A little more pain in love will not hurt as the heart is already broken and broken pieces might have forgotten to get hurt

(_thehijabiwrites)

When you get hurt in love, it means that heart of yours is broken which couldn't get mended until you get that feeling to be loved back in your life. Which is why, there won't be a feeling of pain in your heart if you get hurt again by love as its broken.

Our Nest

The breakfast was still going on with certain people's death stares for certain ones and the atmosphere looked venomously awkward.

Manik, who kept the first morsel in his mouth closed his eyes immediately to relish them with a faint smile playing on his lips and there sat, Nandini Dhawan watching it painfully. In a reflex, his gaze went up to Nandini as he knew who made it. His favorite, Aalu Parathe!

She looked away the next second!

Adyant: Acha kiddos..

This brought Manik and Nandini out of his trance while on hearing Adyant, the boys groaned but Alishka and Naila were busy in chatting within themselves.

Karthik: FYI, Mr. Murthy, we're not kids anymore.

Adyant (faked a surprised look): Oh my God, really?

Manvik (pissed): Stop acting like a drama actress. Its hurting my eyesight.

Adyant: Let me tell you, one cannot ignore dramas, especially a soul like me. Its written in my destiny that before dying, I will do a drama, so dare you insult dramas.

Malhotras sat there gaping at Adyant in utter horror. For sure, Cabir is a photo copy of this man.

Or precisely, was a photo copy!!

Prathik (bored look): Dude, why don't you get a ticket to the best drama talkies for one whole day, it might get you better.

Nandini shook her head at her sons who don't bother at all to check their attitude.

Nandini: Prathi...

Prathik looked at her to see her glaring making him to sulk.

Prathik: You can't take his side, you know.

Nandini: Then stop talking like that.

Karthik and Manvik chuckled.

Nandini (glared): My advice happens to be for all 3 of you.

And this time, Prathik chuckled making the rest 2 to glare at him.

Adyant (grinned): See, that's like my granddaughter. She loves me the most.

Nandini looked at Adyant with widened eyes and then at her sons who were giving him murderous glares.

This shouldn't happen. If at all her sons would open their mouths to lash out for now, it would be crystal clear to some people about the reality of her sons' identity.

That they're just like their father when it comes to their mother!!

Equally possessive like a squirrel for its nut!!

Nandini (interrupted): Naanu, aap bachon ke tarah lad kyu rahe ho? Khana khao pehle, medicines bhi lena hai na aapko.

Adyant (grinned): Of course, I'm having my breakfast, sweetheart!

Nandini palmed her face and her sons' ears have started to emit smoke. But, what she didn't notice is her surroundings.

Especially, Manik Malhotra and Nyonika Malhotra's stares!

Manik was actually copying the boys' expression and if one could have a close look at it, they wouldn't take time to realize what relation Manik would be sharing with the boys.

While, on the other hand, Nyonika was staring at the boys with a blank look on her face. She couldn't help but to stare at those boys quiet..

Admiringly!!

Karthik: Big Naanu!! You know you'll regret!!

Adyant: Unfortunately, I never regretted anything that I've ever done in my life.

Cabir, who by now was just staring at nowhere got out of the trance when he heard "regret" from his nephew.

That word wasn't so pleasing for him. It haunted him days and nights.

Navya:

Saying it, she put up an angry mother look on her face but from the corner of her eyes, she looked at her brother, but he wasn't paying attention to what she said which angered her.

Adyant:

He wiped his fake tears and Navya gave him a disbelief look.

Alishka: Didn't I tell you Naila, that you could see a drama king in my nest. Here he is, presenting Mr. Adint Murthy!

Naila chuckled while looking at Adyant's face.

Adyant: FYI Miss Dhawan, its Adyant Murthy. Kabhi tho mera naam teek se lo na.

Manvik: Unfortunately, you have a tornado kind name. Not her mistake.

Adyant: Tujhe tho sirf teri behen ki padi hai na.

Prathik (smirked): Finally, you realized it! I'm glad.

Adyant (whined): Nandu...!!

Nandini turned to her kids who immediately dug their heads into their foods.

Nandini: One more word from your mouths, you're grounded for a month.

