Chapter 15: Façade

It was Sunday, and Geet was all set up to move to her new apartment. She was hell busy with whole process.

Maan woke up late due to heavy drink. He got freshen up and headed to the ground lawn. He saw Dadima, Annie and Uncle and Aunty, Pari’s Mom and Dad, Mr Sudhir and Lata Chopra.

“Good Morning Uncle and Aunty. Where is my girl”

From far came the sound “Here I am. Not your girl Mr.”

Pari and Maan also took their seat.

Snacks and coffee arrived. It was a relaxing Sunday.

“Aunty, please explain this girl. She is 29 now but not ready to marry.” Said Lata to Savitri Devi

“And when boy is right here” Maan added

Lata and Sudhir laughed “Mr. Maan Singh Khurana, you are rejected by girl Mr. billionaire” said Sudhir

“Who rejects Maan Singh Khurana” he looked at Pari, showing he is so shocked

“Yeah Pari, please be my Bhabhi. It will be so fun” Annie always supported Maan when he proposed Pari.

“Annie No. It’s their friendship, you don’t speak” said Dadima.

“Maan you, you need to definitely answer me many things”

She got up signaling Maan to come with her

“Okay” they went to other side.

Annie got call from her friend group and she left. Savitri Devi, Sudhir and Lata kept looking at retreating Maan and Pari.

“They are best friend, will always stand for each other, they know each other best but Pari is adamant on not accepting Maan’s proposal” Said Lata

“But I think she has better reason. She knows Maan better than any of us” added Sudhir

And all they agreed

Maan and Pari on other side “Maan will you stop this proposing game. I am breaking my friendship with you”

“Ohh you won’t. Okay why are you so upset?”

“What’s the matter Maan. Something is going on. Don’t you think I am fool. You were missing Brij and Meera yesterday”

Now Maan got serious “Why what’s wrong in remembering old friend?”

“Nothing at all. But you were drunk and in pain for missing them. You were remembering someone, in pretext of blaming her. How come after so long. Something is there”

“No way, never. You in vein keep trying to make nonexistent, existent for me.”

“Really?”

“Off course. See I am proposing you, from where does someone else come in Pari. You say yes and we will make wonderful couple. We understand each other best, we know each other best. And I will be a loyal dedicated husband, trust me. “

“I know all that. In all this – Where is love Maan. We are just best friend and forever.”

“Love, Passion – these are all bookish things. I don’t expect you to believe in them. And after marriage sab ho jata hai. Once we are married, it will all settle down Pari. All chaos will end”

“Chaos… hmm that chaos in your heart. Passion is bookish? That chaos of your heart is called passion. That deep passion that you have – hate or love whatever it is, I will marry someone who will have that level of passion for me. And we don’t have that.”

Pari sat down and signaled Maan to take seat “Maan don’t try to force yourself. And don’t take any action without knowing full truth. Who are you trying to prove and what”

“Why will I try to prove and to whom? I am 29, want to settle and have normal life.”

“Normal life? No. You want to move on because you want to prove yourself. Maan I am again telling, I am 99 percent sure, she had not married that Rohan. She cannot. It was all part of her anger, you knew how she was, esp. with you. Gussa nak pe bilkul. It was all part of it”

Maan got up all angry “I do not care. She married that Rohan or not, not my business at all. Why are you bringing her here? It’s between you and me”

“Nothing is between you and me, you know very well. It’s always between her and you. You can’t fool me in that Maan. And thankfully I am not interested in you. And you don’t know the whole truth”

“Whatever I know is enough for me. Enough for me to decide I can move on. If she has not moved on with that guy, what have I to do. Uski rahoon me palke bicha ker baitha rahoon. Why on earth my best friend has to support a person who tried breaking me in all ways.”

“Because I know the truth you don’t want to hear. For God shake Maan, that Rohan used her, who bacchi thi.”

“I don’t want to hear. I am done.” They stayed silent for some ten minutes. And the Pari broke the silence

“No. And I am biggest fool. Keep listening to your rubbish still can’t break friendship with you. You don’t deserve my friendship.” She hit him in his arm

“Who will say this is terror boss of company” she added and they laughed and finished off

Pari ignored but she observed Maan’s desperate proposal to her since yesterday, Pari doubted, definitely there is something and he is trying to run away from it. It always happened, whenever he would revisit his past, he would desperately start proposing her. It was his safest escape and to prove himself. He very well knew she will say No.

