An Arranged Journey To Forever

Part8

The night had been a whirlwind of emotions for Manik and Nandini. They spent hours getting to know each other on a deeper level—talking about likes, dislikes, family, friends, and their work. But the most important part of the night was when they opened their hearts to each other about how they truly felt. It was a night neither of them would ever forget.

Nandini woke up first the next morning, and as she slowly opened her eyes, her gaze landed on Manik. She couldn't help but blush at their position. He had a firm hold on her waist, and she was struggling to move without waking him. How could she miss the sight of this cute boy who looked even cuter when he was asleep? Her heart fluttered as she carefully tried to wiggle free from his grip, not wanting to disturb his peaceful slumber. She hoped to slip away unnoticed, but just as she began to move, Manik groggily woke up, mumbling in his sleep.

He blinked a few times, then noticed Nandini, her face flushed, looking at him with wide eyes. He shifted slightly and realized the position they were in. A quiet chuckle escaped his lips as he tried not to make things more awkward. "Friends are allowed to cuddle, right?" he said, glancing at her with a teasing smile.

Nandini's blush deepened, but she smiled back. "Of course," she replied quickly, her voice soft, "But the functions are starting today. We have a puja, and then some announcements from Mom, Dad, Uncle, and Aunty."

"Announcements?" Manik asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, they said they want to talk to us about something. Go get ready," Nandini said as she stood up, trying to escape the moment.

Before she could leave, Manik hesitated. "Hmm, Nandini, if you don't mind, could you wear red today?"

Nandini paused for a moment, remembering that red was his favorite color, and smiled softly. "I will."

Manik watched her go, muttering to himself, "What did I just do? Did I make her uncomfortable? No, but she smiled, right?"

Nandini shook her head and smiled as she walked away, muttering, "Stop thinking and move, Malhotra."

Manik laughed and nodded as they both went to freshen up.

As the day unfolded, Nandini wore a stunning red dress, and Manik wore a matching red kurta. When Nandini entered the room, Manik was left speechless. She looked absolutely stunning, and he couldn't stop staring at her.

"You look gorgeous," he said, still admiring her.

Nandini smiled, a little embarrassed by his gaze. "Thank you. You look good too."

She caught him still staring and cleared her throat, making both of them laugh.

They went down to join their parents, and Nandini shared warm hugs with her family, including Nyonika and Raj. Manik smiled as he watched, greeting them all as well. Nyonika waved them to sit down.

"Dekho baccho, listen to us first, then decide," Nyonika said, her voice full of warmth.

Manik and Nandini exchanged a glance, confused but nodding.

Ishita then spoke, her tone serious but kind. "Kids, we want you both to get married, only if you agree. We've been talking about this for a while, and now even MA has agreed, so it's your decision."

Both Manik and Nandini were taken aback, but at the same time, they couldn't help but feel happiness bubble inside them. They knew that they didn't have a problem with this idea. In fact, they couldn't think of anyone better to share their lives with.

Raj added, "You can take your time. We're not forcing you into anything."

Raman smiled, "Yeah, we just wish for the best for both of you. No one is better for you than Manik, Nandu."