"रास्ते खूबसूरत है तुम्हारे साथ,
मंजिल की फिलहाल बात नही करते!"

"Abey, kyu maar Raha hai mujh masum si Jaan ko. Ouch!! Lag raha hai gadhe!!"

(Hey, why are you beating my innocent self? It's hurting, you donkey)

Abhi, Navya, and Mukti were watching the scene with amusement yet confusion. Amusement because Cabir was getting some solid punches from Manik, and confusion because they don't know the reason why he was getting such a beautiful treatment.

Were they feeling bad for him?

A little bit.

Were they going to stop Manik?

Hell No!!

While after some time, Manik stopped his torture of Cabir with a light punch to his face and sat on the floor. He looked at Cabir who was making crying faces and wincing, at which Manik rolled his eyes because he didn't beat him that hard, except for two or three solid punches. But Cabir deserved it, so doesn't matter.

Mukti and Navya sat in front of Manik on the floor. While Abhi helped Cabir in sitting he was behaving like he got beaten in a street fight. Right now, they were in the Music room of Malhotra Mansion. After the earlier incident in the hall, the house was too silent. Manik came to his music room and kept playing his guitar until Fab Four came. And as soon as he saw Cabir, he punches him in his stomach making him fall in shock.

Now, Cabir was sitting adjacent to Manik but kept a hand distance between them, not trusting him. Rest three sat in front of them.

"Manik, why were you beating this poor soul? To be Frank, the first time I'm feeling pity on him."

"You Idiot, if you were feeling so much pity on me, then why didn't you stop him?" Abhi chuckled and Cabir looked at him with betrayed expression.

"Because it's not every day Cabir, jab tumhe tumhare paapo ki saza milti hai."

(When you get punished for your bad deeds)

Mukti and Abhi chuckled at Navya's words while Manik smiled and looked at Cabir. He slides himself towards him to which Cabir gave him a frightened look which made everyone chuckle. Manik smiled at him and circles his arm around his shoulder.

"It did hurt you, no Bire?"

(Bire- Cabir)

"Of course, man. I was feeling like I was in the WWE."

"It must've hurt her too." Fab Four's head snapped in Manik's direction who gave them a plain knowing look.

"Uhh, Who Manik?"

"You know Mukti, whom I'm talking about. Yes, Nandini." Cabir gulped his lump and looked at the other three who were also tensed. Abhi blinked his eyes and looked at Manik as if to read through his face what else he knows. Mukti and Navya looked at each other with fear.

"Don't worry, I don't know everything that you guys know. And yes, I know that You know." Manik sat straight and looked at his friends. He smiled mirthlessly and looked down entwining his hands around his knees. He has realized that his friends know about Nandini's past. How and how much, he doesn't know.

"Manik. We-We didn't want to hurt you. And besides, we don't know everything, just bits and pieces."

Manik looked at Abhi who was looking guilty. Manik bit his lip and kept staring at him. He wanted to know. He wanted to ask him, what is it? But he couldn't. He doesn't know, how bad it is. And he is not sure if he is ready to hear it.

"Is it- is it bad?"

"Worst!" Manik inhaled sharply hearing Abhi. He closed his eyes and then opened them, not wanting to think of all the worst possibilities. No, he is not ready.

Fab four were tensed for Manik. If only after knowing that Nandini's past is very bad, he is looking so hurt, then what after knowing the truth?

But what they didn't see or realised is that His Love for Her is too pure and strong to be deflected by the hurricane of her past. If anything, with time it is going to be stronger.

"You okay Manik?" Manik looked at Navya who was staring at him a concerned look and so were the other three. He smiled at her assuringly before looking at the wall ahead.

"I don't know what's going to happen to us. I cannot read stars or converse with The Fates but I do know this: I'm all in, Here and Now, until I'm dead in the dirt. No matter how difficult it gets, or how desperately the world tries to tear us apart, I'll be hers, no matter what." Fab Four smiled hearing him. They can't change anything, all they can do is stand beside their friend, and they will.

Their trance was broken when a butler came to call them as Nyonika was calling them to which they nodded and the butler left. They stood up and turned to go when Manik stopped Cabir, holding his shoulder. He looked at everyone.

"Cabir, and you guys too, I know you love me and you always want my happiness. But next time, for my happiness, don't hurt her. Yeah?" Fab Four nodded and he gave them a smile before moving out holding Navya and Mukti to each side.

