MG - Tailor Made - Chapter 18 + Epilogue 09.11.12 - Page 12

Chapter 6: The Invitation

Rano told Rajji, Pinky and Burger about Maan. They all made big eyes at the fact that Maan Singh Khurana was their future jiju. But there still was a little task to do. Rano knew Geet would not say no for this alliance if she insisted but she didn't want to force her daughter either. She had made it clear to Archana that as long as Geet didn't give her thumbs up for this marriage it was better not to make anything official. Archana had agreed as even she needed Maan to make his intentions clear to her. Not that it was needed because Maan was lost in Geet since the party. She even noticed him once taking out the sherwani looking at it lovingly.

Office work took most time of Maan's day. He sat in his chair and looked at the papers in front of him. They were the design of a hotel. He liked the ideas that Sasha had drawn up yet there was something amiss. This was not simply a hotel as the client had made it clear to him. It should be specially designed for expecting mothers. They should be able to come and relax in a friendly environment and mingle with other to-be-mothers while their husbands could take some time off from their husbandly duties.

"Sasha, I'll think about this idea and come back to you. Even though it is good it is still not perfect. The spa is ok but I am unsure about this bit here. Why a sauna?"

"MK, sauna's are good for the immune system"

'That was a stupid answer. What has an immune system to do with the relaxation of pregnant women' he thought.

"As I said, I'll think about it." Sasha went out and Maan yawned. He had been sitting on his desk for too long and needed a coffee. He picked up his phone and dialled his secretary's number.

"Lisa, get me a coffee."

"Yes sir." Lisa came in and Maan heard the noise as the door opened. His room was sound proof hence he didn't hear it before.

"What is going on outside?"

"Sir, a woman has come here and Sasha ma'am is telling her to leave but she says she wants to talk to you."

"Who is she?"

"I don't know sir, but she doesn't look like a client." Maan got up and looked. His eyes widened as he saw her. He ran out to the crowed that had build up.

"Shameless people really" Sasha taunted.

"Coming here and wanting to speak to the MD. I mean look at you, you are not even worth standing here, forget about talking to him. I will call security if you don't leave right'"

"SASHA" Maan screamed. There was a shocked moment when everyone realised that Maan was standing right behind him. They all made way for Maan to walk up to Sasha.

"MK, I was just'" Maan's eyes spat fire and Sasha shut up.

"Leave before I get you thrown out" he said.

"Ji" the woman was leaving. Maan held her hand gently.

"Aap nahin. (Not you.) Sasha I am talking to you. I kept you here because you are our Munshji's daughter but today you proved that it was a mistake. It would have been nice if you would have learnt how to talk to elders instead of wasting you time drooling over me. Now leave." Maan said as calmly as he could manage. He looked at the others who quickly made their way to their respective places.

Maan made Rano sit on the chair and took place next to her. She had a few tears in her eyes.

"Aunty ji I am extremely sorry for Sasha's behaviour. I don't know what goes on in her mind." He gently squeezed her hand. He really felt bad for her. For him Rano was like a second mother since she was Geet's treasured mamma.

"Koi baat nahin beta. Meri hi ghalati thi ke main yaha bina phone kiye aagae. (Don't worry. It was my mistake that I came without calling.)"

"Aap ko phone karne ki kya zarrorat hain? Aap bhi to meri maa ke samaan ho. Bolye kya kaam tha mujse? (Why should you call? You are, after all, just like my own mother. How can I be of help?)" Rano opened her purse and removed an envelope.

"Humare ghar main Geet ki saalgira ki choti si party rakhi hain. Kyun ki aap ke ghar peh koi nahin tha isi liye main yaha chali aae. Kya haina ke hamare yaha apno ko humesha personally invite karte hain. (We have kept a small party for Geet's birthday. I came here because noone was at home. You see, at our place we hand close family members all invitations pesonally.)" Maan was touched by her gesture. He wiped her tears away and escorted her out. Rano refused but Maan insisted that his driver took her back home.

