Mish' Fiction

Not knowing where to go and what to do, Maan drove to the Indian Paints office. Instead of going to his cabin, he went to Geet’s. He saw her chair and sat down on it, feeling her presence around him. Just then Romeo and Pandey walked in without knocking, “Geet ji…”

They were startled and their cheerful demeanour changed, “Sir Aap? Sorry. Woh actually Geet ji subah hi nikli thi aur tab se dikhi nahin, to hamein chinta ho rahi thi. Hamein laga ki woh aa gayi, isliye…”

“Geet ki tabiyat kharaab thi. Ab woh theek hai. Do-teen dinon mein wapas aa jayegi.”

“Kya? Tabiyat kharaab hai? Kahan hain woh?”

“Apollo hospital mein. Lekin woh ghar jaane waali hai. Chinta karne ki koi zaroorat nahin hai,” He paused, thought about something and added, “Mujhe pata hai ki tum log usse milna chahoge. Lekin doctor ne use bed rest ke liye kaha hai. Agar zyada visitors honge to shayad use problem hi ho. Isliye bura mat maanna, lekin abhi zyada logon ka wahan jaana theek nahin hoga.”

Romeo and Pandey were surprised to see their boss talking so calmly and respectfully, especially after the outburst they had seen the day before.

“Thank you Sir. Hamein batane ke liye. Unka aaraam karna hi theek hai. Sab log pareshaan hain Geet ji ko lekar. Hum unhein bhi bata dete hain.”

“Haan. Aur… tum log kal se lagaataar kaam kar rahe ho. Sab log ghar jao. Baaki ka kaam baad mein ho jayega. Ek-do hafte mein backlog clear ho jaye to kaafi hai.”

That was another shocker for them. Not knowing what else to say, they just thanked Maan and left the cabin. Maan had wanted to thank them for being Geet’s friend, for being on her side, for making her laugh when he was being a monster. But he did not know how to do that. Only Geet could so effortlessly pour her heart out to people. She did not hesitate is saying sorry or thank you when needed. And only she could make others pour their heart out too. Like she had done with the workers. Like she had done with him. But he… he had lost her.

He realized that the workers had gotten into the habit of walking freely into Geet’s cabin. He could not stay there. He absent-mindedly walked to his own cabin. He noticed the tapes of CCTV footage lying on one of the shelves. He took out the ones from the cameras in her office and started watching them. He had watched most of those things live. But then he had been angry. Now, every sight, every familiar action of hers brought tears to his eyes. He kept watching the footages and kept shedding tears silently. Then he came to the part he had not seen earlier. Geet ran into the cabin crying. Then she opened a taabeez she was wearing on her hand. And… Maan was stunned. The engagement ring came out of it. Maan stopped the video and replayed it, again and again, until he was fully sure of what he saw. He noticed the date and time of the footage and realized that it must have been after he had insulted her in the washroom.

Maan could hold it no longer within him. He sobbed. He cried out loud like he had not done in his life since the time he remembered. He cried and cried until his voice was hoarse and all his tears seemed to have been exhausted.

And at the end of it, he was left with nothing. He was neither laughing, nor crying, he wasn’t even moving from his place. He looked lifeless except for the slow blinking of his eyes. He was in some kind of trance and he came out of it when his phone rang.

—

“Geet Beta!” Dadi Ma entered as soon as the nurse told her that Geet had gained consciousness.

“Dadi Ma?” Geet was surprised as well as happy. Since the time she had come to live in the outhouse, Dadi Ma had been a mother-figure to her. And although this relationship didn’t count when her relationship with Maan was broken, still seeing Dadi Ma made her feel very relieved and secure. She did not know how long would it last, but at that point of time she really needed a shoulder to cry on. A strong enough shoulder. Tears started flowing out of her eyes.

“Nahin Geet,” Dadi Ma got worried and she walked faster towards her, “Aise nahin karte beta. Pata hai aapko, stress ki wajah se hi aapki tabiyat kharaab hui thi. Apna nahin to apne bachche ka to khayaal kijiye.”

Geet leaned forward and hugged Dadi Ma.She tried hard, but she could not stop her tears. Dadi Ma’s heart went out for this girl. And her guilt at being the possible cause of her separation from Maan increased many-fold. She was already miserable seeing Maan’s condition in last one week.

“Bas Geet. Chup ho jaiye, please. Hum hain na yahan. Sab theek ho jayega.”

Geet broke the hug and wiped her tears, as she tried to become calm.

“Sorry Dadi Ma. Main bahut ghabra gayi thi.”

“Koi baat nahin beta. Aap hamein apni pareshaani nahin batayengi to kise batayengi?”

Dadi Ma pressed Geet’s hand and they stayed silent for a moment.

“Geet beta. Hamare dil par bahut bada bojh hai. Hamein aapse baat karni thi beta, par aap to bina bataye na jaane kahan gayab ho gayin?”

“Kya baat hai Dadi Ma?”

“Hamein pata nahin ki ye sahi samay hai bhi ki nahin. Lekin hamein lagta hai ki shayad hamare sach batane se hi aapko bhi shanti mile.”

“Paheliyan mat bujhaiye Dadi Ma. Please mujhe bataiye ki kya baat hai.”

“Beta. Mujhe nahin pata ki aapke aur Maan ke beech kya hua tha? Maan ne to hamein kuchh bataya nahin. Aur office waalon se bhi hamein aadhi-adhoori baatein hi pata chali. Lekin beta agar aapke man mein Maan ke iraadon ko lekar koi bhi galatfahmi hai to use door kar lijiye. Unhone sirf aur sirf mere kahne par Dev ko bail dilayi thi, do ghanton ke liye. Hamein pata tha ki aapko achchha nahin lagega, lekin hum mamta ke haathon majboor the beta. Hum…”

“Dadi Ma!” Geet got the shock of her life. Dadi Ma looked at her and was scared at what she saw. Her face had suddenly become pale. Life seemed to have gone out of her body.

“Geet!” Dadi Ma shook her and Geet came back to reality.

“Geet beta. Aapko humse naraaz hone ka poora haq hai. Humne jo Maan se karwaya, woh galat tha… Lekin kya aap ek baar is boodhi dadi ko maaf nahin kar sakti. Hamari galti ki sazaa Maan ko…”

—

To be continued

Geet tried to free herself from him as she said, “Sab kuchh galat hai. Jo hua hai, jo ho raha hai. Sab galat hai.”

Maan clutched her even harder, “Tumehin problem ho rahi hai na Geet ki tumhare bina main itna khush hoon? Tumhein problem ho rahi hai na ki tumhare hote hue bhi main kissi aur ko ahmiyat de raha hoon? Tumhein problem ho rahi hai na ki main kissi aur ko kareeb aane de raha hoon?”

It was getting beyond Geet’s tolerance. She pushed him hard and freed herself, “Chhodiye mujhe.”

But Maan was not affected by her pained expressions or her words. He pulled her back again, “Tumhein problem ho rahi hai na ki main tumhare saath nahin, kissi aur ke saath dance kar raha hoon. Tumhare kareeb kyon nahin aa raha hoon?”

She continued to struggle to be let free. After a pause Maan continued his verbal assault, “Bolo Geet tumhare saath dance karoon. Ya…” He pulled her closer and their lips almost touched. While his words were insulting to her, she was well aware that Maan was not in his senses. The only thing she was trying to do, then, was to free herself so that she could get away from him before more damage was done. Another attempt, “Sir mujhe jaane dijiye.” She half succeeded, but he pulled her back and forcefully hugged her. The he made her keep one of her hands on his shoulder and grabbed her waist once more, bringing them in a dancing pose.

“Kya hua Geet? Tum door kyon ja rahi ho? Tum to yahi chahti thi na? Ab sharma kyon rahi ho? Yahan par koi nahin hai. Aur agar koi hoga bhi to kya farq padta hai.”

Geet could not help getting hurt now. Tears started flowing from her eyes but they seemed to have no effect whasoever on Maan.

