Mrs Murthy put the tiffin box in the basket and sighed to herself. She checked once again if she had put the cheesecake in the basket. Her fingers continuously tapped the kitchen slab. She turned around just to see a line of trained staff looking at her all amused. She had cast them away from touching anything in the kitchen for past two hours. Kitchen staff was amused to see how many dishes she had cooked that day. Nobody was coming to Murthy mansion, otherwise they would have been informed by the maintainance staff. Elderly chef smiled when Mrs Murthy picked up the mango pickle from the cabinet. Nobody had touched that mango pickle since Nandini had left the house. He immediately knew for whom all these preparations were.
He couldn't resist so he asked, "Is Ms Nandini coming home, Ma'am?"
Mrs Murthy looked at him plainly and shook her head. She picked up the food basket and walked out of the kitchen.Cleaning staff saw her pacing in the hall impatiently till Rishi came out of his room.
"What's this, Rishi? The food will get cold. You are late," She nagged.
Rishi hugged her hyperactive mother and laughed.
"It won't get cold. Besides, your daughter wouldn't wake up till noon," He revealed.
Mrs Murthy smiled meekly and then drooped pensively.
"What if she refuses to have it?" She said gullibley.
Rishi smiled and said, "She would. Probably she would throw the food on my head."
Mrs Murthy looked horrified while Rishi laughed at his own joke.
"Don't look this sad, Mom. You know her how she is. Her anger has no match in this world. But we have to try," He said confidently.
Picking up the food, he left for Nandini's house.
_______________
Daadu was watering the plants in the garden when he heard Rishi's car honking. He turned around and smiled to his handsome grandson who was bringing some goodies along. Nandini hadn't come back from Bernard's yet so he had decided to amuse himself with some gardening.
"I smell mango pickle," Daadu eyed the food basket.
"That's for Nandini. Besides, you cannot have this much spicy," Rishi warned and entered the house to find his little sister.
"She isn't home," Daadu yelled.
Rishi came out and joined him in the garden.
"You said she wouldn't be up till noon," He reminded his Daadu.
"Things have changed for good, my son," Daadu was smiling behind his big mustache.
"She is mothering two little pups now," He added.
"She is doing what?" Rishi was baffled least to say.
"You didn't meet your nephews? Pongo and Rogue?" Daadu asked surprised.
"Nooooo! Nobody told me that," Rishi was not joyous about the new development.
Daadu chuckled as he saw Rishi already horrified. He was afraid of dogs.
"What else... You people haven't told me?" Rishi demanded all the information.
"They are Siberian huskies and one of them is a bite-monster," Daadu revealed and Rishi already felt like running away from there.
"You are reminding me of Manik's friend now," Daadu quipped and Rishi shook his head in denial.
They heard Nandini's car and saw her coming out of it without two furballs in her hand. They were so tiny.
"They are small," Rishi was relieved least to say.
"What you thought... They were some monstrous large puppies?" Daadu ridiculed and went on to meet those two.
Nandini's face was drained. She didn't feel like doing a thing but then she saw her brother standing behind the chairs trying to hide himself. She couldn't resist chuckling.
"Go Rogue, get him," She whispered in Rogue's ear before putting him down. Rogue seemed to find the terrified object and ran to him.
Nandini entered the house as she heard her brother shouting in fear as he was chased by Rogue.
Her nostrils caught the fine aroma of her favorite Chinese food and in no time her smile vanished.
Rishi was sitting on the chair with both his feet on the table. Rogue was tugging his shoe lace while Pongo had his paws on his leg as he gently licked his jeans.
"Look at you and them," Daadu was entertained least to say.
"Rishiiiiiii"
They both heard Nandini yelling.
Rishi knew what was this about while Daadu had no clue.
______________
Manik listened to the lecture of Radio telephony intently as Colonel Das delivered the lecture. On the other hand, Harshad was unable to keep his yawns in control. The lecture was plain boring. He didn't know how could his friend could listen to it so ardently. Bell rang and almost everyone ran out of the classroom. Manik chuckled to himself while collecting his books. It was a sunny day. He couldn't speak to Nandini that morning. Apparently she had gone to pick up the dogs. Manik laughed out loud remembering the exaggerated narration of Daadu.
