3. THE FAMILY!

Nandini walks ahead with a cute pout while her mouth is working continuously. She is cursing her boss in a positive way making Manik chuckle. He is having a hard time stopping his giggles. Whereas she is unknown to the fact that Manik is following her. She reached the jam room and settled down on a chair, quietly. 

Manik clears his throat to gain her attention which backfires on him. 

Nandini:- ( irritatingly ) what?……. Cough syrup du? ( should I bring cough syrup for you? ) 

Manik nods scaredly and settles down beside her who looks at him with her cute angry pout making him dizzy. Already he is having a hard time seeing her adorable nature and now, her pout increased his miseries. 

Nandini:- what is your name? 

Manik is in a daze of her pout that’s is why he asked the most stupid question. 

Manik:- why?………. 

Nandini:- ( with a lip-tight smile ) because I am interested in you and want to add your name after my name. 

Manik’s eyes come out from its sockets hearing her and unknowingly he whispers which got unheard by her, by god’s grace. 

Manik:- so soon?………… ahh… sorry………. ( stammers ) I mean…….. MANIK………… MANIK MALHOTRA. 

Nandini’s eyes shine hearing his name. She excitedly took his hand in hers and shook it with a broad smile. 

Nandini:- Manik……. Nandini here! 

Manik felt blessed hearing his name from her mouth. Don’t know what effects she is having on him. He never felt like this with anyone. He took hold of her hand and felt her soft palm. He wanted to feel her more but Nandini took her hand back with a big grin. 

Nandini:- are you Punjabi? 

Manik:- yes! 

Nandini:- ( with her all-time chirpiness ) Woh!!……. You know I love Punjabis. They were so sweet like besan ka ladoo, so crispy like bhature, so delicious like chole overall they are a full package like sarso ka saag and makki di roti. 

Manik:- ( confusingly ) you are talking about Punjabi people or Punjabi food? 

Nandini:- ( with a dud! Face ) obviously, FOOD! 

Manik palmed himself and Nandini got lost in her food land. 

Manik:- shall we start? 

Nandini:- ( still lost in her food land ) ya… let’s start from Besan ka Ladoo…… 

Hearing her, Manik looks at the ceiling making a cute adorable pout, and complains, “BABA JI, where I am stuck?”. 

Manik:- Nandini Ji……. I am talking about practicing. 

Hearing him, Nandini comes out from her food land and looks at him confusingly. 

Nandini:- Who Nandini Ji? Whom you are talking to? 

Without saying a word Manik pointed at her, making her eyes moist. 

Nandini:- you are giving me respect?……….. ( gushing over NANDINI JI ) Nandini Ji…… it sounds so cute……. MANIK JI…….. 

Manik is gawking at her with an open mouth because her reaction is out of the world. 

Nandini:- ( wiping her unshed tears ) today you made me happy and as a reward, I will come with you to your house for dinner…… ( punching his bicep in a friendly manner ) You are lucky, my boy, as I didn’t get friendly with anyone so soon but here I melted. 

Now, Manik’s eyes are hurting because they can’t come out more. Don’t know why but he felt that she was lying this time as she seems extra friendly. Whereas Nandini is very excited to have homemade Punjabi food as FOOD IS HER LIFE and she loves trying new dishes but BESAN KA LADOO is her love. He opened his mouth to deny it but Nandini couldn’t let him. 

Nandini:- no… no…….. Manik, Don’t thank me. It’s a family matter. Can’t I come over to your home? 

Manik has no words to say because she invited herself. 

Nandini:- By the way, What is on the menu for dinner? 

Without replying he just prayed that his first album won’t become his last album. But one thing is clear in his mind that now he had to spend two years with this girl which seems impossible. 

Manik:- Nandini JI…. Shall we discuss songs? 

Nandini:- ( cutely giving him a heart attack ) oh…fo…. Manik JI, aapne mujhe distract kardiya. Chalo let’s work….. ( Manik, you distracted me. Let’s go back to work. )  

Nandini arranges her chair in front of him and moves closer to him. Her hot breaths fanned his face, giving him unknown warmth. 

Nandini:- so, sing something before we discuss anything. 

Manik nods and takes out his guitar from the case and settles down comfortably. Nervousness overpowers him once again which is noticed by Nandini. He strummed his guitar but the words didn’t come out from his mouth because the memories flooded his brain. 

Nandini noticed his state and understood that something was wrong with him. She caresses his hand and motivates him. 

Nandini:- come on….. Manik, you can do it. 

Manik nodded and closed his eyes while taking a deep breath. Soon a sad melody rolls out from his memory lane giving Nandini an idea about his past. 

