Nandini

"Appa can i please talk to him? Atleast ek text? He must be waiting for me to reach him. This is so not done appa. Please" I requested appa.

I guess he couldn't see my sad face for too long so he gave me his mobile.

I opened the texts and the moment i did, i couldn't control my tears

"I love you so much and i am so sorry i couldn't be there with you when you needed me the most. I am sorry for all the pain you had to go through. I will be there in no time and i will see to it that Alya and Shivam face the wrath of Manik Malhotra for troubling his most valued possession. Cherry, you are my strong girl right? Keep calm until your potterhead comes back and set things right. Just keep counting down until you see me"

I Love You Manik, please jaldhi aa jao. And set things right. Please. I feel so under confident without you. Appa noticed my silence.

"You're fine?" he asked.

"Why did you not let me read his text? You know i can get mad at you for this" i said. I never spoke to appa this way.

"I told Manik when i met him for the first time, that he is going to replace me in your life, and that you'll slowly start leaving me behind. I am afraid now i see the same thing happening, though he assured me any such thing would never happen" Appa said, falling on the couch. I could see him shattered from inside.

"Appa please don't think that way. Aisa kuch bhi nai hain. Manik knows how important we are for each other. And he would never let any such thing happen. Appa Manik and I choose you before each other. That's how important you are to us. Please calm down, and think straight. It's not Manik's fault. He warned her, he made sure she doesn't interfere in our lives anymore. Galthi Manik ki nai hain appa. Please uss ke saath aisa mat behave karo. He treats you like his father and he can't take it if you blame him. Please? Mere liye" i pleaded him holding his hand.

"Okay, let him come, talk to that Alya in front of me, clarify everything right here, like infront of me. And then take you back with him. Also, i have another condition, he needs to let people know that you love each other, to avoid any humiliation toward you. Nandini, you are my daughter. I raised you up with values so you can live a respectable life. And you've been doing that until now. I don't want my daughter to suffer because of anyone, not even Manik. If you think i am selfish, then that's what i am. I am your father" he said.

"Okay. He will do that. Trust me. He can do anything for me" i said.

"I still have to see that" he said and got up from the chair.

"Go freshen up. I will prepare breakfast, you're already late for work" i said and he went to his room.

"Keep my phone with you, in case Manik tried to reach you" he said before closing the door and that brought a smile on my face. He is my sweetheart.

There was Dosa batter in the fridge, so i boiled a few potatoes for making masala dosa. Appa loves it.

In about twenty minutes it was ready, and Appa was also back, all ready to leave.

I served him the breakfast and he was happy to see his favorite Masala dosa.

"Taste karo and tell me how it is" i asked sitting next to him.

"Tasty as always" he said with a smile.

"Okay, i will see you in the evening. Call me if you need something. My alternate number is saved in that phone" he said and left for work.

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6 AM next morning

I was sleeping in my room when i heard the doorbell, ringing continuously.

Who could it be at such an early hour?

I got up and opened the door, only to lose my balance, with the intensity of his hug.

My man is here.

"Thank god you're safe. You know how much i love you right" he said literally crushing me in his hold.

And then i notice my t-shirt's shoulder getting wet. He is crying?

"Manik? Tum ro rahe ho?" i asked trying to pull off. But no. there's now way out of it.

"Shushh" he said.

"Manik i am fine" i said.

"Chup raho bas" he said. I had to follow his orders.

"I guess i need to pack you up in my bag every time I go away from you or may be put you in my pocket. Itni si toh ho tum, fit ho jaogi" he said. Only to get spatted.

"Tumhe jokes soojh rahe hain Manik?" i asked.

"You scared the crap out of me. And your dad? What's wrong with him? Nandini mein yahi pe baith ke dharna karne waala hoon if he tried to separate us. I am telling you. You know how i fix to something i commit to do" he said.

"Dharna? Kuch bhi Manik? Like kuch bhi?" i asked.

He finally let me off his hold.

"Let me see you" he said, patting my cheeks, slowly rubbing on those bruises.

"Does it hurt?" he asked.

"Not anymore" i said.

"I am so sorry, i failed you" he said holding my face between his strong palms.

"Never say that Manik. It wasn't your mistake" i said.

"It definitely was. I never knew Alya could stoop so low to get back on me" he said.

"Acha forget all that, come with me" i said taking him into the backyard. I don't want appa to wake up before i give him a headsup about our discussion.

