MANAN TS : YAHIN HOON MAIN CH 5 PG 88 EPILOGUE PG 98 - Page 11

"Manik...am pregnant!" She spoke in a low voice over the phone.

"What?"His happiness knew no bounds " Nandini itni khushi ki baat aur tum mujhe aise bata rahi ho.Am so so happy.Arent you happy?"He asked

"Manik why dont you try and understand.We are not married yet!" She replied in a shrill tone " aur shaadi se pehle ke bachhe ko ye duniya najayaz kehti hai" Tears rolled down her eyes as she spoke the last bit.

"Nandini...duniya kya kehti hai aur kya nahin, it hardly matters to me.Just remember that my love for you is as real as the stars in the sky are.And by the way, we are officially engaged and we will get married as soon as I come back from duty"He assured.

"Manik tum kab aaoge"She was sobbing incoherently now "I cant live without you anymore"

"Nandini calm down "He tried to pacify her "Be strong afterall you are the would be wife of Major Manik Malhotra.Service before self is my motto in life like any other military personnel.Right now my country needs me but I will come back ...very soon"

"Promise?"She asked wiping off her tears.

"Gentleman's promise my love"He replied "And you promise me that you will take good care of yourself till I come back.Afterall you are doubly precious to me now as you are holding my junior Malhotra"

"I will Manik"She nodded "I promise you Manik , I will take good care of your junior and myself.Maa.."

Just before she could complete her sentence there was thunderous sound on the other side and the phone got disconnected.

"Maaanik" Nandini shouted and woke up.It was a dream...a nightmare that had been haunting her since past 6 years.She clasped her sweaty hands together and wiped off the sweat from her forehead.

"Mamma kya hua?" Little Manan who had been sleeping beside her woke up and held her hands " aapne phir se wahin sapna dekha?"

Nandini looked at her little bundle of joy..her 5 year old son who had been her only reason to live.

"Nothing beta...am fine.Dont worry and go to sleep , you have to go to school tomorrow." She made him lay down and patted his forehead.

Manan slept after a few minutes but Nandini's eyes were deprieved of any sleep.She got up and walked towards the window.

Her world had been turned upside down when she got the news of Manik's death.His entire regiment got blown away during a sudden attack by the rival country.

"You didn't keep your promise Manik...How I wanted you to be beside me when I gave birth to our baby,but you weren't there" Silent tears rolled down her cheeks as she muttered to herself looking at the stars above" But I did keep mine.See I am living without you and taking care of myself and your junior nicely." She wiped off her tears and looked at Manan who had drifted to deep slumber by now. "Dekhte hi dekhte kitna bada ho gya hai tumhara beta Manik...bilkul tumhare jaisa hai ye bhi , naughty! I still remember the day when I saw you for the first time"

She recollected the good old days when she had first met Manik.

FLASHBACK STARTS

Nandini Murthy , the only daughter of Lieutenant general Krishna Murthy, a bubbly ,vibrant girl who was full of life.Nandini lost her mother when she was very small.Her dad had solely brought her up.She had completed her post graduation from Oxford university and was returning to India after 2 long years with her friends Navya ,Mukti and Alya.

"Amchiii Mumbai...I am back!!" She shouted and flung her hands up in the air as soon as she kept her foot down on the land of her country.

"Nandini , what are you doing?Everyone is looking at us!" Mukti muttered in her ear.

"So what!" nandini yelled again " I am happy to be back in my country , my city after such a long time.And showing your happiness is not a crime"

She was shouting on top of her voice and people passing by were looking at her with their eyes wide open.But Nandini was least bothered , least concerned.She was a broad minded girl who believed in the freedom of speech.

"Ms. Nandini Murthy" She heard someone call out her name and turned around.

There he stood , a six feet tall , handsome man with a perfect frame.He looked somewhat in his mid twenties.His eyes were chocolate brown and his hair were short and perfectly gelled.Nandini's jaw dropped and she became speechless as she saw the man who looked no less than a Greek God.

"Yes she is Nandini Murthy"Navya spoke on her behalf when Nandini didn't reply after a few minutes "and you must be the driver of Murthy uncle"

"Driver?" Manik asked loudly in a muffled tone.

Nandini's mind zapped to reality as soon as she heard Manik's loud voice .

"But I am not a driver!" Manik admitted.

"Ya ya we very well know that these drivers dont want to be called drivers" Alya spoke in a translucent manner "Driver is so LS... We'll call you chauffer"

"Excuse me" Manik raised his eyebrows.

"Exactly Mr. Chauffer..get our luggage.We are waiting for you in the parking" Nandini announced and walked out of the airport premises followed by the other three girls.

"By the way this driver , I mean chauffer"Alya corrected as the four of them walked towards the parking " Your dad's chauffer is really handsome bro, he doesn't look like a chauffer at all haan"

"C'mon Alya ...raise your standards gal" Nandini pulled down her shades and adjusted them on her eyes "He is a driver afterall"

"Look who is talking"Mukti mocked " Nandini Murthy , few minutes back we could all see how that driver bowled you over with his looks.So stop faking it"

"You girls are simply impossible " She replied bluntly.

"No one can know you better than us Nandini..." Navya added with a zeal "Kucchh to baat hai iss driver me"

"Cant believe you guys are getting me hooked up with a driver" Nandini sighed in exasperation and walked towards the car leaving the smiling girls behind.

MEANWHILE ON MANIK'S SIDE.

