Love is yet to be found if your heart doesn't beat hastily

(Affu)

People say that they don't know how to know if they're in love or not! But maybe, it could be an easier job. All you gotta do is to check your heart rate. If it beats so hurriedly, then you surely have fallen in love with the person whom you were just looking at, while if it beats normally, then maybe that person could be a crush or someone not-so-important.

Our Nest

Abhimanyu: Give it to me. Don't you know I'm way better than anyone in it, Chipkali?!

He took the watermelon from Navya's hand and started to cut it by himself. Maybe, he would flaunt his skills but you can't deny the fact that nobody can get watermelon in its perfect shape better than Abhimanyu Thakkar.

Navya (rolled her eyed): Bhai should actually call you "flaunting chimpanzee" instead of a plain "chimpanzee".

Abhimanyu: Oh let him. I would just call him "aggressive giraffe" then.

Navya shook her head at him and started to make salad. She was preparing fruit salad for the kids and Abhimanyu simply started to snatch fruits from her to help her with it.

Abhimanyu: Um..chipkali.

Navya: Kya hain, Bhai ke chimpanzee?

Abhimanyu (sighed): Kaise hua?

She turned to face him with frowns on her forehead.

Navya: Kya kaise hua?

Abhimanyu (softly): Baby nazar nahi aaya.

On this statement, Navya's eyes were filled with tears. It was Navya who got pregnant first in their gang and everybody had their own gifts for he baby even before it could come out to the world.

Abhimanyu: Jab pehli baar tujhe dekha, baby ko doond raha tha aur jaise Ashu ko dekha, hum sabko laga tha wohi baby hai par jab tumne kaha that she was 7 years old and she's the only kid...hum..kya hua tha yar?

Navya gulped hard before wiping her tears away and stood up to leave. She never said them what happened to her first baby but said, it never got a chance to come to this world alive.

Abhimanyu: Navu!

He held her hand and she stared back at him without any emotions on her face.

Abhimanyu: Won't we have any right to know about our gang's first baby?

Navya: Sometimes..you need to accept silence, Abhi.

And she strolled away while Abhimanyu bit his lips to control his emotions.

Abhimanyu: Kya hogaya tha hum sabko!

He muttered while cursing his fate and wiping his tears away. His gaze went up to Navya who walked inside the kitchen but he could also see someone staring at Navya with teary eyed. It was Cabir. He stared at her before walking upstairs and Abhimanyu just stared at his retreating figure.

Abhimanyu: There was a time when you didn't care about the surroundings before consoling her with your sweet talks, Cabir. Ab wo Cabir kaha hai, yar! Kiya kya hai tune hum sabke saath?!

"Aye chimpanzee!" Abhimanyu wiped his face with his handkerchief immediately and started to cut the watermelon and pretended not to hear it.

Manik: You became deaf or what, Chimpanzee?

Manik settled opposite to Abhimanyu, who looked up at him with his nose scrunched.

Abhimanyu: I thought I'd lost all my sensory organs after being your friend. Rude giraffe!

Manik: What's with your eyes?

He ignored Abhimanyu's comeback and stared in his eyes which looked read and misty.

Abhimanyu: What? That's my eyes. My eyes are red in color. Usse bhi problem hai kya tujhe?

He avoided eye contact with Manik and took some watermelon slices and kept it in a plate before moving it towards Manik.

Manik: Vampire hai kya tu jo red eyes chahiye. Baath kya hai, Thakkar?

Abhimanyu: Arey baath nahi hai tho bathaun bhi kaise?

Manik groaned in annoyance and Abhimanyu gave him a sharp look.

Abhimanyu: Mujhe laga tujhse ek bath share karun par tujhe meri aankhon ki padi hai. Mukti ko bhi meri ankhon ko kuch bhi hojaye, she doesn't care. Now, don't behave like a gay-best friend.

Manik scrunched his nose in disgust.

Manik: You're not just a chimpanzee but an annoying creature.

Abhimanyu: I don't care, ab bolun jo mujhe bolna tha?

Manik: As if you would shut your mouth if I say not to say. Jo mene poocha uska jawab nahi par kuch aur bath share karna hain. Nahi sunna mujhe until you share why did you get emotional.

Abhimanyu: Um..you know, I heard them speaking..about..about..

Manik (frustrated): Yaar tu bolega ya nahi? Kya suna tumne?

