#People do not realize the value, until they lose the very same thing#

"Nandinima!" One of my bodyguards moved towards where I sat, on my chair, working on my laptop. "Yeah?" I looked up at him. "What happened, Venki Anna?" I questioned, wiggling my eyebrows.

"Ravi Anna said that we will have to expect a few guests." he informed, and I nodded in answer. "Yeah, Anna said that some of his business partners will be coming for lunch. It's nothing professional, Anna. They seem to get along well to make it a private affair." I elaborated, and Venki Anna or Venkatesh took in the information.

"Should I prepare for their arrival?" he asked, and I shrugged. "It's up to Anna, Bhai and their father, Anna. I don't have a say in it." I smiled at him, before looking down in my laptop. "Nandinima..." Venki Anna trailed off, sounding hurt. "I was just stating the reality, Anna. But that doesn't mean you guys don't mean anything to me. You're a family to me." I smiled at him gently and he nodded, looking sad.

"Okay! I'll take my leave, then." said him, and I looked up to smile at him. He smiled and left the garden, towards the entrance of the Haveli.

"Ma!" I felt a small palm on my eyes, making me smile. "So who's that little girl calling me MA, and then palming my eyes?" I asked, feigning confusion, and Annu giggled. "It's someone she loves the most." she replied, and I gasped out dramatically.

"Oh my God! That's my Annu birdie!" I chirped, and Annu laughed out before pushing herself in front of me. I hoisted her up to put her on my lap, before removing the laptop away.

"So it was Annu all this while and I didn't even know." I pouted, and Annu giggled, before kissing my cheeks. "Yep!" she mimicked my way of answering, to which I laughed out. "Yep, baby girl. Yep to everything you say." I cooed in her ears, before hugging her close to my heart.

"I disturbed you, Ma?" Annu looked at the laptop, and then at me. I smiled and kissed her head. "If its Annu, then it's not a disturbance. Ma has all the time in the world for you." I replied, while tucking her hairs behind her ears.

"So we can play snake and ladders?" she asked, and I shrugged, while nodding. "Of course. And I'm going to make sure I'll win." I teased her while poking at her nose, and she showed me her tongue.

