The Rake

Chapter Nine

“Urghh! This traffic I swear!” Manik punched the seat and fell back, all frustrated. Afterall, he was driving from the last eight hours and was damn tired, with his sockets almost hanging off.

And within just an hour, he drove to the countryside and greeted his all time favorite Aunt, though he had come there only for once before.

“Mannu! Mera beta! (Manuu,my boy)” It was Priya, Divya’s sister hugging Manik who smiled a little.

“Maasi! Can I just sleep for sometime?” Manik asked to which Priya nodded “Sure beta!! Just call Divya once after you wake up..She has been trying for hours!” He hummed and quickly entered the guest room and lied on the bed, like a lifeless body, snoring all the three hours he slept.

“Maasi! Call Mom na! Her phone’s busy!”

“Amm..Manik..Here! She’s on a call with me!” Manik nodded and moved forward to get the phone “Manik! Why did you went so far ha? And why?”

“Mom! That’s something personal..And please don’t be worried!” Divya smiled and exchanged her smiles with the rest i.e her husband and the Fab-4 and Navya who were sitting beside her.

“Okay! But you could have sent Robin na?” Manik sighed “Mom it’s fine..!” He mumbled under his breath “Galti koi kare...and never!”

“Okay Manik..Take care!” And she hung up the call while he sighed knowing the reason why wasn’t she called her by the endearment. IT’S FINE MANIK MALHOTRA.

“Manik!! Krishna Chachi wanted to see you after so long!! Like last time you came..but didn’t visit her..Abb (Now) toh she’s very grit..So let’s just come!” Manik smiled a little as his family had quite a bond with Krishnakala Murthy though he never interacted much.

“Sure Maasi..Let’s go!” Manik said and moved to the next house when an old lady of around seventies came up and hugged him while Manik looked totally shocked.

“Are! Mannu! Yeh Krishnakala ji hai..Tera naam inhone hi toh rakha hai..But tu toh aa nahi paaya na baccha! Aur wo bhi busy hogayi (Manik, she’s Krishnakala Murthy...She suggested the name Manik for you..But since you both became busy afterwards!)..So its kinda a reunion!” Manik smiled and bent down to touch her feet while she blessed with all the will.

“Manik..Come home beta!! Feel free!” Manik smiled and trio entered her house which wa traditionally very much decorated.

“Rauu! Water le aao Manik and Priya ke liye!” (Rao, bring water for them) Rao, the servant came up with the glasses to which one of them stumbled on the tee of Manik.

“Are Rauu! Bigaar diya na kaam..Uff! Manik tum upar waale room me jaake change karlo tabtak main Rauu ko bolta New tee leke aane ko!” (Aree Rao, you spoilt it! Manik, you go and change while I will ask him to bring a tee from you) The aged lady suggested to which Manik nodded and went upstairs.



As soon as he unlocked the door, a positive aura hit him hard on his face. The fragnance of this room was very much like that of Nand- KUCH BHI.

But the room was indeed very beautiful, with a modernistic approach in the house full of traditionals.

“Wow! It’s so..so positive!” His face had a smile as he entered the bathroom and changed into a tee as soon as the driver brought in the shirt.

He was busy on his phone when he entered the room from the washroom and what he saw next literally swept off the floor beneath his feet.

“Nandini..!” He whispered with dazzled eyes as his eyes went on the huge potrait just above the bed.



“Sh..She’s so pretty..!” He whispered in his subconscious mind as his eyes caressed the picture just near her cupboard.



“Wh..Why did I..godd!! She’s so damn pretty!” He ruffled his hairs as a huge wide smile appeared on his face. The gracious Manik Malhotra was back. The monster was no longer present.

“She looks so beautiful in saree!” He said smiling eyeing the picture hanging just above the study table.



“Nandini Murthy..You are very beautiful!” He said smiling within his real soul when a voice interrupted “Mannu?”

“Ji?” (Yes) He turned back to see Krishnakala Murthy with a smile.

“Amms bula na mujhe (Call me amms)” She said to which he smiled “Okay Amms..But I wanted to ask..This room is of..?”

“Nandu!” She said to which he smiled as the name he heard.

“Aap Nandini ki Amms ho?” (You are t he Amms of Nandini) He asked to which she nodded “Yess!”