"It's not that important Manik, maine Mukti ko iske baare mein abhi kuch nahi bataya she's already in bad mood" Abhimanyu said. "Yeah but it's quite surprising to know that Aditya is here that too as asst. dean not bad though" Manik remarked and Abhimanyu could not control his smile.

"Teri nayi biwi ki jagah wo pagal Aditya aa raha hai aur tu has raha hai! Itna bhi chota rishta nahi hai uska humare saath" Manik said. "Yeah I remember that's a really long story and we've moved on too" Abhimanyu decided to take a chill pill and enjoy his married life. He took Mukti to her maternal home. Ishitha and Raman were happy and surprised to see them at their door step.

"Mukti beta" Ishitha said surprised. She hugged her as she saw her mom. "I'm so sorry to insult you there mom, I was" Mukti said guilty. "Shh no need to explain I know how you felt" Ishitha said and Raman stood there with Ruhi. "Mukti di" Ruhi ran to her. Abhimanyu and Mukti had dinner with them. "Papa, hum naye ghar shift hone jaa rahe hai" Mukti said. "Itni bhi jaldi kya hai thodi din humare saath rahe to" Raman said and Ishitha held his hand. "Jaise tum dono ki marzi" she said and winked at Raman.

"It's OK then home minister ne approval kar hi liya" Raman said and continued "So Abhimanyu, kaha hai naya ghar?" he asked. "Papa, my apartment had actually been in some legal issues so I had to stay with you all these days, but now I have managed to buy an apartment out of my savings and I've taken a home loan to. I will send a location to you and maa" he said and continued "and haa Mukti ko mat batana kal wo dekhegi" he added.

"Mukti didi dusre ghar jaa rahi hai?" Ruhi asked. "Ha aur yaha aati jaati rehti hai main bhi. Aur ab tum mujhe jiju bula sakti ho" Abhimanyu said. "Ok" she smiled and they ate dinner. "I couldn't dare to speak to Mukti about her decision, I don't know uske dimaag mein chal kya raha hai! But she isn't someone who accepts this" Raman said to Ishitha. "Raman give her some time, she will herself come to talk. I'm happy that she is getting used to her new life" Ishitha said. "Let's hope everything good for Mukti" he said.

**********************************************

Nandini woke up with her phone ringing. The screen flashed Manik's name. "Hello" she said sleepily. "Are you still sleeping?" he asked. "Abhi sirf 6 baj raha hai na" she said getting up. "Yeah, that's why I called you, I'm already in joggers park, when will you come?" he asked excited. "When did I say that I will come today, chacha chachi came late night so even they are sleeping" she said. "Remember, we promised each other to spend time for the other, we have only 24 hours a day. We should find time for us after taking out time for hospital, surgeries, OP and our friends. Itne logon se bachke milna hai humko, I don't even wanna waste a single minute" he said. "My God! Somebody is being so punctual huh! Ok I will be there in 10" she smiled. "Ho sake tho jaldi aana" he kissed his screen.

Nandini came there and searched for Manik. He sat on a bench with a kid beside him. "Ye kaun hai?" she asked him. "Iske mummy abhi water lene gayi hai, she asked me to look after him for few minutes" he said. "Ohh, kitna pyara hai na ye bacha" Nandini immediately picked him up into her arms and he started crying. "Shit! I was about to tell you not to take him, his mom actually warned me to just see him but not take him near us. Now I know why she said so, ab ye chup kaise hoga!" Manik made a face. Nandini tried to calm him and Manik sat there doing nothing. "Manik, go search his mom" she said. "I don't know where she is!" he said. "Then take him, will go and search" she said.

"Nahi, you will not give him to me" Manik took a step back. "Are you that scared of kids Manik?" she made fun of him. "I'm not scared ok, ye bacha hai pet dog nahi ki main dar jaunga" he said. "So tum pet dogs se darte ho!" she laughed again. "Nandini, if I take this kid into my hands everyone will think that he is my son and I don't want that" he said finally. "Agar humara bacha ho tho, tab bhi tum aise hi kahoge?" she asked. "Humara bachcha! Kab hoga?" he teased her. "Jab hona tha, tab hoga na" she blushed at his comment. They noticed that the kid had stopped crying and now playing with Nandini's hair. "Our baby will also play with your hair like this, just like I want to do it" he said. The kid's mother came there.

"Here she is!" Manik said. "Thank you for taking care of my baby, actually mera car bahut dhoor park kiya tha maine" she said. "It's okay" Nandini said giving the baby to her. "Ye aapke haath mein aaya aur roya nahi!" she asked surprised. "Nahi, he cried very much but calmed down too" Manik said. She smiled at him. "Don't you have kids?" she asked Nandini. "No, we aren't even married yet" she said not expecting that from the lady. "Sorry, don't take me wrong, I've seen you both many times in the park, aap dono ek saath bahut ache lagte hai, so I thought you both are a couple" she apologized. "Its okay, she is my girl friend" Manik said. "Ab nahi kabhi na kabhi tum dono ache couple aur ache parents ban jayenge, all the best" she said and left. "How sweet of her Manik!" Nandini said. "Yeah, hum dono ek dusre ko dekh rahe hai par koi aur bhi yaha hume dekh rahi hai" Manik said seriously. "Come on Manik, log notice karega na, agar hum aise hai to" she said.

"Then why are you stubborn on not letting your friends know about us?" he asked her. She didn't answer. "I need an answer Nandini, you can't escape now" he said. "Cabir mujhse baar baar puchta rehta tha ki whether I like you or whether I had some feelings for you. Pehle se main unhe ignore karta jaa raha because I didn't propose you at that time but now, you agreed, phir bhi unse kyu chupana?" he asked. "Please Manik, can we discuss some other thing?" she asked him. "No, you know very well that I wont let it go that easily, tell me. What's going on in this little brain of yours?" he asked. "Something is not right Manik, I don't know how to tell you but they don't think we are in love now" she said.

