"तू आए और आकर लिपट जाए मुझसे,
उफ ये मेरे महंगे महंगे ख्वाब!"

Mansion Love-

Stars, were what always fascinated Manik, after Love ofcourse! From his childhood only, he have this habit of just staring at them, spreading their light in the dark nights. According to him if there is something that gives him peace except for spending time with his family and music, is staring at those gaseous nebulas which shines even after dying! And whenever he feels to spend his time alone, he choose them as his companion, because they just hear, all his confusions, all his irrational thoughts! Everything!

And that's the reason that he is again sitting under them in his balcony, staring at them with his guitar in his hand. He wasn't singing, just strumming the guitar creating a melodious sound which was making the atmosphere more peaceful!

And he was so lost in his stars gazing session, that he didn't realised when his Bhai and Bhabhi entered in his room, and now were staring at him, untill he felt their presence.

Meanwhile, Mrunal and Arijit came to his room to just wish him goodnight when they saw him sitting in his balcony lost somewhere. They both smiled at each other and moved to balcony and sat infront of him, bringing him out of his trance.

Manik:(surprised) Oye! Bhai, Bhabhi aap kab aaye?

[Bhai Bhabhi, when did you came]

Mrunal:(teasing) Maybe, when you were lost in your still not found Love's dreamland, devar Ji!!!

(Brother-in-law!!)

Manik:(shocked face)) How do you know I was thinking about her?

Mrunal:(chuckling) Because apparently, when you are sitting alone with your guitar and stars, what else you think?

Manik smiled sheepishly and Mrunal and Arijit chuckled at this grown up adorable piece!

Arijit: By the way, Mann, you ok naa? Is there something disturbing you?

Manik:(whining) Bhai!!! How come you know it everytime, that there is something!

Arijit:(Ruffling his hairs) That's because you're my little brother, Baby Bro!

Manik:(cribbing) Bhai, no touching and all with my hairs and I am not a Baby, please!!

Arijit: Aww!! Baby felt bad?

Manik: Bhai yaar!! Bhabhi tell him naa..

Mrunal who till now was enjoying the banters of these two looked at Manik who was acting to get irritated, so she playfully glared Arijit to which he mad bad faces making Manik chuckle.

Arijit: Okay! So now you want to share or..?

Manik:(sighed) Bhai, I... I am confused!

Arijit: You're confused, about what Mann?

Manik: About.. about something!

Mrunal: Everything good naa Manik?

Manik:(smiled) Yes Bhabhi, everything is good, it's just am confused about something, I mean!

Arijit and Mrunal looked at him, while he was again confused as to how and what to tell them. Because if he shares, he have to share all the details, and bro! Let's be honest, he isn't ready to be killed by his brother when he will come to know about his that habit.

Manik: Bhai, may I ask you something?

Arijit:(nodded) Mhmm! Ask me!

Manik: How did you realised that Bhabhi was the one for you? I mean, how can someone know that who is your soulmate?

Mrunal and Arijit chuckled at him.

Mrunal:(teasing) Don't tell me Devar Ji, you found someone and wants to confirm whether she is your The One or not?

Manik covered up his shock and just smiled at her.

Arijit:(chuckling) C'mon Baby! When he will even see her na, I know he will crazily shout it to the world.

Manik just smiled sheepishly at this and again asked the same question.

Arijit: Manu, you know Mrunal was my childhood friend, so we were different. I guess it was when I realised that I was losing her to someone, I realised my love for her! And don't you remember what Dadi said when you once asked her the same question, when you were a kid, hmm? You know Mrunal, Mann was just nine I guess, when one day we all were sitting having fun and he asked from dadu that "Dadu, how will I know that who is my The one?"

Mrunal smiled getting attentive because it is always fun to hear Manik's childhood conversation while Manik smiled remembering that day.

"Daduuuu How will I Know That She is My 'The One'? " A 9 year old Manik asked while sitting in his Dadi' lap munching his chocolate, from his Dadu who was sitting beside them, making everyone smile..

"Puttar Ji What's the haste? When she will come, you yourself will know" His Dadu answered not wanting to reply much.

"How? Will it be written on her forehead that She Is My 'The One'? The boy asked again with a cute little frown on his forehead making all the elders chuckle.

"I'll tell you son" his father spoke sitting properly..

"Yes Papa, will she carry my name board? But then I don't have any name board, she will get confuse na?" he asked cutely again making all chuckled in disbelief.

"No beta, she won't carry any name board, when you will meet her naa, then cold breeze will start blowing, weather will change pleasently, you will find her the most beautiful girl, her hairs will blow with the wind making her look more beautiful, soft drizzling will happen, stars will shine the brightest...." Manish spoke Smilingly to his son who was listening him very attentively and doing gestures as if noting all this in his mind, while Yash, Damini and Nyo shaked their head in disbelief at his filmy scene.

