After having some wonderful talks, Nandini left to her house. Cabir left her a message after he reached the airport and gave her his flight details.
Nandini was about to make dinner and just then she gets a call from Manik
M: Hey Nandu
N: Hi Manik! I was just going to text you about dinner. I wanted to make pasta. So is it okay?
M: Actually Nandu, its one of my friends birthday and I am going out with them for dinner...toh tum khaa lena aaj..Sorry
N: Its okay Manik! Have fun!
M: Okay. Have dinner and go to bed...i will probably be late...Goodnight Nandu
N: Goodnight Manik! Be safe.
She disconnected the call and continued with the pasta preparation. After dinner, she sat checking her Facebook and came across the Holi festival to be held in NYC. She got all excited after seeing that and checked for the details. It was a perfect event for them to go as Cabir will also be joining them. Thinking all these she drifted to sleep.
At around 12.30 AM Manik comes back from the party. He had an extra key of nandini's apartment. He slowly opens the door and checks if she was asleep or not. She was sleeping happily but did not have a blanket over her. He slowly went inside and covered her warmly with a blanket and lightly brushed her hair. Nandini smiled in her sleep...she must have recognized his touch.
He left to his apartment. After changing he slept on the bed and was watching nandini and his pictures in his phone. She was cute making weird faces in every photo. Soon sleep took over and he also entered into his dreamland.
Next morning:
Today again, Manik was the first one to get up. As soon as he got up he took his phone and the first thing he saw was nandini's photo. He smiled at it.
"I am sure it's gonna be a great day" he got up and quickly got ready as he had to go for practice.
Here nandini was happily sleeping seeing some beautiful dream.
Manik got ready and reached Nandini's apartment to wake her up.
"Nandu! Get up. Its 8 already...jaldhi utho" she removed the blanket and started waking her up.
"Manik please na ten more minutes..."
"nai nandini get up I have to rush and If I go away I know you will definitely sleep again...So by the time I set breakfast uthke fresh hi jao..fast" he made her sit.
"Monster ho tum Manik" she gritted her teeth and went to freshn'up.
After taking her own time long time...she came out wearing a blue top and jeans looking absolutely perfect.
"You look pretty in blue. You wear blue a lot right?" he complemented.
"Thanks...I am surprised you notice the color I wear...i am impressed" she winked at him.
"Acha okay...now jaldhi have your breakfast. I am done and I need to rush for practice. I will see you directly during dinner. But let me know if you need any help...have a good day" he gave her a quick hug and went away.
"Thank god! He is busy today..nai toh jaana mushkil hotha...aww I am so excited to see Cabir...Wah nandu! You are making celebrity friends...Now I will click so many oictures with these rockstars and fill in my insta and facebook...and then everyone will be jealous of me..." she was so happy thinking all this and teeheeing to herself all the time.
Meanwhile her phone beeps. It was a message from Cabir.
"Hey Nandini. Reached Newark. Have 10 hours layover...L Flight is in the evening at 4.20. Dunno what I am going to do... subah 6 baje se time pass kar raha tha... Provide some entertainment"
She smiled at his message and facetimed him immediately.
C: Hello Sweetheart! thanks for calling..paagal ho raha tha mein.
N: hi Cabir... that's sad...but so sorry abhi mujhe jaana hain..i have a 2 hour class now... Sorry cannot give company..
C: Its okay! Business class ke liye there is a nice hotel and I just checked in. So I will go and take rest till I board my flight...Tum jao! See you soon.
N: Oh great! Yes I will be in the airport by 5.30 PM. You will find me at the arrivals. Waiting to see you..and safe travels...Come soon
She disconnected the call and went to school.
Here Manik was continuously practicing as there were just 2 more days for the game. He noticed that Alice was quite upset with him as she was not giving any heed to his presence. He decide to talk to her during the break.
M: Hey Alice! How are you
A: I am good Manik! How about you?
M: me...i am so tired continuous practice...i have never played this much at a stretch.
A: okay!
M: Hey Alice! Listen nandini said that you wanted to go to the ball with me..but I am sorry, we planned everything to go together and I wanted to go with her. I hope this doesn't affect your friendship. She was feeling bad. Please talk to her when you have time.
