"लफ्ज करेगे इशारा जाने का,
तुम आंखे पढ़कर रूक जाना!"

"Mimi pink hairband?" Anahita happily sprinted to the dressing table and fetched her pink hairband before running back to her mother who was sitting on the bed waiting for her to get dressed for school. Nandini was combing Anahita's hair in a braid when she remembered about the boy from yesterday party who was not looking fine.

"Shona, does your this Aan Bhaiya studies in your school?"

"Ni Mimi." Nandini frowned hearing her and looked at her daughter who was playing with the hairband in her hand.

"Then how do you know him Anahita?" Anahita frowned when Nandini made her sit in her lap after tying rubber band in her hairs.

"Mimi Aan Bhaiya grows pants in our school."

(Pants - plants)

"Plants?" Nandini's forehead ceased in confusion hearing this.

"Mimi he is very good boy. He helped me one time when I fell playing. But he is budhu, wo khud bhi girte rehte hai and and unhe uii hoti rehti h."

(He himself is Silly, he keeps falling and gets wounded)

Nandini knew that this is not what it's all about. Firstly he works in the school at this age which must be five or six at the most. And then those deep bruises and his fearful face, this is not at all normal. Nandini puts up a smile on her face when she felt her daughter caressing her cheeks.

"Mimi you tense?" Nandini shook her head in no and kissed her forehead before hugging her and her gaze fell on the portrait hanging on the wall opposite to the bed.

(Mimi are you tensed)

It was a portrait of Her, Anahita and Manik from the night of Diwali when they were exiting the main door of the house. Anahita was holding both of their hands on her each side and they both were looking at her with a smile while Anahita was looking at the front. She was surprised herself when Fab Four gifted Anahita this portrait yesterday and seeing it Anahita's happiness was on another level as she insisted on hanging it in the room. Nandini sighed deeply looking at it.

Manik Malhotra was too much in their lives, in her daughter's life. And as happy as she was seeing her daughter happy, she knew this happiness is not permanent. One or another day this all is going to end. This has to. Because at the end it is going to hurt and sooner, the better. Muttering an apology to her daughter in her mind she kissed the top of Anahita's hand who giggled at her mother making her smile back too.

And although she was sure that she really need to do this, a part in her was aching for something. There are days when the melancholy settles on you like a sudden change in weather. The kind of sadness that is intangible. Like the presence of an ache where you can't pinpoint exactly where it hurts, you just know it does. And Nandini Murthy was exactly feeling like that.

"Nandu!" Nandini looked at Ishita shaking her thoughts off, who was standing beside her.

"Ji Ishi Maa?" She stood up and made Anahita wore her shoes.

"You okay bache?" Nandini stood up and gave a smile to her before nodding her head.

"Ok, so I was saying that I'm going to hospital, I'll drop Anahita, hmm?" Nandini looked at Anahita and thought something for a moment before agreeing with Ishita and soon after Nandini waved a bye to her daughter who went off with Ishita. She came back to her room to pack her bag lost in her thoughts. She was putting her books when again her gaze fell on the portrait and she moved towards it before standing in front of the frame. Gently she removed the frame and kept it in the cabinet of the table and sighed.

"I am sorry." Taking a deep breath she too moved out of the house after locking it. Her face was totally devoid of any emotion, as if she had locked them all in some corner. All she was resolved to not let anyone indulge in her complicated life, and makes it more complicated.

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Manik's forehead ceased in frowns when he saw the hustle bustle in the living area while descending the stairs. He was about to ask a house-help when his phone rang and he picked up the call seeing Abhi's name flashing on the screen.

"Yeah Abhi?"

"Manik, we just reached Delhi Airport."

"Okay, did you called him?"

"Yep, Cabir is talking with him on call. I'll let you know whatever happens here."

"Okay but take care, yeah?"

"We will. Ok Bye. Talk to you later."

"Yeah, bye!" Manik hung up the call and muttered a prayer in his mind before moving to his mother who was instructing something to the Butlers. He went and back hugged her.

"Morning Matashree!!" Nyonika smiled and patted her son's cheeks before replying him.

