Chapter 11
'There' Rana directed pointing to a pile of sealed envelopes
'When is Rano Aunty leaving?' he asked writing an email on his laptop as Geet collected the letters, and separated them into two piles: Maan and Geet
'Don't know' she rolled her eyes leaning back once the task was completed, then all of a sudden she screamed feeling a hard kick from the baby
'Are you ok?' Rana asked raising in his seat hearing her yelp in shock, from the corner of his eyes he saw Maya stand up too and then settle back at the desk in her cabin; however she continued to follow his every movement, earning her a scowl. The constant intervention was rubbing him the wrong way, there was only a certain obsessive treatment he could handle.
'I take you don't like her spying?' Geet laughed caressing the growing baby as if lulling it to sleep. Rana hissed in extraction noting the change in her expression, there was a look of mock as he cleared off the last remnants of intolerance
'Everything's done, Maan is now your legal partner and the baby's father. I have also started a fraudulent case against Dev for the firm, flat and the couple account. But just waiting for Aunty and Uncle to leave before I hand them to the Crown Courts. The last thing you need is for Dev to run after you and them finding out!' Rana stood up placing an odd file from his desk on the side shelf, totally trying his best to change the topic in hand
'Let me know as soon as they leave' he emerged refocusing on the matter of importance, seeing how Geet's expression changed from amusement to seriousness.
'OK' she answered thanking him before getting up with him leading the way out the cabin and into the main foyer
'Bye' he kissed the forehead as she hugged back, Maya stood at the end watching their interaction catching his eye once again. This was a normal routine, she had always fouled upon him at the occurrence of any female interaction, be it even a sister
'You know what I'll drop you off!' he directed instead clutching Geet's delicate arm and totally ignoring a running Maya
'Where are you going?' she asked standing at the passenger door, business' he answered looking at her briefly before reversing and driving out leaving an appalled Maya behind.
'What was that?' Geet asked, again Rana ignored the question and lead the conversion to the case again. 'Men' she thought thinking back at Maan and his subtle ways of ignoring her in the morning.
'Liverpool's playing tonight, yours or mine' Adi queried putting on his jacket, as did Maan after their long shift. The afternoon had welcomed a few odd cases: there was the maggot girl who slept over at a barn after a drunken night, then the increased incidents of drug-induced anaemia at the hospital but the worst had to be him being delivered Geet Handa's blood sample. Apparently she was suffering from stomach discomfort on the left side and a burning discharge. Both of things she hadn't yet mentioned, not to him, Sam or even Rano Maa; as he was advised to call. Of course in his right mind, he should have called for a colleague's interference since he was obligated to by the NHS legislation. Geet was now the mother of his child, which practically makes her his family, thereby he should have referred her on but, not that's a big but, but he hadn't told anyone about Geet, even Adi who seemed to forgot about the pregnant lady at his door thanks to Sasha and the gossips. But now it was alarmingly uncomfortable, this hidden life seemed like a lie to his reality.
'Maan?' Adi called asking for Maan's attention, his pupils big in question
'Ummm yeah your place' he answered trying to break out of the worry Geet put him in, the doctor asked for a full-blood count and a Urinary tract infection (UTI) test. He had the answer to the blood test, thanks to his involvement however the UTI result was on a separate record, with Microbiology and something he couldn't check, it was against the conduct of NHS and his morals. But the heart seems to not understand the rules of works, it grew in anticipation. He could ask Geet, but he was keeping away so the marriage talks could be limited. Of course they still continued but thankfully hushed down by Geet, he was also aware that she knew of his silent ways of keeping a distance. Whether she was happy or not, he couldn't tell but somewhere he missed the interaction they had, even if it was minimal.
'Maan you listening?' Adi asked, all throughout the journey on the bus Maan had silently heard Adi, who was sure he heard nothing yet nodded once in a while to look attentive.
