Manan ff : Love Story of an Introvert ✔️

51. Breakfast with Family

Hello Fam :)

Happy Reading...

Abhimanyu's place

Chachi opens the door and asks everyone to come inside. She stops Manik and Cabir who were standing at the end, all the while glaring them.

Cabir(in a serious tone): Aunty ji, main ek movie kar raha hun as an actor. "Dilwale Dulhania le jayenge" aur uska tagline hoga "Khana banane". Ab SRK ki movie se inspired hai toh main soch raha hun kyun na aap hamari mentor ban jao.

Chachi(sternly): Tu hamesha mere SRK ka naam lekar bach jata hai. Iss baar nahi chalega. Aur tere baju mein jo insaan khada hai, uss se toh mujhe baat hi nahi karni.

Manik(excitedly): Chachi, kitni achi khusboo aa rahi hai. Kuch special bana rahi hai aap?

Chachi(smiling widely): Woh main specially tere liye..(stops and glares him)...main kyun bataun tujhe?

Cabir(mocked): Haan haan specially uske liye. Aur aap expect karti ho ki main daily aap se milne aaun. Kyun? Aap usko pyar se khana khilaugi aur main kya dekhta rahunga. I am upset.

Chachi(scolded): Kitna natak karta hai yeh ladka. Bhag yahan se.

Cabir goes inside and joins the gang who were just behind Shanno, clearly enjoying Manik's plight. She raises an eyebrow at Manik.

Manik(clutching his stomach): Ahh..Chachi. Bhook ke mare pet dard kar raha hai. Where's breakfast?

Chachi glares him and takes him inside, slapping Cabir's head on their way.

Cabir(complained): ouch. Mujhe kyun maar rahi ho aap?

Chachi(accused): Tu hi mere bache ko bigad raha hai.

She goes to the kitchen to bring the dishes.

Cabir(mutters): Yeh kis angle se inhe bacha lagta hai. Hamesha mujhe phasata hai.

Everyone chuckles.

Abhimanyu(dramatically): Guys, that's my mom. Dekha aane ke baad mere se ek baat bhi nahi ki. She loves Manik the most and then Cabir. Nandu bhi inhi ke beech kahi aa jati hai. Mera pata nahi. Mujhse koi pyar hi nahi karta.

Chachi, who just comes towards them to call them, slaps Abhi's head.

Chachi(glared): Kyun baat karu main tujhse? Kya bol kar bheja tha maine tujhe kal Nandu ke yahan?

Abhi(casually): What? Aapne bola beta ja, Nandu akeli hogi. Give her some company. Night-out karo tum dono. Kitna time ho gaya hai tum dono ko time spent kare hue.

Chachi(mocked): Thappad khayega jhoot bolega toh. Maine kahan Nandu ko ghar le aa. Aur yeh ladka ja kar mujhe call karta hai, mom hum nahi aa rahe. Hum dono night out karenge.

Abhimanyu gives everyone a sheepish grin. Before Chachi could scold everyone, Chacha comes wearing an apron.

Chacha(side-hugging Nandu): Gudiya, kaisi hai tu?

Nandu(smiled): Chacha ji, I am superb.

Abhimanyu and Nandu introduce everyone to their parents. They sit for having their breakfast. As per the ritual, Chacha and Chachi start feeding Nandini even after her protests while everyone admires their bond. Chachi saw Alya's food was untouched.

Chachi(inquired concernedly): Arey Alya beta, tum kuch kha nahi rahi. Khana pasand nahi aaya? Kuch aur le aaun tumhe?

Alya(hesitating): I am not feeling hungry, Aunty ji.

Nandini who was finding an excuse to escape ran off to the kitchen. She comes back with a bowl of fruit salad after few minutes. Handing the bowl to Alya, she explained.

Nandu(informed): Chachi, Alya subah-subah oily food nahi khati.

Chachi(smiled disbelievingly): Arey aaj kal ke bache bhi na. Pehle bata deti. Ab ache se khao. Kuch aur chahiye toh sharmana mat. Jaise Abhimanyu aur Nandu hai, waise tum sab bhi mere bache hi ho.

She starts feeding Nandu again and Nandu makes all cute faces. Mukti who sat beside Manik whispered to him.

Mukti(squealed): they are so cute.

Manik(whispered): Told you. Main bhi khilaun tujhe?

Mukti(whisper yelled): No need. I can eat.

Chachi(frowning): Mukti beta, kuch chahiye tumhe? Khao na? Tum bhi oily food nahi khati kya?

Mukti(startled): Nahi Aunty ji. I am fine.

Abhimanyu(teased): Mom, mujhe lagta hai Mukti ko bhi Nandu ki tarah khilana padega.

Mukti glares him. While Chachi stands up from her place and takes a seat beside Mukti. She puts a bite of paratha in front of her mouth.

Mukti(hesitatingly): Aunty ji. Main khalungi na. Aap kyun itni takleef utha rahi hai.

Chachi(n a dismissing tone): Arey chup kar. Isme takleef kya hai. Phat-phat kha le. Dekh tune touch bhi nahi kiya.

She starts feeding her. Mukti had tears in her eyes. Everyone smile at her as they know how Mukti didn't get any love from her own parents. She looks at Nandini and finds her looking at her with a smile. She then looks at Abhimanyu and mutters a 'thank you' to which he blinks his eyes. Chachi, who sees slight tears in her eyes, gets worried.

Chachi(cupping her cheek): Mukti beta, tu ro kyu rahi hai? Theeka hai? Pani chahiye?

As Mukti struggled to say anything, Manik spoke on her behalf after taking her into a side hug.

Manik(smiled): Chachi ji, kuch nahi hua. Use bas apni mom ki yaad aa rahi thi. Haina Mukti?

Mukti nods knowingly.

Chachi(patting her head): Arey, main hoon na idhar. Jab bhi tujhe apni mom ki yaad ayegi, tu milne aaja mere paas.

Mukti hugs her emotionally while Chachi pats her back. Breaking the hug, she smiles widely. Unknowingly Abhimanyu's mom has given her a very big assurance which means a lot to her. She will never miss her mom again.

Cabir(dramatically): Aunty ji, maan gaye aapko. Matlab yeh monster Manik aapka favorite hai aur ab yeh lady bheem Mukti. Aapko bas aise log hi pasand aate hai na. Mujh jaise shareef, susheel, sundar aur agyakari ladke ki toh koi kadar hi nahi.

Chachi(fuming): tu lad mat mujhse. Bas khane aata hai yahan. Ek baar bhi call karke pucha tune ki Aunty ji aap kaise ho.

Cabir(coolly): Aapko puchna hai kya. Aapka mobile bataiye kahan hai. Abhi call karta hun aapko.

Chachi(glared): Chal dramebaaz, parathe kha apne.

After breakfast, they all sit in the living room.

Chacha(confused): Manik beta, Shanno ji bol rahi thi, tum kuch bolne wale the.

Manik(informed): Haan Chacha ji. Woh aapko pata hai na, we used to have a band of us 5 members during school days.

Chacha(puzzled): haan Abhimanyu bol raha tha.

Manik(explained): Chachi, Chacha ji, we want to launch an album of ours. It's in a month and Nandu is taking care of us as our band manager. One month ke baad ek concert hoga along with the album launch. Hum sab isiliye busy rehte hai.

Chachi(excitedly): Arey mera sona munda rockstar banega.

Everyone chuckles at her excitement. They leave after having some chit-chat. Mukti hugs Shanno tightly before leaving. 

Exciting chapter ahead. New Entry. Guess who? :P