How do you cope up with bad days?

Going through a rough phase, and all I want to do is give up. It scares me at times so I try to distract myself. This chapter - is kind of a product of that distraction. I hope it came out well.

Enjoy Reading!

Manik didn't talk to his parents. He didn't on the way back home, he didn't on the dining table at their own house the same night.

He didn't want to the next morning when he came down the stairs, all ready to leave for office. His mother had knocked at his door ten minutes before, pleading him to have breakfast and now, the son inside him had started to feel guilty for the ignorance he was treating her with.

Manik loved his parents, and his mother more than his life. He for sure was angry but he understood them. He was disappointed but deep down, he knew they mean no harm.

So when Niyonika came infront of him with the pleading look in her eyes, Manik stopped and let her hold his hand to drag him to the table where everyone else sat, already eating.

Manik could feel his father's gaze on himself as his mother served him the food. She broke a morsel to feed him but he only turned away his face. She huffed, rotating her hand and tried to feed him again. This time, Manik held her hand with cold eyes.

"Maa," He warned. She was testing his patience now. Manik would die than talk back to her. She was just taking advantage of his love and respect for her at this point.

"Your anger is on one side, breakfast on other." She excalimed,"and what do I always tell you?"

"Eat double when you are angry." He murmured, having learnt this phrase right from the childhood. To express anger, you need energy, his father would always say.

"So what's with this skipping food?" She questioned, and this time when she brought the morsel infront of him, Manik ate it silently.

Warmth and love slipped through along with the taste, and Manik couldn't help the small smile that covered his face. He coughed when she smiled, and it only made her laugh more.

"You have all the rights to be angry with us," She started,"We shouldn't have asked Nandini about her divorce, but Manik, we really didn't think it must be so bad." Niyonika was not lying.

Words travel fast in the industry and despite that, there was nothing about Nandini's divorce out there. Everyone knew she was a single mother but nobody dared to question.

The last time someone dared pass a comment, the man was almost banished from the industry - Raj had told her an old story he heard from one of their business partner.

It worried them and when you are worried for your own children, the sense of understanding gets blur for a second, that's what happened yesterday. Raj and Niyonika didn't realise their question might hurt Nandini.

"We did fix your and Nandini's marriage though," His mother tried to reason, or more like bribe him. They had indeed fixed the marriage two months after. Manik and Nandini needed some time to bond, so the family decided it was better to not rush. They would have the engagement two weeks later but the marriage was to be stalled for now.

"So does that give you the free pass to hurt her, Maa?" Manik asked, calm but anger clear in his tone,"You both fixed my marriage, yes. Thankyou so much but henceforth you both won't ask her about her first husband, her divorce or anything!"

"Fine, I wasn't planning to ask anyways." His mother exclaimed," I didn't know it was so painful for her. Neither did your father know. We were just worried bacha, you have to understand our point too."

"I do, Maa."

Niyonika smiled, feeding him another bite. Her heart content for her son was no longer angry.

After days of making efforts to mend her relationship with Ananya, Nandini was slowly staring to accept her and Ananya's new equation. Ananya was angry and she made it clear she didn't want to talk to her. Nandini respected her decision, knowing well it wasn't easy for Ananya either.

So when Ananya knocked at her door and walked inside the next morning, Nandini was more than surprised. Ruhi was still sleeping on the bed, all snuggled up in the soft comforter while Nandini was cleaning her dressing table sitting on the floor.

"Ruhi,"Ananya called out but Ruhi was fast sleep,,"Ah, are you sleeping baby?"

"She slept late," Nandini informed making Ananya turn to her. Ananya rolled her eyes, but stopped when her eyes fell on her hands,"Is that the same earings?" They were, the star shaped ones.

The bitter taste in her mouth, and her heart soured again,"You are so clever di," She chuckled," I stole your earings, so you stole Manik from me?"

"Ananya," Nandini gasped, not expecting such harsh words from her,"Manik is not a thing to steal away. He is a human."

"Who was supposed to marry me." Ananya mocked. She didn't care if it hurt her elder sister.

