Chapter 16

Chapter 16

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Geet came to him, removed his hand from the table to make way for herself and settled on his lap. She looked at his face with a sensual smile and traced the back of her palm on his face. Maan smiled with the feel, closed his eyes and turned sideways. Geet got access to his full cheek and she placed a deep kiss there “Thank-you”

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With his lab picking up on business quickly, Maan knew he had to leave his job and take the risk to invest his time and energy into expanding his business. With this lab, he got a complete plan map for his endeavor. So his day got busy in planning to get his labs started in Pune and Indore. One year he has to focus on getting his lab established.

He was looking for Sameera so they could do pre preparations for their monthly review among all four. But Sam was not available and not reachable. Letting it go, he got himself busy in planning. They definitely need to increase resources, both human and material.

Sameera was waiting in one of the conference rooms at the Handa’s Group of Company’s country head office. The office itself was so elegant and grand. The conference room was equipped with all the latest technology and the furniture was A-class as well. Maan is trying to be a top industrialist. For now it felt impossible that he could own such a class or even one office. But Maan had not only dared to dream but was determined to achieve.

Sam brought her focus back on the big round clock on the wall. She is waiting for half an hour. Why had Geet Handa called her before if she herself is late. It made her feel so less important .

She could do nothing but wait for Geet Handa.

Geet made her entry after 45 minutes.

“Hi, Geet Handa,” Geet forwarded her hand towards Sameera. The confidence in Sameera dwindled seeing the aura that Geet Handa carried with her.

Two females of similar age but what a different status, achievement and stature. Comparing herself in any way to this woman was stupidity.

“Hi Sameera Ahuja” Sameera tried to be as confident as she could.

“Come sit” Geet offered her the guest seat as she settled herself on the head seat. She could not disrespect Maan’s friend. The only need was to give her a subtle warning

“You are one of my husband’s besties, right?”

“Yes. We are friends from long time”

“And are you sure you just have friendly feelings towards him?” Geet asked straight

“Do I see Geet Handa feeling insecure about her husband’s friend?” Sameera spoke instantly with a sarcastic smile on her face. But soon realizing that the person in front of her was Geet Handa, immediately regretted her words

Geet forwarded herself on the table, her hands resting on the table top.

“Your comment itself says that he is not just a friend to you. Well somehow I have clear idea of what feelings you have for him”

Sameera tried to maintain a non intimidated face “You hardly know me, we are meeting for the first time, how could you have any idea like that. You got my wording wrong. We are long time friends, very good friends, That’s it. You can clear with Maan about it”

“Yes, but you hover feelings for him”

“See I know he is your husband but I am not a homewrecker. We are long time friends”

“But still you keep feelings for him” Geet was just repeating her words

“See, any girl can like a wonderful person like Maan. But I am fully aware that he has to just be my friend”

“I don’t want a girl around my husband to hover such feelings for him”

“We work together. We are four key members for his start-up plans and I am one of his friends and a key member. We all have specific role in his start up plan ” Sameera tried clearing again

“I will arrange for someone better than you for his start up. I am sorry but you cannot work with him”

“Ma’am, don’t you trust your husband?” Sameera was shocked with Geet’s demand

“Listen Miss Sameera Ahuja, I do not want to discuss my husband with you. I trust him or not, is between us but I do not want him around the girl who sees him in other light when he thinks she is just a friend”

“Even if I had anything for him, I have kept it apart. We are friends first. I can’t lose him as a friend and he cannot lose me as a friend. Just friends. We have plans and we are working on that plan”

“Do you even have any idea who you are talking to? My husband considers you his best friend, that is the only reason I am having this conversation directly with you and keeping my patience with you. Don’t take too much liberty on that. I give you fifteen days and you are out of his life”

“Ma’am, I know I have no standing in front of you. But me and Maan and our two other friends, we have chalked out our work plan. It’s towards Maan’s venture that we are working together for. How can I leave him”

“You must have thought that before looking at your friend, a married man, in a different light. You have already ditched him as a friend”

“Ma’am, no one has control over their feelings. I didn’t do it deliberately. But I am already clear that he is my best friend first and whatever feelings crept in my heart, I will keep them away”

“And you think it can technically be controlled. Damn, your feelings can anytime surface if he is around you all the time. And I do not want a girl with such feelings around my husband. I do not want any girl to look at my husband in the way which is reserved for his wife only”

“Ma’am, we work together”

“You will not anymore. Get that very clear. You will disappear in fifteen days. He should not know where you have gone. I will pay you heavily for that. If you don’t then you have no idea how heavy you will have to pay”

Geet gave a severe look which told Sameera that she really has to pay heavy. Geet Handa is extremely powerful and she cannot even imagine which way she will be ruined.

“Ma’am”

“You will start from tomorrow” “We work together”

“You won’t. Am I not clear”

“Okay. Maan will feel ditched. He will be hurt”

“I am there to take care of his hurt and heart. You need not bother. Just make sure, he should not get a single idea of us even having any conversation”

“Okay I will do as you say. But you should talk to Maan once” Sameera gave up. She was not as strong a person as Maan and cannot risk taking Geet Handa on the wrong side.

