Hello Fam :)

Announcement - I want to clarify about the plot. Initially I thought about exploring Mars through Manan apart from the fun part. It was all I had written until this chapter.

1. During the last week, when I tried concentrating on the next chapter, I felt it as boring and I got stuck. I had a few doubts if people even want to read about a few facts about Mars or not? So clear this thing for me.

2. I disappeared all these days because of the same thing. Also because, the ideas were flowing for my other book, TNATB. That has a Sequel and since the ideas are scarce here, I want to start that one and write this book whenever I get something fun here. Promise, not ignoring this one for that this time. So, Can I do that?

3. Tell me if you are okay with this book. I don't want to disappoint you guys but I don't know if the fun is here or not. It has been so long since I had written humor and as mentioned, I felt as if it had died somewhere during the lockdown. :P

Happy Reading...

Nandini's jaw dropped upon seeing the Autoturisme. Aryaman gave the instructions, fastening the seat belts, about the working principle of the vehicle. Their new friend Zain was far too excited for the ride and she narrowed her eyes at him. Noticing this, Cabir leaned at her side. 

Cabir(whispered): Do you think we should have written our obituary before coming here?

Nandini frowned at him before turning to Manik. 

Nandu: Manik, I love you.  

Manik smiled at her so sweetly that she wanted to hug him but it wasn't appropriate. 

Nandu: You idiot. Stop smiling cutely and reply back. What if it's the last time we say this to each other?

He rolled his eyes while Aryaman chuckled at her. 

Arya: Nandu, we have been doing this for years now. You aren't going to die. 

Nandu: Oh really? Take a look at your best friend and say this. 

She told, pointing towards Zain. Aryaman shook his head. 

Arya: He is just so fascinated with this even though we have been doing this since childhood, I don't know why. We used to even sneak back with others just to have a ride twice. 

Cabir: Interesting way to commit suicide. 

Manik: Nandini, I love you too. Can we leave now? 

She grinned at him. As they dived into the ground, Nandini felt like uncovering a secret. If they didn't know the direction they were going, they could have been fooled for flying. It was automatic and once Aryaman had set the speed, he explained further about the planet. 

Mars was a rocky planet and all Nandu could see were mountains and so much sand that she could build sandcastles for every family on the Earth. Sad the Martians are less populous than the Earthlings. She looked at her mobile and it wasn't working. Frowning, she glanced at Manik.

Nandu: Manik, the Airtel girl lied to us. 

Manik: What?

Nandu: The network. It's not coming here. 

Cabir: It isn't? Aren't the Ambani's supposed to let Martians Jio?

Zain: What?

Manik: Just a name pun. Ignore. Nandini, there aren't networks. Isn't that the reason why Aryaman gave us his device to talk? 

Cabir: He gave you a walkie talkie and you guys never told me. 

Manik: Cabir, we were supposed to keep it as a secret. I am not supposed to advertise Alien technology. 

Nandini: Manik, if Aryaman was an Alien on Earth, would we be considered as Aliens on Mars?

Cabir: Why do I feel the sentence is going in a circle?

Manik: Cabir, shut up. Nandu, yes, we are aliens on Mars because this isn't our planet. 

Zain: Bro, how do you even manage these two?

Manik slumped down on his seat, wiping an imaginary sweat. Aryaman was chuckling at them. 

Aryaman: Don't worry, Zain. Manik is an expert by now. 

XXX

Soon they had reached civilization. The houses were red stone buildings, lined neatly over an area. It was a small area. 

Nandu: Is this all the population of Mars? 

Aryaman: Yeah. Just over a 200. 

Manik: How do you manage the figure?

Zain: We kill the excess people. 

Cabir: We are the excess people?

Zain: They will kill you once they start counting in. So, hide.

Cabir turned to Nandini. 

Cabir: Did you bring us here to kill? Weren't we living in peace on Earth? 

Nandu: Imagine, Cabir. You will be the first human from Earth to die on Mars. You will be famous, a legend. There will be books written about you and every child in this world will know your name. 

Cabir: And what? My killer is Lord Voldemort? 

Zain(grinned): Lord Voldemort was an overly ambitious school kid who couldn't kill a baby boy. I will kill you instead. 

Cabir: How does he know Harry Potter references? 

Zain: I had my share of fun in France, Cabir. Je Suis Voldemort and Tom Elvis Jedusor is the anagram I go by. Feel free to get habituated. You will live here for a week and I will give seven attempts. On the final day, I will kill you and you become a legend. 

Nandini patted Zain on his back. 

Nandu: I told you we will get along just fine. See, you have been proving yourself as the worthiest of my friends. 

Zain grinned in return. They bumped their fists and rolled their arms in some weird movement surprising both Manik and Aryaman. 

Arya: When did you two practice that?

Nandu: When you were explaining Manik about your precious engine. 

Manik: Aren't you having too much fun here?

Nandini winked at him but Cabir smirked. 

Cabir: Are you jealous, Manik? Afraid she would be bored with your relationship and let the alien guy sweep her off her feet?

By now everyone knew Cabir took every chance to tease Manik about their relationship. During the initial stage of their relationship, when Nandini was confident of a forever kind of love with Manik, he was almost always tensed that he would mess up and hurt his girl. Once he got comfortable enough not to overthink his every action, Manik started believing in Nandini's forever idea of their love but he was yet to escape their friends pulling his leg at every chance they got. Zain, who had no idea about any of this, tensed up but before he could say anything, he saw Manik rolling his eyes. 

Manik: As if I don't know what goes on inside her brain every moment? Dude, if she falls in love with someone else, I would be the first one to know that. 

Nandu pulled his cheeks. 

Nandu: That day wouldn't come ever. I have a plan to haunt you in the afterlife too. Don't worry, boyfriend. We will kill Cabir too if he manages to escape Zain's deadline. Then he wouldn't be able to ask stupid questions. 

Cabir(sighs): How do you even handle her, Manik?

Manik smiled and shook his head. He had heard this question several times throughout his life and the most since he started going out with Nandini but every time someone asks him that, he looks at the girl and wonders how would he even survive without her. It was cheesy, he knew and they don't do cheesy stuff but again every time, when Manik looks at her, she grins and blows him a kiss. It's as if she knows what's going on inside his head too. He wouldn't be surprised if she did. 

Cabir: After all this time, I will die on an Alien planet and these two will romance each other through eyes without even realizing I am gone. 

Cabir wailed loudly. He stomped his foot and when no one bothered to stop him, he stomped both his feet making a slight jump. And then he shrieked in terror. 

Somewhere in the background, he heard Zain scream...

I missed leaving you at cliffhangers. Not possible with the other books. :P