Chapter 21
"Who's there?" Maan called as he walked out into the back garden, after dinner Karan had left and everyone else excused themselves to bed. Maan wasn't able to sleep so decided to go for a quick swim however he saw the shadows of someone or something on the pool side chairs. "Who is it?" he called once again getting no response, he strode over and was surprised to see Geet lying on the chair, her head lolled to one side and her eyes closed and a book resting on her lap.
Is she asleep here? He wondered, he cleared his throat hoping she'd hear but she didn't respond, her heavy breaths indicated she was sleeping. He tapped her shoulder and called her name softly but she didn't respond.
"Geet" he gently shook her, she jumped up right away and as a reflex pushed Maan dropping her book, he stumbled back not expecting her response so fierce and lost his footing, he splashed into the pool whilst Geet stared at him in horror. He dove up brushing his hands through his hair staring at her, Geet covered her mouth in shock at her own actions and shook her head. Before Maan said another word, she'd turned running back into the mansion whilst Maan looked on, he looked down at himself and shook his head. So much for swimming.
Geet paced her room fidgeting with her hands chewing on her lower lip with worry, she wondered what Maan will say or do when he sees her again. She heard small splashes and walked over to the window, she hid herself slightly and peeked secretly noting Maan was swimming. He wouldn't shout at me would he? She wondered, he was probably planning to swim anyways. But she couldn't be sure.
He's probably going to blast me tomorrow for it. She thought to herself stropping over to bed.
Maan leaped out of the pool and grabbed his towel wrapping it around his waist and grabbed the other rubbing his hair, his eyes drew to the book Geet had dropped. He bent down and picked it. Pride and Prejudice Maan found himself intrigued, he looked in the direction of Geet's room then back at the book. He slightly shook his head smiling faintly and headed towards his room.
"Vikrant jaake Geet ko bulao" Dadima spoke as she noticed Geet hadn't come down yet, Maan was already sitting at the head of the table and did wonder himself where Geet was. He wondered whether her absence had anything to do with last night?
"Bhabhi" Vikrant called and knocked.
"Hmm..." her voice was weak as she responded.
Vikrant frowned and slowly opened her door and started walking inside as she was sat on the bed looking worried. "Why don't you come down for breakfast?" Vikrant questioned noting how she kept playing with her fingers in nervousness.
"Because of your brother" she mumbled. Everything had been going quite alright, not exactly perfectly or anything but it was alright and improving between them but she'd gone and ruined everything.
"What did he do now?" Vikrant sighed flopping onto her bed with a plop watching her intently.
"He didn't do anything, I did" she whined. And he's never going to be nice to me ever again.
"What did you do?" he asked now interested and straightened up.
"I... I pushed him into the pool last night" she exhaled heavily, guilt setting in her consciousness.
"You pushed bhai into the pool?" Vikrant questioned wondering whether he'd heard right or not, Geet nodded pouting at him.
"Wow bhabhi well done yaar. Congrats" he held up his hand for a high five, Geet smacked his shoulder frowning at him.
"Shut up. He's going to kill me for doing it and you're congratulating me" she hissed.
"Bhabhi why do you worry so much for?" he rolled his eyes holding her arm and tugged her up with him. "Bhai won't do anything, come" he pulled her.
"Nahi" Geet stood firmly shaking her head. "Main nahi jaungi"
"Stop being such a baby" Vikrant tugged her.
"Nahi Vikrant, let me go"
"That's it" he muttered and scooped her up.
"Vikrant" She shrieked smacking his shoulder. "Put me down! Now!"
"Thanks for the free massage, I needed it" he replied calmly.
"Vikrant main tujhe nahi chodhungi, main kabhi Meera ko yahan nahi bulaungi" she threatened. "I'm going to tell her to start dating someone so you won't have a chance"
"Blah blah blah. Who's going to date that fatty other than me" he responded.
