Cordially, Yours!

-30-

"Cabu..." she stretched with naughtiness lingering in her voice. Cabir looked at her with narrow eyes trying to decipher what she was about to say. 

"No way, Mukti!"Cabir said horrified. His eyes widened the moment he tuned into Mukti's train of thoughts. 

"Yes way!"

"Yaar," he dragged along trying to avoid what she planned

"It's going to be fun. "Mukti countered for her point. 

Dhruv, Aliya and Navya looked at each other not knowing what to say at this secret telepathy-guided discussion between the twins. 

"Guys, what are you all deciding on?" Aliya broke into the little banter she saw in front. 

"Kuch nahi Aliya. Just chill, I am just suggesting that to look for Nandini, may be, we should all start off from where we used to start all of our hunts when Nyonika was here. You know, we all are trying to go back to ourselves then why not try it in "Fab 5's classic style" ? ",Mukti casually brushed upon the topic and whistled away with her hands in her pocket. While the others were still routed in their places figuring out Mukti's plan, she made her way towards their jeep and spun the keys on her fingers. Realizing no one was following her, she called out, "Come on! Der aaye durusat aaye! Don't sweat it yaar. It's Fab 5!" 

Staring at each other still not sure, Dhruv, Aliya and Cabir followed. Navya still stood routed on her feet. "Fab 5's classic style" wasn't good news. It still brought her the horrors of her days. She knew this was going to be fun and very much about breaking the rules. Was she up for it? For Nandini? Not long after she posed this question to herself, she heard the car's engine rev up. Decided or not, she didn't wonder upon more and joined her little mob for Nandini. 

"Ruko! Hum bhi aa rahe hi!" she shouted at dashed towards the car which she saw sped up without her. "Are Cabir!"

Her calls went ignored by the car and when she gave up and looked down breathlessly, the screeches of the breaks were heard. She looked up towards the car and again ran towards it. The moment her distance reduced, Cabir turned on the car and moved ahead. Navya stopped and angrily kept her hands on her waist and so did the car. She took a step forward not breaking her eye contact with Cabir through the rear-view mirror. He smirked and inched the car forward. She stopped again and so did the car. A step.The car rolled a bit. A stop. The car halted. A step.The car rolled a bit. A stop. The car halted. A step.The car rolled a bit. A stop. The car halted.

"Khabar dar tum badre. Humari juti aai gi aur tumhare jalebiyaan jayeingi dekhana!" Navya threatened Cabir. His eyes widened at the warning and he kept his foot on the breaks. A step and the car stayed there.  A step and the car stayed there. A step and the car stayed there. Navya jumped like a child and clapped her hands excitedly. She ran towards the car and the sat besides Aliya in the back seat. 

"Dedhi ungli se ghee nikal gaya!" Cabir taunted. 

"Tum konse seedhe ho?" Navya replied back with a muffle giggle. 

With all in place, Cabir revved up the car again and shot off towards their destination. 

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 -Dehradun-

Nandini's health had turned towards the better side and Abhimanyu's absurd behavior had worn off. They had watched "Home Alone" and cuddled in a blanket with dinner on the bed. They laughed all the way through and added the moments into their book of joy.

"So ma'm, the movie is over. Now what would you like to do?" Abhi questioned while looking over his shoulder at a pouting Nandini.

" Umm.. I don't know. Let's go for an ice cream?" She suggested with puppy eyes.

"Ice cream? Kid, have you seen the temperature outside. It threatens a snow fall. No girl! You ain't getting an ice cream. " Abhi imitated a strict headmaster.

"No Abhi, you aren't our HM and your acting skills are still goofy. So chuck it! And when did I say I will buy an ice cream? Darling, you are gonna go outside and get me one. " Nandini said with a fake attitude in her voice.

Abhimanyu's jaw drop at her statement and when he saw a small glistening hint of naughtiness in her eyes, he picked up the pillow on his side and threw it towards her. The hit bursted her laughter which rang in the room. She kicked herself out of the bed and ran all over the room in her oversized shirt and shorts. Abhi continued to shoot pillows on her and once he was out, Nandini happily returned him the flying pillows.  Their cheerful voices carried over into the walls and after a few complaints from the neighbors, they decided to take their bursting energies out for an ice cream.

All coated and booted, they found a stall that braved to sell ice cream in such icy weather. They sat around the camp fire the vendor had lit. They devoured their ice cream and chatted unnecessary topics and bickered on their late night icecream adventure.

"So, you do agree my idea was the best!" Nandini boasted.

"You so want to hear that from my mouth." Abhi sighed.

"Yes. I wanted to hear those words shape up through your plump lips, Abhi. I want to feeeellll... " Nandini dramatized.

" Shut up, kid! Bhaiya, kya milaya he aapne uske ice cream mein? Pagal ho hai hi.. " Abhi complained and lightly pushed Nandini off of his shoulder. She giggled at his annoyance and fed the newspapers pieces to the fire. A particular something caught her attention and she closely read up the newspaper piece in hand.

"Abhi, what's the date tomorrow?" She asked as she looked onto the paper.

"21st." He replied fully engrossed in slurping the melting chocolate ice cream he had.

"And when did we have to shift in with Ms. Gonsalvez?"

"21st." Abhi replied in casually.

"And was he coming?"

"Twenty-fir..Oh chocolates!" Abhi' s eyes widened at the realization. He slurrped on the last bit of the ice cream and got up in a hurry. Nandini picked up her bag and ran behind him.

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Hey peeps, 

Crazy update for special snowy morning! How is going? Is the story loosing it's charm? Has it become a drag or like any other story you all would read? 

Please do let me know. As a writer, I would never testify well after my re-reads. 

Thanks. 

Happy Reading!

Love, 

HF