He ignored her tears and constant pleas of letting her go as he forced her into a dance. Geet did not realize what she was doing until she had already done it. As soon as she found one of her hands free, she slapped him.

Startled by it, he let her go immediately. Geet herself was as startled by her action as he was. When he looked back at her, his expresions were blank. He did not even show the anger that was so visible on his face few moments back. It was as if he was unable to make any sense of what was going on.

Geet on the other hand was visibly shaken. She immediately regretted what she had done. And yet she was too stunned to say or do anything. She looked at him shocked and ashamed at what she considered a serious lapse in her behaviour. At that moment she wasn’t thinking of how wrong he had been. She was only thinking of how could she slap him. Him of all the people in the world. She started crying openly and ran away from there. Maan was glued to his place as he saw her going away, still not able to think or do anything.

And then the physical and mental exhaustion, irregular eating and sleeping habits and emotional stress of last half an hour took its toll on Geet as her head started spinning and she started losing her balance.

That brought some sense back into Maan as he ran towards her, “Geeeet!” He reached just in time to prevent her from falling, “Geet. Kya hua tumhein? Aankhein kholo Geet.” And then suddenly things started making sense to him. She was right when she said everything was wrong. It indeed was! What on earth was he doing? Giving her so much stress? She was pregnant.  She needed to be taken care of. And what was he doing? He hated himself. But this was not the time for self-loathing. She needed care.

He rushed her into his jeep and took her to the hospital. After checking her up, the doctors told him that she had fainted due to stress. As such there was no immediate danger, but she should not be taking so much stress as it can be bad for her own health and fatal for the baby. Maan maintained his control in front of the doctors, but sank into the chair in the waiting area as soon as they had left. Outwardly, he looked exhausted and devoid of the ability to think. But inside there was a storm going on as the events of the last few days replayed in his mind. He waited and waited for her to become conscious. The doctors had told him that she would be up only by the late evening. They also said that once she was up he could take her home, but she needed complete bed-rest.

He was waiting for her to wake up. He was checking on her every few minutes. But when the time drew closer, he realized something. It wouldn’t be the best thing for her to see him when she wakes up. That would only stress her more. He took out his phone to call Dadi Ma and noticed that the battery had died.

He walked to the reception and made the call.

“Dadi Ma,” his voice sounded so exhausted that it had Dadi Ma worried.

“Maan beta. Kahan the aap din bhar? Farmhouse se phone aaya tha ki aap achanak gayab ho gaye. Aapka phone bhi nahin lag raha tha. Office mein bhi kissi ko kuchh pata nahin tha. Aap theek to hain na?”

“Main theek hoon Dadi Ma. Par Geet…”

“Geet? Geet mil gayi? Kya hua Geet ko beta?” Dadi Ma was worried even more.

“Dadi Ma. Geet ki tabiyat kharaab hai. Abhi koi khatra nahin hai. Lekin use bed rest ki zaroorat hai. Abhi behosh hai. Thodee der mein hosh aa jayega. Dadi Ma! Aap please mera ek kaam karengi.”

“Boliye beta. Geet kis hospital mein hain?”

Maan told Dadi Ma about the hospital and asked her to convince Geet to go home with her. He was sure that Geet would not listen to him. Dadi Ma agreed. He waited for Dadi Ma to arrive in the hospital and then reluctantly left the place.

—

To be continued

Nobody other than Geet knew who he was. Romeo was startled and he asked, “Aap kaun hain?”

“Main kaun hoon? Main Maan Singh Khurana, is company ka owner.”

Romeo’s body language changed and he looked more deferential.

Maan continued to shout, “Aur tum yahan kaam karne aate ho ya flirt karne? Nikal jao abhi ke abhi yahan se. You are fired.”

“Maan?” Geet was shocked. Then she controlled her temper and corrected herself, “Sir! Romeo mehnati worker hai. Aap bina matlab ise fire kyon kar rahe hain?”

“Ye meri company hai aur mujhe apne decisions kissi ko explain karne ki zaroorat nahin hai.”

Maan left the place with this and Geet quickly reassured Romeo, “Romeo. Tumhein kahin jaane ki zaroorat nahin hai. Tum apna kaam karo. Chinta mat karo. Mera gussa ye tumhare oopar nikaal rahe hain. Main aisa nahin hone doongi.” Then she ran after Maan.

“Sir. Aapka gussa mujh par hai. Aap woh Romeo par kyon nikaal rahe hain.”

“Tumhein aisa kyon lagta hai Geet ki meri duniya tumhare chaaro or ghoomti hai. Main kissi ka gussa kissi par nahin nikaal raha.”

“Mujhe nahin pata ki aapki duniya mere chaaro or ghoomti hai ya nahin. Lekin itna to saaf hai ki main kya karti hoon, kya sochti hoon, mere aas paas kaun hai, isse aapko farq padta hai. Romeo mera dost hai, mujhe khush dekhna chahta hai, mere saath thoda hansi-mazaak kar leta hai to aapko usse khunnas ho rahi hai.”

“Geet!” Maan was enraged. She had bluntly told him what was happening to him and he was not ready to accept it.

“Agar aisa nahin hai to Romeo kahin nahin jaayega. Maine use bola hai ki woh kaam karta rahe. Agar aapko use nikaalna hai to wapas aa kar bol kar jaiye.”

Maan did not reply to that and walked away from there. Geet went back to the shop-floor.

—

Geet became busy with the workers and she did not have time to dwell on what happened with Maan. She had decided to stay in the office until the work was finished. Everyone tried to send her home for the night, but she did not agree. Finally they made her agree to take some rest in the office itself. They also arranged for her to eat something, but she was too nervous about the whole thing. She did not eat much. She came to her cabin, sank in to her chair and slept off almost immediately from the exhaustion.

She woke up in the morning when the landline in her office rang.

“Hello?”

There was no reply from the other end as Maan was coming out of his jeep at his farmhouse.

“Hello? Aap theek to hain na?” She remembered how Maan had left yesterday and got worried for him.

“Tumhein kaise pata chala ki phone par main hoon?”

“Ji… Woh… Haan… Aapi gaadi ki awaaz…” She fumbled for the explanation.

“Geet. Mere cabin mein ek green color ki file padi hui hai. Us par ek Chinese company ka naam likha hoga. Tum abhi ke abhi woh file le kar mere farm house par aao.”

“Farmhouse? Abhi? Lekin office mein bahut kaam hai. Main peon ke haathon bhijwa deti hoon.”

“Agar main peon ke saath hi woh file discuss kar sakta to supervisor ki job to uski honi chahiye thi na. Tumhari kyon hai?”

Geet tried hard to not get angry and replied as calmly as she could, “Main aa rahi hoon.”

“Aadhe ghante mein mujhe tum yahan chahiye.” Maan said and disconnected the call.

—

Geet reached the farm house just in time and rushed to meet Maan. She asked one of the housekeeping staff where Maan was and barged into the room. She was surprised to see a party going on there. With her enxhausted face and crumpled clothes, she was looking completely out of place and she grew extremely conscious of the glances she was getting from the people there.

She couldn’t fathom why Maan would call her to a party with an official file. She decided to find him, hand him the file and leave immediately. As soon as she spotted Maan she walked quickly towards him.

“Sir. Aapne ye file mangwayi thi,” She said ignoring her surroundings.

Maan was talking to a girl then. He pretended not to even look at her and said, “Wait karo. Main abhi busy hoon.”

“Par…”

“Geet. Maine kaha na main busy hoon. Tum yahin wait karo.”

Geet had no option but to shut up. She started moving away and looked around trying to find a lonely corner. Just then the music started and Geet saw Maan inviting the girl he was talking to for a dance.

She looked at the girl. Short dress, high heels, latest accessories, short, stylish hair – everything that Maan used to tease her about at one point of time.

Why did he call her here? To make her uncomfortable, jealous? She should not give in to this, she thought. But she could not take her eyes off them once they started dancing. She remembered the time when he had dragged her to the dance floor in a similar party. Both of them were angry at each other then. But that dance had showed something else. Something that they had taken a long time to accept to themselves. Their passion, their desire for each other, their love! And what was he doing today dancing with this girl? Trying to insult those moments, those memories, that feeling, that love. As the song ended and he lifted the girl up as a finale to the dance, Geet could hold herself no longer. Her eyes became moist and before he could see her crying, she left from there.

