In Chopra's Villa

Nandini came downstairs and saw everyone talking with the Malhotras. She searched for Takshvi and spotted her coming out of kitchen with a tray of drinks..She smiled and went towards her and kissed her cheeks while Takshvi raised her eyebrows at her..

Nandini took the tray from her and was going to move ahead when Takshvi stopped her..

Takshvi: Nandu, aisa math karo, hume guests hai na tho ye sab tumse karwana achi bath nahi hai..

Nandini ( frowned ): Kyu..?

Takshvi ( sighed ): Kyunki tum ghar ki sabse choti ho aur mein iss ghar ki badi bahu hoon, after Ma, so they would expect me to do all these things.

Nandini ( disbelievingly ): Mother India, you follow these cultures to an extent people couldn't even think of. Ye saare cheezein purane log karthe hai..

Saying this, Nandini moved forwards while Takshvi just sighed in defeat but then smiled too. She knew her daughter doesn't like her working more and she knew how to stop her from doing it without she getting noticed about it..

Nandini went and kept the tray on the tea-poi and Malhotra ladies' attention turned towards them..They smiled warmly at her..Abha got up and hugged her and she reciprocated with the equal favor..

Ishika made Nandini sit between her and Zaara and Nandini looked at her Mom, she smiled and occupied a seat..

Ishika ( excited ): Princess, you met Gaura Malhotra..Mrs. malhotra, I am so glad to meet you, in personal, finally..!!

Gaura ( smiled ): I never knew you were actually married off to Chopra's family..I always admired your dancing skills, dear..

Ishika grinned and Nandini smiled seeing it. She stared at her Bua and they both shared a grin..

Nandini ( teased ): She is actually flying in air, Mrs. Malhotra..Kyu Choti Ma..

Ishika slapped her arms lightly..

Zaara: You should know Mrs. Malhotra, Bhabi's dream was to meet you, I've heard from Abhinav Bhai that she didn't even let him sleep when she got to know you were in our colony..

Ishika pouted in anger and others giggled seeing her..

Takshvi ( smiled ): Nandu..Zaara..bas karo..kyu tang kar rahe ho usse..

Ishika ( smiled ): Sirf Di hi mujhse pyar karthe hai..

Nandini and Zaara pulled her cheeks..

" You are so cute.."

Ishika smiled at them..The Malhotras were watching them with a smile on their lips..

Janki ( smiled ): Chaliye, baathein baad mein..pehle chai peeyo..( turned to Devashree )Mrs. Malhotra..chaliye aap..

Devashree ( smiled ): Zaroor beta..par pehle ye formal hona bandh keejiye..aap sabhi ko bhi..

Chopra ladies smiled warmly at her..

Janki: "Ma ji"..Is that fine..

Devashree smiled at her and so Janki..

Aanchal: Tho phir, aapke bachon ko bhi formal nahi hona chahiye, kyu bacho..?

She turned to Malhotras and they smiled at her..

Aanchal and Janki lead the ladies to the dining area where the men were already present..They occupied their seats..

Takshvi ( to Ishika ): Ishika, where are the sweets..? I told you to get those Indian sweets for the malhotras, right..?

Ishika realized it and slapped her forehead..

Ishika: Sorry di, mein bhool gayi, mein abhi jaake leker aathi hoon..

Takshvi ( smiled ): Nahi, tum ruko..I will get it..

Takshvi moved towards the kitchen and saw the sweets boxes, she smiled and tried to lift it but it was too heavy..

Takshvi ( frowned ): Offo, this is too heavy..john ( worker )..just help me to lift it..

She saw the box getting picked up by a manly hand and it was kept on the slab, she turned to the person..

Takshvi ( sighed ): Thank You Jo..

She got surprised after seeing the person..

Takshvi: Arey Manik beta..aap..

Manik just got downstairs, mentally preparing to meet Nandini without any awkwardness. He was feeling thirsty, so he thought of getting water from the kitchen. When he entered he heard Takshvi asking some John to help her. He smiled and moved towards her and picked it up for her..

She turned to him with a surprised face..

Takshvi: Arey Manik beta..aap..

Manik ( smiled ): Haa..I heard you asking for help..

Takshvi: Arey par aap takleef kyu uthaya..ghar ke workers hai na..I am sorry beta..

Manik ( smiled ): Nahi Mrs. Chopra. You don't need to be so formal. Its not a big deal to help you in lifting it..

Takshvi ( smiled ): Thank you, waise, you can call me Aunty, you don't need to be formal either..

Manik smiled widely at her..

Takshvi: Between, why are you here..?

Manik: Oh, I was feeling thirsty..

Takshvi, being a woman with morals just got a glass of water, immediately for him and he thanked her..

Takshvi: You didn't have to come here. It was already on the table..

Manik drank the water and frowned at her..

Manik: Table..? What table..?

Takshvi ( confused ): Dining table..? Kyu..? Weren't you having your tea..? All of your family members are present over there..

Manik: Oh, actually I am coming from upstairs, so I didn't know it..

Takshvi ( smiled ): Chalo..koi baath nahi..I will lead you there..