The boys snapped their heads at Nandini with their jaws dropped down.

Prathik: Whaatt..?!!

Nandini (raised her eyebrows): 2 months?

Karthik: Okay fine Mamma. We're done!!

They were about to push foods in mouths when she stopped them again.

Nandini (unknowingly): Bina baath karke khana khaa sakthe ho tum log. Jaldhi khane ke zaroorath nahi hain.

Manik stared at Nandini with a plain look on his face. That was himself. He just can't stop talking when he eats while she hates to talk in between having food.

Let it be a chocolate, either!

Raj cleared his throat which gained Adyant's attention.

Raj: Um, Uncle. Can we go for a quick tour so that we could get to know which is the best place for our new venture?

Adyant: Of course beta, ismein poochne ki kya bath hain.

He turned to his kids.

Adyant: Cabir, aaj tum free ho na, tum Raj ke saath jao.

Cabir nodded at him reluctantly while Adyant turned to Nandini making her to gulp hard.

Adyant: Aur Nandu tu..

Before he could complete, they heard someone tapping the spoon which gained their attention.

Nandini: Karthi...

She glared at him and he grinned and showed his mouth which is closed making her to suppress her smile.

Nandini: Bol sakthe ho tum log, but only once.

Manvik: Sure Mamma, er, actually we need to talk with Big Naanu.

Adyant: Irshad Irshad.

They ignored his drama yet again..

Prathik: Its Mammas Day. Mamma and Maami will be busy with us for today. So..our Mamma won't be able to accompany Mamu for this small tour.

He turned to Raj.

Prathik: I apologize, Mr. Malhotra. But, Mamma might be unavailable. I hope it doesn't bother you.

For sure, they've got attitude problems but that doesn't let Nandini down for her upbringing. They had their own ways to speak to certain people. They knew who deserve what and this made Nandini proud. She also knew why!

While for Nyonika, sitting beside Raj, smiled at them warmly.

Karthik: Is that a problem?

He looked up to look in Nyonika's eyes and she was about to reply when something stuck her hard. She kept staring at him that she couldn't form words.

Manvik: Ahem.

His fake cough got her out of the trance. It was Manvik, who noticed a kind of restlessness in her and he unknowingly helped her. Maybe, somewhere down the line, he knew she was important to him.

Manik passed a glass of water towards Manvik out of worry as he didn't recognize the cough to be fake, though they were sitting next to each other while Manvik frowned at the glass and then gave a look to Manik who just raised his eyebrows at him.

Manvik: What?

Manik: What?

Manvik: What?

Manik: Arey what?

Manvik gave him a pissed look and Manik returned the same.

Manvik: I was asking the same question? What's with this glass of water?

Manik (sarcastically): I think its used to quench your thirst.

Manvik (rolled his eyes): You can have lime juice too, to quench your thirst.

Manik groaned at it.

Manik: Here I thought you would be in need of water due to your cough and you're insulting me. Not at all like your mother.

And Manvik palmed his face on realizing it.

Manvik: That was just a fake cough, dude!

Manik gaped at him while Manvik turned to him with a glare.

Manvik: And yeah, don't take my Mamma's name.

He turned back to his food and Manik kept gaping at him.

Raj: Er, its not a problem.

Karthik and Prathik smiled at it and turned to Nandini who was smiling at them. They showed their closed mouths to her making her giggle and her gaze fell upon Manvik who was also smiling at her which she returned but the next second, her gaze shift towards Manik and she kept looking at the duo in awe.

Soon, they were done with their breakfast.

Raj and Nyonika's Bedroom

Nyonika kept pacing from one here to there with her hands massaging her head time to time.

Nyonika: Why? Why do I feel so connected to them? Their attitude, that behavior, everything..everything is so similar to MANIK.

She stopped walking and then got back to their eventful breakfast.

"Naanu, kyu tang kar rahe ho bachon ko? Aur aap bhi bachon ke tarah behave kar rahe hain. Kam se kam ye tho sochna hai na you're fighting with 9 years old kids."

"Tho unhe bhi ye sochna chahiye ki I'm 83 years old and they had to lose in front of me, at least mere bhalai keliye. Triplets hai, isliye theenon ek jaise hain, little devils!!."

