Hello Fam :)

I am sorry there were so many interruptions. I was unwell, and the project work due to which this chapter took a lot of time. Glad I could complete it by today. 

Happy Valentines Day :)

Happy Reading...

It was Sunday and Cabir had the whole itinerary planned for the day. He woke up early in the morning instead of sleeping in, got ready, and asked the butlers if they had the popcorn and the snacks ready. He scrolled through the movies and videos he had selected after coming from the office the previous night. When he went to the breakfast table, he couldn't help but roll his eyes at the two idiots who were stealing glances at each other when the other one wasn't looking.

They had been oblivious idiots since their college days and everyone in the college except them could see them falling in love. Four years later, the situation hasn't improved. Instead of college, they were at their home, and instead of being the head couple, they were real-life partners now. Back then, their friends had decided that forcing them would only push them apart but right now, Cabir has had enough. If he wouldn't do anything now, he would have to watch an Indian television series which would drag until he is all wrinkly and struggling to walk. But Cabir is more interested in a short story or even the recent trend of the web series. Hence, as a self-appointed cupid, he gave himself the liberty to jump in their story.

He pulled a chair, dragging it and making a huge noise to get the attention of the people there. Along with his target couple, it brought a glare from his mother too. He grinned apologetically. The sacrifices he was making for these two. Instead of being his usual chattering self, he sat down quietly, mentally going through the points of his argument. That along with the lack of a food pile on his plate might have felt strange to Nyonika.

"Kid, are you sick?", she asked him.

Cabir shook his head. "I am on a diet today", he answered.

"I doubt", muttered Manik.

Ever since their discussion about the divorce, he might or mightn't have troubled Manik with his passive-aggressive arguments. At first, Manik was confused and thought he had hurt him but because he was one smart idiot, he figured out the actual reason behind Cabir's behavior. Since then, he just said he did whatever he had felt right, and ignored Cabir, his only baby brother. Anyways, Cabir wasn't bothering about it. He had higher goals to reach and he was a busy person. Hence, ignoring Manik, he answered his mom. "I will have my food later. Today we are having Bhabhi-Devar time." It was perfect because Manik had a meeting with the Vardhans and since Nyonika was interested, she was accompanying him.

"Listen, the last time we had a 'time together', you started a food fight. I don't want mom to finally throw me out of the house this time", said Nandini.

Cabir glared at her. Wasn't he planning all this for her? He took several breathes to calm himself down and threw in a sweet smile at her. "Nandini, she has been giving the same threat to me since I was 15." This time it was Nyonika who glared at him. Why does everyone hate him in the family? He raised his hands in surrender. "No, mom. We aren't playing with food today."

His mother rolled her eyes. "Do whatever you want but please keep my house in one piece", she said and glanced at her watch. "Manik, are you ready to leave?"

"Yeah, I will get the file from my room", said Manik.

Nyonika gave another warning to her younger son and left the house. Cabir threw a sweet smile to Nandini and pulled her towards the living room. After sitting down, he threw a hand around her shoulders and whispered something into her about their day's schedule, glancing at Manik's reaction through the corner of his eyes when he returned from his room. When Manik cleared his throat, Cabir smirked. "Yes, what can we do for you, Mr. Malhotra?"

"What's going on here?", asked Manik, a frown etched on his forehead.

"We are discussing our plans to spend the day today", answered Cabir.

Manik crossed his arms. "And how is that?"

"I am showing Nandini one of my personal favorites in the Malhotra mansion", said Cabir. He waited five seconds for the information to sink into Manik's head after which his eyes widened in fright and then he narrowed his eyes. Out of pure impulse, when Manik pulled Nandini up and beside him, wrapping an arm around her, Cabir couldn't stop the grin on his face. Nandini, on the other hand, was confused as she stared at Manik's gesture. He didn't blame the poor girl because until this morning, they were on the 'ignore your spouse' mode and now Manik was staking a claim on her openly.

"You wouldn't take her to that room", warned Manik.

"And why is that, Mr. Malhotra?"