'Yeah' he answered absent-minded
'Liverpool scored man and you're not even excited' he said putting the phone down on the coffee table which showed the current score, as he went about switching on the TV to watch the match after half-time. Maan had sat on the sofa still in his coat, too far away to care.
It's a win for Liverpool, what a night. The final score is 2:0
Fulham did give in a tough fight, but Liverpool were better today
Adi sat listening to the sports commentary but he's main attention was on Maan who wasn't his usual self. He for the first time paid zero attention to a Liverpool match, this was so unlike Maan.
'Sasha didn't do it on purpose' he stated remembering the morning incident, both she and Neil walked into the department hand in hand with shy smiles, only to stop in front of Maan and him, breaking apart almost immediately as Maan walked away ignoring them.
'Huh?' Maan asked suddenly breaking out of his thoughts
'Sasha...' Adi started with regret
'What about her?' he asked confusion written all over
'You weren't thinking of her?'
'No, hell no its Geet..i...'
'Who's Geet?' Adi asked now confused, this wasn't a name he was familiar with. There was no one by that name at work or in Maan's apartment building.
'Ohh ... ummm ... I wanted to tell you this' he laughed nervously as Adi became suspicious
'Can you remember that pregnant girl at my apartment, well she's Geet and pregnant with my baby' he added as Adi nodded in recognition, the minute Maan confirmed his part in her pregnancy he grasped in shock, face red in shock. Fortunately for him, Maan hadn't kept the secrecy up for long and told of the entire tale, ending the story with how he's living at her place to help.
'Maan have you lost it?' he asked walking the length of his front room, Maan continued to defend himself even Geet so in the end Adi asked to meet the girl, to ensure the girl doesn't take the advantage of his kind friend.
DING DONG
'WAIT' Sam screamed from the kitchen, quickly ripping out the frozen package off and pushing the cheese margherita pizza in the oven.
'What you doing here?' she asked as Maya forced herself in screaming for 'Rana'
'He's not here' she called following the woman into the living room
'Sam I'm home' Geet called depositing her coat and bag into the cloakroom before walking into the living room where Sam and Maya stood throwing daggers at one another
'What are you doing here?' Rana asked entering the same room after closing the front door. Maya hadn't said anything rather walked to him and sat beside placing a hand over his. He was annoyed, everyone could tell but he chose to not pick a fight here, especially in front a smirking Sameera.
'Where's mum and dad?' Geet asked instead trying to relax the atmosphere
'Gone to West End, shopping and a date I believe' she joked as the others smiled, minus Maya who frowned in insecurity.
KNOCK KNOCK
Someone was at the door again, and again Sameera went to grab it seeing how Geet was comfortably sitting with her swollen legs raised on a foot stool.
'Maan...' she started but stopped almost immediately seeing the male company with him. Maan had ignored her stationary form, Adi raised a brow nudging at him when she continued to stare even while they walked past her and into the living room.
'Don't even bother, she's really weird' Maan advised in a whisper as Adi looked behind in interest, Sameera was a very attractive woman. Tall, thin, tanned and blonde hair, very fashionable and sharp features.
'Geet you ok?' Maan asked settling beside her gazing at her worn face and then shifting to her swollen feet
'Hmm juts spent the day with Rana and contracts' she smiled pushing forward to whisper into his ears, this was the first time he had started the conversation after ages and she couldn't hold back that small smile playing of her lips even after realising that a stranger was standing in her living room.
'This is Adi, my best friend' Maan introduced just as a timidly moving Sameera entered, they looked at her when she giggled; way to girly for her to which Adi smiled back.
'Hi' Geet wished back after Maan introduced to Adi and vice versa. Sam had decided to seat beside her pinching her thigh in excitement, while Geet rolled her eyes. Another love of her life, but she must admit Adi was Sam's type: tall, very tall matching Sam's dream height; small lips and nose, black gelled hair in a ducktail unlike Maan's pompadour which she preferred. Adi wore specks, maybe the only thing Sam disliked but the pinches suggested otherwise and so did the usual giggles.
