Holding a blazer in one hand and his other hand shoved in his pocket walks inside the mansion and could hear loud noises coming from living room.

He walks through and looks at his friends who chatted away with his parents. He sits beside his mother putting his belongs on side and placed his head onto her lap. She looks at him while running her hands into his hair. He looks relaxed.

Raj : what took you so long Manik? Look at the time. It's 8pm. How much do you work? Give a break now.

Manik : I learnt to from best dad. I can't let my company or people down. I have to work hard.

Everyone shook their heads at Manik and Mukti decided to change the topic. Manik hiding his face into his mother lap quietly listened to their conversation but he peeps out staring at Mukti when she mentioned about the plan meeting Nandini.

Mukti : guys, I have something to inform you all.

Cabir: why are you shouting ? Calmly say it Mukti.

Alya who was sitting next to cabir slaps his head and gestures Mukti to speak. Mukti glanced at Manik.

Mukti : Bhai are you free tomorrow?

Manik : no! I have fixed a meeting with my client. Is something happening tomorrow?

Mukti: can you please cancel the meeting?

Manik : I can't Mukti. What's so urgent about tomorrow? I can't cancel my meeting for anyone.

Mukti : please Bhai. We are going to meet Abhi's sister. I spoke to him and arranged a lunch with them. I assured them we will be there. Please Bhai.

Manik sighs and looks at Mukti before staring his friends who was hoping him to cancel the meeting.

Manik : what time is the lunch planned? And where are you meeting them? I can try to come there straight after finishing the meeting.

Mukti smiles and showed her teeth to Manik to which he chuckles.

Mukti : I'll text you the address Bhai later. I'm so excited for tomorrow. Guys be ready tomorrow. We are going to meet Nandini.

They all nodded their head and were very excited to meet Nandini.

Cabir : I'll bring navya with me. She wanted to see you guys and this will be good opportunity to meet you guys too and Nandini.

Alya : how's she? How is her pregnancy going on? I haven't spoken to her since last week. Is she okay?

Cabir : she is okay. Just pregnancy carving is too much and weird. She came back from her mom house yesterday.

Mukti: I still can't believe cabir will be a father within few months. I never thought we will see cabir getting married and becoming fathers so soon.

Cabir just laughs out making the rest chuckle at him. In all these Neyonika looks down at Manik who was lost in his thoughts. She wondered when will she get to see her son getting married. Her dream wasn't going to happen any time because her son isn't ready. Her hope was shattering seeing how Manik spends his entire day in office.

Her thoughts were broken by Manik who calls her out. She looks at him caressing his hair gently.

Neyonika : shall I serve you dinner manu?

Manik : yes mom! I'll go and freshen up.

Neyonika nodded her head and Manik kissing her cheek stood up heading to his room.

Neyonika also got up and went to kitchen while the rest talked about meeting Nandini and their future plans.

Nandini after having dinner and spending quality time with her family she sat on a couch with her sketch book and thought of sketching. She wasn't feeling a sleepy.

Getting comfortable she took the sketch book and bitting the pen she thought what to design when her mind drifted to the person who she wasn't able to get out of her mind. Her mind absentmindedly went back to the memory a day where she met him at the coffee shop and those orbs eyes made her lost.

Being so engrossed in the sketch she didn't realise what she was drawing but when the knock on the door made her come out of the thoughts she looks down at the sketch and got surprised seeing the picture. Her eyes widened as she stares at the drawing. Her heart starts to beat up so fast as she stares into those same pair of eyes.

Quickly shutting the book and hidden the book she stood up and rushed to the door and opens to see Abhi there with holding two cups of a hot chocolate.

Abhi : I guessed it right. You wouldn't be sleeping. I hope I didn't disturb you baby doll.

Nandini: no Bhai! You didn't. Please come inside.

Abhi comes inside and walks to balcony followed by Nandini who sat down and Abhi passed her a cup. She took the cup and starts sipping the hot chocolate.

Abhi : why did you not meet Manik baby doll? Why did you pull me like that day? You could have meet him. I didn't expected this kind of behaviour from you.

Nandini: I'm sorry Bhai. I just remembered something and couldn't afford to waste time there. Aren't we going to meet them tomorrow anyway.

Abhi : yes, we are going to meet them but Manik.

Nandini: why? Isn't he invited? Why can't he come?

Abhi : he isn't available. I asked him but he got meeting fixed tomorrow.

Nandini frowns and thought who works on weekdays. She could never work on weekends. She loves her sleep too much on weekends.

Nandini: oh! That's so sad. Is he always like this? I mean why does he work so much?

Abhi: I think he is like that only. I hope one day he change. Maybe someone will have more priority than his work? Who knows he might change after getting married or being in a relationship?

Nandini felt so strange when Abhi mentioned about marriage and relationships. Her heart sank when she imagined him getting married to any other girl. She wasn't sure why she was feeling like that.

Nandini ( mind) why the heck am I thinking like that? It doesn't matter to me if he gets married. I don't even know him nor do I like him. What the is happening to me? Why do I feel so bad?

Her thoughts were disturbed by Abhi suggested to sleep as it's very late. Nandini wished him goodnight and watched him walking out of the room.

Chucking her thoughts away she went back inside and sitting down on couch pulls out the sketch book and stares the drawing that she drew while ago.

She caressed the picture and thought.

Nandini( mind) will I ever see you again?

She sighs and closing the book she kept safely in her drawer and walks to bed and laid down while thinking about the drawing and him.

