Bade Acche Lagte Hain | MaNan

Fears & Expectations.

"You have a big family from your father's side, Manik." Swastik interrupted their discreet, whimsical battle of teasing spirit and Nandini grew worried knowing his dislike towards the people in question.

"Yes. My father has three siblings." Manik answered shortly.

"So what kind of relation you all share? We never talked about them."

Through the video, Swastik recollected the small, condoned interaction he had with Sampurna and was suddenly concerned for Nandini. He never had to ponder on the other Malhotra's since they were kind of absent in every occasion but now he can atleast know about them in a bit detail from Manik itself.

"Just customary exchange of invitations. Nothing more." He said plainly in a nutshell and hoped for the subject of discussion to end here.

"You don't visit each other's house? They are your first cousins. They are family." Jyoti asked in bewilderment. Bedi's believed in a system of families living together harmoniously and have been following so since years.

"We don't share a bond like that, mother. I was more attached to my maternal grandparents and post my mother's demise, I lived with them and they are the only people I consider as my own."

Manik explained succinctly, with an undercurrent in his voice as his happy memories with his maternal grandfather came rushing back to him. His grandfather had raised him with a positive and a kindred spirit, instilling a foundation and motivation for a happy life by becoming his guiding light when everything seemed meaningless. He was nothing more than an eight year old orphan with deflated spirits after his mother's death and harboured immense rebellious abhorrence towards his father in his heart. His old man had taught him to be happy for himself and liberated him from the curse of hatred. Hatred kills one's own happiness so he expunged the presence of Sampurna Malhotra from his life and chose a path of reconciliation with Prakash, leaving behind the bitterness and accepting him with whatever reverence he could express towards him as his father.

He owed his happy childhood days to the Virani's. He wished his grandfather to not have left the world so soon. Perhaps, education would have been his right too but life had different plans for him. He made a choice and was living with it's consequences.

Much to Manik's satisfaction, Bedi's didn't probe further, understanding that every family has few personal conflicts and matters, that are not up for public discussion. Moreover, they were assured of Sampurna's absence in their daughter's life which relieved them to a greater extent.

The ladies gathered the utensils and made their way to the kitchen for dinner preparation. Looking around perturbedly, Nandini glanced at Manik who smiled at her assuringly releasing her from unnecessary stress and she went away to help the ladies.

Glad and grateful for not being overfed, Manik was almost done with his dinner when Asha asked him for another helping of rabdi. "Thank you bhabhi, but I'm full now." He refused politely and she backed away with an understanding smile.

"Aisa lagta hai aapko aadat nahi itne acche pakwaan khane ki, Manik ji. Yahan khatirdari aise hi hoti hai. Aadat daal lijiye ab aap bhi." Shalini chimed in, wryly, turning the air awkward while hard glares were instantly directed at her to shut her gargantuan mouth.

(It seems you aren't used to having such royal meals, Manik ji. You should now get habitual since this is the way we, Bedi's, treat our guests.)

"I meant in a single meal." White-faced, she defended her stand but it went wasted on Manik. He knew what exactly she meant as he deciphered the blindingly obvious disparaging look on her face. Nonetheless, it didn't infuriate him at all, not because he was used to such comments rather he pitied her for her shallow thinking.