I was done with the day's work and just about to leave my desk when I was called to pick up a parcel from the front desk.

Parcel? At this time?

"I will be there in 2 minutes. Could you please hold it for me?" i asked the one who called me.

I packed all my stuff, making sure i had my wallet and keys to avoid another embarrassing interaction with Neonika aunty.

When i reached downstairs, it was an envelope.

"Thankyou" I took the letter, signed on the receipt and walked to the parking. Socha ghar jaake dhekhti hoon wohh hain kya.

The lights in Manik's house aren't still turned on. Aunty must still be working.

I parked the car and went upstairs, to find another envelope put on the door mat outside. What's with all these?

I picked it up, got in and locked the door. It was kind of intimidating.

Throwing my bag on the couch, shoes in either corners of the living room, i quickly opened the envelope, the first one first.

It was blank. Hain?

I turned it around, checked in the corners, in the cover itself to see if there is any other piece of paper awaiting. But no. there was just one big paper and that too empty.

Strange.

I opened the second one now, a little scared.

"Hard luck, Keep waiting" it read in big bold letters, printed.

What's going on Nandu? What's with all these?

Initially i thought may be it was some kind of a surprise or prank by Manik. But now, i really don't think it is. He is not someone who would scare me with these kind of pranks. He is more sensitive to me.

I checked all the doors, thinking about shows like CID, Crime Patrol, Saavdhaan India etc, which I keep watching over the weekend, episode after episode.

Swaashty rahiye. Surakshit rahiye....Daal mein kuch kaala hain...bla bla bla...

just for safety, i turned all the lights in the house on. That's what i often do when i am scared. I know it's crazy, but trust me you're going to do the same when you start staying all by yourself.

I checked my phone for almost hundred times since morning like a fool though i know he is not going to text me any sooner.

Plugging in my mobile for charging, i went to take a shower.

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

Manik

I was wondering where i had seen the lady, and now i realize i haven't seen her personally anywhere but she looked similar to Nandini. There were two pictures, both from Nandini's childhood.

How can that be possible?

Is Nandini by any chance the daughter she's referring to? But Nandini toh india mein hain.

"Is she your daughter?" out of immense curiosity I asked her, giving her the photo.

"Urrmm..yeah" she said giving a small pause before the 'Yeah'

Is she really Nandini's mother? But nandini doesn't have any siblings. Iss kaa matlab she remarried and has two children from her second marriage.

"She looks a lot like you" I said. Now i wanted to know more. But how?

"So are you going to visit her?" i asked hoping for a clearer answer.

"No" she said plainly.

Bas?

"I remember you saying you have two kids" i said. I know it must be bothering her for it is not something great to talk about for her. But for me it is the matter of nandini so i had to know.

"It's a little complicated. I am remarried" she finally said.

"Okay. I am sorry if i bothered you" I said and got back into reading my book.

Is this something to feel happy about? I met Nandini's mother. Will she be happy to know about it? Or would be bothering her to bring back her past?

Arrghh!

"Do you know where she is? I mean the one in the picture?" i asked her.

"Her dad didn't want me to maintain any contact either with him or with her" she said.

Well! You deserved it.

I can imagine how difficult it would've been for him to bring her up all by himself.

"You still could've tried? You're her mother right? I mean you could have had your way" i said.

I know i am making her feel guilty, but she made my cherry suffer all her childhood. I have the best of my memories with my mother, i am sure everyone has. Except for the one who have a genuine reason. But this doesn't seem genuine to me. You cared least about your 8 year old daughter. You're happily married now. What about those two poor souls.

She didn't have an answer.

"I don't want to talk about it. So it would suit you better if you stay out of it" she said. She sounded rude. I bet ya!

But i wanted to know more. Where she lives? Who she got remarried to? Her kids?

"I apologise for having said that. I hope you are happy in your new life. I am sure your kids must be loving you" I said.

"Of course they do. And i am very happy with my life. Glad you said that" she said.

"So, are your kids settled there? In the USA?" i asked, as again the conversation was getting better.

"Yeah. My son is married, and my daughter studies there" she said.

I so wanted to tell her that her other daughter is also doing very well. She works with one of the world's leading companies, doing her job perfectly. That she is a very caring and a beautiful daughter who takes care of her dad. That she has finally fallen in love with one of the most eligible bachelors. Hhehhee.

"Great" i said.

"Okay aunty, baaki baatein baad mein, i need to take a nap" I said.

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Nandini

I called up Appa feeling completely bored, but he was in a dinner so he had to hang up.

Kya karoon? I don't see Neonika aunty's car yet in the garage. She must have negaged herself in work so much that she couldn't turn up until now. Manik would freak out if he comes to know she has been working all day.

Hmm...how things change when one person who is important in your life goes away from you, though for a short span of time.

I have got so much used to staying around Manik now. His every action, his every word, the way he calls me cherry, the way he follows me everywhere....i miss them all so much now. It's been just a few hours that we last met, but it feels like years! Love!! All those feelings are because of love.

Hey Love! What have you done to such a poor soul like me?

I was thinking when my eyes again fell on the envelope. Knowing that thinking about that would only give me an ache in my head, I had dinner, and slipped off to bed.

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

Manik

Two more hours and I can finally land. Only now i realize there is a life out of mobile phones and paparazzi. It was so peaceful except for the fact that i cannot talk to herm bug her, go behind her.

