When I look into your eyes, I know I've found the mirror of my own soul
(LifeHacks.IO)
Fall in love with that one, where you can find yourself. Maybe, not everyone can find a similar character in their partner but will always be sure that their souls have found its partner.
In Malhotra Mansion
Breakfast Table
Manik stared at Nandini, who stared at him back before turning towards Avi in her lap. Avi's left hand was on her nuptial chain and he was quiet busy in playing with it.
Raj: Manik!
Manik: J..Ji Dad!
He coughed nervously and then gave a look to Nandini, who hid her grin on seeing him.
Raj: Rahul, my new secretary said that you had come to my office last Thursday.
Manik: Uhm. Ahem. Mein. Haan. Aaya tha!
Raj: Why? You never visited my office.
Manik: Wo. Ahem, actually aap, ahem!
Raj (interrupted): Cabir! Mere kamre mein ek Vicks ke tablet hai. Leke aaja.
Nyonika: You're not coughing, Raj! Na tum beemar ho!
Raj: Par tera beta beemar hai na. Dekh kiss tarah se ahem ahem kar raha hai bath karne ke waqt!
Manik: What? Aap mereliye..? Like seriously, Dad?
Raj: So what am I supposed to do when you're speaking 'ahem' filled language?
Manik (groaned): Dad!
Cabir: Waise, he has got a point!
Manik: Shut up!
Mukti: I agree with Cabir Bhai, Bhai!
Manik: Acha! Teek hai! Tho Cabir Bhai ke paas jaa aaj ke baad. Mere paas math aana Bhai Bhai kehke!
Mukti: Mere paas Bhabi hain!
She took hold of Nandini's arm and stuck her tongue out to which Manik just glared at her.
Nandini: Usse kya ghoor rahe ho? Grand pa se bath karo na tum!
She spoke after taking a sip of juice.
Manik: Oh hello! Wo meri behen hain!
Raj: Oh hello! Baath serious hain. So tell me. Why did you come to my office?
Nyonika: Raj! Kya problem hain? Manu waha aaya tho kya hojaega? Tumhara Empire hoga par iska mathlab ye nahi mere bache waha aaya tho ulta seedha hojaega!
Raj: Ulta seedha hogaya na. He accepted an offer from Raichands! Now, we will have to make presentation to compete with 10 other companies to bag this deal.
Cabir: I think, you're talking about the same Raichands who are in the Top 10 companies of India. Their hotels are even an International news! So a collaboration with them should be considered as a benefit, right Bhai?
Manik: Right! Since Dad was out with Mom, I had to accept the offer without informing him. Dad tho pasand hi nahi karthe when someone disturbs his time with Ma.
Nyonika: Manik!
She glared at him though, a red hue was present on her cheeks.
Nandini: Awe, Ma is blushing!
Raj/Nyonika: Nandu!
She giggled at them.
Raj: Jo bhi ho! Why did you accept the offer?
Mukti: Par ismein problem kya hai, Dad? Bhai just said how big of a company they're!
Raj (frustrated): Koi mere baath math sunn!
He turned to Manik, who stared at his father expecting a warning.
Raj: You're gonna do everything you can to either back out from this deal or finish it off by yourself.
Manik: What? But I'm into Automotive, Dad. And this is about Hotel Apartments!
Raj: I don't care!
And he walked away while others stared at his retreating figure clueless except for Manik and Nandini.
Mukti: Dad tho kuch khaya bhi nahi teek se!
Nyonika: I'll talk to him. Tum log khana khao!
And she too walked away while Nandini stared at Raj and Nyonika's plates which had their leftovers.
Manik: Its okay, they'll have it together!
She looked up at him to see an assuring smile on his face.
Nandini: Hmm.
Cabir: Waise, what had happened to Dad? He never misses good projects.
Nandini (sighed): Did you hear him mentioning about some 10 companies who's gonna compete with Malhotra's Empire to bag the deal?
Cabir nodded in positive at her.
Nandini: Unmein se ek Murthys hain!
Both Cabir and Mukti widened their eyes at her.
Mukti: Oh my God! Mathlab Hitler Chachu!
Nandini: Zyada zor se nahi bol, Choti. Kya patha Hitler Chachu peeche khade hai tho!
Mukti looked back immediately making Nandini to giggle.
Cabir: Wah! Kya solid plan banaya! Par execution mein tho Malhotra saab bhi shamil the. Not bad, not bad!
Manik (smirked): I had executed a lot of plans when you were still a baby busy in getting your bed dirty!
