Posted:
Happy Birthday Maddy! It is 8th August here already😆 and I thought i'd put it up as well.
Thanks to Meera for reading it through and proofing it for me. Meeriye, BBB hugs:)
And Avi just wrote herself in...she did....😆
Cameo by our favourite offscreen couple...Drumroll!!!!PreMe
Unbreakable!
"Maddy!"
The voice was far off and still very near, thought Madhuri, opening her eyes and trying to find the source.
She was lying on a recliner by the pool, she realised. She must have dozed off while reading. "Maddy!"
She sat up and stretched, swerving her head and looking around.
"Oh! Hey Meera," she smiled as she saw her friend walking towards her, looking radiant.
As she hugged Meera, she breathed in deeply and sighed. "Oh! Meera, that is an awesome fragrance!"
Meera blushed. "It's nice isn't it? It's Prem's favourite perfume." She blushed again.
Maddy smiled at her. "You're crazy about him, aren't you?"
Meera nodded, her face very pink. "He's the best thing that ever happened to me."
"He worships you Meera! His world begins and ends with you. When he looks at you, he always has his heart in his eyes….for the whole world to see. Oh! Meera! It's so wonderful!"
Maddy's voice was suddenly wistful and Meera looked at her friend carefully. "Maddy," she said quietly, "do you…"
"No!" Maddy said, her voice unusually sharp, "I just want to forget everything."
Meera sighed and put her arms around Maddy. "Oh! Maddy, I hate seeing you like this."
"If I ever see that Manav again, it will be the last day he breathes," an angry voice broke into the silence and had Meera and Maddy looking up.
Avneet marched up to them looking furious.
"Killing is too good for that scoundrel," she said, going off into a rant. "He deserves to be trampled upon by hordes of stampeding angry rhinos. And then, he needs to be…."
"Avi," Meera said softly, "maybe this…"
"Avi," Maddy said softly, "let it be. He just didn't love me. That's not a crime."
"It is too," muttered Avi, under her breath. "And I cannot believe that Mayank will be here. Have you told Prem Jiju what a scoundrel he is?"
"Avi, I've told him the whole story but Prem's close lipped on that issue. He's known Mayank since they were very young and he says it's impossible to keep Mayank from the guest list."
Avi shook her head. "I'm going to drop some scalding drink on him at least once," she vowed and Meera grinned. "Do whatever you want Avi. Anything to keep you in good cheer. It is my wedding after all. I want everyone to be happy."
"Anyway, I came to tell you that the wedding planner's here and she wants you to look over some last minute details with her. I would have sent her out here but she had a lot of stuff with her. She's in the flower room," Avi told her, smiling.
Meera sighed. "Gosh! Mum will not be pleased if she's gonna suggest any last minute changes. The wedding's tomorrow for goodness sake! Anyway, I'll go check."
"Meera, do you want us to come along," Maddy asked.
"Yes, I think that would be great. Come along both of you. And where are the others?"
"Bhav is driving down with Nate later this evening. Radz and Dean should be here any moment now. Shabz, Preet, Prem and that scoundrel, Mayank are at the Juneja's. Rinkz, Kian, Ravjot, Yug and Shifali are at Arjun's home, and….."
"Meera, Avi, you go ahead. I'll just take a minute," Maddy told them.
Meera and Avi looked at each other and then at Maddy, Avi muttering something uncomplimentary about Manav and Mayank under her breath. But Meera smiled and nodded at Maddy, taking Avi's arm and pulling her along.
As soon as they were out of sight, Maddy sank back into the recliner and covered her face with her hands. She couldn't help the tears. She just couldn't!
………
A year ago…..
Every year, in the summer, Maddy would accompany her family to their holiday home in the mountains for a couple of months. The fresh invigorating air and the magnificent landscapes always soothed her and this time she was doubly happy.
For her best friend was coming along with them. And Avi absolutely adored being up in the mountains. Maddy smiled as she recollected Avi's reaction on obtaining her mother's consent to accompanying Maddy and her family. They would have such a wonderful time.
Little did she know that this holiday would completely change her life!
One morning, they were walking along one of the mountain trails when suddenly, Maddy slipped and fell, twisting her ankle.
She tried to keep the tears from her eyes but she was in agony. The pain was killing her.
"Maddy, lean on me," Avi instructed her, "keep the weight off that ankle. There! Now, do you have your cell phone. I left mine back at your place."
Maddy shook her head, the tears now streaming down her cheeks. "It hurts even to speak," she whispered.
Avi was wondering what she ought to do when she saw two figures walking towards them, on the same trail. She raised her arm and hailed them. As they came closer, she realised they were two boys and sighed. If only they had been adults, it would have been so much more helpful.
"What happened here?" one of the boys addressed her.
"She's twisted her ankle. We need to get her back to her house. Do you have a phone we can use to call for assistance?" Avi asked him.
"No signal up here, I'm afraid," he answered. "By the way, my name's Mayank and this is my friend Manav.
She looked at the guy he had introduced at Manav and stared. Maddy was leaning against him and saying something softly to him. Maddy! Who was always wary of speaking with strangers!!!!
"Mayank, she lives almost next door to you," Manav looked up at Mayank and then looked back at Maddy
"Oh!" said Mayank and he turned back to Avi, "and you are…?"
"She's Madhuri and I'm Avneet."
"Don't worry, we'll help you," Mayank told her and she frowned.
"We have to get her down that slope without injuring her ankle any further. How do....." she broke off seeing Manav carefully lift Maddy into his arms.
She opened her mouth to argue, then thought the better of it. Maddy was in pain. The sooner they got her back home, the better. And if these two tried any funny business, she would hit them on the head, both of them.
She looked surreptitiously around for something to hit them with and found a walking stick, a Nordic walking stick with the top a little more curved than normal. This would have to do, she told herself, and looked up straight into Mayank's eyes. An extremely amused expression on his face. "What's that for?" he asked her.
"Never you mind," she replied curtly.
"I hope you're not planning to hit us with that," he told her tongue-in-cheek.
She narrowed her eyes and walked on behind Manav and Maddy, her nose high in the air, muttering an oath under her breath as she heard an amused chuckle behind her.
…………
"Oh! Avi, wasn't he the most handsome boy ever?" Maddy gushed later, when they were in Maddy's room, tucked into their beds.
The doctor had been and he had prescribed ample rest, a pain reliever and an ankle brace, advising Maddy to keep off the ankle for a while.
The boys were duly thanked and invited to dinner the next evening. Along with Mayank's parents, whom Maddy's parents were acquainted with.
