Before we begin, a very important information regarding the story,

"This is not an exclusive Manan story. The story is about four characters Manik, Myra, Nandini and Kartikeya. All four of them will be pivotal for the storyline. I have four characters to do justice to and all four, i repeat all four of them will be treated equally. It might look like Myra and Manik's relationship forms it core of the story and to some extent in the initial chapters it will be but this fact will nowhere undermine or overshadow the beautiful relationship of Manik and Nandini or Myra and Kartikeya"

This is for the third time I am writing this part, 7000 words long, I hope you like it

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{Denmark Diaries}

The twilight covering the sky of Copenhagen was slowly melting away for the majestic sun had woken up from its deep slumber and was painting the black canvas of night with sharp strokes of brightness. It was the first day of the year and the sunlight created exemplary mosaics whose brilliance and vividness was beautifully reflected from surface of leaf, crystal of snow and wisp of cloud. It was as if the light rays danced in pure joy, happy to create art wherever it beamed, warm and steady.

Somewhere in the outskirts of the city, stood two house like structures made of brick, glass and cement facing each other fenced by a beautiful green garden on all sides. Two cars were parked in the porch that was carved on the left end of the garden. Right next to the porch was a big gate, presumably the one that granted an entry in the premises. One of the structures stood unoccupied, the sofas in the living room were covered with a clean white cloth, the shelves in the kitchen were empty, the platform was unstained, the cupboards in the bedroom too stood unused. The windows were clean without a speck of dust, the spotless marble of the floor sparkled with cleanliness. All in all, the house was unoccupied but not deserted and rightly so, thanks to the occupants in the house that stood right across, the occupants who were literally the cleanliness freaks to the extent that after the late night party yesterday, they spent about two hours cleaning the premises even though every bone of their body was screaming out of tiredness and fatigue.

The occupied house like structure was an epitome of elegance and perfection. The pristine white and light grey walls, the light green and grey drapes covering the windows, cream colored sofa sets and a dark brown center table occupied the living room; a silver double door refrigerator occupied about one fourth of the kitchen, the platform was clean with neatly defined demarcations for the stove and the oven, the glasses and utensils were carefully stacked in the racks, the storage containers were neatly assembled in the shelves; the three bedroom walls were white with brick like textures, while the fourth wall was instead made of glass with sliding doors that opened up to the small balcony attached to it, the drapes were light pink, blue and green in color, a huge TV and sound system occupied one wall while the bed and side table occupied the other two, the balcony had around twenty or more hanging plant pots each separated from the other by a round hoop, woven with a loose web of yarn and decorated with beads and feathers hanging below the hoop, in short, "The Dream Catchers".

On the bed laid two human figures, one of them, the guy occupied the left side of the bed that was attached to wall while the other, the girl had sprawled herself on the right side of the bed. They were on the same bed but not even a micro millimeter of their body was in contact. The ringing of the mobile lying on the side table broke their deep slumber

"Damn yaar, Myra, stop sleeping like hounds and pick up the phone...it is ringing", the guy said

"It must be the alarm Kari,I have snoozed it...Sleep", replied a sleepy Myra

"First of all my name is Kartikeya, and Kari is nowhere a short form for it, think of a better one and secondly when will you stop differentiating between your alarm tone and ring tone.. FYI It was a ring tone", replied Kartikeya

"Whatever...why would anyone call me this early in morning, I am telling you it was alarm, now let me sleep"

"Well may be because it is new Years and wait isn't it your birthday today...Oh yes it is..!! so people must be calling you to wish", Before Kartikeya could finish the phone rang again, "Listen pick it up or I'll throw your phone"

"Fine Man..", Myra got up, pick up her phone and moved to the balcony to answer it. She was too sleepy and too angry to check the caller id. Picking up the call she spoke; "Whose it..?? Can't you just check the time before calling...?? It is early morning and people might be sleeping..!!"

"I am extremely sorry", the caller immediately apologized, "Myra it's me your Father, I was so occupied with my worries that I didn't realize the time..Sorry I'll call you later"

Myra on the other hand slapped her forehead, "It is okay Mr. Malhotra...I am sorry I didn't check the caller id, I am anyways awake now...you can tell me what's got you so worried..??"

