Chapter 7

Manyata's POV We came back after dinner. I was alone in the room as Swati was with aunty and her brothers. I didn't want to intrude on them, so I came back to my room. I checked my phone again and saw a message from a model. She wanted to go get her younger sister's portfolio done by me. I told her that I was in Chandigarh and would come in a month. if she wanted it sooner, she could get it done by someone else. But she replied instantly that she would gladly wait for me. I always had a passion for photography. I used to click the pictures of various places and beautiful natural things like flowers, sunrise, sunsets, birds. Everyone used to praise my pictures and I sent them in many competitions and my pictures got prizes. They were well appreciated. I worked in an ad agency and quickly I gained recognition as a glamour photographer. Gradually people around me started to request me to click their portfolios. I started to take my assignments of taking pictures for the models and film stars. I submitted my pictures in fashion magazines and finally when they got published in them. I started getting recognition and fashion designers started hiring me to shoot their work... I found a very famous fashion photographer and persuaded him to be my mentor. I showed him my work and he got very impressed with me. I helped him out in his assignments and begin learning the basics of photography business from him Then I did an internship with a professional photographer in Paris. I created my online portfolio website. With God's grace, I am an upcoming freelance fashion photographer now. All the top models and fashion designers want to work with me now. But since the first time we worked together, Mohit works only with me. We met at an exhibition where my pictures were also displayed. He liked my work a lot and one of his regular model who was with him at that time told him, that he got his portfolio clicked by me about a year ago. The pictures were good enough to get him lots of work. He offered me to click pictures for his upcoming summer collection. I did that and the pictures came out to be so good that some of them got selected in the top magazines. His designs and my photography clicked together and now we are a famous fashion designer and fashion photographer combination. We both got benefitted by each other's work. So we work together. His spring collection was also done by me and those pictures compete in Lakme fashion week. We gradually became friends. Mohit is a very sweet person but he is very open-minded being a fashion designer. He always talks like that and makes me blush. Swati came to the room bringing me back, out of my thoughts. " Hey, Manu why are you sitting here alone, come we all were sitting there and missing you. " " I thought you all were sitting and I didn't want to intrude. So I ... " " What nonsense... Come with me.. " she literally dragged me to the living room. " See Bhai, she was sitting alone in the room and when I asked her to come with me, she said that didn't want to intrude... " " What? Did you say that Manu? " Sagar Ji asked. " Ji... I meant to say... " " No manu, how can you say that?? You are just like family to us. " " Ji.. " " So don't ever say that again. " He said looking into my eyes. I just nodded. They kept talking and discussing the marriage. " I talked with dad, he will come by lunch tomorrow. " Sagar Ji said. Aunty and Swati were very excited. " Wow!! I haven't met my dad for so long.. you would love to meet him too. " She said and I got so emotional that I could not control and a few tears escaped my eyes and I rushed out of there. My dad was not well and when he got all his tests done, we came to know that he was suffering from cancer. Fortunately, it was in initial stages and the doctor said that it can be treated. We all were shocked, my mom was so scared. She called up Malhotra uncle. As he was my dad's very good friend. They were planning to start something together when all this happened. When Swati talked about uncle, I couldn't contain my tears. I had wanted to go with my parents. But uncle went with them and he suggested that I should not go as my dad would be very worried. My mom and dad were already stressed about me. Uncle suggested that my father must go abroad for the treatment. so he went to the USA for his treatment. Uncle was there to support him. My dad wanted me to do MBA so that I could take care of his business and his properties but I had my own passion and we always argued about it but my dad never stopped me from doing whatever I wanted to do. I knew that he was a bit stressed but I was too young at that time and I didn't know that he was suffering from cancer I was feeling very bad that my dad was stressed because of me. He wanted me to get settled. So even though I was in a strange situation I could not even tell my parents about it. I called them every alternate day to ask about his health and told them that I was absolutely happy living with Malhotras'. I wanted to talk to them right away but right now I felt very emotional and I didn't want to give him any stress. I ran out of the house and cried. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turned to see Sagar Ji standing there. " What happened Manu?? " " I am sorry Sagar Ji, I didn't want to react like that but I am missing my dad too much. You talked to uncle, did he say, how is my dad? " " Yes, dad said that your dad is taking the treatment very well. He will be absolutely fine very soon. " " Oh thank God !! I am really thankful to uncle for being there with my parents. " I hiccuped and he held my hand between his. " You don't have to be thankful. That's what friends are for. Our dads are such good friends... Why did you say that you don't want to intrude? You are as much a part of this family as we are. Never say that again." He said like an elder brother, someone I never had and I nodded. A few more tears slid out of my eyes. " Please don't cry... You need to be strong for yourself and your family. " " Ji... " I wiped my tears and he side hugged me. I was going back to my room when I saw Sahil coming towards me. I looked downwards as I didn't want him to see my red eyes. " What happened?? " he asked me softly. " N..nothing... " " Then why did you cry? " he asked softly. " I didn't. " " I saw tears... " he was hell-bent to ask. " Something got into my eyes. " " Are you alright? " " Yeah... Absolutely. Thanks. ' " Ok, good night. " " Good night. " I ran towards my room. Swati was waiting for me... " Did I say something wrong Manu?? " Swati asked me. " No, why are you asking that? "I asked her. " Because I was talking to you and you started crying all of a sudden and then ran out of the room. " " No dear, it's just that I am missing my parents very badly. Your dad is there with them and he is coming back so I was concerned about my dad's health. But just now, Sagar Ji told me that, my dad is doing well. The treatment is working and he will be fine soon. Now I am fine.. " " That's really good to know, that uncle is doing well. I hope he becomes absolutely alright and comes back very soon. Are you sure, you are fine? Please don't ever cry again, we all are here for you. " She said so sweetly. I hugged her.