She's that girl in my life who can't bear my tears neither my grin; She-my sister

(_thehijabiwrites)

A sister is that only girl a guy can have, who will have difficulty when she get to see him crying as well as grinning. She hates to see him grinning for it happens only when he gets succeeded in irritating her while she hates to see his tears for she can't see him in pain. Every guy worth a sister!

The Site

Cabir was leaning onto his car while staring ahead. His face was expressionless but his eyes held tension. He was wetting his lips with his eyeballs moving around.

Cabir (thought): I hope he's fine.

"He'll take care of her." He heard a voice behind him making him turn around.

Cabir: I'm sorry, Mr. Malhotra?

Raj shook his head while chuckling dryly.

Raj: There was a time when my son's best friend used to address me Raj uncle instead of my Surname.

Cabir avoided eyes contact with Raj, who walked ahead and stood in front of Cabir.

Raj: And that guy happens to be my son-in-law too. He used to even address me DAD just like how his wife did.

Cabir: That..that was past and I'm living in my present.

Before he could move away Raj held Cabir's hand which halted his steps.

Raj: Hua kya tha tujhe?

Cabir blinked his eyes to fight his tears on getting to feel warmth in Raj's voice.

Raj: You were just like Manik for me and you..you just took my son's happiness away with you? Tum jaanthe the na that your sister mattered a lot to your best friend. Phir bhi le gayi? I never knew you were so heartless.

Cabir tried to get rid of Raj's hold which was so tight around his wrist.

Raj: Ya phir...didn't you ever love my son like a best friend does?

Cabir looked up and this time, Raj could see the mist in those pair of eyes.

Cabir: I did. Par uthna nahi jithna wo kar sakthe.

Raj left his hold on Cabir, who zoomed out of his sight.

Raj: Friendships do break! Even if they were strong enough to protect that very same friendship.

"Dad." he turned to find Nandini and Manik walking towards him making him smile adoringly at them. How much he missed seeing them together!

Raj: Aur khaa tu! How many times should I ask you not to overeat?

Raj smacked Manik's head, who winched in pain.

Nandini: Dad! He's not well.

Raj crooked his eyebrows at Nandini's care towards Manik, even after 10 years.

Raj: I see Miss Dhawan being too concerned towards my son!

Nandini looked down on not able to meet his gaze while Manik held his father's hand and nodded in negative.

Nandini: I'll be inside.

And she left inside.

Manik: Dad! Kya zaroorath the? She looked uncomfortable.

Raj: Haa tho uska kya haq hai tumpe?

Manik: What do you mean by uska kya haq hai? Uska nahi tho aur kiska haq bantha hai mujpe?

Raj: Your family holds that right but not her. She's your ex.

Manik (angrily): Dad!

Raj: What! Don't use that tone on me. She used to be your girlfriend but now she's just another woman who's trying to enter in my son's life, again.

Manik: You can't talk about my love, like that okay. If not her, then no other girl could hold that right on me.

Raj: Why would you love her again? She's your ex. What relation do you have with her, now?

Manik: I've always loved her, okay. She's still my fiance and now, my sons' mother.

Manik spilled out in anger and then realized what he said while Raj stared at him without any emotion on his face.

Raj: So I was right. You knew it.

He smacked Manik's head again and this time, it was quiet hard.

Manik: Oww, Dad!

Raj: Khothe! Tu kaisa beta hai, huh? Apne theen bete hain aur abhi thak nahi bathaya.

Manik: Mujhe bhi kuch din pehle hi patha chala.

He looked down with his eyes moistened. Boys always have their best bonding with their mother but Manik never had it. Instead, for him and Navya, it was always Raj with whom they found their bonding to be best. Not like, they hate their mother, they do love her so much but since it was Raj, whom they at least saw once in a day, it was him who became their support throughout their lives.

Raj: Chal, jhappi dhe pehle.

And he pulled his son for a hug, who shed silent tears in his father's neck. He'll always be a kid for Raj. It was his fault too who couldn't provide his time to his children, but being the head of his family,he had to go out to work. Eating what wife earns and taking rest at home isn't something a man like Raj Malhotra would do or would ever like it. Hence, he had to choose his work over his kids, neither he asked his wife to give her time to his kids as he was proud of her who was out there busy in serving their country.

Raj: They're so much like you and I failed to notice it until now.

Manik chuckled an broke the hug while Raj ruffled his hairs.

