Bade Acche Lagte Hain | MaNan

Changing Dynamics.

3rd December, 1995.

"Father, medicines." Nandini reminded Prakash about his morning dose twice but he paid no heed to her words as he was totally engrossed in setting a radio channel of his choice.

She smiled watching him behaving no less than a kid. Truly said, old age is just a reflection of your childhood and in Prakash's case he was making the best use of his new found toy, a Panasonic fm radio-cassette player gifted by the Dayal family to the couple. Manik made several attempts to deny the gift from Mr. Dayal but one look from Parminder, the boy knew to shut up. That lady had some affect on her husband and Nandini was assured it was a positive one.

When they showed the gadget to the two men of the house, surprisingly the happiest and most excited one was Prakash. It hadn't been a minute he had kept that thing away until Manik had to put his foot down and snatch it away for it was too late at night and he didn't want the neighbours or the landlord to complain about the buzzing of the music or the news but his father just refused to understand. Though the landlady was a kind one, they didn't want to take any advantage of their leniency.

It seemed as if Manik was scolding a five year old kid who stomped away to his room but was back to his bright mood the next morning to play his favourite songs. Nandini wondered who was the father here but she caught a glimpse of a smile threatening to form on Manik's lips. That one smile told her that Manik wanted Prakash back in his life not like a responsibility but as his father.

She couldn't overlook the way Manik purposely troubled Prakash by changing the channels and Prakash would scold him away and Manik would laugh to add fuel to his fire.

What none knew was Prakash loved getting troubled by his son. It felt like a déjà vu when little Manik used to trouble him. It was a lost memory now but he wanted to treasure this one. He wasn't sure if Manik would ever behave like this with him again. It might have happened in a flow and when realisation will wash over his son, he would retrieve back. It has always been like this.

Nandini was able to sense her father-in-law's emotions to a certain extent, the way he gazed at Manik longingly. Earlier she had no idea about the rift between the two but now when the mist was somewhat clear, she understood Prakash had to go at larger lengths to get back his son but what she could conclude was Prakash never tried to take a step ahead. He was satisfied with whatever Manik was offering him which just meant whatever she heard about Prakash from Virani family was correct, he was a very laid back person and never strived to make any efforts to change things. She hoped him to realise his mistakes before time.

More than for Prakash, she wanted this for Manik. Her man deserved his father's love as in some corner of his heart Manik craved for that love and care, the love which only a father can give, the love he knew he can never get but that doesn't mean he didn't crave for it and he definitely deserved it.

From where Nandini witnessed the entire interaction her husband looked happy getting scolded. It should surprise her but she felt overwhelmed, so much so that she prayed to see this scene everyday. Manik felt as a child and she knew he wanted to be one. A man like her husband deserved all the happiness in this world.

"Nandini, mere kapde nikal dijiye." She heard Manik's request and realised the time. She was late and hurried up to take out his clothes. Mistakenly a black diary fell down near her foot, scattering few papers out of it. Assembling everything she placed it back but a design on an envelope caught her attention. She checked the envelope peeping out of that diary and it didn't take another minute to recognize the document. The stamp of Delhi's post office made it very clear.

(Nandini, please take out my clothes.)

She knew what was inside that envelope and she opened it. Her mind warned her against it but her heart desired to see what she heard from Manik. By looking in his eyes Nandini had realised that he had read her letter and the creases of the folds on the paper just indicated the frequency.