ANUGAAMINI- The Boundaries

33. Donnybrook

Manini and Arunimaa occupied the back seat and there had been no conversation till then.

Manini looked more upset than they thought she would and she tried focusing on the scenery that flit past the window. But the calmness of it didn't sink down her heavy mind.

"Manini......", Arunimaa sought her attention.

"Dekha tumne... Kaise Vishal apni convenience ke according mere emotions manipulate karne ki koshish karta hai... Aur use lagta mujhe samjh ni aayega... Huh!! Maa hoon uski... Emotional ho sakti hoon par bewkoof nahi hoon!! Vikram ke jaise hi he has also become a liar!! Harmless flirt my foot!!", she said these angry words in a calm tone without looking at her.

"I know he is just... Umm pathetic", Arunimaa said reluctantly.

"You can use harsher words... Doesn't matter to me... Shouldn't matter to you."

"Hmmm... Tumhe kaise pata chala hum yahan police station me hain..."

"Kal raat ko Vikram tumhare ghar se seedha... Mere ghar aaya tha...", Manini told.

"WHATT!!", Manik stopped the car with a jerk. "And you didn't tell us!!", he turned back.

"Tum log already itna pareshaan hoge aur kya pareshaan karti main itni raat ko..."

"What the hell is wrong with you yaar!? You know how dangerous it could've been in the dead of the night!!", Manik angered.

"I am fine Mani..."

"But vo kuch gadbad karta t-"

"I know how to handle him..."

"But what's the need of handling him!", his pitch raised.

"To kya karti main aur... Mujhe inform kar ke aaya tha kya vo!? Bell baji, gate khola to dekha saamne vo tha!! Kya karti iske baad main!! And main koi bacchi ni hoon... I know usse kaise deal karna hai... Why do you worry so much...!!", she peeved.

"Because I care for you dammit!"

"And I said I am okay!! I can care for myself!!"

He glanced at Arunimaa who gestured him to stay mum.

"I am sorry...", she instantly regretted it as. "Already meri vajah se itni problems hain tum logon ke upar... Please... Don't invite more troubles on yourself...", she slipped closer to window.

"Aisa kuch ni hai Manu...", Manik tried assuring her but she was not in a mood for it.

"Please drive Mani."

Anuj though heard them but he was already too occupied by his own thoughts of Anupamaa to be a party of the conversation. He felt bad for Manini and Anupamaa and his dad and mom and the list is ever increasing. Manik started the engine.

"Kaash Vishal ne aapki baat suni hoti aunty to ye sab ni hota Anupamaa ke saath...", the air hitting his face through the window forced his tears back. "Usko kitni chot aayi hai... Ghar pe kaise handle karti hogi sab vahi jaanti hai... Accha khaasa padh ri thi vo... Mann laga ke... Shaadi ke baad off liya tha sab course cover up kar ri thi vo... Ab na padhai pe focus kar paati hai na kahin aur... Poore time uss Vishal ki stupid baaton me uljhi rehti... Ghar bhi sambhaalti college bhi dekhti... Sab balance karne ki koshish karti usme ye sab... Main to nahi kar paata uski jagah hota to...", he said meekly.

"Anuj..."

"Dad... Anupamaa kitni seedhi hai... Kisi se kuch bhi bolti nahi, kisi ko pareshaan nahi karti... Kisi ka bura ni karti, infact sabki help hi karti hai... Pata hai poori class ki help karti hai... Sab usi ke notes se padh ke pass hote including me... Aur kisi ko koi doubt hota na to vo samjha bhi deti hai ekdum patiently... And you know Dad... Usko na pata hai na sab uske notes se padhte hain aur uske notes to Hindi ya Gujarati me hote to technical words ko side me English me bhi likh deti hai taaki jo padhe use problem na ho... Jo uske friends nahi hain, jo uska mazaak banaate na... Unko bhi help kar deti hai vo... Bahut acchi hai vo... Phir uske saath hi ye sab kyun!!", he scratched the window pane with his nails. There was silence. No one had any answer.