#When you cannot think anymore, shut your eyes tight and think of that bundle of happiness#

"Chennai?" I stared at Cabir, blankly. "Yes! That's where we're going to have our next International business meet." He replied, and I let out a sigh. "Alright! I'll ask Ram to book the tickets for you. Are Navya and Naman going along with you?" I stood up to fetch my mobile.

"Actually, Ram has already booked the tickets." I heard Cabir, and I turned around to face him. "Oh! It's good, then." I said, and got settled on my chair. "For 8 of us." I frowned, and looked up on hearing him.

"What?" I questioned, confusingly. "You're going with us, Manik." he said, and I felt my face going blank. "Cabir! If this is some joke or your plan to let me out of this place, then it's not funny. Don't." I stated, before looking down at the workload in my hands.

Doesn't he know I don't want to go?!

"This is not a joke, Manik. I want you to come with us, because we are going to Chennai. I don't understand Tamil, for basic conversations to mingle with the people, there. Besides, Mukti and Alya wanted a change of atmosphere, so they wanted to come along. And if we're all going, then you must go too." he said, and stood up, while I was nowhere in mood to listen to him.

"I cannot come. I'll arrange someone who can speak Tamil, for you." I said, and started to work, when I heard a crack. Looking up, I noticed it was Cabir, who just punched in the wall. Staring at his hands emotionlessly, I threw a look at his face.

"Enough is enough, Manik. Till when will you enclose yourself in Mumbai? Why can't you just go out of this place, at least for work purpose?" he growled out, and I looked away. "This won't bring your Nandini back!" he screamed, and I saw red. Standing up, I stalked towards him, before grabbing him, by his collars.

"Do not take her name!" I shouted, and he stared at me, rigidly. "I don't want anybody to talk about My Nandini, to me." I gritted at my teeth. I hate it when someone takes her name, when I don't know anything about her, now. I feel helpless when I hear her name, and she's not nearby.

"Then stop hurting yourself!" I heard Cabir, and I was about to yell out. "And us!" I shut my mouth, and he pushed me away, before moving out of my cabin, banging the door close.

Shutting my eyes tight, I inhaled deeply. "Nandini" I breathed out, before staring at her portrait on the wall. "Nothing is the same, anymore, Love. I need you. Where are you, Nandini?" I mumbled, helplessly.

~~~**~~~

"Periyanna (Big brother)!" I called out, while walking down the stairs, skimming through the pages of the file, in my hands. "Periyanna!" I looked up, only to bump into something. Steadying myself, while holding onto the thing bumped to my knees, I looked down.

"Annu!" I felt my lips breaking into a smile, while staring at my daughter. I picked her up, in my arms, and gave the file to her, who held it for me to read from her hands. "You had food, Ma?" she asked, and I walked towards a couch to settle on it, while smiling down at her.

"I had, Ma's little one!" I planted a kiss on her hairs, and placed her close to my chest. "What was my Annu doing?"  I asked, while combing my hand through her hairs.

"I was playing with Bhai!" she replied, in her toddler voice, and I smiled at it. "And where did your Bhai go, leaving his baby sister?" I asked. "Bhai is drinking milk." Annu whispered in my ears, and I chuckled at it.

"Oh! So what about my Annu?" I asked, and she pouted. "You made me drink a glass of milk, today morning, Ma." she complained, and I laughed out, loud. "Awe, I was joking, baby." I bumped her head with mine, who pouted, before smiling gleefully.

"Nandinima! Aapne bulaya? (You called?)" Arvind Sami, Periyanna, was by our side, and smiled at Annu, with his pearl white teeth showing off. "Annuma!" he sang, and Annu giggled. "It's Annu." she corrected, before hugging him, who hugged her back, and I smiled at the sight.

"It's Annuma, mereliye (for me)." he said, and she giggled again. Soon enough,  Periyanna and I were indulged in business talks, with Annu, sitting on my lap, playing with the pendant around my neck.

~~~**~~~

"Manik?" I heard Navya's voice, and I looked up to see her pupils dilated. She looked shocked. I cleared my throat, before nodding my head at her. "Navya!" I acknowledged her presence, before opening my car's back door, and pushing my luggage in.

"You...coming with us, buddy?" I sighed, before turning towards Dhruv, to answer. "Yes!" I kept it short, and looked at my friends, all of them wearing one expression. Shock! "Any problem if I come along?" I asked, and they nodded their heads vigorously, at me, except for Mukti and Cabir.

"Of course, not, buddy! We were just...overwhelmed with your presence." Dhruv looked at Alya and Navya, who nodded at him, and then at me, shaking their heads frantically. I sighed, and nodded. "I'm just gonna be there for my Business meet. I'll return to Mumbai, once the meeting gets over." I said, and got in my car.

"And here I was thinking, what went wrong with Manik Malhotra!" I looked up at Mukti, to see a grin filled with mockery, plastered on her face. "I'm glad you're still the same old friend of mine, Manik." she added, and I ignited the engine, before looking at her again.

"That friend of yours died, when his star left him." I muttered, and zoomed off, before anybody could give me a reply. I knew they were all hurt with my behavior. But what about my pain? My sorrow? Can I not be hurt?

I am also a human being, who has a heart. The same heart which she filled with her love, and is now nothing, but empty.

How am I supposed to fake happiness when my heart is crying?

I don't know, how!

~~~**~~~

"Checking? Ethk checking? (Why checking?)" I looked at the well-built man, in front of me, frowning. "Ath inga rule. Seri, ID irka? (It's our rule. Now, do you have your ID?) The man asked, and I stared at him for a while, before showing my ID proof.

"Here!" My friends followed my action, and soon enough our vehicles were also getting checked by them.

"What's happening here?" Cabir stood by my side, and I stared around. "This is some rule, made by these people. I guess, they have some Chief, who made these rules. None of us could be entered into their village, without being checked." I replied, and Cabir nodded.

"Seems like they're protective enough, for their place and people." I nodded at his statement.

"Ith ellam okay. Ha, not doing illegal inga. Understand? (Everything is fine. Now, do not do anything illegal, in here. Understand?)" the man spoke in broken English, and I nodded in positive. "Understood, Anna." I replied, and I saw a twitch between his eyebrows.

"You are sure neenga Mumbai man? (You sure, you're from Mumbai?)" I had a faint smile on my lips, on hearing his question. "My girl understands Tamil." I replied, and he gave me a grin. "Girlfriend, huh!" he had teasing glint in his eyes, and I smiled lightly.

"Athukkum mele. (More than that.)" I replied, and got in my Car, and waved at the man, who opened the gate for us. Beside the gate, I read...

"Vrindavan!"