Happy Holi to all my readers aka TOUF family😘😘🤗😜
Fill your life's canvas with colours of happiness, joy and good health.

        ********************
"What trouble are you talking about pretty girls?" I snapped my head from where the voice came only to find Aryamann standing on the door and smiling.

Mukti stuffed the papers inside the duvet while I gave him a awkward smile and moved towards him shielding Mukti. 

"Aryamann what a pleasant surprise, what are you doing at my house? I didn't know you will be coming." Though I wanted to kick him off as he came all of a sudden and he being Manik's brother clearly meant problem for us but I presented my self politely.

Arya-" No you didn't sweetie, Actually I came--" 

Aliya-" You didn't but I called him Nandini, have you forgotten this is MY house too."  She came behind him and was scanning my room while Mukti stood beside me now glaring at her. Mukti loathes Aliya to such an extend that if it was for her she could have pushed her off from Hoogly bridge. 

Mukti-" Yaa sure Aliya but I guess your guest forgot that this is not YOUR room but Nanz. It's better you tell him to keep his sweet talks till your reach and not barge in anyone's room." She gave a look to Aryamann who rolled his eyes. 

Aliya-" You just shut the--" 

Aryamann-" Hey hey... girls relax yaar. I'm sorry for barging in like this. Actually I came here with my friends for a hangout and when Aliya said that even you two are upstairs so I thought of calling you two. Come downstairs and join us it will be fun." He stopped both of them to start a war right away which I was thankful of otherwise god knows what would have happened. 

"Its so sweet of you Aryamann but I don't think I know your friends and also we don't want to spoil your fun. It's fine you all enjoy we both will be upstairs." 

Aryamann-" No no no... you are coming with me. Nandini you know the people who are downstairs and even they will be happy to see you. It will be like a celebration for our friendship and me coming back to Kolkata, you see two in one party. And Miss grumpy cat even you can join in I won't mind." He turned back to look at Mukti who was about to oppose and set free my hand from Aryaman's hands but stopped hearing him call her 'grumpy cat' and grinded her teeth when he gave a playful wink to her. Aliya hand already gone downstairs in dismay. 

Aryamann-" Yohooo guys see whom I got myself with... the one and only time traveler Nandini Rajvansh." He announced and the two people turned around who were none other than Damon and Elena.

Damon-" Hey Miss beautiful, it's a pleasure meeting you again." He took my hand kissing my hand making me smile. 

"Pleasure is all mine Mr. Salvatore. But I would say you are the one with the most beautiful eyes." I gave him a bow and that is when Aliya looked at them confused. 

Aliya-" Damon how do you know Nandini? When did you guys meet?" 

Damon-" At Manik's house, when I barged into Manik's room to only meet Nandini there." He gave me a teasing look while I widened my eyes as this meant so wrong when I saw Elena, Aryaman and Mukti also giving me looks while Aliya had a shocked expression plastered on her face.

"Damon! stop exaggerating, I was there to get freshen up because we had a long day at work and came directly from the lodge. Aryaman you also saw me there right so why this expression?" 

Damon laughed and held his hands up in surrender " Ok Ok... I was just kidding. Yaa but surely our first meet was like this. I met her at Manik's house." 

Elena-" Hey Nandini, it's nice to meet you again. I hope you are alright and nothing happened in the past." She spoke in my ears while hugging me though I was confused but nodded a no.

We took our seats making a circle as Aryamann and Damon wanted to play some game and as we were about to start the bell rang.

Aryamann-" Wohooo, I guess our food is here. Nandini can you please see once as you are close to the door." He asked me while I saw Aliya was about to get up but stopped mid way hearing Aryamann.  Nevertheless I got up to check on the door and I saw someone standing trying to balance lot's of pizza boxes in one hand and holding a packet in another. 

"Keep these boxes here and I'm sure the payment is already done, if not then give the bill--" 

"Do I look like a fucking delivery boy to you Nandini? Help me with these damn it." I was cut in between by the loud voice which didn't took me a second to recognize who's it was.

"MANIK!!!! Ohhh I'm so sorry I didn't know it's you." I helped him by taking the boxes and the packets and got him inside while I could hear the laughter of Aryamann and Damon from inside. 

Damon-"Travelie it's not her fault that she took you to be a delivery boy, I mean look at you with that cap and tons of boxes. But so sweet of you to get them all here." He laughed out at Manik's expense making even Mukti join them while Elena gave a slap on Damon's bicep to stop him.

Manik-" Ha ha ha.. you two ditched me and came here while I was waiting for you to come. I could have just come with my parcel but I'm not so bad like you two." He mocked at them and took my seat while was placing the other packets. 

Aliya-" Manik why didn't the delivery boy come with you?" She asked the question I wanted to ask. 

Aryaamann-" We had first did the same but the delivery boys have some strike so we had pick it up on our own. Kolkata and it's strikes!" While Aliya nodded along with all of us. 

