An Arranged Journey To Forever

Part 66

Time had flown by like a fleeting dream. Marriage was nothing short of bliss for Manik and Nandini. A few days ago, Naira had called Nandini, reassuring her that she was fine and would take care of herself. Nandini chose not to probe further. Meanwhile, at the Malhotra house, Cabir spent most of his time with Navya and little Radhika. However, Bua Dadi was relentless in her attempts to make Nandini realize the storm she was inviting into her life.

"Nandini, alright, I agree that Navya is not like others and is a good person, but there's absolutely no harm in setting things straight with her. You should be clear that the rights in this house will always remain equal—fifty-fifty," Bua Dadi said while Nandini busied herself in the kitchen.

"Dadi, please. I don't want to discuss this anymore. Whatever is meant to happen will happen in its time. We'll deal with it then," Nandini stated firmly before heading upstairs to wake Manik. He had a flight to catch in the morning and would be returning the next night.

Supriya sighed as she watched Nandini leave. Her thoughts wandered back to her own painful experiences. "I've lived through this before. What happened in my home, I refuse to let it happen to Manik or anyone else."

Nandini entered their bedroom only to find Manik already awake, speaking over the phone.

"Just a minute," he signaled to her while finishing his instructions to Kiara. "No clause should be missed, Kiara. This contract is critical."

After hanging up, he turned to Nandini, who was setting his clothes in order. Without warning, he grabbed her hand, pulling her close into a warm embrace. She let the clothes in her hands drop onto the couch and wrapped her arms around him, smiling.

"Your smile makes my day," Manik murmured, tightening his hold.

Nandini's smile widened as she trailed her hands up his arms, leaning in to place a soft kiss on his lips. Manik pulled her closer, responding with equal passion. When they parted, their foreheads rested against each other, sharing a moment of warmth and contentment.

"Alright, come on now. You have a flight to catch," Nandini said, attempting to push him towards the washroom—attempting, because she never really succeeded.

Manik smirked. "Why do you even try?"

"Haha, someday I will manage to do it. But for now, freshen up unless you want to miss your flight," she teased before getting back to tidying up the messy room.

"How I wish I could just stay back," Manik sighed before heading to the washroom.

He was traveling to Dubai for the launch of a groundbreaking software that would take the Malhotra business into the digital world. It was a crucial step forward, and though he would return the next day, the significance of this trip weighed heavily on him.

As Manik finished getting ready, Nandini helped with the last-minute packing. They went downstairs to see Raj and Supriya, who greeted them with warm smiles.

"Bye, Dad. Bye, Dadi," Manik said, bowing slightly to take their blessings. "Where's Mom?" he asked, scanning the room for Nyonika.

"She's at Navya's place. Navya and Cabir had to step out, so she's with Radhika," Supriya explained, sneaking a glance at Nandini.

Manik's face fell, but he masked his disappointment. Nandini noticed and silently took his hand, offering him a reassuring squeeze as they stepped out.

At the main gate, they paused. This was where their paths diverged—Nandini heading to the hospital and Manik leaving for the airport.

"Put the bags in the car," Manik instructed the driver before turning back to Nandini.

Sensing his unease, she hugged him tightly. "It'll be okay, Manik. I love you."