Abhimanyu (sighed): I heard them talking about you.

Manik: About..me? What did they say?

Abhimanyu: About you as in, about their father.

Manik stared at Abhimanyu in anticipation. What would have they talked about him?

Manik: Kya..keh raha tha?

Abhimanyu: They were so hurt, Manik. They were also so angry at you for not living with their mother. Apna gussa nikaal rahe the theenon tumhare barein mein bath karke. By God! Mene aaj thak unn logonko ithne gusse mein nahi dekha hain.

Abhimanyu faked an expression of horror on his face and looked at Manik, only to see him lost. Lost in thoughts. Anyone could say that he was hurt. He was angry at himself for being responsible of his son's broken childhood. Hadn't he chose Nandini's love for her brother over his love for her, his sons would have had a beautiful childhood.

Abhimanyu: Manik!

He shook Manik by his shoulders which got him out of trance.

Abhimanyu: Dekh, ek bath zarur kahunga, don't go in front of them now, warna jo gussa tumpe hai, indirectly sahi par wo jo gussa hain, wo tumpe nikaalenge. Let them clear their minds for now. You're not losing them anyhow.

His last sentence got Manik's attention.

Manik: How can I lose them?

Abhimanyu: Haa, you won't lose them because they don't know that you're their father yet. If they get to know the truth, they might spit their anger out. Jo tu nahi chahthe.

He patted Manik's shoulders and walked away while Manik couldn't even think straight. He was scared. Scared of losing them. What if they didn't accept him on knowing the truth? But that doesn't mean, he can let go off them. Didn't he wish to hear 'DAD' from them? Didn't he wish to have a family with them and Nandini?

He did.

But he's scared of their outburst too.

Manik: Ek na ek din tho face karna hi hain na, Manik?!

He ran his fingers through his hairs and remembered how Nandini told him that they should know about him only from himself. But he wasn't confident enough. He was preparing to confess to them till now but after hearing about their anger for him from Abhimanyu, he's lacking the confidence again.

Manik: Kya karun?!

Can he let go off his sons just because of this fear?

Manik: No. They're my sons and I need to fight everything that stops me from reaching them. Even if its their anger, I'll bear it because..I love them and I can't lose them.

He muttered to himself with determination filled eyes and stood up on his feet.

Manik: Where is soon-to-be Mrs. Malhotra?!

He walked ahead to get Nandini so that he can confess to his sons!

Boys' Room

Karthik: He might go restless.

Manvik: Or..going crazy?

Prathik: Or probably..already crazy?

Abhimanyu: There's something else which you haven't added.

They looked up at him, who was walking to and fro.

Boys: And what is it?

Abhimanyu: Stupidity.

He turned to face the boys while keeping his hands on his waist.

Abhimanyu: Whenever he's angry or upset or going crazy, he does something stupid. Very stupid that you would just wanna punch in his face. Well, you won't feel any such a thing because he's your father.

And he started to march through the room again.

Abhimanyu: I hope he goes to Nandu before doing anything, he's one crazy soul!

Prathik: You love him so much, right?

Abhimanyu halted walking and got to see the boys staring at him with a smile.

Abhimanyu: You guys have each other to watch your back but I never had any sibling..except for him and..your Mamu!

He stood still on remembering his childhood with his best friends. Although, he's happy to have his friends in his life, he can't deny that he's too angry at Cabir.

Manvik: Why aren't you friends with Mamu anymore?

His question hit Abhimanyu right in his heart that he had to avert his gaze from the boys.

Karthik: Mamma always says, when you wanna share something with someone, let that someone be either the most closest to you as he would always keep it as a secret or choose someone so new in your life as he doesn't need to play with your feelings for being a new friend of yours.

Abhimanyu stared at Karthik, who stared at him just like how Manik stares at him whenever he's upset with something.

Manvik: We'd followed it till now, maybe you need to start following it too.

Abhimanyu chuckled and walked closer to sit opposite to them.

Abhimanyu: You're too understanding to be just 9-year old and you know why?

They nodded in negative at him.

Abhimanyu: Its because your father might be a brat but a very understanding one even when he had to look after his sisters in his childhood.

They smiled at him, quiet adoringly and Abhimanyu patted their hairs.

Abhimanyu: Giraffe really needs to be so proud of his calves.

They laughed at him and he laughed along with them.

