Fab 5 had a back door entry into the hall as media persons were buzzing around the main entrance. Some other day , it would not have been a problem, but today since nandini was not there , they had to save themselves from the piercing questions of the interviewers. They were welcomed with the thundering sound of claps and a chorus of HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUKTI... mukti smiled hugely and thanked all of the guests. One by one every one started wishing personally and mukti acknowledged their greetings , while the fab 4 stood beside her.
Kuch Kum Roshan Hai Roshni
Kuch Kum Gili Hai Baarishein
Kuch Kum Lehrathi Hai Hawa
Kuch Kum Hai Dil Mein Kwahishein
Tham Sa Gaya Hai
Yeh Waqt Aaisi
Tere Liya Hi Tehra Ho Jaise
Mmm..Mmm..Mmm
Mmm...Mmm..Mmm
Although both manik and mukti were present in the party physically, plastering smiles on their faces, yet their soul and heart was craving to see their respective partners. Manik was thinking of all possible ways to make upto nandini, while mukti was thinking to clear out things with abhimanyu.
Kuch Kum Roshan Hai Roshni
Kuch Kum Gili Hai Baarishein
Kuch Kum Lehrathi Hai Hawa
Kuch Kum Hai Dil Mein Kwahishein
Tham Sa Gaya Hai
Yeh Waqt Aaise
Tere Liya Hi Tehra Ho Jaise
Mmm..Mmm..Mmm
Mmm..Mmm..Mmm..
But both had their fingers crossed, hoping their partners would come. Of course they were sceptical of their partners arrival in the party as both knew that they have hurt them real bad by being impulsive.
"damn abhimanyu! Where are you!!" mukti thought
"nandini, please, come to the party and if possible forgive me, one last time!" this was manik's line of thought.
Kyun Meri Saans Bhi
Kuch Bhiki Si Hai
Dooriyon Se Huyie
Nazdiki Si Hai
Mmm...
Kyun Meri Saans Bhi
Kuch Bhiki Si Hai
Dooriyon Se Huyie
Nazdiki Si Hai
Jaane Kya, Yeh Baath Hai
Har Subha, Aab Raat Hai
"sir..." called out fab 5's PR manager.
"yes??" replied manik crisply.
"i would suggest you and fab 4 to make an appearance before the paparazzi, even for 5 minutes. Not doing so, will result in negative criticism and baseless rumours..." requested the manager.
"we will do that, a little later. You just relax, i will inform you when its time" manik replied and the manager nodded and left. Manik signalled fab 4 to assemble.
Kuch Kum Roshan Hai Roshni
Kuch Kum Gili Hai Baarishein
Kuch Kum Lehrathi Hai Hawa
Kuch Kum Hai Dil Mein Kwahishein
Tham Sa Gaya Hai
Yeh Waqt Aaise
Tere Liya Hi Tehra Ho Jaise
Mmm..Mmm..Mmm
Mmm..Mmm..Mmm..
"the manager is requesting us, fab 5 to interact with mediapersons" manik informed as soon as they gathered together.
"but we can't unless nandini is here...its obvious mediapersons will take a dig at us, if we fail to explain nandini's absence!" cabir expressed his concern.
"but why is nandini taking so much of time??" alia asked.
"manik knows better" cabir spoke with a tinge of anger.
"bhai, you shouldn't have raised your voice on her...everytime for everything nandini can't be responsible..." mukti spoke looking at manik.
"what??? Did he really shout on her?? I was just assuming and you really did it??" cabir whisper yelled at manik.
"no wonder, if she doesn't come to the party. I wouldn't if i were in her place" alia spoke dejectedly.
"navya hadn't come to a party with me...because i had yelled at her out of work frustration, without any fault of hers...moreover she had not spoken to me for one whole week.." cabir shared his experience.
Phool Mehke Nahin
Kuch Gumsum Se Hai
Jaise Roothe Huwe
Kuch Yeh Tumse Hai
They were sharing their views and experiences and manik's heart was sinking bit by bit. What has he done!! How could he! And now what..?? will she just throw me out of her life?? " I will die without her" thought manik.
For the first time in his life , he was scared to this extent that he felt his stomach was churning.
