Maneet FF: You are always on my mind. AN on P 150 - Page 87

She had mixed emotions as she walked to the office where Radha was assigned to work. She was both anxious and excited at the same time, finally she was going to be able to ask the questions that had arisen during her search for her father; questions she didn't even know she had until that very moment when he had hugged her. His embrace had been loving and protective.

Geeta saw Radha busy working and initially she was apprehensive, she didn't want to disturb her. What if Radha got into trouble for talking to her while working? 'Wait a minute Geeta, your father owns this place, Radha is not going to get into trouble,' she thought. She smiled at herself, how easily she had accepted him as her father; she walked over to Radha and pulled her aside gesturing to her that she wanted to talk to her.

Radha, "Geeta, what is it? Are you okay? How is it working under Sasha Ma'am? Is she as strict as everyone has mentioned?"

Geeta smiled at Radha's questions, Radha always seemed to look out for her and was always worried for her. She wondered what life would have been like if she had never met Radha. She didn't have to wonder because she knew that without Radha, she would have never started to investigate who her father was, she would have never come to India to study, she would have never gotten an internship at Khurana Constructions and ultimately she would have never met her father. She came back to the present from her thoughts and decided to tell Radha the news she had come to tell her in the first place.

Geeta, "Nothing is wrong, I am fine. I haven't worked under Sasha Ma'am yet because she is out for a meeting so I don't know if she is really as strict as everyone says she is. But those are all unimportant issues as I wanted to tell you, I met him, I met my father and he is taking me out. I just wanted to let you know, so that you wouldn't be worried when you didn't find me in the office."

Radha, "That is awesome, so how was it, I mean your first meeting? What did he say?"

Geeta, "The first meeting was a little weird, but what do you expect I did see him as my father for the first time in my life, plus until this morning I didn't even know who my father was, everything has happened so soon. He didn't say much."

Radha, "I guess he wants to say something that is why he is taking you away from the office where the two of you can talk. I am so happy for you."

Geeta, "I am a bit nervous to tell you the truth."

Radha, "It is normal to be nervous, but I want to hear everything when you come back home. You are coming back home, aren't you?"

Geeta, "Yes, of course I am coming back home, why would you even ask me that question?"

Radha, "I don't know, maybe he wants you to live with him; now that you know he is your father."

Geeta, "Radha, me living with him is not an issue for today, I don't even know him, plus there is the issue of my mother. What will she think of all this, there has to be a reason she never told me about him."

Radha, "Well you can talk to your mother when you come home, I am sure she will understand and even if she doesn't what's the worst that can happen?"

Geeta, "You are right, well I have to go, talk to you later."

Radha, "Bye, I will be waiting."

Geeta was almost out the door as Radha spoke the last sentence. She looked back to see her friend smiling and wait a minute what else did she see, tears. Radha had tears in her eyes; Radha who she had never seen with tears. She smiled and waved good bye and thanked whatever was in the universe for Radha, who truly was her sister.

Geeta walked back towards his cabin and she saw him pacing the hallway in front of it. If she hadn't known who he was, she would have thought he was a soldier as he was marching up and down the hallway.

He saw her coming, his daughter. He had waited for this moment for 19 years and today when it was finally here, he felt lost. All the speeches he had practised over the years seemed to have hidden themselves in the dark reaches of his mind. They refused to appear and he was helpless, what was he supposed to say to her, and what answers was he supposed to give to the questions he was sure she had. She was beautiful and she carried herself well, he had to give Geet all the credit for raising their daughter well.

She was now in front of him waiting for him to say something. She had noticed the anxiousness in his eyes. She decided to break the ice.

Geeta, "Well all done, your orders have been followed." She said checking her watch, she continued "I have told Radha that I am going out and look I am a minute early." She laughed a nervous laugh.

Maan thought 'she laughed, my baccha laughed and is trying to crack jokes to make me feel comfortable, I can't let her down. Pull yourself together Maan Singh Khurana, this is the biggest test of your life, you can't fail this one.'

