MaNan FF//The Ex's At War//Link for Thread 2 on pg 150 - Page 57

Hooohhaaahaaa here I come on weekdays...And so this is how I spend my chutti😭

Okay so this is on special request by @shivanichauhan1❤️ on her 16^th bday..wsh d baby guys

N of course Enjoy my update too😛😛

Chapter 3 - I Hate You Like I Love You

We looked around to find her amongst the crowd. I knew it wouldn't be difficult to find her as she was the only kid around and besides the security arrangements were well taken care of yet I panicked. The whole feeling of not having Manini before my eyes was extremely disturbing. Manik went ahead asking the guests about her where as I enquired with the delegated staff for the party.

"Manik you should have been careful na", I charged at him yet my focus was in locating Manini.

"Even you could have kept an eye on her but no you were busy posing and smiling with that Moron George", he had to dig at me and how on earth was it possible that he would accept his mistake.

"Really!!!what the??"

"Oh cut it!!.. lets look for her first...I can listen to your lectures later", the restlessness in his body language was quite evident.

We moved aside to look for Manini while a few socialites who had been looking at us since quite some time began discussing.

"What a cute couple they make!!!", said one of them to another.

"Really in your dreams ...don't you know they aren't together anymore?"

"Are you serious but they look so good together with the baby of their's?", the first lady shook her head in curiosity.

"They are not divorced or something but they live separately...I still get amazed how these two stay away from each other"

"But not quite...didn't you notice how he was grabbing her while posing", and both of them broke in fits of giggles. Rewa was over hearing this conversation between them and was raring to explode.

***

Manik and I finally found our breath back when we located Manini at the dessert corner. Both of us heaved a lungful of breath to see that our baby was safe. I rushed to her and grabbed her before she could vanish again. She was busy walking from one counter to another tasting different ice cream flavors. The food staff was more than happy to treat her. She had a mouthful of ice cream most of which was on her dress too. I could absolutely see the flavors she had tried decorating her dress.

"Kaddu baby...what are you doing??",

Both father and daughter rolled their eyes and looked at each other at my pet name. I looked at her carefully, she was completely messed, there was ice cream all over her mouth, on her hand till her elbows.

"Mommy shee I had ayven ice cleams today... Daddy got me thlee and I had fol hele", cheerfully she rose both her palms to show a count of nine on her fingers. I quickly closed down two of her fingers to correct it and she got busy in trying that.

I darted an angry glare at Manik, his affection for his daughter was idiotically crazy. He gave her whatever she wanted without thinking that the she could get sick as well.

"Fine now if coughy coughy happens ask your Daddy to feed you the yucky medicines you okay", I said in a strict tone partly to scold her and more so to her overtly loving father, "Why did you get her Manik?? Now look she has spoilt the entire dress..what am I going to do now??"

"Clean her up what else??", Manik got annoyed at my paranoid behavior as if I loved making a hill out of a mole.

I picked her up and took her to the washroom and Manik followed us.

"Where do you think you are coming?? This is ladies wash room", I tried to make him notice pointing at the sign board.

"Haan so...I am here for my daughter not to ogle at ladies", he opened the door and led us in.

I knew it was useless to have a sane discussion with him hence it was no point explaining as well. I made Manini sit on the basin counter and went looking if anyone else was there. Thankfully it wasn't occupied so came back to attend Manini. When I came back I saw Manik was in full preparation to give his daughter a bath over there.

"What are you doing?? Leave it...ek kaam nahi hota tumse...now move.. I will manage her", I pushed him aside and started cleaning her dress.

Manik got a bit annoyed as I rejected his attempts; he stepped back and stood against the wall behind quietly. Manini was more than happy to be spending this time with her Mommy and Daddy and her mischief's were very much licensed now with her Daddy around. She took water from the tap and sprinkled on me, the more I tried to stop her the more she did. The whole situation gave her a feel for her favorite festival Holi. She gathered water in her tiny palms and threw on me.

"Kaddu stop!! Mujhe gussa aa jayega", I tried to scare her

Manik laughed out loud at my futile attempts to scare my 4 year old daughter. She giggled at her role reversal. Every day it was my task to bathe her but now she had to do the honors. Manik enjoyed the whole scenario while Manini held the mouth of the tap now to directly sprinkle the water on me. The water came with such force that I couldn't face. I stepped back and dashed against Manik's chest who was having the time of his life seeing me struggle.