A: Okay Manik...its fine..may be next time..and yes I will talk to her.. Okay I have to go now..I will see you when I see you..Bye
M: Bye
He was feeling relieved after talking to her. He called nandini but she did not pick up his call.
"Phone kyu nai uthaa ri hain ye ladki...she doesn't even have class now" he was thinking when he got a message.
Mein Judy ke saath hoon..shopping..will call later...you don't skip lunch..jaake khaalo
Nandini
Tum mera lunch kabhi miss nai karthi ho na
Manik
Kabhi nai...as long as I am conscious..because I know if I don't tell toh tum nai khaaoge
Nandini
Hahaha ! paagal ..okay carry on..and don't get too tired...you have everything in your kitchen patha nai phir se kya shopping
Manik
Manik...tum mere shopping ke baare mein kuch math bolna..why do you think I do my job...to fend these malls...J
Nandini
Ha ha ha ...joke that kya? Anyway will see you in the evening..Bye now...take care
Manik
You too..bye
Nandini
It was 5.00PM already. It just takes around 20 minutes to go the airport from the university. So Nandini took the school cab and reached the airport on time and was waiting at the arrivals.
The flight was also landed and after waiting for 20 minutes she found Cabir coming out.
"Cabiiirrrr...." she shouted. Everyone looked at her and then she realized what she did. She smiled sheepishly at the people around. Cabir came to her and hugged her tightly.
"Nandiniiii!!!! I was so excited to see you pretty girl....Meine zyaadha wait toh nai karaaya na?" he asked side hugging her.
"Wait! lets take a selfie first... i need to let the world know that i am with The Rockstar Cabir!!" she said and clicked a selfie and immediately posted on Facebook tagging him.
"Nai Cabir...you are good. Come let's go...Manik already called me twice...I made some stories and now he is waiting for me...Let's give him the biggest shock of life" she said.
They reached home in no time. Nandini actually lied to Manik that Judy was coming for lunch. After going home, Cabir went to freshn'up and Nandini called Manik.
"Hi manik! Come down jaldhee..i have something for you and ya the door is open" she said and hung up.
"Hello..Nandini" he was trying to speak but the call was already cut.
He quickly went down and opened the door only to get punched by a boxing glove.
"What the! Nandini kya that yeh" he shouted holding his nose.
"Abey use kya bol raha hain...I did it not her" he was shocked to heart that voice. Cabir came and stood before him.
"Cabirr!" he shouted and hugged him immediately. Now this was not Cabir's expected reaction.
"I missed you buddy....Only I know how much it took to control myself from calling you here..thanks for coming buddy" he said still hugging him. Nandini was happy to see him happy.
"Tu ithna emotional kyu ho raha hain bhai...anyway I missed you too... isi liye aagaya..Dhruv also wanted to come..but he stayed back for Chacha and Alya" cabir said coming out of the hug.
"Ek minute...mathlab nandu you knew he was coming?" he was surprised now.
"Yes! Aur mein Judy ke saath nai thi I was at school only all the time and she is not coming for dinner also..Sorry I lied" she said holding her ears.
"Awww kithna cute ho tum Nandini... Isko sorry bolne ki zaroorath nai hain..aur haan manik I asked her to keep it a secret..." he said side hugging her. Nandini smiled at her. She was so happy to have these two boys next to her. It gave her a nice feeling after so many years of hopeless life, she was finding happiness around her now.
The boys noticed that she was silent.
Mnaik pushed cabir aside and he now he hugged her. "nandu..are you fine?" he asked.
"Yes Manik...it's just that I am so glad I have you both... You guys came from nowhere and are giving me a reason to be happy" she said covered in his hug.
"Ahem Ahem" Cabir tried to grab some attention..."Mein abhi bhi yahi hoon if you guys forgot" he winked.
"Acha whats the plan? Let's go somewhere for dinner" Manik said.
"No Manik..I already made dinner. We will just stay at home and talk. I don't want to go anywhere. Infact you guys can go if you want to spend some friend time" she suggested.
"Shut up now. No one is going leaving you..we will have dinner and talk..chalo I am very hungry" Cabir said.
