My Man: MAAN part 5 page 7- 9/Aug/14 - Page 4

Part 5

He so simply accepted everything. I heard someone entering the house I glanced out of the window to find Vicky's Bike parked there; I had to do something, I asked Maan, "why did you not tell your Daadi the truth then and there" he sighed, "Sameera came with a tiny bundle and placed it on the sofa and told Daadi that this was my doing and before either of us could react she ran away, Daadi looked at the bundle and found a small baby, Daadi was all furious she did not touch the baby but slapped me hard and accused me of being like my father and collapsed owing to a severe heart attack, I was shocked I did not know what to do, Nakul immediately called the ambulance and it was then that the baby woke and started crying I went near him and picked him up, I was startled to find him looking exactly like my younger bro Dev. I could not leave him. I handed him to Nakul and requested him to take care of him like any other Khurana baby. Later when Daadi came back none of us discussed the issue."

I did not know what to feel, he was just 17, suddenly it struck that who is Dev. "Maan who is Dev?" he smiled, "he is my younger brother, 10 years younger to me, approximately of your age"

"Where is he?"
"He lives with my mother and step father in Canada"

"Your mother??"

"Yes, my mother Gayatri Kapoor, she is a very gentle and good lady. She divorced my father when I was 12 years of age. She was sick of my father's infidelity. Later after 3 years she met Ram Kapoor and they got married. She wanted to take me with her but my Daadi blackmailed her with her tears to leave atleast one of her grandson's with her and my mother agreed."

"Is she still in contact with you?"

"No, I cut all my ties with her after Vicky came in my life, I did not know what to tell her"

I was almost in tears feeling the pain of the 17 year old boy.

Vicky stood near the door listening to everything, I suddenly stood up, "Maan I need to go now, I have to visit a nearby town, and can I park my scooty at your place"

For few seconds he looked at me surprised by the suddenness in my voice then nodded, "ok shall I drop you to the bus station?"

"No, I will manage you continue with your Sunday meal preperations"

"As you wish"

I walked out making sure to collide with Vicky, "sorry, oh it's you Vicky, I was just leaving"

Maan was shocked, "when did you come?"

Vicky felt embarrassed he said, "just now"

I could feel the tension, "ok guys I have to leave or I maybe late, bye"

As I turned to leave Maan called, "Geet, wait, Vicky will drop you at the bus stand"

Good I knew Maan will do something like that to avoid Vicky in his weak moment. "will you Vicky?" I challenged the younger man.

"Why not? After all it's not every day that Daddy asks me to do something"

"But I won't sit on that bike of yours, shall we take your car Maan"

"Of course, Vicky go"

I had no intention to go anywhere near the bus stand I just wanted some time to talk to Vicky not about Maan but about a 17 year old teenager, boy much younger then he himself is now; and the bus stand was a one hour ride from the campus.

Shruti