NEW SS:DIL KA RISHTAA CHAPTER 6 PG 132 TH2 LINK IN INDEX - Page 26

A/N

Due to problem with India forums I am not being able to insert the pic of the new characters.pls visit the following link to view the pic.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-22160189,width-400,resizemode-4/22160189.jpg

Introducing Mr. Indervardhan Sarabhai and Mrs. Maya Sarabhai as Manik's family friends who had shifted abroad few years back but are now back to India.

P.S...They are my fave characters from one of my fave show!

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CHAPTER 2

"She will prove to be the best for Ananya"Cabir's voice was soft.

Cabir got carried away for once while talking about Nandini and Ananya.

Wish I could tell you that nandini is Ananya's real mother and you are her father.Wish I could tell you the hardships that Nandini has borne to give birth to your child.' Cabir thought to himself Ohh nandini kaisi kasam de di tumne mujhe'

The events of the past flashed before his eyes as he gulped down another sip of his drink.

"Hello" Manik clicked his fingers in front of his eyes " Where are you lost?"

Cabir zapped out of his chain of thoughts and looked at Manik who was looking at him inquisitively.

"Something is bothering you...Am I right?" Manik asked again.

"Bothering me...no...not at all" Cabir lied " Tu..tu ye bata mujhe that did you recognise her.I mean she worked in your office long long time back ...phir bhi tujhe wo yaad thi" Cabir spoke the last bit slowly gauging manik's face for his reactions.

Kaash main tujhe bata pata Cabir ki pichhle 18 months me ek din bhi aisa nahi tha jab maine usse yaad na kiya ho.Main...main nahi jaanta ki kya rishtaa hai mera uske saath par kuchh to hai jo mujhe har din uski yaad dilata tha' Manik's thoughts wondered in his mind.

"Ab tu kahan lost ho gya" Cabir asked " Are we playing some kinda game jisme kabhi main lost ho jata hu to kabhi tu'

"Nahi Nahi" Manik smiled " Wo ..haan kya naam tha us ladki ka...Nandini Murthy naa. " Manik pretended his forgetfulness conveniently "Thoda time laga usse recognize karne me but the eventually I did.Harshad ne bata diya tha mujhe. Vaise tujhe kahan mili ye ...nandini"

"bataya na maine tujhe " Cabir replied and got up from his chair "Kal hi mili mujhe , ek coffee shop me.Wo Navya ki old friend thi naa to usne pehchaan liya and when she told us her story then I called her for an interview here"

Cabir had been lying conveniently uptill now but he knew that the more he lied , the more will be loopholes.So he thought of leaving from there.

"Anyhow..I got to leave I have a flight to catch tonight so cya"

"Cya" manik replied as cabir hugged him before taking a leave.

" Ohh Nandini" Manik murmured to herself "Finally I found you" He smiled " par kahan thi tum"

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"awww kya ho gya baby ko ?" Manik caressed her back as she had been crying again since she had woken up.

Neither was she taking in milk nor anything else.

"Fever bhi nahi hai" Manik touched her forehead to check her temperature " Why is she crying then?"

He was really tensed as Ananya was crying uncontrollably.

He called up the Doctor to come and check on her.Meanwhile he was getting wrestles.Suddenly he thought of something and then..

"Nanhi kali sone chali hawa dheere aana" Manik sang while patting on ananya's back and she immediately responded.

She lifted her head to look at Manik .

"Neend bhare ...pankh liye...hmmm hmm hmmm"

Manik sang again but he couldn't recall the last few words.

Ananya pouted and then dug her face in his shoulder again.

"Nanhi pari sone chali...hawa dheere aana"

Manik kept repeating the lines and by the time the doctor arrived Ananya was fast asleep.

"She is fine otherwise, maybe she is missing her mother" The doctor said after checking Ananya thoroughly.

"But Doctor , she is too small.Did she even recognize her mother?" Manik asked.

"Ofcourse! Why not! " The doctor replied " Baby can recognize the touch of her mother immediately after birth.Afterall she is the one who leant her blood and skin...her life giver"

The doctor went away after prescribing some health tonics for ananya but the cloud of doubt that had risen in Manik's mind regarding Nandini popped up once again.

"Shut up Manik" He snapped at himself "Kuchh bhi sochta hai tu.Ananya ..Nandini ki daughter nahi ho sakti"

"sir aapne kuchh kaha?"Nurse asked.

