In front of "My Heartbeat"

Raj Malhotra was standing in front of his son's hard work with teary eyed, when he felt a presence beside him, he looked at the right to see his buddy, Virendhar Dixit..

Raj: Viren..ye..

Viren ( smiled ): It's the truth, your son grew up to become another Raj Malhotra, hard work se hi tho tum bhi yaha thak pohanch gaye, ab tere bete ki baari hai, so don't be a cry baby, agar koi dekhega tho mujhe tumhe console karna padega aur ye dekhke logonko lagega kahi mein gay tho nahi, so wipe your tears off, don't expect me to wipe them..

Raj rolled his eyes at Viren and then hugged him..

Raj: I couldn't believe it, buddy..

Viren: Believe it, because our Manu is mature enough to understand that his father is weeping because of his hard work..

Raj broke the hug while laughing and punched in Viren's stomach..

Raj: Kabhi tho serious hoja yar..

Viren: Tu nahi jantha kya, I so hate it..

Raj: Yeah yeah, I do know that. I still remember, when Abhi opened his musical labels, you were actually behaving like a kid by jumping around and getting so excited. Mathlab, emotionally koi bath hi nahi kiya uss bechare Abhi se..

Viren ( shrugged his shoulders ): Why should I..?? It's his hard work, so he should get emotional, like how I got when I opened Dixit Empire, uss din tho mein kuch zyada hi emotional hogaya tha and that was the last time I got, mujhe ye sab se beintehaa nafrath hain..

Raj palmed his face at Viren's drama. They got disturbed by a cough and they turned to the rest of their friends who were giving them sarcastic grins.

Akash: Done with your bickering..??

Viren: We weren't bickering. I was asking this stupid to wipe his tears..Kithna rotha hai ye bandha..

Swayam: Wo ham janthe hai, hame laga tum dhono ek sath ho tho Raj would be able to control himself par tum ulta drama kar raha hai yaha..

Viren: What the..!! Drama..?? Tu kya mujhe Akash samajthe hai kya..?

Akash: Excuse me..?? Why are you dragging me in this conversation..?? Aur drama ke bath, its my birthright..So, you better watch your tongue..

Viren: Virendhar Dixit isn't scared of any damn Dhawan..

Lalith: For heaven sake, shut up you two..

Akash/Viren: He started it..

Ravi ( sighed ): Why am I even friends with these both..?!

Rohit: Unfortunately, we have no choice..

Viren: Abey agar tujhe ithna problem hai tho jaa na..

Akash: Wahi tho..hum dhono ko hum dhono hai..kyu Viren..

Ranvir ( sighed ): I should have guessed it coming..

Viren grinned at Akash and kept his around his ( Akash ) shoulders and nodded at the rest and then everyone started laughing..

" Uhu Uhu..can we go ahead, now..?? " they turned to the person and smiled widely..

Viren: Manu..sab ready hai kya..??

Manik ( smiled ): Haa Dadda..ab tho bas inaugurate karna hai..Daadu aap sabkeliye intezar kar rahe hai..

They nodded at him and walked towards Arjun who was standing at the entrance of " My Heartbeat ".

Arjun: Finally..kaha gaye the tum log, inn sabko Viren aur Raj ko bulane keliye bheja par wo bhi kho gaye jaise pehle dhono kho gaye the..

They grinned sheepishly at him which he ignored and concentrated in his younger kids..

Nandini: Fine, let's get into action..

Nandini spoke in her ever excited tone making Raj chuckle..

Raj: Well Buddy, Love tho bilkul tumpe gaye ho, emotional nahi balki excitement at the nth level..

Nandini glared at him and he kept his finger on his lips..

Viren: You don't need to say it, I knew that fact, since she was born..

Manik: Okay, Dad, Dadda and Papas, move ahead, you guys need to stand beside Daadu..

Raj ( frowned ): Dad is going to inaugurate right..

Manik: Yes but not just him, all of my Papas are going to join him for the inauguration.

They smiled at him warmly and held Arjun's hand, who was already holding the scissors to cut the ribbon. Soon, the inauguration was done and everyone entered inside..

