A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 69- Little Spicy

''Manik, when are we going back to Bangalore?'' Nandini asked as she woke up. Manik was still feeling sleepy. ''Kyu! I thought you're happy staying here. You used to hate staying alone with me'' Manik said. Nandini looked at her phone. Daksh had messaged her to be ready with the gifts for valentines day. She is worried to reach Bangalore as soon as possible. ''Mukti said ki uski chinta na kare, mujhe bhi yaha koi kaam nahi hai. We'll leave soon'' Manik said. ''Ok, tell everyone that we're leaving to Bangalore then'' Nandini said going to get ready. ''Manik and Bhabhi, you both are lucky to have love in your lives'' Aryaman's words have ringed in Manik's ears. ''Aryaman ne aise kyu kaha? I feel like he is hiding something from me. Jab se hum yaha aaye hai, he isn't normal but trying to act normal. Kuch tho wo chupa rahe hai hum sab se'' Manik had a strong feeling that Aryaman is not fine. ''Nandini, main aaj Aryaman ke saath office ja raha hu, dad bhi yaha nahi hai na'' Manik said. ''Ok, main bhi bore ho rahi hu ghar pe, I'll ask Mukti if we can go out'' Nandini said.

''Cool, you can ask her out, so let me get ready first'' he said trying to go to washroom. ''Main tumse pehle jagi thi, I will go and get ready first'' she said stopping him. ''You are going to just roam on the roads and idhar main office ja raha hu. Technically, mujhe jaldi ready hona chahiye'' Manik reasoned with her. He quickly got inside the washroom and locked it before Nandini could realize. Nandini sat there idle and thought over what Aryaman said last night. ''Aryaman ko lagta hai ki humare beech pyar hai, why does he think me and Manik are in love'' she thought. ''Are we really in love?'' she questioned herself looking into the mirror. ''Me and Manik are poles apart, how can we love each other?'' she said to herself. ''But why do I feel bad if Manik ignores me. Humesha Manik ke sath rehna kyu chahti hu main?'' she is in confusion. Manik came out and looked at a confused Nandini. ''Deep thinking huh?'' he asked her. ''Manik, should I ask you something?'' she asked. 

''Hmm, there must be really something serious bolo'' he said doing his hair. ''I'm confused because I can't choose between the two options'' she said. ''What are your options?'' he asked. ''Yes or No'' she said. ''Ye kaise options hai Nandini, seedha seedha bolo kya hua?'' Manik asked her. ''See, I don't want anything and I don't have any expectations but still I feel like I want it and jo maine expect kiya wo mujhe nahi mil rahi hai'' Nandini tried to put her emotions in her words. Manik took a deep breathe and said, ''hmm, I get it now. This is the height of your boredom, tumhe jaldi kisi kaam mein busy rakhna hai, warna aise hi kuch meaningless baatein share kar rahi ho'' he said and bid her bye. ''Main khud nahi samajti main kya bolne jaa rahi thi, how would you understand'' Nandini got ready and asked Mukti out. ''Nahi bhabhi, I don't feel like going out'' Mukti denied. 

''Mukti, you've not went out since a few weeks, you'll feel good if you go out. Don't say no to her'' Nyonika insisted that they go out. They forced her to get ready. ''Nandini, please Mukti se kuch mat puchna'' Nyonika alarmed Nandini. ''Don't worry maa, I won't make her feel bad anyway'' she promised her. ''Kis baat ki shopping karni hai aaj bhabhi?'' Mukti asked Nandini. ''Its nothing special Mukti. Just feeling bored at home and I'm really feeling low and I don't know why. So I thought what's better than retail therapy'' Nandini said. Mukti smiled at her. ''Do you think retail therapy works!'' she asked. ''Is that you asking me Mukti? I was really astonished when I found out what all you shopped for your wedding'' Nandini said. ''Mere sasural mein isse mera toxic trait kehte hai'' Mukti said. ''Mukti I can understand how low you're feeling right now, but this is just a phase and it will pass'' Nandini said. They reached the mall. Nandini made Mukti walk for about half an hour. ''Bhabhi please decide where and what to buy. I can't aimlessly just walk'' Mukti expressed her concern. 

''Sorry Mukti, main kabhi ye nahi decide kar sakti'' Nandini said. Confusion is the first cousin of Nandini and she can never choose something so easily. ''Mere paas ek idea hai, there's a store in third floor where you can see gifts, books and other stuff. Let's go there and I'll wait and you can figure out what to buy'' Mukti took Nandini to the shop. ''I thought it would be easy for me but ye sab dekh ke mujhe aur bhi confusion ho raha hai'' Nandini said. ''Ye store tho mera aur Abhimanyu ka favorite shop hua karta tha'' Mukti said. ''Valentines' day sale bhi chal raha hai'' Nandini said seeing sale written there. ''I think I should gift something for Manik'' Nandini thought and made Mukti sit when they saw seats nearby. ''I'll wait here till you come'' Mukti said. Nandini came back after sometime and found Mukti missing from the place where she sat earlier. She searched for Mukti around and got out from the store. Nandini tried calling Mukti but heard Abhimanyu's voice. ''Tum itni ziddi kyu ho Mukti'' he asked her. Nandini ran to them to stop them fighting.