Manan ff : Best Friends Forever

chapter 50

Sleepily opening his eyes a bit, Manik noticed Nandini all set to go to college.

Rubbing his eyes, Manik sat up on the bed and cribbed " oye college ka time ho gaya hai. ..tune mujhe neeind se uthaya kyon nehin? ???"

Nandini ( sarcastically ) : good morning to you too KBC! !!!.... subha subha muh khol te hi bass sawaal hi karna hai naa tujhe? ????

Manik ( sleepily ) : jis ka jawab tu kisi bhi angle se nehin de rahi hai chudail! !!!!

Nandini ( casually ) : okay sleepy head. ..toh tera jawab yeh hai. .ki main aaj college jaungi aur tu chup chap ghar pein rest karega! !!!

Manik ( confused ) : par kyon? ?????

Nandini ( concerned ) :  main janti hu ki tu bahut bada superhero hai. ...but then kayi dino se tu kuch zyaada hi practice kar raha hai!!!!. ..iss se pehele ki tere dimaag ke saare screws khul ke gir jaye. ...you just take a break!!!!. ....

Manik ( worried ) : arrey I am absolutely fit. ..chal main tujhe college chhod deta hu. .phir aa ke rest karunga. ...

Stuffing her bag with the books, Nandini stated " chill usski koi zarurat nehin hai! !!!....Aryaman mujhe pick karne aa raha hai! !!!! "

Giving a confused look, Manik questioned " kaun Aryaman? ????? "

Nandini ( casually ) : arrey humare class ka naya student hai. ..aur mera kaafi accha dost bhi baan gaya hai! !!!!

Before Manik could investigate further, they heard the honking of a car.

Nandini ( excitedly ) : I guess Aryaman is here. ...chal bye and you take care. ...

Saying this Nandini exited, leaving Manik in a weird state of mind.

Standing in the balcony, Manik was starring like a hawk at Nandini, who got into Aryaman's car with a smile.

Maniks scowling session was interrupted by Cabir, who remarked " tu yaha se bass dekhta hi reh. ..woh waha teri bulbul ko leeke udd jaega! !!!! "

Coming out of his thoughts, Manik spat " tu kab aya bey! !!...aur yeh sab kya bakwas kar raha hai? ??? "

Cabir ( gravely ) : arrey main sacch keh raha hu Manik! !!...tune movies nehin dekhi kya. ..pati patni aur woh! !!!

Manik ( annoyed ) : shut up Cabir! !!!

But Cabir was really insistent and keept on saying " arrey main sahi bol raha hu yaar. ..iss bande mein jhol hai! !!! "

Though Manik dismissed Cabir's blabbering, but then his own head was turning into a mess.

In Nandini's absence , Maniks whole day passed in a jiffy, like a boat without any anchor.

Soon it was evening and Manik found himself impatiently walking to and fro in the living room.

Gauging Maniks mood, both Mr and Mrs Murthy tried to act invisible.

Mr Murthy keept himself immersed in the newspaper, peeping at Manik after every 2 minutes. While, Mrs Murthy racked her mind to find ways to calm down Manik.

Manik ( irritatedly ) : haad hoti hai laaparwahi ki! !!!...itna late ho gaya hai. ..par madam ka abhi taak koi naam o nishan nehin! !!!....huh. ...bahar kitna andhera ho gaya hai! !!!

Instinctively it slipped out of Mr Murthy's mouth " shaam ko andhera nehin hoga toh kya suraj chamke ga! !!!! "

That was it, turning towards Mr Murthy, Manik gave a dead pan look " wow. ..mujhe toh pataa hi nehin tha! !!!....now I get it. ..Nandu ko yeh sada hua sense of humour kaha se mila hai! !!! "

Now it was Mr Murthy's turn to cringe his nose.

Stepping between the son in law and father in law duo, Mrs Murthy handed both of them a glass of cold coffee.