At night

Outside the Boys' Room

Nandini: Manik! You've been practicing for the past 5 hours.

Manik: I know, okay! Its just..I'm too nervous.

He spoke while wiping his sweat away and Nandini sighed while looking a him. She held his hands and made them hold her left hand while her right hand cupped in cheeks.

Nandini: Meri ek baath suno, will you?

He nodded in positive at her.

Nandini: How are you, by character?

Manik: Huh? What kind of question is that?

Nandini: All I mean is, just to describe yourself.

Manik: Nandini, ab tum yeh kya pooch rahi ho? Ye kyu kar r..

Nandini: Manik! Will you just answer to my question?

Manik (sighed): Well, I'm..impulsive, arrogant, a little bit of rude attitude..I mean, not so little. Um, possessive and..kinda aggressive too. But hey! I'm not bad at heart!

She giggled hearing him while he was making all kind of displeased looks on his face.

Nandini: Ek trait bhool gaya!

Manik (sighed): Aur kya bacha hain?

Nandini: Too fragile!

He stared at her the next second to see her smiling.

Nandini: Chahe tum jithna bhi arrogant, rude ya aggressive, kuch bhi ho, but there's this heart which knows to love those who are close to him. I know, you have certain flaws but every flaw of yours just get vanished when you love someone and..they're just like you. Gussa karenge, rudely bath karenge, par wo bas bahar se hain, andhar se kuch zyada hi naazook hain. And you'll get to know it once you try to go closer to them.

He sighed while holding her hand and she tip toed to kiss his right cheek, which she always does whenever she knows he's in need of her.

They twisted the knob before getting inside the room only to see the boys indulged in their works.

Karthik was writing while Manvik and Prathik were in deep thoughts.

Nandini (whispered to Manik): They're in a good mood. Go for it!

She spoke on seeing the diary in Karthik's hand. By looking at them she knew, they were writing lyrics for their performance.

Nandini: Ahem!

The boys got out of their trances and looked to the left to see Manik and Nandini standing together and all they noticed was their entwined fingers making them to look at each other.

Nandini nudged Manik, who heaved a long breath before smiling at them. A nervous smile!

Nandini took her hand back from his hold and walked till the door to bolt it and came back to Manik, who immediately held her hand again.

Manvik: May we know what's with it?

He stared at their entwined fingers and Manik and Nandini looked at each other before getting settled opposite to them.

Manik: Wo..its something..you need not to bother..at least, for now.

Karthik: And why shouldn't we bother? She's our Mamma.

Prathik: And you're a stranger.

They spoke without any emotion on their faces which made Nandini to frown. They should have blasted on Manik by now.

Manik: I'm not any stranger!

He spoke in a determined tone and his sons had to stare at him in surprise.Is he here to confess? Their heartbeat raised to its highest.

Manik stood up and knelt down in front of the boys, who were observing his movements keenly.

Manik: You can't call him a stranger, who happens to be the closest to you after your mother. You can't call him a stranger who always wanted to hold your finger when you fall. You can't call him a stranger, who is ready to fight every battle so that you get the best at the end. You can't call him a stranger, who wants nothing but a sweet smile on your face and tell him that you're happy to be with him.

Manvik: And why can't we call him a stranger?

His voice came out as a whisper and Manik stared at his sons with moistened eyes.

Manik: Because, he's your father!

Nandini's tears had no end when he said that mere sentence while the boys stared at him emotionless.

Manik held Karthik's hand and kept it over Manvik's and then kept them over Prathik's before taking them in his hands and they stared at their father without blinking their eyes.

Manik: Will you accept this person who just realized that he had three sons waiting for him, since forever?!

And they shed. A silent tear rolled down each of their eyes. The strongest wall that they built around them was breaking. By their father.

Prathik: If..we say No?

Manik looked at him before looking down while Nandini stared at them with her heart nearly in her mouth.

Manik: I would accept..my failure.

Karthik: Why? You can't fight for us?

Manik looked up to see their eyes filled with accusation.

Manik: I can, only if you give the permission warna..dunya se kiss haqq se ladun?

They stared at him with more tears rolling down their cheeks and then stared at their mother, who was also a crying mess.

Manvik: You fell in love with a weird personality, Mamma!

She cried while looking at them, who was staring at Manik with eyes full of tears.

Prathik: You said you need permission to fight for us. But..which father needs his kid's permission to fight for him?