Manik: I..I just couldn't believe it until I saw myself in them. Dad. I..I was a father. I mean, I'm a father. I..I don't know what to say.

He inhaled deeply and Raj patted Manik's cheeks.

Raj: Now, don't cry. It doesn't suit your attitude.

Manik chuckled and the father-son duo too walked inside with Raj keep on praising the little Malhotras.

Our Nest

Boys' Room

Alishka: You got to know?

They frowned and looked at her in confusion. They expected her to freak out about this new information.

Alishka: How come you got to know? He said..he wouldn't share anything about Bua or you with anyone, so he can't tell you.

The boys looked at her and then at each other. Soon, their eyes turned red.

Boys: You knew everything?

And Alishka jumped in her place. Soon, a nervous smile formed on her face and she stood up immediately.

Alishka: Bhai. I can explain, you know.

Manvik: Sure, you will.

And next followed was a chase in between the boys and Alishka while Naila sat clueless. What were they talking about?!

Naila: What the! Stop! It's gonna fall!

She shouted when she saw Alishka colliding to a vase which was about to fall but Karthik was fast enough to hold it from falling on the ground and breaking into pieces. It was an antique vase which Nandini loved so much.

Naila: Will you guys stop, now?!

And they stopped while panting for some air to breathe.

Alishka: I repeat. I can..explain!

Prathik: A minute. Explain in a minute.

And Alishka got settled on the bed while looking in her watch.

Karthik: What are you waiting for?

Alishka: Oh yes, one minute is over. Now, I will speak.

This just increased their anger and they were about to march towards her when Naila stood in between.

Naila: Stop! Firstly, I don't understand why I'm family for you. Secondly, I don't even know why you guys are fighting and on what. So, explain to ME,now.

And she glared at Alishka, who grinned at her.

Alishka: Your Mamu, Manik Malhotra has three sons named, Karthik Malhotra, Manvik Malhotra and Prathik Malhotra.

And Naila just stared before giggling sweetly.

Naila: Hehe. So funny, you're Ashu.

But Alishka stood rigid and on seeing the casual looks on the boys' face, Naila's eyes got widened.

Naila: My Mamu is a father?

Alishka: And I though my friend wasn't a tubelight.

Naila: Holy muffins! So, that means, Miss beautiful has no other guy in her life, I mean, their father is my mamu which means, there's no chance for any other guy. Oh my God! My mamu will be so happy!

She started to jump around and others stared at her weirdly.

Prathik: And now I realized why Abhi Mamu said that she's so much into her Mamu!

Naila was still jumping around when Alishka pulled her on the bed beside her.

Alishka: I've never seen someone happy for being a matchmaker. You always used to have that toothy grin whenever you see Mamu with Bua.

Naila just grinned.

Prathik: Hold on! So you mean, you already knew about our parents?

Naila (sighed): All I knew was my Mamu loved his Nandini so much but she left him for some reason. I spent my childhood in talking with him about your mother. There was no day in my life when I never asked him about his first meet with his Nandini.

The boys stared at Naila with their eyes softened. Naila turned to face them with a smile.

Naila: There was a kind of smile that I loved, whenever he talked about her. Aur jaise yaha unki Nandini se mila, I saw him broken. Because, she had a family and I too was sad at it. I've always looked for your father and you know why?

She turned to Alishka and took something from her pocket making the latter one to widen her eyes.

Alishka: Why the hell are you carrying a bar of soap in your pocket?

Naila (innocently): So that I could mix it in their father's drink.

"What?" the siblings shouted in shock while Naila looked guilty.

Naila: I thought, he'll get scared of me and run away after drinking that drink. Par wo tho mere Mamu nikla. How could I even think about harming my Mamu?!

Alishka started to laugh out and too Naila in a hug while the boys looked at each other before laughing out.

Alishka: You know what! This is the first time, I'm admitting that I found someone so like us. Right, Bhai?

Karthik/Manvik: Oh for sure!

Prathik: Well, maybe you're not a fool.

Naila: Aye! Fool kisko bola?

Prathik: I used to assume you to be it, but now I think, you've improved yourself.

Naila: Well, Its fine as I've assumed you to be a descendant of a Monster.

Prathik flared his nose in anger which Naila shrugged off!

Alishka: Okay relax. So, tell me how did you get to know and what are you gonna do ahead?

Manvik: How we got to know will be shared but..

Karthik: What we're gonna do won't be shared.

Alishka (raised her eyebrows): And may I know why?

Prathik: Because you two happened to fangirl over our father!

