Hello everyone!

It feels so good to be back here after a long time! I know I have been one hell of an irresponsible writer for stopping all my stories midway. I do not want to give any kind of stupid justifications because I know it won't do!

This story was a futile attempt of mine, to overcome the writer's block and start my journey of writing again.

I kept receiving so many messages asking me to come back and resume writing. I am sorry I made you wait for so long, but I am here with a three shot. 

This story is very special to me. It is something I haven't written earlier and it was pretty challenging. This was such an impromptu idea and I ended up writing all the three chapters in four hours. Yes! You read that right. 

So yes, go ahead and let me know how it was. All the three chapters are up so you don't have to wait for updates! :)

Happy reading!

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Sunn rahi hoon mein sudh budh khoke

Koi mein kahaani

Poori kahaani hain kya kise hain pata....

Prateek, Karan and I were dining after work in this newly opened rooftop restaurant.

I was busy enjoying my Alfredo pasta, cooked with extra cheese and fresh herbs, when i heard a voice, as beautiful, as soothing and as soft as this cheese in the pasta.

Mein toh kisi ke hoke...yeh bhi na jaani

Ruth hain yeh do pal ki ya...

Rahegi sadaa...

She was sitting behind me, so i couldn't see her directly.

"Yaar kya aawaaz hain" Prateek said.

"Aawaaz ki chod, uski face toh dhekh, she looks beautiful" Karan said.

"Manik, dhekh na yaar, pasta baad mein khaa lena" Prateek said.

I put back the fork in the plate and turned around, to see one of the most beautiful faces i have ever seen for the last 25 years.

She was smiling in between and that made her face glow ten times more, under that small spotlight.

With those hands filled with bangles of many colors, and cute danglers, she was setting her hair that was flowing like waves.

Jo bar se sapne boond boond

Nainon ko moond moond....

Jo bhar se sapne boond bond..

Nainon ko moond moond..

Kaise mein chaloon dhekh na sakoo

Anjaani raastein

I have heard an unplugged version of this song many times, but this rendition was something different. There wasn't a single instrument or background score, it was just her voice.

Goonja sa hain koi iktara iktara

Goonja sa koi iktara

Goonja sa hain koi iktara iktara

Goonja sa hain koi iktara

Dheeme bole loi iktara iktara

Dheeme bole koi iktara

Goonja sa hain koi iktara iktara

Goonja sa hai koi iktara

And then there was huge round of applause.

Everyone stood up, khaane ke beech mein, use appreciate karne. You don't get to see that a lot in restaurants.

"Amazing" i said.

"Haina, I am going to go ask her number right now" Karan was about to get up when i stopped him.

"Abey wait. You just saw her. Wohh kaun hain uska naam kya hain kuch nai pata tujhe" i said.

"Who cares?" he asked.

"You should Karan. Baith jao" i said and he sat back shooting angry glares at me.

The owner of the restaurant joined her, and took the mic from her.

"Hello everyone. Hope you are enjoying your meal and music. This is Nandini, a music student who sings part time for us. She is amazing. Thankyou Nandini" he said and got off stage, thanking him back.

She took her bag from next to her chair and was trying to find something.

The manager came back and handed her a small pouch. She thanked him for it and opened the pouch and what i saw next was a shocker. It was a walking stick.

She was visually impaired. It was something unimaginable. Her eyes spoke thousands of words. How could she not see?

"Yeh nai ho sakta" Karan said after seeing her walk down the stage with the help of the stick. The manager helped her find a table, but apparently all the tables were filled. Karan raised his hand up, indicating that we had an empty chair.

The manager said something to her and she was nodding in yes.

They both finally came up to our table. Prateek pulled a chair for her and Karan held her things. And now this beauty was sitting right next to us.

"Hello Nightingale. Karan here" he said. Flirting shuru.

"Haha Nightingale?" she asked smiling.

"Your voice was like magic, we just got lost in it" he said.

"Thankyou" she said.

"They are my friends, Manik and Prateek" he said introducing us.

"Hello Manik, hello Prateek. My name is Nandini" she said.

"What does Nandini mean? It sounds like a very beautiful name" Prateek said.

"Joy, happiness, delight" she said.