"What's going on Maa? Is someone coming?" Manik asked sitting on the couch when he saw Nyonika instructing butlers to clean the guest rooms nicely. Nyonika smiled and sat beside him.

"Yep, ShivOmRu are coming with their wives." Manik smiled with surprised face.

"Woah! The busy billionaire's hmm. When did we got so lucky?" Nyonika chuckled and playfully hit his head.

"Actually Shivay is going to do a joint venture with our company, so he is needed here and Om has an upcoming exhibition of his in few months so he is also coming and Rudra, well his visit is a surprise for you." Manik nodded his head at the information.

"So they are coming to stay?"

"Yepp!! Though they wanted to stay somewhere else, but Maa and I threatened them so they're going to stay here only."

"Wow! That would be fun. When are they coming?" Manik asked getting excited. He did treated them as his elder brother. He actually love and respect all Goenka's as his own family.

"By noon."

"Oh-kay. Then I should go to college."

"Yeah Yeah, you should. After-all your day would remain incomplete without seeing your The One no?" Manik rolled his eyes with a smile on his face which relieved Nyonika.

"By the way, she must be pretty na Manu?"

"How do you know?"

"Well, someone's eyes shine whenever anyone talks about her, doesn't makes anyone genius to know." Manik chuckled and kissed his mother's cheeks before rushing out leaving behind a laughing Nyonika behind. She again smiled when she felt her other son hugging her from back and wishing her morning.

"You both going somewhere?" She asked when she saw Mrunal and Arijit ready.

"Yeah Maa, I told you right about Mrunal's check-up and all."

"Oh yes yes! You should leave. And Missy, I want my daughter all fit and fine, got that?" Mrunal smiled and hugged Nyonika before she left with Arijit. Nyonika prayed for her children's happiness before getting busy in work.

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"Looking for me?" Nandini jumped in surprise and turned around to saw Manik standing two feet away from her with a guilty sheepish smile. She kept her hand on her heart to calm it down. While Manik bit back his smile finding her cute with that scared kitten face.

He was annoyed when Mukti and Navya ditched him and didn't came to college. He was actually finding her all the way walking to the Fab Five's Jam Room when saw the person he was looking for, looking here and there and his heart jumped with joy thinking that she was searching for him. So he moved towards her and in the process scared her.

Nandini whose heart was calmed down took a breath when she saw Manik looking at her. She looked here and there adjusting her bag showing her nervousness to Manik who frowned at her actions.

"You okay Nandini?" Nandini looked at him and frowned. How can he ask her that? This should be her question, no? Is he okay, is he hurt, is he angry for the way she behaves with him yesterday? Why this man is so different, she wondered. Only if he belonged to that category of men she knew, things wouldn't have been so hard.

Manik saw her lost in her thoughts which he knew were disturbing as her forehead had those frowns. He was concerned now as to what happened to her.

"Nandini."

"Huh?" Nandini came back to present and looked at him, who was now looking at him with concern. Not wanting to ponder more in her thoughts she cleared her throat and looked sideways again fiddling with her bag. Why was she here on the first place she thought. What if she is thinking too much? What if she is reading alot behind the lines? What if it's just Manik's nature to be concerned towards everyone. And as much as these thoughts would've received her, it did the opposite. This is all so confusing. She again looked at him when heard his voice.

"Nandini. Relax. I guess you are thinking too much. Umm, come Inside." Surprisingly when he said her to relax, she got relaxed, when he asked her to not think much, her thoughts vanished. She saw him opening the door of the Jam Room for her and without any thoughts she went in, while her mind was asking her to leave, she chose to stay.

Nandini looked around the Jam Room, and she was seeing it for the first time. The room was simple but calm. She saw many photographs of Fab Five, and her face was adorned with a smile when she saw their weird poses in some of the frame. She looked at the water bottle which was forwarded to her before her eyes landed on the giver. Manik bobbed his head asking her to have the water and she took the bottle. Manik unfolded a chair for her and she took a seat. She herself doesn't know why she was still here. She, who was never in these four years had talked properly with a male species, is sitting in a room with one. When she feels uncomfortable in open place where men exist, she wasn't feeling an ounce of edgy in the closed room. And then her eyes fell on the door which was not closed actually, it was open with the holder and her gaze landed on Manik who was setting a chair for himself. How can someone not feel safe around this man.

