In ManPria Mansion

At night

Eevryone were done with their dinner except the Malhotra kids. they were literally tired with the tests and to irritate more, they are going to have one more test the next day which was enough for them to turn off their mood, so Nandini had to feed them which she was doing without any complains but just an adoring smile on her face..But it wasn't just Nandini, Manik was also present on the dining table because he didn't want to miss any damn chance to be with them..

Mia ( casually ): Mom, I have a doubt..

Nandini: Boliye baby sahiba, I have been noticing you since the dinner have started..quite restless..

Mia ( smiled sheepishly ): You know me well..Actually Mumma, my doubt was.." What's make out"..?

And that was the moment when Manvik spat the water, Prathik choked on his food while Manik and Nandini were staring at Mia with widened mouths..

" WHAT "

Mia got startled with their shouts..

Mia: What happened..? Why are you shouting..?

Manvik ( glared ): Mia..who the hell taught you such dirty things..?

Nandini's gaze turned to Manvik, he was speaking like he knew what does it mean..What the..9 years old boy knows the meaning of " make out "..??

Mia ( coolly ): What's the issue in it..?

Prathik ( gritted his teeth ): First answer your brother's question Mia..How come you know all these dirty stuffs..

Manik's gaze turned to the boys. He was still in the shocked zone after hearing such a matured topic from his 9 year old daughter..

Mia ( got scared ): Bhai, aap mujhe daant kyu rahe ho..?

Nandini and Manik noticed Mia was getting scared..

Manik ( smiled ): Mia..

She looked ant him and saw his opened arms..She turned to her mumma who nodded at her with a smile. She kissed her cheeks and got out of her lap and ran to Manik and sat on his lap..

Manvik ( annoyed ): I asked you something, Mia Malhotra..

His tone was quiet sharp which did scare Mia..

Manik ( glared ): Manvik..

Prathik ( irritated ): He isn't at any fault..

Nandini ( glared ): Prathik..

He understood his mother didn't like his tone which he used for his father and he just hung his head down but with an irritated face while Manvik was still glaring at Mia..

Manik ( nodded ): I know that he isn't at fault but not completely. Your sister maybe is of your age but she isn't that matured like you, so you need to be careful..

Manvik ( pissed ): Really..? Can't we scold our sister now..?

Nandini ( frustrated ): Manvik, if I didn't let Prathik to raise his tone, then it applies to you too..

Manvik gritted his teeth and composed himself while Manik smiled inwardly seeing Nandini's discomfort when their sons raise their volume at him..He turned to Mia who was on the verge of crying..

Manik ( caressed her hair ): Princess..don't even try to cry..I hate tears and will you do something which your super hero hates..? ( she nodded in no with a low smile on her face ) then simply, don't..Now, tell me, who taught you such words..?

Mia ( innocently ): Nobody taught me..I just heard it..

Manik ( raised his eyebrow ): From whom..?

Mia ( cutely ): My best friend, Mary. She said that her mother has a boyfriend and she heard her mother speaking to her boyfriend on phone that " she loves to make out with him " . Mary didn't understand it's meaning so she asked me but I too didn't know. I thought of asking Mumma, because she is big na..

Manik sighed in relief and so Nandini. While her brothers looked pissed again..

Prathik: We told you to stay away from that girl. She is just 9 years old and has dated 5-10 guys..

Manvik: I just hate that girl, we told you she will spoil you and see she has done in now..

Mia ( nearly in tears ): Mujhe nahi patha tha wo dirty hai..

They looked at her sad face and got melted while Nandini smiled at her cute bundle of joy..

Nandini: Manu..Prati..

She pointed at Mia and gestured them to make her happy..They smiled and moved towards her and bent in front of her who was still sitting on Manik's lap..They held their ears..

ManPr: Sorry baby princess..

She smiled and a tear just fell from her eyes which they wiped it and kissed her cheeks which increased her smile..

Manvik ( cupped her cheeks ): Princess..we never liked that girl which is why we asked you to stay away from her..

Prathik ( held her hand ): Whatever she said you is something you shouldn't know, its dirty and Mia Malhotra would never learn something dirty..will you..?

She nodded in No cutely and they smiled at her widely..

Manvik: So, don't pay any heeds to such things..Learn only good stuffs..Mumma taught you good so follow her path..Won't you baby sahiba..

She grinned and nodded in yes while Nandini had tears in her eyes seeing her sons to speak something so matured while Manik was admiring them..If they were his photo copies then they had their mother's goodness in them too..

Prathik ( smiled ): Chalo..ab jaakar soja..Maasi would be waiting for you to narrate stories..

She bobbed her head and turned to Manik and kissed his cheeks..

Mia: Won't you come to make me sleep..

Manik ( chuckled ): Of course, I will..Navya is waiting for you, once she moves out of your room I will come to you..

She smiled and kissed her brothers and then moved to Nandini and kissed her cheeks..

Mia ( cutely ): I need your kiss before sleeping..

Nandini ( winked ): My kisses are always for free, only for my baby sahiba..

Mia giggled and moved upstairs and Nandini turned to the boys..

