Okay...so last update's response was such a pleasure. Although there were less number of votes, but your comments really made me happy.

I really wanted to update earlier but my classes have started so the free time is less. So please cope up with this pace guys. Sorry *puppy face*

Anyways...here's the update. Dive in and enjoy..

(Inline comments mat bhul jana.)

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" What are you doing Manik? Add Abhi only na. Its Sunday there. Everyone would be in Murthy Mansion for breakfast.", she said irritatedly as she saw Manik fiddling with the contacts on his laptop, deciding on whom and whom to add. Their's was such a big family you know.

" Ok ok calm down Ms. Frenzied. Kar raha hun yaar.( I am doing yaar.) ", he said and finally settled properly beside her on the sofa, dialing a skype call to Cabir, Abhi, Arnav and Aliya. Nandini leaned on him, waiting eagerly yet worriedly for the call to connect. She was super excited to see her family after so long. But on the other hand she was hell nervous. She knew how hurt they all were by her sudden unnanounced disappearance and that made her scared to face them after two whole months. What will she tell them? What will she do when they ask her about her behaviour. She didn't want everyone to know about her condition. That would make them more tensed. But she also didn't know what else to reason out. She was continuosly fiddling with the corner of the blanket which wasn't unnoticed by Manik. He sighed knowing very well what she was going through and held her hand entwining it with his, and kissed her forehead, calming her nerves a bit. " Relax. They are our family. They'll understand.", he said finally succeeding in getting a smile on her face.

Cabir was the first one to pick the call as their moment was broken by his sleepy voice. " Aap jis vyakti se sampark karna chahte hain, ve abhi nidra mein vyast hai. Kripaya kuch samay paschat bhi call na karein.( The person you are trying to call, is currently busy in sleeping. Please do no try after some time.)", he said, with his eyes still closed, making Nandini giggle and Manik roll his eyes.

" Cabir! Its freaking 10 over there. Its so not morning dude.", he said while Cabir just groaned in his sleep. " Kya yaar Majnu. Nandini ne ghar se nikal diya hai kya jo mera dimaag kha raha hai? ( What is this Majnu? Has Nandini thrown you out of the house that you are eating my head now?", he said irritatedly making Manik grit his teeth while Nandini's eyes widened. Before Manik could yell at him, Navya took the phone from him, smacking his shoulder making him yelp. At the same time Abhi and Dhruv picked the call, and giggled hearing Navya yelling at Cabir to wake the hell up.

Abhi's eyes fell on Nandini and hardened. He was hurt. So hurt. Hurt that she didn't trust him enough to come to him in the time of distress. She chose to run away instead and that made him angry. He just handed the phone to Anant who was sitting beside him on the sofa making Nandini's face fall. She did see what he did and did understand what he was feeling. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes when he saw Anant staring at her, not able to form any words. He too was hell angry on her for leaving like that and scaring the hell out of them. What angered them more was that she didn't find it important to call them once in these two months.

The awkward silence broke when a cheerful Saanchi came in the frame, squealing excitedly on seeing Nandini after so long. " Nandu! I missed you so much! And baby too missed her bua so much!", she chirped,making everyone smile and Nandini smile amidst her moist eyes.

Soon they had connected their LCDs in Malhotra and Murthy Mansions with the call so that they can all come in the frame, while Arnav's call just went unanswered. Maybe he was busy, they thought and decided to talk to him and the Chatterjees later.

" Saanchi Bhabi? Meri Cupcake kaisi hai?", Manik asked excitedly and Nandini looked amused seeing his attachment with the unborn baby. But little did she know that the only one who gave him positiveness during his recovery period was his cupcake only.

" She's toh mast, enjoying inside me. Subah se chaar baar laate maar chuki hai. ( She has kicked four times since morning.)", she said and everyone chuckled while Manik grinned. " Dekhna I'll myself train her in football. She'll be a pro.", he said proudly while she shook her head whiningly and everyone smiled seeing them.

" Dare you do that Malhotra. She'll be a badminton champion like me.", Saanchi said boasting making him pout and Anant shook his head in disbelief while other's laughed.

