~When embarrassment knocks at your door, just welcome it, for it's unavoidable~

-Affu-

In India

Malhotra's Home

Breakfast Table

It was an eventful breakfast happening, since Nandini was forced to join for it, though she was insisting to let her go for work. She did not want to be a part of this breakfast, especially when Raj was staring at her and Manik, occasionally, with his eyes glistening with something she couldn't decipher about.

The heck just happened?

She just had her first kiss!!

Well, first peck on lips, though!

While all Manik did was to drink his coffee, and then looking down in his plate, and maintaining a safe distance from Nandini. Although, she was sitting right beside him.

It's not like Nandini did not try sitting beside Mukti, but she was pushed to sit beside her boyfriend, by the over romantic grandfather-in-law of hers.

"Waise Bhabi! How do you know Murthy bhayyas?" Mukti asked, and everybody's heads snapped up, to look at her. "Uh..actually, I saw them at Bhabi's place, yesterday." Mukti said, grinning nervously, on seeing so many questioning gazes at her, which now directed at Nandini, except for Manik, Cabir and Dhruv, who looked worried.

"Oh!" Nandini muttered, before wiping at her lips with a napkin, forcing Manik to look away from her. "Actually, I know Rudy Bhayyu. Our mothers are friends. That's how I know Rudy Bhayyu's brothers, as well." Nandini smiled at Mukti. She was prepared for this question, and glad that she didn't have to lie about it. For sure, Vandana and Shamishti are more like friends, than sisters-in-law.

"Rudy Bhayyu!" Mukti exclaimed, surprised. "Yeah, that's what I call him. Actually, all of the Murthy brothers. I'm the only daughter of my parents, so they are my brothers." Nandini replied, and Mukti nodded with a smile. "That's really sweet. Bhayyas love to have little sisters. They take me as their sister too." Mukti commented joyfully, and Nandini smiled at her. The boys breathed a sigh of relief.

While all Nyonika did was to stare her husband, her son, and Nandini.

Everything is too weird for her.

***

In Manjeet Care Hospital

"Mam! She's pregnant." the nurse frowned, at Nandini, who was rubbing at her forehead. "Naina! Do I look like I don't know the fact that she's pregnant when she's with her baby bump?" Nandini retorted, and Naina nodded in negative.

"No, Mam. But you just said nobody knows what it is to have a boyfriend, when in reality, she's already married and going to be a mother." Naina's eyes widened at Nandini's deteriorated state of being, from the time she's started to come for work, today.

"Well, a doctor is also a human being and she needs to have a 'me' talk once in a while, which didn't happen for me, for quite a while. Now, can you pass me that file, Naina? Or are you going to be interested in my 'me talks'?" Nandini breathed out without taking a break, and Naina nodded in affirmative, immediately.

"Sure, Mam." she said, while the very pregnant patient stared at Nandini, with a sweet smile on her lips. "Relationship issues?" she questioned, and Nandini looked down at her, as she was examining the patient, who was on the bed.

"Uh, no!" she lied. What relationship does she have with Manik that she had a kiss him with him? "Well, I'm sorry if I'm being nosy, but if it's anything harming your mental health, then talk to someone. A best friend, maybe." the girl smiled at Nandini, who stared at her, in dilemma.

"Thanks!" she smiled at the lady, and then got busy with her work.

***

In Malhotra Automobiles

"This can't be happening." Manik was pacing from one end to the other for the past 30 minutes, that he skipped one important meeting, for he wasn't looking too presentable for it.

How would a man look presentable when he asked his personal secretary about that poor guy's state of mind after his first kiss?

Awkward? 

Er...probably something more!

"I was...no. I am in love with HER. I cannot think about anyone else. Not even Lilliput." Manik chided at himself. "And what's with this nickname and all, Manik? She's just a friend, and she has a beautiful name to address her with." he muttered to himself.

