Please Forgive Me
Khurana Mansion,
Maan slammed the door to his room, removed his tie, kicked off his shoes and crashed on his bed in anger. Daadi who heard the doors being slammed wondered what happened to Maan? Entering his room she was surprised to Maan already asleep. Deciding not to disturb him she left the room.
Late Night 2 AM,
As Maan's eyes opened he sighed looking at the darkness and looked around to realise he had dozed off. Looking at his watch he realised it was late at night but his stomach was growling and so after freshening up he went to the kitchen and looked in the fridge to find a bowl of pasta. After heating it he sat at the dining table and remembered why he had slept off without having dinner and realised that he didn't even know if Geet had reached the Haveli or not and called her immediately.
Geet who was sleeping peacefully stirred and picked up the phone and answered half asleep, "Hello"
Maan, "Geet where are you?"
Geet, "In Pizza Hut"
Maan, "Whattt?? Pizza Hut woh bhi itni raat ko kya kar rahi ho?"
Geet, "Woh yeh extra cheese nahi de raha pura paise leke bhi. Par main bhi Geet hu chodungi nahi usko"
Maan, "Geet do you need any help?"
Geet, "Yeah ok come. Bye" and cut the call.
Maan smacked his palm on his forehead when he realised that he didn't even know which pizza hut was she in but decided to start near the Haveli. As he reached he saw that it was closed and wondered which Pizza Hut outlet had Geet gone too and whether it was safe for her to be out alone there. He looked around a few more outlets but not finding her decided to call her.
Maan, "Geet where are you?"
Geet yet again half asleep answered, "Haveli main. Main pizza leke agayi aur uss ladke ko bhi nooch dala maine jab usne mujhe pizza nahi diya"
Maan sighed in relief that at least she wasn't wandering alone and cut the call and returned home.
Next Day,
Khurana Constructions,
Maan smiled as he looked at the pizza hut pamphlet and placed it on Geet's desk and hid behind the pillar to see her reaction but Geet just ignored it and went about her work. Maan sighed at her and went back to his work but couldn't stop himself from stealing glances of her time to time.
Maan called Geet into his cabin with the project files to discuss the changes to be made. After a while he realised that it was lunch time and he was hungry and looking at her remembered their conversation from last night and asked, "Geet pizza khaogi?"
Geet was surprised and annoyed as well, "Sir please. U don't need to worry about me or my lunch. Im just an employee and would be really glad if you just treat me as one. U don't need to treat me any special just because I happen to be your relative as well"
Maan who had forgotten about last night's anger and hurt caused by Geet's words remembered it and asked in anger, "Then why the hell where you being friendly on phone last night?"
Geet in confusion, "What phone?"
Maan, "Remember yesterday night you were in pizza hut and I had called"
Geet, "What pizza hut? Which pizza"
Maan, "Your extra cheese pizza. Tumne uss ladke ko noocha tha na"
Geet looked at her nails which weren't even long and giving an angry look to Maan said, "Aap mera masak uda rahe ho. Kal raat jab se main Haveli poochi hu main so rahi hu toh kab aap se baat ki?"
Maan mentally smacked himself at this impossible girl. Shouldn't have asked her anything only and said, "Fine. You can go" and got back to his work.
Two Days Later,
Khurana Mansion,
Geet entered and greeted Armaan, Shilpa and Daadi who were waiting for her in the Formal Living Room.
Savitri, "Kya Geet aap toh bohut busy hogai hai. Humse baat karne ka bhi time nahi hota aapke pass"
Geet, "Nahi Ma'am aisa kuch nahi hai. Woh aaj kal office main naya project chal raha hai toh bas ussi main busy hu todha. Next week client meeting hone wali hai uske baad itne busy nahi rahenge"
Armaan, "Kya busy nahi rahegi? Uske baad toh aur busy hojayegi tu. Daadi aapko pata hai itna time hogaya mujhe aaye huve lekin ek din bhi office main Geet nahi mili"
Geet, "Armaan tum dusre branch main rehte ho toh kaise mil sakte hai hum?"
Armaan, "Hello madam agar kabhi office main kya chal raha hai woh pata kiya toh pata chalega ke aaj main pura din Head Office main hi tha"
Geet in surprise, "Kya? Tum yaha the. Toh mile kyu nahi?"
Armaan, "Main Maan ke cabin main tha pura din. Aur tumhe waha se bulaya bhi tha lekin tum pata nahi kaunse kaam main thi ke aayi hi nahi. Pata nahi Maan ke saath kaise kaam karti ho tum? Usko aisi disrespect aur irresponsible log bilkul nahi pasand"
It was then that flashed Geet that she hadn't seen Maan from the past 2 days. She thought that he must have been busy with some client meetings but realised now that she hadn't heard anything from him and today was the 1st call she got from him and that too she decided to ignore and later forgot because of her work. But before she could talk more on it Maan entered Khurana Mansion.
Savitri, "Yeh kya hai Maan? Aaj bhi aap late aaye hai"
Maan, "Sorry Daadi aaj Gurgaon gaya that oh wapas aate waqt bohut traffic tha isiliye late hogaya"
Shilpa, "Ok ab jaye aur ready hoke aaye"
Maan, "Kyu kaha jaana hai?"
Armaan, "Arre Maan aaj Geet bhi aayi hai toh bas socha ke bahar jaake dinner kare"
Maan finally noticing Geet said, "Nahi its ok. Waise bhi I'm tired so you guys enjoy" and rushed to his room before anyone could try to change his mood.
Geet who had been silent the whole time wondered why was Maan behaving so strangely? Two days back he was always trying to help and now he didn't even acknowledge her when she was just a few steps away from her. So she decided to go and talk to him and find out about his strange behaviour.
Maan who had just freshened up came out of the bathroom shirtless with a towel slung around his neck. As he was searching for his night shirt someone knocked and entered. He turned to see it was Geet.
Geet, "Hi Maan"
Maan looked at her and nodded.
Geet, "Maan is something wrong? Why aren't you coming for dinner?"
Maan smirked and said, "Oh I'm sorry. Are you sure you want to go to dinner with me?"
Geet in confusion replied, "Yes what is wrong in going to dinner with family?"
Maan's smirk grew, "Oh family. I'm sorry but you must be mistaken. I'm not family to you. I'm just your boss who also happens to be your sister-in-law's brother. Anyways you wouldn't like to go to dinner with me. After all Armaan also works in Khurana Constructions what if he spreads rumours about you and me?"
Geet finally realised what Maan was talking about and why he was behaving so strangely. Maan had thrown back her words on her face and it did hurt. It must have hurt him too and realised that she needed to apologise to him and try and make him understand her point of view.
Maan, "If you are done can you please leave. I would like to rest now"
Geet, "I'm sorry Maan. I know what I said really hurt you but that was not my intention. Hum log office main the aur main nahi chahti thi ke sab ko lage ke mujhe koi special treatment diya ja raha hai kyuki main Armaan ki behen hu. Isiliye maine who bola. I'm really sorry agar mera tareeka galat tha but I didn't mean to hurt you"
Maan, "It's ok Geet"
Geet got her hand forward and said, "Can we be friends again?"
Maan nodded and shook her hand.
Geet, "But Maan please can we keep out professional life separate from our friendship. I really don't want anyone to point fingers at you, anyone from Khurana family or me"
Maan smiled and said, "It's ok. I understand"
Geet, "So now will you join us for dinner?"
Maan nodded and Geet left to let him get ready. 
Happy Diwali to All!
CID
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
37