"What do you mean? Tumne yahaan bulaya isiliye aayi..tum bhi na Uday" Manyata said very well knowing he meant something else.
Uday: "im not in mood for jokes Manyata, I meant Nanhi pari ranch me aane ka maqsad kya hai tumhara?
"mera maqsad..oh mera sabse bura maqsad hai Uday'yeh sab lootkar le jaane ka irada hai mera..sambhalkar rehna..kya pata main kab bhaag jaoon" she said with a wink. She refused to let go her joyful mood despite whatever he had said.
Uday: "it's not funny dammit! Tumhari bakwas band ho gayi ho toh ab mujhe real reason bata sakti ho"
Manyata said in all seriousness. "Kya sunna chahte ho tum?" tears sprang up in her eyes.
Uday: sach aur sirf sach'
Manyata: toh suno mera apna swarth (selfish motive) hai yahaan aane me..
Uday let out a sigh. "Kaisa swarth? Explain..
Manyata said in a low voice thick with emotion.. " zindagi bhar jis pyaar se vanchith rahi uss pyaar ko haasil karne ka swarth..apnon ka saath pane ka swarth..thodi khushiyan sametne ka swarth-" she could not complete.
Uday: yeh filmy baatein rehne do aur sach batao..
Manyata's anger had been aroused now and she retaliated.
"tum samajhte kya ho apne aapko? Arre tum kya jano zindagi bhar pyar ki ek nazar ke liye tarasna kya hota hai! Mujhse poocho mujhe kaisa lagta hai, kaisa lagta hai jab saari saheliyan apne mummy papa ke baare me baatein karti hai aur mere paas kehne ke liye kuch nahi hota..kaisa lagta hai jab ehsaas hota hai ki khud ka pitah aap se nafrat karta hai..aur aap se milna nahi chahta, aap ki chitthiyon ka jawab nahi deta, sach kahoon toh mujhe tumse jalan hoti hai Uday! Jo cheez meri hai, jin cheezon par mera pehla haq hai woh sab tumhe mila hai! Tumhare paise se koi matlab nahi hai mujhe..tum yahin samajhte ho na ki yahaan me apna haq maangne aayi hoon, haan theek sochte ho tum'par mujhe tum duniya ki saari daulat bhi doh na tab bhi main pichle dino mujhe mila hua pyar, dosti, hasi nahi baantoongi'" she couldn't complete her tirade'
Uday was silent for a moment, then he said "i..im sor-sorry"
Manyata: "kitni aasani se kehdiya sorry! Tumne kabhi mujhe dost nahi maana..agar maana hota toh tum mujhpar is tarah shak nahi karte!"
Uday: "now hold on for a second'kya kaha tumne? Baba tumse milna nahi chahte? Baba ne tumhari chitthiyon ka jawab nahi diya? Jo baatein tum bol rahi ho kya woh sach hai?"
Manyata: haan sach hai'maine bachpan se aaj tak har saal, har khushi ke mauke par unhe letters likhe'jab main class me 1st aayi tab'jab main dance competition jeet gayi tab'aaj tak unhone ek baar bhi jawab nahi diya..par maine bura nahi maana'
Uday: baba ne toh mujhe aisi koi bhi letters nahi dikhaye..woh mujhse har baat share karte hai..unko toh koi letters nahi aaye' aur haan tumhari jaankari ke liye batadoon ki tumne unhe kuch bheja ho ya na ho unhone aaj tak tumhara ek bhi birthday miss nahi kiya..har birthday par tumhare liye gifts bheje'par tumhe uski value kahaan pata hai?
Manyata: "Uday mera yakeen karo maine letters bheje the'aur meri kasam aaj tak mujhe unka ek tohfa bhi nahi mila'"
They were so lost in talking that they didn't notice the car that was approaching fast, tad too fast..they were standing in middle of the road. Manyata's back was towards the coming car and Uday noticed it when the car was just inches away from them. He pulled her aside with a force and they fell into the road side ditch. The car had already moved away and Manyata was visibly shaken. She put two and two together and it all came sinking in.
