Phew! 4304 words to be exact if you ignore my silly talks. 😌🤭

Ignore the typos and Enjoy reading! Meet you all at the end of the chapter

Manik and Nandini were heading towards Malhotra mansion and as usual Manik was driving while Nandini was admiring the city lights of Mumbai.

As soon as the car entered Malhotra Mansion they heard a series of voices yelling only one name.

"MANIK MALHOTRA." 

There were four people were standing at the entrance of the Mansion glaring at Manik who was having the time of his life seeing there faces with a winning smirk on his face. 

'His men are surely getting a bonus this month for this good creativity on these four people' Manik mentally grinned thinking how he missed half of the fun but he is surely gonna enjoy the other half.  

Nandini as soon as noticed their appearance  a gasp escaped from her mouth, she began to cachinnate with her whole body until shaking almost convulsively this caused Manik's smirk turn into amuse chuckle mot only him but other four were also happy seeing her laughing candidly. 

"I'm sorry... I...I couldn't control my self but what...What happened to you guys?" Nandini questioned trying to control her laughter 

"Ask that to the person standing beside you!" Came an answer from a man died in pink hair, pink shirt and pink pant glaring at Manik. 

"Cabir? Is that you?" Nandini scrutinized her gaze and laughed looking at Manik with questioning look while Cabir nodded is head with a sullen look on his face. 

"You did very bad Manik!" Rehaan made a crying face "I still smell like a cow dung no matter how many baths I take, you even replaced my perfumes with Cow dung smell, and how the fuck did you get that from? And who in the world supplies cow dung smell perfumes! And above that your men sprinkled those perfume bottles in my wardrobe and now it smells like its a fucking cow shade. You know I can't even go near my wife not only that she even shifted from our room and have warned to not to come near her or I won't be the first person to see my baby's face after he/she is born and its all because of you." Rehaan was glaring at Manik but his glare didn't even falter Manik's winning smirk even for a second instead it grew more.

"Rehaan Bhai at least you don't have permanent marker up your face or your chocolate boxes aren't empty or your credit card isn't sealed!" Meher whined whose face was painted green and 'my brother is the best'  written on her cheeks with what looks like permanent marker. In her hand there were empty chocolate boxes and she looked like she could cry any moment which Manik knew was fake while a pink-pink Cabir consoled her. 

"Manik from which angle do I look like a woman to you Manik! Your men brought a Mehendi artist, tied me to the electric chair and asked the artist to draw Mehendi designs on me, are you nuts? My whole arms and legs are cladded in Mehendi even the brides don't apply so much Mehendi."  Nandini looked at Abhimanyu his Mehndi started from the shoulder and ended on his finger tips and then from his knees to toes. 

"This is gonna pain him so much." Nandini murmured looking at Abhimanyu and dried Mehendi adorning his hands (note the sarcasm) 

And Nandini was proved right when she heard Abhimanyu hissing as he was rubbing his arms trying to take the dried Mehendi out but it was seemingly impossible task for him as Mehendi stuck on his body hairs wasn't allowing it to come out without tugging. 

Seeing all of theirs condition Nandini felt bad she looked at them with empathy and glared at Manik. 

"What? Don't look at me like that, they were the one enjoying yesterday when I was in pain." Manik shrugged and leaned back taking the support of his car and Nandini in return shook her face in disbelief.   

"Umm... I have few solutions it may help you guys. Rehaan can you ask anyone to bring Oud (agar wood) perfume, attar or the Oud in its original form is the best. There is no foul odor which Agar wood cannot dissipate, believe me." She assured with a smile and Rehaan jumped in happiness ready he called someone over the phone and asked him to bring what Nandini said. 

"Abhimanyu you can either soak your hands and legs in sea salt water for few minutes and exfoliate it gently or apply olive or coconut olive it will help you to take off the Mehendi easily." 

"Damn Nandini you are a genius!"  Nandini in return just smiled. 

"Meher you can try olive or coconut oil too" Meher just nodded and looked at her brother who was still standing watching everyone's faces. 