"Such an apt name" Prateek said.

"Why are only two of you talking? Manik, I guess you're still here" she said.

I was taken aback for a moment. My name sounded so beautiful in her voice.

"Yeah, I am here" i said.

"What do you all do?" she asked.

"We work for a software company, two streets away" I said.

"All the three of you?" she asked.

"Yeah, we have been friends for almost ten years, we do everything together" Prateek said.

"That's good. I am a student in the Music Academy, I work part-time as a singer here. The manager is my friend's dad. He asked me to do it. I couldn't say no" she said.

"Glad you didn't" Karan said.

"I get paid well, that's a totally different thing" she said.

"That's the most important thing" karan said.

"You're funny Karan" she said. Why isn't she talking to me? Or wait, I am not talking to her.

"How long have you been learning music nandini?" I asked.

"Ten years I guess. I never thought about it" she said.

"You really have a beautiful voice, next event in our office, we are going to invite you. Prateek is the cultural rep for our company" I said.

"Wow, that would be great" she added.

"Would you like to have something?" I asked.

"Not here, I eat at a different place" she said.

"Where?" I asked.

"Somewhere you guys probably can't eat" she said.

"Say food and we are ready to go anywhere" Karan said.

"Roadside food! Do you still have the same answer?" she asked.

"Definitely. Ek baar jo meine commitment kar li toh kisi ka bhi nai suntaa hoon" he said.

"Okay Salman Khan, Kabhi aur jayenge, you guys must have eaten already" she said.

"We'll get this packed and let's go to your favourite place. Waise bhi kal saturday hain and we don't have to go to work" he said.

We paid for the food and got the rest of it packed.

Karan was going to offer help to her, but she politely refused.

Prateek gave her the bag and the stick, and she walked ahead of us.

"I have a count on the number of steps, from every side of this area to the elevator, so I usually don't trip" she added.

I was feeling bad.

"Nandini, can I ask you something?" I asked.

"Yes"

"Do you trust us? I mean you don't even know us, and here you are going to have dinner with us" I asked.

She smiled at my question.

"You guys are one of those people, who didn't let me feel lacking of something. I liked talking to you. And didn't you know, if you are impaired with one sense, your other senses work so perfectly that you don't tend to make a mistake. I know I am going to be safe with you" she said.

"Thankyou" we all said together. We looked at each other and there was content in our eyes. We never had such a meaningful friendship with anyone. And now, we are not going to let her go.

"Address?" I asked as we sat down in the car. She was sitting behind with Prateek, i was driving the car with Karan next to me.

She told the address and it was really close.

We ordered special pav bhaji, paneer bhurji, lemon soda and bhel puri.

Nothing qualified as dinner.

"This is just amazing. I am going to come here everyday" Karan said eating the special pav bhaji.

"Come at 8:30, in case you want to join me" she said.

"Yes boss" he said.

We really enjoyed the food.

"But we are also going to come to the restaurant you work, nai toh gaana miss ho jayega" I said.

"That's so sweet of you" she said.

"So you guys like the food?" she asked.

There was bhaji all around her tiny mouth.

"Here, you can use it" i said giving her my kerchief.

"Thanks" she gave it back after using it.

"Do you guys want to go to the beach? We can have ice-cream there" she said.

"Beach? Now?" Karan asked.

"Yes. now is the best time. Let's go" she said getting up.

Even though we insisted a lot, she was the one who paid for all what we ate.

"This is cheating, we could have shared" Karan said,

"You can buy me ice-cream" she said,

We were walking back to the car when she tripped over a stone and was about to fall, when i held her hand.

"Thankyou" she said.

"It's okay. You can hold my hand" I said. With one hand she held the stick, and her other hand was in mine.

"What do you guys do over the weekends? Drink and sleep?" she asked.

"Bro, you're so right, how did you know?" Prateek asked.

"That's what usually any 9 to 5 employee does. My roommate does the same thing" she said.

"Do you drink?" Prateek asked.

"As i told you, my other senses work very well, I don't want to harm them. In fact I would suggest you guys to quit drinking" she said.

"Itna aasaan nai hain" Karan said.

"Take it slow. But try toh karo na" she said.

"Okay brother! Aaj se kam karenge, and bohot jald chod bhi denge" he said.

