~ Be the reason someone feels seen, heard, welcomed, loved, valued and supported! ~

"Well Well, look who we meet after so many years!", Manik turned at the voice, and with an extra sweet smile that made Nandini nauseous, greeted the person while his wife continued to squeeze her eyes, wanting to fan herself at how hot her husband looked, being extra sweet.

"Madhyam Singhaniya", Manik muttered, forcing him to smile in a way that made Nandini giggle, for she knew well this smile was nothing but her otherwise non violent husband trying to control his urge to punch.

"And who you might be pretty lady, looking so pleased to see me?", Madhyam smirked at Nandini, clearly having mistaken her giggle, but absolutely unaware of the sass Queen she was to make that mistake.

"Oh no please, I would have puked at your sight, but my husband's smile always makes me smile!", she grinned giving him a sly glance that snatched the smirk from his face. Madhyam gritted his teeth as he watched Manik trying so hard to stiffle his laughter, and the two bodyguards standing beside him had amused expressions on their faces too.

"Nice! So much love! Is the love actually there or just showing off in front of me?", Madhyam questioned, rolling his eyes, but before Nandini could answer, Manik laughed.

"Madhyam, Madhyam, Madhyam! Tch, tch tch! You still think you rule the world yeah? So sorry to disappoint, but we have so much happiness in our own bubble that we don't stop to spare a glance at others, unlike you, who is always so unsatisfied that you keep poking to see if others are as unhappy as you are!", Manik's answer shocked Madhyam more than it angered him, because he had never known him to give a back answer.

"Woah! So you finally learnt how to speak! I am impressed!", Madhyam laughed, rolling his eyes at Manik who shook his head at the melodramatic behaviour, "So, I should take it you aren't here for my press conference then?"

Nandini fake gasped at Madhyam's words and Manik had to stop himself from smiling because he knew his wife was a wild cat when she wanted to be.

"You want to say people pay to watch your narcissism and arrogance? Money is that cheap?", she spat with wide eyes making Manik chuckle for he could not hold back his laughter any longer, and with him, even Madhyam's bodyguards found themselves smiling, trying their best to not show it. Madhyam only snickered, but didn't comment on it.

"So, how are your friends? Kabir, Dhruv, Mukti And what was that barbie named? Alya, right? How are they?", If Madhyam was expecting Manik's face to grow ashen at their mention, or a past to come reflect back in his eyes, it didn't happen.

"No idea Bro! They were supposedly your friends, the last I remember. I changed college and I changed friends. You should know about them, should not you, Mr. Perfect Celebrity?", Manik shrugged, his eyes dancing in mirth as he cat called Madhyam's otherwise PR made goody boy celebrity image, his right eye brow raised for this time, he was smirking and Madhyam looked almost tongue-tied.

"I am guessing the media and your allteged fans would not know about the rave parties, the bets, the money you spent lavishly on stealing friends and girlfriends from your classmates and seniors, and who knows, the sum you might have paid the teachers back then for your score. Don't misunderstand me, but with so much on your plate, I can't be sure your marks were actually your hardwork and not your father's hard earned money! I guess it must still cost a huge sum to keep your shenanigans under the carpet through your PR, doesn't it? ", Manik's words hardened Madhyam's face who looked as humiliatied as angry. But it was a public place, he had fans and press waiting downstairs, he could not possibly create a scandal here.

Nandini looked at the fleeting exchange between the two men and popped a popcorn from her bucket. This was surely more fun than the movie, but at the same time, she had an evil idea jerk her into action and the huge popcorn bucket she was holding acted as an aid to her plan.

"Sorry to Say Manik, but I don't shy away from the fact that yes, I definitely was a spoilt brat during college. But the fact that your so called friends betrayed you, is on them, not me. I didn't even have to move a finger, they were lured into the party, drugs and girls thing by their own. To be honest, Yes I saw you as a competition and Yes I wanted you to be distracted because of your friends' stupidities, but even I didn't know the jealousy and insecurities they had that burst out after one poke from me. Those were a bunch of idiots, and please, I was never stupid to think them of as my friends", Madhyam answered, and that was something Manik already knew. Maybe that's why, whatever had happened between them, he had never blamed it on Madhyam. Sure he didn't find Madhyam as a good guy ever, but he also knew that Madhyam wasn't the reason Fab-5 fell apart, or how they behaved with him, the bullying, the tortures, it was all an individual choice.