"And Cabir I'm so sorry but I have no solution for you." Nandini gave a small guilty smile to Cabir who in return shook his head

"No need to be guilty Nandini I'll find some way." Cabir tried to assure her with a sad face but he himself was in rebuttal over his statement. 

Manik rolled his eyes at Cabir's drama and moved towards him. Cabir gulped seeing Manik taking predatory steps towards him as if he was his today's prey while the other three prayed for Cabir's peace in grave. 

Manik raised his hands and Cabir closed his eyes tightly expecting a punch or something when he felt something taken out of his hairs. Manik gave him a tight forced smile and shoved the pink wig in his hand making all them stuck dumb. "I'm not changing your pink clothes though, you'll do it yourself." Manik's thick and rugged voice spoke for the first time in a while. 

"And Meher Malhotra you can try what Nandini said and even if the ink doesn't comes out  I have kept a special gel made by Alia in your bathroom cabinet apply it a little keep it for five minutes and not more than that and wipe it off or wash your face." A slow smile appeared on Meher's lips, she knew her brother won't do trouble them much no matter how heartless he shows himself in front of others. She was just worried for her chocolates and credit card. Seems like no chocolates and shopping for a month now. 

"And you, Mr. Thakkar follow what Nandini said and Rehaan your room is good now and I don't give fuck about your clothes, you and Cabir can look into if for your selves and next time try fucking with me you'll see who real Manik Malhotra is, now move." He pushed them aside and marched towards his room, for one he was hungry and two he wanted to sleep. 

While the remaining five were looking at his retiring figure with a small smile on their face. Though they see the devil Manik Malhotra everyday it is always a sight to watch a hidden caring Manik Malhotra coming out and for that if they have to crib then so be it. Heck, they also recorded the scene for others to watch and enjoy. 

'Crazy Family with Crazy People!' Nandini thought looking at quarter number of members. 

"He loves and cares for us in his own twisted way." Meher muttered with a happy sigh only to gain hmm-s from others and surprisingly Nandini too.  

"Yeah, and you guys need to say sorry to him." Mishti said coming out of nowhere she first went and hugged Nandini and then ran towards her chocolate boy's room leaving everyone with a question, 

What the heck just happened? 

"Cabir, what did Navya eat when she was having Mishti?" Abhimanyu asked in daze and Cabir could only shrug

"Every edible thing she can bro."  

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
　

Nandini was sitting on her bed looking at the firefly poster above her headboard when Shikha entered her room after not getting any response of her several knocks. 

"Nandi?" She called her only daughter.

"Hmm" 

"What are you thinking, something happened?" She asked taking place of her opposite direction.  

"How are you stress free and how are your guards not up with Malhotra family?" Nandini asked one of the many questions which was troubling her Shikha smiled softly and asked, 

"In this two weeks have they ever made you feel uncomfortable or gave you any reason to doubt them Nandi?" and got an instant no from Nandini. 

"Then why should I not give these people a chance? My guards are not down yet bacche but that doesn't mean I won't give chance to the people who are fairly trying." She explained 

"But Nishant also never gave us any reason to doubt him too Mumma and here we are today." She asked with a frown marrying her head. 

"Coming to think, Nishant unknowingly gave few hints Nandi, but its on us. We were naïve or we decided to ignore those doubts and hints when we should have been alert and not trusted him so easily, hence we are here today. It was our mistake Nandi."  She answered in a whispering yet audible voice remembering the days when Nishant entered their life only to destroy it. 

Shikha took a deep breath and cleared the memory she didn't wanted to remember any more,

"Nandi I won't deny the fact that it was our mistake not only yours but mine too, you are my daughter and it was my responsibility as a mother to protect you." Nandini shook her head and tried to speak but Shikha didn't let her.

"Yes Nandini and believe it or not the situation or the almighty did warn us and gave us hints about Nishant not being a genuine person but we were lenient enough to let it slide and now it had made you so paranoid,  your conscious mind makes you doubt even a genuine person and their actions which is not your fault bacche." Shikha elucidated and took Nandini in a hug. 