"No...nothing. Its just that I will sleep with Ananya today" Manik told her "Tum bahar so jao"

She nodded and left.

Manik covered Ananya with the duvet and kissed her forehead. He laid down on the bed beside her and thinking about day's events drifted to sleep.

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Nandini couldn't sleep that night.Ananyas wailing face was haunting her thoughts all the while.Those few hours without Ananya seemed like ages to her.

Next morning she got ready early in the morning and reached Malhotra Mansion at 6 Am.

She rang the bell and stood outside rubbing her hands anxiously.Only she knew how she had spent the previous night. And now this wait for someone to open the door was killing her.

She sighed and rung the bell again.

"Kaun hai itni subah"Ramu kaka opened the door while rubbing his eyes "Arrey madam aao , itni subah"He was shocked to see nandini .

"Ji...Ji wo main baby ki nanny..."

"Hum jaante hai , bataya humein Manik baba ne.Aap chaliye hum aapka samaan laate hain"Ramu kaka said and nandini hopped inside excietedly.

Her smile was not leaving her face as she ran hastily towards Ananya's room.She opened the door and what she saw made her freeze on her place.

Manik was sleeping on the bed with his legs dangling on the floor.He was sleeping in half sitting position with his one hand behind his head and the other on Ananya who was sleeping beside her.

Nandini rolled her eyes in delight as she saw the man of her dreams sleeping peacefully beside her lifeline.Both of them looked exactly the same.Ananya had borrowed eyes and chin from her father , giving her a strong resemblance to Manik.

Nandini moved ahead quietly and looked at Ananya and then at Manik.

Suddenly she tripped and fell directly over Manik.

Manik's eyes shot open to one of the most mesemerising view . Both of them got lost in the moment looking deep into each other's eyes.They were so close that their noses were touching and their breaths were mingling.Their hearts were pounding inside their chests.

Manik circled her waist with both his hands to prevent her from falling.Nandini gasped as Manik's hand travelled up her bare waist which had been exposed by her short top.

She gained back her senses and tried to get up but fell again as Manik's pendant had got struck in her shirt button.

She struggled to free herself but wasn't able to.Manik gestured her to let him take the lead.He pulled his pendant swiftly and Nandini raised herself to part from him.But probably , today her Aiyappa didn't want them to get separated.She hissed in pain as she fell back on him again.This time her hair had got tangled with the button of his shirt.

Manik was the one who worked on it and freed them again.

She got up and turned around to avoid his gaze.

"You...you alright " Manik asked in a hesitant voice.

Nandini just nodded her head in a yes while fiddling with her fingers.

"Am...am sorry...Nandini" Manik spoke in a little voice.

"Aisa...bhi kuchh nahi...hua ...Manik sir" Nandini replied "You dont need to...apologise"

"Wo Nandini...aaj ke liye nahi actually...actually am talking about that night.Woh...that night I was drunk and..." Manik spoke in a tentative tone " I...I dont know whether I should be saying this or not ...but uss raat hamare beech...wo...Par tum subah mere uthhne se pehle hi...kahan chali gayi thi?."

Tears brimmed up in her eyes as Manik talked about that night.He remembered it...he remembered that something had happened between them on that night.But she couldn't tell him...she would never tell him that he was the father of Ananya else his life would be in danger.

"Tum...tum ..kuchh kahogi nahin?"Manik's voice pulled her out of her chain of thoughts.

"Next morning I had to go to Manglore because my father had expired"Nandini replied tearfully as she still missed her father.

"Ohh..I am really sorry to hear that"Manik said

She gathered herself and let out a deep breath before turning around to look at Manik.

"Manik Sir, That was a weak moment.Lets not talk about " There was a sudden strength in her voice "Ab main Ananya ki nanny hu aur aapki employee...this is all that you should remember"

Manik felt a twinge in his heart when he heard her statement.Even he didn't knew why he felt bad when nandini talked bluntly about that special night.

"Sir nahin call me Manik...only Manik.Anyhow , you take a seat. I have to go to the office.Harshad will come in a few hours and explain you everything regarding your job and salary details" Saying this manik walked out of the room.

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"Ma...ma" Ananya was giggling with joy as Nandini made her wear her clothes.

"Ananya baby ne mumma ko miss kiya tha?" She picked her up in her arms and fed her .

