Chapter 20"Hey, wake up!" called Maan to the girl who was sleeping awkwardly in the jeep's passenger seat. "We're here."
When Geet barely stirred, Maan got out of the jeep and went to get his bags from the back, saying, "Don't expect me to carry you inside. If you don't get yourself and your bags inside, you can stay out here all night."
Geet rubbed her eyes and tried to clear the sleepiness from her brain. Seeing Maan's retreating form heading into the doors of the house Geet quickly scrambled out of the jeep. Grabbing her bags with some difficulty, she lugged them inside as well. Not knowing what else to do, Geet walked up the stairs and into an empty bedroom. She set her bag down and began to take out her clothes, all the time wondering how she would talk to Maan.
Maan saw that Munshiji had arranged for the place being fully furnished and ready with satisfaction. Somewhat exhausted after the long drive, Maan was ready to get some sleep. However, he first made a trip to the kitchen to get something to drink. Seeing the options available, Maan was tempted to take out a beer, but finally settled on a bottle of water.
"Suniye," he heard the tentative call that seemed designed to irritate him.
"What?" he asked angrily after taking a swig from the water bottle.
"Will you take me to see my family tomorrow?" asked Geet tentatively, aware that he was not happy with her.
"I'm planning on getting up early to go take a look at the property, so if you want to go, I'll take you then. You better be ready when I want to leave, because I'm not going to wait for you."
Not even waiting for her to respond, Maan walked off towards his room. He just wanted some piece from that girl's voice, at least for one day. He had glared and threatened her many times on the ride from Delhi, but none of that worked for more that a few minutes. Finally, he had threatened to leave throw her out like he had the day they first met, only to have her answer him back smartly.
Geet had proudly reminded him that he couldn't do that if he wanted her to sign the land registry papers. Maan hated that she had made an undeniable point, but that didn't stop him from responding back with another threat. He had admitted she was correct, but that he could easily tie her up with a gag if she didn't leave him alone. He wouldn't have acted on the threat, but he said it with enough menace that the eighteen year old was convinced.
Just thinking about her constant chatter had Maan remembering what she had said to him just the previous day. His anger burned as he remembered how she had basically accused him of only caring about money. He may not have any personal feelings for Geet, but he had always tried to do the right thing. He had helped her when she couldn't help herself, saved her from who knows what fate if the fake marriage had happened, and yet she accused him of such greediness. Not able to take it any more, Maan took the rest of his water and dumped it over his head, trying in desperation to cool his rage.
"Look at me!" he growled. "Even when I try, I can't get this girl's thoughts out of my mind. She's making me crazy! I think I will have that beer."
Geet knew that Maan was not happy with her. From the way he behaved there was no doubt of that. He hadn't wanted to talk with her on the drive from delhi, nor had he said a word to her the next morning. When he dropped her at her myaka, he didn't even respond to her good-bye, other than roaring away in his jeep. Geet was sad that things had to be the way they were, but there was nothing she could do. Right now she other, more important things to worry about than the anger of Maan Singh Khurana.
Upon entering the Handa haveli, the first person to see her was her mother. "Geet, why didn't you tell us you were coming?" Rano asked, even as she rushed over to embrace her daughter.
"Oye, Geet! How did you come here all alone? If Khurana thinks he can just dump you back here, then I won't leave him!" exclaimed Brij, not happy to see his younger sister back home. "Where is he?"
"Brij, be quiet," ordered Daarji as he came into the main area along with Geet' father and uncle. "Geet puttar, tell us what happened and why you have come so suddenly, without informing us. Is there some problem with the Khuranas?"
"No, Daarji, nothing like that," assured Geet, surprised by her family's assumption that something was wrong. Not wanting to tell the whole truth, she merely explained that, "Maan had some business in the area, and I asked if I could come and visit with you. That is all."
Once they heard that Geet was only there for a visit, and not sent back to her myaka in disgrace, that Handa family, minus Brij, rejoiced. She was embraced by her parents, received blessings from all her elders, and was invited to the kitchen where she was fed her favorite sweets. Dolly bhabhi was keen to hear all about Delhi, and what it was like in such a big city. All of the family's questions were overruled by Daarji's question of how long they were staying, and why Maan hadn't come with her to see them.
Geet cringed at this question, knowing that her family would not like the answer. She was right that especially Daarji and Brij were offended that Maan had chosen to rent a guest house, rather than stay with them. They worried how it would look to the rest of their village that their daughter's husband did not want to stay with them. Eventually Mohinder was able to calm them both by saying that no explanation would be necessary, for everyone knew that the very rich had strange habits. As Maan was in Hoshiarpur for legitimate business reasons, that could be explained to anyone who might question his absence.
Maan himself was completely unconcerned with what the Handas were thinking about him. Having gone to what would soon be his land, he wasted no time in getting things set up. The first step was to place a sign, which he did himself. If his office staff had seen him, they would have been shocked, but Maan had no problem with doing manual labor. He felt a lot of satisfaction when he did things himself. What he didn't like was when nosey people tried to interfere, something that was all too common in villages where all the people knew each other. That afternoon he had a run in with some farmers who wanted to know why he was putting the sign up.
"This land is mine, and the sign is to let everyone know who it belongs to," he told them.
"Maan Singh Khurana Mills," one farmer read out loud, before commenting, "I think you have made a mistake. Everyone knows this land belongs to Daarji."
"It belonged to Daarji, but now it belongs to me," stated Maan confidently.
"It is his land?" questioned the other farmer in a whisper still loud enough for Maan to hear. "But didn't Daarji put this land in his poti Geet's name?"
Already sensitive about the land ownership issue, Maan turned towards the famers and declared, "This land no longer belongs to Daarji's poti. Now it is mine, Maan Singh Khurana's land."
As Maan walked off, the farmers looked at one another in confusion. "Who is this Maan Singh Khurana?" they asked.
A third farmer joined them, offering a new idea that they hadn't considered. "Didn't you hear, the Handas married Geet off to some rich business man from Delhi. I think that must be him."
They continued their discussion for some time, but Maan ignored them. Instead, he concentrated on getting things started. He had Munshiji arrange for some local labor to start the next day, while he did a brief survey of the land, noting down different things he wanted to see done as soon as possible. Since it was Sunday, he couldn't do much else, so he went back to the guest house to take a look at some files he had brought with him.
At about three in the afternoon, Maan heard a knock at the door. Setting aside his file in irritation, he got up from the table and went to the door. When the door was opened he saw a couple of youngs boy he had never seen before. One boy was holding a piece of paper, which he held out to Maan.
"Didi sent you this message," the boy said, placing the note in his hand.
Maan opened the message and read, "My family wants me to stay with while we are here. Could you give my bags to my brother Titoo and his friend, please?"
Maan crumbled the note, before going to the room Geet had been using. Taking her two bags, he marched back down the stairs, and handed them off to the boys, before slamming the door in their faces. Then he went back to his file reading, rueing that he couldn't even do his work without some interruption from the annoying girl. He just hoped that when this whole thing was over, and she had her money, that he could finally be left in peace.
Titoo turned to his friend, who made the comment, "Not very nice, is he?"
"Geet didi says that Jeeju is too busy making money to be nice to people, and that I shouldn't mind how he acts. Just leave it Jai, and help me take these bags home."
Precap"I don't believe it, at least not without proof. The police won't believe it either."
"Just how do you think you are going to find any proof, when I haven't been able to find anything?"
"By hiring a private investigator."
Edited by laxmi2010 - 13 years ago
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