I am aware this chapter might not be my best, but nevertheless it is an important one. It is also more of a filler for the story.

Also, I understand everyone wants to read Manik and Ruhi and tbh, I have a lot planned for them too but it doesn't come any sooner. It is going to take time  but there's a lot of stuff. So worry not, please.

And Enjoy Reading! It is probably a long one.

"No - like why are they here?"

Manik whined for the nth time, eyeing his siblings who were sitting at the backseat. With their Mehndi and Sangeet being only weeks away, the elders didn't want them to waste time. The preparations were starting to pick up the pace already.

They had planned to shop today. It was more of an outing with him, Nandini and Ruhi alone but of course, Soha and Cabir wanted to accompany and even though Manik sulked at the interruption, his mother's one glare was enough for him to accept his fate.

"It is okay, Manik." Nandini tried to console him but she didn't look sad at all. Instead he caught her smiling. It only made him sulk more.

He rolled his eyes when Cabir passed a comment about it. And when Soha opened her mouth to say something, he saw it from the front mirror and turned the music on high volume making her shut her mouth in an instance.

Nandini looked at him with wide eyes. Manik could be mean too.

She knew he was stubborn, and childish. Having seen it herself when he had asked Ananya to return him the golden bracelet in front of the whole family - making sure to tell her it was not for her but to actually be this rude, it was definitely a first.

"Meanie." She mumbled under her breath, flushing red in embarrassment when Manik turned to her suddenly.

"I am not. They ruined our plan!" Manik tried to defend himself, upset that she called him mean but Nandini shook her head.

"You were really mean to Soha." Nandini told him calmly. She felt bad for the girl who didn't even get to say anything. She was sure, even though Soha pretended to roll her eyes afterwards, she was hurt,"I know you two fought but that's what siblings do all the time. You are older, shouldn't you be forgiving?"

Manik let out a sigh but didn't say anything. Few more minutes and he turned down the volume. Few more minutes, and he gave a look behind.

"Soha, what were you saying?" He ignored the smile from Nandini and amusement on Cabir's face.

"Huh?"

Soha blinked in surprise. Did her brother just turn down the volume and asked her to speak whatever he didn't even want to hear a moment ago? Probably he did.

"Nandini says it was mean of me to not let you talk. So talk now."

Nandini let out a gasp, hitting his shoulder for she didn't expect him to take her name this way. She turned to look at Soha who was staring at her.

"I- I just -" She tried to justify.

"Nandini, it is okay. I was mean." Manik was not even sure why he was acknowledging it but he was. It didn't feel like he did anything wrong either. He enjoyed the look on their faces even.

"At least you know how to accept your mistake." The taunt was clear in her tone.

"Soha -"

"It is okay, Cabir," Manik blinked,"And ofcourse Soha, I am an elder so I do know how to accept my mistake unlike some spoiled brat."

Manik was no less. Nandini shook her head in disbelief and smiled weakly when Cabir asked her to let them bicker and how it was completely normal in their home.

Apparently, Manik and Soha didn't get along well.

When Manik stopped the car infront of the shopping centre, Cabir and Soha were the first one to get down. Seeing them, Ruhi stood up in Nandini's lap on her wobbly legs, and tapped on the window, sticking her whole face to the glass with a pout.

"Luhi out." She whined and then slapped the window again with her tiny hand,"Mumma luhi out! Out!"

Manik laughed out loud while Nandini only shook her head in disbelief at her antics.

"Calm down, lady" Nandini's voice dripped down with sarcasm which the little one didn't notice,"We are getting down."

"Mumma fasht!"

Nandini chuckled, getting down and Manik followed. To their surprise, Ruhi demanded to be put down and the moment her little feet touched the ground, she was waddling her way to Cabir with her eager and wobbly steps.

"Tabil Tachu,"

"I swear nobody has made fun of my name that way ever!" Cabir laughed and picked her up. He bumped her nose with his playfully,,"Aren't you one cute little devil?"