Mrs Murthy ( maturely ) : yeah thanda thanda cold coffee pee ke dono ke dono kuch der ke liye shant ho jayo! !!!!....Nandu aa jaegi! !!!

Manik and Mr Murthy revolted in unison " hum dono ne ek baar bhi Nandu ke bareme nehin bola! !!!! "

Now it was Mrs Murthy's turn to give a dead pan look.

Mrs Murthy ( blankly ) : ek har doo minute mein newspaper se nazar haata ke darwaze ki taraf dekh rahe hai. ..toh dusra yaha pein chilla chilla ke Nandu abhi taak ghar nehin aa rahi hai usske live updates de raha hai! !!!!!

Before Mrs Murthy could point out few more instances, the person in question herself made her presence, looking all happy.

Moving towards her, Manik fired " oye itni der kyon ho gayi tujhe ane mein? ???? "

Nandini ( casually ) : hello to you too Manu. ...mera din accha tha. ..and I am really tired. ...

Rolling his eyes, Manik retorted " ab tu mere sawaal ka jawab degi? ????"

Nandini ( calmly ) : oh ho Manu! !!!...raaste mein bahut bheed tha issliye late ho gaya! !!!...but thanks to Aryaman. ...woh tha issliye zyaada late nehin hua. ..

Ignoring the whole existence of Aryaman, Manik excitedly said " chal dinner karte hai! !!!...bahut bhook laagi hai yaar! !!!! "

Saying this, Manik held Nandini's hand and started dragging her with him towards the kitchen.

Stopping Manik in the path, Nandini pleaded " nehin naa Manu. ..maine already Aryaman ke saath dinner kar liya hai! !!!....kal pakka tere saath dinner karungi! !!!...aaj tu manage kar le! !!! "

Feeling a bit upset, Manik released Nandini's hand.

Plastering a smile, he only could say " koi nehin! !!...tu thaak gayi hogi! !!...jaake rest kar! !!!! "

Finishing his sentence Manik left from there. While, Nandini also headed towards her room.

But Mr and Mrs Murthy sensed something different in the way both of them reacted.

Sitting in the garden, Manik blankly looked at the stars, when he found a plate full of food appearing in front him.

Rasing his head, Manik found Mr Murthy standing in front of him.
Manik ( calmly) : arrey inn sab ki kya zarurat thi. ..mujhe sacch mein bhook nehin hai! !!

Taking his seat beside Manik, Mr Murthy commented " duphar ko bhi tum ne yahi jhuth kaha tha! !!! "

Completing his sentence, Mr Murthy pushed the plate towards Manik.

Forgetting about all formalities, Manik started eating.

Still munching on his food, Manik said " aap ka bhi sahi hai! !!....you actually noticed the fact ki maine duphar ko khaana nehin khaaya !!!....I mean. ..I should have got married to you Bro! !!!!! "

On realising what slipped out of his tongue, Manik instinctively looked at Mr Murthy who had a shocked face.

Gulping down the food in his mouth, Manik mouthed " S - O - R - R - Y "

Unable to keep a straight face, Mr Murthy burst out into laughter, much to Maniks relief.

On entering the room, Manik found Nandini arranging the bed.

Manik ( calmly ) : hey. ..so how was your day? ???

Sitting on the bed, Nandini excitedly started blabbering " arrey I had a mast day! !!!...pataa hai Aryaman kitna tezz car chalta hai! !!...by god it was sooo much fun! !!!.... pataa hai. ..professor ne mujhe aur Aryaman ko pair up kiya hai ek assignment ke liye!!!...I am so glad ki it's Aryaman. ...kisi aur duffer ke saath I won't have been able to perform. ..I think I will give my best...aur. ..."

Manik with a blank expression said " Nandu. ..raat bahut ho gayi hai! !!!...I guess we should sleep "

Taking his place on the bed, Manik turned his back on Nandini and slept.

For the first time, Nandini was not able to understand the reason behind Maniks this kind of behaviour.