"Alright! Take a deep breath in." and he took a deep breath. "It's not Lilliput, but Nandini. Just Nandini. And you don't---you don't have anything in your---heart---for her. She's just a---fr--friend." and he exhaled heavily, when the door banged open.

"Bhai! What the heck did you say to that poor Varun guy?" Cabir stood at his door, with horror stricken face, and all Manik did was to look up, at the Almighty.

"What did I say about being on my side?" he questioned the God, who didn't bother to answer to his prayer, this time. The kid was being too confused!

***

"This is the fifth burger you're having, today. Bhai! Let me tell you, ladkiyon ko six-packs pasand hai, na ki family pack." Shravan stared at Manik, frowning, and all Manik did was stuffing his mouth with food.

Manik either needs to be in his private gym or eat more, if he's frustrated or stressed with something. 

"Oh Hello! Why do you think Bhai needs another headache when his Lilliput is already beside him, for the 24 hours?" Cabir questioned, tongue-in-cheek. Manik scowled at his brother.

"She's not a headache. She's also just a friend." Manik pressed onto the word friend, and Cabir and Shravan nodded their heads in positive.

"Sure, she's just a friend. But she shouldn't be called a headache, because keeping nicknames for her, is just Bhai's right. Hain na Bhaiiii?" Shravan's eyes twinkled in mischievousness.

"Shut up! Mujhe problems badana nahi hai, kam karna hai." Manik glared up at the best friends, who just grinned.

"Elaboration?" Cabir asked, and Manik looked away. "That's just Arijit Sinha's right, I guess." Shravan remarked, and Cabir nodded.

"Ajeeb Bhai hai mera. Mera koi haq nahi hai inpe, balki best friend aur girlfriend ke hain.(Such a strange brother I have. I don't hold any rights over him, but his best friend and girlfriend do.)" Cabir exclaimed, and Manik turned to glare at him. "Oye!" Shravan exclaimed loudly, slapping at Cabir's arm. "Fake girlfriend." he corrected his best friend, on whom realization dawned upon.

"Right!" he nodded, while Manik looked comfortable enough to strangle the duo.

"What should I do to let myself free from this pain?" Manik asked, and the duo grinned.

"An appointment with Dr. Nandini Murthy." they said, and Manik's gaze narrowed at their grins. "And may I know why?" he asked, and they shrugged.

"We have some information about Shagun Reddy. Remember, you told us to keep an eye on that Godmother of fakeness." Cabir stated, and Manik slapped at his face. "Alright! I'll pass the information to Lill--Nandini." Manik said, and he duo noticed the difference in Manik's behavior.

"Not happening, Bhai! Information is something found out, by us, hence, we're passing it to your Lill-Nandini." Shravan grinned, and Manik glared up at him.

"This is OUR mission. Mine and Nandini's." he said, and the duo just shrugged. "Maybe! But its OUR information. Mine and Shravan's." Cabir too grinned, and Manik groaned hard.

"Fine. I'll text her and see if she's free to meet you guys at her place. We'll go today evening, if she doesn't have any other appointments." Manik said, standing up, and the duo followed him.

"Sorry to bother you, Mr. Malhotra. But we don't require your presence." Shravan said, blocking Manik's way, who frowned at him. "All you need to do is to share your Lill-Nandini's contact number." Cabir too stood beside his best friend.

"Excuse me? Why would I share my girlfriend's contact number with you?" Manik exclaimed, unthinking, only for the boys to raise their eyebrows at each other, and then at Manik. "Girlfriend?" they exclaimed, and Manik stood shocked, on realizing the blunder he did.

"Bhai! You must have forgotten that she's your fake girlfriend. Is it?" Shravan smirked at Manik, who clenched his fists before walking away, pushing the guys aside. "I'll send you her contact number." he said, while he walked towards the elevator to his office floor, leaving the detective best friends to be on-work mode.

"Interesting!" Cabir commented, and Shravan couldn't agree more.

"Time to meet our Bhabi." Shravan grinned at Manik's message, which had Nandini's number.

