What Manik Wants!

3. A Step Ahead!

"Nandini I am sorry once again. Please take good care of yourself and don't stress your knee. Have these medicines on time! Kuch bi problem ho call me up I'll be there! And take care!" He said smiling at me and finally bidding good bye after a tiring day. "Ouch!" I wailed in pain as I took two steps further towards my house. "Nandu are you fine?" He came back panicking as he heard me scream. "Kya hua you aren't able to walk? Ye sab meri galti hai!" Blaming himself he did not give me a chance to speak and after a thinking session he finally bent down and picked me up settling my hands around his neck. "Manik ye Tum kya kar rahe ho? I can walk! Chachi dekh lengi please put me down" I pleaded him as I was afraid of the consequences after people see us like this. "I am carrying you up till your room! And don't worry about Chachi I will handle her. Now not a word! Shut up I could see how well you could walk"

"Hayee Nandu! Ye Kya ho gaya tujhe? Aur ye munda toh apna Manik lagta hai! Ye is tarah tujhe godh mein Kyu uthakar khada hai!" I knew the moment we would enter Chachi would over react watching us in this position. "Chachi Chachi Chill main Manik hi hun aur Nandu ko kuch nahi hua hai! Woh hum dono ka I mean Nandu ka chotasa accident hogaya tha apni scooty se. Par don't worry maine doctor se consult kar liya. She will be fine!" Thank heavens Manik managed it all before Chachi would bring her domestic ideas of treating me. She nodded while she touched my cheek. "Main Tumhe room tak chod deta hun!" He said looking at me and I blinked my eyes in assurance. "Upar jaake left mein hai Manik beta!" Chachi yelled informing him about the directions to my room. As he moved ahead he kept instructing me how to make it well but after a point I went deaf. I could only see his broad and strong shoulders perfectly holding me. For those couple of minutes I wanted to completely drown in the moment. Because I knew that this feeling which I was experiencing may not come again ever in my life. That smile which appears itself and your lips form a curve just on a glance. Those two pair of hands were the most secure place for me. I knew he won't let me fall. The longer he held me and the tighter his grip made my smile touch my ears. I wish the clock could just stop even if I had to jump on it and stop the time I wouldn't mind doing that because it's for him! But wishes are wishes until they become reality. "Nandu! Here we are!" He said and brought me back from my lala land. "Now..."
"I know I know Mr.Manik Malhotra enough of instructions for today! I know I have to take care of myself I am not a baby Manik!"
"Ya ya I know!"
"Are you trying to tease me?" I asked him and he started to rush out of my room. "N..No Bye I am leaving before I get attacked! Good Night! Sweet Dreams"

I smiled after he left! Though somewhere it pinched my heart that he left because I wanted him to stay besides me all the time. It was like my heart was asking for a compensation for all the years I spent without him. If it would have been in my hands I wouldn't have let me him go away from my eyes even for a minute! I carefully got up and opened the same cupboard again! A bundle of pictures tied up with a rope caught my eyes. I grabbed it as eagerness travelled through my body to see those pictures. It wasn't the first time I was seeing them but still each time I saw them it was like the first time. The first picture! Thanks to Navya for capturing that picture.