"Manik It's about to get dark aur tu itne sukoon se betha hai?Nandani ka koi ata pta nhi hai aur tu yahan beth k smiles paas kar raha hai?"Cabir came infront of me and snatched my phone from my hands as I was busy playing Candy Crush.
"Satak gayi hai iski!"Though zain mumbled,sitting on the sofa but i heard him clearly.
I raised my lashes at him and he gulped looking here and there.
"Manik?Will you please tell us what's cooking in your head?Na tu khud use dhundne ja raha hai na hamein jane de raha hai!Yaar iss sheher main uska koi nhi hai akeli hai wo aur aaj kal k haa...
"Room.205,Hotel Suncity Residency."I completed my words and they both looked at me like i was an alien.Now Zain was also standing beside Cabir,with their wide eyes.
"What?Tum donu ko bohot fikar ho rahi haina uski isliye bta raha hun k wahan hai wo!"I chuckled and they gawked me.
"Tou tum donu ki baat hogayi aur tune hamein btaya bhi nhi?"Zain asked with a tinge of hurt and i gave him a look.
"Madam ko main achi tarah se janta hn.The way she was talking since morning I knew she would do something like this and that's why I had hired a man to follow her whenever she gets out of the office building!"A smirk embellished my face as I completed my words and they gave me appreciating smiles in return.
"Acha then what are we waiting for ja Nandani ko le k aaja!"Zain spoke happily but I shook my head confusing his happiness.
"Ab kia chal raha hai tere dimag main!Dekh Manik ab tu us se badla lene mat bethna you know how naive she is!" Cabir spoke in her defence when I turned my sharp eyes at him.
"Badla lena meri fitrat nhi hai Cabir but Nandani Murthy ki fitrat main bhagna zaroor hai.I tried making her trust me but no she thinks she is great,she will sacrifice our love and that will sought out our lives.Launga zaroor use lekin thora use bhi tou ehsaas ho k apne pyaar se dur reh k kitni takleef hoti hai.Let her be there only."Pain and agony clear in my voice.
"Chal as you wish!It's your life!"Zain came and squeezed my shoulder and i nodded with a fake smile.
.......
"I'm Sorry Manik!I love you so much!"I cried caressing his picture on my phone,sitting in my hotel room.
Stop being stupid Nandani!Didn't he told you he'll handle everything if you'll support him!Aur tu use chor kar aagayi hai!You're hurting him more!
"No!Ma..in nhi hon..gi na tou in..ki saari problems bhi kh..tm hojaengi!"I kissed his picture multiple times,tears falling from my eyes on their own accord.
"I'll have to forget him.There is no Manik you know Nandani!Koi Manik nhi aya tha teri zindagi main kabhi!Bas khtm!"Wiping my tears i closed his picture and laid back on the bed,my eyes falling to sleep.
.......
"Mannu eat something!"Mom spoke tenderly while caressing my palm as i was sitting idle on the chair.
"I'm not hungry mom!"I pushed my plate a little which had some gravy and chapati.
"Ja le aa use!"
I looked at mom and she raised her brows giving me what are you staring at look.
"Maa!"A tear fell from my eye and i sat down on floor hugging her knees.
"It's ok Mannu you can cry!"Mom ruffled my hair and i felt my tears soaking in her dress rapidly.
"It hurts so much maa!Dil tou kar raha hai abhi jake use le aaon aur khud k sath bandh k rakh dn but i want her to feel,what I'm feeling.Main use hamare rishte ki importance feel karwana chahta hn.Har cheez ka solution chor k bhagna tou nhi hota na maa!"I cried harder and mom kissed my hair multiple times.
"She is very innocent Manik!She has lost her parents at very young age.She is so weak to handle all this trauma.Aur main keh rahi hn na wo tughse dur tere liye hi gayi hai.Haan ye uski bewaqoofi hai lekin pyaar bohot karti hai wo bhi tughse isliye tughe takleef main nhi dekhna chahti."Mom tried making me understand and I raised my head up at her.
"But uske na hone se jo mughe dard ho raha hai wo kisi dard se bara nhi hai!"I confessed sincerely and mom chuckled.
"Ohh my son is hopelessly in love!Majnu haan?"Mom tried teasing me which did work as i blushed hearing her last word.
"Don't worry everything will be fine!Let the time do it's work!For now you need to focus on getting Aliya exposed!" I nodded listening her words.
Aliya Shergill dunya k samne tumhara mazak na bna k rakh diya na tou mera naam bhi Manik Malhotra nhi!
.......
Next day,morning,8:00 am.
It's time for his coffee!
"Aiyappa how will I live without him!Mughse nhi ho raha!I can't!"I cried laying on bed.The night went so restless.My pillow was still wet because of my continuous tears.
I wanna see him one last time!Bas ek baari!Lekin kese!Samne jaongi tou phir jane nhi denge mughe!Think Nandani think!
"Idea!Mathur Uncle!"And with that i sat straight on the bed and dialled Mathur uncle's phone,the Pune in Manik's office.
........
Lunch time,1:00 pm.
"Any update?" I uttered as soon as Rahul picked up my phone.