The girls pouted but it didn't work as the boys were so busy in plotting. Plotting against their father!

At night

Manik's Room

Manik had just taken a shower and walked out of his washroom in a towel and wiping his hair with another. He stood in front of the mirror and combed his hair with his fingers. He opened the hair gel and dipped his fingers in it, while looking at his face in the mirror. Soon, his fingers made its way to his hair to apply the gel on it. A habit Manik Malhotra has is to close his eyes while applying gel on his hair which he used to find good about himself but..

Not anymore!

Without looking in the mirror, he opened his wardrobe only to drop his jaws down.

Manik: Where are my damn clothes?

All he could see was some funky old school T-shirts which is so not Manik's type. He took those T-shirts out of the wardrobe and stared at it weirdly.

Manik: Ye kiska hain? Aur ye..mere wardrobe mein kya kar rahe hain?

He threw those on the floor and then ransacked the entire wardrobe but couldn't find any of his clothes except for his Track pants which he wore first and then walked out of the room in fury.

Something Manik Malhotra hates- Never mess with his wardrobe!

Manik: Nandini!

Oh boy! Did he actually forget that he's at 'Our Nest'?!

Manik: Nandini!

He walked down the stairs furiously only to hear gasps around. He turned around and reached her in long strides.

Manik: Daadi. Nandini kaha hain!

But Anjali just stared at him in shock.

Manik (irritated): Daadi mein kuch pooch raha hun. Nandu kaha hain?

Instead of speaking something, Anjali raised her hands to touch Manik's hair and let out a gasp again.

Anjali: Guddu! Ye kya kiya tune apne baalon ke sath?

Manik: What will I do with my hairs? Aap bas ye boliye Nandu kaha hain?

"Manik?" he turned around to see Nandini's jaws nearly dropped down in shock. He took a couple of long strides to reach her and huffed in annoyance.

Manik: Where are my clothes?

Nandini: Huh?

Manik: Look at me.

He pointed at himself who was only in tracks and Nandini just shook her head frantically.

Nandini: Manik, what's wrong with you? Why aren't you wearing your shirts and..kiya kya hai tumne apne hairs ke saath?

Manik: Hadd hai! Har kisiko mere hairs ke parwa hai par mere clothes ka nahi. Who messed with Manik Malhotra's wardrobe? Tujhe patha hoga na!

Anjali: Guddu! Tu teek tho hain na, beta?

She walked towards him and touched his hair again and then looked at her hands with her lips twisted which went unnoticed by Manik.

Manik: Nahi hun teek. Where are my clothes?

He stood huffing and Nandini and Anjali just stared at him like he had gone crazy.

Mukti: Daadi aapne ky...aah, Bhai? What the f*** did you do to your hairs?

Mukti kept her hand on her heart due to the shock her brother gave to her and Navya rushed towards the living room on hearing Mukti's shout.

Navya: Kya hua?

Mukti just pointed at Manik and Navya too let out a gasp just like how a saas-bahu show runs for 22 minutes playing one single scene in a day.

Navya: What the mangoes!! Bhai! What happened to your hairs.

Manik (pissed): Patha nahi sabko sirf mere baal pe ithna interest kyu hain.

And he walked towards a mirror kept in the center of the hall and he screamed the moment he saw himself which was enough for the girls to burst out in laughter.

Navya: Bhai! Ab..patha chala na..why everyone is so interested in your..hairs?

She spoke in the middle of her laughter but Manik was still staring at his hairs in horror. Anjali walked towards him and tapped on his shoulder making him to face her.

Anjali: Muh khol.

Manik: Huh?

Anjali: Apna muh khol!

Manik opened his mouth and Anjali moved a little closer to sniff and then took a sigh of relief.

Anjali: Mujhe laga tumne pee rakhi hain!

To this sentence, the girls giggled while Manik just looked back at his hairs in the mirror again.

Manik: Daadi! Ye sach mein main nahi hun.

Anjali: Wahi tho mene bhi socha when I saw you descending the stairs par jaise tumne pari ka naam liya mujhe patha chala ki guddu hi hain. Hua kya hai tujhko? Kabse modern cow banna shuru kiya tumne?!

Manik: Modern cow?

Anjali: Apna baal dekh. Mujhe sirf gaay ke yaad dilathe hain. Since its green in color, its a modern cow.

Mukti (giggled): Awe, poor Manik!

Manik (glared): Chup kar tu. Mujhe patha hai, tune kiya hai yeh.

