A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 44- Alvida Na Kehna

''When I go back matlab, yaha hu tho phir annoy kyu karti ho'' Manik asked. ''I love annoying you'' Nandini said. ''Wo tho dikh raha hai mujhe bhi'' Manik said. ''These 2 months flew away just like that, kabhi socha nahi ki main tumse shaadi karungi'' Nandini said. Fireworks sparkled in the sky. ''Happy new year'' Nandini wished first. ''This is indeed going to be a new year'' Manik said. They chatted over random things for the whole night. ''Shit! Time is already 5:30'' Nandini said looking at her phone. ''Hume neeche jaana hoga'' Manik said. Both of them tip toed towards Nandini's room without getting caught. They entered the room. ''Thank god no one saw us'' Nandini said. Manik had finally hit the bed. ''Feeling sleepy?'' Nandini asked. ''Ha, I can't go without proper sleep'' Manik said. She put a blanket over him and asked him to sleep on her bed. ''Thank you'' he said. ''I'll go and get freshen up'' Nandini said. ''Abhi!'' Manik asked. ''Ha, today is New Year so mom will wake up early'' Nandini said.

Nandini went for bath while Manik slept instantly. Nandini tip toed from bathroom into her room. She made sure that Manik was in deep slumber. Droplets from her hair fell on Manik and unintentionally he opened eyes. Nandini wore a white kurta and she still had droplets of water on her body. She didn't notice him as she was busy in drying her hair with towel. The tinkling sound of her bangles was no less than tranquil music for him. She had put bindi on forehead and suddenly looked at Manik. It was a narrow escape for him as he managed to close eyes almost in a jiffy. He then opened slightly and saw from the corner of eyes as she applied kumkum vermillion in her center hair partition and to the mangalsutra. Manik couldn't help but smile at her antics. She still stood in front of mirror without doing anything. Manik looked at her curiously to see what she might be doing next.

Just then, he heard someone knocking on the door. ''Shit'' he whispered. Nandini opened the door and it was Anitha. Manik couldn't see her but he knew its her as he heard her voice. ''You woke up already?'' Anitha asked surprised. ''Ha had my bath and got ready too'' Nandini said. ''Where is Manik? What is he doing?'' Anitha asked and tried to peep inside. Manik pretend to sleep when Anitha looked at him. ''Mom, he is sleeping and it's not good manners to peep inside like this'' Nandini said. ''So now you're going to teach me good manners?'' Anitha said. ''If you forgot then I'll have to teach you'' Nandini said. ''Are you both happy together?'' she asked. Nandini paused a second and said, ''he said he will have to leave for Bangalore tonight'' Nandini said. ''Don't feel bad, he will come again soon'' Anitha patted Nandini's back. Nandini nodded and Anitha asked her to come out quickly. 

''Does Nandini really want me to stay back?'' Manik thought. After few minutes, Nandini went out of her room and Manik dozed off. He slept for good 3 hours and woke up around 9 am. Sun rays fell on him as he took off the blanket. ''It was so much fun aunty'' he heard Mukti's voice and looked out of window. Mukti, Anitha, Nyonika were seen doing a rangoli. Nandini was nowhere to be seen. His eyes searched for her but of no use. Disappointed, he turned around to see Nandini in front of him. ''Main tumhe uthane aayi thi, you woke up'' Nandini said giving him coffee. ''Just now'' he said and she cleaned up her bed. ''Jaldi neeche aa jaana, everyone is waiting for you'' she said and was about to leave. ''Nandini'' Manik stopped her. ''What happened! do you need something?'' she asked. He walked closer to her and said, ''yaha pe colour lag gaya hai'' he said showing her neck. ''Oh'' she said and looked in mirror. She tried to wipe the colour with her dupatta but couldn't remove it.

She took out a pack of wet wipes and he offered to help. ''Wait, I can clean it'' he said. He smelt the sweet fragrance of her perfume but as far as he has seen, she didn't wear any. He cleaned her neck and she went off quickly. Like she cast a spell on him, he followed her but she didn't notice him. ''Mujhe bolna nahi chahiye Manik ab tum iss ghar ke damaad ho but it's not decent to roam in vests in your sasural, that too the next day of your wedding'' Abhimanyu said to an absent minded Manik. ''Look at me, I'm always well dressed at your place'' Abhimanyu boasted about himself. ''Suhaag raat ke costume mein baahar aa gaye?'' Mukti teased him. ''I don't have my clothes in that room'' Manik said and went for a shower to avoid embarrassing himself any further. He had a quick non-veg breakfast with Dosa and chicken and fish curry. ''Feeling very heavy aunty. Please agle baar se itna tasty khaana mat banana'' Manik pleaded Anitha. ''Sure'' she smiled. ''Main ye saare car mein rakh doonga'' Mohan said showing few boxes.