He came back up and said loudly:

"Listen everyone. The person who was just here is like my mother. If she is ever and I mean ever mistreated by anyone here I can make sure it was the last time you ever had a job in this country."

Maan opened the envelope and read the invitation card. So it was his Angel's birthday in a few days and he was invited. He smirked at a thought that had just come up in his mind.

"Geet. Geet." Maan called out for Geet but she was not there. Rajji came out and saw her hopefully to-be-jiju.

"Where is Geet?"

"She is in the shop opposite to ours." Rajji pointed outside.

"Let me guess. She is fighting for a refund again." Maan rolled his eyes as Rajji giggled and nodded. Maan went out and saw a distressed manager trying to calm Geet down. Her talk had attracted much attention in the shop. Finally Maan told the manager to send the refund to the tailoring service while he pulled Geet out of the shop.

"Geet, bas bhi karo. (Geet, take a break.) I mean, do you really have to fight every single time for a refund?" Maan asked. Geet was angry and folded her arms over her chest and looked away. 'Ok, so my Angel is angry. Let me try to calm her down.'

"Look I actually thought you might be able to help me. I wanted get something stitched but I remembered you saying I shouldn't pay too much'" Geet turned and smiled brightly again.

"Why didn't you say so before? What do you want to get done?"

"How about you tell me. What do I look good in?"

"Sherwani for sure but I can make it a little different this time." Since she was in a bad mood because of MLT, she took him to another store. This one was outside the mall, a place where Maan had never been.

"I have never been here" he admitted to Geet.

"See, that is why you buy all that cheap stuff. You get the best quality here." She went into a small shop which was very cramped.

"Chachi, mujhe inke liye sherwani banana hain. Maroon rang main koi accha sa kapda bataye na. (Aunty, I want to stich a sherwani for him. Please show me some nice fabric in maroon.)" The lady smiled and showed Geet a few materials. Maan was bored as he just stood there. A small boy tugged on his pant and showed him a stool to sit on and gave him a bottle of cold drink with a straw. The drink was refreshing and Maan felt much better. He wondered why he had never been here. Ok, he was MSK who just had to utter a word and everything lay to his feet but now he realised on what he missed out. The little boy was eyeing him curiously as he looked quite out of place. Maan smiled at him and the boy smiled back.

"Sir, I am done." Maan paid and left the store with Geet. She stopped and he stopped, too. Geet turned and saw the boy with a sad face. She removed a chocolate bar from her purse and gave it to him which brought back a broad smile on his face.

"Do you know this kid?" Maan asked on the way back.

"Yes, he is Tito. I always give him a chocolate bar when I go to the store that is why I have one in my purse at all times."

"So you go there often? Why don't you go to another mall?"

"Because I know this lady. She has this store since so many years now and she is always honest with the material and cost. Not like that Motu for MLT."

Since Geet had his measurements he only had to do the payment but he wanted some more time with her. It was his bad luck, though, that Rano send Geet away on an errand to get some new threads and he was left alone. Since he didn't want to stay in the store, he roamed around the mall. He wanted to talk to Geet to find out what she likes so he could get her a gift. He looked into various stores but there wasn't anything he liked. At first he considered buying her a necklace or some other jewellery but first he didn't know her that well and second, she or her mother might object. Anyways, she was simple and things like that would be of no use of her. Maan grinned at the thought of her closing her mouth with her hands when she found out about the price and convincing him to get a refund.

He kept looking yet couldn't find anything.

I never usually do this but as a treat I am giving a precap for chapter 8 right below... it is short but do think about who is saying it and in which situation...

Add MysteryMina for pms. No pms from Mina420 account.

Chapter 7: Beryy's

Geet had returned and so did Pinky and Burger. Both had set their minds to make Geet realise what a great person MSK was and that she should agree for this marriage when Rano aunty asks her. Rano had told them that Maan was invited and they wanted to play cupid. Pinky left the shop to search for Maan whom she had seen some while ago. Burger kept an eye on Geet to see she doesn't interfere in their plan. Luckily Geet was doing her work and had no interest of leaving any time soon. Both communicated through their phone.

