It was a quite Sunday morning in a flat in Mumbai. A guy in his late 20's entered the house and headed towards the kitchen. He opened the fridge door , carefully poured juice in a glass and then moved towards the couch picking up the newspaper on the way. After glancing through the newspaper for a while, the guy went to his room and took a shower to relax himself. He took out a grey tracksuit from his stylish black closet, glanced himself in the mirror , admired his chiseled body and sharp features, changed into the track suit and moved to his study room. He opened his laptop and got busy with his work. Generally, he would spend a Sunday relaxing but this time it was little different since his knew what future held for him and so he wanted to finish off with as much work as he can before his work takes a backseat.

He was busy with his laptop when his door bell rang. He asked the servant to open the door and a group of adults made their way in talking loudly. The guy in the study immediately closed his laptop and made his way out of the room to join his friends in the hall. The view of the hall took him by surprise, there were carry bags all around. Being startled was an understatement, stunned, dumbfounded, stupefied and all other synonyms put in together could not define his state at this moment.

Guy - (Still dazed) How long did you guys shop for? Have you guys gone nuts ? Or Am I missing something? It is a destination wedding right...but are we setting up the city as well for the wedding..??...Oh wait a minute...Cabir...Did you by any chance buy these so that you could eventually sell it on your portal...

Cabir - Like seriously Manik...was that supposed to be funny...Dude don't even try..being funny doesnot come naturally to you my dear grumpy devil..!! ... And about these bags please blame your sister and her dear friends who first screwed up our precious Saturday by shopping all day and then brought us today to your house at 9 in the morning, that too on a Sunday...spoiling that too...Right Dhruv!!

Dhruv - Exactly...Manik you seriously are lucky..You should thank God for scheduling an important conference for you yesterday...otherwise you would have turned in white collar coolies like us...But Alya I have a question if you don't mind...well actually not one but two..First why have we brought all the things to Manik's place and second if the things were supposed to be brought here then why did we take it to Cabir's place last night...I mean we could have directly dropped them here..would have saved our energy and time

Cabir - And wouldn't have spoiled our Sunday slumber and delicious brunch too..!!

Alya- Cabirrrrr.....(Alya was shooting glares at him)..You know what you can go to Manik's room and sleep...You guys are so mean and selfish...I mean its Mukti's wedding for God sake and all you want is to sleep..Navya...how do you put up with him...like seriously...!!

Navya - Don't even ask...sometimes I myself wonder why...he drives me crazy...so my dear crazy boyfriend..once you are done sleeping you can come downstairs have your delicious brunch...I got that prepared in the morning..and you too Dhruv..now Stop complaining!!

Dhruv - Thanks Navya but my questions are still awaiting the answers...Mukti can you please enlighten us..since this whole thing was your idea

Mukti - Offo guys....Stop complaining and nagging for once...!! We went shopping yesterday since I wanted to start it off as soon as possible but then last night when I went back home after I really missed Manik's presence and an idea came to my mind...so while my brother was being responsible towards his work , I decided to be a responsible sister by not letting him miss the joy and fun that wedding brings along , and here we are...Next time we will directly land up at his house..

Cabir and Dhruv - Next time....?????......

Cabir - I thought we were done..!!

Navya - Are you mad..this is just 10% ..there is so much left to do and shop..

Manik - Mukti sweetheart...this is my house and not a warehouse...if this is 10% then I am sorry my house will not be enough to stock the stuff

Alya, Navya and Mukti glared at the boys asking them to shut up by keeping their fingers on the lips

Alya - God...such kids you guys are...any ways...Mukti what should we do next..??

Navya - I think we should shop for gifts to be sent along with the invites...But let's make the guest list once

Manik - Yes you are right but how should we go about it...?? I mean we need to ensure that we don't miss out on anyone...and also if we have the name list ready we can customize the gifts too incase we want too

Alya - Lets do one thing...we should brainstorm and make our individual guest lists and then put them all together...the probability of forgetting names or people will reduce in this case..

Dhruv - Good idea...I didn't know you could come up with such ideas too Alya..

