Manan- friendship or more(ch.76 on page no.64)(15-1-2018) - Page 2

CHAPTER-4

As soon as Vivek closed his eyes, everyone in the room panicked. They called the doctor immediately.

The doctor checked Vivek and remorsefully declared to everyone that Vivek is no more.

Nyonika rushed to Vivek and shook him and pleaded him to get up. She was crying .

Raj was so shocked on hearing the doctor that he fell on the sofa.

Shanti was also crying .

But Nandini didn't have a single tear drop in her eyes.

She was just staring at Vivek's face .

Suddenly she fainted.

Doctor asked the nurse to take Nandini to another room. He went and did Nandini's check up.

She was lying lifeless and staring at the ceiling. Her face had no feeling.

The doctor got worried seeing her condition deteriorating further.

He went to talk to her family members and found Vivek's brother at the reception desk completing the formalities of taking Vivek's body home.

The doctor went to him and said- Mr. Malhotra u must be Vivek's younger brother.

Vivek's brother- Yes doctor, I am Manik.

Doctor- O.K. I need to have a word with you. Please come to my cabin.

Manik followed him.

Manik- Doctor, what's the matter.

Doctor- Manik listen I know it's not the right time to talk about all this but it is something important.

I know for a fact that you people have lost Vivek but there is someone who has lost her whole world.

Nandini is not in a good condition. She has got the biggest shock of her life.

You all need to take care of her .

And most importantly to get out of the trauma she needs to cry or else her life will be in danger.

I hope you understand.

Manik- Yes Doctor . I will keep that thing in mind. Thank you Doctor. Saying this he left the cabin.

He saw Shanti standing outside the cabin.

She had heard everything.

Manik- Bua aap yaha.

Shanti- Wo Nandini. Wo theek to ho jayegi na.

Manik- Haan Bua don't worry. Sab theek hojayega.

They both went to Raj and Nyonika.

Both were sitting near Vivek's body and shedding tears.

Nyonika's was resting her head on Raj's shoulder.

Manik went to her and said- Mom Dad.

Nyonika immediately got up on hearing Manik's voice and hugged him and started sobbing .

Manik- Mom please stop crying.

You have to be strong. For Bhai.

He wouldn't like your tears.

When they were consoling each other, a wardboy came and said- Sir all the formalities have been done , u can take the body home.

Hearing this their heart pierced .

But they had to face the fact that Vivek was no more.

They all left the hospital and came home.

Prepations for the funeral were done.

Shanti brought Nandini home . She took Nandini near Vivek's body to see Vivek for the last time.

Nandini kept staring at Vivek's face till they took him away.

Last rites were performed and everyone returned home.

Done with another update.

I don't know what I have written as I have no idea how the last rites are performed so I kept it short.

Hope you guys like it.

Keep up your good work.

CHAPTER-5

Few days passed by but Vivek's family was still mourning his death.

One day when Manik was sitting with his parents when he got a call .

He excused himself and attended the call.

It was a call from his college to inform him that he had been selected to do 2 year internship under a world renowned photographer and he had to report him within 3 days.

Manik was ecstatic hearing this. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. His name was selected from among 500 applicants from India.

He had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. If he let this chance pass by he wouldn't be able to pursue his passion i.e. photography.

But he couldn't leave his parents in this state.

So he thought to let this opportunity go.

After attending the call he was going to his parents room when Shanti called him.

He went to Shanti's room. She asked him what he had thought about Nandini.

Manik- Bua actually I was thinking that may be Nandini will open up in front of her mother. So if she is ok with it we can send her to her mother's place for few days.

Shanti- May be you are right. I will talk to her.

Manik nodded and took her leave and went to his room.

It was almost night and time for dinner.

Shanti prepared the dinner and called everyone down for dinner.

Nyonika said that she was not hungry but on Manik and Raj's insistence that she had to take care of her health, she ate some food.

While eating, Shanti told them about her discussion with Manik regarding Nandini.

Nyonika didn't say anything so on her behalf Raj agreed.

After they finished eating everyone went to their respective rooms.