"sir it has been an hour now, i would suggest you people to come to the lobby and atleast pose for clicks.."
Manager appeared again "sir i am getting continuous calls from media people...please sir"
Realising that probably nandini will not come, manik decided to just get it done with this media problem thing.
"guys lets just get it done with.." he said and didn't wait for their approval. Buttoning up his coat , he started moving. Having no other choice, fab 4 too moved and flanked him.
Phool Mehke Nahin
Kuch Gumsum Se Hai
Jaise Roothe Huwe
Kuch Yeh Tumse Hai
Khusbooien Dhal Gayi
Saath Tum Aab Jo Nahin
as they came in view, cameras started flashing but there was pin drop silence for a moment to see the aura of fab 5. Mukti was looking no less than a royal princess in the gown and the tiara. Alia too looked like a princess.
Alia
But she had probably toned down herself as it was mukti's day and mukti had to look the best. Fab 5 heard shouts from the media persons "sir just a few questions??" "just a word ma'm" "fans would like to know..."
manik sighed and looked at his friends. They silently conveyed the message of go ahead, we will see'. Manik signalled something to his manager
"one question at a time!" pr manager announced and the media persons nodded.
"you guys have dressed up as royal people...is this a theme based party??" asked one
"you are right , its a theme based party and we are prince and princess" manik replied smiling a little, remembering that it was nandini's idea.
Mukti
"happy birthday ma'm! You are truly looking like a princess today...may i know what special gifts did you get today? And that too most importantly from your brother?" asked another.
"thank you...and about the birthday gifts...i will be able to answer properly and accurately only tomorrow..." mukti replied
"whose idea was it?? To have a royal themed party??" came the direct and unwanted question from soha. Manik was annoyed that how come she always comes to know about the weak points. Probably someone among the guests is her source.
"well it is my wife's idea..." manik replied proudly. And he knew the next question.
"oh that reminds me...where is your wife? We would like to take some snaps of her too!" soha spoke triumphantly.
Manik opened his mouth to say "she is.." but he couldn't complete as he felt a warm pair of arms encircling his and the words " i am right here..." yes! there she was smiling at him first before turning to the media..."sorry i am a little late...got caught up somewhere"
Kuch Kum Roshan Hai Roshni
Kuch Kum Gili Hai Baarishein
Tham Sa Gaya Hai
Yeh Waqt Aaise
Tere Liya Hi Tehra Ho Jaise
Mmm..Mmm..Mmm
Mmm..Mmm..Mmm..
"its perfectly ok , ma'm. I must say you are really looking like a mermaid princess!" replied one of the media men as soha had her mouth shut by nandini's presence.
Nandini
"thank you..." nandini replied and tightened her hold on manik's arms.
"ma'm just a few poses" requested a reporter.
"yeah sure!" nandini replied calmly and posed for pictures with manik.
While manik was busy reading her expressions. Has she already forgiven me?? thank god she came to the party! Oh god she came! She is not like anyone else! That's why i love her...!
But in a few minutes manik was quieted down by her behaviour. She was ignoring him. She looked at him but that spark was missing. She was smiling at him but it didn't travel all the way upto her eyes. She embraced him but it had something missing. Means she is upset but atleast she came for the party. She cared , even though she is angry. And saved me and my family from all the embarrassment! And what did i do!! I am such a bad husband and even worst lover.!
With these thoughts manik was drowning in his own guilt.
On the other hand mukti had encountered another problem. As nandini came from no where, mukti was happy for her brother. They were posing for the media, when mukti turned around and caught a glimpse of abhimanyu. When she looked closer she found navya
Navya
and another girl accompanying him. Probably they were waiting for fab 5 to go in together. But what disturbed mukti was the way the girl was holding abhimanyu's arm and the way he was listening intently to her talks. Mukti felt jealous. How could abhimanyu do this to her? In the morning he was proposing her and now he is happily laughing with some other girl!
soon the interaction with media was over and fab5 with nandini moved towards navya, abhimanyu and shruti. They exchanged greetings and nandini introduced shruti as her friend. Mukti was shooting daggers at abhimanyu, but the poor soul thought she was upset over morning incident. So he avoided eye contact with her and decided to keep away from her as much as possible throughout the party. Little did he know how much this is going to irk mukti!