"Sir I was about to call you!The lady went to a store early in the morning and now she has left the hotel but the strange part is she is disguised as a man and the way she is going to might leads to your office!I'll keep you updated Sir!Have a good day!"Rahul disconnected the line leaving me befuddled.
Before I could ponder over Nandani's little brain there was a knock on my door.
"Come in!"
"Good after noon Sir!"Came in the Mathur uncle.
"Good afternoon!"I wished him back with a smile.
"Sir!Asal main..."He was so hesitant,scared about something.
"Ji Mathur uncle koi pareshani hai tou btaye!"I tried backing him.
"Sir wo meri tabiyat kuch theek nhi hai main abhi se do din ki off lena chahta hun!Mera chota bhai meri jagah kaam kar lega!"The way he spoke in one go made me scrunch at him.
Something was probably wrong!
"Ok!There is nothing to worry!Aap do din araam kijye aur koi help chahiye ho tou Zain se collaborate kar lijyega wo assist kar dega apko!"Though i felt something fishy but keeping his old age in my mind I conceded.
"Thankyou Sir!Thankyou so much!"He was so happy as if he was relieved about something.
He was about to go when I called him,"Excuse me Mathur Uncle what's the name of your brother?"
"Manish..Manish naam hai uska!"He muttered after thinking alot and left hurriedly.
Strange!
.......
"Manik kuch khaya tune?"Cabir came in the cabin and i yawned laying my head back at the headrest.
"Soya nhi haina tu raat bhar!Ajeeb ziddi ho tum donu!"He chuckled sitting on the chair and i closed my eyes.
"Headache ho raha hai Nandani ko bol ek coffee..."My words left in middle as i realised she was not here,anymore.
"I think Manik you should reconsider your decision !"Cabir started again and i twitched my lips in irritation.
"Shutup Cabir!"
"Hello send Mr.Manish in my cabin!"
"Ab ye kon hai?"Cabir asked and i told him the whole story.
To my dismay Rahul's name was flashing on the screen but I'd kept my phone on silent so I couldn't notice it.And there was a knock on the door.
"Come in!"
Without looking at the person I started looking into a file.
"Manish Uncle make Sir a coffee!"Cabir sitting there gave instructions before me and I kept looking into the file.
"Ok!"I heard a faint whisper and my heartbeat tingled.
Nandani!
I raised my eyes to find her but there was no one.
"Ohh bhai tune apni pills li?"Cabir's question took me out of my illusion and i shook my head negatively at him.
"Insaan ban ja Manik!Aunty ko btaon main?"He was about to dial mom's number when I snatched the phone from him.
"Are you stupid?"I gritted at him and he stood up from the chair a little angrily.
"Fine!Do whatever you want to do Manik!Zinda rahega tou Nandani milegi na tughe,ja mar ja tu!"Snatching his phone from my hand he left the cabin and I sighed,closing my eyes.And there was a knock on the door again.
"Come in!"My voice was drained out.
A cup of coffee was placed on my table,meekly.
"Take your medicines Sir!"A feeble request and i nodded without looking up.
And when my eyes noticed five missed calls from Rahul.
Aesa kiya hogaya?Kahin Nandani tou kuch nhi hogaya?
"Ummm Manish Uncle can you just pass me those medicine box!"Dialling Rahul's number I stopped the uncle who was about to leave the cabin.
"Hello?"
"Sir!Nandani mam is in your office in a man's attire...before i could digest the just given information I heard a familiar shrill,"Aaah Aiyappa....!"
And leaving my phone on the table I ran towards the uncle his foot had slipped and he was about to fall but I was fast enough to hold him.A sizzle ran down my spine as the very familiar teeny weeny body came perfectly into my arms.Those doe-shaped eyes behind specs,the same pair of mushy pink lips.
Nandani mam is in your office in a man's attire!
My eyes widened realising the truth.
Nandani!
"So..rry Sir!"She jerked back instantly and straightened up her cute dress.
"Kahin laga tou nhi apko?"I tried peeping into her eyes and she looked here and there nervously,fidgeting with her fingers.
"Nnn..o Sir!I'm fine!"She stuttered and I tried controlling my smirk.
Playing smart with Manik Malhotra haan!My li'l girl!
"Oh thankgod aapko kuch hua nhi main tou dar hi gaya tha!"I spoke in a dramatic way and pulled her in my arms again.A never ending smile appeared on my lips feeling her this close to my heart.She tried pushing me but I kept hugging her as tight as I could.I just couldn't help myself.
"Sirrr!"At last with all her might she broke the hug and I doddered two steps back.
"Main theek hn!"She gritted angrily and left the cabin.
A chuckle left my mouth.
Man'na parega Nandani planning tou bohot achi kari tumne!Akhir choice kiski ho!
"Well!So Nand...no Mr.Manish get ready to deal with Manik Malhotra and his tantrums!"
And i was dancing like a doofus,a love-sick doofus.
......
So how was the chapter?Do leave your reviews!A mananlicious update is on the way!Yayiee!*chuckles*
Some extra naughty Manik would be cherry on the cake!What say?
Stay tuned
Yours,
New Wanderer!