"What about the rest of you two?" she asked.

"Roger" we said together.

This time she sat in the front seat, with the boys behind.

We reached the beach.

Karan and Prateek helped her, while I joined them after parking the car.

We sat down with ice-creams.

"Tell me about your family" she asked.

"Karan and I are step-brothers" I said.

"Really? That's strange. Movies mein toh aise dhikhaate hain ki steo brothers hate each other" she said.

"We used to hate each other in the beginning when my mom married his dad. But then, we realised we both hate our parents. Dushman ka dushman, matlab mera dost, aisi shuru hui hamaari dosti. Prateek joined us when we were in high school. Manik and I left the house and moved to Mumbai" Karan was explaining our story.

"Wait a minute, dushman? Ghar chodna? Yeh sab kyun?" she asked.

"Our parents married each other for business, and once we started growing, they were scared what if we end up fighting to be the heir of their business. We were least interested in it. I was atleast. I didn't know about Karan. Luckily one day, i heard him talk to our manager. I realized he isn't behind our parents property too. So i talked to him. We both think alike, and that made us friends. We decided to move out of the house after finding a job and here we are" I said.

"Since they are here, I moved here too" Prateek said.

"Such a different story. I am so glad i got to meet you all" she said.

"The pleasure is all ours madam" we said.

"What about you?" Prateek asked.

" I was born and brought up in Mumbai. As i said, music was my passion. I wasn't an intelligent student at school. My parents were fine with it, as long as i passed my exams. I wasn't born blind. This happened three years ago. I was studying B.Sc. in a college here in Mumbai. My lab partner and I were working on an experiment. Well, something went wrong and this happened" she said. Only now, i could sense sadness in her voice. Until now she was cheerful and happy.

She was sitting between Karan and I and we both laid hand over her shoulder, trying to comfort her.

"My parents started giving up on me, both mentally and financially. I enrolled for the music school with my friend's help and stay in the hostel with her. You know, no one would like to give me a job, though i was qualified. So i started working part time as a music instructor. And then i landed up in this job. I know someday I will be able to see again. Sometimes it hurts me a lot. It kills me from inside. I cry. I look for a shoulder, to lean on, but realize there's no such thing. And that's what makes me more adamant to make money and help myself" she said and now there were tears.

"Come on bro, you are one of the strongest people i have ever come across. And i am sure you are lucky enough, to get to see some so handsome like me, and that too very soon. Trust me" he said. That made her laugh.

"And yes, I work out for more than an hour everyday and my shoulder is really strong. Inn donon se zyaada. So you can lean on" Karan said. He is such a kid.

Someone like karan can change any environment into a pleasant one.

"Thankyou" she said leaning on his shoulder.

"But you know what made me even more disappointed?" she asked.

"What?" I asked.

"My lab partner, he did that on purpose" she said and we were shocked.

"What? How do you know this? Did you tell someone?" I asked.

"I got to know about it a year back. He liked me, but i never approved. He wanted to take a revenge by letting me down somehow. He thought i wouldn't pass if he disturbs the assignment, the end result was unexpected but he was the reason for it" she said.

That irked us a lot.

"Who is he?" Prateek asked.

"Vishal. He works for some IT company here" she said.

We mentally noted his name, to hunt him down and teach him his lesson.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" I asked her, i wanted to change the topic.

"Nothing. I am going to sleep all day" she said.

"How about meeting tomorrow night in our house? We will have fun" I offered.

"Sure" she said.

"Okay then, tomorrow night, our place. And we promise no drinks" i said.

"Bohot jaldi sudhar gaye ho tum log" she said. After ten more minutes we started back. Dropping her off at her hostel we drove back home.

"She is so sweet. Yaar meine aisi ladki kabhi dhekhi nai" Karan said.

"Meine bhi, She's so different. I just hope we make her happy" Prateek said.

"Looks like someone is totally smitten by Nandini here" Karan said looking at me.

"She is magic. Her eyes are so expressive. I could see pain in them when she was talking about her past. Tu sahi bol raha hain Prateek. Her happiness is now our responsibility" I said

"Toh kal se Mission Vishal ki barbaadi shuru?" Prateek asked.

