A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 77- Quiet Night

''Manik, will you drop me near the park while leaving?'' Nandini asked getting ready along with him. ''Ye jogging karne ki time nahi hai na'' Manik said setting his hair. ''Main aaj Daksh se milne jaa rahi hu'' she said. Manik temper rose as he heard Daksh's name but tried to act calm. ''Tum dono humesha park mein kyu milte?'' he asked. ''I don't know but Daksh always ask me to come there, agar kahi jana ho tho waha se chale jaate'' she said. Manik and Nandini sat in the car and waited for Inaya. ''Nandini kahi jaa rahi ho?'' Inaya asked as she got inside. ''Ha Daksh se milne jaa rahi hu, Manik would just drop me till the park'' Nandini said exchanging glances with Inaya through the rear-view mirror. Inaya understood why Manik is so silent and she doesn't want to make it more complicated for him. ''Ok stop here'' Nandini said getting down. Inaya sat beside  him while Manik was staring at Nandini till she disappeared off his sight. 

''Abhi na jao chhod kar ke dil abi bhara nahi'' played in the audio system of the car and Manik eyed Inaya. ''Sorry'' she quickly said and Manik drove away. ''Hum dono iss waqt office jaa rahe hai tho Daksh park mein kyu hai?'' Manik asked. ''Maybe he took off like the other day'' Inaya said. ''No chance, Daksh won't take leaves so often'' Manik didn't feel contented with her answer but asked her to call Vikas and enquire about Daksh. Having no other option, Inaya called Vikas. ''Did Daksh came to office today?'' she asked putting Vikas on speaker.  ''Daksh abhi nahi aayega na'' Vikas answer made both of them restless. ''Abhi nahi aayega matlab!'' Inaya stressed her words. ''Ah Daksh has changed his shift timings, he will come after 1 pm'' Vikas confirmed. Manik couldn't believe Daksh has changed something for a girl. He felt a volcanic eruption inside him. 

While he was in the office, he was constantly haunted by the thought of Nandini and Daksh together. He stopped himself many times to not call Nandini. He was out of his mind until he saw Daksh in the office again. For the first time ever, Manik felt happy seeing Daksh in office. An unknown urge forced Manik to confront Daksh. ''Suna hai tu ne apne shift change kiya! Why? Office aane mein dar lagta hai'' Manik knew how foolish he sounded. ''What! Mujhe tumhe jawaab dene ki zarurat nahi hai, just let me go'' Daksh said. Generally Daksh would find a chance to argue with Manik but he is in no mood today. ''Daksh, ye project hum dono ke liye important hai, I hope tu isse neglect na kar rahe ho'' Manik said in a warning tone. ''Why are you saying all this to me!'' Daksh wondered. Manik never found ways to target or speak with Daksh. Daksh very well knew Manik is a man of few words. ''Kya chahta hai tu! Kyu mera peeche padh gaya aaj?'' Daksh asked irritated. ''Why did you change your shift timings? Hume client ke shift mein kaam karna hoga and I can't trust you if you are playing fair'' Manik said.

''You are accusing me Manik, shift change is my personal thing and you have no say in that'' Daksh argued but Manik was no less. ''Now that you have asked for a fair game, let's play it your way. Main kal se regular mein aaunga office'' Manik was successful in instigating Daksh and he can be at peace now. Amidst Manik's victorious smiles, he failed to observe Inaya who happened to hear their conversation. ''Were you asking Daksh to go back to his normal regular shift!'' Inaya confronted Manik. He didn't speak. ''Last night you said you would not go in between these so called new friends- Daksh and Nandini'' she asked. ''Inaya leave it'' Manik said in a low voice. ''I can't believe you are playing tricks with Daksh and Nandini'' Inaya said realizing what Manik had done. 

***********************************************************************************************

By the time Manik came home Nandini was busy in a call. She was preparing dinner but didn't talk or acknowledge Manik's arrival. ''If this continues I would lose my importance at home'' Manik thought. He tried to get her attention but Nandini didn't look at him. He waited for the phone call to finish and lingered around her. When she was finally done with the call, he initiated the conversation. ''Kya bana rahi ho?'' he asked her. ''Chapati'' she said. ''Phirse egg curry'' he asked opening the vessels. ''I know only 2 curries to cook, tomato and egg'' she said. Manik smiled and Nandini wondered why he was acting different. ''Kaun tha phone pe'' Manik asked hesitant. ''One of my friends shifted to Bangalore, so she called me'' Nandini said. ''Then we should go to meet her'' Manik suggested her. ''She just shifted today'' Nandini cleared. ''Tho kahi bahar ghoomne chalein?'' he asked her out. ''Manik, is that you who is speaking?'' Nandini asked looking into his eyes.