Hello, everyone!

I hope you're all safe and well!

I'm going to rewrite this short story after quite a long time. I honestly believe it's too late to write, but I'm going to try anyhow. Perhaps the allure of my novel has faded now that I haven't published a chapter or an author's note in a long period of time. Nonetheless, I will try to upload once a week from now on. Thank you to all of the readers who have continued to read this storey and saved it to your wattpad collection or library.
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"Before the storm, there was silence."

Dhruv and Aliya being seat in car with Manik was good enough but imaging Nandini too was little uncomfortable because of the situations in present is bitter, but no as there wasn't any option left they have to be seated here to reach to there destination.

"Manik yaar dekh tu hume yahi aage drop karde we will book a cab for ourselves" Dhruv once again tried to avoid certain situations

"Dhruv can you please stop it mene kaha na will drop you guys and I know Nandini will understand" Manik being irritated with the same rant since Dhruv has sat in car.

"Dhruv agar possible hota toh hume phele hi cab ya car available hoti toh mil jaati please aap thode relax ho jaiye will be off from this car soon I know aap kya soch rahe hai even I m thinking on the same." Aliya said in low voice and tried to tell to get little relax.

Suddenly Dhruv phone started ringing. It was from his manager.

"Hello, ha Aman say kya hua?" Dhruv asked his manager

"Oh okay will reach there thanks for the reminder." Dhruv replied after getting an answer for his previous question.

"Hmm Manik actually we have to go airport woh mere kuch clients aane wale hai so it was just a reminder call from aman" Dhruv being little hesitant to ask about dropping till airport.

"its okay Dhruv even Nandini ko bhi wahi jana hai so it better to go together right?"
Manik said being worried inside about what will happen next is eating him inside.

Silence was the only reply received by Manik along with a nods of yes.

In Seshan House

Nandini's Room

Nandini was eager to greet & meet her long-lost buddy, who was returning after such a long absence. But who knows, this thrill will be short-lived. Manik, on the other hand, arrives at Seshan's house and dials Nandini's number

"Hello, Nandini," Manik says. As soon as Nandini answers his phone, Manik says, "I'm here, please come."

Nandini said, "Just a second, I'll be there," and exited her room.

As soon as she leaves her room, she goes to her amma and tells her about her plan to meet her long-lost friend and then return to Malhotra Mansion today. Aparna is pleased that her daughter is seeking happiness in all possible ways and moving on with her life. Nandini soon receives blessings from her amma and ayiappa.

Aparna says to Nandini, "kanna sambhal ke jana aur ha Ghar pochte hi call ya message kar dena thik hai."

"Amma ab aap rona mat varna me nahi jaati," Nandini tells Aparna, wiping her tears away from her checks and side hugs her

"hatt pagal aesa thodi bolte hai nahi jana, jana toh hoga na ek na ek din shaadi ki hai na toh nibhana bhi hoga," Aparna says, patting Nandini on the cheek.

"Amma aap bhi naa acha chalo bye mujhe late ho raha hai will call you soon whenever I get back at home," Nandini replied to Aparna before leaving.

Soon after she exits her house, she notices Manik waiting outside of his car, looking as handsome as ever with a smirking smile on his face, who was busy on the phone replying to a few important emails. Soon Manik looks forward towards Nandini, both were staring at eachother's face. Nandini was walking in slow pace & soon she reaches near Manik who was still busy in staring which was broken by Nandini.

"Manik ab hum chale ?" Nandini asked with smiling face.

Manik just nods and move to open cars door.

Manik's POV:

"Ayiappa ji aaj ke din mere aur Nandini ke saath rehna please"

Soon Nandini gets in and Manik too settle down on the driving seat. Nandini was tucking her seat belt and she looks in rear mirror view and notice Aliya and Dhruv both are seated in the back. Nandini was shocked but before she could react.

"Nandini woh actually Dhruv ki car kharab ho gayi thi so inko lift dedi even they have to go airport. I hope you won't mind?" Manik said with a straight face.

Nandini just nods her head. Manik start his car while Nandini, Aliya and Dhruv were busy staring outside of the window.

Nandini's POV:

"Ayiappa sirf ek din, ek din ki khushi bhi mere naseeb me nahi hai. I m not affected being around by Aliya or Dhruv but inko dekhte hi pata nahi kyun woh sab wapas yaad aa jata hai. I know I have to be calm and behave normal lekin ayiappa why every time it has to be me? Aur inko bhi airport hi jana hai I just hope navya inhe na dekhe warna pata nahi kya hoga."

