Chapter 26: Engagement

It had now been one and half months of their working together. Maan was losing himself as well as Geet was.

But both were getting stubborn, thinking the other one has moved ahead. They badly were hoping the other one would somehow show they meant something in their life.

But when it came to work, Geet could feel the difference. Adi was such great mentor but experience with Maan, related to work was altogether different. No one can even have touched his excellence.

“So now that you have done analysis on all project, decide which one you want to work on to bring them to success.”

He said, looking intently at her. This was him these days, intently looking at her, observing her. He was not actually even caring if she questions him looking her like that

Geet was then given one of the almost dead project to work and bring it live and successful. Geet worked day and night, Maan indirectly helped her but mostly she went to client and stakeholders.

Geet knew no one will give fresher this amount of ownership, it was only Maan.

Professionally it was going great but now as they worked together, they ached more for each other closeness. Not getting expected response from other side was making them stubborn, in return, their response only hurting the other.

Geet’s meeting with everyone was going great. Client and other stakeholders were very impressed by the talent of young girl. But they wanted and needed to test her.

“We will go with this project. But you are trying to bring this dumped project live. Your plan is lucrative but we can’t put whole fund on the failed project.” One of the stake holder raised concern.

“How do you want to go about it then. You have convinced us to fund this project, but what about Khurana enterprise. Do they trust this endeavor of yours? We need to know. So we fund half and we want Khurana Enterprise to fund half.” Said one of the client as voice of all.

Geet did not say anything. She has to convince Maan for half of the fund, will he think she failed and could not get full fund. How will he agree to fund his dead project?

“What are you thinking Miss Handa”

“Off course, Khurana Enterprise has trust in this project. Why would they invest my salary for this project then?”

“Prove it Miss Handa.”

“Sure.” And she moved out with confident face, internally did not know how will it happen.

It was finance, so she went to Adi. Geet worked with Adi to plan for finance from KE. She badly wanted to bring this project live. Maan has trusted her with this project and she cannot let him down.

Geet did not tell Maan but he knew what she was working on. He would keep watching her as she worked with Adi for finance, charting out plan etc.

But one day when Geet saw Pari coming out of Maan’s cabin, her heart again burned. She somehow tried to focus her discussion with Adi, keeping herself badly busy. Maan saw her seeing Pari. He didn’t know what went into him, he wanted to see her reaction. Things were getting into his nerve and he wanted to end it all. He wanted to confront her.

Maan intently kept looking at Geet as Geet kept herself busy with Adi. But he could sense her restless ness. She was trying hard to focus on work but she was failing and he could read it. He badly felt it was Pari’s visit. It was too much, he will make her talk now, what’s exactly going inside her. He could feel it; he could see it. If it was true, why are they suffering. Why is she so stubborn?

“Geet are you listening to me” Adi tried to gain attention of lost Geet.

“Yes Sir”

“So what I am saying is, the plan that we have chalked give you half of what you need from KE. Rest you need to convince Maan Sir to fund. If you have arranged this big amount, I think he should fund rest half. Talk to him”

“Maan Sir?”

“Yes. Go now” Geet was really not in her good state seeing Pari. Geet had no grudges with Pari, she was so good to Geet. But seeing Pari with Maan always triggered her side beyond her control.

Geet knocked Maan’s door, obviously he was badly waiting

“Come in” Geet came in, looked everywhere other than him

“I guess you came to talk to me and not tables and chairs” his tone has irritation

She took the seat, tried to compose herself, which was not happening.

Maan came close to her chair and pulled her up “What’s troubling you. If you have guts, speak it up.”

“I don’t want to show guts.”

“What is troubling you? You saw Pari going out of my cabin.”

“So?”

“So nothing?” he asked frustrated.

“nothing” She answered. Somewhere getting stubborn, why is he even asking?

“Very well, then let me know your reason of trouble.” Maan asked irritated. Her not speaking was getting on his head, he was getting stubborn to make her speak.

“Fund. I need you to approve part of fund for project.”

“And that’s your real reason of trouble”

“Yes” she answered and his anger took toll on his head. He held her shoulders “Fine. If that is so important than anything other happening in life, prove your sincerity to me.”

“I will” and he held her shoulders even harder and slowly took her to the wall. His brain was not working and he wanted to go to any length to make her speak up today

“You think Pari and me are together and you don’t mind it, right?”

“How do I prove my sincerity Sir”

First time in life, he was mixing personal and professional. But his sense was not working and he was going to go to any length to make her speak.

“I want to see if you can do the impossible possible. If you prove me that, I will pass fund for your project”

“I will do my best sir” “Think before you speak. I have been stuck with one proposal and it is being denied every time. Do you want to know what? You will need to get that proposal passed for me”

“I will try my best sir”

“Pari” he could see the color of her face change.

“I have been proposing Pari for marriage again and again, she is rejecting” he stopped as Geet’s eyes were blankly stuck on him. She felt blank as she was absorbing the fact, he has been proposing Pari. He was holding her tight or else she would have collapsed by now

“Tumhen to fark nahi parta na” Geet kept looking at him blankly

“Geet, are you listening?” “hmm” is all she could utter

“Tell me it matters to you” he asked softening a bit. She would speak up now, he knew he had played his last stroke, but then came from her

“What I need to do in this?” she said all lost

Maan was shocked with her question. He gathered all his courage to speak something he knew will break her if he matters but if not she will agree

“You convince her for engagement with me”

Geet’s eye popped out “What?”

