Our Manan is just a little away from each other
but they can't meet.
Love this chapter and comment on your views, the next update will be on basis of comments.

|Quotes dedicated|

I say let the world go to hell, but I should always have my tea." ¬Nandani Murthy. |

Don't try to please everyone, you will lose yourself.

 Don't care about the people who don't like you.

  " ¬ Manik Malhotra. |

..With all due respect Dad This is absolutely ridiculous.." Manik shook his head in annoyance. "..how can you all of you do this to this innocent child .."

"Manik Bharat Malhotra will you please stop
overreacting.." Nainavati aka dadi ma silenced him. ".and seriously what is the problem.."

"You are literally ordering me without taking my point in this matter to get engaged and still you are asking what's my problem."Manik couldn't believe it. ".seriously what's gotten in all of you .."

"Manik behave yourself." Prithviraj Malhotra, Manik s grandfather who was listening to Manik's tantrum for the past 20 minutes finally chose to utter something up. "..is this how you behave with your parents .."

Manik immediately shook his head. ".but Dadu didn't you hear what Dad and Dadi maa are speaking .."

"I heard every word that's why I am not
able to understand what is your problem..and why are you acting like a four-year-old kid .." Prithviraj had enough of his nonsense."..the way you are acting it's kind of making feel as if you are high on drugs which is simply unacceptable.."

Dadu...."Manik's eyes widened in surprise . "..what are you even saying Dad.."He shook his head and spoke again ..." I don't do drugs...I haven't touched alcohol in my life ..."

"Just quoting the facts my darling grandson ..Prithvi replied. "..the way you are acting these days...God knows it's annoying me ...You're in every gossip channel and newsletter with the title .."The Womaniser of Malhotra empire " and that's simply goddam ridiculous in your language ..."

Manik coughed blatantly when he realised exactly what was referring to. " Dadu ..you. aren't aware it's all a lie an-..."

Before he could finish Prithviraj showed him a hand ...."I don't need your explanations Manik ...I am aware of each blunder you've committed..to save the company you've let the media malign your name. You haven't just dirtied the name of the "Malhotra s " but you've left no stone unturned to humiliate the reputation of the CEO of Malhotra empire .."

Bharat looked sternly at his son .." Manik Malhotra I agree you've raised the company to another level but at what cost ..you've ruined your image infront of the media ...It indirectly means you've damaged the reputation of the whole family ..Am I right?

Manik closed his eyes letting out a deep sigh. "You know everything...Dad.."

.....Manik I'm aware and we won't let you ruin the name and reputation of our family and hardwork like this."...Manik tensed at the volume of his voice .. you have been given the freedom to pursue your own paths and I'm proud of The fact that you've used your opportunities to build the Malhotra empire much stronger than it already was but now it's high time for you to settle down .."

Manik was horrified at this statement .."Dad but.."

".My beloved son according to the media you're driving yourself to the wrong path so as your family it's our responsibility to show you the right part .." Bharat smirked when he completed his sentence "..So tell me are there any potential love interests in your life ..?"

Manik sighed in vexation. Everyone present in the room was very well aware that he didn't have a single girl in his life credits he was always immersed in business to glance a single look to girls who swooned over him but who knows the truth.

He was also sure of the fact that if they have picked a topic they wouldn't let it go untill they have reached a conclusion ..." There goes your life Malhotra ..." he mentally thought...

..No dad I haven't got any potential love interests in my life as of yet .."He replied scratching the back of his neck in anxiety.

..."We want you to settle down as soon as possible ..."So we have got a girl in our mind mind ." Adira Malhotra, Manik s Choti maa added smiling at him with eyes full of love and concern for him.

Manik's head snapped up at this information
".What."He was stumped. "..Who ..?he looked from Raj to Neyonika and the whole family present in the room with shock "...Alya Saxena ..." Adira added with a smile .." She is good enough for you ..She has got a good personality with good looks and she is well educated ..that's what you want don't you .."?

