Chapter 8 Part 7

A week later:

It has been a week to the night when manik got to know abt nandini's baby nd in this whole week nandini has become a little comfortable with manik though she couldnt mixed up with him fully bt still luckily she hadnt even pushed manik....on other hand manik everyday used to come orphanage for lunch nd then in evening to spend little time with nandini...

Today also Manik came at exact 12:30 as it was lunch tym nd get settled with girls...he sat on floor beside muskan....yss,THE MANIK MALHOTRA who probably had never sat on ground nd who has enjoyed all the luxuries in his lyf,sat on floor jst for a girl,his girl...Nandini knowing that what status manik has nd still he sits on floor giving her little security that he may b not a cruel or wrong person she had dealt with till now in her whole lyf...

Manik sat with girls nd muskan in his lap...yss this was another thing which had progressed...manik has been favourite bhaiya for all little angels of orphanage nd manik also loves all of them bt still Muskan is his favourite may b bcoz she is the one who gives him all updates of nandini's everyday routine....

{Muskan:a 7 nd half year girl lives in aashtha orphanage....notorious girl with innocence in her eyes....she can win anyone's heart with jst one beautiful smile of hers'...shares a beautiful bond with manik nd calls him 'bhaiyu'....she was left at orphanage gate by her parents with a note that they cant afford to raise her up nd they r abandoning her when she was jst 3 days old....she knows that her parents has left her nd soo she dont remember or mourn on them...gives manik every information on nandini's everyday activity in his absence nd soo she is personal informer of him...manik also loves her a lot...}

Manik:*laughingly*achaa phir aapne kya kiya??usse mara??

Muskan:*pout*nahi phil nanni didi ne utha diya mele ko...(nahi phir nandini didi ne utha diya mere ko)

Manik:*smiles*koi baat nahi nxt tym woh jab aapke dreams mein aaye tab uss dragon ko aap maar dena...

Muskan:*smiles widely*yeshhhh!!!*...

Nandini came nd served them nd seeing the dish muskan immediately scrunch her nose nd hide her face in manik's neck making him frown-

Manik:*to nandini*isse kya hua??

Nandini:*smiles a little*usse bengan nahi pasand...

Manik:*making ohh face murmers*pasand toh mujhe bhi nahi hai...

Nandini:*slowly*aap ne kuch kaha??

Manik:*frantically*nahi..nahi..mein bss bol raha tha k mein isse khila dunga..u dont worry...

Nandini jst nod blankly nd went ahead to serve other girls when manik started making muskan eat pampering her nd he also ate little not to upset nandini though he hate brinjals to core...

Post lunch:

It was the routine that after lunch nandini take all girls to garden in orphanage itself to digest their food nd soo today also after lunch,nandini took them in garden while manik everyday head back to his office...

Currently nandini is sitting on bench monitoring girls playing around when a figure came nd sat beside her which she dont need to look for recognising as now she can feel him whenever he comes around her...

Manik:u love kids??

Nandini jst smiled sadly...till now manik has told her everything abt him,his family,his friends,his profession nd continuously trying that nandini also open up to him bt to his dismay nandini is still nothing bt a mystery for him....also the question of her baby has jst disturbed manik a lot...he want to know that what exactly happened with her...

Manik was gonna say something when he got call flashing 'cabir'...he picked up call only to listen his oh-not-so beautiful voice rather curses...

Cabir:*furiously*saale kidhar hai tu??

Manik:*frown*bahar hoon lekin tu chilla kyu raha hai??

Cabir:*teasingly*thodi der k liye meri bhabhi ko aaram karne de aur golden plaza hotel pein aaja mere bhai...meeting hai aadhe ghante mein SEHGAL GROUP OF COMPANIES k saath..

Manik:ohh damn...i m sry cabir mein bss 15 min mein pahuchta hoon....it really slipped out of my mind...chal byee i will b there soon...

He disconnected call nd looked at nandini who was looking at him with frown-

Manik:*appologetically*i m soo sry nandini i need to leave...i have a meeting....

Nandini jst nodded her head positively before whispering 'bye'

Manik:*rubbing his nape*umm nandini can i request u one thing??

Nandini nod her head in yes with frown-

Manik:umm nxt week one of my friend's wife's bday is there nd she has invited u also soo if u can...u know only if u can come...*immediately*see its no force..its only if u wanna come...

Nandini:*looking down whispers meekly*bt how can i come?i toh dont even know her..

Manik:*immediately*bt she know u...

Nandini looked up at him with frown to which manik said-

Manik:i mean u r my friend naa soo i told them abt u soo my all friends know u the way u know my friends..

Nandini nodded nd said-

Nandini:btt i m sry i cant come..

Manik:*smiles sadly*its ok..i understand...