Mr. Srikant Malhotra took a deep sigh and continued, "Myra I don't know if I am in a position to ask this but I really need your help, actually a favour, Please help us..!!"

Myra let out a humorous laugh at her father's choice of words, "You need my help...what happened to the mighty Malhotra Industries, has it gone bankrupt...??...But wait I checked the shares last night and they were rising..!!"

"It is not about Malhotra Industries"

"Then"

"It is about your brother"

"Manik...What happened to him...?? Oh wait is it about a music contract, let me tell you I and Kartikeya don't share a kind of relationship where I can ask him for favors, sorry I wont be able to help you..!"

"Hear me out once Myra...It is not about music contract or anything...You brother is not well, he is suffering from a disease and he needs to be treated in Denmark for a few years, I was hoping if you could provide him shelter and support in a foreign land..Please..!!", pleaded Srikant

"Ah..okay so this is why you are stressed about your son, don't worry just let me know the itinerary, I'll get the bookings done"

"Bookings are not available, I checked myself, he would be reaching there tomorrow, can he stay with you..??"

Myra takes a deep sigh and continued, "Okay he can, I'll make the arrangements"

"Thank you so much Myra, I'll inform him and his girlfriend about it"

"Wait a minute, Girlfriend, I thought it was only him...Mr. Malhotra are you sure he is here for a treatment and not a honeymoon"

"Myra I had said it before and I am repeating it, HE IS REALLY SICK, please believe me.. I know because of my actions in the past I have already lost my daughter and I do not wish to lose my son as well..Please don't let your anger on me and your mother overpower the love you have for your brother"

"Love, I don't think it exists there Mr. Malhotra but I can promise you that out of humanity, I'll try and take care of your son and his girlfriend"

"Thank you Myra...Thank you so much and one last thing...Happy Birthday Beta...I know I have failed as a father and I hope one day you'll forgive me"

"My teachers of the boarding you placed me in taught me to say 'Thank You' whenever someone wished me, so Thank you Mr. Malhotra...and as far as being a father is concerned, you haven't completely failed..You paid for my education and other expenses...It helped me in achieving what I have till now...I hope this takes away some amount of guilt from your heart...Take it as return gift from me on my birthday...Good Bye Mr. Malhotra"

Myra wiped away the tear that trickled down her face as she ended the call. She turned around and came back to bed. She sat on it hugging her knees and holding the phone in her hand. Soon, sadness was replaced by anger and frustration.

"I so knew it..!!"; Myra shouted as she kept her phone down

"Why the hell are you so grumpy this early in the morning"; asked Kartikeya rubbing his eyes trying to get rid of sleep

"Mr.Malhotra called me just now"

"You mean your Dad..that's good right, see he remembers your birthday"

"You wish..he called me to inform that my so called little brother is coming to Denmark with his girlfriend and he wants me to arrange for his stay"

"Ohk..listen relax I will book a room in a hotel for them..you don't need to worry"

"Wait did I forgot to mention that he is gonna stay here for a few years and also that he is here for a treatment..apparently he is sick"

"Ok in that case, what do you want to do"

"As much as I hate his presence around me, I think he can stay in the guest house and then you can ask him to find a place for himself soon"

"Me..hello wait why should I ask, he is your brother..don't you think you should have a conversation with him..why do you hate him so much"

"Well May be because, my parents decided to keep him with them, with my so called mother taking him in and my namesake father deciding to stay in a city close to his, while they chose to abandon me when they decided to part their ways..!!"

"Ok ok...but just think for once Myra, the grass always looks greener on the other side...may be Manik's life hasn't really been a bed of roses as you perceive it to be..!!"

"He has a band of his own, he has a loving girlfriend who is accompanying him to a different country just because he is not well, he has the love and care of Mr.Malhotra who doesn't think twice before turning the world upside down when it comes to something that concerns his son and of course he has Mrs.Malhotra, the legal guardian of Manik Malhotra"

"Still I would say, do not jump to conclusions...", said Kartikeya getting off from the bed

"Why...Wait a minute..!! Did I miss something...?? Is there something that you know and I don't"

"No nothing", stammered Kartikeya

"Mr. Kartikeya Sahni...turn around and tell me the truth now", Myra shouted

"Listen Myra, I never intended to hide it from you... But you know since last year our company has been trying to enter in the Indian Music Space"

"Yes..so what..!!"

