Hey Fam :) 

The chapter is dedicated to our birthday girl, InsaneStutiScribbles. Hey, fellow introvert. Wishing you a very happy birthday. Have a wonderful and happy life ahead. Do you know you are born on an auspicious day? It's World Earth Day today. Enjoy your life till you are on this planet. And pack your bags. We will leave this planet soon ;) 

Happy Earth Day, fellow Earthlings. :) 

Happy Reading...

After the practice, Manik and Cabir went to attend some meeting. Alya and Dhruv went out for some fresh air. Navya and Mukti were left alone, so they decided to go to Nandu's cabin.

Nandu's Cabin

Navya(rants): Hello Nandu. Hum tumhe disturb toh nahi kar rahe na? Agar kar bhi rahe ho toh bhi 'it's ok' bol dena kyunki hum bore ho rahe the.

Nandu(chuckles): It's ok.

Mukti smiled at her. They both take their seats and Navya started blabbering. Nandu was engrossed in her work when she got a message from Mukti. Giving her a questioning look, she opened it.

Message - Mukti - I need to meet a person, you know who. Please handle everyone, if they ask any questions.

Nandu smiled and blinked her eyes in assurance.

Mukti(warned): Navya, I need to go attend a call. Jab tak main nahi aati, please stop scaring her.

Navya(pouted): I am not scaring her.

Mukti(rolling her eyes): Dikh raha hai.

Abhimanyu's Cabin

She walks out and barges into Abhimanyu's cabin. Finding him engrossed in his laptop she rolls her eyes at the workaholic siblings.

Abhi(still looking into the laptop): Meeting itni jaldi khatam ho gayi tumhari?

Mukti(confused): which meeting?

He raised his head hearing Mukti's voice.

Abhi(smiling widely): Arey tum? I thought it was Manik or Cabir. Only these two barge into my cabin like this.

Mukti(raising an eyebrow): kyun? Nandu?

Abhi(fake annoyed): Don't even ask about her. That girl has a crazy habit of knocking before coming inside even if it's my cabin.

Mukti(glared): Abhimanyu, that's not a crazy habit. She is well mannered.

Abhi(pretending to be sad): Haan haan. Ab toh tumhe mujhse woh jyada achi lagti hai na. Waise tum yahan? Kuch kaam tha?

Mukti(looking down): I missed you.

Abhi(blushing hardly): Muk..Mukti. Tum..tum mujhe miss...miss.. kar rahi thi.

Mukti(disbelief): Tum ispe blush kar rahe ho?

Abhi(grinning): That's a first. Tumne jab yeh bola.

Mukti(angry): Abhimanyu, stop teasing me.

She sat on the couch huffing. Abhimanyu chuckled and knelt down in front of her holding a bunch of roses.

Abhi(pouted): Sorry, main yeh tumhe subah sabke samne de nahi paya.

Mukti(sadly): It's ok. Yeh mera hi decision hai na.

Abhi(cupping her face): Hey, Mukti. Why are you being sad for this? It's ok. Maine tumhe kabhi kuch bola kya?

Mukti(mumbled): But don't you feel sad? Sabke samne you have to pretend as if we are just friends?

Abhi(staring into her eyes): Mukti, I will support every decision of yours no matter what. Stop over thinking about this. (faking as if heartbroken) Aur yeh batao tum mujhse pyar nahi karti kya? I thought tum mujhe zor se hug karke 'I love you' chillaogi.

Mukti slapped his hand and smiled at his antics to make her smile.

Mukti(concerned): Abhi, your eyes were red, right? Tum rest karte na?

Abhi(adored): Meri Mukti, meri itni care karti hai?

Mukti(chuckled): Ab tum nahi karoge toh mujhe karna padega na.

Abhi(grinning widely): Arey, tum care karogi toh main har din bimar hone ko tayyar hun.

Mukti(glared): Abhimanyu, this isn't a joke.

Abhi(chuckles): Arey baba, I am fine. Puri raat drive nahi kiya maine. I was just pulling Manik's leg.

Mukti smiled. They were talking about some random things when they hear a knock. Standing up, Abhimanyu asks the person to come in, walking towards his chair.

Nandu(panicking): I am sorry to disturb you both, but Manik ka meeting khatam ho gaya and he is coming to meet you.

Abhimanyu rolls his eyes and Mukti chuckles. Nandu goes and sits beside Mukti.

Nandu(puzzled): What's wrong?

Abhi(calmly): Tu na dara di mujhe. Kitne baar bola you don't need to knock. Mujhe laga koi aur hai.

Nandu(teased): Kyun? Aise kya kar rahe the jo aap itna dar gaye?

Abhi(glared): Tujhe Manik bigad raha hai ya Cabir?

Nandu(whined): Bhaiii.

Just then Manik and Cabir barge inside. Manik gets surprised seeing Mukti there.

Manik(surprised): Mukti, tu yahan?