"Oye Burger, he is here. Second floor near electronics."

"Electronics? Now how will we get him to come to the first floor?" They pondered about this. There was Geet's favourite shop on the first floor which had all sorts of tailoring equipment. But it being a brand shop the prices were quit high and Rano had pointed out on many occasions that they had everything they needed so they shouldn't waste money.

"Burger, idea. Let's leave him a hint." Pinky followed Maan closely and saw him fishing out his phone to check his texts. At that moment she called over a passing boy and asked him to take Maan's phone and make a run to the first floor.

The boy agreed seeing the money Pinky was offering. He did a great job since it took a minute for Maan to realise what had just happened.

"Hey stop." He ran after the boy. As instructed the boy had carefully placed his phone at the bottom of the stairs to which there was a note attached: Beryy's

Maan wondered about it and checked his phone which had no damage. He wanted to call the mall security and tell them about the little thief but curiosity took over and he made his way to the shop. Beryy's, as it appeared, was specialised in producing high quality tailoring equipment for amateurs and professionals. There were so many items Maan had never seen or heard about. Maan walked through every row but he more he saw the more he got confused about what to get Geet.

Mr Beryy came out personally to talk to Maan. He knew him of course from the media and had wondered what he was doing in a shop like this.

"Mr Khurana, so nice to have you in my shop." Maan shook hands with Mr Beryy.

"Are you looking for anything specifically?" Maan explained how he was looking for a gift to give to his friend. Mr Beryy inquired about her and Maan confessed that she was from HSGT.

"Ah, you mean Geet? I have seen her here many times. Every time we get something new she will come up to have a look at it. But since you are at a loss as to what to buy, why don't you get her a gift card? That way she will be able to pick something for herself." Maan liked the idea. Mr Beryy further inquired about the occasion and Maan told him that it was soon to be her birthday.

Maan got the card and was content at the gift. Yet he wondered as to who had left him the note.

Burger and Pinky were peeping from behind a corner and saw the small bag in his hand. They high-fived.

Somewhere in Canada:

"Dev'" Naintara was calling her fianc but just as always he didn't bother answering her. She wondered many times what made her fall for this guy. It was very obvious to her that he was more of a playboy and didn't care very much for her. Yet she hoped he would change after marriage. She found Dev on the terrace where he was sitting on a chair with his eyes closed.

"Dev, I have been yelling for you for ages now, can't you give me an answer?"

"Naintara, I've told you often enough not to just barge into my house like this. I don't like all this noise, I have a headache."

"You don't seem to mind the noise when you go to night clubs to party and you can thank the uncountable drinks you had yesterday for your headache." She gently massaged his forehead. Dev didn't quite understand why he had agreed to marry Naintara. Sure enough she was from a rich family, the Rathores' being a real royalty but she was less girlfriend and more mother types showering him with concern and care. She loved him he knew but he couldn't say that about himself. If he actually tried to find a reason he might say he had agreed because he kind of liked her attention.

"Dev, your dad told me that we are going back to India for the wedding. Aren't you going to call home?"

"What home?" but he knew what she meant.

"I mean home where you Dadi and brother live. I understand that you guy's never had a good relationship but still they are family, aren't they? Your dad has his issues with them but you should at least let them know that you are marrying. After all, we need all the blessing we can get for our future live." Dev found that Naintara was talking reasonable again and just shut his brain to her words. He let her talk as he knew she would otherwise start a fight and he didn't need that right at this moment. There was one other reason why he or his dad never wanted to go back to India. He was born and brought up here in Canada and enjoyed a luxurious life on the expenses of his father but even he had to admit he sometimes felt like meeting his own relatives. God knows he isn't really a family type person to start with but seeing Naintara and her big family loving and caring for each other surely left a mark on him, even if a very small one.

***

Precap:

"Ek kaam karo, since you don't have my prize give me this as a substitute." He pointed at his cheek.