Manan - Sunshine to her darkness

Goosebumps

Nandini

“Abhi calm down” I said calmly, even though my own breaths are fluctuating.

“Don’t do that baby doll, tell me you are safe” Abhimanyu pleaded, making me frown.

“What happened to me?” I asked, frowning thinking I might get amnesia and forget that something happened to me. It isn’t possible right?

“Plane crash, deaths, severe injuries..”he trailed off, his voice sounding more and more worried with each word.

“Nothing happened to me, calm down” I repeated, sipping my coffee as I sat in a corner booth in a very familiar cafe, looking outside New York's busy streets.

“Abhimanyu calm down, let her speak” I recognised Mukti’s voice immediately.

“Someone tell me what happened?” I growled frustratingly.

“Where are you Nandu?” Mukti asked over the call.

“New York” I replied, getting confused.

“You didn’t board the flight?” She asked.

“That’s what I was trying to say. Something happened and I couldn’t board the flight” I huffed.

I could hear multiple sighs.

“What is happening there?” I asked, my curiosity getting the best out of me.

“The flight you were going to come to India almost crashed and many were injured. It went out of control and the flight is in germany” her reply made me gasp.

“You mean if I took that flight, I’d be dead by now?” I asked, my eyes wide.

“Nandini” Abhimanyu yelled.

“You can’t yell at me, this is my second life” I joked.

“Baby doll please, you don’t know how worried we are” Abhimanyu’s voice was filled with panic.

“I’m sorry Abhi, but nothing happened I’m completely safe” I said, putting my lightly wounded feet into my shoe, making sure I won’t hiss and whimper.

“But how didn’t you enter the flight?” It was Navya.

“Car got punctured halfway. There was a thief who stole my mobile when I was booking a cab standing beside the car. Driver ran away getting scared, I swear he almost peed in his pants. I was on the highway with just my luggage and a punctured car” I explained my not so sob story, annoyed with myself.

“That sounds like one hell of a shit day,” Mukti muttered.

“You bet” I sighed.

“Then what happened?” Alia questioned. Everyone is so interested in this. What am I? Motivational speaker? I groaned internally.

“Police were patrolling and a female officer came and asked me what happened. When I explained to her the situation, she arranged a mechanic and he set the car. I came back to my apartment and brought a new mobile and now I’m talking to you guys” I took a deep breath.

Speaking in a single sentence is so hard. I don’t know how TV show hosts manage that.

“Perfect shit day” Abhimanyu muttered.

“Geez thanks, made me feel a lot better” I said sarcastically.

“So aren’t you coming now?” It was Nyonika aunty. My eyes widened.

“How many people are hearing me right now?” I asked, my voice almost like a whine.

“Malhotras, Alia, Navya and their better halves” Abhimanyu’s reply instantly reddened my cheeks. Definitely a motivational speaker.

“Guys nothing happened, don’t stop your work for me” I mumbled, paying my bill as I got out of the cafe, the guards that Abhimanyu set for me popped out of nowhere, turning me more annoyed.

“Nothing more important than family” Alia’s words made me freeze. Family.

Abhimanyu cleared his throat.

“So when are you coming?” He asked.

“I’ll book another flight and-” I was cut off in the middle by a voice I had never heard before.

“You are coming by Malhotra’s private jet which is going to be ready in an hour, get ready Nandini '' The voice instantly raised goosebumps all over my body.

“You are right Manik” Mukti agreed.

Manik. I released a breath, I didn’t know I was holding.

“No need for that” Abhimanyu instantly said.

“Stop being formal Abhi. We are family” Mukti said, her voice firm.

“You need to chill for a moment Abhi, I’ll ask a few guards to accompany her and escort her to the jet, I’m sure it’d be ready by the time Nandini reaches the airport. We want her safe Abhimanyu. Don’t stop me” Manik’s voice was filled with concern and worry.

“Fine” Abhimanyu sighed defeatedly.

“I’ll call someone in the NewYork branch and ask them to get it done in an hour” Rajveer uncle’s voice was gentle.

“I’m sorry for the trouble uncle” I said guiltily.

“Come on Nandini, You are like Mukti to us, you grew up in our arms too, don’t forget” tears instantly spilled in my eyes at his gentle voice.

I sniffed and Mukti immediately shrieked.

“I told you not to make her emotional, now see her cheeks and nose will turn red and she'll be so adorable that she’d get nazar [evil eye]” Mukti groaned.

“Shut up” Alia laughed.

Wiping my tears, I got into the car as the guard closed it after I adjusted in my seat.

“Now let’s get back to work so that we can be free when she comes here and we can spend time together” Navya squealed and it felt like something warm was wrapped around my cold heart.

With this affection, these guys are going to turn me into a little girl again.

“Are you okay Princess?” Abhimanyu asked after a moment as everyone turned silent.

“I miss you bhaiyu” I cried and instantly clamped my mouth. Fuck I was not supposed to cry.

“You’ll be here even before you realise, baby doll. I miss you more and I love you. Don’t cry please” His pleading and cracking voice just made me cry more.

“You don’t cry too, seeing a groom cry would make your bride want to take pictures of that moment and tease you for a lifetime” I muttered, hinting Mukti to do it.

In an instant, I heard the shutter clicks of a mobile and instantly grinned. I already feel Better.

“Abhi, did they ask about me?” I asked after a moment, talking about my parents.

Silence followed.

“Abhi?” I repeated his name.

“They were having a meeting, Nandu-” his voice was filled with guilt and disgust.

“I’ll call you later” I said, hanging up immediately.

Why the fuck did I do it?