G/M SS: 24 hours..Chapter 3, Pg 114

24 hrs Chapter 1

Bachelor's Auction

24 hrs Chapter 2

24 hrs Chapter 3

Thread 2

Chapter One

"And the last bachelor up for bids is.."

Maan tuned out the auctioneer's voice and wondered for the millionth time how he'd gotten roped into this. A bachelor auction was definitely not his style...even on Valentine's Day. But, he reminded himself, "Remember this was for a good cause".

His Dadi's words kept ringing in his ears. "Maan Beta," serving him his coffee at the breakfast table along with the toast in other hand, "I have registered you name in the entry for the auction on the 14^th of next month make sure you keep evening time open in your schedule." "Humm!" Without looking up he replied to his Dadi. "Let Geet know about this she will manage it." "Yaa I know she is the only one I can rely on. God knows what would have happened to you after Mrs. Bedi retired. Thanks to her that she recommended Geet."

Dadi sighed heavily causing Maan to look up from his newspaper. Looking at his Dadi, he thought she could have been a great actress if she would have joined the acting. He mentally shook his head and folded the newspaper and asked her what this auction was about. Dadi described the cause of the auction that is for the underprivileged children and it will benefit the organization with the funds they will gain through the auction. She gave the list of the well-known names as she called out few.

Maan found intriguing as he heard few rich and famous in the town of L.A. He waited patiently for his Dadi to finish her details. He rather thought something is amiss or a catch behind this silly auction to have. Why not simply write the handsome cheque. He could see his Dadi was losing her grip on her words; he couldn't take it any longer, "Dadima, can we come to the point please? Why can't you just simply donate some charity? Why is it so important that I have to go? Why could it not be you Dadima?" Maan noticed her expression changing upon his questions after another. It was clear that Dadima was having difficulty to answer his question.

"It's because the auction is on bachelors to have them spend 24 hrs to whoever bids the highest." There, Dadi said it all in one breath closed eyes and waited desperately to hear the out bust from his grandson. The pause was unusual she didn't hear anything and slowly opened her eyes to check on the side. Maan's expressions were worth the millions. It was clear to note that he was utterly shocked and speechless. Dadi got concerned with the look and not a sound out of his angry grandson.

She slowly lifted the hands to touch Maan. "Beta Maan, are you alright, say something please." Maan couldn't believe what he heard from his gramps. Is she out of her mind? How could she put his name to such heinous act? He knew it there was something fishy. "Dadima are you gone nuts? How could you do such thing? What makes you think that I'll agree to such idiotic charade? Forget it," Dadi tried to reason, "Just forget it no way I'm going to participate." He stood up and started to pace back and forth, he was fuming. Dadi stood and went to stop him. She started to narrate the idea behind this auction, the donations are not enough and this will attract quite few names. She assured her that it's not open to public and is limited to certain decent crowd and not to worry who he will end up as they all know the reason behind it. "Maan please listen to me; just remember it's for a good cause. You could do at least something for these underprivileged children." Maan looked at his Dadi's pleading eyes; it was reminding him something in silence. He closed his eyes took a deep breath and agreed to it. He saw no bound of happiness in his Dadi. He didn't realized how it will affect her, his mere yes.

Tugging at the collar of his uniform, he shifted uneasily as the auctioneer continued his sales pitch. Should he smile? Pose? He just didn't feel comfortable up on stage with a blinding spotlight shining on him. He hoped he didn't look as nervous as he felt.

The auctioneer was driving up the bids' but all Maan could hear was the roar of the crowd as women yelled out numbers and cheered each other on. Squinting into the lights, he tried to make out who was bidding on him, but to no avail.

Then, before he knew it, the gavel sounded. He'd been sold! But to whom?

After agreeing to his Dadi, he pondered over the idea. A dreaded feeling creped thorough his spine with the thought him being bought by some stranger. Not that he ever been around women, but still he could not come to the terms to spend 24 hours with a stranger. All of a sudden he found the solution to his problem.

He'd given Geet specific instructions to outbid anyone else, but with the Nardo deal about to reach critical mass, she could have been on IPhone arranging a last meeting. His efficient assistant might be capable of keeping his chaotic business affairs in order, but even she couldn't arrange his schedule and bid at the same time.

"Congratulations," the auctioneer said with a grin. "You went for the most money. Things got pretty heated there at the end." The older man glanced at Maan's dark blue jacket. "Women have a thing for men in uniform." He winked. Maan gave him disgusted look and the elderly man didn't dare to stay put.

Maan didn't want to think about the scratchy nineteenth-century British naval officer costume he'd been forced to wear. A bachelor auction hadn't been enough for the charity organizers. Instead they'd offered a chance to bid on "Army Men through Time." He consoled himself with the thought that a heavy jacket and too-tight pants were far better than the robe he'd seen one poor guy in earlier.

Maan stepped off the stage and into the crowd of women. He ignored them as he searched for a petite brunette with an IPhone in one hand and a Palm Pre 2 in the other. He found her by the side of the stage. As he approached, she tore off a check and handed it to the woman in charge.

He grinned in relief. "I thought you might be on the cell setting up the Nardo's meeting and miss the auction."

Your new FF is off to a great start.. I'm loving the whole auction idea ...
where can I place a bid!? 😉

" scratchy nineteenth-century British naval officer costume"😆
Can't wait to see what's gonna happen in the next 24hrs!!!!

Thanks Shaheda baji!!

Ahahaha that's awesome. A bachelors auction for Maan? Why didn't anyone notify Krish and me? We totally would've made it there! 😉 😆
Dadi in this FF is just amazing, where does she come up with these things to torture him?
I can't wait for the next one. I want to see more of how Maan and Geet interact together.
Wonderful job Shaheda! :)

Originally posted by: pushpi

Acha phir kya hua? ;-)

Phir kiya hua...morgi ko anda hua...😛

oh btw ... today when I was buying ice cream.. the cashier lady ..her name was Geet.. I smiled at her like this😃 instead of 😊 this.. she probably thinks I'm freaky! lol..

Originally posted by: arabianpaki

Your new FF is off to a great start.. I'm loving the whole auction idea ...
where can I place a bid!? 😉

" scratchy nineteenth-century British naval officer costume"😆
Can't wait to see what's gonna happen in the next 24hrs!!!!

Thanks Shaheda baji!!

I so wished the whole plot would have been my idea...but all in vain...

You could bid the price right here...😆

I should look up the uniform how it looks BTW?

Wow, A bachelor up for a bid...OMG...why can that not happen here in Toronto...☺️ blush...blush...🤗

Originally posted by: Limerance

Ahahaha that's awesome. A bachelors auction for Maan? Why didn't anyone notify Krish and me? We totally would've made it there! 😉 😆
Dadi in this FF is just amazing, where does she come up with these things to torture him?
I can't wait for the next one. I want to see more of how Maan and Geet interact together.
Wonderful job Shaheda! :)

😆 😆 😆

Sorry I was in bit rush so forgot to send out the invitation...but you see the invi was for the limited crowed😉 who would leave him ALONE...😛

Thx Minal for liking it...

Originally posted by: arabianpaki

oh btw ... today when I was buying ice cream.. the cashier lady ..her name was Geet.. I smiled at her like this😃 instead of 😊 this.. she probably thinks I'm freaky! lol..