Manik smiled back at her and Takshvi took him to the dining area and he occupied his seat between Devarsh and Cabir.

They have started talking among themselves. Manik turned his gaze to Nandini who was talking with Abha and Maahi. It seemed like Maahi has liked her company as she was blabbering without a full stop. He smiled seeing it..His gaze turned towards the person sitting right beside her whose gaze was fixed on Manik.

Manik took a sip of his drink but then the person wasn't leaving him..

Manik ( rubbed his nape ): Cabir..

Cabir ( nodded ): Ishaan Mukherjee has also got his eyes on you..

Manik and Cabir looked at each other and at Ishaan who was speaking with his wife by now but their gazes were fixed on Manik..

Manik ( held his head ): Yaar, mujhe hi mila in dono ko..

Cabir ( glared ): Kisine kaha tha kyu tujhse, uski behen ko naa khene keliye..

Manik: Mujhe kya patha tha ki uski behen mujhe pasandh aayega..

Cabir ( sarcastically ): Tu ek kaam kar, uss ladki ko chod dho..patha nahi iss family mein kaise rehthe hai, I mean, full time crimes..crimes..agar ithna shauk hai tho ghar chodke central jail kyu nahi jaa sakthe..food and accommodation free tho hai na..

Manik ( pissed ): Tu chai peeyo..tere bas ki baath tho sirf wahi hai..

Cabir: Haa tho mein kab tere madad karne keliye ready hua..

Manik ( sighed ): Tum mera hi Bhai ho na..

Cabir: Tere temper dekhke mujhe bhi ye doubt hamesha aatha hai, kahi tum kisi gift of God tho nahi jo asman se apne room mein girthe hai..

Manik held his head and sighed in defeat while Abhimany sitting beside Cabir got irritated..

Abhimanyu: Cabir, dimaak math khao..kabse chapar chapar kar rahe ho tum..

Cabir ( coolly ): Tumse kisine kuch poocha, nahi na..tho chup kar..

Manik ( sighed ): Yar Abhi..tum hi iske muh bandh karo..

Abhi ( rolled his eyes ): Iski Beewi ye kar nahi paayi tho mein kaise karoonga..

Cabir ( sarcastically ): Meri tho beewi hai kam se kam par aapka ye chote Bhai kunwara hi rahega..

Manik glared at him while Abhi was confused..

Abhi: Aur wo kyu..??

Cabir ( grinned ): India Pakistan se shadi nahi kar sakthe na..

Abhimanyu choked on his drink while Manik made a helpless face..Others got concerned for Abimanyu..

Maahi: Abhi, kya hua..?

Abhimanyu ( smiled ): Kuch nahi..I am fine..

Ishika ( worried ): Beta, was the drink too hot..?

Abhimanyu ( smiled ): Nahi Aunty, its perfect..

They smiled at him..He turned to Cabir and glared..

Cabir: Well, I didn't ask you to choke on it..

Abhimanyu ( gritted his teeth): Cabir ke bache, bakwas ko bhi limit hai..

Cabir: Abey ab tumhara Bhai hi iskja gunekar hai..

Abhimanyu ( annoyed ): Koi bathayega problem kya hai..

Cabir ( coolly ): Simple, Manik likes Nandini Chopra..

Abhimanyu stared at him with widened eyes and then at Manik and chuckled lightly..

Abhi: Yar..kuch bhi..

Manik ( irritated ): Oh hello, ismein hasne ke kya baath hai..Can't I like a girl..I like Nandini..

Abhimanyu ( shocked ): So, you were serious..?

Cabir ( sarcastically ): No, he is Manik malhotra..if you want, we can change his name to Serious Malhotra..? Wait, that name is quiet weird, don't you think..?

Abhi and Manik smacked his head from either sides..

" Chup kar, saale.."

Cabir: Ab mene kya kiya..

Abhimanyu ( excitedly ): Chod, Manik, tu batha.. you really like her..?

Manik nodded with a blush..

Abhimayu ( grinned ): Oh my God..I just can't believe it. Finally, you fell for a girl..Wow..I am gonna prepare for your marriage..

Mnaik ( sighed ): Hold on hold on Abhi. Marriage prepare karne keliye..usko shadi keliye Haa kehna chahiye..

Abhi ( coolly ): Haa tho..iss duniya mein aisa konsi ladki hai jo mere Bhai ko naa kahega..

Cabir ( munched his food ): Nandini Chopra naam ke ek ladki hai, kya apne kabhi suna hai uske baare mein ( Abhi: Cabir..) what..I know my name is Cabir. I wonder how did Maahi bhabi could fall for an idiot..Dude, she already rejected him and not to forget, even our baby brother did reject her, and here you are planning to get them married even before getting a proposal for him or at least forwarding a proposal to Miss Chopra..

Abhi's face fell and then he glared at manik..

Abhi: What were you thinking while rejecting her..? How to count stars in the sky..?

Cabir ( frowned ): I have counted without anybody's help..You seriously need a teacher to count stars..?

Abhi ( slapped his head ): Shut up..Shut up..warna mere aanewale bache ko chachu kehne keliye tu nahi rahega..

