A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 24- The Clash

''Main tum dono se pooch raha hu and ye kyu beech mein bol rahi hai! Humesha mujhse behes karne ki aadat ho gayi iski'' Manik said to Aryaman who asked Nandini to keep quiet until Manik is there. ''Why are you asking her to keep quiet! It's you two who is provoking her. Hum sab ek family hai, not this Nandini'' Manik said. ''Oh hello, mujhe tum theeno ka sibling nahi ban na hai. I'm happy with what I am'' she said. ''Acha guys, tell me this, what can we give return gifts at wedding'' Mukti asked. ''I think we can give cute plants, as and how the plant grow, it will remind them of the wedding'' Nandini said. ''What if someone doesn't water them, Mukti will get hurt if they dry up and die. Symbolically its not something good to gift'' Manik said. ''Koi bhi de do yaar, silver coin, vintage artefacts, idols, dryfruit ki dibbe, kuch bhi'' Aryaman blabbered. ''Nothing is kuch bhi aur koi bhi in my wedding'' Mukti said. ''You and bhai should sit together and brainstorm ideas'' Aryaman said. ''Tum kaha jaa rahe ho?'' Mukti asked. 

''Nandini aaj mujhe stylist ke paas le jaa rahi hai. She is going to design my haldi look, Sangeet outfit and my looks for all other functions. Of course, I'm gonna be your wedding's center of attraction'' Aryaman said. ''Tu aaj jaa raha hai, matlab when are we going Nandini? Mumma papa ka shopping abhi baaki hai, mera aur Abhimanyu ka bhi. And what about Manik?'' Mukti asked. ''Mera koi tension nahi hai, I'll shop for my own self'' Manik declared. ''Har ek event ke liye family ke ek theme hai. So its family coordinated outfits'' Nandini said. ''Aaj tho hum late hone wale hai, first of all we should select a fabric, then 2, 3 designers mein se ek ko select karna hai'' Nandini list hasn't ended. ''Bhai, what's your plan tonight?'' Mukti asked. ''I'm going for a get-together kuch formal types. Kyu tum logo ne phir se kuch plan kiya?'' Manik asked them. Aryaman was about to say something but Nandini pinched him from back and it didn't go unnoticed by Manik.

''Humara kya plan ho sakta hai? Nothing din bar shopping uske baad shaam ko ghar aake dinner khaane ke baad so jaana, that's it, right Mukti'' Aryaman asked. Manik definitely knew that something is fishy but he also knew that he cannot make Mukti or Aryaman say it now. Manik was immersed in his laptop during his working hours as he worked from home. His busy day included few team meetings and a client call. Finally after he logged off from his work. He enquired about Aryaman who wasn't home yet and Mukti is also nowhere to be seen. He suspected Nandini but didn't want to call them. He got ready for Anitha's retirement party and reached her place. Gate was wide open and he saw no one at home. There were few sounds from the terrace, so he went there. ''Manik, right!'' Mohan asked as Manik climbed the stairs. ''Yes sir, glad to meet you again'' Manik wished him.

''Congratulations, Anu said that college has agreed to your proposal'' Mohan said. After speaking to Mohan, Manik looked around only to find Mukti, Abhimanyu, Aryaman along with Nandini and Navya. ''Ye yaha kya kar rahe hai?'' he said to himself but Mohan heard it too. ''Tum inhe jaante ho? they are my daughter's friends'' Mohan said. ''Daughter?'' Manik didn't get a word of what he said. ''Nandini'' Mohan called her and she stood up as soon as he saw Manik there. Mukti and Aryaman's faces fell as they saw Manik. ''Tum yaha?'' Nandini asked seeing him. ''He is Manik, mom said about him na! Orphanage and crowdsourcing, this is him'' Mohan said. ''Dad, he is Manik Malhotra dad'' Nandini said shocked. ''Do you mean that Monster Manik, your client?'' her face flushed as she didn't expect her dad to say that in front of him. ''Main Nandini ko bahut achi tarah se jaanta hu sir, I didn't knew she is your daughter'' Manik said eyeing at Nandini. ''Hi Manik, how are you?'' Anitha greeted him.