"He was not," frowned Avi. "He was argumentative, cocky and had this infuriating superior smile on his face all the time. I thought he looked quite horrid!"
Mayank had irritated her all the way back. He was such a know-it-all and to top it all, was really opinionated. Considering Avi had firm opinions on everything under the sun, they had argued all the way back. And it hadn't helped that he'd made a snide remark about the stick, as he was leaving, causing all the adults to smile. ["Avneet almost had our heads off with that stick," he told Mr. Sharma laughing, casting a sly glance at Avi]
"Please Avi," Maddy said dreamily, "his dark brown eyes, his sculpted nose, his…"
"He had light brown eyes Maddy, not dark brown," Avi retorted, shaking her head.
"Dark brown Avi," Maddy said, rolling her eyes, "I looked into his eyes the whole time he carried me back."
"Oh! Him!" Avi yawned, "I thought…"
"I thought you said he was horrid," teased Maddy, "light brown eyes, huh?"
"Oh! Shut up, light brown eyes are rather noticeable."
"If you say so," said Maddy, getting the dreamy look back into her eyes. "Manav, what a wonderful name. And he was such a gentleman, wasn't he? Such a soft voice, so well mannered, so articulate, so…."
"For god's sake Maddy" said Avi, looking appalled, "you just met him."
"and so romantic," continued Maddy, as if Avi hadn't spoken. "He told me he'd never ever seen anyone with such beautiful eyelashes. Can you imagine, Avi?"
"Oh Boy!" Avi rolled her eyes.
"And he told me my eyes are like twin stars and that my hair is as glossy as a raven's wing."
"Is a raven's wing glossy?" asked Avi, frowning. "I mean, where…"
"He lives in India. He's here on a holiday, visiting Mayank. And, we have such similar tastes, it's unbelievable. He loves roses too!"
"Loads of people love roses," Avi told her, slightly alarmed. "And remember, like poles repel." Maddy had never ever reacted like this about a guy and here, she was, eyes shining with a strange inner light, only one name on her lips….Manav! A boy she had met exactly six hours ago!
"Avi," pouted Maddy. "Stop sounding like a wet blanket."
"Someone has to be sensible here. Next thing you'll be telling me that you've fallen in love at first sight."
Maddy smiled dreamily at Avi. "Do you think I could be?"
"NO!" Avi almost shouted, causing the dreamy look to evaporate from Maddy's eyes. "A thousand times no! You hardly know him Maddy."
"Oh! But we have all summer to rectify that," Maddy told her with a wink and Avi groaned.
…….
Throughout that summer, Maddy and Manav were almost inseparable. And Avi and Mayank had to tolerate each other. And as the days went by, Avi had to admit that Manav was a really nice guy. Really really nice! The kind that a certain irritating person could learn loads from. She frowned at Mayank lying on the grass next to her and reading a book.
"Can't you go home and read? Why must you read here?"
"Can't you stop nagging me? Honestly, one would think you were my wife!"
"You're delusional!"
"And you're pretty when you're arguing," Mayank raised a finger and pushed her glasses up her nose.
"And you are always irritating," she huffed, slapping his finger away, looking around for Manav and Maddy.
"The lovebirds have flown away," he told her with a smirk and she jumped up. "I'm going to look for them."
"Suit yourself," he told her lazily, burying himself in his book.
She rolled her eyes at his book and walked off.
…….
"This has been a magical summer for me," Manav looked at Maddy, his heart in his eyes.
They were sitting by a little brook, watching the water jump over the little pebbles and stones and make its way merrily past the rushes.
"For me, as well, Manav," she replied, smiling at him.
"The first time I saw you, I just knew you were someone special. I know it sounds cheesy, but Maddy! Oh! I just can't explain this properly."
"I know what you mean, Manav," she told him. It had been so wonderful, so magical.
"And every time, we met and each time we spoke, it was like pieces of a puzzle falling into place," Manav continued.
"And now, I feel like I can read your thoughts," Maddy broke in, making him smile.
"So, what am I thinking now?" he asked her, gazing intently into her eyes.
She blushed and looked at her fingers.
He caught hold of her hand and looked at her fingers. "This is the daintiest hand in the world."
She laughed, "Oh! Manav, no one's ever said that to me before."
"You know what I love about you?" he asked her softly and her heartbeat quickened hearing the word 'love'.
"What?"
"You are so unaware of how utterly lovely you are. And that is so refreshing. And so enchanting."
"Manav, you are making me blush."
"And you care so much about everyone around you. You always take care not to hurt anyone's feelings. Everyone thinks you are a complete sweetheart."
"I think you are such a wonderful person that everyone seems so nice to you," she told him, her face a becoming pink.
"I just wish you were mine! I wish I had the right to call you my sweetheart!" he whispered quietly, looking into her eyes. Her heart stopped at the huskiness in his voice, the intensity in his eyes….
"I….I….I," she stuttered, "I…" she broke off, gazing at him mutely…
"I love you Maddy," he told her quietly and she suddenly wanted to weep. The moment was so beautiful, she wanted time to freeze, everything to stand still in witness to this wonderful moment in her life!
A tear rolled down her cheek and as he raised his hand to wipe it away, he stared at her, unable to believe she was actually saying the words he had dreamed of her saying. "I love you too, Manav," she said softly, "I feel like I've loved you forever."
He drew her into his arms, whispering in her ear and Avi, standing a few feet away from them, frozen like a deer caught in strong headlights, suddenly unfroze and tip-toed away, not wanting to disturb the sanctity of that moment.
Avi had never thought of herself as having a single romantic bone in her body but even she had to admit that Manav and Maddy were definitely wonderful together. It was almost like they were made for each other. They complimented each other so perfectly.
Of course, she still thought that everything was progressing much too fast, they had hardly known each other for a month. Still, they were sweet together and she knew Maddy was already on the way to being totally in love with Manav. Manav too, by the looks of it.
She sighed! Just because she couldn't understand it didn't mean she wasn't affected by it.
"You can sigh as well!" She rolled her eyes and glared at Mayank. "What do you mean?"
"It's a very human emotion, sighing," Mayank explained. "Didn't expect it from you."
"And I expect nothing better than these silly observations from you," she told him before flouncing off.
"Hey, wait up. Did you find the lovebirds?" he called after her.
………
"I saw you by the brook," Avi said abruptly. They were seated by the window, gazing outside. It was particularly beautiful in the night, thought Avi as she looked outside. The mountains looked so mysterious, so inviting, so….
"Oh! Avi, I can't tell you how happy I am today. Manav, he…Whatttt?" Maddy yelped as she turned to Avi.