She heaved a sigh of contentment as her baby sucked her after 3 days.Not only is baby incomplete without mother's milk , even a mother is incomplete without feeding her baby.

There was a knock on the door.Ananya was almost asleep now.She picked her up carefully and laid her on the bed before opening the door.

"Nandini Murthy , I need to talk to you" Harshad stood on the other side with a stony expression on his face.

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"You need to sign this bond with Malhotra's before you take up this job"Harshad handed over a paper and pen to Nandini " You cannot be trusted one more time...not in the case of Ananya especially.This paper contains all the details regarding the tenure of your job , your salary , increments , leave and so on;"
Nandini took the paper and pen from harshad and without going through it , she signed it.

"Ohh my my"Harshad mocked at her " I thought you wont sign it par tumne to..Lagta hai iss baar bhaagne ka iraada nahi hai tumhara"

"Harshad Sir , last time there was an emergency in my family thats why I had to leave"She replied sternly and went back into Ananya's room.

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Manik came back in the evening and saw Nandini playing with Ananya.

He came forward and called Ananya and she hopped into his arms.Manik kissed her forehead .

Nandini gulped as she saw Manik shower his unconditional love on their daughter.

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That night nandini sat in front of the mirror combing her hair.A smile crept on her face as she recalled morning incident.How close was she to Manik.Her heart started pounding again.

But then her expressions changed suddenly as soon as hand touched her shoulder while combing her hair.

"Ouchh" She hissed in pain.

She removed her top slighty to look at the bruise on her shoulder.The bruise which would never heal , which would never let her forget her background , her dark past.

"You cant do this Nandini"She murmured to herself hysterically as she caressed her bruise "You cant fall for Manik ..you just cant .Agar unn logon ko Manik ke baare me pata chal gaya to wo...wo jaan se maar denge usse.I have to control myself...I have to "

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From that day onwards Nandini tried to avoid Manik as much as she could .Manik was also busy with his work.He went in the morning and came back in the evening.

His morning office timings were fixed.Nandini made sure not be around him before he left.She always managed to make some excuse or the other.

Every evening Manik made sure that he spent some time with his daughter and at that time also Nandini left them alone so that they could bond well.Manik and Ananya had got very attached to each other.

Navya and Cabir often visited them and Ananya had become well acquainted with them also.

3 months had passed like this.Ananya had learnt to walk a few steps by now.She could even speak a few small words . Manik was very happy and impressed with the way Nandini was taking care of Ananya

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Navya called up Nandini one evening.

"Nandini , so kal ananya ka hai birthday hai.Arent you excited that your daughter is turning one?"Navya asked.

"Kaise bhool sakti ho main ye din Navya ...Never in my lifetime can I forget that dark night kyunki Kal Anjali aur Abhishek ki barsi bhi hai " She replied gloomily.

"I can understand your grief nandini but apne past ke liye dont spoil your future" Navya spoke politely "That dark past is over so just forget it.Celebrate Ananya's birthday tomorrow"

"Easier said than done Navya " Nandini let out a deep breath " Anjali was my sister.I can never forget her. Aur vaise bhi Manik se kya kahungi...How do I know that tomorrow is Ananya's birthday?"

"How do you know that tomorrow is Ananya's birthday?"She heard Manik's voice and turned around immediately to look at him.

Manik stood with arms folded across his chest looking at her inquisitively.

She disconnected the phone asking Navya to call up later.

"Wo ..Navya...ka call tha " Nandini stammered as her heart beat accelerated with the fear that Manik had heard their entire conversation "Usne bola ki kal Ananya ka birthday celebrate ..."

"Usne bola ya tumne bola"Manik narrowed his eyes giving a serious look.

"Us..ne..bo..la.."Nandini spoke hesitantly

Manik smiled looking at Nandini's state.

"Arrey agar tumne bhi bola to isme darne ki kya baat hai Nandini..c'mon you have full right on Ananya.You're like a mother to her"

Nandini heaved a sigh of relief.

"Dekho we dont know her actual date of birth so why not fix tomorrow as her birthday.Abhi wo 1year ki dikhti bhi and she is equally active as an year old baby..So done.Tomorrow is our daughter's birthday. Morning me we will have a pooja. main abhi Harshad ko arrangements karwane ke liye call kar deta hu and evening we are going to shop for her together and after that dinner.Gud nite"

He smiled and left the room.