"Put me down" She smacked his shoulder harder.
"Oh yes! That was where I was paining the most, I needed your touch there" he responded.
Maan and Dadima looked at each other in confusion as they heard what Vikrant had just said, they turned their heads towards the dining room entry and stared in surprise seeing Vikrant carrying Geet. Maan looked at where his brother's hands were and he looked away clenching his fist for a moment whilst Geet was blushing furiously in embarrassment, she refused to meet anyone's eyes and had her head dipped down.
"Geet ko kya hua?" Dadima asked in concern.
"Bhabhi didn't want to come down" he replied placing Geet on her foot, she stomped her feet onto his scowling at him.
"Ow" Vikrant winced. "That hurt. I carried you and you're hitting me"
Maan almost smiled hearing his brother, he cleared his throat and Dadima asked them to join. Geet looked at Maan from the corner of her eyes wondering when he will shout at her for last night, she slowly helped herself to a piece of toast and bit into it.
"Waise Geet aap neeche kyun nahi aana chahte te?" Dadima questioned.
"Woh..." she looked around trying to think of something.
"I'll tell you" Vikrant intervened.
"Woh Dadima" Geet cut him off. "Vikrant na... he was threatening me"
"Bhabhi how could you?" Vikrant exclaimed.
She pouted shaking her head pleading him to not tell Dadima.
He sighed and rolled his eyes at her. "Bhabhi is right" he huffed. "I was threatening her"
"Aap kabhi sudrenge nahi na?" Dadima shook her head. "Jaldi se nashta kariye, college bhi jana hai" she pointed out.
"Oh yeah, bhabhi I'm going to go meet Karan, I'll drop you off first" Vikrant informed.
"What did..." Vikrant stopped as he saw Maan in Karan's office as well. "Bhai?" he looked at him in confusion. "What are you doing here?"
"I've come to see you both" Maan replied. "You said you were coming here so I decided to come and see the both of you" his voice tight and his eyes narrowed.
Karan rolled his eyes. "It's about last night"
"Look bhai Karan forced me" Vikrant pointed in his defence.
"I asked both of you to help and you f**king played me instead" Maan hissed.
"It was quite funny though" Karan laughed. "Dadima!" he mimicked. "What a f**king excuse to get away, you had the change, you could've asked then"
"True" Vikrant agreed laughing.
"Both of you are such bas***ds" Maan grit out staring at the both of them.
"Well you shouldn't be such a flipping scaredy cat" Karan retorted. "Like how the f**k does someone mess up with asking his own wife to come and work" He shook his head sighing heavily.
"You shit!" Maan glared at him. "You wouldn't f**king know unless you were married"
"Unlike you I'm happy with my singleton life" Karan declared proudly tugging at his collar.
"Only because Jen cheated on you" Vikrant cut in.
"Shut the f**k up" Maan and Karan both simultaneously replied glowering at Vikrant who cowered back.
"I think... I'll just leave you guys to it" he muttered pulling the door open and rushing out. He learnt his lesson not to tease his brothers about women cheats, because neither of them obviously liked it.
"You need to help me" Maan told Karan firmly.
"And you think I'm going to?" Karan questioned lifting his brows.
"Yeah you better" Maan replied. "Or else I'll pound you right here and now"
"You do know I'm not scared of you" Karan responded in amusement. "I won't help you. So you're just going to have to help yourself"
"Next time you come to me for help don't f**king expect any" Maan scowled.
"What can I do?" Karan sighed. "Why don't you just let her work here? She might not even like it then you can suggest she work for you"
"And how am I supposed to get to know her?"
"You can always take her out to dinner" Karan suggested.
"Why didn't I f**king think of that?" Maan mocked. "And then what Einstein?"
"You know what. I've got better things to do" Karan stood up grabbing his files. "Let me know how you do" he patted Maan's shoulder grinning widely and walked out.