''I'm absolutely fine. My brother, sister and even her fiancé is here. Aisa lag raha hai ki humara kisi family event hai'' Manik said to Anitha. ''Oh so you already knew Nandini, this world is a small place indeed'' Anitha said. ''Itna bhi chota nahi hona tha'' Abhimanyu said looking at poor Mukti and Aryaman. ''Can we talk for a minute?'' Manik asked looking at Mukti and Aryaman. ''Kyu bhai! ghar jaane ke baad tho hum bahut fursat se baat kar sakte hai na'' Mukti said. ''Tum ruko, I have to speak to bhai'' Aryaman said taking Manik aside. ''Bhai hume pehle kuch nahi pata tha, aaj subah hi Nandini ne hum theeno ko invite kiya hai party ke liye. We thought it's some cool party but aane ke baad pata chala ki ye tho 80s and 90s walon ke soul party'' Aryaman said in one go. ''So Mukti and you are keeping secrets from me and all this is because of Nandini'' Manik said disappointed. ''No bhai, all because of you!'' Aryaman didn't hesitate.

''Ha, only you don't like Nandini at all. Ghar pe sabke saath gul mil gayi wo. I know humne pehle decide hua ki ye wedding planner ko bhagaana hai but she is so sweet to resist. You know mom dad kitna khush hai iske aane ke baad. Ab wo sirf Abhimanyu ke family ke favorite nahi humara family ka favorite bhi hai. Give her a chance. Be nice to her. I'm sure you'll like her'' Aryaman said. Manik realized how strict he was with Aryaman and Mukti that they chose to lie about Nandini when they were asked. He doesn't knew about Nandini but definitely not going to fall apart from his siblings. He silently nodded yes to whatever Aryaman said. They both came back to others and after some time Anitha had cut the cake and fed Mohan and Nandini. Everyone went to have dinner at the other side of the terrace. There were hardly 50 to 60 members. 

Manik saw Aryaman and Nandini involved in a chit chat at a distance. Why is Aryaman so keen when it comes to Nandini? Manik thought. ''Bhai ghar chalein?'' Mukti asked. ''Ha tum log jao, main ek baar Anitha ji se milke aaunga'' Manik said and went inside. ''Nandu beta, make sure you send everyone out quickly. Main Anitha ke paas rahunga'' Manik heard Mohan saying. ''Anitha ji hai?'' Manik asked. ''Mom is tired, so she went to have rest'' Nandini said. ''I'll just meet her once before leaving, mujhe unse kuch kehna hai'' Manik said. ''Not now, you can talk tomorrow'' Nandini said. ''It's something important and mujhe abhi bolna tha'' Manik really wanted to meet her and Nandini dragged him out of the house. Mukti, Aryaman and Abhimanyu were still there. ''What is this Nandini. Main tho sirf ek baar usse milne jaa raha tha'' Manik asked her. ''No, you won't meet her now. Please ab aap sab log chale jayiye yaha se'' Nandini said. 

''Hum dono ke beech bahut differences hai but you can't do this to me on purpose'' Manik is getting restless. ''Manik, I don't think I owe you an explanation now, please leave'' Nandini joined her hands to plead Manik. ''Nandini, kya hua hai? Bhai ko milne de ek baar aunty se'' Mukti said patting Nandini's back. ''No, maine ek baar mana kiya na. Mom ab kisi se nahi milegi'' Nandini's voice was shaking as she went inside and locked it. ''Dekha kitna badtameez ladki hai wo! Invite karwaake insult bhi kiya hai'' Manik said. ''Manik, there must be something'' Aryaman said.

''And that something is called Nandini Reddy's ego. Such an egoistic lady'' Manik said before leaving from there.