"So our core team thinks it will be a great idea to launch ourselves a fresh face or a band...therefore we've been researching on a lot of upcoming college bands and FAB5 happened to be one of them"

"Happened to be...what do you mean Kari...they still are a band"

"Damn yaar my name is not Kari...tere ko nickname dena hain na...call me Kartik or Karti or even Karu but Kari sound like curry...please don't..."

"Who are you kidding man...I know exactly why you hate Kari...It reminds of you of your clingy follower, Karishma, who had a similar nickname...and it irritates you...!!"

"Very funny coming back to the point...Fab5 caught our eyes when we came to know that the Q labels were planning to sign them..."

"Q labels, you mean that Khurrana's company, that idiot Soha's idiot Dad"

"Yes that..and by the way that idiot Soha was also a physco...she tried to kill Manik's girlfriend in a fire and ended up succumbing to death in the same fire but unfortunately your brother was framed guilty for her death... Mrs Malhotra got him out using the CCTV footage... but Fab5 had lost the contract deal from Q lables... Then a couple of months later, they bagged another one with Radio O2, however, to their bad luck Manik and Kabir met an accident in which Kabir died leaving Manik who was saved by your father, he was in the hospital for a few months and when he returned back, the rest of them just couldn't perform together..There was a guy called Dhruv, he left...their lead pianist Alya chose fashion company while the other guitarist Mukti hopefully will be joining an all girls band...they were really talented as a band but sadly they don't exist now"

"That is bad... but he still has his parent and a girlfriend, I suppose.."

"Umm Myra...The rumor has it that it was Neyonika Malhotra who planned Manik's accident and in fact an FIR has been lodged against her in Mumbai by Kabir's Mom"

"You mean Neyonika Malhotra, wife of Srikant Malhotra, how can she kill her own son ?"

"This is why I said, grass is not always greener on the other side...!! If a mother can harm her own son, she shouldn't be called one either...as far as your father is concerned, he was away from Manik as well...and he cared for you too...may be a little less than Manik but he did for if he didn't he wouldn't have hired a detective to do a background check on me when you told him that you and I are getting married "

"But he still didn't come for the wedding did he...I had no one from my family there..!!.."

"Yes there he was at fault but not Manik, hell he doesn't even know if you are married"

" He doesn't even know or care if I am alive..he never bothered to stay in touch"

"Myra.."

"Tum Manik ko itna support kyun kar rahe ho..??", asked a dejected Myra..

"Myra I am not supporting him..I am just being neutral..It's just that I don't hate him...Dadi always used to say that Hate is very strong word, We should think twice before using that term for anyone..we shouldn't hate anyone unless that person has given us reasons to hate him or we have run out of chances to coexist with him without hatred... and Manik has not given me any reason strong to hate him...Well leave hate, he isn't even aware of my existence till now.. and as far as choosing and supporting is concerned, I'll always choose you over anyone and you know that right..All I am saying is that Manik is not well, be a bigger person that you are and let him stay here for few days..In case you feel uncomfortable around his presence even after a few days, I'll arrange another accommodation for him. "

"Pakka....!!"

"Bilkul Pakka Wifey...ab chale we need to set up the guest house"

"Haan...but wait just so you know I am letting him stay but that doesn't mean I am forgiving him.."

Kartikeya bowed his head down and said, "As you say Madam"

-------------

Meanwhile in India

"Manik, where are you staying in Denmark", asked Mukti as everyone settled down after performing together for the last time as a band

"Dad said he'll take care of it...Wait a minute, he is calling..Guys I'll be back",

Manik picked up the call.

"Happy new year Dad..!!"

"Happy new year Manik...so partying..??", asked Srikant

"Not really a party Dad, just a get small get together, we had to inform our friends about our departure"

"Oh!! How are they taking it ?"

"So far, they are taking it well"

"Acha about your stay, I have spoken with Myra..you'll stay with her"

Myra's name brought with it a flood of emotions that hit Manik causing him to stumble bit. Nandini who was carefully watching him got panicked as soon as she saw him panicking and rushed to his support. Manik saw her eyes filled with worries and composed himself. Signaling her that he was fine, he returned back to call.

