Tangled Beliefs

Chapter-19: Manik's Inner Turmoil

Sometimes, the toughest battles are the ones we fight within ourselves.

Manik’s POV,

I reached home later than usual, the day's weight was still pressing heavily on my shoulders. Stepping into the house, the faint aroma of Mom’s cooking wafted through the air, a small comfort in an otherwise chaotic day. I spotted my parents at the dining table, waiting for me as always.

“Manik, you’re late,” my father remarked, his tone calm.

“Work, Dad,” I replied, sliding into my chair. “It’s always work.”

Mom looked at me with a gentle smile, her eyes filled with both love and concern. “That’s why we keep telling you to balance your life, beta. You can’t just bury yourself in the office.”

I didn’t respond immediately, focusing instead on the food in front of me. I was too tired to argue, and besides, I knew exactly where this conversation was headed. My parents had been hinting at “settling down” for weeks now.

Halfway through dinner, Dad cleared his throat, the sound sharp enough to pull me out of my thoughts. “Manik, there’s something we need to discuss after dinner.”

I paused, my fork hovering mid-air. “Everything okay, Dad?”

“Yes, yes,” he said, waving his hand dismissively. “Nothing to worry about. We’ll talk once we’re done eating.”

I nodded, my curiosity piqued but not enough to press further. I finished my meal in silence, all the while feeling my parents exchange glances every now and then. Something was definitely up.

After dinner, the three of us moved to the living room. I leaned back on the couch, while my parents settled across from me. The tension in the air was palpable, and I couldn’t help but feel like I was about to be ambushed.

“Alright, Dad,” I said, breaking the silence. “What’s going on? Everything fine, right?”

Before Dad could answer, Mom placed a calming hand on his arm and spoke instead. “Relax, Manik. There’s no need to be so worked up.”

Her words only made me more uneasy. “Mom,” I said, my tone wary, “I am calm. Just tell me what’s going on.”

Dad finally took a deep breath and said, “We have to go somewhere tomorrow.”

“Where?” I asked, frowning.

“To see a girl for your marriage,” Mom replied casually as if she’d just told me we were going grocery shopping.

“Oh, okay,” I muttered absentmindedly, nodding. My brain took a second to process what she’d just said. And then it hit me. Wait. What?!

I shot up from the couch, my voice a mix of shock and disbelief. “What?! You’re kidding, right?”

Before they could respond, I heard another loud “What?!” echoing from behind me. Turning around, I saw Mukti, Alya, Cabir, and Dhruv standing there, all grinning like they’d just walked into the juiciest gossip of their lives.

“What the hell is going on here?” I demanded, my voice rising as my friends barged in uninvited, as usual.

Cabir smirked, leaning against the doorway. “Manik Malhotra is getting married and didn’t even bother to tell us. Tch, tch. Such betrayal.”

“I—what—no!” I stammered, running a hand through my hair in frustration. “Even I’m just finding out about this right now!”

Alya crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. “So, it’s true? You’re meeting someone tomorrow?”