Love - Its Complicated! 26th Mar: Chapter 10 (E) is up on Page 71! - Page 9

Awesome update
Loved it
Well written
Thanks for the pm

awesome update.. loved it..
eagerly waiting for the next update..

WOW!! wonderful update dear...loved it

Awesome start...interesting storyline...thanks for the PM

V nice n interesting update

CHAPTER 2. MAAN AND NANDINI

22 YEARS IN PAST...

Maan Singh Khurana woke up with a smile on his face. He stretched his body like a cat and then opened his eyes. With bright eyes and sweet smile he turned to his left where on the bed side table a lone photo frame stood. He picked it up and his smile turned tender.

"Good Morning Mumma!", he whispered softly. The lady in the picture was well dressed and had a beautiful smile on her face.

"I miss you too Mumma!", Maan whispered softly as tears pricked his eyes. He nodded his head as if the lady in the picture was saying something and he could hear her. Then he spoke again, "I know mumma! I am not supposed to cry. You see Mumma I am a big boy now! I turned ten two weeks ago. But what can I do? I miss you and when I miss you I want to cry!" He pouted sadly and then he perked up, "Yes yes Mumma! I will tell you everything that happened in school when I come home! You don't worry! But now I have to go. If I did not go, Daadima will come and she will scold me! So bye bye Mumma!"

Maan placed the photo in its place and blinked his eyes rapidly trying to not cry. But few drops of tears did fall from his eyes. He wiped his eyes and then turned to the right bedside table where another photo stood. This one held three people; his father, his father's mother and his father's baby sister who looked to be in her early twenties. All three were smiling and dressed in festive clothes.

Maan picked this photo frame and spoke solemnly, "Good Morning Mr. Khurana!", and then he grinned, "Good Morning Dad!" He turned to the lady sitting in front of his dad, "Good morning Da... Wait! Wait! Wait! What was that word? Ah yes! Namaste Daadima!", he giggled and then looked at the last lady in the picture who stood by his father, "Hello beautiful Nandy Bui! I love you! Now I don't mind talking to you all but I have to go to school! So I am off to brush my teeth, take bath etc. and will then come down to dining table and wish you all in real! Till then Sayonara!" Again he giggled and then after placing the photo at its place, he jumped off the bed and ran into the bathroom.

Half hour later, Maan was found singing while wandering to the dining room in the Khurana Mansion dressed in his school uniform.

"Sayonara O Sayonara! Baada Niyaaungi! Sayonara! Eethaati aur bakhlaati!..."

"Bakhlaati nahi buddhu! Balkhaati!", a voice spoke to him and he looked up. His Nandy Bui stood in front of him, "No! Its Bakhlaati!"

The lady shook her head as she placed her hands on her hip, "There is no word in hindi called Bakhlaati! Its balkhaati!"

"How do you know there is no word like that?", Maan asked as he placed his hands on his hips and glared at her, "And if there is no word like that then I will invent it! I, Maan Singh Khurana, announce that Bakhlaati is a new word!" To emphasize the effect, he stomped his leg on the floor.

Nandy Bui broke out into laughter and then bending down she squeezed the cheeks of Maan, "Oh my sweety! You are so cute!" Maan made a face at being pinched and that is when both heard a camera click. Both looked up to see Daadima smirking at them.

"Aww! Aap dono kitne pyaare lagte hain ek saath! Aur ab humaare paas iss baat ka saboot hai! (You two look so sweet together! And now I have the proof of it too!)", Daadima spoke as she smiled at the duo.

"Saboot? What saboot means Daadima?", Maan asked in confusion.

"She means proof!", his Nandy Bui piped in and Maan nodded and then frowned again, "And what does pyaare means?"

His Nandy Bui laughed softly, "Pyaare means sweet!" Maan blinked, "Ok!", and then his eyes widened as he stared at his Nandy Bui and Daadima who were walking towards the dining table, "Wait! But I am not sweet! I am Maan Singh Khurana! And Maan Singh Khurana does not do sweet!"

Both the ladies were laughing by the time he reached the dining table and as he took a seat between his Daadima and Nandy Bui, he frowned grumpily at seeing them laugh at him. Both the ladies quieted down after a while.

Daadima grabbed his chin and smiled at him, "Haan! Haan! Tu toh mera Sunny Deol hai! (Yes! Yes! You are my Sunny Deol!)"

"Yes! That I am!", Maan agreed and then frowned, "But who is Sunny Deol?"

Again the ladies burst out laughing. Maan was annoyed now.

"Nandy Bui! Atleast you don't laugh! I thought I am your favorite person in the world!", Maan whined and his Bui just smiled.