"What the hell" Manik muttered to himself as he saw the girls leaving "These girls are just not ready to listen to anything.I mean c'mon I dont look like a driver god dammit.Murthy Sir's driver fell AND I came without the driver to pick up his Nandini.Bhalaayi ka to zamanaa hi nahi raha."He said while shifting all the luggage on one trolley "Chal beta Manik..lag jaa kaam par...heavy duty ke din to ab shuru hone hai tere"

Manik brought the luggage and adjusted it in the car.

"Shall we?"He asked Nandini who had hopped into the front seat while the other girls took the back seat.

"Ya sure...but hey wait" Nandini stopped him as he was about to revive the engine "Arent you forgetting something?"

"Something...what something?"He asked in a startled tone.

"My dad said that he'd be sending a surprise for me alongwith the driver..Where's is it?"She extended her hand so that he could give her the surprise her dad had been talking about.

"I dont know about any surprise and listen please dont call me driver...I am Manik.You can call me Manik"

"Oh dad must have forgotten to send the surprise...Anyhow Manik...lets go" She said

--------------------------------------

"Daddy" She ran and hugged her dad as soon as she saw him .He had been eagerly waiting for her daughter .

Nandini's friends also greeted Mr.murthy

"Why didn't you come to pick me up Dad"She asked in a complaining voice.

"Baby I told you I wouldn't be coming as I had an important meeting.Leave all things aside just tell me what is your opinion about the surprise"He dashed her shoulder with his and wicked.

Nandini's expressions changed from happy to furious all of a sudden.

"It means you had sent the gift and that driver of yours lied to me..."She stomped out of the house in a rage of fury .

Meanwhile Navya told Mr. Murthy that the driver hadn't handed over anything to Nandini.Mr. Murthy and all the girls followed Nandini thereafter.

" How dare he lie to me..He said dad didn't send any gift"Nandini s lips curled in disgust as she muttered to herself while walking towards the parking " He stole my Dad's gift...I wont spare him now"

Manik was still unloading the luggage from the car when nandini appeared in front of him.She stepped forward and grabbed his shirt collors all of a sudden.

"How dare you steal my gift?Where is it?"She asked venomously.

In her annoyance she forgot that she was standing too close to a stranger.Manik was taken aback at first by the sudden pull . He was totally swept away by her beauty.Her glossy skin,and doe shaped eyes seemed to have casted a spell on her.Manik looked at her without batting an eyelid.

"Hello!" Her crescent shaped eyebrows inclined more as she found him staring at her "Am asking you something..where is the gift my dad gave you for me?"

Manik's mind registered what she was asking and before he could answer anything Mr. Murthy came running towards them .

"What is wrong with you Nandu?"He pushed her little so that she would leave Manik's collors "Is this the way you talk to people?"Mr. Murthy was flabbergasted seeing his daughter's indecent behaviour.

"What do you mean dad..he stole my gift" Nandini's mouth quirked in annoyance " This driver of yours is a thief!" She remarked.

"Driver..thief...What nonsense Nandu.He is neither my driver nor a thief ..He is Major Manik Malhotra!"

All the girls were surprised to know that the person whom they had been considering a high class chauffer was actually an army official.

Nandini bit her lower lip and hung her face in disappointment.

"Can anyone please explain to me what the matter is?"Mr. Murthy asked coldly.

"Sir actually its my mistake" Manik spoke up "Your driver was not feeling well so I went to pick them up all by myself.They mistook me as your driver and I didn't even once try to clarify them!" He lied conveniently and Mr. Murthy agreed to him.

"Sorry"Nandini apologised to Manik in a soft tone and walked into the house.

FLASHBACK ENDS

A smile crept through Nandini's face as the entire incident flashed before her eyes but it didn't last long as her mind registered that it was all in past.

Things had changed a lot now.Nothing was like it used to be or like it should have bee.She let out a deep breath and looked at her dad's picture frame lying on the table nearby.

Once again she drifted to past.

FLASHBACK STARTS

That night Nandini went to her dad's room after the dinner.

"But dad am still curious to know what was the surprise gift and where it is?"She asked excitedly.

"Beta Major Manik was your gift!"Dad announced happily.

"Manik??"Nandini was shocked to hear her dad's words.

"Haan beta .. Manik.Actually Manik has been working under me since past few months and I have been closely observing him.He is the most honest , hardworking and intelligent officer I have met in my entire career.Infact I have suggested his name to higher authorities for his early promotion."

Mr. Murthy was talking to his daughter lovingly.

"Dad I am not getting you...Aap kehna kya chahte ho?"

Though Nandini had very well understood what her dad was trying to say but she wanted to hear it in clear words from him.

"Beta I just wanna say that Manik is a perfect match for you.He is an orphan and belongs to an average family but it hardly matters to me. I have so much wealth and all of that belongs to you beta.Money cannot buy everything . Manik is a gem of a person and I want you to consider marrying him.Now you say...Did you like your surprise gift..Major Manik?"

Though Nandini couldn't deny to herself that she had fallen for Manik s looks in the first meeting only but still she wanted some time to take the most important decision of her life.

"Take your time beta.Spend some time with him and Am sure you will give me a positive response.Manik is still unaware about my intentions...I will talk to him only if you agree !!"Mr. Murthy patted her back before she bade good night and left his room.

FLASHBACK ENDS.

"How could I say No Manik" Nandini murmured to herself " you made me fall for you completely in a matter of a few days.Aur fir...fir tum mujhe chhod kar kyu chale gaye...kyu Manik?"She starting sobbing again.

"Main yahin hoon Nandini,tumhare paas ..tumhare saath" Nandini heard his voice and turned around to see Manik standing behind her.

*********************************TO BE CONTD!!!!!

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