Part-3
Maan Singh Khurana was never ever in the habit being late in any of his business dealings but the events of the previous night made quite sure that he is late as per his schedule.So instead of his usual grand entry in Khurana Constructions flanked by six bodyguards,he literally had to run from the KC gates right upto entering the conference room which surely managed to raise the startled eye-brows of the clients who were already seated there.Maan felt as if running had become an inherent part of his life just because of that girl who was successful in making his life hell but now it's all over & his life is back to how it was.Thinking that,he wasted no more time & began with the presentation & meeting.
~*~
"Wow! Wow! Wow! Finally I am here!!"
Geet had just entered the KC gates.She was mesmerized by the magnificent edific which stood tall & proud before her.And coming to think that she was gonna work over her was an extreme delight.But did she deserve this?The question made her very uncomfortable.She felt as if she had stolen someone else's dream & was standing there.Will she be able to survive here?No,she has to as she couldn't,in any case,let her sister's sacrifice go waste..
"Preet,Thanks a lot..." Geet was emotional.
She stepped inside & enquired at the reception.She saw a chubby girl there who was helping herself with a packet of chips.
"New entrant in KC?"she asked
Geet nodded.
"Hi,my name is Pinky.What about you?" asked the girl
"Geet. Geet Handa!" she replied
"Hola Geet.You need to wait over here a little bit.Then you will be taken to Maan Sir's office."
Pinky directed her to the waiting lounge.
"Pinky,do you know any place where I can stay as paying guest?" asked Geet
"Cool!Even I stay in a PG.You can shift with me.There is one more girl.We three will have fun!"said Pinky excited.
"That's sounds Great!"
"Yup,I will take you to our landlady in the evening!"
~*~
The meeting was over but it failed to generate what was expected from it.The clients had left.Maan was walking out of the conference room with Adi by his side.
"Sir,the meeting was not a success." said Adi
"Not a big deal.Their conditions were not favourable for our working," said Maan in a matter-of-fact manner.
"Sir,there is a new employee Miss Geet Handa who is joining KC from today.She has already arrived."
Maan was getting a call on his phone.
"Okay,fine!I am there in my cabin." said Maan as he walkied away answering his call.
~*~
Pinky sat with Geet chatting in the waiting lounge when Adi walked up to them
"This is Adi Sir,Maan Sir's assistant." Pinky whispered to Geet & they both got up.
"Pinky,why aren't you at the reception,Maan Sir ne dekh liya toh job gayi tumhari!" said Adi.
Pinky was scared & she hurriedly left from there.
"Miss Geet Handa,Boss aapse milna chahate hain!"
Geet nodded & followed Adi to Maan's cabin.Suddenly she was over-come by utter nervousness & started shivering a little bit.
"Babaji!please sambhal lena!" she muttered.
~*~
"Dia, Listen to me jaan!Why are you worried?I'm sorry I couldn't call!I was getting late for the meeting!" said Maan as he spoke on the phone sitting in his cabin.It was always good to hear Dia's lovely voice though he knew he should have atleast informed her about his arrival.
"Maan,I have not seen you since two days!I am missing you!" he heard Dia's soft yet sad voice from the other end.
"I missed you too Dia.Listen!I am coming at you place at break-time,Okay?"
"As you say,I am already waiting for you.." said Dia,"I love you Maan..." she added.
Before he could say anything,there was a knock on the door.
"Dia,meet you at break-time." said he & called off.
"Come in." Maan called out
Adi walked inside but when he turned around him,he saw that Geet had not followed him inside.
"What happened?I thought the new employee was to accompany you here.Where is she?" asked Maan,straightly looking at Adi,which made him nervous.
"O-One m-minute S-Sir"
Saying that,Adi again went outside the cabin where Geet had stalled.
"If this girl is so nervous,then how will she work in this company!" remarked Maan.