"Luhi'sh an angel." She pouted.

"Ofcourse," he smiled,"What does this angel want?"

"Luhi wantsh to do in!"

"Ruhi, we are going in bacha." Nandini said from behind but Ruhi shook her head.

"Mumma and Manit shlow. Luhi wantsh fasht."

It was Soha who snorted first and Cabir who laughed second. Nandini stared at her wide eyed and so did Manik.

"You!"

"Tachuu goo! Mumma is shcaly"

And everybody laughed except Nandini who could yet again just shake her head in disbelief. From where did her innocent daughter learn all this? She had no idea.

"Okay, We will go inside first," Cabir's eyes turned mischievous as he glanced at the two of them,"You both can come slow."

"Cabir!"

Manik warned. But it didn't really affect Cabir because the three were already walking in.

"Why are they so close already?"

Nandini shrugged with a chuckle as Manik looked at their retreating figures with a pout. Apparently, Manik was bad with kids, and Cabir was just the opposite.

They followed behind, slow and taking their own time resulting in losing their sight once inside.

They did try to find them but couldn't.. Nandini didn't mind to her own surprise.

That's why when minutes later, Manik pulled her into a corner where there were less people, Nandini looked at him with wide and shy eyes instead of panic.

"Manik! What are you doing?"

Manik chuckled,"Mhm, last time, someone taught me something. So I am thinking if I should try to do it now?"

He was bluffing, was what Nandini thought first but when he leaned down, her wide eyes widened further and Manik smirked.

"Manik!"

"Yeah," He leaned down some more,"Tell me?"

More. And more until their lips were just an inch apart. Nandini closed her eyes, waiting for the kiss and Manik leaned down, their lips almost brushing before a cough from behind startled them.

Nandini's eyes jerked open and the next second she had pushed him away with a palm against his chest, brutally.

And there stood Soha, Cabir and Ruhi all in their glory.

"What wele you doing?" Ruhi asks innocently.

Manik was still catching his breath,"Nothing. Mumma had something on her cheek, I was just removing it for her, Ruhi."

"Oh" Ruhi nodded as if she understood.

Manik smiled, facing Cabir who's shoulders were shaking - an almost failing attempt to hold in his laughter.

"Okay Okay, sorry," he grinned,"We were just hungry."

Manik rolled his eyes. Ofcourse, Cabir and hunger were best friends. He looked down at his watch before looking up,"Cabir, it is not even twenty minutes we came here, you are hungry already?"

"But it is not only me!" Cabir whined.

"It is okay," Nandini stared at them all, and then at Manik,"Let's go and eat first if everyone's hungry?"

Manik nodded. Everyone agreed too. They had taken only a step ahead when Nandini bumped into Soha - something fell down with a soft thud and Nandini bent down to pick it up muttering a sorry.

It was a locket. A heart shaped locket which had opened up when it fell. Nandini frowned at images that stared back at her. A couple and a younger child which she believed was Soha.

"It is mine!" Soha snatched it from her hand the next moment.

"That - "

"Shut up!"

Soha snapped and walked away. Cabir just muttered an apology on her behalf before he walked behind her, asking her to stop. Nandini turned to Manik who just sighed.

"It is -"

"Her parents?" She concluded,"And they were not Niyonika aunty and Raj uncle?"

Manik shook his head in no.

"Soha and Cabir-" Manik paused, trying to come up with the right words as he stared at his hand on the table,"they are not my real siblings. In fact, they aren't real siblings either."

"Is that why you three don't get along?" Nandini should have guessed it. It was so clear from the way the three didn't even look like each other. And then, she remembered many moments where Manik and Soha bickered, all in a negative way. It was Cabir who went behind Soha always, and he only went behind her, always.

Nandini did find it weird, because Soha and Cabir seemed more close. Even when Soha crossed the line, it was Cabir who corrected her first.

