Manan : Jeene Laga Hoon Pehle Se Zyaada by Crystal : Chapter 24
Link to Chapter 23:Chapter 23
The comments in Chapter 23 have been answered.. thanks for your support keep supporting..i am going to continue this ff just for my fans who are actually reading……. But a request to all my silent readers…. Please comment just to boost up the writers
Recap : Nandini mocked at Manik’s confession. Manik’s heartbroke for the second time in just span of two days
(Nandini’s POV) Next day, I got up; I had black rings under my eyes. I couldn’t sleep at all. I got ready to go the registrar’s office to meet Uncle. Madhyam was there waiting for us.
(Nandini) “Hi,Madhyam. Where is Mrs.Singh? She is the one who is supposed to sign the documents, right?” Uncle and Madhyam both looked surprised.
(Venkatesh) “Nandini, didn’t you read the documents? The place belongs to Manik. I cannot imagine you missing out such simple things.”
(Nandini) “Really?” Then, I can Apologise to him in person. I was worried since he won’t talk with me or meet me but, I can Apologise to him here and now.
(Madhyam) “Yeah. But that fellow has never been late like this. What is keeping him so long? Did you see him at the club?”
(Nandini) “No. I didn’t see him yesterday or when I left today. I don’t think he will be coming with me here. Anyway, I need something to drink. I will be near the vending machine. Call me if he comes.”
(Madhyam) “Sure,Nandini. But… ah! She ran away. What did she mean by that he wouldn’t be coming? He called me up today and told not to be late.”
(Uncle) “Don’t know.”
(Nandini) I sat to have a cup of instant coffee. I am really a fool. When I was looking out for Manik, I petrified seeing a person come. It was my Nanaji. I instantly bent my head down and hid my face with my hair that was hanging front. It has been years since he saw me, but I hope he won’t recognise me.
FLASHBACK :{“Sharmishta! Sharmishta! Open the door up.”
Opening the door, “(Sleepy) Papa, are you home? Maa isn’t here. Papa!! You are not Papa. Who are you?”
Pushing Nandini down, “You little wretch! You are the one that is making my daughter’s life miserable. You must be just like your father. You don’t even resemble my daughter. How could you have inherited her qualities? Black hair, pale skin, you are the reincarnation of the Devil who has come to kill my daughter and me, just like your father. You are just as stubborn as your father, not letting her go. Why can’t she have the life she wishes just because of eyesore like you? Where is your brother? You are going to the orphanage right this moment. Where is your brother?”
Dragging Nandini, “Let go of me, Maa, MAA help, let go, let go, you bad person”
Throwing her down, “Who is the bad person? She has taken your brother with her, eh? I will come again and make sure both of you get out of her life after the divorce.” He left. I don’t know how long I was crying. My mother calmed me down when she came back. The next day Venkatesh Uncle came to pick us up.“Maa, I am sorry, Maa. I won’t cry. I won’t be a bad girl. Please Maa, don’t send me away, I will be a good girl, Maa. I am sorry. I am sorry. I am sorry!!!”
FLASHBACK ends}
(Manik’s POV) I got there late. The past three days have been the most miserable time of my life. I have never been tardy at work. I tried my best not to let my feelings pull my performance down but I couldn’t help it. Honestly, I don’t feel like doing anything. I was harsh on Jo the other day. I must Apologise to her. It is only obvious of her to doubt my feelings, with me being this type of a guy. I reached there and saw Uncle & Madhyam waiting. I Apologised and asked where Nandini is. They said that she went to get a drink. I went in search for her. I found her slouched over a seat near the vending machine. I could see that she was shivering. Why? I went and stood beside her. No reaction. I patted her slightly. She suddenly clung to me.
(Nandini) “I am sorry, I am sorry!” She was crying.
(Manik) “Nandu.”
(Manik’s POV) She kept crying. Her uncle told that she never has cried but, she has been crying in front of me. I really couldn’t understand why. Maybe, I am the reason this time?
After she calmed down,
(Nandini)“I am very sorry, Manik. I am sorry.”