"I'm sorry Maddy," Avi said quietly, keeping her eyes on the shadowy outlines of the mountains in the moonlight. "I was looking for you and then, I stumbled upon you guys. I was going to call out to you but…" she broke off.
Maddy pulled at Avi's arm, "You don't have to be sorry Avi. That's what I have been meaning to tell you all evening but there just wasn't an opportunity. I told him that I love him. Oh! Avi, it was such a beautiful moment!"
"Are you sure Maddy? Isn't it too soon?"
"I know what you are thinking Avi. I've racked my brains over this. But my heart is very strongly, for the very first time, telling me that Manav is the one for me. I just can't ignore that. I can't."
"I just don't want you to get hurt," said Avi softly.
"I know," said Maddy, just as softly. "And I love you for that." She leaned in and hugged Avi.
A soft clank against the window frame alerted them to a presence below. Avi looked down and rolled her eyes
"God! It's your Romeo and his nitwit friend."
Maddy leaned across and laughed, waving at Manav. Manav was signalling her to come downstairs.
"Why don't you like Mayank? He's perfectly sweet!" Maddy told her and she ignored that. She was looking curiously at Manav, climbing the Horse chestnut tree, growing close to the windows on that side of the house.
Avi laughed. "He's going to come in here, is it? Has he ever climbed this one before? He'll fall and break his bones."
Maddy glared at her and leaned out anxiously. But Manav easily pulled himself up and leaned across a branch, close enough to speak with her. "Come downstairs. You have to see what we discovered."
"We can't" Avi broke in. "Uncle and Aunty would kill us. Besides, we don't have the keys. We'll get locked out. Maddy, Maddy, what the…Maddy, come back…" Avi broke off, clutching her hair.
Maddy had stepped onto the ledge and was leaning over to grab onto the branch. Manav was helping her. Avi sighed and looked down. It seemed like a long way down. And that nitwit Mayank was smirking at her.
"Scared!" he mouthed, winking.
She ignored him. She had been shinnying up and down trees before he even knew they existed, the dork!!!! She'd show him.
Manav and Maddy were now standing below, hand in hand, beaming. Avi climbed down quickly and glared at Mayank.
"Why couldn't we have done this tomorrow?" Avi asked, hands on hips.
"There's this spot we just discovered in the mountains as we were walking after dinner and it looks heavenly in the night, especially a full moon like tonight," Manav told them. "You just have to see it."
Maddy and Manav started walking, Maddy turning to smile at Avi.
"You can go back, you know," Mayank told her, watching the play of expressions on her face. She was such a quirky mixture and so unlike the girls who threw themselves all over him, she drew his attention like no one ever had. Although to say anything to her would just result in him getting his head bitten off, he was sure.
Avi just walked on, her hands in her pockets.
Mayank grinned. This holiday was so much fun!
………
"Oh! My! God!" whispered Maddy, awestruck. They were standing on a ledge overlooking a pool, enclosed by the hills on all sides. The grassy ledges provided a wonderful contrast to the indigo tones of the pool, touched by the moonlight. The breeze caressing their cheeks had the fragrance of summer flowers, lavender and something that she couldn't put her finger on.
The moon and the stars were reflected in the smooth canvas of the pool as she gazed into it. There were little white Narcissi dotted along the borders of the pool. As she felt Manav's arm go around her shoulders, she sighed contentedly. She didn't feel like she had just met Manav. She really felt like she'd known him forever. Loved him forever. She leant against his shoulder.
"It was destiny that brought me here this summer," Manav whispered in her ear, pulling her closer when she turned to him, a radiant smile on her face. "I see my destiny before me, right here, right now."
She closed her eyes, feeling so relaxed and so at peace.
"I have something for you," Manav said softly, after a while, drawing a little package from his pocket.
"What is it?" Maddy asked as she started unwrapping the little package.
"See for yourself."
"Oh! Manav, this is so beautiful," whispered Maddy, fingering the little filigree locket with little diamonds around the tiny clasp in the side. She opened the clasp and gasped. There was a little miniature inside, Manav and her. She threw her arms around him, hugging him. "I love it Manav. Thank you so much."
.........
"What are you thinking about?" Mayank asked Avi, who was staring into the pool as if it held answers to the most important questions in the world.
"I'm worried," she said quietly, not looking at him, "about them. Isn't it too soon? Maddy's walking a path of no return. I know her. She'll be heartbroken if something goes wrong."
"Aren't you the optimist?" Mayank curved his hand around her shoulder, surprised she wasn't pushing him away. She really was worried, he realised.
"Manav is one of my dearest friends," he said softly. I've never seen him like this. He is truly in love with Maddy. He'll never hurt her, never."
"I hope you're right, Mayank," she said softly, turning her attention to the beauty before her.
……......
A month later...
"Where is he Mayank?" Avi asked Mayank angrily. "What is the meaning of this letter?" She waved a letter at him.
"I can't tell you anything," Mayank told her quietly. "I promised Manav I wouldn't."
Avi was growing more and more furious by the moment. "Maddy is at home, crying her eyes out. Manav doesn't reply to her emails, he's changed his phone numbers, what the hell's going on?"
"Tell Maddy to forget about Manav," Mayank said quietly.
Avi caught Mayank's arm and looked at him. "I knew I was right about you the very first time I met you. Spoilt, rich, arrogant, heartless….And Manav turned out just like you. What was it? Some kind of bet? Some kind of holiday romance? You are Sick"
"Call me whatever you want? Just tell Maddy to forget Manav."
Avi felt the tears come to her eyes. "She's so listless. She doesn't eat properly, sleep properly, she's a shadow of her former self. Mayank," her voice almost broke and she hated herself for it. "Please, he needs to tell her why he's ending this, at the very least. He needs to speak to her. This is killing her….and me, as well. I can't see her like this."
Mayank looked at her, his eyes glinting, "See, Avi,…"
"Don't call me Avi," she said sharply.
"Okay! Avneet, he's written her that letter hasn't he? He doesn't want to continue this anymore. It was nice while it lasted and now he doesn't feel the same way. Maddy needs to get over this and move on."
"You told me he would never hurt her," she told him, accusation and pain in her voice.
"There's really no point in continuing this conversation. You have to tell Maddy to move on."
"Congratulations," she threw at him, her eyes glittering with fury. "And you can tell Manav that from me as well. This doesn't end here, you know. Your time will come. And Manav too. I hope you have your heart broken some day. If Manav is guilty of breaking Maddy's heart, you are equally guilty of aiding and abetting him. You disgust me. I hate you. And Manav. I will never ever forgive or forget this. The world is a small place and someday, our paths will cross again. I shall wait for that day!"
