After shopping with the kids, Nandini drove straight to the concert venue where she met up with her family.

"Mumma!" Nikhil ran to Mukti to show off his new shirt. "Look! Nandini chachi ne humare liye naye wale kapre kharida!"

Meanwhile Pihu was twirling infront of Cabir & Navya. "Papa, I look like a pincess! Hai na?"

"Tum tph humesha hi princess ki tarah dikhti ho." Cabir replied.

"Nandini..inn dono ne yada tang toh nahi kiya na?" Navya asked

"Nahi nahi bhabhi....they are angels." 

"Acha tune khud ke liye bhi shopping kiya hai ki saare shopping bachon ke liye hai?" Mukti asked.

"Haan bhabhi.....woh kuch kapre kharida hai maine khud ke liye." Nandini replied.

"Oh cool...ghar jaa ke dikhana thik hai?" Mukti said. Nandini nodded.

"Sun." Dadi popped up behind Nandini. She tried to look normal but was listening to her. "Koi bahana maar ke back stage aa jaana aur kapre badal lena. Aur Natasha ka naam lene ke baad wait for a bit...uske baad tu entry maaregi. Thik hai?"

As soon as Dadi vanished, Nandini turned to Nyonika. "Um...Ma?"

"Haan bol bacha..."

"Actually, Aru aur Mayu ko concert se pehle Manik se milna tha...toh main unko milake aun?"

"Yeh bhi koi puchne ki cheez hai kya Nandu? Manik tera pati aur bachon ke Papa...jaa, le jaa unko." Nyonika replied. Nandini smiled and grabbed Mayank & Arohi's hands leading them towards the back stage area.

"Mumma....humne kab kaha ki humme Papa se milna hai?" Arohi asked.

"Haan nahi kahan par...mann toh hoga na?" Nandini asked her kids.  The kids nodded enthusiastically. 

"Yeah Mumma....backstage is so cool! Aur mujhe Papa ko good luck bolna hai!" Mayank said.

"Exactly...toh isi liye main lee jaa rahi hoon." Nandini went backstage. The guards didnt stop her because they knew who she was. "Jao...woh raha tumhare Papa ka greenroom. Tum dono jaake mil lo aur phir wahi se concert dekhna. Wahan bohot bada wala tv hai aur bohot saare snacks hai."

"Mumma aap nahi chalogi?" Mayank asked.

"Nahi...aur Papa ko batana bhi mat ki main yahan hoon ok?"

The kids nodded and then ran off to Manik's greenroom. Nandini then slipped into a closet and changed her clothes.

Meanwhile Natasha was getting ready in her green and she looked so proud of herself. Dadi appeared near the door and glared at her.

"Kya baat hai...tayyar hua jaa raha hai huh?" Dadi smirked. "Iss bewakoof ko lagta hai ki yeh meri Nandu ki jagah legi? Dekhti hoon...mere hotey hue woh kaise hota hai."

She blew and a stong wind shut the door closed. Natasha turne around surprised.

"What the....yeh darwaza kaise band hua?" She stood up and walked towards the door. Dadi snapped her fingers and the door got locked from outside with a large padlock. Natasha turned the handle but it wouldnt budge. "Oh god...its locked.."

Dadi snapped her fingers again and the whole room became sound proof. Natasha started knocking on the door to get someone's attention but no sound could be heard from the other side. "Hello....koi hai wahan? The door got locked! HELLO!!!"

"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.."

She snapped her fingers again and put a "Do Not Use" sign up on the door.

********

As Manik got ready for his concert, Mayank & Arohi ran in to meet him.

"Hi Papa!" 

"Arre...Champ...Princess...tum dono yahan?"  Manik got surprised.

"Haan humme aapko good luck bolna tha....and can we watch from here pls! Wahan bahar bohot crowded hai." Mayank said.

"Of course mera bacha. Tum dono jo chahe woh kar sakte ho." Manik hugged his kids. On the tb he notice the host had walked on. "Chalo...main bhi tum logon ke saath opening act dekhta hoon uske baad jab woh mujhe bulayenge toh main jaunga...ok?"

"Ok Papa!" Arohi replied. They both climbed onto Manik's lap and watched the tv.

HOST: Ladies and Gentlemen! Aaj iss concert ki opening act ke liye jo perform karne wali hai woh aur koi nahi bal ki the famous model, Natasha Bedi!"

Everyone waited but of course no one came out.

HOST (Clears throat): Ms Natasha Bedi! You can come out now...

Still noone came.

"Thats weird....Champ, Princess....tum dono yahan raho. Main dekh ke aata hoon." Manik said. His kids nodded and he left his green room and went to Natasha's green room to see the sign and the padlock. "What the- she's not here. O god! Jaan bhuj ke chali gayi hogi...Usse paata hai my career depends on her. Ab kya hoga?" 

https://youtu.be/inEu2qQuGZ8

Manzilein ruswa hain
Khoya hai rasta
Aaye le jaaye itni si ilteja
Yeh meri zamanat hai
Tu meri amaanat hai aa...

Manik froze in his spot as he heard a melodious voice coming from the stage. 

Mujhko irade de, kasmein de vaade de
Meri duaon ke isharon ko sahare de

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

Dil ko thikaane de, naye bahaane de
Khaabon ki barishon ko
Mausam ke paimane de
Apne karam ki kar adaayein
Karde idhar bhi tu nighahein

Sun raha hai na tu
Ro rahi hu main
Sun raha hai na tu

Kyun ro rahi hu main x (2)
Yaara..

Dadi appeared beside Manik and smiled as she swayed along with Nandini's song. Then she notice her face was covered. 

"Haye bhagwan...isne apni muh kyun chupaya hai? Main toh chahti thi ki sab dekhe Nandini ki talent...." Dadi mumbled. Then she thought of something.

Waqt bhi thehra hai
Kaise kyun yeh hua
Kash tu aise aaye jaise koi dua
Tu rooh ki rahat hai
Tu meri ibadat hai aa
Apne karam ki kar adaayein
Karde idhar bhi tu nighahein

Sun raha hai na tu
Ro rahi hu main
Sun raha hai na tu
Kyun ro rahi hu main x (2)

"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.....just as her dupatta was about to fly off Nandini caught it and pulled it down again. 

Dadi who had made the wind come grumbled and stomped her foot because her plan didnt work.

Everyone stood and and clapped for Nandini. She saw Manik standing back stage and quickly ran from there.

"Oye!" Dadi appeared infront of her. "Tu muh kyun chuppa rahi hai? Ganna gaya hai chori thodi na ki..."

"Sorry dadi...par main aise sab ke samne apna chehra nahi dikha sakti." Nandini replied.

"Kyun?"

"Kyunki...bas nahi kar sakti. Mere liye yeh sab itna asan nahi hai....Pls Dadi...samjhiye meri baat ko." Nandini begged. Suddenly they heard Manik's voice.

"Kahan gayi woh ladki?" 

Just as Manik rounded the corner, Nandini turned her back to him. Dadi snapped her fingers and a mirror appeared on the wall infront of Nandini. She was too busy running so she didnt notice but Manik managed to catch a glimpse of her reflection before she ran off.

".....Nandini....." Manik was shocked. 

Dadi smirked. "Tujhe bhi sorry Nandu...par main jo bhi kar rahi hoon tere liye kar rahi hoon. Manik ko tujhse pyar tab hoga jab usse paata chalega ki asli Nandini kaisi hai."

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

Thoughts of this chapter?

What do you think Manik will do now that he saw Nandini was the one singing?