***

In Manjeet Care Hospital

Nandini's Cabin

Nandini stared on. Her gaze narrowed and intimidating, which was true for one person sitting in front of her, but not for the one accompanied him.

He was too busy in staring at her.

"Shravan!" Cabir hissed, while pinching at his best friend's right arm, without letting Nandini notice it. "Stop staring at her." Cabir tried smiling nervously at Nandini, whose gaze was still fixed at Shravan's stupid dreamy facial expression.

"Can't help it. I stare when I see pretty girls." Shravan muttered to his best friend, before leaning a bit forward to rest his chin on his folded palms, with his elbows resting on Nandini's table, making her to shift her gaze to those elbows, and then looking up at it's owner, quite blankly.

"You know! I've always heard that Angels fall on Earth, without giving notice to fellow Earth-ians. I didn't believe in that quote, until now." Shravan sighed out loud, and Nandini shifted her gaze to Cabir, who squirmed in his place.

"He's meeting you for the first time, without any elderly presence, and he---he kinda flirts." Cabir stated, and Nandini wriggled her eyebrows at "kinda". Does this look "kinda"?

"Oh, never mind him. He's just jealous that you give all the attention to me." Shravan grinned, while staring at Nandini, dreamily. "I am no fan of Cold coffee, but if that is what you look like, then I wouldn't mind to drown in cold coffee like eyes of yours." Shravan grinned, and this time Nandini leaned forward, with her lips stretching into a smile.

"Really?" she whispered, and Shravan nodded enthusiastically, while Cabir stared at her, in horror. Why does she look interested? That too in this kid! "That's sweet. You know what? I've been looking for a person who could be used as a rescuer." she stated, and Shravan bobbed his head in positive, not getting her hint, while Cabir sat confused. "If you could drown in my 3 cm sized eyes, then I'm pretty sure you wouldn't mind to drown in Pacific ocean, to rescue wanderers who got lost." she grinned, too sweetly at him, that Shravan nodded first, which got wiped away, the second his brain registered what she meant.

While Cabir stared at Nandini, speechless, before his gaze went up to his best friend's face, and his shock turned to merry, that he started to laugh out loud.

"Uh! I---I don't think Pacific ocean could be that---beautiful like how you are." and this time Shravan stuttered, not before glaring at Cabir, while Nandini waved her right palm in air, across his face, making him flinch as he thought he should expect a slap.

"Oh trust me, when I say it. Pacific ocean is even more beautiful, with hundreds of large fishes who did not get fallen on Earth, but came with notice from the Almighty." Nandini remarked, and Cabir stifled his laughter, but occasional chuckles made their way out.

And Shravan felt like whimpering.

"Giving up, already? Actually kya hain na! My Bhayyus taught me Fist-to-lip Love relationship. You know, fists taste better for some boys. Kya karun. I'm their only sister." she said, and Shravan's eyes widened remembering that he was flirting with Murthy brothers' only sister. He clearly remembers the 8 body builders. Especially Asad Murthy!

"And my Appa taught me about foot-to-where the sun doesn't shine. These two go well that the latter part gets affected so badly when I use the former part. Kya karun. I'm his only daughter." she grinned at him, and Shravan's hands went up to his precious jewel.

"So...you're interested? I'm very much interested." she leaned forward again, and Shravan lurched backwards, sinking deep in his seat. "Noooo!" he yelled out, and she frowned.

"But why? Pacific ocean would lose such a wonderful rescuer." she said, and he frowned looking at her. "What? I wasn't talking about myself, but Pacific ocean's interest.  I mean, I need at least a matured guy rather than a kid to be interested in." she rolled her eyes at him, and he let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank God! Wait wh--" Shravan gasped. "A kid?" he looked at himself, and Nandini squinted her eyes at him. "You're not more than 18, while I'm already 23. That makes you a kid, in front of me, regardless of your height." she shrugged, and Cabir raised his hand.

