PART 6
Mumbai, the city of dreams for every Indian. Our own version of New York may be. Geet stepped out of the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, CST, as the Mumbaikars call it. This was the first time she was all alone in an unknown place. Geet stood and watched Mumbai unfold itself in front of her. Everybody was busy here. The city where everything is super busy, a city where you will never be bothered with your choices simply because nobody simply had that much time here.
Geet stood for few minutes gaping and then fished out her cell phone to call up the POC whose reference was given to her via mail. It was some Pinky Manchanda. She thought that pinky might be a Punjabi.
Pinky's phone rang on for a bit before a cheerful voice spoke, "Hello."
Geet: "Am I speaking to Pinky Manchanda?"
Pinky:" Yes that will be me. And you might be one of those interns joining us right?"
Geet: "Yes Ma'am."
Pinky: "Ohh cut the ma'am out. We don't believe the concept of sir and madam in Khurana enterprise and call others by name. Since you are a part of Khurana Groups now start practicing."
Geet: "As you say pinky. So we were supposed to be provided with accommodation? Can you tell me about the arrangement? I am at CST right now."
Pinky: "Cool. You are quite near then. Just take a cab and ask for the Khurana Hotel branch at lower Parel. There go at the reception and show them your appointment letter and they will give you your room number and tell you other details. Don't worry. Just give me a call if you need anything."
Geet slowly proceeded towards the taxi stand and hired a cab. She had a travelers and a trolley along with her laptop bag slung criss-cross.
The Driver was an elderly man who had figured out it was her first visit. He started chatting with her to spend time waiting for the traffic to move forward. Morning 10 o' clock is a bad time to travel by road in roads of Mumbai. However, Geet was not bothered about the traffic. She looked outside watching the new roads, new crowd with fascination. Even she was well aware about the driver's talks. It felt good. The noise felt good. It was good to have all these sounds after her brooding silence for years.
At last the cab stopped in front of a 5-star Hotel. Geet paid the fare and proceeded for the reception. The receptionist smiled a well rehearsed smile and asked her if she wanted.
She produced her appointment letter and was informed that she will have to share a room with two other girls, one of whom has already arrived. She sighed hoping no one interferes with her. Geet had started interacting but she still had a long way to go before she can go back to being the outgoing girl she used to be. She rarely talks with stranger nowadays. Suddenly a thought about that same stranger she met. What had urged her to speak with that stranger?
She smiled at the receptionist. She also informed that this will be a temporary accommodation. Once their on- boarding formalities are completed, they will be provided with a more permanent arrangement. Meanwhile a transport would be provided for their first day.
Geet was tired so she just wanted to go into her room and crash on the bed. She knocked. A girl, quite tall and slim opened the door. She seemed to be on call with someone and looked at her. Geet simly said," I am an intern and would be sharing the room."
The girl let her in and continued speaking over phone. Thankfully the three bed room had three beds separated giving Geet the much needed privacy. Geet took one of the two left over bed and crashed on the bed after changing. She was too tired which might be why she slept soon after.
Geet saw herself standing at their place near the lake. Armaan was standing beside her. Armaan smiled and said," It is time Geet. I have to leave now so you can find your own way."
Geet screamed, "No Armaan, I will never let you go away. You can't leave me."
Armaan said softly, "Sooner or later I have to leave Geet."
Armaan kept walking away. No matter how hard Geet tried to run she could not catch him as he lost in the far away darkness.
Geet could not bear the thought of him going away and gave a heart wrenching shout, "ARMAAN..."
Geet s sleep got disturbed and she woke up. It was almost evening now but Mumbai being in the extreme west, the sun had not set yet. Geet decided she wanted to go out and explore Mumbai a bit. She pulled out a pair of jeans with a tee shirt and went out. Her hairs were still put up on a messy bun but it did not matter.
Geet decided to go and visit the marine drive. She had heard a lot about it from Armaan. She still remembered his description.