Shanti didn't feel hungry so she skipped the dinner but took some food for Nandini as she was very weak.

Shanti entered Nandini's room . It was all dark. She switched on the lights and saw Nandini sitting in a corner hugging her knees.

Shanti- Nandini beta wahan kyu baithi ho.

Nandini looked up and saw Shanti standing there.

Shanti kept the plate on a table and went and sat beside Nandini.

Shanti- Beta agar tum aise rahogi to kaise chalega.

Tumhe ek baat pata hai . Vivek ko udaas chehre bilkul pasand nahi the.

Agar wo kisiko bhi sad dekhta to naye naye ways SE unhe hasane ki koahish karta.

Ab agar tum hi udaas rahogi to use bahut bura lagega.

Wo jaha bhi hoga tumhe dekh raha hoga.

Kam se kam tumhe Vivek ke liye jeena hoga.

Nandini heard this and hugged Shanti.

Shanti- Beta agar tum chaho to kuch din apni maa ke ghar ho aao. Wo tumhe bahut miss karti hai. Jaogi na.

Nandini nodded her head half-heartedly.

Shanti felt satisfied that atleast now Nandini will recover from her trauma now that she agreed to go to her mother's place.

Shanti fed Nandini and then packed her bag and asked Nandini to take rest.

After Shanti left Nandini went near the window and looked at the sky and kept staring at the stars for sometime thinking about Vivek and his promise.

After sometime she went to sleep.

Done with another update.

I know it was boring .

But please bear with it for a few more chapters. These few chapters are important for building up the story.

What do you feel about this update ?

Please give your comments.

CHAPTER-6

Nandini woke up early next morning and performed pooja after freshening up.

Shanti came to the kitchen to prepare breakfast and saw Nandini in the kitchen already busy in preparing breakfast.

She sighed and said- Nandini kya kar rahi ho?

Tum bhool gayi aaj tumhe apni Maa ke ghar jaana hai.

Ye sab chodo aur jaake ready hojao. Ye sab mai karungi.

Nandini said- Ji bas ye kaam hone par chali jaungi.

Shanti- Theek hai jaldi karo. Mai table set karti hu tab tak.

Nandini- O.K.

They set the table for breakfast and called everyone.

Nyonika and Raj came and sat for breakfast.

Nyonika asked Shanti - Manik kaha hai . Subah se nazar nai aaya.

Shanti- Wo subah subah ready hoke pata nai kaha chala gaya.

Maine pucha bhi. Par usne kaha ki 1 ghante me aajayege. Pata nai abtak kyun nahi aaya.

Nyonika- Mai call karke dekhti hu.

Shanti- Tum baitho . Mai call karti hu.

Nyonika said OK and had breakfast with Raj .

Shanti called Manik several times but he didn't pick it up.

Nyonika entered Manik's room and saw the room all messed up.

She sighed and said- Ye ladka bhi na.

Sudhrega nahi.

Saying this she started arranging the things spread carelessly everywhere.

While arranging the drawer she saw some file and opened it.

She was shocked with what she saw in that file.

It was the file of the internship which Manik got .

Nyonika called Manik and he picked up .

Nyonika (in a stern voice)- Manik come home immediately. We need to talk.

Manik- What happened Mom. Is everything O.K?

Nyonika- Manik come home now. No more questions.

Manik- OK Mom . Will be there in half an hour.

Meanwhile Nandini was ready to leave .

She went to Nyonika to take her blessing .

But Nyonika didn't bless her and turned her back to Nandini.

Nandini felt bad but composed herself.

Shanti told her not to be sad and that Nyonika is upset .

She assured that with time everything will fall back in place.

Nandini nodded and took Shanti's blessings and left for her home in their car.

Manik came home and went to Nyonika's room.

Nyonika was sitting on a rocking chair with her eyes closed.

Manik came and sat near her feet and kept his head on her lap.

Nyonika opened her eyes and ruffled his hair.

Manik- Mom kya hua aapne itni urgently bulaya. Sab theek hai na.

Nyonika- Manik college ke baad aage ka kya socha hai.