"Are you quite finished?" Mayank's voice was sharp and dismissive, "I have work to do."
She walked away, angry and helpless tears in her eyes. Maddy was in pain and she couldn't help. She resolved to be with Maddy, every waking moment. Time would cure all, she hoped. Time and friends….
Mayank watched her walk away, his eyes bleak. "My time has already come," he whispered as she walked away. "So has Manav's!"
…………...
Present
Maddy walked into the Juneja house, pasting a smile on her face. As hard as this was, she had decided to come and give the package Meera's Mum had sent, to Mrs. Juneja. If Avi came, there was no doubt she would again lose her temper with Mayank.
Mrs. Juneja caught sight of her and waved her over, smiling. She walked over, looking at the beautiful decorations, all around her.
….......
"I still think you should have told Maddy," Prem told Mayank, his eyes worried.
"Manav swore me to secrecy. There was no way I would have broken my word," Mayank looked up from the book he was reading, lounging on the recliner in Prem's room. "And at the time, there was really no hope. I didn't agree with keeping the news from her but Manav was so adamant and I didn't have the heart to argue with him then."
"He looked so much better yesterday, didn't he. It gives me hope now," said Prem meeting Mayank's eyes.
"I hope so Prem," Mayank said fervently, "I hope so."
"Do you think we should tell Maddy now?" asked Prem.
"Manav doesn't want to. The doctors are still not confident this new drug will help cure him long term. It's just a short breakthrough. He doesn't want her sympathy. He wants her to find someone who can give her the happiness she deserves. His words, not mine."
"She still loves him, you know."
Mayank nodded. "I know. She's the only one who's still civil to me. And that's what makes it all the more heartbreaking for me. I want to tell her but I am bound by Manav's word. It's been hell for me as well!"
"When the truth is out, Avi will forgive you, you know. She'll understand, Mayank," Prem told him soothingly. He knew Mayank was tortured by Avi's dislike.
"I wish she wouldn't hate me so much," Mayank whispered. "I've thought about her every day this past year. I don't think I can ever forget her."
"It'll all be okay," Prem patted him on the shoulder. "Manav's getting better, and slowly, everything will be alright."
"That's true," Mayank said. "Initially, everything was so bleak. With Manav being diagnosed with CRD, with me fearing every moment that he would die, being unable to focus on my studies, seeing Maddy being so hurt and being unable to say or do anything, Avi hating me so much….Prem, if you hadn't been there, I don't know what I would have done."
"I'm sure things will only get better now Mayank. Don't worry."
"I saw the first smile on his face after almost a year, Prem," Mayank continued softly, "when the doctors said that they now think there might be some hope."
"And this thing with Maddy just took the fight out of him completely. He knew he was going to die and he wanted Maddy to just move on with life. He figured this way she'd just start hating him and it would be easier for her to move on."
"You didn't tell him how much Maddy still loves him!" The soft sad voice had them whipping their heads around.
Maddy was standing there, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Maddy," Prem spoke softly, "come in and sit down. Listen to us."
"Maddy," Mayank said quietly, "I..I…"
"Where is he Mayank? Prem? Tell me where he is? Please," she asked, her voice trembling.
"I'll take you," said Mayank. "Prem, you stay here. You can't come out right now. I'll take care of it."
Mayank caught Maddy's arm gently and walked out with her, filling her in on everything else that she'd missed hearing.
Maddy couldn't control her tears. Manav was ill, fatally ill, a rare disease that affected the central nervous system, a disease without any cure…the tears fell faster. Why hadn't he told her? She could have flown down and been with him this whole year. They had wasted so much time. He couldn't die! She wouldn't let him. She just wouldn't.
Hadn't Mayank just spoken about a breakthrough. She would not give up. Together, Manav and she could weather this. She fingered the locket he had given her, a year ago, at that beautiful spot in the mountains. She had never stopped loving him. A part of her had always believed something had been wrong. A part of her had always held on to the hope that Manav would return and explain everything. After all this, fate couldn't be so cruel as to take him away again.
She would see Manav again in just a few moments. And he still loved her. That was all that mattered. She didn't care what fate had in store for them as long as they were together. Bound by the unbreakable threads of love!
"Where are you going with him, Maddy?" Avi came running towards them. She had realised Maddy had gone off with the package and had come to intercept her. She didn't want Mayank upsetting Maddy. But, it looked like she was too late. "Why are you crying Maddy?"
"Avi, just come along," Maddy sniffed, "I'll tell you everything."
……….
Hulchul Hui
Zara Shor Hua
Dil Chor Hua
Teri Ore Hua
The celebrations were on, full swing. It was the night before the wedding. Everyone was in high spirits. Prem's nephew and niece, Tannu and Vikas were entertaining everyone by dancing to 'Ishq Hua'. Tannu was pretending to blush like Meera and Vikas was acting like Prem. They were so adorable.
Hulchul Hui
Zara Shor Hua
Dil Chor Hua
Teri Ore Hua
Maddy laughed. She couldn't stop smiling. Apart from the fact that she loved that song, she had her Manav back with her.
She glanced at him to find him looking at her, a little smile in his eyes. She had cried, shouted at him, cried again and finally ended up in his arms. He had tried to explain why he had kept the news from her but she had silenced him.
They had wasted enough time. Now they would only be happy and think about the present. Not the past, not the future. Just the present…
Aisi Chali Jab Hawa
Ishq Hua Hi Hua!
"I've said some pretty awful things to you. I'm sorry. But I still think it was wrong to keep the news from her," Avi said seriously, looking straight into Mayank's eyes.
"I know that. But I couldn't have broken my word to Manav," he told her quietly.
She nodded. "I feel so ashamed of the way I've treated you. I'm just.."
"No, you didn't know," Mayank told her, "it's not your fault. Can we just put this all behind us and start afresh. Friends?" He held his hand out.
She smiled, the smile reaching her eyes, as she held out her hand and shook his firmly.
Ishq Hua….!!!
Mayank glanced at her and then away. Friendship was a good beginning.
……….
Hope you liked it Maddy. I think it's rather silly. But, now it's too late to write another shot:((
Have a marvellous day and send us some cake😆
The references to CRD are all made up. No such thing.
And, P.S. I haven't proofed just before posting, so please pardon any grammatical, formatting etc errors. It's past 3 a.m. and I feel rather sluggish now. I'll come edit in the morning.
