Hello Fam :)

Sorry for breaking your hearts during the previous chapter. I hope this would answer some of your questions. :)

Happy Reading...

Cabir was furious when they reached their home, surprising the butlers. He goofed around all the time. When they asked Manik if they were okay, he assured them of handling his brother. In his room, Cabir was pacing around from one place to another as Manik took a seat and waited patiently for him to calm down.

"Were you really serious back in college?", he asked. "Okay, I agree, it's Nandini but how could you stop being friends with Abhimanyu and Mukti? I thought you understood what friends meant. You just don't end friendships for some momentary feelings, Manik."

"Cabir, I didn't stop being friends with them. We are just not contacting for a few days or years", told Manik.

Cabir sighed heavily. "Because you don't want Nandini to get awkward. I understand, Manik. I hate her."

"Baby, you don't hate her. Nandini is still our best friend."

"She can't give you hope and walk away, Manik."

"She never gave me any hope", he told. When Cabir refused to believe, he pulled his brother in front of him and took his brother's hand into his. "Kid, sometime back when we went on a drive, she said, she didn't have the freedom to love. She is bound by the responsibilities of Murthy Industries and the people working there. She wants to keep their future secure. Imagine, who would even put the people working for them before their personal lives? That's Nandini, Cabir. She might pretend whatever she wants but she could never intentionally harm a person."

"I am sorry, bhai", muttered Cabir.

"Baby, she said, if she had the freedom to love, she would choose me. That's enough for me. Somewhere inside her heart, she understands me but sometimes responsibilities weigh you down. I have my responsibilities too. I have things I need to take up and this isn't the right age to barge into her house and ask her to marry me. I need to prove my capabilities."

"Bhai, you are capable", protested Cabir.

Manik shook his head. "Baby, kid, let's just give some time. If we are meant to be together, she will be back with us. If not, I haven't stopped loving dad after he left us and I don't need her presence in my life to love her."

"Are we still staying together?", he asked.

"I need to stay alive, right?", said Manik. It brought a smile on Cabir's face and Manik felt some sort of relief. At least, they were fine. He pulls his brother close and kisses his head. "Kid, you and mom are the only ones I have for myself. You two are the only ones I can call you as my own. We are a family. I can do anything for you two and I won't let anyone come between us. Neither Nandini nor Navya. I told Abhimanyu and Mukti that they are special to me, right? Baby, you aren't just special, you are my everything. How can I leave you?", he explained.

"I was scared. You were parting ways with everyone."

"Never from you, kid. You are still my baby brother. You can still barge into my room anytime. You can still sneak into my bed in the middle of the night, ask me for comfort, take me to the drives, and argue with me. I am still buying you chocolates. Nothing has changed between us, okay?", told Manik.

"I don't understand if you had your heart broken or it's mine", muttered Cabir.

Manik laughed at that. "Is it you, baby, because it's not me."

"Bhai, stop pretending."

"I am not pretending, Cabir", said Manik. "Nandini asked me not to let anyone break my heart. Not to make any girl my priority to that point where I can't live without her. I am following her. She is amazing, you know. I wouldn't be me if not for her. She is the best teacher I can have."

Cabir squeezed his hand. "You love her so much, right?"

"I do, kid. I do."

He sighed. "I wish we could be a family."

Manik shrugged. "Maybe, someday but for now, we aren't discussing Nandini again, okay?"

Cabir nodded. "Shall I sleep here with you?"

Manik shook his head. "No, I need some time for myself."

He nodded again before wrapping his hands around Manik. "Take care of yourself and remember, I love you so much."

"I love you too, kid."

When Cabir was about to leave, Manik called him back. "Cabir, can you arrange a new sim card for me?"

"Are you sure?", he asked. When Manik nodded, he smiled at him. "Okay, I will arrange it by tomorrow. Goodnight, Bhai."

