“Maan! Hamein ek baar client se baat to karni chahiye.”
“Kya baat karni hai Geet. Humne unhein kuchh promise kiya tha aur woh hum deliver nahin kar paye. Ab unhein poora haq hai ki woh apna project kahin aur le jayen.”
“Lekin Maan. Project mein genuine problems aa gayin thi, jo hamare wash mein nahin thi. Aisa to hai nahin ki kuchh ho sakta tha aur humne nahin kiya. Aapne khud saare options try kiye hain.”
“Ye samajhna client ki zimmedaari nahin hai Geet. Main kissi se bahane sunta nahin hoon. Aur main kissi ke saamne bahane bana bhi nahin sakta.”
“Lekin Maan ye koi bahana nahin hai. Achchha ye bataiye ki agar woh apna project kahin aur le jayen, to kya woh log is problem ko kissi jaadu ki chhadi se solve kar denge?”
“Nahin. Problems to unke liye bhi wahi hongi.”
“To phir aisa to hai nahin ki hamse project wapas le lene se clients ki problem solve ho jayegi. Balki koi nayi company is par kaam shuru karegi to shayad project mein aur delay ho jaye. Ek baar to client se baat kijiye.”
“Geet. Main ye nahin kar sakta. Khurana Constructions kissi se bheekh nahin maangta projects ke liye. Main client se baat nahin kar sakta.”
“To mujhe karne dijiye.”
“Geet!”
“Maan. Mujh par bharosa kijiye. Main jaanti hoon ki ye company aur iski izzat aapke liye kitni maayne rakhti hai. Main waada karti hoon ki kuchh bhi aisa nahin kahoongi jisse Khurana Constructions ke rutbe ya izzat par koi bhi aanch aaye. Hum kissi se bheekh nahin maang rahe hain.”
“Theek hai. Lekin mujhe tumhare saath to rahna padega na?”
“Aur aapke liye us meeting mein rahna mushkil hoga?”
“Geet. Main…”
“Koi baat nahin Maan. Mere paas iska bhi solution hai.”
“Tumhein koi jaadu ki chhadi mil gayi hai Geet?”
“Nahin. Maine bas aapse bahut kuchh seekha hai.”
—
“Good morning Mr. Sharma. Main Geet Khurana. Maan dar-asal traffic mein phans gaye hain aur woh nahin chahte the ki aapko intezaar karna pade. Isliye mujhe ye meeting attend karne ko bola unhone.”
“Lekin aapse hum pahle to kabhi is silsile mein mile nahin hain. Phir itne important matter ke liye bina Mr. Khurana ke…”
“Mr. Sharma. Main aapse nahin mili hoon pahle, lekin main Maan ke saath har project par kaam karti hoon. Mujhe is project ke baare mein bhi sab pata hai. Aap chinta mat kijiye – Khurana Constructions gair-zimmedaar harquatein kabhi nahin karta hai. Maan jaise hi yahan pahunchenge, woh bhi meeting mein aa jayenge.”
“Jo hamare project ke saath ho raha hai, use dekh kar to aap logon ke zimmedaar hone ka zyada bharosa nahin hota. Naam to humne bhi market mein bahut suna tha Khurana Constructions ka. Khair – abhi aapko kya baat karni thi?”
Geet heaved a sigh of relief that Maan was not there in this room. Else he would definitely have lost his cool at such remarks and any further discussion would have been impossible. And she was not wrong at all. Maan was infuriated sitting in the other conferencce room. The video-conferencing equipment in both the rooms was on. But the screen was switched off in the room where Geet was meeting the clients. So, Maan was able to see the meeting, but they could not see Maan.
Both Geet and Maan had struggled in accepting this arrangement, as it looked like cheating the client. But finally they decided to go ahead, as this was harmless. And it was the best way of handling things so that Maan could see what was going on without having to be there.
Maan had a strong urge to just barge into the meeting room, grab the client by his collars and throw him out of his office. But Geet had started replying to him by then.
