Am here with the first chapter! Am expecting a good response! :)

Happy Reading!

Chapter 1- What is the way to heaven?

"Dear Daddy!

You don't know me but I know you! I am Meyer Malhotra! Your dearest son (at least this is what mommy says)! It's father's day today! Everyone in my class is writing letters for their fathers like they do it every year! And like every year I too am writing the letter for you! Last week was my 9th birthday! Like every year you weren't there! It was just me and mommy! Grandpa was busy so he also didn't come to estates! I don't know how to express my feelings! But...I..I miss you daddy! I miss you when I need an ice cream in midnight! I miss you whenever I go to garden alone with Mommy! I miss you whenever I see a kid of my age falling and his/her daddy help him/her to get up and tells them that it's okay to fall! Though! Though Mommy loves me so much! But! I need you with me Daddy! Am writing the letter for you this year too but can't post it! Because! Because I don't know your address Daddy! One day I asked Mommy about your address and she started crying! So I never asked again! I will ask once again today! And Daddy I take care of Mommy on your behalf! But now am tired! It's your job and am doing it for so long please come back! I need your hugs! Meyer misses you Daddy!

Loads of Love,
Your Son!
Meyer Malhotra!"

Meyer placed the pen away and looked around to see miss Lucy collecting the letters. Those letters were going to be delivered to everyone's father's offices. Without coming in notice Meyer folded the letter and zipped it in his bag's inner pocket..

"Meyer your letter honey?" Miss Lucy asked him and he smiled..

"I didn't write miss Lucy! My pen! There is no ink in it!" He told her and obviously that was a lie..

"Ohh! It's okay! You can submit later!" She said politely patting his head and he just nodded with an innocent smile while she walked away..

His letter will never reach to his daddy!

At least that was what he thought..

_________________________

"Good afternoon Mommy!" Meyer said lowly hugging his mother tightly and Nandini hugged him back. She was there to pick him up.

"Good afternoon my star son! How was your day?" She asked lovingly running her fingers through his hair and he backed off slowly..

"Nothing! Just the usual boring stuff!" He said hopping in the car and Nandini gave him a strange look before following him. She sat on the driving seat and Meyer made himself comfortable beside her.

"Can you elaborate the 'usual boring stuff' Meyer?" Nandini once again started the conversation when her car was running on one of the crowded road leading towards their house..

"Nothing Mom! Just class works, tests and all that! Can we please not discuss about MY day?" He said with an irritated face and Nandini just nodded, giving the conversation a full stop.

Her son was moody!

Just like his father.

Raising him wasn't easy.

He was a tough nut to crack and couldn't be distracted easily.

With the pace of time his questions and his words used to leave her speechless, surprised..

"Are you hungry? We have your favorite chocolate moss in desert!" She tried to act a little cheerful but he just kept looking out of the window. The wind had a little coldness in it because it had rained the whole day but still he loved to open the window..

He was fond of rainy seasons..

So typical like his daddy...

"Are you angry with Mommy?" Nandini was getting worried now..

"No!" His reply was simple and soft..

"Then why no talking today?" She asked in a confused tone and he just shrugged not bothering to reply her. She parked the car in driveway of the little bungalow owned by her. He picked up his bagpack and jumped out of the car, leaving his mommy all confused and restless.

She was unable to figure out what was in Meyer's tiny head...

Taking a deep sigh she too came out of the car and locked it behind her..

Her tantrum prince was already in his room and it was locked..

_____________________________

"You liked the mutton chops!?" Nandini asked softly when she saw Meyer just tossing his food in his plate..

"Yeah! They are tasty!" Meyer replied in a robotic tone and Nandini frowned..

"How do you know when you haven't even tasted a single morsel?" She asked in a strict tone and this time Meyer looked at her. "Meyer what's wrong? You know you can share mommy?" She asked lovingly ruffling to her little love's hair and he bite his lip..

"Mommy where is heaven? Do you know the way to it!?" He asked innocently and Nandini was taken aback.

"Why you wanna know the way to heaven?" She asked in a horrified shocked tone and Meyer sighed..

"I wanna post all the letters and cards I have crafted for Daddy! So that's why I wanna know the way to heaven!" His words were so innocent but heartbreaking..