'Ok before we all get high, how about a takeout?' Rana but in as Sameera's giggles caught sound and so did Maya's awkward movement away from him, not that he was complaining for the first time both the girls seemed to be quiet and distant from him; an goal in his world.
Don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me?
Don't cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me?
Don't cha?
(Don't cha, Pussycat dolls)
The ringtone blared breaking the several conversation around the room, Maya immediately threw daggers at Sam who smiled roguishly answering the call from the delivery man.
'Foods here' she announced walking in several seconds later with two huge bags of food, Maan was about to help but Adi beat him to it and aided Sameera, she once again burst into an awkward giggle when his hands touched hers.
Now I feel like Blondie
U.G.L.Y you ain't got no alibi you ugly eh! Hey! You ugly x2
(UGLY, Daphne and Celeste)
Maya's phone sprang up singing as she gave Rana's phone back, who only rolled his eyes exasperated. If it hadn't been for Geet and the dying hunger, he would have walked out the minute he saw Maya and Sameera, under the same roof. 'Tonight wasn't going to be a good night' he almost sang but then stopped seeing the growing tension between Sam and Maya, both at ends; and time again looking at Adi. Being a lawyer, he somehow found himself analysing and dissecting; so when Maya leered at Sam and then smiled sweetly at Adi it wasn't a shocker, nor upsetting rather pleasing. He smirked at Geet who smiled back, also understanding the shifting situations. Maan was too focused on plating the Tandoori chicken, chilli vegetable and the Naan bread for Geet, and Adi on helping Sam; so the changing dimensions weren't exactly on everyone's mind about of the brother-sister duo.
'What's that smell Sam?' Geet asked as conversation flew between the occupants, the empty plates lay on the table with the half-drunk water glasses. Sam looked up confused and shaken like she woke up from sleep with Geet's question.
'Tch tch Geet don't you know, that's Sameera's natural scent; the smell of desperation' Maya laughed evilly falling over Rana's chest and wounding a firm hand around his waist, he had patted it lightly and an angry Sam stormed into the kitchen all of a sudden remembering the pizza in the oven, now a burnt pizza.
'Ok I'm off' Rana was the first to break off offering a ride to Maya, who immediately tagged along. Maybe he was wrong?' he thought but then smiled when Maya offered an awkward goodbye hug to all members, something she never did. 'It won't be long until she leaves' he smiled, finally finding a way of breaking up without hurting her. Adi had been the next to leave, but after a few hours. Sam by then had calmed down on the giggles, and kept a fluent conversation with him. By the end of the night, both exchanged numbers and even shared their first kiss, well Adi carefully landed a peck to her cheek before leaving in a black cab and Sam screamed out he 'kissed me, he kissed me'. No way shocking Geet but displeasing Maan, he didn't want to be connected to Sam but seems like his friend was smitten by the girl like the way she was by his friend.
In the end, it was Geet and Maan sitting in the living room; her to his side and both their legs up watching Grinch from the recorded list. She had wanted an easy fun movie, and both settled on that film. While she was fully absorbed, he was looking for ways to start a conversation about Geet's health but found none even after Sam left within the first 30 minutes for bed after giving them a blanket.
'Geet' he finally whispered only to feel her hands move to his chest and her face dipping into his shoulder, she had fallen asleep and landed slower to him in comfort, and he smiled seeing her glow. Spreading the spread over both of them, he pushed a hand behind her and then pulled her closer, so now his head landed on her head; finally finding peace both slept on the couch where eventually her parents found them, they had smiled switching off the TV and dimmed the lights.
'We have to speak to his parents about marriage!' Rano said running a loving hand over the smiling face of her daughter, when they steered both Rano and Mohinder immediately sneaked out closing the door behind them in a promise to make their marriage happen soon.
Next: 'It's like I'm sleeping with her'
Note: This is like the longest part I've ever written for this story, don't get used to it lol.
