A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 38- Family Circus

"After January it is the sankranti month for us, we can't have a wedding until April then'' Anitha said worried. ''Ha but Manik ke office se call aaya and they are asking him to report on 2nd January'' Nyonika said as Manik discussed this with her. ''What have you done?'' Nandini murmured to Manik. ''You're so busy in crying, and if you have any time left after that, then we can talk'' Manik whispered to her. ''Ok then, wedding arrangements ke liye humare paas April tak time hai'' Shrikant said. Mohan and Anitha looked at each other and nodded yes. Nandini and Manik then exchanged garlands and they're engaged now. Everyone congratulated the newly engaged couple. ''And now its time for dawat ka khaana'' Aryaman said and Anitha called everyone for lunch. 

Manik has kept himself busy while having lunch while Nandini kept stealing glances at him. ''Kya hua Nandini? You're not eating!'' Aryaman asked Nandini. ''Ha'' Nandini formally replied. ''I don't feel like I know you before Nandini'' Aryaman said. ''Why would you say that?'' Nandini asked. ''You and Manik aur ye sab?'' Aryaman asked. ''Ye sab kuch itna jaldi ho raha hai na!'' Nandini said. ''I've told you everything about my life but you!'' Aryaman said. ''How could I tell you when I don't know myself!'' Nandini said. ''Suddenly Manik ne propose kiya and I had to agree'' Nandini innocently said not knowing Aryaman was pulling her leg. ''Relax, Nandini! Or I should call you Nandini bhabhi from now'' Aryaman said. Nandini is looking around for Manik to talk to him. ''Lagta hai tumhari aankhen Manik ko dhoond raha hai, I will send him out'' Aryaman teased her but she was not in mood. ''Ok, I'll wait outside'' she said simply. 

''Manik'' Nandini anxiously said pulling his hand. ''Aryaman said you are waiting for me here'' Manik said. ''Thank you so much for doing this'' Nandini said with gratitude. ''No need of thanking me, it's the need of the hour for me as well'' Manik said casually. ''I'm sorry, I shouldn't have spoke rudely with you yesterday'' Nandini apologized. ''I could only stop this wedding for a few months not after that, please remember this'' Manik said. ''Yes, aage ka kuch sochna hoga. Our parents will definitely get us married'' Nandini fell into her thoughts. ''I cannot convince you in any way but I guarantee you that I would never ever touch you without your consent'' Manik said. ''I'm really sorry for what I said. I trust you Manik'' Nandini said. Manik had mixed emotions every time Nandini confesses that she trusts him. He simply smiled to acknowledged her apology. ''Mere ghar walon se zara bachke rehna, they're not so easy as you thought'' Manik mentioned it so that she will be careful. 

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''Aryaman, ye Manik subah subah kaha jaa raha hai'' Abhimanyu asked as he saw Manik ready to go out. ''Mujhe kya pata!'' Aryaman said. ''It's just 9 in the morning and he is supposed to login by now. Isn't he working from home?'' Abhimanyu enquired again. ''Even you are supposed to login by now I guess'' Aryaman reminded. ''Arre I've already logged in, bas breakfast break pe hu'' Abhimanyu said. ''Tum aur Mukti, tumhare ghar nahi jayenge. Are you both planning to stay here forever?'' Aryaman asked. ''Mummy papa chaardaam yatra ke liye gaya and Mukti wants to spend time with her family. So your jiju has a big heart and I agreed to be a good son-in-law'' Abhimanyu boasted about himself. ''Instead of Mukti, you're always hanging out with me these days. No wonder Nandini and Navya thought we're a couple'' Aryaman said. ''Wo sab chodo, jaake apne bhai se poocho ki wo kaha jaa raha hai'' Abhimanyu said but both of them were unaware that Manik was standing at their back.

''Even I wanted to be a good son-in-law Abhimanyu. Main Nandini ke ghar jaa raha hu, to work from their home'' Manik said. ''Then, it shouldn't be just WFH, it should be WFWH, work from wife's home'' Aryaman said. ''Hum dono at least work tho kar rahe hai, you aren't even going to office, why?'' Abhimanyu asked and Aryaman's facial expression changed. ''I can monitor everything from home'' Aryaman said. Manik knew there is something wrong with Aryaman and wanted to know what's bothering his brother. Manik went to Nandini's place upon Anitha's invitation. ''Good morning aunty'' he wished Anitha. ''Aunty kya, hum dono tumhare parents-in-law banne wale hai Manik'' Mohan came along. ''Ma'am and sir se aunty, uncle ka transition hi mere liye bahut ajeeb hai. I think it will take time'' Manik said. ''Koi baat nahi. Did you have breakfast?'' Anitha asked and Nandini came out of her room. 

