Chapter 16

Next day Megha was at her Mom’s office.

“So the friend that you are very proud of, do you even know with whom she spent her night just after signing the divorce”

“Yes, I know, because I was with her. Me Akash and Rimmi were with her along with other friends. She needed her friends by her side and we had full on fun night”

Nina was taken by surprise “You were with her?”

“Yes, we had a barbecue and watched a nice romcom movie.”

“Ohh” Nina kept mum as now she lost a chance to defame Geet.

“Okay Mumma, I know you are obsessed with Geet as she was your trump card but can we not discuss her and what she is up to. She is moving on in her life, Bhai is moving on in his life. She is not your Daughter in law any more nor your employee.”

Nina got aggravated by Megha’s words “She was no trump card. She was just an employee who got a great opportunity by being with me. Now that she has learnt, she is being a typical opportunist and is leaving the company. I can make many like her. She is the one who will have to face the reality of the world now. She will see, how people will throw her out after using her”

“Are you foreshadowing or wishing these for her Mom? And why should she not be an opportunist? Why do you expect her to be a saint and take all your injustice? You were not ready to pay the price she was asking for her talent and hard work, she left. It’s a simple rule of the corporate world Mom. You decided to not make her part of family in company matters so she became the employee of the company and did what is expected from a talented employee, esp when the world of opportunities are open for her”

“Okay, can we not discuss her?” Nina said, irritated with the facts which she knew but was not ready to accept.

“Wow, that’s what I wish. Let’s not discuss her between us because all you have to offer to talk about her is negative, none of us are seriously interested in it. I am here to talk about me, which I know is not a very interesting topic for you”

“What have you achieved in life, Megha? To be  sounding interesting.. Hnnnn.” Megha was nth times hurt by her Mom’s rude words. But now no more. Geet has given her courage. Why will she take her Mom’s demeaning words anymore?

“I have been doing my job very well in this company Mom but you don’t trust your own kids to come in front and showcase. You don’t let us freely make decisions and you blame me for not achieving. Anyways, you are free to think the way you want about me, I am done getting affected by your words”

“Don’t be, your loss. I am no more in mood to babysit my adult kids”

“So here I am, to make you free. You may not have my value but my husband and in-laws have. You may think I am worthless but they value my talent. So I have decided to join my own family business, where they need me and value me. In short, We are moving to Mumbai and plan to join hands with family and help family business grow.”

“What? Have you gone nuts?”

“No, sensible enough to enjoy my family and help in our family business. I belong there Mom. Anyways, you already think I am not that valuable, you can easily find my replacement if you can find Geet’s.”

Nina was in shock, what was happening to everyone one by one. Megha was her easy punching bag when she wanted to make anyone feel of no worth and take out her frustration. That daughter of hers was answering her back today and giving her notice. It was so unbearable to her.

“Go. If you think I will beg in front of you, I will not.”

“I don’t expect that from you Mom. Had your ego been any flexible, Geet would have been the first person to whom you would have begged to stop. If your ego did not let you stop her, I am a faraway thing.”

“I will remove you from the company share” Nina warned Megha in her frustration

“You can’t. I have the Shares of the company by Dad’s will. But if you want to put extra effort to hire a lawyer to throw your own daughter out of company shares, please go ahead. I won’t fight with you on that. You will then lose your daughter in all ways.“

Megha left and Nina kept looking at her. Megha knew her mother would do no such thing but her even bringing the company share thing has hurt her.

********

One month has passed and Geet has settled in her one bedroom studio in Thane. She just brought her clothes, her degree, college memories and memories with Megha from childhood till date along with her. Rest all baggage she left behind in Delhi. She has decided to start afresh in life.

Maan had  gone for a business tour and thus been saved from telling his family about Geet settling in Thane. He knew he had to tell them eventually as his family in Mumbai was one reason he had encouraged Geet to move to Mumbai. Not that she would not be able to handle things alone but he did not want her to be alone in life. He wanted her to have a family and stay happy with people caring for her. Being said so, he also didn’t want her to get scared with his family who were over excited with her smallest mention. He had no intention to take away her individuality.

Megha and Akash also moved to Mumbai and got busy with their big joint family. Megha was overwhelmed with the warm family environment that she never got with her over professional and practical mother. 

Geet in this one month, not only settled but also started her interaction with Angellina. 

“Congratulation Geet for your new life” “Thanks” Geet said humbly

“Okay, so are we geared up for this venture?” Angelina asked with excitement

“Of course, it’s like a dream. I want to give my best and make this venture successful.”