XXX

Manik woke up with a flow chart in his brain. After taking an early bath, he went to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. It was something he had learned the previous year. Initially, he had fun experimenting with the ratios of the coffee powder and the milk until Nyonika found about his new obsession. After tasting it, she had blackmailed him into making the coffee for an entire week. At the end of the week, she declared it was the best coffee she had ever had, irrespective of the ratios. Manik could use some of her lessons.

Hence, he found himself in front of Nyonika with a mug of her favorite coffee. Surprisingly, Cabir was already with her, his head on his lap as he sneaked a few extra minutes of sleep. "Good morning, mom", he said, as he entered her room.

"Morning, Manik", said Nyonika and noticed the cup in his hand. "Hey, are you trying to bribe me for something?"

"Is it safe if I say yes?", he replied cheekily. He had started enjoying their playful banter. Somewhere during the previous year, Nyonika had become his friend. She could be busy with the office for days but when Manik randomly dropped to check if she was fine, he had her full attention. A year back when she had told him that she trusted him to make his own decisions or that she would be there for him, Nyonika had kept her word.

His thoughts were interrupted by Cabir. "Whatever he is bribing you for, I am still your favorite son. No one can change that", he told.

Manik chuckled. "Baby, you can't talk when you are pretending to sleep", he pointed out.

Cabir waved his hand before closing his eyes again.

Nyonika shook her head at him. "Why don't you tell me first what's on your mind and then we can decide if it's safe or not?"

Manik nodded and waited for his mom to take a sip of her coffee. "Mom, I have told you that I have applied for an MBA in London", he said. When Nyonika nodded at that, he continued. "Can I drop that plan, please?"

Nyonika frowned. "Is there any problem with that? Do you want to study somewhere else?"

Manik shook his head. "No. Mom, I want to join Malhotra Industries as an intern or something and learn the work."

Cabir gave up on his pretend-sleep and sat straight as he stared at his brother. Manik ignored him and waited for Nyonika to process his words.

"I guess there's more to this plan. What about your MBA? It isn't compulsory because it's our company and I could train you but why the sudden change in plan?", she asked.

"I am not giving up on my MBA. I was thinking about enrolling in a distance learning course", he told.

"Once again, why? Out of every option you have, why distance learning?", she asked.

Manik glanced at her. She wasn't angry or judging him. Just curious. It gave him strength because if she was curious, she was giving it a thought. "It isn't about distance learning actually. It's more about joining the company. I want to start my career. How does it matter where I am getting my degree from if I can learn the work properly?"

"Can you manage both the things?", she asked.

"I did manage my head duties along with my studies. I think I can give it a try at least", he told. "I will be working under you. If it's getting too much, I will take a break for a day or two before resuming the work."

"What about the exams or any extra classes they have to conduct which requires your presence in the college?", she asked.

Manik can't believe they were discussing this but it was happening. "Mom, I could bribe my boss for a few days of extra leave. I heard she loves my coffee", he told and turned to Cabir. "Kid, there isn't a tennis match going on. You will sprain your head."

Cabir glared at him until Nyonika sighed. "Damn, Manik. Why do I love your coffee so much?", she asked with a said pout.

"I am making you a coffee too", declared Cabir.

"No", protested both Manik and Nyonika at the same time.

"You don't love my coffee?, asked Cabir.

Manik could pretend to love his coffee for a few minutes for his baby brother. He was about to assure him the same but Nyonika beat him to it.

"Cabir, I can lie to you about anything but not your coffee. You can instead threaten me with your coffee to get your work done", she said.

"Fine. Something is better than nothing", he muttered.

Nyonika sighed in relief. Manik thought she was a tad bit more dramatic. As if she had understood him, Nyonika glanced up at him, winked, and bent forward to ruffle his hair. "Manik, take a break. A day or two or maybe a week. Search for some good open universities. By the end of the week, if you still want to continue with this plan then you will get an official mail from the Malhotra Industries."

"Thanks, mom", he said. As he looked at his future, however blurred it might be, with his family beside him, he thought life was good. 

I know this is sad but can we be proud of our Manik?

Epilogue in a few minutes. :)