Crossroads
"But why are they doing this?" Ishitha asked worried about Mukti. "Mr. Sharma ki death case, inspite of what he said they are saying that how he is dead. They are saying that Mukti couldn't even diagnose his tumor, so they've said that she is unfit for the job" Raman said. "Aap ne kuch nahi kaha? How could they unsee all other previous surgeries and her achievements?" Ishitha questioned him.
"You think I've not tried to do it Ishitha! I told them about her capabilities but they said that I'm just supporting her because she is my daughter" Raman said sadly. "But you always gave fair chance to everyone. Even making Mukti asst. Dean was also board decision but why did they suddenly changed like this?" Ishitha said. "I don't know maine Manik ka naam suggest kiya tha Asst. Dean position ke liye but they said that even Manik had a failed surgery this week. I can't believe that they saw only the result and not his hard work" Raman sighed.
"Toh Phir? Kaun hai next Asst. Dean?" Ishitha asked puzzled as she know Raman wouldn't have suggested Abhimanyu's name as that would also make him feel low. "He will join hospital this week, Dr. Aditya Sinha" he said. "Hum Mukti ko ye kaise batayenge?" Ishitha is worried about her. "No, please let's not say it now. Shaadi ke baad aaram se baat karenge usse, till then kisiko bhi ye baat pata nahi chalna chahiye" Raman said.
"Kya pata nahi chalna chahiye?" Mukti entered the room with Mehndi on her hands. Ishitha wiped her tears before Mukti could see her. "Maa, kya hua? Why are you looking sad?" Mukti asked seeing Ishitha's face. "Kuch nahi beta" Raman tried to stop her but Mukti didn't listen. "Mom, meri bidaai kal hai, aaj se hi aap dono ek saath bait kar ro rahe hai? Come on, get ready aapko Mehndi nahi lagwani hai?" she took Ishitha out for applying Mehndi.
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"It's OK tum akeli mat aa jao, I will pick you up from home, don't worry" Manik said in the phone. Nyonika heard him talking over the phone. "I don't want to listen any excuse, I'm coming tomorrow morning no excuses accepted. Baba I'm there to take care of you now. Relax and kal subah ready rehna mummy papa ko drop karne ke baad, I will come to you bye" he hung up his phone and saw Nyonika.
"Mom, I've selected this sherwani for tomorrow, how's it?" he asked her. Nyonika is lost in her thoughts. "I'll go and get freshened up mujhe kahi jaana bhi hai" Manik said entering into his washroom. Nyonika saw Manik's mobile flashing Alya's number. She picked up the call. "Hello Manik" she spoke on the other side. "Hello" Nyonika replied. "Hi aunty, how are you?" she asked her. "I'm fine" Nyonika said. "Manik ne mujhe sab bataya but I've forgot to ask venue address for tomorrow. Can you ask him to message me the address aunty?" Alya asked. "Sure" Nyonika said and cut the call.
She was furious as Manik came out. "Tum abhi tak uss Alya se baat kar rahe ho?" she asked in an interrogative tone. "Ab kya kiya usne?" Manik asked casually. "Did you just promise her to pick up tomorrow morning? Really Manik!" Nyonika asked him. "Mom, did you eavesdrop while I'm talking over phone?" he asked standing still. "I didn't do it intentionally Manik, I just overheard when I'm entering" she clarified. "Mom, maine promise kiya tha pick up karne ko, but not Alya it was Nandini" he said.
"Nandini?" Nyonika asked him. "Yes, chacha chachi ko kisi urgent kaam se out of station jaana pada, she and Navya are staying tonight at their place. I insisted that I'll come and pick them up but no Nandini isn't listening to me. She said that they will come by cab" Manik explained. "Tho phir Alya ne call kyu kiya?" Nyonika asked him. "What did she say?" he asked her. "She asked you message the venue details and address" Nyonika said.
