Manan came downstairs, wearing black lower and a T-shirt, his hair still dripping water. He joined the others at the dining table, where Nia and Rudra were engrossed in conversation, laughing together. Manan felt annoyed.
During dinner, Manan's patience wore off, and he snapped at Rudra, "Rudra, where are your manners? Don't talk while eating. Eat yourself and let us eat in peace. You can talk later."
Rudra quietly began eating, while Nia felt angry but couldn't say anything as she was a guest.
After dinner, they sat in the hall. Manan checked his emails while Shivanji, Rudra, and Nia watched a horror movie. Shivanji and Rudra shared a couch, with Nia beside Manan.
As the movie intensified, Shivanji covered her eyes with Rudra's hand, and Rudra covered his eyes with Shivanji's saree pallu. Nia, unfazed until then, suddenly got scared and snuggled into Manan's lap.
Manan's expression softened as he looked at Nia, who was trying to hide inside his T-shirt. He heard her muttering, "Jai Hanuman Jnan Gun Sagar, Jai Kapis Teen Lok Ujagar." She repeated the line several times.
Manan smiled, amused by her antics.
The movie ended, and Shivanji instructed Manan, "Son, she's asleep. She won't get up now. Jia told me she loves sleeping and eating. She'll get up on her own in the morning, so you take her to her room."
Manan nodded and gently lifted Nia.
Shivanji reminded Rudra, "Son, you have a meeting tomorrow, go to bed."
Rudra headed to his room.
Shivanji retired to her room, while Yug Ji was away on business.
The next morning, Manan woke up to find Nia sleeping on top of him.
Manan tried to get up, but Nia wouldn't budge.
To be continued...
Ab tak Manan black lower aur T-shirt mein neeche aata hai, uske baalon se abhi bhi paani tapak raha tha. Wo sidhiyo se dining table ki taraf chala jaata hai, waha par pehle hi sab baith hue the.
Sab baith kar khana kha rahe the, ya yeh bhi kah sakte hai ki khana sirf Manan aur Shivani ji kha rahe the, baaki Niya aur Rudra faltu ki idhar-udhar ki baatein kar rahe the.
Manan se jab bardasht nahi hota hai, to wo gusse mein Rudra se bolti hai, "Rudr, tumhare manners kaha gaye? Khana khate samay baat mat karo, khud bhi khana khao aur hum bhi khane do, baatein baad mein bhi ho sakti hain, samjhe."
Rudra bechara kya hai bolta, chup-chap khane lagta hai. Niya ko to Manan ki baat par gussa aa raha tha, par wo kuchh nahi bol sakti thi kyunki yeh uska ghar nahi tha.
Thode time baad sabhi khana kha kar hall mein baith hue the. Manan apne phone mein koi email check kar raha tha, aur Shivani, Rudra, aur Niya teeno hi horror movie dekh rahe the.
Jaise hi koi khatarnaak scene aata hai, Shivani ji Rudra ka haath apni aankh par rakhti hai, aur Rudra Shivani ji ka saree ka pallu apne aankh mein bandh leta hai. Wahin Niya jo ab tak nahi duri thi, achanak bhoot screen ke saamne aane se wo dar kar khud jaati hai aur direct Manan ke god mein baith, usse chipak jaati hai.
Manan jo ki apne phone mein laga hua tha, is tarah kisi ke chipakne se uska chehra kathor ho jaata hai, par jab uski nazar duri hui Niya par jaati hai, to uska kathor chehra soft ho jaata hai, aur ek tak Niya ko dekhne lagta hai jo ki uski T-shirt ke andar ghuste ki koshish kar rahi thi.
Tabhi Manan ko uske budbudane ki awaaz aati hai, jo movie ki awaaz mein dab rahi thi. Manan apna kaan uske munh ki taraf karta hai, aur use Hanuman Chalisa sunai deti hai. Niya ko poora Hanuman Chalisa nahi aata tha, wo ek hi line baar-baar bol rahi thi.
Manan ko uski yeh harakat par hasi aa rahi thi, par afsos, wo hass nahi sakta tha. Wo movie dekhne lagta hai.
Thodi der baad movie khatam ho jaati hai, aur TV bhi. Shivani ji apni jagah se uthati hai aur Rudra se bolti hai, "Beta, yeh movie kaafi horror thi, par acchi thi. Main sone ja rahi hoon."
Aur Niya tum akeli so. Wo itna bolte hue Niya ke side dekhti hai, to unki bolti band ho jaati hai, kyunki jiya Manan ki god mein baithi-baithi hi so gayi thi.
Wahi Rudra bhi us side dekhta hai, to uska mun aur aankhen badi-badi ho jaati hai. Wo Manan ko dekh raha tha, wo ise baitha tha jaise ki uski god mein Niya nahi, ek doll ho.
Shivani ji Niya ko sota hua dekhti hai aur Manan se bolti hai, "Beta, yeh to so rahi hai, aur ab yeh uth