"No, I'll win, Ma." and there began our playful banter, before we decided to have more than 1 game.

~~~**~~~

"Nice place." I heard Cabir, and I only nodded. "Manik! I'm gonna tell this for the nth time. Behave properly with Charan and his family."

I looked at Cabir confusedly. "I meant to act a little interested in this lunch." I let out a distress filled sigh, before making my way to the entrance. "I don't need to act, Cabir."

I could hear my friends' footsteps, and I didn't bother to check if they're pacing with my level or not. "Vanakkam! (Greetings!)" I pressed my palms against each other and nodded at the well built man at the entrance.

"Vanakkam! Oru invitation irk. Cabir Dhawan thaa per. (Greetings! We've got an invitation. It's Cabir Dhawan, the name.)" I said to the man, who nodded and took a glance at us.

"Seri. Wait pannid. (Okay. You must wait.)" I nodded at him, and waited for him to finish with his conversation on phone. "Ulla vaange. Mannichid Anna. Oongal yaar theriyaame checking panni. (Please come inside. I'm sorry, brother. I did the checking process on you without knowing who you are.)

I nodded at him and held my hand up. "It's okay. Ivan thaa Charan kk friend. Cabir Dhawan. (This is Charan's friend, Cabir Dhawan.)

He smiled and greeted Cabir before ushering us towards where Cabir's friend must be waiting for him.

"Cabir, yaar!" I looked up at the sound, and I could see a figure, almost sprinting towards us, while we walked with the man beside us to wherever Charan was waiting for us.

"Charan! Hey, man!" I looked beside to see Cabir smiling at the figure, or precisely the man, who was now only an arm distance from where we stood.

So this is Charan Murthy!

I do remember seeing a photograph of this man, but it's only a faint image in my mind now.

"Meet my family." Cabir introduced the ladies to Charan, before moving towards Naman. "And that's my son! Naman, say Hi to Charan Uncle!"

I could see the happiness in Cabir's eyes, when he introduced Naman to his friend. The glee on his face when he talked about his son is something I've never seen my father did with me.

And I wonder if every father could talk to his children the way my best friend does!

"Oh Hi, Naman. Waise I have one of my own like you. You're going to love him." I heard Charan, with his smile filled face lighting up at the mention of his own son.

I looked away, shrugging and decided to take in the surrounding.

This place seems to be well kept!

"And this is Manik." I turned around to face Cabir and Charan. "Hi!" I kept it short and forwarded my hand towards Charan, who smiled at me. "Hi. Charan!" We shook hands, and I cleared my throat, trying to smile.

"Nice meeting you. And yeah, was just looking around your home. It looks well kept." I told him the reason of me looking around, so that he doesn't feel creepy about me.

"Oh, say that to our ladies, please. Our wives, I mean, mine and my Anna's wives should be the credit holders for that compliment. They love to keep this place beautiful." Charan let out a soft chuckle and I nodded in acknowledgement. "Nice. I'll let them know about the compliment."

"Mamu!"

Before Charan could give a reply, someone interrupted and he looked behind with a smile. "Annu. Idhar aa, baby!"

I looked at him a little surprised at the way his tone turned soft and gentle from the usual manly formal tone.

Looking ahead, I noticed a little girl running towards Charan, who picked her up in his arms.

"Mamu! It's food time. Mami ne kaha." Charan smiled at her, and then pointed at us. "Yeah, it's them who's going to join us for lunch today. So meet greet kare?"

She turned towards us and smiled so beautifully at us, and I remembered that smile.

It was that same little girl.

Whose smile resembles my Nandini's.

"Hi! I'm Annahita Oberoi. It's nice meeting you all." She spoke with her tone elegant but at the same time childish and cute.

I felt myself smiling. She sounds like a happy bubble!

"Hi, Annahita. And my name is Mukti. They're Alya and Navya. And that's our Naman." I turned towards Mukti who was smiling at her, and the little girl shook her hand with Naman's.

"Such a nice name, though. And I'm Dhruv." Dhruv patted at her hand, and she smiled at him. "Thank you!"

"Such a pretty face, too. I'm Cabir Dhawan." Cabir smiled at her, and she nodded. "Thank you, but Ma says don't smile at strangers who say I'm pretty. So mein smile nai karungi."

I looked at her dumbfounded. She was one smart kid.

"Sorry, yaar. Uski Ma bohath protective hain. Annu, he's my friend. So it's not a stranger for your Mamu." Charan gave us an apologetic smile before turning towards his niece. "But Ma should tell me if he is a stranger or not."

I smiled at the innocence in her. She reminds me so much of you, love.

"Charan! That's okay. She's one smart kid. Actually, uski Ma ne acha hi Kiya. It's for her own safety." I intervened when I saw Charan going to correct her again. He smiled gratefully at me.

"Yeah. Thank you. Now, come along. Food ready hain." He ushered us towards where the lunch might be served and I walked along with them, followed by my friends.

"Such a cute kid. Achi parwarish bhi di hai uski Ma ne usse." I couldn't agree more with Navya. She's damn right about that.

"Ma! Everyone's here!" Annahita got down her uncle's arms and I saw her running towards a woman, who was in an off white saree.

"Annu! Don't run, bacha!"

Blank.

That voice.

No.

My hands went up to my throat.

Why is it so hard to gulp it down!

"Annu bete!"

No!

That can't be...

That can't be her.

No. No. No.

She can't be here. That cannot be her!

"Ma!"

I gulped down!

That can't be!

Can she?

"Haan Ma ke baby. I'm here. Come on!"

I felt my neck twist, and before I knew I looked up at the scene unfolding in front of my eyes.

My Nandini hugging that little girl close to her heart, smiling at each other.

Ma?

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