"He's 19, though." he said, and she nodded. "There's no difference. He's still an immature kid. Get him under Grumpy coffee's training. Thoda acha hojayega. Bas uske jaise zyada sanskari math ban jaa. That would make this kid crazy." Nandini stated, and Cabir chuckled, while Shravan whined.

"That's not fair. I'm no kid. And Bhai loves me more, so I'm gonna complain to him." Shravan said, and Nandini shrugged again. "Your wish! So---elaborate the meaning behind this visit." she said, staring at the duo, who grinned at her.

"Here!" and Cabir passed an envelope to Nandini, who took it and opened to see the content inside. "I don't think it's going to be a love letter. But if it is, tell the person that I would love to meet his not-so-gorgeous face first, before using my fist on it. You know, I wanna know how much I should damage his face." Nandini babbled, and the duo stared at each other, before staring at her, and then leaning to each other.

"Do you seriously think Manik Bhai has fallen for her? I mean, she talks a lot and not at all a traditional type." Shravan said, and Cabir nodded at him. "My question, exactly!" he stated.

"Whoa!" Nandini stared at the pictures in her hand, where Shagun was found with multiple men, and that too, in a very intimate position. "These are all really original? I mean, Mr. Yashjeet Murthy is a big fat Mr. Know it all when it comes to his beloved daughter like maybe-would have been- daughter-in-law." Nandini looked up at the boys, and they smirked.

"They are captured by none other Cabir Malhotra." Cabir smirked, proudly, and Nandini nodded. "Self obsession is a Malhotra trait, I guess." she muttered out loud, and Cabir glared up at her, while Shravan chuckled.

"Well, she's definitely right, though." Shravan stated when Cabir shot glares towards him. 

"So..what do you want?" Nandini questioned, and they frowned. "What? It's clearly a business. You must need something in return for doing this for me." she added, and Shravan wriggled his eyebrows. "You sure belong to a great business family." he commented, and she looked at him with a bored expression on her face.

"Dude! Business is literally the profession chosen by all the members of my family, except for my Chote Papa. What makes you think that I cannot do business? Iss andhe aadmi ko kaha se uthaya aapne, Bhai?" Nandini looked at Cabir, in the end, who sat surprised, while Shravan sulked. It's not his day, at all.

"Bhai? I thought we both were 23." he said, and she shrugged. "You're family, and we Murthys don't address family members with their names until they're younger to you. You're not younger to me, neither in age nor in looks." she replied, and Cabir nodded.

"Valid point, huh!" he said. "Yeah. Valid point. Ithna valid ki he looks 10 years older to you, and could be called for a 'who's the best mota' competition." Shravan too nodded, and Cabir whacked in his head.

"Not bad! You do speak sensible stuffs too." she commented, and Shravan grinned. "Just sometimes, though." she added, wiping his grin away.

"So, tell me. What do you want?" she asked, and Cabir shrugged. "A dinner date with Malhotra youngsters and their friends." Cabir said, and she raised her eyebrows. "We Malhotras have only five friends, including this kid, and Navya and Alya. We would like you to meet them, when elders are not around. That kinda calls for a youth celebration." Cabir stated, and Nandini thought about it.

"Sounds good. But I don't go out for celebrations, without my best friend." Nandini said. "Er...your best friend is in India too?" he asked, and Nandini nodded. "Yup! She's working in here. In fact, that question shouldn't have been asked." Nandini said, and Cabir nodded, ready to speak. 

"Is she hot?" Shravan asked, only for Cabir to whack in his head, while Nandini nodded. "Yup! Too hot that she might give a competition to a burning spatula. And just like you try to touch it, it gives you immense pain. You know what I mean!" Nandini replied, and Shravan grinned stupidly.

"Got it! She's off limits too. But why? Do you guys have boyfriends?" he asked, and she just shrugged.

"We just have beautiful fists. And I think that's better than a boyfriend." she said, only for Cabir to chuckle at his best friend's expense, who was pouting sadly.