Maan immediately noticed that she was missing. That wouldn’t do for him. She had to be there. She had to see that she did not matter to him. That he was not affected by her presence. That his life could go on with others irrespective of her presence or absence. But how would she know if she was absent? She had to be present. He walked out of the room to find her.

He did not have to look hard. She was trying to get away from there, get away from him. He ran after her and pulled her by hand. He held her close and clutched her waist with one of his hands. He glared at her with his steely eyes without saying anything.

She burst out finally, “Ye kya kar rahe hain aap? Kyon apna tamasha bana rahe hain? Kyon aisi harkatein kar rahe hain, jo karne ki izaazat khud aapka man aapko kabhi nahin de sakta? Bas kariye.”

Maan continued glaring at her unwaveringly, “Geet. Aisa kya kar diya hai maine? Dance hi to kar raha hoon. Ismein galat kya hai?”

—

To be continued

As soon as she stepped out of the room, she could not control her tears any longer. They started flowing freely and she rushed towards the wash-room. Ramesh was coming back to Maan’s cabin, when he saw Geet crying. He tried talking to her but she did not respond. He thought he should inform the boss and rushed to Maan’s cabin. But Maan had already seen her on the CCTV footage and he was coming out of his room by the time Ramesh reached there. Maan did not let him speak anything and walked in the direction Geet had gone to.

Maan stood at the door of the washroom as Geet cried her heart out in front of the mirror. She was looking down while crying and did not notice Maan. For a moment Maan became the same protective lover, who could not see Geet crying ever. His face showed immense pain, but when he saw her looking up and he hardened his expressions. Geet was shocked once again to see his face in the mirror as she looked up. She turned back to face him, “Aap yahan kya kar rahe hain?” It was the women’s washroom.

“Ye meri company hai. Main jahan chahe ja sakta hoon,” Maan was not to be perturbed. He moved towards her and came very close. She expected him to wipe her tears as he always did. His closeness was affecting her as usual. But instead he took out a tissue paper from the stand near the mirror and offered it to her, “Maine aaj kal apna rumaal ganda karna band kar diya hai.”

Geet looked up at him surprised. When did he learn to hurt at at every possible opportunity? She tried to move away from there, but he was so close that she hit his shoes and stumbled. She grabbed his collar for support. Maan glared at her and started removing her hand from his collar one finger at a time. When he reached the ring finger he realized that she wasn’t wearing the engagement ring. He wasn’t sure what he was expecting, but this realization angered him to no end. He almost crushed her finger in anger. By then she had gained her balance and ran away from there.

She walked into her cabin, which was closer to the washroom than Maan’s. She opened a tabeez she was wearing on her hands and took the engagement ring out from there, “Ye ek bandhan main tod nahin payi Maan.” She grew emotional. Maan did not watch this on the CCTV as he hadn’t reached his cabin yet.

Then she pulled herself together and walked to the shop floor to discuss the situation with workers. Maan noticed her going there and followed her, instead of going back to his cabin.

—

She showed Maan’s instructions to Gurcharan and sank on a nearby bench looking hopeless.

“Chacha ji. Mujhe to samajh mein bhi nahin aa raha hai ki main aap logon se kya kahoon? Ye saara kaam do dinon mein kaise ho sakta hai? Mujhe naukri chhodni hi padegi. Lekin phir bhi jitna ho sakta hai utna poora karne ki koshish to hum kar hi sakte hain.”

Geet tried to be strong, but she was on the verge of crying again. Workers noticed her situation and Gurcharan patted her head affectionately, “Puttar. Tu itna pareshaan mat ho. Thoda samay de. Main sab logon se baat karta hoon. Kuchh na kuchh samaadhaan nikal jaayega.”

Geet smiled weakly at him. Some more people gathered there and assessed the situation of how much paint was already produced and what was the situation of packing machines and consumables.They made some calculations.

“To agar machine do dinon tak lagaataar chale, chaubees ghante to production aur packaging dono ho sakte hain.”

“Lekin chaubeeson ghante machines kaise chal sakti hain Chachai Ji? Uske liye log bhi to chahiye honge na.”

“Romeo tujhe yaad hai jab hamare paas ek urgent order aaya tha, Amrica ke kissi client se, to Bhaiya Ji ne kya kiya tha.”

“Ji Chacha ji. Hum log shift baant kar aath-aath ghanton ke shift mein kaam kar sakte hain. Aur jab production machine chal rahi ho aur use dekhne ki zaroorat na ho, to wahi log packaging par bhi kaam sakte hain beech mein.”

“Haan. Aur agar zaroorat pade to hum sab log do-teen ghante zyada kaam kar lenge. Actual production ke liye kaafee time hai kyonki paints pahle se bhi hai stock mein. Packaging aur delivery par zyada dhyaan dena hoga,” Gurcharan added.

“Theek hai. To hum abhi se kaam shuru kar dete hain. Ek tihai log yahan abhi se kaam karenge. Baakiyon ko ghar bhej dete hain. Woh log baad ke shifts mein aa jayenge,” Pandey said.

“Haan. Pandey. Ek kaam karo, tum logon ki shift baant do aur uske hisaab se kaam shuru karwa do.”

Geet was looking at them all surprised. She silently thanked Babaji for sending these good-hearted people in her life.

Maan was overhearing them and he did not know how to react. The feeling sank into him that Geet could indeed manage without him. And it angered him, it distressed him.

He could not have explained why he was reacting that way. He did not realize that when she said she did not need him, it not only hurt his ego, but more importantly it brought out his deep-seated insecurities. Whether or not he acknowledged it, his world revolved around Geet. She was the source of his happiness, the source of his feeling of worth. He was a hurt man before she came into his life. somewhere deep within him he had a feeling of worthlessness. As if he did not matter to anyone. He had hidden his hurt and the feeling of worthlessness in the mask of arrogance, ego and ruthlessness. But Geet had come in and broken his shell. She had healed him and in her he had seen a reason for his life. Loving her, protecting her, making her happy restored his self-esteem and he started feeling that he was indeed worthy of living. And then one day, she took it all away. She did not need him!

Then he had reacted with ego induced anger. But when the feeling sank in that she could indeed do without him, his anger was fueled by distress.

He was a lost man at that moment. He could not think straight. He was not thinking of his name, his reputation, his family, his business, anything. He saw Geet going around on the shop floor looking after the work, helping the workers where she could, ensuring communication between them to finish work in time and ticking things off her checklist.

Then he saw Romeo coming to Geet. With his usual friendly, flirtatious self, he was saying something to Geet, which seemed to visibly cheer her up. She gave him a hi5 and shook his hand. Seeing that Maan lost any last iota of control that was left in him. He stormed in to the working area and pulled Romeo away from Geet.

—

To be continued

That night Maan waited for every one to leave the office. He had to wait much longer for Geet to leave as she seemed to be studying some reports. She wanted to be ready for more demands from her new boss the next day.

Finally when she also left, he made a call and got CCTV cameras fitted in every nook and corner of the factory. He did not wait to think how wrong it was to fit those cameras without the workers knowing about it. He had couple of them fitted even in Geet’s office. He was thinking of nothing and nobody other than Geet. And he did not realize the irony of it all.

—

From the next day, Geet had prepared herself to work hard. She had realized while looking at the reports that the supply was pending on many of the orders for several months – the oldest orders being delayed by as much as five months. The customers were cancelling the orders and that was not a good sign for factory’s future. She spoke with Gurcharan and other senior workers and they decided to get things back in order. Geet, herself, joined them on the shop floor. But the workers were chivalrous and they did not let her do any of the dangerous work involving chemicals or heavy-lifting.

