Hello folks! Hope all are doing swell on the forum. Long time no see šš¼
The title is from my current jam Echo, sung by the superstar Armaan Malik, Eric Nam & KSHMR
This story is to remind us that when past, present and future meet, it's awkward, but at the end, everything is perfectly okay! ā¤ļø
Hope you like it. Would appreciate any criticism and/or feedback, apart from continuing the story, that is not my plate of rosgulla or dharwad peda to be able to relish without care!
Also encourage my talented fellow forum members to continue it, incase you find that opportunity! 
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Plot: This is an AU story based in the MHRW zone. Mandar and Pallavi were engaged to be married, but then he got caught up in a messy accident which left him in a coma. The police called in his family, and later he was moved into the D-House. Pallavi chose to stay back in Hyderabad coz she was enrolled in higher studies and opted for college accommodation to retain her independence. VD was handling DSE with Milind Kaka on a government job, and Manasi/Nikhil/Amruta helped out post their college hours to help meet the rising medical and household expenses. Now when he's up and running, he is handling DSE, but has called off the engagement with Pallavi because they know nothing about each other anymore. On the other hand, Raghav was dating a girl called Sia, who was Mandar's friend and a Tollywood model, so he knows about the ex-Don status, but they have never really met. The 10-year estrangement plot was the same, Amma and Keerti were living separately, but there is no revenge subplot, Raghav just started to frequent the shop when he bought it from Jagdish Anna and RaghVi bonded over staying on their own? in the city and love for fam. Now they have become sorta like friends (or more), but that is something that Mandar realises when he meets Raghav for the first time.
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Black eyes met earthy brown across the room. There was a palpable silence and awkward tension in the air. Then...
"Uhhh, how did you get in here?" Mandar asked the tall boy before him.
Raghav blinked out of confusion trying to remember where he was and what he was tasked with. "Oh, Pallavi asked me to help out with the DSE sale." He lifted his hand off the door knob and hesitantly made his way deeper into the living room. Boxes labeled Deshmukh Saree Emporium were scattered over the couch and hall, and in the center of the mess was Mandar, attempting to sort through it all.
"Ah, guess Baba doesn't think I can sort and carry all these boxes by myself. Well I'll show him!" Mandar fumes, eyes glinting with determination. Raghav watches amused, when seconds later the elder boy's face crumbles into a look of panic and desperation as falls to his knees and grabs Raghav's arm. "Oh, who am I kidding. I'm not made for manual labor. Please, you gotta help me!" he beseeches.
Raghav smirks and helps Mandar up the floor "Course I will. I told Sharda Aunty to tell Sanki that I would."
Mandar looks him up and down as if trying to size him up before he goes back to sorting through the boxes. "You realize you can call him Uncle too, right?" he questions the younger boy.
Raghav looked horrified for a moment before shaking his head from side to side, "No,no,no. I dont want that kind of relationship with him." he shuddered.
Chuckles erupted from Mandar and he smiled to himself. "Well, thanks for helping, uhh..." he frowned all of a sudden, realising that calling the other boy 'Uddhat Mulga' (Rude/Undiplomatic boy; as his father addressed Raghav) wasn't the best choice.
"Raghav, Raghav Rao" was his response as they got back to sorting through the living area. Raghav attempted to make small talk. "So how's your job search going? Found something worthwhile to continue on, or joining DSE?"
Mandar tossed the box sealing tape behind him, wincing as it knocked something over. "Iām actually looking for something that can pay well so we can clear all the past dues we lost in the past 3 years. Lot of work though, because I have nothing to show for two years except for medical records. Not much experience on my own. Might officially join DSE, but I guess that it is pretty sorted with Nikhil, Manasi, Amruta and I helping out Baba in our free time from work & college. Besides, Pallavi and Krishna are also there for advisory support when we need it."
He turned to the ex-Don, '' Are you thinking of expanding your business overseas?"
"You think I could get a grant with my past ādealingsā?" Raghav looked up.
Mandar shrugged offhandedly, "How is your current credit history? If you have a clean slate record for like 10 years, you should do just fine."
"Then Iāll do alright, I guess." Raghav said, modesty taking over. "I am in the 800+ range on the CIBIL band."
Mandar nods at him before looking back into the box in front of him. "It will be an easy shot for you then. For DSE, Iām not so sure." He cranes his neck downwards, digging deeper into the box so he misses the frown that darkens Raghav' face and fails to see the rigidity in his posture.
"You don't think Pallavi can get an in for DSE?" The question cuts through the air and even with his head completely in the box, Mandar hears something off in the lower, softer tone of voice. He slowly rises up til he's standing straight up, looking Raghav dead in the eye.
