It's the thirtieth chapter of the book like wow, and it has crossed 60,000 words so far. Never thought I was a writer 😂

BTW, when I was reading your comments on last chapter, I felt so happy when many of you were happy with the revelation to Manik but not with the way Fab Four did so. I'm so pleased that you guys are feeling connected with the characters, that feels so good 🥺❤️

And not to forget the hate for Goenka's my readers have >>>>

Anyway, let's move ahead, and a happy news, old Manik is back >>

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आखें पढ़ो और जानो हमारी रज़ा क्या है,
हर बात अगर होठों से हो तो मजा क्या है!"

"Anahita is my daughter, I'm her mother."

"Anahita has no father. It's me. I'm her mother and I'm her father."

Manik was sitting on the swing on terrace staring at the moon. His mind was messed up, again. He was not able to understand anything. He was not understanding God's plan for him. He was not understanding what life was turning into. All his thoughts were revolving around one person -

Nandini.

He looked at his diary which was placed beside her. He picked it up and opened the first page, where he had written THE ONE, in capital letters with his childhood's handwriting. He traced the words and flipped the pages one by one. He chuckled at his own writings. Because on most of the pages, he has written the same thing with different words.

The One, come soon, okay? - pg 2

The One you will come soon naa? - pg 3

The One when are you coming? Soon? - pg 4

The One you're not coming soon!! I'm angry. - pg 5

The One come soon, I'll give you, my choc.. chol.. candies. I don't know spelling of that word. Don't tell Mumma, she will again take my ditation test. -pg 6

(Chocolate| ditation - dictation)

I am waiting, okay - pg 10

I am still waiting, okay? - pg 17

Today Dadi said, Lobe is all about waiting until- uiii!! I forgot aage ke words. But I waiting. - pg 27

(I forgot next words)

I made new friends today, Cabir and Abhi. They both are so budhu but pyare. They have twin sisters too, but I didn't talk with them, you'll feel bad, no? - pg 88

(Budhu- stupid | pyare- loving)

Mumma said, you won't feel bad if I make good friends, so I made two new friends - Mukti and Navya. Waiting for you!!! - pg 91

Is it possible that I never saw you, still I miss you? - pg 100

You're fine naa The One? - pg 119

You must be big girl now, haina? - pg 123

I scored 97% in my SSC (10th board) exams. Everyone is so happy, so am I. Come soon, no!! - pg 124

You know our band, I told you no, Fab Five. We are going to perform in this year Talent Hunt. I am so excited and nervous. I'll dedicate my song to you, okay? Come fast - pg 125

We performed!!!! And we Won!! Everyone is again so happy today, only if you were also present here. - pg 126

Just a reminder, I'm still waiting, okay? - pg 127

Today I'm feeling low The One. Why do girls have to suffer so much? And that too because of boys? I wish that girl get well soon and Baba ji gives her the much-needed courage and strength to fight. You please be safe and happy, The one. I'm waiting - pg 128

We are finally in college, Yee!! At least come here, naaaa!! - pg 129

And Manik kept flipping pages with a small smile on his face. The last entry was when he realised who is his The One and the page was filled with her name- And Nandini!!

Her words again rang in his ears and he closed his eyes and took a deep sigh before opening them. He fishes out the pen from diary's pen holder and opened a blank page. He clicked the pen open and started scribbling on his diary.

They think they can define you as if you're tick in just one box. Like you're a door with single key to unlock.

No! That's not true. That's just not you.

You've the universe inside, an untamed ocean, with constant changing tides. You're home to endless mountains, with their tip touching the sky. You're house to the wildest rivers, waves of sunshine.

No, no-one knows you.

No-one has understood you.

You're not what you show to the world.

You're the universe in motion, for you were born from these stars.

And then he flipped close the diary and looked at the moon when slowly a small smile appeared on his lips.

But I'll know you Nandini. Because I want to know you. I want to know your pain. I want to see your scars. I want to see your soul.

And now, it doesn't matter to me whether you will love me or not!

Whether there is any future of us or not!

Whether I'll be broken for lifetime or not!

You deserve happiness. Real one! And I promise to find your happiness, even over my own's.

I'd pick your thunder, I'd pick your rain; over anyone's sunshine, any day.

Because, I love you. I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadows and soul.

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It was the festival of Dhanteras and whole Malhotra Mansion was cheerful with full of chaos. The servants were running here and there, cleaning and dusting, fetching things asked by the ladies, while Men were just sitting and entertaining themselves with business talks.

