Chapter 35
Beauty can be found in a lot of things.
It doesn't always need to be connected to appearance.
"Geet Pearson"
Geet glanced over her shoulder arching her brows curiously. "I'm sorry, do I know you?"
"Dev"
"Dave?" Geet frowned confused.
"No, it's Dev" he informed. "D-E-V" he spelled it out.
"Oh, okay. Sorry I just assumed..." Geet plastered an apologetic look.
"Don't worry about it" Dev laughed as he grabbed himself the stool besides her and sat down. "What are you having?"
"I'll stick to a mocktail please, I'm driving" she responded offering a smile whilst inwardly cursing her luck. She was expecting a Dave not Dev. Though, he wasn't so bad. She perused him silently, he's good looking, seems to know his style and clothes.
"How about a booth or table?" Dev suggested as the drinks were ordered.
"Sure" she shrugged and stepped down following him to a booth.
Maan looked at Kartik as he handed out a slice of cake to everyone, he had been paid today into his bank account, it turns out that Geet's company pays interns weekly rather than monthly as most interns tend to pay for college and university.
"Here, bhai" Kartik held out a slice for him expectantly, Maan opened his mouth slightly and took a bite. He then took the cake and made Kartik eat.
"I'm proud of you, son" Rajeev slid his arm around Kartik and looked down on him with pride, "I think everyone here is proud of you".
Kartik grinned feeling pleased and overwhelmed with how much he was receiving today from his family members.
"This time, next year I might be receiving my pay monthly like the seniors..." he winked.
"Work hard, and I'm sure you'd be successful like them" Savitri cradled his cheek.
"Your grandmother is giving some wise words son, note it down" Gaurav patted his shoulder lovingly.
"Have I ever not listened to dadima?" Kartik laughed. "You wouldn't believe how much the designers get paid..." he sat down on the sofa between his grandparents having helped himself to a slice of cake. "Dadaji, their pay is so good. For one project alone, you're looking at 4-5 lakhs" he informed. "Geet Pearson is paid like 4 times the price"
"We know" Gaurav chuckled, "Maan is paying for the outhouse" he pointed.
"Bhai, I'll ask if she can give family discount now that I'm working for her"
"It's okay, Kartik. I don't need it, I've got the savings" Maan answered shaking his head.
"Hmm... as you wish" Kartik chuckled.
"So what do you do, Geet?" Dev asked as they made small conversation.
"I'm an air hostess" she answered proudly. "I fly with the Emirates group".
"Ah, I love the airline" Dev responded, "It must be great flying all the time, right?"
"It's different, but we don't just fly. We've got passengers to look after" she informed.
"Looking after passengers..." he drawled suggestively, "Have you joined the mile-high club yet?"
Geet smirked, "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Dev chuckled and raised his glass to her. Geet smiled taking another sip of her drink.
Eyes failed to see beyond the skin
It failed to the see the story
Love your scars
It means you survived the worst
Maan shucked off his shirt, his attention drawn to his stretched skin across his abdomen that went around towards his spine. He brushed his finger along the tender skin, he paused as he saw the distinct mark of where the bullet had ripped through him.
He squeezed his eyes closed turning his back to the mirror, he clenched his fists by his sides biting down on his lower lip. Tears burned his eyes as his thoughts drifted to what he was walking towards. A life of loneliness.
He shook his head grabbing the towel and his cane from the side walking towards the washroom wanting a quick shower before he turned in for the night.
Start over again
Yesterday is gone it cannot be changed
Tomorrow is yet to come make wise choices
So you aren't regretting it
"Morning..."
Geet turned around seeing Dev walking into her living room in only his jeans.
"Last night was..." he approached her brushing a curl from her face.
"I've got work in half an hour, would you mind grabbing your things and leaving?"
His smile faded and he seemed a little confused.
"There's some brewed coffee, grab yourself a cup" she pointed.
"Oh, okay" he gathered himself together.
"I'm going to shower, please be gone by the time I come out" she told him and walked towards her washroom without giving him a chance to even reply.
"Wow, you look rough" Sean laughed as Geet met him at Starbucks.
"I'm still drunk" Geet scrunched her nose picking up the double shot espresso he'd already ordered for her and sipped gratefully.
"Who was the guy?" Sean arched his brows curiously.
"One of my girlfriend's brother's friend Dave or Dev..." she shrugged. "Is that for me?" she asked picking up his croissant.
"I thought you're dieting"
"I'm drunk and really hungry" she responded and took a large bite out of the croissant. "How's Tara?" she questioned.
"She's sleeping in today, I dropped Theresa off to mum's and Nick is in school" he answered, "Are you going into work?"
"I've got no appointments booked and I'm due to go flying on Saturday to London" she responded, "So I am going to enjoy the next two days resting"
"I'd have believed you, had you been like Tara or Mum" Sean laughed.
"I've got a boxing class and hitting the gym around 1pm. Wanna join me?"
"No, thanks" Sean shook his head. "I like my hour CrossFit, that's enough for me"
"Afraid, you'll lose to me?" she arched her brow.
"You challenging me sis?"
