ManVik TS : Mission Lattoo (Completed) - Page 4

Originally posted by: MeeraWrites

Thank you so much. Happy 100th!

Had to go MIA for writing this. Happy to be back. I have got a lot of EDT pages to catch up.

Both Mannat and Vikrant are in tough spots in the show right now. I thought we all wanted some light moments of ManVik....with a twist of Puneet.

Keep an eye out for the next part, behen.

Humare chaahanye sye kyaa hita hain

Waiting for part 2 to see Punnu's Kaand atleast in this world

Part 2

“You seem really happy Ms Mannat,” Vikrant leaned on the kitchen door, arms folded. “Whom are you tutoring today?”

It didn’t go unregistered from Vikrant that the air in Saluja Mansion has eased a bit as the Raisinghs were out of town. He’s seeing more of Mannat at every corner of the Mansion. The worry lines on her forehead have gone for good. That evening, Mannat seemed happier.

“No one,” the smile on Mannat’s face grew wider. “I’m fulfilling someone’s request.”

Vikrant walked to the kitchen island, pulled out a high stool and sat on it right across her. He leaned forward and watched closely the way she arranged the ghevar on the serving plate. Her hair was tied back in a low pony and her bangs as usual were teasing her glasses. Just as his hand rose up to do the honour, she flipped the bangs backwards with a quick tilt of her head. So when she tore her eyes from the ghevar and looked at him, his hand was halfway over the kitchen island.

“Ghevar,” he quickly pointed towards the ghevar on the plate. “It smells so good.”

“Ghevar doesn’t seem funny to you? Can’t recall any funny incident? Why don’t you have a good look at it,” she held the plate of ghevar right in front of his face. “You’ll find something… funny,” her eyebrows arched up in sarcasm.

After paying a quick glance at the ghevar, he looked up at Mannat. There was a distinct glint in her eyes. Sudden warmth spread within the confines of his rib cage. Once again, he fell in love with her. And every time, he felt the bubbling excitement of falling in love for the first time.

“All I see is love.”

“Huh?” She squinted.

“I mean…. You made it… ghevar with so much love. All I see is love in it,” he rearranged the porcelain jars on the kitchen slab to hide the fragment of awkwardness.

“It’s for Ronnie sir. I promised him yesterday.”

“That’s why there is this splitting smile on your face?” His smile found its way back to its lips. It brought immense joy in him seeing Mannat and his father jell up. He wished if his mother could see the goodness in Mannat and be cordial with her.

“Today is one of the best days in my life. You know what happened today at Mezbaani?”

“What happened today?” He mirrored her excitement.

“Puneet sir appreciated me for the first time today. That too in front of the whole kitchen!”

“That’s great!”

“You know what happened thereafter?”

“What happened?”

“He apologised to me. He apologised to Derrick… We had lunch together at Mezbaani today. Laksh, Derrick, Puneet sir and I. We all talked a lot. I didn’t know that he could talk this good with people.”

“Really?” He was surprised.

“Of course, he did. I told you, there is a good human inside him. Remember? Just that he couldn’t recognise that goodness in him all these while.”

“He’s a nice guy,” Vikrant admitted.

“You’re right. He is a nice guy. And his smile…”

“Smile what?” Vikrant was quick to catch the shift in her voice.

“Puneet’s sir’s smile.”

“Huh?”

“He’s really handsome. There’s no debate in that,” Mannat turned into her bubbly self. “I just noticed today that he has a charming smile. The cleft on his chin… and the dimples... He looked really cute during the lunch.”

“Cute? You think… Puneet is cute?” He couldn’t digest that smile etched on Mannat’s face at that point. Moreover, he couldn’t digest the fact that she finds Puneet cute. His cousin Puneet Saluja!

“He is cute. Don’t you think so?”

“Umm… he’s kind of… cute,” he tried hard to shrug off the sudden wave of tingles that perched on his nape.