Alya - (Absentmindedly spoke) Aray this is not my idea...Nandini came up with the idea during one of the events at SPACE and it worked...so I use it ever since...So go and praise Nandini if you want too

Dhruv - I wish I could

Navya - Guys come to think of it....It would have been so much better if Nandini too was a part of the wedding..I mean her out of the box ideas and liveliness would have made every moment enjoyable.

Cabir - Guys we can still make her a part of the wedding...(Alya, Navya, Mukti and Dhruv gave a surprised look to Cabir)....Since when did physical presence become the only way of participating...We haven't met Nandini for past 5 years but she is still a part of our lives right...we made her aware of everything going on in our lives..we've sought her advise whenever we found ourselves stuck...

Dhruv - I understand what you are trying to say Cabir but still her presence would've made a big difference..Don't you think..??...Yes we can always message or mail her and wait for her reply...sometimes the wait would last months... But had she been around, the wait wouldn't exist..things would have been simpler and easy..!!

Mukti - that is exactly why I invited her and I hope she agrees to it

Everyone but Manik nodded in response. Navya got up to arrange coffee along with some snacks while the rest settled down to make their respective guest list. But none of them were able to concentrate. Their thoughts were taking them back to the memories of the past, the past which had Nandini in it, that past which is a mixed bag of happiness, sorrow and regret.

..........Navya's POV..........

I excused myself and came to kitchen to make coffee for everyone. Honestly I was missing Nandini...right from the point Alya mentioned her name...her thoughts didn't leave my mind...she was my best friend...Everyone used to call us soul sisters...Both of us were the new girls in the city .... We had so much to look forward to in this city of dreams..we had our own individual goals and dreams...Yes music connected us...but it was our aspirations and thoughts that connected our souls...we were similar in many ways...for instance our favourite movie was Notebook, our favourite novel was Love Story by Erich Segal, Orange Candy was our favourite ice cream, we could practically spend the entire day eating only chocolates...(very unhealthy I know but we loved it)... we could sit on Nariman Point for hours silently watching the waves moving backwards after hitting the rocks on the shore...we loved music but were very serious when it came to our professional courses...our life was not an open book....we always had a part of us hidden form the entire world, from each other as well...Sometimes I wish we hadn't played this hid and seek with each other...may be the things would have been different...May Be..!!

I was lost in my thoughts when my crazy boyfriend came and hugged me from behind...I leaned towards him keeping my head on his chest..he kissed my hairs a couple of times and we stood there silently..

...........Navya's POV ends.....

..........Cabir's POV..........

I was waiting for Navya but she was taking a little longer than expected to come back....sensing something fishy I moved to the kitchen and there she was...My girl..lost in her thoughts or may be Nandini's thoughts...Nandini... I wasn't sure about Nandini when I first met her, but on further acquaintance I rather liked her...I was also surprised with the pace with which her and Navya's friendship strengthened. Navya was certainly not someone to make friends so quickly but then Nandini was different...I was amazed at the similarities both of them shared...We became friends and soon partners in crime....We were always upto some pranks or the other...and at times she used to came up with the weirdest , harmless yet nastiest ideas...Initially Nandini was a bit reserved with everyone else but Navya...slowly and steadily she did let go her inhibitions and Manik too had a role to play in it..Oh I forgot to you..Manik and Nandini too clicked just like Navya and Nandini...and that was shocking...!!!.....Since childhood Manik Malhotra had only 4 friends, that is, Mukti, ALya, Dhruv and of course Me...he always had this wall around him which no one could break...but Nandini did it...She was Manik's peace...she made him break the shell..But alas..!!..she herself went into one..!!..how I wish I could change it...!!

Anyways I realized Navya was getting emotional so I just back hugged her..she leaned her head on my chest and we remained like that for quite sometime before moving out

..........Cabir's POV ends...........

...........Mukti's POV..........

