"Nandini are you done with your writing. We're getting late for the movie.", Manik screams.
"Just two more minutes Manik. I'll just finish." I answer back, opening my diary hastily to start scribbling again.
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"It's not always, not every other day that one falls in love but for me it happened more than once. Now that I look back at it, it seems like just another moment I realized I loved him but the fact that it still makes my heart skip a beat I accept to believe that every moment I fall in love a little more. It happened about two months back. It was a normal day in our life as one may put."
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"Manik we will be late and thus we need to leave for his house now." ,I try explaining Manik for the hundredth time.
"NO. First we'll finish the unfinished business and then go. Waise bhi it's not like they'll stop partying because of us." ,Manik says resting his chin on my shoulder and planting a kiss on my cheek.
And so he distracts me. AGAIN.
After 45 minutes of reasoning, logic and me giving away to Manik's whims and fancies I finally make him drive all the way to Cabir's place for a little get-together celebrating his new job. We are late by an hour or so as usual. Everyone has actually got accustomed to this behavior of ours. With me around him everyone for some strange reasons let him be. Quoting Alya, "You make him content in every which way Nandini, trust me." I always found this stupid-because yes, we did love each other but this concept of larger-than-life love seemed vague in a way because neither had I seen it and nor was I experiencing it, until then at least.
"Nandini your phone is ringing.", Navya shouts to me amidst all the loud blaring songs pointing towards my bag.
"Haan Chachi.Yeah...yeah...OH! Really, great I'll just be home. Yeah I'll invite them too, I can't promise though. Yeah...ok bye."
"Manik, listen." I hold Manik by his arm and drag him to a corner.
"See if you really want to take advantage of me over here I'm telling you my friends won't let you. We can go Cabir's room if you want, though." ,Manik winks at me.
"Manik...will you ever be serious. Please." I hit him playfully while he pouts and makes an impression of listening.
"Chachi just called and guess what? Amms has come to Mumbai to give a surprise to all of us. Isn't that great?" , I exclaim while Manik's face got drained out of excitement by the time I finish.
"Manik, tum sunn bhi rahe ho main kya keh rahi hoon?" I question raising my eyebrows in anticipation waiting for an equally animated Manik.
"Yeah...yeah. I'm listening." Manik replies after a pause faking enthusiasm.
"Manik, why are you still worried? She accepted us. Remember? Everything will be OK." , I say holding his hand in one and cupping his face by other.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. So let's go now. Let's meet her. We've to one day anyhow, why not today then?" Manik says much more confidently than before and drops a kiss on my forehead.
Relieved that Manik was fine in meeting Amms again, I tell everyone about how Amms wants to meet all of them again. And as I had expected they all said yes in unison without batting an eyelid.
Manik drives to my place in a jiffy and by the time we ring the doorbell I realize it's me who's sweating and panicking and not Manik.
"Aiyyo, Aiyappa please let this be a happy meeting between them. Even though I've instructed Manik as to what to say and what not to say please let no bad thing happen and please make Amms also like him like Chachi, Rishabh and Chacha. Aiyappa please ju..." , my prayers interrupted by Cabir.
"Nandini, it'll be fine. Just walk in now. Manik won't mess it up." , Cabir shoves me inside the house like it's his and not mine.
"You have waise bhi told him what all to say. He'll be fine. Chill yaar." ,Mukti says holding me by my shoulders. Though done in a good way in order to boost my confidence it has such a terror-inducing, opposite effect to it.
Finally when we all have got in I go to Amms and envelope her in the tightest of hugs. Everyone comes and meets her one by one. And then suddenly my heart is in my mouth because Manik walks towards Amms. He walks straight past me looking down, his hands entwined-speaking so much of his low confidence.
"Aiyyo Aiyappa please just make Amms lik..." , I stop my prayer abruptly as I see Manik bending down in front of Amms asking for her blessings, asking for HER Aashirwaad.
All I felt after that was numbness. All I recall of that day is Manik whispering an unsaid "I love you, Nandini." again in my ears. All that I can recollect is a lone tear that I shed while absorbing the situation. I could feel myself hum a little happy song dedicated to myself only. I remember floating on clouds figuratively that night, I remember so much yet I go numb when I actually sit down to think. And that's exactly when I realized the vague concept of larger-than-life love. That's the moment I knew I couldn't yearn for him more. I couldn't ask for that man more at that instant. At that spot at that minute I longed for him like never before. In that split second I loved him with all I could and loved him so much more. That fleeting moment I came to know that it was possible to fall in love again and again. Time and again. With the same person one more time. For the second time. For the third. For the infinite time to come, I could keep falling in love with this man all my life.
"Nandu, tune toh bada sahi sikhaya hai. Yeh toh seedha Aashirwaad lene laga Amms ka." , Chachi whispered in my ears so that none but my friends and I could hear.
"I didn...I did not tell him. He felt this himself.", I stammer amidst my hiccups.
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"Nandini, are you done?", Manik comes snatching away my pen. "Write your fairy tale later OK."
I thrust my diary in my bag making sure he doesn't start his rant of, "I also want to see what you write secretly in that black book of yours."
"Accha listen Nandini. I didn't tell you the entire day. I lo.." I place my hand on Manik's lips, "I know that.", I whisper in his ears as I envelope him in a hug.
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P.S. This is after ages that I'm writing anything so please don't mind if you find this crap.
And if you don't find this crap then you better like and comment.
-----Zoha
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
