Author's note: Sorry, sorry sorry guys. I'm extremely sorry for keeping you waiting. Was extremely busy with college work after coming back from vacations. Will try updating even the other ff soon. Sorry, once again.😊
Part 25:
Maan woke up to find that his phone was still near his ears and this reminded him of the previous day's incident. He felt like a new person and this was something he hadnt felt in years. The early morning's rays spread its warmth through him and the chirping of birds sounded more cheerful. He was feeling elated and he didnt know why. Before anyone in the mansion got up, he got ready and left for office. Deep down in his heart he knew that this was the first time he was going to office not with the intention of work, but something else or for someone else.
He reached the office and made way to his cabin all the time looking at his watch, willing that the time would run. Since the time was only 7am he decided to spend his time looking through some old files, but alas that too did not yield any result. His mind time and again wandered towards the one person who pre-dominantly occupied his mind these days, Geet Handa. Everytime he closed his eyes her smiling face would engulf his vision making him crave for more. He did not know what was happening to him but he could feel the change. He knew he was going crazy, but he liked the feeling. He had been with many beautiful women in the past, that was no big deal, but there was something about Geet which made him want to be with her all the time. Her smile, her laugh, her intelligence, her smartness, her personality, he wanted to capture everything about her to himself. She was simple, yet beautiful. She was modern yet traditional. She was smart yet crazy. Not a bad word escaped her mouth except where he was concerned, he shook his head with a smile. Gosh! he laughed remembering the times they had fought on issues which were next to nothing.
He cringed thinking about the hurt he had inflicted on her just to satisfy his ego. He could not think of forgiving himself but she had forgiven him, and that was her greatness. Today he would just wait for her to come, and give her the saree. He had well rehearsed a speech if she refused his gift. He would tell her he hadnt actually forgiven himself and he would be satisfied only if she accepted his gift. He was sure, she would not refuse then.
A knock on the door suddenly brought him back to his senses and he checked the time. It was 10am. Had he gone into day dreaming mode again? He shook his head to regain some sense and asked whoever it was to come in. Adi came in and gave him the budget sheet of the Chopra's project which required his approval. Maan checked and signed it, asking him to revise a few things.
Meanwhile he was getting impatient. Geet had not once come to his cabin. Didnt she feel anything about the fact that he had wished her the previous night? That was not possible. He knew she would come to him sooner or later. He decided to give her time.
The clock struck twelve and Maan was pacing round his cabin frustrated. Why didnt she come at least once! He was dying to see her. He decided that it was time to shun his ego and call her, himself. He informed his secretary to send Geet Handa to his cabin.
After sometime there was a knock at the door and his heart skipped a beat. Come in! he said in his usual voice but he was a nervous wreck from inside. When he looked up and saw his secretary entering, his heart groaned in disappointment.
"Sir, Miss Geet Handa is on leave from today for one week. She had applied for leave in the previous month and got it sanctioned just yesterday."
Maan was getting restless. Was she giving him a clue that she wanted to leave him forever? Didnt she want to work for him? Didnt she want to see him? Hadnt she forgiven him yet? Did she still hate him enough to leave the job? yes, that was the answer. She was leaving! his mind screamed. She was leaving because she did not want to be anywhere near him. She did not want to see his face. That was the only explanation his mind could formulate on her suden disappearance.
Maan was jerked back into reality when his secretary gave him a concerned look and asked him if he was alright. He quickly composed himself and asked her about the reason of her leave. The secretary informed him that the reason given was her brother's marriage.
Once the secretary had left, Maan breathed a small sigh of relief. But how was he to survive without seeing her for one whole week! He decided that he had to see her! His mind was busy processing thoughts. Suddenly he was struck with an idea and called for one of his archiects.
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Geet was busy with the marriage preparations, but her heart was not in it. Just yesterday she would have given anything to be home admist the celebrations, but today the idea did not feel that bright. Everbody was so excited. People from the neighbourhood had joined hands, helping in various preparations. The energy radiating from the household was infectious but Geet wasnt that affected. Her mind kept wandering back to him and the more she thought about him, the more she wanted to go back.
Geet! she screamed at herself. For heavens sake, she was here for her brother's marriage. Her only brother's marriage. She ought to be exhuberant and here she was, thinking about somebody who was probably in his own world. So why was she not feeling the thrill? Maybe the excitement was yet to sink in. What kept her going throughout the day was his voice continuously playing at the back of he mind. She blushed just remembering the intensity in his voice. He might have just wished her for the heck of it, but this was her best birthday ever.