"Can I sleep on your lap."

"You don't need to ask." 

And as soon as Shikha said it Nandini was lying on her lap with a face snuggling to her stomach to get the warmth that nothing in this world can provide. How she wish she could lie here her whole life and her mother's warmth will protect her from the evil world. 

"Then how should I know if I can trust that person? I might make a mistake again." Nandini asked the another and most important question that was troubling her.

Shikha smiled knowing her daughter very well, "For that you need to give that person a chance and not doubt his every action Nandi. See, if a person is not truthful or has some ulterior motive, situation will always give you an indication and then you need to be more alert and not ignore the hints, That's called keep your guards up and what you are doing is living in paranoia. That will be wrong with you as well as person who is genuine. You are understanding what I'm saying?" 

Nandini nodded slowly soaking her mothers words and understanding what she was trying to explain. 

"He is trying to rescue the girls who are still held captive by Nishant, he wants to expose the racket along with Nishant." Nandini said in daze thinking of their conversation in the afternoon. 

Shikha very knew about whom her daughter was talking, nodding she asked, "Isn't that good?" 

"It is." Nandini took a deep breath and answered her mother, she knew she was over thinking but she couldn't help. 

"Now go to sleep, tomorrow is a big day for you, from tomorrow you'll be living season two of your life and for that beauty sleep is necessary. Di used to say, Glowing face is equal to glowing day and for glowing face sleep is necessary." Shikha kissed the exact replica of her sister. how she wished her di to be alive, but Shikha knew she was protecting her daughter. Shikha looked at Nandini who was still thinking, 

'Radhika Di would do the same, thinking and overthinking over the situations, only I know how much efforts Avyaan took to impress my sister, and Manik needs to work harder than him.'   Shikha smiled at the memories with her sister and brother in law, she still couldn't believe Avyaan left his daughter.  His Naintara. 

"Now don't think much, off to bed shorty." She came out of her reverie and mock glared and Nandini. Nandini just smiled and Shikha got up keeping Nandini's head on the pillow, she kissed her forehead and wished her good. If it was for past Nandini she would have thrown a fit for calling her shorty. She missed her daughter but she has also seen the shone in her daughter's eyes which was lifeless few days before. 

Shikha was about to exit her room when she said, "Nandini. I'm not forcing but do think of them a chance and by them I mean Manik and his family." 

"I'll think about it mumma." 

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

Nandini's alarm echoed in her room but the alarm seemed quite unsatisfied with his work because he did not disturb her sleep, she was already awake thinking and pondering upon all the thoughts that were coming her way. The only work her alarm did was to indicate her that its time for her to take a step towards her new beginning. 

Praying to the almighty Nandini entered her spacious rose golden theme bathroom, showering she entered her closet only to get the shock of the day!

"Oh Shit! How dumb can you be Nandini. You are gonna work in Malhotra heights and you have no formal clothes.  How can I not remember this. Shit. Fuck Fuck Fuck." She panicked and start roaming back and forth  in her walk in closed cursing herself.  

"Okay Nandini cool. Take a deep breath." she consoled herself while taking few deep breaths. 

"There are so many women this in mansion someone must be having formal wear, I'll start from Meher, we have a same body type. Yeah." She muttered to herself and smiled when she got the solution. 

'Hello Miss Murthy.'  

A robotic voice called Nandini when she came out of her closet in hurry. Nandini was startled at first but she recovered soon and looked a small palm size teddy bear sitting on a formal office wear kept on her bed. 

"Yeh kaha se aaya" 

She marched towards her bed in confusion and looked at the neatly placed dress on her bed with a note. 

Hello Nandini, 

Good morning, I know you might be panicking right now, but don't worry, why fear when Malhotras are here. *wink* 

Jokes apart, you are starting your new journey from today and we Malhotras thought to  contribute something to make your journey more memorable. So here we go doll (I hope you don't mind me calling that even if you do I'm still calling you that) --Nandini chuckled and continued reading-- your first present is present on your bed (Pun intended) 

I hope you'll like my designed outfit. Waiting eagerly to see you. 

