Manik is confused. "What is that recipe mom asked for?" he asked Mr. Murthy. "Wo tum ghar jaake apne maa se puchna" he gawked at Manik. Manik and Alya left from there. "Ye recipe and all, what's all this Manik?" she asked him. "I don't know and Nandini bhi yaha nahi hai, she would have helped me" Manik said to Alya. "Chalo main tumhe ghar drop karunga" they started off. Manik was silent for a while and Alya asked him to stop the car.

"What? Why did you ask me to stop?" Manik asked her. "Ice-cream!" she showed an ice-cream parlor. They went in. "Two choco chip ice-cream" she ordered. "No, only one and get a fruit flavored ice cream for me" he said to the waiter. "But chocolate tumhara favorite flavor tha na" she asked him. "Ha but I'm not interested anymore, I like trying new flavors now" he added. "Kitna kuch badal gaye na Manik" she asked. "Change is inevitable Alya, even I'm trying to explain you that. You are constantly saying that everything changed, but the reality is I'm changed. Yes Alya, I was scared of the change back then, but now kuch bhi change hone se mujhe kuch farak nahi padta" he said.

************************************************

Nandini went to meet Nyonika. "Aaj tumhara shift jaldi khatam ho gayi?" Nyonika asked Nandini. "Ha aunty" Nandini greeted Shrikant. "You've called me here aunty, is everything okay?" she asked her. "Yes Nandini of course, its just about you and Manik" she said with a little hesitation. "Dekho Nandini, Manik is kind of shy type wo apna feelings kabhi nahi batayega, he wont tell anything. But hume uski fikar ho rahi hai" Nyonika said holding Nandini's hand. "Nyonika, did you hear what you just said! You sounded like Manik has some disease" Shrikant cracked a joke to make the atmosphere lighter. "Aunty, its okay. You can tell me anything" Nandini assured her as she found Nyonika's hand trembling. "Nandini, I don't know tum kaise react karogi but I need to tell this to you" Nandini's curiosity rose. "Maine tumhe Manik ke liye chuna hai, but you didn't approve him then, phir Siddharth ka confusion hua hai, but can I have a hope again Nandini? Kya tum Manik se shaadi karogi?" Nandini definitely hadn't expected this.

Nyonika was tensed when she didn't get any reply. "Tum chahe tho phir se mana kar sakti ho beta, we wont force you" Shrikant said suddenly. "Ha of course we don't want to pressurize you" Nyonika added. "Nahi aunty aise koi baat nahi hai" Nandini managed to say out of shock. "I can understand what's going on in your mind Nandini. Tum ek doctor ho, I know tumhare schedules kitna busy hote hai, I've seen Manik and we will understand in future too. Manik khud bhi bahut busy rehta hai" she said. Aur tumhara chacha chachi bhi unhe pasand karte hai, I know wo tumhe khush rakega. Main saas banke nahi tumhari maa ban kar tere khayal rakhungi" Nyonika said with tears. "Aunty, I know you. You and uncle are the best anyone could ask for. And Manik is nice guy, he is talented, good looking and is an inspiration to interns to like me. But I don't know wo mere baare mein kya sochta hai. I don't even know how will he react to this" she said. "Agar wo ha bol diya tho tum ha bolegi?" Nyonika asked. "Pehle unhe bolne tho dijiye aunty" she said to calm down Nyonika's curiosity.

"This is not fair beta, everyone says ladies first" Shrikant said. "Aap rehne do, ghar mein auratein sabke khaane ke baad khaate hai" Nyonika clean bowled him. "What if Manik also said the same thing? What if he also says Pehle Nandini ko bolne do" Shrikant had a point. "Aap logo ne Manik se nahi poocha?" she asked them. "Nahi, hum Pehle tum se confirm karke usse poochenge" Nyonika didn't say that her chacha and chachi had called Manik just like they called her. "Tum Manik ko reject kiya na, so we thought we should ask you first" Nyonika said. "So tell me, would you say yes if Manik says yes?" Shrikant asked. "No" she said without a second thought and Nyonika is disappointed. "Its okay beta, we understand" he patted Nyonika to cool her down.

"Aunty, main abhi shaadi nahi kar sakti, I want to get over with my internship first. Kya aap mere liye ek saal wait karenge?" she asked and Nyonika is happy to hear. "Did you actually said yes Nandini?" Nyonika is overjoyed. "Hum itna surprised kyu ho rahe hai? We expected this Nyonika" Shrikant brought sweets. "Lets just celebrate it" he gave sweets to them. "Aunty mujhe kisi kaam ke liye baahr jana hai, shall I leave now?" she asked. "Haa bilkul jaa sakti ho" Nandini is about to leave and Nyonika called her. "Aunty nahi mujhe maa kehna" she hugged Nandini. "Hey let me just capture this happy moment" he took few pictures of Nyonika, Nandini and himself. They bid bye to Nandini and wanted to inform Murthy's about the same.