Everyone were there. And it had been almost 20 minutes since the call had connect. But none initiated a talk with Nandini making her restless. They would just talk to Manik or laugh over Saanchi's blabberrings,but would go all silent when Nandini said something. Was her family not going to forgive her? Her anxiousness was increasing and everyone could feel that seeing her face.

She suddenly became unusually silent. The small remarks or smiles that she was giving to Saanchi's talks suddenly stopped and her face turned into a scary expression. She couldn't open her mouth. The lump in her throat was so hard that she felt her throat paining as if someone was clutching her neck hard. She was finding it difficult to breath.

She tried her best to keep herself sane and to keep up with every word that Saanchi spoke. But in vain.

She felt herself slipping. Slipping once again into the darkness.

But this time, she was determined not to.

She clutched Manik's hand tightly, trying to calm herself as she remembered his words. She remembered the promise he had taken from her some time ago.

" Shona.", he called her, who was washing the pan after the disaster with her pasta. She just hmmed, irritatedly cursing the stupid pasta for burning, making him chuckle slightly. But he composed himself immediately. He was serious.

He walked up to her and back hugged her keeping his face in the crook of her neck and she felt him stiffen. She immediately washed her hands and kept her hand on his face, slowly breaking the hug and turned to him. Her eyes met his and she knew instantly that he was vulnerable at the moment. Cupping his face softly, she asked through her eyes the reason behind his sudden mood change and he just hugged her tight.

" I was scared.", he said and she took a deep breath. She knew where this was going and she was scared to encounter anything of that sort now. But Manik was determined.

He held her hand and brought it near his chest, keeping it over where his heart was. " You feel this? You feel how this heart is? You feel how broken it is now? It breaks everytime I see you struggling over your emotions Nandini. It hurts everytime I see you having that fear in your eyes. It breaks everytime I see you slipping into that dark hole of yours. I'm scared Nandini. Scared of loosing you this way.", he said, his voice coming out stressed and a tear slipped from her eyes.

" You know today when I saw you sitting on kitchen floor, shivering like a dry leaf and muttering incoherently, I felt as if I was loosing you. I felt as if you were going away from me. Far away.", he said and she pressed her lips to stop her sobs. How hurt he looked. He didn't deserve this. He deserved all the happiness in the world and all she was giving him was a tough time handling her depression and equal loads of pain. She was such a bitch.

" I can't do this Shona. I know I should be supporting you in this and that it would take time for you to come out of that dark shell. But its just...just that you aren't trying. I'm here trying hard to make myself strong enough to watch your breakdowns. But at the same time you need to try hard to overcome it. But you just....aren't.", he said and she gasped. He looked at her with disappointment making her eyes tear. He was right. She wasn't trying in full meaning. She was letting those things affect her in the worst way.

She realised her mistake and looked down. He didn't tell anything. Just stood there silently watching her expressions changing from guilt to regret to thinking and finally settling on determination. She looked at him, finally meeting his eyes.

" I am so sorry Manik. You are doing so much but me.....I am just again and again letting myself fall into that dark pit. I'm so sorry. But trust me. I want to come out of it. I want to overcome every bad phase and move on with a happy life which has you and my family in it. Trust me Manik.", she said, breaking into tears and he cupped her face.

" I trust you Shona. I know you want everything to be right. But for that you need to take steps yourself. How can you fall so weak Shona? Nandini Murthy has never been weak. She has won the toughest of battles with a smile on her face. Then how can she fall weak now?", he said trying to make her realise her true self. He knew she was badly broken. But she has been broken many times in the past only for her to emerge stronger than earlier. How can he let her loose this time?

Taking her hand in his, he put a finger below her chin, raising her head upwards to meet her eyes. Looking deep into them, he could see the tinge of determination and courage that was spreading in the deepest corners. And he knew now that his work was almost done. Just one step more and he would be able to make Nandini fight for herself again.

" I want something from you Shona. Will you give me?", he asked and she raised her eyebrow in confusion. His eyes showed a longing. Longing for her. 

Carressing his face with her hand, she went forward to place a soft kiss on his forehead as he leaned into her touch, finding his solace. " I can even give up my life for you Manik.", she said and his eyes got moist with the emotions that suddenly hit him hard. This girl in front of him was his forever. And it showed in her eyes. Pure love. Just for him. How did he become so lucky?

