Beauty and The Beast||Thread 1|| - Page 6

Credit for this chapter also goes to a writer-friend who wishes to remain anonymous. She has helped write this chapter so please do thank her when giving comments.

Note - The bold little lines in the update relates to the character's pasts seeing many seem confused, I' guessing you're skipping the bold parts.

Chapter 1

Hand stays bare

The sparkling diamond disappeared

But the feeling of the cold band remains even if it's not seen.

Geet S Pearson was a beauty that attracted attention, good and bad.

She caught the eyes of many, but her eyes remained for only one.

Even if the one isn't before her eyesight anymore.

She dreamed big and achieved them, some may even say she touched the sky with the tips of her fingers literally. Dressed immaculately in her uniform she stood at the front of her business class aisle offering her smile, a smile that was wide and very fake. Being in the business she was in, it was drilled into her brain that she must always smile. Always.

She ignored the lewd stares she'd received from the passengers and continued doing her job professionally, keeping smile maintained and swear inwardly. No one will hear her thoughts.

"Good morning ladies and gentlemen this is your captain speaking. We would like to welcome aboard Emirates Group Flight service 306 from New York to Delhi, India. Once we are airborne the flight time is 21 hours 25 minutes, we are not expecting any turbulence so it'd be a smooth flight all the way. Once again welcome to Emirates Group, we hope you enjoy your flight"

"Ashley, drinks" Geet pointed to the tray.

"Geet..." Kanchan hurried over to her side looking nervous.

"Please don't tell me you're having a panic attack again" Geet faced her friend.

"No, I... it's these passengers. They're not... they're complaining about the woman behind them who's breastfeeding her child" she murmured.

"Wait..." Geet her held her finger up and scrolled down the manifest she'd received from the flight agent. "Offer the lady seat 08A in business class, just say something like there's a comfortable seat available for her here" she suggested.

"Alright thanks" Kanchan nodded and returned to her aisle.

"I'm starving..." Geet mumbled as Ashley returned to get some more drinks from the fridge. She pulled open the drawer and grabbed her container which she'd stuffed with fruits and crackers.

"Do you want this wrap?" Ashley asked grabbing one of her foiled homemade wrap.

"Yes, please" Geet nodded eagerly taking the wrap and pulled the foil apart from the top and bit into it. "I need to sleep so bad..." she murmured with her mouthful.

"Mmhmm... tell me about it" Ashley nodded and returned to her aisle leaving Geet in the kitchen area to eat peacefully.

Echoes so deafening

Shrapnel flying in different directions

Another aiming for him

"How are you feeling today?" Shirley asked gently.

"How do you think Shirley?" Maan answered with a question of his own.

"Any nightmares?" she looked down at her notes.

"You know it" he replied.

"As always Maan you're not answering me properly" Shirley shook her head.

"As always Shirley, you're always giving me the same old lines. I can't believe I pay you a quarter of my salary to repeat the same lines" he responded.

"Maan" Shirley said his name warningly.

"Shirley" he repeated in the same tone.

"Did you do your breathing exercises like I suggested?" she asked.

"Yes"

"Did it help?"

"To calm myself down, yes" he nodded.

"Alright so there's some progression from our last meeting" she jotted down the notes.

"If that's what you call it" he murmured earning another narrowed teasing glare.

He simply offered a small smile.

"I can't wait to speak to Gaurav" Shirley murmured quietly though loud enough for Maan to hear.

"Shirley please don't be dragging my grandfather into this" Maan shook his head disapprovingly.

"Well you could speak properly instead of going around bushes" Shirley shrugged.

Maan glanced at his wrist watch and stood. "Our 30 minutes is over"

"But..." Shirley wanted to protest.

"I'll see you in a week's time" Maan offered a smile walking out her room.

"Breathing exercise and your notes" Shirley called out.

Maan chuckled to himself inwardly shaking his head as he left the office.

"Shirley called me" Gaurav spoke hearing the footsteps of his grandson enter the house.

"I expected her to" Maan replied walking over and taking a seat.