The first time in the forest, then at the cottage and now here...someone was trying to kill Uday or her. But why? She hoped it all was for her. She was already emotionally drained and now this too'it was too much for her. Uday was moved by her tears. Poor little thing...he had grossly misunderstood her. He had doubted her for no reason. He went up to her and embraced her in a reassuring way. She leaned on to him and wept bitterly. He vowed in his mind to never hurt her again. It was almost evening and there was little sunlight. As the two stood there comforting each other, rain gods decided to intervene and it started to pour. Within seconds, both were soaked. Already fragile mental state, the awesome weather and their soaked bodies within breathing distance, truly it was a heavenly mix. The thing that happened next was most natural. Fingers intertwined, hands combined and lips met. As the skies parted, burning desires took over. For entire two minutes the world stopped revolving and nothing else mattered. Was this what they called heaven'could life get any better'perhaps she was in heaven.
Then the loud howling of a coyote from nearby forest broke their trance.
Manyata stood apart like electric current had stung her. She didn't meet his eyes and straight away went to the car, got inside the back seat and closed the door.
Oh lord oh lord what had she done? Was this all even real? How could she be so stupid? Hell, why couldn't she keep her feelings in check. She felt like the biggest idiot in the world. But a new thought made her smile. She was in love. In love with the fiend. 'LOVE' as in true love, the love that was described in her mother's diary, love that she had longed for almost her entire life. She couldn't deny it any longer. Uday's mere touch thrilled her and she was crazily in love with him.
Uday followed her and sat in driver's place. If he didn't stop himself he might burst now, burst out of happiness. He had never believed in this 'stupid luv shuv' concept. He always made fun of love stories and romantic films. But today he was forced to give up his belief. One kiss and he was floored. The empty roads, the thick forest and the pouring rain could be so romantic, he had never known. But he couldn't tell her now, not yet. He had yet to make the father daughter solve their differences. That was the biggest challenge. Once that got accomplished, he would get down on his knees and propose to her. He would serenade her; shower her with gifts till she accepted. He would do all the crazy, stupid things a love sick admirer does. He smiled at his own thought and drove home.
When they reached it was night and Manyata went straight to her room without dinner. Her stomach was full of butterflies and knees had turned jelly.
Uday smiled to himself at the dining table and looked lost. 'in dono me hona ho kuch hua zaroor hai, pata lagana padega' thought Daima.
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Manyata obviously couldn't sleep and opened the diary of her mother. The next entry was of December 30th 1990.
"Dear diary,
Aaj humari shaadi ki tareekh pakki ho gayi, im so happy! 2 din baad sagai hai and guess what shaadi ki tareekh 14th February ko nikli hai, VALENTINES DAY!! Main tumhe bata nahi sakti how happy I am"
Wow! Valentine's Day! Of course she knew about her parents wedding date but she never gave much thought to it till she read this particular diary entry. Could anyone choose any better day..
The next entry was on 1st Jan 1991, first day of the new year'
"Dear diary,
Aaj main do cheezon se badi khush thi, ek toh new year, us par sham ko meri sagai, par Mona se meri khushi bardasht nahi hui, usne sagai rokne ke liye Giriraj par jhoota aarop lagaya, us ki baat par kisi ko yakeen nahi hua par sabki khushi par pani phir gaya"
Why was Mona maasi so against her parents union? How could she detest her own sister's happiness?
Perhaps she would know if she read the next pages'but her mind was focusing on something new today, forming a dream of its own'in her day dream there was a shy, meek girl and a tall, dark, handsome but angry prince'they fought, quarreled but when they fell in love it was the sweetest thing ever'but their happiness was short lived..A fierce looking beast snatched the girl and snapped her neck. He shot her lover and'
She opened her eyes to realize it was only a dream. She had fallen asleep with the diary in her hands. Such a scary dream, surprisingly she hadn't seen the faces of those people. She closed her eyes and tried to forget the nightmare.
