MaNan FF - Heaven DISCONTINUED ON IF - Page 34

Awesome update

~ 14 ~

As soon as Nandini hit home, she slithered right past her step to safe haven - her bedroom. Manik's suggestion continued to ring in her head - ignore. Ignore. Ignore. Ignore whatever bothers you. And that's exactly what he did. It wasn't easy. There was all the scope in the world for a second bout of sparring. The way her step had waited for her to return so that she could pick on her. The way she muttered angry curses and stormed away from her sight. Hurtful words and abuses. But Nandini just clenched her teeth through it all. It wasn't easy.

When her father came into her room, she was huddled on her bed with her knees drawn up to her chest. She wasn't alone. Rishabh was sitting just across her on the bed. She glanced at her father briefly and looked away.

She felt the patch of mattress beside her sink in as her father settled down. "Did you eat anything?" he asked with concern. Nandini was still upset and didn't want to talk to him at all. But try as she may, she couldn't remain quiet, so she responded with a half-hearted "hmm."

"You... you're all burnt up... were you roaming around in the sun?" He asked as he gently cupped her face and ran his hand over.

Nandini bit her quivering lips and concentrated on controlling the terrible ache in her eyes. She knew that her father regretted his actions and that he was hurting all over. She knew that he wanted to apologize but couldn't get himself to do it. She knew that he still loved her.

"Rishu... go and get some buttermilk for your sister." He suggested.

"Ok Appa," he replied eagerly and darted out of the room. Now that things were sorted out, he was at peace.

As soon as Rishabh left, Nandini realized how silent the room had become. So silent that she could hear her heart throbbing. Though her eyes were on the flowery bedsheet that adorned her cot, she could see her father's teary eyes boring into her. And then, he leaned forward and pulled her into his apologetic embrace.

Nandini felt her heart breaking as she willingly rested her aching head on her father's shoulders. She could feel his hand gently stroking her back and silky hair. He never said a thing but she could hear every single word his heart uttered. He was sorry. For everything. He wished that he could have been a better husband to their mother. A better father to his children. But he knew it was too late. He made an even bigger mistake when he went against their wishes and married her step. He broke their hearts. Their trust. Blemished their mother's memory. He knew that apologies could never rectify anything but still... he was sorry. And he loved them. It was all that kept him going. Through thick and thin.

Nandini closed her flooding eyes and allowed herself to find comfort in her childhood memories. The more she dwelt in them, the more she realized why she loved her father.

Flashback:

Nandini, aged 3, rests in the arms of her father as he carries her to the hospital. She is very sick and her tender skin sports several open oozing sores.

Nandini, aged 5, happily browses through the shelves of a toy store. It's her birthday and her father had given her the liberty to choose the gift she wanted.

Nandini, aged 8 is at a children's park with her kid brother Rishabh. Excitement is etched onto her face as she clings onto the string of a helium balloon. She is filled with awe as to how the balloon threatened to float away the minute she loosened her grip on the string.

Nandini, age 9, throws herself at her father's feet, wraps her arms around his legs and breaks down crying in front of the whole class. She hated this school. She was especially traumatized by the way her teachers and classmates bullied her. Her father stood there speechlessly as she begged him to take her away from there.

Few days later, her father brightly announces that he's taking her away to a new school where she could meet new friends and new teachers.

End of flashback

Nandini opened up her eyes as a strong wave of realization hit her. Aiyappa... If it weren't for my father, I would have never met Manik. We would have been miles apart. I would have never had such a friend in my whole life. I would have lost the most precious gift I can ever have.

Nandini was now hugging her father. I love you so much Appa. She said nothing, but her father heard it all.

_____________

Manik entered his parent's bedroom with a bored expression and found his mother sitting up on her bed. Of course, he wasn't actually bored, but he didn't want to give her that much needed satisfaction. He didn't want to let them know that he was concerned.

Her eyes looked even glassier through her glasses as she crossed her arms and leaned against the bedrest. The moment she spotted Manik, she looked away in utter disgruntlement.

Mr. Malhotra lazily popped out a few pills from his medicine box and shuffled out whereas Manik took the chance and flumped face down onto the bed and pretended to sleep. "I'm back," he growled, his voice muffled by the pillows.

Nyonika didn't utter a single word. She clenched her teeth through pursed lips and looked away sulkily.

"Deaf or what? I said I'm back," Manik repeated, his face still buried into the pillow. "In one piece," he added.

Fed up of waiting for a response, he finally picked up his head from the pillow and supported it on his hand. "Now what happened? You don't want to see your dear son or what? You were so desperate to get me back home, right? You were sooo... what was that...?" Manik pretends to think before he continued with a sarcastic "worried!!?"

"Then!!?" Nyonika finally snapped at him as she grew increasingly emotional. "What do you think? If I ask you to get out you'll just go like that? Anywhere? How can you take it so lightly Manik!!!? Right from the time that cop came to the time you answered our calls, I've been in hell. My blood pressure has shot up like anything. Do you know that!!!?"

"Wow!!!" Manik's eyes widened up with fake surprise. "I'm impressed. So you can actually talk? Like really? You know... I thought that something happened to your voice... maybe something was stuck in there? I was really worried. Trust me." He knew that his mom was irritated and the best part was that he loved to irritate her more.

"This is all a joke for you, isn't it?" Nyonika's voice shook violently as she struggled to keep check on her emotions. "I'm your mother for God's sake! Do you have any idea about what happens should you ever land up in a police station? Do you know what would have been your condition?"

