Give up on love, you're a coward. Give up on your children, you're a betrayer

(Affu)

You love someone? Its not at all an issue, in fact, its good you love that person. But when you give up on the same love, you become a coward who can't fight for your love. You have children? Do you love them? Yes or No, you become a betrayer when you don't fight to be with them. They're your blood and giving up on your own blood is the worst thing that a human being could do!

Our Nest

At night

Boys' Room

Prathik: Aye! Abhimanyu Thakkar is a little bit weird but he's the best to be a bait for us to reach Manik Malhotra.

Karthik: Exactly, we need to take advantage of his weirdness.

Manvik: But their friendship is too deep. Will he help us?

Prathik: So, who's asking him directly?

He leaned forward and looked at his brothers with that mischievous glint in his eyes and they boys smirked at him.

Karthik: Seems like, we have a very better pawn to us and it is..

"Mukti Abhimanyu Thakkar" Prathik and Manvik said in unison making Karthik to smirk.

Manvik: Well, what about our little bomb?

Prathik: Oh, don't even try to say about it to her. She's that long lost best friend of our bait's daughter, so nope, not happening.

Karthik: You know she would kill us once she gets to know about it.

Prathik: Oh, that could be handled later on.

But Karthik and Manvik looked sceptical knowing very well about their sister.

Prathik: Oh come on people, Alishka Dhawan shares every other thing with her new best friend and this shouldn't be known to Naila Thakkar. Use your brains, bro!

They sighed at him before nodding their heads in positive making Prathik to grin.

Prathik: Fine. So, where can we get Mrs. Thakkar?

Manvik: For now, she'll be sleeping with her family in her room.

Karthik: Nada!

Manvik: Then?

Karthik: She has a habit of reading every night before sleeping. I've noticed it.

Prathik: Smart, huh!

Karthik: I'm born smart!

Manvik: Yeah! We know that! How smart you can get with riddles!

They both glared at him, who looked here and there.

Manvik: Anyhow, let's get Mrs. Thakkar, now.

And they left their room.

Downstairs

Kitchen

Raj was looking through the refrigerator while cursing every other thing present in it as he wasn't getting that which he wanted.

Raj: Hadd hai yar!

"Ahem" Raj turned around to that source of sound and got to meet that pair of orbs filled with curiosity.

Raj: Um, Nandu..er, Nandini. Hi!

Nandini smiled when she heard him addressing her Nandu first.

Nandini: Aap yaha?

Raj: Um..wo.I. I wanted something.

Nandini: Aur wo kya hain?

Raj: Um, something.

Nandini: Something? Is that an important 'thing'?

Raj (glared): Nandu!!

And she giggled while they both just realized, they were being the old Raj and Nandini.

Raj: Sorry! Wo, galti se nikal gaya.

He was about to leave when she held his hand and kept something in it.

Nandini: Yahi chahiye na?

Raj smiled while staring at the bottle of honey. He always have honey mixed in cold milk before going to sleep. He wouldn't stop even if he gets diabetic in life. He looked up to thank her when he saw the same innocence in her eyes which he got to see years back, when he met her for the first time.

Nandini: Your son never lost his right, then how can you lose it..Dad?

She whispered with a smile before walking away and Raj's eyes were filled with tears. He did miss this non-biological daughter of his. Sometimes, love is in just relationship. You really don't need that red liquid to love someone deep.

In the Garden

Mukti was reading her novel with great concentration. She loved to read novels which has every emotion present in it. Not just a love story, not just a hate story but with every relation showcased in it. Be it a parental love or a relationship between friends.

"Hello, there." the boys said before taking a seat before her but she didn't even flinch. Instead, she was still reading it.

Manvik: I wonder how can she read with so much of concentration.

Prathik: Yeah. I can't even sit and read for five minutes. I mean, is it so easy to sit and do nothing but reading?

Karthik: Well, I'm not a reader. All I do is sitting in class and listening to what our old professors teach and I write those in exams.

Manvik: Bhai! Do you really think we read and write our exams that you're saying what you do to top in exams?

Karthik: Then why the hell would you ask me whether its easy for me to read or not?

Prathik: It wasn't even for you but for the nature. I was just stunned with her reading capability.