Alya brought up Nandini into the discussion....and I told everyone that I had invited her..not that no one knew about it but then I had never explicitly announced it....Nandini and Me..we were complete opposites ...the only connect between us was my crazy brother Manik....We were poles apart unlike she and Navya...but do you guys remember Opposites Attract...I guess that's exactly what happened with both of us...Yes we were different and that is why our equation was different from others because we brought a newness, a change in each others life..our perspective of looking at things was at different tangents but somehow we still had an understanding and acceptance of each others viewpoints... My love Abhi and Nandini have a lot more in common than just their surnames..I sometimes feel I have found Nandini in Abhi..creepy enough but that's the truth...Anyways did I tell you Abhi and Nandini know each other..they are friends on facebook...but I never asked Abhi about her...Once during a conversation Abhi brought up Nandini and I told him that I had hurt her...I have no freaking idea what got into him..he fought with me like crazy for almost two days and then apologized for his behavior in the cheesiest manner possible...I did forgive him after showing some tantrums but never asked him about Nandini simply because I never had the courage to fight with him and I didn't want to loose him too as I have lost her...and what if they are friend on facebook or other SNS ..no Big deal right..!!...Nandini and Abhi both hail from Bangalore and from the same school too so may be he was a senior...anyways Murthy is not a scarce surname too...I know the world is a small place but not too small to accommodate two different Murthy's in the same city... huh..!!

I wish I had not misunderstood her but I guess at that point of time all I was concerned was about the pain my brother was going through...and that restricted my thoughts, my views and ended up losing a friend like Nandini...I know she said she had forgiven us and may be she has but I really want her to be a part of my wedding...may be because only then I would know if she had actually forgotten the past or not

I was lost in my thoughts when my to be husband called and I excused myself

............Mukti's POV ends............

............Alya's POV............

Nandini Murthy....Ohhh Man...!!.....I miss her like everyone else...For me she was not a friend...she was a mentor...we were not very close unlike others but we had immense respect for each other...whenever I got stuck I used to look upto her and she somehow had an answer to all my problems.. I wish I had an answer to hers too...I still message her on facebook sometimes seeking her advise...actually to be honest at times I create virtual problems just to get her speak with me...its not that she hasn't replied but then only on messages....that is the only connect I have with now...and I know somewhere its my fault...!!

............Alya's POV ends.........

...........Dhruv's POV.......

Nandini for me was a definition of my buddy Manik's happiness...Manik was his best with Nandini around...No one..I mean no one understood him better than her...4 years back when Manik was at his worst she helped us to get him back...yes she never returned but yet she stayed with us and with him always and forever...Nandini gave him peace, love, trust and care when she was with him but all she got in return was loneliness ..Yes she chose that for herself but then it was us who pushed her to the limit...I so wish Nandini accepts the invite...It will give us a chance to bring Nandini back...a chance to bring Manik's happiness back...Manik tries to fool us by faking joy and cheer but we know there is nothing but emptiness left in him....I wish Nandini comes back and heal him...restore US...reinstate the meaning of MANAN -Manik and Nandini Together and this time FOREVER...

...........Dhruv's POV ends.......

Mukti returned after a few minutes and told everyone that Abhi's sister would be taking care of the arrangements from groom's side. Everyone knew Abhi had a sister whom he dearly loved and missed too. They were happy to learn that finally his sister would be a part of their wedding. Manik was still processing the information recently received when Mukti's phone beeped again. It was a message and tear started brimming out of her eyes as soon as she read it

Mukti - Guys Nandini is coming for the wedding...She said YES..she has accepted the invite

There was pin drop silence in the room.. everyone was shocked try to process the what Mukti said..Cabir pinched himself to believe that it wasn't a dream.. Dhruv took Mukti's phone and read the message again and again to believe that it was true...Alya and Navya stood there numb, startled unable to express their feelings with words or actions but their watery eyes were saying it all... Manik silently got up and walked towards his room closing the door with the latch..Dhruv tried to stop him but was in turn stopped by Cabir

Cabir - Let him be Dhruv..let him be..!!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapter 4 ends----------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry for being late...Wishing everyone a Happy Friendship Day....!!

Coming back to the update...this is my longest updated till date...over 2400 words...so do tell me if you guys liked it....

How do you think Mukti will react when she comes to know that Nandini and ABhi and not just Schoolmates..??...

The chapter had everyone's POV...I hope you got an insight to their view points...I know you missed Manik's POV...But guys relax...Manik's POV shall be up soon..And may be just maybe it might leave you surprised..!!

That's it from me for today...See you guys..Cheers..!!