As the doctor tied the bandage around her arm, Adi sat beside her and held her hand, "Dard ho raha hai?" he asked. Geet shook her head in negative. "Jhoot bol rahi hai?" he asked again to which Geet nodded in agreement while she muttered a no. Adi chuckled and asked her about the accident. Maan was growing uncomfortable now. He definitely didn't like Geet's comfort with Adi. However, Geet fumbled, she couldn't tell him that she had lost track coz she was speaking to certain Gurvinder, about whom Adi didn't know and he was trying to help her nail Brij and Arjun. "Woh veerji, main... actually main... main woh... haan, I went there to check the banner locations." Adi frowned at her while Maan's tightened jaws and muscles loosened at the revelation. Adi was Geet's brother! She lifted her eyes once but when it met Maan's she immediately lowered it. "Geet, how many times do I need to tell you to be careful? Lag gayi na?" Adi admonished her. Geet pouted a little, "Sorry Veerji" Adi, shook his head and smiled a little at his sister. To him, she was still a kid, the same old Geet who would jump on his tummy as a kid or break his toys whenever she came during the holidays. As the doctor, shut the first aid case, Adi stood up to thank him. And then thanking Maan once again, he took Geet along with him.
Geet sighed in relief as soon as she left his cabin. While she was trying to wipe out the blood oozing from her wound with her dupata, it had accidently come off her neck revealing the chain she still wore. How many times had she tried to unclasp it and get it off her but every time she tried, she failed. Never could she muster the courage to do that but she was not going to let that weakness of hers out in front of him. So she had ever been extra cautious to hide it from him. But when he turned towards the hotel asking her to follow him, it was then that she had noticed him looking at her bare neck once, or so she thought she noticed. And she had quickly set her duppata right, fervently wishing that he hadn't seen it. And then she had noticed him staring at her all the while when she spoke to Adi. She was scared that he would tell Adi about her being lost in her conversation while she strolled her path. This would surely make Adi suspicious.
"Bachchi, tu jaake apna bag le aa, we'll go home" said Adi, breaking her chain of thoughts. Geet shook her head, "Nahi Veerji, I need to get some work done." "No! tere kapde bhi kharab ho gaye hain and you need rest" he said with finality. Just then Pinky came running to her, "Haye Geet, Kya hua tujhe?" she asked worriedly. "I'm fine bhabhi don't worry", Geet said assuring her. "Haan pata hai kitni theek hai, where do you think were you walking? Kyun gayi thi wahan?" she asked a little heated. Before Geet could reply Adi chuckled deepening Pinky's frown, "Ab aap kyun has rahe ho?" she asked placing a hand on her hip. "Has kahan raha hoon sweetheart. Meri itni himmat? I'm just happy that mere ghar main saas-bahu wale serials ka repeat telecast nahi hota". While Pinky looked on confused, it was Geet who asked, "Veerji matlab?" Adi positioned Geet in between himself and Pinky and then said, "Dekh na Geet, abhi jaise Pinky ne react kiya, I could so imagine ma reacting in the similar way. A specimen, mirror-image saas-bahu Jodi, nahi?" he finished teasingly while Geet covered her mouth and started giggling. "Adi!" Pinky marched a launch towards Adi who was standing behind Geet. "Wifey, I was just joking" he said shielding himself when suddenly Geet winced, "ouch!" catching both Adi and Pinky off guard. As Geet's hand flew towards her injured arm both of them got worried and came together to look at her arm. Geet grinned ear to ear and pronounced, "Gotcha!" and ran away from there before Adi and Pinky could realize that Geet had tricked them. While Adi narrowed his eyes at his little sister's antics, Pinky chuckled at her. Adi's features softened as he held her hand and said with a hint of pain in his voice, "I want my Geet, my bachchi back". Pinky smiled a little as she placed her hand over his and softly, "she's trying" Adi sighed and simply nodded in agreement. "Now, I'll get her stuff packed for the day while you go and get the car. Let's have some family time today", said Pinky warmly. Adi bowed in acceptance as Pinky headed towards Geet's cabin.
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"I think we should book the Marriot!" chimed in Naintara while they all sat in to decide the Anu's engagement venue. "Oh! So that the industry mocks us! Don't you realize they are our competitors, Naintara?" scoffed Savitri Devi at the thoughtfulness of her grand daughter-in-law. Anu suppressed a chuckle while Dev only shook his head at his petulant wife. "I think we should rent out the Udaipur palace. Its exquisite and perfect for my daughter's wedding ceremonies" Nandita said excitedly. "I would still say we should have it at Khurana Mansion" Dadi Ma opined. "But Ma that would be so not happening. We host so many parties round the year. I don't want any monotony in this engagement." Nandita said with a small frown. "Nandita, aap bhool rahi hain ki Khurana's ki parties are always exclusive. We'll get the best event planners. Infact, I have contacted a well-known name in France. Dev you should see their designs" Savitri Devi said with an awe. "But Dadi Ma, do we have that much of time? I think we should have the ceremony take place in the huge lawn near Veerji's cottage. The lake view with enormous shamianas would add to the grandeur" Dev contributed. "No! Khurana Mansion!" Dadi Ma stated. "Ma, Udaipur palace!" Nandita whined. "Lakeview!" Dev objected. And it went on for around half an hour, no one ready to budge in their opinion. As Naintara, sat silently her arms crossed over her chest, Anu rolled her eyes and said with finality, "MUMBAI!" and all eyes turned to her.
