World is too huge, but in his arms, I found huger than something called world- Love!

(Affu)

When you happen to fall in love, you really don't care about the world or worldly doings. All you care about is him and his arms which will protect you from everything in that very same world!

Our Nest

Boys' Room

Manvik: Listen, no way we are going to be seated at the concert, okay?

Karthik: Oh no! We will stand on the chair while singing?

Manvik: Was it a joke?

Prathik: Do you expect us to joke now? I mean, what are we? Jokers who left an asylum?

Manvik: I don't know about Karthik, but you're obviously a retard.

Prathik: Excuse me? Don't you know we're triplets?

Manvik (frowned): I do!

Prathik: Then you must know that triplets will have similar brains too. Hence proved, I'm a retard only when you both are retards.

Manvik: Oh just leave, dude. Karthik, listen up, I'm not sitting on any damn chair while I sing.

Karthik just ignored him and started to tighten his guitar's strings. They were in their room, getting ready for their concert which is gonna happen today, in front of the world.

Manvik (pissed): You can't ignore me, okay.

Prathik (irritated): Listen! Why don't you just shut it?

Manvik: Why don't you both just listen to what I want to say instead of ignoring me?

Both Karthik and Manvik gave a look to him and then at each other.

Prathik: Okay, bark!

Manvik: I'm not a dog, if you want you can add me in Monkey's family as according to ancestors' belief, humans used to be monkeys in the past lives.

Prathik: Oh, so that means you still live in the ancient era? I mean, you still are a monkey!

Manvik: Prathik!

Prathik: What, Manvik!

Karthik: Shut up!

He glared at the duo, which made them pout at him.

Karthik: Are you gonna speak or not, Malhotra?

Manvik(sighed): Bhai! Its going to be our first concert. I know, we have done concerts at school, but this is going to be in front of the whole world. How do we sing at the concert, Bhai? We don't simply stand and sing. We sway with our music. We jump around. I want to enjoy music, Bhai. I don't want to simply sit on a chair and sing.

He got settled on the bed and looking at him, Karthik and Prathik knew he was upset that he won't be able to sing like how he used to. Preferring chairs while singing is so not them. They were always like their father when it comes to music. They want to enjoy it. Enjoy like there is no tomorrow. But Manvik's accident has caused the distress that he cant run or jump. He cant stand for a longer period of time.

The brothers settled on either sides of Manvik.

Prathik: You know, being emotional isn't a Malhotra thing. We have a swag dude, keep up with it.

Manvik glared at Prathik, who was trying hard to keep a straight face.

Manvik: Such a mean freak, you're. Bhai, he's not helping it, okay.

He complained to Karthik, who gave a look to Prathik.

Prathik: Bhai, I'm the youngest, so you need to pamper me. Don't you dare take his side.

Karthik: Shut up, Prathik. Mann, listen to me. What's Mamma to you?

Manvik: My world.

Karthik: What's Dad to you?

Manvik: My strength.

Karthik: Didn't we always wish to see our strength and world sitting together in front of us when we sing?

Manvik nodded in positive.

Karthik: Now, if that's happening, does it matter? Does it matter if we are singing while we stand or sit? Does it matter if we're enjoying the music or not?

Manvik had a small smile on his lips after hearing his brother. He looked at Prathik, who was also smiling.

Prathik: Just realized that our dream is coming true!

It was always their dream to sing in front of their parents. Nandini always listen to them singing, but they always hid the fact that they wanted to see their father too beside her, appreciating them. And today, that dream is happening in real.

Prathik: Aye, forgetting the no touching movement!

They laughed before hugging each other. Their own sibling hug.

MukBhi's Room

Naila: Wow, Mamma! I look like a princess.

Naila gushed at herself while twirling around which made Mukti to laugh out. Both mother-daughter duo were getting ready to go for the concert. Mukti is never a person who cares about how she looks but Abhimanyu does, hence, Naila inherited it from him.

Mukti: Well, you're our princess!

She kissed her daughter's cheek before making her sit on a chair so that she can work on her hair.

Naila: Waise Mamma, I'm so excited. I'm going to a concert. Can you believe it? That too my friends' concert.

Mukti smiled hearing her. Whenever Naila watches any T.V. musical concerts, she always wished to go, but she never said it since she knew her parents don't want to go for it.

Mukti (gleefully): So, you love your new friends, huh!

She was more than happy to see her daughter being friends with her friends' children.

Naila: Of course, Mom. They are a lot good. Ashu meri sabse best friend hain. You know I am always picky when it comes to friends, isiliye mere ithne friends bhi nahi hain. But with them, I feel so easy. I feel like they won't hate me for being myself. About Mamu's sons. I thought they were arrogant, but they are all good. Karthik Bhai and Manvik Bhai are a bit more than protective while Prathik is so fun to fight with.

