"What?" Mukti exclaimed as Abhi & Cabir explained everything. "You TRACKED Manik's phone?"

Abhi knew where this was going so he looked down, ashamed. However, Cabir nodded proudly.

"And then you actually went there?"

"Haan." Cabir nodded again.

"And then some lady wanted you to be her baby's father? Kaun hai yeh aurat? Naam aur address batao abhi ki abhi!" Navya, who was also there stood up.

"Sit down Navya! Thats not the point here!" Mukti pulled her down and glared at the boys. "How could you guys do that? Galat hai yeh!"

"But Mukti....Manik aur Nandini dono kuch chuppa rahe hai humse." Navya said.

"Ab isme Nandu kaha se aa gayi?" Mukti asked. Cabir & Navya then told them what they suspected. Mukti started laughed.

"Isi liye tumne uska phone track kiya? Manik aur Nandini ke beech mein kuch nahi ho sakta. They are complete opposites!"

"And Opposites attract!" Cabir replied.

"Par agar aisa hai toh why didnt they tell us?" Mukti asked. "I dont think aisa kuch hai....right Abhi?"

Abhi kept silent.

"Abhi?"

"Im....not really sure. I mean haan...Manik aur Nandini ka saath hona doesnt really make sense but then yeh bhi sahi hai ki Manik is 100% hiding something.....aur Nandini bhi." Abhi replied.

"Ek kaam karti hoon. Main khud hi Nandu se puch leti hoon." Mukti declared. "Agar aisa kuch hai toh she will tell me."

"I already tried...Nandini kuch nahi bol rahi hai. She's just making up stories." Navya told her.

"Phir?"

"Im telling you guys...dono ko range haatho pakarna hoga! Tabhi woh dono manenge!" Cabir said.

"Par....tum dono ka phone track karne wala plan toh fail ho gaya na?" Mukti said.

"Dont worry my dear bhabs!" Cabir grinned. "I have another idea!"

Cabir then told them what he had planned next.

"Yeh pitwayenge kisi din humme." Abhi mumbled to his wife.

"hmmm." Mukti nodded. Only Navya seemed to have faith in Cabir and his plan. Unfortunately none of them realized that Manik was standing outside of their room and heard the whole plan.

He just shook his plan and went to video call Nandini in his room.

The Videocall...

N: Kya? Unn sabko shaq ho gaya hum pe?

M: Haan par...honestly Im more concerned about their planning strategy.

N: Matlab?

M: Matlab Manik Malhotra ke bhai ho ke yeh dono itne bade idiots kaise ho sakte hai? Like...secret planning agar karna hai toh at least darwaza aur khidki toh band kar lete!

N: Haha Haha haha!

Manik smiled seeing Nandini laugh and just stared at her admiringly.

N: Vaise....ab kya kare? Bata de kya?

M: Not just yet...Obviously batana toh eventually hai hi par....pehle thodi toh mazza le sakte hai.

N (Evil grin): Whats the plan?

(Manik tells the plan)

N: That sounds great...par hum akele nahi kar sakte. We'll need some help.

M: Hmm...I know just the people. Actually mera ek dost hai jo recently yahan New York se shift hua hai apni wife ke saath. None of my family have met them yet so....they would be perfect. Main kal hi tumhe milwata hoon unse.

N: EEE!  This is gonna be so much fun! I mean...mujhe thoda toh bura lag raha hai Cabir Bhai ke liye par...oh well. Everything is fair in Love & War! Vaise...manna parega tumhare dimaag ko bhi...

Manik smiles proudly.

N.... mere saath reh reh ke kaafi smart ho gaye hai ho.

The smile drops.

M: Ek minute.....yeh compliment tha ya insult? Matlab main pehle smart nahi tha? Tum bhool gayi ho toh yaad dila doon ki Im the CEO of Malhotra Industries!

