Hello Fam. Everyone who was expecting Harshad as the sponsor, aapka guess bilkul galat hai. :P

Happy Reading....

The furious mood that Manik was in wasn't at all helping seeing their sponsor especially not when all he was doing was to smirk at them.

Person(smirking): Guys, this is Madhyam Singhania, co-owner of SML, Singhania Music Labels. Shall we start the meeting?

Manik(controlling his anger): Maddy, I am already in a very bad mood today. If this is any kind of a joke, please leave for now. I am not in a mood of having any sort of entertainment here.

Maddy(smiled shamelessly): Mr. Malhotra, let's be professional.

Manik(pissed): Listen dude, stop the drama.

Maddy(seriously): Acha, I understand tu kuch jyada hi kharab mood mein hain but you need to believe me.

Manik(confused): Believe what?

Just then Nandu enters, eyes glued to her mobile when Abhimanyu went to her and hugged her tight.

Abhi(whispered): I missed you.

Nandu(chuckled): I missed you too bhai.

Abhi(concerned): tu theek hai?

Nandu nods. Abhi side hugs her and takes her to the living room. While walking,

Abhi(whispered): Chal baad mein baat karte hai. Tera khadoos boss kuch jyada hi khadoos mood mein hai. Over that to keep you updated, Maddy is pretending to be the sponsor that these people are waiting since morning.

Nandu(smiled amusedly): What?

Abhi too smiles with her. Seeing them smiling, Manik sighed in relief with a small smile playing on his lips.

Maddy(teased): Matlab everything's fine now. Can we talk about the deal?

Manik(glared): I still don't believe you.

Nandu(calmly): Manik, give him a chance to explain.

Manik(rolling his eyes): Fine.

Maddy smirked.

Manik(furious): I will wipe that smirk off your face. Just come straight to the point.

They all sit down and Maddy started explaining.

Maddy: Manik, one week ago me and dad wanted to start this new venture of ours. And we thought the music industry would be the best one. Since it's our new venture, we wanted to launch our first album with some new band. I was searching for one since then but either I or dad wasn't impressed with any of them. Yesterday, I accidentally came across the video of yours. I made dad hear it too. He liked the songs so much that he is too eager to work with you guys.

Manik(raising an eyebrow): Tune yeh sab pehle kyun nahi bataya jab Cabir se subah baat ki?

Maddy(softly): I explained to him that it's our new venture. I wanted to talk about the rest of the details directly. And iss Cabir ne mujhe ghar address bhi phone rakhne ke baad diya tha. Message karke. I was confused seeing the address first, then made some guesses and thought it to be some of your friends or maybe some people you know. I clearly didn't expect it to be you.

Cabir(accused): Dekh kitne easily mujh par ilzaam lagaya isne. Agar tu itna excited tha why were you so late? You are more than an hour late bro.

Maddy(smirked): main itna bhi buddhu nahi hun jitna maine kuch der pehle bataya tha. So I had this 0.0001% doubt that it might involve Manik and friends, so I wanted some changes in the contract.

Manik(frowned): What changes?

Maddy(in a professional tone): Can we discuss that in private, Mr. Malhotra?

Manik(nodding): fine, let's go to study room.

Maddy: Along with Cabir and Abhimanyu.

Manik(sarcastically): Puri barat ko le aa jata apne saath 'private discussions' ke liye?

Maddy(seriously): See, Ek band member se discuss karna isn't safe. There needs a person for backup from the band and I am more comfortable with you and Cabir. I can't handle you both together so, Abhimanyu mere support ke liye.

Manik rolled his eyes asking them to follow.

Study Room

Everyone settles on the couches when Manik spoke.

Manik: Maddy, before we start this, I want to clear some confusions. You know right, we had a band during our school times. (Maddy nods). I wanted to be a singer and things weren't favorable then. Cutting it short, I want to fulfill my dream now along with my band.

Maddy(smiled proudly): Manik, I am proud of you. Though I have heard you singing only twice in my entire existence, I always felt you love music. But I never knew you were this serious.

Manik(smiled): I am happy to work with you.

Maddy(grinned): Deal isn't on yet, Malhotra. You need to agree to my terms and conditions.

