One week passed, which was busy for both Geet and Maan. Maan has been busy handling some very high profile projects for Annie to work on. She would not be the main one to lead but be involved actively. Annie was good but her brother’s standards were too high and thus expectation were high as well. Though from his level he kept expectation very low but still it was way high for anyone other.
Geet was kept busy with Adi assigning her, greater responsibility for Finance for major sectors. This he did seeing her capability, so he wanted to stretch and see how far she can go. His timelines were strict and thus Geet has no time at all for her heart.
Came weekend and she was all busy arranging her apartment. She was actually unsure of what all he had booked but as the deliveries kept coming she knew she has to arrange all those in house. Furniture were set up by Delivery professional but all number of various decorative stuff, Paintings, delicate designer stuff for all areas etc. she has to do on her own. The pieces were so expensive, Geet wanted to be super careful.
Geet was busy when she got call from home – All were there. Meera and family were at home as well.
“Hey Geet” all said on video call. Geet was so happy to see whole family in one frame. They looked much relaxed compared to before.
“Dad” smile formed on her face. He was still on wheel chair but looked better than before.
“Mom… Veerji… Di ..Jiju.. Abi… ohh altogether. I miss this, I want to be there”
“We all miss you too… so much” said Meera
“Puttar, How are you? You are happy, right? Your house is beautiful. Nice you listened to Maan” said Ranoo
“As if I have any option of not listening” Geet said casually
“Why so?” Yash asked immediately. Meera and Brij hesitated.
“Yash, I will explain you” said Meera.
“No It’s Ok. It’s family matter, I don’t want to intrude”
Before Meera could say anything “No Jiju…. You are family, how can you say that.”
“Ok leave it. I was just kidding. But I see you are decorating this house beautifully.”
“Beautiful. Hmmm… yes they are all Maan Sir’s choice. He simply ordered tons of stuff and now I have to arrange them. They are all so expensive and I am so scared handling them.”
Yash was still not able to absorb the level of family he was.
“But why did you let anyone buy such expensive stuff for you” Meera wanted to explain Yash but she did not have guts of talking this matter with him. He would not listen to her
“Jiju, I can’t talk money with Maan Sir. He is not anyone, he is ….” She stopped. “I can’t add to one more insult on him” and she turned other side to get hold of her expression, which again was getting loaded with guilt.
Yash realized that he placed Geet in wrong zone. He should not rush to get things out. If he was family and Maan was also family, then by time he himself will know more about the dynamics. Least did he had any intention to trouble Geet with question.
“Ohh Geet, I casually asked. But your Maan Sir has great choice I will say. Each piece is unique”
“Wish I was that unique to be his choice” Geet thought in her mind. She simply smiled. They then had talk with Brij excitedly talking on business front.
*************
It was Monday of another week. Annie pulled many friend along with Geet for lunch together. All had their lunch boxes on table when Annie announced.
“My lunch box is special today. It prepared by our super boss, my Bhai, The Great Maan Singh Khurana”
“Whaaat?” all said in unison and Geet’s heart raced with mention of the name.
“Wow… Boss does know cooking” it was kind of exciting for all.
“No he does not as much. I mean I have not seen him much in kitchen but he claims, he knows all about kitchen”
And Geet got lost in the pasta that he made, specially costumed for her taste. How he would make it for her, anytime she wished. Memory brought pain and she started missing her Maan.
“But anyways” Annies words brought her back in present
“Yesterday, he was in some mood and he made this” she opened the box “Pasta!!! Tan dada”
Geet’s heart raced, the pasta looked exactly the one he made for her. But Geet felt possessive. He made it only for her, now he made for Annie.
“He made it for you?” Geet asked involuntarily as possessiveness took over
“Off course Geet!! What do you think, boss made it for us?” said others to Geet
“No Guys. He did not make for me. I like pasta but it’s not my favorite. Bhai won’t cook for me out of love. He will do all other stuff. Maybe it’s kind of de-stress cooking.”