“Mr. Sharma. Aapka gussa jayaz hai. Lekin aap please thandhe dimaag se ek baar meri baat sun lijiye. Uske baad aapka jo bhi faisla hoga, hum bina kuchh kahe maan lenge.”
“Boliye.”
“Thank you. Aapko ye to pata hi hai ki project labour problems ki wajah se delay hua hai. Us ilaake ke saare labourers hadtal par chale gaye hain. Hum unke leaders se baat kar rahe the kaafi dinon se, lekin woh hamara koi bhi offer nahin le rahe the. Humne Delhi se labourers ko wahan le ja kar bhi kaam shuru karwane ki koshish ki lekin un logon ne unhein bhi itni dhamkiyan di ki woh wahan rahne ko taiyaar nahin hue. Pichchhle ek-do dinon mein hamein pata chala hai ki in sabka hamare project ya Khurana Constructions se koi matlab hi nahin hai. Unhein hamse koi shikayat nahin hai. Ye wahan ki do local political parties ka jhagda hai, aur unmein se ek poore ilaake ki activities disturb kar rahi hai. Labourers ki hadtaal bhi usi ki wajah se hai.”
The client was listening intently to her, “To ab aapka kya proposal hai?”
“Ise suljhane ke liye hamein politicians ki hi madad leni padegi. Maan aaj wahan ke MP se baat karne waale hain. Hum aur bhi logon ko contact karne ki koshish kar rahe hain, jo hamari madad kar sakte hain. Agar inmein se koi bhi successful ho gaya to agle do hafton mein kaam dubara chalu ho jayega. Mr. Sharma, antim faisla aapka hai. Agar aap project wapas lene ka faisla karte hain, to hum koi legal loophole dhoondh kar, ya kissi bhi tarah se aapko pareshaan kar ke aapko nahin rokenge. Khurana Constructinos aise tareekon mein vishwaas nahin karta hai. Lekin ye problem bahut local hai. Agar aap kissi aur ke bhi paas jayenge to unhein yahi problem hogi. Aur hum ab us problem ko suljhane ke bahut kareeb aa gaye hain.”
“Mrs. Khurana, mujhe apni team se baat karni hogi is baare mein koi bhi faisla lene se pahle. Hum apni taraf se bhi investigate karenge. Agar aapki baat sahi hai to hamare us ilaake mein kaafi contacts hain. Shayad hum bhi ye problem suljhane mein aapki madad kar payen.”
“Bilkul. Aap apni team se baat kar lijiye aur apni taraf se poori tasalli kar lijiye. Hum kaam dubara jaldi se jaldi shuru karwane ki koshish kar rahe hain. Hamein aapke phone ka intezaar rahega.”
Just then they all noticed Maan standing near the door of the conference room.
Geet was surprised, “Maan aap kab aaye? Main abhi, abhi Mr. Sharma ko…”
“Maine unki baat sun li hai. Mr. Sharma, is delay ki wajah se aapka jo bhi direct monetary loss hota hai, uska fifty percent Khurana Constructions bear karega. Ye aapko assure karne ke liye hai ki project hamare liye bhi utna hi important hai jitna aapke liye.”
“Thank you Mr. Khurana. Hum aapko phone kar ke bata denge.”
With that the clients took leave and Geet looked at Maan unsurely.
Maan asked, “Kya hua Geet?”
“Woh… Aap achanak yahan kyon aa gaye? Mujhse kuchh galti ho gayi kya?”
Maan suppressed a chuckle and turned serious, “Aur kya Geet? Tum kya bolti ja rahi thi? Mujhe tumhein chup karwane ke liye aana hi pada.”
“Lekin… I am sorry… Maine kya galati kar di? Phir aapko pahle aana chahiye tha na?”
Maan moved towards her, “Kya galti kar di? Tumhein pata bhi nahin chala tumne kitni badi galti kar di? Jo kaam Maan Singh Khurana kabhi nahin kar sakta tha, woh kar diya tumne.”