(Manik)“You ok? I am not mad. I never thought that you would cry for it. I didn’t realise that I was being cruel. I am very sorry.”
(Manik mesmerised) She looked up and gave me her sweetest smile amid her dried up tears.
(Nandini) “Manik, you are so sweet. I wanted to Apologise for talking like that the other day. Don’t say uncle that I cried now. I didn’t cry because you were cruel. You are so kind,
Manik. I remembered something that is why. Besides, you were absolute right. I was a jerk that day. I am sorry. Please, don’t avoid me like that again.”
(Manik’s POV) She said it holding onto me. This girl! She makes me even more miserable. She makes me hope, hope that one day she will be mine and mine alone.
(Manik)“Ok. Up you go. Here (giving his handkerchief), wipe off the tear stains. Let us go and complete the registration.”
The registration went on without any obstacles. When we were about to leave, someone with a loud or more like authoritative voice called out.
(Man) “Is that Iyer? What a surprise to see you here? How are you?”
(Venkatesh) “Ah… Mr. Sen (Nandini’s Nanaji), how do you do? I am good, thank you.”
(Manik’s POV) He glanced at Nandini. She moved closer to me and clung to my arm. She kept looking down. She didn’t look up even once.
(Sen) “I am fine. Fit for my age, I must say so. What brings you here, Iyer?”
(Venkatesh) “On a job with a client. Let me introduce them. This is Ms. Nandini Murthy, a freelance finance consultant, who I am here on behalf of, and Mr. Manik Malhotra, the
Malhotra group heir and his lawyer, Mr. Madhyam Roy.”
(Manik’s POV) I greeted him. Nandini glanced up. I could barely see her smile. Where is her professional smile she gives all?
(Manik’s POV) Why is her uncle calling her Ms.Murthy? No matter, even if she is his a client, she is his niece. I don’t think anyone will address their relatives so formally in front of
someone else.
(Sen) “I am happy to see the younger generation getting serious about life. Not like those days, where they ran around without care of the world and made mistakes, sometimes
irreversible. Though lucky for me, the mistakes of my daughter could be taken care off. If I am correct, the ugly creature, you took in, should also be about the girl’s age. You are a
tolerant man, Venkatesh. You take care of children not wanted by their parents.”
(Sen) “I am sure they must be causing you a lot of problems.”
(He again glanced at her) (Venkatesh) “Unfortunately sir, those two children are wonderful. I can’t believe that no one could see how charming and lively they are. I must confess, they have made me feel blessed more than their parents will ever be.”
(Sen) “Really? But, I could see that both of them didn’t have my daughter’s qualities in them even as children. If they did have some qualities of my daughter’s, I would have at least thought about taking them in. Maybe, I should have given that boy a chance and taken him with me, but in the end, as that man’s child, even he would have also made my daughter’s life miserable.”
(Manik’s POV) Nandu was now completely behind me, trembling and clutching my suit tightly. It was like she was hiding from this man. Madhyam was standing admiring both the men.
Who is that man to make her cower like this?
(Venkatesh) “Real pities indeed, like you say. But thank god they have taken over neither their mother nor their father because they won’t be making the same mistakes of their parents and I am sure they will have more value for how they live and how it affects others unlike their parents.”
Guess Uncle hit his sore spot. Mr. Sen glared at uncle but he didn’t mind it. This conversation is going way off the level of understanding.
(Sen) “Well Iyer, I am glad to see you are doing well with those rats. What were their names again?”
(Venkatesh) “Those rats, your grandchildren, are Priya and Ved. Good to see you, sir. I hope that one day, you will regret letting go of the wonderful children who you call as rats. Good day.”
Mr. Sen walked way without turning back.
(Venkatesh) “Madhyam, your work is over?”
(Madhyam) “Yes, but Manik wanted me to drop him at his office. Can we go, Manik?”
He looked at me. Nandu still hasn’t let go of me. I didn’t know if I was supposed to break off from her. Seeing me hesitate,
(Venkatesh) “I will drop him. You can leave.”
After Madhyam left,
“Nandini, come here, let Manik go. He is unable to move. Come here, honey.”
