Thank you all for loving this story as much as you loved and supported Vivah... I am grateful🙏🏻

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Manik's POV

I rushed inside Murthy house to find my daughter. She sounded so sad over the call as if she had cried buckets. I can in a second recognize her voice if it is happy, chirpy, excited or sad. And this time it was much more than just sad.

The silence as I rushed in was making me dizzy itself. I ran inside to see Mahi sitting on couch looking down with Navya Didi sitting on her one side and Amms on the other side. Cabir and Chachi stood behind the couch watching her cry. Where is Nandini and Neel? Does she know that Mahi was crying?

"Mahi...." I called out impatiently and her teary eyes met mine. Oh My poor child. She rushed towards me and I towards her. I took her into tight hug kneeling on the floor while she sobbed in my hug. Her little, soft hands rested around my neck as she cried making my collars and shirt wet.

"Shhh... Shh... Baby... Princess... Why are you crying?" I asked breaking the hug and wiping her tears from her pink cheeks. Her nose turned out red as she had cried so much. She hiccups and then shook her head hugging me again tightly.

I looked at Cabir who stood there sighing deeply. I wanted to question where is Nandini but I had stopped.

"Papa... Let's go home... I want to go home; I don't want to stay here with... With Mamma..." She sobbed making me tremble in her hold.

Still hugging her tightly, I looked at Cabir and Amms who stood there worried.

"What happened exactly?" I asked while Mahi broke the hug looking at me. She looked at Amms and my eyes travelled towards her too.

"Manik actually..." Cabir trailed off and spoke everything that happened today with Mahi.

"So... This is what happened!" He spoke and then took a deep sigh.

I clenched my jaw tight feeling extremely angry for that one moment. Why is she hurting everyone around her? Why is she doing this? Doesn't she see that here we all care for her and what does she do? Hurt people around her who love her.

Till now it was me, I was somewhere fine with it because I can handle her anger and pain and ignorance because I am an adult but Mahi... What does her mistake in all this? Isn't she a child too? Just as small as Neel? Just as delicate as Neel? And then she says, I don't love my kids equally. Now...

Okay Manik don't go there. You don't need to say the same thing as her. It's just situations has got us at a point where slowly everything is getting messed up.

"Papa... I want to go home! I want to stay with you. Please Papa... Don't leave me here. Please..." My daughter cried again and I pick her up as she rested her head on my shoulder hugging me again. I patted her back lightly and looked at Amms.

"I am taking my daughter home!" I announced and Amms stood shocked there.

"Manik beta... Nandu woh...." She tried speaking but I stopped her in between.

"Amms Main aapki bahot izzat karta hun. Isiliye please... Mujhe mat rokiye. Apni bachi ko rote huye nahi chhod sakta yaha jaha koi uske aansu pochhnw ke liye nahi hai. Chalta hun. Neel ko boliyega Papa missed him." I said and without turning back I started walking out.

Mahi still kept crying in my hold but I made her sit in the passenger seat and I myself sat on the driving seat. I watched her looking at the main door hopefully and it broke my heart. She must be hoping that Nandini would run towards her to stop her but...

I patted her small head and she looked at me with glassy eyes.

"I love you Princess... Waffle khaye?" I asked her while she gulping her tears looked at me and nodded softly.

I wouldn't lie that I hated this silence from my daughter. Mahi was always a chirpy kid, a happy kid. She jumps around, talks with everyone and entertain all of us but this little soul sitting beside me made my heart shudder in pain.

I drove to her favourite waffle store and made her sit on the table while I settled myself on a chair in front of her. The whole ride from Murthy house till the store was utterly silent. She kept looking outside as suddenly she found everything else more fascinating. And I also didn't pester her more to speak. Once she is in a bit of good mood, I know she will talk to me.

She digs her little hands in the waffle and I watched her eat. She licked all the chocolate from the waffle and bite it slowly. She looked at me and I could see the baggage under her eyes also the dried traces of tears on her chubby pink cheeks.

She extended the hand towards me gesturing me to eat and how could I deny my little innocent daughter, so I had a small bite and she ate in silence after that.

I cleaned her mouth with tissues and washed her hands. I picked her up again and she rested her head on my chest sighing deeply. I could feel her even breathing. As I placed her on the passenger seat, I found her asleep. I sighed and carefully made her lie on the back seat. She looked quite fatigue and disturbed. I don't want to make her cry anymore so I let her be.

I drove back to our home trying not to think about my wife's harsh step towards our daughter. I mean how could she try to hit her when she was already so disturbed. Wasn't she the one who always understood our children better than anyone else, then? then what happened to her now? can't she see Mahi's pain too? My poor little princess was worried for her little brother but doesn't she deserve the same amount of both of our love?

What is happening to my family? To my life? To my wife, my daughter and my son? Why everything is so messed up in my life? Why can't we just live a happy life like everyone live?

I looked at Mahi who was sleeping hugging her knees up till her chest through the rear view mirror. Right now, someone needed to be beside her just like my son. If Nandini is with Neel, then I should be the one with Mahi too.

