. His few acts showed the depth in which he took his relationship.

Once in a while teasing him, troubling him was also something she enjoyed. And in a few such instances he had answered her in a raw intimate way, which has completely blown her heart away from her to be glued to him and now stayed with him.

There were some actions that he was expecting from her to believe in her commitment to this relationship. Yes, by now, she has inferred that he had low trust on her commitment. Also, the way she has treated him like a non existent in house, his self respect has been hit. But anyways, Geet these days enjoyed her time in the house to wait for her husband, to observe him from far. His walk, coming from the gym, from his office, making his breakfast, taking his plate of salad or glass of fruit smoothie from the kitchen, his stretching… ohh this Mr. Attitude was taking her heart by his each move.

What about Maan? How was he dealing with all this? With his elegant, dynamic, charismatic and extremely beautiful wife around him, ready to mingle. Of course, his control did slip, many times. And a couple of times, he did pour it out on her in the form of pressing his lips on hers, taking her in his arms, crushing her to him. Of course, in the process, taking her heart away.

But then, he was clear of their not being prepared to get into a marital relationship and he had his very solid reasons for that.

It has been a week now and Geet has not even got a glimpse of him. Where was he? She wondered.

Geet was in her office in discussion with her lawyer. Her father was there as well. The relatives were back on targeting. They had spread rumors of her marriage being fake, questioning the female heir who had unstable family life, which was affecting the shares as well as shaking the confidence of board members. Also, one of her launches for mobile had not gone successful, they have used this as well, as an opportunity to blame it all on her unstable attitude.

Geet had been intrepid in handling the scenario and had passed strong statements but if the affected rumors had to be dissolved , some legal action or solid statements were the need of the time.

“Sir, the first thing to stop this speculation or at least rumors be abated, we need ma’am to make her presence felt with her husband. You have to make that Maan Khurana come to the use for which…”

“Maan Sir… he is my husband. Mind your words” Advocate gulped seeing the anger on Geet’s face. This was unexpected as like others even he had the idea that marriage was just a showcase.

Mohinder looked at his daughter with pride.

“And to let you know, he is not my object of use. He himself is a busy person and I will have to request him for his time”

The advocate was still not understanding her point about her middle class husband being busy

“Ma’am, I understand, he must be busy but this is your huge empire. His any middle class job can be compromised for this big purpose”

“Mr. Mehta, you are just an advocate and do not try to judge what is important in one's life and what should be important in one's life. And I am reminding you again, you are talking about my husband, so talk with respect”

“Okay Geet, calm down. Mr. Mehta, you don’t want to be fired.” warned Mohinder Handa

“I am sorry ma’am. Then, ma’am, when will you make presence with sirrr” he emphasized

“That is what I am trying to make you understand Mr.Mehta. I will have to ask of his availability”

Mr. Mehta did not say a word but he was still not understanding, why would a common service class man be that busy to not have time to make an appearance with Geet Handa. Anyone would grab this opportunity.

He left telling them he will be waiting to hear from them and then plan next step

“I really feel bad Dad, for pulling him from his busy schedule. I will talk to him though”

“Why I feel, Maan has become more important for my daughter than the reason for which she married him” he teased her

Geet smiled “I can somewhat feel his reason for irritation with this alliance. What did he get from it? He was happy and respected in his world. I did not get a chance to know the depth of his knowledge but I can tell Dad, he is immensely good in whatever field he is. People may think marrying Geet Handa is the luckiest thing for any man, especially when he is from the middle class but not at all for the person that Maan is. He is getting demeaned by the people of our world, he is getting demeaned for coming and staying with me in my house, he is staying away from his family and for what? What did I give him in return Dad except asking for favors. To which he obliges, compromising his own priorities''

“Geet, Maan does not think of this as obliging you. In a marital relation, we do for each other, compromise our priority but the big issue here is you have not yet given him the respect and love that he deserves in minimal.”

“Dad, I try but he says we are not ready. He does not trust my commitment. There is a wall that he does not let down. I am unable to seep in”

“Geet, you have lost that trust, you need to gain that trust or this guilt will always prop up. “

Geet hummed and left for her work while Mohinder took his flight back to Delhi.

Maan and his three friends were admiring the final setup of the lab.

“Pamphlet is fine Adi, but we need advertisements in local news channels and Radio’s to the least.”