Maan clenched his fist by his sides, he wanted to follow his cousin and throttle him, he couldn't believe his playboy cousin had no f**king idea. Yet he had so many ideas of luring women in a couple of months back. Some women can be real bitches. He thought to himself.
"Bhai" Vikrant called as he saw Maan leaving Karan's office.
"Get lost!" Maan responded.
"I just got a brilliant idea" Vikrant continued as if he hadn't spoke.
"Leave me alone Vikrant" Maan replied tightly scowling at his brother.
"Listen to me first" he was determined to share his idea.
"What?" Maan turned around glaring at him.
"Oomph" Vikrant frowned when he bumped into Maan as he'd suddenly stopped and turned around, he stepped back seeing Maan getting pissed off.
"How about we all go out?" he suggested quickly.
"What?" Maan frowned.
"Like as a group. That way you'll know bhabhi a little" he explained.
"How?" Maan questioned now interested in Vikrant's suggestion.
Vikrant then explained in detail as they walked out of the building together.
Once they parted Vikrant quickly called Dadima to help them.
Geet smiled at Dadima as she returned back from college, Vikrant followed behind and excused himself to change.
"Hi Dadima" she greeted kissing her cheek.
Dadima smiled patting her cheek. "College kaisa ta?"
"Teek ta" she replied placing her bag down and cuddled up on the sofa. "Woh Amelia meri jaan ke peeche padh gayi hai" she pouted.
"Kyun?"
"Woh Karan ke saat kaam karna chahti hai. Bina jaane woh Karan ko pasand karti hai"
Dadima laughed shaking her head. "Toh dono ko mila do" she suggested. "Ek dusre ko jaan ke mauka de sakte hai"
"Nahi Dadima. Agar kuch galat hogaya toh? Dono mujhe hi doshi teh rayenge" she muttered shaking her head.
"Teek hai... Waise Geet bete aaj shaam aap bahar jayenge sab ke saat?"
"Kis ke saat?" she questioned.
"Maan, Vikrant aur Karan ke saat. Teeno bhai dinner pe jaa rahe hai isi humne socha aap ko bhi jaana chahiye" she replied.
"Ji?" Geet looked at Dadima hesitantly.
"Haan Geet. Accha lagega"
"Nahi Dadima" she stood to her feet pacing the floor. "Main nahi jaa sakti"
"Lekin kyun?" Dadima frowned hearing her response.
"Main akeli nahi jaa sakti" she mumbled.
"Bete akele kahan, wahan Maan honge, Vikrant hoga aur Karan bhi"
"Haan teeno bhai honge lekin main akeli ladki hoon na"
"Toh aap Meera aur Amelia ko bula lijiye"
"Amelia woh toh Karan ke peeche padh jayegi and Vikrant Meera ke peeche aur phir main aur ..." she paused dipping her head down not finishing off her sentence.
"Toh phir aap aur Maan akele honge" Dadima added chuckling. "Aap dono ek dusre ko jaan na haina?" she asked.
"Dadima" Geet knelt down resting her head on her lap. "Mujhe dar lagta hai" she whispered.
"Kyun?" Dadima cupped her cheeks looking down at her in worry.
"Dadima agar Maan yeh sab sirf aap ke khatir kar rahe hai" she mumbled.
"Aisa nahi hai bete" Dadima shook her head. "Agar woh mere khatir karna chahte toh woh kab ko aap ko mauka de de te"
Geet nodded though unsurely.
"Jaake fresh ho jaiye" Dadima pointed. "Amelia aur Meera ko bhi invite karlijiye aaj shaam ke liye"
"Ji..." Geet stood to her feet and walked upstairs.
Geet looked at herself in the mirror for the 5th time tonight, she wondered whether she was dressed okay or not. She knew her friends will be sparkling and looking quite hot knowing how much importance they give to their looks and both will be dressed to kill. Amelia especially. She mused.
