Forever and For Always (MN &SG) ff-ch7-pg38 - Page 28

Gunjan had desperately been trying to get in touch with a few important people, who would prove to be a great help to them, but to no avail. Whenever she tried to get in touch with them, they were either busy in a meeting, or were out of town. This was ridiculous. Neither of them had managed to find out about Mayank's whereabouts.

"I give up" Gunjan sighed, as she threw herself on to the couch. These two months, she had given her best, and tried to find out about Mayank, but she couldn't find out a thing.

Samrat came from behind her and hugged her tightly. "I've noticed you've been stressing over this a lot in these past two months. Take it easy now. I'll handle it from here."

"No Samrat; I want to help. I'm just frustrated since I'm unable to find out anything substantial. It's sickening." Gunjan sighed.

"I know that" Samrat agreed, and walked towards the balcony. He held on to the single railing and looked outside. It was usually his way of relaxing, but today it was different. As he looked onto the streets, all he could sense was the tension building up within him. "You know, earlier I thought it would be easy to find Mayank. But constant failure in the past two months has proved me and my thoughts wrong."

Gunjan didn't need to look at Samrat to realize how broken, shattered he was. She knew what he had been going through since the past two months. She knew how difficult it was for him to keep his promise, that promise he'd made to his mother; the promise of bringing back her son to her, the promise of bringing back his own brother. Although she knew what Samrat felt, for the first time ever, she'd given up as well. She had no words to say, no ray of hope, nothing. It was all crystal clear. Mayank had disappeared, and it was obvious he never intended to come back ever again.

"What sort of a son is Mayank?" She muttered angrily. "If not anyone else, he could have at least tried to reach out to his mother!"

Samrat didn't turn to face her. The fact that Gunjan herself had given up was indicative of their obvious failure. He knew for sure, that it was finally over. He would have to call his mother up and tell her the bitter truth. And it was now, or never.

Mayank was getting ready to go to office, when Nikki walked into his room. He hadn't worn his shirt, and freaked out when he saw Nikki at the door.

"Nikki!" he exclaimed in disbelief. "Go out, I'm changing!"

Nikki didn't budge, and looked rather lost. Mayank looked at her with concern when he noticed how lost she looked. He walked up to her and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"What's wrong?"

"Mayank" Nikki whispered softly.

"What's wrong Nikki? Please tell me."

"Mayank, Abhi said he cannot wait any longer."

Mayank looked blank. "What do you mean?"

Nikki held on to Mayank as she spoke. "Abhi wants to get married immediately! He has to move to Germany next week, and he doesn't know when he'll return."

Mayank simply shook his head. "You promised you'd wait."

"Mayank, I can't! I know I am being selfish, but I can't stay away from Abhi! I love him, Mayank. Please try and understand."

"Even I love you Nikki!" Mayank yelled. "I love you as well! And you promised me you'd wait!"

Nikki tried to place her hand on his shoulder, but Mayank stepped away. Nikki simply shook her head. "Stop behaving like a child Mayank."

"Of course, I should have known you'd do this" Mayank said. "Abhi means the whole world to you, doesn't he? I knew you'd choose Abhi over me."

Nikki was amazed by Mayank's words. It hurt her badly. She tried to control her tears, but to no avail. The tears started dripping down her eyes, and she slowly brushed them away with the back of her hand.

"You really thought I'd do that?" she asked him.

Mayank was adamant, and didn't bother to look at Nikki.

Nikki sighed helplessly and walked away from there.

Mayank turned around to see if Nikki was gone, and when he was sure she'd gone, he went and closed the door of his room and threw himself on to the bed. He then began crying uncontrollably.

Nupur had been trying to call Mayank since the past half an hour, but to no avail. She paced around her room nervously, as she dialed his number yet again. It was a crucial moment for her. Her company was undergoing some serious crisis, and she desperately needed Mayank's help for her company to come out of its crisis. She sighed angrily when no one answered the call this time either. She decided to go and visit his office, hoping to get hold of him there.

"Hi, I'd like to see Mayank Sharma please." Nupur said, standing at the receptionist's desk in Mayank's office.

The receptionist looked up at Nupur and smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry ma'am, but Mayank sir hasn't come to office today."

Nupur looked at the receptionist once and smiled politely. "Thanks." She turned around and walked out of the office, thinking to herself. 'Where is he then? He isn't answering his phone, nor is he at office. I wonder where he is."