Maan had reached very close to her and in her nervousness she was rooted to her place, “Aap please bataiye na aisa kya kar diya maine… Maine to unhein kuchh bhi aisa nahin kaha…”
Maan silenced her by putting his hand on her mouth, “Chup Geet. Abhi bhi bolti ja rahi ho.”
Maan finally could not suppress his smile. Few minutes ago, this woman was bravely fielding cynical questions from the clients. And now, with just one little trick of his, she is scared like a kid waiting for her punishment for not doing the homework. He was not wrong in his assumption that life with her will always be interesting and unpredictable.
“Aap muskura kyon rahe hain ab?” She still hadn’t realized that he was pretending to be disappointed with her. But she realized this as soon as she had asked the question.
“To aap mujhe phir se bekaar mein pareshaan kar rahe the?” She pouted and started to leave in a huff. But Maan caught her wrist and pulled her into his embrace. He continued to smile and look at her lovingly.
“Kya hai?” Geet had not melted.
“Thank you Geet.”
“Thank you kisliye? Abhi pata bhi nahin hai ki client project wapas le raha hai ya nahin.” Geet continued to be irritated.
“Thoda mere experience par bharosa karo. Ab woh log kahin nahin ja rahe.”
“Achchha hai. To ab mujhe jaane dijiye.”
“Lekin Geet. Tumne itna achchha kaam kiya hai. Iske liye tumhein eenaam to milna chahiye,” Maan said naughtily and moved his lips towards hers. But she pushed him back by putting her hand on his protruding lips and said, “Mr. Khurana. Aap shayad bhool rahe hain ki ye office hai aur hum ek conference room mein khade hain.”
“Mrs. Khurana. Aap shayad bhool rahi hain ki mere paas ab shaadi ka certificate hai.”
“Aapko MP ko call karna hai. Aap chaar minute late ho chuke hain.”
Geet managed to distract Maan with this information and broke free of his grip giving him a triumphant look. Maan gave her a “I will show you later” stare and left for his cabin to call the MP up.
—
“Geet. Mr. Sharma ka call aaya tha. Un logon ne kuchh contacts nikale hain project waale area mein. Unki details aur introduction mere e-mail par aane waala hai. Jaise hi woh bhejein, Adi se kahna ki unke saath follow-up kar le. Us party ko kuchh donation dena pade to bhi theek hai.”
“To Project hamare paas hi rahega?” Geet was delighted.
“Haan,” Maan did not reciprocate her delight and continued in a matter of fact tone, “Mujhe Noida waali project ki site par urgently jaana hai. Tum ghar chali jana doosri car mein.”
“Noida mein kya ho gaya achanak?”
“Ghabrane ki koi baat nahin hai. Main wapas aa kar batata hoon.” With this Maan immediately left her cabin leaving her to wonder about several things.
“Aa kar bataunga? Pata nahin kya ho gaya hai. Babaji – koi badi problem na ho. Main wahan chali jaun kya? Nahin, nahin. Agar kuchh gadbad hui to unka gussa bhadak jayega. Kabhi kuchh dhang se batate nahin hain mujhe. Aur baad mein jab kaam badh jayega to mujhe kahenge ki main kuchh yaad nahin rakhti hoon. Babaji! Kya karoon main inka? Aur haan. Subah to mujhe itna pareshaan kar rahe the. Usmein bada mazaa aa raha tha. Ab jab project mil gaya hai, to aise baat kar rahe the jaise ki koi badi baat hi na ho. Zara si taareef nahin kar sakte the? Khair. Chaddo. Unka to roz ka yahi kissa hai. Ab pata nahin kahan chal diye hain – aa kar batata hoon – ghar bhi akele jaana padega. Raaste bhar koi baat karne ke liye bhi nahin hai. Babaji!”
—
When Geet entered the bedroom, it was was very dimly lit. She looked around to see the special lighting arrangement that was done in the room to give it a very cozy feel. She smiled. So, this was his important work on Noida project.