Cabir(pissed): Bhai!
The girls chuckled.
Nandini: Mathlab, kam se kam 10 saal hone thak, aap chomu the!
Cabir: 10 saal ka baby nahi hotha!
Nandini: Par Mom keh rahi thi you forget to use washroom at night and get your bed dirty by next day.
Cabir groaned while keeping his head on the table and the rest three laughed out but Avi just stared at everything and then started to play with Manik's watch as Manik and Nandini were sitting together.
Mukti: Waise Bhabi! How can Chachu handle your Papa's business when he's a doctor?
Nandini (smiled): He learnt business from Pops when Papa left us. Kisiko tho sambhalna tha Papa's business but before that, boyfriend machine got everything under her name. Phir bhi, he didn't stop his practice. He knew we'll be able to get Papa's hard work one day aur dekh na, ab sab kuch hamare paas hain.
Manik held her hand in his which just increased that smile on her face.
Cabir (smiled): Hitler Chachu is sweet too!
Nandini: You have no idea. Bas diabetes na aajaye!
They laughed at it and soon the men left for work and Mukti for college while Nandini is still at home. She decided to stop working until Avi starts going to school.
In Raj-Nyonika's Bedroom
"Kya mein andhar aa saktha hun Mr. and Mrs. Malhotra?" Manik spoke while standing at the door and the couple looked up at him, who was holding a tray of food.
Raj: Kuch khaas baath?
Manik: Nahi.
Raj: Tho math aana!
Manik looked at Nyonika, who shrugged her shoulders at him and mouthed "gussa" while pointing at Raj.
Manik: Par mein aapka beta hun! Ithna bhi haq nahi?
He pouted looking at Raj, who made a poker face and on getting no response, Manik walked inside confidently.
Manik: Okay, you had left your food there. Khana beech mein nahi chodna chahiye!
Raj shot a look to him.
Manik(nervously): Aise aapne sikhaya!
Raj looked the other way and Manik took a chair to sit in front of his parents, who were sitting on the bed not before keeping the tray of food on the mini-table in the room.
Manik: So..can I speak something?
Raj: No!
Nyonika: Raj!
Raj: What? Don't take his side. I know why he's doing it.
Manik: And why am I doing it?
Raj glared at him, who had a very calm expression on his face.
Raj: Manik. Jaa tu! Tum nahi samaj sakthe ho.
Manik: Par kya nahi samaj saktha mein, Dad? Aapne tho abhi thak kuch na..
Raj: He doesn't want me near him!
Raj interrupted in a broken voice which took both Manik's and Nyonika's attention.
Raj: Ab vo Vivek nahi raha. He's now, that Vivek Murthy, who hates Raj Malhotra because, unknowingly or knowingly, I'm his brother's culprit. Had I been there, I wouldn't have let Raman slip into depression. Had I been there, I wouldn't have left Vivek broken. Had I been there, Mohnish and I would have given a beautiful life for Nannu and Ree.
He didn't cry but whoever listened to him were sure of one thing-that he's too broken.
Manik: Dad!
He held Raj's hands in his.
Manik: I know. I know you loved Papa and Chachu so much yet, you did a mistake. But we're humans, Dad. We're not God that we can never be wrong. Galathi nahi hui tho insaan kaise seekh sakthe hain. Zindagi ko samajna hai tho galathi karna hai. Haa, I know, you've lost some precious souls due to this mistake but we can't blame ourselves. Everything happens for a reason.
Raj smiled faintly at his son. Surely, Manik has grown matured and now he knew, getting his son married to Nandini was one of the wisest decision he took in his life. Nyonika too smiled fondly at her son.
Manik: Dad! Agar aap galathi kiya hai tho sudharna hain. I've made a lot of mistakes. I pushed you people away when you were not at fault aur mein aaj bhi apne galathiyan sudhar raha hun. Waise hi hai aapki aur Vivek Chachu ki tiff. You just need to seek for forgiveness from him. Be his Raj Bhai and try once. If you hold yourself back just because you're scared to face him, then you'll never get a closure. Kam se kam ye tho soch sakthe hai na, that you've tried. Tried enough.
Raj cupped Manik's right cheek and patted it.
Raj: Thank you!
Manik: Kis cheez keliye? Aapko ache raastha dikhane keliye? Nah! That's fine. I'm too used to it.
He smacked Manik's head lightly before laughing out along with Manik while Nyonika preferred to admire the father-son duo.
