On west Banglore... in a small locality

The sun is coming down to horizon... cool breeze started flowing, birds r chirping n flying over returning to their homes... As usual, a girl walked out of the auto and paid him... She opened the main gate n walked inside... she took out her keys to unlock the door n get in.

No no... the door is not locked from outside... the house is not empty, it holds it's owners in it... Salini sitting comfortably, reading fashion magazine while drying her new nail paint... while Maddy in his room busy playing video games... ... But who cares to open the door to welcome the girl leaving their important work Han?

The girl walked into her room when no one bothers to even look at her let alone, ask her about her day... She dropped her bag n changed her cloth to a dirty one as she has to wash dishes of the day, then sweep the house, collect the dirty clothes n wash them...

She completed her work as usual with a bit of Salini's nagging n Maddy's uncomfortable stares... within one-hour n entered her room finally...

Her room is the most crowded n poky one among others, not becoz her room is small, but becoz here it holds every belonging of her, her mom, her dad... which has no room for... in any other place in Salini's house...

She changed her dressed into a long arm sleeve salwar-kameez n got ready for her work... Arey! it's not that she doesn't wear western dresses... she does wear, jeans tops, gown, etc... but when it comes to wearing short dress she got conscious as her stepmom nag a lot saying "u r roaming around... showing skins n selling our honour in downmarket"... so, she thought better not to give any chance to her to nag again.

She was about to leave her room when Maddy dashed into her room... without knocking.   Again! what can u expect from him? ... So, She has to always be conscious... in this house.

"Nandu! How r u doing?" Maddy asked after closing the door behind n standing with his smartphone on his hand.  Nandu frowned at his sweet question.

"Good, ... Any problem?" Nandu cut it short as she knew her so-called brother is taking sweet means he needs something.

"Arey!... Can't I come to talk to my sister?" Maddy said sitting on the bed while Nandu just rolls her eyes to his statement...

"I need to go to the cafe... I'm getting late" Nandu said grabbing her Nokia feature phone n her bag. She got this feature phone in place of her smartphone, all thanks to her stepmom...

"Arey wait!" Maddy stood up stopping her.

"Actually, my game got hanged in the middle... do something, I'm not getting any setting" Maddy said forwarding his phone to her.

"My fees" Nandu asked eyeing him...before also, she had fixed his gadgets, sometimes his headset, or P.C. or laptop... blah blah becoz he used them so much n so carelessly without any knowledge that they always show problems n his mom is too cheapstake that she doesn't want to provide money for a new set... So, Maddy uses Nandu to repair all his gadgets.

"Here Rs. 300." Maddy forwarded her money which she took n started checking his phone... Well, Nandu finds it right to take money in exchange for repairing his gadgets.

She did something or other with the phone for a good 5-10 minutes even though she just requires 1min to get the solution... but she has to show him that she did a really hardwork so he won't ask for a refund.

Coming out a few lanes away to the main road she entered the 'Je t'aime Cafe'.

As usual, she saw the cafe going good with 8-12 customers around n 2 waitress taking orders... She put on her waitress cloth and walked out replacing one of the waiters who left.

She saw that no new customer came n all r attended... As it's time till the sun to set... the evening hours till the night the cafe got full... Whynot! it's the best cafe in this city after all...

Since there is still time for the peak hour of service, Nandu walked in to find Navya talking to someone on phone... and from her face... her smile... she got it who it could be... ... Of course, her JIJU...

"Hello Jiju" she yelled from Navya's back making her jump in her place.

"Oye Nini... tune mujhe dara diya!" Navya faked anger making her pull her cheeks.

"Aaou... leave my cheeks" Navya pouted palming her check...making Nandu laugh. ... This is the time when she laughs her heart out in all the day... sometimes in Universities too she is the real self... but with Navya, she is a kid, a cheerful, sweet, innocent n carefree kid.

"Aur mujhe bhul gaye yeh do saheli!" the sound came from another side of the phone making both laughs... Sometimes Cabir got jealous of Navya's attention to Nandu... But then, he too has got very close to Nandu in the past 2yrs... they share a bro-sis bond.

"Bhai, apko kaise bhul sakti hun? ... Aap toh mere favorite ho, mere sabse acche, sabse pyaare, sabse handsome bhai ho!" Nandu buttered him making him laugh... Yeh unka rosana ka hai... all the three talks crazy about god knows what n Nandu teases them a lot...

"Acha Nandu! u have to come to attend all our wedding functions which start after 3 days... I won't hear any excuse" Cabir said after a lot of gup-shup...

"Arey Bhai, How can I?... I've College... and then, Ghar main jane nahi denge" Nandu tried to keep her point... Actually, College is not a problem, her mid-session exams just got over so, it won't be harm to skip the classes... but the main problem is her stepmom won't let her go... after all how can a house function without a maid i.e. Nandini. ...Alash!!!

"Cabir, u don't worry... I'll make her come anyhow... now, I'll talk to u at night... Ok, bye" Navya said as she knew everything about Nandu n her stepmom... what she goes through these years.

" bye ... love u" Cabir said before cutting the call... even Navya has said him, not completely but somewhat, about nandu.