Relief ran thru Geet. She knew she meant nothing to him but few feelings were not in control
They all tasted the pasta made by boss which didn’t go well with Geet. “It’s different” they commented
“Haina… I always say to Bhai, more than original pasta, it looks so customized to someone’s taste. He doesn’t agree”
“Can I try” Geet could not stop now “Off course Babe”
Geet took a fork with pasta in her mouth – It was her pasta. He made her pasta but alas it was not for her. But that taste after so long brought shine on her face. Old memories were right in front of her eyes
“Girl you like it.” Geet smiled at Annie, hesitant but she could not hold to ask “Can we exchange lunch today. I am eating pasta after long”
Other were surprised of Geet’s asking but Annie would love to bring smile on Geet’s face.
“Off course”
As Geet was taking each bite, it was getting hard for her to be in control. It was her pasta which only he made.
Maan just got free from meeting. He checked his watch, it was lunch time. Involuntarily his legs went towards the canteen. It had been whole one week he had been able to avoid the urge. But mind cannot always win from heart. It took over mind sometimes and the frequency of win was increasing these days.
As he reached towards canteen, his eyes went on Annie and group and Geet in that group. Ohh, his heart got the excuse
“Hey Annie” “Hey Bhai!!”
His eye went on the target audience and the food she was having. Their eyes met and Geet immediately left the fork. Seeing Bhai checking his pasta being shared, Annie defended
“Bhai, Geet loves this pasta”
“I know” simply came out from his lips as his eye went on to meet Geet’s.
“You know?” Annie asked surprised
“I mean; I am a good cook” he tried doing damage control
“Ok you enjoy” he patted Annie’s cheek casually took the fork Geet had left in box, took some pasta in it and placed in his mouth
“Bhai, woo Geet ka jutha tha”
“Bye” he smiled at Annie as if he did not hear her and left.
Geet’s heart was racing all this while. She was lost in his visit. She picked the fork he had placed back, took some pasta in it and placed in her mouth
“GEET!! you too. Bhai ka jutha tha woo”
“Ohh I am sorry” But she was not. Instead her heart was beating fast at the feel of eating from same fork as his. It was silly, she knew but heart would not listen.
*****************
Maan in his office, closed his eyes to feel the event. He then jerked himself. He got up angry on himself and swiped his hand through the table displacing everything he touched, some fell on ground.
“How could you Maan. How could you lose this way. She likes your pasta not you.” He held the chair frustrated.
“Hold on Maan. What were you thinking making this pasta, that she will miss you and give you call? Nahi kiya na… she does not need you by her side. People move on, she has moved on.” He was fearing his hard mask will fall soon, he will lose. Did he fear losing himself to her
“No. I can lose to you thousand times Geet. Just one tiny sign is all I need. But you don’t need me. Why am I even expecting for a sign. She is not my Geet, she is just an employee, who listens to all my anger cos I am her boss.” He stopped and laughed
“Meri Geet toh… uff, she would have by now held my collar, pulled me to her and ordered me to stop this all anger that I am showing.”
Almost four and half month of her being here, Maan knew he was now losing control over his heart. Initially, not knowing her situation it was easy for him to keep away. Knowing family’s wealthy condition, all he knew was she was not here for package. But now knowing family condition, he knew she was here for package only. He was no- where the reason. The tiny silly hope was gone.
She liked it this way, she is comfortable this way, so let it be. Be Professional.
Maan’s overflowing thoughts were interrupted by knock on the door. He composed, immediately.
Pari entered with smile “Hey”
“Pari? You here? At this hour?”
Pari relaxed herself on chair opposite to him “Aana he pada sajna zalim hai dil ke lagi…. Haha haha. Came to check your status.” She taunted
“Whaat? You don’t have work in office or what?”
She ignored him “I learned she is in same office. When are you planning to tell me things”?
“What things? There is nothing to tell. She has moved on”
“Hmmm she told you?”
“Why will she, as if I am that important”
“Oyye Majnu, listen. Go talk to her directly and clear things up”
“Listen Pari, I am not interested to discuss this with you. Can we talk something”
“Off course I will. But dare you try to bring me in between this stupid hide seek game of yours. You will have to pay heavy this time Maan.” Maan ignored her warning and did not say anything.
