A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 46- Bangalore Days

Nandini is taken aback as she heard someone screaming. ''Happy New Year Inaya'' Manik hugged her with a pleasant smile. ''Itna late kyu hua?'' Inaya beamed happily. ''I had to come by road'' Manik replied. ''Pathetic roads, how did you even thought of coming on road'' Inaya asked. Nandini felt like an alien amidst them. She cleared her throat to gain attention from them. Manik looked at Nandini and introduced her to Inaya. ''She is Nandini'' Manik said. ''Who?'' Inaya elaborated. ''She is...'' Manik paused for a moment but quickly composed himself. ''She is Abhimanyu's cousin'' Manik said and it was Nandini's turn to get shocked. Her eyes widened in shock. ''Why didn't you make it to Mukti's wedding?'' Manik soon diverted his attention towards Inaya again and this surprised Nandini. ''Yeh yaha kya kar rahi hai tumhare saath'' Inaya asked. ''She is here on some work, she will be staying for some time'' Manik opened the door and kept his luggage inside. 

''And you?'' Nandini asked Inaya. ''Nandini, she is Inaya. My landlord'' Manik said. ''And?'' Inaya was expecting Manik to speak further. ''My neighbor too'' Manik said looking at Nandini. ''And'' Inaya stressed her words. ''My colleague and good friend too'' he smiled at Inaya. ''And?'' Nandini asked but Manik and Inaya ignored her. ''Ok, you must be tired, go and have rest'' Inaya said before leaving and vanished into a flat next-door. Nandini entered inside with her luggage. ''And?'' she continued asking him about Inaya. ''And kya? I've told you about Inaya'' Manik said. ''Is she just your friend?'' she asked. ''Ha'' he said. ''Or your friend with....'' Manik understood what she was going to ask and cut her off. ''If she is that kind of friend, she will be living with me here in this flat and you wouldn't be standing here now'' Manik cleared. ''Why did you tell her that I'm Abhimanyu's cousin'' Nandini asked. ''Because she knew my family and close friends. That's the only option I could find'' Manik said. It made sense to Nandini. 

''However you will leave in a day or two, so I don't want this to complicate any further'' Manik said before going to his room. She nodded. ''You can stay in that room'' he said and closed the door behind her. Nandini went to the room and opened windows. The room was dusty and she cleaned only the bed to sleep for now. She quickly messaged Navya. ''Hi Navya, I had come to Bengaluru with Manik. Pls check on amma, nanna tomorrow'' she typed. She hoped everything is fine with them. She drifted to sleep in some time. Amidst hustles & bustles and horns & honks, Nandini woke up with a lazy vibe and found that she has lots of time. She got up and saw out of window. Nandini looked at herself in mirror and then searched frantically. Under the sheets, under the bed, in her luggage and everywhere in the room. She then heard a knock on her door and opened it to see Manik. He entered the room and found the room extremely messy. 

''Did something happened last night?'' he asked with a concern. ''Not in the night, morning'' she said but it didn't make any sense to Manik. ''I'm leaving for office'' Manik said. Nandini looked worried. ''Don't worry, I ordered groceries and will be delivered in an hour. Maid is on leave, Inaya will figure out something. If you need anything call watchman, his number is on fridge. Bye'' Manik said and made exit from there. Nandini felt all alone at home. She got freshen up and Navya called her. ''Navya, did you go home to see amma, nanna?'' Nandini asked excited. ''How did you land up in Bengaluru all of a sudden?'' Navya asked. ''It's a long story, I was left with no option than coming here. Anyway I'm planning to return there'' Nandini said. ''No, no. Don't come back now'' Navya said. ''Why? What about my parents?'' Nandini asked. 

