In Dreamland

It was lunch break, and Fab 5 were having their lunch from the canteen. Manik was just staring at the entrance every now and then to see a glimpse of Nandini but seems like God wants to test his patience,today.

Mukti was drinking water when she saw a little girl waiting near to their adjacent table. She was a cute girl of 5-7 years old. She was checking her watch time to time with a cute sad pout on her face. Mukti smiled seeing that babyish face of the child. She frowned when she saw the girl growing more sad..She, immediately got up and walked towards the little girl's table..

Mukti ( cleared her throat ): Excuse me..?

The girl moved her gaze from the entrance to her left to see Mukti. She frowned since she didn't know Mukti.

Girl ( smiled ): Yes..

Mukti ( smiled ): Can I sit here..?

Girl ( smiled sweetly ): Sure, you can..

Mukti smiled back and occupied the seat, while Fab 4 were gaping at Mukti. She never behaved sweetly with anyone in this world. Even with her friends, she had that tomboy attitude since she believe that she could show her affection only through it..

Mukti ( hesitated ): Can I ask you something..?

Girl ( nodded ): Yeah..

Mukti ( frowned ): Why are you sitting alone..? You look a bit sad too..

Girl ( surprised ): How did you..?

Mukti ( smiled ): Your face is an open book. I could find sadness in it..

Girl ( pouted ): Di hasn't arrived,yet..

Mukti ( confused ): Di..?

Girl ( smiled ): Yeah, Di told me that she would come and see me during Lunch break, but it seems like she is busy..

Mukti ( smiled ): Oh, its okay..Maybe, she really got busy with her work, or else why would she forget such a cute girl is waiting for her..

The girl smiled brightly which did bring smile on Mukti's face..

Mukti ( smiled ): Between, what's your name..?

Girl ( smiled ): Emily, Emily Winton..

Mukti ( smiled ): You have a beautiful name..

Emily ( smiled ): Thank you..How about yours..?

Mukti ( smiled ): Mukti, Mukti Vardhan..

Emily ( cutely ): As sweet as you..

Mukti giggled hearing that little girl's comment for her name..

They kept on talking. Mukti nearly forgot her lunch. She was finding peace while talking with that little girl..Soon, Emily's attention turned towards a spot..

Emily ( grinned ): There, she is..

Mukti followed her gaze and spotted Nandini coming towards their table with a smile on her face, for Emily. Soon, Nandini frowned seeing Mukti on the table. Emily got up and ran towards Nandini and hugged her by waist making her smile widely. Nandini bent and kissed her forehead..

Emily ( pouted ): Why were you late..?

Nandini ( pouted ): Sorry, I was busy..

Emily ( seriously ): Hmm, its okay..I forgive you..

They both giggled and moved to the table to see Mukti staring at them in surprise..

Nandini ( frowned ): Mukti, you're here..

Mukti got up..

Mukti ( awkwardly ): Nothing, I was just having a casual talk with her, I will see you around Emily..

Nandini ( nodded ): Its fine, you can have a seat with us..

Mukti looked at her in shock..And so Fab 4..Nandini never liked Mukti and Alya then how come she is asking Mukti to join her for Lunch..

Mukti ( shocked ): What..?

Nandini ( hid her smile ): You can join, I am neither your boss nor your friend during lunch, moreover Emily might have liked you..

Mukti nodded and sat on her seat, Nandini and Emily to occupied their seats. Emily was sitting in the middle and Mukti and Nandini were sitting opposite to each other..

Emily ( frowned ): Di, how do you know her..?

Nandini ( smiled ): She is working here Em..

Emily ( cutely ): Oh, so you both know each other..

They smiled at her..Nandini and Emily ordered their food while Mukti just sat idle..

Nandini: Why don't you order something..?

Mukti: I already had some..

Emily: But, you can't sit simply when we both eat food.

Mukti ( smiled ): Its fine Emily..

Emily ( adamant ): Nop, it isn't..Why don't you order something light..

Nandini ( smiled ): Mukti, don't fight with her..You can never win over her..

Mukti nodded and order a glass of juice and a bread sandwich..

Nandini: Em, when are you going to meet Dixits..? You know, they are angry at you for ditching them..

Emily ( giggled ): Sorry Di..I will come, once Mom gets free..

Nandini ( smiled ): Okay, then why don't you come with me, today..? Elisa is having duty till 8 p.m. right..?

Emily ( cutely ): Don't ask me about Mom's duty timing Di..Sometimes, she comes late and sometimes she comes early. I just can't sit with the caretaker every time..

Nandini pulled her cheeks..