Cabir: Big deal..Uske baap ko Dad kehne ke laayak hi nahi tho chachu koi cheez nahi..

Manik ( irritated ): Shut up, you guys are fighting like cats and dogs..we aren't at our place and why the hell are you fighting, actually..

Abhi/cabir: Never mind..I don't even know the reason..

Manik again sighed..Soon, they were done with their evening tea..

The Malhotras stood outside the villa all set to leave. Taking the cue, someone approached Manik..

" Hello Mr. malhotra.."

Manik ( nervously ): Oh Hi Mr. Ishaan Mukherjee..

Ishaan ( smirked ): I couldn't talk to you, now I could..So, how are you..

Manik ( frowned ): How am I..?

Ishaan: Well, in general..

Manik: Oh, I am good..How about you..?

Ishaan ( smirked ): Wasn't good but now, it seems so perfect..

Manik kinda knew what he meant..Nandini was talking with Devashree when she spotted a smirking Ishaan and a nervous Manik..She sighed and excused herself from Devashree

Cabir and Abhi joined their brother..

Ishaan: Hey again..

Cabir/Abhi: Hey..

Ishaan: I never expected to meet you but then its said that opportunities just come to you, only for good..

Cabir ( whispered to Manik ): Ye thoda double menaing based guy nahi lag raha hai tujhe..Ye aur iski bewi, dono ek type ki hai..

Before they could speak back, someone smacked Ishaan's shoulder and he winced and turned back to glare at the person..

Manik: Nandini..

Nandini ( glared at Ishaan ): What..? It wasn't needed..

Ishaan 9 innocently ): What..?

Nandini just glared at him again and turned to the Malhotra bothers..

Nandini: Um..I am sorry..he is just upset with the " proposal " thing..

Abhi ( smiled ): Its okay..Um, Mr. Mukherjee, my brother is a bit impulsive, he takes decisions without thinking..I hope you won't keep any tiffs..

Ishaan ( straight face ): My sister means everything to me, so if someone goes against her, then it means going against me..

Nandini: Bhai..

Ishaan ( sighed ): What..? I am just having fun..

The boys stared at him in surprise..

Ishaan ( chuckled ): Don't stare at me..You know, I love to have fun and what's much better than being a prankster..

Voice: Not better than me, Mr. Mukherjee..

Ishaan ( sighed ): I just forgot my wife is a bit irritating..

Eva smacked his head..

Eva: As if you are the most happiest thing happened to me..

Nandini ( sighed ): Guys, we've got guests..

Ishaan and Eva shrugged their shoulders..

Eva turned to Cabir..

Eva ( smirked ): So, how was the evening with Chopras..you were here to spend time with us..We should meet often, you know..

ManBir: Please no, I don't wanna die soon..

Nandini: Did I miss something..?

Eva ( grinned ): I just had a conversation with them..

Nandini ( face palmed ): That explains everything..

Eva grinned..

Nandini: Well, guys..don't feel bad..actually its in her character. Someone to get on nerves..

Eva ( bad face): You're not different..

Nandini: Unfortunately, i agree..

They grinned at each other..Ishaan smiled and then turned to the boys..

Ishaan ( smiled ): So, I hope your evening was pleasant..

Manik: I hope, we are no more into any tiffs..

Ishaan ( smiled ): No yar, forget it, we were just having fun..

They smiled and hugged each other..ManBir turned to Eva..

Eva ( smiled ): I've got no tiffs with you, but still playing pranks is my hobby so don't expect anything sweet form me..

Nandini ( giggled ): Nobody is gonna expect it too..

Manik ( smiled ): I am agreeing to it..

Nandini stared at Manik and he smiled at her..

Their trance was broken by Gaura..

Gaura: Bacho, let's leave..

Soon, the Malhotras bade bye to the chopras..

At night

The Malhotras were ahving their dinner when Nyonika, Pallavi and Indira had an eye conversation..

Harsh: Got something to talk, malhotra ladies..?

They smiled sheepishly and nodded..

Raj: Go ahead..

Nyonika: Wo actually, we got a proposal for Manik..

manik spat the juice..

Cabir ( gritted his teeth ): Manikkkkk...

Manik ( ignored ): never mind..Ma, I am not gonna meet anyone..

Nyonika: you don't need to meet..

Devarsh: Why..?

Pallavi: manik knows the girl..

Esha ( excitedly ): Who..?

" Nandini chopra "

Manik's eyes popped out of his sockets and so Cabir's and Abhi's..

WHAT..

Indira ( smiled ): Chopra ladies actually talked with us, they liked Manik a lot, looks like thy didn't know about the previous proposal, tabhi tho she forwarded this proposal. We too told them that we liked Nandini..

Nyonika ( excitedly ): Isiliye, kal wo log Nandini aur Manik ke private proposal meeting rakhna chahthe hai..

Manik was just staring at his mothers with a dreamy look..

Manik ( whispered ): Wow, finally, my son is going to get his perfect mother..

And this time it was Cabir who spat the juice after hearing it..!!

To be continued..