"Oh hello!" they heard Mukti's anger filled tone and they turned their faces towards her who was glaring at them.

Prathik: Oh hey! We were trying to gain your attention with a greeting but you never did.

He spoke so cheerfully that Mukti really got to see her brother in him as he's the one who annoys her first and then sits like he did nothing.

Mukti: But your argument literally got my attention, Mister.

Manvik: Oh, thank God. We were actually discussing how the hell could a person sit and read for more than five minutes.

Mukti (sighed): A sane person can.

Karthik: Oh! But, you're a sane person, as far as I know.

Mukti: You said I read well and I said a reader is a sane person too. How come you're saying something new in here?

Manvik: Oh the thing is, Mr. Thakkar said that you're not sane but you said only a sane person can be a reader, so we just got confused.

And Mukti opened her mouth wide while the boys made confused faces.

Mukti: Abhi said I'm not a..sane person?

They boys looked up to see her cheeks puffed in anger. They grinned and shrugged their shoulders at her.

Karthik: Maybe, he was joking. Yeah?

Prathik/Manvik: Yeah. For sure.

But Mukti just stood up and walked away in anger making the boys to recline back to their seats.

Prathik: I'm feeling so relieved, now. We'll get the outcome by tomorrow morning.

Manvik: Isn't it so soon to expect an outcome? What if she murders him tonight and we'll never get to have an outcome?

Karthik: Chill yar! She won't kill him.

Manvik: How are you so sure about it?

Karthik: Because, they seem to can't stay alive without fighting with each other. Whom will she fight with if she murders him?

Prathik: Oh, that's a point. She can't kill him, then.

Manvik: Yeah, maybe. But I really hope he'll get bruises tonight, or else, he won't be ready for doing it. He needs to be scared, after all.

Karthik/Prathik: True that.

Prathik: Wait! Mamma is gonna come to check on us.

Manvik/Karthik: F***!! Let's go.

And they strode upstairs to their room.

Next Day

Manik's Room

Nandini stepped inside his bedroom without making any noise and got to see Manik sleeping. She walked further before bolting the door and settled beside him.

Nandini: Manik. Manik, utho. Manik.

Manik: Hmm..Sone dho, Nandu.

But the next moment, he got up in a jerk only to see her sitting in front of him which never happened in the past 10 years.

Manik: I must be dreaming.

He said and held her hand in his grip and laid on the bed with her hidden in his arms, while she looked at him bewildered.

Nandini: Manik, kya kar rahe ho?

Manik: Shh. Don't ruin my dream. Cabir has already ruined the reality.

On this statement, her eyes welled up. She held his cheek with her hand and caressed it making him to smile with his eyes closed.

Nandini (muttered): Its our reality!

He opened his eyes slowly and got to see her eyes teary. He looked around and realized that she was right. He was at 'Our Nest' and she's in his bedroom, now. He looked back at her, who leaned to kiss his forehead making him to heave a sigh of breath.

Manik: I thought, you were a dream, like how you've been for the past 10 years of my life.

She joined her forehead with his and inhaled his scent.

Nandini: You're hurt!

She opened her eyes and stared at his face which was filled with peace.

Manik: Am I?

He opened his eyes and looked in her eyes. She could only nod in positive at him.

Nandini: I've loved this face for it's been so peaceful, always. But now, its hurt.

She caressed his face with her fingers and her eyes depicted pain and guilt of leaving him.

Manik: Can you heal me?

The same question he asked her when they got into a relationship, it was. When he confessed to her how much he misses his mom. When he confessed her all his miseries about his life which he never did, not even to Cabir or Abhi, he felt vulnerable. All he wanted was her to heal him and she did too.

Nandini: Do I still hold that right?

She whispered to him and he smiled faintly.

Manik: You just got one more right. Right of a lady who was the reason for her man to be a father!

She smiled amidst her tears and she leaned to his face while he cupped her cheeks, staring intently in her eyes. She kissed his cheeks one by one while he kissed her nose which was the cue for her to capture his dry lips in her mouth.

And those feelings were back in them!

The feelings that they got to feel when they kissed for the first time was back in them when they kissed after 10 long years. It was a slow kiss filled tender and love like she always gave him whenever he looked like a broken child in front of her. She kissed him so slowly that his eyes went teary as he missed the warmth her lips always provided his heart.