"You wanted to talk about something?" Nandini took a deep breath and nodded. She knew that she might be overthinking, but she needed to clear her mind. She can't let Manik enter more deeper in her life.

"Ma-Manik I- I actually, first of all I am sorry for yesterday." Manik looked at Nandini and felt that something is wrong. But he didn't wanted to interrupt her, and when she asked sorry for her behaviour yesterday he nodded in no looking at her. He waited for her to say something else too. He could see her fiddling with her fingers, her shaking her leg. She would open her mouth to speak something but then close it. He was getting more and more confused seeing her. At last he saw her taking a deep breath and heard something which he was not expecting at all.

"Ok, I'll be clear, don't take me wrong please, it can be just my assumption, but I can't take it anymore. Manik do you- do you like me?" And finally Nandini released a breath. Only she knew how much courage it took her to ask this one question, whose any answer is going to ache. She looked at him who was sitting there looking at her with no expression. And now her heart was beating fast. She doesn't know if his yes will make her feel relieved or his no. She don't want to lose him as a person. But she don't want him to get hurt in any way too. She kept waiting for his answer, the silence was actually killing her.

"No!!" Her head snapped in his direction who was sitting there with the same expression. Although she wanted the answer to be same, but still her heart felt heavy. She did overthink-ed this time. Maybe his gesture, his actions towards her were just a mere proof of his kindness. She stood up followed by him. She looked at him who kept looking at her before taking a step towards her still at a feet distance from her.

"I don't like You Nandini. I Love You. Even that's an under-fucking- statement, because I Live for you. I Breathe for you. I will Die for you. It. Has. Always. Been. You. Even before I knew you. It was Always You Nandini Murthy."

Nandini felt her breath hitched. She wasn't expecting this. She wasn't ready for this. She waited for him tu burst into laughter saying that it's a joke, but that laughter never happened. Instead the intensity and pure rawness in his eyes made her shiver.

She took a step back only to collide with chair. Manik's hand stretched to hold her but she showed him her plam resulting in him fisting his stretched hand. Manik closed his eyes tightly. It was not what he had decided upon. It was not what he wanted to do. Heck, out of all the billions of ideas he had to make his confession, this was never in his mind ever. He could see that she wasn't ready for this confession, but he couldn't stop himself. He just couldn't deny her that he doesn't like her, when that would be the biggest fucking lie of the century.

"Nandini." Manik wanted to hold her but her lost expressions were scaring him. Did he committed a mistake by telling her.

"No. That, that can't be true. You. You can- can't lo-ve me. Nobody can." Manik looked at her in disbelief. Just how broken she must be to say that he or no-one can't love her. And her words only broke him. He looked at her who had tears in her eyes, tears of helplessness. She was looking at him as if accusing him to love her.

"Why Nandini? Why Can't I Love You?" Nandini shut her eyes tightly and clutched her kurti firmly in her fist. Manik felt disheartened seeing her condition. Why can't she accept that anyone can love her, and for him her mere existence was enough to be in love. He saw her opening her eyes which were red and his heart clenched. He saw her picking up her fallen bag not sparing him a glance and started moving out and he felt like that she is going out of his life. The thought didn't settled well with him. He can't let her go.

"I love you Nandini" he Whispered which was heard very well in the silent room and Nandini halted on her steps. Her feet got jammed. She felt him coming near her and again heard him saying the words which were not acceptable to her.

"I do Love You."

"No, you don't," she cried out, "I don't matter to anyone, least of all you! It shouldn't."

"Stop," he whispered, almost painfully.

"Ok, sure the stars may not shine for you, and the moon may not light up the night sky just to catch a glimpse of you. But people smile because of you. People laugh because of you. You make people happy, and I think that's pretty special. And for the record, you do matter. You're the moon and the sun and all the stars in the sky. You're my entire universe."

Nandini looked at him with a painful look while he was looking at her like she is the end of his world.

"You doesn't even know anything about me Manik."

"Trust me, anything about you can never diminish my love."

