Friday came in so quickly that Geet thought she only blinked her eye for a second on the first day. There was a lot to do but she had somehow managed to get the draft book ready. She didn't want to be like her bosses and was happy that she was super nice to everyone. The team loved her. Every one was buzzing with ideas. Although, she didn't have any time to think how she wanted it, the team worked really hard and they had a truck load of concept going into that draft book.
That was how she found herself in the cabin of her hubby dear, the Chairman of KI.
Geet was sitting opposite to him nervously tapping her fingers on the table. A small glance at her fingers by him made her stop dead. He was going through the book page by page. Geet tried to read him but she wished she was wrong. Only she knew how Maan behaved when he was exceptionally devastated and angry. His face would go cold as he clenched his teeth.
She could feel his jaw tighten and knew very well how much he was holding back. She need not be told that she messed up. The outburst could happen any moment! Eventually all she heard was the loud thud when he shut the book. He could have thrown away the book as well!
"Explain!", he said in such a grave tone that Geet found her throat going dry.
"Maan...wo..that is the Book.", she stammered.
"THIS? " He lifted the book and hit it hard on the table making her shrink back.
Maan shut his eyes tightly. "Geet, For God's sake, is this your attempt to force me to fire you? Because if I didn't know how capable you are, this (gesturing the book) could get you fired."
Geet was rattled. She had worked so hard on preparing that book in such a short notice and from his reaction everything looked like a total disaster. "Maan, I really tried!"
"Really? But to me it looks like you are making fun of Pageant!"
"What do you mean? You know I worked my ass off! I co-ordinated with the whole team. We brainstormed for hours. And now, just because you don't like it doesn't mean it is no good! I asked everybody. Manisha, Romeo,Diya,Sarah,Sreya...all of them had great ideas and they were all happy."
It was then Maan finally realised what might have actually happened.
"So everybody was happy with your work, huh?", he had a subtle smirk on his face looking at his innocent wife.
"Yes!", she stood defiantly.
He turned the book towards her. "Look at it again"
Geet rolled her eyes, "I get it. I screwed up. No need to look down upon me!"
"I am trying to help Geet. Go on.. take a look. Look at the book once more and tell me if Ramona would have been happy by this?"
Geet hesitated for a second and then finally looked at it. Now that he put it like that , everything seemed different. Maan was right. If Ramona saw this Draft Book she would have chucked it away and fired her by now.
"No!", she shrieked out loud.
Maan cocked his head sideways satisfied, "And why is that Geet?"
"Because this is not even close to how Ramona sees the magazine. Her vision is unique!", Geet almost marvelled at her ex-boss's ability.
"And what about you Geet? How do you envision Pageant?"
Geet looked at him as she was woken up from some deep sleep.
A week into the office and all she was worried about was others just like her basic nature was, to tend to other people. Geet even forgot that she was the boss and was supposed to make decisions. Now, her job was to think about how she wanted the magazine to look like. What it would represent to the society. That was her starting point and who other than Maan would have given her that much needed push.
The next time when she lifted the Draft book and went through it she could see each and every thing that was wrong in it. The whole book had to be thrown away. The Paegeant that she envisioned was nowhere close to what was in her hand.
"Maan, I need to work on it. You will get the book ready by Monday.", she said still skimming through the book.
"Are you sure? Because if you need help or more time, we can definitely arrange.."
She cut him off in the middle, "No! Now I know what I want. The book will be on your table an hour before the meeting and next time there wont be any room for error."
When she finally looked up, Geet saw the pride in Maan's eyes that he tried so hard to suppress, "Fine then, go ahead. I will expect the book to be here by 9 in the morning."
Geet gave him a curt nod and left. Maan sighed as she left the cabin. He knew her well enough to figure how stubborn she could be when Geet was on to something. All that he was worried about was her stressing out too much on this. That would be on him. He put her up for this.
"Great Maan! You can't just go there and ask her to calm down. All you can do is wait for Monday to come!"
Boy, did he ever feel so helpless being a boss!!
That was the longest work day for Maan. By the evening, he had had enough and knocked at her cabin.
"Get in!", came her serious voice. She didn't even look up. She was working on the design software trying out the samples that her assistants had duly prepared.
In just a day, the team had cursed their boss as much as they loved her the whole week and there was nothing that Geet could do about it. She retained whatever that she was essential for the book and too tedious to redo and assigned the rest of them with tasks that needed to be worked in order to present the book on Monday. They had to work the weekend as well in order to complete the task.
Maan waited for her to stop and when she was no where near looking up he inquired, "pretty hard day at work, huh?"
Hearing his voice a smile crept up her lips and she eyed him to sit.
Maan took the seat on the couch and rested his feet up. "I heard your evil boss gave you one hell of a day!"
"Well, he is not that evil..you know", she had that playful look in her eyes as she finally started wrapping things up.
Maan raised his eyebrow, "Really? You are defending that khadoos?"
"He had a point. Even I gave my team hell today. So, can't complain you see..", Geet tried to keep a straight face.
"You are really not mad then?", he asked apologetically.
"Come on, Maan! I was at fault. But now I am making up for it. I have to work this weekend. So you better watch Amy."
"As you wish boss! But what if I want to make up tp you? Let's go out for dinner somewhere. Just you and I?", he asked caressing her hand as she stood next to him.
Geet shook her head, "Not going to happen."
Maan stood up, "Why not?"
"Remember, we promised Annie that we will go to mansion for dinner",she grinned.
Maan ran his fingers over his head, "Of all the days, it had to be today!"
