13. After Marriage

Thanks a lot for the votes, comments and following seeing my work. I want to thank all those who added my story to their reading list. Silent readers please do vote. I want to give you the bad news. As I am having my tests on this coming Monday and Tuesday I will not be able to update the chapters this two days please co-operate. I will definitely update after that.

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"But what happened after you both were married?" asked Manik with full curiosity. Mr. Khan sighed and some traitor tears fell from his eyes.

"I became a complete new person after marriage. I don't know what the change was?, but her presence it self gave me a strange happiness, some satisfaction I was not aware of. In short, I felt complete. It was after our marriage anniversary that she was dull. I asked many times to which she smiled and made me forget the topic. I even asked many of her friends, but all kept mum. It was her birthday, so I thought of surprising her. I adopted the girl who used to call me angel. I wanted to see the happiness on Varna's face and make her forget all her worries." he took a pause. It seemed Mr. Khan was trying his best not to breakdown.

"To arrange the papers, I had been to Delhi for faster adoption as it is too lengthy process. When I came back, I was told she committed suicide. I couldn't believe, I trashed and threatened, but there was someone who was behind all her murder and framing of the head of prostitution ring. I was about to go to court, but someone had Vibha." I was confused. Seeing my confusion Mr. Khan gave me a smile.

Wait, the girl who used to call him angel was Vibha? "You are  in a right way dear. In hospital, I saved a girl suffering from cancer, that was none other than Vibha. Her mother was uneducated so she didn't make a birth certificate and her name was also weird, so I kept the name Vibha." if Mr. Khan was feeling sad, then now he was having a complete different emotion.

"What do you mean someone had Vibha?" This Manik was not at all sensitive. We could have asked him tomorrow. I can't see him like this. "When I was about to go court someone called me and threatened to kill Vibha. I did not believe, but when I heard her screams not to hurt her made me do as that man said. I wanted Vibha to be secured and stay away from this field. " Mr. Khan gave me the photo of Vibha and him standing with bright smiles.

"This field of film is too dangerous. The beauty, it has on it's foreground, is not at all in background. I feel Varna's murder was also because of some secrets she knew." this earned my full concentration. "On the day of the murder, she called me and asked me to meet her immediately so I had the early fight to Mumbai, but when I reached there it was too late. She said she wanted to tell me a very important news and she sounded tensed."

I saw Manik holding the voice recorder. "Why did you leave all your properties and came into hiding?" I asked which was bugging me. " It was becoming difficult to stay there for me. It kept me bugging that if I had been early, then Varna would have been alive and when Vibha got here her life was filled with complete threats. So Atif, my brother suggested this idea and I couldn't refuse. I was only left with a daughter now, I couldn't afford to loose her. I did what it seemed best for her. Even I tried to search for Varna's death secret, but Atif told me that he will take care of everything." to distract him from the death of his wife I asked

"How Vibha accept you as a father?" now he was grinning from ear to ear. "She did not. She was still calling me angel, but one day suddenly she called me Appa. I was shocked, but when I asked her, she said that her south Indian friend said how her Appa takes care of her, she analysed it and considered that she should call me Appa. I was so happy on that day. She is the best daughter every father would ask. No complaints about studies, loves me like my mother. You know she cried two days saying she will not come to Mumbai as I should be alone after she went." I will not forget to tease Vibha with this.

"Hey I am hungry let's get inside and have dinner." I heard Kabir's voice from distance. "When will you not get hungry Kabir?" Mukti's voice sounded like she will pass out soon. We all had our dinner and I was taking a look at Vibha's photos hung on wall. Suddenly I felt two arms around my waist. My adrenaline kicked in and I was about to punch the person but It was Manik. "Oh!! lady Jackie Chan, calm down." he said and nuzzled into my neck.

My heart beat was not at all regular when he is around and now he is making it worse. "Manik stop it, if someone comes then we both will be embarrassed." I said and try to pry his arms. he made me come face to face with him and stared at my eyes. I don't know, but I wanted to drown in that eyes of his. It had so many emotions. "How you are so amazing?!" he said and tucked my hairs.

"Can I ask you something?" I nodded as I was in haze. He made me sit on the chair and he sat kneeling in front of me. "Will you allow me in your life?" his question made me confuse. He is not in my life already? "No, I mean... forget it. I want to ask you many things, but now you need to sleep." He dragged me till my room and did not leave till I slept.

I think I like Manik.