CHAPTER 1
Time : Present
Location : Brampton, Toronto
"Yes brother! I'll be fine. I'm not a kid anymore.. please stop treating me like one", spoke an annoyed Nandini over the phone to his elder brother Rishabh.
Nandini Murthy, age 24, who's currently pursuing her MBA from Lambton College. She is a simple descent girl who lives with her family in Toronto, Canada.
She left India 4 years ago, after her high school to pursue further studies. She didn't just leave the place, once she was out of the country, she never looked back. She gave up all her contacts back there. She had entirely cut her self from all the social media, changed contact numbers, buried the pictures and gifts and every single thing that had a slightest of memory joined with her past.
But whom was she fooling? She could never get that one person out of her mind. Manik.
She didn't know where he was, what was he doing, how was he doing. Nothing. It has been 4 years but one, one damn thought about him and all the good or bad memories come running back.
Surely Nandini was this serious relationship' and one man woman' type girl but the western lifestyle and the hurt that still existed deep down in her heart caused changes in her way of living too. She did a lot of casual flings and dating and hanging around and stuff but..love? That just couldn't happen.
Here she was, on the way back home. Her brother always called her twice a day during college hours. One reason, she was his overly -pampered sister and second, Nandini didn't just leave memories of her love behind, she left her friends too. And what suffered the major damage was her trust on friendship. As a result, she didn't really make any good friends here. Except Alya.
Alya was a diva. Perfect face, perfect figure and best at her work. She was studying fashion designing in the same college and of course, Nandini's only real friend in Canada.
"Babe? Let's go for clubbing today? Please like pleaaasseee?", Alya asked Nandini like she does everyday even after knowing her answer is not going to change.
"Alya you know it. I do clubbing only on weekends and never on weekdays. I have to reach home on time. Mumma Papa must be waiting."
No matter how cool' Nandini might have turned. Her moralistic views were still the same. Her family still was her priority and she couldn't disappoint her parents.
"Okay I know that. But you can at least come with me for shopping. It's my birthday next week, you remember, right? And I still have to buy a lot of things you.. you know like..."
"wohaaa... hold on Miss Alya Saxena. Seriously? We have done enough shopping for your b'day already!", Nandini didn't let Alya complete. She knew if she would start once, there's no stopping after that.
"Fine. Nandini. Go home. Tumhe mera sath time spend krnaa pasand nahi", Alya spoke in her oh-so-perfect' Hindi. And nandini kept gaping at her with an open mouth. Alya too was an Indian by birth but she was brought up in Canada and she has always lived here. So speaking in Hindi? Just not Alya thing!
"God Alya! Stop it with your emotional black mail and why this hindi love all of a sudden", Nandini asked Alya about the sudden change.
"Oh Nandini. You only say na, bahar ki country mei apna language bolne ka mazaa he umm..what.. different?"
"alag.."
"yes! Alag hoti hai" Alya finally completed her sentence and Nandini chuckled.
"hota hai Alya. Hoti hai nahi. And I know what this is. This is the result of you dating a new Indian guy", Nandini teased Alya and started driving.
"Yeah! Whatever Nandu. Okay fine. Don't go anywhere But please come home for sometime. I have to show you a lot of things please."
Alya didn't leave a single chance to keep Nandini busy as she knows what Nandini would do sitting idle. She would go down the memory lane and revisit all her hurtful memories and end up crying badly. And the worst part was, she never talked about it. Never. She just kept it inside her. A part of her life that she tries to forget but fails miserably.
"okaaay. Chalo" Nandini had to give in this time. There was no room for further argument.
Location: Delhi, India
"Mom please, aapko mjhe subah jaldi uthana he padega", Manik was as usual pleading his mother, Nyonika.
"No. Trip par tumhe jana hai apne friends ke sath toh khud se utho", Nyonika replied in her usual tone.
She had this habbit of not waking up Manik on time whenever he had somewhere important to go in the morning. She believed that at least this way he would sleep on time.
This has been her way of dealing with him since he was a school kid. No matter how grown up he has become now, Nyonika just doesn't change her tricks.