"Manik..Manik are you there son..??", asked Srikant

"Yes Dad...Myra you mean Myra Di..She is in Denmark...Dad listen I can't live with her..all these years I never tried contacting her and suddenly I just can't barge into her life...It will be so selfish of me. Please get us an apartment or something, we manage..we'll work part-time in case money is an issue..."

"Manik do you really think Money would be an issue, Son there aren't any apartments available on lease in Copenhagen, Denmark is a foreign land and now that you need to go there for a treatment it would be better if you are accompanied by someone who knows you as well as the foreign country"

"You really think Myra Di would know me Dad"

"Not as much as Nandini does, but you've got Nandini with you right and rest will be taken care by her presence, I am sure Myra and her husband will be a good host to you."

"She is married...please don't tell me she has kids too"

"No she is not a mother yet but yes she is married and happily if I may say so"

"Chalo, at least one of the Malhotra's have a happy family...Bye Dad My friends are leaving and I also have to pack..I'll talk to you later"

"Bye son...just one thing try connecting with your sister on your visit, may be then two out of the four Malhotra's will have a happy family.."

Saying this Srikant disconnected the call. Nandini was silently waiting for the call to end.

"Is everything okay Manik," she asked as soon as Manik placed the phone in his pocket.

"Umm I guess...Chalo our friends are waiting"

Manik entwined his palm with hers and moved towards the gang

"So what did uncle say," Alya asked

"Umm...that we are going to stay with my sister", replied Manik

"Sister, koi cousin hogi wahan par," asked Navya

"Nahi Navya, not cousin, she is my real sister, we have been out of touch for a very long time..long enough that no one in Fab5 knew about her, She is living there with her husband, we will be staying with them..Nandini you will be comfortable right..!!," asked Manik

"I will be as long as you are comfortable Manik"

"Aww...you guys are so cute..Matarani humesha tum par kripa banaye rakhein," said Navya in her usual dramatic tone

"Manik, my packing is almost done, I'll just go and spend some time with Rishabh, in the meanwhile you pack your stuff, we'll leave directly yahin se.."

"At what time will you guys leave, we'll drop you to the airport," Mukti spoke

"That's not needed Mukti, the flight is really early," replied Manik

"Oh Come'on we insist..Please," for the first time Aryaman spoke

"Ok then if that's what you guys want..be here at 6"

Soon everyone bade goodbye. Nandini went home to spend some time with Amms, Chacha-Chachi and Rishabh. Amms had come down to Mumbai to see her off. Amms had been really supportive of Nandini's decision which surprised everyone including Manik and Nandini. About an hour later, Nandini returned to Manik's mansion with her luggage, only find his stuff cluttered all around the room. Taking careful steps, she made her way to the bed

"Manik Malhotra, are you kidding me..you still have to pack your stuff..?? have you forgotten that we have a flight in a couple of hours," Nandini scolded Manik looking at the disheveled state of his room

"Yaar Nandini why are you so late..?? You know I can't find a thing here," replied Manik

"With a room that practically looks like a flee market, how are you even comprehending to find what you need..listen do me a favour..just get your passport and reports packed in safely, rest i'll manage"

"Damn girl you are saviour..you know that right"

About an hour later

"Damn we are almost done, Manik give me your report, I'll place them securely," spoke a tired Nandini

Manik handed over the files to her. She placed them in a small bag and kept them in the suitcase.

"Manik you never told me about your sister..I mean uptill a few hours ago I didn't even know you had a sister and now we would be living with her"

"I was five when I met her the last time..she used to stay in a hostel in Ooty while I went to Dehradoon..we just met in the summer break as kids...she is like faded memory in my head..I always wanted to ask where she was but then Dad never had the time to answer my questions while Nyeonika never cared and then honestly I too got busy with Fab5 and eventually life..!!"

"Do you remember anything about her..like something that she used to like..i was thinking of buying something for her maybe from the airport itself.."

"Aray yaar you and your philosophy around gifts..I remember she loved that round thing with feathers that you place over the bed and on the window what is it called, umm ya..dream catchers..back in the days when we were a family dad used to get that for her and a car for me every time he went on a trip..!!"