"Our daughter"Nandini murmured to herself as a lone tear escaped her eye.

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"Beta, kya aap iss bitiya ki maa hain?"Pandit ji asked looking at Nandini.

Nandini was about to reply when Harshad intervened.

"Ji nahi pandit ji , ye to uski nanny hai...mera matlab aaya"Harshad mocked.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she heard that she was being called the aaya of her own daughter.

"Harshaddd"Manik snapped at him furiously giving him a keep your mouth shut look.

Harshad stepped back lowering his gaze and murmuring an apology.

"Ji haan pandit ji ..ye iss bachhe ki maa hai"Manik looked at Pandit ji and said.

Nandini looked at Manik who in turn looked at her and rolled his eyes to give an assurance.

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Unknowingly she was getting drifted towards him.The way he respected her and the way he always stood up for her esteem was making her value him more and more.

"Ye sab dresses pack kar dijiye" manik told the salesman as he handed over the selected dresses to him.

Nandini was leaning by the wall as she admired Manik from a distance.He had bought almost the entire stock of the shopkeeper for his daughter.Ananya was sitting in the stroller playing with her toys.

"Your daughter is really cute..Whats her name" Nandini heard someone's voice from behind but she was so lost in looking at manik that she didn't bother to look at the speaker.

"Ji Ananya" she replied in a state of trance.

"And your daughter's father is also very handsome" The speaker spoke again.

"Ji wo to hain hi" nandini smiled as her gaze was still fixed at Manik.

"Bahut pyaar karti ho usse" That person asked again.

"Ji..." Suddenly she registered what she was speaking and straightened herself with a jerk .She looked towards her side a found an elderly couple smiling at her."Jiii..."Nandini almost shrieked as her eyes bulged out.

"Nice to meet you beta...I am Indervardhan Sarabhai and this is my wife..."

"Maya Sarabhai"The female intervened and introduced herself " Nice to meet you beta..."

She extended her hand for a handshake and Nandini held her hand reluctantly.

"Ji..." Nandini gulped as she racked her mind to recognise them " Ji maine aapko pehchaana nahi"

Manik also came there as soon as he heard his favourite uncle's voice.

"Hello uncle.Hello aunty.How are you and when did you come back" Manik touched their feet and Indervardhan pulled Manik in a hug.

"I am fine beta...We just came a few days back" He replied

"Its been so long since we saw you manik beta" Maya sighed.

"Nandini , meet Indervardhan uncle ...papa's best friend and this is..."Manik spoke

"Bas bas ..we have already introduced ourselves"Maya remarked.

Nandini folded her hands and wished them.

"Namaste beta, ab pehchaan liya" Indervardhan said to Nandini and then looked at manik "Tum to bade chhupe rustam nikle.Shaadi kar li ., baby bhi ho gya aur invite b nahi kiya"

Nandini and manik exchanged glances as they were really shocked.

"Ji ..wo uncle..." Manik tried to tell him the truth but Indervardhan intervened.

"ji wo kya..." Indervardhan smiled at him " I know that you are so impulsive by nature.anyway"

"uncle jaisa aap samajh rahe hai vaisa..."Manik tried to speak up once again but Indervardhan cut him midway.

"Bahut pyaare bachhe hai dono...your wife and your daughter" Maya moved forward and caressed nandini's head " Beta , ab tak to tum jaan hi gayi hongi par fir bhi main batana chahti hu that Manik is a very hard working and intelligent boy but he is hungry for love.I hope you have taken good care of him"

"I will "Nandini murmured to herself softly.

"But uncle..."nandini was about to spill the beans when Indervardhan's phone rang .He excused himself to answer the call.

"haan..haan.am coming.."He spoke over the phone and then covered the speaker with his hand "manik beta , We will visit you very soon.right now we have to leave"He then looked at his wife "Let s go Maya"

Saying this he turned around and left hastily while talking on his phone.

"Its a pleasure seeing such a happy family of yours...See ya soon beta"

"Par uncle...aunty... baat to suniye"Manik called out but they had already left.

"Ye uncle aunty bhi naa...baat hi nahi suni"Manik blabbered as his eyes were fixed on the exit door of the mall from where they had gone out "They didn't give me the chance to explain.Am sorry for that.I...I will explain them everything once they comes to visit us"

"Its alright" Nandini smiled as they moved towards the car to head on to their next destination.