Nandini entered the villa and saw Ishita talking to someone. Ishita saw her and forwarded the phone.

Nandini: *confused* Hello?

Voice: Nandu mujhe bhul gayi na tum?

Nandini: *happily* Nehu aise kaise bhul gai. Of course not! How are you? How's your holiday going?

Neha: Are yaar I am fine but missing you so much or tum to ghum rahi ho Navya ke sath mujhe chod ke.

She grumpily complained like a kid whose friends are eating her favourite chocolate without sharing with her. Nandu chuckled making Neha more annoyed.

Nandini: Maine to tujhe pehle hi kaha tha chal mere saath but tujhe dharam patni banna tha to mai kya karu? Acha waise tere workaholic pati ko bolna tujhe ghumne lejai, on your second honeymoon. *Neha blushed*

Arya: Oye mai yahi betha hu or mai workaholic nahi hu, jyada mat bol.

Nandini: Acha to kaha lei ja rahe ho Neha ko?

Arya: *smirk* I already have tickets booked for Paris. So kaisa laga mera surprise wifey?

Neha: *stunned* Whattt? Really? OMG? Nandu suna tumne? I am so happy. *immediately hugged him*

Nandini: *giggling* Acha lovebirds enjoy your time! Bye!

After exchanging byes, they hung up.

Next day,
In Malhotra mansion,
Manik woke up early feeling fresh. He stretched himself getting off the bed and decided to work out. He moved to the balcony taking in the fresh air of the fresh winter morning. It was a blissful morning, cool breeze, birds chirping and the sun shining in all its glory. He decided to go for a jog instead of the gym in the house.

Soon he was downstairs ready in his jogging suit and shoes. He saw Nyonika coming out from her room, so he went to her, hugged her and wished her good morning kissing her cheeks where she smiled and pecked his forehead.

Nyonika: Good morning bacha! Inti jaldi uth gaye tum aaj?

Manik: Ya mom aankh khul gayi so thought to go for a jog. Wese dad is still asleep?

Nyonika: No, he is in shower and Cabir?

Manik: Mom wo kal raat ko der tak work kar raha as he has a meeting tomorrow so let him sleep.

Nyo smiled at his care for him and nodded and Manik moved out to jog. This was Manbir, they never spare a moment to fight with each other, tease each other, even beat each other but when they both are together no one can even raise an eye on their family. Raj and Nyonika are very much proud of their bonding and always pray to keep it the same way. Nyonika always feared if in future their wives would try to separate them but after meeting Navya her tension subsided a lot as she is not only traditional and well-mannered but also considers Manik as her elder brother.

Soon everyone gathered at the dining table for breakfast and finished it with lots of fun. After breakfast, they sat in the living room where Cabir lied down keeping his head on Nyo's lap.

Nyonika: *caressing his hairs* Cabu bacha bohot tired ho?

Cabir: *snuggling in her warmth* Hmmm.

Nyonika kissed his forehead and continued moving her fingers in his hair. Raj and Manik smiled at them.

Raj: Acha bacho hum Murthy villa evening mai hi chale jayenge ao we can spend more time there. Wese Nyo Nandu ka call aya tha kya, she hasn't called since long to me?

Nyonika: Raj ek week pehle hi to call kiya tha usne!

Raj: Wohi to its been long is she upset with me or what? But maine kya kiya?

Nyonika shook her head in disbelief but she was now very excited to see his reaction seeing Nandu!

Nyonika: Uff Raj you are too much!

Cabir: Mom rehne do na, you know na agar Naira ya Nandu dono mei se kisi ka bhi phone nahi aya week mai ek baar to he gets restless. But dad bhai ne 2 weeks tak call nahi kiya and you didn't say anything?

Manik: Sahi mai dad you only love your princesses not fair!

Nyonika: *suppressing her laughter* Raj bohot galat baat hai ye.

No one was allowing him to speak and he was getting frustrated while others were enjoying his condition.

Raj: Hogaya aap logo ka? Nai baki ho to bol lo, fir mai kuch bol saku. Or who told you I don't love you three boys? Manik tum, Cabir and Abhi are equally dear to me bas girls ki fikar zyada hoti hai because they are pampered the most in the family and now, they live alone!

