Hello Fam :)

Before you react to the title, read this. I have already told this would be short. And I have ended up after I could squeeze in all the facts of Mars. It was nice writing this madness but I think it would be better if I end it when there's still some story to write about. Otherwise, there's no point to write anymore. 

Happy Reading...

Manik breathed in the cold breeze and realized how much he had missed home and it hasn't been even a week.

Nandu(screamed): Rise and Shine, people. Guess who's back from their vacation?

Manik rolled his eyes and followed her with a smile, Cabir beside him. It was Raman who gaped at the trio on his way to the living room.

Raman: What the hell, Nandini? I thought we told you guys to go for a vacation?

Listening to the scream, the others followed.

Raj: Hey, Don. What are you doing here?

Nandu(muttered): Did we jump into an alternate universe? Is that a thing? Is that why they aren't recognising us?

Cabir: Nandu, what if it has been years and they are mad at us? Time is different on Earth and Mars, right?

Nandu looked worried and Manik raked his brain for any hint of having this conversation previously with Aryaman. When he couldn't find any, he waved hello at the two of them.

Manik: Hi, dad, papa. I hope you are fine.

Nyonika: I thought we don't have to know where you guys went but now we do.

Manik: Okay, before you guys go all mad, can you all please sit down? We kind of have a surprise for you?

Ishita: Nandini, are you pregnant?

Nandu: What? Why would you think that? I am a child myself. Why would I carry a child?

Raman: You two are behaving suspiciously. And what is Cabir doing with you two?

Cabir: Glad I am visible to someone.

Nandu: We have been stuck with him for the whole of our vacation, dad. Please, forgive us if we behave mentally abnormal.

Cabir: You don't need me to seem mentally abnormal.

Nandini stomped her feet.

Nandu: Manik?

She turned around when the elders raised an eyebrow together.

Nandu: Don't do everything together. It's creepy. Where the hell is Manik?

Cabir: Probably, went out to bring in the surprise.

Ishita: Bring in the surprise?

Nandu(rubbing her neck): Yeah, the baby I said wasn't mine was actually mine. He is all grown up and educated and a very well-behaved citizen of this country when he wants to.

Ishita rolled her eyes while Raman rubbed his forehead.

Raman: Nandini, you were gone for seven days. Not seventeen years that you would return back with a grown-up child of your own.

Nandini turned around when she heard the footsteps and smacked the first person she could reach of. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the one person who had sworn to protect her just a few years prior.

Nandu: We were just gone for seven days. How's that possible?

Aryaman rolled his eyes.

Arya: The duration of a day on Mars and Earth are almost the same. Mars has 40 minutes longer per day. To be precise that's a week and 5 hours at max.

Nandu: I am disappointed. So so disappointed.

Raj: Tell me Aryaman just picked you guys in between and you didn't go all the way to Mars for your vacation.

Nandini gaped at him before glaring openly.

Nandu: Do you want me to lie to you?

Manik: Nandu, don't try to give them a heart attack.

Raj: How's this even possible? We don't have any tech for manned missions to outer space.

Nandu: But Mars has.

Zain: sommes-nous en difficulté ? refusent-ils de nous croire ?

Cabir: Yeah, same to you.

Raman: Is he speaking French? Abhimanyu, when did you learn French?

Nandu grinned at her dad, glared at Cabir, asking him to shut up, before patting Zain's arm.

Nandu: As much as I want to help you, I don't understand your nervous-speak. Switch back to English. And dad, he isn't Abhimanyu. Meet Zain.

Manik(muttered): This girl doesn't have anything called tact.

He pulls Nandini beside him, wrapping an arm around her tightly, preventing her from escaping and launching into another story to throw their parents into disbelief.

Manik: Dad, papa, guys why don't you all sit down and we will explain.

He briefly explains their adventure on Mars leaving out the risky parts. It goes better than expected when he comes to the part where Aryaman and Zain's plan to stay on Earth forever.

Raj: So do you guys have papers with you or do we need to arrange for you?

Aryaman: Uncle, I have papers back when I stayed here. Zain was in France during that time. We have to do something about his migrating here.

Raj: I will look into that. Take some rest and then we can discuss further plans.

XXX

After meeting the parents, it was time to meet their friends. As expected Abhimanyu was gaping at Zain while the man in question was sipping the juice, Manik brought for all of them, until Nandini smacked Abhimanyu n his head.

Nandu: Stop making him conscious, you idiot. He is my best friend.

Abhi: And he looks like me. How's it possible?

Cabir: If we can survive playing knots and crosses in a scary ancient tribe on Mars, everything is possible, Abhimanyu.

Navya: I can't believe you went all the way to Mars. I go to my village for a week and you go on a trip to another planet.

Cabir: Navya ji, to be frank, I was kidnapped to go to Mars, if we are being honest. But who cares about honesty nowadays.

Nandu: Don't talk as if you didn't enjoy it there.

Dhruv: Give him food, he would enjoy it anywhere.

Cabir: That's the thing, Baby's baby. There wasn't food and we survived without it.

When all their friends gaped at them, Aryaman shrugged.

Arya: No vegetation there. We are working on that.

Mukti: How do you survive then?

Zain: On nutrient capsules, beautiful.

Abhi: Bro, it's weird to see you in front of him. Don't start flirting with my girlfriend and make it even weirder for me.

Zain grinned at him serenely. Knowing him, he might have done that on purpose.

XXX

Manik and Nandu were finally in Nandini's room since Aryaman and Zain were staying at Manik's place and they needed some quiet away from everything. Manik pecked her head as they let a movie play in the background.

Manik: Are you happy? It's too much whatever has happened.

Nandu: I am fine. You okay?

Manik: Yeah. So, Mars huh. Who knew we would go visit another planet when Aryaman first appeared on that cliff years back.

Nandu: Yeah. But Manik, I wouldn't have it any other way. I love him.

Manik: Everyone does. So, vacation on Mars. What next, Murthy?

Nandu: A whole universe tour.

Manik gaped at the girl. He should have known better than to ask.

Manik: You know what? I am an idiot for even asking you that. Let's keep it on Earth the next time. 

I would add anything I could think about as bonus chapters if I have any ideas. 

Future plan? I will start writing the ICT fiction. Also, by today evening I am thinking about posting the first chapter of Harry Potter fiction. Those who are interested, please do give a read. It would motivate me. Also, Harry Potter would be a pure fanfiction, so I am taking some suggestions for a few questions I have. Do answer your opinions, if you feel like it. See you later in the evening. :)