~And I fell in love..with him, my Father's old man~

-Affu-

In India

"I can't believe that you really went for the meeting, in that Yellow shirt, Bhai!" Cabir laughed out like a crazy person, while all Manik did was scowling at his brother.

"Cabirrrr! Shut that bulged out mouth of yours, right now." Manik yelled out, angrily and Cabir stopped laughing.

"Excuse me? What did you mean by bulged out mouth? That I am fat?" Cabir retorted, and Manik rolled his eyes at him.

"Nope! For that, I'll make a better statement. Ab keliye, I meant, continue with eating and then talk. You spit food stinks while speaking." Manik spoke disgustingly, and Cabir wiped his mouth.

"So? My mouth, my food, my tongue. Mein kuch bhi kar saktha hun inn theenon ke saath." Cabir remarked, and Manik nodded his head in disbelief.

"I wonder what Navya saw in you, to accept your proposal." Manik exclaimed, disbelievingly.

"Wahi, jo aap mein kabhi ladkiyan nahi dekhthe. Ek khoobsurath Dil. (A beautiful heart.)" Cabir stated, with his mouth full again.

"Your heart is beautiful? I mean, you don't have a khubsurat shakal, phir dil kaha se khubsurat bann gaya? Waise, Morning Manik Bhai." Shravan, who just entered the living room of Malhotra Mansion, pointed out before taking a seat beside Manik.

"Morning, Shravan!" Manik patted Shravan's head, and got back to work in his laptop.

"Tsk! My heart was always beautiful. Bas, tune kabhi notice nahi kiya. And don't go to my shakal. Nazar lagega." Cabir wobbled his lips, like a kid and Shravan too mirrored his expression.

"Oww! I am sorry, Bira. It's okay, I will take care of your heart, hereafter." Shravan replied, and the best friends wiped their non-existent tears. 

Manik stared at them, before looking up, as if asking the God if he's done with sending dramatic souls, in his life.

"Bhai!" Manik turned towards his right, to see Mukti running towards where Manik sat.

"Haa Muku?" Manik smiled at her, who jumped on the couch, beside him to show him her laptop. "Mera result aagaya, Bhai. I came first, this Semester too." Mukti beamed joyfully, and Manik smiled before taking her in his embrace.

"Of course, my sister is the best. Koi aapko hara sakthe hai kya!" Manik patted her hairs, before kissing her head, who grinned at him. "Thank you, Bhai!" she smiled at him widely before turning to Cabir.

"Bhai! Dekho mere results." Mukti moved towards Cabir and showed him her results, to which he smiled and kissed her head. "Tune tho prove hi kya that you are Cabir Malhotra's sister. I am proud of you, behena." Cabir raised his own collars, and Mukti giggled watching his drama.

"College mein last nahi aayi wo, first aayi hain." Shravan remarked, with a sarcastic grin on his face, to which Cabir glared at him. "Waise, congrats bestiee!" Shravan winked at Mukti, who grinned at him.

"Thank you, bestieee!" she replied, while grinning and he smiled at her. "Aise muskurathe raho." he said. "Ekdum chudail lag rahi ho." he added, and Mukti's smile vanished, while Manik and Cabir palmed their faces.

"You good-for-nothing!" Mukti stood up like a tigress, and the next moment they were running around the living area.

"How come the mother-daughter duo is obsessed with good-for-nothing?" Manik questioned himself, as he clearly remembers Nyonika keep calling him that. He shook his head, and concentrated in his work, while Cabir was also engrossed in his work. Eating!

***

"Mam. A bit towards your left." the person, behind the desk, at the Immigration department, said to Nandini. 

"Alright!" Nandini said, and moved a step towards her left, and stared at the camera lens, which was placed a bit ahead from where she was standing.

"Mam. A bit to your right." the attendant spoke again, and Nandini obliged to it.

"Mam. A bit more to your right." he said again, and Nandini lost it. She stared at the man, blankly.

"I think you must call the Technical department." Nandini stated plainly, and the person looked up at her, confusedly.

"Technical department? Why so?" he asked, and she gave him a tired glance.

"Because you've been asking me to change my position for the past 2 minutes, when in reality it's your camera's position wrong. That thing is placed so high and you expect me to change my height accordingly?"  Nandini retorted, quiet calmly and the person stared at her, without blinking his eyes.