" I will never want that Shona. I just want your promise. Promise me that you will never become the Damsel in Distress. You are Nandini Murthy. The Warrior Princess. The pride of your parents. The courage of your brothers. The soul of your sisters. And the life of me. You can never fall weak.

Promise me...you'll never let any of that darkness pull you into itself. Promise me you'll fight.

Fight for yourself....with yourself.

And you'll not let the Dark Nandini win. You'll defeat her and emerge as my Shona. The one who fears nothing. Who just knows how to spread love and not lock herself up.

Promise me Shona.", he said and saw her still for a moment. She was trying to seep in his words. And when she did, she looked up with a new level of resolution.

Taking two steps back, she took his hand, holding it in hers, she entwined the fingers and looked up at him.

" Nandini Promise."

Manik squeezed her hands, bringing her out of her thought process, and she looked into the screen to see everyone sitting silently. Saanchi had gone to attend a call from her mother. Finding this as the best opportunity, she looked with her soft eyes, at her family who just sat on the other side, waiting for this awkwardness to pass.

" I'm sorry.", she mewed, making everyone's eyes soften. They could see how vulnerable she sounded at that moment. She was trying hard to keep herself from shattering.

" I know I hurt you all so much. I shouldn't have done that. But....I..I just...I...", she stammered, not knowing how to explain. She knew nothing can be a reason valid enough to leave her family and run away like that.

" I'm sorry.", were the only words that left her mouth and everyone's eyes teared, except her siblings who were still looking at her with a hurt expression. They just couldn't cope up with the fact that their sister had chosen running away as a better option than coming to them. They couldn't handle the fact that she had broken the promise she once gave to Yug. To never fall weak again. She broke it and that angered them.

Seeing the siblings all silent, Manik just took his phone and messaged in the Fab5 group to handle the situation. Getting the cue, Cabir suddenly started his drama, " Kya yaar Bira? Teri shaadi mein to koi nahin ayega." ( What is this Bira? No one will come to your wedding.), he exclaimed making everyone scrunch their eyebrows. What was he even trying to say?

" What do you mean Cabir?", Aliya asked. " Are agar Nandini aise sukdi ban ke shaadi mein ayegi, to log to usko lab mein rakha kankal samajh ke darr ke bhag jayenge na.( Arre if she comes to the wedding being so skinny, then everyone will take her to be the skeleton from the lab and run away in fear.)", he said, making an innocent face and Nandini looked at him with disbelief. Was this man mad? Or did he just hit his head somewhere? Why was he talking nonsense?

" Chup kar saale. Abhi tak neend mein hai kya? Itne wahiyaad pjs kyun maar raha hai? ( Shut up idiot? Are you still in sleep or what? Why are you throwing such stupid pjs?), said Mukti who was in DhruLyas house that morning for breakfast and Cabir pouted while Manik glared at him. " Par...", he was about to say something again only to be cut by Manik who gritted out, " Cabir! If you open that gutter of your mouth again na, I swear I'll just drill into your skull." And Cabir shut his mouth, keeping a finger on his lips, making Fab3 laugh.

But their little exchange wasn't heard by H7. The siblings were just stuck at Cabir's words. It was when Cabir said it, that they looked at Nandini properly to realise how weak she looked. How thin she has become. Her face looked so pale. Devoid of the natural blush she once possessed. Tears fell from Navya and Jeevika's eyes seeing their sister like this and the brothers' forheads wrinkled.

Cabir saw this and smirked internally. His plan was working. He had struck the right cord.

The elders too saw this and Anjali couldn't control herself anymore. " Nandu. Mera Bacha. Kaisa hai mera bacha?", she asked lovingly, tears continuously falling from her eyes and Mugdha and Avantika followed her. Nandini gulped the lump formed in her throat on hearing this endearment after so long. It was at that moment that she realised how much she missed it.

" Main thik hun Maa.", she meeked out, gulping back her tears and Viren shook his head. " Lier. You look so thin. What has happened to you Nandu? You don't look like my strong daughter.", he said and Nandini cried out. Manik just held her for support. He knew how much effort she had put to keep herself sane and this was a tremendous achievement for her. Now she was finally tired of acting strong. So she finally broke into tears and he knew that he had to hold her up now.

