FF: Forever and Always........Updated link to Thread 2 - Page 91

PART 21

It was just in the morning when she woke up that Geet realized that she had literally begged Sid to come to Mumbai with Meera and they have no idea about her friendship with Pari. Wow!! Geet could kick herself for being stupid.

But no she has to come clean with this fact. She did not want Meera to be in a rude shock when she comes to Mumbai. It was Tuesday means a working Day and Geet hurried around trying to get ready. She was excited since today they will be briefed about a new project and they will be assisiting Maan for this one.

Geet sent a text message to Meer saying," Hey Meer. I have something very important to tell you. Come online on skype at 10 pm tonight. See ya! Bye!"

Once in office everything from the day before came rushing in to her. Maan's feelings were hard to ignore and Geet thought if she truly can not think about the conversation.

Vicky who came in just then sat on his seat and started a conversation:

Vicky:" Hey Geet! Wassup? You were on leave yesterday!"

Geet:" Hey Vicky! I am fine. Yep just had a leave."

Vicky:" Cool! But how come you managed to get a leave so quickly?"

Geet:" Technically it was a day off. I had to work on something for MK this Sunday so I was allowed a leave yesterday."

Vicky:" Cool Man!"

Geet:" So I think today we will be starting with the new project! Are you excited?"

Vicky:" I am super excited. I mean getting a job in Khurana enterprise itself was a big deal and getting a chance to work with MK in some project... That is just a dream come true! Just imagine how much we will be learning..."

Geet: "I agree with you completely. We will be learning a lot about the business world and handling real life projects unlike the dummy projects we worked on."

Both of them were excitedly talking about people and there was a lot of anticipation on their part about the upcoming work. Soon both of them were called for briefing in MK's room.

Both of them walked and knocked the door tentatively. A firm come in' greeted them.

Once inside Geet looked at Maan. He was in full professional mode. Gone was the guy who is in love with her. Geet realized that his attitude was one of the key things behind his success.

Maan:" Please take a seat. Just give me a minute to look into this file before we can start with our discussion."

Both of them sat. Geet observed that Maan was extremely respectful to each of his employee no matter what position they were. Maybe that was the reason nobody leaves this company.

Geet keenly observed Maan scrutinizing the file before signing it. Once he was done he looked up and cleared his throat and started talking.

Maan:" Geet and Vickram, I know this will be your first project and you deserve it so first of all congratulations. Now we will have a visit from client in an hour when we will be having a presentation about the project, client's expectation and a brief idea about thefinancial budget. Based on that we will be working out a quotation that will give us the profit margin we are hoping for. This is not as easy as it sounds. Since this is a construction project so we have to look into a lot of things like land, the design, raw materials, actual construction cost and interior decoration costs along with financial gain and feasibility of the project. If after all the market research and analysis we see that thisproject will not be a good venture then we will reject it or ask for a better budget plan from the client. Now I hope you understand that you will be working on the market research. You will be assisting my market research teams. Since you are still working under me, you of course will have my guidance at every step. Don't just blindly follow orders from your seniors rather use your own intellect but you have to get everything approved by me. Don't be afraid of asking questions .Now you will have your first client meeting in an hour so we will be leaving now. Vickram you may go. I have to have a word with Geet."

Vickram nodded respectfully and left while Geet's heart thudded loudly. What was he going to say her??

But Geet was worrying unnescessarily since Maan was totally in full MK mode.

Maan:" Geet, I understand that for last two weeks you are constantly working only with Vicky and you guys have become friends. But this time you will work with many others, others who had worked in this organization for a fair amount of time and have gained from that experience. Learn from them as much as you can but don't let them stop you from being yourself and stop your own ideas from materializing. I am sure you both will do well but just don't get carried away or intimidated. Both of you can come any time to me when you are in doubt. Now you can leave. Meet us in ten minutes downstairs with Vickram."

Geet nodded and left. Once outside she and Vicky quickly took a notebook and pen for noting down important things and went out. They did not want to be late.