Looking him sad unknowingly pinched her heart bt still she was not much comfortable with manik nd she also dont trust him fully soo she said noo to go with him in party...

Manik sadly bid byee to her nd all other girls nd went for the meeting leaving a confused nd perplexed nandini behind...after a short tym nandini also took all girls inside for rest nd went into her room...

Nandini's room:

Nandini's POV:

Y do i feel connected to him??

Y do i feel safe when he is around??that day when i came into his embrace,i feel peace...i forgot abt my pain....today when he asked nd i denied,he become sad bt i didnt like it...i didnt like him being sad....should i go wid him?? bt is he r8 person???no no no...no nandini u cant trust him...every person r jst same...what if he will also hurt me lyk others...what if he will also think me a curse when he will learn my past?no i cant trust anyone...i cant get more hurt...i can't let anyone break me more...i cant let anyone interude the wall i have made around myself from last 2 long years...yss i wont let him affect me....

End of pov-

Her trance was broken by mother who was passing by her room nd saw her sitting all lost nd she guessed that somewhere she is thinking abt manik only nd soo she came to talk to her...

Mother:*caressing nandini's hair*what r u thinking my child...

Nandini who was in deep thought first got startled with mother's sudden intervantion bt then relaxed a little nd gave a small faint smile..

Nandini:nothing mother...bss aise hi...

Mother:*sitting beside her*i want to give u a little advice...

Nandini looked at her in frown while mother continued-

Mother:god always takes ur test before giving u life time happiness....dont judge people soo early child...sometyms after a bad tym,god sends an angel to lighten ur dark lyf...i know u r still in dilema to trust him bt trust me dr i have seen care for u in his eyes...every person is not bad in this world...give him a chance my child..may b this tym u get ur destination to happy lyf...may b this tym u get a final way leading to the happily ever after...ok??

Nandini nodded meekly while mother went away caressing her head once nd giving her much needed privacy...

Nandini's pov:

Kya mother joh keh rahi hai woh sach hai?should i trust him??is he a trust worthy person??i have seen a soft nd caring emotions in his eyes...should i go wid him?bt what iff he will hurt me lyk others did??aaiyappa plzz show me correct path...

In evening:

Manik came home nd saw his friends nd his mother already present there...he happily went to them nd sat beside his mother leaning his head on her shoulder while closing his eyes with a little tiring smile...

Nyonika:*caressing his hair*haay mera bacha bahut thak gaya hai??

Cabir:*teasing him*thak hi jaayega naa aunty...apni laila ko manaane k liye majnu sahab harroj lunch tym par waha jaate hai aur phir wapas aakar kaam karta hai...ab itni bhag-doood karega toh thak hi jaayega naa..

Nyonika:*excitedly*haay tu milne gaya tha aaj usse??kya bola usne??kaisi hai woh??aur yeh bata tu ghar kab laa raha hai mujhse milwane...

Manik:*nodding his head on her excitment*maa pehle meri toh baat ban-ne doo uske saath phir aapse milaunga naa...kitna over excited hoo jaate hoo aap...

Nyonika:*twitching her lips*haan toh jab tere bache honge tab pata chalega tujhe k kitni fikar hoti hai mujhe teri...tere doston k bache bhi aa gaye aur tu abhi tak kuwara hai...*dramatically*haaye kab mere naseeb jagenge aur kab mein bhi apne pota-poti ko apne godh mein leke khilaungi...

Cabir:*laughingly*arey aunty pehle iske bache ki maa ko toh maan jaane doo phir iske bache honge naa..

With this all laughed loudly while manik sulked glaring cabir for making his fun...

Manik:*coming to cabir*saale aaj tu bhukha hi jaayega yahan se kyunki mein apne ghar ka ek daana bhi nahi dunga tujhe khane ko...ab hass aur hass..jitn hasna hai utna hass...aur navya khabardaar joh tumne bhi isse ghar par khana diya toh mein tumhari bday party mein nahi aaunga...

Navya:*glaring cabir*tum fikar mat karo...aaj hum bhi dekhte hai k kaise isse khana milta hai...

Cabir looked at both of them in horror before saying-

Cabir:*to navya*kaisi biwi hoo tum...apne hi pati ko bhukha rakhogi...

Navya:haan toh tumne hamare bhai ka majak udaya toh bhugto...

Manik:very gud navya....waise rudra aur mishit kahan hai??

Mukti:bahar garden mein butler k saath khel rahe hai...

Manik:oh ok...f9 i will come freshning up phir dinner kar lete hai...

All nodded nd soo he went up to get fresh...after he got fresh,he came down nd all followed him at dining table...

(sitting arrangement:nyonika on head chair..to her right

->manik-mukti-mishit-abhi-dhruv...to her left->cabir- navya-aaliya-rudra...)

