Natasha came home and she was very very angry.

"Manik!" Natasha screamed. "MANIK!"

Everyone came running hearing her yell. Cavya & Mukbhi took one look at her and started laughing at her. Her hair was all over the place from the wind, her clothes were dirty and had mud on it from when the guards threw her out....and she was somehow missing a shoe, while the other one had a broken heel so she was holding it.

"Omg! Haha ha! Yeh kya hua?" Mukti laughed.

"That  stupid school! They threw me out!" Natasha screeched.

"Note to self.....school ko iss saal bada wala donation dena." Cabir said. Natasha chucked her shoe at him but he ducked out of the way.

"Manik! Main uss school ko sue karne wali hoon...ek toh paata nahi woh log kaise AC lagate hai...it was so strong, I couldnt even walk!" 

"Kya?" Everyone gave her weird look.

"Upar se...himmat toh dekho, mujhe....MUJHE bahar nikal diya un logon ne! Tum abhi Mayank aur Arohi ko dusre school mein admit karwao. My children will NO-"

"Woh bache tumhare nahi hai Natasha. " Manik spoke up. "You lost that right years ago...Mayank aur Arohi mere bache hai aur woh usse school mein rahenge. Unhone kuch galat nahi ki...tumhara naam school mein likha nahi hai kyunki tumhara koi rishta nahi hai mere bachon se. Nandini harr saal jaati hai school, teachers, principal....sab jaante hai usse."

"But woh sirf iss liye kyunki main nahi thi...par ab main tum logon ki life mein vapas aa gayi toh..."

'Kisi ne bola tumhe? Vapas aane ke liye?" Manik asked.

"Manik...tum mere insult kar rahe ho." Natasha growled.

"Nahi...tum khud ka insult karwa rahi ho." Manik said. "Just leave....aur phir sab thik ho jayega. Humare life mein tumhari koi jagah nahi hai."

"Really?" Natasha smirked. "I wouldnt be so sure Manik dear."

"Kya matlab hai tumhara?" Raj asked.

"Arre Dad-"

"DONT call me that....Dad nahi hoon main tumhari."

"Whatever....par shayad aapke bete ko apne career pe focus karna chahiye. Usse itna bhi nahi paata ki uske kal wali concert mein woh kaunsa chief guest hai jo perform karne wala hai."

"What? No...no way. Tumne toh gaana chod diya tha na?" Manik asked.

"I did....gaana mere liye ek past time tha aur modelling passion. Par jaise hi mujhe paata chala ki mere baby ko madat ki zaroorat hai, I decided to to contact your manager."

"Im not your baby...aur mujhe tumari koi madat nahi chahiye."

Dadi decided to appear at that moment and see what was going on. She was floating in the air listening to their conversation.

"Oh but you do....main toh humesha se kehti thi, tumhare career ka koi bharosa nahi hai. Aaj famous ho toh kal nahi ho. Tum apne talent ke vajah se rockstar toh ban gaye lekin...apne rude attitude ki vajah se tumhari kaafi badnami bhi hai. Pichle 5 concerts failed kyunki utne paise nahi hue....in fact sirf 50% audience hi aaye."

Manik's family looked at him stunned, because he had never told them this. 

"I still dont need you Natasha. Jab tum chod ke gaye they...I was nothing. Main apne khudke talent se famous rockstar banna....kisi ki madat ke bina."

"Exactly...tum kuch nahi they, yeh family bhi kuch nahi tha. Aur mera career bhi set nahi tha....isi liye toh humara rishte mein thodi si problem ho gaye....but now things have changed. Malhotra Industries is very successful, Im also famous....bas tumhari career ko bachane ki zaroorat hai. Thats what Im here for....you know na, kal ki concert is completely sold out....sirf iss liye kyunki Supermodel Natasha bedi gaana gaane wali hai."

"Iski toh main....saali kamini kahi hi. Yeh toh sab kuch apne control mein le rahi hai. Pehle yeh ghar ab Manik ka career bhi. Nahi...mujhe kuch karna hoga. Ta ki Natasha kal concert mein naa gaa paaye." Dadi thought to herself.

Natasha walked off and Manik threw a vase off the table in frustration. 

"Manik...kya kar raha hai tu? Lag jayega." Abhi placed his hand on Manik's shoulder.

"Bohot ache se jaanti hoon main ki woh yeh kyun kar rahi hai. She wants me to. owe her...agar usne meri career ko bacha liya toh....she will never shut up about it." Manik said.

"Toh concert ko cancel kar de." Nyonika said.