"Ma, please listen to me." Samrat pleaded his mother on the phone. Gunjan walked into his bedroom, and saw him all stressed out, talking to his mother. She slowly walked up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Samrat looked at her and shook his head. Gunjan simply took the phone out of his hand and spoke.

"Ma, it's Gunjan." She said softly.

"Gunjan beta, what is Samrat speaking? Samrat told me he couldn't find out about Mayank. Samrat says Mayank is dead!" Shilpa cried hysterically on the other end.

Gunjan was shocked at Samrat's lie. She looked at him in disbelief. Samrat simply turned away and avoided looking at Gunjan.

"M-Ma, please listen. Mayank is not dead. Do you hear me Ma? Mayank is NOT dead." Gunjan tried her best to convince Shilpa. "Ma, please believe me."

Shilpa continued to sob on the phone. Gunjan didn't know what else she could say to convince her ma. She sighed softly. "Ma, please don't get disheartened. We'll do something, don't worry." She assured.

Shilpa finally managed to control her crying. "T-Thanks beta."

Gunjan smiled in relief. "Alright ma, I'll have to talk to you later. Bye. Love you."

Shilpa just gave a soft "hm" and then hung up. Gunjan also hung up and turned to look at Samrat.

"Samrat, what was all this?" she questioned.

"I was just telling her the truth." Samrat said.

"What truth damnit! What goddamn truth are you talking about? Do YOU know whether Mayank is dead or not? Samrat, do you know what ma could have ended up doing? You could have ended up losing your own mother!" Gunjan yelled. "Enough is enough Samrat, I know we've both given up, but this is no way of telling Ma the truth."

"Really and why did you give Ma fake assurances?" Samrat counter questioned.

"Samrat, why do you always have to argue? It was not a fake assurance. I said we'll do something, and yes, I am going to do something. I won't give up. I'm still gonna try to find out where Mayank is."

"I need a break Gunjan. I need a break from myself, and Mayank. I am sick of everything." Samrat said and threw himself on the bed.

Gunjan softened and placed her hand on Samrat. "Let's take a vacation." She suggested.

"Please don't say India." Samrat moaned.

"Nope, not India; we'll go to a place where we just have fun, and nothing else."

"And where's that place?"

"Las Vegas." Gunjan smiled.

Nupur had just reached home and she was shocked to see Mayank waiting outside her house.

"Goodness Mayank, I've been looking for you since like forever! I went to your house, but Nikki said you disappeared somewhere since morning." She said. Mayank was still and staring at the ground. Nupur noticed this and look concerned. She slowly walked up to him.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

Mayank looked up at Nupur. His eyes were red. He simply hugged Nupur tightly and began crying.

Nupur was stunned. Mayank was hugging her and crying? What could possibly be the reason? Nupur tried to calm him down but to no avail. She slowly managed to get him inside her house. She made him sit down on the chair, and went to bring him a glass of water. By the time she came back, Mayank had calmed down.

Nupur handed over the glass to him and sat down opposite him. "Mayank, now please tell me what's wrong." She insisted.

"It's about Nikki." Mayank said softly. "She's getting married."

Nupur's face lit up and she smiled. "So that's great you fool."

"No it isn't!" Mayank snapped. Nupur was slightly taken aback. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"Don't you understand? She'll get married and move away. What's gonna happen to me then?" Mayank said.

"What do you mean by what's gonna happen to you?" Nupur asked. "Mayank, I'm sure you know you're not a kid anymore."

"You won't understand Nupur. You wouldn't know the pain of staying away from your family."

Nupur's face suddenly fell. She looked down at her hand. "I don't even know what a family is." She said bitterly.

Mayank suddenly realized what he had said. He knew Nupur was an orphan. Of course she wouldn't know the pain of staying away from her family, since she never had one. He looked at Nupur apologetically. "I'm sorry Nupur. I didn't mean it."

Nupur shook her head. "You're right Mayank." She looked at him. "I wouldn't know what it is like to stay without a family. I don't know what a family means to someone," she stared right into his eyes as she continued, "but I just know it hurts to stay away from your loved one. In this case Mayank, Nikki also loves her fianc. How do you expect her to stay away from him?"

"So that means she doesn't love me." Mayank argued.

"No Mayank, that's not it. She does love you, and that's why she's always been there for you. And she believes you're capable of taking care of yourself now. You don't need her anymore. And isn't that true?"

"Why would she think I don't need her?" Mayank asked.