"Cool then we will buy it for her tomorrow before leaving for the airport...Manik she must have lead a difficult life na..I mean she is was all alone..it must have been so difficult for her"

"True that but you know what I am kinda glad that she wasn't a part of the mess or tussle between Dad and Neyonika..it would have destroyed her just the way it destroyed me..!!"

Nandini locked the suitcase and sat next to him

"Manik...can't you just forget whatever happened...I mean it will cause unnecessary stress and worsen your condition.. We are together Manik and that's what matters...Now your sister will also be with us..!!," Nandini said holding his hands

"Don't get your hopes high Nandini, she never contacted me all these years, for all you know she wouldn't even care"

"If she didn't then neither you contacted her Manik...How can you press charges on her when you are equally guilty"

"You are already taking her side...Aren't you..??"

"I am not taking anyone's side Manik, hell I don't even know who she is...All I am saying is we can't change the past but we can always change our future...and remember it was you who once said, 'Our best is yet to come, our future', may be this best future has her too in it...the way I look at it Manik, I see a chance of having a family for real this time..and I would make the best of the opportunity..Okay now enough of talking, lets sleep"

About nine hours later, Manik and Nandini were settled in the plane, oops, rather were getting bored in the plane

"Manik tell me something about Myra Di...anything that you remember," Nandini asked

"Nandini yaar Please.."

"What please Manik...it is an eight hour long flight, abhi sirf 2 hours hue hain, we still have 6 more hours to go..Please Let's talk about Myra di..!!"

"Yaar tell me something, how like how do you always manage to bring out the topics I am uncomfortable about talking in your "Let's Talk" sessions"

Manik's words made her sad and she sat straight on seat and picked out a novel to read, "Sorry I made you uncomfortable"

"Nandini I.."

"It's okay Manik, I understand...You sleep, I'll read this novel till the time I feel sleepy"

After a few seconds of really uncomfortable silence, Manik snatched the book from Nandini's hand and pulled her towards himself wrapping his arms around her shoulders.

"What", Nandini asked

"I don't remember much about her, just a few stories that our caretaker told me when she was sent to boarding..so I can tell you that only..!!"

"Okay go ahead"

"Mrs D'souza told me once how Neyonika was never concerned about me, and didn't care whether I am awake or sleepy, Di was five years older to me so whenever she was home and she used to see me crying she would ask Mrs D'souza to pick me up and place on her lap. And then, she used to constantly move her leg up and down in a rhythmic motion to put me to sleep. Actually if you think about it I have slept on the laps of  just two people, one was Di and the other is You."

"She cared for you Manik"

"She used to get irritated too, this one also Mrs D'souza told me, I was really hungry one day because of which I kept crying and crying, she was studying and trying to comfort me since as usual Neyonika wasn't around, Mrs D'souza gave me milk but even after drinking the whole bottle I started crying again, so Di got really pissed off and said, "Abey doodh toh pee liya ab poori ki poori mother dairy peyega kya..!! She shouted so loudly that I got quite immediately"

"Aww...Manik you were scared of her.."

"Ya right.."

--------

Coincidentally, Myra was reciting the same story to Kartikeya

"Are you serious girl, Damn I pity poor Manik, he must have gotten so scared," Kartikeya laughed out

"Ya right just for a few minutes and started crying again...He was such an attention seeker I tell you, and before you say let me only say it, 'attention seeker like me', nonetheless he always wanted the attention and Mr & Mrs. Malhotra were too busy with business and their fights to give him one, so he had me and I had him, You know sometimes it used to be really funny, like one time when I was nine I guess...so In English and Hindi you have these essays, you have to learn and write, so I used to learn them but there was no one I could recite them to, so Manik used to silently hear them for me.. By then he used to understand words and speak too, after all he was four years old, He was a good reader of expressions, so whenever I used to forget looking at my expressions he used to stay quite but if had recited the essay completely, looking at my happy face, he used to clap his hands and turn round and round to celebrate...He was really cute," exclaimed Myra

"Well looking at him now, I believe he must have been an adorable child...Now he is like really hot and tall..You wanna see I have pictures of his group.."

