After 5 yrs: Morgan Mansion: New year's eve party: 15th November Friday: 9:00 pm:

The entire Mansion was embellished with candles, flowers and lights. Needless to say, the parties, thrown by Morgans always have their grandeur but this New Year’s Eve party had its special importance as Mr Paul and Mrs Emily Morgan’s only son Micky Morgan had permanently returned from the USA after completing his Master's degree in Business Management. The whole Mansion was bustling with guests, some of Paul’s business associates and some of Emily’s friends or S.P.A.C.E college faculties. However, amidst this hurly-burly, the members of FAN 5 and Fusion 4 were not found anywhere. Sorry, the correct name is 7 Notes. FAN 5 and Fusion 4 had been merged four years ago and now they have 7 members in this band. 7 Notes; the music sensation in the world of music bands. Suddenly a fuss came from the terrace side.

“Cody, do you ever think before saying all these shits?”

Alex rolled his eyes when Cody was busy devouring the snacks. He swallowed the mouthful and replied in an almost impossible to decode pronunciation.

“I don’t… like to think… before I speak. I like… to be just..as surprised as everyone else… about what come… out of my mouth.”

“Yeah…we are already fed up with these kinds of surprises of yours. Even I am surprised how Lia has been tolerating you for all these years. Because I think you are more unbearable as a husband than a hopeless boyfriend.”

Billy retorted raising his hands for a high five with Alex.

“Oh really? But as per your wife Maya, you are both. You used to be a hopeless boyfriend and now are an incorrigible husband. She is actually repenting to get married to you.”

Cody said with a poker face just to make his words believable. On the other hand, Billy’s expression was worth watching. It seemed that he is on the verge of crying.

“Hey, Ringleader! (A person who ignites a quarrel) When have I told that? Don’t provoke my demure husband against me.”

Maya countered as she stepped on the terrace accompanied by Alisha, Peter and Natalia. Cody immediately tried to change the topic as it is not good to be exposed in front of friends as well as his wife at the same time.

“Demure husband! Like a beautiful guy…Billy, since when have you become a woman that your wife is using these kinds of adjectives to describe you? In anyway…it is a perfect balance. She is a bold hoyden and you are a beautiful lad.”

Billy and Maya both frowned to fathom Cody’s mordant words and finally were able to interpret his subtle humour.
“CODYYYYYY…..You tease…I will smash your fertile brain…moron…”

Maya hurled to Cody who leapt up from his seat and started running around the terrace to dodge her hostility. All started giggling to see their childish banter.
“Enough Guys, who can say that you both have your own kids? Instead, you are behaving like kids. And did you forget that why have we come here?”

At last, Peter had to increase his voice to pacify their enthusiasm. All halted and came back to reality.

“Where are the children? They shouldn’t be here when we talk to him.”

Alex said with concern.

“They are playing with the other kids downstairs. Don’t worry; they will not come until we call them.”

Natalia assured him sitting butt against Cody.

“But when will he come? Is he coming straight here from the airport?”

Alisha inquired looking at her husband Peter.

“Don’t know. Paul uncle forbade me to call him. Nor anybody knows about his flight name or time. I can understand…he is doing all these for their safety. How could we forget that five years ago we almost lost Nina and after one year that repeated with Micky?”

Peter sighed and gazed at the starry sky seemed he is contemplating something unpleasant.

“Yes, how could we forget the day, 15th July Friday when we set off to enjoy a road trip and within some hours, we were on the verge of losing one of our friends. Those hours were the worst time of our life until one year later when that more terrifying incident occurred.”

Maya said in a deep shaken voice.

“But, now he is dead. Why are these extra cautious needed? That day when Paul Uncle decided to send Micky and Nina out of this country, we respected his choice. Even we made our new band 7 Notes without Micky and Nina. But why is this distance now? Why can’t we again reunite and stay together like we used to do?”

Billy sounded edgy.

“Dead?... We did this mistake by assuming this five years ago and we witnessed the dangerous result. Although the police found his body this time, I still can’t believe it.”

Alex countered in a pensive voice.

“Oh, God…He is still chasing us a nightmare. When will we be this curse free?”

Natalia more snuggled to Cody evoking her fright.

“Only when we all again unite and fight back together.”

Alisha said intensely while wrapping Maya and Natalia in a side hug.

“Because…that is our strength. One for all, all for one…”

Two familiar voices startled all of them. They turned and the site beamed them in delight and excitement.

“MICKY….NINA….BUDDY…SIS….”

All screamed and stormed to the couple standing in a distance. However, they halted before they could reach them. A beautiful yet unexpected site caught their eyes. Micky and Nina were standing with smiling faces while two tiny figures were wiggling in their laps. All stared at the new guests with wide-open mouths and eyes.

