Hello Fam :)

A/N - I am not giving a chapter title. (Jyada dimag lagana pad raha hai. :P)

Happy Reading...

4 years later

It was the early summer in Mumbai. Even though the heat hasn't reached its peak, the humidity in the city has been troubling the people. Global warming was becoming a serious issue with every passing day. Inflation was up. The government and the opposition party leaders were involved in the blame game on every issue.

These were the everyday news but today was different, sad but different. Hence, after a scorching afternoon and half-hearted workday, Mukti and Abhimanyu were all cuddled up in the balcony of Abhimanyu's room in the Thakkar house, taking the relief from the evening breeze. They haven't spoken a word to each other since the time Mukti came to meet him after her office hours.

Finally, she forced herself to break the silence as it was more disturbing than peaceful. "Are you thinking the same as me?"

Abhimanyu sighed heavily and she felt his breath tickling her forehead. "It's been four years exactly since that day and we don't have any idea about Nandini or where she is."

Mukti nodded. "She has just disappeared completely."

There wasn't a single day when one of them doesn't mention her name throughout the day in the Thakkar house. No one understood Nandini's need to go underground but everyone knew she was capable if she wanted to. They hadn't stopped searching for the girl and all the resources of Raman Thakkar were insufficient.

When Abhimanyu tried to check her house, the guard had informed about Nandini going abroad for her MBA but he didn't know the location. All they knew was neither Manik nor Nandini had taken admission to the London University as per their initial plan and every search for the girl had only led to a dead end.

"At least Manik is doing well", muttered Abhimanyu.

After working for a year in their respective placements, Mukti had applied for her masters in computer science and Abhimanyu for an MBA in the same university. Two years later, after the completion of their degree, Mukti had joined in a company as a project leader while Abhimanyu was formally appointed into Thakkar Industries.

Meanwhile, Manik had completed a year as the CEO of the Malhotra Industries. It was his second year now and with the retirement of Nyonika Malhotra, Malhotra Industries has reached greater heights with him as their leader. He was known as the best businessman in the city and whenever someone mentioned Manik's name in front of either Mukti or any of the Thakkars, it brought a smile on their faces. It was their boy who grew into the most perfect man.

"Are you planning to sign any deals with them?", asked Mukti. "It has been years, Abhimanyu."

He shook his head. "Manik asked us not to contact him. He has even gone as far as changing his number. How can I disrespect his words? It was what he had wanted."

"Right but that was four years ago and he did ask us to invite for our wedding. Why can't we go and meet him now? If there's anyone who could find Nandini, it's a Malhotra."

Abhimanyu loosened his arms around his girl as he stared at her and suddenly there was a huge grin on his face. "Love, you are brilliant."

"What?"

Instead of replying, he dragged her to the living room where his parents were watching the television.

"Guys, dad, mom, we have news", he announced.

Beside him, Mukti rolled her eyes. 'We' Don't even know what the news was. She crossed her arms and waited for her boyfriend to come down from his excitement.

"Okay", he stretched the word dramatically. "So, we are planning to get married."

"Mr. Thakkar", started Mukti but Raman interrupted her.

"There are two Mr. Thakkars, Mukti. Specify the name."

She nodded. "Yeah, right. Mr. Abhimanyu Thakkar, don't you think you have to inform me first that 'we' have decided to get married."

The boy grinned at her. "Aren't you the one to give me the idea, love? I can elaborate the plan for you."

Mukti shook her head in disbelief but sat down on the armchair.

"Here's the plan", said Abhimanyu. "We haven't contacted Manik all these years on his request but he had asked us to invite him for our wedding. We can't get married without Nandini but we can get engaged and taking that as an excuse, we would meet Manik and if things are fine between us, we would invite him and force, beg or request him to help us in searching for Nandini."

"I can come up with a simpler plan", muttered Raman. "Tell me one thing. Are you both getting married for Nandini or because you are ready?"

Abhimanyu looked at Mukti for an answer. She shrugged. "We love each other and if we are able to get back our best friend, what else do we need?", she told. She would have given everything for Nandini and getting married to Abhimanyu wasn't even against her will. There were worse ways to get her best friend back.

Ishita wiped a tear while Raman pats Abhimanyu's head before pulling Mukti into a side hug. "It's fine if you want to but Mukti, marriage is a huge step in your life and I want you to inform your parents about it."

"What if they won't accept him?", she asked. As far as she knew, her parents didn't care about her decisions or what she did with her life.

"Do you want to leave Abhimanyu if they don't accept him?", asked Raman in reply. When Mukti shook her head in negative, he smiled. "It's decided then. You are still our daughter and a part of this house."

XXX

The next day, early in the morning, Abhimanyu was waiting inside the car while Mukti was beside him. She was nervous.

"Can't we do this together?", asked Abhimanyu, for the 1461st time.