I picked her up carefully in my hands and she instantly wrapped her hands around my neck and legs around my waist. I kissed her head smiling and walked inside of my house.

I saw Bhabhi and Bhaiya sitting on the living room couch talking randomly and when I entered they rushed towards me.

"What happened? Mahi... And where is Nandini and Neel?" Bhabhi asked almost immediately caressing Mahi's hairs.

"Sh... Mahi so rahi hai. I am letting her sleep. Kal baat kare iss bare mein" I whispered and they both looked at each other.

Bhaiya turned towards me and patted Mahi's back. She flinched a bit but soon settled down in my arms again.

"Okay. You sleep and let her sleep too. We'll talk tomorrow morning." Bhaiya said and I nodded.

Thankfully, no elder was to be seen in the hallway, so I hurriedly rushed inside my room just to avoid all the questions for now.

I placed my tiny daughter on bed and covered her with the comforter. She instantly smiled in sleep and snuggled into it. I smiled and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek caressing it softly.

I sighed and changed myself into comfortable clothes. I sneaked inside the comforter hugging my princess placing my hand on her small tummy. She flapped her hands in air and rested them on my cheek making me smile. It was such a nice view to see her sleeping this peacefully. I bet every father in this entire world lives for this moment.

I grinned and caressed her cheeks and hairs.

She flipped here and there before settling down. I saw her eyes open as she breathed and then her eyes turned towards me. I slowly placed my hand under her petite body so that now she was laying on my arms.

She blinked her eyes cutely at me and said "I love you Papa"

I smiled and cocooned her in me "I love you too princess!"

She sighed in my hold and I kept kissing her head placing light kisses over it. she looked up and her eyes got glassy again.

I wiped her tears from her eyes and she spoke just after that "But Mamma doesn't love me. She only loves Neel."

I sighed and decided to keep quiet and let her speak.

I caressed her forehead. "You know she didn't feed me; she didn't talk to me when I returned from school. She didn't play dolls with me, she didn't love me..." She sobbed and hugged me tightly wrapping her hands around my waist and I kissed her forehead.

"She kept loving Neel Papa... Aur mera kya? Am I not important? Or will I be important if I am also going to di..."

I placed my hand on her mouth before she even speaks shit things. She looked up with teary eyes.

"Princess we shouldn't talk like that." I scolded her lightly.

She sat beside me and I was still laying down "Mamma aise kyun ho gayi Papa? Meri Mamma tou mujhse bahot pyaar karti thi. She used to talk to me whenever I returned from school, She used to scold me when I used to do masti all the time, she used to tell me Princewali stories at night, she used to love me so much Papa... Where is my Mamma?" She asked sobbing while I could only see her helplessly asking me questions.

I caressed her hairs and wiped her tears. For sure, I cannot see her cry ever in my life. A drop from her eye and that burn my entire existence. I feel like I've failed as father.

"Listen to me Princess..." I called out and pulled her up on me. So that now she was laying over my stomach her hands crossed over my chest looking at me with glassy eyes.

"Mamma and Papa loves you equally. As much as Mamma loves Neel she loves you too" I spoke and she being extra talkative tried interrupting me in between but I shook my head stopping her in between.

"Mamma is too much worried for Neel. Your brother Mahi. And the thing you said was also wrong. Do you want to be left alone? Don't you want Neel beside you?" I asked caressing her cheeks while the guilt instantly ran across her face.

Her chin wobbled and she shook her head instantly.

I sighed "And Mamma ne kitni baar sikhaya hai to not speak in front of elders then why do you always do that?" I asked softly and she cried even more.

"You are scolding me too?" She slapped my chest and I held her hands.

"I am not scolding you Mahi. I am just telling you what you did wrong and rahi baat Mamma ki tou main ye bilkul nahi keh raha hun that Mamma ki Galati nahi hai. Unki bhi Galati hai. Unhe aap pe hath nahi uthana chahiye. Unhe aapko bhi attention dena chahiye." I spoke.

She blinked her eyes and a sudden anger rushed through her eyes "So you also slap her now. she did mistake na?"

I smiled and shook my head "Papa can't do that Baby. You know why?"

"Why?" she asked sitting a bit and looking at me with wide open eyes.

"because Papa Loves Mamma and Papa loves Mahi and Neel equally. Have you seen Papa ever slapping any of you? Aur karenge bhi kyun? Papa tou aap sabse itna pyaar karte hai." I spoke and sighed sadly. I so wish I could say this to you Nandini that I love you. I love you so much.

She pouted and hugged me again keeping her head on my chest, I smiled and patted her back "I am still not talking to Mamma."

I smiled and shook my head "Main bhi ni..." I whispered teasingly and she grinned at me.

"Ab so jaye? Aren't you sleepy?" I asked taking the comforter on us.

"Papa kal school ni jana pleaaaaseeee" She pouted and flatter her lashes at me.