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The next day after breakfast, Uday told Manyata "Tumhe kuch dikhana hai, chalo mere saath," During the entire time while they were seated there, Manyata hadn't once raised her head or spoken a lone word. Now she replied in a low voice "aaj phir se Uday?"
Uday said " nahi aaj tumhe ghar me hi kuch dikhana hai, kisi se milvana hai, chalo mere saath" he held her hand and she followed him. he led her to giriraj's room.
Uday knocked on the door, and Giriraj said "come in"
Uday pushed Manyata ahead of him so that she could enter the room before him. Giriraj saw her and went speechless with emotion. His Nanhi pari! she has come to meet him!
Uday coming from behind her said "yeh leejiye baba aapki beti aapke saamne khadi hai, ab aap dono saare gile shikve(anger & complaints) bhool jayiye, jo ho gaya so ho gaya"
But neither of them heard what he said. They were busy in relishing the moment. Manyata touched her father's feet as she thought it must be the appropriate thing to do. Giriraj hugged her in a fatherly embrace and kissed her forehead. Manyata said "Papa kitne saal baad aapse mil rahi hoon, aap mujhse naraz toh nahi hai na?"
Giriraj replied "nahi beta, main aapse naraz nahi hoon".
It was a moment that required some privacy, thought Uday and quietly slipped out of the room. He felt his own eyes watering. After Manyata came into their lives, everything had changed. Well he had heard everything looked beautiful while you were in love. And it was correct. Now one mission completed, he had one more ahead of him. And that was more difficult than this! He had to win his beloved's heart.
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Father and daughter spent long time with each other. Once the initial ice was broken, they spoke about random things. They spoke about everything under the sun. Manyata found out that her father wasn't the rigid, authoritative father she had pictured him to be. And Giriraj thought his Pari was so much like her mother. Neither of them was bothered about the reasons that kept them apart for nineteen long years. Manyata felt a heavy burden lift from her shoulders. But she was yet to thank the angel that was responsible for this wonderful day. Now the reason that had brought her here was over and she had no more reason to continue her stay in Garhwal. But wait a second'what about her rogue heart that had abandoned her...oh my, she had to confess her feelings to Uday. She felt a shiver running down her spine when she thought about that.
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In the afternoon, when Manyata came down from the stairs holding her father's arm, Daima and Uday watched in awe. It was what they call the 'Kodak moment'. Manyata came down and went up to where Uday was standing. She took both his hands in hers and said "I don't know how to thank you Uday..agar tum nahi hote toh-" her sentence was cut off by raucous voice that was heard from the doorway.
"Manyata! Yeh kya kar rahi thi tum? Kuch din tumhe akeli kya chod diya, tum toh haath se nikal gayi! Aise sabke saamne paraye mard ka haath pakadte hue sharam nahi aati tumhe? Aur yeh kaise kapde pehne hue tumne? Apne saare sanskar nadi me bahaadiye tumne?" she said in one breath.
"Mona Maasi, aap?" said Manyata in a breathless voice.
"haan main, kyon..hairaan ho gayi mujhe yahaan dekh kar? Aur iss ghar ke saare noukar kaha mar gaye? Arre kisine chai paani bhi nahi poocha!" Mona complained.
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Same time, in the highway leading to Garhwal, Agastya was travelling. The driver stopped suddenly in a jerking motion leading Agastya to collide against the the driver seat. "You idiot, dekh kar gaadi nahi chala sakte?, I'll fire you" he yelled at the driver. "Saab, gaadi aage nahi jaa sakti, aage landslide hui hai, aap woh short cut ka raasta le leejiye" a person standing by the roadside told them.
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so how was it? lol i still have doubts if i have handled the father daughter re-union correctly or not..😳 please comment and let me know your opinion 😃 Thank you 🤗
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