"No", she told. "If they want to have an argument, it's better if you are sane enough to calm me down. Let me do this." She pecked his cheek to assure him and tightened her grip on the paper she had in her hand.

When Mukti entered her living room, her parents were sipping their morning tea, talking about something in soft voices. She cleared her throat to gain their attention.

"Mukti, good morning", said Mr. Vardhan.

"I want to tell you something."

"Sit down, Mukti", told her mother. "This looks important."

She nodded and sat down in front of them. "You already know Abhimanyu. We are planning to get married. If you agree, it would be good. If-"

"Yes", interrupted her father.

"What?"

"We are okay with your idea", he told.

"But how can you accept just like that? I had prepared a list about all the points I could argue with?", she told. She had skipped her sleep last night to write about all the desirable qualities she could show her father to prove Abhimanyu as the best guy than the one her father had probably had in mind for her.

"Where is the list?", asked Mr. Vardhan. When Mukti handed him the paper, he gave her a nod and opened it to read. "By the time we read this, why don't you bring your boyfriend in? He must be pacing around."

Ten minutes later, Abhimanyu was sitting beside her, squirming under the gaze of Mukti's father.

"Abhimanyu, Mukti just told us about your idea. Before we accept your decision, why don't we have a deal?", he said.

Mukti felt herself relax. This was known territory. Fixing deals. Accepting without a protest felt really strange but this, she was prepared.

"Yes, Sir", said Abhimanyu.

"If we agree to your marriage, would you stop sneaking into my daughter's room through the balcony?"

"What?"

Mr. Vardhan shrugged. "I can't give my daughter's hand to the person who can't use the main door."

"Why are you accepting without a protest?", muttered Mukti.

Her father sighed. Her mom was patting his hand. He forwarded his free hand, asking his daughter to sit beside him before taking her hand in a hesitant grip. "Mukti, if my daughter is missing from home and spending most of the time, including nights, at her boyfriend's place, I would at least enquire about his character."

"Dad", she protested.

"Mukti, there was a time when we have ignored you for our company", said her mother. "But our company needed us during that time. Things were difficult and you were too young to understand all this."

"We are sorry for that", Mr. Vardhan told. "We will always be sorry for that. By the time we were in a better position, we grew apart but how can we not love our only daughter? I know where your insecurities are coming from and I have made one mistake of signing a contract with the Murthys but we have lost your trust completely. At least, you had your friends and we had enquired about them. Since the time we realised you were serious about Abhimanyu, we were in constant touch with the Thakkars."

"Is that why dad always wanted Mukti to have a discussion with you?", asked Abhimanyu.

Her father nodded. "Your friends were good. You had the protection of your boyfriend's parents. You wanted to live your life in your terms and we never interfered."

"You don't hate me?", asked Mukti. That's not what she had thought all the years but she needed the assurance.

He shook his head.

"No parent can hate their child, Mukti", said Mrs. Vardhan.

"But"

"Except the Murthys, Mukti", interrupted her father. "And I guess I could at least pass them on your list?"

Did she lose her parents because of her insecurities? "I am sorry, guys", she muttered. It wouldn't compensate for their lost time but neither would any more words or speech, long or short. It felt strange when her dad pulled her into a hug but she could get used to it.

He broke the hug and raised an eyebrow at Abhimanyu. "Stop smiling and tell me if you accept the deal?"

"Sir, I have a doubt", he asked. "If you are okay with our relationship, why do you behave as if you are ready to dig my grave every time we meet?"

Mr. Vardhan smirked as an answer. "What do you know about the thrill you get while scaring your daughter's boyfriend?"

XXX

Once the elders have discussed the engagement details formally, they were all seated when Raman asked about their further plan.

Abhimanyu grinned at that. "We are meeting Manik tomorrow. Once we inform him about Nandini, we could take his help and track her down. After that, it's just arguing or taking a few punches from him to bring her back."

"Actually, I thought we were discussing the wedding plans but I can see you are more excited about Nandini", told Mr. Vardhan. "I am warning you, I know the Murthys. If you even have a hint about any possible trouble, contact the elders immediately. No playing on your lives. Is that clear?"

"Sir, Mukti will be safe. I promise you", he told.

Mr. Vardhan glared at him. "Now that you are becoming a part of my family, I care about your safety too. Hence, no snooping around when it's the Murthys."

"Sure, sir."

Mr. Vardhan huffed in annoyance and turned to Raman. "I don't know when your son would stop calling me, Sir."

Raman chuckled. "Why don't you let it be? If he gets too comfortable, he would forget about knocking the doors too. Try treasuring this rare 'respect' from him."

"Dad, that's so mean", complained Abhimanyu.

Happiness surged inside her at the sight of both the men laughing. Her parents were part of her life again. It was time to bring her best friend back. 

It's just an insight into their lives during the past 4 years. Actual plot will start from the next one. Before you ask about the update, I haven't written it yet. Let me do that first. :P

Nandini's missing. Any Ideas?