A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 67- First Gift

''Oops'' Nandini's eyes widened but she tried not to laugh. ''I'll go and change'' Manik said as his dress has become wet. Nandini didn't speak anything when he came back. They heard a knock on the door and Manik opened it. ''Sir, what do I cook for lunch?'' cook had asked Manik. ''Why are you asking me this? Mom se puchna chahiye tha'' Manik wondered. ''Nyonika ma'am, Mukti ma'am said they aren't hungry, aap se puchne ke liye kaha tha'' she said. ''Dad?'' Manik asked. ''Shrikant sir has went on some business trip'' she said. ''Agar koi kuch nahi khayega tho hum bhi nahi khayenge'' Manik sent her back. Nandini is disappointed as she is hungry and didn't eat anything since morning. 

Nandini looked at Manik like she would eat him up but then Manik remembered that Nandini hadn't eaten anything. He tried to speak with her but out of hunger Nandini didn't like to speak with him. By the time Aryaman returned home late in the evening, he found that no one has come out of their rooms since he left. He called one of the staff and they said that none has had their lunch. ''Did you at least cook today?'' Aryaman asked as he felt hungry. The cook nodded yes. ''I'm hungry, serve food'' Aryaman felt sad while he ate all alone. He decided to end the fight between the ladies of the house but didn't have the guts to convince his mom. Remembering the consequences between Nandini and Manik, he thought of sending them back to Bangalore as soon as possible. He wanted to check on them but didn't feel like disturbing their privacy. 

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Aryaman heard sounds from the kitchen and thought that the staff had started cooking as early as 6 am in the morning. He followed the noises in the kitchen to find Mukti. ''Tu itni subah subah kitchen mein kar kya rahi hai'' Aryaman wondered seeing Mukti at that time. ''Chai bana rahi hoon'' she said. ''This is not your typical sasural yaha 6 baje uth ke aise shor mat karo, go get some sleep'' Aryaman advised. ''It's not her but its you who is sleep deprived'' Aryaman didn't notice Nyonika who was standing on his backside. ''Mom, I wanted to talk something with you'' Aryaman said as he is determined to break the silence at home. ''Tell me what it is!'' Nyonika said not paying attention to him. ''Aise nahi personally room mein jaake baat karenge'' he insisted her to come to his room. ''Kya hum Mukti se saamne koi secrets nahi share karte hai?'' Nyonika asked him.

''Fine then, Mukti should also listen to this'' Aryaman said. ''Mom, Mukti, I think you won't appreciate this but yesterday both of you behaved like typical mother in law and sister in law. Jo Mukti ke saath unke sasural mein ho raha hai hum yaha bhabhi ke saath wahi kar rahe hai'' Aryaman said and there was sheer silence in the kitchen. Mukti and Nyonika stared at each other and Aryaman felt sorry to say this to his own mom and sister. Just then Nandini entered the kitchen from the other door from garden and said, ''Mukti, I prefer coffee over tea, mujhe chai nahi chahiye'' she said. ''Coffee powder is in the second rack bhabhi'' Mukti said. ''Good morning Aryaman'' Nandini wished him.

''Good morning bhabhi'' he smiled forcefully. ''Tumhe chai chahiye ya coffee? Actually Mukti dono bana rahi hai'' Nandini said. Aryaman felt awkward and excused himself and escaped from there. ''Ye Aryaman ko kya ho gaya?'' Nandini asked Nyonika. ''Leave him, he is really acting strange these days'' Mukti said to Nandini. ''Ghar pe sab ladies ek taraf kaise ho gaye?'' Aryaman asked Manik as he saw him. ''Maa aur Mukti kal raat Nandini ke liye khana leke room mein aaya hai'' Manik said. Aryaman's face became pale. ''Mujhe ye nahi pata tha aur maa Mukti ko ulta seedha bol diya'' Aryaman said with a dull face. ''And why are you sad? Tumhe khush hona chahiye tha na'' Aryaman asked Manik. ''Nandini mom aur Mukti se baat kar rahi hai par mujhse nahi, she is really angry on me'' Manik said. Aryaman gave an I told you already look. Nandini came out in a minute with 2 cups. She handed a cup to Aryaman but for Manik she kept it on the table.

''Maamla sach mein serious hai'' Aryaman said sipping his morning coffee. ''I'm sharing this with you so that you will help me out, taunt karna hai tho tujhe kyu ye sab bataunga'' Manik said. ''Ok, gift her something good and apologize'' Aryaman said. ''Gift? Kaise gift, maine kabhi kuch diya nahi'' Manik said. ''What? You never gifted anything to bhabhi?'' Aryaman asked surprised. ''Don't act like I knew her since years, I don't even know what to gift her'' Manik said. ''You've hurt her and Valentines' day is around the corner, gift her something like diamond'' Aryaman said. He looked at Manik and then spoke, ''Isn't this really too much, agar sorry bolne ke liye diamond diya tho wo baar baar naraaz ho jayegi. Diamond dene ke liye tho occasion bhi hona chahiye na'' Manik said. ''It's your first time that you're gifting something to your wife, it should be special Manik'' Aryaman's face lit up. ''Like what?'' Manik asked confused.