"Hello" Nyonika spoke excited. "Hello Nyonika ji" Shannoo spoke and Mr. Murthy took over the phone. "Nyonika ji, I know I was little rude with Manik but we were not wrong, usko bhi aisa nahi karna chahiye tha. Wo yaha Alya ke saath aaya tha tho hum usse kuch baat nahi kiya" he said. "Manik, Alya ke saath waha aaya tha!" Shrikant asked her to put the phone on speaker when he heard Nyonika. "Ha, Manik ne aap ko kuch bataya nahi?" Mr. Murthy asked. "No, he hasn't come home yet" Nyonika said. "He must be with Alya then" he said. Shannoo took the phone from Mr. Murthy. "Nyonika ji, Manik ne idhar Alya ke saath aaya tho humne kuch baat nahi kiya" she said to Nyonika. "Aur aage karna bhi nahi hai, we don't want someone who is still stuck on his ex for Nandini" Nyonika heard Mr. Murthy.

"But Nandini said yes. She asked us if we could wait for an year to get them married" she said. Mr. and Mrs. Murthy were shocked. "Hum Nandu ko samjhayenge" Mr. Murthy said after a minute. "Please aap log Nandini se kuch mat kehna, first let us talk to Manik, hum pata karenge Alya ke baare mein. Until then please Nandini se kuch mat kehna" Shrikant said to them. "Ha Shrikant ji, Nyonika ji hum Nandini se kuch bhi nahi kehenge, you need not worry. Acha main rakhti hu" Shannoo said and cut the call.

"Murthy ji, kya bol rahe the aap? Nyonika ji aur Shrikant ji ka galti thodi hai ye! Did you realize how rude you were with them?" she asked him. "Shannoo ji, par aap boliye kya Manik ne theek kiya? Why should we rethink about him jaise ki koi aur ladka nahi hai humare Nandu ke liye?" he asked her. "Because Nandu said OK for Manik. You know how adamant she was, but finally said yes and hume jaldbaazi mein kuch nahi karna hai" she said and he kept quite.

"Nyonika, lets not come to a conclusion, hum Murthy's se phir ek baar baat karke dekhenge" Shrikant said to Nyonika to comfort her. "Manik ne waha Alya ko kyu leke gaya tha?" Manik came home and heard Nyonika and Shrikant talking. "Mom, kya hua?" Nyonika was angry at him. "Kya tum Alya ko leke Nandini ke ghar gaya?" she asked him. "Ha" he answered plainly. "What took you so long to reach home? Tum waha se seedha ghar kyu nahi aaya?" she asked him. "Main Alya ko uske ghar tak drop karne gaya" he said. "Alya, Alya! Har baat pe ussi ke naam! I asked you na Manik, I asked you many times, if you still like her, love her and wanted to marry her but you said no and still you are after her" Nyonika accused him.

"Mom, aisi baat nahi hai, her car broke down, so I just offered to drop her home" he said. Out of rage, Nyonika took her phone and called Alya. "Would you please tell me how can I get my son back from you Alya?" Nyonika had said that before Manik could react and threw her phone. "Mom, could you please tell me what's wrong? Aisa kya hua tumne Alya ko phone kyu kiya" Manik asked her seriously. None of them realized that Alya was still on the call. Alya felt bad as Nyonika accused her for taking Manik away from her. "Aaj Murthy's ne tumhe ghar bulaya to ask you if you would like to marry Nandini?" Nyonika said amidst her tears. Manik made her sit in the sofa and sat in front of her.

"Mom, kya agar mein Alya ke jagah kisi aur ko le gaya tho tab bhi aap aise hi react karegi?" he asked looking into her eyes. "Agar wo kisi aur tumhara ex-girl friend ho tho aise hi react karungi" she said. "What makes the difference mom? Before she was my ex-girl friend or my girl friend, she was my best friend. Isme kya baat hai?" he said. "Manik, this society will never believe that you are just friends with your ex" Nyonika said. "Tho kya main Alya ko aise hi chod du, uske insecurities ke saath. Mom, Alya is in depression, she needs proper counseling, you know how I came out of that difficult phase of my life. I felt cheated, unwanted and it was you and only you that helped me to come out of it, hai na" he asked her taking her hands in his. Shrikant tapped on her shoulders.

"I hope you remember wo kitna mushkil tha mere liye, tumhare liye. Alya is going through the same phase now. I know ye sab uski galti ki wajhe se hai, but I don't find any reason to still hold it with me. I'm not angry on Alya because I really moved on, that's why I can still be normal to her. I promise you again, that I will always stand by you mom" he said and Nyonika kept silent. "In fact I want to realize that I'm changed now, and just think how will she feel if I don't let her know that" he said. Manik didn't talk as Nyonika kept mum. "Kya tum Nandini se shaadi karoge?" she asked Manik. Alya also waited for Manik's answer.