Nyonika (whispered): 9 years kids?! Triplets? They're triplets of 9 years old kids. Agar 9 years bachein hona hain tho...nearly 10 years pehle pregnant tho hona hai na Nandini ko.

She stood there lost in thoughts when Raj kept his hand on her shoulders which brought her out of trance.

Raj: What's wrong, Nyo?

She sighed. She can't disclose anything to him, for now. Not at least, until she gets confirmed with her thoughts.

She kept her head on his chest while relaxing in his arms and he readily wrapped her in his hold.

Nyonika: Kuch nahi. I'm just..tired.

Raj: Manik!

She whimpered on remembering the look on her son's face after knowing that Nandini was a mother of 3 kids.

Nyonika (whispered): Why is God punishing him, Raj? Have we ever done anything wrong in our life that He decided to punish our son for it?

Raj could feel his wife's pain and he inhaled a deep breath to soothe himself.

Raj: All I know is, we failed to provide him happiness which was actually in Nandini. Patha nahi, hamare saath ye sab kaise hua.

Nyonika let out a helpless sigh.

Nyonika (thought): I'm sorry, Raj, I'm hiding it from you but I'm a selfish mother. They matter to me the most.

Raj: Now that Nandini has moved on, maybe, he will also move on.

Nyonika: Let's hope for the best for our son.

Raj nodded though he knew what he said is just a hope which wouldn't be fulfilled. His son's love for Nandini was clear enough for the world to know that she belongs to only Manik Malhotra.

Nandini's Bedroom

Nandini has just come out of her bathroom while wiping her hair with a towel as she has just taken a shower.

A shower to release her pain in the form of water!

"No humming?" she jumped in fear on hearing that voice in her bedroom and turned around to meet that very same face which she adored the most.

Nandini: Manik?!

She gasped in shock while he has settled himself on a couch with his one leg resting on the other one and his left arm resting on the couch and his right hand was playing with the photo frames which were kept on the lamp-table.

Manik: You have stopped humming, right. It used to be something you do after your shower.

She stared at him in agony.

Manik: Such a beautiful bedroom, you've got. Tumhara taste buri nahi hain.

He finally looked up at her to see her looking at him in surprise and shock. He drank her presence by staring at her from top to bottom. She was looking the same, maybe has grown up a little more beautiful that he didn't want to take his eyes off her.

Manik: Waise bhi, tumhara taste hamesha acha tha.

He smirked, and she knew he was talking about himself.

Manik: Shayadh, mera taste ithni achi nahi hain.

Ignoring the pang that he caused her heart, she charged towards him.

Nandini: What the hell is wrong with you, Manik Malhotra? Tum yaha kya kar rahe ho? Don't you know trespassing is an offence?

He stood up and walked towards her with his eyes fixed on her, but she didn't flinch. It wasn't the first time, he tries to intimidate her.

Manik: Trespassing? Wow, so entering your bedroom has become trespassing now. Ouch, that hurt!

He pointed at his heart and faked a hurt expression to which she rolled her eyes though, she knew, it would have hurt him from inside.

Nandini: Why don't you move out of my bedroom, Mr. Malhotra? You just can't let in any damn lady's bedroom, not at least without her permission.

In a second, he cornered her to the wall making her tremble in nervousness.

Manik: So, you mean...I need permission..to enter your bedroom?

She gulped while looking in those deep eyes. Those chocolaty brown eyes which used to shine for her has now become so blank and reddish, given his anger and pain that he suffers from.

Manik: Don't you think, I have done much more than just entering in your bedroom?

His right palm went up to her cheeks and before she knew, he was stroking them, ever softly, like how she loved.

Manik: Like..there's nothing left for me to see something extra!!

He smirked, and she got out of her trance making her to shoo his palm away and stepped away while he stood there raged.

She never had pushed him away!!

Nandini: Stay in your limits, Manik Malhotra.

He yanked her closer to him and she wriggled in his arms.

Nandini: What's wrong with you? Leave me.

Manik (furiously): Shut up!!

She closed her mouth and got to see his aggressive glares.

