CHAPTER 7. INTO THE PAST!
"Oh God! Its going to start raining soon! Please! Hurry up!, 20 year old Geet pleaded as she stood at the florist shop for her gift. It was her father's birthday and she wanted to gift him a bouquet. But the florist seemed to take his own sweet time and rain was about to start at any time. And for once, Geet Rathod forgot her umbrella! Of course, Geet, you forget the one thing exactly on the day you need it! Geet scolded herself. And then she looked up. Oh monsoon of Mumbai, I get it that you love to drench us poor souls on regular basis. But today please spare me, I have to be somewhere! Just then the florist handed her the bouquet and Geet heaved a sigh of relief. She grabbed the bouquet, paid for it and ran to her Scooty. She started to ride it just as the rain began. She cursed her bad luck and continued to ride. The droplets transformed into an outpour and Geet was unable to see anything in this rain. She slowed down her scooty and turned to the side to park it somewhere when a man slammed into her scooty and she fell down. Geet let out a loud scream and the man who was till now running away, stopped and turned around.
"I am sorry! I am sorry! Are you hurt? I hope you are ok?, said the man as a hand came in front of her vision.
Geet looked up and was surprised to see the man who had accidentally pushed her down, helping her. He bent down to help her and for a second the time stopped. Both froze as they stared at each other.
Without him realising, the man blurted out, "You are very beautiful. Do you know that?
Geet's eyes popped wide open, "Excuse me?
The man blinked and then swallowed, "I...I...mmmean, you should try your hand at modeling, you are that beautiful!
Geet frowned. He was flirting with her! How dare he! First, he pushes me down and now he is flirting with me! She narrowed her eyes and snarled at him, "Stop flirting around and help me!
The man pursed his lips at her attitude but nodded. He grabbed her hand and gently lifted her up. Luckily, when she fell the scooty did not fall on her, so she was not hurt anywhere. The man lifted her scooty and turned to her and spoke in a deep voice, "Once again, I am sorry!
Geet was taken aback by his husky tone. Her cheeks turned mild red and she nodded, "Its ok!
"By the way..., he mumbled as he took few steps close to her. She finally saw his face up close. Till now the rain obscured her vision. But now that she could see his face, she realised how good looking he actually was. He bent over and she swallowed. Her cheeks turned redder and her heart beat built up. He whispered in her ears, "I still think you are very beautiful! Her eyes widened and she looked away shyly. The man looked at her and smirked. Just then they heard some people shouting behind them. Geet watched as the man's face took on an alarmed look. He looked back at Geet and smiled, "See you some other day! Saying his words, he turned around and ran away. Geet watched with wide eyes as few men holding swords and sticks ran after him.
"Hey Di!, Arnav mumbled as he looked up from his video game, smiled at his Di and then went back to his game. Just a second later, his sister's state registered in his mind and he looked up with wide eyes.
"DI!
"Why are you drenched like this?
"And where is the bouquet? Remember! You were supposed to buy it for Dad!
"Why aren't you saying anything?
"And why are you grinning like a fool?
Her younger brother, 13 year old Arnav Rathod, bombarded her with questions but Geet didn't pay him a single glance. She was just lost in her thoughts. The handsome man she met half hour before occupied her mind and she wasn't even sure how she arrived at home without crashing into someone.
Arnav rolled his eyes and gave up on his sister. She must have gone crazy! Girls these days! He went back to his game, all the while shaking his head.
Geet climbed her three storied mansion stairs and reached her room on second floor. Her house had one side made full of glass overlooking the garden. She stood there staring out, her mind still on the man. Dressed in denim jeans and white shirt which due to rain was plastered to his body, the man looked like Adonis. He was handsome! No, Geet frowned. He was more than handsome! He was droolworthy! Then her eyes widened. And he called me beautiful! Geet resisted the urge to squeal. She sighed as she remembered his washboard abs, his muscled arms and his good looking face.
Arnav came into the room to ask his sister something, saw her dreamy expression, rolled his eyes and turned around. He remembered that expression very well! She had the same look on her face when her favourite hero came on the screen. She is a gone case now! Arnav declared as he stormed off.
