Chapter 39
"Dadima, you know so much about the construction business, I think you must know as much as Maan. Did you study architecture in college?"
"Oh heavens no! I double majored in English and Sanskrit. No, it was actually Maan's Dadaji who taught me everything. His father had a small subcontracting business back when we were in school. Ranjeet went into architecture because he wanted to help his father expand the business. When we got married, I thought it was important for me to understand about my husband's work, so I constantly badgered him to explain everything. It all came in handy when I eventually joined Khurana Constructions."
"Wow, Dadima, you have accomplished so much. I hope that I can do half as much someday," said Geet with a combination of admiration and wistfulness.
Savitri looked at Geet closely, trying to perceive what she wasn't saying. "You know, Beti, I'm really happy that you and Maan are working together, because it's good for husband and wife to struggle together. But if you don't want to work, I mean if you would rather go back to school, that's fine. I'll talk with Maan."
Geet made a face, uncertainty written on her beautiful features. "I always wanted to finish school, but...This project is important to me, Dadima. I want to show Maan, show everyone who doubts, that I can handle it. This has been one of the most difficult things, but with your help, I know I will be a success."
"Theek hai, Beti. You know I will always support you, whatever you decide. If you want to think about school again later, tell me and we'll see what can be arranged. Now, you better go and get some sleep. After all, tomorrow is a big day."
Geet frowned. "What do you mean, Dadima? The party isn't tomorrow, but the next day, and I have to do the presentation on Saturday. Tomorrow should just be a normal working day."
"You're right, Beti," agreed Savitri. "I don't know what I was thinking. However, it's still getting late, so you should go to bed."
Geet agreed. Gathering up all the documents, she thanked Savitri for her help and began the trek back to the outhouse. Coming down the connecting corridor quickly, her mind otherwise occupied, Geet didn't notice the figure walking out of the outhouse kitchen. Before she knew what happened, the files where sprawled all over the floor, and she was being held by a pair of strong arms.
"Don't you ever look where you are going!" yelled Maan as he set Geet away from him.
Her voice temporarily lost due to the collision, Geet soon found it again when she said, "You should look where you are going too. What were you doing, anyway?"
Looking around, Geet noticed his mobile laying haphazardly on the floor. "Oh, so that's what you were occupied with. Too busy looking up the latest stock quotes, or whatever, to bother to look up."
"Miss Geet Handa, just who do you think you are to talk to me like that? What were you doing, coming from the mansion with all those files?"
"I was working on the Chopra project," Geet answered indifferently.
"What did you need to go to the mansion for? You could have worked on it right here."
Geet pursed her lips and rolled her eyes, before replying, "I went to the mansion because someone doesn't want me trespassing on his personal space. Goodnight!"
While Maan watched, Geet quickly gathered up the fallen papers and hurried to the stairs. Shaking his head, Maan picked up his phone, wondering what to do with such a girl. Muttering that she would drive him crazy, he decided that a tai chi session might be just what was needed to get his mind off of unwanted distractions.
The next day if anyone had dared to ask why Maan continually glanced towards the office next to his, he would have told them that he was only checking up on his secretary. That's what he would have told them, and that was what he believed. After all, she needed checking up to make sure that she was staying on task and finishing her work without getting into any difficulties.
"You mean creating difficulties, Maan, not getting into," he said to himself in frustration. "You just want to make sure that she's not messing anything up, that's all. You're not a knight in shining armor that goes around rescuing damsels in distress. Anyway, Geet doesn't need you to rescue her, so just don't think about her anymore."
As much as he tried to concentrate on his work only, even his most strict self lectures couldn't seem to keep his glance from wandering toward the glass and blinds that separated employer and secretary. It was impossible to explain, but whenever his eyes happen to meet Geet's, instead of breaking the contact like he should, he just continued to look, almost as if he was being pulled by some invisible force towards her. When he would look toward her office and not find her there, it was a difficult task not to wonder where she was, what she was doing, and when she would be back. He naturally told himself that he was only interested because he didn't want her to make any mistakes, but somehow that wasn't quite as believable as it once was.
