Part 10
When both of them came out of their room they saw there's light in Nanu's room. Manik walked in opening the door.
"Kya hua Nanu, aap theek tou hai na..." he noticed that her cane was fallen on the ground. He picked it up and kept it on the side.
"Kuch nahi puttar... mere ghutno mein bahut dard ho raha tha... tou Maine socha ki dawaai kha loon per dawaai ka dibba nahi mil raha aur ussi chakkar mein meri lakdi gir gayi.." Nanu said. "Maine tum logon ki neend kharaab kar di na.." she saw Nandini also came inside her room.
"Kaisi baatein kar rahi hai aap Nanu.. aap Mujhe ya Manik sir ko awaaz de deti naa.. utthne ki Kya zaroorath thi... agar gir jaati tou..." Nandini found her medicine box from the shelf and took out the pain killer for her and gave it with a glass full of water.
Manik always gets annoyed hearing Manik sir from her mouth. But he didn't say anything.
"Aap araam se late jaayiye main aapke pairon per massage kar deti hoon..." she took out the messaging oil and said.
"Koi nahi puttar.. dawaai se theek ho jaayega... tu jaa ker aaraam kar..." Nanu hesitated, now that she knew from which family Nandini belongs to.
"Kyu Nanu Kya main apne Amms ki maalish nahi karti hoon... waise hi main aapki bhi kar sakti hoon.. bas ab aaraam se late jaaiye..." Nandini made Nanu lay down on her back and stared messaging her knees.
"Manu puttar tu jake ke aaraam kar..." Nanu said Manik was once again impressed by Nandini's down to earth nature.
"Haan Nanu.." and he left the room leaving both of them behind. He went back to his room and relaxed for sometime. Thinking may be Nandini will come back to him in his room once she was done messaging Nanu's knees... but it's been more than half an hour and still no sign of Nandini. He got up and went to Nanu's room again.
He slowly opened the door and checked if Nanu is already asleep or not. But to his surprise Nandini was also sleeping near his Nanu's feet. She was done with the messaging and after covering Nanu with the blanket she started pressing her feet sitting on the floor beside her bed. And when she fell asleep she too didn't know.
A very beautiful smile crept on Manik's face. He walked to the night stand and closed the light. He adjusted Nanu's blanket and make sure that she is fast asleep. Then he lift Nandini in his arms and took her to his bed room. He placed her on the bed very quietly and covered her with the duvet and went to close the door. He came back to the bed and lay down beside her. He bend forward and gave her a light peck on her forehead.
'Gawwd she is cute and beautiful... I'm so lucky that I found her... keep her in my life always...' he prayed in his heart and holding her hands he also drifted into deep slumber as he was also too tired.
Next morning Nandini's sleep was broken with the melodious voice of Amms who is rehearsing as usual. Every day at 5 in the morning she goes to the terrace and rehearse to enhance her voice. Nandini got up from the bed and checked her surroundings. She thought how did she came here. Last thing she remembered she was pressing Nanu's legs. Then she don't remembers anything. She turned around to see that Manik was sleeping peacefully in the same way holding her hand. She smiled heartily seeing him. She bend down and kissed his forehead without disturbing his slumber.
She takes her hand away from his grip and before he wakes up she slowly came out of his room. She checked Nanu and she was also sleeping peacefully.
She came into the main house and before any one could notice her she walked fast to her room. As soon as she came inside and locked the door and turned she saw that Navya was sitting on the edge of her bed yawning still sleepy.
"Navya.. tum soyi nahi Kya raat bhar..." Nandini asked and sat beside her.
"Nandu tumhe pata hai hum subah jaldi utth jaate hai... aur waise bhi jab hum yahan rehte hai tou Amms ki awaaz hume sone nahi deti hai..." Navya said rubbing her eyes.
"Ok forget everything and tell me what's going on in between you and your Eiffel Tower..." she asked being wide awake...
"Itni subah subah... tum yeh jaanne ke liye yahan aayi ho..."Nandini said looking at her surprised.
"What do you mean... last night my little sister is begging me to handle Amms just to go and spend the whole night with a complete stranger..." she paused "well not completely, not to you at least... and coming out in the morning from his room..."
"How do you know I came out from his room..." Nandini cuts her off.
"Nandu tum meri twin sister ho... mera adha hissa... I don't have to see to confirm... so spill the beans already... kal raat se barabar neend bhi nahi aayi..." Navya was so impatient to know more about her lovely twin sister.
"Okay okay.. but first let me get fresh..." Nandini was about to get up but Navya pulled her back down.
"Listen.. I can't wait anymore... before everyone else wake up just say it yaar..." she said.
"Tum nahi maanogi naa." Nandini asked.
"Nope..."
Nandini gave up and slouched back lifting her knees up.
"He loves me..."
"And."
"And what... woh mujh se bahut pyaar karte hai..." Nandini smiled and said.
"Ok aage bolo... Kya tum bhi..." Navya left her sentence in the middle.