Pari and family left after a while and Maan got busy with his home and family.

It was evening. Geet settled in her new house. It was semi furnished, mostly old furniture. She had no qualms about them, she was fine. The society, locality apartment and its condition were all very average or can say bit below average. But London was costly and Geet was happy she got this one in affordable price. She arranged all her stuff and went out for some grocery and basic home necessity.

Both day on weekend was busy for Geet.

Next Monday morning, Anwesha kept sharing her weekend party and friend’s hangout stories. Geet preferred to be a good listener.

“And how was your weekend, Babe”

“Mine? Hmmm.. kind of trying to settle down. Move to my apartment etc.”

Thus one month passed by as they were almost at completion of one of the training. Next will start from couple of Days.

Maan on other side have been busy travelling for various reasons.

Maan had just returned from his tour last night and he had things to discuss with Pari, professional and some friends talk. They decided to meet in a café the next day for light lunch.

Anwesha on other side was planning to take some office friends to lunch as their training workload was bit less for couple of days. She asked Geet too, but Geet denied softly.

“I already have my lunch packed dear. Can’t waste it.” She knew Anwesha will buy lunch for all when she was taking everyone and she did not want that.

“Also, I will have my lunch bit later. I am working on this POC and now in mid of it.”

“Okay babes, taking rest girls and boys with me then”

“Enjoy” Anwesha laughed and left.

Maan and Pari were done with their catching up on all front and light lunch. They were about to leave when their eyes went on Annie with whole group.

Annie felt pat on her shoulder and was surprised to see the two lovely people of her life standing behind her. Others just became cautious and wished the Bosses with manners.

“Bhai, Pari.. how come you both here”

“How come you here?” asked Maan little surprised

“Just needed break and training in light for few days so, here I am with whole lot.”

“Okay carry on” they left but Maan’s eye did not miss the absence of one person in the group. Though Annie did not mention her after that day but he was sure she must be friends to Annie. Not finding her in group kind of shocked or say surprised him.

When out of café “Okay Maan. I need to go to my office at Annie’s creation. I have some important meeting lined up.”

“It’s all your effort that Annie creation is on top.” He complimented her and they parted. Pari handled the Annie creation group for Maan. She was head of that group.

When Maan reached office, on his way to his office room, his eye went on the Canteen and he could not remove his gaze. Geet was sitting all alone in table and busy eating from her lunch box. After first day, this was first time that he had seen her. She looked different, not the old Geet he knew. She looked perfect example of simplicity and no show off girl. He felt loneliness around her. Why it pricked his heart? But he shrugged off thinking, he was overthinking and left for his cabin. This girl he knew inside out and her show of simplicity cannot change his mind on what she really was for him.

Maan thought he had shrugged of his thought but at dinner time

“So Annie, how was lunch at café today.”

“It was fun with whole group around.”

“Yeah whole big group. Maybe I missed, but that new girl, I mean your training partner, she was not there?”

“Ohh Geet. No she declined my offer. Well I knew she will. She brings her own lunch and insists on finishing it. She is typical, homemade food and don’t waste food type”

Maan could not digest what he was hearing about Geet. He deliberatly shrugged off her thought and left for his study.

 Geet in her apartment, made coffee after dinner and went for walk in small park of society.

“Why do I feel that Maan Sir was looking at me during my lunch? I don’t know may be my imagination or maybe hidden wish” she laughed to herself shaking her head.

“Maan Sir” realizing the distance that is between them from all front. She can’t even in her brain now think of him as Maan. He was different and a huge personality. With what position should she even think of him as Maan. On the top, she was clearly not welcomed. Living in memory of her old Maan was enough for her. She can cherish that old Maan her whole life.

“Proving my love… crazy me” she shook her head as those things doesn’t matter anymore. He has nothing to do with her. Though it pained very deep within, each day each minute but she was trying to be strong. Face it with strength and accept the fact.

She later went to her room, embraced her loneliness, trying to keep brave face and started working on assignment given to them.