PART 8
Dedicated to all the bus drivers in Punjab!!!!
Maan paced up and down in his cabin....his every step stamping his anger.
He knew the pains he had taken to design that package.....
"Being an Air Force officer and sitting and designing entertainment packages is no joke....So what if the deal is still on..If she was such a genius to show them Shutter Island and save the deal....why couldn't she use her birdbrains to stop that little catastrophe from shoving my hardwork outside the window...And aah...how can I forget...the eternal weapon for females...TEARS!!! I should be the one crying...not her..." he reasoned to himself bitterly.
The door of his cabin creaked open and the Shah Industries CEO reappeared with Vivaan in his arms. Vivaan dimpled at Maan and tossed a CD at him screaming "Frisbee!"
"Oh! Vivaan was being stubborn he wanted to return this CD to you. Looks like he mistook it for a frisbee and threw it out. I found it fallen by the tyres of my car. Vivaan kept saying 'Geet di's frisbee' so I thought I should return it ...it may be something important."
Maan caught the flying CD and looked at Vivaan..."Sir, actually it was the package I had designed for you. Vivaan threw it off so Geet showed you Shutter Island instead. Do take it and assess it. You can call me and inform me if you want changes to be made...."
He handed the CD to the CEO.
"Oh! I am really sorry on Vivaan's behalf. He is at times hopelessly playful and damaging. I must say your associate is the smartest I have ever come across...That was a great movie she showed. I will see your package....and give you a call."
"Sure sir....Bye Vivaan!"
Vivaan waved at Maan .....gurgling with laughter. The pair of them left.
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"Tumne kya kiya?" Dadi looked sternly at Maan across the dinner table.
"Fired her....if she couldn't handle a kid...she is unfit for our company.." he continued eating off his plate.
"I didn't know handling kids was a criteria to be fit for the company..." Dadi scowled.
"Being responsible was...." Maan quipped back.
"Maan.....I am shocked at your behaviour. Mr. Maan Sing Khurana...hope you remember all those times you were forgiven for greater mistakes...Those stunts you tried at the Air Force training...which almost led you to crash a jet. Weren't you forgiven?. You fired Geet for no mistake of hers....The poor girl saved you your deal. She used her wits fabulously to save your neck when the situation demanded...and instead of commending her on her timely response...you fired her!!!!"
"Dadi why are you defending her??? Why don't you see that all my sweat would have gone off with the wind due to her irresponsibility...." Maan threw his spoon down.
"But it didn't right? You got you CD back...Vivaan is gone now.....Poor Geet! I can't believe you can be so selfish and unforgiving. You are seeing only about your hardwork...your deal....your company....For God's sake Maan....she is your employee....your associate....your life partner..."
Maan stood up pushing the chair hard..."Dadi... what life partner???...Please! I will not accept that girl in my life ever....Dad can't do this me...It is my goddamn life!"
"....I can't tell you how greatly shocking it is for me to see this side of you. I have always known you as the sweet and disciplined boy....One who cared for humanity....One who respected others....and their feelings. You claimed to have sacrificed your life for the nation....and now suddenly your life belongs to you huh??? The man who taught you to walk...to speak...taught you to respect life...you are denying him his last wish..."
"Dadi stop emotionally attacking me...." Maan hissed.
"Why??? Is there someone you already like?? Do you have some girl in your mind already...." Dadi slyly asked.
"That is just outrageous Dadi...."
"I want to know has Air Force banned its officers from falling in love? Nihaal never informed me...?" Dadi quizzed.
"Dadi...I have had enough! She and me .....Never!!!...It is like the sky and the earth...."
"You forget easily Maan...they do meet at the horizon.." Dadi smiled.
Maan looked beaten.
"Fine Dadi....I give up. No body ever wins with you..." he let out a sigh.
"I want you to pack your bags and go get Geet back...." she firmly told him.
"Get Geet back??? why where has she gone....to Never never land???" he asked chafed.
"She called me up in the afternoon informing me that she was going back to Abohar by tonight's bus...So hurry up. And the gates of Khurana Mansion will be opened to you only if you bring her back...if not...sleep in the garage!"
Maan frowned and rushed upstairs to pack his bag.
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Geet opened her eyes as the bus came to a halt. Her gaze swept across...There were hardly four people seated in the bus. All of them were fast asleep. She yawned and rubbed her eyes.
Her watch read 6 in the morning. She still had three more hours to reach Abohar.
Her head throbbed remembering the events that had forced her to board this bus back to Abohar. She had been in such a fit of rage that she had forgotten to pack her twilight series for the long journey and had even forgotten to buy magazines at the bus stand. Boredom was gnawing at her.