Manbir: *side hugging him* We know dad and we love you too!

Nyonika smiled widely watching them. She was silently praying to god to keep her family like this always. They pulled her too in the hug. It was the purest sight, anyone could watch. Their trance broke with Manik's phone ring. It was his PA.

Manik: Yes Sneha, what is it?

Sneha: Sir the client who was to come tomorrow came today itself and they wanted to know if the meeting can be preponed today?

Manik: Ok fine the presentation is ready anyway, but I still need to check once so give them the time of meeting at 3 pm. Is that clear?

Sneha: Yes, sir anything else?

Manik: Ya get the conference room ready for the meeting!

Sneha: Sure sir!

After they hung up Manik told everyone about it. Nyonika wasn't very happy but agreed only after taking a promise of returning early.

Evening,
Murthy villa,
Ishita: Nandu bacha rehne do na let me do it or at least help you!

Nandini: Amma karne do na waha kaha itne logo ke liye cook karne ko milta hai. Waise amma unko pasand to aye ga na mera food?

Nyonika: Kyu nahi aye ga meri princess ne itne pyaar se jo banaya hai!

Both Ishita and Nandu look at the doorway to find Nyonika standing with a wide grin. Nandini immediately had tears in her eyes and she ran to hug Nyonika who engulfed her very dearly.

Nyonika: *cupping her cheek* Kaise hai meri Nandu? You look so beautiful bacha.

Nandini's look 👇

Nandini: I am fine Nyo maa or mai apse beautiful lag hi nahi sakti *she winked at her and Nyonika hit her head*

Both burst out laughing when Ishita, who was till now admiring their bond, came towards them and hugged Nyonika.

Ishita: Kab aye tum log and you all came naa?

Nandini: *sheepishly* Bas abhi abhi and I couldn't wait to meet her, so I ran to the kitchen. But Manik abhi tak nahi aya he had a meeting so he will directly come here.

Ishita smilingly nodded. They moved to the living room. Nandu tiptoed to the couch and stood behind Raj. Raj gave Ishita a side hug. Everyone was smiling seeing Nandu. As soon as he sat, she covered his eyes with her hand who got startled by this but soon recognised the touch and had a million-dollar smile on his face.

Raj: Nandu meri princess?

Nandini: *pouting and coming at the front* Apko kaise pata chal jata hai humesha.

He immediately took her into a hug and asked many questions about her return which she patiently answered. Soon they were chitchatting when Nandini got a call from the hospital to get some info. She excused herself and moved to her room for a file.

Here Manik entered the house downstairs and said hello which gained everyone's attention. Ishita almost ran to him and hugged him, he too kissed her forehead.

Manik: I missed you Ishi maa and I love you!

Ishita: *giggled* I love you too bacha and I missed you too!

Then Manik met Abhi and Raman too. He saw Raj beaming with happiness and felt happy too.

Manik: Kya baat hai dad you seem very happy?

Raj: Of course, meri Nandu jo ayi hai.

Manik: Nandini in India?

Raj nodded. Nyonika asked him to freshen up as he directly came from office, so he went to his and Cabir's room already in the villa, whereas Naira always preferred to stay with Nandini in her room!

After freshening up he was walking in the corridor upstairs when he banged into someone. Ouch was all he heard.

Manik's attire 👇

Manik: I am sorry meine dekha nahi!

Nandini: Manik aap?

He immediately looked up to see her.

Manik: Tum yaha kaise? I mean what a pleasant surprise.

Nandini: Yeh mera ghar hai to of course mai yahi hongi?

Manik: What? Matlab tum hi Nandu ho, dad ki princess?

Nandini: *realisation hit her* OMG to tum Nyo maa ke bete ho?

He nodded and both burst out laughing on the coincidence. They moved downstairs talking and giggling. Everyone was sitting in the living room when they heard their giggles. They look at the stairs only to get surprised. Manan who hardly talked in childhood are behaving like close friends. Manan saw them looking and they came down.

