Manik woke up from a deep slumber. Instinctively he reached out his arm to his side to cuddle Nandini, but instead of his wife, he touched a pillow instead.
He looked at the empty space beside him, puzzled. Most of the time they eat breakfast together in bed.
Oh well, she probably had to catch up on her readings. She was probably in her study or in the library. If she was in either place, she definitely wouldn't want to be disturbed.
His stomach grumbled. Manik realized that he was very hungry. He decided to go to the kitchen and eat breakfast there. Somehow he didn't want to eat breakfast in bed without his wife.
Manik got out of the bed and went to the bathroom. He gargled and put on a dark blue silk bathrobe. Then he walked down the wide hallways and went down the stairs. As he neared the kitchen, he smelled the wonderful and delicious aroma of blueberry waffles.
When he entered the huge kitchen, he was surprised to see Nandini sitting at her seat. A feast for a breakfast was laid out on the table - waffles, pancakes, bread, butter, pastries, crepes, orange juice, and coffee.
Nandini - already dressed smiled at him and said, "Good morning, hon. I prepared breakfast myself."
Manik went over to Nandini and kissed her on the cheek. "Good morning to you too," he said as he sat down on his seat. "Your cooking looks great. Whats the occasion?" he asked.
"What do you mean, what's the occasion?"
"Well, I think you wouldn't prepare so much food if there was no occasion, " he said after he took a bit of his favorite blueberry waffles. Then he frowned. "Is the gang coming over to visit? You could have warned me," he said.
Nandini frowned too. " They are not coming." There was a pause. Then she said, " You really don't know if there's an occasion today?"
Manik made a huge show of thinking deeply, then he shook his head. "No. Why don't you tell me? Or did you just feel like making breakfast today? I must say, the food is really great," he said sincerely.
To Manik's surprise, Nandini stood up from the table and said coldly, " Well, if you don't know then I am not going to tell you. I am leaving then. I have to go shopping with the girls."
" What the hell-" Manik never got to finish his sentence. Nandini had almost ran out of the room.
He thought over and over again the conversation he just had with Nandini. Had he said something to offend her? He was starting to get annoyed. Nandini could be dramatic sometimes. Then he suddenly remembered something...something terribly important.
Manik slapped himself on the forehead. " How can I be so stupid?" he asked himself aloud. No wonder Nandini was angry. " Of course today is the day," he mumbled.
He just had to set aside work for the day and do something to make up for his forgetfulness. He was sure that she was feeling very hurt, and Manik felt ashamed of himself.
He got to make it up to her. he just had to.
On the other hand Nandini drove over to Navya's house. Walking into the house she was surprised to see Alya and Mukti looking at some wedding magazines. Mukti was the first one to spot her and said, "ahh someone is looking pretty on their special day. But darling what are you doing here. Shouldn't you be with Manik or something, after all its your tenth anniversary."
Nandini looked at Mukti and burst out crying. Navya ran up to her and said, " what happened? Don't cry. Here sit and tell us."
Nandini looked at the girls and in between lots of hiccups she said, " he he.. that Monster Manik forgot what today is. I woke up early to make all his favorite breakfast dishes and he forgets. I hate him. I don't want to see him today. I hate him."
Harry hearing the commotion came out and seeing Nandini cry asked, "what happened? What did he do this time"
Over the years Harry had grown very close to Nandini. She was the sister he never had. He loved her to death and hated to see her cry. " I am going to kill Manik," he thought to himself. Walking over to Nandini he placed his hand on her shoulder and said softly, " Nandu..."
Looking up with tears running down her face Nandini turned to Harry and said, " he forgot."
Closing his eyes Harry took deep breaths to control his sudden urge to walk over to Manik's house and beat him up. Squeezing her shoulder he walked back to the kitchen and took out his phone and texted Dhruv, Cabir, Harshad and Raghav - Manik forgot what today is. Nandini upset. My house.
He sent another text, this time to Manik - Dude how could you?
Within seconds he had replies from all of them. Dhruv, Cabir and Raghav had similar reaction - Oh shit, On my way. Manik's text read - I know. I know but I will make it up to her promise. Just keep her at your place till 7 tonight and leave the rest to me.
Closing his eyes he silently prayed that Manik better keeps his promise because if not then Manik is going to be one sorry dude. Because he would not be the only one trying to kill Manik but will be happily joined by others.
Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