" I cant Mom...maine aap logon ko kabhi bataya nahi kyunki I didnt want to worry you lekin this is my last chance. Its not just about my attitude par the last few albums I recorded havent been doing well either....the record label gave me an ultimatum, ki if this concert doesnt do well then they will drop me. Aur mera Manager bhi wahi keh raha hai. I dont know what to do....shayad mujhe apne gaane ka style badalna hoga or something lekin....I have no choice now. Yeh concert mein cancel nahi kar sakta and now if Natasha doesnt sing....toh Ill be ruined." Manik fell to the ground in despair.

"Tune bataya kyun nahi Manik...hum sab milke koi solution dhund dete." Raj hugged his son to comfort him. 

"Mujhe sab ko pareshan nahi karna tha..."

"Pagal hai tu.....hum tere family hai. Its what we are here for." Cabir scolded Manik. "Pehle bata deta toh Natasha teri situation ka faida nahi utha paati."

***************

Next Morning...

Nandini had returned late with the kids, by then everyone was asleep. Manik had stayed awake waiting for Nandini because he was used to sleeping with her in the room but as soon as she entered he pretended to be asleep so she also lay down on the pull out bed and fell asleep.

The next morning, Manik got up early to get ready for his concert. As Nandini prepared his bag, she could tell he was upset.

"Manik....kya hua aapko?" Nandini asked.

"Kuch nahi...Im just gonna go take a shower." Manik went into the washroom.

"Yeh sab uss Natasha ki vajah se hai." Dadi popped up behind Nandini making her jump.

"Dadi...warning de ke nahi aa sakti aap?" Nandini whispered.

"Nahi." Dadi replied. "Acha sun tu riyaaz karti hai?"

"Gaana Manik ko gaana hai...aap mujhe kyun puch rahi ho?"

"Jo pucha uska jawab de...riyaaz karti hai ya nahi?" 

"Haan karti hoon."

"Perfect...chal ab."

"Kahan?" Nandini asked.

"Shopping...aur tu chod de, Manik khud kar lega." Dadi waved her hand and all the things that Nandini had packed came flying out and went back to its spot.

"Dadi..."

"Chup! Aur chal mere saath." 

Nandini followed Dadi downstairs where Nikhil & Mukti were begging their mom's for something.

"Mukti bhabhi...Navya bhabhi...kya hua?" Nandini asked.

"Dekh na Nandu...yeh dono shaitan zid leke bait gaye ke inko bhi humare saath bahar jaana hai time spend karne ke liye jaise tune Mayank aur Arohi ke saath ki." Mukti replied.

"Aur hum bol bol ke thak gaye ki woh isss liye kyunki woh dono school mein ache marks laaye hai." Navya added. 

"Haan...hum baad mein le jayenge lekin abhi toh kaam hai na?" Mukti said.

"Unko bol ki tu saare bachon ko bahar le jayegi." Dadi said. "Bahar jaane ka bahana mil gaya humme."

"Uh bhabhi, kyun na main saare bachon ka aaj ghumne ke liye bahar le jaun?" Nandini obeyed Dadi.

"Arre nahi nahi. Tu pareshan mat ho. Hum samjha denge inko." Navya said.

"Koi pareshani nahi hai bhabhi. yeh dono mere liye Mayu aur Aru se kam nahi hai. Meri hi galati hai, kal mujhe inko bhi saath le jaana chahiye tha. Par koi nahi...aaj chalenge. Kyun bachon. Chachi ke saath bahar chalogi?" Nandini turned to Nikhil & Pihu.

"Aww...tu bohot sweet hai Nandu." Mukti hugged her. "Thik hai...tu rukh. Hum bachon ko tayyar karke le aate hai."

After awhile, all four kids came down.

"Main Ramesh bhaiyya ko bolti hoon van bahar laane ke liye." Navya said.

"Nahi bhabhi...Ramesh bhaiyya ko bulane ki zaroorat nahi hai. Aap bas chabi mujhe dijiye...main chala lungi." Nandini said. 

"Arre wah! Seekh rahi hai tu. Mwuaa!" Dadi looked impressed and gave Nandini a flying kiss. After taking the keys, Nandini got in the van with the kids in the back seat and drove to the mall where Dadi told her.

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Teaser: 

"HELP! Koi hai! Get me out!" Natasha banged on the door but nobody could hear her...nobody except for Dadi who was standing outside of the door with a naughty look.

"Ab kaise jayegi gaana gaane churail?" Dadi said. "Manik ke concert mein gaana toh meri nandu hi gayegi.."

********

Nandini was on stage with a dupatta over her head, covering her face. As she sang, everyone was mesmerized.....even Manik was stunned.

"Natasha ki awaz ITNI achi kabse ho gayi? Aur yeh muh kyun chupa rahi hai?" Manik tried to moved her and there to see her face. Suddenly there was a gust of wind and.....

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Thoughts on this chapter?

Thoughts on the teaser?

Will Manik grow closer to Nandini?