Next Morning -

Manik was working out in the gym. He remembered their fight, her crying face, her hurtful expression, her words, his words, her insecurities, her vulnerability.

Was he wrong all the while? Her dreadful past which she fears the most, is not something to get over so easily. Is he forcing her onto it? His intention is definitely not wrong but maybe his ways are. Her words still give him shivers. He cannot imagine anything happening to her. Hell, he will never let anyone even scratch her.

"Dropping your sweat to no end will not help but talking can help to solve the fight you both had." Said Cabir and Manik slowed his speed looking at him. Cabir forwarded him the drink and he silently took it. Both sat on a nearby chair.

"So, big bro, what's up?" Asked Cabir directly. Manik sighed.

"I don't like fighting with her, Cabir.." Cabir looked at him and shrugged.

"Then don't fight!"

"Cabir! I am serious yaar!" Manik said getting irritated. Cabir sighed.

"I am serious too, bro. Don't fight with her. Talk it out with her. Explain to her your point of view. Listen to her point of view and solve your problems. It's easy, dude. You guys make it complicated." Said Cabir sipping on his drink. Manik gave him a tight smile.

"Oh really? We make it complicated?"

"Ofcourse! Who else?"

"Your Barbie! It's her. Not me, okay? She makes it complicated. Usey samajhna hi nahi hota hai baat ko. Har baat ko apne hisab se dimag mei ghusa deti hai! She doesn't even try to understand my point of view and my situations. Pehle dusre ko hurt karo aur phir khud hurt ho jao. How to make her understand? She just doesn't understand."

"Then don't!" Cabir shrugged. Manik looked at him like an alien.

"What?"

"Don't make her understand if she is not understanding. Let it be. Usey jo sochna hai, sochne do. Jo bolna hai, jo karna hai voh karne do." Said Cabir. Manik just stared at him without blinking.

"Cabir, are you high on something?"

"Hey! I am offended! I am giving you advice and you're accusing me of something illegal."

"Yeh kaisa advice hai?"

"It is okay, Manik. Fights in couples are very common. You know with your fights, your love and your bond with each other grows more and more stronger and unbreakable. The point is, you understood your mistake. See, Tali kabhi ek haath se nahi bajti. Jitni teri galti hai, barbie ki bhi hogi hi. I completely understand. She will also understand. So relax." Said Cabir and patted his shoulder. Manik shook his head.

"I don't know how much time she will take to understand. She was vulnerable, helpless. The sight I never wished to see. She begged me to stay, Cabir. My heart was bleeding seeing her pain, her tears. Whatever she spoke about was her fear and insecurities. I understand but this way, she is hurting herself and me. I am not angry but I am hurt. I am hurt that I couldn't build that trust for me in her heart. She accused me of making her suffer." Said Manik letting out a suffering sigh.

"She was wrong. I completely agree. But one thing you said wrong. You think she doesn't trust you? Really? It was her anger, Manik. And I believe you did revert back, am I right?" Asked Cabir raising his brows. Manik frowned.

"What do you expect? I should sit there silently hearing her nonsense?" Snapped Manik. Cabir chuckled.

"No. Absolutely not. But I expect you to explain her calmly. If the opposite person is angry and not in his right mind, we should behave calmly and handle the situation. I suppose you did the exact opposite." Said Cabir on which Manik sighed. Manik then told him whatever happened.

"Yes, I behaved immaturely too. I said hurtful words to her. But it was not my intention. I didn't mean it. I was angry, Cabir." Confessed Manik. Cabir smiled.

"Similarly, Barbie was angry. She said hurtful words too. But it wasn't her intention. She didn't mean it, Manik." Said Cabir making Manik realise the situation.

"She was angry and she said hurtful words but you weren't nice too, Manik. You returned the favour. So both of you are at fault." Cabir explained patting Manik's shoulder. Manik huffed.

"Yeah right. Fault.. You know what? It was actually my fault. I shouldn't have gone leaving her here. I was -"

"Manik! That's not what I mean. Barbie lost many people in her life. You know how much Barbie loves you and still you talked about your death. It hurt her most." Manik sighed after hearing Cabir.

