Allured | Part 1

Part 1

The days were never like before for Maan Khurana. Tired he moved towards his room. Work has always been hectic but nowadays, it was getting extremely difficult to deal with the clients. Maan had seen worst days. With his father passing away suddenly to dealing with his inconsolable mother along with his three siblings, out of which two were infants. He had been carved out from the emotional and social trials.

He went and looked for the youngest of his siblings first. Vicky was sleeping with his duvet on the floor and Annie was curled up with her large teddy. Covering Vicky again and making sure that Annie was sleeping he moved towards his room to freshen up.

It took him precisely an hour to move towards the kitchen to get some food. He had been starved and he just needed some food and then sleep. Maan khurana didn’t like the presence of anyone at night and this has been known to everyone in the household.

The aloofness that he desired and cherished now.

He was heating the food when the whole house was lightened and he turned to look at his mother standing infront of him.

“When did you come?” Naina khurana asked her son, who had turned towards his work and now plating the food.

She had seen Maan changing from the eighteen year old carefree boy to the man who was right infront of her. Her son, her first born was matured even before he should have.

From being the head of the family to being the father figure to the youngest of her children. He had been molded according to the needs.

“It’s been an hour Mom. Aap soyi nahi?” Maan answered without even looking back knowing that it was her time to sleep. But all he heard the noise of the chair getting pulled and at moment he knew that his mother wanted a conversation.

He silently took his plate and settled on the chair beside Naina. Maan was eating in silence, when his mother words made him look at her.

“Maan, we need to talk.”

“I am listening, tell me, is Annie fine? Or is it Vicky?” He asked the obvious, knowing that it must be related to his eleven year old siblings.

“Maan it’s about you. How long are you going to stay like this? You are going to be twenty nine this year. Get settled Maan.” Naina didn’t let him sway away from the conversation and asked him straightforward.

She now wanted her eldest son to be settled, have a family but from last some years Maan had been adamant.

“Mom we had this discussion. I am not ready to get married now.”

The nonchalance and the repetitive response of Maan made Naina angry a bit.

“Then when? Tell me i need a proper answer this time. Now even kavya is married, she has a family of her own. But what about you?” She reminded him of his younger sister.

His perfect excuse for years was also redundant now. There was a silence that prevailed making it difficult for Maan.

“Is this all because of that Miss Khanna? And do not dare to deny me. I know all about your mistress.” Naina’s words made maan to look at his mother.

Sameera Khanna had been his solace when he needed a respite from the responsibilities. He hated to admit but she had been able to give him the moment away from the role and responsibilities of the eldest of the khurana’s. They bedded but that was it.

The woman had no inclination of getting settled even when he presented her with a ring. She had rudely asked him to chose between her and his family.

“Maan, it’s always about your family. If we have to make it work then you need to leave with me.”

Sameera knew that his responsibilities were the ones that were binding him and he was there just for a bit of physical gratification nothing else.

Next he withdrew his hand that had the proposal ring and ended everything between them. Sameera who was a performer with a troupe went to France with her group with a new partner that she got within days after he left.

His silence made Naina to ask him again.

“I want you to have the same love that I and your father shared Maan.”

Love, that was the Last thing Maan Khurana wanted in his life.

“Sameera means no one to me Mom. She is gone from my life. What else do you want now? It was even before kavya’s marriage. It’s been three years already.” He answered her not taking her last statement even in consideration.

“Then why not settle?

“You want me to settle.. fine mom i will marry. Now will you please leave.” His annoyance made Naina to leave from there at that moment.

She knew that her son had his moments but all she wanted him to be happy in his life like her daughter was.

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Maan entered his room and looked for the remainders of Sameera in his life. His mother was right. He should focus on his present and his present needs a woman with whom he can settle, have a children or two and most importantly someone who adore his Annie and Vicky like he does.

He just cannot bring any random woman in his home.

Discarding the last of the photographs, souvenirs he had, he went to his bed to grab some sleep.

Afterall the next day would bring him much more complexities that he already had.

Maan had been slept for some minutes only, when he felt the slight footsteps. He opened his heavy eyelids and saw his eleven year old sister standing there. 

“Bhai..” the trembled voice made him open the light and he was right it was Annie.

She had been there standing looking dishelved he immediately called her towards him.

“Annie is that you? Come here baby..Annie what’s wrong? Why aren’t you sleeping yet?” He called her as she went towards her brother with slow steps.

This had been in his life from last eleven years, the first time he had baby Vicky and baby Annie in his arms. It only after three months of their father’s passing away.

“Bhai I had a nightmare..” she sniffled as she went into the open arms of her brother much like he did when she was a baby and even now he didn’t hesitate to console her.

Annie will always be his baby. While Vicky doesn’t mind his coddling now, Annie still comes to him occasionally, like the day itself. He still feels as if he was having the new born Annie in his arms.

He felt he was eighteen again and his daadima was helping him holding the baby.

“Come here..” he removed the covers as Annie snuggled close to him and hugged him close, ensuring herself that her brother would be always there for her.

“Tell me what was that about?” Maan made her lie as he treaded her hair and she told him about the new nightmare of hers holding his one hand close and both of them drifted to sleep.

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