"Manik listen, appa is upset because unhe lagta hain yeh sab isi liye hua kyun ki I love you. He thinks i am out of your boundary and that is why he is scared. What if your profession puts us, or may be me in trouble. Manik you just have to convince him, let him know ki aisa kuch nai hoga. You know how much he likes you na? He is just scared for his daughter. You would've reacted in the same way if you would have seen me when he arrived. Manik i was tied to a chair, my mouth was shut, i had bruises over my face and my hands. It was pathetic" i said, crying.

I didn't want to tell him all this because that would only arouse his anger. But i couldn't hold myself back, he is after all my strength.

"Ssshh. Not a single word" he said. I could see blood boiling under his skin. His fists were tightened, and he had this 'I will kill them' look in his eyes.

"Let me talk to your dad and then you can go back with me" he said taking me inside.

"Appa" he called for him.

"Appa" again. And finally appa came out of his room. He was shocked to see Manik.

I pulled off my hand which was in Manik's but he held it back.

"I am sorry for not keeping my word" he said.

"Kanna can you please go to your room?" appa asked.

I looked at Manik, he left my hand and i went to my room.

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Manik

Appa kar darr. Kaise bhagaaon use unki dimaag se. I am so confused. The moment she told he's scared because of my profession, I decided I could leave anything for her. I can make up my mind and change my profession if that's what is bothering him. When I commit to something, i end up making it mine, by hook or by crook. And Cherry is my biggest commitment for life.

"I am sorry for not keeping my word" I told him.

I was holding cherry's hand. And she was being a coward trying to let go off. She's a jungli billi only with me, appa ke saamne soyi hui billi.

"Kanna can you please go to your room?" he asked her, and chance dhekhthe hi she ran into her room. How am i going to handle him alone?

"Have a seat. I will be back in five" and went back to his room.

Someone knocked the door, when i was going to open it, Nandini came out. It was their maid/ cook.

Nandini said something to her in Tamil, all i could understand was coffee. She must have asked her to give me coffee.

"I don't need coffee. I am fine" i said.

"It's for Appa. as if you understand Tamil" she mocked at me.

"You go inside. Darpok" I said.

"Darpok hoge tum" she said showing her tongue and went back to her room, and the lion is back.

Bhagwaan bachaa le!

"Uncle before you ask me anything, let me tell you something. I love Cherry, i mean nandini very much and you have seen it for yourself. You have always liked me for what i am, you enjoyed my music. And so did nandini. But uncle, if i have to choose her safety or music, undoubtedly it's going to be her. I can leave my profession and do what makes you satisfied or believe she would be safe, I am ready to take up that. Mumma always taught me that we can go to any extent for the people who love us, rather than the people who we love. In my case both are the same, but Nandini loves me more, than i love her. I am sure about it, I believe even you are. So, in that case, it's okay, to go to any extent for her. And now the decision is yours. Acha wait, just because i said decision is yours, i am not going to be fine with we both separating. I am going to negotiate until I convince you. I am sure i will" i said.

I know this situation is serious, and once he starts talking, i am going to become dumb. With the little leniency i have with him, i took a chance and played my trump card.

"Do you even understand what you just said?" he asked.

Is this a bouncer?

"I do. I have total idea of what i just said" i replied.

"Is it so easy for you to give up everything you have?" he asked.

"I am giving up just a part of what i have. The material part. My people, my values, my emotions are going to be with me" i said.

"You think your mother would be okay with it?" he asked.

"Appa, mumma loves me for the person I am, not for the profession i am in" i said.

I made up my mind to sound confident.

"See Manik, i would never want you to give up your profession. That is something that attracts me about you. Baat uski nai hain. Nandini told me that, you are still not ready to go public about your relationship. You need some time, i agree you might have your own reasons. But what if someone like Alya pops up again? If it was just Shivam, i would have dealt it differently. Since Alya is involved, you are involved too, though its indirectly" he said.

"Appa, i totally understand your point of view. And i appreciate that you wouldn't want me to give up on my career. I agree i asked Nandini for time, i did that because i didn't foresee any such thing happening. I didn't know Alya would come to know about us" I said.

That doesn't sound much like an excuse.

"So what now?" he asked.

"First send her with me. I will make sure nothing of this sort repeats" I said.

"I need to deal with Shivam. Chalo Alya ko chod do she did it because of you. But how do you think Shivam is related to all this?" he asked.

I noticed him getting a bit relaxed.