"Death is inevitable, Cabir. You never know when you're meeting a person for the last time. It's unpredictable and unstoppable. But that doesn't mean we should stop living. We cannot stop living for someone." Said Manik and cabir just shook his head.

"What if I say the same about Barbie to you? Will you be able to live without - "

"The fuck! Cabir!" Manik shouted. Cabir chuckled.

"See, that's the difference. When you talked about yourself, you said it so easily but when I took Barbie's name, you lost it. Why? Because you love her. You can't afford to lose her. Right? She felt exactly the same, Manik. You triggered her weakest nerve." Said Cabir. Manik realised the depth of his words now.

"I understand. Mujhe voh sab nahi kehna chahiye tha. I was wrong. But she was more wrong." Said Manik like a stubborn kid. Cabir laughed.

"You are just unbelievable. Bacche bhi terese behtar hote hai, Bhai." Manik glared at him.

"Don't laugh. And I am serious. This time, I am not going to talk unless she comes to me herself." Said Manik with a determination. Cabir just smiled in disbelief.

__________________________________

"Mumma!"

"Nandu!"

Niyonika exclaimed seeing her lovely daughter in front of her after 4-5 days. She rushed to her and Nandini hugged her tightly.

"I missed you, Mumma." Said Nandini. Niyonika hit her head playfully.

"Liar. Miss kiya toh mumma se milne kyu nahi aayi? Pata hai, Mai aur tumhare Dad kitne pareshan the? We were so worried for you, bachha!" Said Niyonika kissing her hair. Nandini broke the hug and looked down sadly.

"I am sorry mumma. It won't happen again. Promise." She pinched her throat while her tears threatened to fall.

You hurt so many people because of your insecurities. Her subconscious screamed.

Niyonika shook her head smiling and caressed her cheeks.

"It's ok, baby. Mumma is not angry."

"But I am angry!" Came a voice from behind.

Nandini peeped and saw Raj sitting on the couch while reading the newspaper. She widened her eyes and looked at Niyonika who shrugged. Nandini slowly made her way towards Raj. Niyonika hid her smile. She knew Raj was just teasing her.

"Dad.." Nandini whispered slowly. Raj didn't look at her. Nandini looked at Niyonika with a sad pout who gestured for her to talk again.

"Dad please.." Nandini pleaded and Raj looked at her sternly. She pouted and held her ears.

"Sorry na, Dad. Forgive your princess, please." She pleaded with a puppy look. Raj turned his face away without saying anything and started reading the newspaper again.

Nandini looked ready to cry. Niyonika decided to intervene.

"Raj, if my baby cried you won't be sleeping in our room for a month I am telling you!" Niyonika said sternly.

"What the fuck!" Raj shouted. Nandini flinched at his shout and opened her mouth in amazement. Her dear dad just swore in front of her. Niyonika gritted her teeth.

"RAJ.." She shouted back and looked at Nandini. Raj also followed her gaze and understood his mistake.

"Sorry Niyo. But you said one month-"

"2 months.."

"Niyo-"

"3 months.."

"Yaar princess tell her na.." Raj literally whined looking at Nandini who giggled.

"Aww Dad! You're so cute. You love mumma so much!" Said Nandini jumping on her place. Niyonika shook her head and left from there glaring at Raj.

"Princess! I love her but more than that I fear her." Nandini laughed hearing him. Raj narrowed his eyes.

"You baby monster, it's happening because of you and you're laughing at me ha?" Raj said and started tickling her making her laugh aloud.

"Hahaha! Dad! Stop! Nooooo!!" Raj stopped seeing her panting hard and looked at her with a smile.

"Always keep laughing like this, Princess." He said on which Nandini smiled but frowned.

"Dad.. you were not angry?" She asked. Raj laughed and took her in a side hug.

"Nahi pagli. I was just teasing you. How can I be angry with my princess, hmm?" Nandini pouted.

"I thought you were really angry.." she said. Raj pecked her forehead.