"No I don't want to see...!!," composing herself Myra continued "Listen I had called at the furniture store for the bed, we do not have a bed in the guesthouse, ask them when are they delivering it and also tell them to deliver a three seater sofa, I guess it will look nice next to the wall"

"Okay Ma'am as you say," chuckled Kartikeya

------

Around 8 o'clock at night

Manik and Nandini came out of the Copenhagen Airport, only to find a man standing with a placard of their names in his hands. They greeted him and he checked the photo of Manik that his boss Kartikeya has sent him, asserting that he is the same person, he took their luggage and moved to the car. They went past several parks, some wonderful architectures, not to forget the beautiful coastline, soon they found themselves in the lap of greenery suggesting that they have entered the outskirts of the city. After about forty five minutes of ride, they had reached their final destination, Myra and Kartikeya's house where they found Kartikeya waiting for them at the entrance. Manik and Nandini greeted him politely and he returned back the gestures with the same politeness. They entered inside the house with Kartikeya initiating the conversation,

"I hope the flight wasn't too tiring, we have made arrangements of your stay in the guest house, I mean the structure you saw opposite to this, that one, it will give you all the privacy that you need and we will be just a couple of steps away , 10 to be precise, in case of any emergency or need," informed Kartikeya

"Thank you so much, that is very gracious of you both to let us stay here," replied Manik

Nandini nudged him and said, "your house is beautiful sir"

"Sir, I am not too old Nandini...you can call me by my name..Umm okay if you aren't comfortable you can call me Jijs...I mean that's technically the relationship right...Jijaji is too old fashioned and Jiju is too tacky so Jijs...what say..!!"

"Okay Jijs...I am starting to like you already..!!," Nandini remarked while Manik rolled his eyes.

"Well I guess we would be liking each other more often for see we both have certain souls of the mighty Malhotra clan taking an important place in our lives," winked Kartikeya, "That reminds me...Myra where are you..?? Manik and Nandini are here..!! Please make yourself comfortable guys"

About a minute later, Myra entered talking to someone on phone

"Yes please send me the draft of the contract.. I'll check it, I have a few guests to attend, I'll call you back later," cutting the call she spoke, "Hello, sorry the call was a little important, let me get something to drink for you guys"

Nandini sprang up to her feet and spoke "Umm Myra Di...," Myra turned around carefully wiping a single tear that trickled down, an act that didn't go unnoticed by Kartikeya

"Nandu"

"You remember me..!!"

"Of course I remember you kiddo..."

"Hold on you know each other," Kartikeya voiced out the question that was running in Manik's head too

"Yes I know her, she is Guru Ma's granddaughter," replied Myra, "I stayed at their Gurukul for year after my twelfth as I wanted to get some training in classical music...Nandu look at you, you are all grown up but still as cute as you were before"

"Somethings never change...right Di...Amms will be so happy to know...," chirped Nandini

"Wait I'll tell Guruma, she had called me day before yesterday but I couldn't call her back, I'll call her tomorrow.. I'll just come"

Kartikeya too followed his wife, "guys I'll join you in a while"

Nandini turned to Manik,

"Nandini you should inform Chacha Chachi that we have arrived," spoke Manik

"I will do that Manik, but are you fine...I am sorry I couldn'tsay anything infront of Myra Di..."

"It's good that you didn't, the whole environment would have turned gloomy then"

"Manik, you know I am with you...I won't leave you, I know it is very difficult for you.. Please say something"

"I can't initiate a conversation with my sister Nandini, she is my sister, we share the same blood but it looks like we are strangers...!!"

"Manik give it some time...everything will be okay"

"Can we go the guest house as soon as possible ?"

"I'll try"

Meanwhile in the kitchen, Kartikeya rushed to his wife who was pacing back and forth next to the platform and took her into a bone crashing hug. He kissed her hairs a couple of times and said,

"Shh..It is okay Myra...relax"

"Kari he didn't even acknowledge my presence, like I wasn't there"

"You did the same didn't you...you spoke with Nandini but didn't even nod your head towards him"

"It is difficult Kari...very difficult"

"I know but since when did you started stopping due to difficulties hmm...try it and in case you find it difficult to initiate, there is a new word in the market, "

"New word which one," asked Myra breaking the hug

"It's very simple...people now a days use it to start a conversation, it is a 'Hi'",

"umm Okay, Hi....wait what...Kari are you making fun of me"