''Hi Nandini, good morning'' Manik wished her and she smiled instantly. ''Good morning'' Nandini was confused to see Manik at her home in the morning. ''Is everything well'' she wanted to make sure that nothing is wrong. ''Anitha aunty ne hi mujhe invite kiya'' Manik said reading her face. ''Nandu, Manik is our son-in-law, can't we invite him home?'' Anitha said. ''Of course amma'' Nandini replied. ''We've just invited Manik to know more about him. Now that he's going to be a part of our family, he too can know about us'' Mohan explained. ''Come, I'm serving breakfast'' Anitha said and setup the table for breakfast. ''So, what's for breakfast?'' Mohan asked excited. ''Poori and chicken curry'' Anitha said. Manik looked at her when she said that. ''Tumhe puri chicken combination pasand nahi hai" she asked. ''No, breakfast mein itna heavy khaana!'' Manik asked to confirm. 

''3-4 puris se kya hoga, it's not about calorie count everyday. Anitha cooks delicious recipes by the way'' Mohan hinted. ''3-4 puris, no. All I can have is 2'' Manik said. Anitha served puris for everyone. Manik passed the chicken curry to Nandini. ''No, no. I don't eat non-veg'' Nandini suddenly took her plate aside. ''What?'' Manik asked surprised. ''Ghar mein sirf hum dono non-veg khaate hai, Nandini is a pure vegetarian'' Anitha said. ''Interesting, I never knew Nandini is a pure vegetarian type'' Manik said. ''See, we can discuss so many things like this. Both of you will get to know about each other'' Mohan said. Manik could see Mohan sweating even though it is not so hot. ''Uncle, are you okay?'' Manik asked Mohan who zoned out. ''Uh, oh I'm fine. Manik, can I ask you something?'' he asked. ''Of course uncle'' Manik said. ''Is it too necessary for you to rejoin office on January 2nd?'' Mohan asked finally. Nandini and Manik stopped munching on their puris. ''Ha nanna, Manik already informed me that he should report to office. He said that they are going to take up a new project'' Nandini lied instantly. ''Ha uncle, mujhe office jaana hi hoga. My presence is very important for my new project'' Manik picked up Nandini's pace. 

''MR, why are you asking him this again! We've decided to get them married in April'' Anitha said. ''Ha, I was just asking him casually'' Mohan tried to divert the topic and spoke about random sports and politics. ''Lunch mein kya banau?'' Anitha asked Manik. ''I don't think I'll be here till lunch aunty'' Manik politely turned her down. ''But, I've called you to spend a whole day with us'' Anitha said in a serious tone which is a shocker for Manik. ''Anu, he must be having some work, don't force him to stay'' Mohan spoke before Manik or Anitha reacted. ''I'm not forcing him, MR. I just want to know his tastes, about what he will eat'' Anitha asked. ''Aap jo banayenge main wo khaa loonga but I'm allergic to sea food'' Manik said. Nandini stayed silent all the while. She wants to speak to Manik alone. After the breakfast, Nandini took him to her room. 

''Wow, your room is so aesthetic. I must say your mom and dad had great taste to buy this house'' he said looking around her room. ''I'm worried Manik. Why is dad asking you about office rejoining'' Nandini looked tensed. He made her sit on the bed and he kneeled in front of her. ''I will stick to my words, I promise neither me nor my family will prepone the wedding'' Manik said. ''Your dad was just trying his luck, chuck it'' Manik said. ''By the way, when did mom invite you home?'' Nandini said. ''Last night, aunty called me and invited home. It was after 11 o clock in the night'' Manik said and Nandini thought about Anitha. That is so unusual of Anitha to call someone at night. She usually sleeps by 9 pm at night and hardly wake up after 7 in the morning due to the medicines she take. ''Is something wrong?'' Manik asked. ''Nothing'' she said with a smile ignoring her thoughts. ''Mom is planning a Christmas party at home Nandini'' Manik said. ''Oh, that's great'' Nandini exclaimed. 

''But be careful, this is less of a Christmas but will be more of bahu introducing party to her friends. Our engagement was a low-key ceremony but she will never go with that minimalistic mindset'' Manik warned Nandini in advance. ''Is it something to be worried about?'' Nandini asked. ''Yes, they will ask you many questions aur hum wo saare sawalon ke jawab same dena chahiye. My answers and your answers should match'' Manik explained. ''But why all of this?'' Nandini asked. ''You don't know my family Nandini. You're too innocent for them'' Manik said cooking something in his head. Nandini had her head hanging low. Manik cleared his throat. 

''My family loves you Nandini but they want to make sure that we really love each other'' Manik surely knows his family better than anyone.