"I was worried for you. But now seeing you laughing, my worries flew away." He said. Nandini smiled.

"I am sorry." She apologized. Raj shook his head.

"It is okay, princess." He said. Nandini nodded and looked around.

"You all had breakfast?" She asked.

"No bachha. Abhi main laga hi rahi hu. Bir aur Mannu bhi aate hoge ready hoke. Aao, tum bhi baith jao." Said Niyonika while arranging the dining table.

"Mumma, main Paysam bana du?" Nandini asked eagerly. Niyonika looked at her.

"Abhi? Nandu breakfast kar le pehle. Lunch mei bana dena." She said. Nandini shook her head.

"Abhi bhook nahi hai mumma. Baad mei breakfast karungi. Paysam sabko pasand hai bahot. Please let me do it." Pleaded Nandini. Niyonika smiled and nodded her head in positive. Nandini squealed and ran in the kitchen. Raj chuckled.

"Meri bachhi aaj mere liye Paysam banayegi. Waah! I am already famished." He said. Niyonika chuckled.

"Aapke liye nahi, aapke bete keliye bana rahi hai. Usey mana rahi hai.." she said smiling.
________________________________

"Mom, woh paneer parantha pass kardo. I am so hungry ya!" Said Cabir while stuffing his mouth with fruits.

"You're always hungry." Said Manik rolling his eyes.

"And you're always angry." Said Cabir on which Manik glared at him.

"See, you proved!"

"Shut up, bir!"

Cabir shrugged and kept eating his breakfast. Manik was having his breakfast with a frown. Niyonika and Raj shared a look. Suddenly Cabir started sniffing.

"Mom.. yeh khusboo kahase aa rahi hai? It's tempting. Who is in the kitchen? Kya ban raha hai?" He asked like a bhukkad he is. Before Niyonika could say something, Nandini came with a big bowl.

"Good morning, Birji. Presenting, Nandini special Paysam for you all. Tadaaa...!!!" Said Nandini with so much excitement. Cabir widened his eyes.

Manik stiffened in his place hearing Nandini and looked at her who smiled at him sweetly. He ignored her and continued his breakfast.

"Oh My God! Paysam! Itne dino baad! Barbieeee! I love you yarrr! Sirf tu hi mujhse pyaar karti hai." Said Cabir as Nandini served him in the bowl. Nandini smiled.

"I love you too, Birji. Main aap sabse bahut pyaar karti hu." Said Nandini looking at Manik who didn't even spare her a glance. Cabir, who heard her smiled evilly.

"Aahaan! Chance pe dance karliya Barbie! Not bad, ha.." he said on which Raj and Niyonika also laughed.

"Kya Birji aap bhi." She said and started to serve Manik who showed her hand.

"I am full. Thank you." Saying this he started to leave from there. Nandini felt her heart breaking at his ignorance. Raj stopped him.

"Manik, stop. Have it. Usne itne pyaar se hum sab keliye banaya hai." He said. Manik let out a chuckle.

"Yeah right. And you all are having it. Anyways, I don't think it matters if I ate it or not. Bye." Saying this he left. Tears fell from Nandini's eyes which she wiped quickly. Everyone shared a look before Cabir said.

"Arey leave him. I am here na, Barbie. Give me. I will finish it all." Said Cabir. Nandini smiled and gave him more.

"Nandu, you sit now. Come on, complete your breakfast." Said Niyonika. Nandini smiled weakly.

"I will have it later, mumma. Bhook nahi hai." Said Nandini.

"Aise kaise? No, have it now baby."

"I have a very important meeting in an hour, mumma. I need to leave. I am sorry but I should leave. I will come tomorrow. Bye. Love you all." Saying this Nandini left hurriedly.

"I feel like punching your son, Niyo." Said Raj. Niyonika looked at him dryly.

"My son? He is your son, Raj. That's why showing this anger. Blame yourself. Aap hi ke genes hai yeh." She said on which Raj made a face.

"He is not angry. He is hurt." Said Cabir shaking his head. Raj and Niyonika looked worried.

Screen freezes.