Behind Closed Doors

Chapter 4

Nandini followed behind Manik inside the haveli, greeting the elders gathered in the drawing room. After they had water, Manik went to their room to freshen up while Nandini washed her hands and walked towards the kitchen to arrange his breakfast.

While she was setting up breakfast in the dining area, Neyonika entered and said, "Tumhare ghar walon ne shaadi toh apni aukat se bahar kardi. Unhe pata nahi hain kya ki damad pehli baar ghar aaye toh len den kiya jata hai? Ya sirf apni beti humare upar thopni phenkni aati hai?"

"Woh–" Nandini started, clearing her throat, not knowing how to respond but stopped as Manik entered the dining area.

"Arey Maa, aaye na. Aap bhi nashta kare," Manik said as he sat on the chair. While Nandini served him, Neyonika replied, "Nahi aap kare. Humne abhi thodi der pehle hi kiya tha. Aapka safar theek raha tha? Ab kaam par jana hai?"

"Ji safar toh theek raha tha. Aur aaj nahi jaare kahi. Itne din se bahar hain, thodi thakan hain. Toh socha aaj hum ghar rahenge," Manik replied.

"Ye toh bohot badiya baat hai. Aaj Suhana bhi aa rahi hai. Usse kehte hai aate waqt aapke man pasand ghevar bhi bana laayegi. Kitne patle hote jaa rahe hain aap," her mother in law said with a smile, referring to the woman she had been planning to get Manik married to. A smart and educated woman with good cooking skills. Nandini didn't even blink an eye at Neyonika's taunt at the end.

Manik hummed. As his mother went out to get her phone, Manik asked Nandini, "Tumne bhi naashta nahi kiya. Aaye, hamare sath kar lijiye."

"Nahi aap kijiye. Hum aapke baad karlenge," Nandini replied.

"Tabiyat kharab ho jaani hain esse hi humare intezaar main khana peena chodd dengi toh," Manik said with a frown. When she didn't budge, he simply signed her to sit on the chair beside him. As she was about to protest, Manik said, "Nandini." His tone screamed not to test his patience and defy him anymore, making her obediently sit.

She tried to bid some time as she served for herself, ignoring the glare thrown by him. When Manik was done with his breakfast, Nandini had hers. Manik got himself busy reading the newspaper until Nandini finished the breakfast.

"Hum thodi der aaram karne jaa rahe hain," Manik told her as he got up while she gathered the used utensils. She nodded. When she was walking towards the kitchen, Manik stopped midstep, making Nandini frown in confusion as she heard him saying to his mother, "Sach, Maa woh gaadi mein kuch saman hain woh kissi se keh kar nikalva lijiye. Nandini ke Maa Baba ne bheja hain."

As soon as Manik went away, Nandini heard Neyonika saying to Manik's chachi, Samta, "Dekhna hain kya bheja hai? Ya sidha daan karde?"

Nandini fisted her trembling hands, wondering what her parents had sent as she heard her mother in law ordering, "Shyam! Zara Thakur Sa ki gaadi se saman toh nikal ke le aao."

While Nandini busied herself in chopping vegetables for Manik's lunch, she felt her breath hitching as she heard, a few minutes later, Samta Chachi exclaiming, "Bhabhi dekhe ye suit aapke liye aaya hai. Silk ka hai aur kitna royal colour hain. Aap bar bohot acha lagega."

"Humne isse kahi guna zyada acha kapda pehne hain. Aaye baaki sab ke gifts dekhe," Neyonika said. Opening up the rest of the gifts, Neyonika was amazed as each gift was good, her determination to criticise dying with every gift. They weren't overly expensive but exuded class. Meanwhile, Nandini was angry at her parents', worried about their financial well being.

She quietly rushed upstairs towards their room, startling Manik, who was about to doze off, as he felt Nandini sitting beside him on the edge of the bed.

"Nandini, kya hua?" Manik enquired hoarsely, blinking open his eyes.

"Aapka phone dijiye. Hume Maa se baat karni hain kuch zaroori," Nandini said, forwarding her open palm in front of him. He dialled her house's landline number, handing it over to her. She walked to the balcony as the telephone rang before her mother picked up, "Hello."