Armaan: "You know Geet, I went there with my sister. She insisted me to go. It was just the time for sunset when our car reached the Nariman point. I cannot describe the beauty of it to you Geet. The way the sun was getting reflected by the waves, the deep orange color feeling every direction and then slowly the sun set. The street lights were put on. You know it was more beautiful. I could see, hear and feel the crowd yet I was as if far away from them. The cold breeze was blowing everywhere and I just felt like keeping quiet. It was that moment I realized I want to go there with you Geet."
Geet:" Okay Armaan we will go there. I will hold your hands and we will just sit there and talk."
Ironically the first time she will be visiting was when Armaan was no longer there with her. Geet had not taken her cab to the Narimaan Point but had stopped somewhere at the marine drive. She started taking a stroll towards the farthest end. While walking she could see different people there. Some were college students in groups chattering away without any worries of life; some were families who came to spend some quality time with each other. Some of them were lovers enjoying some alone time with each other but the rarest people were like her, the lone brooders. But this was the best part of Mumbai where nobody bugs you.
She had reached the Nariman point and had just been standing watching the Arabian Sea when suddenly a deep voice spoke with a tinge of surprise in his voice, "You here in Mumbai?"
Geet turned back to find that familiar stranger watching her intensely. Geet did not quite understand the familiar sense of security seeping through her veins. She smiled a little and said, "I take it you stay in Mumbai Mr. stranger!! So may I have the pleasure of knowing your name now? I am Geet by the way."
Stranger seemed to be amused by her words. He smiled and said," Miss song, I am glad to see you so alive. I am Maan."
As soon as the name slipped from his lips the smile on Geet's lips died. The name Maan echoed another name in her heart. Armaan!!!!! This stranger reminded her of Armaan in more than one ways.
Maan:" What's wrong Geet?"
Geet raised her eyes to see concern in his eyes for her.
She said softly," I am sorry for acting so weirdly Maan. It is that your name sounded like another name I had once known. I could not help the pain."
Maan:"You can share. Sharing helps."
Geet: "I don't think I am ready for that yet. But I will one day."
Maan: "So first time in Mumbai?"
Geet:"Yes."
Maan:" Welcome to Mumbai!!! So what for?"
Geet:"I came for an internship as business analyst with Khurana Enterprise. I think you might have heard of the company. They are quite a big shot in business I hear."
Maan looked incredulously at the girl in front of him. She is something else. When every girl swoons over him for being the owner of the Khurana enterprise this girl was talking about his company like it was nothing important compared to the next release of one of the Khans!!
Maan coughed and said," Yeah I also heard something like that. Not that I know much about this. But since you aspire to be a business analyst don't you think you should be informed about them to the very least? This corporate world is cruel Geet and you need to be well prepared for the battle. "
Geet:" You talk like you battle every day."
Maan:" I will tell you someday. But if I remember correctly, I owe you a coffee. So why don't we have dinner together and celebrate your first time in our city?"
Geet smiled and together they walked away. They had walked talking about random topics like Indian cricket or ho w crime rates have increased and so on.
Maan stopped in front of the Trident and Geet gaped at Maan.
Maan:" What?"
Geet:" Don't tell me you are planning to dine there?"
Maan:" What's wrong with the Trident?"
Geet:" You know Maan I am just a college pass out doing her first internship and I can't afford the trident."
Maan smiled. Then he shook his head and said," The treat is on me so let's enjoy. "
Geet: "No Maan, we will go when I can at least be capable of going there. Even if the treat is on you I would be uncomfortable. So for now we are going to the chowpatty."
Maan: " But Geet , there..."
Geet cut in between and said," Once you have the pao bhaji there you will forget the five star foods. My friends told me, it's the best."
Maan agreed to her apprehensively and thought what more would Maan Singh Khurana be doing with this girl. But he liked it. He liked being a normal man and not the Richie rich for once. Her unadulterated smile was infectious and he liked it. Maybe he can enjoy this different shade of life with her. It was a good decision to not tell her about his identity.
The dusk had turned into a night as Maan Singh Khurana prepared himself to enjoy pao bhaji.
Precap: The pao bhaji continues...will maan manage???😉
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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