“I’m really glad that he finally came to the right path. Poor Puneet sir! How embarrassed he would have been because of his father? I think… his all that anger and attitude were just his coping mechanism. I feel so bad for him. Poor Puneet sir! He’s like… like…” She skimmed through the contents on the kitchen counter, holding the sentence half up in the air.

“What happened? What are you looking for?” Vikrant was puzzled.

“Arey... I’m looking for something to… something to compare Puneet sir with.”

Great! That was it. The tingles have started marching towards his chest, gliding over his shoulders. Jealousy. He half-heartedly admitted to himself that he is feeling jealous of his cousin Puneet. Soon he cajoled himself that it’s the part of being in love. It’s humane. People in love often get jealous if their special someone admires someone else in front of them, don’t they? Do they?

Vikrant couldn’t unsee the way in which Mannat bit her lower lip in the quest to find the right noun or whatever it is to compare Puneet Saluja with. If it was some other instance he would have definitely been disturbed by the sight on a different tangent. He then decided to help her find the right noun to compare the new cute Saluja in town. The cutting board, knife, jar of sugar, jar of salt, bowl, plate, glass, spoon, frying pan, fridge, oven, tap… Mannat was not satisfied with any of Vikrant’s suggestions. Just when her eyes fell on the fruit basket, Mannat picked it up and placed it on the kitchen island. She rummaged through it and voila!

“Got it! Puneet sir is like this pineapple,” she pulled out a pineapple from the basket. “Rough on the outside and sweet on the inside. Filled with goodness. Just the…”

“Ghevar,” Vikrant interjected.

“Ghevar?”

“Shall we please… umm…I mean… Ms Mannat, shall we keep Puneet aside and concentrate on the ghevar?” He has had enough of the character analysis of Puneet. “Won’t you make me taste the ghevar?”

“You want to taste the ghevar?”

“Of course I want to.” He was puzzled. Why would she think that he wouldn’t want to taste it?

“You burst out laughing at the dishes I make, don’t you? You didn’t even have a spoon of my mohabbat ka sharbat yesterday.”

Vikrant squeezed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose. The frown on her face grew deep at the sight of the radiant smile emanating from his face. He stood up from the high stool and leaned onto the kitchen island. From across the kitchen island, Mannat too leaned forward trying to gauge what’s going on in his head. At that point she was certain that something is wrong her Babaji Da Banda.

“Okay Ms Mannat. Next time, you make that mohabbat ka sharbat …. with the vanilla twist of course, I promise you, I won’t let you complain.”

“Let it be,” she pulled herself back sceptic. “Puneet sir is better than you in that aspect.”

“Why so?” He chuckled.

“Now you seem very interested in Puneet sir.”

Mannat folded her arms and grinned at him. But in the next moment, she sobered up seeing Puneet walking into the kitchen. Puneet gave an acknowledging nod to both of them and proceeded towards the fridge. Vikrant couldn’t believe they just summoned Puneet with the incessant chanting of his name! Though can’t get a clear view of the duo due to the fridge door, Puneet could hear the hushed talks. Gulping down the cold water straight from the bottle, he patiently waited. Five. Four. Three. Two. One.

“Puneet sir…”

Voila! Puneet gulped down the victory smile along with the water. He gracefully closed the fridge door and turned to face Mannat.

“I made this sweet for Ronnie sir. Would you like to have some? Ghevar?”

“Okay Mannat. I would love to.”

Vikrant curiously watched the scene unfurling in front of him. Can’t the chef species enjoy the dish in peace and just give compliments in simple adjectives? There Puneet and Mannat were making the ghevar uncomfortable with the male and female gaze. The thickness of the disc-shape, the density of the honeycomb texture, proportion of ghee-maida-sugar-milk… Vikrant wondered if they left anything else behind. Just when Vikrant somehow managed to pacify the burning in his chest, Puneet flaunted his dimpled smile at Mannat. He reluctantly admitted to himself that Puneet indeed has a charming smile. He cleared his throat garnering the attention of Puneet and Mannat. Vikrant knew that it was silly but he couldn’t help it.