"Because she's my wife", blurted out Manik and then frowned. Because it was stupid logic and Manik Malhotra was known for his logical arguments.

To let Manik know about his opinion. Cabir rolled his eyes. "Come up with a smart argument and I will think about it. I have a better option too. Why don't we ask the lady herself? Nandini, are you up with my plan?"

Nandini was startled out of her confused staring between the twins. She glanced at Manik, who was nodding a 'no' and then at Cabir, who winked at her. The hopeful look on Manik's face only punctured when Nandini nodded a yes to Cabir.

Ignoring her, Manik dragged Cabir out of the audible range of Nandini. "If you are making her uncomfortable about anything, kid, I am locking you up in the same room for the rest of your life after cutting down your chocolates."

Cabir grinned at him. "Very sweet of you, brother. Why don't you go to that meeting of yours?"

He glared at Cabir before stomping his foot and leaving for his meeting. Once he was out of the room, Nandini burst out laughing. It was the first one in days that he had seen it. Cabir awarded himself a point there.

"I never knew riling him up is this fun", said Nandini.

"Why do you think I do that all the time? He has this super cute expression on his face. It's fun", he said. "So, are you ready to see my personal favorite room?"

Nandini's answer wasn't instantaneous and he saw the literal questions on her mind going by her facial expression. Cabir narrowed his eyes at her. Such mistrust. But finally, there was a determination as she glanced at the door by which Manik left sometime back. Thinking of your husband there. Interesting. Cabir awarded himself another point when she nodded and followed him.

XXX

Cabir was around six or eight when he saw the first migratory bird. When he asked his father, he encouraged Cabir to research about the bird. It was then he established an interest in the wildlife and it only escalated when he got a camera as a birthday gift that year. The best part of it was sometimes his father accompanied him to these visits and taught him to take the pictures of the birds without making noise so as not to startle them. When he was nine Cabir was gifted with something that he was very eager to flaunt to anyone who would listen to him. Unfortunately, neither would his loving mother nor would his adorable brother would live up to their usual character while ganging up against him.

But Nandini was different. Nandini was his sweet head girl who, if not completely, would at least come close to match his frequency. Hence, out of all the places to go and have a heart to heart with his precious girl, he chose to take her to the corner most room at the end of the ground floor of the Malhotra Mansion. Throwing a very harmless grin in her direction, Cabir unlocked the door and opened his arms wide. "This is my heaven place. Whenever I feel alone and Bhai is not available, I come here to relieve my head."

He felt a little bit offended when Nandini, instead of returning his grin, groaned. "I should have listened to Manik. He was always sensible", she muttered.

Oh, they were going to talk loads of Manik, just not listening to his idiotic ideas. "Don't worry. Follow me", said Cabir. Instead of waiting for her to be comfortable like any sane person would do, he dragged her inside the room. "This is my forest. Make yourself comfortable. I have popcorn too."

The room was gifted to him when he was nine. It had a large home theatre with a fantastic sound effect. There were couches and recliners, cushions across the room. The floor had a rocky textured carpet while the animal stuffed-toys were all over the room. He was nine at that time but even at twenty-nine, he wouldn't want to change it. Anyways, going by the expression of Nandini, she didn't appreciate it that much. Before she could incline towards the opinion of his mother and brother, Cabir had to manage it so that she at least listens to him.

"I should have known, Jungli", she said, slapping his arm. "Which forest even has popcorn?"

"Arey, my forest", said Cabir. "It has a name too. It's called 'Tanière du lion' which means lion's den in French."

"I won't speak French to satisfy your ego", declared the girl.

Cabir grin only widened when Nandini grabbed a handful of popcorns as she made herself comfortable on one of the couches. "Put your legs up. Stretch and relax."

Nandini nodded as he played a few videos of his friends from his adventures. He knew she would be the fun Malhotra after him. He just needed to make her a permanent Malhotra and he had every plan to do that.

XXX

Manik was excited to crack the deal with the Vardhans but his excitement only increased when the great Mukti Vardhan, the one who didn't want anything to do with the company business, attended the meeting along with her father. Just like he was trained, he controlled his emotions and behaved like the Malhotra he was expected to be. But when there were bigger and smarter brains involved, one could just not fool anyone.