Manik:*to cabir*tujhe bola tha naa k aaj tujhe khana nahi milega...

Cabir:*joining his hands in front of him*maaf karde mere bhai..aaj k baad tere saath koi majak nahi karunga lekin mera khana mujhse mat chiin...

All nodded at their nautanki nd started eating while manik also smirked at cabir who twisted his lips...

Mishit:chachu mummy bol rahi thi aap chachi laoge..aap kab laoge??

Listening him manik choked his food while others suppressed their laugh...

Manik:*gritting his teeth nd glaring mukti*aap ki mumma pagal hoo gai hai...unhe mental asylum ki jarurat hai...

Others jst chuckled nd mishit pout in confusion while mukti glared him hard which obviously didnt affected him...after dinner all were sitting in living room talking while nyonika had already left for her room bidding good night nd both rudra nd mishit were already asleep soo they were also made sleep in their rooms nd now only youngers were sitted...

Navya:*excitedly*manik nandini bhi aayegi naa party mein??

Manik immediately recalled their talk in afternoon nd then said-

Manik:*sadly*i m sry navya..i asked her bt still she is not that much free wid me to come along...

Aaliya:haan lekin manik hum toh wahan jaa hi sakte hai naa usse milne??u know jabse tumne hume bataya hai naa uske baare mein,tabse i m toh soo much excited to see her...

Manik:aaliya plz abhi nahi...let her atleast adjust wid me first then i will surely make u guys also met u all...

mukti:pakka naa??

Manik:gaan baba pakka...

Navya:*pout*par manik ek baar phir usse puchna plzz...hame aur baby dono ko usse milna hai...

Manik:*smiles*i will ask her tomorrow again..happy??

Navya smiles widely making everyone smile...

Manik:chalo guys lets go to bed...i m dead tired...kal meeting bhi hai yrr...

Dhruv:haan bhai chalo gn...

Everyone wished each other a warm good night nd dispersed to thier respective rooms...

Nxt morning:

Manik woke up at 6 nd left for his regular jogging....at 8 he came back nd after having his juice he went to get ready...after getting ready nd having breakfast,he alongwith cabir left for malhotra industries...

In afternoon he again came nd had lunch with all after which he came nd sat with nandini in garden...this tym surprisingly its nandini who initiate the talk-

Nandini:*looking at little girls*dont u have to go for ur office?

Manik:*faking sadness*kyu??dont u want me to b here??

Nandini looked at him blankly before turning her gaze back to little girls making him sigh audibly...

Manik:waise i know i have already asked u bt kya tum aa sakti hoo meri friend ki wife k bday mein?

Nandini looked at him blankly while he continued-

Manik:woh actually yesterday she asked me that whether u r coming or not nd when i said that u r not coming toh she become dishearten nd told me to ask u again...actually my all friends wants to meet u plus navya i mean the one whose bday is there,she is pregnant nd soo i didnt deny her wish of meeting u...

Nandini looked at him to find any lie bt she find only truth nd then she remembered mother's yesterday advice...

Nandini:*frown*bt i dont know anyone...how can i come there...

Manik:*smiles lightly*lekin tum unse milogi nahi toh kaise jaanogi nd they know u nd they really want to meet u bt still its only ur choice that matters soo if u r not comfortable then its okay..*with hope*soo u r coming??

Nandini looked at him for a minute before nodding her head slightly in yss making him smile widely...

Manik:*happily asking*soo u r coming r8??

Nandini again bob her head slightly with tiny-winny smile making him smile more widely if possible...

Manik:*taking her both palms in his*thank u soo much nandini for trusting me...

Nandini looked at her hand which were in his hand nd thats when manik noticed that he was holding her hand nd soo he left her hand immediately nd said-

Manik:*giving nervous smile*i m sry..woh actually u said yss naa soo i jst got over excited...

Nandini:*blankly*i m not trusting u...its jst ur friend's wife is pregnant nd she has requested cutely soo i dont want to break her heart....

Though manik was sad bt somewhere he knew that may b he is the only reason y she said yess nd he was more than happy as she was already accopaning her...

Manik:her bday is day after tomorrow...i will come to pick u up at 7 in evening...is it ok with u??

Nandini jst nod her head in yss slightly making him also nod in understanding...

Nandini:*getting up*i have to take them back in orphanage...

Manik:*getting up*yeah i will also leave..i have meeting...

Nandini nodded her head nd manik gave her a small smile before going....nandini kept looking at his retraiting figure untill he disappear leaving her in her thoughts...

After this nandini also took all girls in the orphanage nd going into room she laid down on bed thinking abt manik...