They changed to topic to their friend group gossip.
In Adi’s office: Adi handed some files to Geet
“Geet next week onwards, you are working with Maan Sir. So you should learn going to him and get approval. These files that you have worked on, need Maan Sir’s approval.” Geet was hesitant but she never said no to any work assigned.
She was standing on the door of Maan’s office and from slight partition saw Pari in office. They were laughing over something. How well they gel with each other, is all she could see.
“Sachi Maan, Zake and Niti are coming as well. It will be fun watching PDA of this sample couple.”
Maan laughed, “really these two are sample yaar”
“So this Saturday final, we are going. Also yaar, Naveen and Richa really wishing all friends in their first Anniversary. They are really excited.”
“Ok.. in name of Zack and Niti” he laughed
Geet waited outside for long observing their fun, but she had to knock at last
“Come in” came his strong voice. Even a word from him brought waves in her heart.
Geet entered and Pari’s eye widened. She hugged and wished her. Her hug was warm, Geet hugged back but there was hesitation in her hug.
“Sorry for disturbance. Need these files checked and approved by Sir”
“Go Ahead I was already leaving” and Pari signaled Geet to sit and went behind her. She went behind, near the door and signaled Maan to talk to Geet. He narrowed his eyes at her and signaled her to leave. All this was their symbolic secret talk to Geet. After Pari left
“Sorry to come in between your time with Pari Mam” she said not even looking at him. Maan narrowed his eyes and soon got what she was getting into
“In between my time with Pari? What do you mean?” There was anger irritation in his tone
Geet did not say anything and his temper rose and he came and made himself sit in chair beside her
“What do you mean?” he said in hoarse loud voice
For Geet the whole scene was unbearable and she did not want to look at him
“I am sorry for coming in wrong time” she said without looking at him
He again narrowed his brows “Wrong time? So you understand, me and Pari are together. Right?” Geet kept looking on table as if it has most important stuff on it.
Maan was already impatient due to his own emotional turmoil and then her words triggered it. He pulled her up by her arm and in swift flow placed her on the wall. His face exactly in front of her, his heavy breath filling her face. It took a while for Geet to realize the sudden movement. Then all she could feel how close he was to her. Her brain stopped and her heart overtook by his closeness. She got lost, he was so close to her, his lips a centimeter away from her. It was a magnetic pull between them. She was all into his closeness when he suddenly asked
“Aur fark nahi parta tume? You don’t mind, right?” his voice was filled with anger and his hands tight on her arms on either side
Geet’s eyes were almost filled, her face red and she turned other side to get hold of herself and his effect on her.
If he is happy with Pari, she should be happy for him. But it was not happening
“Bolo Geet” She closed her eyes and without looking at him and gathered courage to speak lie
“Why would I mind. You are happy, I am happy”
He held her cheeks from his one hand and turned to face him, his other hand still tight on her one arm
“Really? You are happy? Look at me and speak Geet.” her face and expression all were saying what he wanted to hear but she was speaking opposite. He brought his face even closer to hers. Geet’s eyes were fixed on his lips as her eyes were down. If only he was her Maan, no shyness or anything would at this moment could have stopped her from shamelessly placing hers on his, pull him closer to her. Same was case with Maan. The desire was burning with closeness. The urge to take her lips and explore inside. How bad he wanted her to say one “Fark Parta hai” and he would have pulled her to him. It was strong magnetic pull between two they were badly resisting. He somehow pulled apart
“You are happy; why should I mind” she confirmed
“Wow… yeah, why would you mind. What have you to do with me? With whom I am or not, right? After all you are just an employee” Maan frustration was at peek and Geet was in no condition to see his anger.
“Just an employee” she repeated in low voice. He left her in jerk but she did not move, kept standing where he had placed her, lifeless.
“Fine. Give me the files, I will check and review. We will discuss business as that is what we should do. Right?” He was now frustrated beyond and did not know what to say.
“Right.” She finished by moving towards table and handing the files to him.
Anu's 