Chapter 22
"Geet, what's with the gift, did you not go shopping or what happened? ", asked Maan, after dinner, while Geet was making the bed.
She gave him a stern look and continued doing her work.
He walked to her and pulled her up.
"when I'm talking to you, you better answer and pay attention. Neither am I going to repeat what I said nor am I going to excuse this sort of attitude", he said, seriously and angrily.
Hmmm, ek to aap ki wajah se main bet haar gayi, aur upar se aapke guroor. Chodiye, she said, irritated.
Bet, kaunsi bet?, he said, still holding her tight and not letting her go.
Ab main haar gayi na, kya matlab. Bas bank account mein paise rakh lijiye, she said, turning her face away.
Geet, will you tell me or not? , he asked, angrily.
Mr. Khurana- biwi hoon aapke naukar nahin.chillaeye mat, she said.
Hmmm, pata hain, ab bolo jaldi. Time waste mat karo, he said, angrily, but with a slight smile, that Geet mentioned she was his wife.
Geet explained the whole story to Maan and he started laughing. She looked at him shocked and narrowed her eyes, pushed him away and walked to the couch and sat there with her legs crossed on the couch.
Maan went and knelt in front of her. Geet, these 50 lakhs is for me not making it to the mail is it? And you were angry for this?, he asked.
Haan, pata hain, 50 lakhs ki diamond set maangi Kiara ne. Agar main jeet jaati to paise bach jaate na aapke. Aap kyun nahin aaye mall?, she asked, cribbing and complaining, like a 5 year old.
Geet, its ok. Its a small gift- 50 lakhs isnt much. Ill get the diamond set she wants tomorrow and you can give it to her, he said.
50 lakhs isnt much?, she asked, with her eyes wide open and her hand covering her mouth.
Geet, nothing is more than you, he said, getting up and walking away, smiling.
Geet looked at him, shocked yet again. Par Maan, 50 and he interrupted, Geet, like I said, Ill get her the set, give it to her. And as far as you losing the bet because of me is concerned, Im sorry. I did not know about it. If I knew I would never let you lose.
Well, how would you know? That was one of the conditions of the bet. Kiara planned it well, she said. khud crorepati hain aur ab main kangaal. She made a puppy face and Maan smiled and walked back to her.
He pecked her nose with his and said, Are you worried about losing the bet or 50 lakhs?
Im worried about losing the bet and the consequences. Because of me- it will cost 50 lakhs to your account
I told you already- its ok!, he said.
Ill be careful next time, she said.
He rolled his eyes and said, Geet, stop this now! Or Ill make you buy the diamond set for Kiara all by yourself.
Nahin, mere paas itne paise nahin hain. Theek hain, Ill shut up, she said.
Waise how did you agree to the bet- when you think 50 lakhs is an hefty amount?, he asked.
Where did I agree Maan? She did not tell me- she just told me that I will have to get anything she asks for! I did not see her wishes would be so exorbitant. She rested her head on his chest and he slightly held her around her waist.
Youre hilarious Geet, he said, and laughed again.
She hit him on his chest angrily and he caught her hands and continued to laugh.
Geet, office se aapke liye yeh papers aaye hain, said Daadima, as Geet entered the kitchen the next day morning. She had prepared an elaborate list of items for breakfast and lunch that day " so as to make the day special for Dev and Naintara.
Thanks Daadima. Ill see it later, she said, taking the envelope and folder from her and keeping it on the shelf in the dining room.
No, check it now! No procrastinating office work Geet, came Maans voice from behind. He was already dressed for office and walked in, holding a newspaper.
She rolled her eyes. Agar main yeh dekhne baitungi to , aap breakfast nahin kar payenge. Brekafast banana hain mujhe.
Thats okay! Ill skip it, but you finish this first, he said, sitting down on the table, after hugging Daadima.
Kya? Its ok to skip breakfast for you is it? Phir se wahin baath. Aapke liye khana banana hi bekaar hain, she said, Main nahin dekhungi yeh papers, she said and walked away angrily into the kitchen.
Maan looked at Daadima, who smiled and continued reading her newspaper.
Why are you smiling?, he asked.
Well, Mr. Khurana- your workaholism is getting onto her nerves too, she said and continued to smile.
What wrong did I do?, he asked.
You havent done anything wrong. You just chose the wrong choice of words, she said.
Daadima please explain and dont beat about the bush, he said, agitated, while she continued to smile.
Maan, If I were you I would have said, Geet, love- I can wait till you make breakfast. But please get to making breakfast only after checking the office papers- sometimes, you know- it could be something that would need immediate reverts and attention. How long would it anyway take you to look at those papers- 5-10 minutes. Thats okay for me
5-10 minutes waiting is not okay for me. I cant get so melodramatic and for heavens sake I cant give so much of justification, he said.
Well, then Mr.Khurana- deal with the situation. Your wife is angry, she said.
Its a stupid reason to be angry for, he said.
Maan, Ive always told you- it is a privilege to have people around you who care for you and are concerned about your well-being. I feel privileged because you are always there for me. And you ought to realize that Geet is one person who cares for you or is starting to care for you. But dont let her feel like an idiot for being so concerned about you
So you think she cared for me and I dont care for her?, he asked.
I never said that Mr. Khurana. Thats your assumption, she said. You know very well what the truth is- my thinking will not change the reality
Before they could continue with the discussion, Dev and Naintara walked into the dining room, looking as pretty as ever. Both of them tall, slim and elegantly dressed- looking smoking hot as a couple- with a sweet smile playing on their lips.