"Well I was just trying to help...bhalai ka toh koi zamana hi nahi raha...I mean even after irritating me thrice by calling me Kari, I still helped you and you think I was making fun of you....Haye re Zaalim duniya ke beraham log"

"Shut up and leave"

Kartikeya left on the cue and joined Manik and Nandini in the living room. After a few minutes, Myra came in with a drinks and snacks, she handed them over first to Nandini and then to Manik. Manik looked up and the siblings shared an eye contact. Eyes generally do the talking that words can't express. In that split second, their eyes conveyed the deepest of the feelings. They were meeting after years, yet for Myra, a look into Manik's eyes was enough to tell her what he felt. Just as kid, even today his eyes were expressive, they were the interpreter of his soul and no matter how hard he tried to cover them up, he failed. Not that Myra was anyone different. One look into his sister's eyes as a kid used to tell him whether she was happy or sad. The only difference between childhood and today was, earlier the emotions were as simple as happy, sad, angry, while today the eyes had a plethora of emotions on display at the same time, regret, longing, pain, happiness, sadness, anger, the list could go on and on. A sound of someone clearing their throat broke their eyelock.

"Time up guys...The staring game is over...Manik you won because Myra blinked her eyes first", Kartikeya said

"We weren't playing", retorted Myra

"Well it looked like you did, right Nandini", Kartikeya asked Nandini who nodded her head giving a sheepish smile.

Eversince the eyelock broke, Myra's eyes found a new interest, that is entwined hands of Manik and Nandini where subconsciously Nandini kept rubbing the back of his palm trying to calm him down and this brought a smile on Myra's face. However she knew she had to initiate a conversation, she looked at Manik and said

"Hi"

Kartikeya left out a chuckle while Myra glared at him

"Umm...Hi...How are you..??," Manik asked as if he was waiting for the opportunity

"I am good...how are you and how is Mr. Malhotra..??"

"I'll be lying if I say I am fine for the reason I am visiting here is because I am not fine, Dad's fine though..!!"

"Still at the ashram"

"Yes..I guess he finds it peaceful there"

"True"

Again the air was covered with uncomfortable silence and before Nandini and Kartikeya could speak anything, Nandini's phone rang. The caller id brought a smile on her face and she picked up the call

"Amms why are you up so late..Acha listen we have reached there is someone I want you to talk to," Nandini gave the phone to Myra

"Pranam Guruma," spoke Myra

"Myra Kanna tum," Amms asked on the line surprised

"Ji Guruma, Nandini and Manik are staying with us here"

"Par log toh Manik ki behan ke saath rehne wale the..That means Manik is.."

"Ji Guruma....," Myra looked at Manik and spoke, "Manik is my brother..."

Manik's hold on Nandini's hand tightened immediately and this time along with Myra, Kartikeya too observed that and smiled. Soon the call ended and they moved to dinner table on Nandini's insistence since she pointed out that they were tired and should probably rest. The spread on the dinner table was huge. There were about five big serving bowls covered with a lid apart from the 3 plates of different kinds of salad. Nandini removed the lid from the first bowl only to be left stunned, shocked and surprised. The bowl had boiled vegetables mixed with herbs. Thinking of it as a side dish she lifted the next lid, which shocked her even more, it was boiled yellow daal without any Tadka. She faked a smile and moved to the third bowl, anticipating the dish in it and too her surprise, it had Idly and Vada. She took a sigh of relief. The forth bowl expectantly had Sambhar while the last bowl had plain boiled rice. Manik's face had horrific expressions which intensified with every lid that Nandini opened. Nandini looked hopeless at Myra who spoke

"Woh Mr.Malhotra told me that he is not well, so I tried cooking a healthier meal. I just knew his girlfriend was a south Indian, so Idly and Vada and me and Kartikeya too love Idly Vada"

"and Manik hates it," said Nandini

"Really I thought now your preferences would have changed...Oopss, you will have to adjust with the boiled veggies then"

"Ya Okay..I don't mind but just for future reference, I am sick but I have no limitations on food defined yet," replied Manik

Manik started swallowing the almost tasteless food while everyone else plundered over the Idly Vada and sambhar. About ten minutes into the dinner Myra stood up and went to the kitchen. She returned after a minute with a bowl of pasta warmed. She kept it in front of Manik and said,

