~Love has nothing to do with their life, but togetherness surely did~

-Affu-

In London

MishNa Mansion

In Kitchen

"Mishti!" Shekhar walked down the stairs, while adjusting his tie and then going through the mails in his mobile.

"Haan, aayi (coming)." Shamishti called out, from the kitchen while bringing a jug of juice, to keep it on the table.

"Good morning!" he kissed Shamishti's forehead, who smiled at him. "Good morning. You're late, today." she pointed out, and he nodded.

"You know about my new project." he replied, and she sighed. Had their daughter been here, he wouldn't have thought of doing any late night works.

"Shona! Breakfast rea-" and Shekhar palmed his face, before looking up at his wife. "Again, huh!" Shamishti shook her head at it. It's been nearly a week since Nandini has left London, but Shekhar still couldn't cope with it.

"I miss my daughter! It's quite natural, okay. Ab tum ghoorna bandh karo (now, stop staring at me.)" Shekhar let out a whine, and Shamishti giggled. "Ab tho bas 6 mahine keliye gayi hai madam. Shadi karke jayegi ek din, tab kya karoge tum? (She has gone for 6 months, for now. One day, she'll leave after getting married. What would you do, then?" Shamishti asked, cheekily and Shekhar glared at her.

"I'm not getting my daughter married off to any guy, this soon. She's still a kid. Let her make her career, now. Phir shadi." Shekhar started to eat, and Shamishti nodded, while drinking juice, from her glass.

"Of course, she's still a kid. Bas 2 saal ki hain na hamari shona (She's just 2 year old.)" said Shamishti, and then held onto Shekhar's hands. "Abhi nahi tho phir kabhi hi sahi, she'll get married and leave, Shekhar. Every girl has to leave her home to create her own family. And we have to let her go, one day. Life has to move on, shouldn't it?" she caressed her husband's hand, and he simply nodded.

Having an only child, Nandini was pampered to no extent by both her parents. But for Shekhar, she wasn't just an only child, but a daughter too. And a daughter is always the most precious for a man.

In India

In a Restaurant

"Can you tell me why the hell are you behaving like a girlfriend, already? I mean, I hope you remember that we're not REAL." Manik looked frustrated, and all Nandini did was to roll her eyes. "Yar Malhotra kid, can you be quiet for a while? Muje sochne dho tumhe kaise sher ke khana chod balki snack thak na banne keliye kya karna padega. (Let me think on how not to let you be the Lion's snack.)" Nandini retorted, frustratingly and Manik looked at her confusedly.

"What? Oh forget it. I don't care. Listen, I can't have any breakfast with you now. Meri ek important meeting hai yar." Manik pulled at his hair, and she stared at them. "Does it hurt? Pulling at hair?" Nandini asked, startling him. "Huh?" he questioned, dumbfounded.

"Nahi! If that hurts, then maybe they'll let you go just by pulling at hair. I mean, bas thoda hurt karna jo hain. Hair pulling kaafi hoga na? But it should hurt a lot, okay." Nandini wondered out loud, and Manik was still confused. "Are you drunk? Like, subah subah pee rakhi hai kya?" Manik leaned to get a sniff of alcohol while she exhales, and on seeing it, she swatted in his face.

"Mere ithni khareeb math aana. Especially when Shers are here." she flared up, and Manik squinted his eyes at her. "Shers?" he questioned, and the next second his eyes widened when he saw 8 furious figures approaching them.

"Oh shit! Murthys are here." Manik stared at them, in horror, while Nandini gulped down the lump in her throat. "Hey Daadi ki rab ji! Aapko mein zara sa bhi pasand hun tho aaj Malhotra kid ke jaan bacha lena." Nandini looked up to send her prayer, to God.

"Shit, Nandini! We need to start with our acting." Manik held Nandini's hands, which were rested on the table. Nandini's eyes widened, in horror. Her gaze moved to her brothers, whose narrowed gazes were now fixed at Manik's hold on her hands. 

They picked up their pace!

"What the heck is happening?" Asad's thunderous growl filled in the air, which lead Manik to gulp down. Nandini thanked her stars, for booking a table in a secluded area of Restaurant garden.

"Bhai, wo. She is m--" Manik stood up, and when Nandini saw Asad approaching Manik, while shooting daggers through his eyes, she stood up and shielded Manik from her brothers. "It's just a stupid idea. A stupid idea. Nothing is real. Nothing. I swear, there's nothing going on, in between us." Nandini blabbered, and Manik bent to whisper in Nandini's ears.

