Love will Find The way

Chapter 18- Birthday Surprise

Few Days Later

"Shot Ok" Cabir said and has cut the scene. "Thank God Cabir is happy for everything now, I can't even imagine how sad he was when none of us were actually took the project seriously" Manik said to Aryaman. "Ha, I've troubled you all so much" Aryaman said. "No, not at all, we are all happy that you are back" Manik said. "I had to and that's the only wish Tara has asked me for. This project is so special for me also, for all the right reasons of course" Aryaman said. "But I think Cabir jaldi naaraz hone wala hai" Aryaman said looking around. "Kyu?" Manik asked clueless. "Because someone is on sets and someone is going to get lost in her" Manik looked back to find Siya.

"Siya! How come you're on set today?" he asked surprised as Siya is not a person who would visit like that. "I had to come, mujhe sabko invite jo karna hai tere birthday party mein" Siya said. "Oh come on, ye party zaruri hai kya? You know I would love to celebrate my birthday with you, only you, just the two of us" Manik said smiling. "I know but" Siya was about to speak but he cut her off. "PR ki stunt Dhruv ne kaha hoga na" he said. "Aisa nahi but saal mein ek baar aata hai, we will all have a reason to celebrate you" Siya made an excuse for covering up Dhruv and his marketing skills.

"Ok I understand" he takes her to his vanity. Navya snd Cabir explains the next scene to Nandini. "Ye scene lunch ke baad hoga na, I'm already starving" Nandini said. "Of course, I know you won't even concentrate on the scene if not" Cabir teased Nandini. "Hey guys" Siya came there along with Manik. "Hi Siya" Nandini got up from her chair and gave a warm hug to Siya. "Wow, I've never seen you on sets since you are back, but what brings you in today" Nandini asked as they were all surprised to see Siya. She came back few days ago but never came there.

"Yes guys, it's Manik's birthday tomorrow and I wanted to invite you all personally to the party" she said. ''Oh, we all will be there at the venue tomorrow'' Aryaman said. ''Thank you all guys'' Siya. ''So you're not going to invite us, Mr. Malhotra?'' Aryaman asked. ''Of course, though the birthday is mine, party is Siya's. I want you all to be there'' Manik said. Siya excused herself from there as she got a phone call. ''Birthday boy, plans kya hai tumhara?'' Aryaman asked Manik. ''Koi special plans nahi hai, just the birthday party'' Manik said. ''Ok, I think I'll have to leave now, Siya must be waiting, I'll send her home'' Manik went out to look for Siya. ''Sabko invite kar diya na, chalein?'' Manik asked. ''Sure'' she said and Manik walked her till the car. ''Aryaman kaisa hai ab? Is he fine?'' Siya asked. ''Yes he is. It is tough but usko move on karna hi hoga'' Manik said. ''With Tara's death, everything is on toll there also. Police case hua Rajesh uncle par'' Siya said. ''Maybe he deserves it, anyway we all know he can come out using his fame, power and money'' Manik said. 

''Kya hua, Manik kuch interested nahi lag raha hai?'' Nandini asked Aryaman. ''Aise birthdays Dhruv PR stunt, publicity ke liye kar raha hai. Isliye Manik aisa hai'' he explained her. ''Then why he is doing this, he can quit if he doesn't want to'' Nandini said. ''Wo ye sab Siya ke liye kar raha hai, Manik ki biggest weakness, Siya aur Dhruv hai'' Aryaman said. ''Oops, maine Manik ke secrets tumhe bata raha hu, I hope you don't harm him'' Aryaman stopped while walking. ''How can I mean any harm to Manik or Siya? You're so mean yeah'' Nandini said. ''Jab maine mere secrets share kiya tumhare saath, tumne kya kiya?'' Aryaman asked her. ''Aryaman, I'm sorry, I didn't know Tara aur tere beech'' Nandini said but Aryaman interrupted her. ''I was just kidding, agar tum nahi hoti mujhe kabhi pata nahi hota Tara ke baare mein'' Aryaman thanked her. ''And I don't regret anything from the past, maybe iss janam me hum ek sath nahi ho sakte'' Aryaman felt sad. 

Siya called Manik. ''I thought why don't we go on a special dinner tonight. Will you come over?'' Siya asked him. ''Finally, are we going on a date?'' Manik asked excited. ''Oh, did I said that?'' Siya teased him. ''Of course, we should go'' Manik said. ''Dinner date matlab, we can have a special moment at my place'' she said. Manik readily agreed and went to see her. By the time he went there, she made all the arrangements for dinner in the garden. Siya wore a saree and came down from the stairs as Manik saw her. She suddenly reminded him of Nandini walking down as a bride. For a second Manik thought its Nandini and was about to utter her name when Siya touched him. He came back to present at that moment. He was scared at the thought of Nandini when he is with Siya. ''What do you think we should do now?'' Siya asked him. ''Let's watch our first movie tonight'' he answered without a second thought. Manik was scared as he thought he might take Nandini's name in front of Siya. ''Ok, let's call it a movie date then'' Siya readily agreed. 

