Chapter 19 – Family

It was 11 pm in India. Brij, Meera and Yash were sitting in hall of 3-bedroom apartment. Adi was sleeping in one of the room.

“Meera and Yash. What do you think, I am doing correct going into this contract? Profit from it, I am planning to pitch in for family an treatment”

“No Veerji. Keep that money for business. Now it’s high time, you need to focus on business. It needs to stabilize; only then can situation be good. We need good finance for future as well”

“Meera is right, Bhai Sahab. Your business have not been stabilize because of family issue and financial crisis. Both sisters are earning good and they have equal right to do for family.”

Saying so, he again brought his focus on Dad’s report. They have joint meeting tomorrow morning with heart, neuro and physio specialist. Yash was looking into details of it. It was also reason that Meera and her family were staying in Handa apartment tonight.

“I wish, I was any of these rather than orthopedic surgeon” he laughed.

“I really feel stuck. Hope there was way to get out of this ongoing mess of our family. Yash is also dragged” Brij said frustrated. He felt bad, Yash had great earning and thus he was not only helping medically but monetary as well. Geet’s sending money has been great help as well

“Please Bhai sahib. Don’t make me an outsider.”

It was then that the bell rang. They were confused, who should be at this hour. Meera went to open the door and as she opened the door, she simply kept gazing at the person standing at the gate. How could she not recognize him? He was much manly now but he was their own Maan.

Maan too was so overwhelmed seeing Meera after so many years. She was still the same simple sweet, as always.

“Who’s there Meera?” Maan could hear Brij’s voice “Maan” Meera said as answer to Brij as well as addressing Maan. She felt she was smiling badly. Maan came forward and slightly spread his arms for hug as he said “Meera”. Meera moved forward, could not stop and hugged him tight.

Yash saw his beloved wife hugging a very tall handsome man. He got curious but kept his calm.

“Maan?” Brij said in unbelievable tone as he came forward. Maan left Meera there and moved inside as both man approached each other and gave tight hug to each other. They separated and the feeling among three was overwhelming. But Meera came again and hugged Maan

“So-so happy to see you” Yash seemed bit uncomfortable seeing his wife hugging the handsome man again and again. He could see the next level happiness in her face. Maan’s eye went on Yash

“You must be Meera’s husband. I am Maan” he forwarded his hand. Yash hesitantly forwarded his hand “Yes, Meera’s husband. Hi… I am Yash”. Maan’s natural hold was so solid, Yash could feel the power, though Maan had no intention to show power in family. It now just came into him.

After composing himself, Brij asked “You here… how come? I mean I am so happy to see you. Can’t believe you are here.”

Maan then looked at both siblings “You both need to answer a lot to me in that case”

But soon someone from inside switched the lights of hall “Who is here at this hour?”

and Maan’s eye went on the elderly lady. Ranoo’s eye went on Maan and she was standing there like statue. Unbelievable!!

Maan kept looking at Aunty. She looked kind of tired of whole life process. The shine and charm of party going lady, a socializing lady was lost somewhere behind the tiredness. He felt pain seeing Aunty like that.

He slowly walked towards her and bent down to touch her feet. Everyone in room kept looking at him. Meera and Brij absorbing his visit and Yash shocked as who this man was. Who in no case looked like anyone who should be among them but he was mixing with family as if it was his own.

“God bless you” said Ranoo with shaky voice as she placed her hand on his head. Maan felt her tear drop on his hand.

Maan rose up to his feet “Aunty” but Ranoo joined her hand in front of him, her tears unstoppable.

Maan wrapped his hand around her hand, then have her side hug. Then he separated a bit

“I came without asking. Aap naraz toh”

“Bilkul bhi nahi. I am so happy to see you.” She again joined her hands

“Please forgive your uncle Aunty beta. Jo bhi hua..”

“Aunty please. Don’t say such. I was just obeying your orders. How can I ever be angry from any one of you? Itni Aukad meri”? Brij then pulled both of them to take the seat. Yash tried to stay quiet with the emotional re-union kind of scene. But he was hurt with Meera, she never mentioned such person of family.

“Can I go meet uncle” they hesitated but led him to the room. Maan was shocked and pained to see uncle in such state. How powerful uncle was, how authoritative and now he was just sitting on wheel chair, unable to move even his palm. But the tears were falling down his cheeks. Mohinder was in deep guilt, he knew all places he had made mistake. It was only in power of Maan to take away all those bottled up thing inside his heart. Maan sat on his knees in front of his Uncle

“You will be all fine Uncle. Whatever possibility medical science has in this earth, we will explore all and you will soon be standing and scolding me for my mistakes. You get better and whatever you say I will do, Promise.”

Mohinder could not understand, what good has sinner like him done in any life that he has Maan in his life now. He tried giving faint smile to Maan and Maan could read it.

“I think Dad is trying to give you a smile” said Brij

“I can read; you don’t need to translate.”

Everyone settled. It was getting late night and thus they requested Ranoo to rest.

After they settled “Hi.. I can say Yash, right” Maan took attention of Yash “Off course”

“Sorry for missing out on you. Meeting family after long time. I am Maan, Maan Singh Khurana”

Yash eyes popped out. Who doesn’t know Maan Singh Khurana. Most famous upcoming young dynamic Businessman at global level. He was person hot on news because of his business strategies.