"You've not been answering her questions properly my son" Gaurav stares at him.

"I blow quarter of my pay on her, isn't she supposed to give me advice and get over it?"

Gaurav shook his head disapprovingly. "That isn't what a therapist does..." he paused.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Maan inquired.

"Your dadima got a few proposals..."

"No" Maan's face tightened.

"Maan..." Gaurav said calmly.

"Please don't dadaji" he shook his head breathing heavily. "And tell dadima to stop bringing these proposals" he stood walking away.

"Maan listen to me..." Gaurav stood to go after him.

"Give him some time alone" Savitri placed her hand on her husband's shoulder silently consoling him knowing he was just as upset seeing that Maan was upset.

"What do we do Savitri?"

"We can only be there for him" she replied staring silently at her grandson.

"Did you call sir?" Geet approached the young man who'd pressed the bell a few times. She'd ignored him after the first time he'd called her over and asked for her number however he'd been pressing it insistently.

"How about that number darling?" he smiled teasingly at her trying to seem charming.

He wasn't being charming at all, he looked like a daddy's spoiled kid.

"I'm sorry but I don't give my number out to children" she replied passing a bright widened smile and strutted away rolling her eyes inwardly.

"I want a complaints pack" the guy yelled out.

"Sort him out for me would you?" Geet handed Ashley a complaints pamphlet.

Ashley chuckled walking over to the guy and explained how to make a complaint then walked away.

"I want to sleep" Kanchan murmured as they stood in the kitchen area preparing hot drinks for some of the passengers.

"Tell me about it, only another 3 hours to go before lights out" Ashley jokingly fist pumped the air.

"Mmhmm" Geet nodded. "I think Yasmine's preggers" she mumbled.

"How'd you know?" Ashley gasped in surprise.

"She's got the hormones and a small bump" Geet informed.

"Has she told Brian?" Kanchan whispered.

"Do you think Brian would have let her fly if she did" Geet chuckled.

"She tell you?" Kanchan frowned.

"Nope, I told her I need to speak to her when she's back in Mumbai" Geet responded. "She knows she can't be working when she's pregnant, she's probably around 4 months or something" she shrugged. "After that, I'll break it to Brian"

"That'd be a good idea" Ashley nodded.

"If you girls fall pregnant, let me know first please. I don't want to be guessing" Geet turned to them.

"I'm not falling pregnant for another 5 years" Ashley informed. "I love my job and my life. Jamie isn't ready either for kids..." she added.

"It's so not fair man, I want to be married and have 2.5 kids and I don't have that... and these two have it but don't want it" Kanchan mumbled pouting her lips.

Geet chuckled shaking her head. "It'd happen one day..."

"I can't believe Yasmine though, didn't she just marry Ali about 6 months ago and she's already pregnant..." Ashley laughed.

"We all knew she wanted kids straightaway so good for her..." Geet grinned. "Ali must be really good if he was able to knock her up so fast"

"Mmhmm..." they both hummed in agreement and Geet nudged them to go ahead and serve the hot drinks whilst she prepared the blankets to give out.

Maan knocked at the study door to let his Dadaji know of his presence however walked in without waiting for his permission. He knows his Dadaji does not like being disturbed in the evening, which he spends reading books and prefers referring as "me-time". But he didn't know where else to go now.
He has come to hate his time with any of his family members as they've only one topic to discuss about - his marriage.

A year ago, he had looked forward to getting married and settling down. But things changed during last two years, time changed, and most importantly people change. He, of all, has most definitely changed.
He glanced at Dadaji sitting down on the couch with the support of armrest and white walking cane. Finding a comfortable position he relaxed. Dadaji nodded his acknowledgement and continued reading his book which caused Maan to give a small smile.
Dadaji was the only person in the house with whom Maan felt comfortable with and being himself as he didn't treat him any differently. Instead he was still the same strict, disciplined yet sweet loving Dadaji he had always known.

