Cabir's POV:

A crowd full of applause cheers me up after finish my speech.

"Now it's enough talking about me. I am one setting sun and now has the time come for the sun to rise. I would like to have the pleasure of calling the man of the evening up on the stage to take over the responsibility of MaNan Industry from my shoulder. Please join your hands as I  call Mr Yash Thakur up on the stage."

The audience cheers as young dashing man walks up the stairs to me.

"The honour is all mine, Sir." Says the young man who is dressed in a dark blue tux with his hair pushed back giving him the perfect gentleman look.

"I have not given this company my sweat and blood only but also all my love and hope. So treat it right like your darling. Don't run after profits because this company is made of love. So... Everyone introducing to you all the new CEO of MaNan Multinational Industry, Yash Thakur and I hope and believe that he will prove himself to be the best CEO." I breathe.

"Sir, I will make this company and you proud" he assures.

I smile proudly handing him the official documents watching him put his signature on the oath declaration. My smile lessens to a faint degree as I realise that an era has come to an end. We say when we give of some responsibility from our shoulders, we feel light. Do we really? Because sometimes, you are so integrally together with certain thing that giving away the responsibility makes something missing for the rest of your life. The loud applause breaks my cloud of thoughts and together with all, I start clapping. Amidst in the dark audience, my eyes fall on Navya, my beloved wife who asks me if I'm okay and I assure her with my blinking before she gets back to her clapping sitting beside Aryaman, Natasha, Mukti and Abhimanyu and the rest of the office people and well wishers.

•••

It is time for my official retirement lunch party along with a celebration of getting the new CEO.

I'm standing holding a glass of scotch as I look at the sunlight dwelling on the peak of the mountains from the porch of my house whilst the rest of people are enjoying the celebration. Receiving a tap on my shoulder, I turn around to find Yash standing holding a glass of champagne.

"Why are you here alone?" He asks.

"Nothing much. Just thinking about all my life in a flash" I smile.

"Uncle, can I say something?" He asks hopefully.

"Oh yes, son "

"Honestly, even though you have given me all of your responsibilities, yet everyone including you and me know it very well that Mr Cabir Dhawan in MaNan Industry is irreplaceable and are inseparable. I will always follow the track you have showed me and love the company like you did." I smile thoughtfully listening to what this gentleman said right now.

"You know right, it is my best friend's company and that man never needed any definition. He doesn't need even today. It's sad that I'm referring to him in the past tense but it's... my fatal reality. We were raised in the same part of the town, we were so similar except that I was little crazier, we clicked well since day one. My parents died very young leaving me behind and when none of my cousins were ready to give me a shelter, there was he... Manik. Not only he gave me a place to live in his home but also his toys, share in his room, share in his parents love, share in his childhood, a big share in his life. We were hardly five when we became friends but he knew the meaning of friendship long before I did. Whenever I ran out of money to pay for my tuition, I realised he was the one who used to slip money inside my wallet. One day, knowing that I would request him not to burden me with his favours anymore, the principle of my high school offered me scholarship. I knew that very well where from that scholarship popped in. I married your aunt, Navya out of love... But while she was walking to me looking so ethereal as a bride holding Manik's hand, I was happy yet fretted that what I was going to feed her from the next day because I was unemployed. And look at the kind of friend Manik always has been, the next day he leaves us all in this world leaving behind nothing but his memories and bestowing the responsibility of MaNan Industry on me." I smile painfully sipping on my drink as we both walk along the length of the porch and he keeps listening to me attentively.

"You don't need to be like me, Yash. If possible, be like Manik, be different. He never took the responsibility of his parental Malhotra Industry because he always wanted to do something on his own. And one day.... he found her.. his motivation. Nandini, my beloved sister; the good time in anyone's life. When the love of his life was in the toughest period.. when she was in coma, he started off this empire from the dust for people to know how Nandini had been his zeal and motivation. Don't ever let the hopes and ambitions of those two souls get down because they are still intermingled with this company. I have not only worked to make this company top in this world to fulfil my friend's dream but for people to remember MaNan forever. I've given you the closest thing to my heart, take care of it."

"I have heard about him and his love story from mum and dad a lot. I promise you uncle, I will give my everything to this company." His eyes look promising.

"I have high hopes that you will, since the moment you said 'this company and you' back on the stage. I liked the way you did put this Company before me and I'm sure you'll in the future as well." I tap his shoulder.

"Now, if all these official discussions are over, can I please borrow my husband to go for our routine evening walk?" My charming wife, Navya walks to us.

"Oh yes sure, Aunt." Yash leans closer to peck her cheek "Enjoy your time." Smiling warmly at us, Abhimanyu and Mukti's son leaves.

••••

Navya and I are walking at the Kufri hill hand-in-hand and I must admit that we walk a lot slower now because of our arthritis.

"This is where Nandini accepted Manik's love." She speaks placing her hand on the cold railing.

"Maybe that is why, those two shining stars still be bright here whenever we come." I point at the two twinkling stars in the orangish early evening sky. Navya happily waves at them leaning her head back on my shoulder.

"God, they waved back!" Navya exclaims with tears in her eyes.

We come here often whenever we miss our best friends to have a word with them. Life gave us ample opportunities to settle down outside this nation but we couldn't; because our hearts stay right here.

"Stay happy together, you two." Navya murmurs and they twinkle back like always "Miss you too".

"Let's go now, love. If the evening gets any darker, I will have problem because of my weak vision." I say and embrace her shoulder walking her beside me.

"Yes, my old retired husband!" She giggles feeling the still air with her calming voice.

"Hey, I still can love you like a young man and all my time after retirement on this earth is for you and only you." I kiss her forehead.

We walk towards the car as the chauffeur opens the door for us. I turn back once more looking at those two stars blinking in chain.

MaNan... forever... hamesha.

MaNan has not only stayed a mere name in the city. The Rainbow Cafe where they met has become visiting spot as people want to see where the lovebirds actually we met. Lovers come and spend their time at this cliff. Every people in the town talk about MaNan's love story to every tourist visiting St.Augustine's Holy Church where their tombs are kept. People who knew them brag about it because a love like that comes once in a lifetime. They were fools; they loved with all their hearts not being aware that how in future they were going to teach people love. Their love has definitely given a new meaning to Shimla and especially the term 'love'.

Lovers pray for their love looking at those stars. People sometimes say that they've seen blurry images of a lady dressed in peach and a tall man dressed in a polished black tux walk hand in hand towards the sunset at the Kurla Road where the accident took place thirty-five years back as they drive by that road but there hasn't been any proof behind it and neither have I been that lucky to witness. If you listen carefully then in every passing wind, you'll hear their giggles and I hope wherever they are, they are really happy.

~ THE END ~

Justajoo has been the dearest story to me and I will miss writing it forever. This gave me peace. And I hope you'll liked the story. Thank you for joining us in this journey and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

She longed for death whereas he wanted to live.

Love you all. Xx.
Take care.