After Manik uttered those words,silence prevailed.
"Manik ! What the hell are you saying?" Mama ji sneered and that broke Manik's smirking session at Armaan.
"Dad ! I'm speaking trut..."Before Manik could complete his horrifying words,Shraddha di spoke immediately,
"Mazak kar raha hai! Dad!" Shraddha di laughed while ruffling Maniks hair.
Thankyou Bhagwaan ji! Thankyou for di !
"Hahaha ! Manik tum bhi na !" I laughed more loudly,well it was a little awful but I had to,to normal the situation.
Manik glared at me and I gulped.
"Pagal!" Maa chuckled while glancing at Manik,who was now murmuring something angrily to Shraddha di.
Finally everyone on the table laughed but except two people who were Kamini aunty and Armaan.
"Manik ! Not a word now ! Chup Chap khana khaiye aap!" Shraddha di whispered yelled at Manik but I heard.
"I DONT WANT TO EAT ! FU*K!"
Suddenly Manik stood up and turned his plate furiously on the table,making food spill on it harmlessly.
"MANIK !" Mama ji roared and strode towards Manik.
I felt my heart collapsing at the moment when Mama ji raised his hand at Manik.
"Raj kia kar rahe hain aap ! Jawan bacha hai !" Thankgod Mami ji came and held Mama ji's hand in the air only.
"Bacha nhi hai ye! Ise tameez sikhaye k kese pesh ate hain baro k saamne !" Mama ji was infuriated by Maniks behaviour.Mama ji jerked Mami's hand while glaring at Manik.
He was standing there with low eyes but his breaths were ragged.
I know he respects his parents very much but I he has become like this ! And I know I am at fault*sighs*
"Now sit and eat !" Mama ordered Manik while moving towards his chair.
"I won't !" Manik gritted still with low eyes.
He was standing behind my chair.
I turned my face towards him and he looked in my eyes with pain before averting them again.
Mughe maaf kardo Manik ! Par jo tumhe chahiye uske liye waqt nikal gaya !
"WHAT ? WHAT DID YOU SAY?" Mama ji hollered and was about to stand up when Maa stopped him by saying,
"Bhaiya bacha hai ! Wese bhi use Bukhar hai ! That's why he is acting so annoyed!" Maa spoke but her words made me shock.
Manik is suffering from fever ? When ? How ?
I looked at Manik but he didn't look at me.
"Manik apne kamre main jao !" Mami ji's tone wasn't hard but it wasn't that soft too.
Manik stomped from there but not before glaring at Armaan.
After dinner we all were sitting in the lounge of course except Manik.
Pta nhi kia kar raha hoga Ye ! Aur iski tabiat khrab thi tou isne mughe btaya kyon nhi ! I would've made chicken soup for him as always.
Kamini aunty who was sitting beside me started the conversation pulling me out of my cousin's thoughts.
"Raj sahab! Asal main hum yahan Armaan aur Nandani ki shadi ki tareekh tay karne aye the!" Kamini aunty spoke after glancing at smiling Armaan and then sipped her tea.
"Par shadi ki tareekh tou tay ho chuki haina! Ek mahine baad ki!" Mama ji spoke while placing the tea cup on the table.
"Wo Raj hum chahte the k isi mahine shadi hojaye because Armaan has to go for a business trip to Canada and he won't be back before a year!" Mehra uncle spoke and the air around us got thick.
My eyes were getting heavy with tears.
"But how we will manage everything in just this short span of time!" Maa who was sitting beside me spoke worriedly.
"Anjali ji aap fikar na karein! Sab hojaega!" Kamini aunty smiled while holding Maa's hand at my laps as I was sitting between them.
Maa smiled at her in affirmation.
"Bas meri beti khush rahe Aur mughe kuch nhi chahiye!" Maa wiped her lone tear and then caressed my hair lovingly,making my eyes again teary.
Sirf itne kam din reh gaye ! Main kese rahungi maa k bina , mama ji , mami ji k bina Aur Mere pregnant dost k bina ?
A tear fell from my eye and I wiped it instantly.
"Par Kamini ji kab ki tareekh sochi hai aap logo ne?"Mami ji asked after keeping her tea cup on the table.
"Next week on Friday!" Kamini aunty spoke and tears which were swimming in my eyes fell incoherently.
I hugged maa tightly and sobbed.
"Nandani ! Ssshhh! Beta ek na ek din tou tughe jana hi hai na !" Maa patted my head and I sniffed more.
"Aunty ! Aapki beti roti bohot hai !" Armaan kneeled down infront of me and chuckled.
Maa broke the hug and I looked towards Armaan.
He wiped my tears and spoke sweetly,
"Main kese rahunga ek saal tak apse dur ! Kuch mera bhi khyaal karein!" He pouted sadly and I smiled which was fake.
My heart was crying and I know why it's happening.
"Ye shadi nhi ho sakti!" Suddenly Maniks voice boomed in our ears.
Manik ! Kuch ghlat mat karna!
He just stepped out from his room and walked towards us,to the heart of lounge.
Armaan who was kneeling before stood up.
My eyes went wide because of the words Manik uttered.
Manik looked at me and I nodded a no at him.
"I mean to say that Nandani is having her annual exams from next week so how would it be possible for her to manage this marriage stuff along with her studies!" Manik chose words wisely while everyone sighed in relaxation as they thought of something stupendous before.
"You don't worry Manik ! Nandani can continue her studies in Canada too! Mughe Nandani k parhne se koi pareshaani nhi hai!"Armaan spoke genuinely.