ManPr: What..?

Nandini ( glared ): May I know from where did you learn it..?

Manvik ( avoided eye contact ): What Mom..?

Nandini: ( glared ): Manvik and Prathik..mujhe jhoot pasandh nahi hai..

They sighed in defeat..

Prathik: Mom, we were watching a film with friends and we came across some dirty stuffs..

MaNan: WHAT..

Manvik ( closed his ears ): We didn't continue the film, we stopped watching it..

They sighed in relief..

Prathik ( sighed ): Can we go to bed, mom..?

Nandini nodded in yes with a smile..The boys got up and kissed her cheeks and moved upstairs by giving a secret glance to Manik. Deep inside their heart, they wanted to kiss him good night but then whatever he did wasn't forgivable too..

While Manik was sitting with an expressionless face. He wanted to ask his sons to never come across such movies which will spoil them but then he knew they wouldn't like it.

Nandini ( sternly ): Your blood can never be impure..

He snapped his head at her and saw her moving to kitchen. He walked to her and leaned onto the kitchen's door..

Manik ( sighed ): If you could care for my emotions then why can't you stop pretending to be this cold..?

Nandini stopped working and shot a glare at him for which he looked here and there nervously..

Nandini: I never liked acting cold but then someone made me do it..

Manik ( guilty ): I know, a sorry would be nothing in front of whatever you suffered but everyone deserves a second chance..won't you give me another chance..

Nandini ( coldly ): I already told you Manik..I wouldn't budge until you gain my kids' love..

Manik ( smiled ): Then you should cooperate with me..It was you who asked me to gain their love and for that I need your smile. You know, it's my key to success..

Nandini moved past him but he held her hand and pulled her slightly to his chest..

Nandini ( shocked ): Manik..

Manik ( smiled ): I won't do anything until you allow me to..( she stared at him with softened eyes ) But just give me a chance..I know you will give me a chance if gain our sons' love but it would be just for their sake..I want your LOVE..Not for anyone's sake, not our family, not our kids..only for us..

Nandini ( in tears ): You broke me..

Manik ( in tears ): And I want to act selfish by being the one to mend you..

She held his collar on her fist..

Nandini ( whispered ): Then heal me..But, I will be making it difficult for you..

She released herself from his hold and dashed to upstairs leaving a smiling Manik..

Manik ( whispered ): And I will win your heart by crossing that difficult path..

Next Day

Nandini's room

It was a bright morning. Sun was shining to it's brightest color. Maybe even it wanted to light two torn apart souls' lives..

Nandini opened her eyes slowly and stretched her arms. She sat up and smiled lightly at the sun as if greeting it with her smile..

Her gaze fell on the clock which was kept on the side table..

Nandini ( freaked out ): Oh shit, its already 7..

She was about to move out when her gaze fell on the bouquet of fresh Orchids..She stared at it with tears in her eyes and took it in her hand..

Nandini ( softly ): Manik...

She knew it was done by Mnaik. She had a habit back in their college days, to wake up in her Love's arms and see his face for the first when she open her eyes. But, he too had a habit and that was to gift her a bouquet of orchids because they were his favorite. Manik loved orchids a lot and so he gifts her every morning by saying " the most beautiful flower to the most beautiful dream come true of mine.."..That was his way, he would never wish a good morning to her but only this sentence and this was something Nandini adored. She always says " He is unique and I am proud of my Love, my Manik.."

But now, this memory seems too tragic to her.. She kept the flower back on the table back and rushed to get ready but this act of her's just pricked someone's heart..Manik was watching every expression of her's very keenly. When she caressed those flowers with tears brimmed eyes, he knew he was the reason for it and he could only let out a light sob and when she threw the flowers back, his tears didn't stop..

Manik ( teary eyed ): The day will come, when you will wish me back like how you used to, 10 years back..

Downstairs

The Malhotra kids got ready to go school while NavNi and Fab 5 left for their works after dropping the kids in school. Ayaan and Alish were left in the mansion with Raj and Nyonika..

In the evening

At school

Manvik and Prathik were sitting with annoyed faces while Mia was sitting in front of them with a wide grin on her face..

Manvik ( glared ): Mia..for heaven's sake, let's call Mumma to pick us from our school..

Mia ( whined ): Bhayyu..I told you right, let's wait till Dad comes..

Prathik ( frustrated ): God, Mia..he won't come and why would he come to meet us..

Mia ( grinned ): Because, its FATHER'S DAY..

Manvik ( chuckled sarcastically ): Jis insaan ko khabar thak nahi ki hamari Mom ki khushi unmein tha koi aur mard mein nahi tha, aaj wahi insaan hamari khushi keliye kuch karega...? Tu kabse ithni bholi ban gayi..

Mia made a helpless face..

Mia: Bhayyu..maana ki Dad galath that..in fact, he hurt our Mom to no extent, par kya iska mathlab ye hai ki wo Mom se pyar nahi kartha..kya iska mathlab ye hai ki wo humse pyar nahi kartha..

