Forever And A Day || Completed

5. The Chatterjee Family

~ There are Friends, and then there is family. Then there are friends who become family~

Mrs. Chatterjee supressed her giggle, as she watched an absent minded Nandini, pouring juice in the glasses, and simultaneously stealing glances at her husband who sat in the drawing room, with Abhik and his father. Everytime Manik would laugh and tease Abhik, Nandini's entire attention would be shifted to him, and a soft smile would dance on her lips, watching him that carefree.

"He has an additive laughter, doesn't he?", Mrs. Chatterjee smirked, and Nandini who completely in awe of Manik nodded, smiling.

" Yes, I even told him so", she didn't even realize what and whom she was answering too. A subtle laughter from Mrs. Chatterjee broke her trance, and she blushed, stammering.

"I mean-", Nandini fumbled for being caught, and her innocent gesture made the elderly lady laugh louder.

" Its alright, watching him and praising him is your right!", She winked at Nandini who was visibly reddened at that, and immediately lowered her eyes, concentrating on the juice.

" So, you like him?", Mrs. Chatterjee asked her directly, and it made Nandini extremely conscious. What was she supposed to answer?

Nandini didn't answer for a while, and then all of a sudden she raised her eyes at the lady, and told her about the conversation she and Manik had, had in the morning earlier. Mrs. Chattrejee stiffened at that, and stayed quite until Nandini had finished talking, with tears in her eyes, wetting her dark kohled eyelashes.

"I am married to him, and he says stuff like that to me. What am I supposed to react like? Am I not good enough for him?", Nandini burst out finding the warm filled gaze of the lady, for no matter how easily she had pushed back the topic in front of Manik, it did bugged her in her heart.

The way Manik had said it, made her feel unwanted, that too on the first day of her married life. She could not help but feel insecure at that.

Mrs. Chatterjee, patted her hairs lightly, and wiped her eyes with the pad of her thumb. Shaking her head at this young, confused girl, she asked her not to cry, and when Nandini was better, she exhaled.

" You know how I met Manik for the first time?", Mrs. Chatterjee asked, and Nandini frowned, watching an entirley different conversation starting. She had expected her to clarify Manik's behaviour, and give her some insight into his mind, but she was given a question to answer instead.

"Through Abhik da?", Nandini guessed, but Mrs. Chatterjee shook her head, with a faint smile.

" I met him on the Marine drive one late evening for the first time. He was sitting with his knees drawn up, his gaze trying to read the up and down of the waves. That was about three years ago, I think! I was there for a walk, and something about him intrigued me. So I walked to him, and settled beside him, and yet, he was completely unaware of my presence", she had a fond smile remembering that day, and Nandini was immediately attentive to it.

Anything that could help her knowing him would do. All she really wanted was a ray of hope in their marriage, an assurance that she wasn't unwanted, and she was ready to strive for their relationship if needed.

" Later I came to know it was his parents first death anniversary, and that look on his face was him finding their happy faces in that water, on the beach where he had his best memories with them", she continued again, and Nandini felt something shifting inside her, as her imagination took her to a folorn looking Manik sitting alone on the beach.

" The main problem with Manik is that he lives in the past Nandini, instead of the future, and he has extremely low self esteem when it comes to his existence. Its ironical though, you should hear him someday in court. There is no one more confident than him there", she let out a small laugh, but Nandini could see the sadness in her stance, the sadness a mother has for their child.

" Just don't give up Nandini. If it helps you, i will tell you a secret", Mrs. Chatterjee winked, " since the time I know him, he has had eyes only for one girl, and that is you", she let out a laugh, as Nandini went crimson.

" You knew too?", Nandini tucked a loose strand behind her ear, and asked, and the lady laughed her heart out.

" Too means what? Who else knows? And you did, already?", Mrs. Chatterjee questioned, watching Nandini blush even more, if that was humanly possible. Her cheeks were already red, and she was fidgeting with her fingers.

" I had overhead Appa teasing him about it", she confessed, and finally both the ladies giggled about it, like school girls, at the cost of a young lad who was completely unawre of the fact that they were laughing at his expense.

"So you see, you have nothing to worry about", Mrs. Chatterjee kept her hand on Nandini's head, but Nandini pouted.

" Then why is he asking me to go explore options?", She moved her hands in air, quoting the word 'options' and made a face.

" That's exactly the catch beta. Manik wants you to be happy, and at the same time, he thinks he can't keep you happy. That's where this stupid idea came into his mind. You won't believe it took almost a year and a half to have him open up and be at home with us", Mrs. Chatterjee shook her head, and Nandini could not help but giggle at how cute she looked, complaining about Manik.

" Once he believes you are happy with him, he will bring heaven and earth together for you. Until then, you might have to tolerate silly and stupid ideas like that of my idiot son, I guess", Nandini burst out laughing again, and Mrs. Chatterjee soon followed, both having fun together.

Outside, Mr. Chatterjee and Manik teamed up to annoy the hell out of Abhik who sat with a grumpy face. He was still nervous to propose her three year long girlfriend, Anushree, and the other two were teasing him for it. Yet, even though Manik had good reason to be pre-occupied, he found his gaze wavering towards the kitchen, looking at Nandini who was half visible to him.

He could see her animatedly talking, at times pouting. Once he even saw her air quoting stuff. She was so lively, and he could feel his lips curving up at her sight. Watching her getting so comfortable with people who meant a lot to him, was like his prayers going answered.

Abhik and Mr. Chatterjee noticed Manik too, but they stayed quite not to make him too conscious.

Soon, the ladies came out with snacks and juice for everyone.

" If you guys take so much time for snacks, I wonder when will we get the dinner!", Mr. Chatterjee commented, and Mrs. Chatterjee rolled her eyes at him, making the younger generation laugh their heart out. The old couple bickered like childs all the time, and that was also what made them special.

"Maa, I will just go and bring some more juice", Nandini spoke and stood up to go, but from the corner of her eyes, she did notice the happy surprise in Manik's eyes. He was elated, she could clearly see that, and hiding a smile, she went to the kitchen.

By the end of the dinner, Nandini had mingled well with the Chatterjee family, and she got to know a lot about Anushree too. While they served deserts, Mrs. Chatterjee called Manik in, and when he entered, he saw her sitting on the bed, crosslegged.

Manik without any second thoughts, lay down on her lap, and she ran her fingers through his hairs.

" Don't be hard on yourself and her beta, she is a very nice girl. You won't get anyone better than her", she cooed Manik who looked up at her with scared eyes.

" But she can get a lot of people better than me, Maa. I don't want her to regret being with me, like them", Manik's voice was soft, yet was heard by both Abhik and Nandini who stood at the door. Abhik shook his head in dismay while Nandini was silent.

" Manik! You are a gem, my boy! Its high time you understand that!", She slapped his head playfully making Manik chuckle, and lightning the atmosphere. Outside, the duo walked out to the drawing room, in silence.

By the time Nandini and Manik drove back home, Nandini was determined enough to give her marriage a proper chance, and Manik was determined enough to make sure Nandini stays happy.

Only if they could realize both their desires were kind of same thing.