*************

Past 1970

Sanvi and Siddhant were sitting by a lake watching the migratory birds flying with enjoying the slow breeze. Sanvi had her head on Siddhant's shoulder while he had cocooned her in himself holding her close. 

Siddhant-" Sanvi do you think that what we did there was right ? Nandini is still unknown to a lot of things and you asked me to give her scroll. Look I don't doubt Nandini but then what if she doesn't get to know the right meaning of it or worst Manik or anyone else finds it out? That nephew of mine is completely brainwashed by the lodge and I don't want Nandini to fall in any trouble." He shared his worry with her while she smiled hugging him more.

Sanvi-" Sid you still haven't seen that right? Don't worry Nandini will find the truth sooner or later I'm sure of that. I agree she is new to all this but then she is also a Basu descendant and we are born smart, prepared or unprepared. Also your other worry about what if Manik finds out then even if he finds out he will give Nandini a chance to explain and I feel that if they are together then our motive to save them will be achieved." She smiled at him while he frowned hearing her. 

Sid-" So much of trust on that brat? He is no good than a mere robot Darling, I really feel bad for him that he is in such a bad influence. Manik should not know all this." 

Sanvi-" Don't be jealous now Sid atleast not from your own nephew, though he is a distant one. And my trust on him is because of what he said today when he saw us with Nandini. He could have taken Nandini wrong by seeing me hugging her but he didn't infact he trusted Nandini and stood by her for her safety. Didn't you hear what he said while you both were fighting? 'Nothing will happen to Nandini till the time I'm there with her.' He will protect her as I feel that he has slowly started feeling for her." She smiled looking in the front while Siddhant distanced himself a little from her.

Sid- "What the hell? He has feelings for her? But how why? I mean no it's wrong. Not another love story between Basu's and malhotra's." 

Sanvi-" Well you should be happy right that the kids are following our family tradition. It's been like this from years that some way or the other Malhotra boys get charmed by the Basu beauties." She winked at him getting up giving a teasing smile.

Sid- "Ohhh hello it's the other way round. You basu girls fall for our handsome and charismatic personality. But even this is true that not all love stories have a happy ending. Ours was an exception but see still we had to run away. What if even they--" 

Sanvi-" No Siddhant, I have a very strong feeling that they both will sail together and will have a happy ending. We just have to pray that this secret does not bring any difference between them but strengthen their bond." 

Sid-" But what if he doesn't? You know right that it's forbidden for them to love. Even the prophesies point to that and that is what we wanted her to be away from." He panicked remembering the prophesies he had read.

Sanvi-" Which is written by the Lord and I really don't think that love can be forbidden for anyone. We just have to be positive Siddhant or else we will be nowhere if we keep thinking negative." She entangled her fingers with hers and tried to calm him down. 

With this both of them started walking around enjoying their time there.

***********************

Present 2021

Nandini's POV

All of us were playing and chatting along with having pizza. It felt good to have all the friends around though I just met them once or twice but it felt so good with Aryamann's PJs to Damon's flirting. Right now all of us were at the terrace  playing truth and dare making a circle 

Aryamann - Aliya - Elena - Damon - Manik - Nandini - Mukti - back to Aryamann. 

The bottle spinned and stopped on Elena. 

Aryamann-" Truth or dare Elena?"

Elena-" Dare." 

Aryamann-" Woohooo.. so you need to show us some magic Witchie. It's been so long we saw any magic." He spoke over excitedly and Elena showed him eyes pointing at Mukti while Mukti laughed. 

Mukti-" Ohhh don't worry Elena I know you are a witch. I mean come on my bestie is a time traveler so it's obvious atleast something I will also know." She gave me a full blown smile while I also was about to smile when I felt a strong gaze on me only to find Manik glaring in a challenging tone as if saying 'you really told her all this'

I really don't get this, why does he have problems with what I do. He also have told everything to his brother and Damon so have I ever objected that why he did that, no right, so why he is having issues if Mukti knows. 

Elena-" Ohhh then it's great umm.. I want some coke Aryamann can you get some for me it's there in the kitchen I guess?" She asked him while he made a confused face but got up and as soon as he got up Elena closed her eyes and chanted something and wooshhhhh.. 

"Aryamann? Where did he go?" I asked him and so did others. 

Elena-" To get me some coke." She winked at us while Damon shook his head side hugging her.

After sometime we saw Aryamann coming from downstairs with a bottle of coke. 

Manik-" Where did you go?" he asked his brother while Aryamann gave her the coke and pulled her hair a little while she snapped his hands. 

Aryamann-"She directly sent me to the kitchen and I collided with the stool and was about to fall." The thing he said made all of our jaws drop while Elena raised her imaginary collar. 

Elena-" I just teleported you buddy. This is the new trick I'm learning by which I can send people from one place to another." 

"Hey this is just like time travelling, but without the machine." I sat all excitedly while she shook her head. 

Elena-" Well not really, time travelling makes you go back in any year or time but teleporting will only make you go from one place to another in your time only. Though there are some similarities." She explained while we all nodded. 