"Nobody blamed you for that either, so I don't understand why are you giving me this essay long explanation!", Manik shrugged, his demeanour nonchalant.

"Because I guess now that we have both excelled in our respective fields, we aren't a competition to each other for my ego to be hurt. We can try and be friends, can't we?", with a smile, Madhyam forwarded his hand to Manik and even Nandini frowned at the sudden prospect, but she found herself relaxing when Madhyam received only a chuckle in response for his hand was left hanging in mid air.

Manik shook his head dramatically and took two steps forward, and made a motion to smoothen the crease of Madhyam's jacekt, all the while staring right into his eyes.

"Listen now, and listen carefully, Mr. Madhyam Singhaniya. You and I, will never be friends. Only, acquaintances, and that too the kind I would not look forward to meeting. And this has nothing to do with your ego, or your money. Or the fact that you take pride in- my friends choosing you over me",  Manik's voice was deep and stern, and for a second Madhyam could not really believe he was the same Manik he knew in college, "But the fact that I can never forgive or forget what you put Mukti through. You didn't respect her dignity, and both you and I know that if I hadn't interfered that night, she might have been used by your friend. And the fact that you just a few moments ago, objectified Alya as a barbie. And the fact that you called those four people Idiots, who still defend you behind your back, for whatever reason. Someone like you, can never be anyone's friend. I don't know what advantage you wanted to take from me, but forget it. Don't cross my path again, like you haven't all these years and I am not threatening you, but You know the best either way. Good luck!", taking a step back, Manik glared at Madhyam for a second before turning on his heels and grasping Nandini's hand, walked right out of there, leaving a visibly embarrassed Madhyam behind.

"Woah woah Woah! Wait Manik, we need another popcorn!", Nandini halted, showing him the almost empty one in her hand.

"What did you do with this one?", he frowned, and asked in confusion.

"Not my fault that my husband was being all mafia hero, all hot and sexy and that voice modulation - you rocked Manik! It was so much fun to watch that I ate up all the popcorn!", Nandini shrugged and grinned, making him chuckle.

Times like these, he found it difficult to decide if he wanted to cuddle her for her cuteness or kiss her senselessly for always being so proud of him.

Jerking her to him, he pressed his body against her, making her eyes go all big as she looked around her, slightly aware of people around them.

"What if we see the rest of the movie in our bedroom?", he nuzzled into her nape, placing wet kisses there.

"I would very much like that", Nandini arched her head and managed to croak out, her eyes closed as she felt the zoo dancing in her stomach. Grinning, Manik pulled her with him, the popcorn and the movie long forgotten as they rushed out of the mall, wanting to reach their home ASAP.

Late evening, lying by her husband's side, Nandini played with his fingers as the past few hours ran though her mind again and again.

Safe to assume, this was a movie she would never forget.

--------

Three weeks later :

Manik walked out of the washroom rubbing his hair with the towel. His eyes darted to the clock and he cursed slightly under his breath.

"Maa is going to kill me today for sure!"

Hurriedly, he wore his crisp white payjama bottoms paired with his off white Kurta. Picking up the overcoat in his hands, he rushed out of the guestroom towards his bedroom, praying that his dear wife was atleast half way through getting ready.

But what he received was a shock, for as he pushed open the door, he saw Nandini standing in front of the mirror, dancing while her phone played 'Genda Phool'. She was wearing her white and silver lehnga for the evening, but instead of getting ready she had pulled the veil over her head and was now shaking a leg to the song.

"Bodo loker biti lo, lomba lomba chul,
Emon mathaye bendhe debo laal genda phul"

Completely unawre of the time, or her husband steady gaze, Nandini continued to move her hips accordingly and do the hook step immersed in the song, until the sudden flashlight of the camera made her aware and she turned to find Mnaik clicking her.

"Maaanikk!", she pouted, but Manik laughed as he entered the room, and took quick steps to reach her.

"If it wasn't for the reception today, I would have wanted a private performance from you", he teased, his arms wrapped around her waist on their own.