"I didn't mean anything by it. It's just that getting grants is difficult for smaller local organisations like ours and takes a LOT of hard work. And Pallavi does not have any formal business expertise in that regard at all. She was barely able to help Baba break even for 2 years.ā He watches carefully as Raghav's jaw clenches slightly and his eyebrows turn upwards. RR closes his eyes and breathes in lightly and when he opens his eyes, they seem clearer and his facial muscles are more relaxed.
Raghav looks Mandar straight in the eyes and speaks his mind. "Pallavi can do anything she wants to," he says softly but firmly with conviction, " especially if she has her mind set on it. If she wants to get something, then she WILL, with all the requirements." He feels the need to add more, to put it over the top, but he refrains from doing so because he is here to work, not argue. Moreover, he has been chided pretty much fifteen times this week on how he should not be losing his cool over DUMB stuff.
Mandar watches quietly as the other boy takes a slight breath and blinks a few times, like he's not sure if he should be ashamed of his outburst or proud. He gives him a minute to gather his thoughts before noting, "You hold her in quite a high regard, huh?" Raghav turns back to the boxes they were working through before shrugging. Mandar tries not to notice the red flush creeping up the other chap's neck.
A couple minutes tick by with only the stuffing of the set of specialised sarees in cardboard boxes to offset the deafening silence. Eventually burning questions and awkward shuffling gets to be too much for Mandar and he blurts out, "Weren't you dating my friend the Tollywood model Sia, I think?"
Raghav's head whipped around and he stared at Mandar before focusing his eyes on anywhere but the elder boy's face. "Umm, no... not exactly. We decided to just remain just friends." Raghav finally finishes, hands falling to his sides.
Mandar shakes his head in frustration.
"Do you have feelings for her?" Mandar demands, fingers pointing threateningly.
Raghav stops and hesitates before looking back up at the older boy. "I'm not sure what I'm supposed to feel." he mumbles unsurely.
Mandar crosses his arms and frowns. "Well I CAN see you have feelings for Pallavi. That much is certain. You're gonna have to figure out what those feelings are, however, before you go ahead and act on them."
He crosses the room completely to stand in front of Raghav. His eyes glint harshly and harden in conviction. "Because Pallavi doesn't deserve someone who will only give her part of his heart and half of his time."
Raghav stares for a second before whispering. "She deserves everything. She deserves someone who wants to give her everything." Both boys stare at the ground for a second before Mandar turns away.
The two boys stare at each other for a minute, sharing in a moment neither of them will speak of again. Then, they both wordlessly move to separate boxes and silently continue organising.
Half an hour later, just as they are finishing the last box, the front door crashes open and flurries in Pallavi. One eyebrow rises questioningly as she takes in the other occupant of the house.
"Ohh so you met now. You two are finished or what? Feeling very chatty?"
Mandar composes himself quickly, surprise fading from his face as he grins and waves.
"Hiya. What are you doing here?"
"Well.." she shrugs, going to the kitchen and stretching slightly so as to fill up her bag with some ingredients and spices, "Iām here to take some things from the list. Sharda Kaku needed an extra hand with some of the catering stuff because there are going to be a lot of clients at DSE for the sale. Figured I would come help. Plus," she grins, "someone needs to do the heavy lifting if you are the ones who have to carry these boxes." she gestures to the packed boxes by the door.
Her teasing spurs on Raghav who slides up to her, smirk on his face, twinkle in his eye. "You do know I used to carry tons more when I was starting up my diamond business, right? Those jewellery boxes did not magically land up on those stands. But let's see if you can carry the catering stuff on your own w/o needing my assistance!"
Pallavi rises to the bait as expected, standing on tiptoes and looking him straight in the eyes. "Is that a challenge Veda Maanuus?" she issues.
Raghav grins before plopping the box into her arms and smiling fully over it. "If that would make you feel better." He gives a thumbs up to her before picking up some boxes.
Pallavi's jaw clenches and her pupils dilate as she swiftly turns on her heel walking out the door. Raghav chases after her, stopping at the door briefly to turn to Mandar. He gives Mandar a single curt nod, a sign of understanding and solidarity before Pallavi can be heard shouting, "Come on, aplala velevar pochaychay." (We have to reach on time)
A smile blooms on Raghav' face as he walks out shouting after her, "You do realize I understand none of what you say in Marathi?"
āServes you right! Read up. I had to learn so much when I moved here!ā
Mandar just shakes his head at the two, and picks up the remaining box as he locks up the house.
"Well, this will be interesting." he smiles.
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Echo ~ Armaan Malik, Eric Nam ft. KSHMR:
Marathi TV
Ufff Yeh Love Hai Mushkil
Jhanak
Bigg Boss 19
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