Loads of BBB hugs:)
Love:-Nonee
Thanks to Meera for reading it through and proofing it for me. Meeriye, BBB hugs:)
And Avi just wrote herself in...she did....😆
Cameo by our favourite offscreen couple...Drumroll!!!!PreMe
Unbreakable!
"Maddy!"
The voice was far off and still very near, thought Madhuri, opening her eyes and trying to find the source.
She was lying on a recliner by the pool, she realised. She must have dozed off while reading. "Maddy!"
She sat up and stretched, swerving her head and looking around.
"Oh! Hey Meera," she smiled as she saw her friend walking towards her, looking radiant.
As she hugged Meera, she breathed in deeply and sighed. "Oh! Meera, that is an awesome fragrance!"
Meera blushed. "It's nice isn't it? It's Prem's favourite perfume." She blushed again.
Maddy smiled at her. "You're crazy about him, aren't you?"
Meera nodded, her face very pink. "He's the best thing that ever happened to me."
"He worships you Meera! His world begins and ends with you. When he looks at you, he always has his heart in his eyes….for the whole world to see. Oh! Meera! It's so wonderful!"
Maddy's voice was suddenly wistful and Meera looked at her friend carefully. "Maddy," she said quietly, "do you…"
"No!" Maddy said, her voice unusually sharp, "I just want to forget everything."
Meera sighed and put her arms around Maddy. "Oh! Maddy, I hate seeing you like this."
"If I ever see that Manav again, it will be the last day he breathes," an angry voice broke into the silence and had Meera and Maddy looking up.
Avneet marched up to them looking furious.
"Killing is too good for that scoundrel," she said, going off into a rant. "He deserves to be trampled upon by hordes of stampeding angry rhinos. And then, he needs to be…."
"Avi," Meera said softly, "maybe this…"
"Avi," Maddy said softly, "let it be. He just didn't love me. That's not a crime."
"It is too," muttered Avi, under her breath. "And I cannot believe that Mayank will be here. Have you told Prem Jiju what a scoundrel he is?"
"Avi, I've told him the whole story but Prem's close lipped on that issue. He's known Mayank since they were very young and he says it's impossible to keep Mayank from the guest list."
Avi shook her head. "I'm going to drop some scalding drink on him at least once," she vowed and Meera grinned. "Do whatever you want Avi. Anything to keep you in good cheer. It is my wedding after all. I want everyone to be happy."
"Anyway, I came to tell you that the wedding planner's here and she wants you to look over some last minute details with her. I would have sent her out here but she had a lot of stuff with her. She's in the flower room," Avi told her, smiling.
Meera sighed. "Gosh! Mum will not be pleased if she's gonna suggest any last minute changes. The wedding's tomorrow for goodness sake! Anyway, I'll go check."
"Meera, do you want us to come along," Maddy asked.
"Yes, I think that would be great. Come along both of you. And where are the others?"
"Bhav is driving down with Nate later this evening. Radz and Dean should be here any moment now. Shabz, Preet, Prem and that scoundrel, Mayank are at the Juneja's. Rinkz, Kian, Ravjot, Yug and Shifali are at Arjun's home, and….."
"Meera, Avi, you go ahead. I'll just take a minute," Maddy told them.
Meera and Avi looked at each other and then at Maddy, Avi muttering something uncomplimentary about Manav and Mayank under her breath. But Meera smiled and nodded at Maddy, taking Avi's arm and pulling her along.
As soon as they were out of sight, Maddy sank back into the recliner and covered her face with her hands. She couldn't help the tears. She just couldn't!
………
A year ago…..
Every year, in the summer, Maddy would accompany her family to their holiday home in the mountains for a couple of months. The fresh invigorating air and the magnificent landscapes always soothed her and this time she was doubly happy.
For her best friend was coming along with them. And Avi absolutely adored being up in the mountains. Maddy smiled as she recollected Avi's reaction on obtaining her mother's consent to accompanying Maddy and her family. They would have such a wonderful time.
Little did she know that this holiday would completely change her life!
One morning, they were walking along one of the mountain trails when suddenly, Maddy slipped and fell, twisting her ankle.
She tried to keep the tears from her eyes but she was in agony. The pain was killing her.
"Maddy, lean on me," Avi instructed her, "keep the weight off that ankle. There! Now, do you have your cell phone. I left mine back at your place."
Maddy shook her head, the tears now streaming down her cheeks. "It hurts even to speak," she whispered.
Avi was wondering what she ought to do when she saw two figures walking towards them, on the same trail. She raised her arm and hailed them. As they came closer, she realised they were two boys and sighed. If only they had been adults, it would have been so much more helpful.
"What happened here?" one of the boys addressed her.
"She's twisted her ankle. We need to get her back to her house. Do you have a phone we can use to call for assistance?" Avi asked him.
"No signal up here, I'm afraid," he answered. "By the way, my name's Mayank and this is my friend Manav.
She looked at the guy he had introduced at Manav and stared. Maddy was leaning against him and saying something softly to him. Maddy! Who was always wary of speaking with strangers!!!!
"Mayank, she lives almost next door to you," Manav looked up at Mayank and then looked back at Maddy
"Oh!" said Mayank and he turned back to Avi, "and you are…?"
"She's Madhuri and I'm Avneet."
"Don't worry, we'll help you," Mayank told her and she frowned.
"We have to get her down that slope without injuring her ankle any further. How do....." she broke off seeing Manav carefully lift Maddy into his arms.
She opened her mouth to argue, then thought the better of it. Maddy was in pain. The sooner they got her back home, the better. And if these two tried any funny business, she would hit them on the head, both of them.
She looked surreptitiously around for something to hit them with and found a walking stick, a Nordic walking stick with the top a little more curved than normal. This would have to do, she told herself, and looked up straight into Mayank's eyes. An extremely amused expression on his face. "What's that for?" he asked her.
"Never you mind," she replied curtly.
"I hope you're not planning to hit us with that," he told her tongue-in-cheek.
She narrowed her eyes and walked on behind Manav and Maddy, her nose high in the air, muttering an oath under her breath as she heard an amused chuckle behind her.
…………
"Oh! Avi, wasn't he the most handsome boy ever?" Maddy gushed later, when they were in Maddy's room, tucked into their beds.
The doctor had been and he had prescribed ample rest, a pain reliever and an ankle brace, advising Maddy to keep off the ankle for a while.
The boys were duly thanked and invited to dinner the next evening. Along with Mayank's parents, whom Maddy's parents were acquainted with.
"He was not," frowned Avi. "He was argumentative, cocky and had this infuriating superior smile on his face all the time. I thought he looked quite horrid!"
