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Manik knocked at Chachi's door, waiting for her to open the door with a spatula in her hand, ready to burst on any soul.

"Coming" Chachi shouted from inside as she approached the door and opened it, annoyed as her food was boiling on the stove, but the moment she opened the door, her eyes widened so did her mouth. Manik smiled back at her casually.

"Chachi" Manik exclaimed and reached to hug her. Chachi patted him and hugged him tightly.

"Manik." She turned her face and found the other two standing. "Nandu", Chachi hugged her and Rishabh. She checked the three of them from head to toe to believe that they were standing in front of her as they waited patiently. When she was satisfied, she invited them inside and realised that her food was burning. She ran to the kitchen and simmered the gas while the three of them settled.

"My food ", Chachi pouted as she witnessed her burnt food but instantly, a very devious idea came to her head.

"Where is chacha?" Nandini asked Chachi as all of them entered the kitchen and made space for themselves on the slab

"He is coming. I sent him out to get milk. I am so happy to see you, kids, after so long, and because I am so happy, I am going to try and make paneer butter masala dumpling."

"What" the three of them shouted together.

Chichi turned abruptly as she heard Rishabh speak

"Rishu", Chach had tears in her eyes ", you can speak" Rishabh nodded as Chachi approached him and hugged him.

"My baby", she ruffled his hair, "when were you two going to tell me this? No food for any of you until you tell me everything."

"In that case, we should shut up", Manik mocked, and Chacha entered the scene surprised to see all of them. They greeted him and made space for him in the kitchen.

"We were about to tell Chachi what had happened in the last few months", Nandini explained.

"Murthy Ji, you know Rishu can speak again, and Manik is alive," Chachi said, unable to contain her happiness.

"Really" Chacha turned towards Rishabh.

"Yes, Chacha, I can speak again," Rishabh assured as Chacha patted his cheek ", and I can see that Manik is alive" Chacha smiled at Manik.

The three of them filled Chacha and Chachi in with what had happened and all the necessary details.

"Oh, my kids" Chachi went and hugged each one of them adoringly.

Chachi asked them to settle in the living room and clear her kitchen as she had to cook for them. All of them unwillingly left the kitchen as they didn't want Chachi to experiment again with her food.

"Nandini, are you fine?" Manik asked her, concerned as he noticed her holding her head time and again

"Yeah, I am just a little dizzy. I think from the exhaustion," Nandini cleared.

"I think you should take rest and Rishabh as well."

"No, I don't want to. It is not every day that you get to sit with your family and eat paneer butter masala dumplings."

All of them tried the dumplings, and surprisingly they were better than the disaster they were awaiting. They were eating and discussing matters.

"How will the doctor see Rishabh now?" Chacha asked

"Don't worry, Chacha. The doctor is flying to Mumbai this weekend. We will have a word with him, and then we can sort something with him," Manik assured Chacha and Chachi. "Also, we will have Nandini transfer back to space. So that will not be a problem as well."

Nandini looked up as she wanted to talk about the college issue with Manik "but Manik, I don't want to study music."

Manik turned towards her, shocked "but why."

"Manik, I realised that I enjoy science, and I want to make a future in it."

"I hope it's nowhere related to the incidents happening in your life" Manik held Nandini's hand.

"No, Manik. I joined Space because I was getting a scholarship, but now after studying science for the past few months, I realised that I would like to integrate the two and study something along those lines." Nandini explained.

Chacha and Chachi were supportive of her decision. Manik was a little reluctant, but he agreed never the less for her sake.

They talked for hours. Chacha Chachi asked Manik to stay, but he refused politely and left as Mr Malhotra awaited him. It was surprising how Manik had become a member of the Murthy family in no time. He had become Chachi's favourite and Rishabh's hero already, and what he meant to Nandini was not inevitable. The Murthys were the family Manik never had. He had always craved family love, and with them, he felt pampered and important.

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