Geet set up the target of clearing one month’s backlog at a time. It turned out that production was not so much behind the schedule. But the packing and delivery had been delayed. At her request, even the production workers chipped in for the packing work and to everyone’s surprise and the packing for the orders from the oldest one month was finished the same day by 8 ‘o clock in the evening. Everyone had worked overtime for the day and Geet thanked them all. But they did not need that. They were happy to have the ownership back in their hands. Geet found out from Gurcharan that Yash’ brother would let the workers talk directly to the customers to take and deliver the orders, which the supervisors coming later had forbade. They did not think it was appropriate for the shop-floor workers to talk to the customers. Geet decided to let the original owner’s tradition continue. Romeo was the person assigned the work and he happily took it up. He was to call up all the customers the next day and arrange for the delivery of the orders.

Maan was watching the day’s activity through the CCTV cameras. He could not hear their conversations, but it was clear from the activities on the shop floor that everyone was working hard. There were no signs of the disruption in work that Adi’s report had told him about. Geet was going around in the factory and was being treated with a smile by everyone. And in between he could not help noticing how Romeo was stalking her at every possible opportunity.

Maan wondered for a moment about what he was doing. What had he come to prove? But his anger did not let his sensibilities prevail for long. Laughing around with the workers was not going to make her win. She would have to come to him for help. And he would ensure that. He left some instructions with Ramesh for the next day.

—

Maan was leaving for the day. As soon as he settled on the driver’s seat and put on the seat belt, he heard her voice, “Maan!”

He turned to look at the passenger’s seat to see her sitting there smiling, “Mujhe pata tha aap mere bina nahin rah paayenge. Aap mujhe dhoondhte hue yahan aa pahunche hain na?”

“Geet. Tum yahan kya kar rahi ho?”

“Pahle sawaal maine poochha tha.”

“Main akela rahna jaanta hoon Geet. Mujhe tumhari nahin, tumhein meri zaroorat hai. Aur ye baat tumhein jald hi maanni padegi.”

“Theek hai. Ye bhi dekh lete hain.”

“Geet!” He was enraged but she suddenly disappeared.

“Geet?” He looked around confused and then realized that he was dreaming with open eyes. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and started driving.

—

The next day Ramesh came to Geet’s office as soon as she had come there and gave her a letter from the boss.

She glanced through it and looked up at Ramesh incredulously, “Ye kya mazaak hai?”

Ramesh just shrugged and started to leave.

“Boss apne office mein hain?”

“Jee. Par woh busy hain…”

“Kis cheez mein busy hain? Thoda time aa kar shop floor par bhi bitayen, taki unhein samajh mein aaye ki factory ki halat kya hai. Office mein baithe-baithe hukm chalane se kaam ho jaata to yahan logon ke kaam karne ki zaroorat hi kya thi?”

She ignored everything Ramesh was saying and walked furiously towards Maan’s office. She, of course, had no idea whom she was going to encounter.

She did not even bother to knock and directly ran into his office. Maan was facing away from the door when she entered, “Excuse me Sir. Kya main ye jaan sakti hoon ki aapke hisaab se kaam kissi jaadoo ki chhadi se hota hai kya, jise ghuma diya aur saara kaam ho gaya? Aapne reports padhi bhi hain? Poore paanch mahinon se orders ka backlog hai. Production ka backlog kam hai isliye humne ek mahine ke orders kal pack karwa diye hain. Lekin saara backlog do dinon mein kaise khatm ho sakta hai? Aur agar ho sakta hai to aap hi karwaiye ise?”

Maan turned around, “To aapko meri madad ki zaroorat pad hi gayi Ms. Geet Handa?”

Geet was so stunned to see him there that she did not notice the sarcasm and bitterness in his voice.

“Maan?”

“Sir!” Maan corrected her, “Maan Sir kaho. Main is company ka owner aur tumhara boss hoon.”

“Aapne ye company…”

“Khareedi hai. Lekin woh tumhara sar-dard nahin hai. Tum backlogs ke baare mein kya kah rahi thi?”

“Ye kya mazaak hai?” Geet tried to bring herself back to the matter at hand, “Do dinon mein saare order backlogs poore nahin ho sakte hain.”

“Tumhari marzi. Ya to tum woh kaam poora karo jo tumhein diya gaya hai. Ya phir maan lo ki tum meri madad ke bina ye nahin kar sakti. Ya phir tum naukri chhod bhi sakti ho, agar tumhein challenge manzoor nahin hai to!”

Geet was almost tempted to resign on the spot, but she bit her lips and controlled herself. She had a huge responsibility on her shoulders and she could not go around changing jobs everyday. She did not say anything to Maan and started to leave.

“Aur haan! Tumhein thodi tameez seekhne ki zaroorat hai. Boss ke kamre mein aane se pahle knock karna hota hai aur permission maangni hoti hai. Aage se main permission doon tabhi tum andar aa sakti ho. Yaad rakhna.” Maan didn’t realize how childishly mean he was being. Geet did not look back to reply because then he would have seen the tears forming in her eyes.

—

To be continued

Ah! There had to be a caveat, Yash thought. He was almost sure that he’d have to give the check back to Maan once the condition was spelled out.

“Kaisi shart?”

“Company ke operations aaj se hi main take-over kar loonga. Aur tum ab se factory mein nahin jaoge.”

“Par..”

“Mujhe ye check tumse wapas lene ki bhi zaroorat nahin hai. Ye cancel bhi ho sakta hai, abhi ke abhi.”

‘Bhari jawaani mein senile ho gaya hai lagta hai,’ Yash thought to himself, ‘Lekin main kyon pange loon isse. In sab se nikal jaana hi behtar hai.’

“Theek hai,” he said outwardly, “Lekin main aapko staff se introduce to karwa doon.”

“Uski zaroorat nahin hai. Main khud hi unse miloonga. Tum sirf apni supervisor ko phone kar ko bata do ki company takeover ho gayi hai aur tum ab uske boss nahin ho.”

Yash noticed that Maan seemed to know that his supervisor was a woman. The entire situation was freaking him out. He silently prayed to God to make his decision the right one. Was he really selling out his brother’s factory to this crazy guy?

“Mera naam batane ki aur introduction dene ki zaroorat nahin hai,” Maan added.

“Okay,” Yash decided to encash the check at the earliest, invest the money for his brother’s kids and get himself out of all this. India and Indian ways of business were not for him. He was happy with his role as an investment banker in New York.

—

“Lekin naya owner kaun hai Yash?” Geet asked over phone.

“Tumhari tarah hi koi sirfira hai. Woh nahin chahta ki main uska introduction staff ko doon. Woh khud tum logon se milega. Main naam bhi nahin bata sakta,” Yash informed her, “Aur haan. Main aaj shaam ko hi US wapas ja raha hoon. Tarnsfer ki legal formalities hoti rahengi. So, all the best!”

Geet could not fathom what was going on in her life. She had managed to gain the initial trust of the workers. She had figured out what was wrong and given Yash’ desperate situation, he was willing to give her a free hand, if she could run the business. And now suddenly a new owner, a new boss!

“Babaji! Meri madad kijiye,” she prayed and then went to the workers to tell them the news.

—

Geet sat in her cabin speculating what the deal with her new boss will be. She imagined the worst and got agitated. As she paced up and down the room, she felt a familiar touch on her shoulders, “Geet!”

She turned to see Maan there, “Aap?”

“Geet. Tum akeli nahin ho. Main hoon tumhare saath.”

Her eyes became moist and she moved her hands forward to touch him. But…

She found herself groping in the air. Nobody was there. She was alone. She was stunned. She was dreaming. Dreaming of him, his support, his love.

She shook herself out of the self-pity, “Bas kar Geet. Tu Hoshiyarpur se sab kuchh chhod kar kissi aur ke bharose to nahin aayi thi. Ab tujhe kya ho gaya hai?”

She sat down on the chair and said it out aloud, “Aapse maine bahut kuchh seekha hai Maan. Lekin ab ye ladai mujhe khud hi ladni hai.”

Just then Maan walked into the factory, but instead of going to the shop floor, headed directly upstairs to his cabin. He had an assistant with him to whom he gave some instructions.