"I think me too.." Nandini said.
"What do you mean... 'I think me too'... did he already confessed.."
"Yes he did..."
"Tumne Kya jawaab diya..." Navya's curiosity level was rising.
"I didn't answer..." Nandini said.
"Matlab tum bhi unse pyaar karti ho ya nahi..."
Nandini nodded her head in a yes...
"Par tumne kaha nahi..."
Nandini nodded her head again.
"But why..." Navya asked
"Because I got confused... I got scared..." Nandini said.
"Scared?Confused? With what?" Navya asked.
"By committing myself.. I got worried... what about my dream, Amms dream and expectations..." Nandini said looking at the wall in front of her.
"But do you think that Manik will stop you from achieving your goal or fulfilling your dream..." Navya asked.
"No, infact... he assured me that he will not come in my way... but he will help me in fulfilling my dream...and he said that he will wait till I'm ready to accept this relationship fully.."
"Tou problem Kya hai..." Navya gets irritated with her confusion now.
"I don't know Navya.. what stopped me from confessing, I don't know... but I couldn't say it...".
Navya felt the uneasiness in her sister. She turned her to face her.
"Ek baat sachi sachi bataao..." seeing Navya's serious face Nandini startled.
'Oh Aiyyappa... here comes the million dollar question... and I'm sure she will definitely ask that.. which I was afraid to answer.' Nandini thought.
"Kya tum dono ne kiss kiya..." Navya asked.
Nandini just blinked her eyes twice. And Navya understands.
"Nandu hamara dil Zor se dhadak raha hai... Kya hum jo soch rahe hai woh sach hai..." Navya asked again holding her hands in hers. Navya was literally sweating and Nandini can feel her sweaty hands on her.
Nandini didn't answer but turned her face away from her.
"Tumne... I mean tum dono ne..." she was hesitant to ask but she covered her mouth with her palm. "Yani ki tum dono ne woh sab kuch..." she stick out her eyes and stopped herself from asking more.
Nandini bend her head down. And Navya opened her mouth wide and covered it again with her eyes wide open. It took her a while to put the picture clear. She was dumbfounded first with the revelation. It's not that she is mad or upset on her sister but she was afraid that Nandini shouldn't get hurt in any way. That's Navya's first priority.
After keeping quiet for sometime Navya said.
"Kahin unhone koi zabardasti tou..." Navya asked again.
"What are you talking about Navya... he didn't force anything..." and Nandini couldn't say more.
Because she knew that whatever happened in between her and Manik was not at all forceful at all. She knows that she loves him too but she is still not ready to accept it or confess it in front of him.
Navya broke her trance and said
"Tumne apne aap ko unke hawaale kar diya tan se mann se right, aur keh rahi ho ki tum confused ho..."
She held Nandini by her shoulders again and face to see in her eyes.
"The shine on your face is showing that you too love him... than why are you confused...". Navya asked again.
"It's nothing, he just wants me to be with him always hamesha... he is very insecure with relationships..." Nandini explained.
"You were saying as if he went through some big tragedy in his life..." Navya just throws her assumption.
"Yes he did went through a lot in his life..." and Nandini briefed his life history in front of her. And kept quiet.
Navya showed sympathy towards his feelings. "Hawww bechara... he really went through a lot really... but I think he seriously is interested in you... because the way he was looking at you stealing glances from everyone yesterday I can feel that he loves you..." Navya said.
Nandini blushed hearing her.
"Theek hai hum apne tareeke se Manik ko aazmaate hai... ki woh tumhaare khabil hai ya nahi..." Navya told her decision.
"Kya karogi tum..." Nandini asked curiously.
"Don't worry... I know what to do... trust me I will not give any hard time to him..." she patted Nandini's shoulders and said. "I just wanted to make sure that he is genuinely interested in you... and that he won't hurt you..."
Nandini knew that Navya won't let go until she makes sure that everything is ok for her. She loves and cares for Nandini too much.
Navya said and was ready to go..."Acha chalo breakfast check karna hai if it's ready or not... Cabir ko bhi Jana hai..." she said.
"Jana hai matlab.. where is he going... he is not going anywhere.. I came after such a long time... so no one is going anywhere.. we will have lot of fun... we will go for picnic and Mangalore tour..." Nandini said.
"Madam... if everyone will take off from the office than kaam kaun karega..." Navya asked.
"Bas I don't want to hear anything.. I will tell this toJeej..." Nandini too got off from the bed " waise Navya who other than Jeej knows that I'm working as a care taker." Nandini asked.
"Waise tou no one asked anything yet.. but after all they are our family... they all knows what's going on in our personal life... as far as you are safe and not in any trouble than no big deal..." Navya paused. "They never stopped you from doing anything... unless you are doing anything wrong... so chill... all is well..." Navya winked at her and she walked out side. "Thodi der aaraam kar lo... hum tumhe Ek ghante mein jagaa denge..." Navya said before leaving.