The whole Paris was invited and they forgot to breathe after seeing the inner beauty of " My Heartbeat ". Everything, related to Music was present there, from books to instruments, paintings of instruments, famous music collections, and then the private school to learn music, which includes singing and playing instruments..

Manik, moved towards Nandini after attending some of his Paris Acquaintances, only to see her gaping at everything with a lot of surprise and adulation in her eyes..

Manik: Liked it..??

She turned to him and gave the most beautiful smile to him..

Nandini: What should I say..??

Manik ( smiled ): Anything..

Nandini ( excitingly ): I don't know Mani, I really don't know what to say. I mean, this..this is so beautiful..I just can't express it in words. Sab kuch..Sab kuch ek khwab jaisa lag raha hai, I really don't know what to say, all I know is, I'm soo lucky to be your's..

He simply pulled her in his embrace..

Manik: Bas bas..ab aur zyada seh nahi paoonga..Isse zyada aur kaha tho mere dil ko diabetes hojaega..

She smacked his chest making him chuckle..

Nandini: Diabetes kab se dil ko affect karna shuru kiya..

Manik ( dramatically ): Jab se aapse mulakath hui..

She giggled hearing him..

Nandini: Cabir ka bhoot ghusa hai kya tumhare andhar..

Manik ( chuckled ): Nahi, Aryamann ya phir Sid ka hoga..

Nandini: Definitely nahi, wo dhono Cabir se bhi zyada dramatic hojathe hai ki kabhi kabhi mein dhono ke murder plan karthi thi..

He laughed out hearing her and she too laughed with him..

Nandini: Mani..

He looked at her after seeing her soft expression on her face. She cupped his face and caressed his cheeks..

Nandini: I feel so proud of you, I really do..

He smiled and kissed her forehead..

Manik ( whispered ): I know..

She hugged him and he too hugged her back..

" Guys, kam se kam yaha tho ek doosre ko chodo.." they heard their friends' voice and they immediately parted but Manik didn't leave Nandini's waist..

Manik ( glared ): You really got to be called romance breakers..

Sid: We take it as a compliment..

Manik ( sarcastically ): I seriously was waiting for a chance to get a hold on you..

Sid: What did I do..??

Manik: You asked my girlfriend to accept some jerk's proposal..

Sid ( shocked ): What..?? When did it happen..? How am I going to ask her to accept someone's proposal when she's your girlfriend. Kameeni, tera boyfriend aaj ki khushi mein kahi pagal tho nahi hogaya..

Nandini ( giggled ): Abey duffer gadhe, he was talking about our college times, you used to ask me to accept some of the proposals I used to get back then..

Sid ( irritated ): Kya yar, wo tab ki bath hai na aur tu ab mere pitai karne chahthe ho Manik..

Manik ( glared ): It happens if you try to let your best friend a.k.a my girlfriend to be someone's else's girl..

Sid: But, I didn't do anything, she was single that time so I was just being a loyal best friend..

Manik: And I would love to be a loyal boyfriend now..

Saying it, Manik punched in Sid's stomach making him yelp in pain..

Sid: Saale..kameene..ithne zor se koi maarega kya..

Manik ( smirked ): Manik Malhotra does..

Cabir ( pity face ): Ab tho tujhe aur bhi jaanna hai, anyhow I'm happy that you took my place..

But, he was rewarded by a punch in his face..

Cabir: Manik..what the hell saale..

Manik: Aw, Cabir, how could you even think that I'll let someone take your place..

Dhruv ( patted Cabir's back ): Cabir, buddy ko galath samajliya tumne..

Cabir made a crying face..

Aryamann: Dosth se zyada acha hai dushmann, kam se kam punch nahi milega na..

Dev: Point hai buddy..

Soha: Waise, jeeju, you made me proud of my soulie's choice by choosing you as her life partner..

Manik: Did you just call me jeeju..

Soha ( casually ): Haa tho..

Manik ( bad face ): Mein ithna bhi old nahi ban chuka hoon..

Dev: Arey Manik, aadhath hojaega, I'm going through the same phase..ithna handsome shot hoon mein aur Sona ke chote cousin sisters ko mein budha lagtha hai..

Sona ( glared ): Jeeju sirf ugly logonko kehthe hai kya, waise bhi tum koi zyada handsome wandsome nahi ho..