She chuckled, "ohh..some other day Mr. Khurana. Let's go", She made him turn and they walked. As they walked into the elevator,
Maan kept his hand over her shoulder and whispered into her ear, "How about a drink before dinner?"
She elbowed him, "uffo Maan. I am not going in front of dadima drunk!"
"Just a drink Mishti..how about cofee then?", he remarked innocently.
"Yeah yeah. I know all about you! Just a drink and then we would both be drunk and then we would just rush to bedroom..", she fell silent as the colour crept on her cheeks.
"Is that what happens? I had no idea", smirked Maan.
"We are getting late. Move now.", she pushed him as they walked laughing towards the parking lot.
As soon as they got into the car Maan took her in his arms and started nibbling her lips lightly forcing her to open up and deepened his kiss his whole upper body pressing against her.
Geet was getting turned on. Her body tingled with need but the moment she pulled him closer the arguement came to mind and her eyes filled up involuntarily. They broke their kiss panting and he did notice her wiping those tears.
Eventually when they calmed down Maan hesitantly inquired, " Mishti...is there something wrong? Have I hurt you in some way?"
"No, why would you ask that?", she panicked.
"It's been over a week since we...",he didn't know how to ask."We are not like that generally.."
She didn't let him finish, "I am a little bit stressed out, thats all Maan. Besides we will be late."
She kissed him on cheek, "I love you Maan"
He smiled faintly but his eyes lost that twinkle. "Love you too Geet, truly I do!"
He tapped his fingers on the steering for a few awkward seconds. The rest of the drive was quiet.
**********************
Annie had gone above and beyond to make up with her bhai and bhabhi. The whole mansion had gotten a make up over it seemed. She even arranged a red carpet welcome with flowers all the way from the gateway through the long corridor to the living room. She took arti of the couple, fed them sweets and applied tika before letting them in. It was all grand and welcoming. The dinner was sumptuous not to mention, filled with both their favorite dishes. There was continental for Maan and Punjabi dishes for Geet. The sight of it almost filled their appetite and they were only nibbling a few bites. Amidst all that chaos, Savitri Devi noticed the turmoil in both Maan and Geet's eyes. Her heart went out for them for it wasn't hard for someone like her to guess that all was not well in their paradise.
Arjun kept teasing Annie for her dramatic efforts. Annie was honestly nervous about talking to Maan about his return to the mansion. She decided to persuade Arjun to convince Geet. Once Geet agreed, there was nothing Maan could do. And so, both of them disappeared after the dinner.
When Geet went to the kitchen to help dadi with the desert, she grabbed her hand and enquired, "Geet beta, you are happy with Maan, right?"
Geet tried to smile, "Ofcourse dadima, Maan loves me so much. He supports me in everything. He takes care of Amy so much. What more could I ask? I got my Maan. He is all I need!"
Dadi could read the pain in her eyes, "So that is all you wish for, huh?"
"Ji dadi? I don't get you", she hesitated taking her eyes away.
Dadi held her chin gently and made her look in the eye, "Geet, you are Maan's wife. It is your right to demand anything you wish in your life from him. No one else can do that for you beta.."
Geet nodded weakly, "I have nothing to ask from him dadi. He has already given me so much happiness."
"I hope you are right Geet. I want both my children happy. That's all".
The oven pinged and the dessert was ready to be served.
As they moved back, Maan was on a call from Liza. Mia insisted on saying good night to superdad and finally he put her to sleep by telling her a story on phone.
"Is she asleep?", Geet was worried.
"It's fine Geet. She slept alright.", he assured. The tension between them was still there though.
"Where is Arjun and Annie by the way?", dadi looked around.
"I will find them.", Geet excused herself looking as he nodded in agreement.
************************************************
"Arjun please...why don't you listen to me?", Annie was fed up of his antics.
"Because it is your mess Anwesha. You have to sort it out. I will have no part in it.", he sat at the side of the fountain in the garden.
Annie groaned and beat him playfully, "Why are you sooo stubborn?"
Arjun held her hand and she stopped silently losing herself in his eyes as his hold tightened.
He pulled her towards him and she fell on his lap. Annie gasped as one hand of his went around her
slender waist. He whispered hoarsely, "Do you know how much I like it, when you are this messed up!"
She pouted making him smile, "I am messed up, huh?"
His lips gently rested on her nape making her close her eyes, "I said I like that Anwesha.."
She was lost in his ministrations, "What do you like Arjun?"
His soft kisses moved up from her nape to her neckline and finally he made her face him and waited for her permission. She looked right into his eyes, tilted her head and closed her eyes once again and that was all that he needed. He invaded her lips and she gave in to him in that moonlit night.
As they parted Annie suddenly felt conscious of her actions and got up from his lap. She turned around not able to face him.
Arjun held her hand.
"I...I don't know what..what I was thinking...", she started blabbering nervously.
"I love you Anwesha Khurana", Arjun declared with so much confidence and honesty that Annie smiled in surprise.
"You do?"
He got up and gently caressed her hand, "I want you in my life Anwesha. I want all of you!"
"What if I am messed up? Look what I did to Geet and bhai?"
"That is what I love about you. You reacted the way you did because you love them. Look at how dramatically you are making it up to them! I want all that love for myself! I guess I am selfish that way. But I promise you, I will return your love and passion a hundred times more, if you would allow me.."
She couldn't bear it any more and hugged him mumbling, "I love you too...Arjun"
******************************************
PRECAP : Tension between Maan and Geet??? 😕
Hope you enjoyed this one. Let me know in the comments.
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