Manik: What's wrong with me? I should ask you that, what's wrong with you? Tum tho aise bath kar rahi ho jaise ki mein jhoot bol raha hun. Kyu? Did you forget whatever happened between us?

She tried to fight her tears.

Nandini: That was past, just a past for me.

He left her on a reflex and she turned around to not witness those painful eyes.

Manik: Just..a past?

She drank her tear back and tilted her neck to look towards him but not in his eyes.

Nandini: Yes, I have moved on. I'm a mother of 3 kids, now. So, its you who need to step back.

He yanked her towards him again and this time she glared at him.

Manik: So, you've decided to get in hell.

She stared at him confusedly.

Manik (smirked): Welcome to hell, Miss..oops, ab tho Mrs. ho na..er, kya bulaoon mein..

She closed her eyes to open them to glare at him furiously.

Nandini: None.Of.Your.Concern.

Manik: Cool. But, your sons are surely of my concern, now.

She stared at him with her breathe hitched in her throat.

Manik (huskily): Ab agar tumhe hurt karna chahtha hun tho, your sons should be of concern, right.

Nandini (whispered): Manik..

She let out a gasp of shock and he pushed her back making her to stumble in her place, but she kept staring at him.

Manik: Jaha thak ki mujhe patha hain, they love you so much and if they get to know that their mother had a past. Had a boyfriend with whom she shared everything even before their father. Will it look good?

She didn't know when her eyes started to well up.

Manik: I mean, we adults can know being in a relationship isn't bad but they're kids, they won't be able to accept such facts right. After all, for them, its their father who's everything for their mother.

He still had that smirk while walking towards the door when he heard her whispering.

Nandini: When did you become so monstrous, Manik?

His eyes got reddened and he turned towards her and pulled her by arm to him.

Manik: I became monstrous when you decided to leave me in darkness, Nandini. Till now, others bore it and now, its your turn to bear it and I will make sure that you get to know my pain.

He left her and walked out while she thumped on the floor and her tears streamed out of her eyes.

Nandini: I wasn't in love with a monster, right?!! Or, is the demon in him coming back again?

She sat there helplessly and cried but then wiped her tears harshly.

Nandini: No Manik, you won't win it. I'm not letting you to harm my kids. Our sons! I will teach you what life is to live without any insecurities and anger!!

CaVya's Bedroom

Cabir: So, you mean, you've got nothing to do with their arrival?

Cabir spoke while looking at Navya without any emotions in his eyes.

Navya: Had I been that interested in bringing my family here, I would have done it long back, Mr. Dhawan!

Though, she spoke gently, he could feel the hatred in her words for him.

Cabir: I'm not a fool, Navya.

She turned around and gave a sarcastic smile.

Navya: Of course, you're not a fool. If you happen to be one, then, you would have at least noticed your sister's pain. How much she's suffering..

Cabir stood up interrupting her.

Cabir: Meri bachi tumhare Bhai ke bina khush hain. We're not talking anything about it anymore.

He was about to walk away when her words hit his heart hard.

Navya: Mein dua karthi hun Mr. Dhawan ki bhagwan kabhi tumhara jaisa ek aur Bhai ko kabhi janam nahi dena chahiye.

Cabir bit his lips and drank his tears in him and stormed out of their bedroom while Navya stood determined.

Navya: And I promise to my God, that I would get everything alright. I'll get Bhai and Nandu together, Cabir. I'll make sure that my Bhai gets to know Karthik, Manvik and Prathik are his sons!!

She wiped her tears harshly and turned to the idol of God to give her strength to fight her own husband!!

Living room

Manik walked down the stairs furiously only to see Karthik wearing his watch and typing something on it, might be an Apple watch!!

Manik walked towards him and settled beside him on the couch which grabbed Karthik's attention. He just stared at Manik, who was also staring at him but this time, there was an unknown warmth in it even without his knowledge.

Karthik turned back to his watch on not wanting to converse with Manik, though he doesn't like strangers sitting close to him.

Manik: Busy much to ignore your guests?

Karthik looked up to see Manik trying to give him a smile to which he just nodded.

Karthik: Kind of!

