Next Morning

Everyone woke up with headaches, hung over from the night before. Nandini woke up and found herself next to Manik who was already awake.

"Good morning." He grinned.

"Tum itne khush kyun ho?" Nandini asked as she got up.

"Just realized....you dont really think anything through to the end so you?"

"Matlab?"

"NANDINI!!!!!!!!" 

Nandini was startled as Raman's voiced echoed through the mansion.

"Oh no..."

"Yeaahhhh.....Dad's pissed." Manik shrugged. Nandini started to go outside. "Good luck!"

"Shutup!" Nandini grumbled. "Mujhe dant parni wali hai aur tum maaza le rahe ho? Cant you help?"

"Nope." Manik shook his head. "Pagal nahi hoon main jo sher ke muh mein haath daal doon. You're on your own wifey."

"Stupid idiot...useless." Nandini muttered as she left. Manik just watched in amusement.

******************

Nandini came downstairs to a furious looking Raman while Ishita was trying to calm him down. 

"How dare you?" Raman asked Nandini who just looked down. "Holi party mein kitne important clients aaye they! You ruined EVERYTHING."

"Chachu, Nandini ki galati nahi hai." Abhi spoke up to defend his sister. 

"Haan, hum dono ne bhi toh-" Cabir was interrupted by Raman's stern look.

"Bohot ache se paata hai ke tum dono ne kya kiya hai." Raman said. "Aur main sirf isse nahi bol raha hoon.....tum dono se bhi baat karunga. Lekin rang lana toh iss ladki ki idea tha na?"

"But humne bhi-" 

"ENOUGH!" Raman shouted stopping Abhi from supporting her.

"Raman...jaane do." Deep spoke up. "Bachi hai..."

"Haan...aur holi ke din agar bache masti nahi karenge toh aur kaun karega?" Ishita added.

"And you had fun." Everyone turned to see Manik come down the stairs.

"What?"

"Fun Dad..F..U..N...fun....you remember that word right? Its what Holi USED to be about. Ghar walon ke saath time spend karna, masti karna....you used to like all that." Manik said. Nandini watched stunned as Manik defended her because she honestly thought he was going to let her get yelled at.

"Pehle ki baat aur tha Manik." Raman said.

"Why?" Manik asked. "Kyun? Aur kya alag hai? Hum tab bhi family they aur aaj bhi family hai right? Holi isnt meant for business...its meant for fun. Aur Nandini ko dantne se pehle did you even ask the clients if they enjoyed themselves? Because jahan se mujhe dikh raha tha...they were enjoying themselves."

Raman stayed silent.

"Raman?" Mahesh spoke up. "Kya clients ne kuch complain kiya?"

"No Dadu...they didnt. Dad didnt even ask them....here, main hi unko call karke puch leta hoon." Manik dialed a number and then put his cell on speaker.

"Hello?" The man on the other side answered.

M: Hello Mr Richards. This is Manik Malhotra speaking.

R: Hello Manik

M: I just called to ask you how you liked the party last night?

R: Oh...that was so much fun. Ive never experienced something like that before. Thank you so much for having us over.

M: Its my pleasure. Im glad you enjoyed.

R: I was just talking about the party with my wife. We might come next year too...that is if we are invited of course.

M: Of course you are Mr Richards!...anyways, Ill take your leave now.

R: Ok..bye.

Manik hung the phone up and then looked at Raman with a look. Abhi spoke up again when he saw Nandini was in tears. "Chachu...if you know ki galati hum teeno ka tha toh aapko hum teeno ko dantna chahiye tha. You cant single out Nandini because you dont like her."

Everyone was stunned to hear Abhi speak like that since he has never done that before. Mukti grabbed her husbands sleeve.

"Abhi..."

"Main kuch galat bol raha hoon kya?" Abhi asked her. "Nandini ne akele kuch nahi kiya, maine aur Cabir ne bhi uska saath diya tha. Sabne enjoy kiya tha...even the clients liked the party toh bina kisi baat ke Nandini ko sabke samne bulake dantne ka kya point hai?"

"Yeh Abhi itna kyun defend kar rahe hai Nandini ko? Woh toh mera kaam hai..." Manik thought suspiciously.

"Chachu...aap mujhe aur Cabir ko apne beton jaise treat karte hai so you CAN scold us...haq banta hai aapka. Par agar aap Nandini ko apne beti toh door...bahu bhi nahi mante hai toh kis haq se aap ne ek ajnabi adult ko sabke samne bulake danta? Thats just wrong." Abhi said and then left the room with Mukti close behind. 

Soon, everyone else also left and Manik looked to Nandini who was just staring at him.

"What...tumhe kya sach mein laga I wouldnt help?" Manik asked.

"Itna sab bolne ki zaroorat nahi thi...Dad hai woh tumhare."

"Girls I tell you..." Manik roled his eyes. "They are never happy.....vaise tumne Abhi ko toh nahi rokha, chakkar kya hai?"

