Chapter 21: Mr. Moody

Next whole week, Geet again quietly worked with Adi. It was soothing with Adi sir. But this week, she felt some life back in her. She knew she meant nothing to him, he had come to her that day as part of family responsibility. But for now that was enough for Geet. she worked with dedication but on side savoring and repeating his visit.

Her apartment in KC Living was finalized. She had let it know in her family that weekend she would be busy in shifting. Brij and Meera were happy when they heard Maan went to Geet’s place. But still they kept no expectation in their relation. Maan was way beyond their league, way beyond Geet’s league. Destiny – Maan always called Geet out of his league. What he thought now on that front only he knew but family knew he was out of league. And they were happy she was taking his visit just as responsibility.

But Yash – he was still confused with all this

“But why are you moving Geet. We kept telling you earlier to move to better apartment but you were happy here. Now you are well settled here and then planning to move.”

“Jiju Maan Sir just asked me to, what do I do? He must have said with some reason Jiju”

“So we all kept telling without reason? But nice you are going to better place. I am happy for that”

Yash was still confused. What was these whole dynamics?

He was Maan Singh Khurana, a person way beyond their standing. Okay he was helping family and he must have some old connection with Family. But if he was family so close, why did no one mention him even once to him, nor did he ever visit them before this. Suddenly he comes and take over all decision.

And he did not even talk once about Geet in his visit, even though he had initiated it. Which kind of family member was he? And Meera and Brij, he had observed, always avoided Geet’s talk to Maan. And there Geet is changing her apartment as she cannot consider saying No to this man. What’s the matter actually?

But Yash was happy, he had taunted Maan with regards to not talking about Geet, being a family. He had done in undertone as after all he was The Maan Singh Khurana for him. But the Great Maan Singh Khurana, never replied him back, he was very polite with him. What is all this matter after all? But he will not ask Meera. He was angry on Meera in this matter. He will wait for matter to be opened to him with time.

**********************

Next weekend Geet was at apartment reception asking for her apartment details and keys. It was then one man came very furious at reception

“I had paid all money for reserving the apartment. And now you say that I cannot get that one and need to take other, why?”

“Sir, it is from very high authority of company, order has been passed, it has been assigned to someone. You have to select other one.”

The man was frustrated. Receptionist looked at Geet

“Mam, you can take seat there and complete the form, your keys are ready”

Geet took her form and went to fill the form with basic information. 

Receptionist came closer to the man “Sir, you see that girl?”

“Yes, what have I to do with her? You people assigned the best viewed apartment of mine to someone”

“Sir, your apartment has been assigned to that girl. Even she does not know about it. It came from top management.” Man looked at Geet with surprise and then anger “Whatever, it’s wrong”

Later Geet shifted to her apartment.

**************  

Two more weeks passed, Geet was diligently working with Adi. Maan went for tour. He had not been able to keep hold of himself so he was looking forward for a reason and the new project initiation came from New York, so he left.

Third week after Geet moved to apartment, it was Monday and Maan came to office. He settled but his mind was involuntarily going towards Adi’s office. He looked at his phone and threw it far. Frustration, she never called.

“It’s good Maan. Why do you need trouble to come to you? Anyways, you were never her need. She was right, she is here for package only. What are you showing your anger on her? That she will come and ask you, why you are upset? Koi fark nahi parta usse”

Adi gave some finance data to Geet for analysis and left for some meeting. Geet looked at her phone and kept looking at the number he had punched

“Maan Sir is in office. So what Geet, it’s his office, he will be here. He visited you, now don’t start making dreams. He wanted family to be free from my concern. Number bhi iss liye diya na. It’s not that he is sitting and waiting for your call every day.” She closed her eyes took deep breath and brought her focus to work.

One more week passed and Maan, not as usual, but more than usual kept himself busy in meeting on all sphere. Even Annie got his less time. Starting of the week, he was tempted more than couple of times to take his steps towards Adi’s office but he somehow stopped himself. It only resulted in his busy schedule.

It was Friday evening in Khurana Mansion

“What Bhai, you are so busy. Either on tour or on meetings.”

“Hmm….” Maan was blankly looking at his phone. Annie snatched it

“Bhai…” It broke his trance “Yes Bachcha tell me. I am sorry, work pressure”

“That’ not fair”

“Annie, there are many things that goes around. And you should focus on the work I have assigned you rather than asking me to not be busy. It’s big business and needs lots of attention.”

Annie left but called Pari

“Hey babe what’s up.”

“Pari… Bhai is being too engrossed and busy these days. I guess he need some time with you friends. Today he was lost looking on blank phone screen. I guess he was lost in some project issue.”

“He was looking at blank phone? Your Bhai Annie, is one Nut case. I will meet him this Monday.”

It was Saturday morning, Maan just finished his call with Brij regarding his business policies and guidance. His efficient team was already in India at Brij’s office.

After breakfast, Maan was already in his casual dark brown polo and faded jeans.

Annie and Dadima both together “Today is family day. You are not going out”

“I will be back soon. Need to go, please.” Both females did not say anything. Maan never kept anything above family on weekend, if he is going then something must be equally important.

Maan sat on his car and took deep breath as he held the steering wheel “Maan it’s your responsibility, nothing more. You just once need to if  she has settled properly or not. That’s it. Just 10 minutes.”

