You guys have my heart for the beautiful response in the previous chapter and in my DM:) Let the love coming>>>>

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"तुम बिलकुल चांद की तरह हो,
नूर भी, गुरूर भी, दूर भी!!"

"Will you be my Papa Loktal?" Anahita tilted her head in a little with an innocent look leaving everyone shocked. She was looking at Manik with a look of anticipation and hope in her eyes. No doubt, she never felt absence of father figure in her life, the reason she doesn't even know the meaning of father. But now when she knows, she could feel that feeling with only her Rockstar. As a kid, she did and said what she felt.

"Bolo na Loktal!!"

(Say no, Rockstar)

But before she could hear her Rockstar saying anything she felt her mother tugging at her wrist, pulling her away from Manik's grip. Anahita was confused when she saw her mother glaring at her, she didn't even ate chocolates then why her mother is angry, she wondered.

"Let's go home Anahita!!" Anahita frowned with confusion when heard her mother's firm voice. She doesn't want to go home. She looked at her Rockstar who was also looking at her mother.

"Mumma no." Nandini closed her eyes before taking a deep breath to not lash out on her daughter, when she doesn't even know what she spoke.

"Anahita. I won't repeat myself. Let's go home." Nandini turned around not sparing a glance to anyone in the room for Manu reasons. She was walking when she felt Anahita stopped and when turned around she saw Manik holding Anahita's other hand and but was looking at her.

Manik kept looking at Nandini who was looking back at him with her hollow eyes. He sighed in frustration, before looking down at Anahita who was gazing at both of them innocently. He smiled and sat on his knees and hold her face in his palms.

"Princess!! Remember, we don't need to share any relation to love. Father or not, I promise, I'll always protect you and will always love you. I need not to be called as your father for me to love you and protect you, as a daughter. We are better off with Rockstar - Princess right?" Anahita although didn't understood fully, but she got the meanings and thus Manik was awarded with a beautiful big smile which was mirrored on his face.

"You ale my Loktal!!" Anahita gleed before encircling her tiny hands around his neck and hugging him and he hugged her back, with a smile and kissed the top of her head.

(You are my Rockstar)

Soon they broke the hug and he kissed her forehead before standing up and his smile dimmed as he looked at Nandini. He took a step ahead, still maintaining proper distance.

"Har situation se bhagna zaroori nahi hota Nandini. Face them like a Warrior that you are."

(It's not necessary to run from every situation Nandini)

"I am not a warrior. I'm a coward. That's how I work, I run away." Manik's lips twitched a little and he looked directly in her eyes.

"Ok then, don't run where i can't follow. i'll let you bring me anywhere-far from home, far from the places and people i love, so long as you stay with me. i'll let you walk into danger and through hell, but i will not let you go where i can't go with you. that is where i draw the line." Nandini was dumbstruck, again. She looked at him speechless, how does everytime this man says the exact words which her heart has been craving to hear but no-one said them to her.

Both of them came out of trance when Cabir cleared his throat. Nandini averted her gaze on instant buy Manik kept looking at her for few more seconds before looking at Cabir and giving him a deadly glare to which he shrugged, but Cabir didn't noticed that there was one more person who was giving him accusing looks.

"Bir uncle, you should take Vicks. You should not have diturb them. They wele tating naa." Mukti, Abhi and Navya chuckled with amusement while Manik and Nandini looked at Anahita with their eyes widened. Cabir was amused too but he pouted as Anahita was looking at him as he did some crime. This little cupid, he thought.

(Cabir Uncle, you should take Vicks. You should not have disturbed them. They were talking)

"Am so sorry Rockstar's Princess. I learnt my lesson." Anahita nodded her head as if forgiving him which made everyone except Nandini chuckle this time Manik too.

"Anahita, come let's go home. It's late." Nandini spoke after a few minutes and Anahita looked sadly at Manik who smiled and ruffled her hair.

"We will meet soon Princess."

"Pakka?"

"Promise!!" Anahita grinned and waved a bye to Fab Five. Manik chuckled when he caught Nandini staring at him but averted as soon as he looked at her.

He sighed deeply as they both disappeared from his vision and turned to saw his friends standing with hands crossed and brows raised and he gave a nervous smile before running out of the room followed by his friends.

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Anika, Gauri, Bhavya and Mrunal entered in the Cafe Aurora, after some tiring hours of shopping. For the purchase of cake and cupcakes, Mrunal suggested this place because she has heard alot of praises from Fab Five about this place and the cozy environment of the cafe. And as the ladies entered they looked at each other and grinned, because actually the interiors were giving the warmth. They moved towards the counter and saw an old lady sitting there and they guessed him as the owner.

"Hello beautiful girls. Welcome to our cafe. How can I help you?" The four giggled and the lady introduced herself as the cafe owner.

"Aunty, actually we ordered for three cakes, one black forest, one pineapple and one vanilla." Mrunal spoke as others looked around the cafe with a smile.