Maan very much enjoyed spending time with him even if it was spent in utter silence like moments like this. He didn't like being so alone however he also didn't like being around his family so much. Hence, he preferred silence over the chaos.
While Dadaji was always his inspiration and role model for as long as he could remember and he continues to remain so, Maan was more close to his Dadima amongst all.

However, in the last two years he has bonded with his Dadaji on an emotional level and they've become very close. It was only because of the man sitting in front of him that Maan regained some of the normalcy and stability back into his life.
Being with Dadaji meant he won't be receiving sympathetic or sad looks.

Dadaji instead looked at him with pride in his eyes, although Maan wasn't sure anymore if he has really done anything worth being proud of.

But it was a relief since Dadaji didn't treat him like he was a three year old who needed help and guidance at every step he took.

"Where are you lost, son?" Dadaji asked Maan closing his book and removing his reading glasses.
Maan just shrugged in response.
"You know you can talk to me about anything" Dadaji started gently.
"I don't know what to do about Dadima and mama. They keep persuading me. And I don't like telling them off time and time again." He sighed rubbing his face.
"Then stop denying them and start considering their options" Dadaji said with a small gentle smile.
"Not you now, please. How can you even support them knowing this bride hunting will leave us with the same result like before?" he asked exasperated.
"Maan, not everyone is same. And just because we've had couple of disappointing result doesn't mean we give up and stop looking around. It doesn't mean you give up. I will not take you as a quitter. So, stop this self-pitying and try to move on. I know you're better than this. I've taught you to be brave and strong to face any situation.'" Dadaji responded sternly though compassionately.
"Anyway, it's not your loss. It's theirs. So, you've got nothing to be ashamed of. Now, get up and come downstairs. It's time for dinner" Dadaji added getting up and walking towards the door leaving Maan behind to ponder over his words.
"And yes son, I don't want to receive any calls from Shirley complaining about you not contributing to the sessions. You're a grown-up man so behave like one. If I get another call from her again, we will be having words" Dadaji said with authority and finality in his voice as he looked straight in Maan's eyes before walking out the room.

"Dear Lord..." Maan sighed heavily shaking his head. He had his mother on one side, his grandmother on the next followed by his grandfather and Shirley, all of them jumping down his throat in some way or the other.

"You do remember Geet might not be coming here?" Suneel asked as he watched his wife cleaning up her daughter's old bedroom.

"And she just might" Marissa chuckled as she shuffled things around. She grabbed the photo frame from the dressing table and smiled.

Suneel wrapped his arms around his wife gently pressing a kiss to her temple. "She's doing so well..." he looked down at the frame proudly.

Marissa hummed in agreement brushing her fingers across her daughter's smile.

"Tara and Sean will be coming tomorrow" Suneel informed.

"That's great. Geet will definitely come home then" she turned around to face Suneel grinning widely.

Marissa Pearson met her husband 40 years ago in college, they'd dated for a while and separated for university then found themselves working for the same bank branch 2 years later. Suneel believed it was fate when he fell harder for his wife whilst they worked together, he proposed to her a year later which Marissa happily said yes to.

The only issue for them at the time was their races, Marissa Pearson belonged to the Christian white family whilst Suneel belonged to an indian family.

Back in their days interracial marriage was frowned upon, it still sometimes and some people see it as odd even now.

But luckily they weren't tied down by ideology and cultural traditions, both families had met each other and had a mutual respect and admiration for each other.

5 years on they'd had both their daughters who'd had their mother's beauty and the intelligence of their father. Soon after though Suneel returned to India wanting to be close to his mother at her final moments. Marissa being the supporting wife she agreed to move to India with her husband. 30 years on they were still very much in love.

"Hey Papa when is Gigi coming?" Nick called running into the room. He halted looking between them. "Eurgh are you kissing? I'm going to tell Gigi I saw you kissing"

"Wait here, you little monkey" Suneel released his wife and ran chasing his grandson.

Nick screamed running around whilst being chased whilst Marissa watched them both, admiring her husband and her grandson together as they played around.

If you've liked this chapter, please spare a moment to share your thoughts.

Much appreciated

TR

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