Mayank had irritated her all the way back. He was such a know-it-all and to top it all, was really opinionated. Considering Avi had firm opinions on everything under the sun, they had argued all the way back. And it hadn't helped that he'd made a snide remark about the stick, as he was leaving, causing all the adults to smile. ["Avneet almost had our heads off with that stick," he told Mr. Sharma laughing, casting a sly glance at Avi]
"Please Avi," Maddy said dreamily, "his dark brown eyes, his sculpted nose, his…"
"He had light brown eyes Maddy, not dark brown," Avi retorted, shaking her head.
"Dark brown Avi," Maddy said, rolling her eyes, "I looked into his eyes the whole time he carried me back."
"Oh! Him!" Avi yawned, "I thought…"
"I thought you said he was horrid," teased Maddy, "light brown eyes, huh?"
"Oh! Shut up, light brown eyes are rather noticeable."
"If you say so," said Maddy, getting the dreamy look back into her eyes. "Manav, what a wonderful name. And he was such a gentleman, wasn't he? Such a soft voice, so well mannered, so articulate, so…."
"For god's sake Maddy" said Avi, looking appalled, "you just met him."
"and so romantic," continued Maddy, as if Avi hadn't spoken. "He told me he'd never ever seen anyone with such beautiful eyelashes. Can you imagine, Avi?"
"Oh Boy!" Avi rolled her eyes.
"And he told me my eyes are like twin stars and that my hair is as glossy as a raven's wing."
"Is a raven's wing glossy?" asked Avi, frowning. "I mean, where…"
"He lives in India. He's here on a holiday, visiting Mayank. And, we have such similar tastes, it's unbelievable. He loves roses too!"
"Loads of people love roses," Avi told her, slightly alarmed. "And remember, like poles repel." Maddy had never ever reacted like this about a guy and here, she was, eyes shining with a strange inner light, only one name on her lips….Manav! A boy she had met exactly six hours ago!
"Avi," pouted Maddy. "Stop sounding like a wet blanket."
"Someone has to be sensible here. Next thing you'll be telling me that you've fallen in love at first sight."
Maddy smiled dreamily at Avi. "Do you think I could be?"
"NO!" Avi almost shouted, causing the dreamy look to evaporate from Maddy's eyes. "A thousand times no! You hardly know him Maddy."
"Oh! But we have all summer to rectify that," Maddy told her with a wink and Avi groaned.
…….
Throughout that summer, Maddy and Manav were almost inseparable. And Avi and Mayank had to tolerate each other. And as the days went by, Avi had to admit that Manav was a really nice guy. Really really nice! The kind that a certain irritating person could learn loads from. She frowned at Mayank lying on the grass next to her and reading a book.
"Can't you go home and read? Why must you read here?"
"Can't you stop nagging me? Honestly, one would think you were my wife!"
"You're delusional!"
"And you're pretty when you're arguing," Mayank raised a finger and pushed her glasses up her nose.
"And you are always irritating," she huffed, slapping his finger away, looking around for Manav and Maddy.
"The lovebirds have flown away," he told her with a smirk and she jumped up. "I'm going to look for them."
"Suit yourself," he told her lazily, burying himself in his book.
She rolled her eyes at his book and walked off.
…….
"This has been a magical summer for me," Manav looked at Maddy, his heart in his eyes.
They were sitting by a little brook, watching the water jump over the little pebbles and stones and make its way merrily past the rushes.
"For me, as well, Manav," she replied, smiling at him.
"The first time I saw you, I just knew you were someone special. I know it sounds cheesy, but Maddy! Oh! I just can't explain this properly."
"I know what you mean, Manav," she told him. It had been so wonderful, so magical.
"And every time, we met and each time we spoke, it was like pieces of a puzzle falling into place," Manav continued.
"And now, I feel like I can read your thoughts," Maddy broke in, making him smile.
"So, what am I thinking now?" he asked her, gazing intently into her eyes.
She blushed and looked at her fingers.
He caught hold of her hand and looked at her fingers. "This is the daintiest hand in the world."
She laughed, "Oh! Manav, no one's ever said that to me before."
"You know what I love about you?" he asked her softly and her heartbeat quickened hearing the word 'love'.
"What?"
"You are so unaware of how utterly lovely you are. And that is so refreshing. And so enchanting."
"Manav, you are making me blush."
"And you care so much about everyone around you. You always take care not to hurt anyone's feelings. Everyone thinks you are a complete sweetheart."
"I think you are such a wonderful person that everyone seems so nice to you," she told him, her face a becoming pink.
"I just wish you were mine! I wish I had the right to call you my sweetheart!" he whispered quietly, looking into her eyes. Her heart stopped at the huskiness in his voice, the intensity in his eyes….
"I….I….I," she stuttered, "I…" she broke off, gazing at him mutely…
"I love you Maddy," he told her quietly and she suddenly wanted to weep. The moment was so beautiful, she wanted time to freeze, everything to stand still in witness to this wonderful moment in her life!
A tear rolled down her cheek and as he raised his hand to wipe it away, he stared at her, unable to believe she was actually saying the words he had dreamed of her saying. "I love you too, Manav," she said softly, "I feel like I've loved you forever."
He drew her into his arms, whispering in her ear and Avi, standing a few feet away from them, frozen like a deer caught in strong headlights, suddenly unfroze and tip-toed away, not wanting to disturb the sanctity of that moment.
Avi had never thought of herself as having a single romantic bone in her body but even she had to admit that Manav and Maddy were definitely wonderful together. It was almost like they were made for each other. They complimented each other so perfectly.
Of course, she still thought that everything was progressing much too fast, they had hardly known each other for a month. Still, they were sweet together and she knew Maddy was already on the way to being totally in love with Manav. Manav too, by the looks of it.
She sighed! Just because she couldn't understand it didn't mean she wasn't affected by it.
"You can sigh as well!" She rolled her eyes and glared at Mayank. "What do you mean?"
"It's a very human emotion, sighing," Mayank explained. "Didn't expect it from you."
"And I expect nothing better than these silly observations from you," she told him before flouncing off.
"Hey, wait up. Did you find the lovebirds?" he called after her.
………
"I saw you by the brook," Avi said abruptly. They were seated by the window, gazing outside. It was particularly beautiful in the night, thought Avi as she looked outside. The mountains looked so mysterious, so inviting, so….
"Oh! Avi, I can't tell you how happy I am today. Manav, he…Whatttt?" Maddy yelped as she turned to Avi.