"Mr. Vardhan, do you think it's possible to keep them quiet more than this", said his mother, at the end of the meeting.

"I never thought my daughter would even last half an hour without a word in a business meeting, Mrs. Malhotra. I am impressed", said Mukti's father.

While the children gaped at them, the elders smirked at their faces. "Why don't you go and do whatever you have to while we deal with the paperwork?", said Nyonika.

"Mom, it's not-", started Manik.

"It's okay, Manik. Have fun once in a while."

Mukti threw away the composure she was maintaining since the start of the meeting. "Manik, the canteen here has the best coffee and they don't even have bookshelves to distract you. Let's go", she announced.

It brought a chuckle out of Nyonika and glare from Manik. Mukti ignored both the Malhotras, wrapped a hand around Manik's hand, and dragged him out of the meeting room.

"I am still surprised the way she treats the CEO of Malhotra Industries so casually", said Mr. Vardhan.

"He is my best friend first", yelled Mukti, on her way out of the room.

Once in the canteen, she ordered the coffees and brought them for him.

"Thank you", said Manik. He chuckled when Mukti rolled her eyes.

"How are you? How is your married life? How is your wife? Oh, God. I wanted to say that for long but it's awkward when I am saying it aloud", said Mukti.

Manik chuckled again. "And I am living that awkward life."

Mukti frowned. "Are you not happy?"

Manik shook his head. "I love her, Mukti. These days, the ones I get to live with her, they are so precious to me."

"And then you complain when girls swoon over you", teased the girl. "But seriously, how is she?"

"She is fine. Not fine completely. But she is trying, you know. There is still a fight in her that we all are aware of. And she is too comfortable with mom. Mom almost threatened me to take her side if at all I ever fight with Nandini."

"That's adorable of your mom."

"Yeah. Cabir is trying too. I am just not sure about today."

"Today?"

"Yeah, he has been weird for a few days. Today, he was exaggerating about the time he was about to spend with Nandini. I am just not sure because that indicates he is up to something and whenever Cabir is up to something, there's a trouble that follows."

Mukti laughed. "Nandini had handled an entire college. She is by now a pro at handling your idiot twin. Stop worrying."

"I just hope he doesn't confuse her more", muttered Manik, before sighing. "Anyways, how are the wedding preparations coming along?"

XXX

Two hours later when the movie was over, Nandini had relaxed quite well even though it was based on wildlife in Australia. "I have wanted to ask you ever since I came here. Why didn't you follow your dream of becoming a wildlife photographer? You were so passionate about it?"

Cabir sighed. "After his college, Manik had joined Malhotra Industries as an intern and did his MBA through distance mode. He had always wanted to help mom with the business. I never gave it a thought about how difficult it would be for her to handle everything all alone. Manik, though, is brilliant. He is amazing. I haven't met a more genuine and pure human being other than him. I never wanted to lose him like I did dad or drift away like with mom. Of course, mom and I are fine, thanks to you. When he told mom about joining the company early, I have decided that I will follow him. I can't stay away from him."

Nandini raised an eyebrow. "Do you realize, you are talking about my husband there?"

When Cabir chuckled at the tease in her voice, he laughed. He could be too mad at his brother and might have an urge to slap him so hard or to put some sense into his stupid brain, but he also loved him to death and would do anything for him. He was surprised when Nandini ruffled his hair.

"I love your bond", she said. "That's one of the sweetest things I have seen in my life."

"And I love yours", said Cabir. It was high time to take the main step in his plan. "You bring out the side in him that no one knew existed. You make him a better person, Nandini."

This time when Nandini smiled, it was sad and wistful. "He is already the best person, Cabir. Maybe, I used to bring some positives to his life but that's it. I used to. But right now? Things have changed between us."

"Really? Because as far as I can see, you two care for each other the same."

"Yes, but-"

Cabir braced up. Convincing a stubborn head was hard work even if he was the cupid but he was all up for the challenges. "You started calling him as your husband, Nandini. When have you accepted your relationship?", he asked.