(Dhanteras- a festival of prosperity and good health, which is celebrated two days prior to Diwali)

Manik came down looking fresh and happy. For a minute Malhotra's halted whatever they were doing just to look at his smile, which was so genuine unlike other days. And as if his smile was contagious, that their lips too curved in a big smile. Manik went and took his elders' blessings who blessed him with all their love. Looking at him now smiling and real, everyone took a sigh of relief.

"Dadu, when is Prithvi Dadu and family coming?" Manik asked from his grandfather while taking a seat beside Arijit.

(Dadu- Grandfather)

"By Evening, they'll come son." Manik nodded his head and he thought something.

"When are your monkey friends coming? Today too they're going to be late?" Manik and Arijit chuckled hearing Raj.

"No Dad. They messaged me, they'll come by lunch." Raj nodded and asked something from Arijit and got busy in their tête-à-tête.

"Manu, you're okay child?" Manik smiled at his grandfather and nodded his head. After sometime, Yash went to his room to rest a while and Raj and Arijit moved to the study room to discuss about a deal. Manik too informed a servant that he is coming in an hour and went out of the Mansion, taking his car keys.

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Manik tapped his feet on the marble floor standing in front of the Kapoor apartment. Now when Deja vu hit him, he realised he has been here earlier. That day for some other reason, and today for something else. He exhaled a deep breath before raising his hand and ringing the doorbell twice. He could hear the footsteps from inside coming near the door, and as the sounds of footsteps was coming his heartbeats were raising. He patted his chest above his heart to calm it down and pasted a smile on his face when the door opened.

Ishita was surprised seeing Manik here but soon smiled widely at him. Manik took a sigh of relief unknown to himself, and greeted Ishita after touching her feet. Ishita blessed and welcomed him in. Manik entered in, and looked around. The setting was quite different from the last time he came here. This time it was more vibrant. He looked at the photos of Anahita and smiled. And when his gaze fell on a photo of Anahita and Nandini, which was never there the last time, he inhaled sharply.

He was still not able to grasp the fact that Nandini is a mother. But his eyes reflected pure love and adoration looking at that particular pic. He himself felt like smiling seeing the real wide grin on Nandini's face. She was looking so beautiful with Anahita in her arms. He was not able to remove his gaze from that particular pic.

"It's so lovely right?"

"Huh?" Manik was snapped out of his admiring session hearing Ishita's voice who bought him a glass of water which he gulped down. Ishita smirked at his behaviour but hid it smartly.

"I was talking about the pic." Manik looked at her and then at the pic before nodding and kept the glass on the coffee table.

"Princess?" Manik asked from Ishita looking around, when he didn't found Anahita and Nandini.

"Oh, she has gone market with Nandini. It's been days no; she was on bed. So just some dress shopping for Diwali. They are just on the way. You stay here okay; she will be ecstatic to meet you." Manik smiled and nodded. He has come here to meet her today, and he won't go without that.

"By the way, Thank you so much Manik. For saving Anahita that day. It was as if God has sent you there to save her only. You don't even know what big of a favour you have done on us." Manik nodded his head in no.

"Aunty please, I may not be blood related to her, but I-I feel a different connection with her. I really adore this cute creature, so no need to thanks me. Besides, it was my duty as a human." Ishita smiled at him and again blessed him. She went into the kitchen to get some eateries for him which he denied though, but okay!

He again looked around and saw more pics. He noticed that there was no man in the photos. His racing heart was relaxed a bit. Although he knows that Nandini said that there is no father of Anahita, but he doesn't know the reason right. Maybe it's not now, it would have been sometime.

He Shaked his thoughts. No. He didn't come here to make his heart feel peaceful and happy, he has come here for her. He wants to see her happy and peaceful, just like she is looking in those pics with Anahita. One thing he is sure of is, she loves Anahita more than anything. And also, that she smiles genuinely only with her. But that's what he needs to change. He wants to see her smile, always! And for that, he needs to know her pain, her grief. And for that, he needs to make her comfortable, with him. And hastiness with Nandini, won't work. He needs to be patient.

His thoughts were broken when Ishita came with some snacks and he took some smiling at her.

"So Manik, Nandini is your junior right?" Manik nodded his head muttering a Ji.

