Hello Fam :)

Happy Reading...

Cabir: After all this time, I will die on an Alien planet and these two will romance each other through eyes without even realizing I am gone.

Cabir wailed loudly. He stomped his foot and when no one bothered to stop him, he stomped both his feet making a slight jump. And then he shrieked in terror.

Somewhere in the background, he heard Zain scream.

Manik and Nandini were gaping at him.

Nandu(whispered): Manik, did he get flying powers on entering this planet?

Aryaman groaned and pulled Cabir back on the ground. While Cabir was catching his breath, he turned to Zain.

Arya: Why did you scream?

Zain: Because he did. What am I supposed to do?

Arya(sarcastically): I don't know. Maybe, pull him back to the ground instead of scaring him further?

Cabir: Bro, feel free to inform me about my special powers.

Nandu: Manik, I need special powers too.

Cabir: I am getting sacrificed, Murthy. I need superpowers to save myself.

Nandu: If I don't have superpowers, how can I save you?

Cabir: Even if you have superpowers, you would be busy romancing your boyfriend instead of saving me.

Nandu: Manik.

She stomped her foot when Manik rubbed his forehead but Aryaman grabbed her hand in time to stop her.

Arya: Guys, no stomping hard on the ground while you are here. Okay?

Cabir: Why? Are we hurting your baby ground?

Zain: Baby ground? And I thought I was insane.

Manik: You could never reach up to his standards, Zain.

Arya laughed at that, earning a punch from Nandini.

Nandu: My superpowers?

Arya: Sista, everyone on this planet can jump three times higher than they could on Earth. So, technically, we all have that 'superpower'. Before you go on a jumping spree, it would take you some time to get used to it.

Nandu: Does getting used to involve Zain screaming like the ghost in an alien film?

Aryaman sent another glare towards Zain.

Arya: You can ignore Zain during your stay on Mars. Let's go and meet mom.

Nandini freed her hand from Aryaman and let him guide Cabir along with him while the rest of them followed. Nandini tugged at Zain's hand.

Nandu: Don't worry, Zain. I wouldn't ever ignore my new friend.

When the grin on his face threatened to split it in two, Manik only shook his head. Just another to join the crazy bunch, he thought.

XXX

They met a woman inside the house. She looked young but Manik and Nandini knew better. They have met Aryaman's mom a number of times during their video calls.

(AM - Aryaman's mom)

AM: Nandini, how are you? Manik, finally I get to meet you physically.

Cabir: Aunty, app Angrezi bolti hai?

Manik: Cabir, that's Hindi. She learned English for Aryaman.

Nandini pulled Manik to hug the woman. Breaking the hug, she grinned at her.

Nandu: You look even more beautiful in real life. We say this generally to everyone on Earth.

She pinched her cheeks before turning to Cabir.

AM: You must be the famous Cabir Dhawan.

Cabir: At least, I am famous somewhere.

Arya: Mom, don't get into an argument with him. He could keep you with it for years.

Cabir: Earth or Mars years?

Arya: See, that's what I told you.

After freshening up (which involved a lot less water), Aryaman took them on a short trip around their houses.

Arya: That's Zain's house.

Cabir: Can we go inside?

Arya: He must be sleeping. It was a long journey for him.

Nandu: What about you?

Arya: Me too. But he just returned from another trip and volunteered to come to Earth when he got to know I am going. He is usually with me for the trips.

Manik: Is that why you two are best friends?

Arya: Sort of. He is a nice person, if not a bit clumsy. His parents were both dead long before he knew them. From then on, he had spent most of his life in my house than his.

Nandu: You are making me emotional.

Aryaman ruffled her hair before grinning.

Arya: Do you want to visit Loc de parcare?

Cabir: Is it a spa? Self-care?

Aryaman only smirked in answer.

XXX

Loc de Parcare wasn't a spa. It was a parking lot to be precise where all the Autoturmises were kept.

Arya: I have a surprise.

Cabir: I am not coming on a suicide mission twice in a day.

Nandu: Same here.

Manik: Guys, why don't we let him speak?

Arya(sighed): You are my one true friend, Manik. Nandu, sista, I am sure you would love this one. Trust me.

Even though they still had a doubt, one look from Manik, Nandini, and Cabir had shut their mouths before taking a seat inside the Autoturisme.

XXX

Nandini rubbed her eyes. This wasn't what she had expected to see when Aryaman told about his surprise. As soon as they were above the ground, they all noticed the sky turning blue.

Cabir: Is there going to be rain?

Aryaman shook his head.

Arya: It's the sun setting.

Nandu: You remembered?

Arya(teased): Isn't it the reason you came to Mars?

Nandu: True. The only reason.

Manik: Never knew you were planning this trip for years.

Cabir: Hello. Glad you remember me. So nice of you to have a relevant conversation. Do you need any inputs from me?

Nandu stared at him in disappointment.

Nandu(muttered): We should have brought Zain to keep his mouth shut.

Before it could turn into a full-fledged fight, Manik pulled Nandini beside him and they all sat down near one of the rocky mountains. The sky turned into a fire on Earth but the planet Mars painted its sky blue. As the sun slowly drowned towards the horizon, the sky turned bluer and they waited until it was black. Just when they thought the show was over, Aryaman pointed out towards the sky and there were two moons.

Nandu: Manik, my eyesight is wrong.

Cabir: Why does your moon have a photocopy on the sky?

Manik: What?

Nandu: I am seeing it as double. But everyone else is present only one copy.

Arya: Because, Mars as two moons. Deimos and Phobos.

Cabir: Why do they sound like Dominos and Pizza hut?

Nandu: Do you speak anything other than your food language.

Cabir: Don't you dare mention food. These people haven't even given me food after coming here.

Ignoring both of them to their fight, Manik captured the beauty of the sky in his brain. After all, who would even get to see two moons in the sky? 

A/N - This is imagined. Not the actual pic. 

See you soon. :)