The Rajputs - Journey

Chapter 29- Sometimes all you need is reassurance

After dinner manik just lay down alone staring at the ceiling as if for once it would start speaking or something. Anay had an emergency call so he had to leave whereas Rihaan, Aarav and Minho decided to have a movie night.

He was still staring when he felt the bed beside him shrink. Abhimanyu pulled Manik's head on his lap and massaged it.

Manik stiffed a little before relaxing himself and closing his eyes.

"Sab thik n mannu ? " Abhimanyu finally broke the silence.

Manik opened his eyes and looked up and just starred for few minutes battling himself before deciding to step back and ask for help.

For 18yrs of his life he played eldest sibling, so asking or seeking for love, attention or help feels illigal somehow. But now it started feeling less suffocating like being cured, loved and cared.

"Aapko kaise pata chal jata hai baba ? " Manik asked with a faint smile.

" Jabse studio se aaya hai, tabse muh bana ke baitha hai...kya hua mannu? Kisine kuch bola kya ? " Abhimanyu asked. Being very well aware of toxic environment in entertainment industry.

" Mujhe koi kuch kyu hi bolega baba ? " Manik replied with a chuckle on his baba's protectiveness towards him.

" Tab? " Abhimanyu asked.

" Baba ? Aapko lagta hai ye singing ya singer banna ho payega mujhse ??" Manik asked.

" Ofc.. ho payega... Mera baccha hai hi itna talented" Abhimanyu says.

" Mujhe nhi lag raha baba... First album release Kiya tha, abhi sab start hi hua tha ki ye sab ho gaya ....syd ye mere liye nhi hai " Manik said expressing his fear.

"Mannu... bacche ek manzil tak pahuchne mein bohot problems face karte hain. Kabhi roads kharab hoti hain, kabhi khaali hoti hain, aur kabhi akela chalna padta hai.

Lekin iska matlab yeh nahi hota ki hum manzil par jaana hi chhod dein, right?

Aur Mannu, tu toh mera sabse strong baccha hai na? Tujhe sirf apna 100% dena hai. Agar fir bhi kuch galat ho gaya, toh hum hain na, baba sab sambhaal lenge..." Abhimanyu reassured him.

" Aur tujhe kis chiz ki chinta hai jaan ? Tu bus isme aapna 100 persent de ager kisidin man bhar gya tuh kud ki company hai...tu kud ek tech genius hai ... Mannu bacche options bahut hai tu tension n le " Abhimanyu said.

That reassurance , that was needed. Much needed, I guess.
Sometimes you are not sure if you're doing things right or wrong,
and you need someone to assure you that you are right.
And if not, then it's fine to fail sometimes and they are there for you even if you fail.

" Chal ab akhne band kar aur so ja " Abhimanyu says still massaging his hair.

Within 10mins Manik drifted off to sleep due to exhaustion from the day. Abhimanyu laid him down correctly till Akshara enters and smile looking at Manik who was asleep with a cute smile and holding his own thumb.

" Kitna pyara lagta hai muskurate hue, najar n lage " Akshara says.

" Hmm.. pure din tarsha mai iski ye muskan dekhne " Abhimanyu' says.

" Maa bhi bol rahi thi ki ukda ukda sa lag ha hai ...kisbaat ki tention thi? Baat tuh lag raha hai ki hai aapne ? " She asked.

" Hm..." Then Abhimanyu told her what he talked to Manik.

" Accha hua aapne bata diya...isse ye janana jaruri hai ki seeking reassurence or help won't make him weak." Akshara says.

" Aaj aap yahi so jaiye, mai un teeno saitano ke pass jaati hu..nhi tuh puri raat films hi dekhte rahenge" She says before leaving and Abhimanyu layed down beside Manik.