PRESENT DAY

Stuck in the traffic of Mumbai, Nandini huffed. Distracting herself from the red signal, Nandini increased the sound of her stero and started lipsing

" Don't Want To Let Go
Feeling So Low
I Already Know
Pyaar Diyan Kasma Khake Sachiyan
Tod Diya Dil Kar, Gallan Jhuthiyan
Khud To Vi Zada Tainu Pyar Mai Kara
Par Je Main Chali Gayi Mud Na Aana Sohneya

Galtiyan Tu Ittni Karda
Maine Vi Jaane Diya
Socha Tha Tu Ab Badlega
Mauka Tujhe Sau Baar Diya

Jaandiya Jaandiya
Nai Chahidi Teri Mafiyaan
Jaan Liya Tainu Jaana
Andro Tak Main Tainu Pehchandiya ( 2 )"

Pointing at the person sitting beside her, Nandini made cute faces and sang

"Hasanda Vi Tu Hai

Rulanda Vi Tu
Wade Karke Bhul Jaanda
Khamakha Ke Shak Ton Akk Si Gayi
Tere Intezar Mein Thak Main Gayi
Jaan Jaan Kehke Mujhko
Jaan Meri Le Gaya
Socha Tha Tu Ab Badlega
Mauka Tujhe Sau Baar Diya

Jaandiya Jaandiya
Nai Chahidi Teri Mafiyaan
Jaan Liya Tainu Jaana
Andro Tak Main Tainu Pehchandiya"

The seven year old boy sitting next to Nandini in the front seat joined her

"Baby Girl, Sunn

Haan Maanta Hu Maine Galtiyan Ki
Aankho Main Bas Hai Mere Nammi
Pal Pal Khalti Hai Teri Kammi
Zara Maan Ja, Zara Maan Ja

Karaya Tainu Wait, Toda Tera Faith
Par Dil Kahe Tu Hai Meri Soulmate
Pick Up The Phone, Gal Sunn Le
Aakhri Waari Mainu Trust Kar Vekh

Kabool Kar Le Tu Meri Maafi
Sachi Tainu Miss Karra Kaafi
Tere Bina Chhayi Rehti Bas Udasi"

Planting a soft kiss on his forehead Nandini playfully sang

"Jaandiya Jaandiya
Nai Chahidi Teri Mafiyaan
Jaan Liya Tainu Jaana
Andro Tak Main Tainu Pehchandiya

Jaandiya Jaandiya
Nai Chahidi Teri Mafiyan
Jaan Liya Tainu Jaana
Andro Tak Main Tainu Pehchandiya

Don't Want To Let Go
Feeling So Low
I Already Know"

As the song came to an end, the traffic signal also turned green, letting Nandini resume her driving.

Keeping her eyes fixed on the road, Nandini enquired " so. ..whom are you crushing on for this week? ?? "

Giving a blushy smile, the boy answered " umm...Anne Hathway. .."

" tum ne subha subha mera makeup use kiya tha kya? ?? " Nandini demanded gravely.

Totally perplexed the boy nodded his head in a big no.

Hiding her smile, Nandini mischievously commented " then how come your cheeks turned red? ??....woh bhi Anne Hathway ka naam sunn te hi? ???..."

Reading the glint of mischief in Nandini's eyes, the boy whined "mom! !!!!!......please stop pulling my leg! !!!!....aap har baar mujhe tease karti ho! !!!!"

Grinning back at him, Nandini ruffled his hair " aww. ..you look sooooo cute when you blush! !!!...ek dum like a cutiepie "

On listening to this, the boy made all sorts of weird faces. While Nandini just had a hearty laugh.

Controlling her laugh, Nandini proposed " let's do one thing. ...iss weekend. ..we can have a movie marathon ...woh bhi sirf Anne Hathway ke films ki! !!...what say? ????"

Brimming with happiness the boy added " I am up for it! !!!!"

And they both high fived.

Reaching her destination, Nandini turned off the ignition key.

" Let me once again go through the things. ..yeh workshop ek hafte ke liye hai. ..and we are here to register for it! !!...am I forgetting something? ???"

Giving a thumps up at Nandini, her son remarked " no mom ...you are on right track as always! !!"

Pulling his cheeks lovingly, Nandini instructed " okay Faiz. ...now I want you to go out and find the reception for me! !!...tab taak I will park the car "

Stepping out of the car, Faiz dutifully followed his mother's instructions. While Nandini got busy with finding a spot to park her car.

Once Nandini was done with parking the car, she started moving towards the main building.

