MaNan FF - Angel In Disguise

#1- A New Start

Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
5:30 am:

Even before the rays of the morning lit the sky, the Murthy Villa was shining with diyas and resonating with the hymns in praises of her Aiyappa... The coming day was offering the girl in light pink attire a whole new opportunity to change the course of her life and have a better future not just for herself, but even for her brother, Rishabh.
Meet Nandini Murthy, the girl with a golden heart, carrying hopes in her eyes and lots of fireflies in her jar!

Even losing her parents to an unfortunate accident, a betrayal which scarred her enough to lose confidence in dance, could not diminish her 'Hope' - the hope which she gets from Music. After toiling hard and undergoing rigorous training in Classical Music for 5 years under the guidance of her Grandmother, whom she lovingly calls "Amms", she is finally going to spread her wings and fly high.

Done with her morning music practice (riyaaz), Nandini goes in search of her loving 'Amms', to spend the last few hours with her, before leaving for Bombay with her Chacha Chachi and Rishabh, ofcourse.

"Amms, Nī eṅkē irukkiṟāy?" ("Amms, where are you?") She shouted from the living room.

"I'm here, in the kitchen kanna." Nandini didn't find her voice normal, she knew her Amms is sad.

Nandini entered the kitchen and dramatically snatched the bowl of payasam which Amms was about to offer her and walked away into the hall. Amms simply shook her head and smiled.

"Kanna, did you complete your riyaaz?" She asked sternly.

"Do I ever forget?" Amms smiled widely, knowing she can forget herself, but never her music.

"Bombay mein bhi, don't forget your manners. Get up on time, pray to Aiyappa, do your riyaaz, and dress modestly. You might make new friends who'll lure you into bad things, but you should know what is right and what is wrong."

"Amms, you know why I agreed on going to Bombay. Chacha ne kaha hai Rishabh theek ho sakta hai. Usey Bombay mein best treatment mil payegi."

"Main sirf Rishabh ke treatment ke liye waha nahi bhej rahi hoon tum dono ko, kanna your talent in music and a successful career, all this you will get in Mumbai. Rishabh is not as mature as you, he needs a motherly guidance, and I feel your Chachi will be able to give... I just want you both to be happy." she sighed.

Nandini gave her a loving look, "Dekhna Amms, one day Rishabh will start speaking...and will not stop only!" she chuckled. "I have full hope, and I know uncle will never give false hopes. My hope... has to win!" she smiled.

"You and your bucket full of hopes..." Amms smiled, "You always remind me of your mom."

Nandini smiled. Not making the situation emotional, she cribbed. "See Amms, I'm leaving Mangalore in a few hours, and this Aditi I tell you, she'll never come on ti-" she was cut off by a chain of apologies from her dearest forgetful friend, Aditi.

Taking blessings from Amms, she took a grumpy Nandini to a corner and hugged her tight.

"Mat jaa na. Tujhe malum haina, koi nahi hai mera yahan." Even though God had snatched away the jewels of her life, he had rewarded Nandini with even more precious souls, one of which was her best-friend cum soul-sister, Aditi. A tear escaped her eye. No matter how excited Nandini was for her new life, she was still going to miss the people she was leaving behind.

Aditi realized that she took it a bit far. "Wait wait wait, no crying okay? Itni jaldi peecha nahi chhootne wala, you need to visit Mangalore from time to time, and who knows, ek din main bhi Mumbai aa jaun!" she winked, tried to cheer her friend up.
"Pushpaaa, I hate tears!" Aditi said, very dramatically and finally was able to make her friend smile.