...
The party was going pretty well. Mukti had cut the cake and manik had sung "phoolon ka taaron ka sabka kehna hai...ek hazaron mein meri behna hai.." and manik and mukti had shared a warm hug after which manik gave the keys of her brand new sports car, her favourite and mukti had rushed out to see the car. it was sleek and sexy. She jumped in joy as she had been admiring this exclusive edition car ever since its launch! But it would have been difficult to bring it india! But her brother did it!
Next was nandini's turn, she gifted mukti two exclusive passes to the paris fashion week winter collection of her favourite designer which will be held 5 months later. Mukti looked at nandini dumbfounded. She hugged nandini so tight that she almost choked. Quickly releasing her, she asked the most obvious question...how did you manage this??
Nandini just shrugged her shoulder saying "aam khao, guthliyo k baare mein mat socho...!!" playfully and quite conveniently hid the efforts that she had taken and that half of her personal savings had gone into getting these passes! Of course had she used the name of malhotras , it wouldn't have been that difficult but she wanted to do this on her own!
"so now you have to decide whom will you take with you mukti..." cabir teased.
"of course i will take alia..." mukti announced and alia jumped on her place "really mukti you will take me???" alia chirped.
When mukti nodded happily , cabir teased further " how mean of you mukti!! Nandini ne pass diya and you didn't even ask her!"
"oye tu jyada aag lgane ki kosis mt kar...i know very well that nandini and navya will not enjoy there even if i take them forcefully! I know them that much!" mukti replied proudly. Of course she was right!
Nandini and navya shared a laugh. All this while manik was a silent observer and he was not able to take his eyes off nandini. Her innocence, her care, her love towards everyone made him feel like the luckiest man on the planet. Today , he fell in love with her once again.
...
Dance floor was set. Guests started moving with their respective partners towards the dance floor. Shruti asked abhimanyu for a dance. He relunctantly agreed. Mukti fumed in anger at this. She had been waiting for him to ask her for a dance. Manik observed this , so in order to make mukti feel better he asked her for a dance and she agreed. Moreover nandini was not in view, so it wouldn't do any harm, thought manik.
Suddenly they heard cabir singing
O...
Cabir saw navya and nandini coming back to the hall, so he moved towards navya , still singing and asked her hand for dance. She agreed shyly.
Nandini smiled for her and moved towards the drinks counter to sit alone. Manik saw this.
Na wo akhiyan ruhani kahin
Na wo chehra noorani kahin
Kahin dil wali baatein bhi na
Na wo sajri jawani kahin
Jag ghoomeya thaare jaisa na koi (x2)
the song by cabir had made the environment highly romantic. All the couples were lost in each other, barring mukti, manik, abhi, shruti, nandini. Just then ankit entered into the hall looking here and there for a familiar face . nandini too saw him , so she went and greeted him with a hug. They were laughing and talking they had met after a long time. Manik saw nandini talking to a stranger and his possessive self surfaced.
"mukti, let's go and see, whom is nandini talking to?" manik asked and mukti nodded with a smirk.
Manik slid his arms around nandini, startling her.
"oh , hey ankit , he is my husband, manik. Manik , he is ankit, shruti's boyfriend and my school friend" nandini introduced them and mukti felt relieved. . "and she is my sis in law" nandini added further. They greeted each other. Manik still didn't leave nandini. Shruti came and hugged ankit and complained "ankit you are so late! I was getting bored"
"oh is that so?? Why? Is abhi not a good company??" ankit asked chuckling.
"no, this my friend , is totally lost somewhere today!" shruti informed and abhi and mukti shared an eyelock.
Na toh hansna rumaani kahin
Na toh khushboo suhani kahin
Na woh rangli adayein dekhin
Na woh pyari si nadani kahin
Jaisi tu hai waisi rehna
Jag ghumeya thaare jaisa na koi (x4)
"come let's dance" shruti asked and ankit nodded. They moved ahead.
"dance?" manik asked all of a sudden. After all first time during the party he had got nandini totally to himself and he would not let the opportunity go.