Good morning, said Daadima, Finally you people are here, she said, as they walked to her, to hug her and take her blessings.
Haapy birthday Dev and wish you a very happy anniversary, said Daadima, as she hugged the both of them dearly.
Thank you Daadima, both of replied, in unison.
Geet came out of the kitchen too, followed by the helpers, who placed dishes on the table and walked back.
Happy Birthday devar ji, she said, smiling and Happy anniversary devar and devrani ji, she said, walking towards them.
Oh thank you bhabhi ji, said Dev.
Thank you Geet bhabhi, said Naintara, smiling and winking.
Maan continued to read the paper as Geet, Daadima and Kiara continued to wish them and talk to them.
Maan, appko kuch kehna hain?, asked Geet.
Bhabhi, youre asking him so openly- he might get a little embarrassed, said Kiara, laughing.
Kiara, I was talking about Maan wishing Dev and Naintara- not make a confession to me, she said, with a lopsided smile.
Oh youre expecting some sort of confession from Maan Veerji, is it? , asked Kiara. Veerji, suna aapne?, she said, turning to Maan.
Maan nodded his head not looking up from the newspaper.
Whats so interesting in that newspaper?, asked Kiara, pulling it away.
Dont do that next time- it irriatates me, he said, angrily. And what is that you were asking Geet?, he asked.
For a confession, said Kiara, laughing. The rest of them laughed too, while Geet scowled and Maan shot her an angry look.
I already wished them Geet, he clarified.
Ok, she said, Chalo ab breakfast time, said Geet, avoiding the topic and argument with Maan,
Dinner ke liye hum bahar jaa rahen hain, said Dev.
Yeah ofcourse. I counted the both of out for dinner, said Geet, while giving Maan his sandwich.
Hello, count yourself, Maan Veerji, Kiara and Daadi also out. Hum sab bahar karenge dinner- Hyatt mein, said Dev.
Wedding anniversary hain aapke devarji, reminded Geet.
TO kya hua Geet bhabhiji?, asked Naintara. Hum sab dinner ek saath karenge, she said.
I dont think Ill come, said Daadi. I dont feel like eating out these days
Oh cmon Daadi, said Dev. This is not done!
IT is done! You two go and have a wonderful time together. If you want we can have lunch together, said Maan.
Everyone in the dining room were shocked to hear that Maan was ready to have lunch with the family., He hated leaving office in the afternoon and coming home for lunch. He thought those few hours would cost him a few hundred crores of business loss and loss in productivity.
Did the sun rise in the west?
Did the weather channel report any deadly storms or cyclones or any catastrophe?
Maan, are you okay?
Bro, office mein meetings nahin hain kya?, came mixed reactions from everyone except Naintara- who only smiled.
Her Maan Veerji was slowly but surely changing. Moreover, the change was good- afterall change is the only constant in this world.
Fine suit your selves, he said.
No no! Lunch plan is perfect. Hum sab lunch ek saath karenge, Geet added quickly, before Maan could change his mind.
Geet checked the papers just after lunch. Maan had dropped the idea of going back to office again and instead decided to work from home. Dev and Naintara sat with Daadi and Kiara in the living room on the first floor. They were comfortably seated and chatted for a long time, while Maan too- sat there and worked on his laptop- but managed to catch up with what they were speaking.
Geet was in her bedroom. She opened the envelope and found tickets to Hyderabad. Her trip was scheduled for the next day.
Gosh, its for tomorrow? And I havent looked through any folders and designs too.What the hell will I go and do?, she thought, sitting on the bed, holding the itinerary for Hyderabad in her hands. When is the return trip?, she thought, pulling out another sheet. Oh its day after tomorrow night? So I will have to pack a pair of clothes too?, she thought.
Geets flight landed in Hyderabad at 9am, the next day. She had managed to read some stuff on the flight and ensured some preliminary details were atleast clear to her.
She de-boarded and walked straight to the driver who was waiting outside to pick her up and take her to the project site.
On her way, she spoke to her mother and Daadima, informing them that she landed safely in Hyderabad. She also texted Maan, Reached
Okay! Have fun!, he replied.
Fun with what?
With work
Hmmm, Im not Maan Singh Khurana, she texted back.
You dont have to be Maan Singh Khurana to enjoy your work or to enjoy what you do. You can be Geet Handa too and still what to do
Maan, dont lecture me
Okay!, he replied. She smiled at how he immediately stopped talking what she did not want him to.
After a long day of work in Hyderabad- Geet got back to her hotel room. She quickly took a hot water shower and dressed into a pair of shorts and T-shirt. She walked into the balcony of her room- situated on the tenth floor. There was a slight drizzle outside. She made herself some coffee and sat to look out.
Her connection with Hyderabad had begun with a project that Maan had decided to assign to her- all of a sudden. She was shocked, scared and unsure if she would handle it- since it was the Khuranas personal project. She wasnt sure why she was chosen- instead of Sasha for the project- when Sashas designs were far more superior to hers. She hadnt even present her ideas clearly since Maan decided to walk in right on time for her presentation.
Geet thought back while reclining on the chair in the balcony while Maan, in Delhi, did the same too, sitting by the pool in his mansion.
ALright, that's it for now! The next update will take us to the flashback- that starts with Hyderabad and the connection that Maan and Geet have with that city.
Soumya
Chapter 23- PAge 53- https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/93243367
CID
204