Part 7
After multiple phone calls and constantly being greeted by the automated voicemail Geet knew there was something wrong. She finally got a hold of Meera late Sunday night and could sense from the tone in her voice that something was off. But no amount of cajoling would make Meera break. She denied anything being wrong and blamed her inability to answer the phone due to misplacing it. But Geet knew better, there was a definite shakiness in her voice that only happened when Meera was tense. With much difficulty Geet accepted the fact that Meera wasn't going to say much and just had to wait until she came back to figure out what exactly had happened. So she put the phone down and tried to go to sleep.
Meanwhile Meera was equally restless after hanging up with Geet. All day she ignored Geet's phone calls because she didn't know how to face her with the dreadful news. Meera didn't want to tell Geet anything at the moment since she knew Geet still wasn't ready for what was coming. Although Geet was relatively better with the change of scenery these past few days it was only because she had been able to divert her mind away from her career. But with the news that Meera had received as soon as she got into the city left her stunted. She had initially come back to New York on terms of work for only a day but things changed with a phone call from Dr. Parineeta Sharma or Pari as both Meera and Geet called her.
Pari was a close childhood friend of Meera's who later became in contact with Geet as her senior doctor during her early days in the hospital. With a few more years under her belt at New York Hospital Pari was more acquainted with the board members and fellow doctors than Geet. So immediately after hearing the news of Geet's career being on the line Meera got to work. She contacted Pari the day they were leaving for the Hamptons in hopes that maybe she could influence the board members into changing their decision so Geet's career could be salvaged.
Meera knew the chances were slim but there was no harm in trying. But from the little Pari told her over the phone Meera realized the news wasn't too optimistic. So she invited Pari over to the loft to discuss things calmly. After handing Pari a cup of coffee Meera curled into the corner of the sofa.
"How is Geet doing?" Pari asked.
"She's okay. You know she's good at hiding what she's really feeling but overall I think the change has been good for her."
"I'm surprised you left her alone though."
"Oh no, Geet has plenty of company." Meera then quickly filled her in on Geet's new temp job with the Khurana's.
"Well that's good. I'm glad to hear she's at least occupied with something else now."
Meera nodded and decided finally to get to the point since she couldn't wait any longer, "So how did it go?"
Pari waited a while to say something. She wanted to get her thoughts straight before she started pouring out the dreadful news. After Geet was fired Pari was devastated for her knowing she of all people didn't deserve that. "I tried to convince them but none of the board members wanted to hear a word. They are scared that the Walters might pull back funding for the hospital so they aren't willing to get involved on Geet's behalf."
Meera felt helpless. This was exactly what she was afraid of. "So there's nothing we can do?"
Pari just shook her head with a grim face. "The Walters are in no mood to even talk so them stepping back on the suit is simply out of the question."
Meera then realized there wasn't much she or anyone else could do now. The Walters were a well known family with plenty of money and connections. There would be few people able to stand up against them. She felt utterly hopeless. After some time she said, "Well at least we have a few months until the legal process starts. In the meantime I will just focus on getting Geet much better."
Pari was clueless how to bring this part of the topic up from the beginning since it was one she had been dreading the most. So she was glad Meera brought it up herself. "That's the thing Meera, we don't have time. They managed to pull some strings and sped up the six month filing process. God knows how soon the papers might arrive."
Meera felt her heart sink right then. Her purpose of taking Geet to the Hamptons was to divert her mind and help her restore her emotional stability. And from what she could see it was doing well. But now knowing the papers would arrive any day Meera began to worry. She knew Geet was strong but her career was everything to her. It was the only thing she had left. What would happen to her if she had lost this too? Meera dreaded the thoughts and tried to block them out because of the heart wrenching feeling they gave her.
But she instantly realized ignoring the situation and diverting thoughts would no longer work since it was now getting legal. So her first order of busy was making the dreaded phone call to Geet informing her of only the fact that she was extending the trip not as to why. Meera didn't want Geet to find out over the phone especially when she wasn't there to support her. So she attempted to compose herself the best she could and dialed the number. Knowing Geet would be able to sense something being wrong Meera put on her best cheery voice. Thankfully it wasn't needed when she heard Maan's voice on the other end instead of her best friend. After quickly relaying the message Meera started to think of what to do next.