The assistant, Ramesh, went to Geet’s cabin and knocked.

“Aa jaiye,” Geet said as she tried to come out of her gloomy mood.

“Good morning Ms. Geet. Main Ramesh, company ke naye owner ka assistant. Unhone aapke liye message bheja hai ki unhein company ki pichchhle 6 mahino ki sales reports chahiye aur jin orders ki supply pending hai unki list bhi.”

“Ji. Maine bhi kal se hi kaam shuru kiya hai. Mujhe thoda samay lagega ye sab reports banane mein. Main kal subah tak bhijwa doongi.”

“Unhone kaha hai ki unhein ye sab aaj 2 baje tak chahiye.”

Geet looked at the clock in the cabin. It was already 12 noon. In two hours!

“Lekin…” she started to object, but realized that he was just a messenger and there was no point talking to him about it, “Kya woh office mein hain? Main unse milna chahti hoon.”

“Woh abhi busy hain. Kissi se mil nahin sakte. Aap please do baje tak reports taiyaar rakhiyega. Main khud aa kar le jaunga. Main chalta hoon,” Ramesh left immediately.

Geet was flabbergasted.

“Babaji! Kya pahle hi kaafi uthal-puthal nahin ho gayi thi zindagi mein? Jo ab ek Mr. India boss aapne mere sar par daal diya hai. Janaab nazar nahin aayenge, bas orders diye jaayenge.”

She took a deep breath, “Koi gal nahin Geet. Tune Maan Singh Khurana ke saath kaam kiya hua hai. Ye kis khet ki mooli hai.”

And she ran to Gurcharan, “Chacha ji. Mujhe abhi ke abhi aapki madad chahiye. Warna meri naukri shuru hone se pahle hi khatam ho jayegi.”

“Shaant ho ja puttar. Aisa kya ho gaya?”

“Woh maine aapko naye owner ke baare mein bataya tha na, jiska hamein naam tak nahin maloon hai. Use 2 baje tak saari reports chahiye. Ye dekhiye list. Ab maine kal hi to kaam shuru kiya hai, aap hi bataiye itni jaldi sab kaise karoon?” Geet was speaking so fast that she started panting by the time she finished.

“Oye Chhotu. Paani la zara,” Gurcharan ordered the boy. He, then, handed the water to Geet and she gulped it down in one go.

Then Gurcharan smiled and told her, “Geet. Hum itne saalon se ye factory chala rahe hain. Gahbrane ki kya baat hai? Tu ja aur Romeo se mil le. Uske paas sab reports hongi. Aur agar kuchh nahin hogi to woh tujhe banane mein madad kar dega.”

“Achcha ji. Thank you very much.”

“Ab ismein thank you ki kya gal hai?”

Geet smiled and left to look for Romeo. ‘Romeo, ab ye kaise naam hai?’ she wondered, ‘Chaddo. Mujhe kissi ke naam se kya lena dena. Bas ye bala sar se utre.’

Geet hadn’t realized that Maan was stalking her while she was talking to Gurcharan and was also watching her talk to Romeo.

“Romeo ji. Dekhiye. Mujhe ye saari reports urgently chahiye. Ye sab ready hain kya? Ya abhi banani padengi?”

It was not at all difficult to observe that Romeo was a natural flirt and he was smitten with Geet. Even though Geet seemed oblivious to Romeo’s over charming manners and attempts to woo her, Maan’s blood boiled as Romeo touched Geet’s hand while taking the list of reports from her.

“Geet ji. Aap chinta kyon karti hain? Bas 15 minute mein saari reports aapke paas pahunch jayengi.”

“Thank you Romeo ji.”

“Are – aapke liye to hum channd-taare tod kar bhi la dein. Bas bataiye to sahi.”

Geet laughed at that remark taking it as a friendly joke. Maan forgot everything as he heard the ringing sound of her laughter. After all these days! But he came back to reality as he saw Geet walking towards the door. He had to hide himself from her. But he made a sub-conscious mental note to keep an eye on Romeo and to even get rid of him. Why was he bothered? He did not ask that question to himself.

—

To be continued

Please also read my earlier post. Need your help. 🙂

—

Geet entered the factory and asked the first person she came across, “Suniye. Kya main Gurcharan ji se mil sakti hoon?”

“Ji zaroor. Aayie mere saath,” he led her to one section of the factory.

“Chacha ji. Aapse koi milne aayi hain?”

Gurcharan Singh came forward and he appeared trying hard to remember who Geet was.

“Sat Sri Akal ji. Aap mujhe nahin jaante hain. Mera naam Geet hai. Mujhe aapse thodi baat karni thi.”

“Ji kahiye.”

“Hum kahin aaraam se baith sakte hain.”

“Aaiye.”

He took her to an open space. There was an old wooden bench there. Both of them sat on it. Gurcharan called a boy and asked him to get tea for both of them.

“Kahiye. Aapko mujhse kya baat karni thi Madam?”

“Aap please mujhe Geet bulaiye. Aap mujhse bahut bade hain.”

Gurcharan smiled, “Theek hai puttar. Jaise aap kaho. Batao kya baat hai.”

“Ji. Aap please meri baat shanti se suniyega. Mujhe Yash ne yahan naukri par rakha hai,” she saw tension building up on Gurcharan’s face and hastened to add, “Dekhiye, mujhe pata hai ki aap logon ki Yash se nahin banti. Aur isliye main yahan kaam shuru karne se pahle, aap logon se milna chahti thi. Unke bade bhai ke saath to aap logon ka kaam bahut achchhe se chalta tha. Phir unke baad aisi kya problem ho gayi hai?”

Gurcharan was silent.

“Gurcharan ji. Main koi is factory ki malik nahin hoon. Agar main yahan kaam karoongi to aap logon ki hi tarah ek employee ban kar. Mujhse baat karne mein aapko jhijhakne ki koi zaroorat nahin hai. Aur main waada karti hoon ki agar aap logon ko mere yahan kaam karne par koi bhi aapatti hui to main aapke oopar apne aap ko zabardasti nahin laadoongi.”

“Yahi to badal gaya hai na puttar yahan par. Bhaiya ji jab tak the, hum yahan employee ki tarah kaam nahin karte the. Woh hum sab ko apne ghar waalon ki tarah dekhte the. Hum sab log yahan ke malik ki tarah kaam karte the. Customers sirf Bhaiya ji ke nahin the, hamare bhi the. Unka order samay par pahunchaana hamara kaam tha. Aur uske liye agar hamein aadhi raat tak bhi kaam karna padta tha to karte the. Lekin hamare aur hamare parivaar ke sukh-dukh ka bhi dhyaan rakha jaata tha. Ab apne Pandey ko dekh lo. Uski Maa bahut beemaar rahti hai. Uski ghar waali subah kaam karne jaati hai kuchh aas paas ke gharon mein. Ab jab tak woh wapas na aa jaye Pandey ghar se nahin nikal sakta Maa ki wajah se. To pahle woh dus baje tak aata tha, aur uske badle shaam mein der tak kaam bhi karta tha. Lekin ab in naye zamane ke maalikon ko ye manzoor nahin hai. Unhein yahan har koi subah aath baje chahiye, chahe kissi ki zindagi mein kitni badi museebat kyon na aayi ho. Lekin ye sab tumhein kyon suna raha hoon main? Tum bhi pahle ke supervisors ki tarah Amrica mein padhi hogi, ya koi MBA kiya hoga. Hum sab ke ghante ginogi kaam karne ke.”

“Nahin, nahin Gurcharan ji. Na to main MBA hoon, na hi main Amrica mein padhi hoon. Balki main to Hoshiyarpur ke ek chhote se gaon mein pali hoon.”

“Tum Hoshiyarpur se ho? Are mera nanihaal bhi wahin hai. Bachmein mein khoob gaya hoon main. Ab to kai saal ho gaye. Koi raha bhi nahin ab.”

“Achcha? Kaun se gaon mein hai aapka nanihal?”

And they talked for a while about the common places they knew. At the end of it Gurcharan felt convincced that he should give Geet a chance.