"I don't know", said Nandini. She was fumbling to find the words, which was really new even after four years. At least for him. "Everything is a mess. Just when I started accepting things around me-"

"My idiotic brother gave you the divorce papers", he said, completing the words for her when he felt her hesitant.

Nandini snapped her head towards him, a hurt flashing through her face for a brief moment, before she masked it off. "You knew?"

"No, I swear, I didn't", he clarified. "I wouldn't ever let him take this step if I had known about this any sooner." He sighed when she relaxed. Did she think he didn't want her here safe, sound, and happy? He pushed the question away in favor of another. Right now, it wasn't about him. It was about two stubborn and oblivious idiots. "Tell me frankly, Nandini. Do you want this marriage? Do you love Manik?"

She shrugged and it had hurt him more than he thought it would. "I don't love Manik. I could never love a person."

Cabir stopped his urge to roll his eyes. "You can. You love Abhi and Mukti and Abhi's parents. My mom too nowadays."

"Yes, but they are different."

"And Manik's different? Why?"

"Because there would be expectations", answered Nandini. "I haven't loved anyone before. Manik is the first person I tried to trust but my parents took everything away for me. I don't feel myself like the same person. How can I be with Manik when I feel like a stranger to my own self?"

"By starting fresh", said Cabir. Wasn't it simple? "By giving a chance at love again", he added a moment later.

Nandini shook her head, frowning at Cabir. "You are really stupid if you believe what you just said", she told. Before he could defend himself, she was talking again. "Manik isn't someone whom you give a chance at love, Cabir. He isn't someone with whom you try a relationship. He isn't made to be tangled in between meaningless hookups and breakups. He deserves someone who could love him for a lifetime without ever looking back or questioning his love."

Cabir's heart fluttered looking at the soft smile adorning her lips as she talked about his brother. These idiots were meant to be together. "Why don't you give him that love, Nandini?", he asked. "Why don't you be that person to love him for a lifetime?"

"Have you gone nuts? I don't love Manik and for a lifetime? That isn't me. More importantly, Manik doesn't love me anymore."

This time Cabir actually rolled his eyes. "Leave about Manik for now. How about I prove to you that you are hopelessly in love with him?"

Nandini narrowed her gaze. "You wouldn't give me any stupid reason regarding stealing glances or color-coordinated coincidences."

"No, trust me. My proofs are so accurate that you would jump on Manik and wouldn't ever stop confessing your love to him", said Cabir, rubbing his hands in excitement. "If you have to choose someone to love, it would be Manik, right?"

"I told that years back."

"Okay", said Cabir, agreeing with her. "On that day, if I were there instead of Manik with mom, would you have asked me to marry you too?"

"Of course", said Nandini.

Cabir stifled a groan. This girl is being impulsive without thinking about her answer which wasn't pretty new. The number of times he got himself in trouble with her because of this habit of hers during their college days. "Nandini, think. If it was Abhimanyu or Harshad or even me, would you still ask them to marry you? Because it was Manik, you trust him, you know he was in love with you the last time he talked to you and when you have met him again after years, you found the hope to survive away from that house. You could have simply asked him to save you but asking him for marrying you without a second thought. Can you explain that?"

He stayed quiet while Nandini processed his words. Manik might be blaming himself for taking an impulsive decision to marry her but what Cabir didn't understand was, why wasn't anyone talking about how it was Nandini who had asked his brother to marry her in the first place. Meeting one sane person after years might have relieved her but why marrying them? Because as far as he knew, his head girl would stay yards away from relationships, love, and commitments. As he glanced at the girl now, he held his breath. He could literally see the gears turning inside her head.

After what felt like an eternity, Nandini gasped. "I could never imagine marrying you or anyone", she muttered.

Cabir would have missed it if he wasn't waiting for it. He let out a huge scream in happiness. He would have even danced in joy but his beloved brother had chosen the time to walk into the room. When did he return and why was he looking panicked?

"What happened?", asked Manik. "Why did you scream?"