As her eyes adjusted to the light, she noticed the wall near the headboard of their bed. It said “Thank you” written with the glow-in-the-dark stars. Geet moved towards the bed and spotted a packet lying there. With it was a note that said, “Meri Mishti ke liye” written with the glow-in-the-dark stars again. She opened the the packet to find a hand mirror with beautiful and intricately carved silver frame lying there. There was another note beside the mirror. She read it, “Is aaine mein jo chehra dikh raha hai, woh duniya ki sabse khoobsoorat ladki ka hi chehra nahin hai, woh meri zindagi ka bhi chehra hai.”
Geet smiled again and put the note down. She brought the mirror in front of her face. Though the room was only dimly lit, she could very well see her smiling, blushing face in it. Suddenly two strong arms hugged her from behind. She knew the touch too well to be scared by their sudden appearance. Maan whispered in her ears, as if continuing the note she had just read, “Ye us ladki ka chehra hai, jisne mera akelapan hi door nahin kiya; mere adhoorepan ko bhi mita diya hai. Is ladki ne meri saari kamzoriyon ko, khamiyon ko bematlab kar diya hai. Jab se ye ladki meri zindagi mein aayi hai, meri partner bani hai, tab se mere liye kuchh bhi karna possible ho gaya hai. Jo taqat mere paas pahle kabhi nahin thi, ye ladki meri woh taqat ban kar aayi hai. Ab main duniya jeet sakta hoon. Lekin agar poori duniya ko gawa bhi doon, to bhi jab tak ye mere saath hai, mujhe koi gham nahin hoga.”
Geet turned in his embrace to face him and buried her face in his chest, “To ye tha aapka zaroori kaam?”
“Isse zyada zaroori aur kya ho sakta hai? Maine kaha tha na ki itna achchhe kaam ka inaam to milna hi chahiye tumhein.”
“To main jab bhi kuchh achchha karoongi to aap mujhe aise hi inaam denge?”
“Agar tum chaho to tumhre bina kuchh kiye bhi de sakta hoon.”
She looked up at his face and both of them smiled.
“Chalo,” Maan put his arms around her shoulders and led her to the other side of the bed. There was a pedicure vessel there with massaging rollers and heating feature. The water was already warm to a confortable temperature. There was a huge, comfortable leather chair in front of it. Maan made her sit on the chair and kneeled in front of her. He took off her sandles one by one and placed her feet in the pedicure vessel. Then he started the massaging rollers. After the initial tinkling in her feet subsided, Geet found herself getting relaxed. She leaned on the back of the chair. Maan came behind her and undid the dori of her kurti followed by opening the hooks at the back. This made Geet gasp. For a moment his hand caressed her bare back, but then he turned his attention to her shoulders. He slipped the kurti slightly off her shoulders leaving them bare. Then he picked up aromatic oil from the table nearby and started giving her a relaxing and sensual shoulder massage. During the massage he took the opportunity to let his hands roam around to her neck, nape and front. Next he took the rubber band off from her hair letting them lose. He ran his fingers through her hair and then gave her a very soothing head massage.
She felt him moving away and opened her eyes to look at him. He was wearing his usual night dress – the black vest and the black pajama. And as usual, he looked incredibly attractive to her in that. He had moved away only to switch off the rollers in the pedicure vessel. Then he came back and lifted her out of the chair in his arms. She put her arms around his neck, happy to let him decide the course of the evening. He took her to their huge bathroom. The bath-tub was already filled with warm water and rose petals. He lowered her into the bath tub, stood up and looked at her intently with his passionate and lust-filled eyes. This made her feel conscious. And she asked nervously, “Aise… Kya… dekh…rahe hain?”
“Apne inaam ko dekh raha hoon. Aur woh tumhare inaam se bahut zyada achchha hai.” He said suggestively and joined her in the bath-tub for a long sensuous session of love-making.
—
“Maan!” Geet called his name when they were lying in the bed later that night.
“Bolo Geet,” he turned towards her with a smile on his face and pulled her even tighter into his arms.