"Now I know," Harshad said as he stood at the door and saw Manik smiling to himself.
Manik rolled his eyes knowing how another foolish comment was on its way.
"You know what, Harshad?" He asked so that Harshad could get done with it and move on.
"I know how you survive boring lectures," Harshad said and sat on the front bench.
"How?" Manik was already bored.
"You just keep thinking about Nandini and her chilling adventures while staring at the professors," he spat out with a grin on his face as if had cracked a great mystery.
"I am so jealous," He added and Manik couldn't help but giggle at his dramatic friend.
They both moved out of the classroom. It was lunch break and they headed towards mess. Manik stopped to read the notice yet again and Harshad sighed in defeat.
"You know they won't cancel the 10-days break if you won't read it every hour," He taunted and Manik glared him. Manik had read the holidays notice nth times and couldn't wait for weekend to come.
"This is gonna be our first ever outing," He said all lost in his mind.
"Yeah! You have already mumbled it nth times in your sleep," Harshad taunted yet again and dragged him to the dining hall.
_____________________________
Daadu served himself 'wok tossed veggies' and let the aroma hit his nostrils.
"Ahaaaa!" He couldn't help but moan. To be honest, Rishita hardly cooked that good food after Nandini left.
Rishi too took the spring roll straight out of tiffin box and put it in his mouth. He moaned loudly as the taste of goodness exploded in his mouth.
"I hate mom," He mumbled and earned a glare from Daadu.
Someone whined audibly and Rishi looked down. It was Rogue who too demanded whatever was being eaten. Rishi wasn't going to give him anything. He had made him run for minutes.
Not so far away perched a miffed soul who looked at the entire drama with side eye and couldn't help her stomach from growling. Nandini had declared that she wasn't going to touch that food and apparently no one objected. Daadu was delighted how he could have it all for himself while Rishi too had taken it casually. She was infuriated least to say.
She looked out of window trying to look more upset so that at least one of them noticed. Alas! Nobody gave a damn while they munched on that delicious food that was exclusively made for her. She hated her family sometimes, well most of the times.
Rishi took out the Manchurian out of bag while Daadu warned him through eyes. They were pulling this drama just to lure Nandini. But it seemed like nothing would be spared by the time she melted. Rishi shrugged his shoulders and served himself the delectable Manchurian balls.
THAT WAS IT!
Nandini marched to the table and hit Rishi with the cushion so hard that he yelped. HOW COULD HE TOUCH HER MOST FAVORITE DISH!
"What the..." He shouted while she snatched the plate from his hand. She couldn't act any more. She missed the food her mother made. In Murthy mansion, it was seldom that her favorite cuisine was prepared. She closed her eyes in sheer pleasure as the goodness hit her taste buds. She opened her eyes to two smiling faces. Daadu hid his big smile the moment he realized Nandini was staring him while it took another hit on head for Rishi to stop grinning like a fool.
Brother-sister fought audibly over food while Daadu sneaked a few pieces to the pups. He was content. It was a first, now he could dream of reconciliation of the mother and daughter soon.
_______________________
Week passed in jiffy and it was Friday. Nandini was with Daadu in market buying the stuff apparently Manik had asked them to buy.
"Flashlights"
Nandini read out loud and huffed.
"He has gone mad," She mumbled and Daadu chuckled.
"Poor lad hardly asks for anything. Buy him all the weird stuff he wants," He quipped.
Nandini entered the shop and asked the vendor all the stuff he had from that list. Her eyes roamed around and found a few people staring at her. She stared back at them and they looked away awkwardly.
"Idiots," She mumbled.
"Don't call Manik an idiot," Daadu said not getting her remark.
"Not him, Daadu. People around are idiots," She clarified.
