A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 50- The Other Side

As sunrays hit her face, Nandini wanted to pull the duvet on her face again. She tossed on the bed but heard a knock on the door. She lazily got up and looked around. ''Where am I?'' she thought and opened the door. ''Good morning'' Aryaman said. ''Madam ko bolo ki aaj coffee nahi milegi, hurry up Nandini, get ready! Sab log neeche jaa rahe hai'' Manik asked her to rush. ''Kyu kis liye!'' Nandini asked. ''Bhogi celebrations in the apartment, hurry up'' Manik said. ''Main kab so gayi?'' Nandini asked Manik and Aryaman who were busy. ''That's not important, go get ready'' Aryaman said. Nandini came out exactly after 10 minutes. ''Thank god, you're on time. Chalo'' Aryaman said. ''When did you both wake up?'' she asked. ''4 o clock'' Aryaman said. ''I'm sorry that I slept last night, mujhe yaad hi nahi hai'' Nandini said. Manik pulled Nandini near him with her dupatta and Aryaman took stairs to go down. ''We will go by lift'' Manik said. Droplets of water are still dripping from the loose strands of her hair. ''Ache se baal sukaana'' Manik said. ''But you were asking to hurry up, so didn't get time to dry them'' she said.

He then took his handkerchief and pressed her hair. ''Better!'' he asked. ''No, I'll dry them and then I should straighten up my hair. Aise press mat karo'' Nandini said. They went near the bhogi fire and prayed. ''Don't go anywhere just stick around'' Manik said to Nandini. ''Main koi bachchi nahi hu ok'' she said. Manik then caught hold of her dupatta and tied it to his left hand. ''Ye tum kya kar rahe ho?'' Nandini wanted to take her dupatta back but he didn't let her win. They both walked together, sat and stood together until they went back home. ''Mujhe pareshan karne ka ek mauka bhi nahi chodega na!'' she murmured. ''I'm not bothering you, I'm just making sure you are fine'' Manik said. ''Why isn't Inaya around you today?'' Nandini asked. ''So gayi hogi tumhari tarah'' Manik said. ''Why did you made me sleep in your room?'' Nandini asked. ''Don't worry both of us slept near the TV unit'' Manik confirmed. 

''Adding old things to this fire, signifies burning all the negative energy and brings positivity in your life'' Manik said. ''Well in that case, I should put Inaya in it'' Nandini said. ''You really don't like her na'' Manik asked. ''We hate each other, feelings are mutual'' Nandini glared at him. They went back home and Nandini announced that she will make payasam. "Are you sure you want to make it! Anyway I'm making Kheer" Manik said. "Kheer and payasam are almost same, I can make it" she said confidently. "Ok, let me help you then" Manik said. "Can I have your laptop?" she asked. "Payasam with laptop!?" Manik asked stunned. "No, I'm gonna call mom for the recipe" she said. "That means this is the first time you are going to cook this one" he said. "No, I can't let you spoil my kitchen and definitely not my stomach" Manik said but she insisted.

"Hi amma, I want your payasam recipe. The one you make on every festival" Nandini asked. "Arre, let's just wish first. Happy Bhogi" Anitha said over the video call. "Hi aunty, happy Bhogi and Makar Sankranti too" Manik said standing beside Nandini. "Hi Manik, same to you too and Happy Lohri" Anitha said. "Where's uncle, wo dikh nahi raha hai" Manik asked. "See, he is having his breakfast" Anitha said showing Mohan. "Hi bacho, happy Bhogi and Manik, happy Lohri" Mohan joined them. "Mom, I've but the milk to boil, recipe batado" she asked. "What's this aunty! I thought Nandini knew how to cook but it turned out the other way around" Manik said. "When her mom is too good at cooking you should know that none of us at home put effort to learn how to cook" Mohan said.

"Put cleaned and soaked rice in boiling milk and let it cook for some time" Anitha said. "Meanwhile, make jaggery syrup and then pour it in milk and rice mixture" she said. Nandini mentally made a note of it. "Add cardamom and a pinch of camphor for flavor" Anitha concluded. "Anitha, whenever you're free make a recipe book for Nandini. That'll be of great help to her" Mohan suggested. "Why! I can always call amma for any recipe at any day and any time na" Nandini said. "Yeah, but Nandu, you should seriously consider learning it. You can't completely depend on Manik for food" Anitha said. "Ok bye beta, cook it and send the photo once its done" Mohan said. "Bye Nanna, bye amma" Nandini said. "Bye uncle aunty" Manik said and they hung up. Manik helped Nandini in making payasam. He made syrup cutting the jaggery into pieces and she cooked rice with milk.