Manik was busy ,working on a new project, when his mobile started buzzing.
Receiving the call, Manik curtly stated " Manik Malhotra speaking. ..."
From the other side, Mrs Murthy with her extra sugary voice said " arrey Manik beta. ..kaise ho tum????...aur meri bacchi Nandu kaisi hai? ???? "
Manik ( calmly ) : main theek hu. ...aur Nandini bhi acchi hai. ..
Straight away coming to the point, Mrs Murthy said " Manik beta. ...darasal jab se Nandini ki shaadi hui hai. ...woh hum se ek baar bhi milne nehin ayi! !!!....usse dekhne ke liye toh humari aankhein taras gayi hai. ...agar aaj woh thoda waqt nikal ke ghar aa jati. ..toh bahut accha hota. ..."
Manik ( genuinely ) : haan woh zarur milne ayegi. ...main khud usse bhej dunga. ..
Mrs Murthy ( slyly ) : thank you beta. ...tumhara yeh ehsaan hum kabhie nehin bhulenge. ...
Manik ( lovingly ) : ehsaan kaisa! !!!....aap log toh mere mom dad jaise hi hai. ...aap ke liye toh main itna kar hi sakta hu. ...
Mrs Murthy : thanks again. ... ab main phone rakhti hu. ..
As soon as Mrs Murthy hung up, Maniks thoughts started racing like wild horse.
Manik ( pov ) ( depressed ) : ab main Nandini ko face kaise karunga? ???
Chucking his thoughts, Manik was descending the stairs, when he found Nandini, engrossed in munching a sandwich.
After last night's confrontation, there was an awkwardness between them.
Finding no other way around, Manik cleared his throat, to grab Nandini's attention.
Raising her head, Nandini gave a questioning look to Manik.
Manik ( nervously ) : woh. ...woh tumhari. ..mom ne phone kiya tha. ...tumhe aaj Murthy House bulaya hai. ...
Listening to his whole sentence, Nandini again engaged herself with the sandwich. While, Manik stared at her with a confused look.
Getting irritated by Maniks constant gaze, Nandini asked " aur bhi kuch bolna hai kya? ???? "
Nodding his head in a big no, Manik ran for his life. While, Nandini just shrugged her shoulders.
Coming out of the car, Nandini asked the driver to leave.
As Nandini was about to enter the house, she heard the sounds of quarrels.
Mr Murthy ( pissed ) : kya bakwas kar rahi ho! !!!!....maine koi tumhari life nehin barbaad ki hai! !!!!!
Mrs Murthy ( yelled ) : oh just shut up! !!!....tumhari wajah se mujhe uss Nandini ko janaam dena padda. ...warna main toh usse abort karwane wali thi! !!!
Mr Murthy ( mockingly ) : yeh sahi hai! !!!....ab saara kaasor mera! !!!...arrey agar uss waqt maine tumhe abortion karne se nehin roka hota. ..toh tum aaj zinda nehin hoti! !!!....bhul gayi. ..uss doctor ne kya kaha tha! !!!... pregnancy ke uss stage par abortion karwane se tumhari jaan jaa sakti thi. ...
Mrs Murthy ( pissed ) : I just can't take this anymore. ...uss Nandini ke paida hote hi mera career khatam ho gaya! !!!....pataa nehin kaun se manhoos ko maine janaam diya hai! !!!
Mr Murthy ( agreeing ) : yeh toh bilkul sahi hai. ...woh ladki musibaat hai. ...arrey maine usska scholarship taak cancel karwa diya. ..taaki woh humare saamne bheek maangne ke liye aye. ..magar uss ne. ..uss ne toh aapna fee's taak bhar diya! !!!!...pataa nehin fee's bhar ne ke liye kya gul khilaye honge madam ne! !!!
Mrs Murthy : shaadi kar ke iss ghar se chali gayi hai. ...lekin phir bhi koi shanti nehin hai humari zindagi mein! !!!...kash tum ne mujhe uss din nehin roka hota. ...toh main usski jaan hi le leti
Mr Murthy ( pissed ) : tum toh puri pagal ho gayi thi! !!!....arrey Nandini ke paida hote hi media mein humein kitni publicity mil rahi thi! !!!..agar tum usse mar deti toh aaj hum usska sauda nehin kar paate. ..aur naa hi Manik humare haath laagta. ...
Mrs Murthy ( thinking ) : woh toh hai. ..chalo issi bahane hi sahi....woh ladki humare koi kaam toh ayi. ..
Giving a sly smile, Mr Murthy said " aur nehin toh kya! !!! "
Both of them shared a wicked smile, oblivious of the fact that Nandini was standing at the door step.
Nandini always knew, that her parent's didn't like her much. But this amount of hatred, just crushed her heart.
Wiping the lone tear which unintentionally escaped her eyes, Nandini walked away from there.
The whole day Manik was trying to contact Nandini, but her mobile was out of reach.
Driving back to his home like a mad man, Manik rushed in, still dialing Nandini's number.
Entering the house, Manik with a restless voice asked " Jane. .. Nandini ghar ayi thi kya? ???? "
Not at all understanding the tension and vulnerability in Maniks voice, Jane replied " madam toh aapne room mein hai. .."
Getting a positive reply, Manik sighed in relief.
Without wasting any time, Manik rushed towards Nandini's room .
Opening the door, Manik entered Nandini's room, only to witness the most ghastly sight laying in front of him.
Manik was only able to mutter " Nandini. ....."