"Meyer!" Nandini cried in shock and disbelief covering her mouth with a gasp. "Your Daddy is not in heaven! Heaven is for those who die! Your Daddy is not dead!" She shouted in pain and Meyer had tears in his eyes..

"Then why don't you tell me where he is? I deserve to know Mama! I miss him!" He was crying like anything and Nandini took him in a hug. He hide his face in her neck and cried his heart out .

"Am sorry meri jaan! Mama ko maaf kar do but I can't tell you! YET!" She whispered in his ears and he sighed in defeat..

Once again he failed to get to know about his Daddy..

_____________________

After Nandini left the room putting Meyer to sleep he got up.

The sleep was a far business now..

Meyer sat on his spiderman carpeted floor and stared at all those cards and letters he had wrote for his Daddy..

"I miss you Daddy! I don't know where to find you!" He whispered in a shattered tone and a tear drop from his eye fell on the heap of letters..

He wiped his eyes and turned on his laptop..

He opened Google and wrote..

"Hey Google? Can you tell me where my Daddy is??"

But Google too failed to answer..

He even didn't know the name of his daddy!

He always had his mother's name on his documents.

At least the documents he had saw.

"If I got to know what's my Daddy's name? Then maybe I can find him in SNS! Mommy uses Malhotra with her name and me too! While Grandpa has Murthy as his Sir name that means Daddy must have Malhotra with his name!" Meyer murmured and took a deep breath.

It was difficult yeah but he can try at least...

Meyer opened his Facebook ID. Though in Nandini's point of view he was very young for Facebook but Meyer's all friends were there so he was stubborn to have the ID..

He clicked on the search bar and typed Malhotra..

Thousands of Malhotra's ID's opened up..

"Itny Malhotra's?? Kis kis ko request bhejoon?" He murmured again and made a real bad face..

That was impossible...

With a bad heart he scrolled down through the IDs..

"Rohit Malhotra! Naah!"

"Shumail Malhotra? Hmm request sent!"

He kept scrolling and kept sending requests...

"Manik Malhotra!! Hmmm! Rehny deta hoon I have already sent 20 requests!" He said with a sad face and stared at the owner of the picture for few seconds..

He clicked on the profile picture and took a full view..

The man was looking in his thirties. He was...handsome and his status was married..

His sharp cut jawline, light stubble and an honest smile was making him look breathtakingly handsome. Meyer felt that he could stare at that person's face for hours. With loads of difficulties he looked away from the picture specifically his eyes.

Meyer's fingers fidgeted with on the touch pad whether to send the request or not..

He shook his head and shut the browser without sending request..

He shut his laptop lid and collected his things. After that he cuddled in his blanket and stared at the ceiling. He helplessly closed his eyes and the smiling face of that person flashed in his head..

His eyes snapped open with a jerk and he shook his head to shut away that image. Then he again closed his eyes and the same thing happened again.

"For heavens sake just go away!" He cried in frustration but the image kept flashing in his head until he kicked the covers away and opened his laptop once again..

He searched for that Manik Malhotra's ID and sent the request..

As soon as he did that his heart felt lighter..

He sighed in relief and chuckled to himself..

After few minutes he was in a deep sleep...

He was having a feeling that something very good was gonna happen..

__________________________

"Kids are the angels on earth! They always find their way out"

___________________________

"Morning mommy!" Meyer exclaimed hugging Nandini from back and a brightest smile appeared on Nandini's face. She was tossing omelette in the pan.

After last night's talk she didn't expect him to be so cheerful..

"Morning mommy ki jaan!" She turned with same enthusiasm and kissed his cheek hard..

"Am so hungry! Omelet jaldi please! You know you cook the best omelet of the world!" He was so enthusiastic and his words halted Nandini's movements as something very adorable came in her mind..

"Wow! After such a beautiful night itna yummy cheese omelete khany ko mily ga tou mjy aur kya chye? You know you cook the best omelete of the world!" He had whispered those lazy husky words in her ears and she had melted down under his touch..

"Mama?" Meyer called her loudly and she snapped out of that beautiful memory..