Mukti listened to her patiently before looking up at her daughter in amusement.

Mukti: Manvik aur Karthik tere liye Bhai hai, tho Prathik Bhai kyun nahi hain?

Naila looked at Mukti, all frowned.

Naila: Mathlab?

Mukti: Mathlab, why aren't you calling him Bhai?

Naila (pouted): Patha nahi, Mamma. I don't feel like calling him that. Maybe, its because he doesn't behave matured and protective like Karthik or Manvik Bhai!

Mukti had a sly smile on her lips after hearing her.

Mukti: Acha! Tho aapko ye Prathik ke baarein mein kaisa khayal hain?

"Koi khayal hi nahi." Mukti heard a displeased voice and looked up at that person.

Mukti: Kya mathlab, Abhi?

She narrowed her eyebrows at Abhimanyu, who just walked out in his towel after a shower. He walked further and picked his daughter up in his arms.

Abhimanyu: Nilu! Ek baath sunn. Aapke Mamma jo kuch bhi kahe uske opposite hi karo, kyunki wo pagal hain.

He kept her on the ground and knelt down to make her wear the shoes with his own hands, while Naila just looked at him confusedly.

Naila: But why, Daddy?

Abhimanyu: Arey bola na, wo pagal hain. Waise, my baby is looking so pretty.

He kissed her cheek making her smiled widely.

Abhimanyu: Stick with Karthik and Manvik, okay.

She nodded in positive before running out of the room. Abhimanyu stood on his toes to see his wife glaring at him.

Abhimanyu: What?

Mukti: Mein pagal hun?

Abhiamanyu: Wow! Tum tho jaldhi maan gayi ye baath.

Mukti (pissed): Mr. Abhimanyu Thakkar! How dare you call me mad? You were actually teaching our daughter that she shouldn't listen to me stating I'm crazy.

Abhimanyu: Ha tho! Sach hi tho kaha mene.

Mukti: Sach! My foot!

Abhimanyu: Sorry! I'm not interested in your foot. I'm more into hands. Waise, I forgot, were your hands beautiful enough to entwine with mine?

Mukti: Oh shut the f*** up, Thakkar! Ithne saalon baad pooch rahe ho how beautiful or how ugly my hands could be?!

Abhimanyu: Aye, language Mrs. Thakkar! Don't behave like a lady Manik Malhotra, now!

Mukti: Excuse me? Don't take my brother's name.

Abhimanyu: Excuse me? He's my best friend first, phir saala bann gaya hai. So, I hold every right on him, in fact more than you hold.

Mukti: Kyun? Mein behen hun uski.

Abhimanyu: Tho? Behen ladki hai, aur best friend ladka hain. A man to man conversation keliye wo tera paas kabhi aayega kya? Aur Manik Malhotra ko man to man conversation ke zarurath har din padtha hain.

Mukti: Best friend ladki bhi hothi hain. After a sister, I'm his best friend too.

Abhimanyu: You're wrong there too. A man to man conversation can't happen between a male best friend and a female best friend either.

Mukti: You, thakkar!

And she started to run behind Abhimanyu who started to throw stuffs he see around, at her.

Mukti: Problem kya hain tumhara?

Abhimanyu: Tum. You were creating a problem. Don't you dare try to set my daughter up with him.

Mukti: Excuse me? What are you even saying? Why would I even set my 7 year old daughter with any guy, dude? Bachi hai. Hold on, which 'him' are you talking about?

Abhimanyu: Exactly! Bachi hain woh! Aur tu Prathik ke barein mein pooch rahe ho usse. Wo hulk meri phool jaisi bachi se shadi karega? No way! Giraffe se maafi mangunga, phir uska muh thod dunga for having such a son.

Mukti stood still on hearing him, who was still running.

Abhimanyu: Tu peeche daud kyun nahi rahi hain?

He stared at Mukti confusedly as if they were playing running race and he was interested in it.

Mukti: Shadi? Aur Prathik and Naila ki?

She gasped before laughing out.

Mukti: Oh my God! Tum shadi thak pohanch gaye ho? I..I..I thought a childhood love was brewing.

She spoke amidst her laughter which just increased his anger. He marched towards her and pulled her hair making her to pull his hair, and DHAM. They both landed up on the bed.

"Mukti Bu---" Prathik who walked inside the bedroom widened his eyes on watching the scene.

Mukti and Abhimanyu: Shit, Prathik, aisa kuch nahi hai jaisa tum soch rahe ho.