She only chuckled as she turned to face Ruhi again, her finger tracing the little one's cheek and a fond smile took over her features,"But she is so adorable," She muttered under her breathe,"and the more I stare at her, the more happy I feel that she is getting Manik as her father."

Nandini was not sure if she was meant to hear it, but she did anyways. She let out a sigh and stood up,"Ananya, I am sorry." Nandini was probably aware of how selfish she sounded, and maybe because she was indeed a selfish woman. Ananya liked Manik, so why was she with him? She was even starting to feel butterflies in ber stomach with the thought of marrying Manik.

"I know you are, di," Ananya faced her again,"I am happy for you though, trust me." It was not a lie. Nandini knew her.

But what she didn't know was the little blob of jealousy which had started coiling in the pit of her stomach, and now it was eating up Ananya. Her sister was finally happy and while Ananya was happy for her, she felt bad for her own self.

"But - " Ananya knew she should shut up, it would hurt her sister. Nandini, standing infront of her even though - elder to her - looked like a broken child. There was a continuous ringing in her head which kept telling her to not do this, Nandini is her sister but Ananya still continued, letting her jealousy and hatred speak,"I hope you find happiness this time di. I hope Manik doesn't turn up as another Vihaan, and I hope you don't lose yourself, once again."

Ananya knew how mean it was of her to remind her of Vihaan - the man who was responsible for every misery her sister went through four years back. She felt like a villian.

Guilt surfaced her completely, the bitterness leaving and Ananya could no longer bear sitting there as she stared at the blank eyes of her sister, the one who had always offered her warmth.

What had she done.

"I will go di. I came to play with Ruhi." Ananya didn't dare see her as she stood up and ran out of the room with fast steps leaving Nandini alone who stumbled, tears glaring in her eyes and heart hammering inside her chest.

A shrill cry echoced in the room, indicating Ruhi was up from her sleep. Nandini looked at her daughter and gulped - the erre of emotions pulling her down every second but Nandini didn't want to fall.

Not infront of her daughter. Nandini could crumble down with the amount of sadness she carried in her heart if not for her Ruhi. Her Ruhi deserved a mother who was strong, but Nandini was weak.

So weak that when Ruhi cried again, Nandini flinched - her knees giving up as she sank down on the floor with a soft thud - crying and whimpering in hurt.

"Naanu!" Small, wobbly legs ran upto him as soon as he entered inside the mansion. Mr.Murty laughed at the bundle of joy coming up to him.

He picked her up as soon as she reached near and gave her a kiss, getting a sloppy one in return,"Nanuu!"

"Where is my princess coming from?" Mr.Murty chuckled, walking up to the couch to keep his back and smiled when Ruhi clinged more to him.

"Mumma," Ruhi's voice was a low mumble against his neck and he understood there was something wrong.

"Ah, is mumma grey again?" Mr.Murty was careful when selecting his words. Nandini had her own moments of sadness where she would break down, cry, wake up horrified from her nightmares and lock herself in her room for a time period and for Ruhi it was the moments her mumma was 'grey'. She was sad, and crying in her room.

Ruhi bobbed her head with tears brimming in her doe shaped eyes,"Luhi woke up, and mumma wash gley," she still exclaimed calmly.

"So what should we do to make her happy again?" A trick to distract Ruhi, which would always work. Mr.Murty's heart filled with warmth when she nodded with sparkle in her eyes.

"Yesh! Luhi will dlaw fol mumma!" She exclaimed, happy with her own idea. A happy drawing will make her mumma happy, Ruhi just knew.

"Yes that too, and what else?" Mr.Murty encouraged further. He eyed her until she understood what he meant and she did the next moment when her already shining eyes shined more.

"Tuptapes!"

Mr.Murty laughed, nodding his head and made her stand on the couch,"Yes! Mumma's favourite, cupcakes but for that, Nanu needs to freshen up. And until then, what will Ruhi do?" He asked with a smile.

"Luhi will wait for Nanu."

