Stars and Fireflies - Manan

Chapter 37

Next morning

Malhotra Mansion

"Mannu" dadi called while coming in manik's room.

"Good morning dadi. Ap yaha" he asked while wearing his blazer.

"Kyo m kya ab tere room m bhi nahi a sakte kya." Dadi asked sternly confusing manik.

"Nahi aisa nahi h. Apko kya hua aise h
Ko bolri ha ap" manik asked while holding dadi's hand and brought her in. He made her sit on his bed and himself sat beside him.

"Ab bataiye kya hua" he again asked while keeping her palm on his checks.

"Naraj hu m tujhse" dadi said sternly while slapping him slightly on his cheek.

"Arre ye kaise hua." He asked playfully making dadi glare at him.

"Ohk fine. Bataiye" he said while getting serious.

"Ye kya karra h manik tu. Soha se shaadi kyo. " Dadi asked seriously.

"Dadi..." He said while rolling his eyes on the topic dadi wants to talk.

"Listen to me first." Dadi said sternly making him quiet.

"Usdin jab maine aur raj ne tujhse pucha tha about shaadi with soha toh kyo mana kardiya tha ha bol. Aur parso raat ko bhi mana kardiya tha fr kl achanak kya hua aisa h. Ek raat m aisa kya hogaya jo tera decision badal gaya ha bol." Dadi asked but manik remained quiet with no answer.

"Tujhe kya lagta h mujhe kuch samjh nahi atta m buddhi jarri hogae hu par mujhe dikkata sab h." Dadi said emotionally.

"Dadi ap aisa kyo bolre ho. Aisa kuch nahi h it's just ki maine.....maine socha is bare m and thought ki she is a nice girl aur isme burai kya h" while saying this he moved towards other side. He can't lie while looking in dadi's eyes.

"Acha kya baat kya acha lag gaya tujhe usme aisa. Ek chalti phirte make upki dukan h vo. Aur kapde dekhe h uski pta hi nahi chalta ki usne kapde phne h ya kapdo ne usse phena ha." Dadi said while remembering soha's yesterday's dress.

"Haha dadi ap bhi na" he said while laughing at dadi's description.

"Aur kya ek urvashi kaam h jo ye soha bhi ap hamare ghr m aege." Dadi said making manik serious at the mention of urvashi's name.

"M apke raj ki zindagi already kharab hote dekh chuki hu ab tere nahi hote dekh sakte. Jo glti mere bhaiya ne ki thi vo hi galti aj tu karne ja raha h manik. Yahi glti ki thi unhone bina soche samjhe vada kardiya tha aur fr apne reputation bachane keliye usko pura kiya tha. Tu bhi vahi karra h. " Dadi said remembering the past.

"Dadi aisa nahi h kuch bhi" manik said while avoiding any eye contact with her making her chuckle.

"Pta h mujhe sab tujhe kya lagta h isse urvashi tere maa ban jaege ha. Nahi vo aurat is layak ho nahi ha. Tu raj ki reputation keliye ye shaadi karne ko taiyar h. Par tu ye bhul gaya ye tere puri life kharab kar dega. Manik m tujhe khush dekhna chatte hu. Us ladki ke saath jisse tu pyar karta h." Dadi said astonishing manik.

"Aise koi ladki nahi h dadi. Ap ko kisne kaha " he fumbled badly.

"Maine kab kha ki aise koi ladki h jo tu itna ghabra raha h" dadi asked with raised eyebrows.

"M kyo ghabrata. Aisa kuch nahi h aur m kissi ke liye kuch nahi karra. M ek malhotra hu aur ye mere responsibility h ki m usko maintain rakhu cahi uske liye mujhe kuch bhi karna pade. Aur ap tension mat le m kuch galt nahi hone dunga. Rahi baat shaadi ki toh I m ok with it toh al please stress mat le" Manik said making dadi huff at his stubbornness.