Nandini knocked on the door of a person whom she needed now the most.

"Bella?" Meher opened the door and frowned in confusion looking at nervous Nandini with eyes filled with sorrow and confusion.

"Hey- Hi Meher. I'm -- I'm sorry to disturb you but the only person came in my mind was you. Oh god! What was I thinking? I'm so sorry Meher you can go back to sleep. I'm so sorry to disturb your sleep." Nandini was blabbering and asking for her forgiveness profusely. 

"Bel--" she was interrupted by Nandini's blabbering. 

"No, I'm extremely sorry Meher. I don't know what I was thinking when I woke you up. I-- actually I--- I'm sorry I'm rambling again. I'll take your leave." Nandini turned to run to her room and hide herself under the duet and never get out of it.   

"Bella." Meher caught her shoulders and lightly shook her "Relax. You didn't bother me okay."

"No, but--"

"Nandini Di." That stopped Nandini from talking anything.

"Now come inside," Meher spoke in a gentle voice this time.

Nandini reluctantly agreed and sighed out of embarrassment.

'This is all because of you Manik Malhotra.' She cursed him in her thoughts.

"Now tell me. What happened?" Meher asked calmly when she saw Nandini was seated on the couch.

"Err.... its nothing actually. I just..."

"Bella. Okay fine don't tell me what happened just tell me why do you need my help and this time I want to hear the real answer from you please." Meher requested with a puppy face.

"Can you take me out here?"

"Bella, is there any problem? Did we do something?" Meher asked panicking with a pale and worried face. She was all ready to kill her brother. Not literally but torcher him for few days for sure. 

"No, No" Meher sighed in relief but it was short-lived when Nandini continued "What I meant to say was can you take me out of here now. I really want to get some fresh air in my system."

She looked at Nandini with wide eyes "Bella it's 1:30 am." Meher whispered slowly as if talking to a person who cannot hear. 

"I know and I'm sorry to disturb you but you are the only person who can help me because for one Manik won't allow me to go out right now, for two Cabir Bhai and Vihan won't take me out as they fear Manik so much and three I won't be able to pass the security system and the Guards." Nandini huffed and Meher was watching her with an amused face.

"Please." Nandini gave her best puppy eyes. Meher chuckled and nodded in affirmation making Nandini grin s;ightly.

"Okay but you need to follow whatever I say, deal?" Meher forwarded her hand to hi-fi Nandini

Nandini nodded eagerlyand hi-fi-ed Meher wanting to get out of here and get fresh air so that she can think with calm and sane mind.

Meher rushed into her closet and brought a pair of jeans, T-shirt, Jackets and shoes.

"Here Bella." She handed her the clothes which Nandini was eying weirdly.

"You change here and I'll go and change in the closet." Meher waved a temporary bye and moved towards her closet.

"Umm... Meher. This?" Nandini eyed the clothes and looked at Meher for an explanation.

"Just wear it Bella. You are going to enjoy it. I promise." Winking she left to change leaving Nandini in dilemma. Sighing she finally managed to convince herself to go with the flow.

Nandini looked herself in the mirror with a slight smile on her face after six months. She was looking good and first time in this six months she was satisfied with how she looked.

'This feels new---and good for a change!' She thought to herself.

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

Tip toeing they came out from the back door of the house and heaved a sigh.

"Level-1 Complete Bella, now level-2. Getting out of here and for that follow me." Nandini without any word followed her.

Meher stopped in the garden looking at the bush and then looked around to be double sure. Once she was satisfied that no one is here she pushed the bush aside and reviled the tunnel.

"A tunnel!" Nandini gasped.

"Shhh! This is our top secret okay? You have to promise me that you wont be telling this to anyone especially Bhai. only me Vihan and Abhi bhai know about this secret tunnel." Meher informed

Nandini slowly nodded her head letting the information sink in.

"Okay now follow me." She actioned the same with her fingers.

"Be careful okay." Meher warned.

"Yeah."

They both crouched down and moved forward slowly with the help of their hands and legs.

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

"Uff!" Meher wiped the imaginary sweat from her forehead and dusted her hands and dress and gave hand to struggling Nandini.

"Thank you." Nandini heaved a sigh.

After a few minutes of silence and bring their breaths back to normal both the looked at each other and burst out laughing.

"That was fun!" Nandini exclaimed still laughing about the little adventure.

"Nope, now you'll see the real fun Bella." Meher caught the hold of her wrist and dragged her along with her and Nandini gasped due to sudden movement.

"Slow down Meher."