''They are happy Nandini. They think that you're happy with Manik there. If you come back now, don't know what is in store'' Navya said. ''Then what's the solution? How do I live with Manik? This Manik is very weird Navya. It feels like I don't know him at all. You know, he ordered groceries and veggies in the morning. Noodles, bread, jam, sauce, cool drinks, inme se kuch bhi nahi mangwaya'' Nandini complained. ''Maybe Manik doesn't like junk food'' Navya said. ''He seems to be a fitness freak Navya'' Nandini pouted. She came out of her room and saw a messy home. ''I guess I have to clean this now'' Nandini started dusting and cleaned the house. Did laundry and dishes. She waited for Manik all day along after completing her work.

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''And that's my presentation'' Manik concluded with a smile in board room. ''Impressive Manik'' the room filled with claps but a pair of eyes were laid on Manik. ''That was brilliant'' Inaya complimented Manik. ''Thanks, thanks to everyone'' Manik chirped happily. ''Itne din office nahi aaye ho tho, I thought you will be out of this project'' Inaya said. ''How would I let this slip away Inaya? Mere liye na sahi tho uske liye'' Manik said with sarcasm. ''Par wo hai kaha'' Inaya searched for him. ''Inaya, it's usual for him. Mere success dekh ke tho kahi bhaag gaya hoga'' Manik said. ''Can't he be nice to you for just some time, aise investors ke saamne se!'' Inaya said. ''Congratulations Manik, the project is ours. Let's work on it and make it a grand success'' CEO has congratulated Manik on his presentation. ''Thank you sir'' Manik beamed with happiness. 

''Iss project ke completion ki dead lines sirf 9 months hai. So, nurture your baby and deliver it on time'' CEO said. ''Sure sir'' Manik smiled and CEO left from there. ''Kitna bakwas comparison tha! Are you pregnant or what! Nurture your baby in 9 months and deliver it'' Inaya mimicked the CEO. ''Leave it'' Manik chucked him. ''Acha tell me something, why is Abhimanyu's cousin here?'' Inaya asked. ''Uh, she is here on some work. She will leave soon'' Manik replied. And after a hectic day at work, he retired home along with Inaya and rang the door bell. Nandini opened it. ''Hi'' she said seeing Manik. She thought Manik would be impressed seeing the house clean and tidy but Manik never seemed to look at it. He straightly went into his room and got freshened up without saying a word. ''How was your day?'' Nandini asked Manik. ''Good'' Manik's reply was short. He went to kitchen to have food. He did not find anything to eat. 

''Didn't you cook for me?'' he asked. ''No'' Nandini replied. ''Ah, I'm starving. But it's okay, I can make for myself'' Manik thought it was insane to ask Nandini if she has cooked for him. ''Mere liye bi banana please'' Nandini asked with a pout. ''Didn't you had dinner?'' he asked. ''Sirf dinner nahi, lunch bhi nahi kiya'' she said sadly. ''Why? groceries nahi aaya?'' Manik asked. ''They are delivered but I didn't knew how to cook'' Nandini admitted. ''You should have Googled something or at least order from outside'' Manik said. ''I placed an order but couldn't confirm this address, so the order got cancelled and I tried cooking a curry, but it turned out so bad'' Nandini said. ''Didn't you eat anything since morning?'' he asked. ''I had coffee'' she said. He checked the milk packets and there weren't any left in the fridge. ''1 liter of coffee?'' he was shocked. ''I was famished'' she said. Manik quickly made Idlis for both of them. They ate in silence and Nandini felt like she is eating after an eternity.

''I thought you know cooking'' Manik said. ''Amma is a great cook, I never learnt cooking because of her'' Nandini said. She stood up to keep the plate in the sink and that's when Manik saw that she even removed her toe rings. There were no signs of their marriage on Nandini. Neither Mangalsutra, Sindoor, Bangles nor the toe rings. ''Manik, I can't go back to Hyderabad now, even if I go I eventually have to come back here. So, I was thinking that I'll shift to a PG nearby. What do you say?'' Nandini asked. 

''Do whatever you wish Nandini, who am I to interfere in your life'' Manik put his plate in the sink and banged the door on her face before going to his room.