Geet tried to say something but hesitated and finally stopped.
“Kya baat hai Geet?”
“Kuchh nahin. Bas Thanks bolna tha.”
“Thanks? Kis liye?”
“Ye sab karne ke liye.”
“Oh! Woh to main dubara bhi kar sakta hoon,” saying this he tried to get on top of her, but Geet pushed him away laughing.
“Badmashi mat kijiye Maan.”
“Ab agar tum in cheezon ke liye thanks bologi to mera hausla to badhega hi na,” then Maan changed his tone from naughty to serious, “Lekin Geet. Tum kuchh aur kahna chah rahi thi. Hai na? Batao mujhe.”
“Maan! Mujhe ab bhi kai baar bharosa nahin hota ki meri zindagi mein itni khushiyan hain. Ki aap jaisa insaan mujhse itna pyaar kar sakta hai. Aisa to kuchh bhi nahin hai mujhme. Main ek chhote shahar ki ek bahut hi saadhaaran ladki hoon. Kyon itna pyaar karte hain aap mujhse?”
“Saadhaaran ladki? Kitni saadhaaran ladkiyan apne vishwas ke liye poori duniya se lad jaati hain Geet? Lekin main tumhein sirf bravery award dene ke liye tumse pyaar nahin karta.” Maan laughed slightly and this sentence made even Geet smile.
“Sabse badi baat ye hai Geet ki tum har mayne mein mere liye sachchi ham-safar ho. Tum mujhe poora karti ho Geet. Mujhe Business chalana aata tha, logon ko control mein rakhna aata tha, lekin mujhe zindagi jeena nahin aata tha, purani baaton ko bhool kar aage badhna nahin aata tha, mujhe muskurana nahin aata tha, pyaar karna nahin aata tha, woh sab tumne mujhe sikhaya. Aur meri adhoori zindagi ko poora kiya. Aur aaj jo office mein hua usse to mera wishwas aur bhi badh gaya hai ki tum is duniya mein mere liye hi aayi ho. Jin logon ko mujhe control karna nahin aata, un par tum apna jadoo chala dogi, hai na? Sach ye hai ki jaise tumne client ko handle kiya, woh bilkul sahi tha. Lekin main jaisa insaan hoon, main woh kabhi nahin kar paata. Pahle hi gussa kar ke sab kuchh khatam kar deta. To main apni is sachchi partner se kyon ne itna, aur isse bhi zyada pyaar karoon?”
Geet smiled and snuggled up closer to him to hide her face in his shoulders. He stroked her hair and said, “Waise Geet. Agar yahi sawaal main tumse poochhoon to? Tum kyon mere jaise khadoos aur gussail insaan se itna pyaar karti ho?”
“Maan. Mujhe pata hai ki main aise bahut bolti hoon. Lekin itni badi badi baatein main nahin bol paungi is sawaal ke jawaab mein. Bas itna pata hai ki mere liye poori duniya aap hai. Shuruat mein main aapki ahsaanmand thi, kyonki aapne har kadam par meri madad ki thi. Aur ye ehsaas kab badal kar pyaar ban gaya mujhe pata hi nahin chala. Shayad aapne mujhe bahut sar par chadha liya tha, tabhi main ye himmat kar baithi.”
“Himmat? Himmat ki to tum baat mat karo Geet. Mujhe abhi bhi yaad hai ki kitne papad belne pade the mujhe tumse tumhare man ki baat kahalwane ke liye.”
“Achchha! Aur aapne kaun si apne man ki saari baatein kah di thi? Hamesha mujhse uljhaye rakhte the.”
“Geet tum mujhe gussa dila rahi ho.”
“Woh kaun si nayi baat hai. Waise aap mere saath kya kar rahe hain? Mujhe bhi gussa aa raha hai.”
The moon on their window must be smiling at this perfect closure of their evening. They fought like kids, using pillows and bed cover as their weapons, till they were tired; then made up with a smile and went to sleep.
– The End –