"Um..No, Mam. I can assure you. They're all fine. It's just, we couldn't get a clear picture." he said, apologetically. Since, Nandini and Mrunal are foreigners, owing to their British Citizenship, they're to be treated with respect, by the Airport authorities.

"Oh damn! I said the same. That's a technical glitch. Anyhow, could you please get done with it already or else I might crash here." Nandini held onto her forehead in exasperation, and shook her head. Travelling is Nandini's thing, but travelling by air is not. The Airport attendant has to thank his stars, that Nandini is not on her PMS, or else she would have forgotten her Appa's moral teachings for sure.

"Yes, Mam." the attendant nodded at her, and got done with the procedure, this time without asking her to do anything extra.

"Done, Mam. Welcome to India." the attendant, forced a smile on his lips, to which Nandini waved her hand at him, before taking her passport from him.

"For me, it's welcome to Mission Bharath milaap. Thanks for the help, though." and she left, while the attendant kept staring at her retreating figure, in astonishment. She wasn't rude, but hell, she wasn't polite either.

"She's single and beautiful, but unavailable." he turned to his front to see another girl, who kept her passport in front of him. "You see, she's got nearly a dozen of brothers. You wouldn't wish to break your face or bones, right?" Mrunal smiled, too sweetly at him, and he gave her a tight lipped smile.

"Ah! I was just..wondering something." he said and took her passport.

"Yeah, yeah. I know. Keep wondering, that's all you can do. Now, is it possible for you to make it fast? Because, that's my best friend, and she's waiting for me." she said, while pointing at Nandini, and he immediately began with Mrunals' immigration procedure.

"Sure thing!" he replied.

"Thanks!" She grinned at him, and then nodded at Nandini, who was yawning and looking around.

***

"Yaar! How much time does he need to get done with it? Wo jo uncle tha na, the one at the other desk, he did it within two minutes." Nandini cribbed, while holding onto Mrunal's left arm, and dragging her to the Baggage claim area.

"Wo ladka new hoga. Haven't you heard the phrase, old is gold? Wo uncle old tha, so his work is goldish." Mrunal replied.

"Haa na. I wish my husband doesn't turn out to be someone like him." Nandini deadpanned, and Mrunal rolled her eyes.

"Now, don't get married to an oldie, just because you need a Golidish hardworking one." Mrunal commented, and Nandini scowled at her.

"Well, at least ek budha Dil hai tho teek hain. You know, 10 percent of guys in the world are too traditional, and they work properly." Nandini said.

"Lekin kismath 90 percent ko zyada pasand karthe hain, usually that's the case." Mrunal sighed sadly.

"Hamari budhi kismath!" they said, in unison and soon enough, they got to see their bags, which they shifted onto a trolley, and left the airport.

"Oh ma Gawwwd!" Nandini breathed out, while walking out of the Airport, and staring at the crowd outside.

"Yaha ithne log kyu hain?" Mrunal too spoke out, in a daze. London Airports did have people around, but they were always, less in number and people wouldn't know what one is speaking to the one nearby. While over here, they legit can hear what people are talking within themselves.

"Wow! Appa sahi kehthe hai. India is loud." Nandini muttered to herself, while staring at the people with a smile on her face. 

"Haa yar! Sab ke sab hamare type ke hain." Mrunal beamed, and Nandini mirrored her expression.

"Wahi na. Yaha sab baath karthe hai, wo bhi shor machake. Aur London mein, we couldn't find such people. I wonder if the entire India is of such people." Nandini jumped in her place, while staring at the people around, and sighing dreamily.

"Hello Mam. At your service." their conversation was interrupted by a guy, who was wearing a white uniform, of a driver.

"Airport taxi driver. Have you booked for one? Oh, you speak Hindi?" the person fumbled, and Mrunal and Nandini stared at each other.

"Yaar! Hum sach mein Indians nahi lagthe hai kya? (Don't we look like Indians?)" Nandini asked Mrunal, and the driver widened his eyes.

"No, no. Mathlab..nahi nahi." he said.

"Nahi? Lekin Indian dikhne mein ab Saree pehenna hai kya?" Mrunal asked, horrifyingly.

"Mera mathlab wo nahi tha, Madam. Mera mathlab tha, ki Aap log Indians tho dikh rahe hai, par Hindi aathi hai ki nahi. Ye tho nahi patha tha mujhe. (I meant, you look Indian, but I didn't know whether you could speak Hindi or not.)" the driver corrected himself.