"Oh yes yes!! Malhotra's right?" Mrunal nodded and Mrs. Amroliwala smiled and called a girl who was the server in cafe and asked her to check on the orders. Meanwhile Anika, Gauri, Mrunal and Bhavya decided to have a coffee too so they took place on one of the tables.

They were sipping coffee and savoring the taste of delicious cookies when the same girl who bought their coffees came to their table.

"Excuse me Mam! Sorry to disturb you, but just wanted to know that what we have to write on the cake? As it was never mentioned."

"Oh sorry. Umm, they are birthday cakes. Actually, can I come and tell you?" Anika asked from the girl who looked sceptical but then she nodded with a smile. Anika looked at the other three who nodded at her and followed the girl into the kitchen. Entering in, she saw there was a girl facing her back who has her whole concentration on the cakes in front of her. Anika moved forward and stood infront of her whose head was down as she was frosting the cakes.

"Nandini, she will tell you the name. I'm going out, okay?"

Nandini looked above at Simran, the server first and nodded before looking at the woman in her late twenties or early thirties, but frowned when she saw the shocked or per say bewildered expression on her face. Nandini felt concious of the gaze and tucked the losse hair strands behind her ears.

While Anika was standing shocked. She blinked her eyes to make sure that what she is seeing is real. She looked at the young girl in front of her whom Simran mentioned as Nandini. She was seeing her for the first time. Not like, she doesn't know who she is.

She knew the Instant she looked at her, that she is the person for whom her husband and his brothers are craving to see. Anika looked at Nandini from head to toe and her eyes welled up unknown to her. She has never met Nandini, still with the stories she has heard from her husband, her brothers-in-law and mother -im-law, she was feeling that she knew her.

She couldn't believe that Nandini is standing in front of her. For whom her husband and his brothers decided to shift to Mumbai on the pretext of work. She felt happy and excited to tell them about her whereabouts.

Anika hurriedly blinked away her tears and gulped the lump when Nandini looked at her with frowns on her face. She also averted her gaze and gave a smile to her. She so wanted to hug her, but stopped herself.

"What should I write on the cakes Mam?" Anika bit her lip to stop herself from telling her not to call her Mam. Also, she was in a fix as to what should she tell her to write on cakes, because she can't obviously tell her to write the names of the brothers otherwise she would know who she is.

"Umm, do one thing. Write Happy Birthday Tadibaaz on black forest, and Lambe balon Wale on Vanilla one, and Protein Shake on this pineapple one." Anika spoke and looked at Nandini who was standing in front of her with her eyes big and amusement floating in them. She grinned at her and Nandini tried biting back her smile but a chuckle did left her mouth making Anika smile.

"I know they are nice names right? That's what we calls our husband as." Nandini gave a small smile to Anika and nodded before writing whatever Anika said. Soon she was done with the cakes packing and gave them to Anika who smiled at her.

"Thank You Nandini. We will meet again. Soon!" Anika whispered the last word to herself as she came out of the kitchen leaving a confused Nandini behind.

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"Are you sure Anika?"

"Hundred percent Shivay. She was our Nandini. Your Nandini. Your sister." Anika looked at the brothers whose eyes were filled with hopes. Hope, that now they knew about the whereabouts of their sister.

"She- she is work-ing Bhabhi?" Rudra asked and the three men looked at Anika who gave a sad smile and nodded her head. Anika, Gauri and Bhavya saw the guilt on the brothers faces.

"She hated it. She hated even entering in the kitchen." Omkara whispered as he slumped down on the couch and Gauri rushed to him.

"Yes! And remember whenever Maa used to tease her and tell her to learn cooking, otherwise her mother-in-law will scold her, what she used to reply? That- that..." Rudra stopped remembering the words as tears welled up in his eyes too and Bhavya wiped them.

"What is the need for me to learn? My Bhaiyu-s will appoint a chef for me." Shivay chuckled mirthlessly as he walked in the balcony not able to breathe properly followed by Anika on his side.

"We failed her Anika. We failed as her brothers." Shivay whispered looking at the stars while Anika shook her head in no.

"Shivay. Stop blaming yourself. It was never in your hands."

"It was dammit!! It was!! She called Me. She called all three of us that night!! She was telling us to return but- but we didn't heard her. We thought- we thought that she- she was just missing us and was emotional. Only if we would've come, she wouldn't have gone to that fucking party and nothing - nothing would've happened. Nothing would have..." Shivay trailed off and slided on the wall and sat down. Anika kneeled too and hugged him as he his tears fell out of eyes.

Inside the room his brothers were in the same condition. Drowning in the pool of guilt, the brothers shed tears for their sister, who was the source of light in their lives. The promises they made to her as her brothers were ringing in their ears followed by a voice that was calling them as failed.

Nandini's pleading voice of telling them to come back to her would still rang in their ears and they would feel the remorse of not hearing her.

Bhavya, Gauri and Anika too cried seeing their husbands state and thinking about the girl who faced it all alone too.

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"Papa please trust me, I- I didn't. He- he is ly-ing Papa. You- you trust me naa? Mumma, please say naa. Papa please trust me."

"Trust you? Did you left anything for me to trust you?" She felt numb when those words escaped out of the mouth of the person, who should've been her secure heaven.

