Opening his eyes, the first thing Manik saw was Cabir's grinning face.
Sitting up on the sofa straight, Manik tried to adjust with the morning sunlight.
Cabir ( mischievously ) : mujhe nehin pataa tha ki teri biwi ne tujhe bed se hi bedakhaal kar diya! !!!!!
Manik ( pissed ) : kaha sa tu bakwas karne ke liye itni energy laata hai? ????
Cabir ( casually ) : jaha se tujhe aapni biwi ko jheelne ki sakti milti hai naa. ...wahi se! !!!
Manik ( annoyed ) : shut up Cabir! !!!....it's not at all funny! !!!!
Cabir ( calmly ) : theek hai naa. ...ab majnu jaisi shakal baana na bannd kar! !!!!
Ignoring Cabir's comment, Manik straight away asked " Nandini kaha hai? ???? "
Sighing, Cabir replied " subha subha shyaad college gayi hai! !!!! "
Manik ( casually ) : hmm. ...waise kal tumlogo ne uss se kuch kaha toh nehin naa? ????
Nodding his head in negative, Cabir stuttered " kuch. ...kuch bhi. ..toh nehin kaha ....teri khadoos biwi se! !!!! "
Manik ( annoyed ) : shut up Cabir! !!!!...... and I love you! !!!
With his eyes bulged out, Cabir said " chiii. ..... main abhi bhi straight aur single hu! !!!! "
Getting Cabir's point, Manik retorted " kaminey meri bhi shaadi ho chhuki hai! !!!! "
Giving each other disgusted looks, both of them burst out laughing.
6 ' 0 clock in the evening.
Coming out of the kitchen, Manik noticed Nandini climbing down the stairs, with a suitcase.
With a racing heart beat, Manik asked the most dreadful question " tum kahi jaa rahi ho. ..."
For the first time, giving a polite smile to Manik, Nandini said " yup. ....ab mere yaha se jaane ka waqt aa chhuka hai. .... "
Manik ( shocked ) : kyon? ???
Smiling at Manik, Nandini continued " humare contract marriage ke 6 months aaj khatam hote hai Manik! !!!!.....ab mera iss ghar mein. ..aur tumhari zindagi mein rehne ka koi haq nehin hai! !!!!..... ab se humare raaste alag hote hai! !!!! "
Manik just gaped at Nandini, with a frozen heart.
Handing a gift to Manik, Nandini said " I know. ..aaj taak joh kuch bhi tum ne mere liye kiya. ...usska karz main shyaad kabhi nehin lauta pau! !!!..... but this is the least I can do for you. .... please isse khol ke dekho. ..."
Animatedly Manik opened the gift wrap, only to find the last memory of his mother, neatly placed in a new frame.
Nandini ( calmly ) : I know. ...anjaane mein hi maine tumhe bahut hurt kiya! !!!!....usske liye I am really sorry. ...ho sake toh mujhe maaf kar dena! !!!! "
Manik ( numb ) : kaha jaa rahi ho? ?????
Plastering her sadness with an undying smile, Nandini answered " darasal. ...New York ke ek college mein mujhe as an exchange student admission mil gaya hai. ....toh bass kal wahi jaa rahi hu! !!!!....."
Giving a warm smile to Manik, Nandini said " thanks a lot for everything Manik! !!!.....good luck and good bye. .... "
Waving at Manik, Nandini exited from his life, forever.
8 '0 clock in the night.
Ringing the door bell of a flat, in the outskirts of Mumbai, Nandini blankly stared at the door mat.