"So, are you both friends" Manik cleared his throat. Now what should be tell, that he feels beyond the feeling of friendship for her. He just gave a weak smile to Ishita. Well, he isn't sure about Nandini that she considers him as his friend or not. So, he can't say anything.

He looked at Ishita who sighed sadly and he frowned.

"What happens Aunty?" Ishita smiled at him and nodded in no.

"It's just, I wish, she could make friends. I've told her so many times to at least try. But no, she won't listen, par phir uss bachi ki bhi kya galti hai naa. Only God knows, what plans he has for that girl and how many more tests he going to take of her?" Manik's forehead creased to form frowns. He wanted to ask so many questions, he wished for so many answers. But he didn't probe further, because he has promised himself, that in this journey, he will be patient enough.

(But what is the fault of that child too)

She has become his favourite book, he would love to spend his entire life reading, while making sure to be careful with the pages.

"Aunty my grandmother says- if the hurt comes, so will the happiness, all we have to do is Trust on that almighty, and be patient." Ishita nodded her head with a smile, and before she could say anything else they heard voices from the door and soon heard Anahita's excited squeal.

"Loktal!!!!!" Manik got up from the sofa and bent down on his both knees before opening his arms. Anahita squealed again and came running to his arms and encircled her arms around his neck. He swung his body with hers making her giggle which bought a smile on his face and the two other people standing there- Ishita and Nandini.

Nandini entered in the hall and kept the bags she was carrying on the table and looked at the duo with a small genuine smile. Surprisingly enough, she was not smiling just because her daughter was giggling, but it was other smile which forced her lips to curve. She couldn't stop herself from smiling looking at his beautiful smile.

She came out of her trance when she heard Anahita's complaining voice and shaking her head at herself she went into the kitchen to get herself some water.

"Loktal, why you didn't come to meet me?"

"Oh, I'm so sorry Princess. But actually, I was a bit busy. But see, I came today, no?" Anahita bobbed her head in yes, happy seeing her Rockstar. She rubbed Manik's cheeks with her small hand to giggle softly as his light stubble was giving her a tickling feeling.

"It is rof rof." Manik and Ishita chuckled while Nandini who just came out of the kitchen heard her and Shaked her head in disbelief at her pronunciation. She was about to correct her, keeping her half empty glass on the table, when Manik did.

"No Princess, it's Rough not rof, okay?"

"Okey-Do-key!" Manik smiled and flicked her nose making her scrunch it which made him laugh and she grinned back.

"Now how about, we change your clothes and then you spend some time with your Rockstar, my grandma?" Anahita looked at Ishita with thoughtful face and then looked at Manik who nodded his head, saying she should do as told.

"Okey-Do-key My child. Come now. Loktal, you wait, okay? Iti is coming soon." Manik chuckled and nodded in yes and saw Anahita going in a room and Ishita followed her as ordered.

(Rof- Rough)

Now when Manik was alone he took a deep breath and turned to saw Nandini standing near the coffee table. He gave her a smile and moved towards her.

"Hey!"

"H-Hi!" Nandini didn't know why her voice broke while greeting him. She frowned when saw him trying to hid his amused smile.

"Are you laughing at me?" She asked feeling offended.

"What? Me? No! Of-course not! Why would I even laugh at you?" Manik couldn't stop himself chuckling at the end when she made an innocent face and nodded, believing him.

Hearing him chuckling Nandini narrowed his gaze and huffed. She herself doesn't know, where was it all coming from. She never behaves like this, like she is kiddish. She never cared if anyone laugh at her or talk about her or whatever. She is not the one to react on these things. But she didn't know why she reacted like this, when she saw him smiling amusingly at her stuttering.

"That's so bad Manik. You're laughing at me."

Manik smiled hearing her complaining voice. For a change, he didn't feel like he was talking to the Nandini he knows. The one who avoids talking, the one who avoids meeting eyes, the one prefers leaving the place than to hold conversation. And he felt nice. Chuck that, he felt happy, seeing her soft self, her a bit childish self who was complaining and whining because he was laughing at her.

And at that moment he couldn't stop himself to flick her nose and laughed a little when he saw her scrunching her nose in annoyance, just like Anahita does.

Now he knows, from where did His Princess got so much cuteness.

"You're as adorable as Princess, you know that?" Nandini blinked her eyes hearing him.

Nandini frowned realising whatever happened in past few moments. And suddenly she took a step back and her face was again same, devoid of any emotion, blank. She saw Manik's eyes flashing hurt but she didn't paid attention to it.

