"Yaar Di...kitna time lagate ho aap?" Ranbir complained as he waited outside of Nandini's room while she got ready for the engagement. "Aapko paata hai na ki sagaai Avni Di ki ho rahi hai aapki nahi? Humme deri ho rahi hai!"

"Shutup!" Nandini scolded him as she came out of her bedroom fully dressed in a gorgeous saree.

Nandini's Look

"Finally!" Ranbir sighed & handed her a black tie. "Di...band do na?"

"Seriously?" Nandini gave him a look. "Tu kabse complain kar raha hai ki IM taking too long to get ready and tune abhi tak tie bhi nahi bandi?"

"Its hard!" Ranbir replied.

"Whatever...Im not doing it." Nandini shrugged.

"What! No...pllllssss!" 

"Nope. Humme deri ho rahi hai." Nandini mocked Ranbir.

"Pls pls pls Di!" 

Nandini & Ranbir left for Malhotra mansion with Ranbir still begging her.

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

Malhotra Mansion

Guests were already arriving while Viren introduced Gaurav & his sons to everyone. Manik & Nandini's friends had also arrived & were standing with Manik chatting.

Manik's Look

At that moment Ranbir entered, still begging his sister. "PLLLS na Di....I will never rush you while getting ready again! I promise!"

"Oh teri....Bhai, isnt that the bike wala guy? Ronnie....or something?" Ayush whispered to Neil. Even Gaurav was surprised to see him.

"Haan....and that must be his sister." Neil commented. From where they were standing, only Nandini's back was visible.

"Ok fine!" Nandini turned around and replied. "Idhar aa!"

Neil & Gaurav were absolutely shocked to see her. Nandini started tying Ranbir's tie. 

"You should really learn how to do this yourself. Humesha main thodi na kar sakti hoon." 

"Na....Nan...di...ni?" Gaurav mumbled, his eyes filled with tears. Ayush's eyes widened as he understood why his Dad & brother acted like that.

"Wait....matlab...that's Nannu Di?" Ayush whispered, referring to the name he used to call her when he was a toddler. "Agar....agar yeh Nannu Di hai toh woh Ronnie.....he...he's..."

"Ranbir." Neil replied with a smile. "Humara chota bhai....."

Ayush looked at Ranbir & remembered a few moments of him playing with his baby brother. Then he turned and saw Gaurav, "Shit....Bhai, stop Dad!"

Neil also looked and saw Gaurav walking emotionally towards Nandini & Ranbir.

"Oh god...." Neil ran forward & quickly held his Dad's arm, pulling him back. "Dad...no...not now."

"Neil.....woh....Nandini...Ranbir. Mere bache hai woh dono...." Gaurav said.

"I know Dad...I know. Lekin abhi yeh time sahi nahi hai. How will we explain this to Avni and her family? Bohot complicated hai yeh sab.....lets wait until after everyone else leaves." Neil explained. Gaurav reluctantly looked back towards Nandini and saw Ranbir walk off to his friends.

"Neil...Ayush.....Uncle, come let me introduce you to someone." Avni came up to them & grabbed Neil's arm. She brought them to Nandini & tapped her shoulder. Nandini turned around, her smile dropping when she saw Gaurav standing infront of her.

Flashback

"Papa! Pls dont go! Pls Papa!" 7 year old Nandini cried, holding onto Gaurav's leg. 

Megha pulled Nandini away with one hand, holding baby Ranbir in her other while Gaurav dragged a crying Neil & Ayush with him.

"Papa! Bhai!!" Nandini cried. Gaurav didnt look back even once.

Flashback Ends

"P...Papa? Is it really him....itne saalon baad....aur Bhai, Ayush....yeh dono kitne bade ho gaye hai!" Nandini thought to herself.

"Neil, yeh hai Nandini. Manik ke saath kaam karti hai and she is like family, bohot saalon se jaante hai hum isse." Avni introduced, not noticing everyone's expressions. "And Nandini....yeh Neil hai, my fiance!"

"Fiance? Matlab....Avni Di ki shaadi....Bhai se ho rahi hai?" 

"Avni beta....idhar aa na zara!" Shreya called to her daughter. Avni excused herself and walked off leaving the 4 of them alone.

"Princess..." Gaurav raised his hand to touch her face but she stepped away.

"Its Nandini." She replied sternly. 

"Bohot....bohot naraz hogi na mujhse?" Gaurav asked softly.

"Naraz?" Nandini scoffed. "Aapka aur mera rishta kya hai jo main naraz hongi?"

Gaurav felt hurt at that comment but didnt say anything.

"Golu tu aise kyun-"

"I said....it's Nandini!" Nandini snapped. "Look...aap apni shaadi aur sagaai pe concentrate kijiye pls! And just.....stay away from me."

"Princess...tu meri beti hai. Aise kaise door rahun?" Gaurav asked.

