MANAN-The badass nerd

30. Nandini's Parents

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  "I think the rehab is lying." Druv said once we showed all the things we got from rehab. "No Druv, I enquired some of the old staffs who worked there for 20 to 25 years and they never saw Vidya there." Manik said as he drank the juice given by Navya. Today Manik and me went to rehab and got to know that there was no patient named Vidya. We doubted it, so we enquired the nurses there and their statement did not even give the hint of lie about Vidya not being there for treatment.

 "Leave this, what did you got about my parents?" I asked to Aliya who in return showed me the post-mortem. It stated that my father died because of the glass that pierced his throat and my mother died of the access of blood loss. "Where is Kabir?" I asked Navya as I had informed her to bring Kabir. "He is struck in traffic. He will be here in 15 minutes." she said sitting beside me. "Vibha informed me that she will come in an hour as that boss of her is not satisfied by the work." Naya said feeling pity for Vibha.

  The door bell rang indicating someone was outside the door. "I will get it." Naya said heading towards the door. "Hello everyone!!" I heard Mr. Thakkar entering with Mukti and a man who was of older version of Mr. Thakkar. We all greeted them with HI's and Hello's .

 "Guys meet my father, Mr. Aniruddh. Thakkar." we all shook our hands introducing ourselves to him. "Nandini, I am here to meet you." The older Thakkar's statement was a shock. "Yes, of course Mr. Thakkar." he smiled at me "Please call me uncle there is no need to be formal with me." he said and gave everyone a heart warming smile.

 "Nandini, I knew your father. I was born in a poor family, so my education was not so well. By the help of the little fortune that my ancestor left, I started a business. The first employee was your father, Mr Vishnu. Murthy. I saw myself in him so I gave him the job. For five years our business was facing ups and downs, many employees left, but not your father. Since then we became best friends. When everything was settled in our business we thought of getting settled in our lives." Navya handed the juices to everyone who arrived just few minutes back.

 "Everything was going well, Abhi was the first born, but after three years your father gave the news of being a father. Before the death of your father, he handed me the power of attorney of all the property he has, to me. If you come with me now, we can go to your house where your family lived." I wanted to go there desperately. I don't know why?, but my legs were itching to go. "We all will come sir, if you don't mind and of course, if Nandini is comfortable." Kabir said barging into the hall. I nodded with a smile soon, we all climbed the vehicles.

  Thakkars, Mukti, Manik and me in one car. Fab 3 and Navya in their jeep. "You know Nandini, Vishnu had that gut feeling of having a daughter, before you coming out of your mother's womb. Shusha, your mother, had to remind him that his daughter is still in her womb. He was going to all the places to buy the toys and many baby related things." he said and he wiped the tear which appeared at the corner of his eyes. We reached a colony where there were medium size houses. There was a large garden in between the road for the children where play area was present.

  I followed uncle who opened the door with a key. The first thing I noticed was a family photo of my family. My father was the only child of his parents and they soon died after my father's marriage. The family frame which was hanging on the wall was the pic including my father's and mother's family. Then it had the pic of my parents together probably of their marriage by their attires.  The next one was candid where my mother was ruffling my father's hairs who had an annoyed expression. "I clicked this pic at your parent's 3rd anniversary." uncle said when I was observing the frames. Manik came beside me and took me to a pic which had me spilling tears from my eyes.

  It was my pic when I was baby. My mother wore the hospital gown smiling to her fullest and my father was holding me smiling to the camera. "This is the pic after your birth. Your father went all crazy hearing your arrival, so I thought of taking a new family photo." Uncle said. I saw myself and I looked like a mini monkey. I looked cute with those tiny hands, tiny legs, tiny mouth with my eyes closed, but I looked like monkey. There was a pic including uncle and my parents with a woman and a boy of probably 4 to 5 years.

  "This is Abhi!!" Mukti screamed beside me. "No!! you are not supposed to see that Muku." Mr. Thakkar said covering the pic with his large hands. Wait, when did they ended up with nick names. "We have your pics in our house. This guy who is covering his childhood was calling you baby doll because he couldn't pronounce Nandini." everyone in the hall howled in laughter. "I can pronounce now." Mr. Thakkar said in whisper, but unfortunately it was hard by Mukti and me.

  "There is lot more to see. come" uncle said and I followed him, eager to see all the things. It was room with king sized bed and a crib was placed beside it. One of the wall was painted with Disney princesses, the other wall was painted with small mickey mouses. The other wall had the paintings of superman, batman, he man, Spider-Man all in small sizes randomly. The wall which was in front of the bed had a painting of outline of a couple and a baby's outline was seen in between them at the place of their hearts. At the top it had 'The girl who stole our hearts' was written.

  "your father painted this wall with his hands. I don't know how?, but he knew he was welcoming a girl to his house and he wanted to make a palace for you here." uncle said, by now my tears was flowing like rivers. What have I done to deserve such parents? What have I done that their love did not reach me? I was their fruit of love, but the love they wanted to give me, was snatched away by that truck driver.

   One thing I know is, I was the one who stole their hearts, but they were the one who showed me the what longing of love means.