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Chapter Eleven
Maan grumbled for the thousandth time that day as Geet brought him into the living room of the outhouse, clutching his arm like the bandage would loosen again if she left it. For her it truly was a matter of life and death. She could just imagine: DEATH OF MSK DUE TO NEGLIGENCE OF SECRETARY
"Now everyone, I will be making the presentation today, as our dear Maan sir is gravely injured," Geet chirped.
"Geet, my arm is injured, not my mouth," snapped Maan. Adi tittered, and was silenced by one of Maan's Looks.
"I do not want to put much pressure on sir, so I have decided to take charge of today's board meeting," she continued, ignoring both Maan's rantings and the gasps of the surprised staff, the loudest coming from Sasha who looked like she would faint.
"The presentation has been made by Maan sir only," she added hastily, "I am just going to, err, explain a few points."
"Like an undergrad can explain something to a couple of MBA's from Harvard," Maan muttered.
"Maan!" chirped Rasika Rathod sweetly as she filed into the office with her bodyguards and business cohorts.
"Welcome, Rasika ma'am," said Geet, gritting her teeth.
"Hello, Geet. I have no interest in secretaries trying to make it big, but Maan told me to come so I couldn't refuse."
Maan looked down, feeling uncomfortable. Geet was surprised. Maan had asked Rasika to come and check out her presentation? Why?
Rasika must be lying, she thought.
Geet opened a couple of slides that showcased the magical environs of Hoshiarpur, the village where the hotel was going to be built. Pangs of nostalgia attacked her, and Maan could notice her growing awkwardness as she introduced the blueprints of the project. By the end of the fifth slide she was on the verge of stammering and Rasika and Sasha were smiling.
"Geet," whispered Maan. Geet looked in his direction, expecting an angry hiss. But the snake was in the mood to be a rabbit that day.
"Midnight," he said, smirking.
Immediately, she was infused with a newfound energy. She would bear twenty slides of her accursed hometown, but not Maan's midnight meetings. She babbled on how the project was environmentally safe, the land declared legal for construction and profitable for the company overall. The staff was spellbound by the time she ended.
"Any questions?" she asked in a fake sugary voice, aimed directly at Rasika.
"Good presentation, Reet," Rasika began. Before Geet could continue, "But one thing you failed to mention."
"And what is that?"
"Why is that the hotel has, well, no luxurious facilities? It is a five star right? Or some seven star dhaba?" Everyone snickered.
Geet didn't know what to say. Yes, she had suggested to Maan that they shouldn't have too many facilities, but he had acted like it did not matter. So...?
She firmly said, "In a five mile radius there are ten five-star hotels from rival groups that offer luxury facilities. In this case, the people who come to see Hoshiarpur's small town culture and forest regions, end up in the swimming pool gossiping with their friends in Delhi," causing the staff to laugh again-this time not at her, but with her.
"Hoshiarpur has a lot to offer, and frankly, by promoting the tourism of Hoshiarpur, not are we also pleasing the government and saving costs, but also encouraging people to do something more constructive with their time. Though I think Rasika ma'am, you might not understand that," the last part added with a taste of venom.
Rasika fired up. "Don't be impertinent. I was offering a suggestion-and a very valuable one."
"You are the financer Rasika ji," Geet said, tackling her straight on, "so do only what a financer does."
"That's it!" Maan said.
Everyone's heads swiveled around. They had almost forgotten Maan was there.
"I do not want you both arguing like two year olds," he said.
"But Maan," Rasika whined.
"No buts. Geet has not made the blueprints-I have. If you have any questions, ask me, not her."
Rasika stamped her foot and went out.
"And Miss Geet, do not think I am taking your side," he said, "Your punishment holds."
"But sir!!!" But Maan had already walked out. Slowly everyone left too, Adi putting a supporting hand on her shoulder and saying "Maan is just like that...he needs to shout at someone at least once in a day."
Then Maan yelled for him and he rushed out like a scared cat.
Geet was left behind, feeling a mixture of anger, annoyance and confusion.
Anger at Rasika.
Annoyance at Maan.
And confusion-why had her suggestions been included at the last minute?
