Tales of the Heart

Chapter 24

The current of time flows, the wheel of time never stops. That's how the entire week passed. 

Manik was successful in his work. The conference went better than he had expected. Today he was coming back home from Delhi. Sid and Avneet had planned a small party for his returning and also for his success. It's a small celebration as Manik didn't like gatherings. They would have a big party but his hospital would be arranging that.

It was past 11 and Manik didn't reach yet which he should have.

"Di, why bhai is not back yet? It's 11.30 already. Did you talk to him?" Avneet was getting impatient and continuously checking her watch.

Nandini was thinking the same. "I don't know. His flight must be late. He is not picking up the call either."

They were trying to call Manik that's when the doorbell rang. Nandini went to open the door. There he was standing with the drool worthy smile on his face. Manik Malhotra. A smile appeared on Nandini's face too seeing him. 

"Welcome back, bhai. Oops! Dr. Manik Malhotra." Avneet shouted from Nandini's back.

"Yes, welcome to your home slash chamber." Sid too joined her.

Manik nodded in disbelief. "You guys are too much!" He came inside and hugged Nandini.

Nandini too hugged him back. "How are you?"

Avneet and Sid hooted from back. "Ooooo!!!"

"Manik bhai, you can go to your room with di and continue your romance." Avneet smirked.

"Yes. We won't mind that but don't ruin our vision with these adult scenes." Sid passed a goofy smile to them.

Manik and Nandini both felt shy hearing them. Nandini hurriedly came out of Manik's hold. "I'll go and call mumma. She didn't hear maybe." Then she didn't wait there even a second and ran away.

"I'm tired. I'll come after taking a shower." Manik too left for his room.

But Sid held him before he could go. "We're not letting you go."

"I'm gone today!" Manik made a bad face.

Sid and Avneet laughed seeing him.

The sun had gone behind the dawn. The birds were returning to their homes and cold air was blowing was all around.

KAPOOR  HOUSE
Nandini and Avneet were not in their home. They were at Manik's place. Sanjay has come back in the morning and it's already evening. He has been waiting for them since then but they didn't seem to have any plan to come back anytime soon. They being in Malhotra House was making Sanjay more and more angry. 

"Uff! All the time, they're at that middle class fellow's place. No! It can't go on like this forever. I need to do something as soon as possible. I have to do something to get them back home. I can't let go of such a big opportunity for these people."

Sanjay said to himself and got ready. He called his driver and drove  away from there. 

MALHOTRA   HOUSE
Neelima prepared snacks for all of them. She got them in the hall where all of them were sitting. "Here you go. I've made hot wings for you all."

"Give them to me first." Avneet jumped out of her place and took the plate from her hand.

Sid held the other side of the plate. "Give some to us too. Don't finish everything alone."