Manan:Hamesha. Forever.

20

Nandini was sitting in her room lost in her thoughts. Chachi who actaully walked in with snacks saw her all lost. Chachi frowned and called out for her.

Chachi: Nanduuuu

Nandini was too lost in her thoughts to even feel Chachi's presence. Seeing her not responding Chachi got worried and placed the snacks on her study table. She then sat beside Nandini and touched her cheeks to gain Nandini's attention. Nandini flinched.

Chachi: Nandu...bacche kya baat hai? Kahan khoyi hui hai tu?

Nandini: kahi nahi Chachi.....aap batao....aap ko kuch kaam tha?

Chachi: nahi beta.....main toh bas tere liye naashta leke aayi thi...maine socha tu college se aayi hogi bhook lagi hogi tujhe.

Nandini: nahi Chachi mujhe bhook nahi hai.

Chachi looked at Nandini suspiciously. The lost look on her face and the disinterested tone in her voice made Chachi realise that Nandini is surely disturbed.

Chachi: Nandu koi baat hai jo tujhe pareshaan kar rhi hai.

Nandini: nahi Chachi aisi koi baat nahi hai. Woh bas aaj ka day bohot boring tha.

To lighten her up Chachi smiled.

Chachi: boring toh hona hi tha, mera sona munda jo nahi tha tere saath.

Nandini didn't even smile, forget blush; at the mention of Manik's name. Now Chachi was sure something was troubling her.

Chachi: beta main jaanti hoon ki main kabhi teri amma nahi ban paugi lekin tu yeh baat jaanti hai na ki tu mujhe bata sakti agar tujhe koi baat pareshaan kar rahi hai toh.

Nandini: haan Chachi.....aap aur Chacha mere liye utne hi matter karte hai jitna Amma aur Appa. Aap please aisa kuch mat sochiye.

Nandini slowly lies down keeping her head in Chachi's lap. Chachi smiled and caresses her hair.

Chachi: kya baat hai bacche?

Nandini: Manik....

Chachi: Manik kya? Kuch kiya Manik ne? Ya kuch kaha usne tujhse?

Nandini: ni Chachi Manik ne kuch nahi kaha. Bas.....pata nahi Chachi kuch samajh nahi aa rha. Sab sahi lag raha hai aur Sab galat bhi.

Chachi kept caressing her hair.

Chachi: kya galat aur kya sahi beta

Nandini: Chachi aap jaante hai na ki Manik aur main......Hum......I mean woh aur main....

Chachi: girlfriend boyfriend ho yahi na?

Knowing there was no point denying when that was the truth she simply nodded. Chachi smiled affectionately.

Chachi: aise hi thodi main usse Shah Ruk jitna pyaar karti hoon.

Nandini giggled.

Chachi: Yeh bata ne ke liye tu pareshaan thi?

Nandini: ni Chachi.

Chachi: phir?

Nandini: Chachi Manik na ekdum se badal gaya hai. Matlab woh jo gusse wala Manik tha na woh toh jaise kahi gayab hi ho gaya hai. Main yeh nahi kehti ki isme kuch galat hai. Infact accha hai. Ab woh gussa kam karta hai aur shaant rehta hai. Lekin Chachi pata ni kyu mujhe kuch theek nahi lag rha hai. Matlab.....pata nahi Chachi ek ajeeb sa darr. Kahi yeh sab jo hai woh ek sapne ki tarah toot gaya toh?

Chachi being a mother understood exactly what Nandini was trying to say. She smiled and gently kissed Nandini's forehead.

Chachi: Yeh sab na tere pyaar ka asar hai. Yeh tera pyaar hi hai jo usse majboor kar deta hai gussa kam karne ko. Woh jaanta hai ki uski Nandini usse dard main nahi dekh sakti bas isiliye woh apne aap ko badal raha hai tere liye. Taaki woh tujhe khush rakh sake. Taaki woh tujhe duniya ki saari khushiyaan de sake.