Nandu(explained): She came with me. Woh Navya thi na mere cabin mein, she was afraid of staying alone with her.

She said the last line looking at Cabir. Manik and Mukti chuckles understanding the tease in her voice.

Cabir(fake glared): woh itna bhi nahi bolti jitna tum log sochte ho.

Abhi(amused): Did I miss something? Bhai tu theek hai? Tu apni Navya Naveli ki hi baat kar raha hai na?

Cabir(irritated): Of course. Kaam par dhyan de?

Abhi(chuckles): zaroor.

Manik(puzzled): Mukti, yeh hamare love birds kahan gaye?

Mukti(informed): They went on to have some 'fresh air' along with some coffee.

Cabir(in a serious tone): Acha dono chahiye inhe? Toh itni jaldi nahi aayenge.

Everyone chuckles.

Manik: We were discussing with Maddy. He wants our album launch along with a concert. Let's decide some dates when everyone is free. I will talk to Dhruv too. Nandu, you need to keep a tab on our progress and inform Maddy, if he calls.

Everyone nods at him.

Manik(annoyed): Trust me, he is treating us as some school kids.

Maddy(entering inside): Suna maine.

Manik(sarcastically): Oh that's so sweet of you. Mujhe phir se repeat nahi karna padega.

Maddy(thinking hard): Mujhe na contract mein yeh clause dalna chahiye tha that along with the songs I need some respect.

Manik(rolling his eyes): And mujhe yeh clause dalna chahiye tha that I need a sane person to handle this album.

Maddy(shocked): Did you just call me insane?

Nandu(disbelievingly): Guys guys. Stop it now. You both are fighting like kids.

Maddy(smirked): Dekha. Isiliye I asked Nandu to be the band manager.

Manik glared him. They decide the concert dates after a month, after discussing with the band members.

Next day, early morning

Raj and Nyonika were on a two-week trip for a meeting and Manik woke up early to drop them at the airport. Returning back, he finds someone inside the kitchen and goes to check.

Manik(bewildered): Tu kitchen jala rahi hai?

Mukti(glared): Dude, I am making coffee.

Manik(confused): kiske peene ke liye? Insaan ya jaanwar?

Mukti(smiled sarcastically): Yeh garma garam doodh tere upar phenk doon?

Manik(casually): Nahi, I am comfortable like this.

He goes and sits on the kitchen counter.

Mukti(softly): Uncle Aunty chale gaye?

Manik(informed): Haan. Gaye.

Mukti(raising an eyebrow): Coffee piyega?

Manik(frightened): Peene layak hogi kya?

Mukti(rolling her eyes): Thappad khayega?

Manik(coolly): Nahi. Coffee piyunga.

She hands him his mug

Manik(proudly): Waah, Mukti. Kya coffee banai hai tune. Maine socha bhi nahi thi tujhe itna aata hai.

Mukti glares him. They both talk for a while, sipping their coffee when Manik abruptly asks her.

Manik(excitedly): Tu Nandu ke Chacha-Chachi se nahi mili na?

Mukti(teased): Tu bada excited hai?

Manik(rants): Arey tu bhi hogi. They are so cool. Let's visit them for breakfast. Chachi bahut acha khana banati hai. Wait let me call her and come.

Mukti nods smilingly.

Call

Manik(happily): Good Morning Chachi ji. Sorry maine aapko subah subah utha diya?

Chachi(miffed): Oh yeah. Main subah subah anjaan logo se baat nahi karti.

Manik(disbelievingly): Arey Chachi ji. Aap phir se ruth gayi?

Chachi(scolded): Tu kaam hi aise karta hai. Saal mein ek do baar apni shakal dikhata hai.

Manik(chuckles): Chachi mere last aapke ghar aaye hue itne din bhi nahi hue na.

Chachi(in a dismissing tone): jo bhi hai.

Manik(explained politely): Chachi aaj kal thoda time nahi milta. Main waha aa kar aap ko sab samjha dunga na? Aap mere liye apne special aloo ke paranthe banakar rakhna. Mere kuch friends bhi hai. Hum sab saath mein aa jayenge.

Chachi(smiled): Haan theek hai. Lekin aate samay..

Manik(cutting her off): Market se dhaniya le aaun kya?

Chachi(lovingly): Dhaniya tu kyu layega. Murthy ji hai na uske liye. Tu bas Nandu ke ghar se Abhimanyu aur Nandu ko lekar aaja.

Manik(questioned): Abhimanyu, udhar hai?

Chachi: Haan. Gaya tha raat ko koi night out karne. So rahe honge dono. Call nahi utha rahe.

Manik(smiled): Theek hai. Main dono ko lekar aata hun. Bye Chachi.

Call Ends

Manik goes back to Mukti and informs the plan. They wake up everyone and reach Murthy house. Going to Nandu's room, they find a sleeping Abhimanyu and encounters the shock of their lives.