Nandini's POV:
Damn! What's happening with Cabir and Manik? Why did he message me that he can't come home. I tried to call Manik but his phone is switched off. Shayad charger bhi yahi hoga. So I tried calling Navya to know what's happening. ''Hi Navya'' I was so eager to know what's happening there. ''Hi Nandini, had dinner?'' she asked casually. ''Ha, bas tumse baat karne ka mann tha tho call kiya'' I said. ''Kya baat hai, aaj kal jhoot bhi bolne lagi tum?'' she asked. Why will I even try to lie to Navya, she will any how find it. ''Jhoot nahi, aise hi bore ho gayi hu tho'' I said. ''What are you both doing there, kahi bahar chale? Only if you don't mind me coming in between you?'' I asked to know about Cabir. ''I would love to, waise bhi baahar jaake bahut din hue hai, we can meet tomorrow then'' she said. ''Why not now? Main tho abhi bhi free hu'' I said. ''But Cabir isn't at home, he went to stay with Manik tonight'' she said.
''Stay with Manik?'' I was confused at her statement. ''Ha dono friends kuch important baat karne ke liye ghar se nikal gaya, Cabir said he would stay with Manik tonight'' she said. So Manik went along with Cabir to his home and that is the reason he said he will not come here. ''Aisa kya important hai Cabir aur Manik dono ke beech mein?'' now I'm very curious to know. ''That's going to be a surprise, tonight is so important'' she said. ''Are you serious Navya? Manik aur Cabir, ek hi ghar mein, ek hi room mein, important and surprisingly kya karne wala hai'' I said. ''Nandini tum aise waise mat socho, you will know what is the surprise tomorrow, isse zyada mujhe kuch nahi bolna hai'' she said and cut the call. I realized that I can't do anything about it and went to bed.
It was 8 o clock in the morning when I woke up with a message from Manik. "Good morning" he wrote. I called him but he rejected it. "Can't talk now, follow this link for Live" he texted and sent a link. It redirected to a video. Manik and Cabir were seen in the video and it seems to be a press meet. Is this the same thing Navya was talking about last night. Voices were not clear due to the background noise and saw Manik tapping on his phone. "Hello everybody, Good morning to one and all. Thanks to everyone who came here on our invitation in a very short notice" Cabir started. "Why did you call for a press meet in the first place" an elderly lady asked from the group of media personnel. "Ek director aur hero press meet kyu bulate hai! Obviously to announce a new film" Cabir said. "Kya aap Manik Malhotra ji ko phir se launch karne wale hai?" someone shot the question. I was eager to know the answer.
"Yes" Manik said simply. "Relaunch kya hota hai, Manik is already a successful superstar, bas thoda break liya hai, and now he is back" Cabir said. I felt so happy after listening to Cabir. "The last film for which you and Manik came together is a blockbuster hit, kya aap ye magic phir se create karne wale hai?" there comes another question. "But that was Manik's last film too, Manik was a Superstar then and you were a debutant director, ab aap industry ke top most director ban chuke hai, stars bhi aapke saath kaam karna chahte hai, why is that you have selected only Manik to work with?" someone asked. "I don't have hundreds of crores to make a film, mera budget ek limited budget hai, so I wanted to produce a film where I can manage my finances too. Manik iss dost ko itna help tho kar sakta hai! Hai na?" Cabir looked at Manik.
Manik hugged Cabir and he truly deserve this tight hug from me too. Cabir aur Navya Manik ke liye itna bada decision le liya ki unhone ek movie produce karne wale hai, I can't believe it. "Last time, it was a heart warming take of love, which genre it is now? We surely don't want a sad ending" Cabir laughed at this comment. "This time it is going to be much more fun. Genre will be Romcom and overall it is a light hearted story. I hope this would bring luck to me and Cabir" Manik said. "Iss baar heroine kaun hoga? Are you going to repeat your heroine?" Manik was asked this question. "Hum audition karne wale hai, this is a fresh story so we need a fresh face too" Manik said. This is going to be the blast of the day. I can't wait to meet and congratulate both Manik and Cabir.