"Excuse me." She excused herself and Manik saw her walking into the room adjacent to one, Anahita and Ishita went. The smile on his face also disappeared. He took deep breath to calm himself down.

He was not feeling bad because she moved away from her, he was feeling anxious because of the look her eyes reflected. Her eyes screamed fear, which made him afraid thinking of the why's. He didn't want to think extreme, but he was feeling restless too.

Shaking his head, he took the glass kept on the table with half-filled water and gulped it down before placing it back and ran his hand through his hair. His gaze fell on that one pic, which had him mesmerized since he came here and smiled looking at her smiling face.

Every time Manik looks at her, he just loves her, and it terrifies him. It terrifies him of all the things he would do for her. Just her.

He clicked picture of that photograph in his mobile camera and traced Anahita's and Nandini's face before putting back his phone in his pocket. Just then, Anahita came out of the room jumping around and he picked her up and got busy in playing with her.

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Manik entered in his mansion with a smile after spending two hours with His Princess, and His the One. Although Nandini was a silent spectator of his games with Anahita but still he felt happy, he felt peaceful just like he does with his own family. He passed the sweets which Ishita gave to him to a servant and asked him to keep them in the kitchen.

He entered in the hall of Malhotra Mansion to smile widely seeing Goenka's. He went and greeted Prithvi and Suraj while touching their feet and hugged them. Then he moved to Anita and hugged her before kissing her cheeks.

"Where are ShivOmRu Bhaiya and Bhabhis?" Manik frowned when he saw the smile from all the elders' faces disappearing.

(Shivay, Omkara and Rudra)

"Manu, they directly went to office, to meet Arijit." Manik was confused with Nyonika's answer. Wasn't his own brother at home today because there is holiday in office today? He looked at Anita who was looking sad and Suraj and Prithvi were sitting with rigid faces. He wanted to ask but didn't probe further. Raj diverted the topic and everyone got engaged in some or other conversation.

"Where were you Manu?" Manik looked at his right to saw Nyonika sitting with a raised brow. He was right now sitting between Anita and Nyonika.

"Uhh, I went to meet Princess, Mom." Nyonika nodded and smiled.

"Princess, huh?" Manik looked at Anita with a plain face and Nyonika chuckled.

"Nahi Mata, for your information, Princess is a three-year-old kid. You met her, no? At Janmashtami? " Anita furrowed his brows before realising and nodded her head.

"Yes Yes! That cute little girl. You know she was looking just like my Gudiya." Nyonika's head snapped in her direction and she looked at everyone to saw them looking at Anita only. While Manik and Mrunal frowned seeing everyone's blank faces. And who was this Gudiya, they thought.

(Gudiya- doll- a nickname for girl child)

"Anita!!" Anita gasped realising what she said and looked at Suraj who was giving her a hard look. She gulped seeing Prithvi's blank face but could see disappointment for her in his eyes.

"Am sorry Suraj, PapaJi." Manik was confused as to what was happening? And why was Suraj looking angry?

"Think before you utter anything Anita, beta. And besides, no-one should be like her. It would be like a curse to the family." Anita closed her eyes tightly, hearing so harsh words from her father-in-law for his own grand-daughter. Nyonika's eyes too welled up with tears.

Manik wanted to ask about whom they are talking, but seeing the tensed atmosphere, he kept silent. He saw the men stood up and left from there and Anita too stood up and ran to her room followed by Nyonika. Manik came near Mrunal and stood beside her.

"What was it Bhabhi?" Mrunal shrugs.

"Was it about their daughter Manu?"

"But, she was dead right?" Mrunal shrugged and Manik frowned more. This is all so confusing.

His life itself has become a confusion right now.

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Yes Yes!! My comment section is always open for your abuses for Goenka's.

So, how was it? Finally, an update without broken Manik.

Manik ke lie do shabad, please>>

I wish, I too had someone jo mere lie diaries likhta *dreamy sigh* Anyway, Manik's diary, it was cute right?"

How were ManIta (Manik-Anahita) moments?

And MaNan chotu sa moment?

Do you think this journey is going to be easy for him and Nandini?

And lastly, why do you all think that Nandini is Goenka's daughter? I mean, why?

Anything particular you want to see further in the story, I am open to good suggestions which will go with the flow of my story.

Will be waiting for your reviews!

Next update - Sunday (yes, a week later)

3645 words!

~A♡