Maan had gotten busy with his plan of new launches in Nagpur and Mumbai and Delhi. He was also working hard to put his hand in fertilizer manufacturing and get national level distribution. It has just been a month to his lab in Bangalore. Though the lab has picked up very well with them getting lab reference from many hospitals. There were so many steps involved along with keeping the quality and technology of the top notch. And in all this Sameera was behaving weird. Not being present in many meetings that were vital. Now suddenly she wanted to join a high salary job in Singapore. Maan, Adi and Jatin all have explained to her that, high salary job was never her priority. She wanted to do something on her own and Maan was providing her that opportunity

“Sam, once we make it big, you will be head of my tech department”

Sam laughed off “When you will be big, Maan you are playing a kids game. Making it big is not a joke Maan. 1 lab you have and you think you will be an entrepreneur. Join your wife, that is the only way for your dreams to come true”

“Sam, are you crazy? Maan is putting such hard work, he has genius ideas and we all know 1 year and if not at top, his name will start making a buzz”

“Yes, buzz that Geet Handa’s husband who was nowhere to be seen is suddenly a buzz in the business world. Do you think people will buy the theory that he has done it all on his own. I don’t want to be part of such group”

“I don’t care what the world says, we know we will deliver on our own. Sam what has happened to you?” Maan was confused with her sudden change in perspective

“Maan, I don’t want to lose this high salary job for the uncertain dream that you are showing us”

“Sam you don’t trust me”

“Maan, how can you be so selfish to not understand my dilemma. I am getting this high salary job. This lifetime, wonderful opportunity. If we don’t get anywhere with your plan, I will lose this chance forever. You have a richie rich wife. Even if you fail, she will back you up, hum logon ka kya”

“Sam, you talk about yourself. Me and Jatin trust Maan and his genius and we do not worry what the world will say. We will stand with Maan”

“Guys Guys, no need to shout at Sam. Sam you come with me” Last thing Maan wanted was the fight between friends.

Maan held her hand to take her to the side. Sam remembered his powerful wife and her warning. She slowly got off Maan’s hold from hers. Maan turned and looked at her with a question on his face. But then let it go

“Sam, I know you very well. Tell me what’s the matter. The reason you are stating is not the real one. Something has happened. Has it to do something with my being upset a few days back? We already talked it out, right?”

“Maan the reason I am stating is the only reason. Your world is now different Maan and ours is different. Salary does matter for me, especially when it’s so alluring”

Maan did find it off, he knew there was some other reason but Sam would not tell. He cannot

force his wish on her so at last he let her go. It would be so tough without Sam. They have worked together, she knew the soul of his whole plan and now she is leaving. More than that, he wanted to start this start-up with his friends. She is simply cutting off all contacts and it did hurt Maan. He wanted to figure out the root cause of it but as of now he cannot divert from his mission nor did Sam want it.

But eventually he has to go to the root of it. If it really is salary, which he highly doubts,

he will not force but if it is not, then it is worth bothering and he cannot let his friend deal with the struggle on her own. But now was not the time for it. Sam needs her own space to realize her decision.

Two weeks they tried various ways to convince her but in no vein. On the other side, Sam, seeing Maan’s efforts to convince her, tried her best to explain Geet but Geet Handa’s warnings were simply getting severe. In fact her persuasion was only increasing Geet’s belief that Sam did not want to let go of Maan.

That was Geet Handa. That’s how she was built. She had everything she wished. If anything she loved and if it was hers, she would go any length to not let anyone come near her dear thing and here it was her dear husband.

How can a girl like Sameera have the guts to eye her husband, Geet Handa’s husband. He is not a common man now, he is the husband of The Geet Handa.

Sam had left for Singapore. Maan had felt broken and hurt. His solid group of four was broken today. They were four pillars and one was gone. He could not believe this could actually happen. Sam would ever leave their group. Now that she has left, he fears that his other two friends, Adi and Jatin may leave him as well. Will they lose trust in him just like Sam? But why? Things have picked up so fast and they have all the plans well in line and a big budget loan got approved from the government as well. Maan was lost in his thoughts when his wife hugged him from behind, her hands around his neck and she hanging towards him on his shoulder

“What’s worrying my handsome hubby”

Maan smiled and nodded his head “nothing much” Geet traveled around the sofa and made herself settle beside him

“That’s not fair. I openly share my issues with you. You think I do not deserve to know what’s worrying my husband”

Maan looked at her and then the way she was sitting half on top of him. Uff… She has ways to play around with his heart.

“Beautiful as always” he raised his hand to make his finger trace on flawless skin of her face

“mind sharing the reason of your stress with me” Geet could sense, Sameera leaving is stressing her husband.

