MaNan: Trust?

36

Manik was in his cabin discussing the next project with his team when his phone rang disturbing them.

"Take a tea break and come back in the next 10 minutes.", He told them.

He picked the call and put it to his ear,

"Hello aunty."

"How did you know it's me?"

"Truecaller.", He shrugged making her chuckle at her own silliness.

"Okay so how about dinner tonight?"

"Aunty you don't have to take so much trouble."

"Remind me to smack your head once you are here."

"Fine I'll be there.", He said amused at her words.

"Come a little early. This time you will sit with me while I cook dinner for you."

"Okay.", He said slowly.

"I can ask Nandini to go out till you are here, if her presence will make you uncomfortable.", She told him making him sigh.

"No... Aunty that's her house. And you are her Mom. Don't make her feel unloved because of someone else."

He knew that pain, the pain of your own parents giving more importance to others. He would never want anyone to go through that.

She clutched the phone tightly in her hand.

God will never forgive her daughter for hurting him so badly.

"Just come soon Manik. Bye.", She cut the call not being able to stop her tears.

"What did she do.", She cried holding the phone to her chest as her husband took her in his arms from the side.

************************

Manik was sitting with Nandini's mother telling her what all he achieved in all these years. She was listening to him keenly while preparing dinner for the night. Nandini was sitting in the living room hugging her father. She didn't wanted to disturb their reunion by going inside the kitchen.

She doesn't remember her mother sharing such bond with any of her friends. Whenever they would come over, she would order food and leave to her room after laying the table. It was obvious Manik is her favourite child amongst all. May be she loved him even more than her.

"What happened?", Her father asked dropping a kiss over her head.

"I don't know."

She said snuggling in his arms. Her relationship with her parents had improved a lot over these years. Even though they didn't meet regularly but they were in constant touch with each other. Nandini could now easily go to them crying about her problems without any sort of awkwardness in between.

"We can go out if you want. We'll come back at dinner time."

She nodded in a no making him sigh.

"Come on get up, we'll get ice-cream for us."

"No I don't like to have ice cream anymore."

"What? Why? Are you on some stupid diet?"

"Memories.", She said slowly and he kind of  understood without any further details.

"He is here now."

"He is here for Mom. I'm not blaming him, but I can't do it."

"So you are going to wallow in self pity and guilt without doing anything about it?"

She looked at him surprised.

"Come, let's go get ice-cream.", He pulled her from the couch.

"I'll tell them and come atleast.", She pulled back and walked towards the kitchen.