There was a slight restlessness that would invade his mind when he saw that empty desk. It was something he never felt with any other employee, and he couldn't figure out why it happened. He couldn't deny it though, for it had happened too many times just that morning. For some reason, Geet never seemed to stay still for more than a few minutes, always flitting here and there. When 11:30 rolled around, the time for her last briefing with him on the project before Saturday's presentation, she was no where to be seen.
"That crazy girl! Can't she stay in one place for more than five minutes? If she is this hyper now, how will she ever be able to finish this project?" he muttered while trying to concentrate on reading his emails. Yet, before he knew it, his attention was again drifting off to the right.
"Are you working hard and getting a lot accomplished?" Maan heard the voice of his grandmother come from the office door, pulling his attention away from Geet's empty desk. Despite the smirk he could see on Savitri's face, Maan refused to be intimidated.
"Dadima, this is the second time in two weeks that you have come here unannounced. If you keep showing up like this, how do you expect me to get any work done?"
"When you're busy staring off into the empty office next door, as if you could conjure it's occupant by the sheer intensity of your gaze, I don't see how you can blame my presence for you lack of accomplishment," replied Savitri in amusement.
Giving his grandmother a frustrated look, Maan asked, "Dadima, why are you here?"
"I'm here because my grandson, who always bost about his ability to do anything, can not remember the most important date in his life." At Maan's puzzled face, Savitri continued, "Maan, I'm here to get you and Geet."
"Get us what?"
Savitri just shook her head. "Maan, today is the day for you and Geet to go to the court to solemnize your marriage. I had a feeling that you would forget, so I came to pick you both up and take you there."
"What? Dadima, you can't be serious. You promised me that..."
"I promised you that if in the required thirty day wait I found anything objectionable in Geet or her behavior, I would file an objection to your marriage. In return, you promised me that you would marry Geet if I found her suitable. That was the deal that we made that day the Handas came demanding you marry her. Well, I believe that there is no one more suitable for you than Geet, so I expect you to fulfill your promise to me."
Maan tried to argue, but it was no use. Savitri would not give in, in fact she informe him that Geet was already waiting for them in her car. When Maan declared that he was not going to waste his time and leave the office for something so trivial, Savitri reminded him of his grandfather's words. She reminded Maan how her husband had always taught him to honor his promise in business, and in his personal life. Though Maan was reluctant, he was forced to agree and do his grandmother's bidding.
Geet was nervous, waiting in the car by herself. When Savitri came with Maan, her nervousness increased and became tinged with fear. She could tell from the scowl on Maan's face that he was upset. Since he didn't say anything, she could only conclude that she must have done something wrong, something that he didn't want to mention in front of his grandmother. She worried about what it was she might have done, to the point that the entire marriage solemnization ceremony became a blur. She said the words required of her and signed in the places she needed to, but without any conscious thought.
What kept going through her mind, especially when they arrived back at the office, was that she need to find out what she had done wrong. She tried to talk to Maan, but all he did was tell her to get out of his office, even as he barked into his mobile, requesting some unknown person to connect him with Mr. Malik immediately. After that, Geet had no opportunity to talk with him, as he went off to some unexpected meeting.
Being Maan's secretary was usually an advantage to Geet now that she was familiar with the office work, because she had constant access to his schedule. This unexpected meeting that took Maan out of the office for the rest of the day, came as quite a shock. She didn't know what to make of it, or his angry and frustrated looks from earlier in the day. She even wondered if maybe she should try to wait for him at home, to find out what had happened, and if he was angry with her or not. That idea turned out to be superflous in the end.
Maan was actually waiting for her at the outhouse when she arrived home that night, the first words out of his mouth, "Geet, we need to talk."
****
"Geet, are you alright this morning? You're looking a little pale," commented Savitri as Geet came and sat at the breakfast table.
"I'm fine, Dadima," answered Geet softly. "I just had a little trouble falling asleep last night."
"Well, I'm sorry to hear that. Geet, if you can, try to take a short nap this afternoon. You want to look your best for the party tonight. I'm sure the hotel will have some place that you can rest for a few hours."
"I'm not going to the party, Dadima."
"What do you mean, you're not going?"
"I don't feel like it."
Precap
"Hello?"
"Geet, the hotel's catering depart just called the office with a strange story. I think you need to go talk with them and find out what's going on."
Book Talk
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