"Humesha hum unhe deny karte aa rahe hai, so they might think that they are wrong" he said simply. "Nahi, its not just that. They think that you are still not over Alya yet! How will I go and tell them that we're in love" she said making sure not to hurt him. "Do you think the same about me?" he asked looking into her eyes. "Of course not Manik, but I don't want them to make fun of our relation, jab unhe lage ki that you and Alya aren't together anymore, I will myself tell them about us, tab tak chup rehna hi theek laga raha hai mujhe" she said. "I don't get your logic Nandini, you're in fact complicating things between three of us. You'll feel bad if they make a comment on me and Alya" he tried to explain. "Issi baat ka dar hai Manik, yaha main tumse pyaar karti rahungi aur logon ko yahi lagta hai ki tum Alya se pyar karte ho. I know tum aise nahi ho phir bhi this is getting on my nerves and I'm scared of being fooled by them" Nandini wanted to say but kept quiet. "Ok main khud jaake unse kuch nahi kahunga, but I will not even act like you don't exist for me. Main jaisa hu waise hi rahunga" Manik said and she was relieved.

"Are you free tonight?" she asked excited. "Why are you looking so excited by the way?" he asked her. "Humesha tum hi mujhe surprise karte ho! Tonight you should be ready to get surprised" she said. "OK let's see" he said.

***********************
Navya got coffee for the lady she got home. "Good morning aunty" she wished her. "Don't worry you are safe. Aap kal raat iss street road behosh ho gaye tho maine aapko ghar le aayi hu. I'm Navya" she said. The lady sat up. "Thank you so much beta, I'm Saraswati. I came here to buy few medicines from the pharmacy nearby" she said. "Maine yaha aapko kabhi dekhi nahi" Navya asked. "I just got shifted very recently" she said. "Can I use your restroom?" she asked Navya. "Yeah sure" Navya showed the restroom.

Saraswati came out and saw Chandra Shekar in the living room. "Are you Shekar?" she asked. "Yes I'm Chandra Shekar" he said. "Don't you remember me? Saraswati Chatterjee. ASR college mein hum dono same batch the" she said and Navya came there. "Oh! I don't clearly remember" he tried to recollect. "Wahi Saraswati hu jisne tumhara project work submit kiya aur uske baad" she reminded him. "Yes I remember Saraswati! Aur tumhe Abdul yaad hai?" he sounded happy. "Of course, Abdul tumhara best friend jo tha!" she said smiling.

"Papa, is she your class mate?" Navya asked. "Ha beta, college dino mein ye aise nahi thi. She was the Tom boy of our college, we used to call her by nick names, so kabhi naam hi yaad nahi aaya" he said casually to Navya and then stopped suddenly. Navya's eyes shined as her father was normally talking to her and he looked happy regaining his old college memories.

"Ha Navya, thank you for saving me yesterday. Shekar it's really good to meet you after so long. Once again thank you both of you for making my day, I should leave now" she said and they bid bye to her. "Aap ko pata hai aap kitne excited lag rahe the?" she asked him. "Excited main tha! But not anymore, tum jo beech mein aa gayi" he said and left. "At least ye tho prove hua ki what makes you happy and lively. I promise I will get back the old you! Matlab the younger version of you. Jald hi aap mujhe bhi maaf karenge" she finger crossed.

************************
Mukti and Abhimanyu started off to their new home. "Ab tho mujhe address bata do Abhimanyu" she asked. "Have patience Mukti. Address pata karke kya karogi?" he said and they almost reached there. "Here we go. Issi society mein hai 4th floor plot no: 405" he said giving her the keys. "I'm so excited" she said. "Mukti, hum bas ghar dekh ke chale jayenge. Maa papa evening aayenge, don't be late hume hospital bhi jaldi pahunchna hai" he said. She quickly entered the building and into the lift.

"405" here it is. "Society tho achi hai na! Hum zyada time ghar pe nahi honge, aur maintenance kitna hoga monthly. Water and electricity problem nahi hai na?" she asked non stop. "Relax, go and watch yourself!" he said. She opened the door and instantly in love with it. He got it beautifully decorated for her. "I just loved it" she said hugging him. "I know you will like it" he hugged her back. They started to hospital after some time.

Abhimanyu had met Manik. "How's your night at your sasural?" Manik tried teasing Abhimanyu. "Kisi aur pe zyada suit karega ye joke kyunki I was already living there since few days if you really remember Manik" he said. "Yaar ye bhi bad joke that! I seriously need to upgrade my sense of humor" Manik said thoughtfully. "Excuse me, where can I find the Dean's cabin?" Abhimanyu and Manik looked at the source of the sound. "Go straight and first left, last door" Abhimanyu said.

"Thank you" said the person who asked them and left from there. "Did you recognize him? He is Aditya" Manik said to Abhimanyu. "Yeah I remember his face so clearly but lagta hai he doesn't remember us" Abhimanyu said. "He is weird" Manik doubted him. "He was always like this. Usse chodo, mujhe Mukti ki chinta ho raha hai, I don't know how will she cope up with this sudden change" Abhimanyu worried. "Don't worry she is a strong girl, tu yaha kya kar raha hai? Go be with her now" he said. "Yeah she said she wanted to talk to Dean about it formally before she handover it to someone else" he said.

Mukti walked into Raman's cabin. "Good morning sir" she wished him. "Good morning Dr. Mukti" Raman was eagerly waiting for her. "I hope you would like my decision" she said and gave an envelope to him. He was right about his daughter, she didn't accept it.

"This is my resignation letter and I hope management would accept it" Mukti said firmly.