Nandini: So, who asked you to sit simply..I have already told you to join me, my driver would pick you from home and then I myself will drop you at home after completing my office work..

Emily ( pouted ): Mom said that I should learn to be alone too..I don't know why..

Nandini sighed..

Nandini: Let her be..She seriously needs mental check up..

Emily giggled..Mukti was looking at them with a frown. Why is Emily's mother asking her to be alone and Emily has spoken only about her mother who is working as a college principal but she spoke nothing about her Dad..

Mukti: Um, Emily..

Emily ( smiled ): Yeah Mukti Di..

Mukti ( smiled ): Why do you stay at home, alone..? I mean, is your Dad also at work till night time..

Emily's smile vanished and so Nandini's. Nandini didn't expect Mukti to ask such a direct question but she wanted it to happen..

Emily ( faint smile ): Nope Di, if he were at work then I could have complained to him but I don't even know where he will be..So, I am staying at home alone..

Mukti frowned..She turned to Nandini to get a clear answer which was understood by her..

Nandini: Em, why don't you go and meet Will..? He would love to chat with you..

Emily nodded with a low smile and went away while Nandini turned her gaze to Mukti who was staring at her with curious eyes..

Nandini ( sighed ): Seems like, you want to know about her..

Mukti ( sighed ): Nandini, not on this..I seriously want..to..Do you know anything related to her father..?

Nandini ( nodded ): I do, but only whatever Elisa, her mother told me..( Mukti nodded at her to continue ) Elisa isn't a married woman, Emily's father was her ( Elisa ) boyfriend. They both were in a live-in relationship. Since, they were from England, they didn't need to worry about the societies and all. Moreover, Elisa was an orphan but that guy was a rich businessman. Elisa loved him a lot but then his parents were always against her as she was an orphan and so they asked their son to chose either his girlfriend or his parents. He chose his parents and just left her without giving her a chance to oppose or request. She was broken, but then she found her happiness when she got to know she was pregnant. She gave birth to a baby girl and named her Emily. She loved her daughter more than anyone in this world..Emily never saw her father which was why she got sad when you asked about her father..She has always asked to her mother about her father and Elisa could only say that he is alive somewhere but for them he is dead..You could just say..She lost her Dad even before finding him..

Mukti sat there rooted in her place..She didn't know that little girl who has a beautiful smile pasted on her face is hiding such a big grief inside her little heart..

Mukti ( pissed ): How can he do that..? How can he just leave his girlfriend..That bloody moron played with a girl's feelings and now his daughter is suffering because of it..

Nandini ( narrowed her eyebrows ): So, you would obviously chose your boyfriend, if your Dad ask you to chose any among them..

Mukti looked at her in surprise. She didn't has an answer for it..

Nandini ( sighed ): You don't have an answer..Because, even if you accept it or not, you still love your Dad..

Mukti ( angry ): No..I don't..

Nandini ( smirked ): Really..? You hate your father, but still you can't see him giving attention to me..am I right or I am right..?

Mukti avoided eye contact with her..

Nandini ( smiled ): Everybody has got their own mentality, Mukti. Elisa's boyfriend might have loved his parents more than her. But, some girls like us just give a lot of attention to our Love and will think that he would be there with us, forever. ( Manik was hearing this conversation )Alas, it won't happen in reality. Do you want to know something..?

Mukti ( curious ): What..?

Nandini ( smiled ): I asked Emily to sit in this canteen. We never had lunch from her. It always used to be in my cabin. But today, I asked her to sit here and honestly, I was waiting right outside just to make her wait for me..

Mukti ( surprised ): But, why would you do that..?

Nandini ( coolly ): So that, she could grab your attention..

Mukti ( shocked ): What..?

Nandini ( sighed ): I wanted you to know her pain.

Mukti ( softly ): And why do you want me to know her pain..?

Nandini ( smiled ): Because, you have something that she doesn't have. You have something that she craves for. You have that happiness which she always wanted to cherish. You have that luck to be with a person whom she always wanted to cuddle with..A father..

Mukti sat there with lips sealed..

Nandini ( smiled ): You have a very loving father, Mukti. Maybe, you have never witnessed his Love because you were busy in going away from him. And I know the reason for that separation was your step-mother ( Mukti was controlling her anger and hurt ) But, have you ever seen your father spending a romantic moment with your so called step-mother..?

Mukti was lost in deep thoughts..

Nandini ( raised her eyebrow ): No, right..( Mukti nodded ) Then, how can you just say that your father never loved your mother..How can you say that he doesn't care for you..How can you say that whatever he had for you was only fake..?