"Papa!!" She tried talking to him once again. He is her father. He is just misguided. He will trust her. He loves her.

"Stop! Stop calling me Papa. You aren't my daughter. Because my daughter can't stoop so low. You- you are not my daughter." She stumbled back as tears kept running out of her eyes. She looked at her grandfather who already has abandoned her. She looked at her mother who was standing helpless with the bound of a swear.

"You don't trust me Papa."

"Papa doesn't trust me!!"

"I'm not my Papa's daughter anymore?"

"Papa asked me not to call him Papa."

"Papa hates me."

"Papa hates me!!!"

"Papa hates me!!!!!"

"I- I should die."

"Papa hates me, I- I should not live."

"I will die!!"

Nandini woke up panting heavily. She had tears running out of her eyes, just like four years ago. Her hairs were messed up, her breathing was uneven, her face was pale. She clutched her hairs and tried breathing. She looked at the empty side of bed where Anahita sleeps. Usually she would hug her daughter when gets nightmare, but today Anahita was sleeping with Ishita because she had headache.

Nandini hold her throat and tried breathing. She fumbled with the bedsheet and kept her foot on the floor trying to feel the coldness. Breathing was becoming difficult for her. Her tears won't stop. She was a mess. She tried drinking water which was kept on the side table. But her hands felt too numb to hold the glass. Right now, the glass felt too heavy. Inhaling air felt too heavy. She tried tapping her feet on the floor.

She looked at her keypad on the table when heard it's vibration. She blinked. Her vision was blurry. Her phone was vibrating. Someone was calling her. With trembling hands and still uneven breaths she grabbed the phone. With great difficulty she saw that there was a message. Still trying to catch oxygen she with her shaky hands open the text and blinked several times to get her vision clear. And all she read at that moment was Manik. This message was from Manik. She tried thinking about him. She remembered his smile, his actions, his meaningful gestures. Soon she found herself relaxing. Firstly she drank the glass of water and sighed.

Wiping her tears she looked at her phone to read the message, only to frown seeing it.

Come to the window of your room!!

~Manik

She without any second thoughts went to her window and looked down but was left disappointed as she saw no-one there. Was he pranking on her she thought, and looked at her mobile when it vibrated again.

Don't look down Silly, I'm not there. I Love you, but I Love my sleep too. Look above in the sky.

~Manik

Nandini narrowed her gaze at the message and glared at the phone screen still wondering that how does he know that she was looking down. And why does this man loves to say those words. Anyway, she looked above in the sky with confusion and frowns when nothing happened. She sighed thinking he was really doing some pranks on her and was about to look away when her eyes sparkled as she saw shooting star, followed by not one, not two but hundreds of shooting stars.

She couldn't believe that she was witnessing a metor shower. The sky looked so beautiful, so bright. Unknown to her a smile was formed on her lips as she witnessed the beauty above. This was just looking just a scene out of a movie. She kept looking as the stars kept falling and her smile kept growing.

And seeing her smile, Manik's lips widened to form the biggest grin as if he achieved something too precious. Ofcourse, he was here, away from her sight. He looked above in the sky and then at the window, where his own personal Shining Star was witnessing the scene. He immediately captured the scene in his mobile and he knew this was going to be his permanent wallpaper and then looked above in the sky at the diminishing stars.

Nandini was still looking at the now empty sky still with that small smile on her face. She looked at her mobile when it again vibrated with his message and she hurriedly opened it.

I talked to the stars about you almost every night. So today as you saw numerous shooting stars lighting up the night sky, it's because as I talked to them about you, they started to fall for you too.

Ps- Yes! This line is copied. But you're going to see the feelings right? *sheepish smile*

~Manik

Nandini's face was blank when she read the first part but she broke into giggles reading the PS part and shook her head in diabelief at the man.

Manik took a dreamy sigh seeing her giggling and smiled himself. He was so deep in this feeling called Love that he found himself falling more for her at this moment.

Nandini stared at her mobile with the chat open and a small smile on her face.

And suddenly she felt the urge to see him, to stay by his just. Just once!

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Aye, hello!!!

So So So!!!!! How was the chapter?

Do you guys agree, that some relations are too pure to be named right?

A lot of MaNan nai?

Few words for the Cutie/ Cupid Anahita?

Few lines for mah Manik??

Do you guys think that Nandini is pighling (melting) for our lover boy?

Nandini and Anika meet >>>

A few words for Goenka Brothers? What are your guesses about them?

Kuch galiyaan for Nandini ke Papa??

Last scene wasn't cliche right? Even if it was sanu ki? 😂

Which part of the chapter was your favourite?

Big revealtions coming soon, kursi ki peti bandh lijiye>>>>

Also, some of you mentioned that the story is going too slow, is it? Should I fast pace it? But I feel then emotions will be a mess, which I don't want. But I'll like to know from you.

Will be waiting for your reviews!!

Next- (Hopefully) Friday otherwise Sunday!!

Instagram - the_wanderinghub (link in bio)

3119 words!!

~A ♡