“Fark Nahi parta na tumhe, then you should not mind doing this job for me. You want fund, prove me you can do something I cannot”

Geet could not speak a word, she could not bear sight of Pari with Maan, she will die before she does this. Maan was regretting his condition, fearing if she accepts. He immediately tried to do damage control somehow.

“Or show me your guts, speak your heart and get the fund.”

But Geet was lost, he had proposed Pari is all was going in her brain. Her heart was broken into thousand pieces already

“I will do it” Maan was shocked, his hands left her and he moved back

“You will do it?” he murmured. “I really don’t matter to her” is all he could think. He looked at her angrily

“ok now. Get it done and your fund will be approved. As that’s all matter to you.” Geet left.

Maan was broken, Geet was broken. Both did not know what they were doing, where was all this leading to.

********

Pari looked at Geet all shocked. She was angry on both these and more on Maan. How could he do this. How could he send Geet to Pari with such demand?

“If you don’t agree, I will not get the fund approved?”

“Is this any professional approach of your Boss Geet?”

“He is Boss, I can’t comment” Geet spoke emotionless face

Pari was very angry. Maan was going over board and this time she really needed to teach him real hard lesson. She knew Geet will be hurt initially in this process but now she could see no other option to show Maan the mirror of reality. Once he realizes, he will handle broken Geet. Pari made her heart strong as she spoke

“For your fund Geet I agree. Ask him to approve your fund.”

Geet has now lost all her real sense, she felt she was a robot and took Pari’s message to Maan robotically.

“What?” is all Maan could say. He was shocked, Geet actually went to Pari and Pari accepting the proposal

“Will you approve my fund Sir” She asked robotically

Maan looked at her angrily “It’s already approved. Get lost now.”

Geet left without any emotion. She was lifeless.

*********

Pari was instigating Maan more, talking about engagement and pocking him.

“So Maan, when should we go to select ring and our wardrobe” She was damn angry with him

“You are little too much excited for engagement; I see” He said irritated

“Off course, why not. It was such classic proposal. Your fund approval was based on this proposal. How professional Mr. Maan Singh Khurana.”

“Go and select whatever you want” he said irritated

“Ohh.. where’s the excitement Mr. Someone doesn’t look interested in his own engagement.” She taunted further

“Whatever. Leave me alone now”

“I will show the shopping to you. Fine Mr.”

“Leave”

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

The engagement was to happen in Khurana Mansion itself. No one was invited. Maan knew Pari will back out in main time. He could not even imaging putting ring on anyone’s hand.

Both Family were confused with this sudden decision of the two. Only one person excited was Annie.  

Geet was all lost when Annie pulled her “Geet, Thank you so much for convincing Pari. Bhai is getting engaged. How did you do it.”

Geet kept looking at Annie.

“Anyways, you have to come. No one is coming, I am not sure why they are strict on not inviting anyone but you are coming and no one can say no”

“No Annie, it’s private affair, why should I”

“You made it happen and you are coming, that’s it. If you say no, I will make Bhai invite you”

No way Geet can bear him inviting her for his engagement “I will come” Geet made herself complete robotic.

Few days passed. Annie observed a complete strange change in Geet. She was complete lost self, she would be seated at one place, or just keep watching, as if she was all time in trance. When she tried to check, Geet simply diverted her.

Maan was waiting for Geet to come and shout at him, stop him but her not coming was breaking him.

At last it was engagement day, Geet had completely lost herself, she had no sense what she was doing and why.

She could feel the pain he must have gone through when she was getting engaged to Rohan. May be that broke his heart and he did not love her anymore. She was lost blaming herself. She cannot believe he never loved her.

Maan was completely not interested when Dadima asked him to get ready.

“I am fine this way, ring hee toh exchange kernee hai.” Which he was sure he will not

“Maan, are you guys think all these rituals are fun. Get dressed properly. Engagement hai, show some excitement”

Pari on other side came halfheartedly. She knew she was going to break heart of both parents but she needed to teach Maan good lesson. She knew Geet must be sad but she will explain her. But what she did not know was the lost case Geet had become.

Dare Maan touch her finger for placing ring, she will slap him right there. But she knew he will not.

Maan came down all lost, his eyes met angry Pari. Annie was all anxious, she so wanted her friend Geet to witness the moment.

Maan standing in front of Pari, Pandit ji was there and all elders. They felt odd seeing Pari and Maan but did not interfere. At least they were getting engaged.

Maan looked around to see if Geet was anywhere near.

Annie Called Geet. Geet was all lost walking in the road aimlessly

“Where are you Geet” Maan heard Annie call

“Annie wooo” and then all Annie heard was some crashing noise

“Geet Geet where are you?” But she did not hear Geet and lots of peoples sound and some noise

Of people saying “check” “she” “still alive”. The phone had fallen down somewhere, still on call.

“Gee-eet” Annie shouted. Maan looked at Annie, ring fell down from his hand and rolled down somewhere.