Even though the question was directed to him, his whole attention was on the girl sitting there. Because Cabir was a certified sadist when he wanted to, he blocked Manik's view from Nandini. "Hello, brother", he said, waving at Manik. He enjoyed the look of frustration on his brother about not being able to see his wife. "What are you doing here? Remember, you took an oath not to enter this room ever in your life."

"Yeah, I just came to-", started Manik but gave up the excuse in between and walked around Cabir to kneel in front of Nandini. "Are you okay?", he asked. The boy smiled when Nandini nodded. "Nandini, no one would ever force you into doing anything that you don't want to. Okay?"

Yeah, and he would grow up old and all wrinkly by the time they realize their feelings, thought Cabir. Of course, there would be a lot of forcing on his part. He is the esteemed cupid, although self-appointed. "But I am forcing you to watch at least an episode of my favorite show with me, Bhai", he announced.

Manik glanced up at Cabir, stood straight, and scratched his head. Cabir knew when his brother was thinking of an excuse. "Cabir, I have some work to do."

"Bhai, you just came back from work. And you are the worst liar", he said. He glared at his brother and grabbed his hand, hugging it to his chest, before dragging him to the nearby couch. He played the show, took a seat beside Manik, all without leaving his hand.

"Cabir, I am not sure about this", said Manik.

"Bhai, it isn't about animals. I promise. Just the first episode of the show", he assured. And the host is pretty damn special.

"Fine, but can you please switch off this 3D effect here. It's hurting my eyes", complained Manik.

Oh, did he forget to mention how his special room also had the 3D effect upon switching on the light where the animals feel as if they are ready to pounce at you? "Anything for my favorite brother", declared Cabir.

"I am the only one", answered Manik. 

He grinned at seeing him getting involved after watching Navya hosting the show. Half an hour later, Manik had a proud smile on his face. "She is so perfect at her work. Knows the right elements to keep the audience glued to the show."

"What happened to Navya?", asked Nandini.

Cabir sighed all sad and longing. "We had planned to follow our passion and work in something related to wildlife but when I later changed my decision, she got upset and angry. I tried convincing her but she was adamant. We parted ways. Maybe, we aren't meant to be", he explained. Cabir peeked a glance at Nandini and found her already looking at her. She was almost close to tearing up. Wow.

Just when he was basking in the accomplishment of making the head girl feel something for him, Manik glared at him. "Kid, you are telling the truth now."

He whined. "Bhai, what the hell? She is feeling sympathetic towards me. She never feels anything towards me. It's like a once in a blue moon thing", he told, ignoring the confused frown on the girl's head. Manik, on the other hand, didn't budge and Cabir had to give in. "Fine. Go ahead", he said, exaggerating, earning a roll of eyes from his brother.

"Nandini, when Cabir told Navya about his decision, she did throw a huge tantrum but later understood and supported it wholeheartedly", told Manik.

"Because I wanted to support her 'cutest Manik Bhai'", he said, being sarcastic over the fact that his brother would any day top the priority list of his girlfriend than him. Internally, he loved their bond and gushed whenever they ganged up together even when most of the time it's against Cabir. "We are in a long-distance relationship", he told Nandini. "I had met her parents and visit her whenever I had free time or around France. Mom doesn't know yet. I am waiting for the right time to tell her which would never come in the near future."

Just when he thought, Nandini would wipe the tears and congratulate him, she proved him wrong. Instead, he was awarded as the target of the stuffed toys she was launching at him. His brother, beside him, was laughing while ducking his head to save himself from getting hit upon. Seriously, there's a reason he doesn't confess the truth to people nowadays. 

I forced Manik and Mukti in here because I started loving them. :D

Also, Nandini, at least, realized she wouldn't have asked anyone else to marry her if they were in place of Manik. Big step. 

Navya and Cabir are going strong. Let's see if she's coming back to India or not. 

Because Manik refused to get convinced and Cabir could never argue with Manik's logic, his brilliant plan is to mess with Nandini's thoughts. This is his first attempt. Many more to come. :)