I grinned and replied "jaisa meri princess chahe. Bas?"

She giggled and said "Papa I will sleep like this; you are much more good than the bed!"

I laughed and covered us from the comforter "I also like this kind of cuddling princess! Good night baby. I love you!"

"Good night Papa.... I love you too." She chirped and kissed my chest and snuggled close to me.

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Nandini's POV

I flickered my eyes and sighed heavily as the morning sun rays hit me hard. My head had a really bad ache because...

I sat up straight and looked around to only find Neel sleeping beside me. Where's Mahi? A sudden question shook my entire existence. I gulped and ran inside the washroom to see if she is there but no she wasn't there.

Last night, was a tough night for us, for me especially. I kind of in anger almost hit my little girl. I slapped my own forehead as tears ran down my cheeks. Don't I know how much attention she needs. But she said...

Whatever Nandini... She is your child too, she needs equal attention and what you did? Let her cry behind you? Where's the mother figure disappeared suddenly? I didn't expect that from you. My inner self scolded me making my heart and my body tremble in fear.

"Mahi... Meri bachi..." I whispered and ran towards Amms' room. she is fond of stories so she might have slept with Amms. Yes.

When I entered inside Amms room, it was empty. And my heart fell down again. Mahi where are you, my princess?

I shook my head hastily and ran down stairs to see Navya Didi and Chachi making breakfast table while Amms, Chacha and Jiju were seated on living room couches.

"Mahi... Mahi..." I shouted her name and checked kitchen, Chacha and Chachi's room also but she was nowhere.

Meri bachi... kaha gayi?

"Amms... Mahi? Mahi kaha hai? Kal raat soyi nahi? mere aur Manik ke bina... wo kisi ke sath soti nahi hai... Kaha hai?" I worriedly ran towards Amms who just gave me a cold look. I know I must have hurt all of them but right now I just needed to see my daughter and say sorry to her and took her in a bone crushing hug.

Jiju closed the newspaper and looked at me. I kept looking at them for at least an answer but no one spoke. That frustrated me. Here, my daughter was nowhere to be seen and everyone is so chilled out.

"Mahi kaha hai?" I shouted on top of my voice when everyone of them halted in their places glancing at each other. Tears weren't stop falling down from my eyes.

"Kyun? Kuch kam tha?" Jiju asked shrugging his shoulder so casually.

I kept looking at him unbelieving.

"Are tum aise kyun dekh rahi ho? Kal tak tou tumhe kaha fikar thi uski? Hath uthane chali thi" He remarked and I felt my heart crumbling. How could you do that Nandini? of course unka naaraz hona jayaz hai.

"Jiju please... Mahi... meri beti... kaha hai? Please..." I ran towards him and folded my hands in front of him begging to see my daughter.

His eyes turned a little soft but he looked away from me turning around "Manik kal aaya tha... Raat ko... Uske sath tumhare ghar chali gayi..." he said.

I stood there perplexed "tou kisi ne mujhe bataya kyun nahi?" I asked back a little angrily.

"Zaroori nahi samjha" I heard another voice from back and saw Amms standing up from couch. I looked at her with painful eyes while she gave me a curt look.

"Aise mat dekho Nandu... Sharminda kar diya tumne hume Manik ke samne. Aankh bhi nahi mila paye kal usse hum. Aisa kaisa junoon hai ye Nandini? aur aisa kaunsa pain hai jo tum sab ko apne se aur Neel dono se dur kar rahi ho?" she asked and I bit my lip hard.

"Iss waqt tum chaaro ko sath mein rehna chahiye, ek dusre ki strength banana chahiye par yaha tou... Yaha tou tum hi apne bete ko uske baap aur behen se dur kar rahi ho. Kyun? Kya wo unke kuch nahi lagte?" She yelled at me while I looked down sobbing. She was right. And I am wrong I know. How could I do this to Mahi or even to Neel.

"Achha hua Manik usse leke chala gaya kal raat ko warna kaise sambhalte uss chhoti si jaan ko hum? Kya wo bhi utni hi chhoti nahi hai Nandu, jitna Neel hai?" She walked up to me and I fell on my knees crying.

I sobbed hard while I could see everyone else crying around me.

"I know... I've done a mistake, a sin... I want to go to my daughter, to my husband. Mujhe mere ghar jana hai... Mere ghar jana hai... Please..." I sobbed and cried hard while I heard another wail from the stairs.

I saw Neel standing there sobbing. As soon as his eyes met mine, he came running to me and hugged me tightly.

"Mamma... Mamma" He cried in my hold as I wrapped my arms around him.

"Mamma... Papa pas jana hai... Mahi ke pas jana hai... Mamma Mahi..." He cried hiccupping and I nodded in cry.

I kissed his forehead "Hum Papa aur Mahi ke pas jayenge. Abhi. Bas mera beta... ab Mamma sab thik kar dengi..."

I looked ahead and decided determined. 

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A small chapter but I will try to compensate it with a long chapter soon!

how many of you adore Mahi and Manik's bond?