Dev pouted sadly while others laughed at him. And this way, their bickering went on. Nandini, stealthily, moved towards Mukti and held her hand making her look at her..

Nandini: We need to talk..

Sensing the seriousness in Nandini's voice, Mukti nodded at her and they both excused themselves from their friends who had no idea about what was going on, still they ignored it after seeing Nandini's assurance eyes..

In a corner

Mukti: Kya hua Nandini..Is everything alright..??

Nandini ( sighed ): No..not everything, there's something not good..

Mukti: What is it..??

Nandini: Well, wo kehna ke haqq mera nahi hai..

Mukti frowned at her but then the next second, she saw someone else standing beside Nandini..

Mukti: Abhimanyu..??

Abhimanyu didn't give her a smile instead looked at Nandini..

Nandini: Bhai, my work is done, now it's you who has to sort it out..

She kissed his cheeks and gave an assurance nod to Mukti and walked away leaving the two to be in an awkward silence..

Mukti: Uh..you..you need to talk to me..??

Abhimanyu ( curtly ): Yes..I..I had to talk to you..regarding something..

Mukti stared at his face which had a lot of seriousness and she was fidgeting with her fingers..

Mukti: What..what is it..??

Abhimanyu ( expressionless ): You would be knowing about...about my marriage discussion going on within our family. So..I..I had to talk to you regarding it..

He looked at her, finally to see her looking at him anxiously..

Abhimanyu ( sighed ): Look, I don't know how to beat around the bush, so I'm just taking it directly. I never fell for any girl apart from one, but then I couldn't be in a proper relationship with her. We both were never destined to have a beautiful relationship that we could have had. So, I thought of asking you, asking you whether you have someone in your life or not. As much as I know you, you aren't interested in any relationship, so if you are planning not to go back to that life that you used to live but then you don't want to be in a romantic relationship ever in your life, then..I wanted to marry you..!!

Mukti looked at Abhimanyu keenly. She didn't have any expressions on her face. She was simply staring at him which was making him conscious about himself..

Abhi: What..??

Mukti: Can I know your Love's name..??

Abhimanyu snapped his head at her in shock..

Abhimanyu ( rudely ): And why would I tell it you, Miss..??

Mukti ( chuckled humorlessly ): Because, I doubt..that name could be Mukti Vardhan..

Abhimanyu's eyes could have come out of its sockets, any moment..

Abhimanyu ( whispered ): What..??

Mukti ( smiled ): Don't make yourself believe that the girl who used to sleep around with guys could be a fool too..

His eyes held rage when she called herself a promiscuous woman but he composed himself..

Abhimanyu: Miss Vardhan, watch your tongue..

Mukti: Why..? Is it hurting or are you ashamed of yourself for falling for such a girl..??

He looked at her with a stunned expression. She took something from her pocket and showed it to him making him to wide his eyes again..

Mukti: I found this on the floor of your bedroom, I was in search of Nandini and when I got inside your bedroom, this was lying on the floor, maybe it got slipped out but I was confused thinking why would you carry it but then the way you reacted when we met for the first time at your place and your protective nature towards Nandini, made me understand what exactly the whole story was..

It was a pocket book which had only pictures of Mukti, from the time Abhimanyu met her till the date..

( Some pics )

Abhimanyu ( staring at the book ): And why didn't you return it..??

Mukti ( sighed ): Because that book deserved to be with me, not with you..

He looked at her blankly..

Mukti ( wretched smile ): That book..is a trash, Abhimanyu. When I saw it for the first time, you know what I noticed in them, my innocence in those eyes which I left somewhere. I was not at all like this in my childhood and my eyes always tried to keep it in me, but I neglected it. Par tumne jaane nahi diya Abhimanyu, I don't know from where you got those pictures, but, you managed to get that old Mukti, the little princess of my Dad in them. Still, mene uss Mukti ko kho diya, kyunki mein apne aapko ek unwanted piece banne ke koshish mein thi. I know, i was wrong but I wanted to be wrong at that time, to hurt myself, to hurt my Dad, aur uske beech mein ye jaan nahi paayi ki jisko mein hurt kar rahi thi wo mujhse bohath pyar karthi thi, jo mene kabhi dekha hi nahi..