Daadima meanwhile frowned, "Maan! Unka naam Nandini hai! Nandini Khurana! Aapki pappaji ki behen hai! Yeh kya Nandy Bui laga ke rakha hai! Adab se Nandini Buaji kaho! (Maan! Her name is Nandini! Nandini Khurana! She is your father's sister! What is this Nandy Bui? Call her Nandini Buaji with respect!)"

"NO!", Maan growled, "She is my Nandy Bui!"

"Its ok Ma!", Nandini also spoke up but Daadima was having none of it. She glared at her grandson, "Maan! Don't forget your manners! Respect your elders! Just because we live in Australia does not mean we forget our culture! Humaare sanskaar humaare tehzeeb..."

Maan interrupted her with, "Daadima! What does sanskaar mean?"

And both the ladies gave up. They slapped their foreheads and shook their heads.

"Yeh kya ho raha hai yahaan?", a pleasant voice asked them as Maan's father walked to the dining table and took the head seat.

"Nothing Dad! Daadima is as usual confusing me by using tough hindi words that I cannot understand!", Maan huffed and glared at his Daadima at which both his Daadima and Bui whispered so cute' making Maan huff again. Why can't they see that I am a big boy now! And big boys don't look cute! They look smart!

"So Maan! How is your school going?", his father asked with a smile. This was something of a routine in this family. Every evening when Maan came home from school he would go to his Bui and then to his Daadima to tell them all about what happened at school. That would take his whole evening as he would narrate everything with minute details, some exaggeration and lots of imagination added in between working on his homework. And next day morning he would give a brief summary to his father while they had their breakfasts.

As Maan started to chatter to his Dad in English Daadima glared, "Maan beta! Hindi! How will you learn Hindi if you don't speak in Hindi?"

Maan sighed and then started his chatter again but this time in Hindi. Daadima smiled and both Daadima and Nandini had their smiles on their faces as they had their breakfasts.

"Veerji!", a soft voice stopped Maan's chatter and his father and Daadima looked at Nandini. Nandini had her head bowed down and Maan's father frowned. Maan looked from his father to his Aunt curious about what was happening.

"Bol meri Choti!", Maan's father asked softly.

Nandini looked up nervously, her eyes going from her mother to her brother.

"Boliye Nandini Beta! Kya hua?", Daadima prompted.

"Hum aapse kuch maangna chaahte hain Veerji! (I want to ask you something Veerji!)", Nandini spoke in whisper.

"Bol meri choti! Kya chaahiye tujhe?", Maan's dad asked and Maan looked at his Aunt eagerly. What was she going to ask? A new car? Maan straightened up and grinned. If it's a new car then he wanted the first ride. Bui will take me first, haina?

"Veerji! Hum saalon se yahaan reh rahe hain! Jab Maan ek saal ka bachcha tha tab hum, aap, Maan and Ma India se Australia aaye the! Tab hum bhi sirf 12 saal ki thi! Tab se hum yahin par hai! Humne uske baad Hindustan ko dekha hi nahi! Aur dheere dheere hum humaare Hindustan ko bhool gaye! Humein India ke baare mein kuch nahi yaad, kuch nahi pata! Ma humaare gaao ki baat karti hai aur aap apne desh ki mitti ki baat karte ho! Lekin hum? Hum bas Hindustan ki baatein sunte hain aur imagine karte hain Hindustan kaisa hai! Hindustan ke nishaan hum par se mit chuke hain! Reh gaya sirf hindi bolne ki aadat! Aur Ma ke Hindustan ki kahaaniyaan! Aur kuch nahi! (Veerji! We are living here for years! Maan was only one when you, I, Maan and Ma came to Australia from India! At that time I was 12 years old! Since then I have been here only! After that, I never saw India! And slowly slowly I forgot my country! I don't remember or know anything about India! Ma talks about our village and you talk about the soil of our country. But I? I just listen to talks about India and I imagine how India must be! Any mark of India on me has gone ages ago! Only thing left is my habit of speaking in Hindi! And stories of India from mom! And nothing else!)", Nandini looked down tearfully.

"Tu kehna kya chaahti hai Choti? (What are you trying to say Choti?)", her Veerji spoke as he narrowed his eyes. Maan gulped in fear. Why did it seem as if his father was about to get angry?

"Australia bahut khoobsurat hai Veerji! Lekin hum Hindustan dekhna chaahte hain! (Australis is beautiful Veerji! But I want to see India!)", Nandini spoke and Daadima took in a sharp breath. Maan's father glared at Nandini and Maan frowned. What is happening here?