Maan, "Punctual, I see. Well let's get out of this stuffy place and let's see what we can do to put some of those questions we have to rest."

Geeta, "Okay, lead the way'." She was unsure what to call him; Boss, Mr. Khurana, Dad.

Seeing Geeta struggling with what to call him, he stepped in and said, "Well don't worry about tags, you can call me whatever you want."

Geeta, "That makes it easy, I am hoping that by tonight, I know what to call you. So where are we going?"

Maan, "To tell the truth I have no idea, this was much unexpected. So let's be spontaneous."

They were now at the car and as they climbed in Geeta laughed and said, "Well then you should be glad that Radha is not your daughter because she likes to make lists. Even when she is spontaneous she has everything planned on a list."

Maan, "Trust me; I would want none other than you as my daughter."

They buckled up and this time around Maan continued to conversation, "I need to tell you, I am always prepared for every scenario but today I feel lost. Now don't tell this to anyone because it will affect my reputation. But I really don't know where to start."

Geeta, "Don't worry; this is new for me too, so how about we start this journey and see where it takes us."

Maan, "Okay, so do you have anything in mind as to where we should start."

Geeta, "How about we go back to my house, no one to disturb us and we can talk. I don't really know how to cook but we can pick something up on our way there. I don't know about you but I am hungry"

Maan, "Well let's just go to your house, I will cook. I really don't want to waste any time ordering and picking up food."

They drove to Geeta and Radha's apartment, Geeta used her keys for the garage and once they were parked they made their way to the apartment. There was complete silence in the elevator and once again the two of them were tensed. They got out on Geeta's floor and made their way into the apartment. As Geeta closed the door behind them she noticed Maan go into the right room and make himself at home on the couch. 'He seemed to be familiar with the apartment' which was weird considering this was the first time he was coming to this place. She got rid of the stupid thought when she realized that the living room was the first room in the house that people entered from the hallway. She went to the kitchen and brewed themselves a pot of coffee made two cups and went to the living room. She handed him the cup and sat opposite him on the other couch.

They sipped the coffee in silence when Geeta couldn't take it anymore and blurted out, "Let's play twenty questions."

Maan, "Really? You want to play twenty questions, isn't that a bit childish?"

Geeta, "Do you have a better idea or do you plan to sit here in total silence until it is time to go home?"

Maan was a little surprised by his daughter's straight forwardness. He was glad that she had grown up to be a woman who wasn't afraid to say what was on her mind.

Maan, "No I don't have a better idea, so what exactly are you proposing?"

Geeta, "Well we take turns asking questions, we answer them truthfully, the questions we cannot give answers to we let the other person know exactly when they will be answered and move on."

Maan, "Sounds fair, you go first."

Geeta, "Okay, When did you meet my mother?"

Maan, "When she was 18. Why aren't you at university?"

Geeta, "I only had one class in the morning today. Where did you meet my mother?"

Maan, "I first met her in Hoshiarpur and then met her again in Delhi. When did you find out I was your father?"

Geeta, "I found out this afternoon after coming back from class that you were my father. Did you love my mother?"

Maan, "Yes I loved your mother and still do. What made you decide to look for me?"

Geeta, "I heard someone in the background at my mother's home when she called me to wake me up on my first day at Harvard and I started to investigate who the voice belonged to and then also decided to look into who my father was. If you love my mom why weren't you in our lives all these years?"

Maan, "I wanted to be in your lives full time but had to do it from afar because that is what you mother wanted. So did you find out who that person in the background was?"

Geeta, "No I don't know who that mystery man was but when I find out I am going to..... Why didn't mom want you in our lives, what did you do that was so horrible?

Maan, "That is two questions anyways I will try to answer them both. The reason why your mom didn't want me in your lives is complicated and I feel that she should answer this question. However, I didn't do anything horrible to drive her away it were the circumstances. What are you going to do to this so called mystery man of yours when you find him?"