Cabir: *first one to come out of trance* Yeh kab hua? I mean when did you guys meet?

Manik: Actually, Cabir we already met before at the airport and he explained how they met and how they become friends. Nandu with her eyes pleaded Manik to not tell about Harshad and he blinked his eyes. Everyone smiled genuinely on their story. Cabir who found something fishy in his brother smirked and asked something.

Cabir: But Manik tu to kabhi fab5 ke alava friends nahi banata so ab kya hua?

Manik: Wo wo mein *he started looking here and there when Ishita came to his rescue*

Ishita: Rehne do na Cabu good thing is yeh bachpan ki tarah silent to nahi hojauenge ek dusre ke samne.

Everyone burst out laughing leaving an embarrassed Manan. This is when Nandu chirped in changing the subject.

Nandini: Waise Cabu bhai I am a big fan of fab5 songs. I have all your albums.

Manbir smiled at this.

Manik: That's good to know! I am a fan of dazzlers too but won't say I have all the albums *rubbing his back of neck*

Abhi: Its ok Manik we understand.

They then settled on the dining table where Nandu made Nyo and Ishita also sit and started serving when Raj interrupted.

Raj: Princess we all are family only, so we can serve ourselves you also sit down.

Nandini nodded and sat beside Nyonika opposite to Manik. Manik was about to serve himself when Nandu spoke.

Nandini: Umm... Manik isme black pepper hai, I have made it without black pepper as amma told me you are allergic to it. *forwarding a bowl* Here take this.

Manik smiled to the brightest and all others smiled as well seeing her care. Manik gave an appreciating smile to her and thanking her took the bowl from her hand. Everyone had their dinner with lots of fun and masti. All praised Nandini for her cooking skill.

After dinner, everyone settled in the living room when servants came with cheesecakes again made by Nandini. All of them relished it with little chats. They were chatting when a servant informed them that Raj's PA was here. Being confused Raj asked to bring him in.

Raj: Varun tum yaha?

Varun: Actually, sir aapse urgent kaam tha to I went to Malhotra mansion and got to know that you are here so I came here but good thing that Raman sir is here too as it is related to both!

Raman: Mujhse related, what is it?

Varun: The money you provided Malhotra industries for a project, it can be declared as black money because as you know there was an issue with merger so right now it is only Malhotra's project and for this Raj sir can be arrested if correct information of money is not provided. As per my information raids are being conducted in some companies and our company can be one of them.

All were shocked to hear. All this was hard to process for Ishita and Nandini as they are nowhere related to business whereas Nyonika understood a bit.

Manik: But what's the with the merger?

Raman: Manik merger had few issues and project needed to be started asap so we thought to go on with and deal with the merger later!

Nandini: So, is there no way out of this?

Varun: Mam there is a way both of us, I mean me and our lawyer who only know about this, thought of if you agree with it sir *looking at Raj*.

Raj: Go for it Varun. What is it?

Varun: Sir if the Murthy and Malhotra somehow are related, by blood or legally, then it is possible. And the only option we have is one of Murthy kid get married to Malhotra kid. This way both families can be legally connected, and this can be considered a family affair.

This came as another shock to everyone. Marriage? Based on business? Wouldn't it be more like a business deal? But the two ladies of the family had a slight idea whom to get married and they hoped it happens.

Raj: *angry* Are you mad? It's not a joke ok, it's a marriage for god sake.

Ishita: Bhai calm down I think this is our only option, this is our last resort.

Cabir: But Ishi maa I consider Nandu as my sister and she even calls me bhai so, I can't marry her!

Abhi: And the same goes for me and Naira.

Varun: Sir what about Manik sir and Nandini mam?

And boom! All looked at Manan who were hell shocked at this!

Author's note: Hey guys! I know a bit late update but as a compensation its a long one! 2200+ words! Phew, my fingers are paining!
So, tell me how's the update?
Excited to see how Manan copes with this, especially Nandini?
Any suggestions and I would be glad to add it if it fits my story line!
Pls vote if you liked it, drop long inline comments and follow me!
Lots of love from Vaish!