Hello Fam. Read the note at the end. :)

@blendreadeyes You know why this chapter is dedicated to you. :P

Happy Reading...

Abhi(announced): Mom, Dad, it's Mukti. I am in love with Mukti.

All the four were hell nervous about their reaction.

Abhi(nervously): Mom, Dad kuch bolo?

Chachi(thinking hard): Main yeh soch rahi hun ki agar teri shaadi ho jaye toh teri bidaai hogi ya Mukti ki.

Chacha(playing along): Ise hi bhej dete hai. Waise bhi ghar kahan aata hai.

Abhi pouts, while Manik and Nandu laugh at him.

Chachi(excitedly): Mukti beta, apne ghar walo se baat karwa do. Shaadi ka muhurt nikal dete hai.

Mukti looks at Manik first and he blinks his eyes.

Mukti(softly): Aunty, before talking to them, mujhe aapko apne bare mein batana hai. My parents..

She takes a deep breath due to the lump formed in her throat. She finds a grip on her hand by Manik. He takes her in a side hug. She was busy controlling her emotions when she felt another hand gripping hers.

Abhimanyu, who was sitting beside Nandu, stood up unable to see Mukti weak and entwined their fingers. She smiled seeing the two most important men of her life. Giving Abhimanyu a 'proud' look, Manik asked him to handle Mukti through his eyes.

Manik(without any emotion, sternly): Chachi, Chacha ji, Mukti's isn't in contact with her parents. They don't care about her. All they know is how to make money and run their business. They asked Mukti to join their business but she wanted to become a designer and they gave her the choice to choose between her dream and them. Cutting it short, Mukti is independent, strong and a very beautiful soul, unlike them.

His eyes became red due to anger which was noticed by everyone. Abhi's parents smiled at the bond Manik shares with Mukti. Shanno sat beside Mukti asking Abhimanyu to get up.

Chachi(caressing her head): Mukti, tune kuch galat nahi kiya na. Tu ro mat. Hum sab hain na tere saath? Aaj se tu iss ghar ki bahu nahi beti hai. Hum tumhare parents hai. Ab se Aunty nahi Mom bulayegi tu. Kyun Murthy ji?

Chacha(agreed happily): Shanno ji, aap jo kaho wahi theek.

Mukti hugged her tight and let out her tears, feeling the motherly love for the first time. After she stopped crying, Chacha went to her and caressed her hair affectionately.

Chacha(lovingly): Beta this is an important thing and your parents deserve to know. Isiliye humne pucha. Agar tum comfortable nahi ho, toh Abhi baat kar lega unse. But you don't need to suffer or become sad for anything from now on. Hamare ghar ki betiyan hasti rahengi toh hi hame acha lagta hai. Haina, gudiya?

Nandu(grinned): Bilkul, Chacha ji. Mukti bhi haste hue bahut achi lagti hai. Aur gusse mein bhi. (teased) Bhai ko bahut experience hai.

Abhi(frightened): Babydoll, Mukti ka gussa yaad mat dila ab. Mujhe already meri body mein bache kuchen haddiyan count karne hai.

Everyone chuckles at him, including Mukti.

Chachi(announced): Acha, ab bahut baate ho gayi. Tum sab bacho jao, thoda fresh ho jao. Main khana lagwati hun.

She asks Abhimanyu to take Mukti inside. Manik excuses himself for washroom and Chachi asks him to go to Nandu's room.

Chachi(casually): Nandu, tu bhi ja, dekh Manik ko kuch chahiye ki nahi.

Nandu, who was waiting for the moment, immediately agrees and leaves.

Abhi's room

Abhi(worried): Mukti, are you ok?

She hugs him tight and he ruffled her hair to calm her down.

After few minutes,

Mukti(declared): Abhimanyu, I want to meet my parents.

Abhi(cupping her face, concernedly): Mukti, I will take care of them. I can't see you suffering all over again.

Mukti(determinedly): I won't suffer until you are beside me. I just need a closure. I avoided them till now and they think I have failed in my life. I want to face them and show I have got the most prized possession, you. Which they can't buy even with all their wealth.

He places a kiss on her forehead.

Abhi(proudly): That's my Mukti. I am proud of you. You are the strongest girl I have seen. But you won't go alone to meet them, please? I know you can handle all by yourself but main mar jaunga out of curiosity ki wahan kya ho raha hai. Please, please, please.

Mukti (chuckles): Don't worry. Manik won't let me go alone. You will come with me and I love you the most.

Abhi(putting his fist across his heart): hayee, maar dala.