Geeta, "I am going to ask him why him and mamma aren't together. I hope you don't mind that mamma has found someone because you have after all been out of our lives for so long. I am sure you have moved on too. I just want to see her happy. So how many relatives do I have?"

Maan, "Let's see you have Dadima- who is actually my Dadima, you have Vicky Chachu and Raj Chachi and you have two cousins. You also have a few cousins I am sure on your mother's side, but they are your mother's responsibility to discuss with you. What made you go into architecture?"

Geeta, "Well mamma was my inspiration plus I love the idea of being able to create something from scratch that may stand the test of time. You know how people can still bear witness to the creations by the Romans. Those are the reasons I went into architecture. You don't have any children?"

Maan, "Firstly I need a significant other to have children with. Like I said I still love your mother and to make it clear I was never interested in anyone other than her to even consider marriage and family with. How did you like India so far?"

Geeta, "India is nice, people are nice. I have nothing to complain about. Are you trying to stall by asking me general questions about India?"

Maan, "Of course not, I do have twenty questions, so I thought I would ask you about India. So what made you decide to go to Harvard for university?"

Geeta, "It seems that I had a dream of getting into Harvard since I was an infant. I know mamma was extremely happy when I got in. Now that I think of it I don't know if it was her dream or mine, but I am glad that Harvard was where I landed for university. Do you love me?"

I know I shouldn't put this here but...I just updated the PM list...it is posted on Page 123...please take a look at it...if your name is missing please comment on this FF and let me know that you want to be added to the PM list. Now you can continue reading. Sorry to break your reading process.

Maan, "I love you more than anything else in the world. I have dreamt of you being in front of me for so many years that today when the moment is here, it seems like an illusion. Did you ever wonder about me, I mean your dad?"

Geeta, "Not really, mamma was so good at making me feel loved that I never really thought about why I only had one parent. Whenever I needed to take a father figure to school Devi Masi's husband Tim accompanied me. However when I was 6 or 7 we had to draw a portrait of our family. I wasn't really sure what to draw so I drew a conventional family with a mom, dad and a child. Later another kid came to me and told me that I had done the picture wrong because I only had a mom and no dad. I erased the father from the picture. I think that was only time I wondered why I didn't have a dad. When I told mamma about the incident at school, she told me that people were just jealous because she gave me so much love that even with two parents they weren't getting so much love. I guess after that I never really thought of why I didn't have a father until recently.

Once she was done answering his questions she looked at her father. There in front of her sat a powerful businessman, one of the richest people in India or maybe even the world with tears in his eyes broken down. It looked like he was about to break into sobs any second. She wasn't sure what to do but instincts told her that she had to go to him and comfort him. She got up from her seat and sat down next to Maan. She took the coffee mug out of his hands, she realized he had barely touched the coffee. She put the mug on the coffee table and put her hand on his shoulders and turned him towards her. She looked at him with empathy, yes empathy, just as he had lost out on being a father, she had lost out on having a father. She got closer and hugged him. This time around Maan wasn't expecting a hug, just as she hadn't expected a hug earlier and that gesture of her's let loose the dam gates. All the tears that he had kept dammed up decided to come through. She just sat there with him in her arms while he cried. Nothing needed to be said, she could feel his pain. After about 20 minutes the tears had dried up and Maan was feeling better after drinking the glass of water Geeta had fetched for him. He looked up at her and for maybe the second time in his entire life he was angry with Geet for keeping him out of Geeta's life. He would have loved being a father to her. He thought of all the things he had missed out on and he seemed to feel his temper rising. He didn't want Geeta to see him like that so he told her that he needed to use the bathroom and went ahead without asking her where it was.

While standing in the bathroom after washing his face, he dialled Geet's number. She picked up the phone on the first ring, it seemed that she had been waiting for his call. He held the phone in silence for a few seconds and heard Geet speak, "Why aren't you saying anything? Are you okay? Is she okay? Where are you?"