Manik(avoiding eye contact with Nyonika)- Kuch nai Mom . Dad ka business join karlunga. Aur ab to Vivek bhaiyya bhi nai hai.

Nyonika- Oh family business join karoge. What about your dream.

Manik- What dream Mom. Meta koi dream nahi hai.

Nyonika- Acha to yeh kya hai.

Nyonika showed him the internship papers.

Manik took it in his hands and said-

Ye to bas aise hi. I m not interested in it anymore.

Saying this he kept the papers aside.

Nyonika- Manik look into my eyes and say this.

Manik lowered his head.

Nyonika- Beta ye baat bilkul bhi theek nai hai. You were sacrificing this for us. Nothing is more important to us than your happiness and your happiness lies in this .

You should definitely go. And I don't want to hear a no .

Manik- But Mom...

Nyonika- No ifs and buts.

You are going tomorrow and that is final.

Manik hugged Nyonika and said thanks to her.

Nyonika saw the happiness on Manik's face and smiled.

Nyonika- Go and start your prepations for going. Meanwhile I will pack your bags.

Manik- O.K. mom. You know you are the best. Love you Mom.

Nyonika- Love you too .

With this Manik went to college to complete the formalities.

End of flashback.

Done with another update.

Next update will be from the present. I.e., from the time when Soha added red chilli powder and Nyonika scolded Nandini and Shanti consoling her

Hope you guys like it.

CHAPTER-7

Nandini was at the terrace all afternoon .

She recollected all the happenings in the past.

She felt sad thinking of all those things.

Had she not gone to her mother's house , she wouldn't have got all the courage to live her life .

Her mother was her pillar of strength during the bad phase.

She had lost all her hope of living . But her mother gave her life lessons.

She had stayed with her mother for sometime and then her mother asked her to return to her in-laws house as now it was her house .

At first Nyonika didn't want to take her back but on Raj's and Shanti's insistence she agreed.

Nandini realized that Nyonika was not bad at heart but was a bit angry on her. But since the time Soha had come to stay with them , her life had become a living hell.

Soha used to brainwash Nyonika about Nandini.

Nyonika being angry with Nandini already use to believe whatever Soha said .

Soha was very evil at heart.

Nandini always tried to be careful around Soha. But Soha was way too cunning for the sweet and innocent Nandini.

It was almost evening now.

Nandini came down and saw some hustle bustle going on.

Nyonika was instructing the servants to clean the house thoroughly.

Nyonika seemed to be very happy about something.

Nandini got confuse as to what was going on.

She went to the kitchen and saw Shanti cooking . Even Shanti was very happy.

Nandini asked Shanti what is all this going on.

Shanti hugged Nandini and said-

Nandini Beta I am so happy .Manik wapas aaraha hai kal.

Usi ke welcome ke liye ye sab preparations ho rahe hai. Kitna time hogaya usey gaye hue . Finally wo wapas ajayega.

Nandini smiled weakly.

She started helping Shanti in the kitchen.

Shanti was all excited and started talking about Manik.

She told Nandini everything about Manik's childhood, his likes and dislikes, and then she told about how Manik had suggested her to send Nandini to her mother's house.

Nandini got surprised hearing this.

She had thought that it was Shanti's idea to send her home.

But she was wrong. It was Manik who had done her a huge favour indirectly by sending her to her mother .

Shanti broke Nandinis thoughts by shaking her.

Shanti was continuously talking to Nandini about Manik when a servant walked in and said to Shanti.

Madam apko Nyonika Mam bularahi hai.

Shanti - Tum jao mai aati hu.

She asked Nandini to cut the vegetables and went out to meet Nyonika.

Nandini was busy in her work when Soha walked in. She pretended to drink water but was staring at Nandini .

Finding her alone, Soha came to her and said- Tch Tch Tch Bechari Nandini . Kitni bholi ho tum Nandini. Ya phir bahut chalak ho. Itna sab kuch hone ke baad bhi yahi par ho.

Agar koi aur hota to kab ka is ghar se chala gaya hota.

Nandini ignored Soha and kept doing her work.

Soha got angry seeing this.