“Theek hai puttar. Shayad tum hamein samajhti ho. Kab se aa rahi ho kaam par? Tab hi baaki baatein karenge. Aur tum baaki sab logon se bhi mil lena.”

“Ji zaroor. Main kal subah hi aa jaungi. Aath baje yahan aate hain na zyadatar log?”

“Tum bhi aath baje aa jogi?”

“Aur nahin to kya? Jab sab log aayenge, tabhi to main bhi aaungi. Warna kaam kaise hoga?”

“Achchha. Theek hai. Kal milte hain,” Gurcharan was smiling. This was clearly not something he had seen the earlier supervisors or managers do. Geet had just scored another point with him, without knowing about it.

“Aur ek baat. Aapko yahan sab Chacha ji bulate hain na? Main bhi bula sakti hoon?”

“Bilkul puttar,” Gurcharan’s smile became broader.

—

“To Ms. Geet Handa Indian Paints join kar rahi hain aaj se,” Maan looked at the report his detective had sent and said bitterly. He had come to the office after one week. He had neither slept, nor ate properly this entire week. He had to get back at Geet. He had to prove to her that she could not manage without him. Why was it so important to him? He did not bother to ask this question to himself. But where the hell was she? The detective finally had the answer.

He surprised Adi when he asked him to gather all possible information about Indian Paints.

“Sir. Ye a..a…achanak Indian Paints mein interest k.. k… kyon Sir?”

“Adi. Tumse jo kaha hai woh pata karo. Mujhe is company ke baare mein jo bhi latest information hai woh chahiye.”

“Yes Sir,” Adi backed off as was his usual reaction to Maan’s unreasonable anger.

—

Later in the day, Yash Malhotra was surprised to receive a call from Maan Singh Khurana, the MD of Khurana Constructions. He was interested in buying out his paint factory.

“Lekin aap suddenly paints business mein kyon enter karna chahte hain? Woh bhi meri factory khareed kar. See, I want to be honest. Labour situation achchhi nahin hai is factory mein,” Yash told Maan when they met soon after the phone call.

“Main kyon khareedna chahta hoon, ye mera kaam hai. Aap ye bataiye ki aapko bechna hai ya nahin aur aapki price kya hai?”

“Woh bhi discuss ho jayega, lekin main aapko sabse important baat bata doon. Ki jo bhi ye factory khareedta hai, use ye ensure karna hoga ki ye factory chalti rahegi aur workers ko fire nahin kiya jayega.”

“Agar factory nahin bhi chalti hai to mera apna business bahut bada hai. Main workers ko usmein absorb kar loonga. I hope ye tumhare liye kaafee hona chahiye.” Maan was impatient and arrogant. Yash could help noticing how he had come to “tum” from “aap” without bothering with any formality of confirming with him if he was fine with it. It was difficult for him to understand this man, supposedly a very successful business tycoon, at least in the construction industry. But he was the first and the only potential buyer, who was assuring him of workers’ future. So, he decided to take the opportunity and get himself out of this mess.

“Theek hai Mr. Khurana. Meri asking price 20 crores hai, lekin agar upfront payment nahin bhi milta hai to mujhe koi problem nahin hai…”

Maan asked him to shut up with a gesture of his hand and took out his checkbook. He signed a check for 20 crores and gave it to him, “Mere lawyers tumhein call karenge. Saari formalities aaj hi shuru ho jayengi aur jitni jaldi close ho jaye utna achchha hai.”

Yash was shocked. Was this really a business tycoon? No negotiations? Upfront payment before even completing the formalities? Did he really run his business like that? And it survived? Even became the market leader in the industry? Yash had to pinch himself to ensure that he was not dreaming. But the check was real and Maan Singh Khurana was still sitting in front of him.

“Okay…” Yash mumbled, not knowing how to take the conversation further.

“Lekin meri ek shart hai,” said Maan.

—

To be continued

Please also read my previous post. Need your help 🙂

—

Note on the OS

In this story I have revisited the Indian Paints track and tried to bring more logic in to it than what was shown in the serial. In my story, the showdown between Maan and Geet at Khurana Constructions was not public (as in not in front of board of directors or media). Geet was hired as a supervisor and not a CEO in Indian Paints. Yash does not know about Geet and Maan’s relationship. The problem at Indian Paints is also different.

—

“Mujhe apni ladai ke liye kissi ki madad ki zaroorat nahin hai. Aapki bhi nahin.”

“Theek hai. Main bhi dekhta hoon ki tum is shahar mein meri madad ke bina kaise rahti ho.”

That is how it had ended. With a clash of egos.

Geet had been furious after she had half-heard Maan’s conversation with Dadi Ma about why he was marrying her. She had not reacted immediately; instead decided to talk to Maan. Maan couldn’t be like that, she had told herself. But her temper gave way when she saw Dev in the mansion – out on bail – arranged by no one other than Maan. She had walked into the office all angry. She had questioned him. In a way that did not give him the chance to explain Dev’s bail. She had, then, started accusing him. The only question she had allowed him to answer was why he wanted to marry her.

And that had hit him hard. Did he really need to answer that? After everything he had done for her, for his love for her. He had refused to answer that. And in the intense physical struggle after that the taabeez had come out. The taabeez, that had always bound them together. It was like a cosmic sign that he had to let go. And they were not meant to be together.

And then she had said those words. That she did not need him. It hit him where it hurted the most. On his ego! And it hit something even more sensitive, but he did not realize that; or at least he did not acknowledge that.

—

“Ms. Geet. Aapko pata bhi hai ki aapne kis job ke liye apply kiya hai? Aapka koi relevant experience nahin hai. Na to paints industry mein, na hi supervisory role merin. Aur is factory ke workers ki situation ki itni badnaami ho chuki hai ki achchhe achchhe experience waale log bhi yahan aane se dar rahe hain aur hamare offers thukra rahe hain. Aapko kyon lagta hai ki aap ye kaam kar sakengi?”

“Aap mujhe bataiye ki aap ya koi aur ye kaam kyon nahin kar saka? Tab shayad main iska sahi jawaab de sakoongi,” Geet was not as confident as her words made her appear. But she needed a new job. Even in the worst of her days at Khurana Constructions, she had never felt this insecure about her and her baby’s future. And recently, with Maan beside her as a friend, as a lover, as a fiancee, she had left all her worries behind. But now the struggle was back before her. And it looked bigger and more difficult than ever. But she couldn’t have let it bog her down. She had to keep fighting for her child.

“Dekhiye. Aapne ek office job kiya hai pahle. Yahan sab old-fashioned shop-floor workers hain. Professionalism naam ki cheez nahin hai inke andar. Bas jab dekho emotional blackmail karne ko taiyaar – meri biwi, uska bachcha… Aur kaam kiska? Koi professional manager sambhaal nahin sakta inhein. Pata nahin bhaiya kaise sambhaalte the.”

“Aapke bhaiya ne kabhi koi manager nahin rakha inke liye?”

“Nahin. I think woh bhi inki tarah hi old-fashioned the. Lekin main nahin hoon. Mujhe US mein apna kaam karna hai. Waise interview mera ho raha hai ya tumhara?”

“To aap ye samajh lijiye ki main bhi aapke bhaiya aur in workers ki tarah old-fashioned hoon. Main un logon ko jaanti hoon jinhein emotions ki bhasha samajh mein aati hai, professionalism ki nahin. Aap mujhe ek mauka de kar dekhiye.”

Yash looked at her surprised. Something seemed right in what she was saying. As it is, he was at his wits end on what to do about the factory. His deceased brother was very emotional about it and in his last moments, he was not worried so much about his own children, as he was about this factory and the future of the workers. Yash had no such emotional attachments. But he could not have overlooked his brother’s wishes who was like a father to him. He was planning to take the children to the US with him. But what was he to do about the factory? There were people who were ready to buy the factory, but none of them would promise him that they’d keep it running or at least ensure that the workers are not left stranded. Most of them just wanted to take over the physical assets of the company and reuse them in their business. So, the only option for him was to find someone who could run it on his behalf. So long as it made enough money to pay the workers, he did not want anything from the factory. But where was he to find such a person? He tried to hire a professional manager. But he could not manage the workers. Another person came and the story repeated. Further hiring attempts went invain as the by then the reputation of the factory had fallen in the industry. No qualified candidates were interested in the position. The news of disruption also reached the clients and they were already deserting them.

