The Rake

Chapter Ten

“Amms! Amms! Is there any shop named Sree Frames out here?” Manik asked as they both moved to leave.

“Haa Manik! Just 3 kms away there is one..Very old!” Amms informed him to which he took her blessings “Love you Amms!” And moved away without informing Priya and Amms even who smiled.

He drove to a very old shop where the board SREE PHOTO FRAMES was hanging. He heaved a sigh of utmost relief and walked inside taking the broken pieces of the frame which was going to work as the connector between the two.

“Anyone here?” He removed the torn curtains which were falling on him and entered inside, just to see an old man working on a photo frame.

“Uncle?” He spoke a little loud to which the man paid no heed to.

“UNCLEE!!” He glared at him to which the old man stumbled a little, shivered a quite and looked at him “J..Jee kahiye..Beta!(Say, son)” the man responded making Manik sigh.

“Uncle! I want a similar look alike photo frame!” He showed the broken glasses to the man who scrutinized it and then looked at the small digits inscribed on them – 2007-ISQR

“Ek minute rukiye (Wait a minute)” the man said and moved to another room leaving a sweating Malhotra behind.

“Yeh lijiye..Uska doosra copy! (Here, take this..The duplicate version)” The man said and that was it. The distressed face of Manik Malhotra turned into a wide-WIDEST smiling one. He quickly hugged the old man and took out a note of 2000.

“Thank you..thank you so much uncle!!” He said and took the frame to which the old man started to look for change “60 rupaiye hue hai beta (The cost is 60 RS)

Manik Malhotra turned around, gave a wink and shouted from outside “Apne bacchon ke saath aaunga toh tabb change le lunga! (I will take the change when I will come with my children) “ And moved away leaving a confused soul behind who wiped his sweat.

“Maasi, I am sorry but I am leaving right from here! You take care haa!” He informed his Priya Masi and started driving to his home back- where his heart lies.

LATER, IN THE DAWN OF THE NEXT DAY.

“Rabba!! Again pipe!” He sighed to himself and started climbing up the pipe to reach her room.

The glass window was all open all thanks to her Chaachi who came in midnight.

He slowly and steadily walked near her bedside table and kept the frame and a little box and moved away not before clicking a sweet little picture of his newly found love sleeping.

Nandini yawned as the alarm rang and her hand moved to the bedside table to turn that off “Aiyappa!! 7 ko kaunse college me classes hoti hai! (Which college holds classes at 7 am, Aiyappa!)” She complained and sat back on the bed mumbling abuses at the authority when suddenly her eyes fell at the SAME-LOOKALIKE-FRAME which the monster broke.

“AIYAAPPAA!!” She screamed in utmost happiness as she held the frame and tears trickled down he cheeks “THANK YOU..THANK YOU SO MUCH AIYAPPAA!!”

“Wait a min! Aiyaapppaa!! Who did this?” Her wide smiling face turned into a shocked one as she saw the huge glass window opened “M..Manik?” She whispered to herself as a small smile tingled around her face and her eyes met the small box. She placed the frame right back on the table and opened the box “Aiyaapaa!” She whispered as her eyes met the beautiful anklets the box was carrying.

“Manik Malhotra!” She whispered to herself as her subconscious mind spoke loudly the name who was being both. The reason to cry, and the reason to smile.