Hello People. An important note at the end. Do read and comment.
Happy Reading...
All the neighbors left the place after Manik's arrival except one who was glaring at Nandini. Nandu passed her a confused look.
Nandu(politely): Yes, what can I do for you?
Manik(in a low voice): Nandini, what are you doing?
Nandu: I am following the manners that my parents taught me.
Manik(whisper yelled): Nandini Murthy, raat ke 10.30 baje tere manners koi test nahi karega. Just shut up.
Lady(irritated): tum dono ka ho gaya toh main baat karu?
Manik(smiled): Aunty ji. Aapko itni takleef kyun? Maine bola tha na main music off karwa dunga. Aap ghar chali jati.
Lady(angrily): Tum ruko beta. (Turning towards Nandu) Tum ladki. Seekho kuch iss bache se. Kitne ache se baat karta hai. Aur tum, raat mein sone bhi nahi deti.
Nandu(sang): raaton ki neend churayi teri kisne o sanam.
Manik(whispered): Shut up.
Lady(furious): besharam ladki. Raat ko itna loud music kaun bajata hai. Aaj kal ka zamana hi kharab hai. Aur aaj kal ki ladkiyon ka toh pucho hi mat. Hamare zamane mein pata hai, ladkiyan kaise raha karti thi.
Manik(trying to calm her): arey aunty ji. Actually, ghar par aunty uncle nahi hai. Isiliye gaane baja diye. Kya hai ki aap ke zamane ki ladki nahi hai na. Thoda darr gayi bechari.
Lady(puzzled): Acha? Lekin tum dono toh friends ho na? Itna darr lag raha hai toh isne tumhe phone kyun nahi kiya?
Manik(fake upset): Actually, darr ke maare use apna phone nahi mil raha tha. Jab hum uske room gaye the, vo apna phone hi dhund rahi thi.
Lady(proudly): hayee, itni darr gayi? Hamare zamane mein toh hum aadhi raat ko ghumte the.
Nandu(confused): Kiske saath?
Manik glared her.
Manik(smilingly): aunty ji, sadme mein hai. Aap jaakar so jayiye na?
Lady: haan theek hai.
She leaves.
Manik glares Nandu before speaking.
Manik(yelled): Can't you keep your mouth shut for once?
Nandu(argued): Why should I ke....aunty ji. Aap?
Manik turns towards her.
Lady: Beta.
Manik: haanji.
Lady(afraid): Arey ladki itna darr rahi hai. Koi aatma wagera toh ghusi nahi hogi na. Kal subah pandit ji ko bula lun?
All the three widen their eyes. Composing himself, Manik spoke.
Manik(assured): Aunty ji, aapko itni takleef kyun? Waise bhi hum jaa hi rahe hai kal subah. Pandit ji ke paas.
Lady(concerned): That's so good beta. (Turning towards Nandu) Aaj raat ko, Hanuman Chalisa padh kar so jana beta. Darr nahi lagega.
Arya(bewildered): Which man?
Lady(horrified): lo. Is ladke ko Hanuman ji bhi nahi pata.
Manik(covering up him): arey aisa nahi hai aunty ji. Vo actually, Nandu ko dekh kar yeh bhi darr gaya. Nahi toh har roj subah Hanuman ji ke bhajan gata hai.
Lady(confused): kahan?
Manik(trying not to stutter): Room mein. Apne room mein.
Lady(affectionately): bahut acha. Tum beta khayal rakhna inn dono ka. Agar koi help chahiye toh bula lena.
Manik(fake concerned): ji zaroor. Aap so jaye. Bahut late ho gaya hai.
Lady(smiled): thik hai beta.
Manik(waving): Goodnight aunty ji.
She leaves. Before Nandu could speak anything or the lady makes her appearance once again, Manik drags both Nandu and Aryaman to his room.
Manik's room.
Arya(baffled): Bro, what was that?
Manik(sighing): Typical Indian neighbors.
Arya(confused): Who is pandit ji? What was she speaking?
