New FF- Tanhai--Chapter 1 Pg 4(updt 9th Mar'11) - Page 3

Gmorning Sir '..Said Adi

Maan was still at the breakfast table when Adi arrived '.(.Adi left KI a month after he left '..and they both worked for Adi's Uncle's newspaper as columnists .Maan was involved with a new business /Industry Preview /Review column , the column received a lot of industry appreciation as well as overwhelming readers response '.Adi was incharge of some socio political column but he still referred to Maan as Sir '..Maan use to be like why we are colleagues now '.but Adi wud not budge cause he loved calling him that 'even when for all these years he was in the US ,Adi was one person who kept in touch '.and however much Maan tried the Sir remained 'and ever since his return ..Adi along side his job was doubling up as his PA '.like good old times'rather bad old times 'or whatever)

Adi , Writers ko PA's ki zaroorat nahin hoti 'u have such a wonderful job and r doing so well phir ye sab kya hai..said Maan'while gesturing him to sit down for breakfast

Sir , Writers ko PA's ki nahin but friends ki to sab ko zaroorat hoti hai 'said Adi

Friends 'right 'which friend addresses their friend as Sir '..yeh bhi batao 'said Maan

Pyaar mein to insaan kaise bhi address kar sakta hai 'and Sir hi to keh rahaa hoon seriously u shud get married now 'u can still get a good girl 'kamse kam koi to aaye mera saath dene ke liye ''''..Adi said munching on the apple pieces .

Maan glared but Adi continued ' Haan Sir 'So shud I do the honors ''I can start the search 'I have a few names on my mind already

Adi , I think its time u left for the office '.and I am letting u off cause Pinky is like a sister and I don't want her to go thru the trouble of getting yr broken bones fixed ..said Maan

Alright boss ..I'll leave for now but c u in the evening at the press meet '.saying that Adi left

Maan finished his breakfast and headed to his study 'His mind was plagued with questions abt Geet and Dev's absence and what abt his parents and Dadima 'he wasn't a Khurana ne more but still the blood relation cudnt be denied '.and then his phone rang

Sir , Its me Adi 'umm actually I just got a call from KI 'I don't know how they got my number but the lady there was apologizing abt Ms Khurana's absence later on in the event due to personal reasons , actually the lady was wanting to talk to u directly but I just made an excuse ,didn't know if u wud be interested'but Sir what I did still ask was abt her personal problem and the lady said it was something to do with her 10 year old son having fallen sick or something'said Adi

Ok 'said Maan sort of dazed and hurt at the mention of the child 'what else was he expecting

Well then I shall see u later in the evening '.hope u r ok sir'.I didn't mean to ''said Adi

Ya I am fine '.see ya arnd 5 pm 'at the Leela Kempinski '..said Maan

Maan sort of slumped into his chair '.' You Can Never be any woman's dream Man'. boy when Sam had uttered those words never had he realized they wud be so true' with his eyes moist and closed he began retracing the very start of his end '

--------------------Flash Back------------roughly a decade ago---

Maan tumne Sameera se aisa kya kaha that she isn't willing to get married to you ' said Mr Khurana

Its not Bro's fault Dad unka aur women ka kuch baith ta nahin '.u know he has the name and the looks alright but that's not all what women look for 'said Dev

Wasn't it something similar to what Sameera had said to him a few hours back '.bluntly rudely but he had to agree she was bloody right '.thought Maan

Neway I'll speak to Sam and her father we will work this out but for now Maan u need to catch the early morning flight to Capetown 'the bookings and reservations have been done so get ready ok ..said Mr Khurana

Really Sam was right like hell 'who was he really he had no standing individuality or a striking personality of his own '..

Maan I am talking to you 'said Mr Khurana

Ji Dad 'but Dev can go '..said Maan only to invite some rude words in return

Pehle to acchi khasi rishte ki baat bigaad di now u don't even want to work '..jaisa mein keh raha hoon wohi karo 'said Mr khurana

Ji '..said Maan as he tossed the pasta in his dinner plate

As he packed his bags he felt like the ultimate loser '.he actually had no value or identity 'uski uske ghar mein hi koi respect nahin wo apni wife ko kya respect dilwayega 'Sam was so right

Maan baba flight to early morning ki hai aap itni jaldi kyun jaa rahen hain'said the old man/driver

Kaka mere der ya jaldi jaane se 'as if ne one in this house cares '.aap chalen main wahan lounge mein rest kar loonga'.said Maan

As the car made its way thru the streets of Delhi '..what reverberated in Maan's mind and ears were Sam's words loud and clear '''Who is gonna marry u just for yr name and looks '..what one day yeh sab Dev ka hoga and u'll be sitting and watching 'what r u Maan ? Remove that surname and who r u ? Why wud a girl marry u 'And do u think with such a closed personality u can be any girls dream man ?.she went on ..so many questions and accusations and he had no answers 'Yes he wasn't like those guys his age but it was bec he was brought up this way under the strict orders of his dad , he cud never do what he felt like doing ''.he cud never live ''and even after such scathing remarks what was he doing still following his fathers orders '.even when he didn't feel like going '''''.

Maan baba airport aa gaya '(breaking Maans train of thoughts) said the driver as he got of to get a trolley to keep the luggage

Baba apna khyaal rakhna said the old man fondly as he patted Maans cheek

Aapko to bukhaar hai 'said the driver

Kuch nahin Kaka Ill be fine aap bhi apna khyaal rakhna and c u in a weeks time , baki details Adi aapko de dega 'said Maan

Once in the first class lounge Maan called up Dadi to tell he was all ok 'and that soon his flight wud begin boarding and that she shud hit the bed !!!!

--------

Maan was enjoying the mid air luxuries '.the pleasures of flying First class '..comfortable seats 'great service 'not so bad food and great variety of entertainment 'but the best part was he had the chance to be him '..just Maan ''