Nandini: Shukar hai sab teek hogaya!
Nandini entered with Avi and placed him on Nyonika's lap, who started to stare at her.
Raj: Tu baahar kya kar rahi thi?
Nandini: Aapke baath sunn rahi thi, aur kya?!
They shook their heads at her.
Raj: Eavesdropping isn't good, Mrs. Lilliput Malhotra!
Nandini: Cowardice isn't good either, Mr. Raj Malhotra!
Raj (pissed): You mean, I'm a coward?
Nandini: Yaayyy! Grand pa isn't a budhu!
Raj: Forget it!
All this while, Avi was just busy in touching Nyonika's nuptial chain towards his mouth. Nyonika took hold of his hand and kept it near his lips, and the moment he was about to suck his fist, she pulled it away making him scrunch his nose in irritation and she let out a giggle which took others' attention.
Nyonika: Awe, koi gussa hain Daadi se!
She poked Avi's cheeks which increased his attention.
Nyonika: Ye tho bilkul tujhpe gaye hai Manu. Irritation naak pe hain!
She looked up at Manik, who made a bad face at it as he was admiring the duo till now.
Nandini: Kabse mein bol rahi hun aapko ye baath. Xerox copy hai yeh apne Pa ke!
Manik: Haa tho beta mera hai tho mujhpe hi jaana hain!
Nandini: Beta mera bhi hain! In fact, I have more right on him.
Manik: Aur wo kyun?
Nandini: Kyunki mein Ma hun.
Manik: Tho mein uske Pa hun! Mera zyada right hai!
Nandini: Did you carry him in your womb? Oh sorry, you don't even have a womb!
Manik: Ma! Ye dekho na!
He whined while turning to Nyonika, who was busy in playing with her grandchild.
Raj: Dafa hoja dhono! Hum busy hain!
He spoke while taking Avi in his arms, who started to stare at him while Manik and Nandini stared at him with their jaws dropped down.
Manik: You don't even care for my respect, now.
Raj: Wo tho tab se nahi jabse teri shadi hui!
Nandini: Ha wo tho hain. Par ye jo 'respect' hai wo aapka bhi nahi hai, jabse mein iss ghar min aayi hun.
Raj glared at her while junior Mr. and Mrs. Malhotra were smirking.
Nandini: Chalo, mein chalthi hun. Mom, aap A..
Nyonika: Haa tu ja, I'll take care of him. If he cries, then I'll get you out of washroom.
Nandini: Cool!
And she walked out while the men stared at them weirdly.
Manik: Well, mein bhi chaltha hun. I'm already late for office.
He kissed his mother's and his son's foreheads. Avi held Manik's shirt's button in his fist when he saw his father leaving.
Manik: Pa jaldhi aayega! Aapke saath khelna jo hain. Hmm? Now, don't make such cute faces or else, how would Pa earn for you!
He made Avi to hold Raj's shirt. Avi stared at his father sadly and Manik kissed his nose.
Manik: I promise! I'll come early, today!
He held his baby's little finger with his and made a promise making Avi to look at the fingers and then at Manik. He smiled looking at Manik, who smiled widely before pecking his cheeks and left after earning a smack from Raj, which he always does.
Raj: Chalo, why don't we play together, now?
He asked Avi while poking his lips and the next moment, he smiled gleefully at Raj, who's heart got swollen out of happiness.
Raj: Lagtha hain, kaam karna bandh karna chahiye. Aapko chodne ka mann hi nahi!
Soon enough, the couple was playing with their grandson to earn that beautiful smile from him.
MaNan's Room
Nandini: Acha teek hain. But you'll take care of him na, Choti?
Nandini spoke on the phone.
Reeha: Mein? You want me to get his agree to this project, now? Di, kayamath aaya tha aaj subah. He tried like hell to cancel this offer par patha nahi kya karishma hua that he couldn't cancel it.
Nandini (smirked): Karishma nahi, Nandini hua tha!
Reeha: Aapne kya kiya ismein?
Nandini: Raichand ka connection hai kisike saath and I took faida!
Reeha (frowned): Kiske saath connection hain Raichand ka?
Nandini (exclaimed): Honey bee ka! Oh sorry, Ferocious Godzilla ka!
Reeha giggled on the other side.
"What!" Manik shouted in fury while standing at the door making Nandini to palm her ears.
Nandini: Ishhh! Chilla kyu rahe ho, Grumpy coffee?
Manik marched towards her and took the mobile from her ear.