Aliya's POV:

"Thank you ayiappa for giving me chance to be with my dolly di. Ha pata hai past ki wajah se present me di se koi bhi baat nahi kar paa rahi lekin di aur amma mere liye aaj bhi bohat important hai. Ayiappa please give me strength and power jise me inko uss din ka sach bata saku, bas ek mauka chahiye di aur amma se baat karne ka bas ek mauka..."

Dhruv's POV:

"Life me kitna bhi karo kuch na kuch galat ho hi jata hai. Kyu god aaj hi meri car kharab honi thi I mean why can't we had a happy & simple life like in some fairy tales. Nandini & Aliya itne pass hoke bhi bohat dur hai sirf uss ek din ke wajah se. Aaj bhi uss din ko kosta hu shayad uss din se zyada me khud ko kosta hu. Why did I do this?"

After 45 mins of driving and intense overthinking there ride is finally over, soon three of them gets out of the car waiting for Manik to come near airport gate after parking his car. Nandini was busy searching her long lost friend keeping an eye open to look here & there. On the other hand Dhruv receives a message from his client whom he has to meet is not coming in today's flight due some personal emergency.

"Aliya, woh my clients has cancelled the meeting so we have to go back" Dhruv said to Aliya who busy in her own world.

"Aliya ?" Dhruv shake her up little.

"Dhruv aapne kuch kaha?" Aliya asked Dhruv with a confused look on her face.

"He said about the clients who won't be coming because of some emergency" instead of Dhruv, Nandini replies to Aliya in calm tone.

Aliya looks at Dhruv to confirms this new found information and soon Manik joins them but looks at them and it was like "Something is fishing?"

"kuch hua?" Manik asked to them but in reply Dhruv nods in no and replies "hmm I have to leave with Aliya"

Before Manik would ask something or Dhruv & Aliya would move forward to leave, they heard a loud voice from someone shouting.

"Nandu meri jaan...."

And soon that person hugs Nandini with all her excitement. Nandini being shocked like other three people. Soon that person breaks there not so lovely hug.

"Navya yeh koi tarika hai milne ka" Nandini says as soon as they broke their hug.

"Nandu yaar tuna kabhi bhi bina chid he baat nahi kar sakti? Aur tum dono bhul gaye kya mujhe matlab me thoda out of India kya gai mujhe yaad hi nahi rakha?"
Navya said being annoyed by Nandini and irritated by Aliya and Dhruv.

Before Aliya or Dhruv would say something again navya start with talks while moving forward towards Dhruv.

"Oye Dhruv tu kuch bolega ya nahi? Itna darta hai apni biwi se kya aur Dhruv ki saali sahiba aap kuch bolo gi ya nahi ? Aliya yaar tu toh kuch bol, bhul gai kya me teri Navya didu" Navya was busy with her talks and here these four members were getting shock after shock.

Aliya and Dhruv was not expecting Navya here in mumbai, she had left to states for her studies because of which she was not in contact with them but she was connected to Nandini somehow with emails here and there but she wasn't aware of the situation happened with seshan family or else she would have never had a words with Nandini's culprits. But somehow Navya is unaware of the fact and even Nandini's husband Manik Malhotra who was being ignored since navya has arrived from airport was feeling little awkward, jealousy, angry etc etc after listening Dhruv and Nandini being husband - wife. Though Manik never say to Nandini much about his feelings towards her but deep down it does hurts him somewhere down the line.

"O hello people me tum teeno se baat kar rahi hu but ek second wait aap kon hai bhai saab ? Matlab sorry to ask lekin in teeno ko toh me jaanti hu lekin aapko kahi dekha hai yaar.... hmm...lekin kaha..... Oh fudgeeee aap toh the Manik Malhotra ho Malhotra empire ke CEO." Navya being overwhelmed by watching Manik infront of her.

"Navya please calm down we need to talk about this one" Nandini said in a serious tone.

"Ha Nandini lekin meri baat toh sun ..." Navya tried to completely here sentence but before she could continue Nandini said. "Navya please do not ask any more question firstly let's move from here" as she notice people are having there entertainment dose while watching these five people.

Listening her friend navya decides to move along with Nandini with her luggage where as Manik followed this two friends and here Dhruv and Aliya leaves from there as soon as these three moves towards nearby cafe.

Soon this three settledown on a table and Navya was still staring towards Manik with dreamy eyes which making Manik little uncomfortable and Nandini jealous...

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Continuation in the next chapter.....

Hello,

Cute Dumplings

I have written this after a long time hope you will like it. I know there will be plenty of mistakes in this chapter but do let me know .....

How was the update?

Which scene is the most favourite?

Length of the update was up to the mark?

Any message regarding POV or any Characters dialogue?

Precap : Navya being shocked. Manan Romance.

Let me know the answers of above questions cute dumplings through your comments and share your views too.
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