Part 44
In the car
"cabir" manik initiated the conversation.
"ha bol na..." cabir replied.
"yaar i am very frustrated...tujhe pta chala na..mukti aaj ro rahi thi...?" cabir nodded and manik continued "yaar main jitna koshish karta hun ki wok hush rahe , usey koi problem chu v na sake...utna hi main khud ko fail hota hua pata hun...firstly that harshad! Uss time v ...sabkuch jante hue main kuch ni kar paya aur iss baar v asa hi kuch hua hai lagta hai...mukti ne mujhe kuch btaya ni...but i feel ki kuch toh hua hai..main kya karu ? kse uski life mein khushiyaan laun..mujhe kuch samajh ni araha.." manik finished speaking and banged his palm on the steering wheel, out of frustration.
Cabir put his palm assuringly on manik's shoulder " manik , tu shant ho ja pehle...tabhi main kuch bolunga...tujhe meri opinion sun ni hai ya ni.." cabir asked
Manik huffed and sighed and closed his eyes for a nano-second and then looked at cabir finally "ab bol, i am fine, now"
"main pehli baat tujhse ye kahunga ki...please for god's sake...don't compare abhimanyu with harshad..." as cabir said this...manik tried to protest but cabir gestured him to wait "pehle tu meri puri baat sun le..tab kuch boliyo.."
"fine"
"so main bol raha tha...abhimanyu is a gem yaar..." cabir was cut off by manik.
"tu usey gem bol raha hai?? Acha isslye meri behen ro rahi hai? Hai na?? Great!" manik lashed out cabir.
"teri behen..abhimanyu ki wajah se ni ro rahi hai...samjha tu?"
"toh kiski wajah se ro rahi hai?? Meri!!!!"
"manik...arghhh...harshad ki wajah se ro rahi hai..."
"harshad ki wajah se??? Harshad...harshad kaha mila usey?? Aur tujhe kse pta?? I will kill that son-of-****!! How dare he ..."
"manik yaar tu please decide kar le...tujhe meri baat calmly sun ni hai ya impulsively react karna hai??"
"thk h bolo"
"manik..." cabir glared
"ha baba thk hai...main chup rahunga ab...tu bol...plz continue!"
"mujhe nandini ne btaya...aur usey mukti ne btaya..." cabir was again interrupted by manik
"matlab mukti ne nandini ko btaya par mujhe ni!! Wow this is great...aur kya btaya usne ?? ki harshad is back??"
Cabir sighed on manik's impulsive behaviour but continued "issi lye bas issi lye tujhe ni btaya mukti ne...tu janta hai tu kitna impulsively react karta hai...bina puri baat sune bas tujhe conclusions nikalne hain!!!.." cabir started searching around for something. When he opened the dashboard he found a tape. He smirked and in a moment manik's lips were sealed with tape. Manik gaped for a moment then started to pull out the tape. Cabir slapped his hand with which he was pulling out the tape "concentrate on driving manik...i don't want to get involved in an accident"
Manik just made some incomprehensible sounds and cabir started speaking " on a serious note manik..u should know ki har kisi k life mein kya ho raha hai ya kya hoga...ye tere control mein ni hai...and you shouldn't even try! We cannot and should not control mukti's life, we can just guide her. And about ..why she was crying today..toh sun...abhimanyu had done a lot of hardwork yaar to surprise or you can say convince , mukti. You know he arranged 12 gifts for her, which mukti had told him during the course of their conversation that she wanted or she was searching for them . and you know why 12...because he said it has been 12 weeks since he met mukti...can you imagine the effort?? And to add to that he even requested me to teach him to sing a song which he would sing for mukti...because he said that such an important event of her life has to have music in it, as it is the most important thing in her life..that's how much he loves her and cares and respects her...and you are comparing him with harshad???? And you know what...he did everything today...but mukti rejected his proposal...can you imagine how much hurt he must have been...yet he came and dropped her safely to her home...without saying a word without any complaints..."