N: Uff ho! Tum toh burra hi mann gaye! Mera woh matlab nahi tha...mera matlab tha ki tum...tum na woh Business type ka smart ho! Like sharp brain...contracts hasil karna, clients ko impress karna...VAISE! Par khurafati dimaag toh mera hi hai na? So tum mere saath rehte rehte zyada khurafati ban gaye ho! Im just so influencial!

M: I see....so basically yeh mere liye compliement tha hi nahi! Yeh tum actually khud ko compliment de rahi ho in the disguise of complimenting me!

N: Ab main tumhe compliment doon ya khud ko...baat toh ek hai na? Afterall, we are on the same side!

M (chuckling): Pagal ladki...

Videocall Ends

Next Day....

The whole day, Cabir & Abhi were busy with work so they couldnt keep an eye on Manik & Nandini who did manage to slip away in between to meet Manik's friends and then return to office.

Finally it was evening and Abhi went to Cabir's cabin.

"Dude...tere plan shuru kab hoga? Babydoll abhi abhi ghar ke liye nikal gayi." Abhi informed him.

"Aur Manik?"

"He's in his cabin....maybe they wont even meet today?"

"They def wi- wait...woh dekh!" Cabir motioned to Manik who came outside of his cabin talking on the phone. Cabir then sushed Abhi and slid onto the floor from his chair....he rolled over to the door as if trying to be sneaky while Abhi just stared at him like he was crazy.

"Kya kar raha hai tu?"

"SHHH! Niche aa!" Cabir pulled Abhi down to the ground beside hima nd slowly opened his door. They both peaked their heads out one ontop of the other. 

Manik...who was not blind, obviously saw this but pretended he didnt.

"Haan Haan! Ill be there right now! Bas nikal raha hoon main! Yeah..Im DYING to see you too1" He said, loud enough for his brothers to hear.

"See! Yeh kisi se milne jaa raha hai! Someone he is DYING to meet!"Cabir whispered excited.

"Haan I have ears too gadhe! Chup kar!" Abhi scolded him.

Manik then hung up and left. Cabir pulled Abhi along with him and followed at a distance.

While in the car, Cabir made sure to be two cars away from Manik but Manik knew they were following him.

"Abhi...tu Mukti ko phone kar and ask about Nandini!"

"Haan...wait."

Mu: Haan Abhi

A: Manik nikal gaya kisi se se milne ke liye

Mu: What? Tum log follow kar rahe ho na?

A: Haan...babydoll ka kya scene hai?

Mu: Navya ne bola, woh toh abhi tak ghar hi nahi aayi hai...

"I knew it!" Cabir shouted. 

Mu: Chup kar! We still dont know for sure. Apna location share karo, Main Navya ke saath pauchti hoon.

A: Ok

Finally they reached a restaurant and watched as Manik went in.

"Sun...tu Mukti aur Navya ka intezar kar. Ill keep an eye on Manik." Cabir told Abhi.

"Thik hai."

Cabir got out of the car, put on a huge hat and a fake mustache.

"Cabir....thats really unnessesary. Itne bade restaurant mein Manik tujhe dekh nahi payega. Just sit far from him. Also...its not a good disguise."

"Shhh! Dont ruin my plan!" Cabir scolded him and then went into the restaurant. He saw Manik sitting at a table and decided to sit a few tables away but where he can see him from very clearly. Manik from the corner of his eyes saw Cabir walk in and recognized him immediately as the disguise was....terrible.

Smirking to himself, Manik whispered into his bluetooth. "Aa gaya Cabir...you can come."

Nandini, who was waiting by the washroom area walked upto Manik...in full view of Cabir and hugged him. Cabir's mouth just dropped to the floor.

"I KNEW IT!" Cabir whisper yelled. He looked around to see if Abhi & the others were there yet but they werent. "Yaar yeh baaki sab kahan reh gaye! Wait till they see this!"