Desperate times called for desperate measures. Yash decided to give Geet a chance.

“Okay Geet. You can join right away.”

“Thank you Sir.”

“Please call me Yash,” he smiled.

“Theek hai,” Geet also smiled. For he first time since she had walked out of Khurana Constructions a week back.

Geet told Yash that he need not introduce her to the workers. She would do it herself. She just asked him for the names of the senior-most workers and any other influencing ones.

—

To be continued

Geet smiled, overwhelmed and leaned on to his chest as he put his arms around her. She replied, “Kuchh bolne ke liye chhoda hi kahan aapne Maan?”

Maan smiled and broke the hug, “To jab hum itne alag hain Geet, to hum duniya ki rasmein kyon nibhayen? Hum to apni rasmein khud banayenge. Chalo mere saath.”

He led her to the balcony. A coffee-table and two chairs were laid out in the balcony and Geet noticed a decorated pooja thali containing sweets lying on the table.

“Geet. Ab se har saal hum karwa chauth par saath mein chaand ko dekhenge aur humme se kissi ek ki umra ke liye nahin, balki hamare rishte ki lambi umra ke liye dua maangenge.”

Geet did not say anthing; just kept on looking at him adoringly. Maan made her sit on the chair and pulled the other chair also close to hers. Then he sat down on it and put his arms around Geet’s shoulders. Geet happily leaned on to him.

When they spotted the moon, they looked at each other and made silent wishes for their relationship. Maan picked up a piece of sweet from the pooja thali and made Geet eat it. Geet also picked up a piece of sweet and took her hands close to Maan’s lips, but Maan stopped her by holding her hand. Geet looked at him surprised.

Maan did not give her the time to comprehend his intentions. He quickly pressed his lips against hers, probed her mouth with his tongue and scooped out some of the sweet from her mouth. He broke the kiss, chewed on the sweet and looked naughtily at a startled Geet. She saw him licking some pieces of sweet from his lips and it dawned on her what he had done. She blushed heavily and started moving away from the balcony towards the room, but Maan held her hands and pulled her back to him.

“Mera vrat tode bina tum kahin nahin ja sakti Geet,” he said in that seductive voice of his, which made Geet go weak in knees irrespective of what he said.

“Aapka vrat? Par humne to saath mein khana khaya tha…” she managed to protest.

“Bhookh sirf khane ki hi thode na hoti hai Geet. To vrat bhi sirf khane ka kaise hoga? Do dinon se bhookha hoon main,” saying this he lifted Geet in his arms and started moving towards the room.

“Maan. Aap…” Geet was crimson red as she realized what Maan was talking about.

“… bahut bura hoon na? Woh to tumhein abhi pata chalega Geet.”

He put her down on the bed, then straightened up, crossed his arms on his chest and looked intently at her. His unwavering gaze made Geet really nervous.

“Aap… kya…. dekh rahe… hain.. aise?” she managed to ask, breathing heavily, in broken words.

Maan climbed on the bed to sit beside her and then said, “Soch raha hoon ki jiski soorat aur khushboo itni achchhi hai uska swaad kaisa hoga?”

Geet visibly gasped. She actually felt like a defense-less prey and Maan was the hunter waiting to pounce on his prey. She got up and sat with her back supported by the headboard of the bed.

Maan took one of her hands in his and looked at the haath-phool she was wearing. Then he grabbed one of the rings of the jewelry with his teeth and took it out of her finger. He stopped and took a quick look at Geet. She had closed her eyes, but her face was still giving away how affected she was. Maan then repeated this exercise with the other fingers and also with the other hand of hers. Then he unlocked the bracelet of the haath-phools and took them completely off her hands. He planted a kiss the top of her middle finger and moved upwards through the back of her palm towards her hands. At the wrist he was interrupted by her bangles. So, he made them his next target. Slowly and carefully, he took off all her bangles. He could feel how her breathing was getting heavier. His own heart was beating furiously. But this was going to be a slow, long and beautiful evening.

After all the bangles were out, he ran his hands over her shoulder, arms, hands and palms sending a chill down her spine.

“Maan,” she hissed his name and hugged him tight. Maan responded to the hug and while keeping her in his arms, moved her hands up her back to her nape. He unhooked her necklace from there and then also untied her hair.

Then he broke the hug and took out her necklace. Next to go was her Maang-Teeka, which she had worn for the first time since their wedding. He kissed the teeka after taking it off and before putting it away on the side table. They he leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. Then he looked at her closed eyes and kissed on her eyes too. After that he almost lost his control as he kissed her face senselessly all over ending it with a furious attack on her lips again. By this time Geet had also drowned in the sensations created by his touches and she responded zealously to his kiss. They were panting by the time they broke the kiss. Geet’s eyes were still closed. Maan took a quick look at her, head to toe and then proceeded to take off her pallu. He quickly undressed himself. By then he did not even have the patience to undress her completely. His hands roamed all over her body, grabbing, pinching and squeezing her as he settled on top of her and slipped up her saree and petticoat to break his fast!

—

As they were lying on the bed all spent, someone knocked on the door startling them.

“Kaun hai?” asked Maan.

“Chhote Sahab. Dadi Ma aap logon ko khane ke liye bula rahi hain.” Nakul replied from outside the room.

And they realized that they hadn’t even met Dadi Ma after coming from the office as was their usual routine. They gave each other a “we-are-caught” mischievous look and Maan asked Nakul to leave as they were coming soon.

Their glowing, washed up faces at the dinner table did not skip Dadi Ma’s attention and she decided to tease them a little, “Kya baat hai? Aap log aaj ghar aaye to hamein pata bhi nahin chala. Geet?”

They were caught unawares and they looked at each other wondering what to say. Geet was quicker in making an alibi, “Woh… Dadi Ma… Haan. Main Karwa Chauth ki pooja kar rahi thi. Phir chaand chhip jaata na…”

“Pooja? Aapne vrat rakha tha kya?”

“Nahin Dadi Ma! Ab Maan ne vrat nahin rakhne diya. Lekin pooja to karne ki hoti hai na.”

“Bilkul, lekin phir aap kapde aur gahne bhi pahan leti. Achchha lagta.”

“Woh pahna tha Dadi Ma!” Geet spoke without thinking.

Maan glared at her and she realized the mistake. She thought of the saree lying crumpled in their bedroom.

“Arre. To badal kyon liya. Hum bhi to dekhte ki aap apni nayi saree mein kaisi lag rahi thi.”

“Woh… Dadi Ma… Haan! Mujhe laga ki khate hue kahin kuchh gir na jaye saree par isliye maine… badal li.” She looked at Maan to get an assurance she was being convincing enough. But Maan looked like he was ready to run away from there to avoid embarrassment.

“Oh! Achchha… Haan hum samajh gaye,” Dadi Ma gave them a meaningful look and mischievous smile and then started eating as if nothing had happened! Maan and Geet sighed in relief.

– The End –

Geet got up at 4 am and opened the door so that Dadi Ma could come in with her Sargi without waking Maan up. She had told Dadi Ma that she will get the Sargi from the kitchen. But Dadi Ma had insisted on bringing it for her. Geet had barely finished freshening up when Dadi Ma walked in. Despite their best attempts to converse in hushed voices, Maan’s sleep was disturbed. Geet hadn’t even switched on the light of the room to avoid disturbing him.

By the time Maan was fully awake Dadi Ma had left and Maan could not figure out much in the darkness.

“Kya hua, Geet?” He asked sleepily.

“Kuchh nahin, Maan. Aap so jaiye.”

But Maan had switched on the light by then and he saw the bowls and the plates on the table.

