Arrange Marriage | MaNan

Chapter 38

Same Day, Health And Care Hospital

Karan smiled weakly at Manik who just entered and Manik returned the same smile walking to his bed.

With great difficulty Manik managed to send Niyonika and Ayesha, home so Ayesha could freshen up and asked them to make something as they all didn't eat. Nandini was outside With Aryaman. Karan was getting discharge at night or may be tomorrow.

Karan: When are they going to discharge me, Manik?

Manik: By Night Appa.

Karan nodded and Manik sat beside him on the stool.

Manik: Appa, I want to share a story with you.

Karan was surprised as Manik never talked to him much. Infact he never talked to anyone much. He was quite reserved in behavior.

However, he nodded and Manik licked his dry lips.

Manik: Appa, I was in 10th standard and one day my classmate wrote a love letter to other section's girl. The girl send the letter back but he send again and this time she went to class Incharge. When the boy came to know this, he got scared and put that letter in my bag. I didn't know anything. I remembered the girl, Principal and her class Incharge came in our class and started checking our bags.

Karan: The letter didn't have the boy's name?

Manik: No, But the second girl through whom he send the letter, knew it was him. They blamed him but nothing was found from him. Instead they found the letter inside my bag. I was scared, Appa. I thought they will suspend me from school. I was continuously saying that I know nothing about it but they didn't hear and called Dad.

Karan: Did he blame you too?

Manik laughed a little nodding his head in no and Karan smiled.

Manik: I was scared seeing Dad. I was always more close to Maa. So Dad used to scare me a lot. Not that I am not scared of him now.

Manik laughed again and Karan joined him this time.

Karan: Than? What happened after that?

Manik: Dad asked the teacher if they matched the handwriting. I was relieved as my handwriting didn't match but the boy's did. He agreed knowing there was no way to escape now. Dad took me home and you know instead of calming me and anything he slapped me. He slapped me so tightly that my face was paining for two days and I had a print of his small finger. (slowly, looking at him) You know Appa, why did Dad slap me?

Karan: Because you didn't explain yourself. You didn't use your brain at that time and you were just pleading instead of prooving them.

Manik: So you think I should have proofed myself. (Karan nodded) But they toh already declared me as a culprit.

Karan: Manik, You were wrong there. Everyone deserves a chance to proove themselves and-

Manik: (interrupting him with a smile)  Aryaman and Sia also deserves a chance na.

Karan stopped and Manik smiled taking his hand in his.

Manik: Appa, You are elder to us. You have seen the world more than us. If one girl is wrong doesn't meant all are. Nandini is not wrong, Mukti, do you think she is like this? Amma, Maa! Not every girl is like the one Abhi loved.

Karan was silent and Manik sighed seeing this.

Manik: Appa, What is the problem? Aap aise negative kyu soch rahe hai. Tell me kya aapne Nandini ki shaadi mujhse isliye ki kyuki mai ek Malhotra hu? Don't I deserve her on the basis of my personality?