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Chapter 4
Dadi trouble😆
One small box of delicious yummy black bean noodles, one small box of regular noodles, one large box of sphagetti, one large box of strawberry icecream and some soya sauce were kept on the table.
'Ahhh!! Magar mere ek condition hai' Navya said with an evil smile😈
'Kya condition?' Kabir asked with a confused expression on his face.
'Mera boyfriend wohi hoga..jo ye saare items sabse fast khatm karenge..' Navya continued with a wink to Nandini.
Nandini winked back because she knew that she will surely win the competition.
'Haan usmein kya hai yaar...tu nahi jaanti..main school main khaane ke competition main 1st aata tha aur abhi bhi tera ye boyfriend mujhe haraa nahi paayega' Kabir said with a proud smile looking at Nandu.
'Arre wah...champion ke saath competition tho bahut mazedaar hoga' Nandini said giving an expression of acknowledgement to Kabir.
'Ok now the competition starts. Get set go!' Navya said this giving a tap on the table.
Kabir quickly opened the box of black bean noodles and started eating up really fast fast. 😃
Nandini slowly started opening one box after another. She took out the black bean noodles and took a bowl and scooped the full black bean noodles into it. Then she opened the regular noodles and soya sauce and put it in the black bean noodles and started mixing all up and she took a pair of chopsticks and took a huge scoop of it and pushed a large scoop of mixed noodles into her mouth.
Kabir's mouth opened seeing this as he watched in shock. 😲
'His mouth is so tiny. How could his tiny mouth take in so much of the noodles..that too of two categories!'😕 Kabir started to eat the black bean noodles faster and faster as he felt himself losing the game.
Suddenly Nandini opened the box of sphagetti and put it into the mixture of black bean noodles and regular noodles to mix all together and took another huge scoop pushing it into her mouth as she with a relaxed look on her face continued to slowly eat up the mixture which filled up her mouth to its extent.
The whole look of all the noodles mixed together made Kabir choke on his black bean noodles. 😆
'Arre yaar..isne tho abhi tab mix karke three boxes ek saath kar liye..abhi maine tho sirf black bean noodles khatm kiye hai'. Kabir thought as he quickly opened the box of regular noodles.
Suddenly Nandini took the strawberry ice cream and poured it into the mixture of the noodles and started mixing it together😆
Kabir felt himself feeling like puking. That was just looking yuck😕🤢 Kabir lost his full control as he saw Nandini pushing into her mouth the soupy mixture of black bean noodles, regular noodles, sphagetti and strawberry icecream mixture into her mouth as the strawberry icecream drops started dripping down into the bowl. Kabir felt himself wanting to puke as he ran out of the door. 😆
Navya and Nandini looked at each other and smiled as they realized that Kabir has completely lost it.
'Nandu..tu bachpan se aise hi sab kuch mix karke khaati thi...magar aise karne ka fayda aaj hi hua! Teri wajah se ek Majnu se peecha choota' Navya said with a laugh as she looked with admiration at her skilled sister.
Nandini wiped her mouth as she completed the competition and gave a victorious smile.
'Kyon Navya? Dikhne main tho thik thaak hai aur tujhe pyaar bhi bahut karta hai..phir kyon tu usko aise bhagaana chahti hai?' Nandini asked casually.
'Nandu..tujhe nahi pata wo kitna bada chipku hai. Main aise chipku ko bardaasht nahi kar sakti' Navya said with a frown on her face.
'Achcha chal..abhi tho tujhe maine bachaa liya na...abhi ghar chalte hai' Nandini said as she got up from her seat. Navya also got up and took her bag and slung it on her shoulder.
Manik pressed on the doorbell and waited for the door to open. The door was opened by a tall lady wearing a beautifully embroidered saree and her hair open and spread over her shoulders.
'Mom...after such a long time I get to see you. Missed you so much' Manik said affectionately as he gave Nyonika a hug.
'Haan mujhe pata hai, beta...I too missed you so much. You don't know how much I wanted to get a warm hug from my darling son' Nyonika said as she planted a little kiss on Manik's forehead. 'Andar aajaa...dad bhi tere liye intezaar kar raha hai' Nyonika said putting her arm around Manik's shoulder.
'Yes mom...' Manik said with a bit hesitant look on his face.
'My dad...he was always a distant person. Busy with his business trips and never had time to spend with me. Even when we were together..he had a very formal behaviour towards me. Never did he ever hug me or behaved warm with me. The only time he was friendly with me was when we played a game and then I felt he was a warmer person' Manik thought as he walked into his family home.
Ashok Malhotra sat on his chair in his room listening to some Indian classical music closing his eyes. He heard the door to his room open...but he didn't open his eyes. He continued to remain with his eyes closed as he listened to the classical sitar recital.
Manik didn't say a word as he gently walked and sat on a sofa opposite to his chair as he continued to watch his dad as usual aloof and immersed in his music. At some point, Ashok Malhotra opened his eyes and noticed Manik sitting opposite to him.