Manik Malhotra drifted in thoughts of Alya Saxena.
She'was a childhood friend, a strong headed fashion designer who loves her work and aces it.

Manik always found those type of women attractive who understand the importance of their job and prioritize it.

Alya s family owned fashion boutiques all over America and England and she was the senior designer in the company. She's polite, smart, gorgeous and I don't think any guy would reject her but Manik never found her attractive in that way. He never considered her more than just a friend.

But then again

There are so many advantages if you are marrying a childhood friend. Such relationships are more about stability than about other aspects like romance and chemistry. Alya was a brilliant girl and maybe just maybe she was the one for him

Manik didn't utter a word rather he simply nodded his head so Nyonika continued "..since you
and Alia are childhood friends so we thought she is the best choice for you as you get along very well..." Neyonika added .."And on top of that The Saxena s are our neighbors and on good terms with us ..."

..."We will be of conversing with The Saxena s that you and Alia will be getting married by the end of this year.." Neyonika smiled .."And I'm sure they won't refuse us "...

"...Your officially in a relationship with Alya would be announced to the media as soon as Saxena s accept the relationship ..."This will gradually remove the playboy tag you've got from nowhere as you're looking for a real-time commitment .."...and if by any chance if we find ever again that you are trying to run away from marriage Mark our words it won't be good for you .."

Manik looked at his family completely stumped out. They have planned his marriage in a couple of minutes.

Marriage isn't a ring worn or a paper signed.

It is not something endured but savoured. It is the union of two hearts beating as one, each that would sacrifice for the other's happiness and wellbeing.

Marriage is something so beautiful that in that natural world it would be an opening rose, always with radiant petals left to unfurl to a warm sun. Perhaps that is why we give roses to those we love and often have them at our sacred unions. Marriage is the blessing we give to one another, an eternal bond of soul-mates.

His reverie was broken by Samar who clapped him on the back with a smile on his face ..."Congratulations bhai you're getting hooked ...".Manik have him do-you-have -a-death -wish -look .." and Samar chuckled lowly

Manik leaned on the sofa closing his eyes when he felt his cheeks being cupped with soft hands. He let out a sigh of relief pulling the owner of those hands closer ..

.."Hello Chucks ".. Saira Malhotra enquires pulling Manik s cheeks to which Manik chuckled while Saira pouted folded her arms in anger and sat on the other couch with eyes full of anger and Manik looked at her confused about what has gotten into her.

Manik slowly walked to the couch

"Chucks Is the news true ki AAP hamesha ke liye jaare ho ..." Saira enquired looking at Manik with her small hazel eyes which were filled with tears and Manik scooped her closer .." Arey kisne Keh Diya I'm not going anywhere ..:" Manik chided wiping Saira s tears.

"..Par Mama said you're getting married ".. Adikhsa enquired with a confused expression on her face while Saira listened to them full of attention ...."You're getting married to that makeup sae Bari -hui auntie "..

Manik pressed his lips in a thin line trying not to laugh at the word "Makeup Wali auntie" ..."Adiksha aise Nahi bolte she is elder to you ".. Manik half-heartedly scolded while she scowled at him in anger .

."Let's go icecream ".. Manik suggested to the girls who were giving him deadly looks and as soon as they heard ice cream they're faced lit like Christmas trees.

Standing at Baskin Robins in Wall Street,3rd lane. The Malhotra trio was licking ice creams sitting in the lounge area of the Hotel cum Shop. Saira and Adiksha opted for Chocolate chip while Manik wanted cookie and cream.

"..Chucks I want to use the loo "

Manik who had finished his ice cream and glanced at Adiksha who had finished her ice cream too while Saira was still left with half of it .

"..Alright Saira stay Here don't move .Chucks has to take Aadi to the washroom ".. Manik ordered to Saira who was just nodding not listening to a word of what Manik said. With the same Manik left

Saira who came back in her senses looked moved her gaze over the whole lounge to see no clue of Chucks and Adiksha. Immediately panic rose in her chest. Her hazel eyes filled with tears as she dropped her ice cream on the floor and ran towards the exit to find Chucks. Were they playing hide and seek with her? She prayed that either of them to show themselves.

She glanced at the roads. There was no sign of Manik or Adiksha. Unknown people were walking hand in hand on the roads not paying a single glance to the crying kid at the end of the lampost. Saira walked to a corner folded her arms and started crying . Why had they abandoned her? Was she a bad kid as Aryan bhai mentioned ?.

"..Why is this young baby crying ."

Saira wiped her tears which were blurring her vision to see a person standing in front of her with a stunning smile on her face .Her eyes widened in realisations to see the person in front of her.

It was an Angel.

Her outfit

Saira recalled how badi maa used to tell her stories about Angels , who were messengers of God and acted as guardians of human beings who were very kind and had a heavenly beauty surrounding them.

She also told her about the apsara s in
In Indian mythology, apsaras are beautiful, supernatural female beings. They are youthful and elegant, and superb in the art of dancing.

Saira was confused about the lady identity.

.......Was she a apsara or an angel or both?

... But if she was an angel where are her wings ?...

"... are you  lost ? "... She questioned pulling her cheek slightly and Saira broke out of her daydreaming session she let out a low sob and hugged her tight while she wrapped her arms around her crying softly

.."Shhh it's okay where are your guardians ..She gently asked patting the back of her slowly .."I don't know I was eating my ice ... ice cream and ..." Saira broke down again while The lady kept rubbing her back softly uttering soft words in a mere whisper. After Saira has calmed the lady took her hand in hers

.."Sweetheart it's okay," Angel said, wiping her tears from her face .."We will first eat your favourite ice cream and then find your guardians, By the way, what is the name of this gorgeous little girl .."

It's Saira ," she replies, quietly. Her shy eyes meeting her, shocked at her kindness. She offers a
stunned Angel a smile, "M-My name, Is Saira .."

Angel smiled at Saira and She felt her heart flutter in happiness as she took her little hand in hers as they walked slowly to the nearer ice cream parlour .

"So which flavour will you have ."Angel asked Saira leaning towards her and Saira shyly tucking the hair strands she replied .."Chocolate Chip ."

."Two chocolate Chip and one Cookie and Cream oh and yeah please pack one mint vanilla. That's it. Thanks .." Angel forwarded some money to the cashier.

Saira nodded in thought Cookie and Cleam that's what Manik Bhai had ordered too . Her thoughts were broken when Angel bent towards her handing her two ice creams in her left and right hand

Saira battled her eyes lashes in surprise .

."Tw-Two Ice -Ice creams ?."She questioned stammering to which Angel nodded ."Ba-Badi maa says don-don't each to- too much of it .

."Some rules are meant to be broken ."She winked at Saira while she giggled in mischief and accepting the ice cream with a low ."Thank ..Thank you "

Saira was eating ice cream with the mystery lady while Manik on the other hand was searching for Saira like a mad man. Tears trickled down his scrumptious face as he cursed himself for leaving Saira alone. Saira finished her ice cream and frowned when she looked around. Every uncle and auntie were staring at the table they were sitting at. The uncles had the look of happiness while aunties looked —angry?

Why?

"..Let's go little one, "Angel asked and Saira nodded holding her hand for her dear life.

Saira was walking slowly hand in hand with the lady when she saw Manik bhai talking to someone with a worried expression on his face . She immediately let go of her hand and ran towards him

".Chucks.." She shouted and Manik s face worried expression immediately morphed into a smile looking at Saira in front of her .Saira hugged him tight, his worries disappeared like rain on summer earth.

"... You okay ?.." Manik asked cupping her cheeks checking her for any injuries. She nodded her head smiling at him "...Angel helped me mm ..okay ..".Saira informed holding out the two ice creams in her hand.

.."Where is Angel?.."Manik questioned confused and Saira pointed out towards a street pole .

                                  Manik turned but there was no one standing there.

Word count - 2950
Publishing date -5th May 2021