"Abhey yaar..." Manik groaned and buried his head into the pillow once again.

"See! This attitude of yours!" She was literally burning with rage.

"My attitude!!?" he shot back irritably. "My attitude? Mom... look at your goddamn attitude. You're acting like a sissy girl. Seriously why can't you be like dad?"

"You really want me to be like your dad?" Nyonika's temper seemed to have no limits.

"Oof... You know what? I've had enough of this nonsense. I've got nights starting today." Manik muttered angrily as he sprang out of bed and stormed out only to return a moment later with his stethoscope and BP apparatus. He ignored her sulky face as he wrapped the cuff around her arm and inflated it.

"I want to---" Nyonika began to say something but Manik immediately shut her up. "Shh. Shaddup," he hissed with an angry scowl as he struggled to concentrate on her pulse through the stethoscope in his ears.

Nyonika pursed her lips and watched her son with a warm feeling in her heart. He just stomped out of here a while ago... yet he's so concerned about my health. I'm glad that at least he's listening to what I'm saying. I didn't think that he had noticed it earlier when I said that my blood pressure had shot up.

Manik on the other hand was worried. His rude demeanour was merely a pretence to stop her from thinking too much. He deflated the cuff and pulled out the stethoscope from his ears. "Did you take your tabs?" he asked in a serious tone.

"I want to see Nandini tomorrow," she gave a totally different response.

"Did you take your tabs?" he repeated.

"Yes," she answered. "Tell Nandini to meet me in the morning."

"For what?" he asked with a raised brow. "You want to screw her up again or what?"

"I want to talk to her," she replied.

"Mom... just don't," he answered irritably. "I had a tough time trying to put her at ease. And you want to break her again?"

"I just want to talk to her," Nyonika was softer this time. "I know that I was a bit too rude to her in the morning but it was in the spur of the moment. I want to set it straight. Besides... I want to talk to her about you."

"I've got to go for my shift," Manik ignored her and got up with a sigh.

"Or else I won't take my tabs any more Manik," she threatened.

He chuckled sarcastically and muttered "unbelievable" before leaving the room.

________________

It was past 11 in the night when Manik engaged into a skype call with Nandini. "How's everything buddy?" he asked with a weary sigh.

Nandini was worried at the fatigue that was etched under his eyes. The day's incidents kept rushing back to her and she fought to keep it at bay. She wasn't looking too good either. Her eyes were still puffy and her cheeks saggy. "Hmm... okay yaar," she said quietly.

"Hang on..." he said and directed the camera away from his face to a woman standing in the corridor with her back towards him. She was stuffed into an extremely uncomfortable uniform that would suffocate everyone else around her. It almost seemed that she had shoved huge watermelons down her blouse and pants.

"What the---" Nandini mumbled at the sight. "What on earth is that?"

Manik turned the camera back to his face and laughed. "That... is Rose and her watermelon factory. You've seen her before. In the dispensary?"

"Haan! Oh! Yeah!" Nandini finally recollected. How could she forget? "Good lord Aiyappa..." she mumbled and burst out laughing at his watermelon factory comment. She seriously wondered how Rose threw herself around him. What did she actually do? Flirt with him? Touch him? God knows!

"Just look at my plight," he said wearily. "Just look at how lucky I am! She gets to do the same bloody shift as me. In the same department. Argh!!!"

Nandini giggled. She was aware of how Rose never missed a chance to hit on him. "Oh well... enjoy..." She giggled more.

"Enjoy!!!? Like seriously!!? Give me a break!" Manik loved to see her giggle but he masked it up with surprise and contempt. "So tell me. How did things go with your dad?"

"Hmm... okay..." she still hadn't got over the sadness and Manik was quick to spot this. Determined to snap her out of it, he changed the topic immediately.

"Achcha see listen... Mom wants to see you in the morning."

"What!!!?" Nandini's voice was louder than she had expected it to be. "W-why does she want to see me?"

"She wants to talk to you..." he said with a bored sigh.

"Talk to me? About what?" Nandini still hadn't forgotten the last conversation she had with his mom. It was terrible and it still hurt.

"About me... the prodigal son..." he replied sarcastically. "She wants you to advise me and set me straight. Can you believe that?"

"I'm not coming," she said anxiously.

"I had to say yes buddy," said Manik. "She didn't take her tabs tonight and you know... she isn't in a position to skip her meds."

Nandini was worried. She was in no mood to take anymore hurt if that was what was in store for her.

"I know you're worried buds, but trust me. I won't let any shit happen to you. I promise."

After a brief pause, Nandini finally stated her decision. "Okay."

____________________

Wohoo ... Now what is nyon upto ...
Hahah Manik and his poor luck with rose lol
Good job gone gal ... Waiting to see wts store in for our dear Nandu
Cheers

Thank you for the quick update.

Wow that was fast

woww..update was really fast
nandini and her dad's part was emotional...
what is nyonika upto😕
manik and rose😆watermelon🤣
thanks for pm

Oh that was quick. Thanks again fr this chapter.
Y neonika want to talk to her? Abt wat? I hope ,she won't say smthng stupid lyk,go away from my son n ol. Pls

thanks for this fastest update dear...nandu and her dads moment was heart touching...manik and nyo convo was some what funny...i mean manik did give damn to his mom...liked maniks discription about rose . watermelon factory...ha ha ha very hillarious...now waiting for nandu and nyo talk...

wow that's very fast