“It’s mine and yours Geet. The other two, Rick and Maan are just investing. It will be our baby”

“Yes. So from where do we start?”

They decided to look for the best location for the manufacturing unit first and then two locations for store opening, one in Mumbai and one in Paris. They will make a proper amalgamation of Indo French style with current world youth trends in mind.

Geet started her work on touring around Mumbai, knowing Mumbai. Everyday her excitement increased. The feeling was totally different. It will be hers and that thought brought more confidence and sense of responsibility in her. It will not be a cake walk, she knew. She will have to land in spheres out of her comfort zone. But she was ready to learn and achieve.

Maan returned after a month. It was lunch time and he saw eight month pregnant Meera coming out of kitchen with food bowl

He kept his bag and rushed to her and took the bowl from her

“Veerji, when did you come”

He clearly ignored her question “What is this you are doing? Where are all the servants? How could Mom and Dadima let you work? Where is Vicky?” He bombarded her with questions. Meera started laughing

“Veerji calm down. I am doing it all with my own wish.”

“And they allowed you?”

“No, I was getting bored. Noone let me do a single thing. I felt like trying my hand at some dishes today. And Nyru is coming, I wanted to make her favorites”

“Hmmm… but you did not get yourself tired?”

“No Veerji, I am perfectly fine. You go freshen up, I will ask servants to call everyone for lunch”

“Hmmm” he gave a nod and left.

Maan was back after his successful tour and was all set to enjoy his time with his family and his daughter.

He let Nyra and his family enjoy each other the whole day. He was unwrapping his tour and observing in the background as they were all pampering and cherishing her visit. He also felt like a culprit to them. Because of Sameera and his divorce, they got only limited time with their Nyru. Nyra was the daughter of the family and everyone’s heart.

If he remarries, he can easily claim Nyra’s custody and his family will get their beloved Nyru. But will it be fair to marry someone just to get a mother for Nyra. The girl will only have to be married to him but have to consistently genuinely prove to be a mother to Nyra for him to get her custody.

There are a line of girls ready to marry him due to his immense fortune, name and family legacy and his handsome look and physique, to be cherry on top. All these factors push back the fact that he is divorced with a six year old daughter. These girls who are ready to promise everything to get into relation with him, will they in reality be the true mother for his Nyra? Nyra will be sidelined by them once they become his wife. And why should he expect others to love his daughter like a birth mother? He and his family are enough to shower all love to his daughter but the court will not accept it. It was complicated!!

The only person that was the complete opposite case and his family knew it. She was perfect in all ways. But he thought of her beyond his own needs. He cannot use her to get his daughter. He cannot bring her in his life just as mother to his daughter because she was much much more, his heart knew within. He cannot be selfish in her case. She has just now started her independent life, started to enjoy and fly in her career. She will make her name and fame and he will be on the side and behind to support her rise to fame and success. Smile formed on his face just at the thought of her.

After dinner, Nyra jumped on her Dadda’s shoulder to be taken to his room to have Dadda-Nyru time.

In his room, Maan laid on his bed on his back and Nyra sat on his abdomen

“Hmmm… so Nyru had a fun day?”

“Dadda” she laid herself on his front and held his hair “I wanna stay here more. It is fun here”

Maan never said anything to place her against her mother “Hmmm… but then you will miss your Mumma”

“But Mumma, so busy wid Ashish Unce. I don like him” she pouted.

“He neva talk to me and neva give Nyru a lovey lovey look”

“But Mumma loves you honey” 

“Mumma lovy Nyru bu she leaves Nyru lone. Mumma has a baby in belly. ” She pouted as she was playing with her Dadda’s cheeks.

“So what, she will love both her child” Nyra made face and nodded for no

“Ashish unce say, Nyru to grow up and be a nice big sister. To let Mumma spend more time with the little baby” Maan’s heart churned and he hugged her tight.

No way will he let his princess be treated as secondary. But what could he do? He felt so helpless. He made her lay on bed and patted her “My princess is most precious and lovable. Trust your Dadda”

“I do” and she hugged him with her tiny hands.

He was making her sleep when she suddenly asked “Dadda, where is Geet? She is fun”

“Geet has her own life Honey” Nyra pouted “Nyru wanna see Geet”

“Hmmm..” Maan sighed. “Dadda please please”

He kissed her forehead “How can Dadda deny his princess.” He thought for a while. He has to, anyways, introduce Geet to his family.

“How about we invite Geet tomorrow”

“Yayyyyy!!!” “Okay, now sleep.” he scolded her.