“I would rather prefer to get distracted from my stress and get lost in this beauty” Though she wanted him to talk about his stress. This looked more tempting, she can work on getting him out of stress. Geet smiled, coming closer to him, inviting him to the temptation.

He placed his finger on her chin and lifted her face “Damn!!”

“What happened”

He looked at her and gave a sarcastic smile to himself

“You are everything as a beauty, which tempts me to break my resolve. Why, why are you so close yet so far? Unreachable you are for a man like me” He said pulling her closer in a jerk and then letting go

“Maan you are everything that I would wish for in my man and if you feel such for me, what is keeping you away? Why do you think I am far away? I am your wife, only yours and there for you. I will not force myself on you if you feel the distance but you don’t have to hurt yourself/ We can proceed”

Maan smiled and changed the topic

“Did you implement the changes we discussed? Kaisa chal raha hai aapka project”

“My team has started working on it. They are all so excited with the ideas. Waise yeh ‘Aap’ kyun? I am your wife, 4-5 years younger to you and I call you ‘Tum’, why are you giving me this ‘Aap’ wala distance”

Maan smiled and turned his face, a smile adorning his face. That was his answer

“Wow what a wonderful way to answer. No answer.” She pouted. Maan looked at her and she twisted her face, giving a hint of a girl next door. How could he hold anymore? He pulled her closer and grabbed a deep kiss from her. Geet completely shifted herself on his lap and encircled her hands around his nape.

Geet’s closeness, his temptation and the urge to unload his stress took over Maan and he glued her hard to him as the kiss even deepened. Geet held him tight, rubbing her hands on his back, his hand slipped inside her shirt, enjoying the blissful feel of her softness. Maan’s hand moved upwards towards her blossom when the noise in the kitchen brought them back.

“Damn!! You make me forget we have people working in this house”

Geet was in no mood to let go at this moment “take me to your room. I love being carried in your arms” she said, her hands still encircling around his nape as she gave him a smitten loving look.

But Maan was back in sense

“I need some time, you are not helping” He laughed and shook his head. She hit him on the shoulder

“Buzz kill” She said, getting up and leaving for her room to freshen up.

Ohh, she was drowning in his love. Wanted him to love her day and night anyways he wishes.

It may sound old school type for a girl like Geet Handa but she wanted him to dominate her in bed, she could feel how his rawness could take her to an entirely different world. But alas!! This man has his ways to make her wait longer.

When she was back, she found out that her hubby had left for the Gym. That reminded her that she is getting lazy in hitting the Gym and may need to join the Gym to get started. Also, she decided to get the best trainer and dietician.

Geet also realized that Maan smartly skipped her question about his stress. If they don’t talk about it then how could she help him get Sameera level of techie for his need.

Maan and his team missed Sameera and her expertise. That was one pain that they had but the project has to go on.

Maan hired an experienced technical Architect. He had to provide above market salary as any expert techie would not join anyone whose start up was only registered and yet to come fully into form. Roshan Shukla, had immense experience but was looking to explore things his way.

Maan promised him that opportunity in addition to a high salary. How did he manage? Because he was confident of his plans and he had some good investors.

Both were busy with their work. Geet was working hard to revive her failed project. Taking Maan’s guidance in between. The more she interacted with him regarding the work, her admiration for clarity of his thoughts increased. He was so crisp and clear in his knowledge and vision.

Maan seemed very held up so she did not find it good to disturb him with her flirting. They did have intense eye lock but they did get back to serious discussion quickly. She knew he wanted to achieve high and she can at least help by not distracting him. She wondered if he found the technical bond or not but she could not directly ask about it.

Geet was also traveling for her other projects along with her Dad for his projects as well. Maan had been going from place to place to launch his labs in various cities. They launched an app for the lab, test results on finger tips, lab assistants giving service at home, services top notch. Maan completely poured in his share of profits as further investment.

Four more months and he was able to show tremendous and aggressive growth. Investors saw the aggressiveness and its positive result. He grabbed some bigger investors and big investments.

Geet realized, he needed his time for starting the relationship, he must have his reasons. Maybe if she understands his reasons, she may know what he was looking for. Though it did hurt. After falling in love with her husband, heart aches to be close to him and dying to start the relationship, it was not easy to keep away. She knew it was not his business launch but something else that was holding him. Is he waiting for her to find out the way to his heart?

The initial four months of her aloofness from him, treating him as a non existence, has made a gap between them which is her responsibility to bridge. She was resolved to do it and find a way to his heart.

But what Geet did not know was there were very small and minute things of his life that mattered to him. He knew Geet was far away from those minute details of his life. Not minute but there were generic things about him as well that she has not shown any inclination to. Maybe those have not yet come to her notice but they were important to him. In this situation, he knew, for them to start this relationship as Geet wished, he had to take it forward without much expectations from her and be hers just as she wishes. But doing that needed complete surrender from his side and mental bandwidth to handle the heartbreak which he was lacking now as his focus was on setting his foot.

Next :- Family

Entry - Devendra aka Dev Chaddha

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