"I'm sorry Maddy," Avi said quietly, keeping her eyes on the shadowy outlines of the mountains in the moonlight. "I was looking for you and then, I stumbled upon you guys. I was going to call out to you but…" she broke off.
Maddy pulled at Avi's arm, "You don't have to be sorry Avi. That's what I have been meaning to tell you all evening but there just wasn't an opportunity. I told him that I love him. Oh! Avi, it was such a beautiful moment!"
"Are you sure Maddy? Isn't it too soon?"
"I know what you are thinking Avi. I've racked my brains over this. But my heart is very strongly, for the very first time, telling me that Manav is the one for me. I just can't ignore that. I can't."
"I just don't want you to get hurt," said Avi softly.
"I know," said Maddy, just as softly. "And I love you for that." She leaned in and hugged Avi.
A soft clank against the window frame alerted them to a presence below. Avi looked down and rolled her eyes
"God! It's your Romeo and his nitwit friend."
Maddy leaned across and laughed, waving at Manav. Manav was signalling her to come downstairs.
"Why don't you like Mayank? He's perfectly sweet!" Maddy told her and she ignored that. She was looking curiously at Manav, climbing the Horse chestnut tree, growing close to the windows on that side of the house.
Avi laughed. "He's going to come in here, is it? Has he ever climbed this one before? He'll fall and break his bones."
Maddy glared at her and leaned out anxiously. But Manav easily pulled himself up and leaned across a branch, close enough to speak with her. "Come downstairs. You have to see what we discovered."
"We can't" Avi broke in. "Uncle and Aunty would kill us. Besides, we don't have the keys. We'll get locked out. Maddy, Maddy, what the…Maddy, come back…" Avi broke off, clutching her hair.
Maddy had stepped onto the ledge and was leaning over to grab onto the branch. Manav was helping her. Avi sighed and looked down. It seemed like a long way down. And that nitwit Mayank was smirking at her.
"Scared!" he mouthed, winking.
She ignored him. She had been shinnying up and down trees before he even knew they existed, the dork!!!! She'd show him.
Manav and Maddy were now standing below, hand in hand, beaming. Avi climbed down quickly and glared at Mayank.
"Why couldn't we have done this tomorrow?" Avi asked, hands on hips.
"There's this spot we just discovered in the mountains as we were walking after dinner and it looks heavenly in the night, especially a full moon like tonight," Manav told them. "You just have to see it."
Maddy and Manav started walking, Maddy turning to smile at Avi.
"You can go back, you know," Mayank told her, watching the play of expressions on her face. She was such a quirky mixture and so unlike the girls who threw themselves all over him, she drew his attention like no one ever had. Although to say anything to her would just result in him getting his head bitten off, he was sure.
Avi just walked on, her hands in her pockets.
Mayank grinned. This holiday was so much fun!
………
"Oh! My! God!" whispered Maddy, awestruck. They were standing on a ledge overlooking a pool, enclosed by the hills on all sides. The grassy ledges provided a wonderful contrast to the indigo tones of the pool, touched by the moonlight. The breeze caressing their cheeks had the fragrance of summer flowers, lavender and something that she couldn't put her finger on.
The moon and the stars were reflected in the smooth canvas of the pool as she gazed into it. There were little white Narcissi dotted along the borders of the pool. As she felt Manav's arm go around her shoulders, she sighed contentedly. She didn't feel like she had just met Manav. She really felt like she'd known him forever. Loved him forever. She leant against his shoulder.
"It was destiny that brought me here this summer," Manav whispered in her ear, pulling her closer when she turned to him, a radiant smile on her face. "I see my destiny before me, right here, right now."
She closed her eyes, feeling so relaxed and so at peace.
"I have something for you," Manav said softly, after a while, drawing a little package from his pocket.
"What is it?" Maddy asked as she started unwrapping the little package.
"See for yourself."
"Oh! Manav, this is so beautiful," whispered Maddy, fingering the little filigree locket with little diamonds around the tiny clasp in the side. She opened the clasp and gasped. There was a little miniature inside, Manav and her. She threw her arms around him, hugging him. "I love it Manav. Thank you so much."
.........
"What are you thinking about?" Mayank asked Avi, who was staring into the pool as if it held answers to the most important questions in the world.
"I'm worried," she said quietly, not looking at him, "about them. Isn't it too soon? Maddy's walking a path of no return. I know her. She'll be heartbroken if something goes wrong."
"Aren't you the optimist?" Mayank curved his hand around her shoulder, surprised she wasn't pushing him away. She really was worried, he realised.
"Manav is one of my dearest friends," he said softly. I've never seen him like this. He is truly in love with Maddy. He'll never hurt her, never."
"I hope you're right, Mayank," she said softly, turning her attention to the beauty before her.
……......
A month later...
"Where is he Mayank?" Avi asked Mayank angrily. "What is the meaning of this letter?" She waved a letter at him.
"I can't tell you anything," Mayank told her quietly. "I promised Manav I wouldn't."
Avi was growing more and more furious by the moment. "Maddy is at home, crying her eyes out. Manav doesn't reply to her emails, he's changed his phone numbers, what the hell's going on?"
"Tell Maddy to forget about Manav," Mayank said quietly.
Avi caught Mayank's arm and looked at him. "I knew I was right about you the very first time I met you. Spoilt, rich, arrogant, heartless….And Manav turned out just like you. What was it? Some kind of bet? Some kind of holiday romance? You are Sick"
"Call me whatever you want? Just tell Maddy to forget Manav."
Avi felt the tears come to her eyes. "She's so listless. She doesn't eat properly, sleep properly, she's a shadow of her former self. Mayank," her voice almost broke and she hated herself for it. "Please, he needs to tell her why he's ending this, at the very least. He needs to speak to her. This is killing her….and me, as well. I can't see her like this."
Mayank looked at her, his eyes glinting, "See, Avi,…"
"Don't call me Avi," she said sharply.
"Okay! Avneet, he's written her that letter hasn't he? He doesn't want to continue this anymore. It was nice while it lasted and now he doesn't feel the same way. Maddy needs to get over this and move on."
"You told me he would never hurt her," she told him, accusation and pain in her voice.
"There's really no point in continuing this conversation. You have to tell Maddy to move on."
"Congratulations," she threw at him, her eyes glittering with fury. "And you can tell Manav that from me as well. This doesn't end here, you know. Your time will come. And Manav too. I hope you have your heart broken some day. If Manav is guilty of breaking Maddy's heart, you are equally guilty of aiding and abetting him. You disgust me. I hate you. And Manav. I will never ever forgive or forget this. The world is a small place and someday, our paths will cross again. I shall wait for that day!"