The day went away in blur. Geet decided that client meetings were extremely boring. But afterwards since it was very late they were told to leave for home and that next day will be when they will be meeting the rest of the team.

Geet was extremely tired. Mumbai traffic can be extremely exhausting and Geet was totally drained out by the time she reached the hostel. Naina had told that she will be spending next two days with Khuranas as her parents are here.

Pari and she had quick lunch before both of them were asleep. It was indeed an exhausting day. Both were out cold when Geet was woken up by a shrill sound of her cell. It was Meer calling and Geet realized that they were supposed to talk on skype.

Geet cut the call and sent a text message saying she needs a minute. She sat up trying to figure out how to approach. After all Meer was her best friend. How do you confess this?

She logged on and once Meer was online they started chatting:

Meer:" So what's it Geet that was so urgent to be done on a weekday?"

Geet:" Did you have a talk with Sid recently?"

Meer:" Oh! About that! Geet I am so sorry sweety that we are so far away. I and Sid are both trying to come as soon as possible but even then it won't be possible till August since Sid has got a night shift and I am having working weekends."

Geet:" Oh!"

Meer:" Don't be sad Sweety."

Geet:" That wasn't all that I wanted to talk Meer. I want to confess something, something that I have hidden from you."

Meer:" What is it?"

Geet looked down. She was afraid. She, Armaan, Sid, Meer and Yash had been like a family. She had already lost two and did not want to lose anyone else.

Geet took a deep breath and said," I don't know how you will be reacting over this Meer but I want you to know that you are and always will be my best friend. When I had come here in Mumbai I was kind of lost and alone until I found out that I had amazing friends in form of my roommates. I never told you abut their identity. Today I want you to know who my new friends are."

Meer:" Geet I know you have new friends and am glad for that. In fact I am thankful that they took care of you and have supported you when I could not."

Geet:" I am not so sure. Anyway my one room mate is the princess of Udaipur Naintara rathode, Naina."

Meer:"Whoa Geet!!!"

Geet:" Yes, at first I didn't know who she really was. She was someone so down to earth you never can guess she belongs to such a rich family. She is engaged to Dev Singh Khurana, the co owner of Khurana enterprise and I have grown to be close to Dev as well. He is like an elder brother."

Meer:" Wow Geet! If you are happy I have no other issues!"

Geet:" I have grown to be friends with Maan as in Maan Khurana as well. When we met first time I really did not know that he was the Maan Singh Khurana but as the days passed on he and I became friends. And then when I came to know about his identity I was super angry but somehow I forgave him. He has been nothing but a pillar of support the past few days."

Meer:" How many more jhatkas are you planning for today Geet?"

Geet:" A few more things are there about Maan but I have the biggest truth to reveal now. Just remember Meer that I love you."

Meer:" Okkay Geet! Spit it out!"

Geet:" My third roommate is a girl from our college, someone I wasn't expecting but slowly we have grown to be close friends. "

Meer:" Who is it Geet?"

Geet kept quiet not knowing how to divulge the secret. Meera was getting ideas who it could be but she wanted Geet to confirm before jumping into conclusion.

Meer:" Just tell what I can already figure out Geet."

Geet: "I am now friends with Parineeta Chopra aka Pari. At first we both weredistant but slowly we became friends, good friends. She is a nice person Meer. I am not sorry for being her friend but yes I am guilty that I hid it from you."

Both of them were silent. They had been best friends for years. Heck they could pass on as sisters. Meer's parents had been more of Geet's parents than her biological ones. She can remember numerous occasions when they all had spent summer vacation in Delhi. Yash, Meer, Sid, Armaan and she would plan and meet up the all other being delhites.

The silence was getting uncomfortable and Geet could feel her eyes tearing up.

Meera spoke after a minute,"That was something I wasn't expecting when I read your message in the morning. Geet I am not mad at you. A bit hurt maybe. I need some time to process al this information.I am going offline. Bye."

Meera went offline as quickly as she could. She knew that she was being irrational but somehow she was mad at Geet. How could Geet go and be friend the girl who had in a way destroyed her life? She ha her entire life planned with Yash before Pari came along and destroyed everything. Angry tears sprang out as she tried hard to hold on to sanity and logic.