Maan grumbled for the thousandth time that day as Geet brought him into the living room of the outhouse, clutching his arm like the bandage would loosen again if she left it. For her it truly was a matter of life and death. She could just imagine: DEATH OF MSK DUE TO NEGLIGENCE OF SECRETARY
"Now everyone, I will be making the presentation today, as our dear Maan sir is gravely injured," Geet chirped.
"Geet, my arm is injured, not my mouth," snapped Maan. Adi tittered, and was silenced by one of Maan's Looks.
"I do not want to put much pressure on sir, so I have decided to take charge of today's board meeting," she continued, ignoring both Maan's rantings and the gasps of the surprised staff, the loudest coming from Sasha who looked like she would faint.
"The presentation has been made by Maan sir only," she added hastily, "I am just going to, err, explain a few points."
"Like an undergrad can explain something to a couple of MBA's from Harvard," Maan muttered.
"Maan!" chirped Rasika Rathod sweetly as she filed into the office with her bodyguards and business cohorts.
"Welcome, Rasika ma'am," said Geet, gritting her teeth.
"Hello, Geet. I have no interest in secretaries trying to make it big, but Maan told me to come so I couldn't refuse."
Maan looked down, feeling uncomfortable. Geet was surprised. Maan had asked Rasika to come and check out her presentation? Why?
Rasika must be lying, she thought.
Geet opened a couple of slides that showcased the magical environs of Hoshiarpur, the village where the hotel was going to be built. Pangs of nostalgia attacked her, and Maan could notice her growing awkwardness as she introduced the blueprints of the project. By the end of the fifth slide she was on the verge of stammering and Rasika and Sasha were smiling.
"Geet," whispered Maan. Geet looked in his direction, expecting an angry hiss. But the snake was in the mood to be a rabbit that day.
"Midnight," he said, smirking.
Immediately, she was infused with a newfound energy. She would bear twenty slides of her accursed hometown, but not Maan's midnight meetings. She babbled on how the project was environmentally safe, the land declared legal for construction and profitable for the company overall. The staff was spellbound by the time she ended.
"Any questions?" she asked in a fake sugary voice, aimed directly at Rasika.
"Good presentation, Reet," Rasika began. Before Geet could continue, "But one thing you failed to mention."
"And what is that?"
"Why is that the hotel has, well, no luxurious facilities? It is a five star right? Or some seven star dhaba?" Everyone snickered.
Geet didn't know what to say. Yes, she had suggested to Maan that they shouldn't have too many facilities, but he had acted like it did not matter. So...?
She firmly said, "In a five mile radius there are ten five-star hotels from rival groups that offer luxury facilities. In this case, the people who come to see Hoshiarpur's small town culture and forest regions, end up in the swimming pool gossiping with their friends in Delhi," causing the staff to laugh again-this time not at her, but with her.
"Hoshiarpur has a lot to offer, and frankly, by promoting the tourism of Hoshiarpur, not are we also pleasing the government and saving costs, but also encouraging people to do something more constructive with their time. Though I think Rasika ma'am, you might not understand that," the last part added with a taste of venom.
Rasika fired up. "Don't be impertinent. I was offering a suggestion-and a very valuable one."
"You are the financer Rasika ji," Geet said, tackling her straight on, "so do only what a financer does."
"That's it!" Maan said.
Everyone's heads swiveled around. They had almost forgotten Maan was there.
"I do not want you both arguing like two year olds," he said.
"But Maan," Rasika whined.
"No buts. Geet has not made the blueprints-I have. If you have any questions, ask me, not her."
Rasika stamped her foot and went out.
"And Miss Geet, do not think I am taking your side," he said, "Your punishment holds."
"But sir!!!" But Maan had already walked out. Slowly everyone left too, Adi putting a supporting hand on her shoulder and saying "Maan is just like that...he needs to shout at someone at least once in a day."
Then Maan yelled for him and he rushed out like a scared cat.
Geet was left behind, feeling a mixture of anger, annoyance and confusion.
Anger at Rasika.
Annoyance at Maan.
And confusion-why had her suggestions been included at the last minute?
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