"Nandini! What are you doing? They're.." his sentence was cut by a furious Viren. "Why are you standing so close to my sister? Manik! Get away from my sister. NOW!" Viren bellowed. "Bhai, aap chilla kyu rahe hain?" Manik looked dumbfounded, with the Murthy brothers' outburst. "Wait..did he say..sister?" Manik looked shocked, and then his gaze moved at Nandini, who sighed.

"Ab behen ko sister nahi tho kya kahun, Manik?" she asked, exasperatedly and Manik's eyes widened. "They know? About your..identity?" asked Manik, and she nodded. "For the past 15 years, yes, they do." she replied, and Manik wanted to faint, right there.

***

"How could you hide such a big information from me?" Manik accused Nandini, with his face all paled. "I was going to become a bowl of Chutni, dude." Manik added, while staring at Murthy brothers, whose gazes were only fixed at Manik. Nandini was sitting in between her brothers, across from where Manik sat.

"Because you never told me about this fake-relationship thing." Nandini replied, and Manik groaned out loud. "Hadd hai! Ek tho mein help kar raha hun, and you're accusing me, now." Manik stated, pissed, and Nandini rolled her eyes.

"You call it help? To get married to you, on contract, I had come to talk to you, but you didn't talk to me about being in a fake relationship, before introducing me to DJ as your girlfriend." Nandini retorted, and Manik shrugged. "I thought of using the best opportunity." Manik stated coolly, which he regretted, when he saw Shivaay leaning forward to face him.

"Best opportunity? You know you're talking about my sister, right Manik?" Shivaay's voice was cold yet slow, making Manik to gulp down. "Bhai..I know..galath hai. Lekin..I should have introduced her as my girlfriend, one day, if she's wiling for this relationship, right? And if DJ asked me why did I hide about her identity in the first meeting, then it would have become a problem, right Bhai?" Manik smiled nervously, and Shivaay stared on, coldly.

"Shivaay." Rithvik patted at Shivaay's back, and then looked at Manik. "Manik! Tu jaisa hamara Bhai hai, waisi hi princess hamari behen hain. But she matters the most, Manik. It would come out rude, but she matters to us more than you matter to us. That's the reason why we're mad at you, for doing something we don't approve of. Because, it's about our sister." Rithvik stated, rather calmly and Manik nodded in understanding.

"Bhayyu!" Nandini stared at Shivaay and Asad, who looked back at her, to see a pleading look in her eyes. "Why don't you let me handle this matter with Manik? You guys are getting angry at him, when he's the same person who's trying to help me complete my mission. Please!" Nandini grinned at her brothers, who sighed on seeing her weapon.

"Fine!" they declared, and she turned back to Manik, happily, who was gaping at Nandini. The way she handled the raging Murthy brothers, especially Asad and Shivaay, was really impressive and shocking.

"Okay, Malhotra kid! I know, I'm angry at you, for doing something before letting me know about the same. Yaani, tum galath karo, problem nahi, lekin galathi karne se pehle bhi, mujhse bath karna chahiye na. I mean, imagine okay, like you say, I agreed to this fake relationship, and we meet DJ to introduce me as your girlfriend, and he asks you the reason behind hiding my identity in our first meeting. That's really a good point, but you can simply cook up something. Yaani, ye romantic relationships wagera na, inmein lies and hide and seek is something common. Hai ki nahi?" Nandini stared at Manik, expectantly, who stared at her blankly.

"I-I-I don't know. I mean, I was never in a relationship to know that." Manik replied, and Nandini's eyes widened. "Kasam se?" She asked, and he frowned. "You mean...you never dated a girl?" she asked, looking at Manik, in shock. "Yes! What's the matter in it?" Manik asked, while shrugging, and Nandini stared on. "That's so cool, you know. Aaj thak jithne ladkon se mein mili na, wo sab virgins thak nahi the." Nandini said, thoughtfully, and her brothers stared at her, while Manik gaped at her. Again!

"And how many boys have you met, Miss Murthy?" Sidharth asked, and Nandini grinned. "A lot. Some were friends, and some tried to befriend me, and some tried to woo me. Ab mein ek single ladki hun tho koi bhi hit karega, Bhayyu. Chillax! I'm still single and not ready to mingle. I mean, who wants to have mushy conversations or romantic physical contacts!" Nandini shrugged her shoulders, and smiled, while her brothers just shook their heads at her.

"You-you don't mind hearing such things..from your sister?" Manik asked, making sure he didn't offend the brothers. "Oh, that's nothing new." Rudr waved his hand in air, as if it was no big deal, and Manik nodded.

"Ajeeb ladki hai!" Manik muttered, but Karan did hear it, and he narrowed his eyes at Manik, who grinned nervously at it.