He took off the road “She didn’t call, why will she, if she don’t want you there. Anyways I am not going there to see her beautiful face. It’s only that I don’t want family in India to be worried for her all time.” He convinced himself of his acts.

Geet woke up late today. She was just in her night suit and having lazy breakfast of bagel and cheese and some fruits. Her bell rang. Who could it be? All deliveries were done and she did not expect any friend here. Bell rang again and this time her heart skipped a beat “Maan Sir??”

“Hold your heart Geet, why will he come now. Anyways if he is there, it is for family responsibility. It’s not you” anyways her body was aching and she was not in very optimistic mood today.

She got up to open the door and her heart, without her permission started flying. Maan’s eye was stuck on her lazy face. Ufff how hard it was getting for him. His hands were itched to go on her face, softly place all her curls behind her ears. He immediately looked other side, composed himself and turned back

“Sir aap?”

“Can I come in?”

“Please” she gave him the way. He looked around as he settled. She had minimal setup and furniture

She again sat opposite him, both sitting there without words. He observed her, still in night suit? He thought. He observed, she was bit tired and then it hit him – it was her time of month. She would wake up late, stay in night suit whole day, lazily and not letting him away from her.

“Coffee Sir?”

“Hmmm” he watched her as she moved to kitchen. He very well remembered her behavior in these times.

{

It was one such day, she was in grade 9 and he was there at home. It was early morning 7 am Saturday. He had just entered his room after his gym and run. Soon behind him she entered his room all sleepy.

“Maa-aan” she said sleepy and she lazily hugged him

“Saturday morning, you woke up so early?”

“Ummm” she was gluing herself to him, holding him by his waist, her hand encircled all around

“wooo.. my body aching, back aching badly. I feel it started”

“Then why are you awake, go rest.”

“My napkin finished. I forgot about it”

“What Geet?”

“Now don’t scold me. I am feeling already cranky; I will blast off”

“Not scolding, but how could you forget. Ok go and take one from Meera, I will get packet from pharmacy later.”

“naa, Di gets angry if I touch her personal. And today I cannot take anyone’s anger. Abhi laa do na”

“This early?” he shied “You leave me with no option. Ok go rest, I will get it”

“Make it fast and wake me up if I fall asleep” “Hmm” he very well knew her flow was so heavy first two days. He had immediately got hold of bike and rushed to pharmacy.

}

“Sir Coffee” she brought him back to present. He came here with thought that he will leave in 10 minutes but now how could he. When he knew her state now; she always went into lone mode if no one stays by her side at these times.

They quietly sipped their coffee with small munching she placed at center.

“Go get ready, we are going out”

“Out? Where?”

“Okay… so I need to give detail?” “No-no. I will get ready and come.” Geet left.

As they were on their way to car parking, in sun, as he placed his sun glass, Geet placed hers. Maan’s heart skipped a beat. Black sun glass on her flawless white skin.

As Geet took her seat, Maan from his driver seat, bent to lower her seat backward so she can stretch.

“I am fine”

“I know your state. Relax now.”

She just relaxed as he drove. Let him take her wherever he wanted. She had no say anyways between them now. She has lost all those rights. Not being able to stand for him when he needed her most, letting him thrown in pool of public allegations, Geet could not forgive herself.

He stopped the car in front of the big furniture store. It definitely was very high class store. Okay he was not just Maan, he was Maan Singh Khurana.

They entered the shop and he led her to different sections. He kept analyzing furniture for design, quality and look. He looked at her, she looked disinterested. He knew her monthly mood and her body ache were the reason. On top, she was least interested with his company, he concluded.

“You take seat here. I will take look around.” “Ji”

He left and Geet placed her head back. Her back was badly aching.

“He knows still he brought me out for shopping. Moody. Once he say, be professional and then it’s his mood, he start taking care. He knows I can’t stay alone in these times, that’s why he brought me here with him. But I managed these months, I would have managed this one as well”

Geet looked at him, he was busy scrutinizing the furniture. She again closed her eyes

“Had I come with my Maan here, it would have been whole different thing.”

“Veerji and Di thinks I am most moody but I know how moody Maan was. He still is. Maybe only common thing between Maan and Maan sir. Moody”

But as Geet was sitting and looking at some classic decoration piece on table, the two pair of eyes that just entered the shop went on her.

It took some seconds for Pari to realize who the familiar face was. How can she not know, Geet’s beautiful features were by hearted to her since school days? Maan would describe her features in so many ways. He had infinite artistic words when it came to describe Geet’s beauty. She had always been surprised, how this non artistic friend of hers, got all artistic skill when his eyes went on Geet, even in playground.

“Really Maan, whole day and night you stay with her and still in school you can get lost in her. Thakte nahi ho kya” he would smile and shake his head.

But above her beauty he was all Fida on her bossy-ness over him. He would sometimes just provoked Geet’s anger by bringing Pari near him, so she poured out on him.

“You are no saint as Brij and Meera thinks” he would wink

“Uska Gussa uff… it simply takes my heart away” Pari has witness Maan’s craziness over Geet is such detail way that for her, he could only be her friend, best friend forever. That’s it.