"Di... u know na I can't come then why..." Nandu started but Navya cut her holding her hands in hers...

"Look Nini... I know u just finished ur exams so getting leave from college is not a big deal... aur rahi baat teri Salluma ki toh... unka jugad mere pass hain!" Navya said smirking with a plan in her mind.

"Kya?" nandu asked curiously.

"Leave that!... u just get ready n forget everything for a week... just enjoy my wedding... just for a week leave all these daily robotic routine works of yours n plan to enjoy... enjoy the life... your life." Navya convinced her looking at her eyes whose eyes held many emotions, the innocence she lost somewhere in her mechanical life...

She smiled to her words n felt herself lucky to find a true friend who really cares n loves her in this world.

** That's when I realize what a true friend is. Someone who would always love you-- the imperfect you, the confused you, the wrong you--because that is what people are supposed to do!... ...The one thing that I've learned about friends that the good n true ones are rare...**

"Ok Janab... Jaise apka hukum" she replied dramatically bowing her head in respect of her friend... making Navya laugh at her Nautanki...

"Par aap karne kya wale ho? ... I mean, agar aap hume bata dete toh... u know, I can be prepared for it... as to... what to say, how to say, what to do, what not to do... How to handle her... u know what I mean, right?" she completed in a breath n took a deep breath after that.

"Shaant meri khit-pit radio... now, just pack ur bags for one week stay for my wedding function... and we'll discuss about ur Salluma afterward... we still have 3days time, u remember?" Navya calmed the superfast talker n she nodded in understanding before going back to her job as the customers have started to increase up...

...And, u know right, who is this Salluma? ... Arey, Nandini's Salini maa, who else!!! 🤭  🤭

On the east Bangalore, at night

A man sitting on the chair in his booked VIP lodge of a club n a sexy stripper is swaying her hips around him revealing her curves to him... He is drinking continuously n trying to enjoy her touch... trying to get worked up with her body, with her big boobs threatening to come out of the fabric and big round ass under the mini skirt... But alas!!! no effect... he is not getting hard...

He is damn frustrated now... first at his office, nothing went right... and now this! He just threw some notes for the girl who picked it up n went out closing the door behind.

"F*ck... F*ck... F*ck!!!!... Aaarrrrghhhh" he shouted n grabbed the Brandy bottle gulping as it is... full bottle...

It is not new for him... it has before his daily routine from past few months... waking up late with the alarm, all messed up... then, office... then club again messed up.

He didn't come here to get chicks to have pleasure or warm his bed... he just wanted himself to recover... he wanted to feel it... his hardness, that's it. ... But to his bad luck, this doesn't work... he had stopped consulting doctors as he thinks that they couldn't make him alright after 3 months of medication n consultant... He is now, mentally frustrated... he's feeling down, low as a man...

After a while the manager came in to check that he has passed out, holding the bottle... so, as usual, he called the one who would pick him up.

"Manik!!! wake up... and let's go" Cabir called him while trying to handle the drunk man... he is a well-built young man... aur philhaal drunk hai! so, he is difficult to handle.

"I want to go... why u bring me home? ... I don't want to... I... I am" Manik blabbered throwing his hands while with utmost difficulty Cabir managed to bring him to his bed in his penthouse.

Cabir sighed audibly looking at his bro's condition... He strongly wanted to help him... he even contacted best doctors for him... but seems like Manik has lost his hopes in the treatment... he is trying to find it's solution in other means but failing miserably...

Cabir is the one who knew the most about Manik's problem n his state now-a-days... Afterall they r brothers, best friends n share the strongest bond amongst all others...

After 2 days, in the morning

"Umm... Salini ma" I asked her after finishing my morning household works... She looked up from her food.

"Kya hai?" she asked rudely... I'm used to it, it doesn't hurt much anymore...

"Actually, Mere college main Ek study trip hain for a week ...Kal se... they told me to join, it's compulsory." I said as planned by Navya Di.

"tu kahin nahi ja rahi hai... koi trip compulsory-wampalsry nahi hoti... Ghar ka itna sara kam hota hain... uperse trip ke fees kya tera baap dega?" she yelled at me... but when she mentioned my dad tears brimmed in my eyes... If Dad would be here, he would definitely let me go everywhere I want... He loves me a lot... too much.

"Aab rona-dhona start mat kar dena... Ja apna kam kar!" she turned to her paneer kofta and roti which I made... Yes! I learned cooking too... I always used to accompany Dad when he cooked us food... even though I first started to cook after Dad's death when Salini ma forced me to... but I had knowledge of the ingredients and I used to secretly learn through youtube videos in my new Tab... so that I wouldn't get scolding for cooking her poisonous n disastrous food.

I give a last look to her before turning around... even Maddy is sitting in the dining with her, but I never expected him to say for me... The mom-son always dine together... not me... I have it in my room... and if anytime, by chance the food got tastiest than she n her son won't leave anything for me... I had to manage with biscuits n milk.

I walked into my room n got ready for the college... the last day before a week's leave. ...Yes! Navya Di has a full-poof plan set with different levels...Now, for 2nd level, she'll be calling in our landline anytime.