"Mom, please stop doubting on me. Yes I do care for Alya isliye maine uske liye ek driver rakha tha, and Nandini is my responsibility so I will go myself to get her. I know my priorities mom but that doesn't mean I will forget my responsibility. Alya is my responsibility and Nandini will always be my priority. Ye baat main pehle bol chuka hu aur ab phir se bol raha hu" Manik said to Nyonika.
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"Alya, stop" Sonya stopped Alya as she came home. "I've been waiting to talk to you since I came here" she said. "Sorry di, I will just go and get freshened up" Alya excused herself. "I'll be waiting at the dining table, come soon" Sonya said. Alya is confused to answer Sonya. She had at last come to talk to Sonya. "See, what I got made for you, your favorite" Sonya said excited. Alya sat down to have dinner with her sister. "I thought we could go out for dinner, but I don't know if I could do that now" Sonya said. Alya glanced at her. "I mean maybe your doctor wont allow me" she said.
"Di, I know what are you talking about? Sorry, I wasn't in my senses when I did that" Alya felt bad in front of her sister. "Senses mein nahi ho, par ab tho ho na, now tell me how did you thought that you could end your life?" Sonya asked seriously. "Di" Alya couldn't answer. "Tell me Alya, I need your answer? Do you still love Manik?" Sonya asked in low voice. Maybe she asked the obvious question for which she had already knew the answer and Alya's silence proved Sonya right. "Did you forget how did you chose your career over Manik? You are over Manik since 2 years and now! What's this?" Sonya asked. "I tried hard to move on from him di, I didn't even tried to meet or call him in these 2 years but when I suddenly saw him here, I thought it was destiny" Alya cried. "Then what happened?" Sonya asked in haste.
"Manik moved on. He is not that same old Manik anymore. He is asking me to move on and even I tried it but I didn't see this coming. I don't know that Manik and Nandini" Sonya interrupted her. "Who is this Nandini?" Sonya asked. "She is my colleague. Manik proposed her" Alya said blankly. "What? Manik is in love with some other girl?" Sonya couldn't control her laugh. "Di, what happened?" Alya asked cluelessly.
"Come on Alya, Manik tumhe chodke kisi aur pyaar! Nice joke and I'm impressed by your sense of humor" Sonya said. "No, he said that he loves her" Alya made her point clear. "Tell me what happened between 3 of you, I mean you, Manik and that other girl" Sonya asked everything that concerned Alya and Manik.
"So, you still think he loves Nandini and not you. Great! Answer my questions baby, you'll know why I was laughing when you said Manik proposed Nandini" Sonya continued. "Kabhi Manik tumhe ignore kiya? Or kabhi Manik Nandini ko kabhi bhaav diya?" Sonya asked. "Manik ne mujhe ignore nahi kiya, but he didn't ignore anyone in that case. Nyonika aunty has selected Nandini for Manik" Alya said.
"Poor Alya, I think Manik is just bluffing you by taking Nandini's name. Or he is just making you jealous!" Sonya said. "Why would he do so? He knows that I'm head over heels for him" Alya said plainly. "Really! Are you desperate to get Manik?" Alya is scared seeing Sonya. "Di" she said in a low voice. "You said that you've forgotten Manik and trying to move on but then you said you are head over heels for him. How should I believe you?" she asked Alya.
"Di, I thought of moving on but seeing Manik with some other girl, I've lost it. I feel like I'm a failure" Alya broke into tears. "Alya, don't cry baby I'm here. Manik can't love anyone else and be cool, let's make a deal, how about me getting Manik back to you?" Sonya offered her. "But you said that I should forget and move on. Why would you help me in this? And you called it a deal, in return aapko kya chahiye" Alya asked. "Of course darling, in return I need your happiness and yes I asked you to forget him but again tumhari khushi ke liye main ye kar rahi hu" Sonya said and hugged Alya.
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Manik, Nyonika and Shrikant reached the venue with Abhimanyu. "Manik, jasmine flowers leke aana hume Mukti ko dena hai, I think it slipped off my mind" Nyonika said Manik. "OK then I'll go and search" he said and left. He was worried as Nandini isn't answering his calls. He dropped many messages too but didn't get reply. "Mom, here it is. I'll go to see Nandini mom, muhurat mein abhi time hai na" Manik asked her. "Ha time hai, jaldi jao" Nyonika said.