''Manik wait, It's almost 12....4, 3, 2 and ...1....Happy Birthday'' said Siya hugging Manik. ''Thank you'' Manik reciprocated. ''I was afraid that if I can't make till your birthday this year, but see here I'm I, only for you'' Siya said. She came near him and the distance between them grew closer. Siya was about to seal his lips with hers but Manik felt choking. Siya was alert as he choked. ''Excuse me!'' he said and went to use restroom. ''Manik, kya hua tujhe? Why I'm I seeing Nandini in Siya? Oh God!'' Manik was worried. He came out after a while. ''Are you okay?'' she asked him. ''Yes I'm, you please go to bed now, I'll sleep in a while now'' he made an excuse and came out of her room. He wandered there cluelessly as he cannot say that he can't sleep. 

Manik went inside the room after a while and she was fast asleep. Manik looked at her face. Her innocent sleepy face made him smile. ''Ye smile ke liye main kuch bhi karunga'' he thought. Siya woke up and saw Manik sitting on the sofa. She looked at her watch. ''Tum kab uth gaye?'' Siya asked him. ''Just few minutes ago, did I wake you up?'' Manik asked. ''No it's fine'' Siya said and wished him happy birthday again. Manik went home after bidding bye to her. Nyonika and Mukti were waiting at home to wish Manik. They teased him as he stayed with Siya. ''Akhir mere bahu tumhe ab tho chod diya, Tho ab ghar ki yaad aayi?'' Nyonika asked him. ''Mom, aisa kuch nahi hai'' Manik was explaining her. ''Manik, yaha koi tumhara explanation sunenge nahi, you know'' Abhimanyu said. ''Anyway happy birthday my friend'' Abhimanyu hugged. ''Hugs tho hogaye honge Manik aur Siya ka, haina Manik, or do you still have patience to hug us! You must be tired'' Mukti teased him. ''I know tum sab mujhe tease kar rahe ho, so now I'll get ready and go out then'' Manik said. ''Kyu phir Siya ke paas jaana hai kya?'' Nyonika asked. 

Manik got ready amidst their teasing. He went to sets on time which is unusual for Manik. Cabir and Navya were the first to see him. ''Kya baat hai birthday boy aaj set mein time pe aa gaya?'' Navya asked him. ''Happy birthday Manik'' Cabir wished hugging Manik. ''Thank you'' Manik said. ''Happy birthday Manik'' Navya wished him. ''So Navya do you mean to say main roz late aa raha hu?'' Manik asked her. ''Ha everyone on sets think the same'' Navya spills the beans. ''So, from this birthday, I'll try to come on time, for you'' he said. ''Oh thank you Manik, that's a very sweet gesture'' Navya said. ''Waise aaj Nandini ya Aryaman abhi tak ahi aaye, if you were searching for them'' Navya said as he looked around. ''Ok then, I'll go and get ready'' Manik said. ''So you are working today! I thought you are just'' Cabir was astonished. ''Cabir, I know shoot start hone ke baad bahut interruptions aaye hai but not anymore, hum sab isme humare jee-jaan lagake kaam karenge, kyunki ye cinema hum sabka hai'' Manik assured Cabir. 

Manik was getting ready in his vanity and heard a knock on his door. He hoped its Nandini and opened but instead he saw Aryaman and was instantly looked disappointed. ''Mujhe dekh ke tum jatt se off ho gaye! Aisa kya hua?'' Aryaman asked him. Manik was scared that Aryaman could read his mind. He doubted whether his facial expression were so clear and saw himself in mirror. ''Itna evident tha kya?'' Manik asked Aryaman. ''Matlab sach mein tum mujhe nahi expect kar rahe ho na'' Aryaman asked. ''But I won't leave you anyway my friend, happy birthday'' Aryaman crushed Manik's bones as he hugged him. ''Ye wish kam, revenge zyada lag raha hai mujhe'' Manik said. ''You and Nandini, everyday you tell me that I'm late but when I'm on time neither of you are here'' Manik said in a complaining tone. ''What Nandini didn't come to meet you? She is already here'' Aryaman said. ''Tho yaha kyu nahi aaya?'' Manik thought. 

Manik went on the sets and saw Nandini as a bride. He didn't know whether he is dreaming or was it real. Except Manik, no one seems excited in seeing a bride. He pinched himself and felt pain, so he knew that it is real. ''Din shagna da'' played in background and now he knew that is the shot planned for today. Nandini walked as per Cabir's instructions on the mike. Manik also realized that he wore the wedding sherwani and its the wedding sequence that is being shot. Manik didn't care to look at the script as Navya said he had no dialogues. Manik felt this was a dream. He felt like a teenager with butterflies in his stomach. Manik was about to tie mangalsutra to Nandini and Cabir said ''Shot Ok''. Manik was disappointed but it didn't last long as Nandini gave a side hug to him. 

''Should I say happy birthday or happy wedding'' Nandini asked him.