"Are you quite finished?" Mayank's voice was sharp and dismissive, "I have work to do."
She walked away, angry and helpless tears in her eyes. Maddy was in pain and she couldn't help. She resolved to be with Maddy, every waking moment. Time would cure all, she hoped. Time and friends….
Mayank watched her walk away, his eyes bleak. "My time has already come," he whispered as she walked away. "So has Manav's!"
…………...
Present
Maddy walked into the Juneja house, pasting a smile on her face. As hard as this was, she had decided to come and give the package Meera's Mum had sent, to Mrs. Juneja. If Avi came, there was no doubt she would again lose her temper with Mayank.
Mrs. Juneja caught sight of her and waved her over, smiling. She walked over, looking at the beautiful decorations, all around her.
….......
"I still think you should have told Maddy," Prem told Mayank, his eyes worried.
"Manav swore me to secrecy. There was no way I would have broken my word," Mayank looked up from the book he was reading, lounging on the recliner in Prem's room. "And at the time, there was really no hope. I didn't agree with keeping the news from her but Manav was so adamant and I didn't have the heart to argue with him then."
"He looked so much better yesterday, didn't he. It gives me hope now," said Prem meeting Mayank's eyes.
"I hope so Prem," Mayank said fervently, "I hope so."
"Do you think we should tell Maddy now?" asked Prem.
"Manav doesn't want to. The doctors are still not confident this new drug will help cure him long term. It's just a short breakthrough. He doesn't want her sympathy. He wants her to find someone who can give her the happiness she deserves. His words, not mine."
"She still loves him, you know."
Mayank nodded. "I know. She's the only one who's still civil to me. And that's what makes it all the more heartbreaking for me. I want to tell her but I am bound by Manav's word. It's been hell for me as well!"
"When the truth is out, Avi will forgive you, you know. She'll understand, Mayank," Prem told him soothingly. He knew Mayank was tortured by Avi's dislike.
"I wish she wouldn't hate me so much," Mayank whispered. "I've thought about her every day this past year. I don't think I can ever forget her."
"It'll all be okay," Prem patted him on the shoulder. "Manav's getting better, and slowly, everything will be alright."
"That's true," Mayank said. "Initially, everything was so bleak. With Manav being diagnosed with CRD, with me fearing every moment that he would die, being unable to focus on my studies, seeing Maddy being so hurt and being unable to say or do anything, Avi hating me so much….Prem, if you hadn't been there, I don't know what I would have done."
"I'm sure things will only get better now Mayank. Don't worry."
"I saw the first smile on his face after almost a year, Prem," Mayank continued softly, "when the doctors said that they now think there might be some hope."
"And this thing with Maddy just took the fight out of him completely. He knew he was going to die and he wanted Maddy to just move on with life. He figured this way she'd just start hating him and it would be easier for her to move on."
"You didn't tell him how much Maddy still loves him!" The soft sad voice had them whipping their heads around.
Maddy was standing there, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Maddy," Prem spoke softly, "come in and sit down. Listen to us."
"Maddy," Mayank said quietly, "I..I…"
"Where is he Mayank? Prem? Tell me where he is? Please," she asked, her voice trembling.
"I'll take you," said Mayank. "Prem, you stay here. You can't come out right now. I'll take care of it."
Mayank caught Maddy's arm gently and walked out with her, filling her in on everything else that she'd missed hearing.
Maddy couldn't control her tears. Manav was ill, fatally ill, a rare disease that affected the central nervous system, a disease without any cure…the tears fell faster. Why hadn't he told her? She could have flown down and been with him this whole year. They had wasted so much time. He couldn't die! She wouldn't let him. She just wouldn't.
Hadn't Mayank just spoken about a breakthrough. She would not give up. Together, Manav and she could weather this. She fingered the locket he had given her, a year ago, at that beautiful spot in the mountains. She had never stopped loving him. A part of her had always believed something had been wrong. A part of her had always held on to the hope that Manav would return and explain everything. After all this, fate couldn't be so cruel as to take him away again.
She would see Manav again in just a few moments. And he still loved her. That was all that mattered. She didn't care what fate had in store for them as long as they were together. Bound by the unbreakable threads of love!
"Where are you going with him, Maddy?" Avi came running towards them. She had realised Maddy had gone off with the package and had come to intercept her. She didn't want Mayank upsetting Maddy. But, it looked like she was too late. "Why are you crying Maddy?"
"Avi, just come along," Maddy sniffed, "I'll tell you everything."
……….
Hulchul Hui
Zara Shor Hua
Dil Chor Hua
Teri Ore Hua
The celebrations were on, full swing. It was the night before the wedding. Everyone was in high spirits. Prem's nephew and niece, Tannu and Vikas were entertaining everyone by dancing to 'Ishq Hua'. Tannu was pretending to blush like Meera and Vikas was acting like Prem. They were so adorable.
Hulchul Hui
Zara Shor Hua
Dil Chor Hua
Teri Ore Hua
Maddy laughed. She couldn't stop smiling. Apart from the fact that she loved that song, she had her Manav back with her.
She glanced at him to find him looking at her, a little smile in his eyes. She had cried, shouted at him, cried again and finally ended up in his arms. He had tried to explain why he had kept the news from her but she had silenced him.
They had wasted enough time. Now they would only be happy and think about the present. Not the past, not the future. Just the present…
Aisi Chali Jab Hawa
Ishq Hua Hi Hua!
"I've said some pretty awful things to you. I'm sorry. But I still think it was wrong to keep the news from her," Avi said seriously, looking straight into Mayank's eyes.
"I know that. But I couldn't have broken my word to Manav," he told her quietly.
She nodded. "I feel so ashamed of the way I've treated you. I'm just.."
"No, you didn't know," Mayank told her, "it's not your fault. Can we just put this all behind us and start afresh. Friends?" He held his hand out.
She smiled, the smile reaching her eyes, as she held out her hand and shook his firmly.
Ishq Hua….!!!
Mayank glanced at her and then away. Friendship was a good beginning.
……….
Hope you liked it Maddy. I think it's rather silly. But, now it's too late to write another shot:((
Have a marvellous day and send us some cake😆
The references to CRD are all made up. No such thing.
And, P.S. I haven't proofed just before posting, so please pardon any grammatical, formatting etc errors. It's past 3 a.m. and I feel rather sluggish now. I'll come edit in the morning.
Loads of BBB hugs:)
Love:-Nonee
Udne Ki Aasha
Cricket