Prathik: Oh my God! Mamma!

And he ran out of the room screaming for Nandini, while the duo palmed their faces.

Abhimanyu and Mukti: Its all because of you!

And there begins another fight..

Downstairs

Kitchen

Cabir: Doll, sunn na!

Cabir walked inside the kitchen with a file in his hands.

Nandini; Haan Bhai!

Nandini, who was making some sweets for the children, as they will be needing it at the concert, turned around to face Cabir.

Cabir: Manik kaha hai?

Nandini: Oopar kamre mein hoga. He was telling me that he has an urgent online meeting to do.

Cabir: Wasn't it supposed to be at night?

Nandini: It was! But now, it got preponed. Kyu, kya hua?

Cabir: Well, I wanted to speak to both of you together.

Nandini: Sab teek hain na, Bhai?

He smiled at her in assurance. Just then, Manik walked inside, all ready.

Manik: Hey buddy, tu yaha? Why aren't you ready yet?

He asked while adjusting his blazer.

Cabir: Thank God, tu aaya! Chal! I'm here to give this file to you.

And he handed the file to Manik, while Nandini looked on.

Nandini (confusedly): Ismein hain kya, Bhai?

Cabir: These are the available and most apt dates for your marriage.

The duo stared at Cabir in surprise.

Cabir: Aisa kya dekh rahe ho? I'd gotten Raj uncle and Nyonika Aunt's permission for your marriage. Jaise hi permission mila, I had gone to church as well as temple. You guys wanted a white wedding in the past but now..its been long, so I didn't know what you would prefer. Hence, I got both church's and Temple's preferences.

Manik: Buddy..shadi..ab..mathlab..sab teek hain na..why are you taking everything in a jet speed?

Cabir: Kya mathlab? Do you guys want to stay single until your kids get married, now? I mean, I've already spoiled 10 years of your life, ab tum log baaki spoil karoge kya.

He ended with a light chuckle, and they knew he wasn't over with his guilt. He's doing everything he can to rectify his mistake.

Nandini and Manik looked at each other before looking at Cabir.

Manik: Tu hi decide kar date aur jagah. Temple ya church, we don't mind.

Cabir: Shadi meri nahi hai buddy, tum dono ki hain. Okay, if you guys can't decide, then I'll ask the little Malhotras, kyun?

Nandini: Bhai, no! That will sound awkward. I mean, parents ki shadi and all!

Cabir: Ismein awkward feel hone ki kya baath hain? They're your sons and they know about everything that happened. In fact, it would be great to see them taking initiatives in getting their parents tied up in marriage.

Manik: Buddy yar, nahi. Tum aur Abhi milke decide karo.

Cabir: Okay, fine. If that's what you want, then we'll decide and you both will be getting yourselves ready for being each other's, and this time, its forever.

Cabir smiled at them before walking out while Nandini let out a sigh.

Nandini: Bhai needs time, Manik. A lot of time to become himself!

Manik took her in his embrace.

Manik: I know!

The only person who had their attention was always Cabir and watching him hurting himself by distancing from his family just hurt them more.

Outside the Mansion

Adyant: Bacho, jaldhi taiyar hoja.

Adyant called out for his children, while standing near to his car. He was the most excited soul along with his sister. They both were all ready, waiting for their grandchildren to show up.

Anjali: Thode der keliye chup hoja, oldie Bhai! Aapke tarah nahi, youth hain. They need time to get themselves ready.

Adyant: Oh hello! Mein aaj bhi jawan hun.

Anjali (sarcastically smiled): Aur mein aaj bhi brainless hun!

Adyant (shrugged his shoulders): Sahi kaha!

Anjali hissed in anger.

Cabir: Hey Naanu and Daadi!

Both Anjali and Adyant looked at Cabir, who was decked up in a black suit.

Anjali: Hayee, mera rotlu aaj bohath handsome dikh raha hain!

She kissed his forehead making him to smile.

Cabir: Thank you, Daadi. Waise, someone is looking so gorgeous to handle!

Anjali blushed and slapped his cheek lightly. Cabir laughed out, before hugging Adyant.

Adyant: Kuch kehna hai tujhe?

He asked on seeing Cabir preparing himself for something.

Cabir: Ji!

Adyant: Humse maafi mangne ke zarurath nahi hai beta. We weren't the ones who were hurt.

Cabir: Mujhe patha hain, aapse maafi mangne ke zarurath nahi, aur aap mujhse khafa bhi nahi. Jisse maangna tha, alreay maang chuka hun, and we are good now. But I want something from you.