"Sachi Papa? Ye sab hoga, tab meri 'The One' mil jayegi?" Manik asked cutely grinning widely, to which Manish nodded his head grinning back and Nyo slapped his shoulders playfully making him frown.

[Really Papa, when all this will happen, my 'The One' Will come?"]

"Chup karo Manish.! Kya kuch bhi? Manu bache aisa kuch nahi hota bache" Damini spoke firstly scolding Manish and then looked at Manik

[Shut-up Manish! Nonsense! Manu son nothing this sort of happen meri jaan]

"Then??How will I Know Dadi?" Manik asked with a sad pout on his face.

"You yourself will know Manu, it's not necessary, that the first time you will see her, you'll realise that She is Your 'The One'. Also! it's not necessary that To know, that She is your 'The One' You have to see her. No-one can tell you except for your heart! "

"Dadi, my heart will speak? But it doesn't speak now?" At Manik's counter question, everyone sighed in disbelief.

"No Manu, heart doesn't speak bache! It just gives you signal. It won't start beating abnormally as your father said, but yes it will feel at peace with it's other half beside you. When you find someone with whom talking your heart out, sharing your secrets feel easy naa, then your heart will tell you, that yes, she is the one! Hmm?" Damini tried explaining him in the simplest way possible, and they all sighed in relief when Manik just nodded his head and didn't asked anything further!

Mrunal made an aww face hearing this, while Manik just smiled sheepishly, feeling ackward. Mrunal pinched his cheeks to which he pouted making both of them chuckle. He frowned more, seeing them chuckling at his expense, and pushed them out, closing the door behind making them laugh.

He then stood leaning to the closed door and smiled, before moving towards his bed. He laid down and covered himself with the comforter and joined his hands in prayer style.

Manik: Baba ji, I don't know whether the girl I talked with today was my The One or not! But I know, that you know, and the wait will be worth it! Just keep her safe, till I'm there with her to protect her, please? Okay! Good Night!

And snuggling with his comforter he soon fell in a deep slumber.

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"Now who will save you from me Babygirl?"

"No! Pl.. please, no."

"Why, no? Isn't this is the reason you came here with me, hmm?"

"No! I.. I came to just sp..end sometime w.. with you, you said!!!"

"Oh c'mon! Now don't act innocent baby!, I know you too want this and you're now just acting innocent. Come, we will be fast, hmm?"

"No!!!"

And then the guy tore her sleeves from shoulder and started biting there. The girl was shouting for help while trying to free herself from his iron grip, only to get fail everytime.

And then her eyes got wide in shock when she felt the guy tearing her top, revealing her upper body exposed to him, and she shouted in horror.

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"NO!!!!!!"

And Nandini woke up with a jerk with sweat beads on her face. She was trembling with fear, getting the nightmare. She was breathing with difficulty. Her hand reached to the side drawer and with shaking hands she fished out two pills from the bottle and swallowed them with water.

She was still sweating and breathing deeply when she heard her daughter calling her, in her soft sleepy voice, and she turned to saw her daughter awake and looking at her with fear. She composed herself and gave a smile to Anahita, to not scare her.

Anahita: Wat appen Mimi?

(What happen Mimi?)

Nandini:(hoarse voice) No.. nothing Jaana!

Anahita:(sweetly) Mimi, you Shaw bad wala deam?

(Mimi, you saw bad dream?)

Nandini smiled a little and nodded her head, pursing her lips. Anahita gave her a smile and patted her lap.

Anahita:(patting her lap) Mimi, come! I will pay your head, and you will feel toot!

(Good!)

Nandini smiled genuinely this time at her daughter, and did what she was asked to do. She in the same position kept her head on Anahita's lap and smiled when she felt her daughter patting her head lovingly, the same way a mother do to her kid.

And she was surprised when she even heard her humming a Lori in her toddler voice, but didn't spoke anything. 

And Anahita was patting her mother head lovingly and was humming the same song, she heard her Rockstar humming in the mall when she was crying, a fast learner she is!

Aa leke chalun tujhko
Ik aise desh me
Aa leke chalun tujhko
Ik aise desh me
Milti hai jahan khushiya
Pariyon ke bhesh me
Milti hai jahan khushiya
Pariyon ke bhesh me
Pariyon ke bhesh me...
Aa leke chalu tujhko...

And soon she saw that her mother was fast asleep in her lap, to which she smiled and kissed her temple and soon she too felt asleep in the same position.

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1784 words!

♡A