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Happy Reading...

Next Day, Evening, Malhotra Industries

Nandu's cabin

Nandu was working on her laptop when there was a knock on her door. She lets the person in and continues with her work.

Manik: I need your signatures here.

Nandu looks towards him before giving him a nod. She was busy signing it but feels strange when Manik doesn't speak any extra word.

Nandu(still looking into the paper): What's wrong?

Manik(frowned): What? Are there any mistakes? But I checked it twice.

Nandu nods in a no and questions him, concernedly.

Nandu: What's wrong with you, Manik? Why are you this silent?

Manik(pouts): Is my silence bothering you?

Nandu(glares): Ek question ka tumhe sahi se jawab nahi dena, haina?

Manik: I am having a severe headache. I feel as if someone has planted a bomb inside it. As if...

She nods her head in disbelief when he dramatically explains about having a headache using both his hands.

Nandu: Stop talking now. Here, mail these papers and take a leave.

Surprised by her reaction, Manik protests.

Manik: But work?

Nandu(smiles): I will manage here. Tum jao.

Manik nods and starts to leave when she calls him again and he turns back.

Nandu: Put that file here. I will mail them. Tum jao but don't drive. Driver ko saath le jana. I have some work. I might come late. Mera wait mat karo.

Manik grins and leave.

Half an hour later

Raj comes to her cabin after a knocking.

Raj(informs): Princess, I am going to meet Mr. Thakkar. We have some things to discuss and I might stay there for tonight.

Nandu nods smilingly. She just gets a call from Abhimanyu after Raj leaves.

Call

Nandu(cheered): Hey, Thakkar.

Abhi(rants): Mukti ko red roses pasand hai ya white or yellow? Rose itne colors mein kyu hota hai? And cake order karu ya any dessert?

Nandu(amused): Woah. Where's my best friend?

Abhi(sighs): Your best friend just died a few minutes back. I am his slave. He will come back as a vampire.

Nandu(chuckles): And my best friend is back. What's wrong? Cake and flowers? Mukti ka birthday hai kya?

Abhi(frightened): Nahi. I just signed my suicide contract.

Nandu(mutters): Mujhe life mein sab itne dramatic log hi kyu mile.

Abhi(smirks): Aisa kaun shaks hai jo tumhe meri yaad dilaye.

Nandu(warns): I am hanging up if you don't come to the topic now.

Abhi(nervously): Okay, so, I asked Mukti to come on a date with me. I thought she will reject it and hence I didn't plan anything. But shockingly she agreed instantly. If she gets to know about this, she would definitely kill me.

Nandu: First, stop landing yourself into troubles. Second, be serious about Mukti. Otherwise, Mukti se pehle I will kill you. It's too much for her to give you a chance and don't ruin it. Now coming to the date, keep it simple. Birthday nahi hai, I don't think a cake would be necessary. And any rose would be fine as it's just your first date. By the way, Uncle said he has a meeting with you. Tumhara date kaise hai?

Abhi(coolly): Nahi, he's coming to meet Dad. And I have a date now.

She gives him all the instructions for the next few minutes before hanging up.

Malhotra Mansion

Manik enters in when Mukti comes to him with a tensed look.

Mukti: Manik, tu theek hai?

Manik(surprised): Haan, Mukti. But why are you tensed? Kya hua?

Mukti holds his hand as they walk inside the house.

Mukti: Your family doctor is here for you. I was worried ki tujhe kuch ho gaya. Thank God, you are fine.

She hugs him tight before they go to talk to the doctor.

Manik: Hello, uncle.

Doctor: Hi, Manik. I heard you aren't fine.

Manik(confused): Uncle, but I didn't call you. Aap yaha kaise?

Doc(informs): Nandu ne call kiya. She asked me to check up on you.

A stupid smile appears on Manik's face thinking about her concern for him.

Manik(assured): Uncle, I am fine. Just a small headache. I guess a few hours of sleep would work.

Doc: That's great. Anyways, take these painkillers. And if it's getting severe, give me a call.

Manik(smiles): Sure.

He leaves soon but the smile on Manik's face doesn't leave. Seeing him lost in thoughts, Mukti shakes him lightly.

Mukti: Manik?

Manik turns towards Mukti as a huge grin appears on his face.

Manik: She cares for me, Mukti. She called the doctor for me. She asked me not to drive.