"I don't understand main aapse puchhta he kyun hu? Aap kabhi manoge he nahi", Manik finally gave up after a lot of pleading session.
"I'll set the alarm. Goodnight mom."
"Goodnight kiddo"
Manik Malhotra, age 25, he has done his masters in economics and has a job experience of almost 2 years.
Making money and spending all of it on partying or travelling was his only agenda in life. He had the most loving and caring parents, Raj and Nyonika Malhotra who never stopped him from living his life on his own conditions. They were proud of their son's achievements. They didn't want anything else.
Manik had a whole group of friends. The boy gang' as they say. But no one was as close to him as the two of them were, Madhyam and Cabir.
Madhyam, everyone needs a friend like him but you definitely don't want to be his enemy. He has a very strong personality and has knowledge about almost everything. For his friends, he can set the world on fire and you dare not question him if he doesn't like you. He is the most arrogant and impulsive person you would ever come across.
Cabir, an over protective brother-like friend. He's humorous and full of life. The most supportive and understanding friend one could have.
Manik's POV
So..all set for tomorrow Manik Malhotra. Wohhh finally this treck is happening!' I was talking to myself busy packing my stuff.
I just hope I have kept everything, oh I mean mom has kept everything.
Where the hell is my key ring by the way?'
I was looking for that little favourite thing of mine since past half an hour. It just has to be with me. ALL THE TIME.
And then I finally saw it lying under my pillow, yes! It has to be with me all the time refers to the night time as well!
I took it out and smiled looking at it remembering how it came to me.
(FLASHBACK)
A/N: This is the time when Manik and Nandini were best friends, 7 years ago.
Nandini: "Maaanik. Listen na please. Udhar dekh. You know that's my favourite game. Let's play."
Nandini screamed in my ear almost damaging my eardrum. She was pointing at some stupid rotate the wheel' game at our school fair.
"Seriously Nandini? Hum itne chhote bachhe bhi nahin hain! I'm not playing that stupid game", I gave her a clear piece of my mind. I knew she wouldn't stop but at least I could try.
"Oh shut up Manik! Listen this is the only game where some gift is guaranteed. Please yaaar", I just knew she won't stop eating my brain until I go with her.
"fine. Chal. But listen I'm not playing. I'm just coming with you." I was definitely not going to embarrass my self over there. She dragged me all over to the stall.
"Yes Mr. Cool dude. Just be with me."
"As if I have an option." I teased her and she gave me her favourite irritated look that made her look extremely cute.
She tried thrice and won a huge teddy bear.
"yayyiee! See. Isn't it cute?"
"Yes of course." I answered genuinely. She had this radiant smile on her face that I didn't want to fade away. So I kept my teasing at the side for sometime.
Nandini: "Okay your turn now!" She exclaimed excitedly.
"Oh no way. Listen I always lose this stupid game. Please yaar." I told her leaving all my ego behind. After all, it was her. She knows me inside out.
"Manik please. Every time you play alone isliye you loose. Par aaj main hu na tere sath", she very casually said those lines giving me full chance to smirk at her.
"achha mtlb you want to say that you're my lucky charm?" I couldn't leave this opportunity to tease her.
And she blushed but to my surprise she also played along.
"of course I am. Best friend aise he thodi hu teri" we both laughed at this.
I tried playing the game but as usual got nothing big. I saw Nandini asking the person at the opposite side to cheat and let me win once. She was the best' best friend.
He finally handed me a key ring. :p
"Arey Nandu seee. This has got 8 number written. You know na 8 is my favourite no. My school football team's Jersey no. Is also 8."
I know this might sound girly but yes, I also believed in favourites and lucky numbers or colours.
"yep! This got your favourite no. And my favourite colour, black."
We both smiled at this. I put my arm around her shoulder and we both left from there.
****************************************************************
(Present)
Nandini' I sighed and faintly smiled at the thought.
I wish I could tell you the truth before you left.'
Finalllyyy. The first chapter is done. I hope I could live up to the expectations.
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Love,
Asmi <3
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
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