"Umm..I just remembered, we had some pasta left from lunch, you can eat it if you like it...it was cooked in afternoon only"

"That is okay..thanks", Replied Manik

"Nandu I hope now that your boyfriend is eating properly you too can eat aaraam se...filling your stomach," Myra said

Kartikeya who was watching the entire scene silently, murmured loud enough for Myra to hear

"Nice try Myra"

"Before you start, let me make it clear I did that for Nandini not for Manik...Poor girl was not eating anything"

"Ya whatever helps you to sleep at night"

"Waise what disease are you suffering from Manik", asked Kartikeya

"It is called as PTSD, that is, Post-Traumatic Stress disorder...I had an accident a few months ago which I survived physically but mentally my mind failed to recover from the trauma", replied Manik

"It affects different people differently and in Manik's case, it has affected his brain due which he has started forgetting things and people especially me," Nandini's eyes teared up as she elaborated the effects

Manik held her hand and planted a kiss on the side of her head, "Nandini I told you, you are the most important person in my life, I cannot forget you...Never..!!"

Just then Myra spoke, "Does it work the other way around too, like it affects your brain in a way that you start remembering the people you've forgotten"

Kartikeya kicked Myra's leg under the table asking her to stop. Soon the dinner was over and four of them headed towards the guest house where another torturous surprise personally crafted by Myra was waiting for Manik and Nandini.

"Di..don't you think the bed is small, I mean we won't fit in it.", Nandini said looking a 5.5 feet square bed in the bedroom.

"Woh the guest house didn't had any bed, so we had to order it last minute, this was the biggest size available. Also, kiddo you can easily fit in this and I didn't knew this man here has turned into a giant", Myra spoke innocently

"Excuse me giant, I am just tall not giant, and don't worry we'll adjust", Manik retorted almost immediately.

"Okay then make yourself comfortable...Wait let me get the pillows..!!" Myra said walking out of the room

Kartikeya taking an opportunity spoke, " Manik please don't mind Myra"

"This is just a start right, she really hates me, doesn't she..!!," cutting him in between Manik spoke

"First of all she doesn't hate you, she just wants to",

"Irritate me", Again Manik spoke in before Kartikeya could finish; " I know what she is trying to do...she is trying to punish me...tell your wife the game is on"

"Jijs can I suggest something..!! Leave these Malhotras on their own...They'll deal amongst themselves..", Nandini spoke

"But we can have fun at their expense...can't we"

"Of course we can"

Just then Manik shouted, "Oh Shit..!!"

"What wrong Manik", a panicked Nandini asked

"Nandini woh"

Before Manik could complete, Myra came back with pillows

"Umm here you go with your pillows," she handed them over to Manik and turned to leave

"Umm Excuse me...", Manik spoke keeping the pillows on the bed

Myra turned around, "You talking to me"

Manik nodded his head in approval and said, "Happy Birthday, sorry I forgot"

Myra let out a humorous laugh, "There are many things that you've forgotten Mister...anyways Thank you"

Saying this Myra left while Kartikeya tuned to Nandini and said in a low voice, "They both remember each other's names right.."

"I guess why do you ask ?"

"Nothing I didn't see them calling each other by names, it's always the expression like umm, mister, this one, excuse me etc"

"I guess it will take time for them to come to terms on Name basis and all we can do is wait", Nandini replied

"Right Good Night Nandini, Good Night Manik", Kartikeya too moved out

Nandini looked at Manik who was busy examining the bed and the pillows

"Kya hua Manik...Why are you looking at them with so much of surprise ?", asked Nandini

"No I was just wondering...are these pillows and mattress made of wood, they are so hard"

"Well it shouldn't bother you, remember the 'Game is on'"

"I don't have any issues with her punishments but she shouldn't make you suffer right", Manik spoke lying down

"Oh I am not suffering...I have the most comfortable pillow and mattress"

"Really is it invisible for I can't see it"

"Wait I'll show you",

Saying that Nandini climbed over Manik, placing her head over his chest and his frame was broad enough for her to fit in. She held his arms and wrapped them around her while hers got hold of his shoulders.

"Good night Manik"

"Good night Nandini"

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That's it for today,

You can now stay in touch with me on instagram and twitter, my user name on both platforms is "akriti_mishti"

Take care and Stay blessed

Cheers..!!