Maan, "Geet I am angry, I am angry because although I knew that I had missed out on raising her today it actually hurt. Today as I spoke to her I felt anger towards you for keeping her away from me. Why did you do this to us Geet? Why did you? As for your other questions, she seems to be okay, I think she is okay because she is a lot stronger than you, she has the ability to face the situation without having to run away. She actually consoled me as I cried instead of the other way around. And at the present we are in her apartment."

Geet, "Maan please don't be angry, you know what the circumstances were when I left. You know things aren't as simple as they seem. You know I never wanted to hurt you intentionally, you were always her father and still are, so what you didn't get to raise her, at least she doesn't think ill of you. And yes she is stronger, I raised her that way so that what happened to me will never happen to her. "

Maan, "What do you mean so what I didn't get to raise her? I should have been there when she needed me the most, she should have been able to draw a family with a father. I wasn't dead Geet, I was very much alive just wanting to be with you both. As for the circumstances you could have returned once Dev left and Dadima got better. You know that old woman loves you so much that she still asks for you. But no why would you return, you were happy there in New York."

Geet, "Maan stop this blame game this instant, we cannot change the past and just for your information every day that I have lived away from you I have only survived and not died because of your love. Your memories kept me alive, our daughter kept me alive. Seeing you in her kept me alive. Knowing that there was someone in the world who loved me and my child more than himself kept me alive. You are always on my mind."

Maan, "I am sorry Geet, but I couldn't help it. She is a woman now, she has grown up and I feel like I missed the best parts of her life."

Geet, "You may have missed a lot but don't worry there is going to be a lot to deal with too, like her boyfriends, her wedding, grandchildren. You will get to live those moments and no one snatch those away from you, not even me."

Maan, "Are you trying to make me feel better or worse?"

Geet could hear a little smile with Maan's words. She was glad that he had finally met Geeta and from the sounds of it Geeta had handled then father daughter reunion quite well. She had Maan talked for a few more before Maan was ready to go back and face Geeta once again.

While Maan had been in the bathroom, Geeta decided to check her email, As soon as she opened her email address she saw that there was a new email from Radha. She opened it quickly knowing it would be something important as Radha never emailed her since she saw her all the time.

Subject: Mystery Number

Hey Geeta

I am sorry, I know this never happens with me, but I think I was distracted distracting you away from your Mr. Dreamy. Opps sorry I mean Aakash.

The day that we posted the notarized copy of your birth certificate I received a call from Sameer about the mystery number. Unfortunately our contact was supposed to send me an email which I never followed up on and just realized today that it was in my junk mail. We don't have a name, according to our contact it seems that the number belongs to someone pretty important, but it seems that all calls other than from our numbers are being forwarded to a new number. Here is the number 9685558671. You should try calling it from the house phone when you get a chance. No one uses landlines anymore so the person probably didn't think of blocking that number.

Once again I am sorry for overlooking this and hope that you are having a great time finding out more about your father.

Love always,

Radha

Thinking that Maan was still in the bathroom Geet looked at the number and decided to call it. She dialled the number and waited. On the other end, Maan had finished talking to Geet and was once again on his way to the living room when his phone started to ring. He didn't recognize the number, but decided to answer it thinking it could be an important call. He heard a female voice on the other end, it seemed familiar, "Hello, is Aaakash there?"

Maan, "Sorry, I think you got the wrong number."

Before he could hang up he heard, "How can this be a wrong number, this is the number Aakash gave me, who are you?"

Maan, "Well obviously Aakash gave you the wrong number and I am Maan Singh Khurana and there is no Aakash at this number."

Just as he walked into the living room he looked at Geeta and heard her through his phone, "Papa?"

He hung up his phone and looked at her and could see a surprised look on her face. She had put the receiver back on the cradle and had walked over to him. She looked at him in disbelief and said, "You are the mystery man?"

Spoiler

No I cannot.- Guys this is the spoiler...now guess who is saying it and why