Mish' Fiction

Please also read my previous post. Need your help 🙂

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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