Chapter 13
Sunday, April 30, 2016
Manik was lying by the pool side, staring at the vast sky above. He felt at peace looking at the twinkling stars. He was now 6 days old in Mumbai and yet these 6 days had been totally uneventful. He was feeling sick staying at home.
He had tried everything in his power to dig up his past and one of the first things he did was to search his name in Google. He presumed, like any young guy he must have had a facebook or instagram account before he left. His father was one of the biggest industrialists in the Mumbai - Pune area and there had to be a lot of information about him on the net. There was, but only official information. There wasn't a mention anywhere of Manik, not a single social networking profiles. It appeared as if someone had deliberately cleaned all online information. It was strange why someone would do that. So many questions rattled his head that he couldn't even take rest in peace.
He had asked dad, about the new staff at home. He asked him why all his old things had been cleared out. He asked him why there was no information on net.
"I don't blame you Manik, you must have forgotten that I and Nyonika, I mean your mother don't live together. She is the one who controls what happens inside that home, including when to hire and fire staff. So I wouldn't be able to tell you where and why your old things have disappeared. May be once your mother is back, you can directly ask her. As for your social circle, I wish I had known who your friends were, but I am a bad father Manik. I was never there with you. I don't know when and how you grew up, I regret it now but there is nothing I can do to help u remember your past. And I feel you should start fresh, forget what was and think about what can be. If you had good friends, shouldn't they have kept in touch with you?" That's what his father's answer to his question was. Manik had a gut feeling that his father was hiding something from him. But what and why? Who would help him solve these puzzles.
Manik was feeling irritated. He wanted a break.. To just forget all of this and chill out. He started fiddling with his phone. There was another unread message from Neel. f**k, why was this guy so insistent on having Manik attend his engagement. All these traditional functions made no sense to him. He felt claustrophobic in places where there were too many people and too much drama.
But then he thought he really needed a break, there was no harm in going. He could slip away if he didn't like it. Besides, Nandini.. Another unsolved puzzle that played on his nerves.
He got up, and went upstairs.
He pulled over a red low neck T shirt and a black blazer over his black pair of jeans and picked up his car keys.
************
"Where are you going Nandini?" Neel pulled Nandini's arm as she began to walk off.
Nandini brushed off his hand "Aren't we done with this? Sab log to chale gaye.. I am going home."
"Not yet. I have a very important guest who is yet to come."
Nandini frowned. She started playing with her phone to avoid any further conversation with Neel.
"I think he is here. Let him receive him. U b right here, I will be back in a minute." Nandini didn't look up and continued to play on her mobile.
She heard footsteps on the ground. Whoever Neel was waiting for must have arrived, Nandini. Just one more smile, one more handshake and she would be free for the night. She had had a lot already and she was tired as hell and hungry too.
"Congratulations Nandini!"
What was that..that voice.. Her head was held low, her eyes fell on his shoes and then inch by inch they moved up..up his waist and shoulders..and they stopped at his face. She froze.
"Congratulations Nandini!" He said again smiling at her. She couldn't move. Damn was she paralyzed, was it her mind playing a trick on her? It was more than she could handle. Her head started spinning and she fainted.
Edited by rk21 - 9 years ago
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
Health and Fitness
