TRUE LOVE NEVER GIVES UP

Chapter-83: Late night talks

It was late at night, and the house had settled into a quiet stillness. Nandini was in her room, winding down after the emotional events of the day. She was lost in thought, still processing everything-the wedding preparations, the joy of the engagement being set, and most of all, the warmth of being surrounded by people she loved. Just as she was about to lie down, she heard a soft knock on her door.

She walked over, her curiosity piqued and opened it to find Cabir standing there. He looked different-nervous, fidgeting slightly, his eyes unsure as they darted around the room. It was rare to see him like this, especially after all the teasing and jokes he'd been throwing around earlier.

"Hey," Cabir said, his voice slightly hesitant, "Can I, um... come in? I mean, you're not busy, right? I didn't mean to disturb you or anything..." His words came out in a bit of a stammer, clearly uncomfortable with something.

Nandini smiled softly, touched by his awkwardness. "Of course, Bhai, come in," she said warmly, stepping aside to let him enter. "You don't have to think so much before talking to me, you know."

Cabir gave her a sheepish smile and walked in, still looking a little out of place. He sat down on the edge of her bed but kept glancing around the room as if trying to find the right words. Nandini noticed his discomfort and sat beside him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Bhai, relax," she said gently, her voice soothing. "I know this is all new... for both of us, but you don't need to be nervous. We're siblings, remember? You can always talk to me, no matter what."

Cabir's shoulders visibly relaxed at her words, and he let out a deep breath. "I guess it's just... I've wanted to have this conversation with you for so long, and now that we're finally here, I don't know how to start," he admitted.

Nandini smiled at him encouragingly. "You don't have to worry about saying the perfect thing. I'm just happy you're here."

Cabir nodded and then reached for the bag he had brought with him. "I, uh, brought something for you," he said, opening the bag and pulling out a stack of old photo albums. His hands were a little shaky as he placed them in front of Nandini. "These... these are for you."

Nandini looked down at the albums, her eyes widening with curiosity. "What are these?"

"They're all yours," Cabir said, his voice thick with emotion. "Well, ours, really. They're pictures... of you. From when you were born until... until you were two years old. Before we got separated."

Nandini's heart skipped a beat as she slowly reached for the first album. Her fingers trembled slightly as she opened it to reveal a picture of a newborn baby, wrapped in a soft blanket, sleeping peacefully in a hospital crib. Her heart swelled, and her eyes brimmed with tears.

"Is this... is this me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Cabir nodded, his own eyes misty. "Yeah. That's you. The day you were born."

Nandini's breath caught in her throat as she turned the page, finding more pictures-her as a baby, her tiny hand gripping Cabir's finger in one photo, and their parents smiling down at them in another. Nandini's hand flew to her mouth as tears spilled down her cheeks.

"And... are these...?" Nandini's voice broke as she pointed to a picture of their parents holding her and Cabir, their faces lit up with love.

"Yeah," Cabir said, his voice thick with emotion. "That's Mumma and Papa. They were so happy, Nandini. They were so proud of us... of you."

Nandini stared at the pictures for a long time, her heart aching with a mixture of joy and sorrow. She had spent so many years wondering about her past, about the parents she barely remembered, and now, here they were-captured in these frozen moments of time. Her eyes lingered on a picture of their mother kissing her forehead, her face full of love.