"Ayesha! Could you get the door, honey?" A hands-in-dough Nandani called out from the kitchen.
"Yes, Mommy!" The seven year old, who had been perched on the couch, regaling herself with cartoons replied.
She then shot up from her seat, powered off the television and rushed towards the door.
Looking through the peephole first, as she had been taught, she gave a toothy (two missing incisors not withstanding) grin and twisted the knob.
"Uncle C! Aunt Navya!" The girl squealed, jumping into their arms in succession.
The duo laughed.
"Hello, little Cookie. How have you been?" Navya asked, ruffling Ayesha's silky mane affectionately.
"I'm good! I've been waiting for you to arrive!"
"Well, we're here now" Cabir smiled. "And the others are just on their way. They're getting ice cream!"
The girl gasped. "Really? But Mommy says I can't have it, I catch a cold really fast."
"Who said she has to know?" Cabir whispered conspiratorially.
"I heard that." Nandani said, walking out with a spatula, hitting Cabir with it lightly. "Stop spoiling my daughter." She joked.
"No can do. As her favourite uncle, it is my pleasure-no, my duty- to spoil her rotten." Saying so, Cabir lifted Ayesha up and proceeded to the television room.
Navya just shook her head and went on to hug her best friend. "I smell something good. What's cooking?"
"Just a night-before-first-day-of -second-grade-special pizza."
"Need any help?" Navya offered.
"Would love it."
*******
Dhruv, Alya, Mukti and Abhi arrived shortly after, bearing ice cream, as promised.
After a filling meal, all of them sat around the fire in the living room, Ayesha in Mukti's lap. After Nandani, Mukti was easily the girl's favourite and the older woman was extremely protective of the child, as well.
At around 10, Nandani decided it was best Ayesha went to bed, as she had a big day ahead of her. In turn, the girl wished everyone a good night and after confirming that they'd all be there to drop her off at school in the morning, she stumbled off to bed, her mother right behind.
Nandani tucked her daughter in and dropped a kiss on her forehead, whispering an I love you, earning the same back.
She shut the lights and tread back to the living room, plopping down on the couch beside Alya.
It had become sort of a ritual for all of them to drop their little princess to school on her first day each year. So, they all crashed at Nandani's a night prior so they wouldn't miss it. Not that they lived very far, they just wanted to be there for the mother and daughter. It had been this way since.. since always.
"Second grade, huh? Our little girl is all grown up." Dhruv commented.
"Yeah. Seems like yesterday that she was running off to preschool with that little pink bag of hers." Abhi said, eliciting chuckles.
"I still remember how crazily emotional we all were. And Cabir just wouldn't stop clicking pictures." Mukti supplied.
"Hey, sorry for wanting to capture the moment forever!" Cabir argued.
"We had arrived half an hour early and your photography caused her to be late, Cabir. You caused a pre-schooler to be late. It isn't even possible to be late in pre school." Alya laughed.
"It was a beautiful day." Nandani smiled. "One of the best of my life. I had everyone I loved with me, sending my girl off." Except the one you desperately wanted, the one who should've been by your side- holding her hand. Her subconscious prodded and Nandani mentally chastised her. This wasn't the time to think of him.
But when had that ever stopped her crazy subconscious, or her for that matter?
Images flashed by her in a flurry.
Onyx eyes. Rumpled hair. Gorgeous laugh. Chiseled body.
Ma-
"Nandani!" Alya all but shouted, breaking the mentioned girl's train of thought.
"Huh? What?"
"Where is your head, chick? I asked you something." Mukti questioned.
"I'LL tell you where her head is." Abhi drawled out and Nandini froze. "Its with that TK!" He laughed, referring to her boss.
Nandani sighed and then stared at him incredulously. "Just what are you talking about?"
"Puh-lease. You two totally have a thing going on." Alya teased.
"Do not!"
"I second her." Navya said, laughing.
"Et tu, Brute?" Nandani glared.
"Oh come on, don't be dramatic. He's hot, he's into you, what's the problem?" Mukti offered.
"Ahem. Husband in the room!" Abhi retorted, making everyone laugh.
"Oh shush. It's a fact. Nandu, you should totally hook up with him." The woman continued.
Maybe Mukti had a point. TK was good looking. But no one, absolutely no-one, held a candle to him. It wouldn't work. She knew it from experience. She'd gone on dates once or twice at her friend's urging but the end result was always the same. Either their hair wasn't as black. Or their voice as deep. Or their hands as callous. She couldn't help it. She looked for him in each one. And no-one reached the mark. She had given up trying to fight it now. She was destined to be single.
"I think I'm fine, thank you." She laughed.
Mukti just gave an exaggerated sigh.
Cabir yawned. "I think we should crash. Gotta be up early tomorrow."
Dhruv nodded. "He's right. See y'all in the morning! Night!"
After saying their goodnights, Dhruv and Alya headed off to one room, Mukti and Abhi into another and Cabir and Navya took separate ones. They still lived together, both being happily single.
Nandani slipped under her sheets and turned off the light, the land of his dreams beckoning her as per usual.
*******
Sneak Peek : Aaand he's back!
*******
And that's it for now! This is a new concept, one that has been spinning around in my head for days and I finally put it down! Criticism is welcome!
*****
Part 2-Page 4
Channel V Dil Dosti Dance
Sports
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