(Manik’s POV) She didn’t raise her head. She left me and silently went over to her uncle. He hugged her and motioned me to get the car and threw the car keys. What does Nandu have to do with Sen to get upset? Wait a second; Uncle said Sen’s grandchildren are Priya & Ved. Aren’t they Nandu’s and Rishabh’s names, before they were adopted by their Dadaji? Then, he must be their Nanaji. He didn’t even recognise her. Hasn’t he ever seen her? Too many questions were in my mind as I took the car and came. I couldn’t ask her about it. Even so, why does he need me to stay? In the car, Nandu took the back seat.
(Venkatesh) “So Nandini, you want me to tell about that person to Manik?”
(Manik’s POV) I couldn’t see her face but I am sure she would be frowning right now.
(Nandu) “He is not an idiot. He would have figured it out by now. You know who he is, don’t you, Manik?”
(Manik’s POV) The tone of her voice, mockery, was obvious. There is no sign of the girl who was scared and shivering moment back. She is back to normal. “Let me guess. Is he your Nanaji?”
(Nandu) “Yay! 100 points to Manik. It is not a surprise after uncle reminded Mr. Arvind Sen, his grandchildren’s name.”
(Manik’s POV) Her sarcasm hasn’t disappeared. Yup, she is back to normal.
(Venkatesh) “What? Am I at fault here? He asked for your names. Be happy that I didn’t tell him it was you.”
(Nandu) “Yeah right, like you would have told him. You are the last person who wants to see me miserable. You must have tons of questions to ask, don’t you, Manik?”
(Manik) “Maybe, but I do not wish to know unless you want to talk.”
(Nandini) “Oh my! What a gentleman, isn’t he, uncle?”
(Manik) “I will take it as a compliment. A compliment after such a long time from Nandu is good to hear.”
(Nandini) “It is not a compliment.”
(Manik) “I said I will take it as one. Where do you want to go?” I am sure she is grumpy right now.
(Venkatesh) “Go to the house. I haven’t seen it still. And I think the movers from my house will be coming there this afternoon.”
(Manik’s POV) We arrived at the house. Nandu showed uncle around the house, while I waited sitting on the bench in the garden. Why did uncle want me here? He wouldn’t have specifically told Madhyam to leave because he wanted me with him to see the house.
(Venkatesh) “It is a nice house, Nandu. I think Manik must have built it, with you in mind.”
(Manik’s POV) Does he know!? I doubt it. I don’t think Nandu is a person to share such things with her uncle.
(Nandini) “Thank you, Uncle. I am sure this would be one of the many houses he has.”
(Manik) “That is true. The house next to this one is also mine or more precisely, my mother’s.”
(Venkatesh) “Why don’t you get me something to drink other than water, Nandini? I will wait here.”
Nandu looked at him. It was like she was fighting with him in a staring contest. Seeing defeat, she left. Seeing her turn around the corner, he suddenly spoke,
(Venkatesh) “Finally, she left. It will take her at least ten minutes to come back. So Manik, you want me answer your questions?”
(Manik) “Thank you for the offer, but I still prefer her to answer them.”
Venkatesh was happy seeing Manik’s love for Nandini. He told him that Nandini would marry a person of my choice and I Approve of you. If you want I can right away fix up the alliance.
(Manik) “Uncle, I am glad you like me but I will wait till Nandini accepts me as her lover”
(Venkatesh) “I know you will break the wall that she has formed around her and I am happy that my Damaad would be you because Nandini cannot get anyone better than you.”
(Manik’s POV) Just then Nandini arrived. After the soft drink that Nandini had got, Uncle got up abruptly and told that he was leaving and Manik would help Nandini with the moving as he is getting old. When the movers had arrived, both youngsters had arranged the house. After arranging both discussed about their past.
Nandini had told that the reason why she hated love was because of her parents and she didn’t want to make the same mistake what her parents did and Manik shared about how his mother ignored, later how he got to know the reason why his mother ignored and his growing lover for his mother.
Then it was time for Manik to leave, as he knew he would not able to control his emotion that he had for Nandini
Precap : Two months leap