Manan FF- Arranged marriage (✔)

Scene 1

From now on the story is going to be in scenes, till i say otherwise. Next update will be up soon. Till then enjoy!
...............
First month

Manik was going through some files and signing them, in his cabin, when his intercom rang.

"yes?"

"sir, MD sir wants to meet you"

"ok i'll be there"

......
Manik knocked on the door and when he heard "come in" from his dad, he opened the door and asked "sir? You called me?"

"yes, son come in" maan replied warmly. Hearing 'son' manik knew that the meeting was not related to business. So he too smiled and occupied the chair opposite to maan.

"yes dad?"

"beta , a week ago i had talked to you about my retirement, you remember?"

"yes dad"

"manik...i know you knew about nandini's pregnancy then, you should have asked me to delay my retirement.." maan was interrupted by manik.

"dad, why should i stop you. You have worked all your life for us, and now it is time that i should relieve you of all your burdens!"

"beta...i wanted to retire because i was thinking of your mother, her loneliness, but since nandini is pregnant, soon enough neyonika will have company and she will be busy again. And moreover, i don't want that what me and neyonika have suffered in our early married life, our children should go through the same phase. Beta, you should be with nandini, spend time with her. This is a very beautiful phase, son. Don't miss it"

"but dad...what about you..?"

"what about me?? i am still very young...(winks) and i love to work...so everything will go on as it is going on" maan said in a light, funny manner, making manik smile.

Manik got up and walked across the table and hugged his father. They shared a warm hug.

After breaking the hug, maan made manik sit on his chair.

"dad...this is your place!" manik whined and tried to get up but maan stopped him, and admired him.

"beta, someday, i want to see you sitting on this chair. That day i will be the most proud father on this earth. But yes, there is a lot of time in that, you have to still learn many things."

Maan said and patted manik's shoulder. Manik smiled in return.

"oh yes! One more thing.." maan started to say and sat on the table facing manik who was on the chair

"we had a meeting now, but due to some issues, the representatives of that company couldn't make it today, so the meeting has been rescheduled for, next month. So since we are free for next 2 and a half hours, let's spend some father-son time. What do you say?"

"of course dad let's go!"

......
Father-son duo were sitting in the car and talking, when the alarm in manik's phone went a buzz.

"dad, can you give me two minutes?"

"of course!"

It was the alarm which manik had set for nandini's lunch time. He had decided however busy he would be , he will make sure to call her and ask her if she had her lunch and the medicines in her office!

He made a call to nandini.
"hello"

"hello, handsome!" nandini spoke flirtily from the other side, unaware of her father-in-law's presence.

Manik bit his lower lip to hide the smile which started to build up hearing her talk. She always surprises him!

Nandini was expecting something romantic in his answer.

"had your lunch?" he asked straightforwardly and her face fell.

"yeah" she answered , disappointment clear in her voice.

"medicines??" he asked next in the same tone.

"hmmm"

"good!"

"manik tumhra mood kharaab hai? Office mein kuch hua?"

"ni..nothing"

"then why are you speaking in such a guarded manner? Koi hai kya tumhre sath?"

"yes..i am sitting with dad...we were discussing something" as manik said that, he looked towards his dad from the corner of his eyes and he saw maan smiling.

While nandini on the other side was flabbergasted.

"what? Tum dad k sath ho and you are talking to me...pehle ni bta sakte the? Ya baad mein jab akele hote toh call karte!! Manik...! you are just impossible!"

"relax..ok..i will see you at home...till then take care..and jyada kaam mat karna. Bye!" he said and cut the call.

When manik turned to maan, the latter was still smiling. Maan patted on manik's palm and said "it feels good to see you taking care of nandini so much!"

"i have learnt everything from you dad!"

"if you have, then let me burst your bubble!"

"what do you mean dad??"

"you know when i got married to your mother, that time business had just started to grow. So i used to remain busy. Your grand dad's health was also not so good. So whole of the business was on my shoulders. This was the reason why i had asked neyonika to not think about making family for atleast 3 years. Yet when after 4 years of our marriage, you happened, i was not less busy. Your grand mom used to take care of neyonika. But neyonika was the woman who never complained about it.

Ok wait i will tell you one incident, then you will understand the situation better. Your mom was 5 months pregnant then, one night i returned very late. I was totally exhausted. I saw that she had slept on the couch waiting for me, like everyday. Hearing my footsteps she woke up, made me eat my dinner and then we together went to sleep. I had slept for just 3 hours, when i noticed her restlessness and irritatedly asked her to sleep and let me sleep too. I didn't even ask her why she was restless! After that her movements stopped and i thought that she finally slept. It was in the morning that i came to know that she had an urge to eat something sour, that's why she was restless. I have been guilt ridden since then. And this is not just the one incident. Do you still think i am the best??" maan spoke with heaviness in his heart.

"dad...please don't say like that! I can very well understand your situation...yes you did wrong to mom....but that was in the past...i am sure you have made it up now and mom must have forgiven you!"

"you know the reason why i told you this? Because i don't want you to repeat my mistakes. Nandini is carrying your baby. She will be bearing all the pain of it, and what she wants from you? Just a little care, a little love and most importantly your time and patience! I have seen neyonika and i am sure nandini too will have those tantrums, mood swings...just bear with her! Its the least you can do...for her!"

"yes dad and thank you for talking to me...you know i was very sceptical. I couldn't talk to nandini about my feelings because you know she will start worrying! You know this man-to-man talk was much needed! I am feeling relieved!"

"come to me, without hesitation, whenever you need to talk! I will always be there!"

"yes dad!"

Maan's phone started ringing.

"sir, its just a reminder. You have a meeting in next 30 minutes" his secretary informed.

"ok. I am on my way" maan said and cut the call.

Manik's secretary too called up to inform the same and then they got busy for the rest of the day.