"Then I did deserve those punches."

"It's okay Cabir. We will ask forgiveness from Nandini, yeah?" Cabir nodded and both boys too moved out of the Music room.

.
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"Shi Maa!!! Shee, Iti looking butiful naa?" Ishita who was cleaning the small temple in her house looked back hearing Anahita's voice. She smiled widely when Anahita, who was dressed up in a timber blue printed lehenga dress, twirled around to show her dress.

(Ishi Maa. See Anahita is looking beautiful, no?)

"Hayee, mera bacha kitna pyara lag raha hai, Nazar na lage." Ishita gleed and put kajal behind Anahita's ears making her blink in confusion.

(Awe! My child is looking so beautiful, hope no evil eyes touch you)

"Ompho!! Shi Maa, kajal eyes me lagate hai, aap bhi na budhu ho. Now I need to teach you sab." Ishita looked at Anahita with an Ohh face and nodded her head.

(Offo! Ishi Maa, we put Kajal behind eyes, you are so silly | sab- everything)

"Sorry Sorry, my grandma. Now tell me where is yourpyari Mother?"

(Pyari- Loving)

"My pyari Mimi is getting ready. Mimi too looking butiful today." Ishita smiled looking at the adoration in Anahita's eyes while talking about her mother. Just then Ishita hears anklets sound and looked in the direction to smile in satisfaction. For the first time in the last three and half years since she met, Nandini was dressed in proper ethnic wear, though it still was simple she was looking beautiful in her cream Indian suit.

"Nandu!!!! You're looking so pretty bache. But tell me how come this magic? I always give you dresses but you never wear them." Firstly Ishita put a kajal dot behind Nandini's ears too to which Anahita frowned and slapped her forehead. But at her later question, Nandini just sighed and gestured towards her daughter who was grinning at her mother.

"This madam threw tantrums asking me to wear it, so I did." Ishita smiled and took balayein of Anahita making her giggle. Then the trio moved to the small temple as it was already time for prayer. Nandini covered Anahita's head with her lehenga's dupatta and also covered hers with her own's before joining her hands in prayer style.

Soon enough they were done with their Diwali Puja and Anahita very fondly was devouring her sweets making both Ishita and Nandini smile at her.

"Mimi cackers!!!" Nandini looked at Anahita with an uncertain face. Although on the insistence of Anahita, they had bought crackers the day before, the thing is that both Nandini and Ishita are afraid of crackers. And Anahita had brought some bursting crackers which were a no-no from both Ishita and Nandini.

(cackers- crackers)

"Shona, crackers are not good for kids. And it causes pollution too." Nandini tried to make her daughter understand but Anahita was too excited to understand.

"No, Mimi! Thole se. Pleach!!"

(Thole se- Thode se- A little | Pleach- Please)

Nandini and Ishita sighed. They were in a fix now. And looking at them Anahita frowned and felt sad. Nandini was also feeling upset seeing Anahita taking a seat on the sofa with a pouty face. She was about to say something when the doorbell rang. Nandini gestured for Ishita to keep sitting and giving a glance to her daughter, moved to the door to open it. And opening the door she was surprised to see the people standing in front of her.

"Manik!"

"Hey!!" Manik breathed out.

Manik was enchanted with the sight in front of her would be trivialization. He never thought that in such a simple ethnic wear too, she will look so beautiful. He was mesmerized seeing the simple beauty. Only if he had another heart, he would've given her that too.

The rest of the Fab Four smiled internally at Manik's lost state. It was Cabir who nudged him and Manik came out of his trance. He cleared his throat hoping that he didn't make Nandini uncomfortable.

While Nandini was still comprehending why Fab Fiver was standing at her doorstep. She didn't miss the look in Manik's eyes, but chose to think of it as her overthinking, she chucked that thought. Anyway, she passed them a smile before permitting them in.

Anahita who was sitting with an upset face looked at the door and her eyes sparkled in joy seeing her Rockstar and his friends. She squealed and ran to him who grinned ear to ear and picked her up in his arms.

"Happy Diwali Princess!!" Manik wished and kissed her cheeks making her smile more wide.

"Appy Dilwali Loktal" Manik and Fab Five chuckled at her words and Ishita and Nandini sighed. Since morning they are telling her that it's Diwali and not Dilwali, but Anahita is Anahita.

