"Baba jani!" The only word which Manahil was repeating continuously hugging her father was this.

I was standing idol on my place.Seeing the love of my life after four years, felt like a dream.The world around me went blur,the only  i could see was that man and my daughter collapsed in each other's arms.Before i could realize tears were pooling down my chin.

"Baba ki jaan!"He broke the hug,fat tears rolling down his chin fearlessly.His words were mere whisper but i heard them and my heart surely skipped a beat,listening his voice after four years. 

"Aap kahan the baba jani?" Manahil too had started crying along with her father. 

"Meri guriya!"He cried kissing her face crazily and unknowingly i stepped back.

"Main aul mama jani aapto inna sala yaad kalte the!"She cried on his shoulder and his eyes shot up at me.

A drizzle sizzled down as our eyes met.His lower lip wobbled as he stared at me without blinking his lashes.Uncountable tears crawled down my cheeks looking into his still that passionate eyes and i stepped forward in daze only listening to my thundering heart.He too stood up after holding Manahil in his arms.

Jaane wafa hoke be-karaar!
Jaane wafa hoke be-karaar!

Our feeble steps inching closer.Our hearts shuddering,the beats were on halt.

Barso kiya maine intezaar!

Kiya nasha iss pyaar ka hum pe sanam chane laga!

Just one step more and i would be so close to him.

Dil be-basi main chupke se rota hai!

I raised my shivering palm to touch him but my hand stopped in air realising what sin i was commiting,once again.He looked at me with his painful eyes full of tears and i palmed my mouth before running back to the stairs.

Kiya karoon haaye kuch kuch hota hai!
kiya karoon haaye kuch kuch hota hai!

"NO!"I cried falling on bed.

My face dug in pillow was drenced in tears.The pillow beneath has turned wet in no time.

"THIS CANT HAPPEN!NO!"I punched my fist in the pillow,yelling with tears.

"Kyon?Kyon meri zindagi main wapis aa gaye aap?Kyon?"My voice softened automatically as tears decided to sprout with more intensity. 

"Main pehle bhi jee rahi thi na aapke baghair!Ab bhi jee lungi!Lekin aapke sath main mar jaongi Manik!Main mar jaongi!"I cried hard resting my jouncing cheek on pillow.

"Mama jani!"Manahil came running to me and i sat on bed taking her in my arms hurriedly.  

"Meri jaan!Meri duniya!"I hugged her tightly after kissing her like a mad.The fear of loosing her was somewhere growing in my heart. 

"Minno!Hum abhi chale jayenge yahan se!Haan!Mama aur Manahil sab se dur chale jayenge!" Licking my lips,cupping jer cheeks i muttered hastily and was about to stand up when she mumbled,
"Nhi!Mughe baba jani k sath lehna hai!"

My grip around her loosened.I looked at her with plain eyes when she spoke,
"Sab k baba jani hote hain!Mughe bhi baba jani chaiye mama!"

Ek beti ko uske baap se alag karna na jaiz hai Nandani!

The subconscious part of my brain roared at my face with disgust.

"Acha aap yahan betho mama abhi ati hain!"Drinking my tears back i wiped my cheeks and made her lay on bed. 

"Whele are you going mama jani?"She asked frowning as she saw me hanging my handbag on my shoulder.

Aap se dur meri jaan!Apke baba ka bhi haq hai aap se pyaar karne ka!

Two tears trickled down my cheeks but i wiped them before Manahil could notice.

"Main abhi ati hn!Aap tang nhi karna kisi ko!Acha bacha ban k rehna theek hai?"Holding her little palms i made her stand on bed and she nodded smilingly.

"I love you minno!"I kissed her little palms with teary eyes and she in return kissed my palms."I love you too mama jani!" Swimming tears fell from my eyes listening her pure confession and i hugged her,embracing her tight in my chest.

"Aap kyon lo lahe ho mama jani ab tou baba jani bhi aagaye!"She caressed my hair listening my sniffs and i smiled sadly.

Aapke baba jani aagaye isiliye tou ro rahi hn main!

"Nhi tou!Im not crying!"Moving back i wiped my eyes and exclaimed with wide eyes.She being innocent smiled and again kissed my cheek.

"Bye minno!"Moving towards door i waved my palm at her and she raised ber eyes at me while playing with her cinderalla colouring book which i just gave  her to keep her engrossed.

"Bye mama jani!Come soon!"She waved back at me before getting busy with her colouring book again.  

I smiled at her and turned around hastily,running out of the room,crying all the way.

"Kahan ja rahi hai?"As i was about to cross the main exit frame bhaiya came infront,blocking my way.

I looked at him with my blistered eyes,"Mughse sawal karne ka haq kho chuke hain aap!Raasta choriye mera!"