Picking up her phone she called up the only person she knew could provide her solace. An alert voice of Sid answered the call.

Sid:" Hey Meer! Is everything fine?"

Meer:" Sid I just wanted to talk to you."

Sid:" What's wrong Meer? Your tone says it that something is terribly wrong."

An old friend's concern was all that took for Meer to break down.

Sid:" Meera, sweetheart! What's wrong? Why are you crying dear?"

Meera sobbed as she spoke about what Geet told. Sid took a deep breath and asked the most obvious question:

Sid:" Are you mad at Geet for being friends with Parineeta?"

Meer: "No I mean logically speaking it wasn'ther fault. She was supposed to be living with her and working with her so it's very obvious that they will become friends."

Sid took a dee breath and said," So what is it that is bothering you Meer?"

Meer:" I am hurt, I am hurt that she did not tell me or that she could befriend the girl who has...who has everything I don't..."

Even if Meer was crying out and Sid's heart went out for he rhe needed to stop her. He did not want Meer to hold grudge for anyone.

Sid asked softly," Is that it Meer? Are you just hurt or are you jealous? Jealous of Pari who first had got the love of the guy you loved so dearly and now is a close friend to the girl you thought was your best friend. Are you jealous thatPari is comforting Geet, sharing memories with her when all these years it had been you?"

Sid's words were as if punching Meera directly on her heart. Sid was right after all. What Sid said was right after all. She indeed was jealous of Pari. Or rather she envied Pari.. That girl had everything which Meer had wished for... She let go of her sobs and said softly," I am a bad person Sid. But I envy Pari. I envy her for having Yash, I envy her for having Geet...I envy her for having the life that I had dreamt for myself."

Sid:" She doesn't have what you dreamt for. She has what she had dreamt of. She does not have your best friend Geet. She has her friend Geet. She does not have your Yash. She has her Yash. She had created her own place in Yash's heart. I don't believe I am saying this but your place is still intact. Only Yash had realized that maybe you are not his vision of life partner. As much as I hate him for hurtng you the truth is that he had done right thing. It was better to let go if you are not planning to hold on to till the end. And why can't Geet be a friend to both of you? Why does she have to choose?"

Meera listened to every word of Sid. Then she said softly," I think you are right Sid. Yash chose not to be with me and even if Pari was not there it would have happened sooner or later. Still it hurts. "

Sid:" I know you are hurting Meer and I wish I could help you. But only you can help yourself. My Meer is not this. She is an amazing girl with a big heart who could empathesize with anyone. So let go Meer. Let him go for real so that both you and he can have peace. You are the most wonderful girl I have met. Please don't let this one person taint your heart... Woh afsana jise anjam tak lana naa ho mumkin Use ek khubsurat mod dekar chhodna achchha!"

Meer smiled through her tears and said," I never thought you will be into gazals..."

Sid:" My dearest Meer! There are many things you don't know about me!"

Meer:" Do I hear a challenge in your voice?"

Sid: Yes my Meera! "

Meer:" My Meera?"

Sid:" You are my Meera. Someday you will realize it too."

Meer:" Sid you realize right that I am no where near being ready for a relationship?"

Sid:" I know sweety. I am just informing you that I am not giving up. Not now, not ever. I love you Meera and I will persue you till the end of this world. But don't worry; I will never be too over bearing."

Meera blushed heavily. After all which woman does not like to be loved with uch fervor like she is the only one in this world?

Meer:" You are incroggible Sid!"

Sid:" Whatever I am now deal with it...I am not going to change!"

Meer:" Not a very good pick-up line Sid."

Sid:" I was never the one with cheesy lines Meer. But what are you gonna do about Geet?"

Meer:" I need some time before I talk to Geet. But I am definitely not mad at her. Thank you for being there for me Sid."

Sid:" Anytime Meer!"

They both bid each other goodbye and kept off the phone unknown to the fact that in another part of India their dear friend had cried herself to sleep.