KAISE BATAAOON TUMHE...

I CANT HATE DEAD....ITS NOT WORTH IT.

As she completed the incident, Manik and Aryaman had eyes closed and anger flooding through them.

Arya - I hate him so much, Nandu. Is he even human??

Manik - good for him ki voh marr gaya varna mein usse itni aasaan maut toh nahi deta. Bloody b*****d.

Nandini - marr gaya?? Kon..Kon marr gaya??

Manik - (angry)pandit Nandini.. (chukled) that b*****d is dead. He died today.

Nandini - (upset) oh god. How did...how he died??

Manik - (confused) you should be happy he is dead.

Nandini - no Manik. Usne kitna bhi bura kiya ho. But he doesnt deserve to die. Haa, I admit ki sometimes i really want him dead. But i never imagined him dead like this. He maybe a bad person and i hated him but now he is dead. I no longer hate him. I can only pray for his soul.

Manik - (angry) are you crazy?? Nandini remember what he did to you?? How can you just....not hate him?? Stop being a saint Nandini. He deseves your hatered. He deserves you to be happy that he's dead. C'mon are you being serious??

Nandini - I can't hate the dead... its not worth it. He died now. I am happy he would no longer be able to haunt me any more and he's gone. But I just wish he would have chose the right way and wouldnt have died. Just realised his crime and would be in jail.

Manik - you need rest. Deemag pe chot lagi hai n. Take rest.

He left the place and to his car ignoring Aryaman's call. He banged his fist on the car in frustration. Aryaman who reacged behind him put a hand on his shoulder.

Arya - relax. She is not being a saint.

Manik - tu harr baar uski vakalat karne kyu aa jaata hai. Yun bhi teri nazar me toh i am the criminal. I am toxic for her. Then why the hell do you wanna talk to me.

Arya - Manik, i am sorry. Really. Sorry. I shouldnt have said all that. But i couldnt help it. I was very angry at you. At pandit. That i lost control. I am sorry.

Manik - (sighed) sorry. I didnt mean to snap at you. And not even at Nandini. I just....How can she just forget someone so easily. I expected her to say it was great he died. To say that he deserve it. And here she is all being a saint and all.

Arya - thats Nandu. Thats how she always has been. From the begining. Manik we cant judge someone's nature. She is not being a saint. She just IS a forgiver. That is why you are still in her life. What if she never forgave you. What if she never forgave me. Would you be here still. No, right??

Manik - hmm. I should apologize her.

Arya - definately. I am sorry too. I shouldnt have said it in the first place.

Manik - its not your fault. You didnt said anything i didnt know already. I guess i cant escape it.

Aryaman looked at him confused.

Manik - being judged. Being judged for my father's mistake.

Arya - Manik.......

Manik - leave it Aryaman. I should go...

Manik went inside to her ward to apologize and Aryaman closed his eyes in guilt whispering a Sorry as he left.

............

Soon Cabeer came along with others to the hospital after giving their deep consolence to pandit's death. From heart. Note the sarcasm.

They were there for a few minutes but then it was time for them to leave as the visiting hours got over. Manik apologized to Nandini and she forgive her too.
Dhruv and Aliya stayed in hospital much to Manik's annoyance, but it was neccessary as Cabeer, Aryaman and Manik needed sleep after a long stressfull nights.

Night at Malhotra Mansion.
Manik went to the old store room and started digging for something in the boxes. He placed many of the frames on the ground. Big ones, small ones. Some single photographs. All placed together.
They were the photos. Photos of the man that looked young, Tall and handsome. But the photographs were sepia in color that says they were taken in the 90s.
A sudden expression of anger and pain crossed his face that stayed.

Manik - aapko sirf inme hi dekha hai aaj tak. Aap kyu chale gaye. Aapko kyu koi bachha nahi chahiye tha. Aur agar aap jaa chuke ho, kabhi dobara nahi aane waale toh kyu aapke naam se mujhe jaana jaata hai. Kyu aapki gunaahon ki sazaa mujhe milti hai. Aapki galtiyon se mujhe kyu jana jaata hai.
Mom ko kyu aaj bhi aapki galat kaamo ke liye judge kiya jaata hai.
Aapko pata hai, mera dost Aryaman, voh kehta hai mein aapke jaisa hu. Yeh toh achhi baat honi chahiye thi n. Ek bete ko bola jaaye ki you are like your father. But mujhe takleef kyu hoti hai.
Why were like that?? Why you didnt want to be here for mom and me?? I promise mein itna bura nahi tha. I was not bad. I would have loved you.
But now, everything's changed. I hate you. I hate myself. I will never be like you. I will never hurt mom. I will never hurt Nandini. I will never run away from my problems. I will never come looking for you here. You are a loser. I wont be one. I wish i could just burn them. But your wife who suppose to be my mother still loves you enough to not let me burn them.
I am ashamed of you Mr. Raj Malhotra.
Goodbye Mr. Malhotra.

He opened the store room door silent tears guhing out his eyes. Turned to close the door and as h did and turned to leave for his room he found Nyeonika in the night gown glaring at him and hands folded across chest. He just stared back at her, emotionless.

Nyeonika - kuch kaam tha yaha??

Manik - haa voh kuch puraani files dhundni thi.

Nyeonika - files?? Kaha hai?? Mujhe nahi dikh rahi.

Manik - nahi mili. Shayad kai aur hai. Kal dekh lunga. Aap so jao, mein bhi bas sone hi jaa raha hu. Goodnight.

He crossed her and she just watched his steps and stopped him across the hallway.

Nyeonika - Manik?

He wiped the tears and turned wearing an invisible mask of no emotions on his face.

Manik - mom??

Nyeonika - keys le jaana bhool gaye. Ho sakta hai kal phir files dhundhne ki zaroorat pade. Kaam aayengi.

Manik - ab zaroorat nahi maa. Goodnight.

He left and Nyeonika smiled sadly.

Nyeonika - Class 7th se yaha files hi dhoondta hai. Idiot. Harr baar yahi kehta hai. Zaroorat nahi padegi. I hope iss baar sach ho.

She took out the keys, kept with herself making a reminder to keep these in Manik's room in the morning.
...................................