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

Nothing is Better than Friendship

Amritsar had done its magic on the people. Fab 4 were loving Nandini like their own. She too got really comfortable with them. But one particular incident had got Cabir and Nandini way too close. Cabir's restaurant had not being doing well for various reasons. A couple of days back everyone returned back to the bay. Navya was Cabir's girlfriend, and when he proposed her for marriage she said yes but her father disagreed due to financial constraints in Cabir's life. It was the day when a new boss cum investor had to take over. Cabir never took his friends' help for his financial matters which had pissed Manik off. The conference room was ready and everyone was eagerly waiting for their new boss. The door opened nd Murty siblings walked in with pride. It was very clear in a couple of minutes the Abhimanyu Murty, the second name of terror was their boss. Cabir had his head down. Abhimanyu asked Nandini to make the most important announcements for the day. " So ladies and gentlemen, it's time for you to meet Mr. Cabir Dhawan the CEO of Cabir's Kitchen, with this we also announce to launch 2 more branches in Delhi and Amritsar. This restaurant will be shut for next 30 days for upgradation and renewal processes." Cabir was shocked.
"Nandini please mere liye mat karo ye sab." " Mai aapke liye nhi bhai, apne liye kar rhi hu. Maa always wanted to open a cafe but couldn't, aaj iss sab se unka bhi sapna poora ho gya. Aur rhi baat ehsaan ki to NM kachi businesswoman nhi hai, har kisi ka vakt aata hai and Navya apne saath vo vakt layegi, aap bus poori mehnat krna aur phir dekhna we will make Cabir's Kitchen a world famous brand." Cabir hugged her tightly, "thankyou behna, I promise I will." After that Nandini and Cabir had started working really closely and developed a wonderful bond. Cabir was a stress-buster for everyone but he found one in Nandini. They bonded over food, decor and what not.
Manik was happy seeing everyone close to his future wife. Nandini and Manik would try and escape time for each other and would often visit the beach.
One night Manik and Nandini were sitting on the beach, silence consuming them when Manik got a call from his office and he got to know that the firewall of his system has been hacked and someone is trying to leak the company's data. He was angry, frustrated and what not. Manan went to the office. Nandini being by his side. His close team was shocked to see their boss at midnight with a girl. Seeing their engagement rings they got to know she is their boss. Manik was angry and wasn't able to think straight. He and his team were not able to come to any solution when Nandini intruded. "Manik, I know you are worried and this is your office, I don't mean to intrude but I think I have a solution." "Nandini, first a fall what's mine is yours, you cannot be an intruder ever. Go ahead."
Next 4 hours Nandini made a hundred calls and a small team of 5 members were there. They worked rigorously informing Manik about various details and asking him to block all the bank accounts of Malhotra family and business for next 72 hours. Manik was astonished to see Nandini working, he was amazed, so as Raj too. He could see a glimpse of his bestfriend in this little girl. Manik also noticed that Nandini had been standing for more than 4 hours now, while everyone was sitting she chose to stand near his chair in his cabin. He smiled at her gesture, though she was helping him with the work she could never think of sitting on his chair. Everyone went out for a short coffee break, when he asked his assistant to get two cups for them and walked up Nandini. He kissed her forehead and hugged her. "Pagal ho aap pure." She looked at him confused. "4 hours se khade ho, yaha chair par beth jate to kya ho jata?" "Nhi Manik it's fine, I work like that!" Manik chuckled and pushed her lightly on the chair, she stood up at once all erect and alert. "Manik, I can't sit here, this is your place, no heck, I won't, I will go and sit on the couch." "Tabhi kehta hu, pagal ho aap, Nandini aap mere ho, jo mera hai vo aapka hai, betho yaha poore hak se, soon to be Mrs. MANIK MALHOTRA" She blushed and smiled and hugged his waist. He kissed her head. Raj came in and they discussed about the severe loopholes which had led to the situation. Though while getting in the situation Nandini had sensed something terribly wrong. She knew some of the minute details couldn't be known to anyone randomly, which clearly indicated that someone had tapped Manik's phone and maybe Raj's too. She knew this is the starting to a big storm. She had to be precautious but revealing it to anyone had it's own risk. They went home early morning. Though they left in their cars from Malhotra Industries, something happened midway and now Raj, Nandini and Manik were in the study room at her pent house which was secured with a digital lock. Raj and Manik were clueless.

"Dad, Manik, ab jo btana chahti hu please be careful. This is just the beginning, the problem is not only what it looks like." "Tum kya kehna chahti ho Nandini?" Raj asked. "Papa your and Manik's phone are tapped, someone has their eyes on you. Manik the other day you said that you felt like someone was observing you?" Manik nodded in yes. "Papa aaj mai kuch mangu aapse?" " Bache aap pooch kyu rahe ho? Sab aapka hi to hai!" "Manik I want to work on the overseas project with you but not as a partner with Murty Industries but represent Malhotra Industries." Raj and Manik were surprised. "Nandini kya hua hai?" "Manik I can decipher the situation, but I don't have the complete info as of now, just go with the flow and don't believe on anything to be true which happens outside this room. I know I am asking alot but please...." Raj smiled and left the couple to themselves.

Manik moved and hugged Nandini. "Shh itna stress nhi dena mere bache ko!" Nandini looked at him suprised. "Kya aise kyu dekh rhe ho? Nandini aap jante ho, I have had many people in my life before you, many friends came and went, but I was never into a relationship. I always admired DJ's relationship, it attracted me to fall in love. I wouldn't name our feelings as Love rn, it would be in haste but yes this is bliss. You know DJ kehte the, that home isn't a place but a feeling and you, you are my home. The calm to my chaos. A best friend I never had. I laugh, cry, fight with you, but you are my person. I have seen you struggling with your emotions while keeping a smile for everyone, I want to be your best friend, your person where you cry, you are my first child and wil always be."
Nandini hugged him tightly. "Thankyou for being my home away from my home."

It was the beginning of a beautiful story. Whereas Alya was getting tensed, she thought Nandini had taken away her place in everyone's life be it Mukti or Fab 5. Mukti had sensed her insecurities but chose to be mum and thought she will be fine with time but Alya had other plans. She wanted to play nasty putting everything at stake.

#okaythanksbye #mananforever