On the other hand, Puneet was enjoying every second of Mission Lattoo. He knew exactly where he has to nudge to get Vikrant worked up. He couldn’t wait to see how the phase two will play out. Mr Lattoo Vikrant Saluja is truly a treat. To be honest, Puneet never thought that there will be a day when Vikrant Saluja will feel insecure of him. Every inch of Vikrant sat on that high stool screamed jealousy. After a brief chat, Puneet retired to upstairs.

“See? Just like a pineapple,” her eyes shone with delight.

“So Ms Mannat… If he’s a pineapple… then what... which… fruit do you think I’m?”

“You?” Mannat took a couple of steps backward and took a sweeping glance at him from head to toe.

“Actually, why should I burn my brain on that thought?”

“Come on yaar!”

“Pick one from this,” Mannat slid the fruit basket towards him and picked up the plate of ghevar. “I hope you’ll find something funny in it. I have to give this ghevar to Ronnie sir. Okay? Bye.”

Mannat walked out of the kitchen, royally ignoring his attempts to stop her. How come her favouritism shifted in a day? Vikrant huffed at the pineapple and picked up an apple from the basket.

“Definitely not an apple.”

Vikrant scoffed at her comment and turned around. She was standing on the other side of the serving hatch. He squinted back at her.

“Good luck with your ghevar Ms Mannat. Mom will be in the room with dad. That sounds fun?”

“Whatever!”

⸙⸙⸙⸙⸙⸙⸙

Puneet shifted to a more comfortable position on the bean bag as he watched his sister Anisha high-fiving Mannat and breaking into peals of laughter narrating some random scene in a movie they found hilarious. He was clearly third-wheeling. Sometime back, when Anisha practically dragged him to the lawn, he was sceptic. It was already close to midnight and he didn’t want to compromise his sleep routine. But when he spotted Mannat in the lawn arranging the bean bags, every speck of the scepticism vanished into the thin air. For the past ten minutes or so, he has been keeping an eye on the entrance of the corridor.

Though Anisha told them that Vikrant stayed back as he was very sleepy, Puneet knew better. He was certain that Vikrant had no clue that Mannat will also be there in the lawn. Vikrant is clearly not the kind to say no to Anisha, Puneet knew that. If he feigned feeling sleepy then it’s clearly the Lattoo Saluja on the driving seat. Vikrant will certainly stop by the outhouse and the moment he gets to know that Mannat isn’t there, he’ll be up for a hunt. Puneet was counting every second. The Lattoo will walk into the lawn any moment now.

These past few nights, Puneet has been seeing a lot of Vikrant and Mannat in the mansion, that too in the odd hours of the night. Sometimes in the kitchen, in the hallway, on the stairs, in the corridor… Always talking, pulling each other’s legs, laughing on something… A few times, he even got tensed seeing them laughing away such freely in the middle of the night. What if someone spots them together at that hour? There will be another dose of drama. But they seemed least bothered about any of that. Just as expected, he spotted Vikrant at the entrance of the corridor. Puneet pretended to be unaware of his presence and turned to the duo. Both Anisha and Mannat were busy in their own world. He looked at Vikrant from the corner of his eyes. But to his surprise he saw Vikrant turning back and disappearing into the corridor.

Vikrant smiled to himself as he waked back to the hall. It was after a long time that he saw Mannat laughing so freely. Her bubbly self was back in all glory. While sneaking out of his bedroom at that hour, he was planning to meet her as they left off at the kitchen earlier on a gritty note. But seeing her having a good time there, he didn’t feel like disturbing that vibe. She deserves such light-hearted moments in life. Just when he was about to climb the stairs, his mother called out from behind, startling him.

“Mom!” He turned around holding his chest. “You scared me.”

“Where were you puttar? I went to your room and you were not there.”