He was about to leave but saw Nandini with Navya, Aryaman and Cabir. Manik couldn't take his eyes off her. He admired her beauty as she draped a creamy white Kanjivaram Sarees with matching pearl jewel set. Her long hair tied into a plat is just an additional asset to her elegance. Manik wondered how could someone look so cute and breath taking at the same time. He was so engrossed in looking at her that he didn't noticed Cabir observing him.
"Beautiful" Manik whispered to himself. "Hai na" Cabir added. Manik came back to the world with Cabir's voice. "Aap Nandini ko aise kyu dekh rahe hai?" he asked Manik. "Aise matlab?" Manik shrugged. "Matlab, main samjhaunga aapko" he called Nandini and Navya. "Dekhiye aaj Navya bhi South Indian saree pehenke aayi hai" Cabir said to Manik as they both came near Manik. "Good morning Navya, you are looking beautiful" Manik complimented her. "Aur Nandini se kuch nahi kahoge?" Cabir said.
"Nandini is beautiful too" Manik added. "But aapne jis tarah se Nandini ko dekha Navya ko aisa nahi dekha" Cabir accused him. "Why would I look at Navya Cabir?" Manik asked. "Because Navya is so beautiful today, look at her, wo kabhi South Indian pehni nahi hai, she told me that she was scared to pull it off but see how elegant she is looking now. Green saree, bangles and her long hair, perfect isn't it" Cabir said as he got carried away. "Aise lag raha hai ki ye koi Devi hai jo aasman se uthar gayi" Cabir said looking at Navya.
"Ha, bilkul vandevata hi lag rahi hai green saree mein" Manik added. Cabir gave a weird look at Manik. "Cabir, I think Shayad main hi galat hu, I know you want everyone to look at Navya na?" Manik had turned the tables on Cabir now. "See Navya, take care of our Cabir, kahi ye tumhara beauty se behosh na ho" Manik warned Navya. "Cabir, what was that?" Navya faked anger on Cabir.
Manik had decently escaped from there not before signing Nandini to meet him at the corner. "Cabir, tum ne kya bol diya?" Navya hissed at him. "Sach hi tho hai" he said and Navya calmed down. Nandini excused herself. "Tum kabse itni sundar ho gayi ho?" Cabir asked her. "Shayad tumne kabhi mujhe notice nahi kiya hoga" she taunted him.
Manik was waiting for Nandini when Alya came along with Sonya. "Hi Manik, good morning" Sonya greeted him. "You here?" Manik asked surprised. "Yeah I was bored at home so I came up with Alya" she told him. "Bored at early morning 4:30! Strange" Manik smirked. "Manik!" Nandini called out for him. Manik, Alya and Sonya saw her. "Nyonika aunty tumhe andar bula rahi hai" she told him. "Yeah Alya, why don't you make yourself and Sonya comfortable inside, I'll just be back in a minute" he said to Alya. "Sure" Alya said.
"Can you show me the way inside?" Sonya asked Nandini. Manik didn't want Nandini to go with them and stopped her. "No, you can't go with them now, I need your help, kuch samaan car mein reh gaya tha" Manik lied instantly. Sonya and Alya came inside. "Di, that was Nandini" Alya said. "What! You said she's your colleague but kya wo Manik ke yaha house maid ki kaam bhi karti hai kya?" Sonya insulted her.
Manik caught hold of Nandini. "Itna time kyu laga?" he asked her. "I was just coming out and aunty said to call you" she said. "Everything can wait Nandini but not this moment" he pulled her close. "Tumne kaha car se kuch saaman nikalna hai" she asked him innocently. "Wo tho ek bahana tha" he chucked it. "Manik, andar mere liye aur tumhare liye koi wait kar raha hoga, let's go please!" she pleaded him.
"Acha, neither me nor you, can go inside until Nandini Murthy Manik Malhotra ko kiss na kare" Manik made it clear for her.
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