Nandini was having a hard time controlling herself but she sat with Manik and acted all lovey dovey to show Cabir. Finally Abhi came in with Mukti & Navya, Cabir turned motion at them and Nandini took that moment to slip under the table cloth and another girl (wearing the same dress as Nandini and was sitting right near them) took her place.

"GUYS!"

"SHH!" Abhi & Mukti sushed him.

"Look look look! Its Nandini! Maine kaha tha na!" Cabir pointed towards Manik without even looking himself. "Dont ever question me! Im The Great Detective Cabir! Bola tha na maine? Ab dono ko range haathon pakra hai humne!"

Abhi looked at Manik and then looked at Cabir with one eyebrow raised. Mukti just looked annoyed and Navya looked disappointed.

"Kya? Aise kyun dekh rahe ho tum log?" Cabir asked. Abhi smacked the back of his head. "Ow!"

"You idiot! Woh lakdi kaunsi angel se tujhe babydoll dikh raha hai?" Abhi said.

Cabir turned and almost fell out of his chair in shock as he saw a different girl. "WHAT THE F*CK!"

The whole restaurant heard him and looked at him. Abhi smacked his forehead in embarrassment.

"Guys?" Manik acted all surprised and walked to them. The girl followed. "Tum log yahan? Aur....Cabir.....what are you wearing?"

"Told you it was a bad disguise." Abhi whispered in his ears. Cabir was just staring at the girl with his mouth open.

"Manik...we...we were just....double date! Haan hum double date pe aaye hai." Mukti covered up.

"Oh cool...well Im just-"

"Yeh...yeh kaun hai? Kahan se aayi hai?" 

"Oh...this is Shivangi." Manik replued

Cabir looked at Abhi who just rolled his eyes & Mukti was glaring at him. "No I swear....yeh nahi thi! Manik...sach sach bata! Tu date pe aaya hai na?"

"What? Cabir...Shivangi shaadi shuda hai! And her husband is literally right there!" Manik pointed back to where they were sitting and they were surprised to see a guy there. The guy stood up and walked over. "Aryaman...yeh mere do bhai hai, Abhi aur Cabir and thats Mukti, Abhi's wife and Navya, Cabir's girlfriend.....and guys this is Aryaman Khurrana and his wife Shivangi Khurrana. I told you about them....New York se hai!"

"Hey guys." Aryaman shook hands with them. 

Even Shivangi came forward and greeted them. "Hi its so nice to meet you!"

"But....Manik tu office mein bol raha tha ki you are DYING to meet them....phone pe. Humne sunna." Abhi mentioned.

"HAAN!" Cabir nodded. "Ab bol! Huh!"

"Yeah....that was Arya. Actually hum purre 5 saal baad mil rahe hai na....thats why I got kinda excited." Manik explained. 

"Oh....yeah I guess that makes sense." Abhi nodded.

"Yeh...woh.... no...maine...dekha.....wahan Nan...I ...you...main..." Cabir was fully confused and at a loss of words.

"Dude...kya bol raha hai tu?" Manik tried so hard not to laugh as Cabir looked like he was gonna cry.

"Yaar! Yeh...yeh toh cheating hai...mujhe nahi khelna hai!" Cabir stomped out of the restaurant like a child.

"Sorry..." Navya apologized and followed after him. Abhi & Mukti also excused themselves and left. Nandini finally came out form under the table laughing.

"Aww....bechara Cabir Bhai! Hahaha haha haha!" Nandini laughed.

"Vaise...Cabir ne toh dekh liya na? So...ab?" Shivangi asked them.

"Thats the point...Cabir ne dekha but nobody's gonna believe him. Vaise bhi woh itna bakwas karta hai nobody takes him seriously." Manik laughed. "Also...usne sirf kuch minute ke liye Nandini ko dekha...but now usse khud pe hi shaq hoga ki if he even saw what he thought he saw."

They all laughed.

Meanwhile, Cabir & the others were by their cars.

"I dont understand....I saw her! Like...she was right there! Phir badal kaise gayi ek minute mein?" Cabir mumbled.