"Geet! Geet! Have you heard? The Singhanias are coming to the party!, one of her friends crowed and Geet whirled around. There was a party thrown in her house on her father's honor. It was his birthday! Arnav was not allowed to attend as he was too young. Infact, this was Geet's third year at such parties. She wasn't allowed till she turned 18. Her friends were daughters of her father's associates and she had grown up alongside them.
"Are they?, Geet smirked, "Let them come! Let me also meet my father's rival!
Her friends rolled their eyes. Gone was the girl from the morning, dressed in salwar kameez and one plait. Now standing in front of her guests was a young heiress of a vast empire. She was dressed in white gown with sweetheart neckline and her hands in gloves. She wore diamonds worth crores on her neck and ears. Her make up was perfect and her high heels made her look taller and lot sharper. She was every inch the daughter of Rathod family, one of the top mafias who ran Mumbai.
"Oh please! Leave the rivalry aside! Do you know how handsome Singhania heir is?, one of her friends giggled. The word handsome triggered Geet's mind and she was reminded of the handsome stranger she met in the morning. She felt her cheeks turn a little red at his thought and thanked God that her make up could hide her blush.
"I don't care!, she straightened up, "He can be the Mr. Universe himself! But as far as I am concerned, he is my enemy and I will always strive to crush him! Geet's eyes glared at the unknown fiercely.
Just then there was a commotion at the doorway and Geet surged forward with eagerness. She wanted to see who this Maan Singhania was! After all, just like his father and her father were rivals, she and Maan were to be rivals too. Just as Geet was the heiress and the person who would take over the trade after her father's death, it was Maan who would take over after his father. So Geet was sure there will be one day when Geet and Maan would be face to face with each other as rivals. And Geet was ready to do anything to destroy him. And that made her more and more eager to know how he actually looked like! Nobody knew how Maan looked like. Just like no one other than people who came to such parties knew that she was the heiress to her mafia clan. Geet made sure to keep her college life and her personal life separate. No need for the cops to know who she was! Except one or two of her close friends, none of her friends from College knew her real identity. They didn't even know where she lived or how many family members did she have. And she was happy with that.
Maan's story was vaguer than hers. It was said that Maan was shipped off to boarding school as a kid to keep him safe from his father's enemies. There he was trained in all kinds of fighting techniques. He came back only for college and was the alumni of the same college she studied in. After that he went back to study and also worked in many top companies. Now after some years, armed with business strategies and tactics that he learned at work and in his post graduate studies, he was finally coming back to help his father handle their business. In another words, the other mafia gangs need to be careful as there will be two Singhanias handling the business.
Geet sneaked through the crowd surrounding her and reached her father just as the elder Singhania came face to face with him.
"Mr. Singhania!, her father exclaimed.
"Mr. Rathod!, the other man exclaimed.
Both smiled broadly and hugged each other. If people hadn't known better, they would think these two were best friends. But that was not true! Both of them were the types who would hug their rivals and then while hugging stab them on their backs. Geet smirked at the gesture. So much fake smiles and acting!
"And who is this lovely Angel?, murmured the elder Singhania as he turned to Geet.
Geet's father proudly hugged his daughter sideways, "My beautiful daughter, Geet!
Geet's eyes glittered with eagerness as she raised her hand, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Singhania!
"Ah my darling, the pleasure is totally mine!, the man said grandiosely as he kissed her hand.
Geet had to admit, out of the enemies of their family, Mr. Singhania was her favourite one. Because unlike other men who were rude and uncouth, this man atleast was gentleman and polite. But that didn't mean she didn't want him dead!
"Mr Singhania! I am not seeing your son behind you!, asked her father with mocking concern. If you heard carefully, you would hear the taunt behind those words. After all, his heiress was standing right beside her. But Maan was not to be seen everywhere. Geet also looked around wondering where her future rival was.
The old man sighed, "He couldn't come! His little sister, my princess is sick, so he stayed behind to take care of her.
"He stayed behind?, Geet asked, her eyes glinting with amusement, subtly letting the man know that she didn't buy into his excuse.
The old man became a little serious, "My daughter adores her elder brother and she didn't want her brother away when she was feeling this bad!
Geet resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Sister, my foot! Must be scared of us! Or maybe, a suspicious part of her mumbled, he doesn't want his rivals to know how he looks so that he could trap them later. Geet grabbed a glass from nearby and took a sip, hiding her anger filled face behind the glass. It was obvious, this was all a ploy! Singhanias are definitely upto something. I have to be careful! Geet looked at her father sideways. I have to warn dad too!