"Haan Veerji!", Nandini straightened up and spoke in steady and calm voice, "I want to see India! I want to see the place where I was born!"

When her brother did not respond, Nandini continued to speak, "I want to see the country I was born in. I want to see the village I was born in. I want to see the vibrant culture you two keep on speaking about. I want to see the sarso ke khet that Punjab is known for and those small small fairs that the villages are famous for. I want to...", Nandini was cut off.

"No!", Maan's father's voice rang loud and clear in the room even though he spoke it in a calm and composed voice.

"But Veerji...", Nandini tried to object but Maan's father simply looked at her and said, "No!" Nandini looked down as tears welled in her eyes. She tried to eat the remaining breakfast but she could not. She pushed her plate away and stood up. When she spoke again she spoke in a determined voice, "But I want to visit India Veerji!"

Maan looked at his Bui's tearful but determined face and then at his father's stormy expression and gulped.

"Nahi! You won't go!", Maan's father calmly spoke and continued to eat his breakfast as if they were discussing about something casual like the weather.

"Par kyun Veerji?", Nandini shouted.

"NANDINI!", Maan's father roared as he stood up in anger.

"Nahi Veerji! Aapko jawaab dena hoga! Why don't you let me go?"

Maan's father took a deep breath, "Kya tum bhool gayi ho ki hum sab India chodke yahaan kyun aaye hain? (Have you forgotten why we all left India and have come here?)"

Daadima took in a sharp breath while Maan blinked in confusion.

Maan's father continued speaking, "Maan sirf ek saal chota bachcha tha jab ek riot mein meri patni maari gayi. Maan ne itni choti umar mein apni Ma kho di, maine apni patni, tumne tumhaari Bhabhi aur Ma ne apni bahu kho di! Roz wahaan dange hote the, roz koi na koi marta hai wahaan! Ab tum bataao, main tumhein kaise aise duniya mein bhejun? (Maan was only one year old kid when I lost my wife due to riots. Maan lost his mother in such a young age, I lost my wife, you lost your Bhabhi and Ma lost her bahu! Daily there are riots there, daily someone dies there! Now you tell me, how can I send you into such a world?)"

"Toh theek hai! Fine! You don't need to send me alone! I will take Ma with me!", Nandini retorted.

"No! Never! Have you gone mad? You know how unwell your mother is! She does not even step out of the town, forget about the country!", Maan's father growled.

"Then you come with me!", Nandini retorted and Maan's father glared at her, "And at whose hands I am supposed to leave Khurana Constructions? Don't forget that it took me years to make this company what it is today and I refuse to let it be destroyed over your whims! And who will take care of Ma while I am gone? Maan? He can barely take care of himself!"

"So you won't allow me to go?", Nandini asked pleadingly.

Maan's father shook his head, "No! Never! Do whatever you want in Australia! But I am not allowing you to step into India! And that's my final decision!"

Maan watched as his Bui stumbled backwards in tears and then ran off to her room. He looked at his Daadima who had her head bowed. Maan surmised that she could not see her children fight. He then turned back to his father who looked calm as he told his mother that he was going to his office and walked off.

Suddenly Daadima called his name and then told him to get his bag as he had school to go to and his bus would come anytime. Maan nodded and snuck away, still confused as to what happened right now. Did his Aunt and Dad really fight right now?

Few hours later, Maan smiled as he entered his house. He had already forgotten about the fight that happened in the morning by the time he reached his school and now he was back from school eager to talk to his Daadima and Nandy Bui.

As he looked around the main hall, he was confused. Arre! Why the house is so silent? And where is my Bui? As far as he knew his Bui would always be waiting for him on the sofa in the living room so he could not understand why his Bui was not in her usual place today. He shrugged and ran to his room. Dropping his bag, he ran off to find his Bui.

"Bui!", he shouted as he looked around.

"Bui!", he continued to call for her as he searched her in every room.

Finally Maan found her in her room sitting by the window looking out at the garden.

"Bui! Did you know what happened today in my school?", Maan asked as he ran towards his Aunt. He frowned as he realised that she was not listening to him. "Bui!", he called out to her but she did not react. Maan was confused. What was wrong with her? That is when he remembered what happened in the morning. Oh! So Bui is sad! He smiled widely. I will cheer her up right away.

Maan grabbed her arm and shook her till she was out of her thoughts and looking at him, "Bui! You have to listen to what I am saying. You may not believe what happened in class today..." Maan continued to chatter about the funny incident that happened in the class and soon had his Bui laughing for a few minutes. But once she calmed down her sadness was back. But unlike earlier, she was trying her best to not get upset by asking Maan what else happened in school. Maan was happy that his plan worked and very eagerly told her about his whole day.

