|Hullabaloo| An AsYa SS :) Updated on 1/4/13 Pg30! - Page 18

Maan threw his head back and laughed. "You're being too nice to me! You know I'm married now, no Asad? Why are you still trying to impress me by saying I'm unforgettable and all?"

Asad gave his friend a dirty look and tried to get angry with him. But all his efforts were in vain when he saw Maan laughing again. It had truly been too long since they had last met.

He didn't realize that he had missed his friend so much until when they were face to face like this. Had it really been so long? Of course it had. Asad had been too preoccupied with all his matters and although they had spoken on the phone and skyped a few times, it had never been the same.

"You haven't lost your sense of humor, which is just ugly, for the record." Asad spat out.

Maan seemed to laugh even harder at Asad's reply and then shook his head.

"You always had very high self-esteem about your looks, no?" Asad muttered, adjusting his tie.

"Obviously, that hasn't changed a bit." Maan replied with a smile. "And you as usual, have a sadly low self-esteem about your looks." He said.

Asad looked at his friend in incredulity and then sputtered, "What? I. . . don't have low self-esteem and all, okay? Just because I wasn't some kind of womanizing playboy, it doesn't mean that I'"

"Yada yada yada. . . I think I've heard this lecture about a million times already, Asad. So stop bullshitting me, will you? But I must say-" Maan looked Asad up and down from head to toe, "You still look fit and fine, my man!"

Asad shuddered in disgust at his friend's blatant ogling. "YA ALLAH! Please stopperving on me, Maan!"

Maan smirked in amusement and said, "You wish, Khan! I was just stating the facts! And besides, you know I don't swing both ways."

Asad rolled his eyes and said, "Yeah, sure."

"However, I am really doubtful about your sexual preferences. I mean, a good looking guy like you. . . It's possible that you're. . . you know. . .-"

"You really came all the way from Delhi to tell me about my sexual preferences.Really." Asad said sarcastically.

Maan cupped his chin and tried to look thoughtful. "Hmm . . . Let me think. Whydid I come here. . . I need to sit first in your big fluffy chair with a cup of coffee and then--"

Asad growled in frustration at his friend's antics and then said, "Look, Maan! I have a friend who is due in about an hour! So I don't really have time'"

Maan shot up straight from his relaxed posture and said, "WHAT? OH MY GOD! Why didn't you tell me this earlier, you idiot?!"

Asad smiled at his friend's mutual respect for his work commitments. They were both truly businessmen to the core. He was so glad that Maan understood the importance of his client's visit.

"Actually, this may be a business visit or a pleasure visit Maan. I'm not too sure. But I have to be prepared, if you get what I mean." Asad said in a stoic manner.

"But how could this possibly be a business visit at such a crucial time?" Maan said, shaking his head. "People these days, they don't give importance to safety! It's just once in a lifetime, this experience! And you have to be safe! I'm surprised that this is even happening..."

Asad shook his head in confusion and decided to ignore his friend's ranting. He said, "Okay, so I'll just go check up if everything is ready especially the wine. Our client who is coming loves wine!"

"WINE?!" Maan said, his voice echoing all over the room.

"Asad!" Maan said in frustration. "How can you be so careless about giving your client things like this? Don't you know that the safety-"

"HOLY LORD! What is with you and your safety obsession?!" Asad bit out.

Maan looked at Asad like as if Asad were a man who castrated teddy bears for a living.

"SAFETY is where it all begins! Okay? I, of all the people know how important it is to plan your schedule, your eating habits and everything in accordance with what your doctor recommends and all! You know that I haven't experienced it but Geet most certainly has!"

Asad looked at Maan in utter confusion. He truly had no idea what his friend was blabbering about. All he knew was that Mr.Mikkelsen would be here in an hour and instead of being a good boss and finding some quality Chardonnay, he was instead sitting with a friend who was obsessing over safety like a sex-education teacher!

'Maan." He said, as calmly as possible. "I'm going to try to be nice, but I mean it when I say, CAN YOU PLEASE STOP BLABBERING?"

Maan and Asad were still standing in the cabin, now on either side of Asad's desk. Asad wanted nothing more than to collapse into his chair but Maan was still standing, his posture tense.

"Asad! You have never been through this experience, so you don't understand. But I do. So please, don't serve wine. Given the circumstances, I honestly don'tunderstand what the f**k is happening in your office! YOUR friggin' client, should be in the hospital right now with her family! That is what is most important!HOW can you encourage a meeting at this time?"

"HOSPITAL? Why on God's earth would he be in the hospital, Maan? What the hell is wrong with you?"

Maan thumped his hand on the table underneath him and said, his voice expressing his ridicule, "Have you never learned sex-education in your entire life, Asad? Or do you just lack in the common sense department!"
"STOP SPEAKING UTTER RUBBISH!" Asad yelled.

Maan and him looked at each other with pure frustration and then let out a breath.

Maan finally regained his composure and said, "Whenever your client comes in, you're taking her straight to the hospital. This deal can wait. Dissuade her, please. It's the best for the baby."

Asad counted backwards from ten to one. This was all just a figment of his imagination. Marriage had made Maan Singh Khurana into a baby-obsessed mental case.

"Maan." Asad said, with a short breath.

"PLEASE don't tell me you just said the word, 'baby'!"

Maan looked at Asad in anguish and said, "Oh God, you've lost your ability to understand concepts, haven't you? YES, Asad. Your client, her baby! You said she's due in an hour right? She needs to go to the hospital!"

Asad's eyes became as wide as saucers. Suddenly, he couldn't see Maan and he could only see Zoya Farooqui! Why was it that since she came into his life,everybody seemed to speak in riddles and everybody also seemed to speak nonsense?!

"Due. Of course!" Asad said with a forced laugh.

Maan looked at Asad like as if he had finally lost his nuts.

"MAAN! When I said 'due', I meant that he, yes he, Mr.Mikkelsen was coming to my office in an hour! NOT that he was frickin' pregnant! It's a he, for the love of God!"

Maan gulped.

He wanted to take a few steps back, whirl around and scream bloody murder.

He made up his mind to catch the next flight to Delhi after looking at his friend's murderous gaze. Asad looked like he was ready to rip Maan into shreds.

"Wait, so it's not a woman? And there's no baby that's going to be'" Maan said sheepishly.

"No. And no. And NO to all the rest of your stupid questions! I cant believe that I just wasted five minutes of my precious time on your stupid baby talk!'

"HEY! DON'T CALL IT STUPID, OKAY? You have to be prepared for these kind of situations!" Maan said with some anger.

Asad collapsed into his chair and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Just. . . stop talking, will you? And sit."

"I'm not your pet poodle, Asad! Don't tell me to sit! Next thing you're going to do is ask me to wag my tail, give you a high-five and shake hands!" Maan said, sinking into his own chair.

Both the men tried to collect their thoughts after their misunderstanding and silly argument. Asad looked at his clock and then switched on his intercom.

He instructed his secretary to bring two piping hot cups of coffee. He needed some caffeine. He could literally feel his head aching after that conversation with Maan.

He looked up to see Maan staring at him in an amused fashion.

He couldn't help but look at his friend once again and digest the fact that he was here.

"So tell me. . ." Asad started off. "How is Geet?"

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Author's Note:

Thanks to each and every single one of my lovely readers. :) You are my inspiration.