“Yes Maan, we have reached them and we have somehow got a few prime slots with very high charges but we also will have some features in afternoon hours. Marketing investment is heavy”

“At the start, investment will be needed, Adi. And as you said, for the first six months, I am expecting more investment than profit. You all have to trust me, I will get back your money”

“Koi nahi Maan. You are planning so big. What is the meaning of friendship if one does not support a friend with his dreams” Said Jatin

“Thanks Yaar. But be sure, you will all get your returns with good profits. And Jatin, are we all set with doctors and hospitals to be in alignment with our lab?”

“Yes Maan, rest assured. And to get more confidence in them, as you had suggested, the key doctors and head of all small and big hospitals are in list of invitees''

“Yes, and most have accepted the invitations. I have personally went and invited most of them” Maan added

“Maan, that was hell lot of effort from you, man”

“Efforts toh kerna parega yaar if I have to make it big. This is just one step to my ladder up. But as it is said, if foundation is laid strong, high rise is less shaky”

“And I am happy Maan, Mr. Sungramaniyam and ‘Morrage Financials’ both have sanctioned the investment”

“And I am happy, they sanctioned it based on my roadmap and plans and only came to know about Maan Khurana after they sanctioned it”

“Kya fark parta hai” asked Sam

“Fark parta hai, Sam. Had they known the investment was needed by Maan Khurana, they would have found out I was the husband of Geet Handa. It would have changed the whole dynamics of thought. They would have then sanctioned money in the security of Handa Group, which would have been wrong.”

“And Maan, Mr Subhramanyama and Mr. Puri from ‘Morrage Financials’ are also coming in inauguration” informed Adi

“Great!! And all of you, please also invite your family”

“And your family” asked Sam

“Dad cannot come. Mom will be there with my younger brother vikrant”

“And your wife” poked Sam.

“Being the Managing director of such a huge business Empire is not a joke Sam. She is busy managing bigger challenges. “

“Wow, no time for husband’s first inauguration” she taunted

“Sam, I have not given anyone the right to judge any member of my family. But to let you know, she is not aware of this and not invited. You don’t want the focus and purpose of the inauguration to be diverted. Agree or not, if she is here, all attention will get diverted and our purpose will get dissolved. We don’t want that, right Sam?”

“Hmmm..” She nodded. Not getting any hint of the relationship Maan holds with his wife.

“So we are done with invites, investment, Equipment. Maan and Sam, you both have to just ensure we are technically on top of it”

“Hmmm… Sam and I are on top of it.”

After checking everything, That night again Maan entered late. But as he entered, his eyes went on his wife standing on the top step of the stairs that connected the ground hall with the upper floor.

Maan was still convalescing from the insult that he had borne at the hands of his wife but it was not easy. However hard she was trying to bridge the gap, Maan knew there was a gap. Unless she realizes that, he is not ready. He did not like to sound pricey and rude to her but he cannot rush to have a horrible outcome later.

Their upbringing, status, lifestyle everything were all completely at different poles. Chances of fallout were huge. Unless there is complete submission from both sides in the relationship, disaster is inevitable.

Not wanting to be rude, he gave a smile to her. Geet smiled and got down. How hard did this man work? But she realized she should try to find out what made him do this hard work.

But then she felt bad. Before she could invest in knowing him, her own needs from him props up. Even now, when she should be trying to get to know him, she does not have the luxury of it. She hated it, but she will have to ask him a favor as there was no other option.

She got down, her eyes glued to him. It was clear she was coming to talk to him. Maan himself was tired of being rude to her. Initially he had thought that would keep her away but that was not working. So he simply waited for her

“Can we talk?” she asked, feeling bad that she will talk about her needs when he is so busy and tired. But then, he disappears and she does not have bandwidth to wait

He sighed and then nodded “hmm..”

“I will freshen up and come”

“Okay, I will ask Mina to lay your dinner”

“No, It’s fine. It is already past my dinner time”

“You look tired. I will ask her to make a mixed fruit smoothie. We can talk on dining table”

Not wanting to argue he hummed and left.

When he was back, Mina brought freshly made smoothie and served him

“Hmm, you look disturbed” he said what he noticed

Geet smiled. She did not understand how to put forward. He will take her wrong.

When she did not speak, “Well, is the downfall in share prices troubling you?”

Geet frowned, -Did he keep watch on share prices as well?

“And the reason behind it,” she added.

“I did not know you kept watch on stock market”

“You know very less about me, but yes I do”

“I was looking into the new launch that you did, I can tell…”

“No no, you don’t worry about that” she cut him

“Fine. Sorry for thinking too much of me. What do you need from me”

Shit, did she again show him down. How will it sound now, not to discuss business with him and asking him to make a presence with her.