Next day Nandini woke up very early and completing her daily routine she decided to get ready. She shuffles through her closet and wasn't able to figure out what to wear when her eyes caught a dress.

She grins and picking the dress for changed. She twirls herself around at the mirror and laughs out seeing how perfectly the dressed fitted her body.

She even clicked few picture and posted on her instagram. Her instagram didn't much followers but whatever she had she loved them. Only her family and friends were following her. She never loved getting unnecessary attention from people.

( Nandini's attire)

Grabbing her phone and handbag she walks out of the room searching for her brother. She headed to living room and found her mother and father sitting there and discussing something. She clears her throat gaining their attention.

They turned their head around and looks at Nandini.

Ishita : my princess looks so gorgeous.

Raman : my princess is so beautiful but isn't the dress too short.

Nandini : thank you but Appa really. It isn't that short. I look so good in these.

Raman stood up and side hugging her kissed her head and smiles.

Raman : princess, I don't like boys gazed at you like that. I trust you but I can't trust them.

Abhi : Appa, you don't need to worry. I'm with her.

Abhi spoke as he comes down and heard what his father was saying. He comes and hugs Nandini from other side and looks at his mother who looks so proud of them.

Abhi : I won't let any guy look at my sister way. I'll protect her. We should leave now otherwise we will get late.

Nandini smiles and nodding her head bidding bye to her parents walks out followed by Abhi.

Abhi opens the door and gestures her to get in. She smiles and thanking him she gets inside. Abhi also took his seat and started the engine driving away.

Nandini : I'm so excited to Bhabhi and her friends. It will be so much fun.

Abhi chuckles at her antics and nodded his head.

They arrived at a restaurant where Abhi made the reservation for them. It was privately booked. They walked inside and were escorted inside by the team who was waiting for their arrival.

They went inside and found fab4 and Navya already seated there and talking. Abhi clears his throat gaining their attention. Mukti was first one who noticed them and got up moving towards them.

She walked past Abhi and pulls Nandini into a warm hug. Nandini smiles hugging Mukti back. They broke hug and looks at each other with a smile.

Mukti : I never imagined you being so beautiful. You look so cute and adorable. I was so excited to see you. Abhi always talks about you. Indeed you are the same as he described you. I'm so happy finally to meet you in person.

Nandini : even I couldn't hold my happiness. You are also gorgeous. I always wanted to meet you. I heard a lot about Bhai too. He always talk about you.

Mukti : I hope all good things. Come I'll make you meet my friends.

Mukti holding Nandini's hand drags her inside completely ignoring Abhi presence who rolls his eyes and knew this was bound to happen.

Mukti : meet them. Cabir and his wife navya. Dhruv and Alya. As you may know my brother couldn't make it.

Nandini : hello guys. It's a pleasure to meet you.

Cabir : hello Nandini. You look so pretty. Do you have a boyfriend?

Abhi : stop cabir. You are not going to flirt with my sister. Your wife is sitting beside you.

Cabir : man. She is gorgeous so why not. My wife doesn't mind. Do you navya?

Navya chuckles and slapped his shoulder making everyone laugh at cabir. Everyone shared a hug and greeting with Nandini and welcomed her so well in the group.

Nandini : I didn't knew you guys have a band called fab 5. Who is the singer? Don't get me wrong but I never heard your songs but i accidentally heard it when I was travelling with my friend in New York. She is too obsessed with the lead singer.

Everyone looks at Nandini in shock and surprised finding out she doesn't know them but then also understand from what Abhi said she isn't very much into media and avoids much as she can.

Mukti : my brother is lead singer then Dhruv. If you ever listen to our musics then you would understand why people, especially the girls are obsessed with him. His voice is so enchanting and melodious. His voice can make anyone fall in love with him. He's too good. I'm not saying all these because he is my brother but truly he is amazing singer.

Nandini looks at Mukti and so surprised and really wanted to meet her brother who was loved by people. She wasn't going to like but she heard his voice she truly fall in love with his voice and understand depth of the song. Her heart was swooned when she heard his voice for the first time.

Her thoughts were broken by Alya who starts praising about Manik's voice. Everyone talking about Manik's chive and the way he sings but Nandini was also lost in other world didn't realise when the ordered food.

Abhi placed his hand on Nandini's shoulder. Nandini comes out of her thoughts and looks at Abhi.

Abhi : where are you lost baby doll? Food has arrived and you didn't even start getting. Come on eat up otherwise this cabir will finish everything.

Nandini laughs and looks at cabir who was literally engrossed eating. She shook her head and starts eating.

Nandini : Navya, how month are you pregnant?

Navya : five months. I feel so fed with morning sickness but I can't wait to hold my baby.

Everyone smiles at Navya and the rest couldn't also wait to see their baby. They all starts chatted and laughed whenever cabir said something.

Mukti opens rang that time. She looks at the caller id and answered the call.

Mukti: hello Bhai! Are you finished with your meeting?

Manik : hello Mukti. Yes I'm on my way to the restaurant. I called you to inform I'll be there soon.

Mukti: okay Bhai. See you soon.

Manik ended the call and Mukti looks at everyone informing them about Manik's arriving soon but someone's breath got stuck and starts coughing hearing upon his name.

Abhi : here drink some water. Baby doll eat slowly.

She took the glass and took few sips and looks at Abhi nodding her head.

Nandini: I'll be right back. I'm just going to washroom.

Abhi nodded his head. Nandini passing a smile to everyone stood up and walks away from there.

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Hope you liked the chapter.

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