"Tu Bhukkad ka bhukkad hi rahega hamesha" Manik taunted him.
Nandini made her special biryani and paneer butter masala. They had fun talking about school life and friends and many more. After dinner, they adjusted themselves on the couch laying arms on each other's shoulders watching "The Intern" movie.
(If you guys haven't watched it, then do watch. It's a cute movie..Anne Hathaway looks beautiful in the movie)
"Guys! I wanted to tell something..infact ask something" suddenly nandini spoke looking at them.
"What's it nandini" they asked together.
"I was browsing something and got to know about the Holi event in NYC. I want to go there. Are you guys interested? It's on the 23rd. I have checked the fares, travel plan and everything. Just need your yes" she said all excited hoping a yes.
(A/N: Let's assume we still have a week's time...because this week we have basketball match and Ball update. Hope you guys can wait. But I won't take too long..promise)
"wow that's amazing! We will definitely go.. I am in" said Cabir.
"I am in too...it's a nice plan Nandu" manik also agreed.
"Yaaaay!!! Thanks guys...I love you both!" she said and hugged them together.
"We love you too nandini..hain na Manik...we love her right?" he said stressing the word love.
Manik was glaring at him and Cabir was having fun. He gave "darthaa nai hoon" expression to him. They were literally talking with eyes...
"Ho gaya tum donon ka?" Nandini asked.
"Haan mujhe kya bol ri ho...ise bolo...kuch bhi boltha hain" Manik said blaming Cabir.
"God! You guys fight like kids" Nandini said hitting their shoulders.
They resumed their movie and Nandini unknowingly slept keeping her head on Cabir's shoulder.
The boys smiled at her cuteness.
"She is such a pure soul Manik. I felt like I was talking to Mukti when I was talking to her. You know she cares a lot for you. Poore raasthe mein aur ghar aane ke baddh..she was talking only about you..How you guys met, that silly fight. She also said that you sing for her daily...Now that's a news for me. I thought Manik Malhotra stopped singing..phir ye kab hua hmm?" Cabir asked.
Manik was thinking what to answer. But the person asking that question no one but his Cabir with whom he can share anything.
"I don't know Cabir. She has that positive aura around her. Just that she misses her parents a lot...apart from that, she is the most cheerful girl I have ever seen...Patha hain kithni jealous thi when I was being all nice to her friend...she is so cute man..." Manik said looking at her.
"Toh gaadi thodi aura aage badhi huh?" Cabir asked. They were not in a funny mode. They were actually having serious talks.
"I don't know Cabir. I feel protective about her. I can't see her in pain. I never knew I would meet someone like her. I don't know if its love or something else. But yes, it's very difficult for me now to stay away from her" Manik continued.
"Manik if you think its love, then I tell you take sometime..think over it and only then approach her. She is too sensitive. Aur tere insecurities aur confusions mein use math aane dhena...Just tell her only when you are sure" Cabir said.
"yes bro! I will be careful. Don't worry. Aur tu batha...tera kya chal ra? How is Navya?" he asked.
"Navya! Navya! Navya! She is fine...She started her restaurant with Mukti's name. She is still not over it though I try a lot. But she is better now...from what you saw her last time. We were making wedding plans for next year. She just started her business so she wanted some time to settle and mein bhi ab busy hoon with Malhotra group. So we thought we can wait" Cabir said.
"What about Dhruv and Alya?" asked Manik
"Alya is now a happy soul. Ruk Dhruv proposed Alya yesterday and she accepted finally...who tujhe bolne waala that but he was too busy" Cabir said.
"Wow finally! Dhruv and Alya are together" manik was happy for them.
"Ruko bhai.. I will put her on bed. Hum mere ghar jaayenge.." Manik picked her in his arms and made her lay on the bed. He covered her with a blanket and both left to his apartment.
In Manik's apartment:
"Wah! From a two storeyed ultra modern mansion to a single room apartment... I never thought this would happen. Waise I must say the room is cool...just like you" Cabir said after looking at his room.
Malhotras were one of the most super rich families in India. That was why cabir was shocked to see manik living in an apartment.
"Ya I know! Pehle it was difficult..but now its fine..i am used to it..its small and cute..." manik said and laid down on the couch and Cabir was sleeping on the bed.