“No Maan, I didn’t mean it that way. We will surely discuss”

“It’s Ok. What do you want to talk about now?”

Geet felt bad but she had to

“Maan, wooh… My relatives, they are vultures and as we are not seen together, they have spread negative about our relation. They are combining this launch failure with our relation and that’s affecting the market for us”

“Hmmm” he took a deep breath

“Next week I am really very busy. We can make some formal and informal presence after that. If you are not in hurry”

“That would work. And yes, once you have time we will also discuss the loopholes of this new launch”

“It’s Ok. You are right I would not know that big business policies” Geet could see, once denied, he would take ten steps back

“Still, I would like to hear your view. Please I insist”

Not to argue further “Okay. Good Night”

It was a D-Day for Maan’s lab inauguration ‘K Diagnostics’ was everywhere on the Radio, newspaper and Lab. The advertisement also made its appearance on local television channels.

People may have noticed or not, the Ad made background noise in the city people’s mind because of it’s catchy content, tag line and voice over. Even the high profile like Geet, heard the Ad and it took her attention. But having no need of it and a local Lab Ad, was not of much matter to her, so kind of surpassed her attention.

Maan landed on the venue at early hours to check if everything was all set for inauguration and welcoming the guest. Then he left for the hotel where his mother and brother were staying.

Sharp at 8 am he was back again with his mother and brother in the taxi. All his friends and their family members were there. He had even invited HOD from the institute he works in. Slowly all prime guests, investors, doctors and a few heads of city big superspeciality hospitals arrived as well.

Some local media groups were also called for coverage. Maan knew he would grow big, that confidence he had on him. So he wanted to keep all memories of his first step.

Program started with a welcome drink and snack. Then Maan took the mic and introduced everyone with what is special in their lab and how superior it is and how they are planning to grow it with even better facilities and technology. He gave a complete overview of why they should trust this lab. He also announced some services as gifts etc. from a business point of view.

Everyone was impressed by the uniqueness of the program. The vision showed a futuristic outlook.

Later, the inauguration was done by his mother and he took blessings from her.

It was a great yet hectic day. The inauguration was overall very successful.

Maan was in hotel room with his mother and brother

“Maan, you should have invited Geet”

“Mom, you don’t understand, she has much bigger responsibilities. And the inauguration of one lab in the city, it’s such a small thing and would have disturbed her more important schedule. And above all Mom, if she would have come here on my invitation, she and others would have thought I am using her name for my promotion and then all my efforts and progress would go in her name. Mom, I want to do it on my own, not using my wifes name. You know the reason behind it, right”

“I understand Maan but in our family it does not work this way. You have married her and it was your duty to let her know about something that is so important to you”

He made his mother sit “Mom, we have not come to a point where we share our professional status. She keeps on launching stuff and signing new deals, never thinks to even mention those to me then why should I try to pull her time in my small launch. Aaaand Mom, she doesn't even know me or know a bit about my family. That low interest she has in my life, then I just don’t want to bother her”

“Okay, I understand. But dear, thorda koshish karo naa”

“Mom, eventually I have to try as you have pushed me into it. But at present, her ego is too high even though she tries to show otherwise and I have lots to achieve. As of now, I do not have in me to take her tantrums, her ego and pride and kill all mine and invest all my energy into the relationship and be her servant. You know my objective in life.”

“Toh Koshish nahi kerega”

“What way do you want me to try? I am staying at her house, leaving my family. She pushed me out of her room. I am staying in a room on the bottom floor when all the rooms for the family are on the first floor.

Still I have assured her that I will be there with her whenever she needs me. What else do you want me to try?

I have to achieve what I am aiming at. This marriage is already a hurdle in my goal, you know right. I have to give Dadima the pride that she has lost hope that she will ever get. How sour she has become. Losing hope on all of us. Even my trying to do this irks her because all she knows is we are all unsuccessful bunch of people. She doesn't want her hope to get high and thus she hates me for even trying to do so. You know all this”

“I understand” she sighed

He held her hand “Mumma, ho jayega sab theek. I will work on this relationship. I will even keep aside my ego, my attitude, everything and work on properly starting our relationship but give me some time. I do not have scope to invest my energy as of now into something that has not come naturally. For now I cannot divert my focus but now that you have pushed me into it, I will try but give me some time.”

“Bas.. this is what I want to hear. Waise dil toh aaya hoga tera.. Baat toh hai usme” she teased him

“Hmmm… baat toh hai…” he smiled and shook his head

ENJOY!!