A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 70- Together Forever!!

''You know aaj promise day hai and I'm happy that Abhimanyu has promised Mukti to stay by her side forever'' Nandini said to Manik. ''I can't believe Mukti had forgiven him so easily'' Abhimanyu said. ''Every girl would want her husband to be by her side, especially in these times'' Nandini said casually. ''These times matlab, what time you're talking about'' Manik asked. ''How would Manik hear all the wrong things I said, Mukti would kill me if I tell him now'' she thought and get worried. ''Kya time hai bolo'' Manik shook her hand to tell him. ''I mean this is Valentines' week and Mukti loves Abhimanyu, how can they both be alone!'' Nandini tried her best to hide it from him. ''Abhimanyu isn't a bad guy but a man who can never take a stand for his woman'' Manik said. ''Don't worry he will soon learn to take all responsibilities soon'' Nandini said. ''Come let's have dinner'' Nandini said to him. He nodded and Nandini went down to setup the dining table.

''Maine Shrikant ko bataya ki Abhimanyu ghar aa gaya, he will be here by tomorrow morning'' Nyonika announced. ''Wow, that's great'' Nandini said. ''Mukti, we need to talk. Let's meet after dinner, in my room'' Manik said before Mukti eat. Both Abhimanyu and Mukti looked at Nandini who is serving Manik. Nandini looked at their worried faces and spat out, ''I didn't say anything to Manik''. ''Nandini, did you want to say something?'' Manik asked. ''Manik, please let everyone eat in peace and why are you scaring Nandini! Look at her face'' Nyonika stopped Manik. ''Nandini, you sit with us and have dinner'' Nyonika said. After dinner, Mukti went to Manik as he asked her to meet while Aryaman and Abhimanyu stopped Nandini. ''Kaha ja rahi ho Nandini! Manik wants to speak to Mukti in person, tumhe andar jaane ki permission nahi milegi'' Abhimanyu said and took her out in the garden. Abhimanyu and Aryaman sat in the moon light to have desserts. Nandini laughed looking at their dreamy date like setup.

''Hass kyu rahi ho?'' Abhimanyu asked. ''It's not just Mukti and you who missed each other lagta hai Aryaman ne bhi tumhe bahut miss kiya hai'' Nandini said. ''Of course, bava ko maine bhi miss kiya hai. Do you want to have some?'' Aryaman said offering her ice cream. ''I would love to but dinner ke baad ice cream will feel heavy'' she said. ''I like it how she exactly sounds like Manik in disguise'' Abhimanyu said. ''Why do you always make it look like Manik is scary'' Nandini asked. ''Accept it Nandini, you are also scared of Manik'' Abhimanyu provoked her, ''but how dare you both to disappear to your room and romance each other!'' he added. ''Aryaman, maine ye expect nahi kiya tumse'' Nandini said to Aryaman. ''I didn't tell him everything I saw bhabhi'' Aryaman said. ''Hmm, acting as scared in front of us and getting cozy on our back'' Abhimanyu is fixed on teasing her. ''Ye sab chodo just think of a plan to let everyone know about Mukti's pregnancy'' Aryaman said. 

''You know about it?'' Nandini asked Aryaman. ''Jaise hi mujhe Mukti ki reports mili, I've called Aryaman and told him everything'' Abhimanyu said. ''And then you told him that we were going to a mall'' Nandini asked Aryaman. ''Bhabhi, I was trying to help him to get Mukti back in his life'' Aryaman said. ''How will I know if Aryaman doesn't help me! Ek taraf Mukti and doosri taraf both of our parents. To add to my worries, Manik came back from Bangalore. Acha hua ki Mukti ne itne din Manik se baat karna postpone kar rahi thi'' Abhimanyu said. ''I feel you bro, Mukti will make Manik understand, don't worry'' Aryaman said. Nandini smiled looking at them. ''If not for Mukti, you guys have good chemistry'' she commented. ''Ha your friend Navya was right, if I was a gay, I would have married Aryaman. If Mukti doesn't exist in real life, I would have married him'' Abhimanyu said. ''Thank you! I know you more than your wife does'' Aryaman said. ''And I think both of you share the same pagalpan. Today Abhimanyu had also forgot where he parked his car!'' Nandini said. ''Bava, I told you to take a photo in your phone so that you don't forget, it happens many times'' Aryaman said. ''I took a photo but it was blur'' Abhimanyu said. 

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"Mukti, are you really fine with Abhimanyu being here" Manik asked her. "Yes Manik, I already told you not to worry about me" Mukti said. "How can I not worry about you" Manik had a doubt that everyone was lying to him or hiding something from him. ''Abhimanyu is not a bad guy but he can't speak against his mom'' Mukti said. ''How are you going to handle a mumma's boy then'' Manik asked. ''Please Manik, har couple ke beech aise chote chote jagde hote rahenge, that doesn't mean I hate Abhimanyu, I want to give him another chance'' Mukti said trying to convince Manik. She came out from there leaving Manik midway. By the time Manik came down he saw Nandini going to Nyonika's room and followed her. 