"Yeah! Umm! Omelette is ready! Let me serve you!" She said with a small smile and Meyer smiled back.

"So what's so special? You look happy today!" Nandini asked cheerfully and Meyer was munching to his chicken sandwich with full interest..

"Yeah! I just feel like being happy today!" He said in a simple tone and Nandini ruffled his hair with so much love..

"Aww! Ap khush tou Mama bhi khush!" She told him and he kissed her hands with full care..

"I love you Mom! I love you so much! I promise! Main sab theek kar doon ga!" He spoke in a determined tone and Nandini gave him a confused look before smiling back..

What did he meant?

________________________

"I will lit up the candles Mom!" Meyer exclaimed snatching the match box out of Nandini's hand and she nodded with a smile..

They were at church. A Weekly visit.

Nandini sat on her knees and started praying while Meyer quietly kept liting the candles..

Today he was there on a secret mission..

He peeked at Nandini she had her eyes closed and Meyer knew her praying session will last longer so he quickly run towards the Priest..

"Good evening Father!" He greeted the priest and he turned to him.

"Good evening Son! May Christ bless you with all his blessings!" He replied and patted Meyer's head..

"Thank you Father! Umm! Actually I need to talk to you!" He kinda whispered those words and the Priest sat on his chair.

"Yes! Speak up!" Priest said lovingly and held Meyer's hand in his..

"It's about my Daddy!" He was whispering slowly and Priest was smiling..

"What about your Daddy?" Priest too whispered in the same tone and Meyer looked back at his Mommy who was still busy in her prayers..

"I don't know where he is!? Mommy knows but she never tells me! I need a solution to my problem? Can you help me?" He whispered his problem and Priest went aww on little one's cuteness..

"I have a feeling that wherever your Daddy is! He is safe and sound! And he loves you a lot! The solution to your problem is never give up! Never give up on your parents okay? Work hard to get them back together!" Priest told him affectionately and patted Meyer's head..

"Never give up?" He repeated Priest's words and he nodded with a small smile on his face..

"Go and pray beside your Mother! I am sure Lord Christ will listen to you! He is merciful!" Priest encouraged Meyer and he stared at the Christ's sculpture..

Biting his lip in confusion he quietly walked towards his mother and knelt beside her. He folded his hand..

"Lord! I want my Daddy back! I want my both parents back together! Father told me to never give up and Mommy says the same but show me the right way! Help me!! Help me!" Meyer prayered silently when he felt a pat on his shoulder..

"Darling why are you crying?" Sh!t Meyer never realized that he was crying during his praying session. Nandini freaked out and made Meyer get up .

"Nothing Mumma! I was just praying!" Meyer said softly and Nandini wiped his cheeks with her fingers.

"Aise kon si prayer the which made my little bundle of joy cry?" She asked lovingly adjusting his hair and knelt in front of him..

"Nothing! I just want to tell you that everything will be ok! Main na! Main ap ka sath kabhi nahi chodon ga! Meyer will be with you Hamesha!" Meyer told Nandini with tears in his eyes and he held to Nandini's hands tightly..

He was an extra mature and understanding child. The loneliness he had faced, made him so realistic about the life..

"Ohh meri jaan! Mama is so proud of you!" Nandini too had tears in her eyes..

"I will be always with you! Hamesha!" A faint echo from ten years back resonated the very far part of her head and she hugged Meyer tighter..

________________________

10 Days Later..

"Had hoti hai yar!" Meyer cried out in frustration and slammed the lid of his laptop shut..

"Every single Malhotra has accepted the request except that Manik Malhotra!" Meyer murmured in his pillow and he felt like slamming the laptop in the wall..

Ten days...since last ten days Meyer was waiting desperately for that Malhotra to accept the request..

It was sunday morning and his mood was totally off.

Angrily he opened his laptop back and started doing unfriend to all those who had accepted the request. He reached Manik Malhotra's profile which was still showing pending notification. Meyer thought of something and was about to remove the request when suddenly the request has been accepted..

"Holy Chirst!" Meyer squeaked in excitement and stared at the profile picture once again..

His heart was hammering in his chest and he was going crazy with happiness..

With shivering hands he opened the inbox and started thinking of what to write.