"Now! How will we solve this thing?" asked Nandini, and Manik leaned forward. "Nandini!" he started, clearing his throat. "Let's do this fake relationship thing. I know, on one side, it's like betraying our families, but this is one chance where you could be close to Yash daadu. He believes in traditions, and according to him, by marrying you, I'm following the same. That would make you more special, for him. And once you're too dear to him, then you can always try to bring back Shekhar Uncle in his life. He may start to miss his son's presence in his life. And how to do it? That's something only you know, and I don't." Manik concluded, and Nandini thought for a moment.

"It's been only half a day, since I realized my mistake, thanks to my brothers, and now, you're here with another plan, which may be another mistake." Nandini muttered, before looking up at Manik. "But it's also a chance to get close to DJ. Besides, I cannot back off now. DJ already takes me as your girlfriend." she added, before looking at her brothers, who stared back at her, warily.

"Choti! Really, now?" Om sighed out loud, and she nodded. Om looked back at others, who shook their heads. "It's going to be too risky." Viren commented. "But it's worth a shot." Manik reasoned, and they looked at each other, before looking back at Manik and Nandini.

"Let's give it a shot, then." Asad said, and Nandini smiled at her brothers, before looking back at Manik. "So boyfriend. Have a plan to introduce your girlfriend?" Nandini leaned forward, and Manik stared at her brothers. "Oh don't worry about them. They don't care unless you have bad intentions towards me, which you don't, for now. So yeah..go ahead." Nandini spoke cheerfully, and Manik looked at Murthys, who nodded at him.

"Well then! I do have a plan, Miss Murthy." Manik smirked at Nandini, who stared at him, with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I really am looking forward to your ideas, Malhotra kid." she replied, cheekily and he groaned out loud.

They have a really very long way to go!

***

"Ma! Mujhe aapse kuch kehna hai. (I want to talk about something to you.)" Manik got settled on the kitchen counter, beside Cabir, who was munching on his cookie. "That you want a chocolate cake from Ma?" asked Cabir, still busy munching on his cookie.

"No!" Manik replied, glaring at Cabir. "I want to tell something important, Ma." Manik looked back at Nyonika and Arpita, who were busy in preparing dinner. "That you got to meet an oldie, who happens to be a rich and a mouthwatering businessman that you fell in love with his business skills?" asked Cabir, licking the chocolate off his fingers, and Manik smacked in Cabir's head.

"The heck is wrong with your brain and mouth? Chup nahi beit saktha? (Can't you keep quiet?)" Manik yelled out, irritatingly and Cabir rubbed at his head, where he got smacked. "Aapko khana aur kaam ke alava aur kuch important nahi na! (Nothing is important to you, except for food and work, right!)" Cabir stated, before whining out. "Ma! Your son is such a bad guy. Mere sir dekho. It's swollen." Cabir bent to show his head to Nyonika, who let out a sigh, before glaring at the boys.

"We are trying to prepare dinner for humans, in here, not for kids like you. Yaani, pancakes and cookies nahi bana rahe hain. So stop disturbing us, and move out of the kitchen." Nyonika scolded the boys, who pouted at her. "Lekin, meri ek important bath hai, Ma." Manik cribbed, while getting down the kitchen counter and moving towards where Nyonika and Arpita stood.

"Bhai, aap jaake bath karo. Yaani, take a shower. You stink." Cabir commented, and Manik moved back to Cabir, to choke him. "Hayee Ram! He's trying to kill me. Ma, your son is trying to kill his brother. Bachao. Bachao iss maasum bache ko. (Help this innocent kid.)" Cabir yelled out, dramatically and that was it for Arpita to smack in both Manik's and Cabir's bottoms.

"Get out of our kitchen, you idiots. Abhi jao. Niklo. Niklo." Arpita didn't stop with her smacks, that the boys started to jump, while Nyonika laughed out watching the scenario happening. "Mom, I didn't do anything. It's Bhai's fault." Cabir started to crib, and he got another smack from Manik. "You started it. Mom, my topic is important. Mom, please stop smacking in there, mom. It's paining. Yaar, meri bath tho sun. It's about my girlfriend." Manik blabbed, and Arpita went still, so did Cabir's cries and Nyonika's laughter.

"Huh?" Arpita screeched. "Girlfriend?" Nyonika gasped out loud, while Cabir was still stiff. "Dho din mein hi?" Cabir's mouth moved, yet he had a blank look on his face. "Wow! That's so fast. And cool. Yaani, dho din mein pimple-free face jaise, dho din mein girlfriend." Cabir chuckled at himself, before looking at Manik, who was staring at him blankly.

"You-you weren't joking..Bhai?" Cabir looked skeptical, and Manik looked back at his shocked mothers. "I wasn't joking. I have a girlfriend." Manik declared, and they heard another screech.