Nandini slammed herself on the bed and fell asleep instantly.
After couple of hours the whole Murthy house were gathered on the breakfast table in the dining hall. It was a large dining table with sixteen chairs. It was Amms wish that they should have a large area for eating so that her whole family always sticks together while eating. She strongly believes in the saying that ' The family who eats together always stays together'.
The last person to join was Manik. Because he make Nanu ready first and after bringing her to the main house... than he went back to get fresh. He didn't want to bother Nandini a lot by making her do Nanu's work.
"Behenji, aapka parivaar mujhe bahut acha laga... mujhe punjab ki Aur mere bachpan ki yaar dila di..." Nanu told Amms...
"Ji dhanyawaad... ab dekhiye naa... itne saare naukar chaakar hone ek baad bhi mere ghar ki bahu betiyaan hi khana parosti hai... Aiyyappa hamesha apni kripa baneye rakhe..." Amms said folding her hands in front of her in a praying manner.
Manik came and wished everyone.
"Good morning everyone..." and his eyes were searching for his heartbeat. Nandini. But she was no where to be seen. Navya noticed him when serving Cabir.
She went closer to Manik hiding from everybody and whispered. "The person you are looking for is in kitchen making your breakfast.. she says that you like toast and scrambled eggs in breakfast with tea..."
Manik blushed with her comment. And took Nanu's and Amms blessings.
"So what's the plan today Manik... anything special..." Cabir asked as he took his seat opposite him.
"You tell me... you are my host... I don't know anything here..." Manik replied.
"I have to go to office but..." before he continues Nandini interrupted him.
"No one is going anywhere... I came after such a long time... so all the men of the house are taking off till I'm here..." she announces coming with a plate and a glass of juice.
She already make Nanu's breakfast before Manik came.
Nandini's outfit
Manik looked at her and gave a hearty smile. She too gave him a beautiful grin. Manik like the way she is pampered by her family. The way she acts as a baby and how they fulfill her demands.
"Par bache aise hi office ko bunk Nahi kar sakte naa..." Cabir explained her in her language.
"Bas mujhe kuch Nahi Sunna... aap log koi office Nahi jaa raha..." she said again with more firm tone.
"Ok ok... listen... come here sweetie... mere pass baitho..." Abhimanyu called her and make her sit beside him. "Let's do one thing... today Cabir will stay here and I will go to the office and wrap up all the important work and meetings and come back as quickly as I can... than from tomorrow till you are here we all will spend our time with you... how about that..." Abhimanyu gave a fair suggestion. Nandini thought for few seconds and agreed on it.
"Ok but you have to promise that you will come as early as possible..." she said.
"Done..." Abhimanyu gave a high five to her.
"Yaar Abhimanyu how do you manage to make her agree on your points... main uski zidd ke aage haar maan jaata hoon..." Cabir said drinking his coffee..
"Because she is my baby... mujhe pata hota hai what she wants..." Abhimanyu side hugged her.
"Badi hi laadon ki hai hamari Nandu... sab iss se bahut pyaar karte hai... bilkul apni beti ki tarah..." Amms added her two cents two.
"Haan mera bhi bahut khayaal rakhti hai..." Nanu said.
'Mere Mano ke liye aisi hi ladki chahiye...' she thought.
Nanu was very happy seeing this side of Nandini. But she was impressed that even though she came from a very rich family and she is almost a spoiled girl... but still she didn't leave her roots... she is grounded and down to earth. She never showed any attitude to anyone.
"Chaliye behenji hum apni chai coffee bahar chal kar peete hai... subah ki fresh hawa bhi Lin jaayegi..." Amms said to Nanu.
"Haan Haan ji chaliye..." Nanu also got up with the help up of Nandini.
They walked through the house and went outside in the back porch to drink there morning tea and coffee.
A few of butterflies appeared and the scent of eucalyptus trees were making their nostrils filled with freshness.
All the elders of the house came put to spend some good time with each other.
Inside the house, Rishab came and announced.
"Nandini Di aapke aane ki khushi mein maine college se off le liya hai... I'm available at your service Manik Bhaiya..." he turned towards Manik and asked " I can call you Bhaiya right..."
"Of course why not..." Manik answered.
"Ehh nautanki... we all know how you wants to escape from your studies... I'm just sparing you this time because Nandu is here... so eat your breakfast and go check the cars and jeep... we will plan to go outside after sometime..." Cabir said.
"What Cabir Jeeju... aap tou mutt ghussa kariye..." Rishab made a pouty face. Cabir is always worried about his studies because he wants Rishab to move forward in his life like Abhimanyu and himself, Because the whole family knows that Cabir is more concerned about him more than anyone and the whole family trust Cabir's decisions.
"Haan jeej... no getting mad on him till I'm here..." Nandini also agreed.
"Ok baba... I won't get mad... you guys carry on I'll make some calls than I'll be free..." Cabir said and got up from the chair.
Scroll down
comment:
p_commentcount