Manik closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Manik ! Teri tabiat kesi hai ! Come ! I'll make you eat something!" Mami ji went towards Manik and she sighed sadly after dabbing his forehead and neck which were burning because of fever.
"I don't want to eat anything maa!"Manik looked so pale.
Bohot naazuq hai Ye pregnant ! Pta nhi iski pregnancy aur Kia Kia gul khilayegi ? Nakhre tou dekho jese akhri mahina chal raha ho! Huh !
"Nhi beta you have to eat something !Chal main tere liye soup bna deti hn!" Maa spoke while moving towards Manik.
Ufff ! Maa da laadla!
Armaan settled beside me.
Manik looked at us and his eyes started to turn red.
"Uh-Armaan ! I'll just come !" I muttered and before Armaan could even nod,I walked towards kitchen,when I heard Manik's voice from behind.
"I will only have chicken soup made by Nandani ! Or else I won't eat anything !"
"Pagal! Nandani Manik k liye soup bna !" Maa chuckled and then yelled behind my back.
I entered in the kitchen and started preparing for the soup.
"Manik ! Sit with Armaan till the time Nandani comes!" Mami ji spoke softly while indicating towards Armaan who was feeling bored as Mehra uncle , Kamini aunty and Mama ji were talking and he was left alone.
Manik didn't want to but after seeing thr smiling face of his bua maa he gathered some calm breaths and strode towards Armaan.
..........
"How are you?" Armaan asked as I sat beside him.
"Tughse matlab!"I was rude. I know.
"Kyon karta hai tu Ye sab ?" Armaan chuckled while looking at me.
"Tughe nhi Pta k kyon karta hn main Ye sab!" I snapped back but didn't look at him.
"I don't want to know either!Moreover your cheap thrills won't work now ! Ek hafte baad shadi hai meri !" Armaan smirked.
I closed my eyes trying to calm my burning cells.
Khwamakah mera haathon se pit jayega Ye !
"Dekhte hain ! Kiski shadi hoti hai!" I chuckled wickedly and turned my face to bless him with a pity look.
"Manik your soup !" Nandani's voice broke our glaring session.
I looked at her,she was bending infront of me a little with chicken soup in the tray in her hands.
She looked worried and that made me smile.
"Jise tu apni biwi kehta hai,wo mere liye pareshaan hai! Dekh le !"I whispered in Armaans ear and I felt Armaan's ears emitting fume.
Isko jalane main bara maza ata hai yaar ! Saala tapori Kahin ka !
"Thankyou ! Meri gol-gappi !" I muttered with a smile and deliberately caressed her fingers which were holding the tray before taking away that bowl.
She shivered.
Gol-gappi ! Ye sab na Kia karo warna tumhare liye mushkil hojaegi!
"Welcome!" She spoke hesitantly while moving back as she noticed Armaans strict features.
Jala jala k kaala kar dunga tughe !
Nandani left from there hurriedly and I had my soup.
Tasty !
"Nandani ! What's this?" Armaan asked Nandani who just came out of kitchen again to take my bowl.
Nandani's eyes widened as she recognised that about what Armaan was asking.
My mark on her lips.
Come on! I mean they are mine , mine to cherish , mine to kiss , mine to bite !
I smirked at Armaan.
He looked at me and then at Nandani.
Ok he was literally shaking due to the anger,but it made me laugh.
Nonetheless I laughed loudly gaining everyone's attention.
"Kia hua beta ? Tabiat tou theek haina tumhari ?" Kamini asked and I know she was gritting her teeth.
"Yeah ! Good !" I raised my thumb at her and she smiled,a pursed tight smile.
Jesa beta ! Wesi maa ! Jal kukre!
"Nandani ! I want to talk !" Armaan stood up and held Nandani's hand,dragging her towards the garden outside our house.
My eyes turned dark and I stood up from the couch.
The elders were busy enough to notice us.
I left from there,making my way towards the garden.
"Nandani ! How did it happen ?" Armaan was furious.He was grabbing my gol-gappi's arms in a death grip.
Iski itni himmat !
I rode towards him and jerked him faraway from my love.
"Manik!" Nandani who was now crying whispered and I pulled her behind me.
"I told you to stay in your limits !"I clenched my jaws and spoke angrily.
"Manik ! Just don't interfere in our matter !" Armaan also gritted his teeth and again held my collars.
Without any second thought I punched him hard on his face making his jaw bone shriek.
"Manik ! No !" Nandani from behind came infront of me and pleaded.
"Nandani ! Move !" Armaan shouted and Nandani shivered with his shout.
I gently pushed Nandani aside and before I could punch him more,maa's voice boomed in my ears.
"MANIK !"
We all looked towards her in the state of shock.
Shit !
Nandani ran from there and I felt Armaan smirking.
"Manik ! In my room ! Now !" Maa ordered with angry eyes and left.
I've to take her on my side ! Come on Manik ! You can do it ! Ek Aur wicket !
I rubbed my palms and raised a step when Armaan spoke from behind,
"Maintain distance from Nandani ! It will be better for you !"
I turned to look at his red angry face and my lips broke into a chuckle.
But next words which I spoke made me smirk and him more angry,
" You know I was her first at kissing and I swear upon my God that I will be her last !
Karle jitni mehnat karni hai tughe , lekin Nandani meri thi , meri hai Aur meri hi rahegi hamesha ! Jab tak zinda hoon tab tak Aur uss k baad bhi !"
........
Yours !
New Wanderer!