Manik tried to speak something.
"ok you are asking then why was mukti crying...she is just not able to believe in love...she is insecure manik...but i am sure abhimanyu can handle her. We have to just trust him and give them space..."
Manik was silent now, all his impulsiveness and anger had gone into gutter.
"tu abhimanyu ko galat bol raha tha...wo khud kitna hurt hoga and imagine he has no one to hear him out...unlike mukti who has all of us...and sabse jyada painful toh nandini k lye hai ye...she is stuck between her brother and sister-in-law...i respect her today even more for choosing to console mukti , rather than abhimanyu...she is really awesome daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, wife, sister, daughter and above all she is an awesome human being...you are lucky yaar manik!!" cabir finished speaking and he had very subtly, without even manik's knowledge had made him realise , for speaking rashly to nandini. Although he didn't know what manik had said to nandini, yet he infused some brains into manik.
Just as cabir finished speaking , his phone started ringing. He picked it up.
"hello navya.."
"cabir , manik tumhre sath hai??" navya spoke in an impatient tone.
"ha hai, kyun kya hua??" cabir answered quickly.
"wo nandini usey call kar rahi thi par uska phone unreachable araha tha..."
"oh acha..ek min hold karo" cabir told navya and then turned to manik "manik tera phone kahan hain??" cabir asked and manik pointed cabir to the tape which was still stuck on manik's mouth. So cabir quickly pulled it out making manik shriek in pain. "cabir!!" manik yelled.
"tera phone kaha hain??" cabir asked again ignoring manik's anger.
Manik searched his denim's pocket and took out the phone. Cabir checked manik's phone snd then replied to navya "ha sorry navya, wo manik k phone ka network ni tha... agar nandini ko baat karna hai toh bolo av karne...network agya "
Manik, on hearing that nandini wanted to talk to him, felt elated.
"cabir, nandini abhi apne maike chali gyi hai...wo aunty ke ankle mein sprain agya hai..abhimanyu ne cal kiya tha bolne k lye ki they won't be able to attend the party. Toh nandini before going wanted to inform manik.." navya informed.
"oh acha..toh tum q ni gyi uske sath, she might need help" cabir replied and manik was growing impatient now to know what was the matter.
"i offered and even neyonika aunty told that she will come, but nandini refused saying that she will manage there, and we should take care of mukti and the party" navya replied.
Manik shook cabir's shoulder asking what was the matter.
"ok navya main tumse baad mein baat karta hun, bye"
"yeah ok bye. Manik ko bol dena nandini se baat kar lene aur haan ek baat aur plz alia ko bhej dena yaha...i need her help since nandini chali gyi islye" navya listed out the things hurriedly before hanging up.
"ok ok...now bye" cabir replied smiling at navya's panicked voice.
"kya hua cabir? Tu mujhe btaega?" manik asked as soon as cabir hung up.
"yaar wo nandini tujhe btana chahti thi ki she is going to her parent's home . aunty has sprained her ankle and they won't come for the party"
"whaaat???" manik shouted.
"yeah i know aaj ka din hi kharab hai..subah se kuch na kuch ho raha hai" cabir talked to himself.
"yaar mujhe jaana hoga...pta ni amma ksi hain..." manik spoke worriedly.
"hmmm ek kaam kar, drop me here, i will take a taxi or a cab...tu u-turn le le yaha se"
"no i will drop you at the hotel, aur waha agey se ek route hai to nandini's home, main waha se nikal jaunga..."
"ok..wo bhi thk hai"
...
"amma ye kse hua?" nandini asked as soon as she saw her mother.
"kuch ni beta, dhyan kahi aur that oh two steps skip ho gye stairs se niche ate waqt" sheetal replied calmly.
"amma apko dhyan dena chahye...aap akele rehte ho..most of the times..asa karoge toh kse chalega!"
