MM - Ch 21

Papa, he was there, I didn’t think much of him but he was also part of the bidding. What I was surprised the most about is that Rai was all over him, he was by his side the whole time!’

Waleed Ullah listened to Haider giving an account of his recent business trip to London and replied to his son with‘Behroz had mentioned that Mohinder also has a business in textiles and fabric. I didn’t think that he was a big shot.’

Well, I was taken back with the way people knew him in the conference, many delegates came and spoke to him.’ Haider continued. ‘I asked Raichand about him but he held a tight lip. I wanted to know who this Mohinder uncle represents, if you ask Raichand he will open up to you.’

Waleed Ullah hmmed in response and dailed Raichand’s number, the call was answered.

‘Haan Raichand, kya haal hai? Haider said that he saw you in the London conference. Yaar, we didn’t expect you to not tell us that you will be also providing samples to others besides us for the bid.’

‘Your son is from the new generation, he never asked about my plans and was only focused on getting his samples. I only say what is asked from me’ Raichand responded.

‘Haan you know how dedicated he is! Waleed Ullah said ‘But anyway, he said he saw Mohinder Handa with you. He and his family were our guest for the past week here, Mohinder is my Samdi’s family friend.’

‘Yes I know, Mohinder Bhai told me when I asked him how he knows your son, Haider.’

‘Does he have a business line that big to be at the conference? Waleed Ullah smirked the question

Raichand said ‘Mohinder is one of the suppliers we use, he doesn’t have his own fashion line.’

‘Acha! That’s why I was wondering how I would have not known him if he was in the same business as us.’

‘Mohinder is a very private man, Waleed Sahab. He has his own business rules.

‘Yes, but its good to know everyone’s place in the market and society, Raichand’. Waleed Ullah replied.

‘His society is different and so is his business, if it was to cross your path, you would know then who he is, khair I wish your son good luck on this project, I saw that he worked hard’.

Raichand disconnected the call, and Waleed Ullah stood thinking that a man like Raichand who has been the peddle pusher of the textile market in Delhi for almost 25 years and on good terms with his company didn’t think twice before choosing his words for Mohinder and knew him more intimately than he imagined. He thought that Mohinder is probably another peddle pusher wanting to break into the international market like Raichand sp Waleed Ullah turned to more investement topics with his son and didn’t want to think twice over Mohinder or his business ventures.

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‘We loved spending time with you all, I wish you guys could stay for longer.’ Asma said.

Jassi Ji hugged and thanked Asma for hosting her family with so much love and happiness. She knew that Meer is in good hands for her pregnancy.

‘Well Geet is here in Delhi from the next month for her college, so you will see more of her’.

Meer looked at Geet with a smile, Geet hugged her tight and said ‘I will be in the dorms but on weekends we can hang out together’. Meer nodded happily.

Daijaan then hugged Meer and said ‘I will come back closer to the time Beti, your mamma will come next time’.

Meer waved her family as they left for the station.

As they drove away from the gates, their car braked suddenly with an oncoming car coming towards them at full speed. Geet and Roop looked out from the window  as they haunched forward as the car braked. 
Dadima stepping out of the backdoor of the car infront. They also stepped out of their car on seeing her. Dadima saw them coming and said ‘I couldn’t let you girls leave before hugging you one more time, When I told Maan bete this morning that you are all leaving today, he told me at once to that he can bring me here to say goodbye. Geet looked over and saw Maan leaning against the car in a black shirt wearing sunglasses looking in her direction..

He took them off and stood staring squarely at her . She immediately looked away but he started walking towards her. She looked up noticing him coming in her direction and and a look of nervourness and panic came across her face. Maan slightly smirked and walked past Geet over to Jassi ji who was getting out of the car. Maan said to Jassi ji ‘Dadima told me that with your help she was able to pull off the party for Haider and Meer Bhabhi. Thank you for being there for her, I know mom has a busy schedule'.

Jassi smiled at his sincerity and gently caressed her hand on the side of his face and rested it on his shoulder saying ‘Bete, your dadima is like my mother for me, my girls love her more and more every time they meet, the work that day was an excuse to spend more time with her'. 

Maan nodded and smiled before stepping away. He said ‘ Let's go home Dadi, now that we have met the most important person here indicating Jassi’. Roop huffed and said ‘No, Dadima came to see me as well!’.

Whilst everyone thought that Roop was being teased, Dadima was surprised at her grandson for being this playful. she watched him from the corner of her eyes as others laughed at Roop who hugged Dadima one more time before returning to her car. 

Geet who had said her to goodbye to Dadima, walked back to her car and stood near the door with her hands folded, glancing at Maan who stood on the other side near her mother. He then slowly looked at her sideways and raised his eyebrows questioning her.
She instead raised her eyebrows wanting more than a look as a goodbye, so Maan waved a quick hand at her whilst pretending to close Jassi ji's car door.

She chuckled but smiled at him one last time with a twinkle in her eye and got in the car.

 Dadima noticed this secret interaction and a small smile formed on Dadima's face. She saw that Maan was still looking at the car as they drove away and he raised his hand at the small hand from the back window of the car waving back at him. 

So she said 'Chale bete? ya abhi aur kisi ko goodbye kehna tha?' (Shall we go or are you waiting to say goodbye to someone else?)  He immediately straightened up and said to his grandma ' No, I was just waiting for you to get in the car!'. 

She softly laughed and sat in the car with her mind filled with thoughts she hadn’t paid attention to in many years.