Mukti still didn't know how to speak..Fab 4 were also sitting with zipped mouths, even they never thought about the other side of the story..

Nandini ( smiled ): I am not gonna tell your father's point of view because, its his right to tell..All I can say is, he is badly in need of you..If he ever craves for something then its Love, from you..Not just him..Your friends' fathers too..They have always loved you but your attitude and behavior towards them changed their Love and Care into coldness..You will know the value of someone, only when you lose them. Emily is such an example, she never experienced her father's love because he isn't there with her. But you, you have your father with you so you shouldn't neglect him, it will destroy you..

Mukti was in tears by now. She was just staring at Nandini with lots of emotions in her eyes. She just didn't know how to react..

Nandini ( held Mukti's hand ): Maybe, you are in need of someone who could wipe these tears. Maybe, that same person could be the one whom you neglected till these years..

Nandini got up and moved but she turned back to Mukti who was staring at her..She smiled and took something from her pouch and kept it on Mukti's palm..Mukti looked at it..

Mukti ( whispered ): Fireflies..?

Manik snapped his head at Mukti..Fireflies, something Nandini always loved and adored..

Nandini ( smiled ): This is something taught by my Mom. I always clutch them with me whenever I feel low..Trust me, you would feel better..Mom always said " Fireflies glow where there is True Love " And your father's love for you isn't fake..

Nandini moved away form there while Mukti clutched them to her heart and cried silently. Soon, Alya came and hugged her for which Mukti could jsut weep in her arms..Cabir and Dhruv could only stare at them..Manik got up and moved towards Mukti and sat beside her and took her hand in his but she didn't leave that tiny jar of fireflies..

Manik ( calmly ): Do you love your Dad, Mukti..?

Mukti gave a surprised look to him while his face showed only seriousness..More tears flowed from her eyes yet she managed to nod in YES..

Manik ( smiled ): Then go ahead, and ask him..Why did he marry for the second time when he loved you this much..I don't think Nandini was lying..

Mukti ( softly ): What if he gets angry..?

Manik ( smiled ): Bear it, we never got to see their real personality until we came to Paris. Now, its our turn to show our real personality..I want Swayam uncle to see his daughter's real, softer side..Will you, Miss Mukti Vardhan..?

Mukti gave a confident smile..

Mukti ( smiled amidst tears ): I will..

Manik hugged her, soon they were hugged by Fab 4 making it as a group hug..While on the other side, there Nandini stood with happy tears in her eyes..She was seeing all these things..

Nandini ( smiled ): Your daughter is back, Swayam Papa..I fulfilled my promise..

She went away..

At 6 p.m.

Emily has already gone with her mother who came to pick her since she took half day leave to spend some time with her daughter. And so, Nandini was waiting for the boat as usual to get back to the roads of Paris..

Soon, she was pulled by an arm and pinned on the wall of a secluded area of the company..

Nandini ( annoyed ): Kya hai Manik..?

Manik just hugged her and dipped his head in her neck making her shock..She could feel some kind of change in his body language..He was being so soft..

Manik ( in tears ): Thank you..Thank you for whatever you did for Mukti..

Now, she knew he was being emotional. She knew that for Manik, Mukti was always like a sister more than a friend and so seeing some changes in her for good will bring happiness to him..She hugged him back making him smile in much happiness..

Nandini ( softly ): Its okay..I was just helping my Papa..

They broke the hug and he cupped her cheeks..

Manik ( grinned in happiness ): No Nandini, maybe..maybe for you, its just a help for your Papa but for us, its like a miracle..You know, Mukti never spoke about swayam uncle but today she was just crying and telling that she is a bad daughter and will uncle forgive her or not..Thank you..Thank you so much..

She smiled and nodded..He kissed her forehead taking her in a surprise..

Manik ( softly ): Why are you so selfless, Nandini..? Mukti has tortured you a lot, still you are helping her, even if its for your Swayam Papa, you did help her..

Nandini ( smiled ): I don't know whether its called being selfless or not but surely, this is my happiness cause my Mom always believed in finding your happiness in your closed ones..Swayam Papa is just like my Dad for me and to see his smile, I can even bow in front of this whole world..

Manik smiled brightly..

Manik ( smiled ): You are the best thing happened to me..

Nandini ( mischievously ): Not yet, Mr. Malhotra..You still need to win my trust and then my heart..you have a long way to go..

Manik ( smiled ): I know and I would be reaching there, very soon..

She just smiled..Manik took her hands and kissed her knuckles which did bring smile on her face..She cupped his cheeks..

Nandini ( winked ): All the best..

He bit his lips and nodded with a smirk while she just went away with a smile on her face..

To be continued..