"Whatever you want to think" she winked.
"Long time, no see brother" Tushar muttered as he walked into the Khurana household.
Maan straightened and smiled as he watched Tushar enter, he stood up and walked over to meet him halfway. They hugged and slapped one another on the back.
"What are you doing here?" Maan asked as they pulled away, he moved to the sofa sitting down unable to keep himself standing for too long today.
Tushar sat down besides him, and turned to face him. "I was passing by, Samira wanted some fruits that came into that shop around the corner" he explained.
"How's Samira?" Maan asked.
"She's doing good, how are you?"
"I'm good" Maan answered lying through his teeth.
Tushar eyed him silently for a moment, "Rudra told me you declined coming to the BBQ's he's been hosting, I've not seen you in any" he informed.
"Work is hectic, you know that I work for the FBI" Maan responded.
"I've worked alongside you for 6 years, I've lived with you for that long as well" Tushar commented seemingly trying to hint out at Maan.
"Tushar..." Maan sighed.
"Someone once told me, it doesn't matter what fate plans for us, we can change the course by taking a hold of the reins and leading it in the direction we want" Tushar quoted something Maan had once said to him.
Maan didn't answer, rather feeling embarrassed. He was a hypocrite, he had said such words to his colleagues, yet he wasn't able to follow his own words.
"It's my Neha's 5th birthday next month, I want you to come" Tushar stated, "It isn't a request" he added.
"I'll try" Maan replied.
"Not try, you're coming. I want you to be there, remember that you helped me by dragging me to safety" he reminded. "Had you not, I wouldn't have been here celebrating my daughter's birthdays. Promise me, you're going to come?"
After a momentary silent, Maan agreed reluctantly.
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"So, if you see on the screen here this is how the 2 rooms joined together is going to look like" Geet pointed to her screen.
Maan stepped forward and focused on the screen trying to push away the fact that he had been admiring her silently as she'd described her visuals and showed him the materials she had chosen and looked at him for approval.
"This wall here would have your computer screens" Geet pointed to the screen, Maan's eyes drew to her painted fingers as she continued to explain how his office would look like. Her fingers were long and lean, her nails curved and painted in a dark red colour. She also stood close to him, barely a foot away from him. What was wrong with him? He pondered. He'd come to notice her more each time.
"Would you be okay with that?" Geet looked at him expectantly.
"Yes, that should be fine" Maan answered lying to her face, he hadn't heard what she'd said.
Geet stared at him thoughtfully and smiled. "Okay, that's sorted then. Adhira, have you got all of that?" she looked at Adhira questioningly.
"Yes, all the windows are going in next week. Lightly frosted glass for the kitchen, the office doors will be mirrored glass so you can see outside but not in, the upstairs bedroom will have floor to ceiling windows fixed" she rattled off the list. "Next, the walls will be painted. House will be neutral colours, with the bathroom being an exception. Blue tear drop tiles for the bathroom" she informed. "Frosted tinted sky blue windows for the bathroom" she added.
"All of that is for next week" Geet told Maan, "After that, as I mentioned I'll schedule a day and time to come and discuss each room interior and work on it. There may be slight rearrangements as I am also going to be away for a couple of days over the following weeks due to my job" she explained.
"That is understandable" he responded focusing on her words.
"Adhira, can you bring up my diary and..." Geet paused as her phone started ringing. She excused herself and walked a couple of feet away to answer it.
Adhira looked through Geet's diary whilst waiting for Geet to return, Maan on the other hand watched Geet once again. He smiled as she bit down on her lower lip as if thinking deeply, she laughed at something the other person said and responded cheerfully. He noticed her brows furrowed, she chewed on her lower lip whenever she pondered over something, she also had a habit of brushing her hand through her curls and looking over her shoulders.
He admired how she carried herself throughout the meetings they'd had, she always made an impression dressing immaculately, always looking damn near perfect as she climbed out of her red BMWi8. The attraction he was feeling within increased a little more, the royal blue dress today didn't do much to divert his attraction. The thin straps of her dress allowed him to see that she worked hard for her body because her arms were perfectly toned, she not worked on getting dressed, she worked on her body. He looked around as she turned around.
"Sorry, where was I?" Geet returned having promised Nick that she was going to pick him up. Adhira gestured to the diary, Geet pulled up her rota for flying and compared it.
"I could do Wednesdays at 1pm?" she asked looking up.
"Uh, yes that should be fine" Maan agreed clearing his throat.
"Okay, that's sorted then" Geet tapped the reminder on her calendar.
As always, Maan walked the ladies out to the car thanking them.
"I'll see you next week then" Geet unlocked her car door glancing over her shoulder bidding him bye to which he nodded and she climbed inside with Adhira settling in the passenger seat. Maan offered a small smile as Geet glanced over briefly before she reversed and drove away. Maan brushed a hand through his hair inhaling sharply, each time the attraction towards her built. He noticed more of her. It also reminded him that he was nowhere near perfect as Geet Pearson.
Writers Corner: Books, Stories & Poems
Anupamaa
Kumkum Bhagya
39