"Manik stop her na please", I tried guarding the water shower and shoving my face into his chest.

"Kyun now why do you need my help...you were managing na..so continue"

I gave him a flustered look on his comment and he just spared me a sly chuckle. He figured I was really getting annoyed now and unwillingly stepped forward to stop Manini. He quickly caught hold of her hand and closed the tap. I was completely drenched from head to toe. It was like the whole family was bathing together in a public washroom. I tried to jerk the droplets but I was more like a wet crow now, the damp garment clung onto my body and made my movements restricted. Manik looked at me like I was one of those seductive heroines of hindi films bathing in rain. That point did remind him of our showers together and somehow I found myself getting captivated in his constant gaze which was broken quite immediately by Manini.

"Daddy nini..I want to shleepy", she rose her arms for Manik to pick her up. Of course after the entire riot she did in the evening she had to be tired. She could barely keep her eyes open.

"It's okay I will take her", I attempted to come forward to pick her up but couldn't walk properly in the wet saree.

Manik shook his head lazily, "Leave it ...saree toh sambhali jati nahi..upar se baatein badi badi", he taunted sarcastically, "Chalo... I will drop you guys", he removed his blazer and offered me but when I didn't take it he shoved it in my hand, "Wear this ...I don't want people to be ogling at you in this condition"

There was no point arguing in that situation so I did the most sensible thing. I wore the blazer while Manik picked Manini and we went out. The people who saw us coming out in that condition god knows got what ideas. Manik's disheveled hair and shirt and my clingy state was enough to give them bizarre feels. The only way out was through the hall which meant everyone at the party would see us like this. Manik walked straight with a sleeping Manini in his arms and I followed him quietly. The given situation was very embarrassing given that we were one estranged couple and upon that competitors too. I saw Rewa almost squeeze the clutch in her hand, her patience had eloped a while back and she stepped forward to obstruct our way with long strides.

"Where are you going Manik?? You were supposed to drop me home", a distraught Rewa charged at Manik.

"Shhh... keep your voice low ..she is sleeping and no it won't be possible now I have to drop Nandini and Manini"

"But Manik.."

"Amm Cabir please give a drop to Rewa...I will meet you in the office tomorrow okay", Manik looked at Cabir who nodded in approval and he walked further giving a wry assuring smile at Rewa.

I took a moment's pause to count Rewa's frowns, it was silly yet I was kind enjoying seeing her miffed and distressed. I saw Rose whisper something in her ear and could literally sense smoke coming out of Rewa's ear. It was seriously her time to get jealous and I agree I was a bit bitchy to tease her more. I pocketed my hand in Manik's blazer that I was wearing and pulled it tighter on my body with a slight dash of naughty crooked smiles and I was ready to present my new invented recipe Tawa Fry Rewa. The poor girl was having the roughest evening of her life, first it was my daughter now it was me doing the honors. I quickly left the view and moved out and followed Manik.

"Tch Tch Tch Tch Rewa...see now just see all my predictions come true...Nandini will never let you be in Manik's life... mark my words..I always told you these two can't stay away from each other and you didn't believe me...huh now see it for yourself...I don't think Manik will go back home today", Rose fanned the sweat beading on Rewa's forehead.

Rewa gave her a dirty frown at the direction where we had walked out, "Just wait and watch...Nandini will very much regret doing this"

***

"Hold her I will get the car", Manik led a sleepy Manini into my arms.

I looked at my sleeping beauty and a smile touched my lips. I checked her posture properly and held her in a comfortable way. As I was waiting for Manik to come I saw some random people over there giving weird looks at me and laughing amongst themselves. I agree that after that bathing session I wasn't looking like someone who qualified to attend such high profile parties but their expressions gave me a disgusting feeling. Manik came with the car in no time and helped me with Manini. Somehow I couldn't deal with those vile degraded looks. I exactly knew what they were thinking of me and had to give it back on their face. I walked up to them.

