Chapter 7 – Love

Intense love is something not restricted to romantic relationships alone. The feeling of flying high or feeling weightless can happen in any loving relationship. It usually happens even when a newborn enters a family. In some ways, the brother and sister were grown-up new borns to each other.

Mano and Nancy were in different world and the joy was evident in their face for the next one week after they gave a new name to their relationship. Both had a sense of achievement and pride whenever they thought or mentioned about the relationship. Only Mano’s wife and Nancy’s parents (who stayed in another town) knew about their new relationship. Somehow, the newly related bro-sis neither felt comfortable nor the necessity to tell their colleagues about their relationship.

Their time in office was real funny after their new relationship. Whenever Mano called her to his desk, he noticed that she had difficulty looking at his face. She was far too emotional and she could not even see his face. She was sure she would cry in joy if she looked at his face. Mano wanted her to address him ‘anna”. But she had trouble addressing him “anna” suddenly in front of her colleagues. So, she continued to address him Sir.

One of those days, he offered to drop her in her hostel. Her hostel was not exactly on the way to his house. During the whole drive, he kept on asking her to call him anna. She could not as she felt choked with emotions everytime she looked at him. Her hostel came finally. Mano told her “You are not going inside until you call me anna”.  Nancy said “I cant. I will do it soon”. “You called me anna through an SMS. Now just say it” he said.

Nancy replied “sending an sms was easy. Now to say it looking into your eyes is difficult”. Mano was adamant “you wont go till you say it”. Nancy finally composed herself and looked into his eyes and called him “an…naa”,

Mano took a chocolate from dash board and gave it to her. She laughed and said “are you bribing me for calling you anna?’. Mano said “Nope. I want you to realize how sweet that word was to me. Hence I am giving this small chocolate which cannot be as sweet as my sister”.

She said “thanks anna” happily and left. While walking into the hostel, she never even looked back once.

She sent him an sms later that night that read “thanks for the wonderful drive anna. U have such soulful eyes that they seemed to radiate your love and care. Bye. Good night”.

Mano replied “I am not sure if I have soulful eyes. My love for dear sis very intense and I am glad u cud sense it. Good night”.

***
Nancy also made Mano get used to the concept of personal mails. They exchanged a few mails in their personal id and Mano realized that mailing could be fun. The new brother and sister were getting very close.

As time was running out, Mano’s relieving date was getting nearer. With just a week left, Nancy was beginning to realize how much she would miss her boss - now a wonderful brother. Mano actually felt good with his decision to quit. He knew that he got very close with his sister only because of his decision to quit. Else, they both probably would have never realized what they were destined to be.

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_______________to be continued____________________

Chapter 8 – Mysteries

Mano continued to be in touch with Shreya by giving her a call once a while. Shreya and Mano usually gang up to tease Nancy and Nancy would effortlessly handle the dual challenge. Once Shreya gave Mano the tip that a person called Shankar from Nancy’s native place had come to Chennai and had been trying to contact Nancy but she had been avoiding his calls both in her mobile as well as office number. Shreya told Mano playfully that they should investigate the matter further as this Shankar could be her ex-boy friend. Mano then spoke to Nancy playfully asking her about this Shankar. She said that her mom had unnecessarily given her contact number to this guy and she never wanted to be in touch with that guy.

Mano playfully asked her if she never had any boy friends. She replied “who said so sir? (she continued to address him sir in presence of Shreya) I have one b/f per alphabet. So I have 26 of them”. Mano asked “my god. Why do you need so many of them?”. Nancy said mischievously “Sir. You are too old to understand. Don’t you know variety is the spice of life?”. They both laughed. Mano was glad that this wonderful girl was full of joy and seemed unaffected by her early problems.

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Her first visit to his home was very special. Mano was little uneasy about how his wife would accept Nancy as her sister-in-law. Even Nancy was a bit uneasy and Priya too had no idea how she would take the new person. As it turned out, Priya and Nancy liked each other very much from the start and for his daughter, Madhu, Nancy aunty had become the most favourite person outside her home. Nancy was presented a new dress and a cake was cut. It was her birthday. She spent the entire weekend with Mano’s family in his home.

Nancy wrote a short mail to Mano after the first visit.

“Dear Anna,

The last two days were the best days of my life. I have never been showered with so much love and affection in my life. Million thanks to you, anni and Madhu kutty. It was a new experience for me to see my anna in the role of a loving father and a caring husband. I am proud of mad bro (don’t bulb anna. MAD is short for my adorable darling)

Love,

Nancy”

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Once during April 03, Nancy sent him a long mail that surprised him again. It was a very long mail. The gist of it is as given below.

Dear Anna,

I know you love me as your dear sister and you know how much I respect, adore and love my brother. When we are feeling this great about each other, I feel we must split. There is a reason why I am saying this. You know my only one side. There is a darker side to me and I don’t want you to be hurt because of this. I tend to come in between two very close people and they end up fighting. It has already happened twice in college.

Please don’t get upset reading this.

Ur loving sis,

Nancy

Mano did not get upset reading this. Her called Nancy and told her what he felt about her mail. He told her that she was being stupid thinking like that. he lovingly ordered her not to repeat anything like this. Her explanation about her darker side appeared silly and incomprehensible to Mano.

Finally, Nancy apologised for her mail and promised not to repeat such things.

________to be continued ____________