Thanks for the numerous votes and comments. The one who followed and me and the one who added my story to your reading lists, I thank them all too. Silent readers please do vote. From all these I can't see how my story is.
"Ok....... only for Aliya's sake, otherwise I am not at all ok with it." I said and crossed my arms across my chest. After half an hour lecture of how PA is not an office slave, I reluctantly agreed to do as I was told. "From tomorrow I will work from here." Druv got up saying this. "Even we all should move to our houses, it's already eight." Mukti said yawning a bit. Yeah, I was given lunch here and if left, they will even hand you dinner. From morning to evening they all discussed the plan where 75% went over my head.
"Come Navya, we need to prepare dinner or we will order pizza?" I asked because she won't help me in cooking and Aliya can help, but I cannot ask her as she is the guest, so the best is Pizza option. "I cannot, my two wheeler is out for service. I don't know, which donkey made my baby's tire to puncture!!" she whined and made a crying face. "Come we both will go to mechanic and collect it." I said but I was interrupted. "No need Miss. Naveli has to accompany to my office to get the presentation done for tomorrow and I think Manik can drop Miss. Murthy?" why everyone is talking in questions. Now even Kabir is talking like me.
"What about my baby?" Navya asked and Kabir gave a look which instantly shut Navya's mouth. "Shall we go?" I asked and went with Mr. Malhotra. I think Mr. Malhotra's favourite colour is black. From head to toe he is wearing black leaving the formal shirt which he is wearing inside the blazer. I saw him BMW car which is black. I wish his heart is not his most favourite colour. "What do you do Miss. Murthy?" Manik asked while driving.
"I own three parlours. First I used to be with my employees, but now I have to manage all three of these." I said and he nodded. "Any family members?" It instantly brought the memories of my late family. All the happy moments with them, when they left me. I was broken from the train of thoughts by a honk of the car. "I live with my niece." I answered to which he narrowed his eyes but nodded. Then there was a thickening silence.
When we reached I asked him to come and have coffee, but he denied that saying Aliya's father can fail all their plan. I entered and was embraced in a tight hug. "Thank you thank you thank you sooooooooo .......... much. I am so happy. I don't know what would I have done without you." Aliya said and started dancing. I laughed at her behaviour. "Proud of you NI." I aw Shikha who was munching a pizza. "You ordered pizza?" I asked Shikha. She had done it once and I had given a long lecture, but to my surprise it was Aliya.
"I was so happy Nandini, I asked Shikha what she wanted, so I ordered and I also have your favourite margarita." she handed me the mini box of pizza. We joked, we watched movie and finally when I put Shikha to sleep I was free. Aliya sat there gazing the window. "Hey!" I said and she just smiled.
"I know this is personnel, but why do you don't like your father?" I asked and she heaved a sigh. "My father is a money minded. He has his separate business even then craving for his father's wealth. From childhood I was restricted to do many things. Only behave as he says, only wear what he says, even my dreams were chosen by him. The best thing ever happened to me was meeting my group of friends. Even when I was doing my MBA, my friends encouraged me to go for fashion designing which was my dream and I am proud of it. My mother is just 10th pass, but she was wealthy. Her grandmother who fell ill at that time and her mother was not there, so she had to sacrifice her studies."
Aliya wiped a lone tear that escaped her eye. "My father controls her. It became clear when I was 16 that my father married my mother only for money. I tried encouraging my mother to start her education again, but she denied everything. I have a brother, but he is different, different in the sense, he is not money minded, but exact replica of my father. He like to be in control, but I can't let them control my life. This is my life, I have so many things to do, but he restricts me for his status." by now tears were flowing .
I hugged her and that was enough. She cried and I let her to cry. Sometimes being silent is enough to console a person and in Aliya's case it was true. She wipes her tears and gave a small smile. "Finally home sweet home!!" Navya yelled and when she saw pizza box on the dining table her glares were the one I had to face. "Where is my pizza?" she asked deadly, I gestured towards fridge and she removed it. She was going to eat, but our Aliya snatched it "Go and wash your hands." she said and kept the pizza in micro oven.
"No! I am hungry give me that!" Navya started reaching out for pizza then I came. "If you don't wash your hands, then you will clean the backyard tomorrow" which was enough for her to run to bathroom. "What is there in backyard?" Aliya asked. "Some cockroaches, snails, worms, mosquitoes, rats, mice, ants, lizards, wild cats are some of the living things there. Some broken chairs, tables, ragged sofa, some mud and dust are some of the non living things." Aliya's face showed the disgust. "Why didn't you ask anyone to clean it?" she asked as she set the time for the pizza to warm up.
"Then how am I gonna blackmail Navya?" I said with a smirk on my face and she nodded before we broke in to fits of laughter.
YOU ARE READING
MANAN- Strings of love
General Fiction"Will you stop it Nandini? I can't concentrate on my work!!!" Manik yelled at me but what did I do? I just played my favourite song in loud speaker which I borrowed from an uncle who was the watch man of the public toilet. "What did I do other than...