"No Bella we can't, Bhai's Chamchas will get to know if we don't hurry." Meher breathed out forcefully

They soon reached down the lane where the bike was parked. Nandini frowned seeing the bike for two reasons. Now the attire Meher gave her made sense.

"Here, wear this." Meher handed her the helmet in a hurry.

"Umm--- Meher--- I don't think..." Nandini voiced our hesitantly still eyeing the bike and helmet in her hands. 

"Don't worry Nandini, nothing will happen and you'll enjoy it, trust me." Meher completed her sentence whole breathing heavily due to the run. She caught hold of Nandini's hand and squeezed it.

Nandini closed her eyes and inhaled deeply to calm herself. She wore the helmet and opened her eyes to look at Meher who was grinning at her while giving her a thumbs up in appreciating manner. She had a different emotion swirling up in her eyes, pride... may be? Nandini didn't knew but she felt happy after so long and she did not wanted to ruin it because of her overthinking. Nandini smiled back and gestured Meher to wear her helmet and with a wide smile Meher did and sat on the bike immediately.

"Ready Bella?"

"As ready as I'll ever be!" Nandini smiled and smiled genuinely.

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

"Woah" was the the only word that escaped from Nandini as the view came in front of her eyes. It was really a sight for sore eyes.

"I'm coming here after six years." Meher commented looking at the glowing city lights.

Nandini looked at her confused. "Six years?"

Meher looked at Nandini with sad eyes and gave her a small smile, while Nandini pushed back her hairs which was flowing freely with the cool winter air of December.

"I was in Canada for 6 years and its been a month and a half since I came back, before shifting to Canada I used come here with all my brothers and Vihaan--- my bestfriend." Meher smiled reminiscing the memory. Nandini also smiled looking at Meher's happy face. There was a silence again, both were in their own world observing the beautiful city from afar.

"You know this city that never sleeps, that looks dreamy and beautiful from here, which is a dream of many, which is a bread and butter of so many people has a vulnerable dark side too. Like us. It breaks your dreams, It shows you the realities of the cruel world, It breaks your heart." She paused and looked at Nandini who was now looking at the stars shining near the moon making the sky and moon both look beautiful.

"Someone somewhere is praying for a better life, someone is cursing their fate with a bottle of alcohol in their hand, some are enjoying their teenage life at pubs, some are taking decisions for their better life, some are getting abused and maybe someone..." her breath flattered but she continued taking a deep breath

"Maybe someone is getting raped." Nandini's head snapped at Meher with a look of disbelieve marrying her face.

Meher smiled "Don't look at me like that Bella, its true. Maybe and maybe being the keyword here, is getting raped out there but still, still Mumbai is called a city of dreams where your dreams come true because Mumbai has that strength to stand up against its flaws and love herself and that's what make people admire her and make them believe in her." Meher had a soft smile on her face.

"She has seen everything Nandini, from nasty early 70s, 80s and 90s to people crying blood after the bomb blast. You name it and she has endured everything. She has cried, she has wallowed, and people were and are still brutal with her but she is standing Nandini, giving hopes to many."

"Life, fate, they are the same, they test you every time, every chance they get, try to ruin you and at some point they get successful too until you stand up against them and show them your grit, confidence and courage that's what matters at the end. Don't let people ruin you Nandini. Don't let anyone ruin you. Whatever happened with you, don't worry I just know that because of Nishant you were into prostitution other than that bhai didn't share anything with us. Its your story to tell and we respect your decision if the situation was avoidable bhai would have done that and I'm not saying this because he is my brother but because I know his nature." Nandini just nodded and looked down at her feet unable to meet Meher's gaze.

"Nandini." Meher called her softly

Nandini looked up with unshed tears of pain and shame.

"Don't you dare Bella." Meher warned

"Don't you dare bow your head because of shame because was not your mistake." Nandini nodded again unable to utter a word. Meher squeezed her hands and urged her to look up.

"You have nothing to be ashamed of Nandini believe me." Nandini nodded with tears swirling in her eyes but a light of hope was there too.

"Thank you so much Meher, you made it easy for me." Nandini looked at her with grateful eyes. Meher smiled widely ad hugged her.

"For knowing your worth you need to pass many hurdles, majority of them you passed Nandini and now the remaining one you'll be passing with us and at the end you'll see everything was worth it." Meher advised.

"You are more sensible than your age sexy sassy patootie." Nandini smiled mischievously and wiped the remaining traces of tears.