“I…”

Even before Vikrant could answer the question, Neetu held out the glass of juice towards him.

“Here, have this juice.”

Vikrant’s stomach knotted up at the sight of the vibrant yellow. Great! The pineapple again!

“It’s your favourite pineapple juice.”

“No mom,” he slightly pushed the glass of juice towards her. “I don’t feel like having it. It’s almost midnight.”

“So? I made it specially for you,” Neetu insisted. “Come on puttar, have it in a go. You seem tired.”

“I’m not tired mom. I’m just… feeling sleepy,” he didn’t want that pineapple juice down his throat. And there was only one way out. “Look at you mom. You seem pretty tired to me. You should have the juice.”

Vikrant held the glass of juice over Neetu’s hold and pushed it near her mouth. Panic rose in her. She can’t have that juice! Not when it has the medicine in it.

“I agree with that,” Ronnie walked into the scene interrupting Vikrant’s attempts to make his mom have that juice. “You’ve become quite pale Neetu. You’re not taking good care of yourself these days.”

“Did you hear that? Have it mom, please… Two sips for mine and two sips for dad’s sake. Please lovely mom…”

Vikrant held the glass of juice to her mouth while Ronnie cheered. There’s no escape now. Two sips. Another two sips. And Neetu had to gulp down the whole glass of pineapple juice. Both Ronnie and Vikrant enclosed her in a warm hug and kissed on either side of her head. Neetu couldn’t breathe with the sudden wave of panic, affliction, love and helplessness. She cursed her fate and soon managed to mask her turmoil.

After wishing him a good night, just as Neetu and Ronnie walked back towards their bedroom hand-in-hand, Vikrant leaned back on the railing with a smile. He couldn’t tear his eyes off them. He could clearly imagine a life like that with his Ms Mannat. Correction. Mrs Mannat Vikrant Saluja. He blushed as he reiterated it in his mind. As if on cue, he walked to the nearby wall and stood in front of the mirror. He looked like a peach with all that blush. He quickly ran his fingers on either side of his cheeks and chin. He chuckled to himself feeling silly. He doesn’t need dimples or cleft chin for brownie points from his Ms Mannat. He is her Babaji Da Banda. Her plumber. Her electrician. He has the liberty to do the honour of brushing off her bangs from her beautiful face. He shouldn’t be feeling jealous of any new cutie in town. Or of any pineapple.

In a moment, excitement filled his chest at the thought of the Konkan trip he has planned for them the next morning. As there’s rebranding going on in Mezbaani, the research work on the menu was assigned to him. Mezbaani is off the next day. He could come up with an excuse to make Mannat accompany him. He was certain that she won’t have any other plans.

~ to be continued...

Part 3 : Page 7

Friends...

The second part of Mission Lattoo is up!

Ayyyyoooooo

Ye Kitna cute hai

How I wish this had happened

Puneet troubling Lattoo Saluja... and admiring his honewali Bhabhi

Pineapple Puneet

Too good yaar Meera!!!!

Was just visiting the forum and saw that you updated the 2nd part. Loved it!!! To be honest, I loved it more than the 1st one. Loved Vikrant's jealousy. Vikrant is in the doghouse for me right now and I want to see him suffer. Could you please make it happen? Pretty please!!!!!

Originally posted by: MeeraWrites

Friends...

The second part of Mission Lattoo is up!

I love Pineapple Puneet.

Waiting for the next part of pyaar mein lattoo Vikrant.

Both the parts are so beautiful & fun to read Meera.. 🤩🤩

So different from all the negativity we have been watching 😅

Waiting for the next part 😃

Woww Meera... Woww.....mazaa aa gaya......

Meera it’s amazing.

Why can’t they show bonding of Vikrant and Punnu in the show? Why siblings rivalry?

I would love to see Punnu being supportive of ManVik. Hope that happens 🤞

Waiting for next part.

Thanks for tagging me❤️🤗