"Hi...!" He typed...

He is not gonna see the message! Meyer thought sadly and suddenly..

'Seen √!'

His eyes popped out of the sockets and he fell on his pillow almost fainted with happiness..

Manik Malhotra has seen his message...

_________________________

"Nandini!! Nandini please!! Please just for once! Open the door! Aik baar darwaza khol do! I promise main sari dunya say lar loon ga humaray liye! Main pyar krta hoon tumsy! Bepanah mohabat! Aisa mat karo mery sath! Main...main shaid tumhry bina zinda tou rahoon ga par jee nahi paoan ga! Un sab wadoon ka kya jo tum ny mj say kiya thy? Mjy andheroon say nikal kar! Jeena sekha kar mjy akela mat chodo! Mjy jeety jee mat maro Nandini!! Nandini!!! Nandini I Love you! I lo--!"

"Manik! Manik! Manik! Manik!" The crowd roared like anything causing the man in his thirties opened his eyes, snapping him out of his thoughts and he exhaled a deep breath. The chilly wind went by passing his beard covered cheeks and the chocolate orbs tried to focus on a point.

The white sweater shirt was hugging body tightly..

"White suits you!" He felt a faint whisper against his right ear and he turned his head to find none...

The auditory hallucinations were causing his head to bust in pieces. His grip on his guitar tightened and he tried to shove away the dizziness he was feeling..

10 years had drived him near death. She was nowhere but was still everywhere.

He was alive but he wasn't feeling..

His heart was beating but the one who told him that his heart beat sounded music to her ears was not there...

The day she left she took his everything away from him...

Holding the guitar with one hand he adjusted the collars of his jacket with other neatly...

"Tumhy sharam nahi ati! Close your buttons! Aik number kay sarak chaap lagty ho! No manners! Aagy say me tumhry collars neatly set dekhoon! Smjhy?" Again the whisper hit his ear drums and he closed his eyes in despair..

She was his peace and solace.

"You have made me the happiest woman of this whole world! You know dunya mj say jealous ho ge! Because dunya kay paisa ho ga gari ho ge aur mery pass tum ho gay! Mjy tumhry siwa kuch nahi chye! These luxuries mean nothing to me!" Those words she had whispered lying on his bare chest...that night was beautiful...the most beautiful night they could ever had...

"Agar tum mjy chod gai na Nandini tou main mar jaoan ga!" He had whispered back..

But the cruel reality of his life was...he was alive...

He was fu*king bloody alive..

He should have dead yet but God never showed any kind of mercy on him..

He survived..

Today he had everything..

Bungalows...Cars...Thousands of dollars and money in his bank but he was empty handed. Because the love of his life wasn't with him..

The spotlight focused on him and the crowd almost fainted on just the glimpse of his back.

He was sitting on the stool. He needed to start. That's what he was doing since last 10 years. Working day and night to top up his bank balance...

Business...music...business...music...

Hooooo! Ho hooo!

He started slowly and strum his guitar..

The crowd cheered like crazy for him and he tried to focus..

Jaan waleya tu tadpaya
Laut ke phir tu kade na aaya
Akhaan de naal dil nu rulaya
Bada sataya tu…

He sang and got up. As soon as he turned towards the crowd few of the girls in the front row fainted..

He looked away from them and once again searched for her in crowd of millions..

Yaad teri bas aandi jaave
Par teri koi khabar na aave
Dil mera hun dub’da jaave
Bada sataya tu…

"When you will do your first concert na! I will be stand in the first row! I will wave at you! Tum mjy bhool tou ni jaoa gay na? Mjy wave back zaroor krna!"

But the day never came. She never stood in front row. She never waved at him nor he got the chance to wave back...

Tenu hun meri
Kade yaad aake tadpandi nahi
Akhiyan ‘chon teri
Kithe nindar udd fud jaandi nahi

He sang and a tsunami of memories flashed in his head..

Her laughter on his lame jokes.

Her scoldings whenever he used to behave like an unsophisticated human.

Aave tu mudke
Hun main ta karaan faryaadan ni
Rahan vich jind baithi
Ik teriyan yaddan

He sang more and walked closer to the edge of the stage. Crowd threw flowers for him and he waved at them with a smile...