Manik: Reeha. Aapki Di unavailable hai!
Reeha: Aye aye captain!
And he hung up on the call.
Nandini: Tumne call kyu kaata? I was..
H yanked her closer to him and she stared at him confusedly.
Manik: Tumne phir se wo chipku ki help liya? Didn't I tell you I'm here to fulfill all your demands.
Nandini (sighed): Ithni si baath!
Manik: Ithni si baath? Tujhe ye ithni si baath lagthi hai? For heaven's sake, I hate that guy.
Nandini: Par kyu? He doesn't have his eyes on me, now. He has a fiance, Grumpy coffee!
Manik: I don't care. He used to cling to you in the past.
Nandini: No, he didn't. Wo bas diabetic patient ke tarah kuch zyada hi sweet that.
Manik (groaned): Lilliput!
Nandini: Offo, Grumpy coffee! Raichands are friends with Sharmas. Isiliye, usse help maanga that he will have to make sure that Raichands won't let my Chachu to cancel this offer.
Manik: Wo hi kyun? I would have talked with Chachu.
Nandini: Yeah right. You'll ask Chachu not to back out when you can't even stand in front of him properly.
Manik: Lilliput!
Nandini: Kya? Listen na Angry coffee, don't you trust your Lilliput, now?
She pouted and he glared at her.
Manik: You do know that answer for that.
Nandini: I do.
Manik (annoyed): Then, why are you asking the very same question?
Nandini: Because, that brings the worst out of you and I can get rid of your anger towards Ferocious Godzilla.
Manik: I. JUST. HATE. THAT. GUY!!
Nandini giggled making him to glare at her. She snaked her arms around his neck and made him face her.
Nandini: You know, I won't pacify you in my style. You want me to do in your style?
She narrowed her eyebrows at him, who tugged her hair and pulled her closer to his face.
Manik: You know that you won't be able to match my pace.
Nandini: Unfortunately, I do. Par try tho kar sakthi hun na.
Manik: Of course. Why not!
And the next second, she placed her lips on his to pacify him in his own style. Her kisses work a lot to calm his anger.
Nandini: Coffee wala! You taste coffee!
She made a bad face while licking her lips which now had his coffee's taste.
Manik: Baath tho aise kar rahe hai jaise ki you never tried coffee.
Nandini: I did. Not for myself but for your son.
Manik: And I'm so proud of my blood!
She got out of his hold while slapping his arms.
Nandini: Yeah. Be proud. Ab jao. Mila na jiskeliye aaya tha!
He yanked her closer again.
Manik: But this time, you initiated. I didn't.
Nandini: Aye shameless coffee! You're not getting anymore kisses. My baby is waiting for me so I have to get showered soon.
Manik (pouted): What about me?
Nandini (pinched his cheeks): Awe, nothing about you. Just get lost!
Manik (groaned): Fine! Don't bother!
He left her and moved to the door making her giggle.
Nandini: Waise, Hubby darling!
Manik: What?
He gave her an angry look.
Nandini: Don't you want to know how Sharmas have contact with Raichands.
Manik (pissed): I don't care.
Nandini (mischievously): What if I say the man whom you "hate" is Raichand's soon-to-be son-in-law?!
Manik: What?
He turned around abruptly with shock written all over his face. She walked closer to him.
Nandini: Ji haan! Mia. Godzilla's now fiance is actually Raichand's only daughter, Mia Raichand!
Manik: Aur tumhe kaise patha?
Nandini: Arey, I talk with her. She's a good friend of mine. Godzilla introduced us to each other through video chat. Isiliye patha chala ki uske family Raichand hai but she's been in America since high school.
Manik: Oh! But, that Sharma didn't mind you talking with her. I mean, you used to be his crush.
Nandini: Mere pyare Grumpy coffee, he is over with his crush. I'm just a friend for him, isiliye, he doesn't mind his fiance being friends with me.
Manik: But I still don't like him.
He spoke before kissing her forehead and she giggled while kissing his cheek.
Nandini: Patha hain. Phir bhi, this new might give you a relief and you won't end up in murdering your Sharma.
Manik: Lilliput!
He glared at her, nevertheless, took her for a hug.
Manik: I just don't share!
Nandini: Well, I know that, Malhotra. Unfortunately, you're too selfish to let me go which I love.
She looked up, while being in the hug and he smiled at her.
Manik: Kya karun! Tum ho hi single piece!
Nandini: Wo tho mein hun!
They laughed at it before tightening their hold on each other.
To be continued..