“Maan Singh Khurana… as if business tycoon Maan Singh Khurana” Maan gave smile “Yeah, I guess so”

From the time of his entry Yash knew this person was not among them and now he knew why he felt so.

“I am sorry, but I am really sitting and talking to”

“Yash you are talking to Maan, our Maan bas” said Meera stopping over surprised Yash

Maan looked at Brij “How come all this happen Brij, this condition of family. Business collapsing, uncle’s condition and no one cared to let me know. I mean you guys were enjoying the adventure of solving the crisis.”

“Exactly” said Yash “If you had ‘Our Maan’ as family” he looked at Meera, little upset showing on his face “Then why are we fighting this medical treatment battle for so long?”

“I am sorry” he looked at Maan. “I really don’t know the depth of relation here, but the way I saw and felt outsider for few minutes”

“This is my family. I grew up in this family. We all had schooling together. I left for my career after my engineering and since then missed on all activity here. I am at fault”

“No he is not Yash. He left for some reason, we all want to forget it” Maan signaled Meera and she stopped.

Yash could feel the family co-ordination between Meera, Maan and Brij. But Maan Singh Khurana and Family, something was so tough for him to digest.

From next day Maan took over the charge, though on medical side Yash being a doctor was at front. He was still absorbing the truth that he was working side by side with ‘The MSK’. He will talk to Meera on details later.

Brij and Meera, what could they do when Maan had taken everything in his hand. It was kept secret in hospital that MSK was there but the movement in hospital were at high alert. All employees were on their toes. Money was not an issue now and thus Yash was seeing all possibilities. By end of the day, all senior doctors and doctors from abroad had conference and the treatment plan was charted out.

At night all were seated when Meera’s cell kept on center of table buzzed with name ‘Geet’.

Everyone’s eye went on the mobile screen. Meera and Brij looked at Maan. Maan gave faint smile and looked down

“Meera, Why are you not picking? Geet is calling” Yash scolded Meera and picked the call before hesitant Meera would pick

Maan heard the care and concern with which Yash was talking to Geet. Guiding her, advising her. Jealousy seeped inside, pricking. It was his part, it was only his right on all her care and concern once. Now seeing Yash in his shoe, why it hurt him. Why he felt his only right on her care and concern has been taken.

Feeling, anyone could read his confused feeling, he quietly moved out from there as somehow this whole family environment was triggering that and he was trying hard to burry.

Yash for some reason did not mention about Maan but as he told that all economic issue will now be solved, Geet could not stop to ask

“Maan Sir?”

“Hmmm…. You people never mentioned him” Geet did not say anything and Yash did not force. He was still confused. So many questions in his mind.

Next day Yash handled all medical related discussion, but power and planning of Maan Singh Khurana could be seen. The seamless treatment planning was initiated.

Yash and Meera then left for their home. They spoke less. Meera knew she was at fault, but what all could she say. Talking about Maan means Geet. They were connected and can’t be separated in this story. Yash knew there was something very complicated but still he was not family or what.

The other day at dining table, Yash could not hold “Geet is working in your company, you are family as I see. But she is so alone there”

“Who said she is alone there? Learning to work on own should not be made sympathetic” Maan could not bear anyone questing him regarding Geet but it always happened. She always fixed him in public.

Then couple of days Maan went with Brij to check on his business. Maan monitored the whole process as Brij handed everything to Maan.

“What’s all this Yaar. All your decisions have been sort sighted.”

“I am not good in business Yaar. Everyone cannot be Maan Singh Khurana”

“But anyone who will have smallest link to Maan Singh Khurana will reach for help. And you have me at one call distance but you preferred to face all this, let the business dip down rather than calling me. Why Brij?”

“No Maan, you needed your own life. You needed to get free from all complications of here”

Maan shook his head “Why? Anyways Brij, if you think you did great favor to hide all from me, I somehow don’t appreciate it at all”

“Maan yaar. It’s not like that. Woo, Malhotra’s suddenly backing of after Geet rejecting Rohan”

“Nahi sunna na. Now let me check all files.” Maan was so irritated. Family was in real mess and they were struggling for no reason.

“Maan listen naa yaar”

“No, why should I. Did you tell me all on your own. And what have I to do what Geet did with Rohan and Why? Kyun Janoo abb main.”

He was all restless “8 yrs, each second, all I know is she is married to that… Leave it.” He pointed at his heart “Nobody knows what’s inside here”.

“Here it has just been 3 months and Yash is questioning me. Always, it’s always, she creates scenario to bring third person between us. Anyways, I am used to it.” Lump formed on his throat. Somehow with Brij being around, he spoke in flow. But then realizing he is going out of control he composed

“It’s nothing. Don’t bother yourself. It was all so childish, right?” he laughed out to nullify what he spoke in flow.

Brij sensing Maan’s immense restlessness left Maan to check on files.

He spent whole day alone, analyzing the whole business and decisions, partners, deals. He made call to his office. Team of expert was asked to be formed to work in India. He definitely decided to personally guide Brij.