"I told you this plan was stupid!" Abhi said. "Aur...agar tune sachme Nandini ko dekha tha toh tasveer kyun nahi liya?"

"Woh....mere dimaag mein nahi aaya."

Abhi rolled his eyes. 

"Wait...agar ka kya mtalab hai? I did see her!" Cabir said. "....at least....I think I did."

"Well...this was a waste of time." Mukti sighed. "Ab kya?"

"Idea!" Cabir said.

"Nope...tere saare bakwas hotey hai...its been established." Abhi shook his head. "No more."

"Yaar pehle sun toh le! Look...you and Mukti stay here. Yahan gadi se tu restaurant pe nazar rakh and jab Manik uske doston ke saath bahar aaye toh let us know. Meanwhile main Navya ke saath Murthy mansion jaata hoon and ab tak Nandini ko ghar pauch jaana chahiye right? Agar woh iss waqt uss restaurant mein nahi hai then she will be at home....aur agar woh restaurant mein hai! Then she cant leave without you and Mukti seeing her!" 

Mukti looked to Abhi and they nodded. "He is right...Nandini should be home right now."

"Thik hai...we'll keep an eye on the restaurant."

Cabir & Navya got into Navya's car and drove to Murthy mansion. They quietly went upstairs to Nandini's room and opened the room. Inside, Nandini was sleeping peacefully wrapped in her blanket.

"Yeh toh yahi hai..." Navya whispered. Cabir was in full shock.

"But...I saw her! How did she come home?" 

"Cabir...ab mujhe bhi bolna parega ki tumse shayad galati ho gayi."

They closed the door and left. Nandini opened one eye and smirked.

Flashback

"Manik...mujhe jaldi ghar jaana chahiye. Agar Navya ne ghar jaake dekh liye ke main bhi ghar pe nahi hoon toh usse shaq ho jayega." Nandini said.

"Ok...par woh log abhi bhi shayad samne hi hai, gadi ke paas....wait." Manik went to the door and opened slightly. He peaked through and saw Them all near the cars. (This was before Cabir & Navya left.) Then he went back to Nandini, Arya & Shivangi. "Yep....still there. Ek kaam karo, tum piche ke raaste se nikal jao....your car is parked there anyways right?"

"Haan...I didnt want Didu and Navya to see it. Main jaati hoon jaldi se."

Nandini snuck out the back and drove through a shortcut reaching Murthy Mansion just 5 minuted before Cabir & Navya did. Nandini climbed into her room through her balcony and jumped into bed without bothering to change or even take off her shoes...JUST in time as Cabir & Navya opened her door and she pretended she was sleeping the whole time.

Flashback Ends

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Aryaman Khurrana (26 yrs): Only son of Vipin & Manmeet Khurrana. CEO of Khurrana Industries which is based in New York. Aryaman met Manik through college a few years back and became good friends. He recently wanted to expand his business to India so moved with his wife of 2 yrs. He never met Manik's family before.

Shivangi Khurrana (25 yrs): Aryaman's life partner and 50% business partner. Shivangi was also a college classmate of Manik and she started dating Aryaman during that time. She is bold & modern but a very sweet person. Has been married 2 yrs.

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Teaser:

"KYA!!! SHAADI? MERI?" Manik shouted.

Raj nodded. "Haan...ladki kaafi achi ghar ki hai. She is a doctor and uska family yeh paas wali hospital ki owners hai."

"Dad...mu- mujhe abhi shaadi nahi karni!"

"Im sorry beta but thats not upto you. Humne tujhe bohot waqt diya but ab aur nahi...tere shaadi ka umar nikala jaa raha hai." Raj replied. "Humne already ladki walon ko haan bol diya hai."

"Bu-"

SHATTER!

They turned around and saw Nandini standing there. She had heard everything and dropped a plate in shock.

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Thoughts on this chapter?

Who feels sorry for poor Cabir? 😂😂😂

What do you think of the teaser?