"All i know is he was behind Nandini for a while, he asked her out and she rejected him. But that doesn't sound much like a reason" i said.

He was in thoughts. I thought may be i should talk to him about his Nandini's mom.

"Uncle, i need to tell you something" i said.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Acha pehle, do you want to freshen up? You must be tired" he asked.

"Nai uncle this is priority" i said.

"Okay" he said.

"I met Nandini's mother today, in the aircraft. She was travelling to America" i said. He was shocked.

"How do you know it's her?" he asked.

"I Saw Nandini's pictures. She told me too" i said.

"DId you tell Nandu about it?" he asked.

"Nai"

"Batao bhi mat. I don't want her to know anything about that lady"

"She has two kids from her second marriage. She was going to visit them" i said.

"I know about it. Three years back i guess, i tried reaching her. Nandini was missing her mother very much. I couldn't see her depressed. Hamaari ego ki wajah se she shouldn't suffer right? I couldn't reach her directly but i got to know about her new family" he said.

"She looks happy with her new life"

"Why wouldn't she be? Uss ke liye uski life, uski choices sab se important thi. You don't know how much kanna struggled because of her. She wasn't even mature enough to understand why her dad and mom always fight, why she had to take turns with her parents to stay with them. There were so many questions in her mind. But she kept calm and endured it all. And that is why i cannot see her in pain. She is done with all her suffering" he said. I could see his eyes getting moist.

"Appa i totally understand your fear. She'll be the safest with me" I tried to assure. There was a small smile on his face.

Our conversation was interrupted by ,om's call. Iss chakkar mein un se baat karna hi bhool gaya mein.

"Manik! You idiot! Kaha ho tum? You are freaking me out. And why is there police in my house?" she asked.

Police in our house?

"What? Police?"

"Oh yes! There is some inspector Vikas here. Talk to him. You owe me an explanation Manik" she said and passed on the phone to Vikas.

He told me about Shivam getting manipulated by his brother.

"Uss ne aur kuch nai bola?" I asked him.

"We are looking for his brother. Seems like, he is not his own brother. Iss ki family mein koi bhi uss brother ke baare mein nai jaanta hain. And Shivam is their only son. Shivam ke parents se baat hui"

"That's strange. Acha tu investigate kar. I will be there in the city soon. Aur phone mom ko de"

"Now tell me, everything" she said. My mom seems flustered.

I explained her the entire story.

"Itna sab hua hain and no one told me anything? What about Mr. Murty? How could he take such a big step, on his own?" she asked.

See now my mom is like that. Apne bete ko sad nai dhekh sakti hain.

"Give the phone to him. I need to talk" she said. I gave the phone to Appa.

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N: Mr. Murty. Yeh aap ne bohot galat kiya. I wasn't expecting this from you. I know what you must have been going through, par aap ne kuch nai kaha mujhse.

M: I am sorry Neonika ji. It was all so sudden. I couldn't think of anything else

N: Nandini kaisi hain abhi? I tried calling her phone hi nai lag raha tha

M: Theek hain. She is fine. Manik bhi aa gaya na.

N: You shouldn't doubt on my son Mr. Murty. The only thing i am sure about without any doubt is about my son's love for your daughter. We can't let them suffer because of someone who is not related to us. Yeh ek problem hain and i am sure we can sort it out together. Par aise bachhon ko alag karna theek baat nai hain.

M: Hmmmm. I couldn't think of anything else. Her safety was the only thing running in my mind

N: I understand. Now, all three of you come to Mumbai immediately. Yeh sab khathm kar ke, inn donon ki setting karwa dete hain.

M: What do you mean?

N: We'll do the engagement. That's the best way to let everyone know that my son is hooked up.

M: Are you sure? Manik shaayad iss ke liye ready nai hoga

N: Usse mein baat karti hoon. Ladki uss ne pasand ki hain, aur ab baaki cheezein hamare pasand ke hisaab se honge. Uss ki chinta aap mat keejiye.

M: Yeh sunn ke bohot acha laga. Nandini will be very happy.

N: Let me talk to her later, Abhi mujhe office jana hain, i need to get ready. And yes, i need all three of you here by evening. Take the next flight

M: Sure. We will see you soon

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"Your mom! She is the boss" Appa said after hanging up.

"What did she say?" Manik asked.

"She needs all three of us in Mumbai by evening, and there is a surprise for you. Rather a shock" Appa said.