Once Maan's chattering petered out, his Bui also went back to being sad. Maan frowned. Now what to do? Then an idea entered his head. He grinned. "Bui! Lets go play!", Maan announced. His Bui looked surprised. Maan refused to allow her to say no and grabbing her hand, he started to drag her. His Bui was a bit reluctant at first but then complied and allowed him to drag her away. He dragged her the whole way from her room to the lawn outside. Once in the lawn, he convinced her to play hide and seek with her and soon they were playing and laughing. His Aunt still looked sad but better than how she looked when he first came home from school.

"Maan! Maan Bete!", a voice came and both turned to see Daadima stand there.

"Har din toh aap aajaate hain ab tak humein apni poore din ke baare mein bataane ke liye! Aaj kyun nahi aaye? (Daily by now you come to tell me what happened in your whole day! Why didn't you come today?)", Daadima looked at him sternly and Maan looked down sadly, "I am sorry Daadima!" Then he looked up determinedly, "But what am I supposed to do? My Bui was sad! How can I leave her sad and come to you?"

His Daadima smiled at him tenderly and drew him into a hug. Maan grinned as he hugged his Daadima. He loved the hugs he got from Daadima. She pulled away and then looked at his Bui. He looked on as Daadima raised her arms and his Bui ran towards her. Both hugged tightly and his grin grew wider when Daadima told his Bui, "I will talk to your Veerji! Aapko apna sapna poora karne ka poora haq hai! (You have every right to fulfill your dreams!)" His Bui grinned and Maan was happy. His Bui was happy, his Daadima was happy, now if only his father was happy, then he would be the happiest boy in the whole world.

It was late night when Maan decided he had enough of the sadness in this house. The whole evening his Bui was sad, his Daadima was sad and his Dad was angry. Even on the dining table, everything was tense. Maan was not happy. With determination, he got out of his bed. He will go and talk to his Dad, man to man. He will convince him to let Bui go to India. And then everyone will be happy. Satisfied with his plan, he walked off to his Dad's study room. Knowing his father, he would be in the room till midnight when Daadima would scold him and send him to bed.

As Maan neared his father's study he heard voices. He frowned. Who is talking with his Dad? He neared the door which was slightly open. He grinned. He could see in easily. He looked into the room through the gap between the open doors and saw his Dad and Daadima. His father had his head in his hands as he sat on the chair and his Daadima was talking to him with her hand on his shoulder.

"Hum samajhte hain aapko Uday bete! Hum samajhte hain! Lekin aap bhi toh samjhiye! Uss haadse ko hue kitne saal hogaye! Abhi toh India mein koi dange bhi nahi ho rahe hain! Aur Nandini toh samajhdaar bachchi hai! Har kadam phoonk phoonk ke rakhegi! Aap use mauka toh deejiye! (I understand you Uday bete! I understand you! But you should also understand! That incident happened years ago! And nowadays there is no riots in India too! And Nandini is a smart child! She will take every step cautiously! You should give her a chance!)", he heard his Daadima say.

"Lekin Ma aap toh samjheeye! Main Nandini ko kho nahi sakta! Use akela choda India mein aur use kuch ho gaya toh? Ma main nahi kho sakta Nandini ko bhi! Aap, Nandini aur Maan meri jaan hai! Us mein se ek insaan ko bhi maine khoya toh main jee nahi paaunga! (But Ma why don't you understand! I cannot loose Nandini! If I left her alone in India and something happened to her then? I cannot loose Nandini too Ma! You, Nandini and Maan are my life! If I loose even one of you, I won't be able to live!)", his father replied.

Daadima sighed, "Uday beta! Baat ko samjho! Aap ka darr najaayaz hai! Nandini ko kuch nahi hoga! Uspe bharosa keejiye! Aur apne darr ko apne upar haavi hone mat deejiye! (Uday beta! Understand the matter! Your fear is invalid! Nothing will happen to her! You should trust her! And don't let your fear rule you!)"

Maan observed them as they argued more but finally his Dad agreed. Maan grinned. Yes! His father has given Bui permission which means his Bui will be happy and Daadima will be happy and everyone will be happy. With a grin, Maan ran back to his room. He was so happy today! Maan happily went back to sleep, his dreams filled with lots of video games, playing with his Bui and Daadima ke haath ke parathe!