Love, 
Aparna and Ansh 

P.S.: Your next gift is kept on your dressing table. 

P.P.S.: Don't you dare feel guilty or sad for accepting the gift. Its a present from heart and you don't  deny the presents ever especially the ones given from heart. (Ansh) 

 She blinked away the tears formed in her eyes and looked at the dress again, It was beautiful and exactly what she wanted to wear on her first day, classy yet comfortable. It was a floral chocker top with a ruffled designs on both the shoulders and shirt like full sleeves. Paired with a coral pink peg bottom. The blooming and bloomed flowers on the piece of cloth did really made her feel happy, she didn't wanted any dull, nude and plain colour to wear on her first day as she always believe that the piece of cloth you wear depicts your mood and your day too. 

(Kindly ignore the bag)

She quickly got ready and marched towards her dressing table, will it be wrong to say she was excited? 

No. Okay good. 

Nandini scanned her dressing table when her eyes caught a sight of small blue velvety box with a cute 'open me' sticky note on it. Nandini smiled and opened the box when a tiny scroll rolled out of it with a burgundy ribbon tied around it. She carefully opened the scroll and found a cute quote written on it. 

(Ignore the key) 

'The soul is placed in the body like  a rough diamond, and must be polished, or the luster of it will never appear.' 

Time to shine Nandini. All the best. 

From,
Cabir, Navya and Mishti

P.S.: The earing is chosen by your one and only baby love for her Nandini masi.  

P.P.S.: For your next gift check your night stand drawer. 

She reread the quote and looked at the wonderful piece of diamond carved to a beautiful piece of earrings.

Don't know about love at first sight with humans but she surely has fallen in love with those studs. She took her time to adorn the pair and also her ears after she wore it. 

'Time for another note!' Nandini thought with a smile and moved towards her night stand. opening the drawer she found a palm size brown box with a sticky note on it. 

Har kutte ka din aata hai nandini

As soon as read the first line she couldn't help but snicker at it, she knew it was written by one and only Meher Malhotra. after gaining back the control she starting reading, 

'Har kutte ka din aata hai Nandini aur lo tumhara bhi aagya matlab you are not a dog or bitch on that note but I know that you know what I'm, trying so, right? 

Right. 

And see tumhara bhi din aagya Bella. To shine, to be happy, to taste the success, to enjoy your life to the fullest. Mene kabhi experience toh nahi kiya but mujhe pata hai ki andhere ke baad hi subha badi khubsurat hoti hai Nandini aur is subha par bas tumhara naam likha hua hai.  

I know... I know there are still so many traces of darkness in your life and with time you will heal, you may not forget what happened  but you will be so happy and so strong that no bad memories can ruin you nor you'll cry remembering them infact you'll be proud that you survived hell.  

And this present will remind you of the time when you decided to get up after falling down and take the command of your life in your hand. 

Happy day and all the best for your new start my strong Bella. 

From your, 
Cute si Sexy si Patootie and the idiot called Vihaan 

P.S.: Don't live any chance to trouble my big brother if he does something or even if he doesn't and the watch is designed by Vihaan and that boy is damn nervous. *chuckles* 

 P.S.: Your next gifts are in your closet. 

She looked at the custom made watch with wide eyes, it was exquisite and perfectly suiting Nandini's personality. The silver rose gold color complimenting each other admirably.

She hooked the watch around her tiny wrist and beaming smile appeared on her lips when she noticed her name carved behind the glass of the watch. 

Giving it one last admiring look she moved towards her closet to get other gifts. She noticed a box and a handbag kept on her closet couch. Nandini picked up the square box first and like every other time, this time too there was a sticky note inside. 

Have you ever noticed that fireflies are all over the place during some seasons, and yet not seen in others? That's because the firefly requires perfect conditions to let their light shine. So do we Nandini! Fireflies remind us that the right place and the right time is essential to getting energized, and let our brilliance radiate in this world and your time has come. Firefly is a symbol of  Hope, Energy, Patience, Inspiration and Illumination so are you Nandini!