Mukti pats his cheek, smiling widely.

Mukti: She definitely does. Acha, aapke laila ke orders haina. Go sleep.

Manik(casually): Haan. Waise, tu kahi ja rahi hai kya?

Mukti(informs): I have a date with Abhimanyu. I might be late tonight.

Manik(teased): Arey, waah. Date and all haan. Love is in the air.

Mukti(slapping his head): It's still Nitrogen in the air, idiot. Go and sleep.

Manik goes to his room while Mukti to hers for getting ready. Due to the effects of medicines, Manik sleeps early.

Malhotra Industries

Nandu after completing her work checked her watch and found the time to be 11 pm. She collected her phone and a few files to leave when she realized, the door of her cabin was jammed. Frowning, she checks her mobile and finds the battery to be dead. Sighing, she decides to spend the night in her cabin until someone comes back in the morning as there were some issues with her office landline too. She finds a book, for a promotional purpose, on her table. Getting intrigued by the cover page and the title, she decides to read it after lying on the couch.

[A/N - I understand, the lines given below aren't any extremely professional ones or something that you will find in a published book. It's just a part of the story. I would request you to understand the emotions. Also, it isn't the whole book(the published one). I can't write a whole book in a chapter hence only a few lines are given.]

Book - My Silent Love

I was like any 5 years old until she came into my life. Smart, cute, caring and what not. She was a package. Hate at first sight. Probably, I don't even know the meaning of hate when she snatched away all my parents' attention towards herself. Just by luck, fate or destiny, her parents became my best friends. I teased her. I stuck my tongue at her. But she was busy eating a muffin without giving a damn about me in the most adorable way possible. Who would have known, years later, I will fall for this cute doll with the muffin.

.......................

You fall in love with the most unexpected person at the most unexpected time in the most unexpected way possible. If your life is crazy enough, you fall in love and you wouldn't have any idea about. All you could do is stare at your girl and grin like an idiot when she is busy with her work unaware of the havoc she was creating inside your heart. It gets even crazy when you feel all these when you have no idea about where your heart is and your age is nearing to a double-digit number.

I was a month less than 10 and she was my best friend. The drawing teacher was hell. What do you do when you are asked to imagine your favorite scene and draw it? What do you do when your favorite scene is the girl sitting in front of you, painting? What do you do when you are so into your dream world that you couldn't able to draw a single line? And when the monster scolds you badly for submitting a blank paper. There comes a girl, hands a paper silently to the teacher, writing your name on it and giving an excuse that it was yours and taking the blame on herself of submitting the blank paper. The teacher gives the girl a knowing smile and leaves while you just stare at her. Hugging you, she asks you to calm down and not to worry about the teacher and you stand there thinking of ways about how can you keep her with you. Always.

....................

15. The ripe age of knowing about love. Also the age of getting into fights. You are your own hero. You are your own king. Girls flock around you but the one who stole your attention is sitting in a corner with her books. She knows what you did. She knows where you are. She knows with whom you are. But all she does is stay quiet and dress your wounds whenever you get into a fight. Hiding you in her embrace, she explains you to take care and you keep wondering how can someone be so beautiful. When your heart wants to kiss her, when your thoughts decide to go crazy for her, when your whole soul wants to take her in your arms, you are helpless. All you do is put your head on her lap, asking her to ruffle your hair. Your mind wonders, how can the same person make you burn and give you peace at the same time. Her lap gives you peace, her touch keeps you sane, her care makes you smile and you just want to hide her and have her all for yourself.

....................

Life is Unpredictable. You lose people. You lose sanity. You lose yourself. While you try to run away, you don't realize you are leaving behind the people who are still there for you. Till the time you realize, it's too late and you probably might have lost the person forever. You miss them. You crave for them. You cry yourself to sleep for nights.

There's a rainbow after a storm and you wake up determined. Determined to get your people back. The people who have always belonged to you but were lost in the miseries life throws you in. You find them and work every day to preserve them in your heart for an eternity and beyond.

The journey begins and life goes on.

A/N - If you didn't like the book parts, just ignore and imagine Nandu read some book. You don't need to take this seriously. :)

Plot twist. What is a book doing here? Is a new character coming up? Maybe the writer has gone mad? ;) 

In either case, things will be revealed in the next chapter. So, calm down. 

Hint - There is definitely a new name coming up. :P