Arya-" Wohooo, I experienced the thrill of doing this like you Manik bro. Hey but how do you people do this landing? It was so difficult for me to balance myself." 

Manik-"As I'm doing it from a long time and have practiced. But I don't think you need to learn that as it was just a one time thing my bro." He smiled at his brother while I looked at him, well his side profile is also killer. 

With this the game went on and now it was Damon's turn.

"Damon your first meet with Elena?" I asked enthusiastically which not only changed Damon's and Elena's expression but also Manik's.

Damon-" Our first meet wasn't a goodie goodie one. I had attacked her on our first meet." He chuckled remembering the first time they met.

"What do you mean? Attacked her?" I asked completely confused.

Damon-" Girls don't freakout after what I say next... I'm a Vampire."

"What!!" "Vampire!!" "Wow!!"
A collaborative squeal was head from Aliya, me and Mukti respectively. 

Mukti-" This is super cool, like I'm surrounded by 2 witches, 2 time travellers and a Vampire. My gang is surely the most versatile one." She jumped up suddenly in happiness while I shook my head at her craziness.

Arya-" Well you forgot about me Miss grumpy cum enthusiastic cat." He asked Mukti while she rolled her eyes.

Mukti-" Yaaa how can I forget you- a nossy Flirto." She threw a cushion on him which he dauged really well.

" ummm... Damon how old are You? I mean vampire." I asked him while he gave a cocky smile.

Damon- "165 year old. And don't worry I won't feast on any one of you to death. I have super control over my hunger." He sat like a king and that was when Manik just tapped at his back.

Manik-" Stop boasting yourself vampie."

We played for some more time and stopped when all our eateries were over.

Manik-" I want to freshen up, can you tell me where is the washroom." He asked me as he saw all of them busy with something or the other.

" Let's go downstairs. I will show you." I took him with me while still thinking about a lot of things.

Nandini's room

As we entered the room I was relieved that Mukti had cleaned the room and there were no manuscripts there. Manik entered the washroom while I decided to stay here till he comes back.

That is when my phone rang showing Mukti's name.

*This girl can't leave me alone for sometime.* I shook my head and picked the call.

"Yes Mukku say what happened?"

Mukti-" Where are you Nanz, this cousin of yours is really causing me so much of headache. She took my fav. Chocochip ice cream." She cribbed like a small child while I laughed.

"Mukti stop cribbing like a kid now there will be some more ice cream in the fridge. I will get it for you while coming upstairs. Manik wanted to use the washroom so I came down with him." I laughed while I know she must be making a face now.

Mukti-" You went with Manik!!! Is he a kid that he can't go alone if told the way? But then on the other side its good you both enjoy." She teased me while all I wanted to do now was throw something on her.

"Mukti... I have not come here to romance with him. So just stop your imaginations. Chal I will talk later I guess he is coming. And yes now you won't get your ice cream." I cut the call while I could hear her loud scream from the other side for ice cream.

Manik-" Thank you Nandini but you didn't have to stay here. I won't have stolen anything behind your back." He was standing leaning to the bathroom door.

" Hah ha ha ha.. very funny Manik Malhotra. Come let's go upstairs otherwise they will come searching for us." I turned to leave when I heard him say something. 

Manik-" Yaa yaa let's leave...Hey what is this?" He was holding a page of the manuscript and was about to turn it while my heart came up to my throat in fear.

"MANIK DON'T!!!!" I went to snatch it from him while he looked shocked with my actions. 

Manik-" hey chill yaar, what is so important in this that you are shouting like this? Can't be a love letter or is it?" He raised his hand up making it difficult for me to reach it.

"Manik this... this  is Mukti's so I'm telling you please give it back to me. And it doesn't concern whether it's a love letter or not. Give it to me back." I tried pulling his arms to reach out to the sheet. 

Manik-" Really is it really Mukti's or are you hiding something Nandini?" he pulled me closer by holding my waist while I banged with his chest. His eyes were looking back at me while I was trying to divert my attention but failing again and again.

"I... I'm not hiding anything Manik and what the hell do you mean by that? Listen just give this sheet and let's leave before anyone comes here." I tried to jump this time to get hold of the paper and succeeded but along with it even Manik's hand came making him trip and push me  which caused me to fall on the bed along with him on top of me. His face came really close to mine and he accidently kissed my neck sending shiver down my spine while my eyes widened and even he was shocked with what happened. 

"Manik where are... Ohhhh goshhh what's happening?" 

We came out of the shock hearing a voice and I pushed Manik making him fall on my side while we looked at the door.

********************

Here is your holi gift update from my side😊
Hope you enjoyed reading.

Who saw MaNan like this?

Will Nandini be able to hide all this for long? 

Will Manik support Nandini like Sanvi thinks or He will do the way the Lord wants him to behave?

I will meet you all soon with the next chapter. Till then be safe and avoid playing holi this year it's for our own safety. Spend time with your family and eat tasty tasty dishes 😉

With love,
Your writer
Satakshi (Neha)