"Oho! Ithna judgemental kyu Bhayya? Mathlab, bas Airport se bahar nikalke aaye hai, kapde Saree nahi hai, modernly bath bhi kar rahe hai. Tho hui na Angrez ki aulad (Kid of English). Aisa sochna bandh kar aaj se." Nandini moved towards the driver's taxi, followed by Mrunal while the poor driver stared at their backs.

"Lekin..lekin mene tho aisa kuch nahi socha." he muttered to himself, confusedly before moving towards MruNi to help them with their luggage.

"Kaha jaana hai, Madam ji?" the driver asked, once he occupied the driver seat and made sure Mrunal and Nandini got seated, at the back seat.

"Filhal seedha jayiye." Nandini said.

"Kab thak seedha jayega?" he asked, frowning.

"Jab thak ham right ya left kahe." Mrunal replied, and the driver nodded at her, before igniting the engine.

"Kuch ajeeb nahi lag rahe hai ye dhono ladkiyan." he muttered to himself, in an inaudible tone. Nevertheless, he got busy in driving towards MruNi's destination.

***

"Wow! It's really too loud, Mruno. Appa ka place is too loud." Nandini yelled out, excitedly and looked outside, while Mrunal was too busy doing the same, through the other window.

"Yaar! Hamara janam yaha kyu nahi hua? How did we miss all these loud people?!" Mrunal waved her hands at the ladies walking around talking, who stared at her weirdly.

"Mrunoooo! Gol gappe. Daadi ke Gol gappee!" Nandini screamed, and waved her hands at the gol gappe vendor, who didn't understand why a random girl was waving at him, nevertheless he waved back at her.

"Aap log yaha pehli baar aa rahe hai." the driver stated to himself, while staring at the girls, smiling confusedly. He didn't know whether he should adore their innocence or laugh at their comments.

"Haa Bhayya. Appa ke place mein naye hai hum." Nandini said, while smiling at the view outside. "Mere Appa ke place bohath ache hai, Mruno. Kyu?" Nandini asked, and Mrunal bobbed her head.

"Haa na. Uncle ka jagah, aur ab se mera bhi. Kya patha, mera Prince charming yahi ke hoga tho." Mrunal spoke excitedly, which erased the smile on Nandini's face.

"Tujhe sirf Prince charming ki padi hain?!" she spoke disbelievingly.

"Ab mere tho koi protective brothers tho nahi. So I can get any damn guy." Mrunal spoke, while shrugging and Nandini rolled her eyes.

"Such a gone case. Bhayya, yaha se left jayiye." Nandini said, and the driver obliged.

"Stop!" Nandini screamed, and he applied a sudden break.

"What the hell, khuni?! I know, you don't want me to meet my Prince charming, but meri feelings ke koi respect kar." Mrunal screamed at Nandini for shouting, who got out of the car and stared around.

"Mrunooo! It's the place." Nandini jumped in her place, forcing Mrunal to come out.

"Whose place?" Mrunal asked, and Nandini grinned at her.

"My father's old man's place. Dekh waha." she pointed at a board, which was placed on a fence, on the right, written TO BANDRA, which was a road, towards Bandra.

"Aapko Bandra mein kaha jaana hai, Madam?" the driver asked, and the girls settled inside the car again.

"Our Bandra's Neighborhood." they screamed, and poor driver has to palm his ears to save his eardrums from bleeding.

"Oh, teek hain." he replied, and ignited the engine once again.

"Are you sure he's going to get us a house there?" Mrunal asked, and Nandini grinned while showing her mobile.

"When did you activate your sim card?" Mrunal asked another question.

"That's not any Superwoman job, especially if you have someone like Cadbury Wilbur in your life." Nandini grinned at Mrunal, who nodded in understanding.

"Cadddd! I reached Appa ka place." Nandini screamed, once her call was attended by Cadbury. 

"Nan! For heaven's sake, stop screaming. Why do you have so much of grudges against my eardrums?" Cadbury rubbed his left ear, while Nandini just shrugged.

"I am just..too excited. Wo chod, tell me whether it's ready?" she asked, and Cadbury responded in positive.

"Yes! It's the third house, after Malhotras, in their block." Cadubury replied, and Nandini showed a thumbs up to Mrunal, who took the mobile from Nandini.

