In ManPrIa Mansion

Dining table

It was dinner time and everyone were having dinner. Raj isn't in a good speaking term with Manik. He used to talk with Manik but then after knowing that Nandini was pregnant when she left Mumbai just made him lose his temper. Nyonika asked him not to lash out at Manik because they have got kids there and it would scare them..

Nandini was feeding Mia. But this time, even Ayaan and Alish asked her to feed them which she happily agreed to. But, it wasn't liked by two souls. Of course, the ever over possessive Manvik Mlahotra and Prathik Malhotra. They stared at their Mom and the two boys in extreme anger which was noticed by Manik, Nyonika and Raj. The Malhotra couple couldn't understand the reason while Manik chuckled after following the boys' gaze..

Raj ( concerned ): Manvik..Prathik..is everything all right..?

The boys turned their gaze to their grand father and simply nodded and concentrated in having food..Nandini sighed in disbelief, after all mother knows the right thing which bother her kids. Mia was silently giggling after knowing the matter. Their possessiveness isn't a new thing for her..

Manik ( still eating ): Buddy..

Dhruv: Haa buddy..

Manik ( passed his phone ): Don't you find it beautiful..?

Everybody's attention turned towards them except Nandini and the Malhotra boys whose ears were attentive to Manik but didn't look at them..

Dhruv had a look at Manik's mobile and frowned but then saw his eyes which asked him to play along. Frowned, but then Dhruv nodded to his buddy's pleads..

Dhruv: yeah, it is..

Alya ( frowned ): What is it, Dhruv..?

Dhruv didn't know what to speak..

Manik ( interrupted ): Arey Alya..its an article..Actually, Dhruv was talking about mother's day. We used to post a musical video on every mother's day and father's day. I was going through internet social sites to get some information regarding it and guess what, I found the best article..It speaks about a mother's love. Like, no matter what or whoever comes is their lives, a mother will always stay with her babies. She could love only them and can't love anyone else more than them. She would never give her time to someone else as much as she gives to her babies. So, one should never feel insecure about losing their mother..Isn't it beautiful, Muku and Alu..

Mukti and Alya ( smiled widely ): Of course..

They looked at Ayaan and Alish and smiled widely and they returned their cute smiles to their mothers. Nandini was thinking hard why he was speaking about such an article now and she stared at him and saw him looking at Manvik and Prathik from the corner of his eyes. And then, it got into her mind..

Nandini ( thought): How does he know that they were jealous on seeing me feeding Ayu and Alish..

She turned her attention to Mia who was smiling at her father..

Nandini ( whispered ): Baby sahiba..kya apke Dad ko patha hai that your brothers don't like me pampering someone other than you 3..

Mia stopped giggling and saw Nandini's mischievous smiled and she bobbed her head cutely..Nandini faked a glare and Mia smiled sheepishly..

Mia: I know, you are faking it..It won't work on me..

Nandini huffed and pulled her cheeks..

While on the other side, Manvik and Prathik were thinking about whatever their father said and smiled inwardly thinking their mother can never leave them..They started having their food again..

Post dinner

In Mia's bedroom

Mia was sitting on top of Manik's tummy and poking Manik's cheek every now and then..

Mnaik ( frowned ): Princess...kab se kar rahi ho ye...kuch poochna hai..

Mia ( cutely ): Poochna hai par mujhe nahi patha whether you will answer or not..

She kept her finger in her chin and acted like thinking. he smiled seeing his bundle of joy and pulled her cheeks..

Manik: Tum tho bilkul apni Mumma pe gayi ho..chalo, jo bhi poochna hai poocho..Dad is all ears and will answer whatever you want to know..

Mia ( mischievously ): Wo jo article aapne discuss kiya na..wasn't it made up..?

Manik widened his eyes in shock..

Manik: WH..WHAT..Ye tu..tum kya pooch rahi ho princess..

Mia ( smiled cutely ): Aapko patha hai, aap aur mumma mein ek similarity hai..

Manik ( confused ): Aur wo kya hai Daddy's princess..?

Mia ( grinned ): You both can never lie, especially when it comes to me..

Mnaik chuckled..

Mia: Isiliye mujhe patha hai, you were saying about that article because you saw Bhai and Bhayyu getting jealous of Ayu and Alish..right..

Manik sat shocked..

Manik: Baap re..tum tho prove kiya ki tum Nandini Malhotra ki bachi ho..

Mia ( frowned ): Aisa kyu..?

Manik ( smiled ): She knew me well, she knows the reason behind every actions of mine..

Mia ( giggled ): Tabhi tho maasi mujhe carbon copy of Nandini bulathi hai..

Manik too chuckled..

Manik: But baby, don't tell this to your brothers, promise me..

Mia ( raised her eyebrow ): Kyu..?

Manik ( sighed ): Baby, they hate me. I wanted them to feel good. You know, even I am possessive when it comes to your Mumma. I always get angry if she gives importance to someone else other than me, so I could understand your brothers' feeling. I used to vent all my anger on your Mumma and she just shrug it off, well only she has the audacity to do it and I have no problem with it. But, your brothers, they wouldn't like if they gets to know I faked that article thing just to calm them down. They would only speak something to hurt me. I just won't be able to take it too..

Manik's eyes have turned moist at the end thinking about his sons' hatred. Mia hugged her Dad by lying on him and kissed his eyes..

Mia: Don't cry Dad, I know you did a mistake by hurting our mother. I know, you are in pain but our Mumma wasn't enjoying. We have seen her tears, dad, trust me, we cried a lot because of her tears, she never shows it to us, once she think we slept, she jut crawl to a corner and cry her heart out which actually made us cry too..Bhai and Bhayyu are the matured ones while I am sensitive, isiliye they had to take care of us, that's why they are showing this hatred towards you.