"Yessss" Karan and I said together.

I couldn't sleep the whole night, all i could see was her eyes.

Before she left, she felt our faces with her palm. The moment her palm touched my face, I had a shock run through my body. I was so sure, i fell in love with her, at the very first sight. And very soon I am going to let her know that, by giving her something special that is totally hers.

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A week passed by and almost every day we all met. We still couldn't track down Vishal and didn't know how to ask Nandini about more details.

Somehow I managed to get his last name. Vishal Saxena.

karan was given the job to find out where he worked since Nandini didn't know the exact place.

It's Nandini's birthday two days later, and we all decided to help her get her eye sight back.

We couldn't think of a better birthday present. But for that we need her to agree, go to the hospital with us and get the check up done. The doctor checks her eyes first, and then see if they can find the correct match, schedule a date for the surgery.

I decided to talk to her.

I know even she started to feel differently for me. She expressed it many times, indirectly though. She would dedicate songs to me, the best way to express love.

We were sitting in our regular location at the beach.

"Nandu i wanted to talk to you about something"

"Bolo na" she said, having her favourite cornetto.

"Woh, i was thinking, i mean we were thinking to do something for you" I said, i was very doubtful about this. What if she hates me? What if she feels we are sympathetic toward her?

"Do what?" she asked.

"Nandu, would you agree if we help you get your eyesight back?" I shot the question.

She was taken aback. It was expected. I just hope she doesn't misunderstand me.

"Why do you want to help me Manik?" she asked.

"Because you are important for us. Nandu listen, you sound confident, you make a living for yourself, you never let anyone pity you. But honestly, this is not pity or showing sympathy, we want you to be completely happy, be yourself. We want you to have everything you deserve. Please don't misunderstand us. Until now it was just the three of us, but since the day we met, you became a part of us, the most important part. And we need you for us to be happy. Tum...tum hamein galat toh nai samaj rahi ho na. See, if you don't want it, it's okay" I said.

"Mein tumhe galt kyu samjhoongi Manik. I don't like to hide my feelings. Sach bataoon toh, I started seeing the world through your eyes Manik, everytime you try to explain what is happening around me in the best way so I could feel I am seeing it all, it amazes me. I never thought someone would accept me for what i am. Not so easily. Since the day we met, you were there for me everytime. And i know you guys are tracking down Vishal too, waise karne kya waale ho uss ke sath?" she asked.

"Woh ham teenon ke beech ki baat hain" I said.

"Manik, I am ready to take your help. I can't wait anymore to see you. To see the look in your eyes when you talk to me, to see the smile on your face when you laugh at my jokes, to see what all you would do to make me feel special" she said.

"Thankyou very much" I said hugging her. I never thought she would accept so easily.

"Thank you Manik. And your monkey friends" she said hugging me back.

"Did you get a haircut?" she asked.

"How do you know?" i asked her.

"Your hair feels different" she said,

"Acha let's go home, we have a meeting tomorrow morning. And i need to be there at the office by 9.30. We will be done by noon, toh i will take an appointment with the surgeon. We have already looked for the best surgeon in the city, he will be available after 5 in the evening. Is that convenient for you?" i asked.

"Yes. That should be okay with me" she said.

I dropped her at the hostel and went back home.

Prateek and Karan were very happy to know she agreed for their idea.

"We need to start cleaning up our home. What if nandini sees all this mess?" Prateek said looking at our house.

"You're so right. One room a day" I said and we agreed on it.

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The next morning, we finished our meeting by 11.30.

It felt like a long day at work, since we have the appointment scheduled for the evening.

"Yaar sab sahi ho jayega na?" Prateek came to my desk.

"Kya?" I asked.

"Nandu's surgery. We can get her eyesight back right?" He asked.

"We will. And we have to" i said.

"Karan kaha hain? Subah se nai dhikai de ra hain?" I asked.

"Pata nai. He said it's something important. I asked him. Usne kuch bataaya nai" he said.

Important aur hamein nai pata? Aisa toh Kabhi nai hua.

Prateek went back to his desk and in the next five minutes i got a call from karan

"Buddy, I'm sending you a location. Boss ko kuch patti padaake tu aur prateek aa jao yaha. Right now" he said and hung up.