Mukti: Kya? Mein kyu karun? Ithni bhi jobless nahi hun mein. Bade aaye Mr. Gaay Malhotra!

Manik (pissed): Mukti!

Nandini: Manik. Mukti kyu karegi aisa. And she was in the kitchen since she came back home.

Manik: Thab tho ye sirf uss chimpanzee hi kar sakthe hain. He messed with my gel. I remember my hair black in color until I applied that gel. Chimpanzee Thakkar, I'm not gonna leave you.

He shouted at the end and moved upstairs to Abhimanyu's room.

Nandini (sighed): When will they grow up? Wait. Manik was talking about someone messing with his wardrobe too. Uske clothes nahi dikh rahe the na.

Anjali nodded in positive at her and Navya nodded.

Navya: Phir tho Abhimanyu Thakkar is RIP.

Nandini: Shit! Muku, tum Abhi Bhai ko jaake doondo. I'll get Manik back.

And she rushed upstairs while Mukti smiled seeing a glimpse of old Nandini in her. The same Nandini whom she considered to be her best friend after Navya.

While someone out there watched everything with a smirk playing on their lips.

"Step 2 was so eventful, Daddy Malhotra!" the boys said in unison while smirking at each other.

Upstairs

Nandini: Manik ruko!

She stopped Manik from entering Abhimanyu's room and pulled him along with her.

Manik: Nandu, chod mujhe. Uss saale ne mera baal kharab kar diya. Oopar se mere wardrobe bhi. Ugh! I'm gonna kill him.

Nandini: Manik, stop. Naanu kabhi bhi bahar se aa sakthe hain.

Manik: I don't care, okay.

Nandini: And your sons can see us in this situation too.

And that did it's work. Manik exhaled deeply before entering in his room with her, who took a sigh of relief.

Manik's Room

Nandini: Beith yaha.

She made Manik to sit on the bed while taking a look at the messed up room. The funky T-shirts were all over the floor.

Nandini: Manik!

She stared at him, who was still huffing in anger. Ignoring him, she started to keep those T-shirts in the wardrobe.

Nandini: He kept these in your wardrobe?

She asked while giggling.

Manik (pissed): Nandu!

She kept a finger on her lips and turned around so that he can't see her giggling silently.

Nandini: Chalo, yeh pehen sakthe ho tum.

Manik looked up at the T-shirt while scrunching his nose.

Manik: Eww..

Manik: You want me to wear this? Seriously?

Nandini (sighed): Isse bhi zyada khatharnak hai baaki T-shirts. We'll get new clothes for you but for now, you need to wear something, right?

Manik: Haa tho iska mathlab ye nahi kuch bhi pehnoon. Nope. I'm not gonna wear it.

Nandini: Manik. Zidd math karo. Aur koi nahi pehen sakthe na. Okay, let's do one thing. I'll ask Abhi Bhai to lend his shirt to you.

Manik (scowled): I'm not taking anything from him tonight. All I'm gonna get from him is his blood.

Nandini palmed her face and then made Manik face her forcefully.

Nandini: I don't care whether you'll get blood from him or water from him but you need to wear this.

Manik: Nahi. I won't wear it. Kya karoge tum?

She got settled on his lap startling him and he widened his eyes in horror. And the next second, she made him wear the shirt.

Manik (pissed): Nandini!

Nandini: Shut up! Ek tho your sons are too stubborn to handle and you're trying to be just like them. I can't handle big Malhotra too, little Malhotras kaafi hain.

She was about to get up when he pinned her on the bed and took her lips for a kiss, startling her. Though, she responded back in seconds, he was too wild in dominating over her.

Manik: Your punishment whenever you make me do something that you wish. Still remember it, don't you?

She giggled and slapped his biceps lightly.

Nandini: But that's not happening again, Malhotra. We've got 9 year old sons to go suspicious.

She sat up and straightened her dress.

Nandini: I do look fine, right?

She turned to face him and he pulled her on his chest.

Manik: You do and that's exactly why I'm not sane around you.

She giggled again and he kissed her forehead making her smile.

Manik: I'm planning to tell them.

Nandini: You're?

Her eyes shone in joy and he smiled while nodding in positive. She hugged him tightly and he wrapped his arms around her.

Nandini: I hope, they'll be fine.

She muttered to herself in worry but he did hear it.

Manik: I hope too.

They decided to forget about the world and be in each other's arms for a while as that was giving them the peace, they craved for!

To be continued..