Nandini:*self-thought*y i always feel gud when he is around....kya kal mother ne joh bola woh sach hai??kya sach mein aaiyappa ne finally mere liye usse as an angel bheja hai??lekin agar usne bhi mujhe chod diya mera past jaan-ne k baad toh??have i done r8 by agreeing for going wid him for party??am i too early in trusting him??nd morever y he wants to b friend of a girl lyk me??mein hi kyu??he is soo famous nd he can make many friends,phir mein hi kyu??aaiyappa i hope iss baar i m trusting r8 person...

Evening:

As it was friday night,it was their rule to do jamming nd soo it was aaliya's place scheduled this tym....manik went at her place at 8 in evening to see all sitting nd having drinks nd talking...

Manik:hello guys...

Aaliya:hii manik...want a drink??

Manik nod his head in yss before sitting beside mukti nd taking her in a side-hug...

Manik:soo kya baatein chal rahi thi??

Cabir:kuch nahi bss casual talks...tu bata..

Aaliya passed him a glass of drink which he took nd said-

Manik:*taking a sip*well it is a gud news for u soon-to-be-mumma...

Navya:*excitedly*let me guess....nandini ne party mein aane k liye haa bol diya naa??

Manik smiled widely before bobbing his head making girls to squel in happiness nd boys to smile warmly...

Aaliya:*excitedly*finally we r meeting her warna u toh didnt even show us her pic...

Manik:i m sure u gonna love her...she is jst delicate nd fragile like a doll...

Mukti:*teasingly*mannn!!!!u r wiped completely...

Manik blushed a little bt luckily it went unnoticed by all...after this they all talked for a while nd then all slept in their respective rooms at aaliya's place only....

Next day:

Today manik hadnt visited orphanage at lunch tym due to an urgent meeting which did sadden nandini a little as it has been her routine to serve lunch nd to sit with them listening manik nd muskan's cute cute talks...

After lunch nandini took the girls to garden nd she was as usual sitting on bench monitoring girls when a guy came-

Man:madam yahan nandini kon hai??

Nandini:*frown*jii mein hoon...par aap??

Man:*giving her a box*madam mujhe manik sir ne bheja hai aur aapko yeh dene ko bola hai...

Nandini:*frown*yeh kya hai??

Man:sry ma'am woh toh nahi pata...sir ne bss yeh aapko dene ko bola hai..

Nandini:lekin aap kon hai??

Man:ma'am mein manik sir ka driver hoon...

Nandini:*giving box back*dekhiye mein yeh nahi lee sakti aise...plzz aap yeh unhe wapas kar dijiyega...

Man:i m sry ma'am but sir ne strictly bola hai k mein aapko yeh de doon aur agar wapas kare toh bhi mein yeh naa loon...i m sry....thank u...

Nd saying this he left from there without wsiting for her answer confusing her...

Nandini looked at the box keenly nd then turned to girls nd took them inside....

Nandini's room:

Nandini was sitting on bed looking at box in hesitation which was kept in front of her...she was confused that whether she should see what is inside or not...finally agreeing to her heart she decided of opening the box...she took a deep breath nd opened the box to see a beautiful dress covered in plastic with a note....she took out the dress nd opened it to have a look nd she was jst mermerised with its beauty... She carefully kept the dress aside nd then took out the note nd read it-

Note:-

First of all i m soo sry that i cant able to come today for lunch there as i was stuck in a meeting....now coming to this dress then this is a small token of THANK U from my side for agreeing for coming to the party as it made my all friends very happy including me...I would love if u will wear this dress for tomorrow's party bt only if u want to....i hope u loved the gift nd will come tomorrow evening to pick u up....

- MANIK.

Nd for first tym a smile came on nandini's face reading thr note obviously reason unknown to her also...

Nandini's pov:

Aaiyappa what is happening??all of sudden he comes into my lyf nd makes me experience many things at a same tym...that day i feel secure in his arms...then it hurt me seeing him sad...then today also when he didnt came for lunch,i felt bad nd now this-this dress nd gift nd note is making me smile though i want to ignore it...what is happening to me aaiyappa??y i m feeling releived wid him...y my heart wants to b wid him....aaiyappa plzz iss baar mera bharosa mat tutne dena...aaj tak meine jisse bhi apnaa maana aur unn par yakeen kiya,unn sab ne mujhe dhoka diya hai...sab ne mujhe zinda hii maar diyaa hai...lekin plzz iss baar mein unn par yakeen kar rahi hoon toh mera yakeen naa tute...plzz aaiyappa....

With this thought,she closed her eyes...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Soo after a long tym,a new update of this story...

Do tell me whether u liked it or not...

I wrote this story after a long tym nd missed the track nd soo dont know what exactly crap i have written...

To know more stay tuned wid me...

-yana.