It took a few minutes for Adi to convince a pensive Geet to walk in the cabin.This time she followed Adi inside...Maan was doing something in his laptop so did not notice them coming inside..while Geet's eyes stared at the floor.Her hands were cold & she didn't know why was she having the world's difficulty to lift her gaze & look at her boss.Maan seemed to be engrossed in his work & he still didn't notice anything.It was tough time for Adi mostly as he didn't dare to disturb Maan.But he had to speak now.
"S-Sir"
Maan still did not look up.Adi continued,unsure of himself
"Sir,G-Geet Handa.."
After she heard herself being introduced,Geet finally managed to raise her eyes & simultaneously Maan too looked up...Their eyes met...and...then...Adi could feel coldness in the air & he was startled when he heard both their voices at the same time
"YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Maan & Geet both shouted in disbelief.The noise was so loud that the entire office could feel it's ripples.Maan got up from his chair,startled to the root at the unexpected turn of events.Geet on the other hand was totally shaken to pieces into discovering that the man who glared at her,was rude at her,was torturous was none other than MSK.Her hands were ice-cold. They both were statued for a few moments as the rude shock began to register in their minds.Anger yet again seeped inside Maan & she could sense that easily.But was she supposed to display anger or not,Geet didn't know...
"Geet,you cannot speak to Maan Sir to such high volume,you will be fired just now!!!" Adi whispered.
But Maan had heard him.
"You are right Adi,she will definitely be fired!!!!Call a meeting of the Board of Directors!!!I want this girl out of KC within an hour!!!!!!!"
Before Adi could even say anything,Maan staged a walk out.Geet was numb with shock.She didn't know what had just happened with her.Her eyes became moist.Adi felt sad seeing her plight & assured her that all will be fine...
Immediately the meeting was called in the conference room.Geet was waitting outside.She had now fully recovered from her shock.Even in her wildest dream,she couldn't think that he himself would turn out to be MSK & after whatever had happened that night,she was almost sure that Maan wouldn't let her work here..
"Ab mein kya karu..If the job is gone where will I go...Can't even go back home..otherwise...otherwise..." she broke down.
"If I go back home,Dad will marry me off to some local goon & then my life will be finished.Preet said to run away & live life on my own terms,she has given all her certificates to me so that I can get a good job.I refused but she didn't listen to me.The certificates aare forged in such a manner that no one can ever come to know of it & my job interview,I managed,all thanks to Preet.She has sacrificed for me & I can never let her down.If I am out of KC,it will take atleast a month for another job,what will I do till then..."
Tears rolled from her eyes..
~*~
The meeting with the BoD took over the break-time,so Maan couldn't keep his promise of meeting her.Dia was sad seeing Maan not having turned up.Her eyes were fixed at the entrance & Maan had not come.This had never happened before.Maan always used to come at breaktime,then they used to have their lunch together,but today he just hadn't come...
~*~
There at the office Geet was pacing to & fro waiting for her fate to be declared.After what seemed agaes to her when in reality,it was only twenty minutes,the door of the conference room opened & the Directors were walking out. Geet couldn't make out whether she was in or fired.Then then Adi appeared & showed her a thumbs up indicating that that was not fired.Geet heaved a sigh of relief.Maan was the last person to walk out of the conference room.He was extremely cross.For the first time the decision was not in his favour & he detested that.His eyes met Geet.She again became motionless seeing him.He ruefully walked straight to his cabin.
"What the hell is happening with me!!!!!!!!!" Maan banged the table,"That girl has managed to come here in KC & now she is gonna work over here!!!!Damn it!!!"
Geet's certificates lay on the table.He grabbed it roughly & went through it.
"This is so strange!!!She has got such a good post here but how can such an insane girl be a bearer of these highly qualified certificates?"
He asked himself but got no answer in return.That irritated him more.He saw many missed calls from Dia...
~*~
It was evening.Geet was walking towards the reception all happy.Her first day at KC was over,though it had not been how she had expected
"Chalo I accept that to get something good,there is always something bad free!So now have to bear this Maan Singh Khurana,no doubt he will surely find ways & means to kick me out of here.Babaji,help kar dena!" she said to herself.
Pinky was waiting for her.