"main thk hun beta, itna tension mt lo"
"bhai doctor ne kya bola??"
"major swelling hai..ek lotion diya hai..morning -evening lgane k lye on the effected part crepe bandage hata kar" abhi informed.
"ok" nandini answered thoughtfully.
"hey nandini!! O my god what a pleasant surprise...mujhe laga tum nahi hogi aur main sirf aunty se mil kar wapas jaungi!!!" a girl spoke taking nandini in a bone crushing hug.
"oh my god ! o my god! O my god! Shruti!" nandini started jumping in excitement "guess what how strong is our connection yaar! Matlab main aaj subah hi apni sis-in-law se tumhre bare mein baat kar rahi thi...and see destiny..here you are!!"
"wow really?? So howz your married life going?? Shadi k baad toh pehli baar mil rahe hain hum dono, tune itni short notice pe shadi kiya ki we friends couldn't make it, but SNS aur media me tu chayi hui thi toh humein saare updates milte rahe...u were looking gorgeous yaar!!"
"beta tum dono door pe hi khare ho k baat karoge yaa andar v aoge??" sheetal spoke from back and the girls came inside and shruti exchanged greetings with everyone.
"typical girls!" abhi muttered meanwhile rolling his eyes.
All of them sat down and nandini-shruti started their gossip session while snacks and juice were served.
"tu akeli ai hai??? Ankit ni aya?? " nandini asked
"aya hai yaar, he dropped me outside. Humein pta ni tha ni ki tu v hai ni toh wo andar jarur ata...actually we are in Mumbai qki uski ek conference hai...aur av he had to go for a meeting so he dropped me here taki main bore ni hun akele"
"tu kitne din hai yaha??"
"2 days bas"
"toh why don't you guys stay here with us yaar ..kitna maja aega like old days! Na mt bol, i know tu ase bhi hotel mein hi ruki hogi...plz plzzz" nandini acted cutely as it was her weapon to get anything from her friends!
"ok ok ankit se baat karti hun..."
"usse kya baat karna hai...acha thk h main kar lungi aur mujhe pta hai wo na ni bolega..." nandini declared and they both shared a laugh.
Just then manik entered and saw her laughing and a sense of happiness filled him. Abhi noticed manik standing at the door.
"arey manik, come inside waha q khare ho??" abhi spoke drawing everyone's attention.
Nandini looked at him and smiled , a smile which did not reach her eyes. Manik entered inside and touched the feet of sheetal and alok and took abhimanyu in a warm hug and whispered in his ear "i am sorry".
Abhi nodded breaking the hug and they both shared a genuine smile.
Manik moved towards nandini and they shared a light hug before nandini introduced shruti to manik "manik, she is shruti, we were in school, together till +2. And shruti he is...ma.."
"he is manik, your husband...right?? who doesnot know him" shruti smiled and shook hands with manik.
"she is your friend...but i didn't meet her before..how come??" manik asked nandini.
"oh she lives in Bangalore...that's why" nandini replied. Manik then smiled and moved to talk to sheetal.
After a few minutes, nandini excused herself to go to the washroom. Manik was engrossed in the conversation when he received a phone call. He picked it up.
"hello sir, sorry to disturb you but there is some urgent matter that i want to discuss with you" it was manik's PA.
"yeah ok tell me" manik got up to go to a quieter place.
"sir the sports car you got imported from USA, is here sir. But in the registry office, there are some papers that need your signature sir"
"can't we do it tomorrow ??"
"sir, actually if you want the delivery today, you will have to sign the papers today itself"
This sports car was mukti's surprise birthday gift. He had to get it today.
"ok i will be there in 40-45 minutes."
"sir you just have 30 minutes, after that the office will close sir. Its already 5:35"
"urggg, aditya!! Why did you leave everything for the last minute!!"
"i am extremely sorry sir, but the car was delivered late sir and you know the govt officials , how they work...tha.."