"Yes, why don't you get your drawing book, colors and draw something for mumma until then?"

"Yesh, luhi will dlaw for mumma!" Ruhi clapped in excitement and Mr.Murty picked her up to put her on the ground. She ran to get her drawing supplies and he waited until she came back.

After making sure Ruhi was comfortable and busy in drawing, Mr.Murty walked away to his room, but not before asking a butler to keep an eye on her, in case she hurt herself.

____

An hour later, after tones of laughter and a bath in flour - Mr.Murty and Ruhi were having a good time.

Now, Mr.Murty could cook, but he was not a chef. His cooking skills were limited to those of survival except for some special dishes and he absolutely sucked at making cupcakes but Ruhi didn't need to know that.

Not that it mattered because Ruhi, sitting on the floor in the middle of the kitchen, a bowl of leftover chocolate in her one hand, a finger dipped in chocolate in her mouth - was indeed enjoying herself.

Covered in flour from head to toe and her mouth and clothes messed up with chocolates she looked absolutely adorable if anything.

"Nanu, thish is yummy," Ruhi giggles, showing off her teeth which had remains of the chocolate. Mr.Murty chuckled, the stress washing away from his features as he looked at the happiness flickering in her eyes.

However, Nandini could come out anytime and he couldn't let her see Ruhi in this state. She would take the whole mansion on her head and it was the last thing he wanted.

He cleaned the counter first, and then made Ruhi sit on it. He took the bowl of chocolate from her to keep it at the side making her pout in dismay.

He sighed, looking around at the mess. The kitchen was not even recognisable.

Just as he turned, he caught Ruhi reaching to the bowl again - trying to crawl on the counter and he hissed,"Ruhi, stop." He glared when she dared to giggle again.

God, Mr.Murty was done because he couldn't even say no to her. He sighed, deciding to let her be for the few minutes as he took up the work to clean the rest of the kitchen.

He was stacking up the used utensils in the sink when Ruhi called out for him,"Naanu,"

"Yes bacha," He replied, without turning around.

"Nanu, is mumma mallying Manit?" Ruhi's question was innocent and so was her face when Mr.Murty turned around in surprise. A moment of staring at her curious eyes before he burst out laughing.

"Do you even know what is marriage?" He questioned.

Ruhi bobbed her head in excitement,"Luhi knowsh evelything. Malliage ish when two people shtay togethel and play." An innocent confession and Mr.Murty's eyes softened.

"Yes, right." He chuckled, walking up to her and kissed her nose,"Your Mumma is marrying Manik."

"Why Manit?" She asked, curious.

"Hmm," he pretended to think and she continued to stare at him, expecting an answer,"Because he is a nice person?"

"Manit hash a nice phone," she exclaimed, happy.

"He does, and he is also nice like Mumma, Nanu, Ruhi, and Ananya massi," he told and smiled when she listened with concentration,"So you should be really nice to Manik. Say hello to him when you meet him, and respect him, okay?"

Ruhi only bobbed her head even though she couldn't understand the depth of these words. Was her mumma and Manik going to stay in the same house now?

"Will Manit live with ush?"

Mr.Murty chuckled, shaking his head but didn't answer. He wanted to tell her the truth - that Manik was going to be her father and Nandini and her were supposed to go and live with him but he didn't want to overwhelm the little child.

Ruhi has never for once questioned her mother about her father. Never for once has she asked where was he? Why did she have no father? Why did he never call? Didn't he love her?

She never felt the need to, because her mumma never made her feel his absence but now Ruhi was growing up.

In a matter of few months she would join school, she would make friends and the little hearts who have no knowledge of right and wrong might end up hurting her with their innocent queries.

It was the for the same reason Nandini still couldn't make the decision to send her to school. It was wrong, but she was scared.

And now, Mr.Murty was really glad that his Ruhi was going to have a father.

She could live a normal life without people teasing her, bullying her.

He was glad his daughter could find a right partner after all that happened with her. He was just so glad everything was falling in its place after three painful years.

But for how long?