"Manik aao" Niharika said seeing him standing at the gate
"Nihi Bhabhi... Yeh kon hai?" Manik asked seeing the girl around his age sitting on the bench
"She is Nandini, meri choti behen" Niharika said
"Nandi" Niharika called and Nandini looked up from her drawing book "Come here" Niharika said. Nandini came running towards them
"Yes Akka" she said
"He is Manik, Mahir's brother" Niharika introduced them. Nandini looked at Manik for her good minute with her big doe eyes
"Hi main Nandini hu" Nandini said moving her hand forward
Manik shook her hand "Manik" Manik said
"Tu kitne years ke ho?" Nandini asked
"13" Manik said
"Akka he is toh 3 years bigger to me" Nandini said making Niharika chuckle
"Arey my baby met my Buddy" Mahir said coming in
"Mihir" Nandini ran to him excitedly and Niharika started laughing. Mahir picked her up and said "Baby Mahir hota hai... Mihir bhi hota hai... But main Mahir hu..."
"Nihi Bahbhi, aap ki sister dumb hai?" Manik asked
"Aisa nahi bolte Manik. Choti hai na woh toh bas mistakes karti hai" Niharika said
Niharika turned to see Nandini in Mahir's arms and they were laughing on something. Even Manik saw it. And that day he saw a very beautiful smile and heard a very enchanting laughter. Something that still had a imprint on his heart.
Nandini smiled while applying tika on Manas' forehead and Manas gave her a wide grin.
"Inhe bhi lagaiye" the Pandit said pointing to Manik and Nandini gave him a bored look. Manik leaned forward holding his hairs back but Nandini put forward the kumkum bowl to him
Manik looked at the bowl and then Nandini's disinterested face. Manik took the Kum Kum from the bowl and put a small tika according to his judgement and the puja continued
"That was rude" Manas whispered to Nandini but Nandini ignored it.
The Pandit ended the puja and excited Manas said "Mimi chalo na I will show you my room. Main ne abhi change karvaya hai... Chalo na" he took Nandini with him before anyone could stop. The Pandit left and everyone stood there clueless
"So Nandini is going to stay with us from now?" Kavya asked sounding unsure and all looked at Manik
'Mujhe kya dekh rahe ho, mujhe bhi nahi pata.' Manik wanted to say but he said nothing
"Manik" Raj called out taking his attention and then said "Will you like to explain us what is going one?" he asked
"Did you get married to her?" Neyonika asked
Manik nodded a yes and then he saw his mother get a big smile but then hide it quickly and look at Raj who had a blank face
"Come with me Manik" Raj said and left. Manik's hands started to go cold with all possible possibilities that were going to come from his father. He looked at Cabir who gave an assuring nod to Manik and Manik left.
As Manik left Kavya came close to Neyonika and squealed excited "Bhabhi!" Neyonika gestured her to keep quiet
"Bahbhi Bhai nahi hai yaha" Dhiraj said
"Haan par main khushi nahi mana chahti" Neyonika said "Itni jaldi toh bilkul nahi. Kyuki pata nahi kiski nazar lag jaye" Neyonika added. And suddenly everything got serious again. All wanted to know what Raj is going to say about all this.
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