"Kaisa shock? Kaisa surprise" Manik asked. They both moved into the house.

"Kanna, can you please come here" Appa called Nandini.

"Yes Appa" Nandini literally came running.

"We're going back. Your mother-in-law's order. And both of you, I am sorry. I was just trying to be an over-protective father. I had no intentions to hurt either of you" Appa said.

"Never say sorry Appa. We understand. I would have reacted in the same way if i had seen Nandini in such a situation. I am glad, you trust me with her" Manik said.

"Okay. Let me check for tickets. Manik tum tab tak fresh ho ke aa jao" Appa said. Nandini guided him to her room.

"So, this is my room" she said showing her room.

"Cute. Different from the one in Mumbai: he said.

"Yes, i did all this when i was around 15. I never changed the theme. I used to love butterflies. And that is why there are butterfly stickers everywhere"

She didn't notice him following her.

The moment she did, she was already in his arms.

He picked her up, walked up to the door and locked it.

"Manik, Appa aayenge" she said.

"It's okay. Samajh jayenge. He is cool" Manik said and walked back to the bed.

He put her down on the bed, and laid over her, carefully not putting his entire weight on her.

"I am sorry" he said kissing her eyes.

"For what?" she asked, struggling for every syllable.

"For all the pain" he said kissing her left cheek.

"Manik" she said trying to push him off.

"Shusshhh" he said placing his finger on her lip.

"Guess i have to tag you along everywhere i go" he said looking into her eyes. She could see a different charm in his eyes.

He took her hands that had bruises. He blowed on them smoothly, as if it was reducing the pain, and kissed over them gently.

"Never will i let you suffer life this" he said.

"Manik it doesn't pain much" she said.

"I am going to have them pay, chodoonga nai" he said.

"Police dhekh legi Manik, don't think so much about them. It's over" she said.

"It's over? It just started. Let me go back and then see" he said.

"Acha now go, fresh ho ke aa jao we'll have breakfast" she said.

"I need a different breakfast" he said.

"What? Tell me and i will try" she said.

"You don't have to try, you just have to stay still" he said.

"Hain?" she asked.

And then he looked at her lips. Her anticipation levels were increasing now, and that was seen from her slowly trembling lips.

"Oh so you figured out?" he asked noticing her lips.

"No" she said, curling up her lips.

"Liar" he said.

"Manik. Tum yaha Appa ko manaane aaye the and now what are you upto?"she asked.

"Appa maan gaye na, toh ab thoda tension relieving kaam kar raha hoon. Kyun tum ne mujhe miss nai kiya? I toh missed you a lootttttt" he said.

"Acha how much?" she asked.

And his reply bowled her out.

Her lips were getting crushed slowly between his. And to his extreme surprise, she responded immediately.

The warmth in his lips, was melting her pain, her fears. It was just getting intense with every passing second.

her hands made their way to his hair, clasping his hair between her fingers, while his hands were caressing her cheeks.

Her heart was racing so wildly, that it was getting difficult for her to breathe. The room turned hot.

She closed her eyes as things were getting blurred in front of her eyes.

He left her lips, with a wild gasp. It was so clear that he wasn't breathing up until now.

"You are definitely a drug" he said looking at her.

"I thought it was just your smile, that addicts me so much but then, thisss....was something else" he said.

She was just smiling. She turned into a cherry already. She wasn't looking at him.

"Look at me" he demanded, now lying next to her. She was still looking in the other direction.

"I can kiss you once again" he said and then she instantly turned to face him.

"Can i get a towel?" he asked. She nodded in yes and got up from the bed.

"You liked it?" he asked.

"What?"

"The kiss? I loved it. I never thought my first kiss would be so intense" he said.

She was feeling shy, while he was so frank.

"Here" she said giving him the towel, and quickly ran out of the room.

She went to the kitchen and prepared breakfast.

In five minutes Manik also came out.

Appa was already waiting for breakfast.

Nandini served breakfast just for her and Appa.

"Is Manik not having breakfast?" Appa asked. Manik was also confused.

"He already had" Nandini said and started eating.

"When? I was here all the time" Appa said.

"Room mein" she said and Manik was like seriously? Now is she not going to serve me breakfats? Upar se it's rasam wada, something he loves very much.

"I am hungry again" he said.

"But this is a not-so different breakfast Manik" she taunted.

"Chalta hain. Mumbai mein dedena special breakfast again" he said.

Appa had no clue what they were talking about.

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