A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 23- New Mission

Anitha was greeted by Manik regularly at the college. She is almost fed up with his daily visits. ''What do you want? I already dismissed your proposal but you're still following me like a maniac'' Anitha gave left and right to Manik even before he could speak. ''Ma'am, its been a week I'm trying to talk to you, do you have an hour to go out with me?'' Manik asked straightaway. ''You're a creep. Where are your manners?'' Anitha freaked out listening him. ''Ma'am, you are taking me wrong. Main aapko kuch dikhana chahta hu. Please'' Manik requested her. Though Anitha is not convinced, she agreed to go with Manik so that he would not disturb her anymore. She took a colleague along with her and shared her live location with one more colleague who is in the college. ''Ma'am, you'll be safe, itne safety precautions ki zarurat nahi hai'' Manik felt embarrassed as Anitha is doubting him.

Manik took Anitha to the orphan age. ''Yaha kyu le aaya hume?'' Anitha asked without getting down. ''This is the place which I am asking your college to sponsor'' Manik said. ''My father is so rich to afford my studies, I'm sure you have children whom you have provided quality education but what about these children who doesn't have parents? Kya aapko kuch responsibility nahi hai'' Manik questioned her and when she was about to speak, he said, ''now you may ask that I can sponsor it myself. Malhotra pharma is already providing everything but world class facilities ke liye sirf Malhotra pharma kaafi nahi hai. Isliye bahut saare companies aur colleges se bhi funding maang raha hu. Is that my mistake?'' Manik asked. ''Mr. Malhotra, do you think it is practically possible? Think from our side too, how would we be able to fund? Aren't you trying to bribe us with the jobs?'' Anitha took her words back after knowing Manik's true intentions. 

''Kuch tho help aap kar sakte hai na'' Manik asked. Anitha looked at her colleague for once and said that she would discuss this with the management. ''Thank you ma'am but bahut der mat karna, I have only one month and then I need to return to my office in Bangalore. Fundraising ke liye ek event type ka plan kiya hai maine to acknowledge all the sponsors, exhibition bhi hoga handicrafts ka jo bhi ye bachchon ne banaya. Isse hume public attention bhi milega, political parties ko bhi hume attract karna hai'' Manik described his strategy to Anitha. ''That's a good one. In fact student volunteers ke through we can reach out to politicians and elite people in the city'' Anitha added. ''Ma'am, you take care of the approval and I'll take care of the event'' Manik managed to convince Anitha.

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One Week later:

''Why are you awake till now mom?'' Manik asked as Nyonika opened the door at 11 pm in the night. ''Tum tho har roz late aa rahe ho? Aisa kya kaam hai Manik'' Nyonika asked. ''Did Mukti and Aryaman sleep?'' Manik asked. ''Ha wo log bhi abhi abhi ghar aaya. My three children kept me awake till now. Come, at least you have dinner'' Nyonika took Manik to dining table. ''They were late! Where were they?'' Manik asked eating. ''Gaye hone kisi party mein. Nandini ne kuch passes le aaya, sab milke gaye'' she said. ''Nandini!'' Manik asked. ''Ha, she gelled up with Mukti and Aryaman like a close friend. Bahut hi proactive hai wo'' Nyonika said to Manik. ''Ha tum aise hi uske gunn gaan karte rehna'' Manik expressed his disinterest as Nandini being friends with Aryaman and Nandini. ''Why do you always have to say something or other about that girl Nandini? Wo bahut hi achi ladki hai'' Nyonika asked. ''She is a head strong girl, maine usse ek help maanga tha, and she denied it mom'' Manik said. ''She denied helping you so you don't like her. Is this it?'' Nyonika tried to put some sense in Manik's head. He had dinner quickly and dismissed talking about Nandini.

''I hope Nandini should be last in the list of things we're going to debate now, so please let me go and sleep'' he hugged Nyonika before going to sleep and retired to his room. Manik felt disturbed at the thought of Nandini being close to his family. He was so occupied with his work that he didn't get to spend time or speak to Mukti or Aryaman. He opened his phone and saw story uploaded by Mukti and Aryaman. Nandini, Navya, Abhimanyu were seen in Mukti and Aryaman's story along with them. They all had been to a concert and seemed to enjoy their fullest. They laughed, cheered and sang songs at the top of their voices amidst the crowd. Manik felt alone and possessive of his siblings. He opened Nandini's chat to message her but he didn't know what to type. As he was too tired, he slept off instantly. And by the time, he woke up it was 5 am in the morning. 

He flickered his eyes trying to be fully awake and took his phone and unlocked. Manik's sleepy self became active as he saw the text message he sent to Nandini. tfhgjuyktfrgvbjhukji, he wrote something in gibberish and on the top of it, he saw 2 blue ticks. ''What if she ask me about it?'' Manik thought for a second. ''Puchne do, I'm not scared of her'' Manik said to himself. Manik had his peaceful morning routine and had his super strong coffee. He went to jogging after almost a week or two. He felt relaxed and by the time he reached Nandini's infectious smile is all over the breakfast table. ''Aunty, did you and uncle had love marriage or arranged marriage?'' she asked Nyonika. ''Mom dad ke arranged marriage hua hai Nandini'' Aryaman said. ''But you both look so much in love'' she said while Nyonika blushed like a new bride. ''Manik bete, come join us'' Shrikant looked at Manik and he joined his family.

''tfhgjuyktfrgvbjhukji'' what does this mean?'' Nandini asked Manik showing her phone after breakfast. ''Woh galti se message type ho gaya hai, just forget it'' Manik said not even looking at her. ''How arrogant!'' Nandini commented. Manik was about to say something to Nandini but his phone rang with Anitha's name on screen. ''Ma'am, good morning. How are you?'' Manik asked Anitha. ''It's a good news, Principal sir ne tumhare proposal ko ha kaha. You can take care of the event, it should be a blast'' Anitha said. '''Wow, that's very good news. It calls for a celebration'' Manik said. ''Celebrations tho ho raha hai mere ghar mein'' Anitha said. ''What?'' Manik asked her moving away from Nandini. ''I'm retiring this week, so I've explained everything to the new professor, they will help you out. Marking this as my last venture in college, I want to invite you to my retirement ceremony at my place'' Anitha invited him. ''I'm glad you've done this before you retire. Thank you so much ma'am'' Manik's happiness knew no bounds.

''Mehendi, Sangeet, Haldi, Reception itne saare functions hai. We've got to speed up things'' Nandini said. ''Aryaman kal raat tum dono iske saath kaha gaye?'' Aryaman and Mukti looked at each other. ''I think you've seen the stories we've updated last night Manik'' Mukti said. ''Ha maine dekha tha, but kyu gaye?'' Manik asked. 

''What's your problem? they went without informing you or they went out with me?'' Nandini asked him straightforward understanding Manik's question was not for them but for her.