TRUE LOVE NEVER GIVES UP

Chapter-26: Birthday Memories

Manik and the Fab 4, along with Abhimanyu, landed in London, the familiar sights of the city welcoming them back. The transition from the vibrant, chaotic days in India to the structured, bustling life in London was palpable. Each of them quickly fell back into their routines, the responsibilities and demands of their careers consuming their time.

Manik found himself particularly swamped. His schedule was packed with meetings, rehearsals, and strategy sessions. The upcoming collaboration with the music label demanded a lot of his attention, and he often found himself working late into the night. Despite his hectic routine, thoughts of Nandini constantly lingered in his mind, a constant reminder of the emotional connection he cherished deeply.

Days turned into weeks, and the Fab 5 hardly found time to relax together. Neyonika, sensing the strain and distance growing among them, decided it was time for a family dinner. She invited everyone over, insisting that they needed a break and some time together.

That evening, the living area of the Malhotra household was filled with laughter and conversation. The warmth of the family reunion brought a sense of comfort and joy to everyone present. Raj and Neyonika were delighted to see their children and their friends finally taking a moment to unwind.

As they settled in after dinner, Neyonika, with a curious gleam in her eye, asked, "So, how was your trip to India? Did you all have a good time?"

"It was wonderful," Cabir said with a smile. "We got to see a lot of places and even attended Manik's high school reunion."

"Really?" Raj said, raising an eyebrow. "Who did you meet there?"

Mukti jumped in, "We met someone interesting, actually. Nandini, Manik's best friend from school."

Raj and Neyonika's interest was piqued. "Nandini? We didn't know you had a best friend from school, Manik," Raj said, turning to his son.

Manik felt a sudden wave of nervousness wash over him. He fumbled for words, trying to downplay the significance. "Yeah, we were close back then, but we lost contact over the years. It was nice to see her again."

Alya and Dhruv exchanged amused glances. "Come on, Manik, you know it's more than that," Alya teased. "You're always so different when she's around. More calm, more patient."

Manik tries to control the damage, but it was too late. Abhimanyu chimed in, "It's true. We all noticed how you light up when Nandini is around."

Raj and Neyonika looked at each other, intrigued. "It sounds like she's had quite an impact on you, Manik," Neyonika said, smiling.

"Maybe we should send a proposal to her family," Raj added teasingly, causing everyone to laugh.

Manik's eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat. He couldn't help but imagine how happy Nandini would be if she heard this, but he quickly remembered the complexities of their situation. He needed to deflect the conversation before it went too far. "Well, it's not like that. Besides, Nandini already has someone in her life," he said quickly, hoping to steer the topic away.

Cabir and Mukti, jumped in. "Yeah, she's pretty serious about her current relationship," Mukti said.

Manik seized the opportunity to change the subject. "Anyway, speaking of relationships, did you hear about the new project we're working on with the music label?" he said, shifting the focus to their professional lives.

The conversation smoothly transitioned to their upcoming projects, and Manik breathed a sigh of relief. The intensity of the discussion about Nandini had stirred something deep within him, a longing and a sense of what could have been if circumstances were different.