"Apne kamre main ja!"He ordered slowly in a stern tone and i glared at him.

"Leave my way!"I clenched my teeth.

"Maine kaha apne kamre main ja!"He too clenched his teeth.

"Aap hote kaun hain mujhe rokne wale!"Aggression overpowered me and i shouted at him but he looked no shocked as if he knew my reaction from the very beginning.

"I don't think i need to answer this!Go to your room!"He spoke seriously and i rolled my eyes.

"Arey Harsh jane de!Wese bhi iski tou aadat hai bhagne ki!Darpok jo hai!"A mocking voice from behind and i shivered like anything.The owner of the voice was familiar,very familiar.I know he was taunting me.

Without giving attention to the words spoken from the man behind i looked in bhaiya's eyes,
"Leave my way!"My tone had a threatening taste.

"Is se pehle main tughe kuch ghlt keh dun apne kamre main chali ja!"Bhaiya too threatened me in his more dangerous voice.

"FOR THE HOLY SAKE JUST LEAVE MY WAY!"I yelled with teary eyes and Bhaiya curled his fists angrily.  

"NANDANI!"He roared and i flinched suddenly.Tears escaped from my eyes.

"PAGAL HOGYA HN MAIN TUGHE SAMBHAALTE SAMBHAALTE!CHALI JA APNE KAMRE MAIN IS SE PEHLE MERA HATH UTH JAYE TUJH PAR!"He shouted and i flinched more in fear.

My lower lip quivered as i glanced at Bhaiya with hurtful eyes.He turned his gaze on other side and i turned towards stairs after shaking my head at him in disappointment.My running feet stopped at one of the stairs where he was standing,a dirty smirk was playing on his lips.

Sirf aapki wajah se aaj mere bhaiya ne mujhe danta, mujh pe haath uthaya!sirf aapki wajah se!

"Nafrat hai mujhe aapse!"The words automatically left my mouth in a whisper and he winked at me,degrading himself in my eyes more.

"Same here!"He gave me a tight smile and i pursed my lips angrily before running towards my room.

"Mama jani aap aa gayi!Inni jaldi?"Manahil raised her head scenting someone's presence in the room and I smiled at her meekly.

"Minno aapko kese pta k aaj aapke baba jani aane wale the?"Sitting beside her i caressed her hair and she replied while colouring the dress of her cindrella,"Hals mamu ne btaya!Mele last bilday par maine unse baba jani ki wis ki thi na!"

Before my mind could consider this little piece of information she continued,

"Do you know mama jani maine kabse baba jani ko dekh lia tha!Hals mamu showed me his picture but then he took a promise flom me that i wont tel anyone about it and in retuln he would make me meet baba jani!" Manahil grinned at me and i forced a small smile at her.  

This means everything was planned!Bhaiya janbujh kar mujhe yahan le kar aye the!

I swallowed,today once again tears were on a spree to fall from my eyes freely.

Mera tou koi nhi hai iss jahan main!Sab dagebaaz hain!

Wiping my lone tear i stood up to close the door when Bhaiya came in the room with a backpack in his hand.

"I've decided that the marriage will take place after fifteen days here in the farmhouse only and till then we all will stay here!"He declared and kept the backpack near cupboard before turning to exit the room.

"Why are you doing this to me bhaiya?"I cried holding his arm from behind and his body stiffened.

"Because its high time!You need to be happy now and i know where your happiness resides!" Removing my palm he left the room and i closed my eyes letting tears slip from them.

Aap nhi jante bhaiya jise aap meri khushi samajhte hain wo khud kabhi khush nhi reh payega mere sath!

"Mama jani bhook lag lahi hai!"Manahil faked a cry pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Acha!Aap yahan betho mama will get you lunch!"Amidst rubbing my eyes with my fists i spoke and Manahil muttered an "Ok!"

I stepped out of the room and my eyes caught SIX SATANS chirping in the lounge.

Amongst all of them my gaze fell on him who was resting his head back on sofa with his eyes closed.Narrowing my gaze at him i tried to find changes in him but i couldn't.He was as same as before.A difference which my eyes caught was his beauty,no doubt he had turned more handsome with the passage of time.

Wo aur dilfareb ankhein,wo aur dilkash baal,wo aur chand sa chehra,wo aur be-taab hont! 

I kept looking at him until i found Manahil in his arms.

Minno?

I frowned but my eyes widened as soon as i found the room door behind me opened.

"Baba jani!"Manahil sang lovingly while sitting on his laps,her arms curled around his neck.The way she pulled word Jani it made everyone sitting there gush about her.

"Ji jaani!"He too sang in return,pulling the word jani same as she did. 