Daadu wasn't ignorant. He knew what Nandini was talking about. There were talks in the town about Nandini. Her relationship and fall out with Madhav and how she was in live-in relationship with cadet, all of this was the talk of the town after the media controversy. He couldn't care less but he knew this thing was going to affect the kids sooner or later. He hadn't left Nandini alone after that controversy. It wasn't safe. Manik, however, was unaware of the aftermaths. Daadu was glad how Manik didn't know. He was sensitive and might not take all of it quite well. Nandini on other hand wasn't talking about it but she was getting flak at work as well as everywhere else. She was as usual indifferent but she wouldn't be for too long.
Nandini dragged him out of the shop as he didn't respond to her calls. Soon they were in a garage where Nandini's truck was getting serviced.
"I will walk to Bernard's," Daadu said as he felt a bit tired. Nandini nodded and asked the mechanic to load the spare tubes.
__________________________
The bell on Bernard's door jingled as Brigadier Murthy entered the office. Bernard was delighted to see his friend.
"Brigadier," He welcomed him with a hug.
"Bernard, my friend," Daadu too greeted him warmly.
They talked about stuff while the servant served the tea.
"Should I get the pups?" Bernard asked.
"Not so soon. It would take Nandini another hour to complete her shopping," Daadu assured and leaned in his chair.
"I am knitting these days," Bernard said and got up his chair to fetch something from his almirah. His hands were shaking. Old age was eating his friend way too fast. Loneliness can be tough. He sighed.
"Here," Bernard put some woolen cloths on the desk. Daadu was amused to see the colors.
"They look good, Bernard," He complimented and picked up the clothes just to find out how small they were.
"I wonder who would wear them?" He asked baffled as he held those small sweaters in hand.
"Your grandchildren will," Bernard told delightedly.
Daadu sighed and the shook his head head.
"Not happening for another decade," He remarked and Bernard laughed.
"You are funny, Brigadier," He quipped.
"I was talking about Rogue and Pongo," He added and Daadu's eyes shone in glee.
"That way!!! Too good," He almost jumped in excitement.
"Pups needed them honestly," He added and got up to hug his old friend.
________________________________________
Harshad happily munched on the sweet dish Mrs Singh had made for Manik while Manik ate it quite awkwardly. It was Saturday night and Mrs Singh had called them for some brunch. Colonel Singh wasn't home and that made things easier.
"So what are your plans for the holidays?" She asked.
"I am going home. My cousin is getting married," Harsh said with all the food stuffed in his mouth.
Manik nudged him to behave.
"And you Manik?" She asked.
"I am going to upper hills for a hike," He said calculatedly.
"That sounds like a plan," She was happy to know how Manik would be indulged somewhere.
"And he refused to take me along," Harshad was quite careless when it came to his mouth.
Mrs Singh giggled while Manik served him another round just to keep his mouth stuffed. That man was walking disaster. Manik chuckled in nervousness.
"What about you, Ma'am?" He asked to dodge any inquiry on the topic. Mrs Singh smiled knowing what manik was doing. She knew about Manik and Nandini's little secret plan.
"I would be in my castle with my king," She said dramatically and Manik genuinely laughed.
The brunch ended up in detailed dinner and both the boys immediately left the house as oon as Colonel Singh arrived.
Harshad burped for nth time as they walked towards their dorm.
"You are gross, Harshad," Manik was disgusted.
"Nothing you haven't heard before," Harshad said while putting his arm around Manik. Their banters filled the deafening silence of the academy as they disappeared in the dark.
_____________________________________
Rishi tightly fastened the rain cover over the camping material which Nandini had put in the trunk. He checked the tyres and then the fuel, everything was good to go. He looked at the lighted house where Daadu could be seen chasing Nandini with a sandwich in his hand. His sister was super excited for the trip. Pups were playing in the garden. He smiled in content.
Nandini brought out a handbag to put it in the seat.
"Promise me you wouldn't drive reckless," Rishi said earnestly and she sighed in defeat.
"Daadu wasn't enough and now you have started," She complained while checking the wipers.
"We are going to miss you," He said and Nandini finally looked at him. She smiled and walked to him for giving him a warm hug.
"You are drama. I am going out for a week only," She said and he frowned.
"Take care of Daadu, please," She said gravely.
Night was young and there was hustle-bustle of its own. Morning was going to bring an adventure for which mountains had waited for a lifetime.
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Unedited*