"Mumbai?" the three asked in unison. Placing her hands over her hips she pouted, "Amazing, meri engagement hai aur mujhse koi kuch pooch hi nahi raha. I'm getting engaged in Mumbai at East Villas! Take it or Leave it!" saying that she stomped out of the living room while Dev shrugged, "So, I guess the decision is made!" Nandita sighed while Savitri Devi stood in arrogance, "Humne toh pehle hi kaha tha ki sagai humari premises main hi honi chahiye", as savitri Devi left the room Nandita and Dev kept gawking behind her back. Savitri Khurana was an unbeatable force who always had her way!
Once out of the sight of her family, Anu quickly ran to the confines of her own bedroom and did a small happy dance. She was very happy today. She was getting engaged to her love, her Arjun that too with the consent and blessings of her family. She would have all the people who mattered to her present in her engagement. She would finally be able to see her Geet. She would hug her, cry with her and the two will share and catch up with everything. And definitely, she would knock some piece of her mind into her Veerji's head once she finds out the whole truth. "Here I come Geet!" she said to herself with a huge smile plastered on her face. Just then someone cut her thoughts, It was one of the servants, "Anu Bitiya, Aapse milne koi aaya hai" he said and moved out of the way. Anu squealed as she saw the person, "Yash!" she yelled and sprang towards him. "Whoa!" Yash managed as he threw his hands in air when Anu literally hung around his neck. "Whoa... Whoa... tumhare yahan guests ka murder karke unka welcome karte hain kya" he said choking as he tried to pry her hands off. Anu quickly left him and smacked his arm, "Shut up you idiot!" she chided him. "tumhara irada toh mujhe humesha ke liye shut karvane ka hi lag raha tha" he said as he turned his face left and then right trying to flex his muscles. "I wish!" Anu said but pulled him in her room. As he sat on the small couch in Anu's room, he asked, "By the way, you didn't tell me about the noble cause jiske liye main shahid hone wala tha!" Anu threw a pillow at him, "I'm not letting your sorry sense of humour to put my mood off. I'm on cloud nine right now" she said dreamily. He chuckled making her frown, "By the way, you didn't tell me what brings you here?" she asked raising her chin. "That's so rude! Us din ke baad tum gayab ho gayi... just thought I'll check on you once" he shot back.
She grinned, "By the way what you doing on the 10th of next month?" she asked. "Nothing specific, kyun?" he replied. "Cool, then you are coming to Mumbai!" she pronounced.
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Throwing his head back on his chair, he rubbed his temples with his fingers. It had been four hours that she had left with Adi and ever since, he was trying to focus on his work however all his efforts were turning futile. He was lost in her and the moments he had spent with her. Events of the day, some revelations along with her thoughts kept boggling his brains. She refused to evade his thoughts. Evidently Geet had started her countdown to quit. If her absence had made him realize what just her sight meant to him, this accident made him realize that he still couldn't bear the sight of her being hurt. Vicky's words about Geet going away forever... about she being hurt too, were already feeding on his mind. If those were not enough he had seen her wearing the chain. Adi was her brother. However, this explained why he always found her with either Adi or Pinky around. He remembered her talking on phone and lying to Adi about the call. He couldn't help but wonder about the caller. Who could it be? Her husband? Was she having troubles in her marital life? If yes, then what could the problem be? And then her eerily calm appearance for the past few days... or ever since he had met her in Mumbai, the only difference being... earlier he didn't gave much attention to it. But now when he was more conscious about her presence he was catching on the cracks in her demeanor. Was everything alright? Did her husband treat her well? Or was he mistreating her? He thought as he clutched the edge of his desk so tight that his knuckles turned white. Just the thought that she was being mistreated made him want to knock the day lights out of her damned husband! A whole lot of befitting questions wandered around him. He even chided himself for allowing himself to think about her... worry about her. However, he couldn't help but sink deeper and deeper in the web of the whole puzzle.
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As Pinky had sought, the family was engrossed is some fun time. As Adi had predicted, Pammi had got really worked up seeing the bandage on Geet's arm. However, after a lot of assurance she had calmed a bit but refuse to let Geet out of her site. Later, Pammi, Adi, Pinky and Geet sat in the living room with ice-cream bowls in their hands. "Hmm this one is so good" Pinky mumbled putting a spoonful of her chocolate ice-cream in her mouth. Adi chuckled, "Whats a big deal Pinky. Anything edible is enticing and yum as far as you are concerned!" he teased her. "Dekha aapna mummy ji. Humesha mere khane pe nazar rakhte hain" She complained while Pammi chided Adi for troubling her daughter-in-law. Grinning, Pinky turned to Adi and said, "At least I am not as choosy as you are. Pata nahi aapko khaane se itni kya allergy hai" she teased him. Adi shrugged and said; "Well if the palate is delectable I don't have any reservations you see" he winked and savoured her with his eyes making her blush profusely. Adi's undertones may have gone unnoticed by Pammi who was now deeply engrossed in her daily soap drama but not by Geet who smiled at the couple and dragged Pammi out of the room too, giving the couple some privacy.
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Next day Geet took an off as Pammi didn't let her go to work since her wound was hurting. Sasha assured her that it would be fine as the preparations for the conference were all done. She asked her to co-ordinate with the vendors from home. However, when Maan found this out he was not happy. She kept haunting his thoughts and another day was wasted at work. He wanted to assure himself that she was fine... that there were no problems in her life... and if there were... well... that could be sorted later... but who could tell him all... who could tell him about her problems? And then he remembered Vicky mentioning about it... sure enough his brother knew what was wrong. He snapped out of his chair and stormed out of his cabin to head home.
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Over to you... Love you all...
Sonia😳
Edited by euphoric - 12 years ago
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