Malhotra Industries

Jaan gave everyone there drinks

Nav: Jaan go to your cubicle and start working on the files I gave you yesterday.

Mu mutters: Manik nahi hai toh Manik ki chamchi Monster ban rahi hai

C chuckle: Monster nahi meri madhubala hai yaar

Nav: Ho gaya tum dono ka! Meeting in 5 mins in the conference room. All of you!

A: Navya which meeting? I didn't see any invite for the meeting in my calendar? Am I missing anything?

D: I didn't see either!

Nav: Nothing guys bas last moment meeting hai. Just come!
—-----------
Conference room

Mu: Bol kya hua?

Nav look at everyone and take a deep breath

C: Navya tum breakup kar rahi ho mere sath? I don't accept it!

Alia rolled her eyes at Cabir: Really Cabir? Tumse breakup karne ke liye she will not bring us to the conference room

D: Haa buddy tu kya soch raha hai tere se breakup company handbook mein likh kar karegi?

Nav: Ho gaya tum sab ka waise toh I still don't know why am I still with you Cabir but it's not regarding us

Mu: Toh kya baat hai?

Nav: NANDINI IS BACK!

Silence for 2 minutes

Nav: Kuch bologe?

Mu: Manik ko pata hai?

Navya shakes her head negatively: Nahi she just came back yesterday

A: Kal Manik gaya aur Nandini aai! Wow what a life they have!

Mu: How do you know she came back?

Nav: Woh... Cafe mein mili aaj?

C: How is she? Hamare bare mein pucha?

Mu angrily: Shut up Cabir agar hamein miss kiya hota toh hamein contact karti hamein block nahi karti

D: I am worried about Manik

A: Haa.... he will be back on Friday. How will he react?

C: Navya do you know if she moved on?

Nav: Cabir itna time nahi tha ki mein usse puchu about her personal life

Mu: I am out of this guys! I don't know about her but I have moved on. Friends don't leave each other and leave

Mukti left the conference room angrily

Nav thinks: Manik se jyada toh Mukti ko samjhane mein time lagega

C thinks: I think I should meet her before Manik comes back
—-----------
Malhotra mansion at night

Nav: Guys mein kal Nandini se milne jaa rahi uske ghar if anyone of you guys want to join

Mu: No one is going, not even you Navya.

Nav: Mukti the last time we all met her was in the airport almost 9 years ago. Tab tune hi kaha tha na usse ki kuch bhi ho jaye between Manik and Nandini; we will always be her friends.

Mu: Haaa mein kaha tha but friendship dono taraf se honi chahiye. She left and didn't even bother to contact us not at all

Nav: uggg....

Navya leaves angrily

Cabir was about to say something but Mukti stops him

Mu: Aur tu apni girlfriend ki side toh lena hi matt.
—------------
Next day at night
Nandini's house

Navya joined Nandini and her family for dinner

R: After so long sab ke sath dinner karne ka maza hi kuch aur hai

Nav: Aunt apke hatho mein jadu hai

Navya was enjoying dinner with Nandini family 

"Arey mera aane se phele hi suru sab"

Everyone turned and look at Cabir standing with a goofy smile. Nandini smiles looking at Cabir and ran to him and hugged him tight. Cabir at first was shocked to respond to the sudden hug but looking at her parents and Navya there he responded to her hug slightly. He is upset with her; the way she handled things. If she would have handled things maturely and differently, their present of would have been so different. Cabir break the hug 

C: How are you?

N awkwardly: Sorry excitement mein direct hug kar diya. I am good? How are you?

N thinks: Things have changed! Off course you silly 9 years is a lot of time. Just looking at your eyes I can tell our relationship has changed too. I don't see the same love and care in your eyes for me. Control yourself Nandini. If you can't face Cabir's rejection how will you face everyone's else's rejection especially Manik!

Radha: Cabir beta come khana thanda ho jayega

Everyone enjoyed the dinner with lots of gossiping and laughter. Nandini was quite and just admiring everyone in the dining table. She is again experiencing the love, the warmth and the homely feeling she was missing for years with the people she loved

At the dining room

C: Aunt this rasgulla is too good! If you don't mind can I take some home?

R: Sure beta! I have made plenty

Nav: Aunt you should be me recipe 

Sankar: Nandu your mom and I wanted to talk to you about something important 

N: Yes appa!