I looked at the lady and she was sleeping too. My eyes fell on her hand bag that had this luggage tag. It had her name, address from USA and a contact number. Bingo! For the first time, i have found luggage tags useful.

I noted down the number from the tag, i know it's wrong but i had to. For nandini. What if i can convince her to talk to Nandini, tell her that she needs her mother.

I switched on the tv screen and was scrolling all the movies list when i found MS DHONI. I like that movie because it has my song, the one i sang for nandini. Skipping every bit until i reach the song, I played it.

Jab tak tujhe pyaar se..beintehaa mein bhar na loon

Jab tak mein duaa sa..sau dafaa tujhe bhar na loon

Aa mere paas tum raho...

Jaane ki baat na karo...

I miss you Nandini. I miss you so much. I have no idea how the rest of the week is going to pass. Such a weak week!

I finished watching the movie, when it was also time to land. She got up too.

"Okay aunty, it was nice meeting you" i said.

"Nice meeting you too. Can i get an autograph?" she asked.

"Sure" i said signing on the book she showed.

"Aunty if you don't mind, can i tell something?" i asked her.

"Haan" she said.

"May be it's not too late, for you to try reaching your daughter. May be you can go to her, ask her how she's doing" I said.

"Thanks for your suggestion" she said. She didn't like it.

Now i was sure, she definitely has a problem with Nandini.

Forget it. I don't want to reach her anymore.

It was time for landing. The flight attendant helped us with our bag in over-head cabin.

I thanked her and finally....like finally got down the flight.

One of my friends is supposed to wait for me at the arrival gate.

The baggage belt was jam-packed. Glad i tied bright red ribbons on the handles so i could recognize them easily.

I took my bags and went to the arrivals to find my friend Vivek waiting for me.

"Brother! You're finally here" he said giving me an energetic hug. It's a good morning for him, he obviously will be fresh. I was in the flight for almost 15 hours.

"Yes. Vivek what about the phone i asked you for?"

I asked him for a phone so i can use it as long as i am here.

I know Nandini's and mumma's number by heart. I called up mumma first.

"Manik is that you?" she asked.

"Yes my genius mother. It's me"

"How was the flight?"

"Boring. Aap jo nai thi. Mumma next trip you're going to join me"

"Ab toh aapko nayi partner mil gayi, i don't want to be kebab mein haddi"

"How do you always do it? Like how?"

"Well, it's natural talent. Did you call Nandini"

"Not yet, i called you first. Chalo ab, let me talk to her too. Waise did you guys meet after i left?"

"Nai beta. Last night I was busy and now i came to meet a friend, she was hospitalized last week toh socha i'll drop by. Just leaving from there. Infact last night uske missed calls bhi the. I was tired after work toh i didn't respond. Bura laga hoga use"

"It's okay. Woh samajh jayegi. Chalo ghar jaake atleast send her a text"

"Okay, baad mein call karna. Going to the hotel room?"

"Yes. I will call you later mumma. Bye"

I dialled up nandini's number and she didn't pick up. Strange. She must be home by now.

I sent her a text, telling it was me, may be she thought it's from an unknown number and didn't pick up. The message got delivered and she didn't read it until now, it's been 15 minutes already.

I called up the watchman to ask him if she wasn't home yet.

"Nai saab, madam abhi tak ghar nai aayi"

"Theek hain, jab wohh ayegi use bol dena mujhe call karein"

"Ji saab bol dunga"

Ghar nai gayi ab tak? I don't even have the number of any of her colleagues. I looked up for her office contact number and found one but i am unsure if someone will even pick it up.

"Ahh hello. I need information about one of your employees"

"I am afraid sir, if it is confidential i cannot share it with you"

"I don't think it is. One of my friends Nandini is an employee in your office, and she hasn't been picking up my calls. Could you please tell me if she logged out already?"

"Could you tell me the name of the employee sir?"

"Nandini..Nandini Murty. She sits in the 12th floor, desk number 145" i gave her additional details to make the task easy.

"Yes sir, she logged out an hour back" she said.

"Can some tell me if she left the office campus?" i asked her. I was scared now.

"Uhmm... That's not really easy sir and I don't think it is even permitted" she said.

"Her phone is unreachable. And being one of her guardians i need to know her whereabouts" i said. I was getting mad plus scared now.

"I understand sir. But it is against our rules. Unless we see you in person we cannot disclose such information" she said.

I hung up on her, although it's terrible manners.

I called up the inspector who is my friend.

"Hello Vikas. Mein Manik bol raha hoon"

"Manik? Yeh kaha ka number hain?"

"America. Ek trip pe aaya tha"

"Wahh bhai. Acha bol kya leke aayega mere liye"

"Vikas wohh sab baad mein, ek help chahiye thi" i narrated the entire story.

"Tera naam baahar aayega toh? Problem ho jayega yaar tere liye" he said.

Problem? Not finding nandini is the biggest problem right now.

"It's okay, mein handle kar loonga, tu mere naam pe complaint likh aur uski office jaa. I will send you her picture"

"Abhi jaata hoon"

"Vikas, she is really important to me, agar use kuch ho gaya na mein khud ko nai sambhaal paoonga, mumbai mein uska koi nai hain. Aur haan, don't let her dad know anything about this, pareshaan ho jayenge"

"Okay. Tere naam pe complaint likh raha hoon. Tu fikar mat kar, mein kuch bhi karke pata lagaoonga"

"Thanks yaar. Call karna jo bhi information milein"

Where are you Nandini?

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