Anahita then met everyone else and meanwhile, Manik greeted Ishita touching her feet and have her the sweets he bought.

"Am sorry Aunty, we came unannounced. Hope you don't mind."

"Arre!! If you again said anything like this, then I'll surely mind. You're like a family Bache." Manik smiled and looked at Nandini but the next moment averted his gaze and kneeled when he saw his Princess coming towards him.

"Look at this fairy. You're looking so beautiful, Princess." Manik cooed Anahita who grinned hearing her praise. Nandini smiled at her daughter's happy face, who will say she was upset a while ago?

She looked at Fab Four to see them talking with Ishita and munching on sweets she offered. They were chilling around as they come here daily. She saw Mukti and Navya adoring the pics in the living area and Cabir was munching his sweets while Abhi was helping Ishita who was pouring juice for them in the open kitchen. She kept looking at Abhi for quite some time with frowns before adverting her gaze and shaking her head.

Nandini then looked at Manik who was hearing Anahita's cooked-up stories so attentively. She was always amused seeing their bonding. They both behave like they know each other forever. She smiled looking around. For the first time in the last four years, she was feeling content with so many people around. She wasn't feeling uncomfortable around them.

Was that good? Nandini thought but took a deep breath and decided to not let such thoughts mess up her mind. She looked at Manik and Anahita when heard Anahita taking her name.

"Loktal, how is Mimi looking?" She looked at Anahita furrowing her brows and then at Manik who was looking at her only. Nandini didn't realize that everyone was looking at them only. She felt her heart beating at an abnormal rate in her chest. She was confused with her state. Nandini looked at Manik with anticipation when heard him clearing his throat. He looked at her before looking at Anahita with a smile.

"Your Mumma always looks beautiful, because she is your Mumma, no!" Nandini exhaled a breath. She was confused about how her body and heart were reacting. What was it? He just answered her daughter's innocent question, like the gentleman he is. But why was she feeling so, good? Tingling? Feeling!

He is making her feel- He is making her feel, it's not good for her, it should stop. That's what was revolving in Nandini's mind and she was trying to calm herself down. If anything, she is afraid to feel. She closed her eyes took a deep breath and opened them and pasted a smile on her face before moving to the kitchen.

If nobody, then Manik surely did notice her actions. The time Anahita asked him how was Nandini looking, he wanted to say Enchanting, Mesmerizing, and every other synonym of that word he knows. But the instant he looked at Nandini, he knew that she won't feel comfortable. So he very modestly answered Anahita who smiled hearing her Mother's praise from her Rockstar.

Manik looked at Nandini whose eyes showed vulnerability. She holds so much sadness in her eyes, that he can almost touch all the scars of her soul and cry. She looked like she was about to explode with emotions but then she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them, poof!! Her eyes were again the same, emotionless, blank. He sighed when he saw her going into the kitchen.

Only if he could trade his happiness with her sorrows, he would've done without a second thought- he thought.

Manik looked at Anahita and caressed her cheeks lovingly. He gave her a silent promise to protect her and Nandini from anything and everything bad coming their way.

"Loktal, cackers!!" Manik smiled at the pouty face Anahita made at the mention of crackers.

"You want to burst crackers?" Anahita bobbed her head in yes frantically to which he smiled and stood up with her in his arms. He looked at his friends who were busy chit-chatting with Ishita and Nandini, who was only a listener.

"Guys!! Let's go and burst crackers."

"Yo Dude!! Now that's Diwali. Let's go!! I'll fetch the crackers we brought, from the car" Cabir stood up followed by their other friends with enthusiasm. Nandini stood up with frowns of concern on her face. She went towards Manik and Anahita where Anahita was showing him the crackers she brought.

"Manik." Manik turned around and gave a small smile to her seeing her uncertain face.

"Don't worry Nandini, there are no big crackers and I promise, I won't let anything hurt her and you."

Nandini knew that he said his last words in the context of crackers but then why she felt that it was a promise he made to her? She over- threw her thoughts from the window and gave a small smile to Manik before nodding. She didn't realize when and how she started trusting Manik with the most important piece of her heart - her daughter. But she does. And she is not going to let any irrational thoughts affect her daughter's bond with him. She won't let her daughter's happiness fade away.