Prathik ( straightforwardly ): Love has no meaning without trust in it..And, he never trusted our Mumma, then how could he love her..Aur rahi baath hamari..When did he even care for us at least to love us..?

Mia ( annoyed ): I don't know if somebody could love someone without trusting them or not but I do know, that our father loves us..And, he does love our Mumma..if you can't believe then just stare in his eyes because just like how our Mumma used to say, his eyes speak more than his tongue..

Manvik and Prathik just kept quiet but then got up after keeping their bags on their left arms..

Manvik: Your Dad won't come here to join you to attend Father's Day Extra class..Sp, get up..

Prathik ( interrupting ): And now, don't you try to open your mouth just to defend him. We aren't gonna listen..

Mia got up with a sad face and held her bag in her hands and started moving with Manvik and Prathik who were hiding their pain in their eyes..Suddenly, Mia noticed something or rather someone and her eyes shined in joy..

Mia ( shouted ): Dad...

Hearing her shout, the boys got startled and looked at her but she already stated running and they saw her crashing in someone's arms..

ManPr ( whispered ): He came...!!

It was Manik Malhotra..They saw their little sister clinging onto their father with happy tears in her eyes..

Manik hugged her back but was confused with her behavior..they broke the hug and he saw some tears in her eyes which was enough to make him panic..

Manik: Mia..baby..what happened..? Why are you crying ? Kisine kuch kaha kya..? Tell me..

Mia ( smiled ): Nahi..kisike paas himmath hi nahi jo Manvik Malhotra aur Prathik Malhotra ki behen ko tang kare..

Manvik and Prathik stared at their sister with a smile..

Manik ( smiled ): Wo tho hai..but, why these tears..Mene kuch galath kiya hai kya..?

Mia ( cupped his cheeks ): Nahi..bas, aapne ek galathi ko sudhar liya..you came to meet us just because of whatever I said yesterday, right. I told you about our school's functions which will be held during Father's day. I knew it, I knew you will come..Aapko patha hai, for every father's day, we skip our half day just to escape the happy faces of these kids who used to come with their fathers while we didn't have you beside us..I used to cry for you Dad, but you never came..par aaj..

She hiccuped in tears and Manik just took her in his arms and rose to his feet. They both cried in each other's arms, while Manvik and Prathik looked away and wiped their tears so that nobody could notice it..

Manik ( wiped her tears ): Bas prince..aaj Papa ki jaan nahi roegi..Dad apni har galathi ko sudharne ke koshish kar rahe hai..Meri sabse badi galathi aapki Mumma pe bharosa na karne ka tha jiske wajah se mere bache bhi tadpthe the, par aaj ke baad sab kuch sudhrega..Your Dad wants to have a happy family and I want no tears..Will you stretch this cute little lips into a smile so that I could get my peace..?

Mia bobbed her head and smiled widely much to his relief. He pecked her forehead and moved forward just to see his sons looking here and there. Sensing his gaze, they looked at him to see him smiling at them. They took their bags and started walking..

Manik ( sternly ): Mere theen bache hai, sirf ek nahi..So, come with me..

They turned to him with an angry look on their faces but got shocked seeing him walking inside their classroom with Mia by shrugging his shoulders at them, it looked like he wasn't affected by their anger. They looked at each other with pissed faces but then followed Manik..

In classroom

Manik sat on the first bench with Mia on his lap and Manvik and Prathik joined beside him and shot glares at him which he shrugged off royally..

The students were shocked to see the Malhotra students attending Father's day extra classes while the teacher was gaping at Manik in shock..

Teacher ( stunned ): Manvik, Prathik and Mia..What is he doing here..? Manik Malhotra..OMG...Sir, you don't need to pressurize yourself by making her sit in your lap..

Instead of the kids, Manik replied..

Manik ( rudely ): Manik...Manik Malhotra..my surname would be enough for you to understand who I am but still, let me make it clear..Manvik, Prathik and Mia Malhotra are my KIDS..I am their father..

The teacher looked at them with shocked look, she was literally ogling at Manik, she was an Indian and knows who Manik is and what's his position in India while Mia made a disbelieving look..

Mia ( muttered ): Mom was right, after all..Like father, like sons..

But to her bad luck, the rest 3 heard it..Manik chuckled but the boys glared at her which she too ignored..

Prathik ( thought ): What's wrong with this father-daughter duo..

Manvik ( thought ): They just ignored me..Me..The Manvik Malhotra...How rude..

Manik clicked his fingers in front of the teacher..

Manik: What..? Don't you have a class to start..?

The teacher gulped in fear and nodded at him..Soon, the class got started and Manik was listening to it patiently. He even sketched in papers with his kids. Mia admired her father and used to kiss his cheeks for every now and then making him happy while Manvik and Prathik for the first time, admired their father. They felt some kind of respect for him..they stared at him with a sweet smile on their lips..

Manvik ( thought ): He isn't that bad..

Prathik ( thought ): Mumma was right, he is like a coconut, hard from outside and soft from inside..

ManPr ( thought ): Maybe, we should give him a chance..

The boys looked at each other with a smile after knowing their thoughts even without speaking it loud..

To be continued..