MaNan- She is to be Loved

Chapter 12- Fake or Real?

~Fall in Love! What does it gonna cost you, a heartbreak? Live that, too~

-Affu-

In India

Manjeet Lifecare Hospital

Nandini's Cabin

"Appa! Why are you shouting?" Nandini stared at her mobile's screen, frowning. "Shouting? Do I look like I am shouting? I am screaming here, Shona. Screaming like a banshee!" Shekhar yelled out, and Nandini palmed her ears, before pouting.

"Appa! Shouting and Screaming are kinda the same thing, you know?" Nandini leaned forward, in her seat, while smiling cutely at her father. "Nandini!" Shekhar's voice was gentle as usual, but she hates it when he calls her by her name.

"Mr. Murthy!" Nandini's gaze narrowed at Shekhar, who sighed out loud. "Shona! India. India keh rahi thi tum. How could you be so calm and say that you're in India, now?" asked Shekhar, sounding helpless.

"Because I don't know why you're getting upset with that fact. Why does it have to do anything with your Appa who doesn't care about your griefs, Appa? I know it's all because of him, and you don't want me here, because you're scared I might cross my path with him. But what's wrong in it? Do you think I'll go and tell him that I'm his granddaughter?" Nandini stared at Shekhar, looking tired, and Shekhar's eyes softened.

"No! You would not even want to be with someone who doesn't love your Appa." Shekhar said softly, and Nandini gulped down the lump in her throat. She looked guilty, but she knew she was doing right.

"But I don't want you near him. He doesn't even acknowledge the fact that his son has a child whom he never met. He'll finally have a girl child in his family, after more than a century. But he didn't even want to know that fact. He simply didn't care when I wrote him Mishti gave birth to our child. He simply didn't care." Shekhar's face held pain.

"Alright! Murthy saab, ye jo solar eclipse wala chehra nahi chahiye mujhe. Bring me the sunlight." Nandini waved her hand at the screen, and Shekhar smiled at his daughter's attempts to make him smile.

"See! That's like my bright and handsome than Sun Appa." Nandini grinned, and Shekhar laughed lightly. "Now listen, Appa. I'm here in India, as part of my course. You know, its like my internship. Indian doctors are really good at explaining certain things." Nandini explained.

"But why only India? We've got good doctors in London too. They could have sent you here." Shekhar cried out, and Nandini palmed her face. "That's because the University I joined in America has some ties with Indian hospitals." Nandini lied.

"Oh for heaven's sake! Which university was it again, Shona? Johns Hopkins right?" Shekhar asked, and Nandini nodded. "Now don't tell me you don't remember Hopkins having business ties with Indian hospitals." Nandini said. "That's right." Shekhar nodded, and Nandini bobbed her head.

"Of course, you're Mr. Know it all." Nandini threw her hands in air, and at the right moment, someone walked inside. "Pariiii!" Sooraj grinned, and Nandini's eyes widened, and so did Shekhar's. 

"Who the hell calls you with such nicknames?" Shekhar cried out, in shock, and Sooraj's eyes widened.

"Uh! Appa. It's my Dcotor? Yaani..Teacher kinda doctor. I mean, Mentor..yeah, Mentor. I'll..I'll call you back, soon-ish. Bye. And..And..Miss me, yeah..and Love me." Nandini stuttered, before switching it off, and then glaring at Sooraj.

Who stood grinning!

"I didn't know you were talking with Chote." he grinned, while walking towards her. "Also, you stutter a lot in front of him, and I love that someone makes you stutter, Miss Talker of the World." He added, before settling himself on a seat, opposite to her chair.