"What is the matter?? Aise ghoor ghoor ke kya kya dekh rahe hain?? That man is my husband and that baby is our daughter and we are going home...do you have a problem with that??", I barked at the them as they looked at me like I was a roadside pimp.

"What happened??", Manik tracked towards me.

I saw the men going all blank with Manik behind me but honestly I didn't want a drama over there.

"Nothing", I crossed them and came back, Manik was a little confused but followed me back.

"She is sleeping comfortably at the back seat you sit in the front", he informed me.

"Manik I don't think it is a good idea...I will call a cab for us... you don't need to bother", I was grossly annoyed and Manik could well sense that and now my proposing to go alone confirmed his doubts.

"Did those men say anything to you??", he demanded an answer to his question.

I didn't say anything but he understood there was something wrong and when he saw that I wasn't ready to answer him he decided to directly charge them.

"Where do you think you are going??", I held his wrist to stop him

"I will break their necks..how dare they??"

"Manik stop...you aren't going anywhere...get in the car please", I dropped the idea of cab because at the moment it was more important to calm him.

"How dare they raise a finger at you..I am not going to leave them"

"Manik please Manini is there...please", I pleaded him

He hissed in anger, he could never bear someone questioning my integrity. He grabbed my arm and opened the front door and pushed me in the car and occupied the driver's seat and drove out of there. He didn't utter a single word neither looked at me and I too kept quiet. I looked at my peacefully sleeping baby through the rear mirror and felt water clog in my eyes. Manik wanted to say a lot of things but didn't and just pulled out a tissue from the dash board and handed it to me.

"Wipe it", he said gesturing to the single stream of water rolling down my cheeks that I myself had not realized so far.

We reached our building in the next 10 minutes. I again tried to pick Manini but he didn't let me. He took her out and walked straight. The watchman at the entrance smiled wide to see us together after a long time. Manik strangely smiled back at him and we went inside.

I opened the door and he got in. He stopped for a moment to have a look at his home that he had visited for the first time since he left. Manik wanted us to stay there, he wanted Manini to grow in that house and I didn't object because that was home for me too. He looked at everything around which were more or less same how he had left them. I fidgeted with the keys a little to break his trance.

He went to our room and placed Manini on the bed carefully; she had clutched his shirt tight and was not ready to leave it.

"Wait I will help", I climbed on the bed and tried to loosen her grip

Manik saw me struggling a little, "Leave it...she will wake up...don't disturb her", he said softly and began unbuttoning his shirt.

He peeled of the shirt off his body and left it lingering in Manini's grasp and stood in front of me just in his vest. I smiled at the thought that in one single evening we mother daughter had ripped him off of most of his clothes.

"I will leave now...good night", he turned back to leave

"Wait...what... you are going to leave like this??", I called him out while he was at the door ready to leave.

"What else??"

"Hang on", I went to the cupboard and pulled out one of his few t shirts that I had with me and handed him to wear it. He was amused to see the fact that I still had them.

"I thought tumne inhe fek dia hoga nahi toh jala dia hoga", he said mockingly.

"Yeah right!! Its just that I am not as childish as you are to resort to such useless tricks to vent my frustration", I got back at him tauntingly.

"We know that for sure who is CHILDISH", he said putting on the shirt and smiling like an idiot.

"BYEEE", I stressed on the word to remind that he had to leave.

He controlled his smile and turned back to leave but suddenly stopped. He ran back to our room and pecked his princess on the head and looked at her innocent face for a while. I knew it pained him to stay away from Manini and about me I didn't think it mattered enough.

"Listen..if you find it difficult to manage...I can always arrange for her pick and drop from school..she was waiting today when I reached to take her", he said in a calm suggestive tone.

I knew it affected him immensely to see his daughter wait for anything. When we were together, Manik had always made sure that he reached before she came out.

"It was just today...don't worry I can take care of it...Bye"

Manik left and I just looked at the door blankly that he took to leave me once again. It was strange but that door had always led him to me but now it only signified his walking out of my life. I wanted to ponder on the mistakes that we did we both did. It wasn't one such incidence that led us to take separate ways, there were a few more things personally and professionally, I had thought we will overcome them but somehow we didn't and thus we are where we are.

But I know even if I hate him I still love him and even if he hates me he still loves me more.

So how was it people

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