Anjali beamed in joy before holding onto Cabir's hands.

Anjali: Mathlab..guddu aur tu?

Cabir smiled softly before nodding in positive. Anjali's eyes went teary that she hid herself in Cabir's chest to cry her heart out. She was happy, blessed or whatever it may sound like. She just didn't know how to express herself to her grandson that how happy she feels now.

Cabir: Daadi! Please don't cry. Kya patha, make up kharab hogaya tho! Haww, meri Daadi jaan will look like a scary and vulnerable kitten!

Anjali slapped his arms lightly before wiping her eyes. He held her palm in his and kissed it.

Cabir: I'm sorry for hurting you. But I'm here to make up for everything I did.

Anjali caressed his hairs and nodded in negative.

Anjali: Guddu keliye bohath royi thi mein, isiliye tujhse gussa thi after knowing the truth. But I know how my son was the reason for this overprotective nature of you. How insecure my son has made you into!

Cabir smiled and drank his tears back before looking at Adyant, who just took him in a hug.

Adyant: You're forgiven, Cabu.

He whispered in Cabir's ears before breaking the hug making the latter one to smile in content.

Cabir: Then, can you both permit my doll and her Mani to get married to each other?

Adyant and Anjali stared at Cabir, all amused.

Cabir: I want to see her settled, Daadi. I want to rectify the sin I did, if at all its possible, Naanu. Kya permission mil sakthe hain kya? Raj uncle aur Nyonika Auntie ke permission tho mila. I've spoke about the same to doll and Manik too. But nothing is possible if you both deny. Half of Ladke waale maan gaye, ab hum aage bad sakthe kya?

The duo just took Cabir in their embrace and the old grandparents were whimpering out of happiness. Cabir reciprocated to the hug with the very same feeling. Finally, they got to see a ray of light in their doll's life, after a long period of time.

This scene was watched by the boys with a lot of affection filled in their eyes.

Karthik: Its the first time I'm seeing him interacting with someone so close, you know.

Manvik: Interaction? Leave interaction, its the first time I'm seeing him smiling, dude.

Prathik: We always failed to notice the void in his eyes, Bhai. Always!

For sure, Cabir has snatched their childhood from him, but he had given so much of love to them that they know, even if they love their father more than any man in the world, their Mamu's place couldn't be taken by their father either.

Manik: Ready, boys?

Manik walked towards the boys, who were seated on a bench in the foyer of the Mansion.

Prathik: Yup, except for the shoes.

Like always, Manvik and Prathik were fine with their shoes but Karthik was still fumbling with his shoe laces. Manik smiled on remembering the first time he tied the shoe laces for him.

Manik: Pooch sakthe ho tum, for a hand!

He bent to sit on one knee and began to tie Karthik's shoe laces by himself.

Karthik: I never did that..I mean, asking a hand from anyone.

Manik: I'm not anyone. Am I?

He looked up at his son, who was smiling unlike the previous encounter.

Karthik: No, you're not. But I need to get habituated with it.

Manik: Oh, you will. Everything is easy in friendship, so let's all begin with that very same relationship to avoid the nervousness or awkwardness in between us. What's say?

He forwarded his palm to his sons, who looked at him with their eyebrows raised.

Manik: How about being Manik Malhotra's friend?

The three smirked right back at him.

Prathik: Well, how about being best friends with The Malhotras?

Manik shook his head while smiling and the next second, three little palms were kept on his huge one.

Manik: Be it, then! Best friends!

Manvik: Wow! I feel so different, Malhotra saab!

The father and sons started to laugh among themselves.

Manik: Manu!

Manvik looked at Manik, who took his hands in his.

Manik: A Rockstar gains love when his voice reaches the hearts of his listeners. He needs not to fly like a free bird to live in music. Just sing with all the passion you have it. Sitting or standing. It doesn't matter.

Manvik had the most beautiful smile on his lips after hearing him. Karthik and Prathik too were smiling at Manik.

Manvik: Is it bad if we ask for a hug from you?

Manik: Oh, will think about it, The Malhotras!

Manik laughed before taking them in a hug, and they reciprocated to it with their eyes tearing up already. They wanted it. His warmth and assurance, and now they were more than ready to perform.

"Click" hearing the sound, they turned to find Nandini at the door, smiling at them with a camera in her hand.

Nandini: It was a 'picture perfect' moment, Malhotras!

Manik pulled her towards them, taking her in their hug and switched on the front camera to capture a picture.

Manik: And now, its really the 'picture perfect' moment.

He spoke while kissing all their heads, who had beautiful smiles playing on their lips. Surely, happiness surrounded them from every way around.

To be continued..