"Suniye ji...ab hum kahaan hain?" she asked the conductor who was busy listening to some song on his mobile.
"Hum Sirsa pahaunchne hi waale hain...Driver thak gaya hain...woh khaane ke liye gaya hain...tum bhi jao...kuch khaalo peelo...yeh log toh sote hi rahenge..." he told her.
Geet fished out her brush and toothpaste and got down the bus. The bus had been parked near a dhaaba.
She went up there and requested the Sardarjee to give her a jug of water.
"Koi gal nahi kudiye...yeh le...aur agar koi aur business hain toh washroom bhi hain peeche..." the friendly Sardar informed her.
She thanked him and freshened up a bit. Ten minutes later she was back in the bus. The driver was also back....
"Suniye....aap thak chuke honge...Mujhe bus chalane do kuch der ke liye..." she offered.
Driving was the only way she could forget her woes.
"Oye...mujhe kya pagal kutte ne kata hain ki main ek ladki ko bus chalane doon? Chal jaa apne seat main baith aur le yeh channe kha..." he handed her a cone of chick peas!
"Kyun ladkiyaan bus nahi chala sakti kya???" she challenged.
"Theek hain....." the driver smirked.
"Haan magar tum yahaan mere baju mein baithna aur rasta dikhate rehna..." she requested.
"Shauk se...waise agar hum logo ki jaan gayi aur agar is bus ko kuch bhi hua toh saara ilzaam tum logi....Manzoor hain?" he put forth.
"Manzoor hain...." Geet was charged up.
She took the seat while the driver sat next to her.
"Babaji...khyaal rakhna..." she prayed silently and started the bus.
In few minutes she was speeding across the road with a mouth-sagging driver sitting by her side.
"Kyun re baloo...yeh ladki toh tujhse bhi behtar nikli..." the conductor slapped the driver on his back.
Geet smiled at the praise.
"Kudiye...tune kitthe seekhi ini vadiya gadi chalana?" Baloo asked her in amazement.
"Sadi blood mein hain!" Geet chirped back.
All her frustration on Maan...his rudeness was coming out in to form of speed. She was tearing across the streets almost racing against the wind.
"Thoda dheere warna polica ticket dega..." Baloo pleaded.
Geet shot him a understanding look and slowed down a bit.
"Actually main jab bhi ghusse mein hoti hoon toh speed kuch zyaada badh jaata hain.."
"Kis ke upar itna ghussa ho rahi ho?" the conductor asked sympathetically.
"Ek Indian Vampire par...Mr. Maan Khadoos-ud-din.....dikhne mein toh Edward Cullen aur niyat mein Mogambo..." she growled recollecting the injustice.
"Vampire....woh kya hota hain?" Baloo asked scratching his chin.
"Ek khoon choosne waala praani ko angreezi mein Vampire kehte hain..." Geet giggled.
"Oh toh usne tumhara Khoon choosa...?" the conductor queried.
"Khoon...Khushi...Kaam...sab choos liya us saale ne...agar phir kabhi dikhayi dega..." the threat lingered in the air.
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Maan kicked the car...."Damn! Isko abhi kharab hona tha...Dadi aap mujhse kya kya karwa rahe hain...." he cried in frustration.
He had started for Abohar after getting Geet's address from the company records. He had even phoned the bus station to find out when the bus to Abohar had left but the people were unable to provide him with appropriate information.
He had not waited any longer and started off to Abohar taking the help of a detailed road map. His car had literally whizzed past streets like the wind.
the whole night he had been driving and was now knocked out with exhaustion. So was his car...it had stopped obeying his commands and refused to budge anymore.
The road was deserted and no vehicle was in sight...he had no option but to wait for help to come.
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After 40 minutes of aimlessly kicking stones on the road he heard the roar of a bus.
"Phew! At last...." he thanked God.
The bus was approaching him at a fast pace. He stood on the bonnet of his car and waved furiously for the bus to stop.....
His gaze got rooted at the drivers seat....he couldn't believe it...Geet was driving the bus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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"Arre dekho wahaan ek aadmi madad ke liye khada hain...bus uske paas rokhlo" Baloo told Geet.
Geet smiled at the suggestion..."Punjabi dil...sabki madad kiye bina dhadakta nahin hain..."
She saw the man dressed in white shirt and black trousers climb the bonnet of his car and wave at them.
"Lagta hain..isse bahut jaldi hain Abohar pahaunchne mein..." Geet speculated.
The bus neared the car and the man's face came into focus.
Geet froze...It was Maan standing there.
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love
pallo....😆
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