“Ye sab kya hai? Ye chaar baje subah tumhein kya karastaaniyan soojh rahi hain, Geet?” Maan said looking at the clock.

“Offo! Aap so jaiye na. Ye Sargi hai, Main bhi bas kha kar wapas so jaungi.”

“Sargi?”

“Haan. Aaj Karwa Chauth hai.”

“To? Tum upwaas rakh rahi ho?”

“Aur nahin to kya?”

“Lekin Geet. Tum already bahut kamzor ho. Ye sab karne ki zaroorat nahin hai.Aur phir tum din bhar paani bhi nahin piyogi, right? Ye bilkul acceptable nahin hai.”

“Main bilkul theek hoon Maan. Mujhe kuchh nahin hoga.”

“Dadi Ma ne kaha hai karne ko? Main unse baat karta hoon.”

“Maan! Aap mujhe shanti se khane denge, warna der ho jayegi aur main ye bhi nahin kha paungi. Aur Dadi Ma ne mujhe kuchh nahin kaha hai.”

Maan let her eat and decided to talk to her after the day-break. They went back to bed after she finished eating.

—

Since he was so sleepy during the incident, he did not remember it in the morning, until they went down for the breakfast. Geet served him, but she did not take anything herself.

“Geet tum…” he started asking and then remembered the Karva Chauth, “Oh! Geet hamari baat poori nahin ho payi thi. Tum ye vrat nahin karogi.”

“Kyon nahin karungi?”

“Kyonki in sabka koi matlab nahin hota. Aur agar tumhari tabiyat theek hoti to shayad main tumhein apni manmaani karne bhi deta. Lekin doctor ne tumhein already dehydration ke liye warn kiya hua hai.”

“Dadi Ma! Aap hi samjhaiye na inhein. Ek din mein kuchh nahin hoga. Aur ye to rasm hai. Saari suhaganein karti hain, main kaise na karoon?”

“Dadi Ma! ye 21st century mein aapko bhi lagta hai ki in sab se kuchh farq padta hai.”

“Par Dadi Ma! Rasmon ko nibhane mein kya burai hai? Aur main apni marzi se kar rahi hoon. Koi mujhe mazboor thode hi na kar raha hai? Phir?”

“Dadi Ma…”

“Bas!” Dadi Ma silenced both of them with a gesture of her hand, “Aap dono apni jagah sahi hain. Hamein kissi bhi faisle par koi aitraaz nahin hai. Hum aapki bahas mein nahin padenge. Aap log ye jhagda khud hi suljhaiye. Hamara nashta ho gaya hai. Hum ja rahe hain.”

“Par Dadi Ma…” both called her together, then looked at each other, confused. Dadi Ma did not heed their words and left.

Left on their own, their tone changed.

“Maan. Please karne dijiye na,” Geet pleaded softly.

“Kyonki ye tum mere liye kar rahi ho? Meri lambi umra ke liye? Hai na, Geet?”

Geet nodded.

“Geet,” Maan took her hands in his and pressed it, “Ye rasmein un logon ke man ko dilasa dene ki liye hain jo aur kuchh nahin kar sakte. Meri lambi umra ke liye tumhein bhookhe-pyaase rah kar bhgwaan se bheekh maangne ki zaroorat nahin hai. Tum mein to khud meri hifaazat karne ka dum hai.”

Geet looked at him questioningly not quite understanding what he was referring to. So, he continued, “Main to kabhi nahin bhool sakta, Geet, ki Rasika ke case se mujhe bachane ke liye tum apni jaan par khel kar Hoshiyarpur chali gayi thi. Aur jab tak apna kaam kar nahin liya, tumne meri bhi nahin suni.”

“Par…”

“Aur meri jaan bachane ke liye tum… tumne Dev jaise insaan se, jisse tum itni nafrat karti ho, usse madad maangi. Peechhe nahin hati. Geet. Jab tak tum mere saath ho, tum mujhe kuchh nahin hone dogi. Vrat-upwaas se kuchh nahin hota, Geet. Insaan ke iraadon se aur un iradon par amal karne se sab kuchh hota hai. Meri umra to kitni lambi tumne already kar di hai. Aur agar main khush rahoon to thodi si meri umra aur lambi ho jayegi. Uske liye to bas tumhara mere saath hona hi kaafi hai,” Maan paused and smiled before continuing seriously, “Isse zyada umra agar mujhe milti hai, tumhein bhookh-pyaasa rakh kar, to mujhe woh umra nahin chahiye, Geet.”

Geet was overwhelmed. She just kept looking at him lovingly and did not utter even a word.

Maan smiled, “Chalo ab fatafat mujhe khush karo aur nashta kar lo.”

Geet came out of the trance and stuttered, “Woh… Nahin.. Haan! Maine woh sargi khayi huyi hai na to mujhe abhi bhookh nahin hai. Main seedhe lunch kar loongi.”

“Juice?”

“Nahin pet bilkul bhara hua hai.”

“Theek hai. Phir office chalte hain. Hum wahan par kuchh saath hi kha lenge.”

“Nahin! Main aaj office nahin ja rahi hoon.”

“Pakdi gayi tum, Geet. Tumhein lagta hai ki tum mujhe dhokha de sakti ho. Chup chaap munh kholo aur nashta karo,” he took a piece of the aaloo parantha to her mouth and she had to take it.

“Aap bahut bure hain,” Geet pouted.

“Main kitna bura hoon ye main tumhein raat mein batata hoon. Abhi chalo office.” Maan said in a determined tone.

—

In the office Maan made sure that she had her lunch. Post-lunch he disappeared for few hours telling Geet that he had some important meeting to attend. Geet asked him how come she did not know about it, but he cleverly evaded her. He came back in the evening and by then it was the time to leave for home. So, they left together.

After walking into the Khurana Mansion, Maan pretended to remember something, “Geet. Main car mein ek important file bhool aaya hoon. Tum kamre mein jao, main abhi aata hoon.”

Geet nodded and walked to her room.

Surprise awaited her as soon as she entered the room. The red saree with golden work that she had brought for Karwa Chauth was laid on the bed along with the jewelry she had intended to wear with it. She found a note near the ensemble.

“Jab se ye saree dekhi hai, bas yahi soch soch kar pagal ho raha hoon ki meri mishti ismein kitni khoobsoorat lagegi. Ab ye intezaar khatm karwa do, please.”

Geet smiled. By now she should know that his unexplained absences from office were never for any important meetings. It was always something or the other related to her.

Geet freshened up and took time in getting ready. Maan seemed to have anticipated this. He gave her ample time and walked in only after she was completely ready.

Despite knowing beforehand that she looks breathtakingly beautiful in sarees, Maan stopped in his tracks with awe when he saw Geet in that bright red saree. Adorned with golden jewelry, she was literally shining and for a moment Maan forgot to breathe! Then a smile formed on his lips as he slowly moved towards her, locking the door behind him.

He cupped her face and said, “Geet. Bhagwaan par to vishwaas karna tumne mujhe sikha hi diya hai. Lekin ab lagta hai andh-vishwaasi bhi bana dogi.”

“Kyon?” Geet could not understand him.

“Itni khoobsoorat dikh rahi ho ki mujhe sach mein lag raha hai ki kahin tumhein meri hi nazar na lag jaye. Kala teeka lagane ka man ho raha hai tumhein.”

Geet blushed as he continued, “Tumhein aise dekhne ke liye to main har roz karwa-chauth manaun.”

“Rahne dijiye. Vrat to karne nahin diya…”

“Shh… Geet. Hamara rishta sabse alag hai. Jaanti ho na tum? Warna duniya mein aise aur kaun do log hain jo ek-doosre se itne alag hote hue bhi itne ek jaise hain, aur kaun aise do log hain jo ek-dossre ko itni khushi, aur itna dard de sakte hain, jitna humne ek doosre ko diya hai, aur kaun do log hain jo akele itne adhoore hain, lekin saath milkar itne poore ho jaate hain ki unhein duniya mein kissi aur ki zaroorat na ho? Bolo Geet? Bolo na!”

—

To be continued