Manik(disbelievingly): Kitna natak karta hai tu? Chal bata.

Maddy(casually): See, all the conditions are this boring stuff. That you need to complete the songs in given time period, the contracts and stuff. But there's one serious condition.

Cabir(suspected): bhai, tere serious ka definition mujhe kuch alag hi lag raha hai.

Maddy(winked): do minute ruk, tu mere team me aayega. So, the condition is I want a band manager for your band who would manage your dates, work, and stuff. And the band manager should be Nandini Murthy.

Manik(startled): What hamari Nandu? Are you mad? Why would she want to work as a band manager when she is already working with Malhotra Industries?

Maddy(teased): Hamari nahi, teri Nandu. Listen, dude either she is your band manager or ...

Manik(sarcastically): Or kya? Tu contract cancel kar dega? Are you even serious, Madhyam?

Maddy(in a serious tone): Or Main contract cancel nahi karne wala. I will go to her and say that yours is the most undisciplined band owing to your previous records in school. Aur agar tum log aisa karoge toh album kabhi pura nahi ho payega. Waise bhi tum log itna masti karte ho, it won't be hard to convince her. Phir Nandu khud tumhare band ki responsibility legi.

Maddy smirked after his little speech while the rest three gaped at him. Cabir was the first one to compose and he jumped on Maddy squeezing him in a hug.

Cabir(rubbing his hands in excitement): Waah bhai, kitna dimag use kiya tune. Life mein shayad pehli baar. But no comments on that. I am so loving this deal already.

Manik was shooting daggers at both of them.

Manik(glaring Maddy): This is stupidity.

Maddy(argued): Stupidity nahi. This is called future planning.

Manik(bewildered): What?

Maddy(ranted): Dekh tu jab tak khud se propose karne jayega use, tab tak either use koi utha kar le jayega. Even if she is single, jab tak yeh sab hoga, mere do bachhe hue honge aur main unki bhi shadi ki tayyariyon mein lag jayunga. So isiliye this step. Let's be serious man. Mujhe meri jawani mein teri shadi attend karni hai. Nahi toh mere bacche bolenge "papa yeh Manik Malhotra ki shadi ki function hai ya unki retirement ki". Tere image ke liye kar raha hun yeh sab.

Manik(perplexed): Do you even realize what crap you are speaking?

Maddy(smiling widely): Bro, I am totally in my senses. Dekh contract papers bhi ready hai. If you agree, sign karde.

Cabir(excitedly): Chal Manik, sign karte hai.

Manik(annoyed): You shut up. Aur Maddy, I still don't believe you are making me sign this crap. We aren't kids. Grow up.

Maddy(amused): Ek baar sign karde. Apne aap believe ho jayega. Aur Manik, yes we aren't kids. India mein child marriage isn't legal yet.

Manik(in a low tone): I can't force her. Agar vo nahi maani toh?

Maddy(not-so-seriously): Then simple. I am going and telling her that you are the biggest of brats. And this album needs her. Acha FYI, mere paas tere sare pranks ke details bhi hai haan.

Abhi(furiously): Guys guys, just a minute. Do you even realize that the person you are talking about is my goddamn sister? You are making a contract out of her.

Maddy(whispered): Maan le phir shaadi ki tayyariyan kar sakta hai. If not for this, ye slow motion king kabhi confess hi nahi karega. Aur dono time bhi spend karenge toh Nandu bhi maan jayegi.

Abhi(seriously): Ok then, Manik sign karde.

Manik(disbelievingly): Are you serious, Abhimanyu. She is your sister. Kaan mein kya bol diya usne ki you are agreeing with this idiot.

Maddy(impatiently): Vo sab tujhe pata chal jayega. Now sign.

Manik(furious): I will ask her first. If it goes wrong anywhere, I will not hesitate to kill you all.

Cabir(mocked): Aise bol raha jaise tujhe pasand hi nahi ho. Maan jayegi toh khule khule romance karega.

Manik(yelled): SHUT UP.

He barged out of his room leaving everyone to follow him. 

Any guesses about next? Nandu manegi ya nahi?