"Speaking on princess, where is your prince?, wondered Mr. Singhania.
"We didn't allow him down. After all, these parties can be dangerous, who knows who might try to kill him!, Geet retorted sharply.
Her father's sharp intake of breath let Geet know that she had moved from veiled taunting and close to accusing. She had to be careful!
Mr. Singhania didn't seemed to take offence though. He let out a loud laugh and then the moment he became serious, he bent down and asked Geet, "And you think you are old enough to be safe, kiddo? Her father grabbed her hand as both realised that Mr. Singhania was almost threatening. Geet's father decided to send Geet away before she opened her mouth and actually insulted people. He asked her to meet other guests and Geet nodded, recognising his request as an order and slipped away.
Geet reached her friends just as one of them asked if she met Maan. Geet replied in negative and told them her thoughts on why Maan was missing. Once she told them most of them shook their head. Her closest friend Pinky mumbled, "You are crazy, Geet! Maybe his little sister is really sick, who knows!
Geet didn't reply as she stared at Mr. Singhania with narrowed eyes still drinking from her glass.
Another girl, whose father had just recently aligned him family with Rathods, suddenly mumbled, "I don't know why you hate the Singhanias so much!
Geet whipped her head around and glared at the girl. She placed her empty glass at the nearby table and stormed off.
Pinky informed the new girl, "Arre! Don't you know? Of course, you don't know! You are new! Mr. Singhania's men had gotten overzealous some years back and had tried to kill Geet's parents while they were travelling somewhere. Geet's mother died on the spot and Mr. Rathod was in Coma for several months. Geet was barely 13 years old then, with 6 year old Arnav holding her hand. Few months later, once her father was well, Mr. Singhania explained that his henchmen had made this plan and he knew nothing about it. Mr. Rathod had believed him but Geet didn't. To this day, Geet believes that Mr. Singhania was behind her mother's murder. So she is looking forward to destroy him once she takes over from her father.
Geet stormed to the bar area and grabbed a vodka shot. She downed it in a minute and grabbed another shot of it. Just as she was about to chuck it, her hand was grabbed.
"Geet! What are you doing?
Geet looked at the man who stopped her. It was Adi, her father's assistant. He was good 10 years older to her and had worked under her father for almost 10 years. Her dad had hired him when he had just graduated and looking for job. His mother had worked as maid at Rathods for many years so when she told Geet's mom that Adi was unable to find a job, Geet's mom got him a job as assistant to Mr. Rathod. Adi slowly became the right hand of Geet's dad. It was Adi's effort that kept the clan together till her dad recovered after her mother died. It was Adi who made sure that Geet and Arnav were safe and secure till her father could provide them safety again. After Pinky, Adi was her best friend.
"What do you think I am doing?, Geet snarled, as she tugged her hand away from Adi and drank the shot.
"Enough!, Adi mumbled as he pulled Geet away from the bar.
"Why doesn't dad understand that Mr. Singhania is not a good person? He is the reason behind mom's death! Why is dad so friendly with him?, Geet asked as tears of anger welled in her eyes. She wanted revenge!
"Because there is no proof that he is the reason behind your mother's death!, Adi informed Geet as he too glared at Mr. Singhania.
Geet took in a deep breath, "But I will not forgive him. Dad might believe him. I won't! I will have my revenge!
"And I will help you!, Adi announced. Geet and Adi looked at each other and back at Mr. Singhania, both glaring at him.
AND THE STAGE IS SET!
ALL THE CHARACTERS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED AND THEIR MOTIVES DISCLOSED!
THOUGH EVERYTHING IS FROM GEET'S POINT OF VIEW, SO NOT EVERYTHING IS AS CLEAR AS IT SEEMS!
LET THE FUN BEGIN!
ALSO DISCLAIMER: I HAVE ZERO KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MAFIA WORLD. FORGIVE ME IF ANYTHING SEEMS RIDICULOUS OR UNBELIEVABLE.
Also here are the intro of the new characters seen in this chapter.
Mr. Singhania as seen by me
Mr. Rathod as I imagine him
Our beloved Pinky, of course
And here is our Adi
Thank you, take care and have fun,
Kalpana
Cricket
CID
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