"I still love you." they whispered before he took her beneath him to kiss her again and this time, it was hungry. They were hungry for each other's warmth. They were hungry for each other's love and today, they were getting it after a long span of time that they didn't want to leave each other.

Nandini: You're still bad at controlling your hormones, Malhotra!

She pants heavily when he leaves her lips for few seconds before taking them for every next kiss.

Manik: Not my fault. You should stop bothering my hormones.

She giggled and hid herself in his arms and he wrapped her in his chest while kissing the top of her head.

Manik: I missed us.

Nandini: I know!

They preferred to be in each other's arms for sometime before Nandini realized she came here to wake him up and then leave.

Nandini: Manik! Mein tho bhool hi gayi. I came here to wake you up. Jaldhi utho.

Manik: Ithni jaldhi kya hain. Thoda aur!

She raised her head while keeping her hands on his chest and nodded in negative.

Nandini: Jaldhi hain. Aaj Naanu ke saath site pe jaana hai na. Bhool gaya kya?

Manik: Oh acha! Par uthane keliye kisi aur ko bhej sakthi tum. Khud kyu aayi?

She bit her lips and shook her head at it. He held her chin and made her look in his eyes.

Nandini: Bahana tho mili na, so I had to make use of it. I knew, you would forget too.

He smiled before kissing her forehead.

Nandini: I should leave.

Manik: Why?

Nandini: Manik, they don't know about you so if our sons see us h..

Manik: I was asking..why can't we be together, Nandu? You didn't have to say that you should leave or meet me in secret.

She stared at him blankly and he looked at her the same way.

Nandini: Because, you're too scared to share the truth with them.

He sighed and dropped his head backwards while she sat up straight.

Nandini: You really need to know them, Manik. Agar unhe kahi aur se patha chalo tho you wouldn't even know what they can do to you. Phasoge tum.

She warned him while standing on her feet and he too got up to sit.

Manik: Jaise bhi hain, they're my sons. They will understand me.

Nandini: Yeah. Jaise bhi hain, tumhara hai aur agar tumhara hai tho expectation kya hona chahiye, Manik?

She gave him a sarcastic grin and he tried not to show his nervousness out.

Nandini: Aggression. Impulsiveness. Anger. Outburst. And so on..like, every other negative adjective would suit the situation in future, then.

Manik (sighed): You should motivate me to tell them truth, not to scare me away, okay.

She sighed and got settled beside him while holding his hands in her grip.

Nandini: Manik! I don't about motivation. All I know is, they're very sensitive and you being a topic is much more sensitive for them. So, getting to know about you being their father from some other way or someone else, will only create distance between you and them. They need time to think but sometimes, they don't take time instead destroy everything around. I want them to accept you, Manik and that would be possible only if they act calm. Aur shayad uskeliye, tumhe hi sab kuch share karna padega unn theeno se.

He took a deep breath before nodding at her.

Manik: I'll take time. Ithni jaldhi tho nahi ho saktha. I don't want to face rejection. Yeah, you'll say they'll accept me but when I place myself in their shoes, I can say that I won't be able to accept my father so soon. Uss ek adhmi ko accept karna hai jo ek stranger tha apne liye, koi aur nahi, apna father hain. It won't be so easy for them, either, so I need to make myself strong to face anything from them. Be it rejection or their anger.

She smiled while hearing him out. He loves their sons so much and she knew they're lucky to have him as their father.

Nandini: As you wish!

He smiled at her and she smiled back at him. Soon, she left his room without getting into anybody's notice or she thought so!

Downstairs

Manvik: Whoa! What's wrong with you?

He spoke to Abhimanyu, who was blocking his way to move further while Karthik and Prathik, who were behind them tried not to laugh seeing Abhimanyu's anger filled face.

Abhimanyu: Chahthe kya ho? Me getting divorced with my wife? As far as I know, she's too old for you, then why the hell would you want me to divorce my wife, dude? Ek beti ko alag kar raha hai aur baaki beewi ko alag kar rahe hain. Mathlab, hadd hothe hai sab keliye!

They simply stared at each other and then at Abhimanyu, with a smirk playing on their lips.