Babaji! She was becoming addicted to thinking about him, and she had to stop it before she completely went mad. She threatened her mind to stop thinking about him and joined Pinky and Meera in the preparations.
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"But sir, you have an important meeting scheduled in New York this week. You cant seriously be going to personally check out a land in hoshiarpur for a project which would not even fetch us pea-nuts, while the meeting is in no circumstances avoidable. " A team of architects were in a meeting with Maan trying to convince him to give up the idea of going to hoshiarpur.
" First rule of business, never consider any dealing tooo high for you or too low for you. What you do not consider important may be very important to me. Since i have purchased the land for a very huge amount i would personally like to inspect the land and know the villagers opinions of what they think about this project. Remember one thing, Maan Singh Khuraana never does anything in which there is no profit. If we start projects in villages, we can impress the government and inturn easily attain the liscense required for other projects, besides building small scale industries in towns like hoshiarpur would be very benificial, for us as well as for them. And about the meeting in New York, do not worry, i will be attending it. So i will meet you in hoshiarpur tomorrow. Also, i will bring Adi along, since we need a rough budget sheet for the project. See you tomorrow." Maan got up from his seat signalling the end of the meeting. After everyone left, he leaned back in his seat and gave a satisfied smile. "Geet, I'm coming."
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The next day Geet was helping with the hall decorations, when she was called by Daarjee. Geet entered Daarjee's room to find daarjee, brij and Papaji in a heated discussion." Daarjee, Aapne bulaaya!" Geet asked entering the room.
"Yes Geet, we called for you. Actually, we wanted to ask your opinion about a certain issue. The city corporator just informed us that a construction firm from delhi has proposed to help the Punjab government in building a small scale industry in this town. Since Daarjee holds a prominent post in the panchayat they have asked for our opinion . We personally think that this proposal is very good for the welfare of the people and many others too think so. What do you think about it?" Paapaji asked her handing over some papers to her.
Geet went through the proposal and thought that the idea was practically a very good one and she told them so. She asked them which construction firm was undertaking the project, but they said that they did not have those details.
" Since Hoshiarpur is a small town, every family's opinion matters. So let us go to the site in the evening when we go for some last minute purchases. That should satisfy atleast us." Papaji stated and the others agreed.
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On their way back from shopping, Geet went to the site along with her other family members. As they parked the jeep and got down, Geet could feel a strange sensation churning inside her. The churning increased when she saw some familiar faces at the site measuring the land and putting up landmarks. She did not know why, but her pulse rate quickened. She felt he was somewhere there, so she left her family behind and started moving of her own accord. She looked for him everywhere but could not find him. Disappointed that this was another of the joint ventures of Khuraana constructions which held little importance to him, she turned to go back to where her family was standing when she saw the men of her family talking to a tall man whose back was to her.
Dazed, she moved towards them, her heart and mind constantly debating as to who the person was. Slowly she went to stand beside Paapaji, and when the man looked at her, she thought she would have an adrenalin attack. Maan! her heart screamed, but her mind refused to believe the fact that he was actually here. All she wanted to do was run into his arms to find the ultimate solace she thirsted for ever since she left delhi.
"Good evening Miss Handa." he said in that oh so sexy voice of his and she thought she would faint. It was when Paapaji tapped her lightly on the shoulder she introduced them to her boss, Maan Singh Khuraana.
"So glad to know that you are Geet's boss. We are honoured to know that our daughter is working in a company as prestigious as yours. We are very happy with the project you are undertaking in our town and we will definetely put our signatures in approval of this project. " Darjee chirped happily.
Geet was surprised on hearing her Darjee talk in such a casual manner that too to someone as young as Maan. Darjee was usually very stern when talking to people so how the sudden change? Just as she was thinking along these lines, her Papaji spoke up.
"Sir, my eldest son is getting married, and since you are Geet's boss, we would be honoured if you could grace this occassion if you aren't very busy."
"I would love to come, but as a guest and not as Geet's boss." Maan said with a polite smile and shook hands with all the men. Brij gave him their house address and they turned to go while Geet slowly raised her eyes to find him looking at her intently and once again she was lost in the ocean of his eyes.
She came out of her trance and turned her back to him, but she could feel his gaze penetrating her. On the way back home, all her family members could not stop singing his praises, and Geet felt heart swell with pride. She just kept herself out of the conversation all the while thinking about him and willing it to be evening with the blink of an eye.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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