A firefly chain for our firefly to remind her that she is strong and now nothing can stop her to win. All the best little sister the world is all yours and we know you'll rock it. 

From, 
Rehaan and Sharanya

Nandini racked her fingers through the chain with a tiny firefly attached to it.

She felt blessed, truly blessed she wanted to forget whatever happened in the past and not to worry about her future. She wanted to live in this present which was beautiful, which was making her smile genuinely and she has no shame to admit that she loved it, she was loving everything and the notes will surely be the highlight of the day. 

She clasped the chain around her neck and to her shone as soon as it came in contact with her skin's heat, she was amazed by their creativity and thinking skills. All of them. 

Her thought process came to an end when her gaze shifted from the chain to her the oyster pink shade hand bag with again a sticky note on it. It read, 

When you are looking for a perfect handbag, you look for durability, style, and affordability and when you live a life you always look for hope, security and love. You know life is like a complex contents in women's handbags, even when you get to the bottom of it, there is ALWAYS something at the bottom to surprise you no matter if it is as small as a toffee but it dose surprise you, Life is same Nandini even if you are at you bottom it does not fail to surprise you  with a reason, a hope of security, love and comfort which motivates you to live, to get up and fight and you my child are taking your first step towards the life you wanted to live. 

All the best Nandini and if Manik dose something you come to me I know how to mend his brain. 

From, 
Deven 

P.S.: Open the bag 

She did as instructed in the note with a moist eyes and found another box containing a pen, not just a pen but a Cross Century II  collection's sterling silver pen  by A.T. Cross. It was glossy translucent Lacquer finish fountain pen. 

(Imagine the section and cap's tip to be of rose gold colour.) 

An uncontrollable squeal escaped from her mouth when she saw her favourite pen in her hand with a quote that read,  

Life is like a pen! The art of writing is our hands, so when people criticize refill your pen with the ink of happiness. When you know things are not going well, change the colour with a bright ink. The unsaid written words and more stronger than any weapon Nandini use it wisely and rule the world. 

All the best. 

From,
Alya and Dhruv

P.S.: Open the door. 

 She knew the rim of the pen is made of gold and this pen might have cost fortune, not only pen but each and every gift she got. She sighed but smiled at their gestures it wasn't money but emotions that came with the gifts that mattered. 

With a beaming smile she came out of her closet to open the door only to find a rectangular box with a sticky note on it. She picked up the box and took the sticky note which read, 

Marilyn Monroe once said, Give the women a right pair of shoes and watch her conquer the world. There, now you have the right pair of shoes rather pumps and we would watch you conquer the world like a true warrior queen Nandini. 

All the best soon to be queen, 

Mukti and Abhimanyu

P.S.: Come down soon. We are waiting! 

She grinned and quickly wore the ankle strap pumps which Mukti and Abhimanyu gifted.

Giving one last look with an appreciating smile to herself. 

'I look good and I definitely feel good. All the best Nandini.'  Nandini thought to herself while looking at her reflection, checking if she took everything with her she exited her room. 

 The clicking sound of her pumps indicated her arrival in the dining room where everyone was seated discussing mostly about the gifts as everyone knew what they were gifting Nandini but decided to keep the look of their gifts as a secret they'll see once Nandini will actually wear or use it. 

While Manik was secretly watching the stairs visible from his seat in anticipation to see Nandini. Though everybody caught him they decided not tease the lion early morning or they knew their morning will be no good.  

As soon as Nandini entered the room the chattering voice died down and only the look of astonishment married their faces. 

"I'm dead!" 

Much like a filler chapter, I think but needed according to me.

Hope you have enjoyed the chapter.

Just quick question, how did you get to know about Flawlessly Flawed? Just my curious mind wanted to know and thank you so much to all of you for giving FF a chance. The votes and comments always motivated me especially now when I need it the most.

Have a great weekend fellas.

Meet you all next week till then,

Au Revoir 

P.S.: Next chapter is gonna be an important one for our manan and I cannot wait to pen it down!