Jiya understood Manan was upset and apologized, "Sorry, my mistake." Manan glanced at her and walked away without responding.
Nia, looking innocent, asked, "How will he forgive us now? He's acting like a girl. Any ideas?"
A little later, everyone sat together, watching Nia try to climb a tree. She had never climbed before but kept trying, only to fall repeatedly.
Rudra sat beside Jiya and asked, "Auntie, why is Nia climbing the tree? Shouldn't she be apologizing to Manan?"
Jiya replied, "This crazy girl watched YouTube videos for ideas to appease him. She saw a Shinchan video where a bespectacled teacher climbed a tree in one swift motion, so she removed her glasses and tried to do the same."
Everyone face-palmed at Jiya's explanation.
Yug joked, "Jiya, when Nia was in your womb, you must have watched too many cartoons."
Jiya retorted, "That's why I have a cartoon-like daughter! But thankfully, she's not like other girls; she's kind and considerate."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Nia approached them, rested her head in Jiya's lap, and said, "Mom, I couldn't climb. I'm human, not a cartoon character. If I fell, my hands and feet would break, and I wouldn't be able to eat or go out."
Jiya exclaimed, "God, what kind of daughter have you given me? Her common sense is so poor!"
Shivani, who had just finished watching her favorite show, Anupama, chimed in, "Don't worry, Nia. If your hands and feet broke, I'd feed you your favorite food."
Nia snuggled into Shivani's lap, and Jiya teased Yug, "You've turned your wife into a child."
Shivani retaliated, "Who's old? I'm still slim and trim, and I can model if I want!"
The adults' playful argument continued until Nia signaled Rudra, and they slipped away.
As they walked toward the bus, they spotted Manan. Rudra quickly exited, and Nia remembered she needed to apologize.
She Googled "how to appease a male friend" and found an unknown site suggesting a hug. The site claimed it would melt the friend's heart, making them forgive.
Nia rushed to Manan and hugged him from behind. Manan, taken aback, steadied himself.
Nia said, "I'm sorry, Manan."
Manan didn't fall, contrary to Nia's expectations based on the YouTube video.
She released him and asked, "Why didn't you fall?"
Manan replied, "What?"
To be continued...
For my hindi readers
Jiya samajh gayi ki Manan upset hai aur bola, "Sorry, mera fault tha." Manan usko ek nazre se dekha aur chal dia.
Nia masoom si lagti hai, bolti hai, "Ab kaise maanega? Ladkiyon wale ruh mein hai. Koi idea hai?"
Thodi der baad, sab ek jagah baithkar Nia ko dekhte hain, jo ped par chadhne ki koshish kar rahi thi. Pehle kabhi nahi chadhi thi, par phir bhi koshish kar rahi thi, aur baar-baar gir rahi thi.
Rudra Jiya ke paas baithkar pucha, "Aunti, Nia ped par kyun chadh rahi hai? Manan ko maaf karne ke liye toh thi."
Jiya bola, "Yeh pagal ladki YouTube par ideas dekhti hai. Ek Shinchan video mein dekha ki chashme wali madam ek hi jhatke mein ped par chad gayi, toh yeh bhi apna chashma utarke ped par chadhne ki koshish kar rahi hai."
Sabne apna matha pit liya.
Yug bola, "Jiya, jab Nia tumhare pet mein thi, toh tumne cartoon zyada dekhe honge."
Jiya ne jawab diya, "Isiliye toh cartoon jaisi beti paida ki hai! Lekin iska khushiyon ki baat hai, yeh baaki ladkiyon jaisi nahi hai, yeh soft-hearted hai."
Sabne sahmati mein apna sir hila diya.
Nia wahan aayi aur Jiya ke god mein apna sir rakh diya, "Mummy, main nahi chadh saki. Main insaan hoon, cartoon nahi. Agar gir jaati, toh mere haath-pair tut jaate, aur main khana nahi kha sakti."
Jiya bola, "Bhagwan, aisi beti kyon di hai? Iska common sense itna kamzor hai!"
Shivani, jo Anupama ka episode dekhti thi, bola, "Nia, agar tere haath-pair tut jaate, toh main tere liye khana laati aur khilati."
Nia Shivani ke god mein snuggle ho gayi, aur Jiya ne Yug ko cheda, "Tune apni biwi ko bachcha banake rakha hai."
Shivani ne jawab diya, "Kaun budhha hai? Main abhi bhi slim-trim hoon, aur modeling kar sakti hoon!"
Aise hi ladai-jhagde mein sab busy the, jab tak Nia ne Rudra ko ishara kiya aur dono slip ho gaye.
Bus ke paas jaate hue unhe Manan dikhai diya. Rudra jaldi se nikal gaya, aur Nia ko yaad aaya ki usko Manan se maafi maangni hai.
Usne Google par search kiya, "Male friend ko kaise maanaye?" Ek unknown site par idea mila ki hug karo, aur woh forgive ho jayega.
Nia jaldi se Manan ke paas gayi aur usko peeche se hug kar liya. Manan, surprised hokar, khada ho gaya.
Nia bola, "Sorry, Manan."
Manan ne reaction nahi diya.
Nia ne pucha, "Kyoon nahi girne wale?"
Manan ne jawab diya, "What?"
To be continued...