Manik ( in tears ): I love your Mom a lot that I couldn't think straight after witnessing all those things. I should have trusted her but my anger made me blind. I lost her and I lost my sons too..

Mia ( wiped his tears and smiled ): No matter what, Mom still loves you and I know that..There would be a day in our lives where all 5 of us will be together..My destiny isn't so cruel..

She winked at him and this little gesture of her's made him smile. Soon, the father daughter duo snuggled in each other's warmth and slipped in deep slumber..

But, all these were heard and seen by two souls who were also having tears in their eyes..

Person 1: Manvik..does he still loves her..?

Manvik: i don't know Prathik, all I know is if Mom has someone in her heart then its still him, Manik Mlahotra..

Prathik ( bit his lips ): He faked that article so that we won't get sad or angry..

Manvik ( turned to him ): He really loves us..?

Prathik ( expressionless ): I don't know..I don't know any damn thing..

Manvik ( hid his tears ): We should sleep..

Prathik nodded and they both went to bed and closed their eyes only to get flashes of Manik's face..They tried sleeping but sleep was far away from them. Frustrated, they got up and Manvik just pushed the vase off the tea-poi..

Manvik ( held his head ): Kyu..? kyu kiya apne wo sab..? Had you been nice with our Mom..had you trusted her..We would have been living a happy life..Aap nahi janthe ye pain..nahi jaan paoge..our cravings for your love, nahi jan paoge aap, Mr. Malhotra..

He pretended to sleep when he heard footsteps. He felt a soft pair lips on his forehead and heard a whisper.." good night, baby " and the person went away..

Manvik ( in tears ): Good night, Mom..

While in Prathik's bedroom..

Prathik punched the punching bad in frustration..

Prathik ( in tears ): Kab thak, kab thak ye hatred dekha pange hum..aao nahi janthe humare baare mein..you don't have any idea how much we LOVE you, how much we want your care but you, you never trusted our Mom..mom, she had to suffer, this bloody society's taunts, her work load, the way she tried to balance her personal life with her profession, sab kuch dekh liya humne..it wasn't easy for her..ye position, ye sab usse aise hi nahi mili, kyu kiya apne aisa..kyu..

He too lied on the bed and dug his head in the pillow so that nobody could see his tear-stained face. He felt a pair of lips on the side of his head and whispered " good night, Mom " and he heard her voice in a whisper " good night baby "..

Nandini walked to Mia's room only to see her sleeping on manik and she smiled in tears after seeing them. She kissed Mia's forehead and looked at Manik who ad frowns on his forehead. She caressed over there and soon he smiled in sleep..

Nandini ( in tears ): Hamare bache ro rahe the Manik, sirf tumhare wajah se..you better wipe their tears Manik warna mein kabhi tumhe maaf nahi karoongi, kabhi nahi..

She wiped her tears and walked to her room and tried to get some sleep..

Next day

On the breakfast table

The kids were nervous today. Something different from other kids to Malhotra kids is, they jsut forget the past soon. no matter how much they cried previous day, they would be forgetting it on the next day..

Soon, others joined them on the table but then looked at the kids in shock. Because, today, Nandini was feeding all 3 kids..

Nyonika: Nandu, aaj in dono ko kya hua..You said, they don't like this feeding food..

Instead of Nnaidni, Mia started giggling much to Manvik's and Prathik's anger..

Man/Pr: Mia....

Mia: What..? I was just giggling..ab ye bhi banned hai kya iss ghar mein..

Nandini sighed in disbelief..

Raj: Arey Prathik beta..tum aise khaa kyu rahe ho..

Navya ( smiled ): Aaj in theeno ko ek test hai, Manvik and Prathi had forgotten about it while Mia reminded them today morning..isiliye thoda nervous hai..aakhir they are the toppers of their school..

They felt proud of the kids..

Dhruv: Bas ithni si baath..uskeliye pampering karna hai kya..

The boys made a bad face and looked at their mother with a puppy face..

Nandini ( chuckled ): Mein kahi nahi jaanewali..don't pay them any heeds..( she turned to others ) guys, ithna kyu tang kar rahe ho..it happens only when they are nervous..

Mia ( sarcastically ): Yeah, Manvik Bhai eats like food is his enemy and never wanted to get close to it while Prathik Bhai eats food like he is for the first time in his life..

the boys again glared at her while others were surprised with the new information. Manvik is like Nandini and Prathik is like Manik, when its about nervousness..Nyonika had a sweet smile on her face..

Nyonika: Raj, they are totally like their parents, hai na..

Raj simply nodded with a smile while Manik was admiring the four important gems of his lives. Soon, they were done with their food.

Nandini: Manu..Prati..Mia..don't get stressed. Bas ek exam hi tho hai, koi mountain climb nahi karna hai, so don't get this nervous aur mujhe patha hai mere babies phirse toppers hi banenge..

ManPrIa: We love you Mom..

Nandini: I love you too..

She kissed their forehead while they kissed their cheeks and bade her bye while Manik was watching all the scene from behind..

Manik ( muttered ): When I ask her not to get nerovus during her exams, she used to get double nervous aur jab apne bache ke bari aaye tho mere hi line repeat kar rahi hai, is she even for real..?

Nandini walked past him..

Nandini ( expressionless ): I heard it, Mr. malhotra..

Manik bit his lips and smiled and shook his head.." Abhi nahi badli " he muttered and stared at her who walked to kitchen by now..

To be continued..