She looked at herself again questioning herself whether the dress she'd picked was simple and elegant for dinner, she pondered on whether to change or not.
"Mumma" she mumbled with a pout and inward whine.
"Bhabhi you ready?" Vikrant knocked and slightly opened the door, he grinned in amusement and wolf whistled. "Someone is looking more than gorgeous" he winked.
"No I don't" she shook her head frowning. "I don't know what to wear" she complained.
"Bhabhi you look fine. Bhai ke hosh udh jayenge" he winked.
"Mujhe tumhare bhai ko impress nahi karna" she replied. "We're going out to dinner, I don't want to seem out of place"
"Oh..."he frowned. "I thought you were dressing up for bhai"
Geet shook her head and glanced once again in the mirror, Vikrant stood behind her touching her shoulders gently.
"Bhabhi honestly you look beautiful" he told her gently, but she was finding it quite a little hard to accept it. She'd never been praised on her looks and thought of herself as average looking. She wasn't someone who quite easily fit in and she was hoping tonight she looked like one of them as they all go out for dinner tonight.
"Now come on, bhai's driving tonight" he gestured heading towards the door, Geet grabbed her clutch and shot a quick prayer and followed.
"Don't make Geet cry" Dadima told Maan, she was informing him of his dos and donts before they head off to dinner, Maan listened however he looked bored.
"You want to know her, try to think of some common ground to talk on" she continued. "but then what common ground do you both have?" she pondered. "It's like an angel and devil gap"
"Dadima" Maan narrowed his eyes at her.
"Mazak kar rahe hai" She chuckled. "Aur haan if you scare or shout at Geet I won't leave you Maan" she warned.
"Alright, will you give it a rest now?" he exhaled heavily. "I won't do anything to her, you've got your 2 bodyguards watching her"
"Make sure you sit next to Geet, Meera and Vikrant will anyways sit together, Amelia and Karan are to sit together"
"Why?" he questioned.
"Because I want them to know each other"
"Can you seriously stop playing matchmaker?" he replied.
"It's because I played matchmaker that you've got a beautiful wife" Dadima replied and pointed behind him, Maan turned around and looked at Geet. She dressed in a black lace knee length dress which reached past her knees, a white clutch in hand and white heels. Her hair was twisted in a bun with a few curly locks cascading down framing her heart shaped face. He stared at her for a moment before he realized he was staring, he looked away clearing his throat quietly. He hadn't really checked her out before, he'd seen her and she did look pretty in whatever she wore, but tonight she looked beautiful and there was something just so innocent in the way she walked down. She seemed hesitant and quite shy.
"Bhabhi looks quite hot doesn't she?" Vikrant asked as they stepped down.
Geet nudged him with a scowl, and turned to Dadima who walked over and embraced her, Dadima stepped back and put a kala tika behind her ear.
"Kisi ki nazar na lage meri bacchii par" she patted Geet's cheek. "You look beautiful bete"
"Thank you Dadima" she whispered softly.
"Maan aap kuch nahi kahenge?" Dadima looked over her shoulder, Maan and Geet looked surprised and were quite hesitant, both refused to even look at each other and had looked everywhere but one another.
"Maan" Dadima called.
"Uh..." he was right now lacking words, he was suddenly put on the spot and didn't know what to say. "Yeah... let's go" he replied and turned walking away hurriedly.
Dadima and Vikrant started laughing whilst Geet was embarrassed for herself and Maan.
"Let's go bhabhi" Vikrant gestured, Geet nodded taking dadima's blessings and followed Vikrant towards Maan's car.
- Legal Affairs has been updated, posted 4 chapters. Thanks to the readers for not using the word dear in their comments 🤣
FFY readers could be getting such treats if readers stopped using the word DEAR in comments. 😉😆
It's a mind numbing word, so I would kindly request once more, please refrain from writing dear in your comments. I'd rather have readers using my pen name or my IF username.
Bindi
Current Affairs
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