"Boyfriend hai woh mera.... Im having an affair with him." Nandini replied sarcastically.

"Ha Ha very funny." Manik faked laughed. "Seriously tho...Abhi never gets so angry. Woh bhi ghar ke badon se? NEVER...since when did he get so protective over you?

"I dont know...ask him." Nandini replied before walking away. Manik grabbed her wrist and spun her towards him so their noses were touching and her arm was twisted behind her back lightly but firmly. She blinked up at him with her big chocolate brown eyes. 

"I would...par I get the feeling jaise tumne kuch nahi bola vaise woh bhi chup rahega." Manik said. Nandini looked away but still didnt say a word making Manik sigh. "Fine...dont tell me. Ill find out myself." 

He let go of her to walk away but felt a tug on his wrist. They both looked and saw Nandini's bracelet was tangled in Manik's watch. Both went to untangle it and bumbed their heads.

"oof.." Nandini rubbed her forehead.

"Sorry...here, main nikalta hoon." Manik slowly untangled her bracelet then left.

*************

Abhi was furious at Raman. Yes Raman as much older and he always treated him and Cabir with love but Nandini was his sister and he never liked anyone talking to her in a loud voice let alone the way Raman always yelled. Mukti tried to find out why he reacted like that but eventually ahd to leave for work so now Abhi was just sitting in his room. 

Nandini meanwhile was walking by when she saw him. She remembered the way he stood up for her and then all the good memories she had with him growing up.

Flashback...

A 6 year old Nandini was playing in the backyard with her dolls and dollhouse when Karan came by and kicked the dollhouse.

"Karan!" Nandini exclaimed. She never called him or Madhyam bhai unless her father was around. "Its gonna break! Yeh mera favourite hai!"

"Oho...favourite hai tumhara?" Karan mocked her. He then jumped onto the dollhouse shattering it and Nandini gasped. The dollhouse was ever given by her parents, even if it was only to please Dadi....so it was special to her. Her eyes started tearing up. Karan saw her and started laughing. Madhyam who was sitting nearby also laughed seeing her cry. "You two are so mean! Main toh khel rahi thi na? Bother bhi nahi kar rahi thi...why did you do that? "

"God you're such a cry baby!" Karan laughed. " Abk Eazizi! Abk Eazizi! Abk Eazizi!"

"Stop it! I am not!" Nandini cried.

"Abk Eazizi! Abk Eazizi! Abk Eazizi!" Madhyam joined in. Nandini was now sobbing. Suddenly a younger boy came and pushed Madhyam to the ground...then kicked Karan in the balls.

"ABHIMANYU!" Madhyam growled. "How dare you push me?"

"Yeh toh kuch bhi nahi hai...Chukti ko phirse pareshan kiya na toh tum dono ka woh haal karunga duniya yaad rakhega." Abhi threatened. Karan & Madhyam were about to say somthing back but were called by their father at that time so they left. Abhi turned to Nandini. "Chukti...dont cry. Main isse thik kar dunga, I promise."

"But its fully broken bhai!" Nandini cried.

"Haan...paar maine promise kiya hai na? Ek baar Abhi ne apni Chukti se kuch promise kiya hai toh woh pura karega...even if its not immediately...par karega." Abhi told her. Then they sat down and Abhi glued each piece of the dillhouse together. It took about 4 hours to get every piece but he did it then handed it to Nandini who was so happy.

"Yaay! Thank you bhai!" Nandini cheered. She started laying with her dolls again. "Bhai...agar sabko paata chal gaya ke tumne meri help ki, mujhe defend ki toh they will be soo angry!"

"Hone do....I dont care." Abhi declared. "Ill always defend you. Chahe samne koi bhi ho...mere samne tumhe koi rula nahi sakta."

"Promise?" Nandini asked.

"Promise."

Flashback Ends

Nandini got emptional and ran to him, hugging Abhi from behind and startling him. 'Chut- I mean...Nandini tu yahan?"

"Chukti." Nandini corrected him. Abhi turned back and looked at her surprised.

"You mean...tune...mujhe...maaf..."

Nandini nodded. "Even tho, I have 3 brothers...bachpan se maine bhai sirf tumhe bhai bulaya hai kyunki sirf tumne humesha bhai ka farz nibhaya hai. Haan you did leave me in between aur main naraz thi...bohot naraz. Par kab tak rehti? Dadi nahi rahi...Daima ko bhi unn logon ne pakka maar diya hoga. You're all I have left."

Abhi got tearful and hugged Nandini with his eyes. "Thank you...thank you..thank you Chukti. Thank you, mujhe maaf karne ke liye."

He then opened his eyes and was shocked to see a person standing behind Nandini at the door. Nandini turned and was equally shocked.

"Tum?" Abhi & Nandini said.

-------------------------

I had some internet problems but Im back again. 

Thoughts on this chapter?

 Who do you think heard Abhi & Nandini?