Rummaging inside her bag for the mobile, Nandini didn't notice that someone was coming from the opposite direction. And as expected, they bumped into each other.

Before even looking at the person Nandini barked " arrey dikhta nehin hai kya? ????...andhe ho? ????"

But looking up at the person, Nandini felt all the blood draining out of her body and she stood there numb.

Nandini didn't had the courage to avert her gaze from the person standing in front of her.

The eye contact might have continued for ages, if it hadn't been disturbed by the voice of a baby girl calling out " papa. .."

Immediately tearing away from the eye contact, the guy walked away from there , holding the hand of his daughter. While, Nandini just stood over there with hurt written all over her face.

Few hours after the unexpected encounter with the stranger, Nandini was driving back home.

Unable to bear the silence in the car, Navya finally asked " jab se tune mujhe office se pick kiya hai. ..tab se dekh rahi hu ki tu aise chup chap baithi hai!!!...akhir hua kya hai? ????"

Focusing on the road, Nandini muttered " nothing. .."

But how can Navya be patient, so she started making wild guesses " mujhe pick karne se pehele tu woh workshop wale center gayi thi naa! !!!....waha kuch hua kya? ???...kisi ne kuch kaha kya? ??? "

Instinctively Navya looked at Faiz, who had no clue.

Sighing helplessly, Nandini asserted " kuch nehin hua hai!!!!...I am fine Navu! !!!"

Rolling her eyes, Navya remarked " bacchpan se jaanti hu tujhe! !!!....so stop with your ' I - am - fine - Navu - wala - drama '!!!!!!.... aur jab tujhe jhuth bolna ata nehin hai. ..toh tu koshish bhi kyon karti hai! !!!...saaf saaf dikhai de raha hai ki teri shakal pein barah baaje hue hai! !!!...so now tell me hua kya hai? ???"

Not at all meeting Navya's eyes, Nandini mumbled " I saw him. ...usski beti ke saath "

Confused like hell, Navya queried " yeh isski usski nehin kar ke. .sidhe sidhe bol naa kis ki beti ki baat kar rahi hai? ???"

Rolling her eyes in sheer annoyance, Nandini declared " MANIK AUR USSKI BETI. ..."

Now, getting even more confused, Navya exclaimed " Manik ki beti???...yeh kab hua? ??...I mean. ..Manik ko beti kab hui? ???"

That was it, with greeted teeths and a fake smile, Nandini ordered " Faiz baby. ...zara aapne kaan bannd kar lena please! !!...woh kya hai naa. ..mujhe aapki Navya masi se kuch sudh bhasha mein vartalaap karna hai! !!!"

Out of fear, Navya added " acche se kaan bannd karna haan beta!!!"

Obediently Faiz replied " as you say ladies " , and covered his ears with his hands.

Nandini ( pissed ) : kamini! !!!....peechle dus saal se tu uss family ke saath contact mein hai! !!!....and now you are saying ki tujhe nehin pataa Manik ki beti kab hui! !!!...and you seriously want me to believe your shit! !!!....am I a joke! !!!!!

Taking a deep breath, Nandini signalled Faiz to remove his hands.

Gulping down her saliva, Navya asked " ek baat baata. ..dus saal baad tujhe. ...beti mein interest hai? ???...ki baap mein? ???"

Spitting fire, Nandini replied " screw you Navya! !!!!...I am not interested in anyone! !!!....huh. ..."

That was it, Nandini was again back to her silent mode. While Faiz looked at the whole drama helplessly.

But how the heck can Navya stay calm, when she knew that her bestie was pissed at her.

Stroking her baby bump lovingly, Navya said " dekha baby. ...aapki Nandu masi mujhse gussa hai! !!!... aap naa jaldi se bahar aa jao. .. phir hum dono mil ke usse pareshaan karenge! !!! "

Falling for Navya's drama, Nandini finally smiled.

Nandini ( calmly ) : I didn't mean to be rude yaar Navu. ...it's just that work pressure kuch zyaada hi hai aaj kal! !!

Smiling back at her, Navya thought " I exactly know kis cheez ka pressure hai Nandu! !!!...I hope sab kuch theek ho jaye! !!! "

Turning her gaze back on the road, Nandini started thinking " hum jaisa chahte hai. ..cheeze kabhi waisi hoti hi nehin hai! !!!...aur joh kuch hota hai. ...usski humein kabhi umid hi nehin rehti! !!!. ..kuch aisi hi thi meri kahaani. ...yah humari kahaani. .."

And soon Nandini let herself to be drawn into a bitter sweet reverie.