Manik and Nandini stared at them in surprise.

Manik: Mathlab..mathlab..tum..tum log..Can you be a little clear?

He spoke restlessly at the end making them to cry harder.

Karthik: Clear in what? That we'd already accepted you as our father?

That was it for Manik to pull them in his chest for a bear hug, and they wrapped their arms around him tightly. The tears that they'd kept in them since the moment they got to know that they don't know who's their father, rolled out of their eyes. The tears that had the right to come out only in front of Nandini, got the right to come out in front of his sons too.

Nandini palmed her mouth to stop herself from crying out loud and watched them with a smile with tears pooled in her eyes.

Manik: Do you even know how much I've waited for this moment? I..I..I just can't tell how happy I'm right now.

He broke the hug and cupped their cheeks before kissing their heads one by one.

Manik: I wanted this moment to be happened since forever.

Manvik: Yeah? And that's the reason why you never told us our importance in your life?

Prathik: Why you never told us that you're our father even though you knew it?

Manik and Nandini stared at them in shock.

Karthik: We knew!

Nandini couldn't even breathe for a second knowing how terrible her sons can get when they're angry.

Manik: What?

Manvik: We knew everything. We knew that you were our father even before you told us now.

Nandini: H..How?

She managed to whisper but Manik couldn't even believe his own ears. He rewound the incidents that happened with him in the past two days only to widen his eyes.

Manik: Don't tell me it wan't Abhi who did all those pranks on me!

The boys smirked at him. Shedding tears was a long forgotten job for them.

Nandini (gasped): So you were actually planning against Manik with Abhi Bhai yesterday night?

They nodded at her in positive and Nandini stared at Manik still in the shock, who was planning Abhimanyu's murder by now.

Nandini: Um..iska mathlab ye tho nahi na..ki, tum log gussa ho?

Karthik: And why do you think like that, Mamma?

Nandini: Because, you love us?

Manvik: That's not an excuse for Malhotras not to stay angry at someone.

Manik: Kya karna hain?

They stared at him, who was staring at them with a smile.

Manik: What should we do to gain your forgiveness?

Nandini smiled at Manik before turning towards the boys who were staring at Manik and then at Nandini.

Prathik: Anything?

Nandini: Anything.

Karthik: Then do something that you wouldn't have done ever. Stay at home for an entire day but never meet each other. Can you?

They widened their eyes at their sons.

Manik: Whaaatt?

Manvik: According to Abhi Mamu, MaNan can never stay away from each other. We don't know what happened in between you both that you parted ways and stayed away from each other for the past 10 years. But right now, you're in here together, so can you be away without seeing the other person?

Manik and Nandini stared at them who was looking through their eyes. They wanted nothing but an assurance that they have an importance in their parents' lives. Nandini's love for them is seen and experienced by them but not Manik's. Hence, they wanted to see how much their father can love them!

Manik: We're in.

Manik said while looking at Nandini, who smiled at him before turning towards the boys.

Karthik: You sure? One day is equal to 24 hours, Mr. Malhotra!

He leaned to face Manik, who leaned to face all three of them.

Manik: I thought I can do anything for my sons and my thoughts never go wrong.

They stared at him for a while before standing on their feet.

Manvik: Then be it. If you both managed to never try to meet each other, then you'll be forgiven.

Manik and Nandini too stood up.

Manik: So, once we're forgiven, there won't be any turning back from accepting me, will there be?

The brothers looked at each other before shrugging their shoulders at them.

Prathik: Malhotras don't promise. We just stick by our words.

Manik smiled at it. It was himself, who believed in sticking with whatever he wished for someone.

Nandini: Teek hain. Dhawans bhi koi kamm nahi hai ismein.

Manik and his sons scrunched their noses at her. Nobody should touch their surnames' power.

Karthik: As you wish, Miss Dhawan. But in here, its the Younger Malhotras v/s Mr. Malhotra and Miss Dhawan.

And they walked out leaving their parents to sigh at their fate.

Nandini: Mujhe laga aaj hi sab kuch khatham hojaega. Par dekh na, they already knew it. Mene kaha tha na tumse we shouldn't be late.

Manik (pissed): Ye sab ka wajah bas ek hain.

Nandini turned to look at him, who was huffing in anger.

Manik: Chimpanzee Thakkar needs to know Giraffe Malhotra's power!