"Dho din mein girlfriend?" and they turned to find a shocked Shravan, at the kitchen door. "Aap tho bohath fast nikle Bhai." he deadpanned, and Manik sighed.

"What all should I suffer for you, now, Lilliput Murthy!" Manik muttered to himself, silently.

***

"Girlfriend?" Mukti's jaws dropped down in shock, and so did others'.

"When did that happen?"

"Sachi mein?"

"How did that happen?"

"Manik! You okay?"

"The hell did he just say?!"

"Tu pagal tho nahi?"

"Mann!" and that was Harshvardhan, who stared at Manik, with his eyes squinted. "Ji..Daadu!" Manik stuttered, and then tried to smile at his grandfather. "Kya yeh sach hain?" Harshvardhan asked, and Manik gulped, before nodding in positive.

"Elaboration!" Raj said, and Manik cleared his throat. "I-I met her..around 2 months ago. I was in London, for a business meet, and I met her in her father's company." Manik started, and then looked at his family, to see them staring at him, blankly. "She wasn't like the girls I've met, in my life. She was..different." he continued, and this time he wasn't cooking up anything, but he was stating what his heart felt. 

"And I fell in love with her." he lied, and all his family did was to stare at him.

"That's it." Manik concluded. Mukti was the first one to open her mouth, but nothing came out.

"You mean..Bhai..finally, you're dating someone?" Mukti cleared her throat, and Manik nodded at her. "Yes!" and then Mukti squealed loudly, before throwing her arms around Manik. "Oh my God, Bhai! I'm sooo happy. You finally found a girl for yourself. You're in love." she gushed happily, and Manik stared at his sister, guiltily.

She was too happy for him, not realizing that he was lying.

He felt too bad to think that he's doing this to his family for a girl, whom he just met a day ago. He felt too bad, for prioritizing a girl's feelings, over his family's.

Was he even doing right?

But then he remembered the lessons his mother taught him. "Remember always to help the ones in need. Even if it would cost you something dear to you, do it, for you are swelling the needy's heart with happiness, with whatever you did to him." and Manik shut his eyes tight, before looking at his family.

"I am in love." he lied again, and Harshvardhan smiled at his grandson.

"That's really a wonderful news, beta. Lekin, why would you hide it from us? You know we were all waiting for you to have a girl in your life." Harshvardhan stated, and Manik faked a smile. "Daadu. I wasn't sure about my feelings." Manik lied again.

"And now you're sure about it?" asked Rishi, leading Manik to squirm in his seat. "Yes, Papa. I am." Manik replied, and Rishi nodded. Raj was silently staring at his son.

"Well! Khushi ke baath hai, lekin patha nahi kyu..ajeeb lag raha hain. Maybe its because of our Manik's personality. I mean, iske personality ke wajah se, I didn't even expect him to bring a guy at home, let alone a girlfriend." Rohit commented, and Manik's eyes started to shoot daggers at him. "Really Papa? I cannot even let anyone doubt that Cabir and you are related. It's so damn visible." Manik retorted, and all Cabir did was to stare at him. Rohit just shrugged his shoulders.

Not only Cabir, but all his friends, including Abhimanyu were staring at him, blankly.

"Bath tho sahi hai, beta. We need proofs, to believe in you." said Anjali. "Exactly. Because, dho din girlfriend kaise?" Cabir supported his mother's statement, and looked at Manik. "What's with this dho din?" asked Nyonika, and Cabir looked at Nyonika, while Manik gulped down the lump in his throat.

"Two days ago, Bhai was complaining that he had to go for a meeting, in a Yellow shirt, because Mamma wanted it. Apparently she thinks a girl would fall off the sky, if Bhai wears Yellow shirts. I mean, girlfriend thi tho bathaya kyu nahi Bhai ne?" Cabir stared at Manik, who gave him a nervousness filled smile.

"Because..I wanted to share it to all of you, when we're all together." Manik replied, and then looked back at his mothers.

"Fine! But we want to see your girlfriend, Manik." Nyonika stated, and then looked at Arpita and Anjali who bobbed their heads at it. "Aur waise bhi, hame bhi tho jaanna hai hamari bahu kaisi hain. (We also want to know how our daughter-in-law is like.)" Arpita commented, when she saw Manik upset. Manik smiled at her.

"Kyu nahi Mom! I'll bring her home." Manik said, and the family smiled at him, except for his friends, and brothers.

"Now how am I going to introduce Lilliput to my mothers, when she talks like an unstoppable train while they don't talk much? Well, except for Anju Mom." Manik muttered to himself, but he didn't know he had more serious issues, at the moment.

His friends and brothers!

***

How was the chapter?

Note: Lately, I'm inactive on this account, so if I'm delaying to reply to any of your messages, then I apologize for that.

Love,

Affu.