I checked my messages and it indicated some apartment complex, 20 minutes away.

I went to Prateek's desk and told him about karan's call.

"Chal boss se milte hain" we both went to the boss's office.

"Sir, Karan is in emergency. We need to go" i said.

"Emergency? What kind of emergency? And why is he still not at work?" He asked.

"Sir... he is sick. Stomach upset?" I said looking at prateek hinting at him to continue with the story.

"Yes sir stomach upset. Bechaara bed se uth bhi nai paa raha hai" prateek said.

"Tum log sach bol rahe ho na? Jao lekin ask karan to come with a medical proof tomorrow. Uske bina office mein no entry" boss said.

Ham kya school jaane waale bache hai to bring medical letter.

"Okay sir. Thank you sir" i said and we moved out. We took our bag, laptop and all the other stuff and took the stairs to go to the parking.

There was a little traffic so it took us little over twenty minutes to reach there. Karan was waiting for us at the gate.

"Flat number 103, that's where Vishal Saxena lives. Woh abhi upar gaya hain" he said.

"Wah mere sher. Tu yeh kaam mein subah se busy tha. Anyway let's go. Time to teach him a lesson" Prateek said patting his back.

"I have a plan" he said and shared his plan with us.

"Do you think it's right? Don't you think nandini would be disappointed with this kind of a revenge?" i asked him. It actually sounded rebellious.

"Eenth ka jawaab patthar ss hi dete hai" he said and we went upstairs. I rang the doorbell.

A guy opened the door.

"Vishal Saxena?" Karan asked him.

"Yes. But who are you?" Vishal asked.

In the next instant, we pushed him in and locked the door.

Karan grabbed the couch cover that was next to him and tied his hand to the couch.

"Kaun ho tum log?" He was trying to speak when with another piece of cloth, i shut his mouth.

I took out my phone and opened the photo gallery. I showed him a picture of nandini with us.

"Do you recognize her?" I asked him. He was first shocked and then he nodded in a no.

Prateek gave him a tight punch and then when he was going for the second one he started nodding his head, asking not to hit him.

"Now do you recognize her?" I asked him again and this time he nodded in yes.

"Tell me the whole story, once i open your mouth. Chillaane ki koshish bhi mat kar" i warned him and uncovered his mouth.

"Nandini. My college mate" he said.

"Wohh toh mujhe bhi pata hain, aage ki story sunaa. And you only have a minute" karan said kicking his leg.

"I liked her, but she didn't like me. Hamesha books aur padhaai. Uski wajah se mein top nai kar paya Socha at least woh mujhe mil jayegi. Par woh bhi nai hua, so i purposely messed up with the lab practical. Par trust me, i never thought she would end up losing her vision. I am sorry. I am ready to beg her for an apology" he started pleading.

"How could you even think about harming her? It was her choice to like you or to not like you. Itna toh sochtha. Uske liye uski padhai sab se important tha. How could you even think of ruining her career?" I asked holding his collar. I totally lost it.

"Manik iss se baat karke koi faayda nai hain. Ham jo karne aaye hain, woh karke waapas jayenge. Why waste time" karan said.

"Prateek tu sab record kar raha haina?" I asked prateek. We wanted nandini to see all this.

Prateek indicated a thumbs up.

Karan took out the bottle from his bag.

"Yeh kya hain?" Vishal asked.

"The same thing which destroyed nandini's everything" karan said opening the bottle cap

"Acid?" vishal was shocked.

"Waah kya sahi pehchaana" i said.

"Nai. Woh sab meine jaan boochke nai kiya. I know it was my mistake but it was not something i wanted to happen" he started crawling on the floor.

"You knew that you were dealing with acid, how could you still be careless?" Karan said moving closer to him with the bottle.

"Please aisa mat karo. I promise i will do anything to help her get her eyesight back" Vishal said.

"You don't have to worry about that, ab toh you have to think about yourself" i said.

"Karan why are we wasting time? Jaldhi kar, mujhe nandini se milne bhi jaana hain abhi" prateeek said.

Karan took the final step to reach his face and started emptying the bottle, while Vishal started screaming for his life.

"Nooooo" he kept on screaming. We had an evil smile on our face.