....Tring...Tring...

The phone ringed.... and I deliberately stayed in my room till she picks up the land phone... and she did.

"Hello" she said sweetly... Why not? ... Hypocritical Aauraat!

"Hello, Nandini Murty's parent speaking?" she frowned.

"Yes! who r u?" she asked.

"Hello mam, I'm from Nandini's university... I called u to inform you that we r going to conduct a study trip for a week for which Nandini is supposed to come... since she got a scholarship... the trip will be free for her, from our side." she narrowed her eyes thinking...

"No... actually, she had to visit her Nani's house as she is very ill... so she can't join." She lied... after all she had to suffer if I went out.

"Oh!!! That's too sad... I wish she would recover soon. ... Okay then, u have to pay Rs.8000 to us" Her eyes went wide in shock.

"What! Why?" she shouted... Must be heard of paying money.

"Actually, according to our college ordinance, students who denied for this compulsory trip have to pay Rs.8000 to collage as repayment of breaking rules... as in case of emergencies, u know!"

"No... actually, if it is compulsory then Nandini should not miss the trip... after all, study is important na!... so, no problem, I'll take care of her Nani, she'll come for the trip on time tomorrow... no worries" She immediately changed her statement... how could she spend her precious Dhan-Daulat for me, her cinderella daughter?

"Ok then?"

"Ok ok thank u" she cut the call n I walked out of the room with my bag for the college as if I didn't hear anything.

I silently walked to the door without looking at her...

"Nandini" here she called finally. I turned to look at her as if I don't know anything.

"Kuch trip ke baare main bata rahi thi na?... Tu Jaa... Kuch din Santi padegi iss Ghar main..." She said coldly... As if I shout in this house. it is always ur son who play loud songs disturbing my night studies n play games in loud volume creating noise pollution... But Nahi! Apne beta ko kyun bolengi?

"Aur han! ... Apna paise use karna... Mujse mat mangna!" she ordered before walking to her room. ... I had stopped asking for anything since the day I got to know your real face... Of course, I'll never ask for ur money especially.

I walked out to my college... not before informing Di that " Mission successful" She got really happy n excited that her Utpatang plan worked.

------------------------------------------------------------

"Manik, u r coming to attend all my wedding functions n that's final" Cabir said this for the nth time while we r sitting on the poolside in my penthouse. He directly came to my office n brought me here, not letting me go to the club tonight. I have even got calls from Mom, Dadi n Mukti calling me for the rituals.

"Cabir!... I told u na? ... I'll visit u during ur functions sometimes n will be there on ur marriage day" I protested... I don't want to be in that fucking boring marriage function... laughing around along with a bunch of relatives asking about me all the day...

"And I'm telling u zillion times that u r suppose to be there... it's... it's my big day... my wedding... u r my Bro... u have to be there with me... with Navya... think about her, she'll be happy if u join all the functions staying at our Mansion for a week... and"  He continued his lecture while I took my drink.

"And... stop drinking" he snatched the wine glass from my hand.

"Cabbiir" I growled.

"What cabir? ... Dekh... agar tu nahi ayyaa na, toh main shaddi nahi karunga... tab tuhi jawab dena sabko!" he blackmailed me.

"What nonsense?" I shouted.

"Koi nonsense nahi... Maine keh diya toh keh diya bas!... Aab, tu sooch ki tujhe kya karna hain?" He said adamantly crossing his hands across his chest n turning around. ... What a stubborn Bro I got!

If I go there, then for a week no drinking, no smoking, no club, nothing... at least not in front of them. ... There'll be many guests n relatives from our side and also Navya's side whom I've to attend... They'll eat my already frustrated mind with their silly interrogations ... "Beta, kya kam karta hai?... Beta, Shadi ki ya Nahi?... Beta, Bache kitne hai?" ... Hell!!!

But... Jane se... ghar main sab bahoot khush hogain... Mom, Dad, Dadi, Mukti, Dhruv, Cabir, Navya... sabke khushi ke liye,  I should attend it... Afterall, kitne mahine se main Ghar nahi gaya huh... I should go... Yes!

"Theek hai Cabir... Now, Don't sulk... I'll attend ur wedding rituals for a complete week with u guys." I declared n Cabir hugged me tightly in happiness n excitement.

"Oh... Thank god u agreed.... I'm sure u won't regret attending it... u'll surely enjoy." He said in excitement with a bright smile. His smile brought me to smile... He is going to get married to his love of life... everything is settled for him... I'm so happy for him.

"And ya!... Don't start drinking n smoking there... Mom Dad will be sad." 

"I know"

"Chal... toh main jata huh! Kal sab guest aur Navya's family n friends will be coming... I'll finally get to see her Nandu" he exclaimed rubbing his palms.

"Nandu?" I whispered inaudibly.

"Aur hain!... Kal time se aana... 8 am... Bye! Goodnight" And he runs away as I was going to protest as to how'll I wake up so early.

"Fine!!!... Let's wait for the night to pass... and welcome Cavya's Wedding tomorrow"

So,,, How was the episode?

Few words for Nandu?

                       For Manik?

                       For Cavya?