Ik teri khair mangdi
Main manga na kujh hor
Ik teri khair mangdi
Na toote dil ki dor
Ik teri khair mangdi
Ab koi chale na zor
Ik teri khair mangdi… main

He truely wished for her well being. He wanted to hate her for her lies but he couldn't..

Maybe he loved her enough to let her go..

Tere bina seene vich
Saah ruk gaye ne
Tu jo gaya te mere
Raah ruk gaye ne

He was lost. He was stranded. He felt himself like a passenger who was sitting on a train station waiting for his train. But the train never came to lead him towards his correct destination.

He was like a bird who kept playing and didn't realize that it was dark again. He tried to reach back his home but he was lost. The darkness was too much and he failed to get back home. He was waiting for his light..

But he knew he will be lost always because that's what his destiny was..

Paake jo tenu mere dil ne gavaya ae
Dard judaai wala
Naina vich chhaya ae

Nandini...his Nandini...his love...

He was angry with her..

He never wanted to face her because he knew if someday she will come in front of him he won't be able to control himself...

Rabb kare tenu koi
Gham tadpaave na
Barishan da mausam teri
Akh val jaave na

He never wanted to see her in tears. In his prayers he always wished for her happiness..

Sadeyan naseeban vich
Likkhiyan judaiyan ve
Kadon door honiyan ne
Ae tanhaiyan…

It was his destiny..

She came like a soothing rain in his life and left like a thunderstorm..

He was alone and she made sure that he always remain alone...

He was a fish without water..

Teri khair mangdi
Main manga na kujh hor
Ik teri khair mangdi
Na toote dil ki dor
Ik teri khair mangdi
Ab koi chale na zor
Ik teri khair mangdi… main!

He ended the song and everything started suffocating him..

He almost threw his guitar and rushed out of the stadium.

After 15 minutes his car was running on the road which was leading him towards the beach.

"Ahhhh!!" He screamed loudly banging his head with the steering wheel and his face was red and wet..

The echoes surrounded him and he was driving like a crazy..

"Manik! idar aoa na..!"

"Manik! mjy gola khana hai!"

"Manik! mera dupatta chodo!"

"Manik! I love fireflies!"

"Manik! I love you!"

"Manik Go awaaaayyy! Just leave!!"

The last shout echoed in his head and he hit a big rock halting the car with a loud boom sound..

All thanks to the seatbelt he was wearing he didn't got any injury. He unbuckled the belt and resting his head with the steering wheel he cried more.

He banged his fists here and there in extreme helplessness.

Once again the suffocation overpowered him and he opened the door of his car to run out.

He reached the beach and almost fell on his but. Then he fell back and laid on the cold sand taking deep breaths..

"What are you doing?" He had asked her once when they both were sitting on the same beach spot..

"I am writing your and my name!" She had told him in a kiddish tone and he had let out a hearty laugh.

"This will be erased when the wave of sea will hit the shore!" He had told her and pulled her cheek. She was almost sitting in his lap.

"Acha hai na! Kise aur ko dekha kar karna bhi kya hai! You will watch I will watch and when we will be gone then it will be removed! We will come next time and will write again!" Her logic was so stupid. Manik had laughed so much..

Letting another tear roll off his eye he turned his side and with a shivering hand he started writing their names..

Nan...he wrote and then himself merged it away..

He hate her...

He should hate her..

Deep breaths...deep deep breaths.

He tried calm himself and pulled out his cellphone out of his pocket.

His cellphone was overflowing with messages..

With a heavy heart he started surfing through his all social media accounts.

Twitter, Instagram, his blogs and lastly he tapped on his Facebook account..

"So many requests!" He murmured with a silly face and started rejecting them. After rejecting around 50 requests he was about to decline the 51st when his thumb paused..

"Meyer Malhotra!" He took the words slowly and carefully. Pursing his lips he tapped on the accept button..

Then he declined other requests and was about turn his cellphone off when suddenly his messenger popped..

"Hi..!"

The message was from Meyer Malhotra...

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Myny ziada emotional tou ni kiya na? Do lemme know! I am dying to Read your response!
Love, Mawara