I decided to meet them anyhow and got ready in a jiffy. Meanwhile, I have called Navya to congratulate for Cabir. "Kal raat tum ne mujhe kuch nahi bataya, but I knew it now, this is such a big news Navya" I said. "Ha Cabir ne ye bahut soch samaj ke kiya, I hope ye movie success ho jaaye bas" she said. "Don't worry main Cabir se hi milne jaa rahi hu" I said. "Ha but we are at Manik's place, can you still come here?" she asked skeptically. "Ha main aaungi, no problem" I said. I felt so guilty for nit telling Cabir and Navya about our wedding. I think they would be the happiest to know about us. After all, they are the ones who I can still call family. Bas kisi bhi tarah Manik ko Dhruv ke baare mein bataake phir hum sab ko humare shaadi announce kar lenge.
Manik ke ghar dekh kar tho purane yaadein taaze ho gaye. Yahi tho toota hai mera dil pehle. I couldn't dare to get down and sat still in the car for a few minutes. I hope Manik shouldn't know about my insecurities for him. Manik se dhoor hona mere liye is like saas lena band ho jana. Wo kab mere life ke itna bada hissa ban gaya mujhe pata hi nahi chala. I hate to admit but Manik ko khone ka darr is killing me inside from within. I got down after a moment and I was welcomed there by Siya. I felt my energy drained just by seeing her. "Nandini, tum idhar?" she asked. Before I could speak, Navya came there. "Hi Nandini" she took me inside and Siya joined us. I saw Cabir as I entered in. I wonder where Manik is!
"Congratulations on becoming a producer officially" I said as I hugged Cabir. "Manik kaha hai?" Siya asked. "Wo raha hai humara hero saab" Cabir pointed at Manik. "Congratulations" I extended my hand to Manik. He must have surely taken aback to see me here. He shaked hands with me and said thank you. "Finally a new collaboration again" Siya said hugging Manik. I couldn't stand there. "Can I use your washroom?" I asked Manik. He replied after a moment when he broke the hug. "Sure, that way" Manik showed me a room upstairs. I went inside and saw a photo of Manik on the wall. He came there in a few minutes.
"Nandini, what a surprise!" he said hugging me. "Congratulations Manik" I wished him. "I can't believe that you are in my room. Today is the best day of my life" he said. "Oh, so this is your room" I looked at it in full view. "But I don't feel like I belong here Manik" I said. I can't digest the fact that I might always be an outsider for him. "Nandini, even I don't belong here without my mom. Ye sirf ek makaan hai, ye tab ghar hota hai jab meri maa yaha hoti thi. Likewise, ye humara ghar nahi hai, my home is where you are and my heart is where you belong" he said.
"But I really love your room, nice" I complimented him. "Ok come let's go" he said taking me out. "No, abhi tho tumne kaha ki I'm your home. We are in your room now. So itni jaldi bhi kya hai?" I asked him. "Had I knew earlier that you would be so bold if I stayed low key, I would have not kissed you earlier too" he said. "Why?" I asked him. "Because I like you being bold. I like your luscious lips, I love your... " I stopped him. "Sirf baaton se kuch nahi hoga" I teased him. "Ha mujhe bhi baahar jaane ka mood nahi hai but Cabir Jassoossi karte karte yaha tak aa hi jaata hai" Manik is right. I walked towards the door and I suddenly was pulled by Manik.
"Close your eyes" Manik whispered as he bit my ear lobe. I silently nodded and closed my eyes. "Now take a deep breath" he said. We were standing and he held me against the door locking it up. "I love you" he said placing soft kisses along my neck. I had butterflies in my tummy when he said that. I hugged him and said, "I love you too Manik" I said. The time stood still and we seemed to get lost in each other.
He carefully pinned me to the door when he aimed at attacking my lower lip when we heard someone knocking on the door.