Manik smiled softly as he saw that his dad has finally opened his eyes. Ashok smiled a bit as he removed his headphones off his ears.
'Classical music still, dad?' Manik asked with a little smirk on his face.
'Hmm...' Ashok replied sitting with his legs crossed. 'Tumhara trip kaisa raha?' Ashok asked in a matter of fact tone.
'Achcha tha..dad. Was missing home and you all' Manik said with a little smile.
'Khaana khaya?' Ashok asked looking with a serious expression on his face.
'Haan...I was downstairs and waited for you to come down for lunch...but you didn't come down too..' Manik replied in a bit disappointed face.
'Was not feeling hungry...so are you staying here tonight?' Ashok replied as he looked back with a serious expression on his face.
'No dad...bas aap logon se milne aaya tha...I still need to go and meet Alya today evening and we will be having dinner together'. Manik said hoping that his father would be disappointed that he missed out on a lunch with Manik. But Ashok was cool with it. There was no change in his expression.
'Ok dad...business kaise chal raha hai? Aapke ek interview padhe the..when I was in U.S. I still have the magazine with me' Manik said with a little smile.
'Hmm...' Ashok Malhotra responded in a cold manner. Suddenly Nyonika walked into the room with the plate of lunch for Ashok Malhotra.
'Ab tho khaa lo, Ashok. It's already 2 p.m' Nyonika said placing the plate of food in front of Ashok.
'Not feeling hungry' Ashok said looking with disinterest at the food.
'Ok mom...dad...I got to go now. I need to buy a gift for Alya too. I am meeting her after such a long time. So must give her something too' Manik said with a little smile as he got up.
'Beta..itne jaldi jaa rahe ho? Thode der aur baithke jaao na...' Nyonika said with a disappointed expression on her face.
'It's ok mom...I mean I can any time visit you all...abhi tho main kuch dinon ke liye Mumbai main hi rahoonga' Manik said putting his hands into his jeans pockets.
'Sirf kuch dinon ke liye? Phirse wapas chale jaaooge U.S.? I thought that you will take over Malhotra Industries' Nyonika said with a sad expression.
'No mom! Business is not my cup of coffee! I prefer to go abroad back to my business of making internet games. I have specialized in that and it's not my kind of work' Manik said with a shrug.
Ashok Malhotra looked at Manik with a cool expression on his face. He knew at heart that Manik was not tailor-made for doing business. He had a heart which was like that of a butterfly, which would never make him stick to India or to doing business with him.
'Ok mom...dad...time to to leave' Manik said.
'Ok Manik...convey my regards to Alya' Ashok Malhotra said in a cold tone as he noticed Manik walking towards the door followed by Nyonika. Ashok took the headphones and placed it back on his ears. Manik looked at Nyonika who gave a bit embarassed smile as she realized that none of this could be controlled by her. From the time Manik decided to go to U.S. against the wishes of Ashok...the relationship which was almost formal between them became even more distant. Nyonika knew that it was tough to bring the father and son into the kind of relationship that she wanted to see them in...but then things were out of her control.
Manik and Nyonika walked down the stairs and Manik was about to get out..when a car stopped in front of their residence. An old lady in her 60s opened the door and got out. Her hair was cut short and she had a la Indira Gandhi kind of look. Tomboyish in look yet her nagging was still that of a traditional dadi. 😆😛
'Dadii...' Manik whispered with a smile.
'Tu idhar aaya..aur mujhse mile bina chala jaayega? Tu U.S. main rehke apna sanskaar bhool gaya?' Shobha Malhotra asked as she got out of car. She was wearing a salwar kameez and she was not wearing any jewelry.
'No..dadi...aapse mile bina jaana nahi chahta tha..magar aap tho apne kaam main busy rehte ho na? Tho main socha baad main aapko aake miloonga' Manik said as he ran over to her and gave her a tight hug.
Shobha in fake anger hit Manik on his back as she replied 'Haan haan..tera maskaaa lagaana tho abhi aur zyaada ho gaya hai. U.S. jaake aur bhi bada chaalbaaz banke aaya hai tu! Apne dadi ko call bhi nahi karta aur chittiyon ka reply bhi nahi deta' Shobha said giving a light hug back to Manik as she smiled a bit. Nyonika was enjoying this whole nagging session with a smile on her face.
'Wo dadi..mujhe na...chittiyaan likhna waste of time lagta hai.' Manik said separating himself from the hug. 'Aajkal tho whatsapp ka zamaana hai aur aap aaj bhi snail mail pe atke hue ho! It's boring, dadi' Manik said shrugging his shoulders and looking at his dadi.
'Haan...tere liye tho boring hoga hi...magar hamare zamaane main na..hum intezaar kiya karte the..ke kab aaye ek chitti aur postman ke liye intezaar karte the. Tere dadaji ke chitti ke liye har pal intezaar karte the" Shobha said reminiscing the old days.