She held Nandini's hand and made Nandini turn towards her and said- Tum samajhti kya ho apne aap ko.

Kahi ki Maharani ho. Jab mai baat kar rahi hu to you better pay attention or else...

Shanti came and saw this. She said in a stern voice-

Or else what?

Soha immediately left Nandini's hand and walked away.

Shanti asked Nandini if she is fine.

Nandini nodded in a yes.

Meanwhile in Soha's room-

Soha went to her room fuming in anger. She was pacing to and fro thinking about how to tackle Nandini.

She thought to herself - Ye Shanti Aunty ka kuch karna padega. Jab tak wo yaha hai mai chain se nahi reh sakti.

Then an evil idea came to her mind and she laughed evilly and said- Hmm ab dekhti hu tumhe mujhse kaun bachayega Nandini.

Author's Point of view-

Poor Soha. Little did she know that God had planned something good for Nandini and God was always by her side to save her .

Done with another update.

Hope you guys like it.

Liked it

CHAPTER-8

Next morning everyone was busy in last minute preparations.

Nyonika went and checked everything including Manik's room if everything was done properly or not.

Then she came to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for Manik. Meanwhile Raj went to the airport to receive Manik.

Nyonika was very excited that her son was returning home after 2 years.

She started preparing various dishes.

Shanti was helping her when she got an idea that it is a good opportunity to reduce the differences between Nandini and Nyonika.

So she faked a headache and excused herself from the kitchen and asked Nandini to go and help Nyonika in kitchen.

Nandini happily agreed and went to the kitchen .

She asked Nyonika if she needs any help.

Nyonika was so happy about Manik's return that she didn't feel like taunting Nandini and asked her to cut the vegetables.

Nandini felt relieved that for the first time Nyonika had spoken to her in a nice way.

She started cutting the vegetables and then was doing other works assigned by Nyonika when the servant came and informed Nyonika that Raj and Manik had arrived.

On hearing this Nyonika's happiness knew no bounds. She rushed out of the kitchen after asking Nandini to do the left over work indirectly as if talking to the servant.

Meanwhile in the hall,

Raj and Manik had just entered when Nyonika came rushing and said- MANIK.

Manik turned and hugged her tightly.

Manik- Mom I missed you so much .

Saying this he lifted her.

Nyonika- Manik neeche utar mujhe chakkar aajayegi.

Manik put her down .

Nyonika- I missed you too Beta.

She had tears in her eyes.

Manik saw this and said- Mom why these tears. Look I am back. Please don't cry.

He wiped her tears.

Nyonika smiled and hugged him again.

Raj was silent all this while.

Raj had missed Manik too. First he had lost Vivek and the Manik was not with them for 2 years.

He would breakdown at times but he had to be strong for Nyonika.

So he hid his pain.

To lighten the atmosphere, Raj said- Ye kya baat Hui . Saara pyaar Maa par hi luta rahe ho aur mera kya.

Manik and Nyonika giggled hearing Raj .

Manik hugged both Raj and Nyonika together.

The servants smiled seeing their bond and blessed them silently.

Manik broke the hug and asked Mom where is Bua.

Shanti- Beta mai yahan hu.

Manik went and hugged her.

Shanti- Rehne de . Tujhe to meri koi fikr hi nai hai. Ek call nai karsakti tha mujhe. Tujhe to meri yaad hi nai aayi.

Saying this she faked anger.

Manik smiled seeing this and held his ears and said - Sorry Bua. Busy tha mai. Time hi nahi milta tha call karne ka.

Shanti melted immediately and said- Theek hai maaf kiya .

Manik side hugged her and said- Thank God. Mujhe to laga tha ki apko manane ke liye kya kya karna padega.

Shanti - Mai apne Manik SE zyada der naraz ho sakti hu kya.

Manik- Never.

Both of them laughed .

Nandini was observing all this standing at the kitchen door.

She smiled seeing everyone's bond with Manik.

Nyonika instructed the servants to put Manik's luggage in his room.

Nyonika asked Manik to freshen up and come down for breakfast.

Manik nodded and went to his room.

Done with another update.

Hope you guys like it.