"Geet,chalo I will take you to my landlady!"
She agreed & they both set off.The PG was nearby.It hardly took them a few minutes by a taxi.
"Wow!It's not far away from office!" exclaimed Geet when they had reached.
"Yup!" replied Pinky,"Waise,didn't you find Maan Sir extremely hot & handsome.Hayeee!!!!"
"What are you saying!!" exclaimed Geet,surprised.
"You know what everyday when we see him.Kya batau,there flows currents in our hearts."
"Improve you choice Pinky!" said Geet while she was trying to figure out which door to knock on.
"Oh Please!!If you don't find him dashing,Do get your eyes & heart checked!"
Pinky finally rang the bell of her landlady's house.
"What's her name?" enquired Geet.
"Dia Oberoi."replied Pinky.
The door was opened by a servant & they were let into the hall.After a few minutes,a young girl appeared in there.Geet was a little startled at discovering her to-be landlady because according to her idelogy land-ladies were supposed to be quiet old & grumpy whereas the girl in front of her was young,probably of her age.
"Dia,she is Geet" said Pinky,"a newcomer in KC wanting to shift in with me & Ritu."
Dia looked at Geet.She was wearing an anarkali suit which looked beautiful on her.Her face was lit by a sligh make-up.Her hair was untied & her long earings were partly visible through her straight hair.Geet deduced her to be very sweet & soft-spoken girl.But she noticed that Dia was looking somewhat sad,as if something was bothering her.Geet wanted to ask her but chose not to.
The settlements were soon made & Geet was to shift in the PG that night itself.
"Oh No!I forgot!" exclaimed Pinky as they were coming out of Dia's house."The keys are with Sasha & I guess she is in office still.We have to go back to KC!"
~*~
The clocks ticked to seven-thirty when Pinky & Geet reached KC.There were only few employees then who were just finishing up their work & leaving.While Pinky was dialling Sasha's nubner,Geet decided to drink some water from the filter kept in the corner of a coridoor.Maan's cabing was a straight walk from there.She wanted to just look in & see what her angry boss was doing.She took a glass filled with water & proceeded towards his cabin & stalled out.Taking little sips of water,she peeped inside & saw Maan working on his laptop.He looked utterly serious & in do-not-disturb mode.
.Babaji,yeh aap kaha lekar aa gaye mujhe,I was so excited for KC!And now it will be so dreadful coming over here,as he is the Boss! & the worst part,I have to actually listen to his orders !!!!" she cribbed.
"Waise I wonder who is his girlfriend!Hats off to her!!!"thought Geet.
While she was busy imagining how his girlfriend would look like,she walked from there.She was so busy in her thoughts that she did not see another girl coming from the opposite direction.The other girl was looking into her file.They both did see each other & they clashed.As a result,the files fell on the floor & the water from Geet's glass fell over it & the files became wet.
"Oh no!I... am... extremely sorry!I did not see you coming!!" said Geet as she bend down with the other girl to pick up the wet files.
"It's Okay,no worries!"
"It's not okay Sasha,It's not okay" said Maan as he had just come out of his cabin & saw what had just happened.
Geet & Sasha got up startled as they saw him
"Geet Handa" Maan said looking at her,"First day at work & you are leaving no stonr unturned to ruin everything!"he said curtly.
Geet kept mum even though she wanted to argue.He continued
"You have watered five files now sit in the office & redo it tonight itself!!!!"
Geet & Sasha both were shocked hearing him.
"But Sir these files---" Sasha tried to intervene.
"Sasha you can leave now!" he said with finality.She left.
"Bow can I do all the files today,it's already late evening!" Geet retorted.
"That your problem!Not mine!!!"
"Not fair!!"
"I am the Boss over here & I decide what is fair & what is not!!!!"
"But---"
"I want these files ready by tomorrow morning!!!!Sit in the office & do it & yes don't dare to disobey me by 'running' away!!!"
He went away smirking leaving Geet fuming.
"Dustdanav!!!!!!" she mumbled."Kahan phas gayi!"
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Cricket
152