"Cad! What about the details that I'd asked for?" Mrunal asked, and Cadbury replied in positive again.

"I've already mailed them to you." he replied, and Mrunal grinned.

"Thanks, hottie!" she thanked, while Cadbury palmed his face. 

"Alright, Mr. Perfect Chocolate, we are nearing to our destination. Talk to you, later. Till then, Byeee. Miss me and Love you!" Nandini spoke over the phone, and Cadbury chuckled.

"Love to both of you. Stay safe, okay." he instructed, and Nandini bobbed her head, though he can't see her.

"We will." and she hung up on the call. "Bhayya, stop again." she said, and this time, the driver applied smooth break, and the girls got down the vehicle.

"So...this is how Our Bandra looks like!" Mrunal commented, with a pleasant smile on her lips.

"And this is how..Appa ke old man's place looks like." Nandini commented, while staring at a house, ahead from where she stood, on her left. She stared at the name plate "Murthys" for a while, before looking around.

"I am going to love this place, you know, though I don't like Uncle's old man." Mrunal commented, while glancing at Nandini, who shot a glare towards her.

"Fine, I know that." Nandini rolled her eyes, before staring at the house, right opposite to Murthy's.

"Well, that's the main place for now." Nandini said, and Mrunal followed her gaze again.

"Mujhe ek bath batha, how are we going to befriend them?" Mrunal asked, frowning.

"Filhal, uskeliye plan banana hai." Nandini said, and stared back at her father's place. A place where he grew up. A place, where her brothers are living. A place, where her entire family is living.

"Ithna easy nahi hoga." Mrunal said, and the girls got in the car again.

"Chahiye bhi nahi mujhe. Easy mein maza kaha hai. Bhayya, seedha jao, aur 4th house hai hamara." Nandini instructed, which the driver obliged to.

"Wow! Now, this is called beauty." Mrunal said, while getting out, and Nandini turned to the driver.

"Leejiye Bhayya." she gave the taxi fair to the Driver, who thanked her.

"Thanks, Bhayya." the girls smiled at him, and he smiled back at them.

"Welcome, madam ji. Aur haan, apke Appa ke jagah zaroor dekh lena." he smiled at Nandini, who grinned sheepishly at him. It's not a secret that if someone hears Nandini speaking about her Father and Brothers, then they would know their importance in her life, even without her saying it.

"Of course, ab se ye hamara jagah bhi hain." she replied, and he thanked the girls, before leaving.

"Ab hoga tamasha ka beginning." Mrunal said, while staring at Murthy's house, a bit away from theirs, yet visible.

"Zaroor." Nandini spoke, while staring at Malhotra's house.

***

"Bhai! Where is Rudy Bhai?" Mukti asked, while walking out of their home, towards Murthy's, which was right opposite to theirs.

"At home. Why? Did you expect him to carry you till Murthy's House?" asked Cabir, while grinning sarcastically at her.

"I asked a simple question. I have to tell him about my results." Mukti huffed at Cabir, in annoyance.

"Baath tho aise kar rahe hai, jaise ki tu already Doctor bann chuki hain." Shravan remarked, while rolling his eyes at her.

"Maan Bhai, dekh na Shravan is irritating me." Mukti complained to Manik, who opened the Gate of Malhotras' to move out to the neighborhood, and then to Murthys.

"Shravannn...Cabirrr. I want you guys to shut up." Manik glared at the two, before taking Mukti's hand in his, and stood at Murthys' entrance.

"Lekin! What did we do? We were stating truth, Bhai." Cabir grinned, and Manik scowled at him.

"Pitega tu Cabir. Kya problem hai tera? She's happy and she wants to share it with Rudy." Manik scolded Cabir, who stared at his older brother, with his lips wobbled.

"Aap mujhsee zara sa bhi pyar nahi karthe Bhai." Cabir cribbed, and Manik rolled his eyes.

"Kyunki wo Chudail ke Bhai hai, sirf Chudail ke Bhai." Shravan bobbed his head, while commenting and Mukti glared at him.

"Chudail kisko bola?" She frowned, while keeping her hands on her waist, trying to intimidate her best friend.

"Tujhe hi bola hoga." someone commented, who had opened the door for the younger Mahotras and Shravan.

"Hey Sidharth Bhai." Mukti grinned, before hugging him, who patted her head and then stared at the boys.