My lips curved into a soft smile.

"Mughe bhook lagi hai!"Manahil sang again,keeping the link with past rhyme.

"Mughe bhi lagi hai!"He again sang for  his daughter.

"Mama jani abhi hum donu ko khana khilayengi!"She sang happily and he chuckled in admiration but my smile died understanding where Manahil's demands will take us. 

"Mama jani!Why ale you standing thele?Mughe aul baba jani ko nazal laga lahi thi kia?" She raised her brows cutely at me and i fisted my clammy palms feeling his eyes on me too.

Controlling my thudding heart i yelled softly,"Minno aap upar aao!"My eyes fell on him and i moved them hurriedly before he could burn my insides just through his eyes.

"Nhi aap neeche ayein aul humein khana khilayein!"She spoke stubbornly and i showed her my eyes asking her to come up.

"Apki mama moti hogayi haina so bechari she cant just climb stairs again and again!"He spoke faking sadness and Manahil squeaked,"Mama jani moti!"She palmed her mouth sheepishly before bursting into giggles followed by everyone.

I felt each and every hair on my skin burning in rage as he looked up at me while laughing more loudly. Rolling down my already rolled sleeves i descended down stairs and went to take  Manahil from his grip caring least about anyone.

"Meri beti ko faltu baatein sikhane ki koi zaroorat nhi hai apko!Ajnabi hain apni had main rahiye!"Sneering at him venemously i snatched Manahil from his arms and made my way into kitchen.

"Enough Manahil!"I shouted while making her sit on the kitchen counter a little harshly.Her continuous cribbing for her father was too much for me to handle now.

"Baba jani!Baba jani!Arey nhi jaana baba jani k paas!"I shouted angrily and she looked at me with scared eyes.Her lower lip jounced as it came out and in next moment her wails were echoing in the house.

"Manahil!"He came running into the kitchen and Manahil hiccuped,"Baba..!" before raising her arms towards him.

I moved aside huffing as he took her  hurriedly in his arms.

"Arey kia hua meri pari ko?"He caressed her hair while glaring at me and i turned my face on other side.

"Mama...danti!"She pointed her finger at me and i glared at her to which she hid her face in her father's shoulder once again. 

"Acha ye dekho main aap k liye kia laya hn?"He pulled out a chocolate from his pocket and Manahil sniffed taking her face out from his shoulder.

A cheeky grin plastered her face immediately and she looked at her father with loving eyes.

"Haaaye tussi bale sweet ho!" She fisted her palms together as she spoke the above words and then kissed his both cheeks happily.I frowned at her spoken words as when she learned this type of language while her father chuckled.

"Arey sweet main nhi sweet tou aap ho meri jaan!"He too kissed her both cheeks in return and Manahil took chocolate from his palm.

"Baba jani mughe neeche utalein main Hals mamu k sath ye chocolate khaungi!" She demanded cutely and he made her stand on ground after muttering an "Ohk!" 

As she ran out of kitchen i too stepped ahead to walk out when he held my lower arm suddenly making me jump on my place.His touch after four years crumbled my skin which was under his grip.

I raised my fierce eyes up at him and he pulled me even closer letting my heart go crazy for his fragrance.

"Meri beti ki ankh main phir kabhi ansoon nhi aane chahiye!" He whispered sternly and i glared at him.

"Apki khwahishaat puchi nhi hain maine aap se!Main pehle bhi keh chuki hn aap se ab akhri baar keh rahi hn apni had main rahiye!"I gritted while struggling and he tightened his grip around my arm  making me wince.

"Tum btaogi mughe meri hadein(limits)!"He clenched his jaws holding my arm more firmly and i winced.

"Chodein mughe!" Tears escaped from my eyes as he pulled me more closer.His lips pressed into thin line,his nostrils flaring,his eyes scarlet.

"Kyun phir se bhagna hai?"He just whispered and i looked at him with my teary eyes.

"Aap wo Manik nhi hain jin se maine mohabbat ki thi!" I cried shaking my head and he left my scarlet arm with a jerk.

"Chale jaiye yahan se!Nafrat hai mughe aap se nafrat!"I ran out of there after screeching at his face and he stood there motionless.

"Sahi kaha tumne main wo Manik nhi hn jis se tumne mohabbat ki thi!
main wo Manik hn jise tum chor k chali gayi thi!

Par tum be-fikr raho meri jaan aaj bhi is dil ko tumse mil k kuch kuch hota hai!"He smiled sadly while wiping his moisten cheeks.

......

Everything needs time right?So grant me some too!I know this wasnt a much satisfying update but ill be fine with just a little of time!

by the way any words regarding update? You guys werent expecting Maniks this super fast entry! nai?😎

New Wanderer!