An Arranged Journey To Forever

Part 96

"Hello," said the voice on the other end of the line.

"Hello? Who is this?" Cabir asked, his brows furrowing in concern.

"Mr. Cabir, we tried reaching Radhika's mother, but she did not pick up. Radhika is unwell—she has vomited multiple times and is calling for you, crying inconsolably. Could you please come and pick her up?"

Cabir didn't need to hear more. He was already rushing toward his car, his heart pounding with worry. Within twenty to twenty-five minutes, he arrived at the resort where the camp was being held. He didn't have to search for long; Radhika was sitting at the entrance with her teacher, waiting for him. The moment she spotted him, she ran toward him, her small arms outstretched. He scooped her up instantly.

"Are you okay, sweetheart?" Cabir asked, his voice thick with concern.

"No, Dad, I want to go home," Radhika murmured, burying her face into his chest. He held her close, offering the comfort she desperately needed, and then turned to the teacher.

"Thank you for taking care of her," he said sincerely before heading back to the car.

Soon, they arrived at the Malhotra Mansion. Since it was a Sunday, the entire family was at home.

"Chachi!" Radhika's voice rang with relief and excitement as she spotted Nandini sitting on the couch with Nyonika.

Nandini's face lit up the moment she heard Radhika's voice. She extended her arms, and Radhika ran into them.

"Hi, baby," Nandini greeted warmly, smoothing Radhika's hair.

"I missed you, Chachi. But how come you're home early?" Radhika asked, playing with the tassels of Nandini's kurti.

"I was missing you too, so I decided to come early," Nandini replied, making Radhika smile brightly.

Before they could say more, Navya entered the room, her expression one of shock and disbelief. "Radhika? What are you doing here?"

Radhika turned to face her mother, hesitating before speaking. "Mom, I—"

But before she could explain, she glanced at Cabir, unsure of what to say.

Navya's eyes flashed with anger as she turned to Cabir. "You brought her back? Before the camp was even over? Cabir, why can't you listen to me for once? What is your problem with our daughter? I am her mother—I know what's best for her! Why can't you let her enjoy her life? If she were your real daughter, would you still have done this?" she blurted, her voice echoing through the hall.

A stunned silence followed as everyone in the room processed her words.

"Navya! For God's sake, Radhika is standing right here! Do you even realize what you're saying?" Nandini scolded, pulling the confused child closer to her.

Radhika looked up at Nandini, her innocent eyes filled with uncertainty. "Chachi, what does 'real daughter' mean? Am I not real?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Nandini shot Navya a warning glare before gently redirecting Radhika. "Sweetheart, why don't you go upstairs and see Manik? He's awake."

Obediently, Radhika nodded and walked away, but the tension in the room remained thick.

"Go on, Navya. Say it," Cabir said, his voice calm but laced with frustration. "Tell me, what exactly is the issue with you?"

Navya crossed her arms, her voice bitter. "You really don't know? The problem is that in this house, we are always treated as second-class. No matter how much you all deny it, we are never given the same rights as others. And it's evident. Cabir, no matter what happens, you will never be considered equal, and it's clear to me now."

Nyonika, who had been silently observing, finally spoke. "What exactly have we done to make you feel this way, Navya?"

Cabir sighed, shaking his head. "Let it go, Mom. She's too blinded by her own misconceptions to understand right now. Navya, OUR daughter—your daughter—was unwell. I got a call and went to pick her up. That's it. But if you think I did something wrong, then fine. Just give her the necessary medicines, if you even think that's the right thing to do."

Without another word, Cabir turned on his heel and left the house. Nyonika, concerned about Nandini, took her along to her room, not wanting Navya's outburst to affect her further.

Meanwhile, Navya stood in the corridor, calling out for Radhika. "Sweetheart, come here."

"Yes, Mom?" came Radhika's faint voice from her room.

Navya entered and sat beside her, giving her the necessary medicines before tucking her in for a nap. She didn't dwell on the argument anymore, choosing instead to focus on her daughter's well-being.

Elsewhere in the mansion, Manik was pacing angrily on the balcony. "What the hell is wrong with her? She needs to have a serious talk with me."

"No, Manik. That will only complicate things further," Nandini reasoned as she sat on the swing.

Manik ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "You know what, Nandini? This is just the beginning. Things will only get messier in the future. She's going to create problems, and you can't always just let her be."

"I know," Nandini admitted, sighing. "But this isn't the right time. And honestly, why are we even talking about her? Let's talk about me instead." She flashed him a playful smile, trying to lighten the mood.

Manik sighed, his anger melting slightly at her expression. "Stop being so adorable."

"I can't help it, Manik. It's natural," Nandini teased, getting up to grab her scrunchie from the coffee table. She pulled her hair into a bun, only to turn around and find Manik staring at her, frozen in place.

"What?" she asked, chuckling at his expression. "Hello, Mr. Statue?" She poked his chest playfully, but he didn't even blink. The next second, he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into a deep, passionate kiss.

When he finally pulled away, she laughed. "Wow, the statue suddenly came to life, huh?"

Manik smirked but said nothing. Nandini wiped the smudge of pink lipstick from the corner of his lips, her fingers lingering against his skin.

No matter how chaotic the world around them was, as long as they had each other, everything felt perfect.