Manik nodded,"Kind of yes. Dad's younger brother, my uncle, he was a nice man. Aunt liked visiting orphanages. She used to do a lot of charity, so after she died in a road accident, uncle continued to do it. He met Soha during one of the visits. She was six, abandoned by her parents. They had no money to grow her up. Uncle and Soha, they bonded well. She was a cute child," Manik chuckled,"I mean me, Cabir and Soha. We three have so many memories together. We were close."

"Then what went wrong?" Nandini couldn't help but wonder.

"Everything." Manik let out a sigh,"Uncle had to go abroad for business. Dad was supposed to go but because I fell sick suddenly. So Uncle told him to stay behind and said that he would go. He did, it was a successful trip but then the plane crashed and he didn't survive."

Manik looked down in sadness. In the initial days, he blamed himself, his sickness but he knew death was inevitable. It could come anytime, anywhere and in any form.

Nandini didn't know what to say to console him either. She kept her hand over his and pressed it in assurance.

"Mom and Dad adopted them legally. They were only nine and ten. But Soha couldn't move on. She distanced herself from everyone, especially me."

"Does she - she blames you?"

"No, she never did, at least verbally, never. Maybe a small part of her did blame me back then? I don't know."

It explained. Nandini found it rather childish, to blame one's fate on someone else but she understood how Soha must have felt. Losing a family once drives you crazy, and Soha lost twice at such a tender age.

"Did you ever try to talk to her?" Nandini asked.

"Yes, a lot of times actually. But I gave up soon. She is sensitive about the topic so I don't want to hurt her."

"But her blaming you is wrong."

"I know. And It is not like she blames me entirely. She understands. It is just that she was a kid, and we grew apart."

Nandini nodded, upset seeing him so down. It made her upset too. Smile made him look good and sadness? It didn't suit him at all. Nandini liked him the most when he was happy.

She looked back at the table where Cabir and Soha sat. Cabir had taken Ruhi too, stating they would cheer up Soha. Ruhi didn't seem to have any problem, infact she wouldn't stop talking even when her words became all jumbled up.

It made her realise, Ruhi indeed was an extrovert child. Nandini didn't even know. She never realised.

"It is okay, Manik." She said, looking back at him,"It happens. You know, like me and Ananya? We were the best sisters. We did everything together, we shopped on weekends, went to movies together and danced to silly songs." Nandini smiled, a fond smile which made him smile too. He could picture it. Nandini laughing, reacting to a movie - which made him realise he had never taken her to one - and laughing on silly songs as she said.

Damn, his heart just skipped a beat.

"And then?"

The smile faded away from her face, and sadness took over her eyes,"Then I got married. We hardly met, and when we did, we weren't just like earlier. And then the divorce happened, so much changed. Ananya was not the same, nor was I. We just grew apart too?"

"And now you both hardly talk?"

Nandini nodded with a chuckle, waving a hand away,"She is high on emotions. She will come around."

"I am sure." He smiled,"Com'on let's not be sad and do what we are here for?"

Nandini didn't get to answer, for Manik was already standing up. He held her hand, pulling her out of the chair and dragged her across the place, to the other table where the three sat laughing on something.

Nandini really didn't complain when Manik shook his head once again, rejecting yet another beautiful outfit. It was pretty lavender and Nandini pouted because the outfit was so beautiful but according to Manik it didn't fit the vibrant decorations and theme of their Mehndi and Sangeet ceremony.

Nandini was going to buy it anyways, might come in handy to wear it somewhere in future.

"I will try the green one then?" She suggested.

"Nope, it is too typical."

Nandini let out a hum, eyes roaming around and then suddenly she looked back at him. Manik had a teasing smile on his face as his eyes rested on his phone screen.

"Manik?"

"Yeah?" Manik looked up and Nandini read the mischief clear in his eyes. Ofcourse, he was having fun.