"That toh I'm from the second I was born." She raised her imaginary collar. "You know...Wait. You nicknamed ME??" Meher gushed and Nandini giggled while nodding.

"Sexy Sassy Patootie! Damn, this sound so cool. I love it already Bella."

"Well, someone said me that Meher Malhotra is a synonym of unique so her nickname had to be unique."

Meher gave an 'I'm impressed look' to her "well someone is as intelligent as me." Meher blew air on her aviators and twirled it but it slipped out of her hands causing her to fumble and save her aviators.

Nandini not being able to control herself burst out laughing and Meher pouted at her.

"Haa so what, kabhi kabhi bade logo se bhi galti ho jati hai," Meher explained while shrugging her shoulders while Nandini shook her head at her antics.

"Now get moving Bella, we need to reach Meher Mansion soon, if not bhai will keep me grounded for a year." Meher said avoiding her look and walking towards her bike with Nandini following her. 

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇　

"IthinkDevenunclelikesNandini'smom" 

"The fuck!"

Everyone sitting there heard the voice they dreaded to hear. They slowly turned their heads praying it to be just the fragment of their imagination but it was too good to be true.

"What the fuck are you people speaking?"

There stood Manik Malhotra glaring at the boys who were now passing sheepish smiles with lot of fear mixed in it.

"Ma---Manik Hi." Cabir waved at him like a teenage boy after seeing his crush entering the school.

"Tu kyu aaya---mera matalab hai kab aaya?" Cabir stammered still passing nervous smile to Manik while he was still glaring at Cabir and Vihaan and they were finding ways to vanish in thin air mentally praying to the 'karta-dharta' that they get some magical wand

"Cabir." Manik's called out in 'no joke right now' tone. 

"Manik tu beth na khada kyu hai." He motioned Manik to sit on the spare chair near Vihaan. 

"That's not the answer to my question Cabir." Cabir looked at Ansh with puppy eyes knowing Manik wouldn't disobey him. Ansh assured him through blinking his eyes. 

"Manik." Ansh called to gain his attention. "Sit down. We will explain everything." 

Manik looked apprehensive but nonetheless sat down near the Vihaan make his heartbeat go skyrocketed. He visibly paled and immediately hid the phone where he was typing some message to someone.

"Did i speak in Japanese language that he didn't listen to my request but followed Ansh bhai's order! Bhalai ka zamana hi nahi hai." Cabir whispered under his breath but gave his most charming smile when Manik looked at him suspiciously. 

"Now tell me what's going on."

✦

"...and then we got on the conclusion that Deven uncle has developed some feelings for Shikha aunty." Abhimanyu heaved a sigh after elaborating everything to Manik. 

"Are you 100% sure?" Manik asked for the nth time since they have started narrating him their side of the story. 

"Manik, we are not completely sure but what we saw is hinting in that direction only." Ansh explained and Manik slumped into his seat more. It was not like he wasn't happy for his uncle but one question was killing him and to his frustration Cabir asked that question loud. 

"Guys, everything is okay but one question is troubling me." Cabir spoke and everyone who were involved in their thoughts moved their attention to him even the still pale Vihaan who was continuously looking at his phone. 

"What is it?" Manik asked and trusting his gut feeling he knew it was the same question which was killing him. 

"Will Nandini become Manik's sister if Shikha aunty and Deven Uncle marry?" 

"THE HELL NO!"

Update! Update!! Update!!! 

Amaya Kashaf finally updated. The updated was completed and drafted a month back literally but I wanted to give at least three updates at a time which of course didn't go as per my plan. 

I was going to update it yesterday too but then I got busy with reading and  admiring my birthday gifts given by the family i met here so... 

But no worries I have draft of three chapters now which I'll be updating every alternate days because I think reading three chapters at a time is catching time consuming and readers tends to loose interest, based on my observation though. 

Also can I assume that you people know about the clash of Fandoms arranged by Wattpad? 

If you do then I'm happy to tell you guys that I have participated too. Toh na ese thoda read and share kardena and make Manan win. 

I'm so happy and proud that Manan was the one of the first preferences to for this contest and I don't know about others but it has actually motivated me to write. 

I so so so want Manan to win! *dreamy sigh* 

*Ahem* Sorry, so without wasting your more time just requesting the readers to go on a reading spree for a month so the best fandom can win. 

All the best. 

See you all on Wednesday, 9:00 PM.

And dont forget to ready ny CB's aka neha_satakshi books on manan, she have entered in the contest too. 😁

Ps: The bootifool cover is made by her!

bu-byeeee