"ok cut it...i am coming"
Manik searched for nandini but she had not come back from washroom yet, and he had to leave. So he informed sheetal and alok and invited shruti for the party.
When nandini came out, manik had already left. She was informed by her parents that manik left due to some urgent work and her face fell. She had hoped some reconciliatory moves from manik, but alas he had no time for her.
"amma aap toh party me ni jaoge..." i started the convo
"hmmm ...main soch raha tha main v na jaun.." abhimanyu added. He wanted to keep away from mukti. He did not want her to remember anything related to him which could hurt her.
"nahi beta, tumhe jana chahye...ye nandini k sasural ka function hai...agar hum mein se koi bhi waha ni hoga toh neyonika ji ko bura lagega aur ho sakta hai..galat news v spread ho jae...isslye tum bachche jao...main aur alok rahenge "
"amma aap bed par se niche ni aoge jab tak hum wapas na ajae...thk h???... main na maa-papa se permission le lungi...kuch din yaha rukungi...aap ka khayal v rakhungi..aur shruti k sath time v spend karungi.." nandini said
"par beta ..." sheetal tried to protest
"sheetal ...hamari beti kuch din yaha rehna chahti hai toh rehne do...akhir ye iska ghar v toh h.." alok spoke in favour of nandini.
"thk h" sheetal replied realising that alok was right. Nandini can stay here whenever she wants.
"but nandini , manik ne mujhe invite toh kar diya par mujhe ankit se puchna hoga and usse v bari problem ye ki main ek v party wear ni layi hun...what will i wear??" shruti spoke , a little tensed.
"ummm..let me think...mera aaj ka party wear v ghar par hai...ummm...ok ek kaam karte hain...tum mere sath chalo ...boutique..choose a dress and accessories..then we will go to my home and get ready there...howz it??" nandini asked
"it sounds exciting...let me just ask ankit..give me a minute!" shruti excused herself and moved to talk to ankit.
She came back after a few minutes.
"ok its all set! Ankit said that he will directly come to the party after the meeting...now let's go!!" shruti rubbed her palm in excitement.
...
"bhai aap av arahe ho??? Aur bhabhi kaha h??" mukti shot her question as it had been an hour since they (mukti, navya, alia, Dhruv, cabir) had been waiting.
"mukti just give me two minutes, main ready ho kar ata hun" manik spoke in a hurry to get ready.
"arey aap ready ho jaoge par nandini kaha h??" mukti asked again
"her mom has sprained her ankle, i am not sure if she will come or not leaving her mom alone..." manik spoke lowly. He had his fingers crossed when he said this. He wanted her to come, and he also knew that he has done a blunder which equals to a sin. He would have to make up to her, get her back. But he had a feeling that it is going to be an uphill task this time.
As manik moved to go, no one stopped him this time. They knew he has messed up this time. Its better to stay away and let them sort out on their own.
"toh kya hum media se interact karenge without nandini??? You know how much of a buzz that will create!" alia voiced out her concern.
"we can do nothing...let's just leave it on god...whatever happens we will see it...let's just celebrate your birthday first! Let's party like there's no tomorrow!" cabir announced.
And they all hi-fived.
"ok i am ready...let's move" manik announced and all of them got up, straightening and perfecting their dresses.
"you guys make a move..i will come after a few minutes" navya said and cabir's face fell. He always wanted her to accompany him but she refused saying, they would do that only after marriage. It had become usual, so neither FAB 5 members reasoned. They moved forward while cabir placed a light, feathery kiss on navya's lips and followed others out.
...
Ok before you all complain for no manan moments again in this update, i would say it's the demand of the story...and if you feel like it was boring or you didn't like it, then i won't force you for posting comments. Only who feel like writing a word about this update, should comment. Rest can read and disappear, i won't mind..!
Waiting for genuine reviews.
Anupamaa
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
Indian Mythology
Sampoorna