“What happened guys?... Come and see. Your nephews…Ryan and Rowan .”

Nina said with a bright smile. They all approached them with baby steps still gaping with astonishment. For a couple of minutes, they checked out four of them and at first, Billy gained his voice.

“When did it happen? Sis, you didn’t tell me anything.”

Billy complained in a tender voice.

“I am so sorry, Bro…Dad told us to disclose this only after we come back. And we even thought to surprise you all in person.”

Nina pouted sheepishly. Alisha came forward and took Ryan in her lap.

“Forget it but when were they born? I mean how old are they?”

She enquired. On the other hand, Natalia took Rowan in her lap from Micky.

“Four months. They are twins. Ryan is two minutes elder than Rowan. Now, can we sit and talk? We are very tired guys. Let Nina give them to Mom and after that, we will talk for the entire night. Uffff….how much I was missing all these! But now, it seems that our banishment ultimately ended.

.....................

Morgan Mansion: At the Terrace: 15th November Friday: 11:30 pm:

At last, the party was over. All the guests departed. Mr Paul Morgan and Mrs Emily Morgan left to rest in their room but not before making all the kids sleep in the big children’s room. Our 9 youngsters decided to spend the whole night on the terrace chit-chatting. Four years of separation is not easy to decrease; so they wanted to treasure every moment.

“Dude, didn’t you feel coming back during these four years? Although we went there to meet you and we’re always connected by calls and skype, we always missed your company.”
Alex said with a nostalgic tone. Natalia back hugged Nina and kept her chin on her shoulder. It seemed that she didn’t want to let her go from now.

“Always guys. You don’t know how it was tough to spend every moment without music and all of you. But Mom and Dad took a promise that we won’t come back until the police officially announce Harry’s death. They didn’t want to repeat the mistake which we did five years back.”

Micky sighed and continued,

“I still remember how we were struggling with Nina when that bastard shot her. He almost took his revenge before falling into the brook after getting shot by the police and me. How I lifted her unconscious body in my hands and all of us rushed to the hospital. By God’s grace, that time the police were with us and the bullet passed only grazing her shoulder. It was a bloody close shave, Man.”

Micky shivered to recall the tormented incident again. Nina stroked his bicep trying to relax him.

“Don’t be upset Micky, that was a tough time in our life but that is past. At present we are together again and happy. Then why should we recall those bad incidents and get worried.”

She tried to light up the situation.

“But that Friday the 15th indirectly changed us in many aspects.”

Billy affirmed while all looked at him with a query. Billy continued.

“It made us mature enough to handle our problems more intelligently. It made us realise how we matter to each other. It also changed us a person individually. Maya Alisha and Natalia became more responsible and it is evident in their phase of motherhood. Alex, at last, lost his casanova nature and settled with Isabella. Cody and Natalia fight less nowadays although Cody’s ridiculous nature is still there.”

Cody rolled his eyes at him while everybody chuckled. Billy carried on,

“And most importantly, Micky has learnt to control his unmanageable anger which made me chilled about my sis.”

He affectionately caressed Nina’s cheek. Unlike in the past, Micky smiled calmly and replied,

“I was about to lose her thrice because of my anger and immaturity. I couldn’t let it happen further.”

He intensely gazed at his wife. Cody noticed it and cleared his throat to bring him back.

“It’s weird chaps, that day was Friday the 15th and today it is again a Friday 15th. The only difference is there is a huge gap of 5 years. That time we were inseparable buddies…and we are still with our extended families because now our children are bum chums too.”

Cody’s words brought a peaceful smile to everybody’s face. Something never changes. Like Cody and his ability to bring a smile to someone’s face in every situation.

“But now what Buddy? Paul Uncle sent you and Nina to the USA after that incident of your kidnapping by Harry four years ago and our bands broke up. We merged our bands as 7 Notes, still, we always missed you both in our music. Can’t we be together again and make a band of 9 members?”

Peter asked with a deep voice. All looked at Micky with hopeful eyes.

“We are incomplete without you guys.”

Maya and Alisha sounded desperate.

“And I have already chosen our new band’s name.”

Cody said enthusiastically. All turned at him.

“Cloud Nine…a musical harmony.”

He looked at everyone expecting a positive reaction.

“For the first time, Cody has said something sensible. It’s a good name. I liked it.”

Alex said smilingly.
“Me too…”

Billy seconded and gradually all nodded in unison.

“But before any final decision, I have to talk to Dad. He wants me to join our business. But I think I can manage both. After all, I am the Micky Morgan.”

Micky winked with a bright smile. All hooted and came closer for a group hug. How much they were craving for it. The sky was hued with the first touch of the tangerine Sun rays. The chirping of birds was welcoming a new dawn.

THE END