Even though Meera knew the court proceedings would take place in New York she didn't want to stay there and further ruin Geet's state of mind with the city life and publicity. It had already been a few days since Mr. Walters death but the news was still fresh in the papers. And Meera knew once the case started the media was going to be all over it. So she decided to pay the remaining month's bills for the loft and close it up. Travelling from the Hamptons to New York City would undoubtedly be expensive both in cost and time but Meera didn't want to put any more stress on Geet than needed. Then next things on her list were to go lawyer hunting and make a stop by the post office to have all of their mail temporarily forwarded to the Hamptons address. After settling on all of this Meera started to head out the door but realized it was Sunday so she just spent the night packing up necessary items.
Two Days Later.
Geet was absolutely restless the past two days. The fact Piyu still had a slight temperature on and off concerned her greatly. Then Meera mysteriously extending her trip in New York without explaining why had left her mind running with all kinds of ridiculous possibilities. On top of everything Maan as of late started to act different.
Since Meera had left Dadi insisted on Geet spending the nights at the house so she wouldn't be alone but Geet politely declined. In a sense she did live at the Khurana house given that she was there from morning till night. She spent most of her time the past two days taking care of Piyu But also spent time chatting and cooking with Dadi while Piyu would be resting. Maan and she also had slowly become more comfortable but Geet couldn't help but notice the fact that he had started to act a little strange.
For some reason to Geet he seemed lost and preoccupied all the time. Had it only been with her she wouldn't have thought much of it but he was the same way with Piyu and Dadi. She figured it could be work related and didn't want to disturb him further so she didn't ask. But that didn't stop her mind from constantly badgering questions on herself. The more and more she thought about it Geet finally recalled that Maan was fine until he had taken that phone call Sunday afternoon.
Geet was so lost in all of these thoughts of Piyu, Maan and Meera that she had forgotten the task at hand. Dadi had watched her act strange also but didn't want to say anything until she noticed her staring off into space while the milk started to boil over. The burning smell and simmering sounds caught Geet's attention before Dadi's screaming.
"Geet where is your mind at? You could have gotten burned!"
She quickly moved the pot and turned the gas off. "I'm sorry Dadi. I don't know what's going on with me."
Dadi knew what she was worrying about. "Geet don't worry Piyu will be fine in no time and as for Meera I'm sure it's just work that's keeping her occupied. Plus she's coming home today so relax only a few more hours." Geet nodded and tried to get her head straight long enough to finish making dinner.
Meanwhile in his study Maan flipped through remnants of his past. He was drained not only physically but mentally. The combination of an early drive into the city and a meeting that seemed endless had exhausted him. Things started to look up for once in a long time but it all changed when a shadow of his past came back. Maan's mind started reel back to the phone call he received Sunday while he was with Piyu and Geet. He didn't recognize the number so thinking it was work related Maan answered but only wished he hadn't as soon as he heard who was on the other end.
After giving a curt business like hello he heard his name being said by a woman whose voice he'd never forget. Quickly realizing who it was Maan handed over Geet the bowl to finish feeding Piyu and stepped outside.
The anger began to rise inside him. Maan tried to strain it from coming to his voice but with much difficulty. He clenched his jaw and gritted, "What do you want Sameera?"
She knew Maan was angry. Had it not been the manner he spoke in then the fact that it was her on the end was more than reason enough. She didn't know where to start or what to say but after realizing he would disconnect any moment she said, "Maan'I'm sorry."
Maan closed his eyes in disgust and curled his free hand into a fist. "You are sorry? Is that all you can say after everything that you have done to Piyu and me."
"Maan, please listen to me just once. I know I made a mistake and I'm sorry..."
"Mistake or not I don't care. I hope at least now after all these years you've realized that you can't make mistakes like that and expect everything to be alright." Maan didn't wait a second longer to hear what else Sameera had to say and cut the call. In spite of all the damage she had already done in their lives he couldn't fathom what was left. After all the grief and pain she caused them during a time when they needed nothing but the opposite left Maan dripping with hate for her. When he was left shattered rather than sticking by his side to help join the pieces together she chose to walk out. When his family needed her the most she turned her back on them. That day he realized that there wasn't an ounce of love or concern in her for anyone but herself. These were things that Maan could simply never forget nor forgive.
Thank you all for the comments so far I really appreciate them! I hope you liked this part please comment and/or hit the like button! 😊
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