And he marched outside with Nandini running behind to stop him.

Outside Our Nest

Mukti: Oh hello! Didn't you hear me properly? Koi nahi, repeat karthi hun. Its all your fault.

Abhimanyu turned to face Mukti, who was actually checking something after opening his car's bonnet.

Abhimanyu: Wah! Kya bath hain! Mathlab, whenever something good happens, its because of you but if its something bad, then its my fault. Like, mein hun kaun? Your servant?

Mukti (rolled her eyes): Tum kaam bhi wahi karthe ho. Servant ka.

Abhimanyu (pissed): I knew it. I so knew that you've never given me respect. Mathlab, hubby ka koi value hi nahi tumhareliye.

Mukti: Pehle hubby bann ja. Hamesha beewi ki tarah complaint karthe rehthe hai.

Abhimanyu: Oh hello! Mujhse zyada complaint tum karthi ho. "Abhi, I don't like your hairstyle." "Abhi, I wanted to eat Mutton not chicken." "Abhi, Nilu is crying because of you." "Abhi, I want ice cream." Ye sab kaun karthi hain? Abhi bhi, you wanted to go for a midnight date. Mathlab, midnight mein kaun jathe hai yar?!

Mukti: Aye! Ye beewi ka haqq hai. Isko complaints nahi kehthe hain. Date pe jaana hai tho tumhe nahi tho padosi ko bulaun?

Before Abhimanyu could come up with another reply, he heard a squeak, "Chimpanzee Thakkar".

Abhimanyu (frowned): Why is your brother being hyper now?

Mukti: Mujhe kya patha? Tumne hi kuch kiya hoga!

Abhimanyu: Tumhara Bhai ko annoy karne keliye bhi mere paas waqt chahiye jo aajkal nahi hai mere paas.

Manik: Chimpanzee, wahi ruk tu!

Abhimanyu saw Manik striding towards him with his anger reached to its peak and suddenly he remembered his conversation with the boys and then with Manik in the evening.

Abhimanyu: Oh shit!

And he started to run.

Manik: Chimpanzee, ruk!

Abhimanyu: Pagal hun kya! I'm not gonna stop, Giraffe!

And Manik ran behind Abhimanyu around the Mansion while Nandini and Mukti kept looking at them.

Mukti: Ho kya raha hai!

Nandini: Manik, stop. Bhai, stop running.

But they kept running around the Mansion, which actually looked like they were measuring the land in which the Mansion was built.

Mukti/Nandini: Stop!

They shouted which halted their run as well as Abhimanyu's breaths as Manik started to beat him up.

Manik: Saale! Kuthe! Kameene! Aur kha tu maar.

Abhimanyu: Yar, chod! Meri islauti aulad hain.

Manik: Usko mein sambhalungi.

And he started to beat Abhi who pushed Manik and got settled on the ground.

Abhimanyu: Break chahiye mujhe. And you're not taking care of my daughter, its my job. Yar, tere theen bete hai na, kaafi nahi hai kya. Nandu, isko ek aur dhe tu.

Nandini sighed in disbelief while Mukti looked clueless.

Mukti: Hold on! Koi bathayega problem kya hain!

Manik: Your husban..

Nandini: Nahi, kuch nahi! Manik bas maze le rahe the, hai na Manik.

She glared at Manik to support her as she knew, Mukti will also try to break Abhimanyu's bones.

Manik: Ji nahi. Maze nahi le raha tha. He manipulated my sons and pranked on me. My sons got to know about me being their father and he got along with them to prank on me.

Mukti's jaws dropped down in shock and she stared at Abhimanyu, who stood up to defend himself.

Abhimanyu: Oh hello! I have no idea how they got to know about your identity. All I did was helping them so that they can know your weak points.

Mukti: Abhimanyu Thakkar, you're so dead!

Abhimanyu: Lo, aaj mera running day hain.

And this time, Muti ran behind Abhimanyu while Manik and Nandini watched them fighting but all these were seen by the Little Malhotras too.

Manvik: Guys, do you think they'll win in this challenge?

Karthik: Maybe or maybe not!

Prathik: But who's gonna make it so easy for them even if they win in it?!

They stared at each other while smirking before turning their attention towards the sight where their beloved Mamu getting beaten up by his wife and his best friend with his sister defending him.

It was the most enjoyable sight for them, for now, at least!

To be continued..