She rolls her eyes at him and teases him for the slight blush that crept on his face.

Nandu's room

Nandu found Manik sitting on the bed with his palms covered his face. She went near him and stood in front of him.

Nandu(touching his hair softly): Manik?

Manik(startled): Nandini, tum jao. I don't want you around me. Not now.

Nandu sighed and hugged him, rubbing his back and pecking his hair. Accepting his defeat, Manik hugged her back by her waist tighter and snuggled into her. Staying for few minutes, she broke the hug, when she felt him normal.

Nandu(whispered): Manik?

Manik(looking at a distance, lost): I am feeling so angry right now. So so angry. I feel like breaking everything. Breaking them. How can they even hurt someone like Mukti? You know right, she is such a pure soul.

Nandu cupped his face and forcefully made him look towards her.

Nandu(cooed): I know she is a pure soul but we can't change them na, Manik. If only things were in our control, hum Mukti ko kabhi suffer hone nahi dete na. Now, all we could do is support her and give all the love and affection that she deserves. Aur agar tum aise sad hone mein busy ho jaoge then Abhimanyu will take care of her aur dekhna my brother is the best. Tumhe bhul jayegi Mukti phir.

She makes an extremely sad face while saying the last line but Manik didn't miss the tease in her voice. He smiles at her attempt.

Manik(smiling widely): I am so happy she chose Abhimanyu. He won't hurt her ever.

Abhi(entering in): I know, I am the best.

Manik glares at him.

Manik(raising an eyebrow): Is Mukti fine?

Abhi(cheekily): She is. How can she not be? She was with the best.

Nandu(glared): Abhimanyu, shut up. Stop being so self-obsessed.

Abhi(pouted): Babydoll, tujhe support karna tha.

Nandu(rolling her eyes): Really? Waise, tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?

Abhi(slapping his head): Oh no. Main phirse bhul gaya. Mom ne dinner ke liye bulaya hai. Agar unhe pata chala na ki main yahan gappe lada raha hun, she will kill me. Come soon, you two.

He runs from there leaving the other two laughing.

Going down, Manik and Nandu found Mukti all smiling and talking to Chacha and Chachi. Giving each other a look, they go to her.

Manik(surprised): Mukti?

Mukti(casually): Itna time kya kar rahe the upar? Come now jaldi baitho. I am starving.

Manik(hesitantly): Mukti, listen, you don't need to pretend.

Mukti(amused): Tujhe lag raha hai main pretend kar rahi hun?

Manik(afraid): Mukku..

Mukti(stated): Manik, I am done with the people who don't care about me.

She goes to Chachi, who was sitting on the chair and hugs her from the back.

Mukti(happily): I got my parents back today. I am happier than ever, Manik.

Manik caresses her hair with a smile and takes his seat. Chachi pulls Mukti beside her.

Chach(declared): Aaj tujhe main apne haatho se khana khilaungi.

Mukti(uncomfortably): Arey, Aunty ji, main kha lungi na.

Chachi(glared playfully): Aunty nahi mom. Aur chup chap kha.

Nandu gives her a thumbs up and feels happy that she is saved today but her happiness was short lived.

Chacha(putting a morsel in front of her): Gudiya, muh khol.

Nandu(whined): Chacha ji, main kha lungi na. Aap aaj Mukti ko khillaiye na. Dekho aaj pehli baar Mukti ghar beti bankar aayi hai.

Chacha finds truth in her point and goes to Mukti after nodding at her. Abhimanyu who was waiting for the opportunity immediately stood up and sat beside Nandu.

Abhi(excitedly): Babydoll, aaj Abhimanyu Murthy will feed you.

Nandu looks at Manik for help to which he chuckles.

Manik(teased): Meri taraf kya dekh rahi ho? Main bhi khilau kya tumhe?

Nandu(glaring Manik and then Abhimanyu): I am not a kid that you people always feed me. See, I have two hands and I know how to eat.

Abhi(dramatically): Yeh mera pyaar hai babydoll. Tu mujhse pyar nahi karti kya? Mom, Dad ke haath se khati hai, mujhe kyun mana kar rahi ab? Bol Nandu. Tera pyaar khatam ho gaya kya.

Nandu glares at his drama. Having no other choice, she lets him feed her making Manik and Mukti smile at them. Manik and Mukti bid bye after dinner and Nandu stays back. 

A/N - One pair sorted. Two more to go. As mentioned in the chapter, there's might be a small part where Mukti/Abhimanyu talks to Mukti's parents. If it at all it's there, this will be after Manan confession. I need your suggestions. Do you want me to write that part or skip it?