Geet was getting ready. Maan will soon come to pick her. She has insisted that she will come on her own. She felt shy that he would see her small studio room with minimal settings. But he had insisted that he would come to pick her up.

On the other hand, the Khurana family was bursting with excitement. Geet was in Mumbai already and today their Khadus son has himself invited her. They got busy planning for her welcome. Nyra was running all around the mansion in her excitement, ordering everyone. She was proud she knew Geet more than all. They all let her be the boss.

As Maan was not at home, she was found sometimes on Vicky’s shoulder and sometimes jumping on her Dadu’s lap.

Maan’s long sleek car entered the thin alley to Geet’s studio apartment. He asked his driver to stop at some distance and walked to her apartment. 

Geet was checking her house to be presentable for Maan’s visit. Whatever she does, she knows he will not approve of her living here. She had to convince him that it was the perfect home for a single person like her.

Bell rang, Geet opened the door and Maan entered.  He hugged her and placed a soft kiss on her forehead and then, as expected , moved inside to scrutinize the place she was staying.

“Such a sweet home, I love it” before he could give his criticism. 

He said nothing as if ignoring her comment and making his mental note. He moved to the window to scrutinize the neighborhood.

“ This is the house you said is great and I would approve it for you?”

“Maan, it’s nice for a single person like me. I think it’s perfectly fine “

“Let’s go” is all he said. Now that was clear he didn’t approve and that factor did matter to Geet. His view, his approval, his liking mattered to Geet. She knew, he mattered above all for her.

Geet thought they will straight head to Khurana Mansion but when the vehicle approached Worli

“I thought Khurana Mansion is in Bandra west, why are we heading to Worli”

He smiled “ So you learnt a lot about Mumbai?”

“It’s part of our endeavor. I am looking for nice place for our main work factory “

“Ohh really, you guys already started on it” She smiled in answer

“Great!! Any fund you need, is all there”

“We will need some Human Resources for different areas, like planning projects, location, design.. ohh my so many things”

“Aanhhn, now you are talking Business. I like it. But calm down. I will ask Pari to set up call between four of us”

The vehicle entered the premises of a big bungalow. It looked brand new. It has around two acres of land surrounding the actual villa which stood at center”

The bungalow was magnificent with a complete modern outlook.

“This looks new”

“It is brand new. Another example of my fondness for houses. Getting house around the world, I thought to get one done at my own home town”

Geet smiled with tight lips “Now, don’t give me that smile of yours.” He complained.

She nodded for No, still smiling at his fondness of having homes all around the world. Richness was in his veins and blood from top to bottom

“Ge-eet” he warned her and led her inside. 

He gave her a tour of the house. It was very spacious, lighted and had complete modern architecture. 

“Wonderful… beautiful. And such a beautiful view outside from every window is a treat. It feels like one is staying between nature in the middle of Mumbai and inside it’s all modern.”

“The thing is, I got it made with so much love but my family is not ready to leave our Mansion and move here. I want it to be lively with people living in it.”

“So, you are planning to move here?” she asked

“Do you want my family to strangle my throat with their bare hands? First, I am very less in Mumbai and when I am here, if I don’t stay with them, No, that cannot happen. I can’t stay apart from my family”

“So? Give it on some lease”

“No, I didn’t plan it for monetary purposes.”

Maan was about to say something further when he got a call from his mother

“Mom, we are on our way. We will be there soon” 

Geet was again impressed by the look of the magnificent Royal looking Khurana Mansion. By the royal look of the outdoor and structure of the house, Geet could not believe the people in there were so down to earth and welcoming.

Sandhya hugged Geet. Annie and Meera as well hugged her and before Vicky could shake his hand

“Gee–eeeet!!” Came Nyra running.

“Nyra!!” Geet looked at Maan surprised. Maan shrugged his shoulders and lipped “Surprise”

By that time Nyra reached Geet, Geet sat on her knees and Nyra hugged her tight.

“How is my little angel?” Geet asked, cupping her face. Nyra shook her head “Good. How aa you”

“Are you” Maan corrected Sandhya hit him on shoulder

“Stop correcting her. She is just a kid”

Nyra held Geet’s wrist and pulled her along with her towards her room. Geet hesitated and turned to look at his family. They signaled her to go with Nyra.

They kept admiring the way Nyra had gelled with Geet. 

“Okay everyone, stop making up stories in your mind.” He shook his head and left for his room. As Maan left they all laughed.

“Ignore him and his ideology. Everyone, we are doing what we think is right.” declared his Dadima

“Correct.” added Raj

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