"Really?" Nandini asked. "18 saalon mein toh aapko kabhi yaad nahi aaya ki aapki koi beti bhi hai....ek aur beta bhi hai!"

"Enough Nandini." Neil defended his father. "Yaad to Mom ko bhi nahi raha na...hum dono ke baare mein? Even she never called us....never contacted us!"

"Kya bola aapne?" Nandini asked, staring at him in disbelief. "Mumma ne....kabhi call nahi kiya?"

She looked at Gaurav. "Is that so Mr Gaurav Thakur? Mumma ne actually kabhi contact nahi ki kya? OR MAYBE......YOU never let her talk to them?"

"Kya bol rahi hai tu?" Neil asked, looking between Gaurav & Nandini in confusion.

"Ask him! Pichle 18 saalon mein ek din bhi aisa nahi gaya ki Mumma ne aap dono se baat karne ke liye call na kiya ho! Aap dono ke haar birthday aur graduation pe gifts aur letters bheja hai Mumma ne. Puchiye inko ki woh saare gifts aur letters aapko kyun nahi mila?? Ranbir toh chota tha....lekin main gavah hoon iss baat ka ki Mumma kitna roya hai iss aadmi ki vajah se."

Gaurav kept silent as Neil & Ayush stared at him questioningly. Just as Neil was about to say something, Avni came back and everyone tried to hide their emotions but this time she noticed Nandini was upset.

"Nandini....kya hua? Tu thik hai?"

"Haan....woh...ankhon...ankhon mein kuch chala gaya Di. Aati hoon." Nandini excused herself & went to Manik's study.

"Neil.....tum toh baat kar rahe they na usse? Kya hua? She seems upset." Avni asked.

"Woh...uh...paata nahi." Neil lied.

"Wait....maybe Manik ko paata hai." Avni turned and called her brother. "Manik!"

"Yeah.....whats up sis?" Manik asked as he walked up to them.

"Tune jagrah kiya hai kya Nandini ke saath?" Avni asked.

"What? I was standing over there.....jagrah kaha se karunga?" Manik asked.

"Well....she must be upset about something. Uske ankhon mein dikh raha tha." Avni replied.

"She is here?"

"Haan....tere study mein gayi hai."

"Subha toh tik thi." Manik replied.

"Tujhe kaise paata?" Avni asked.

"I mean....woh....phone! Office ke kaam ke liye...maine call kiya tha na iss liye!" Manik lied.

"Haye bhagwan! NO wonder she is upset....uska khadus boss chutti ki din subha subha office ke baatein karne ke liye call karega toh she will be upset na?" Avni scolded Manik. "Go and apologize for annoying her! Now!"

"Ok ok...sheesh." Manik sighed & went towards the study as well.

Ranbir saw all this from a distance but couldnt hear anything.

"Nids.....yeh Di uss accident wale uncle ke saath kya baat kar rahi thi?" Ranbir wondered. "Unko paata toh nahi chala na?"

"I hope not....agar unko paata chala toh Dhruv Bhai ko bhi paata chalega and we are both in such big trouble!" Nidhi replied.

"Di looked very upset.....Ive actually never seen her so upset before. Kya hua hoga?"

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

Nandini ran to Manik's study and closed the door behind her. Luckily it was sound proof so nobody could hear her as she let out a scream.

"KYUN! Ab kyun aaye ho aap? Jab mujhe aur Ranbir ko aapki zaroorat thi tab nahi they.....jab Mumma raat ko rohti thi tab nahi aaye toh AB KYUN! I dont need you anymore Gaurav Thakur! I dont need you!" Nandini cried. She then realized that her parents may come face to face anytime now. "Mumma.....agar unke samne aap aa gaye toh? How will she react? Paata nahi unpe kya beetegi. God....of all the people in the world Avni Di ko Bhai se hi pyaar kaise ho gaya?"

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

Manik entered his study and found Nandini sobbing on the couch. Concerned, Manik quickly closed & locked the door before running over to her.

"Jaan...kya hua? Roh kyun rahi ho? Kisi ne kuch bola? Just tell me the name....kisne rulaya tumhe?" Manik asked. Nandini couldnt say anything, she just hugged Manik, burying her face into his chest as she cried. Manik wrapped his arms around her and comforted her, rubbing her back. "Shh....calm down baby. Pls....tell me what happened. Tumhe paata hai I cant bear to see you like this."

"W...woh...woh....Ga...Gau...rav....Th...Tha...k...ur...." Nandini managed to say.

"Avni's future father in law?" Manik was confused.

Nandini shook her head slowly. "Mere.....aur Ranbir.... ke.... Papa." 

"Wha......" Manik's mouth fell open.

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Thoughts?

Sorry for the super slow updates, I really am too busy. Unfortunately the updates on all stories will be slow like this for the unforeseeable future but as long as the account is still here, I will always be back to update.