And he looked in his watch again but this time, it irked Manik. Nobody has ignored him in his life!!

Well, Nandini is an exception again!

Manik: What's so important that a little boy is this busy in his watch?

This triggered Karthik and he glared at Manik, who by now was smirking on realizing he gained Karthik's attention. That too, it has annoyed him well!!

Karthik: Don't call me that!!

Manik: Call you what?

Karthik (smirked): There's a saying, don't fake innocence, it would look ugly. Innocence doesn't suit your face, Mr. Malhotra.

Manik stared at Karthik with his reddened face and this just widened Karthik's smirk.

Manik: Maybe, it would suit your mother, then, huh!!

And this time, it was Karthik who's raging like a bull while Manik enjoyed it.

Typical father-son duo!!

Manik: Arey don't you know? She's epitome of innocence. I know her well. Oh, you might not know, but we were very close friends back then.

Karthik: Excuse me?!

Manik: In India, we were friends when she came to India. You know, her brother was my sister's boyfriend, so it wasn't difficult to become friends.

He smirked more when he saw Karthik's curled fists which turned pale in anger.

Manik; I must say, she's one beautiful woman and your father is quiet lucky to have her as his wife and his children's mother!!

Though, Manik was instigating Karthik, he himself looked angry with that sentence while for the latter one, it wasn't so pleasant.

Firstly, someone is openly praising his mother and secondly the stranger took the same topic which he always avoided-his father!

Karthik stood up abruptly from his seat making Manik to smirk thinking Nandini's fearful face, though he knew it would hurt him the most, he couldn't let go off the fact that she's not his anymore.

Karthik: She might be your friend back then but now she's nobody to you and if you happen to do anything that wouldn't please her..

He turned around and Manik was surprised to see that angry young man look on Karthik's face.

Karthik: Then, there's no one in the world who could stop me from destroying your existence!!

And he stormed out of the mansion while screaming "hurry up idiots" which was for his brothers.

But, Manik stood there speechless. For a moment, he saw himself in Karthik. The same aggressive eyes, raging breath and that sharpened jaw which would get tightened whenever anger overpowers every other emotion in his body.

Why is he so like him?! Why are they so like him? Especially, that possessiveness he saw on Karthik's face!!

Flashback..

"Manik, why did Bhai tell me that you were angry in the afternoon? Kuch hua hai kya?" Nandini settled beside me and I looked away to control my anger. How am I supposed to tell her that I didn't like the way that guy, Varun dropped her home in his bike. She was sitting so close to him and I didn't like it. I don't know why but I can't see her close to any other guy.

"Kuch nahi."I lied and stood up but she held my hand making me to look at our hands which were joined with each other and I didn't know when my lips twisted to a smile.

"Kuch hai. Manik, I might be just a friend for you but for me, you're my first friend in Mumbai after Navya and it really concerns me if my friends aren't well." She stood up and spoke softl while looking at me making my heartbeat to skip a beat. Why is she so pure?

"I..I didn't like that guy." I looked deep in her eyes and saw her frowning.

"Which guy?" she stated confusedly, and I inhaled a sharp breath.

"That Varun guy, who dropped you home. I might sound kiddish but I seriously didn't like him. Don't ask me why." I said honestly, and she gave me a confused look again.

"Par Manik, he's a very good guy. In fact, he's that guy who never flirted with me. He even asked me to call him Bhai since he saw a little sister in me." She shrugged her shoulders while speaking casually and I heaved a sigh of relief on hearing that.

"Really? Huff, phir tho teek hain." I sighed and she gave me an alien look making me to grin sheepishly.

"Bas aise hi." I spoke in simple tone and she giggled.

"You're way too difficult to read, Malhotra." I held her hand in mine taking her by surprise which I ignored.

"Then, try again because I like it." She smiled in return and nodded while I too smiled back at her. Something is changing in between us, and I was loving it!!

Flashback ends..

Manik: We were so happy, Nandini. Why did you do it to me. It hurts in here, where you still live!!

He stood there drinking his pain and Navya stood behind him crying and this time, she was more sure about her plans to get her Bhai his happiness back in his life, no matter whatever it cost her!!

To be continued..