From You and Me to We :- An Arrange Marriage Saga

You are still my First Boyfriend

There was a surreal calm in some hearts. Nyonika was glad that she had chosen Nandini, a girl who will never let her family draw apart. Manik and Mukti, one was content to see his sister happy while Mukti had a strange solace in her heart. Though she was never the religious one and only believed in God for Nishant but today after talking to Nandini she felt he did exist. Whereas Nandini was fighting with her emotions. She was happy to see Mukti smiling again but nothing could overpower the feeling of her loss. She walked inside the Gurudwara at 2am, while everyone was busy in the holy atmosphere, Manik noticed Nandini's grandparents walking upto her hugging her tightly and kissing her cheeks while her maternal family made a bad and disgusting face which didn't go unnoticed by DJ and Nyonika as well.

BP:- Rab aapko duniya ki saari khushiyan de, aap jaise ho vaise hi rehna mere bache.
(May God bless you with all the happiness in the world, stay the same my child)
BM:- Yahvi, aap guroor hai humara, sabse mazboot, humare aur ab unke ghar ki shaan. Aapne kabhi humara sar jhukne nhi diya, hum bas Rabji se yahi mangte hai ki humari umar aapko lag jaye. Hamesha khush rehiye!
(You are our pride, very strong and the pride of our house and now theirs as well. Live long and happy always)

They both had tears in their eyes, Nandini smiled brightly and hugged them. Manik was smiling seeing them. He was happy that she knew how to keep everyone together. He knew she was his girl. Nandini gave everyone a smile and moved out again. The was a tsunami of emotions. She sat down along the lane staring at the sky full of clouds and thunder which indicated it would rain any minute. She sat their thinking about all those memories, she saw Manik and Mukti together and thought how her twin would have reacted to her marriage. She was lost in her nostalgia when she felt someone's presence beside her.

"Mind sharing a penny for your thoughts", said Manik, she smiled and looked at him. "Aap yaha?" She questioned. "Kyu, meri nayi nayi fiance ke saath thoda time spend nhi kar sakta?" He replied making her chuckle at his choice of words while he kept gazing and when she noticed she blushed. "The blush suits, keep it that way, it's special because I am the reason." Manik whispered in her ear. She felt goosebumps in her body. He slowly kept his hand on hers waiting for her to react, while she held his hand and they entwined their fingers together. "This feeling is good, having your own person, though we have to build that comfort zone but still. The silence has a beautiful melody with you." He said. She kept her head on his shoulder making him smile, "Strangely I feel too comfortable with you having known you for just 24 hours. It feels I know you much before, just like my own person." Manik smiled and slowly kissed her forehead. "We have a long way to go, from you and me to we. Thankyou". She looked at him, "Thankyou kis liye?" "Mukti, she locks herself on this day and you made her smile, you are genuinely an angel for us Nandini." " You don't have to thank me for her, she is mine much before you." "Yeah yeah that is why you called me up and talked to your sister-in-law and hanged up." Nandini giggled. "Jealous much?" "Jealous of that girl, in my dreams!" Nandini laughed loudly. Suddenly her phone chimed with a message as Manik was near he could clearly read it was a birthday wish! He squeeled "it's your birthday, you didn't even tell me! It's feels like you and Nishant are twins." He said in the flow. "Yes we are!" He froze at her response. "I saw Mukti and then knew you were her brother. It's just I didn't want her to feel guilty and about revealing my birthday, it's a normal day, I... I... " She was fighting with her emotions, Manik could see that and hugged her tightly. She was shocked but hugged him back. They found their solace. "Happy Birthday Nandini and Nishant" he said sincerely and Nandini froze. Nandini broke the hug and said "Manik I don't want to hurt you or anyone, can I stay alone for sometime? I will request you not to tell anyone, I don't like this day and I have my own reasons. I am sorry if I am sounding rude but please just sometime?" She asked. Manik kissed her forehead and said "I am your person just like you are mine." Manik moved away though settled at a safe distance because he didn't want to leave her alone completely. It started to drizzle, Nandini stood up and started walking out. For now she was not a daughter, a would be daughter in law or anyone else, she was just a sister who missed her brother. Today after meeting Mukti her patience gave up, she wanted to cry, shout, question her destiny and what not.

She kept walking down the road as if knowing the city from her heart. With each step tears dropping in with more intensity. Her face was red. The words of her Amms kept on echoing in her mind. She could see the accident of her parents infront her eyes.

On the other hand, the holy puja got over at 5 in the morning. With the sun just hitting the horizon it was a sweet atmosphere with drizzle in chill air of the December month. Having lived in Mumbai all the members were feeling too cold. When suddenly Badi Ma asked "Nandini kaha hai?" Everyone was looking around for her. Amms got a chance and started saying "Bus yahi reh gya hai, itni irresponsible ladki kahi nhi dekhi maine. Kisi ki koi fikar nhi hai" to this she got a hard glare from DJ and other other people whereas Bade Papa said " Vo kitni responsible hai ki uske bina hum sab ruk jate hai, uski chinta krne ki jagah aap suna rhi hai. Vo aapki bhi bachi hai" Malhotra's were over hearing the conversation, they had come near hearing that Nandini wasn't there. Mukti fisted her hands and so did Nyonika. After knowing that Nandini was Nishant's sister she became well aware of Amms nature towards her as Nish used to talk about it alot, though she could never figure out that why is she still living with those people. "Bachi nhi hai vo hamari, manhoos hai, pehle meri beti ne aapke us behuda ladke se shadi ki, aur phir us manhoos ko paida kar humare gale chod gayi. Le jati..." Nyonika roared, she didn't let her complete those words, "Aap Malhotra's ki hone valu bahu ki baat kar rhe hai, thoda adab se baat kijiye. Hum hamari bachi ke khilaf kuch nhi sunege." This was surprising for the Singhania's but they were extremely happy to hear Nyonika refering Nandini as their own. Bade Papa called up Nandini and got to know that there was an emergency case in her NGO here in Amritsar and she had to rush to the hospital. He informed the rest about the same. Though Manik was still restless. He was worried about Nandini. They all moved back to their respective places while Manik dropped a message to Nandini asking if she is fine and wants him to come? He got a reply things are in control though he should sleep and not exert himself and she would manage. Manik was too sleepy so crashed the bed!

He thought of going to pick Nandini up in a couple of hours. She was fine and that's what mattered to him. He didn't want to walk into her personal space too much and make it chocking for her to breathe in this relationship. Though he was very possessive and protective about his people but he knew he had to take it slow and not make her feel dependent.

Done for the day!
#okaythanksbye
#mananforever❤️