Second Chance

Her thoughts

Next morning, Manvi was in her room and combing her hairs. She seemed upset. Aarav was looking her carefully.

“Kya chal raha hai dimag mein?” He finally asked.

“ Mujhe chhod ke kahan chale gaye the? “Manvi glared at him.

“Ab tum dono busy the toh main wahan kya karta so aa gaya.” Aarav replied.

“baatein sunte hamari aur kya?”She said.

“Dimag kharab nahi hai mera.” He said irritated.

Manvi gave him a confusing look.

“Ek baat toh hai Manvi, Vineet hai acha insaan aur tujhse darta bhi hai.” Aarav said while supressing his laughter.

“Darta!! Maine kab daraya use?” Manvi glared at him.

“Acha bechara dubak ke jo room mein baitha tha na wo sab tumhari kripa thi.” Aarav laughed aloud.

“Shut up.” Manvi said angrily.

“Btw kahan jane ki taiyari ho rahi hai?” Aarav asked.

“Vineet ke office. Unka haal chaal bhi pucch lungi aur breakfast sath mein kar lenge.” Manvi said with a smile.

Aarav smiled.” Acha hai. jao.” He said.

“You are coming with me.”Manvi said.

“Main kya karunga wahan pe.” He asked.

“Kuch nahi. Bas chalna tum.” Manvi said.

Manvi and Aarav was talking to each other. Meantime Nandini entered.She was confused to see Manvi talking to herself.

“Manvi tu pagal.toh nahi hi gayi hai na?” Nandini asked.

“Kya hua mumma?” Manvi asked confusedly.

“Tu khud se baatein kyun kar rahi hai? Hai kya koi samne?” Nandini asked.

“Arrey aunty main hoon bhoot.” Aarav smirked at Manvi. She glared at him.

“Mumma!!” Manvi said irritatedly.

“Kya mumma..Abhi bhi wahin dekh rahi hai.” Nandini said while touching her face and forehead.

“Self talk mumma.” Manvi replied.

“Bhagwaan meri beti ka khyal rakhna. Pta nahi ise kya ho gaya hai?” Nandini said.

“Kuch nahi hua hai mumma. Please go.” Manvi gave her a light push.

“Acha toh ajeeb ajeeb hatktein kyu kar rahi hai?” She asked.

“Mumma mujhe Vineet se milne jana hai. I’m getting late.” Manvi said.with irritation.

Nandini sighed and left the room. Aarav was laughing madly.

“Manvi sab tujhe pagal samjh rahe hai. Kyunki mujhe sirf tu dekh sakti hai aur koi nahi.” He was teasing her.

“ I’m not gonna talk to you.” Manvi yelled at him and left the room. Aarav smiled. He sat near her photograph.

“Manvi pata nahi tumhe sach mein samajh nahi aa raha ya tum samjhna nahi chahti. Tum Vineet ke taraf attract ho rahi ho. mujhe mera wapas aane ka maksad pura hota dikhai de raha hai. Tum apni nayi zindagi ki ore badhogi aur main bhi wapas chla jaunga kabhi wapas na aane ke liye.” Aarav said while talking to her photographs.

…

Vineet was in his cabin and doing his pending work.He looked at heap of file.

“Hash!! ek din na aao itna kaam badh jata hai. Par koi nahi samjhta.” He murmured to himself. He was doing files and checking the presentation.

“Yaar bahut bhukh lagi hai. Bahar ka khaunga toh maa toh maa Manvi bhi class le legi.Kya karu?” He was thinking but his thoughts were disturbed by a voice.

“May I come in sir.”

“Yes.” He said with irritation.

“Khana khayenge?” She asked. He lifted his gaze with this.

He was surprised to see Manvi there.

“Tum yahan?” He asked.

“Kyun main nahi aa sakti kya?” Manvi asked.

“Nahi woh actually?” Vineet about to say but Manvi cut.

“Aapko acha nahi laga toh main jati hoon.” Manvi said sadly and about to go but Vineet held her wrist.

“Maine aisa toh nahi kaha. Tum achanak aayi toh I was surprised.” He said.

Manvi smiled.” Breakfast layi thi aap ke liye. Socha sath mein nashta karenge.” She said.

“Thank.god. Bahut bhukh lagi hai.” Vineet said.

“I knew it Because bahar ka khana band hai.” Manvi said and dragged him to sofa lying in cabin.He smiled as she was caring for him.

She served food for him.” Yeh aap ka khana bina cheese aur homemade.maine apne hatho  se bnaya hai aapke liye. ” Manvi said.

“Really..Tumhe khana banana aata hai?? ” Vineet asked.

“Of Course aata hai. Aur Aarav ko mere hath ke kadhi chawal aur pan cakes bahut pasand the.” Manvi said…

Vineet smiled.” Mujhe bhi khilana kabhi. Mitha toh nahi khata main par Kadhi chawal zaroor kha lunga.” He said.

“Okay. Kal lunch  sath mein karenge aur main kadhi chawal hi bna ke laungi.” Manvi said excitedly.

“Done. Kal meri meeting hai toh main ek baje ke aas paas free hounga. tum tab tak aa jana.fir lunch sath mein karenge aur uske baad shopping chalenge.” Vineet said.

Manvi nodded. They had their breakfast with little chit chat.. she left after that.

…..

Manvi reached her home..She was lost somewhere. She changed into casuals and sat in window of her room.She was looking blankly outside.. She was in deep thinking. She was thinking about Aarav, their relationship and Vineet in.her life.

“Life is so unpredictable.” She thought.

“Kal tak.lagta tha Aarav ke bina main ek kadam nahi chal paungi aur aaj jab vo nahi tha toh bhi jee  rahi thi aur ab Vineet, vo bhi meri life mein jgh bnane lage hain. cheeze kabhi ek ai nahi rehti.” She sighed.

She came.out of trance with touch on her shoulder. She turned back and looked her mother. She just hugged her silently.Nandini was confused at her behavior.

“Manvi tu thik hai na beta?” Nandini asked while caressing her head.

“Mumma its so weird na. Kal tak I felt ki Aarav ke baad meri life mein kuch nahi bcha but Vineet ke aane se ab zindagi fir se rang birangi lag rahi hai.Mumma main Aarav ko nahi bhool pa rahi hoon but Vineet meri zindagi mein alag jagah bna rahe hai. Mumma woh achhe insaan hai. Par mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha.” Manvi said holding her hands.

“Manvi waqt sab sahi kar deta hai. Ab khud ko hi dekh lo tum wapas se zindagi jine lagi ho. Rahi baat Vineet ki toh wo hai hi acha. Bas khud ko push mat karo.Jo ho raha hai hone doh tumhe khud pata chal jayega ke qismat ne tumhare liye kya likha hai. Bas tu us mauke ko apne hath se mat jane dena kyunki khushiyan bas ek baar dastak deti hai baar baar nahi.” Nandini said.

Manvi kept her head in her lap. Both mother daughter continued to talk about their lives.