Everyone cried seeing her tears. The way she sobbed was painful. She was looking so terrible. They couldn't believe what they were seeing in front of their eyes. The mothers were crying hard seeing her while the fathers had tears rolling down their seeing their beautiful daughter so devastated. Navya and Jeevika palmed their mouths to stop their sobs. Even Fab 4 had tears in their eyes seeing the strong lady break.

" I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Please...please forgive me. Please forgive me. Please talk to me. Don't leave me. Please. I'm sorry. Please Bhai. Manyu please...please forgive me. BB, Bhaiyu, I'm sorry. I won't do this again. I won't break your promise again Bhai. Please maaf kar do mujhe. Navu..Didu...", she was continuously muttering making H6 gasp. They were shocked to see her like this. Her eyes had suddenly turned distant, and her body was shivering. They knew what it was. And it made them panick.

Finally having enough, Yug called out softly, " Shia. Bacha look at me.", he said lovingly making her look up at the screen like a child longing for her mother. " Its okay. Everything is fine Baby. We are not angry okay?", he said and she just stared at him. Manik squeezed her hand, trying to assure her that it was true and she looked at everyone to see them smiling slightly.

" We love you Nanni. Its okay. We forgive you.", Navya said, trying to control her tears as Cabir held her in his arms. Everyone nodded, calling her sweetly, trying to calm her and it worked. She finally came back to normal, giving everyone smiles, making every heart soar.

" Babydoll. Promise me you won't do this ever again. Whatever may happen, first come to us. We are there, your siblings. We are there to protect you from everything. Just come to us and we'll make everything right. Promise me you won't run away again.", he asked and she nodded feverishly, just like a child, making everyone chuckle. " Words Ms. Murthy.", Anant asked sternly and she gulped. " I promise. I won't do this ever again.", she said, making everyone smile.

Just then Saanchi entered after talking to her parents, only to witness everyone's tear-stained faces, making her eyebrows furrow. " What is this? Why the hell are you all crying? I just went for a call and come back to see this? Pregnant to main hun. Toh mood swings aap logon ko kyun ho rahein hai? ( I'm pregnant. Why are you all having mood swings?) ", she said making everyone laugh. She was really a gem. Or maybe their little Princess Murthy inside her was, for making her mother uplift everyone's mood with a click of her fingers.

Anant shook his head seeing her walking carefreely and walked up to her. " First you come and sit here. And stop jumping like a bunny here and there. Stupid lady.", he scolded making her pout.

" Nandu! See na!", she cribbed looking at the LCD screen and as a cue, Nandini threw a hard glare at Anant. " Don't scold her Bhaiyu.", she narrowed her eyes at him who did the same to her. Saanchi saw this and clapped her hands. " Now see. I have my Nandu back. She'll take your class now Anu.", she said happily making everyone smile and Anant scowl.

" Unhe chhodo Bhabi. Aap batao. Aapke liye kya laun New York se?", she asked, diverting her attention who now started putting forward her demands of various chocolates that she wanted, making everyone sigh.

They talked for long, laughing occassionally at Saanchi's blabbers or Cabir's pjs or Fab 5's bickering. They enjoyed a lot, having this happy time after two long months. Every heart was uplifted today. They all felt as if the missing piece in their lives finally came back.

But in all this, Nandini noticed someone missing, and made a mental note to talk to the person and make everything clear.

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Aaaand its a wrap.

How was the chapter? Liked it? Or loved it?

Ya phir found it boring?

Finally the family reunites. Although there still is the distance between them, but it will soon heal, making them again the happy family they once were.

Saanchi is a real cuteness ki dukaan na. Or maybe the Little Murthy Princess is. Or is it a prince?

How was Manik's straight talk to Nandini? It was so needed right?

Nandini's promise?

Nandini is finally making efforts. Do you think she will be successful in completely killing her dark self?

Manik's words?

The siblings?

How was Cabir The Great and his Gutter mouth? Waise uska kuch nahin ho sakta right?

Atlast....who do you Nandini noticed missing? Any guesses?

Fill my comment box like last time. And shower the update with votes.

Only then will you get thenext update.

Till then..

Stay safe

Stay healthy

Yours Writer