"Well, the house is yours, the lady is yours-", she bit her lips as she stood on her toes to kiss his cheek, "and you can have a show whenever you want!"

Manik grinned and pulled her closer, before ducking in to claim her lips for a soft kiss.

"Can't wait!", he kissed her nose and she smiled, aware of the red hue creeping up her cheeks, but before she could say something, Manik's phone rang and they had to move apart.

Nandini quickly finished wearing her jewellery and smoothed her hairs, before properly pinning the dupatta. Wearing her signature perfume, she collected her purse and phone hastily and found Manik waiting in the lobby, doing something on his phone.

"Let's go before Maa calls again!", she laughed and Manik smiled as he picked up the gift they had bought for Abhik and Anushree, and quickly drove off to the reception venue.

The reception was a crowded affair, given that the destination wedding had been quite private. Not only extended family of the Chatterjees, but Both Mr. Chatterjee and Abhik's associates were invited, not to forget Mrs. Chatterjee's kitty party group.

Manik and Nandini were walking Abhik and Anushree to the stage, when Nandini's eyes caught Kabir standing in a corner, looking at them. She rolled her eyes, and ignored. It was better to concentrate on the couple of the hour than those morons.

It was when Manik was standing by the bar, sipping on his wine that Kabir walked towards him and caught his attention.

"Hi Manik!", his meek voice made Manik tilt his face but the look on Kabir's face amused Manik a bit too much.

"Oh hello, Mr. Dhawan! How have you been?", Manik raised his glass to acknowledge him, but it only made Kabir more uncomfortable.

"You can call me Kabir, Manik. We don't need to be so formal!", Kabir spoke, but Mnaik chuckled, shaking his head.

"Remember that message I sent to the group before exiting it, months ago, that was my last friendly interaction with four people who used to be my friends in some decade of my life. Now, we are just associates in the same circle. So, Mr. Dhawan would be fine!", Manik answered, his eyes fixed on Kabir's face, and he rolled his eyes for a moment before it striked him that he had started doing this too often, thanks to Nandini. The thought made him smile.

His smile gave some kind of moral encouragement to Kabir though, who began to speak again, but was cut off by Manik the very next second.

"Mr. Dhawan, like I said, same business circle, so I keep hearing some gossips here and there. I have heard against the lawsuit against your company, and though I don't understand why are you here, and not with Mr. Vedant, I would also like to clarify something. If you want my help with the case, have an appointment set with my firm. If they take enough intrest in the case, we would see whatever we could do, albeit everything would be throughly professional, Don't worry. I don't bite someone because of personal grudges! Good luck!", Manik kept the glass back at the counter, smiled at Kabir and walked off, his head high.

Kabir stood mortified in shame and embarrassment. Ever since Mukti had shown them a video of Madhyam, the one Nandini had forwarded her, and they all had heard what Madhyam had to say about them, followed by Manik's replies, all of them had been regretting every bit of their actions. Mukti had even blasted at them, nit picking their insecurities and throwing it on their faces- especially him and Dhruv, and they could not deny any of them.

It was true that today he had wanted to meet Manik to seek help, but it was also true that a greater part of him wanted to ask for forgiveness too. But Manik's answer robbed him that courage, because unlike his assumption, Manik wasn't cold to him at all. He behaved exactly how you behave with a stranger, someone who means nothing to you and somehow that had hurt him more. And with that, had sunk in the realization.

Sometimes, it's too late to regret.

Sometimes, forgiving or asking forgiveness doesn't set things back.

Sometimes you loss is forever, and no amount of shame can bring that back.

Manik had moved on, he had known that for a long time, but today when he saw Manik laugh loudly at the stage, standing beside the groom, exchanging glances with Nandini, winking at her, and getting his ear pulled by an old lady, Kabir knew he had moved on for good.

He was with and surrounded by people who adored him for who he was, loved him for his qualities and compensated for his flaws.

He was truly happy, Kabir could see, and after years, he found himself smiling at his ex best friend's happiness. He snaped a picture of Manik and Nandini grinning and forwarded it to his friends.

If there was true love anywhere on earth, it surely looked like Mnaik and Nandini!