She smiled and moved behind Manik and Anahita. She smiled seeing Anahita walking and holding Manik's fingers. At the threshold, Anahita stopped and looked back to see her mother two steps behind her. Anahita forwarded her small hand to her mother who looked at her hand blankly. Nandini looked at Manik who was already looking at her with anticipation.

Manik's heart was beating loudly in his chest fearing that Nandini wouldn't hold Anahita's hand just because he was holding. He was about to remove his hand from Anahita's hold when he saw Nandini taking two steps forward and holding Anahita's hand. The grin on Anahita's face was mimicked by him. Suddenly his heart was feeling content. He was feeling like a part of this small yet adorable family. He smiled at his thoughts and kept moving.

When Ishita and Fab Four who were already in the lawn looked at the trio they all smiled. Ishita blinked her tears away looking at the sight in front of her. She secretly took balayein and prayed to God to not let the smiles of these three faces fade away. For the first time she was feeling like, there is hope for Nandini's happiness.

While Fab Four were awestruck seeing them. Abhimanyu hurriedly took a pic of the trio on his mobile when both looked at Anahita as she was telling something to them. They were happy with the peaceful look on Manik's face and prayed for his happiness.

Soon enough, Fab Five and Anahita were bursting crackers while Ishita and Nandini chose to stay afar and palmed their ears with the noise. Whenever Nandini would see Anahita going to burst any crackers she would feel her heart thumping but she was always calmed down seeing Manik beside Anahita. She smiled when he protectively held her when Cabir burst the rocket cracker although they were too far from him.

Ishita was standing and looking at Nandini's face from time to time. She was, again and again, looking at Anahita and Manik and was feeling happy.

"Kitna pyara bacha hai na Manik." Nandini looked at Ishita and then at Manik before nodding her head making Ishita grin and she continued. "Now see naa, he would've spent Diwali with his family, but he came here for Anahita. Such a lovely boy."

Nandini kept looking at Manik as Ishita spoke. She was right, he should have spent this festival with his family, but still, he came here with his friends. Just to celebrate with Anahita! Her heart swelled up in happiness realizing that Anahita matters so much to him.

What an irony, she thought. On one side, one's blood relation despises you, and on the other side, someone else who was a stranger till yesterday makes a place for you in their heart.

Nandini walked to Anahita who called her as she was lighting Phuljhadi  holding Manik's hand.

(Phuljhadi - Sparkler)

"Mimi, you too come naa." Nandini looked at the duo and shook her head in no.

"No Shona, Mimi is scared." Anahita pouted sadly looking at her mother trying to insist on her but Nandini was just shaking her head no.

"It's okay Nandini, it's just a sparkler. It won't burst suddenly."

"Ha. Ha. So funny Manik." Manik chuckled at her sarcastic response and Anahita again insisted she hold her hand at least to which Nandini sighed and said okay making Anahita jump and Manik smile.

Manil lit another sparkler and gave it to Anahita who asked Nandini to hold her hand. Nandini sighed at her daughter's sudden stubbornness and held her hand with fear. Anahita was asking her mother to relax when Manik saw Anahita's hand moving towards the hot burnt stick now.

"Careful Princess!!" Manik hurriedly held her hand sliding it up and since Nandini's hand was above Anahita's, so now Manik was holding Nandini's hand. Realizing this, both looked at each other and got lost in each other's eyes, and Anahita silently giggled looking at them. keeping her hand on her mouth. While Nandini and Manik kept gazing into each other eyes.

She found heaven in his eyes, and for the first time in a very long time, she could feel the stars within her begin to shine.

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The last line is a quote by- Jessica Michelle.

Early update - thanks to heavier than heavy rainfall my classes were postponed.

So how was it?

I think it was more of a sweet chapter, no?

A little more MaNan and ManIta moments, how were they?

And now since this book is halfway down, what views do you have about it so far? Anything you didn't like till now? I'm always open to constructive criticism. Will love to read your views.

Precap- Nandini's meet with a Goenka, who might it be?

Next update - Sunday most probably.

Oh by the way, yesterday I was wondering how much time it would take to vote on a chapter, and omg, it takes me four to five hours continuously to write a chapter and my hands didn't hurt but when I tried pressing the star button my fingers got fractured. Shuts!! ~ note the sarcasm.  (Not for those who patiently take time to vote and comment, I write for you guys ✨)

Anyway, waiting for your reviews.

3380 words!!

~A♡