Milne hai mujhse aayi

Phir jaane kyun tanhaai

Kis mod pe hai layi aashiqui

O.. khud se hai ya Khuda se

Iss pal meri ladaai

Kis mod pe hai layi aashiqui

O o…

Aashiqui baazi hai taash ki

Toot.te bante vishwaas ki

O.. Milne hai mujhse aayi

Phir jaane kyun tanhaai

Kis mod pe hai layi aashiqui…… 

Manik ends the song and opens his eyes to find Nandini’s eyes fixed on him. 

Nandini:- Manik, you had so much pain inside your heart. 

Manik hummed whereas Nandini again came back in her usual chirpiness. 

Nandini:- that girl must be so beautiful…no? As you are deeply in love with her till now. 

Manik has taken aback hearing her question plus statement. 

Nandini:- oh… Man, I love …… love stories. ( with a sad pout ) But why don’t I have one? …………. Chalo chaddo….. ( leave it ) Let’s go home. 

Saying this she drags him out after dropping a message to someone. 

Nandini:- ( excitedly ) let’s go home, food must be waiting for us. 

Manik:- food? 

Nandini:- yup!! 

Manik giggles seeing her madness for food and this bought a small smile on his lips. After the drive of 30 minutes, they reached a small house. The house may look small but the warmth which she felt as soon as she got down from her car seems lovely. 

Manik rings the bell and a man around 50-60 opens the door. He looks at him but his gaze shifts and is stuck at the girl beside him. His eyes widened seeing a girl at their doorstep that too besides his son. But before he could say anything Nandini chirped. 

Nandini:- hello…… 

After greeting she walks inside royally pushing the old man slightly who gasped seeing her behavior. 

The old man:- What was that? 

Manik:- ( while palming himself ) don’t worry dad, this is normal for her. 

The old man is none other than his father, MR. RAJESH MALHOTRA. A COMMON MIDDLE-CLASS GOVERNMENT WORKER. LOVES HIS WIFE AND SON A LOT. A SUPER COOL FATHER AND THE WORLD’S MOST ROMANTIC HUSBAND. 

Rajesh:- that’s alright but, Who is she? ( suspiciously ) Did you start doing one-night stands? 

Manik gasped and shouted on top of his tone. 

Manik:- dad!!! What are you thinking? I am pure like desi ghee. 

Rajesh:- ( with a cunning look ) My dear son, nowadays the pure desi ghee is not as pure as it looks. 

Manik:- Dad, stop watching the third-grade movies. It’s spoiling you a lot. She is just a friend…… I mean not even a friend. 

Rajesh:- and you bring your “NOT EVEN A FRIEND” home. 

Manik:- I didn’t invite her. She invited herself. 

Rajesh:- What are you saying? 

Manik:- come inside….. You will understand yourself. 

As they entered inside they heard Nandini talking to Manik’s mother. 

Nandini:- I am Nandini…… Manik’s girlfriend. 

Manik:- what?

Manik’s mother:- that’s not possible. My son is way too shy to even talk to any girl. 

She says knowing her son very well. 

MRS. RITU RAJESH MALHOTRA, MANIK’S MOTHER. A SIMPLE SWEET AND A SUPPORTIVE MOTHER/WIFE. LOVES TO COOK FOR HER FAMILY AND LOVES MANIK A LOT. 

Nandini:- ( giggles ) Well, I am Nandini, his guardian angel. By the way aunty, you are so beautiful I must say. ( pulling her cheeks ) You are so cute as well. 

Rajesh:- ( whispers in Manik’s ear ) She is sweet. I like her. 

Manik:- ( with a lip-tight smile ) You will get to know soon, how sweet she is! 

Nandini:- But aunty more than you, I like grand pops. ( pointing Rajesh ) Is he your father? 

Rajesh:- What the hell!!! 

Manik:- ( whispers back in his ear ) Ain’t she sweet? 

Ritu:- Nandini…… he is not my father….. He is…. 

Nandini:- Cook? 

Rajesh:- ( getting offended by her question ) I am wearing an apron that doesn’t mean I am a cook. 

Manik:- ( hiding his smile ) Nandini, he is my father. 

Nandini:- oh… father! But he looks much older. 

Rajesh:- ( while gritting his teeth ) you need specs to see clearly. 

Nandini:- my eyes are way too good but it’s a fact that you look older than your age. 

Ritu:- Rajesh, what are you saying? She is our guest and how can you talk to our guest like that. 

Nandini:- see…. Learn something from your wife. 

Ritu:- leave all that, Nandini. You come at the right time. Let’s have dinner together. 

Manik:- she comes here for dinner only. 

Nandini nods excitedly and follows Ritu whereas Rajesh cribs. 

Rajesh:- I don’t like her. 

Manik huffed and went behind Nandini. 

To be continued…

HOW IS THE CHAPTER? DO TELL ME…..

IS IT UP TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS?