The evening has come down in the city. Exhausted birds were returning to their homes.

Nandini and Avneet were getting ready as they had to go to Manik's place as per their previous plan.

"Di, it's evening already. We'll go to Manik bhai's place now but dad is home." Avneet looked worried. She knew what will happen, if they try to go out now and she could not afford another face off between Nandini and Sanjay after the morning incident.

"What does he think? We're scared of him?" Nandini replied while wearing the earring. Then she turned towards Avneet. "I'm going and you're also coming with me. What will he do? I can go wherever I want to. Be it Manik's house or somewhere else."

Then she picked her bag and stepped out of her room to go down. Avneet too followed her immediately. When they reached the hall, they found it empty. Avneet let out the breath which she was holding till now. They were about to open the door that time they heard Sanjay's voice from their back.

"Where are you two going at this hour?"

Nandini turned back. "Manik's place." She replied directly looking into his eyes.

Sanjay got angry once again. "How many times I have to tell you not to mix with them? I've asked you so many times not to go there. You both won't anywhere now."

Nandini took a few steps ahead and stood just in front of him. "You don't have to worry about where we will go and where we won't. We know it very well what's good for us and what not." Then she walked back to Avneet. "Avneet, come."

"Stop. You won't dare to take a step out. I see your courage have grown a lot. You both should be happy, celebrating that our business has grown so much and today we've introduced a new branch. But no. You're going to meet those lower class people. I wonder what's wrong with your taste?"

Nandini fisted her palms angrily. She could not keep her calm anymore as he started uttering shit about Manik once again. "Shut up. How dare you insulting them again and again? And it doesn't matter us at all whether you open a new branch or shut your business." She turned her back to him. She took a few steps but looked at him again. "One more thing, don't poke your nose much in our matter." Then she went away holding Avneet's hands.

Sanjay kept standing there being angry. His eyes were spitting fire. 'How dare she? Now you will see what I can do. Love with that boy? Now I'll see how can you be okay with him. Just wait and watch and see what Sanjay Kapoor can do.' He thought looking at the way Nandini and Avneet had gone.

Nandini and Avneet were walking through the silent roads of the Windy Lane. The roads were mainly empty, only a few cars and other vehicles were passing.

"Di, what was the need of saying so much to him? What of he tries to harm you know?"

Nandini chuckled sarcastically. "I don't think of myself anymore. I'm worried thinking of you all. No matter who he is or who is Manik, nothing gives him the right to insult or speak like that for Manik."

"You think of us always but you never care about yourself. I can't bear any harm done to you by that man. I love you a lot. I've no one except you."

Nandini caressed her hair lovingly. "I love you more, baby. And I'm not going anywhere soon."

Avneet smiled shortly. While talking to each other, they reached Manik's place.

MALHOTRA  HOUSE
"Why is Nandini and Avneet making so late? They're always on time. I hope nothing happened to their home again." Sid said looking at the time and he was worried too thinking of them.

Manik and Siddharth were aware of Sanjay's activities.

"I feel it's uncle only. After last night, I don't think he would let them go anywhere easily." Manik was worried too but he tried to not to show it much.

"I just hope we're wrong."

They were speaking when they heard the doorbell ringing. Neelima was in the kitchen. She went to open the door. Her smile grew wider seeing Nandini and Avneet standing there.

"Nandini! Avneet! You both have come after so many days. You probably forgot about me completely."

Nandini hugged Neelima as per her habit. "How will I forget you, mumma. You know why I can't come here always."

Neelima caressed Nandini's head lovingly.

"Where are others?" Avneet asked looking around.

"They are in Manik's room."

Nandini pulled away from the hug and they stepped towards Manik's room.

"Why are you both so late?" Sid asked seeing Nandini and Avneet coming.

Avneet looked at Nandini before moving her gaze to Sid. "Ohh..." She didn't find what to say further.

"Why are you stuck? Just speak the truth that, that person was home and he was trying to make trouble so that we don't come." Nandini replied straightly.

"Really! Uncle can still do this after so much has already happened." Sid nodded his head in disbelief.

"He can do this forever." Avneet spoke. Then she looked at everyone and she didn't like the serious atmosphere. "But see the best part we are here and let's just forget about him for a while. I don't want to speak about him."

"Fine. We're not gonna talk about him." Siddharth announced.

Manik was all the while quite. His eyes were stuck on Nandini only. Not because she was looking really pretty but he was wondering when she herself has so many problems in her life, everyday she has to fight with her father still she manages to smile for others and she can give herself completely to make them happy. He was glad that he has got Nandini in his life. He considered himself lucky.

"Aunty, I'm very hungry. Didn't you make anything today?" Avneet pouted cutely.

Neelima who was there as well smiled looking at her. "I was waiting for you both only. I was planning to make some fries. Everything is done, now I will just have to put them into oil and fry them. I'll go and get them for you all."

"Mumma, let's go. I'll help you." Nandini walked behind Neelima.

"Will you do this? Are you sure?" Neelima asked Nandini once again. She was reluctant to make her do these things.

"Of course, I'm."

"Do it carefully. Don't hurt yourself else Manik will scold me." She giggled while speaking the last line.

Nandini blushed a little. "I won't. You're here to teach me."

Neelima patted Nandini's cheeks lovingly. Then she put the frying pan in the stove. "Now you need to put oil in the pan and wait till it's hot."

Nandini nodded and she forwarded her hand to take the oil. Neelima noticed the bandage in her hand. She held Nandini's hand.

"Nandini, what happened to your hand?" She asked worriedly.

Nandini had forgotten about this else she could have hid it from her. "Nothing, mumma."

Neelima looked at Nandini with angry eyes and she looked down immediately. "Now you will hide things from me? I know it very well that you must have done this. Right?"

"How do you know?" Nandini raised her face to look at her.

"Why? I'm your mother, Nandini. If I won't understand, then who will?"

Nandini had tears in her eyes. She hugged Neelima. She was missing her own mother a lot even though Neelima was no less than her. Since her mother has died, Neelima had taken care of her like her own daughter. When she got to know that Manik loves her, she was so happy. Her eyes were smiling too. That day she had asked Nandini to call her 'mumma' and she happily agreed. She didn't call her just for the sake of calling. She believed her as her mother.

Neelima broke the hug and cupped Nandini's face. "Never harm yourself like this for someone who doesn't care. Because there are people who love you and it hurt them to see you like this. Always remember this."

Nandini agreed to her like always. Neelima wiped the tears from Nandini's eyes.

"I love you, mumma."

"I love my Nandini more." Neelima pecked on Nandini's forehead. "Come. Let's finish this now else they will come here and spoil my kitchen completely. I can't afford that."

Nandini giggled hearing her. Then Neelima kept instructing her about what to do and how. She followed her and managed to make the fries.

Once they were done plating them, Nandini spoke, "Mumma, you go and give this to them till then I will make the coffee."

"You go. I will make it. Anyways, you've been here for so long."

"I'm fine, mumma. I'll do it." Then Nandini literally pushed Neelima out and she started taking out things for making coffee.

When Neelima came back to kitchen, she found the coffee was ready but Nandini was not there. She didn't find her as it's not the first time Nandini had come here and she must be around.

When she went back to Manik's room to serve the coffee, Manik asked, "Mom, where is Nandini? She went with you and didn't come here after that even for once."

"She was with me only. But when I go back to kitchen again, she was not there."

"Where did she go?" Siddharth frowned.

19.05.2023