'Abhi tujhe itni jaldi tho jaane nahi doonga..andar chal..bahut kuch baat karne hai tujhse' Shobha said pulling Manik along with her into the house.
'Haan pata hai dadi..aaj tho aap poore Ramayan sunaakar hi chodoge' Manik said with a smirk as he got hit again on his shoulder by his dadi.
'Ouch dadi..dheere se lag jayega' Manik continued with a smirk as he gave one more side hug to Shobha.
Shobha made Manik sit on the sofa and sat on the cushioned chair next to him. Nyonika walked over and sat next to Manik.
'Aur tu bata...U.S. main se tu hamesha ke liye wapas aa gaya haina. Ya phir pichle baar ke tarah sirf 1-2 hafte ke liye?' Shobha asked placing the bag on the teepoy in front of her as she sat relaxed on the chair.
'Wo dadi..jaana tho padega. How can I stay in India for long? U know about my dreams na?' Manik said with a little smile on his face.
'Haan tujhe hamari kya padi hai? Pata nahi tu U.S. main aise kya dekhta hai..ke har pal udhar hi jaata rehta hai. Tere poore parivaar yahan hai. Aur Ashok bhi pareshaan hai ke hum sabke baad Malhotra Industries ka kya hoga. Tu apne dad ke liye nahi..tho kam se kam mere liye nahi ruk sakta?' Shobha asked with a frown on her face.
'Wo dadi...main business ke liye banaa nahi hoon aur aap tho jaante hi ho U.S. is a fun place for me' Manik said with a little wink.
'Haan fun place. Tere saare kartooton ko main jaanti hoon! Udhar jaake tu ekdum Kishan Kanhaiyya ban jaata hai...saare American gopiyon ke beech guitar bajaata rehta hai. Udhar tho tu gaana bhi gaata haina?' Shobha said with a little smile on her face.
'Dadi...nothing of the sort...aajkal main achcha bachcha hoon' Manik said with a smile.
'Haan...tere dost Dhruv se na..mujhe saare information milte rehte hai..ke teri wahan pe raas leela chalti hai. Tu tho wahan pe kisi Julie ke saath bhi ghoomta rehta haina? Pichle mahine tho Julie thi..ek saal pehle Brigetta thi...tu agar kisi mem ko idhar laayi na..tho tujhe idhar se dhakke maarke baahar nikaaloongi" Shobha said with a warning look on her face.
'Oh no, dadi! Wo sab tho mere friends hai ...aur aap tho jaante ho ke I love partying and main apne doston ke saath clubs jaata hoon aur iske alawa there is no serious relationships. Aur aap hi meri akeli girlfriend ho..kasam se' Manik said with a naughty wink and a smirk.
'Haan...abhi teri ye girlfriend tho buddhi ho gayi hai...aur time ho rahi hai..teri shaadi karvaane ki. Agar teri nazar main koi hai tho batana...warna tujhe iss baar arranged dates pe jaana padega' Shobha said with a serious expression on her face.
'No..dadi...no serious relationships...no girl in my life...aap tho jaante hi ho..for so many years..I had only one girl in my life whom I wanted to have a serious relationship with. But in her eyes...I am just a friend...and to me..she is a habit, nothing more' Manik said with a disappointed look on his face.
'Phir tho..iss baar teri arranged dates pakki! Chaar din baad..tujhe jaane hai kuch arranged dates pe aur maine sab arrange kiye hai. Tere liye aise kar rahi hoon...warna tho hamare puraane zamaane main hum poore pariwaar ke saath ladki dekhne jaate the. Magar tujhe wo sab nahi pasand. Tho tu American style main ladki dekhle arranged dates pe aur jo ladki tujhe pasand aaye uske saath shaadi karni padegi tujhe' Shobha said in a matter of fact tone.
'No dadiii...no arranged dates too! Like seriously? My career is not yet completely set and you want me to marry a girl?' Manik said with a worried expression on his face.
'Yes Manik..U must go..warna tu mujhe jaanta haina? Teri credit cards, ye saare party, U.S. jaana sab kuch bandh kar doongi! Tujhe India main rehne honge aur Malhotra Industries join karne padenge. Abhi main tere saamne do option rakhti hoon. Ya tho tu India main rehke Ashok ke saath Malhotra Industries join karna...warna tu mere arrange kiye hue dates pe jaake ek ladki ko pasand karna aur usse shaadi karke uske saath U.S. jaana...tho bata..tu kaunse option choose karega?' Shobha said in an adamant tone.
Manik knew immediately from Shobha's expression that she was damn serious this time and he had to choose one. Business and getting tied up in India for life or going on blind dates.
'Ok dadi...I'll go on arranged dates' Manik whispered as he noticed a huge smile spread over Shobha's face. 😃
'Manik..tu tho bura phas gaya, beta...ab tujhe kaun bachayega?"😕
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