Abhimanyu, finally had softened his eyes. He looked at Mukti for the first time after 7 long years, like how he used to do when he was in love with her..

Mukti ( smiled ): I know, why you forwarded this proposal to me. Tumhari aur Nandini ke bath sun liya tha mene, I didn't intend to, it was by mistake but I'm glad I listened to it, thaaki mujhe patha chala ki ab tum ye proposal kyu diya tha. You wanted to get over me but you couldn't, you didn't want to give your heart to someone so you thought of marrying me, at least for the sake of Daadu. Because, you need more time to get over me..hai na..

Abhimanyu was still staring at Mukti in shock..

Abhimanyu: You knew everything, since a long time..??

Mukti simply nodded at him and he sighed..

Mukti: You don't need to worry about it. I have a plan for that..

Abhimanyu looked at her in surprise..

Mukti: Just get married to the girl whom Daadu asked you to. I know, you won't be able to trust me, but try to trust me in this, she's Daadu's choice, she would help you in getting over me..

His face stiffened..

Mukti ( softly ): You deserve someone best, Abhimanyu. You're just like Nandini, hard from out but a lot different from inside..

Smiling for one last time, she was about to move when he held her wrist and got close to her..

Abhimanyu: You were right, I don't trust you, but you were wrong in one thing, you know what is it..?

Mukti managed to nod in No, because, for the first time in her life, she was getting nervous while getting close to a guy, Harshad was her boyfriend, but she never felt nervous whenever he was around, his proximity never affected her but Abhimanyu's does..

Abhimanyu: Because, I really wanted to give my heart to someone, so that I could get over you, but then I simply couldn't. Bas ek baar, ek baar pyar kiya mene aur ab mein kisi aur ko de nahi paa raha hoon, isiliye, isiliye you've got no choice Mukti Vardhan, you'll be getting married to me. As a punishment, for hurting me to this level, for hurting my heart, for making me feel so miserable, you will get to know how I felt after getting married to me..

He left her and moved out of the way while she stood there in shock. She couldn't even breathe properly. Seems like he's the first in it, because today, he made her feel so scared too..

While, Abhimanyu stormed towards the exit when he met his sister, who was biting her nails and surprisingly, today, someone was accompanying her, obviously, her boyfriend Manik Malhotra who was pacing from once corner to the other..

Abhimanyu: I'm not talking right now..

His voice made them jump in their places yet they ran towards Abhimanyu who was already going out but got blocked by them..

Manik: Bhai..aapne bath kiya usse..

Nandini: Bhai, usne kya kaha tha..

Abhimanyu ( irritated ): Mene kya kaha tha, I'm not talking now..phir..

Nandini ( annoyed ): Of course, I'm not going to listen to it. Tho fatafat bholo, kya hua tha..

Manik ( sighed ): Oh yeah, I forgot how much power she holds on us..

But, in return he got a glare from her making him to shut his mouth..

Nandini: Bhai..usne kya kaha..

Abhimanyu ( angriuly ): Kya kaha..usne yahi kaha jo mujhe acha nahi laga..Mathlab, usse lagtha hai ki agar usne bola ki wo mujhe deserve nahi karthi tho mein maan jaoonga, mujhe kya wo Manik samajke rakha hai ki uske har ek bath maanega, to hell with her thoughts then, agar mein shadi karoon tho usse hi karoonga and she will have to listen to it..

Saying it, he marched out of the building while the rest two stared at Abhimanyu's back in shock..

Nandini: I thought my boyfriend was dominating but my Bhai happens to be like him, though.

Manik ( pouted ): He just insulted me, what did I do..??

She stared at Manik with a disbelieving look on her face and then held his arm..

Nandini: Let's welcome the future to know what actually will happen in between Mukti and Bhai..Chalo, now, we should join others..

Manik: What about Bhai..??

Nandini ( grinned ): He'll come around. Jab pyar kiya tho zyada der thak narazi ho bhi nahi saktha..

Manik ( smirked ): You don't need to teach me that, Miss Dixit..

She smiled at him back and the duo moved further to join their family..

Let's know what is stored in for this huge family..!!

To be continued..