S: Your amma and I think it's time for you to look for a life partner!

C, Nav and N all together: WHAT?

R: I know Nandu you are shocked but you are 26 now and in couple months you will be 27. You are all done with your studies and all set you in career and we think you should look for a life partner 

N: Amma and appa I just came yesterday and now you are talking about my marriage. I don't want to get married!

S: Nandu do you have a boyfriend? You know we're not stereotypical parents. If you have someone in your life you need to tell us 

Nandini get lost in Manik's thought. Navya shakes her 

N: Huh?

Nav: You amma is calling you for last 3 mins. Where are you lost

R: Shankar aap bhi kaise baat karte hai. Nandu doesn't have any boyfriend

N: Appa I am not ready for marriage 

S: Nandu till now you took all you decisions regarding your life and I accepted all but this time I want you to agree to my decision. Trust me I am doing all this for your happiness. Accha listen to me meet the guy first, if you don't like him we will not force you!

N: Okay aapa!

S: But promise me you will give a fair chance to the guys we choose for you!

N: Don't tell me you already have a guy ready?

S: Yes! You know him too and trust me you will like him! He will come home Saturday to see you. 

R: Navya you also come okay. I think Nandu will feel better if you are there too

Nav: Sure aunt!

-----------------

Nandini room

Nav: So?

N: Nav not now yaar? I am not in the mood. Ek toh I don't where this marriage thing is coming in their head. 

Nav: Well we can't change anything now. Ek baar dekh lo aur naa bol dena. Today is Wednesday Nandu. You still have time

N: I don't want to get married 

Nav: Waise Nandu itne time US mein rahi ho ek bhi boyfriend nahi banaya?

N: Shut up Navya. Padne gai thi boyfriend banane nahi!

------------------

Next Day - Breakfast table - Malhotra Mansion

Mu: Kal Manik ko pick karne kaun jaa raha hai airport mein?

C: I'll go! Uski flight 1pm ko land ho rahi hai. I am pretty flexible in the afternoon so I will go

J: I will also go!

Nav: Interns don't get half day

-------------------

Nandini house

She was busy completing all the paper work transferring her residency from US to Mumbai. Luckily she got accepted in same hospital in Mumbai branch. 

R: Nandu what are you doing?

N: Amma I am just completing all my transfer paperwork. I need to do a medical test, drug test, police report and covid test before submitting the final paperwork. I'm going to the clinic in the afternoon

R: Ok! I am keeping this anarkali here. You will wear this on Saturday okay

After keeping the anarkali on the bed her mom left the room. Nandini looked at Red Anarkali and that took her to her memory lanes 

Flashback 

Nandini enters Manik's bed room wearing a beautiful red anarkali

N: Manik utho? College nahi jana?

M snuggles more in the blanket: Nahi sone do nah

N: Manik c'mon jaldi utho!

M: No, you also come and sleep with me. 

Before Nandini could respond Manik pulled Nandini in the bed and in no time she is under him. 

N: Manik Naughty Malhotra....

M: I love you in traditional! You look devine in my favorite color RED!

Flashback End

N mutters: Is Red still your favorite color Manik?

-----------------

At night in the Malhotra mansion

C: Guys I have to share somethings with you guys. Kal mein bhi gaya tha Nandini ke ghar dinner ke liye

Mu: Tum logo ki dinner ki kahani nahi sunni mujhe

C: Sun toh sahi. Nandini's parents are setting her up marriage and the guy is coming to see Nandini this Saturday 

A: You mean arranged marriage type?

C: yeah

D: Did she agree?

C: Yeah

Mu: See, told you she have moved on!

Nav: Mukti ladke wale sirf dekhne aa rahe hai. Shadi fix nahi hui hai

"Kisko ladke wale dekhne aa rahe hai"

Everyone turn to see Manik standing there 

D: Tu toh kal aane wala tha nah. 

M: Kaam jaldi finish ho gaya. Kaun kisko dekhne aa raha hai 

C closes his eyes and thinks: Sorry buddy I have to do this for you so you can move on in your life too

C: NANDINI IS BACK AND USKO LADKE WALE DEKHNE AA RAHE HAI SATURDAY KO!

M: Good for her! First one to get married from our group. Guys I am little jet lagged. I am going to get sleep. See you guys tomorrow. 

Manik left, leaving everyone shocked