***

In MruNi's Home

"Why are we here?" Manik stared at the Villa, and then at his siblings, and friends. "Of course, to pick up your Lill-Nandini." Cabir smirked at Manik, who shot glares towars him.

"Lil-Nandini?" Mukti asked, confusingly, and Cabir just nodded. "Well, your bade bhayya thinks your Bhabi is too short." Cabir said, and Manik scowled at his brother. "I do not. She is short, but that's just about it. Nothing to blame her for." Manik defended his fake-girlfriend.

"Awe, Bhai! You are so protective." Mukti gushed, and Navya and Alya jumped up and down, joyfully. "No. It's just that--" he fumbled with words. Now, he cannot say Nandini is just a friend, to his sister and sisters-in-law.

"Do we have some feat today?" Manik turned to the deep voice, behind him. "Not exactly. Especially in your presence." Manik faked a smile at Cadbury, who rolled his eyes at him.

"You need to grow up and learn something new for your comebacks, kid!" Cadbury walked past Manik, and the stood at the closed door. "A kid?" Manik bit onto his lips, with his fists clenched.

"What brings you all here?" Cadbury stared at all of them, rigidly, like a guardian, guarding his precious gem. "We are here to take Nandini, for a dinner." Manik announced, rightfully.

"Who is he?" Alya whispered to Mukti, who leaned to shisper back to her. "He is Bhabi's bodyguard, it seems.

"A bodyguard?" Navya cried out, on eavesdropping their conversation, only for the boys to shriek, and Cadbury to be alarmed. "Bhabi has a bodyguard?" Navya stared back at Cadbury, who rolled his eyes at the endearment 'Bhabi'. For sure, he's filled in, about the plan.

"Yes! I am. Unfortunately, she's a healthy young girl, who needs protection from certain guys." Cadbury threw a glance at Manik, who stared at him, blankly.

"Excuse me? I know how to protect my girlfriend." he said, only to regret on noticing the boys' teasing expression on their faces, while the girls gushed like some teenagers. AGAIN!

"She doesn't really need one, when she has her father's best friend to protect her." Cadbury stated, and Manik threw his hands in air, in exasperation. 

"Raj Papa should hear this statement." Cabir whispered to Shravan, who looked up in the sky. "And the next second, there goes a rocket named Raj Malhotra, raging like a hot balloon. Hot in the sense- anger, not the girlish hot." Shravan remarked, and Cabir smacked in his head, who smacked back at him.

"Er...can we meet Bhabi, for now?" Mukti stepped ahead, and stood beside Manik, to calm him down, while Cadbury couldn't deny such an innocent request.

"You guys are already here?" They beamed at the voice, and looked behind Cadbury, who stepped aside to let Nandini walk out, only for Manik to suck in a sharp breath.

She was wearing a white laced crop top, paired it with denims, looking flawless. She may look it. An innocent child at heart type girl, but she definitely has got looks of a woman. A gorgeous woman!

"Now, that looks awesome." Alya tried to whistle, and Shravan did that for her, only for Manik to snap out of his daze. "Honestly, I don't feel like calling you Bhabi now." Shravan grinned, and Nandini rolled her eyes at him, while Manik glared up at him.

"What program are you majoring in?" Nandini asked. "MBBS, second year." Shravan spoke out, excitingly. "And here I was thinking that you were majoring in to be a certified flirt. Go for it. You wouldn't have to get rewarded with a few punches from your lady patients' boyfriends/husbands." she replied, and he pouted sadly. She just shows the right path to him!

While others chuckled.

"You deserve it, idiot." Mukti stuck her tongue out to Shravan, who glared at her. "Waise Bhabi...where's Mrunal Di? Is she ready yet?" Mukti asked.

"Of course, I am." Mrunal too walked out, only for someone else to gasp, this time. She smiled at the gang, until her gaze fell on the one who gasped.

"YOU!" they shouted, deafening the group of people around, who looked startled, and watched the duo, in shock.

Why were they yelling again?!

***

How was the chapter?

Tell me your suggestions.

With love,

Affu.