Karthik: So, it worked huh.

Abhimanyu: What do you mean? Just tell me one thing, what the hell do you want? Why did you lie to my wife that I called her insane.

Prathik: We didn't tell her you called her insane. We just said, you don't consider her to be a sane person.

Abhimanyu gave him a frustrated look to which the boys paid no heeds before taking their seats in the lawn with their legs on a mini table.

Karthik: Take a seat, Mr. Thakkar.

Abhimanyu: What the f...

Manvik: Mamma hates swearing. Should we tell her that her brother started to swear in front of us?

Abhimanyu sighed before looking up at them, who pointed at the seat in front of them. Having no choice, he got settled but started to tap his feet on the ground to relax himself.

Prathik: So, why don't we come to business?

Abhimanyu frowned at them.

Manvik: Okay, listen up. We want a favor from you but if we ask you directly, you would just create a fuss like, 'oh I'm Mr. Abhimanyu Thakkar so I don't do anything for free' 'You kids are nothing in front of me' blah blah. Therefore, we planned this.

Abhimanyu gaped at them in horror, who sat like nothing happened- typical Daddy's sons!

Abhimanyu: You freaking made my wife a pawn to reach me?

Prathik: Nope! We just used your fear for your wife to get you help us.

Abhimanyu: Impossible. Not happening. I would never join hands with you.

He stood up to leave.

Karthik: Mukti Thakkar seems to like us so much that she's ready to listen to us rather than her husband.

Abhimanyu sulked and got settled on his seat again.

Abhimanyu (muttered): Kisne kaha tujhse usko mana karne keliye, Abhi?! She wanted a son na but you tho wanted to give all your love to your daughter. Ab bhuktho!!

Manvik: So..ready to join your hands with us?

He looked up and gave a sarcastic grin.

Abhimanyu: Do I have a choice?

Prathik: You really don't if you're dealing with Malhotras!

Abhimanyu: Of course, hamesha Malhotra hi mera jeena haram kar detha hain.

He muttered curses for Manik.

Manvik: Oh you mean, our father also never left a chance to irritate you.

Abhimanyu: Of course, not.

But then he realized what Manvik said. He snapped his head at the boys in shock, who this time had smiles on their faces, instead of smirks.

Karthik: Should it be Maamu aur Chachu? As you're from Dad's side.

Abhimanyu: Wh-what?

Prathik (chuckled): Arey, you're Dad's best friend but for Mamma, you're her brother, so should we call you Chachu as that's what I've heard from movies while Mamu is for Mom's brother.

Abhimanyu couldn't even believe his ears while the boys sat with that very same smile on their lips.

Abhimanyu: You. You can't be thinking what I'm thinking, right?

Manvik: Can we teleport to your brain to know what's stored inside? Or maybe, its not possible.

Abhimanyu: God! Tell me you know everything or are you just making up something?

He knelt down in front of the boys and they looked at each other before leaning forward.

Manvik: What if we say we know why we're aggressive?

Prathik: What if we say we know why we're so possessive for our Mamma?

Karthik: What if we say we know why we're too tall compared to our age?

Abhimanyu: And may I know the answer to these whys?

Boys (smirked): Cause, we're Manik Malhotra's sons!

And that was the moment, Abhimanyu felt tears of joy in his eyes. He didn't feel tears of joys in the past 10 years except for the moment when Manik said he's a father of three sons where, Abhimanyu called him insane but then started to jump around on knowing his doubts were true.

And today, he got to feel those tears of joy in his eyes. Why wouldn't he? His best friend's sons knew about their father. And that smile on their faces were giving him only positive sign.

Abhimanyu: Can..Can I get a hug?

They looked at him surprised. Being touchy is so not them but Abhimanyu looked so vulnerable for now and they couldn't just break his heart.

Abhimanyu: Can I, please? I tend to go sensitive soon.

They smiled and took him for a group hug making him to tighten his hold on them. It wasn't just for him but for them too as he could see tons of emotions stirring in those little kids' eyes.

Abhimanyu (thought): Your sons are so like you, Giraffe Malhotra!

He chuckled to himself while the boys too had a smile on their lips. It was a beginning of new bonding. A bonding to share forever!

To be continued..