Baarishon ke mausamon ki bheegi hariyali tu
Sardiyon mein gaalon pe jo aati hai wo lali tu
Raaton ka sukoon..
Raaton ka sukoon bhi hai
Subah ki azaan hai
Chaahaton ki chaadaron mein maine hai sambhali tu
Nandini looked around and saw many people looking at them. She can't refuse. She glared at manik, who was smirking at her. She gave her hand and manik squeezed it to earn a reaction from her but she didn't even look up. He felt hurt at her ignorance. But he also knew that he deserves it.
They started dancing but nandini was not ready to look in his eyes. Manik raised her chin with his thumb and forefinger " look here" he ordered but she disobeyed and looked away.
Kahin agg jaisi jalti hai
Bane barkha ka pani kahin
Kabhi mann jaana chupke se
Yun hi apni chalani kahin
Jaisi tu hai waisi rehna
Jag ghoomeya thaare jaisa na koi (x2)
"nandini.." manik whispered and squeezed her waist.
"hmmm" she replied still looking away but her heart was pounding.
Manik sighed. "we need to talk" he announced.
"there's nothing to talk" she replied bluntly and twirled away.
Apne naseebon mein yaa
Hausle ki baaton mein
Sukhon aur dukhon wali
Saari saugaton mein
Sang tujhe rakhna hai..
Sang tujhe rakhna hai, Tune sang rehna
Meri duniya mein bhi
Mere jazbaaton mein
Teri milti nishani kahin
Jo hai sabko dikhani kahin
Tu toh jaanti hai marke bhi
Mujhe aati hai nibhani kahin
Woh hi karna jo hai kehna
"nandini...i am sorry" manik spoke softly after pulling her in from the twirl. Their fronts collided and manik didn't let her move to make a comfortable distance between them.
"that's so easy to say...hai na?" she taunted "that's why you keep saying it, everytime after hurting me...but this time , you crossed the limit" nandini spoke trying to control her expressions. "and yeah, one information for you...amma needs me , so i will be staying with her for some days. I have already asked ma-papa" she informed and there was a thud in his heart and then his heart started beating rapidly.
Jag ghoomeya thaare jaisa na koi (x4)
and with this she left him on the dance floor and walked away. It took him sometime to sink in the reality.
...
At the same time
As manik and nandini moved to dance. Mukti anticipated abhimanyu would ask her or a dance but he didn't. Why is he ignoring me? is he angry with me?? of course he will be ...i ruined his proposal. Nandini was right i should move on. Today i was not able to see him with another woman, then how will i live without him! Of course i love him. Ok i will talk to him. She turned to abhimanyu "we need to talk" she said and abhimanyu looked at her sceptically "about what?" he asked. He looked adorably cute. She caught his wrist and dragged him with her to a corner.
"why are you ignoring me??" she charged at him as soon as they were alone.
"you only were glaring me all the time. So i thought you don't want to see my face"
"don't act cute ok...it becomes difficult for me to act angry"
"you are acting?" he asked surprised and she nodded giving naughty expressions.
"look abhi.." mukti was cut off "what did you call me just now?" abhi asked thinking he heard wrong. mukti spoke shyly "abhi"
"aah " abhi faked heart attack.
"stop it ...don't make me feel embarrassed!" she chided him.
"oh my god you are blushing and all. I didn't know you can" abhi teased.
"abhi" she hit him playfully.
"ok ok..i am sorry" he said and when he looked at her , he saw how intently she was looking at him.
"abhi...i know i ruined your surprise...but main kya karu main asi hi hun.." she wanted to speak further but he stopped her putting his finger on her lips "jaisi tu hai waisi rehna...cabir ka gaana ni suna tumne? I like the way you are ...ok...and don't talk about the past..kya hua...kya ni hua..leave all that...we will start fresh.
Right from this moment" abhi finished speaking and she nodded teary eyed.
"i love you" he said and kissed her forehead.
"i love you too" she replied "this is the best birthday till date!" she remarked.
"lets go back in the party" he said smiling and held her palm gently.
"lets go!" she agreed.
__________________________________
Credits to the writer- Manini Mehra