"Aur batha Manik. You are fine right? And yahaa pe is everything alright?" Cabir asked with a concerned tone.
"haan bhai..everything is fine..dont worry" manik smiled and replied.
"Waise who Khuraana ki beti Soha was asking about you. I dint tell her where exactly you are. Tue k baar baath kar le us se" Cabir said.
"nai Cabir! I can't tolerate that girl...She is a chipkoo..." manik said with an irritated voice. "Aur waise bhi after dad I Malhotra group never worked with them so I don't think it even matters.." he continued.
"As you wish" Cabir said.
Suddenly manik's phone rings. It was nandini.
"Why is Nandini calling now?" he said to Cabir and picked up the call.
"hello Nandini! Kya hua? Is everything alright?" Asked Manik.
"Manik isaid we will talk..mein so gayi toh you left me and went away. How bad you both are" she complained.
"Nai Nandini you were in a nice deep sleep isliye we dint want to disturb you..Acha come here then if you ae not sleepy" manik asked her.
"Open the door! Mein dharwaaze ke peeche hi hoon" Nandini said.
Manik immediately opend the door.
"Agar yahi pet hi toh why did you call paagal. You could have just knocked the door na" Manik hit her head and took her inside. He made her sit on the couch and sat next to her.
"Manik, Cabir lets play Scrabble. I brought the board" Nandini said and started arranging the board.
They started playing.
"Cabir Laddu is not an English word. Tum ye kya khel re ho" Nandini shouted at Cabir. He was using all weird words, most of them were food.
"Arey! Chup! Laddoo is a word now its your turn Play" he ssshed her.
After playing for two hours, the bed was not enough to put more words. So they stopped the game and declared that manik won after a lot of debate.
"Manik..today I want to sing with you. Will you teach me?" she asked remembering their song a day pact.
"Sure..let me get my book.. you can see the lyrics and sing along" he said and went to get his book.
"Wow toh aaj mujhe duet dhekhne ko milega...awesome" Cabir said teasingly.
"Here you go! Listen to me and then sing along okay? " Manik asked giving her the book.
He strummed his guitar and started..
Manik:
Uljhi si baathein dil mujhse bhi baante....toh
Meher..meher..meherbaani hoo...
Nandini:
Khud hi samaj ke...mujhe samjhaadhe..toh
Meher..meher..meherbaani
Nandini sang along smiling as if she achieved something great...
Manik:
Ho meherbaani....jo dil de zubaani...
Kehne who jo naa kabhi kahaa hain...
Aise tera mein...jaise mera tu...
Together:
Aise tera mein...jaise mera tu...
Manik:
Milthe rahe jo...asie hi dhonon..
Lag na jaaye ishq kin azar....
Nandini:
Ae dil farebi..tham saa gaya kyun..
Aisi vaisi baathein soch kar...
Manik:
Bas mein na mere...ab yeh raha hain..
Tujh pe aake dil ye jo rukaa hain..
Together:
Aise tera mein...jaise mera tu...
Aise tera mein...jaise mera tu...
They ended the song together.
"Wow nandini! Tum ithna bura bhi nai gaathi ho yaar...you did a great job" Cabir said and gave her a paper flower which he made listening to the song.
"Sach mein..nandini you sang well.. I am impressed" Manik also appreciated her.
"It all depends on the lead manik" she said and winked at him.
"okay thanks for recognizing it madam" Manik said.
"okay! I will go now..it's too late.. phir subah nai uth paaungi and you will become monster..bye both..goodnight.." she gave them quick hugs and left home.
Manik and Cabir also talked for sometime and went to bed.
God! Too long.. I just kept on writing.. If it dint meet expectations of Cabir's entrance, then sorry.. I tried my best to add a serious conversation between the two buddies. And song was my Shivu's request...as it was a duet I created that scenario...Hope you liked it Shivu
And everyone !! I hope you enjoyed reading... Holi will probably take two more updates... And yes, Navya and Cabir are in a relationship for the last four years. Dhruv always liked Alya but he never had courage to tell her about his feelings but now he finally did. Sorry for not mentioning this before.
See you all soon!!! :)