Manik(laughed off): You can ignore her.
They both laugh. Realizing Nandu sitting silently, they share a look before asking her.
Manik(chuckles): Why are you so 'silent'? Meditation itna affect kar gaya tera?
He air-quoted the word silent making her throw a pillow at him.
Manik: No seriously. Why are you silent now when you couldn't keep quiet there even for a second?
Nandu(seriously): Manik, I think, I should start up some classes.
Arya: Classes?
Nandu(flaunts): Anger management classes. See, I feel like a pro in it. I am capable of teaching people now.
Manik(sarcastically): Zaroor. Kyun nahi. Aur aapki pehli student kaun hogi? Vo aunty?
Nandu(confidently): Not a bad idea. Dekha nahi kaise ghoor rahi thi mujhe? She needs to join my classes.
Manik(disbelievingly): kya karu mai tera? And why the hell were you meditating in the middle of the night?
Nandu(excitedly): because I too want to read people's mind. Now close your eyes and think something. Let me check how successful my meditation was.
Arya(informed): Nandini, it takes years for people to become successful in reading minds. This can't be acquired overnight or by few hours practice.
Nandu(disappointedly): what? Years? Koi shortcut nahi hai?
Manik(rolling his eyes): Yeh Mumbai-Pune ka route nahi hai. Shortcut maang rahi ho.
Nandu pouts.
Manik(enquired): Waise Aryaman, you went to meet your fellow beings right regarding your project? What happened?
Arya: Yeah. We were given the task of selecting 4 different humans and do a character analysis on them. Like how all 4 of them would react in a given particular situation and so on.
Manik((keenly): That's interesting. Have you decided those 4 people?
Aryaman(smiled): the 1st person would be you.
Manik(surprised): Me?
Aryaman(gladly): You are the bestest person for a best friend, Manik. How can I not select you?
Manik gives a small smile.
Aryaman: Then it's Nandu.
Nandu(proudly): ok. I will pretend to be surprised now. And you will tell me why you are lucky to have me. Praise me.
Aryaman and Manik chuckles.
Aryaman(playing along): Because you are sweet, cute, caring and..
Manik(laughing): And tere jaise experimental piece Earth mein kya, kisi dusre planet mein bhi kahi nahi milegi.
Nandu again throws a pillow at him.
Manik(smiled sarcastically): And not to mention teri specialty. Yeh flying saucers launch karna.
She glares him before asking Aryaman about the other two.
Aryaman: It's Cabir.
Nandu(frowns): Why Cabir?
Manik: Kyunki vo tere bhai se kam nahi lagta. Experimental specimens. (giving Aryaman a thumbs up) Nice choice Aryaman.
Both burst out laughing leaving a fuming Nandini. Ignoring her, Manik asks Aryaman.
Manik: And the last one?
Aryaman(puzzled): I haven't decided yet. Maybe,
They were disturbed by Manik's call. Looking at the caller id, he says.
Manik(seriously): I need to take this. Excuse....
Before he could complete, Nandini snatches his mobile from him and answers after putting it on speaker.
Nandu(screamed): don't you have any other work? Aadhi raat ko bhi call karta rehta hai.
Cabir(teased): Kyun? Are you jealous?
Nandu(proudly): Why should I be jealous? I just realized my best friend is extra talented and can even have conversations with the monkeys. (Looking in the air) Sorry monkeys, don't be offended that I compared Cabir with you.
Cabir(helplessly): Why am I even talking to you?
Nandu(taunted): Because the only difference between you and monkeys are, they use their brains and you don't even do that.
Cabir(coolly): I am ignoring everything. Where's Manik?
Manik snatches his mobile and goes out in the balcony. They discuss the necessities required for their stay at the farmhouse. After finishing the call, Manik returns to his room and gets frightened by the scene in front of him.
A/N - I am planning Manan's confession after few more chapters. Do you want any particular scene/chapter to be included before that? Do comment.
I am trying to finish my other book. Do you want me to put this one on hold or is it ok if I update once or twice a week?