"Khade kya ho? Aarti utharne ka mann nahi hai mera. So get in." Sidharth remarked, before walking away Mukti, who giggled at the boys's faces.

"Mathlab, jaise hi yaha aayegi, madam apne Maan Bhai ko bhool jathi hain. Hadd hothi hain." Manik stated frustratingly, and got inside while Cabir and Shravan chuckled at it.

They closed the door, unaware of two pairs of eyes watching the greet-meet of younger Malhotras, Sinha and Sidharth.

***

"Wo ladki kaun thi? She was hugging Sidharth Bhai, that means, she has to be someone close to Murthys." Mrunal commented, while taking off the Binoculars string, which was around her neck.

"Mukti Malhotra." Nandini shrugged, while trying to look through her binoculars, though the door has been closed by Cabir already.

"Oh!" Mrunal said. "Tujhe bura nahi laga?" she asked, and Nandini stared at her.

"I know, I am a possessive freak, and I don't share, but I do share you right, so there's no big deal." Nandini replied.

"Whom did you ever share me with?" Mrunal raised her eyebrows at it.

"Dogs, cats, and even houseflies." Nandini remarked, and Mrunal stared at her blankly.

"That's because, they irritate me. Houseflies, I mean. Aur koi kaam hi nahi, ki mere upar aake beithe hai, jaise ki mene koi shadi ke invitation diya unko." Mrunal complained, while Nandini ignored her for time being.

"Shadi keliye invitation nahi chahiye, unko. They visit the Bride and Groom without showing invitation card, or having to listen to the gossiping Aunties, or any buri nazar on their food, while they eat at the wedding. Tho tu kaha ke President hai that they need permission to sit on you?!" Nandini pointed out, while taking out her mobile from her shorts' pocket.

"Being Mrunal Singhania is way better than being any President." Mrunal boasted herself, and Nandini rolled her eyes at it.

"Yeah. A Psychiatrist is a very important person." Nandini remarked, while bobbing her head at it.

"Yup. Waise, whose number are you trying?" Mrunal asked, and Nandini grinned.

"Sooraj Murthy's." Nandini replied.

"Oh! But why?" Mrunal asked, while frowning. "Didn't you decide to surprise them?" she asked.

"Yep. And the plan is very much on. Par ek direct high voltage shock se behthar hai, step by step shock treatment." she grinned, and Mrunal felt pity for Sooraj.

"Hello! Sooraj Murthy speaking." Sooraj attended the call, while eating.

"And Nandini Murthy speaking..from India." she grinned, and she heard Sooraj coughing, which turned into hiccups.

"Aaram se Chote Papa. Mein kahi nahi jaanewali." Nandini's grin got wider. "Aur haan, kisiko bathana math..mere barein mein. Teek hai? Byeeee" Nandini hung up on the call, leaving Sooraj in shock.

"Why did you do it, though?" Mrunal asked, and Nandini grinned.

"Thaaki jab Mr. Yashjeet Murthy ko mere call mile, thab Chote Papa ko patha chale ki I wasn't joking when I said I'll let Yashjeet Murthy learn from his mistake." Nandini smiled mischievously.

"Mene tho plan already shuru kiya. Ab bas, befriending baaki hain." Nandini held onto Mrunal, who pondered about the main topic.

"But who? Who among the Malhotras?" Mrunal asked, and Nandini stared at her.

"Wahi tho plan karna hai ab." she replied, and the girls gave a thought about it, before grinning at each other.

"Idea!" they screamed, before walking out of the balcony, to Nandini's room.

///////////////////

How was the chapter?

P.S: I never said that Manik and Nandini had met in childhood. I never said, that the ring Manik's wearing belongs to Nandini.

Alright, I know, MaNan hasn't met yet, and you're angry at me, but y'all know me when it comes to family stories. I write a lot, to show the bonding between each and every family member, before moving to the couple. I also like to give importance to all the characters, but not just the main leads.

Hope, you can wait a little more. Probably, next chapter.

Also, I know that Nandini Murthy is quiet different in here. She's trying to befriend someone for her benefits. These aren't good qualities, and so on. I know, at least 10 percent of you, would feel it, but why not a selfish Lead? Why always a Selfless one, who makes sacrifices? I believe, Love is selfish enough to make someone selfish, and Nandini's love for her Father lead her to be selfish too.

Love,

Affu.