Aryaman interrupted him and asked what is he up to? ''Kya keh raha hai Abhimanyu'' Manik asked. ''Wo aaya hai Mukti ke liye, mujhse kya kahega'' Aryaman said. ''I know tum uske team mein ho, tabhi Abhimanyu ke against kuch nahi bol raha tha itne dino se'' Manik said. Manik stood just outside of Nyonika's room and peeped in. ''Keeping an eye on mom and bhabhi, too bad!'' Aryaman said. ''Tu chup kar, I didn't want to disturb their moment that's it'' Manik said. As Manik and Aryaman peeped inside, they saw Nyonika getting a box from her cupboard and gave it to Nandini. ''Nandini, ye sab main tumhare liye le aayi hu. See these necklace sets, this one, I have bought to surprise my bahu on muh dikhayi, par tumhara muh dikhayi kiya hi nahi. Ye diamond wala necklace aur bangles set hai, I've taken same pieces for Mukti and you. These bangles meri sasu maa ne mujhe diya, main eklauti bahu thi par athayya ne kaha ki ye dono ghar ki badi bahu yani ki Manik ki biwi ko milna chahiye. Ye tho humare ghar ke parampara hai, these are 90 years old'' Nyonika looked excited when she explained the back story of each jewelry set she bought.

''Ab se ye sab tumhare hai, itne dinon se Mukti ki tension hai, thank god Abhimanyu ab aa gaya. Ye sab tumhare wajhe se hi hua'' Nyonika said happily. Manik is worried about Nandini's reaction now. He surely knew that she is looking overwhelmed. ''Sorry maa, par main ye nahi le sakti'' Nandini denied politely. He knew that she isn't interested in his money. ''I bought these only for you Nandini, why are you hesitating to take them'' Nyonika asked him. ''Manik would also not like it if I take these maa, usse bhi acha nahi lagega'' Nandini tried to reason with Nyonika. ''Kyu! Manik iss ghar ka beta hai, tu iss ghar ki badi bahu hai, ye sab humare pyar aur ashirwad hai Nandini, mana mat karna'' Nyonika said with a tinge of disappointment. ''Manik is your son but he doesn't consider himself as a heir to this property or ancestral wealth. Ye jo bhi hai Aryaman aur uske biwi ke liye hi hai'' Nandini said. 

''Tum iss galat fehmi mein mat rehna Nandini. Mere liye mere theeno bachcho same hai. Do you know Manik ki net worth 250 Cr hai'' Nyonika said in frustration. Nandini could feel the rising tension in Nyonika and stood up to explain her. ''Maa, Manik ki net worth 250 crore hona koi badi baat nahi hai, that's not what he earned but taking the decision to leave behind those 250 crore makes his net worth priceless. Har koi paise ke peeche baagta hi hai, but Manik is made different, uske liye money doesn't matter, it's the people around him. Wo khud ke pairon mein khada hone seekha hai. Wife ko better half kehte hai and how can I take all these from you being his wife'' she said. Manik felt a sense of relief after she heard him. He never knew how much she respects him. He always saw Nandini as an easy going playful girl but couldn't understand the depth in her. From the very moment, he admired her. ''But Nandini'' Nyonika was about to speak but Nandini interrupted him. ''Rahi baat Aryaman ki, if Manik is able to go behind his passion that's because Aryaman took family responsibility. Akele itna bada family legacy lead kar raha hai. Jo bhi usse shaadi karega, she deserves all this honour here. Jab Aryaman ki biwi iss ghar mein aayegi, mujhe Mukti ke saath aur ek behen milegi maa'' Nandini's words gave solace to Nyonika but she isn't convinced enough.

''Aryaman ki biwi ko ye sab bhi milega, tum aur Manik mere liye paraye hai kya'' Nyonika said with tears in her eyes. ''Even Manik talk to me like this, he was never there when I needed him. Kabhi boarding school, kabhi distant college, fancy abroad universities and ab job ke naam pe Bangalore mein rehna. Manik was my first child but I never got my fair chance as his mom'' she cried. Manik couldn't see his mom cry because of him and he ran to her to hug. ''Maa, ab iss waqt emotional baatein nahi karte, please stop mom. Wherever I am, I'll always be your son. Tumhara bada beta. I left behind the wealth not my parents or family. I will and always be only your son'' Manik said wiping her tears. ''Dekho Nandini kuch nahi le rahi hai'' she said to Manik in a complaining tone. ''We heard it all mom, I hate to accept but bhabhi is right'' Aryaman said. ''Exactly, but don't worry, main ye bangles Nandini ke liye le raha hu'' Manik said taking the bangles which his grand mother gave it to his mom. He turned towards Nandini and said, ''This is not a piece of jewelry Nandini, dadi ki memory samajke rakh lena'' he said. Nandini hesitated to take but Manik took her hand and made her wear them.

And in the moment, when his eyes met hers, Nandini wished if they could live together forever.