"That's because you've started behaving more responsible. There's been a change in you Mayank." Nupur replied.

"But I can't stay without her, Nupur."

Nupur placed a reassuring hand on Mayank. "I know, but try? You mean a lot to her, and you know that. If you be so disheartened, she won't feel happy for herself, her marriage. Try to make her happy Mayank, not upset."

Mayank looked at Nupur thoughtfully. "I think you're right. She doesn't deserve this on her biggest day."

"Exactly" Nupur said, smiling. She was glad she could make Mayank realize how much this marriage meant to Nikki. "Now, go and mend things please. Nikki looked worried when I went over to your house."

"Yeah," Mayank said. He got up to leave, and Nupur stood up as well. Before leaving, Mayank gave Nupur a quick hug. "Thanks for being there Nupur. I'm really lucky to have a friend like you." He said. Nupur smiled.

Mayank slowly pulled away and left from there, leaving behind a smiling Nupur.

Nikki was sitting on the sofa, while Abhi sat opposite her. She looked stressed.

Abhi decided to speak up. "Nikki, please say something."

"What do I say Abhi?" Nikki said. "I told you how Mayank reacted. If this is how he behaves, I can never get married."

"Nikki--" Abhi tried to speak but was interrupted by Mayank who just entered the house.

"I'm sorry Nikki" he said. Nikki looked up and saw him bent down his knees, holding his ears apologetically. She had tears welled up in her eyes. "Mayank" she spoke up.

"No Nikki, please don't say anything. I've been a horrible brother. You've always thought of me before doing anything, always kept me happy. I never gave you anything back in return. I'm sorry. I want you to get married to Abhi, today." Mayank said guiltily.

Nikki and Abhi looked at each other, and then at Mayank in disbelief. "Are you serious?" Abhi asked him.

"Yes." Mayank smiled. "I mean, how long can she hold back her marriage for me?"

"And you?" Nikki asked. "Who will take care of you?"

"You don't worry. I have a girl in mind." Mayank said, slightly blushing.

"Really, and who is she?" Nikki questioned him skeptically. She knew what kind of girls Mayank brought home in her absence. She would most definitely not allow him to bring any kind of girl she didn't approve of.

"Nupur," Mayank replied. "She's a very good friend of mine, and an extremely loving friend."

"Do you, well, love her?" Nikki asked. "I mean, I don't want you to make wrong decisions."

"I don't love her in that way Nikki; I just love her as a friend. Don't worry; she'll take care of me while you're not around." Mayank smirked.

Nikki punched him playfully on his shoulder. "Yeah right." She then hugged him tightly. "I love you."

Mayank hugged her back. "I love you too." Mayank then looked at Abhi and they both winked at each other.

********************

Abhi and Nikki had decided to have a rather small and simple wedding. Nikki looked gorgeous in her white gown. They both stood in front of the priest, and went on with the wedding rituals.

In about no time, they were pronounced husband and wife. Nikki looked once at Mayank and smiled, and then kissed Abhi.

Mayank was looking at the two of them, and felt a drop of tear fall out of his eyes. Nupur, the only friend Mayank had invited for the wedding, noticed this and held Mayank's hand tightly. Mayank looked back at her and Nupur smiled reassuringly.

So finally Nikki was married, and she would go away to live a new life with Abhi; But Mayank wasn't disheartened anymore. Sure he would miss Nikki, but he just gave one look at Nupur, and his fear and disappointment had vanished. Without saying a word, he hugged Nupur tightly. Nupur just smiled and hugged him back. Now they both had each other to look after, to take care of, and to love unconditionally, as friends, of course. It was a new beginning for the two of them, and who knows where this new beginning would lead do, while on the other hand Samrat and Gunjan got ready to go to Las Vegas. Now it was up to fate, whether the four of their lives would clash, or not.

Please do forgive me for any errors there might be. I hope you liked this chapter. Please do comment and press the like tab :-) And my silent readers, please do press the like tab so I know you've read the update :-)

so finally u have updated..thank GOD...loved the updade dear,,,,so finally nikki is married,,,,,loved nupur so much.....the way she made mayank realised the fact. was mindblowing.......pls update soon dear........

Originally posted by: shinz

awesome...i liked how the story finally moves forward...gains pace....and it was cute the way he was all up for nikki's wedding after nupur's assurance....!! how true we all need our loved ones close to us...!:)

awesome update...next time make it soon LOL!!
🤗