"Mom, I didn't wanted to disclose it to both of you like this, but I had to ask her before telling you" he said. "Manik humne Nandini se already pooch liya and she said yes" Shrikant informed him. "Mom, you asking her and I'm asking her, isn't it different?" he stated obviously. "Tum usse propose karne wale ho?" Nyonika asked wiping away her tears. "Not exactly, I know we like each other but its not as easy as it seems to you mom, I'm complicated. I don't know if I could ever make her happy. Hum ek dusre se bahut alag hai mom. I don't think we can understand each other. Jo uski mann main hai, wo bol deti aur main kisi se kuch nahi kahunga. Even now, I don't know mujhe aap se kya kehna hai" Manik struggled to find words. "Opposites always attract Manik" Shrikant said and Manik smiled.

"Nandini ne ha kaha na, you should ask her Manik" Nyonika suggested. "No mom, I don't want to hurt Nandini, main already usse hurt kiya ek baar nahi baar baar. She deserves only being happy mom. You know whenever I'm with her, I feel like I'm with you. Kitni milthi hai aap dono ki soch! You both make good friends mom. I feel relaxed when I'm with her, I need not worry for anything but I cannot stand the idea of someone snatching her away from me. Kitna kuch kiya maine uske attention ke liye, uss medical camp maine uske liye arrange kiya, wo saree kal Nandini ne pehna tha na, I bought it for her. She used to be scared of me, wo meri paas aati nahi thi, but I was always around her, kabhi usse drop karne ka bahana, kabhi ye kabhi wo. Yaha tak ki I didn't even allowed Siddharth to be near her. Teenagers ki Tarah letters likha tha, phool bheja and those kisses..." Manik continued but Shrikant closed his mouth.

Nyonika and Shrikant were shocked at his confession. "TMI Manik" Shrikant huffed. They both looked at Shrikant. "Too Much Information" he elaborated. "I know dad but you both should know, I thought Nandini ne Alya ko uss din dhakka mara and I was angry on her. I don't want Alya to think bad about Nandini, after all they should be good friends in future. I wanted to punish Nandini but police ko batake nahi, acha hua Nandini proved herself innocent. I was so guilty until she talked to me. There was a time when I thought main Nandini se obsessed ho gaya tha. I was angry that how could she reject me. But I'm still scared of her rejection mom, that haunts me" he smiled. "Ab wo aise nahi karegi Manik" Nyonika said caressing his hair.

Alya was shocked after hearing Manik's confession. She felt broken and called her sister. "Hello di" she spoke. "Alya, what happened? Tu aise kyu baat kar rahi ho?" Sonya, Alya's sister said after she heard her. "Kuch nahi bachi hai di, Manik kabhi mera nahi ho sakta" Alya said crying. "Alya, darling calm down, let it go" Sonya said. "How could I let him go?" Alya said. "Alya, you already know that Manik moved on right?" Sonya asked. "Ha, I thought wo mujhse gussa hai, he said but now, there's no hope. Wo Nandini se pyaar karta hai ab" she said. "What? Manik found some other girl!" Sonya asked Alya. "Ha di, Nandini naam hai uska, she is my colleague and Manik's junior doctor" Alya said crying. "Should I come there?" Sonya asked. Alya thought for a minute. "Aap free ho tho aa jaana di" Alya asked her.

*****************************************************

Navya had a night shift. "Aunty, aap ka injection ka time hua hai" Navya said to her lady patient. "How dare you tu mom ko injection karegi!" her son who was mentally disabled pushed Navya. She was about to fall down but Cabir made her stand. "Ye kya badtameezi hai" Cabir held his collar. Navya stopped him by holding his hand. "Cabir stop, leave him" Navya said to him. "Doctor, please leave my son, wo mentally challenged hai" that lady informed Cabir. Cabir let him loose and he went near his mom. Cabir took Navya out of the room. "Aisi logon ke saath night shift aur wo bhi akeli, koi nurse nahi hai?" he asked her. "No, nurses bhi uss ladke se darthe hai" Navya said with her head down.

"Aur tum? Tum tho kisi se bhi darthi nahi ho na! Na wo uss ladke se, na wo apni bewda baap se, na tumhare saas, sasur se, na apni khud ki life se, hai na?" Cabir asked her and she looked at him. "Why did you go to your dad?" Cabir held Navya by her shoulders. "Aah" Navya was uncomfortable and winced in pain when he did that. "Kya hua Navya? Are you alright?" Cabir asked her remove her apron. He forcefully did that when she resisted. He saw bruises near her shoulder. "Wo sach mein tera baap hi hai na? How could someone behave like this with his own daughter. You might not be afraid of him but I'm afraid ki tumhe kuch ho jaye tho" Cabir said to her.

"Jab tak tum jaisa dost ho tab tak main kisi se nahi darthi hu Cabir" Navya said.

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Hey everyone, I had to write a complete update only on MaNan as it is much needed to clarify few things. Thank you everyone who commented on Reader's choice. I'm not ending this book anytime soon. And I'm NOT starting any other book now. I will write when I finish this. Few asked not to write with Erica Fernandez, so I won't be writing about her. About MaNan's proposal, that's a surprise of course!!!

Happy Reading.....