"I have a daughter. I'm a mother. You don't even know about my past."

"Should that make me love you any less?" She looked at him in disbelief.

"You are not understanding. I- I'm not someone you- you should love. You- I. Manik. You are very nice, so pure hearted. I- I don't deserve you. I'm not what I look Manik. I'm hollow from inside. It's all void. I can't give you anything except pain and hurt. That's me. Please. Do- don't love. Don't fall in this darkness. You are not meant for it. You deserve the world, n-not me."

All Manik wanted to do at this moment was to take her in his embrace and hide her away from this cruel world which has given her tons of pain and loads of insecurities to live with. He felt like to burn the world when she said that she is hollow. He wanted to tell her that, it's not her, who is hollow and void. It's those human who had made her feel so are actually hollow from inside.

"You think I deserve the world?" Nandini nodded her head in yes. She was feeling so broken, so devastating. Why do life likes to play with her in such a way, she wondered. She had never expected someone to love her, and all above, Manik? Yes, she had this intuition that he likes her but love? Isn't it a big word? Isn't it something too pure to be felt for her? What thing worthy of love can be found in her, life she pondered. She was finding it difficult to believe that a person would love her even when she isn't trying. Trying to figure out what other people need, trying to be worthy.

"Then Be my world Nandini. Live in it. Rule it. Like a Queen, you are." Nandini looked at Manik with disbelief. How can this man be real? No, obviously he can't be real. She took a deep breath and shook her head left and right. Manik's heart started beating at abnormal pace seeing the defeated look on her face, and hearing her next words broke his heart.

"I-I can never love you Manik. And I know it- it's not love for you too, you- you are just thinking too much maybe. It- it would be better if- if we don't meet again. Please." Nandini felt a tug on her wrist when she was about to leave the room and a shiver ran down her spine feeling the touch. She didn't jerked her hand away like usually she would've done in such a situation. She turned around to saw Manik directly looking in her eyes.

"I can never force you to love me Nandini. But you will also never call my love just an infatuation. For me, it's too pure to be compared to anything less. And I don't need to prove that to anyone. For people, love might be just a show off, but I can die for you in secret. And please, love me or not but don't think of yourself as not worthy of it. Because beleive me Nandini it will always be you for me. I'd chose you in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I'd find you and I'd choose you."

Nandini felt the hold on her wrist losing before the warmth was totally gone. She looked down at her wrist and then at him who was looking away. She could see him wiping the tear that was welled up in his eye. And without any other word she left the music room closing the door behind silently.

When Manik didn't felt her presence he sat down on his knees keeping his face in his palms. Her words that she can't love him broke him. Her eyes which were screaming for help made him helpless. He could see her frightened state but couldn't do anything.

He knew that chances of her reciprocating his love are almost negligible, but the last hope he had was broken too and his heart cried for that. But he can't even blame her.

He can't blame her, when he himself have broken his heart.

Oh Maula Na Jaane Kya Teri Yeh Maaya
Kyun Usse Milaya Kyun Aashiq Banaya
Jo Dard Diya Hai Toh Sehna Sikha De
Kya Hai Mere Dil Mein Tu Use Bata De

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YoYo *peeking from behind Kim Jong Un* *evil smirk*

I know super duper late, but goliyaan nahi chalana Kim Jong Un ke saath aai hu 😏 I was in North Korea naa, so offline thi.

Soooooooo, how are you all pehle toh?

And now how was the chapter?

Expected? Hmm hmm bolo bolo, kar di na bolti band? *inserting Jalwa hai humara meme*

Full on MaNan wala no?

Anyone cried for Manu? Poor him, Nandu bhi naa...

Oh, btw, Goenka bro's are coming. Do you think they're coming for no reason at all?

And would Abhi and Cabir will get anything in Delhi?

Hush!! Too much in story. Khatam ho nahi hone ko aa rahi, while I want to wrap it up jaldi se. *Pinching Kim Jong Un*

Chalo aab aache aache bachon ki tarah vote and comment do phir agla chapter dungi Kim Jong Un ki kasam *grin*

Next update - Tue/ Wed

3362 words!!

~A ♡