"How about this multicolor one? Should I try this one?"

"Yeah, that's pretty. Try it."

With a nod, Nandini walked into the trial room to try the fifth outfit and when she came out, Manik looked at her with wide heart eyes. She knew she didn't have to try another.

The lehnga was actually beautiful. She had only meant to tease him. With the pink blouse, and the bottom having almost all the colors - purple, red, orange, yellow and others, it was a perfect fit for the ceremony.

"Is this okay?" She wondered out loud.

"Okay? This looks perfect, Nandini. I love it!"

Nandini nodded, walking to the mirror and smiled to herself. She did look beautiful. She twirled half way, and looked back at Manik.

"Should we buy this?"

"Yeah, if you want to."

"Okay, I will take this one," She declared,"Let's select yours now?"

And the smile that Nandini offered him, only made him rethink his decision of teasing her.

"How about this?"

"No."

"This one -"

"No."

"T-"

"No."

"Nandini!"

Manik whined, eyes wide and face flushed. Did she just made him try seven outfits only to say no to the seventh one without even looking up from her phone screen? He was starting to sweat in the winter season now.

"Yes?" Nandini replied innocently, looking up at him with a smile.

"You are having fun, aren't you?"

Manik gritted his teeth, faking the anger and took a step forward but stopped in between when Nandini suddenly stood up - wide eyes filled with fear stared back at him.

"I-I was only kidding, S-Sorry."

Manik's heart clenched in the most painful way as she avoided his eyes. She had her phone clenched near her chest while the other was closed in a fist and visibly shaking.

Manik took a step forward but she whimpered, taking another step back. Her heart hammered inside her chest and Nandini could hardly breath. Fuck, she messed up.

Fuck. Manik looked angry. So angry. She made him angry. The thought only made tears brim in her eyes.

"S-Sorry." She mumbled again, to make sure he heard her.

Manik just shook his head in return. He couldn't utter a word. The lump in his throat wouldn't let him say anything. Hurt was visible on his face but more than that there was disappointment shining in his eyes.

Was this the trust he had managed to establish?

Did she think he would hit her in public?

Manik was just so disappointed, at himself, at the whole situation they were in. At the fucking bastard of a human who ruined her to this extent that she couldn't even enjoy simple moments she deserved to.

Manik's hate for that man had only intensified further.

To his luck, at the same time Ruhi came there running followed by Soha and Cabir. Ruhi had a lipstick in her hand and Soha was asking her to hand it back.

"Nandini, she won't give me my lipstick." Soha huffed. Ruhi only went behind Nandini and giggled loudly.

As if granted the chance, Nandini looked down at Ruhi. She bend down to her height and took the lipstick from her.

"Ruhi, bacha you shouldn't touch anyone's stuff like that. That's bad manners."

"Sholly Mumma."

"It's okay baby, say sorry to Soha."

Ruhi did, holding her ears and turning to Soha who couldn't help the small smile on her face. Ruhi was adorable.

"By the way, why were you two standing so serious?" Cabir noticed the tense air between them.

"It is nothing. Let's go."

"But the outfits?"

"I didn't like any."

With that Manik walked out of the shop, of the mall probably and all Nandini could do was stare at the floor with tears in her eyes.

"Nandini? Everything okay?" Cabir asked, worried.

"Y-Yes, ofcourse," She blinked back the tears,"You both should go too, we can visit another mall tomorrow?"

"And how will you both go back?" Soha asked.

"I will call my driver."

"Sure?"

Nandini nodded and the two walked out too. Nandini had to clear up the mess, make the salesgirl understand they didn't like any outfit or they would visit again. She apologised and walked out of the mall.

Nandini had only taken a step outside when her phone pinged. She looked at the message immediately, thinking it would be Manik, only to be proven wrong.

Instead, an unfamiliar number stared at her, with the same familiar words.

"Let's meet. I have something to talk about."

And there, her heart stopped beating.