It took two months to get the documents needed for travelling to India. In these two months, Maan went shopping with his Bui for new clothes and went to Mandir with Daadima where she wished well for Nandini's trip and he went with his Bui and Dad when they went to get her Visa and Passport. And soon came the day his Bui went off on her trip. As Nandini stood by her brother, while Daadima did the pooja for her safe trip, Maan stood at the side crying. Till now, Maan was happy for his Nandy Bui but only now he understood the implication of her going off to India. She was going away! His Nandy Bui was going away. She was leaving him which meant he would never get to play with her or talk to her or dance with her for a while. And that did not sit well with Maan. And hence, since he woke up he continued to cry.

Uday pulled his son close trying to calm him down but nothing worked. Daadima finished the aarti and Maan unable to stand there anymore ran off to his room.

"Maan!", a soft voice called him and he sniffed as he looked at the door. His Bui stood at the door smiling at him. He pouted and went back to crying on the bed.

"Maan darling!", his Bui said as she entered the house and sat by him. She softly ruffled his hair and his anger melted. He turned around and hugged his Bui as he sobbed loudly.

"Bachcha! I am not going too far! Its India! And I will be back pretty soon!", his Bui tried to convince him but Maan shook his head, "No! You cannot go Bui! I cannot live without you!"

"I will miss you too my Darling! But baby, I will call you on daily basis! Please don't cry!", his Bui coaxed him.

"But why do you want to leave me? Why can't I come with you? Why don't you take me with you?", Maan continued to sob. His Bui chuckled at his questions and then she cupped his face, "Dekho baby! If you don't cry, then I will make sure that I will bring you a gift from India for you! Whatever you ask, I will get it for you!"

Maan looked at her with delight, "Really?"

Nandini smiled, "Yes!"

"You will get me anything I asked?", Maan wiped his eyes and looked at Nandini eagerly.

"Yes!", Nandini was curious as to what Maan would ask.

Maan grinned impishly, "Then get me a baby sister!"

Nandini was shocked. When she looked at Maan with wide shock, the boy simple nodded his head, "I want a baby sister. She should look just like you! Very pretty! I want to take care of her just like Pappa takes care of you!"

Nandini burst out laughing and Maan frowned in consternation. What was there to laugh about? He wasn't asking anything childish right? Like doll or toy? Then why is Bui laughing?

Finally Nandini calmed down, "Ok! I will ...", Nandini giggled, "I will see what I can do ok?"

Maan nodded and then with a happy smile hugged his Bui. His Bui hugged him back.

An hour later, Maan stood at the porch of his house with Daadima standing behind him, holding him in place by placing a hand on his shoulder. His father and Bui were entering the car. His father had decided to drop his sister off to the Airport but to avoid Maan's throwing tantrum at last moment, Maan and Daadima had their see-off right at the house. Maan sniffed as he tried not to cry anymore. But he could not stop himself and his eyes continued to expel tears. Bui looked out of the car and waved towards her nephew who waved her back. She had tears trickling down her cheek too.

The car started and soon his Bui was off to her trip. As the car passed the front gate, Maan could not resist and tore away from Daadima and ran towards the retreating car. "BUI! BUI!", he screamed his heart out but the car was gone. Maan stood there sobbing his heart out. His Bui was gone!

Suddenly, Maan felt his Daadima hug him from behind, "Why are you crying beta? She is just gone for a trip! She will be back in few months! Stop crying! She has not gone forever! You will see her again pretty soon!" Daadima's words reached through Maan and he nodded. He allowed Daadima to take him back into the house while thinking about his Bui. He was hoping that his Daadima's words were right and he would see his Bui soon. But what Maan did not know that today was the last time he would see his Nandy Bui. He would hear her voice and even talk about her but he would never see her face to face ever again.

And that was Nandini Khurana's story.

But her story does not end here! You will see her or atleast hear her again down the line as Maan and Khushi's past opens up more secrets to you! The story of the past has not yet finished. Picture toh abhi baaki hai mere dost!

But in the next chapter, we won't stay in past! After all, this is an Arshi story so I have to show you Arshi once in a while right?

In next chapter, we will head back to present where we saw Geet stand in shock as she saw a lady looking just like Nandini talking to Vicky! Anyone wonder what Geet will do next. And will Arnav find his Khushi? And will Maan meet Khushi in the next update? What do you think? Do tell me your thoughts!

And if you are confused as to what will happen next, don't fret! I will be back on 30th November to narrate to you the next update!

Till then, entertain me with your speculations!

Thank you, take care and have fun,

Kalpana

Marvellous update
Loved it
Well written
Thanks for the pm

Brilliant chapter. The past is slowly opening up...

Superb thanks for pm
Continue soon