An Arranged Journey To Forever

Part 71

Lohri night had arrived with a crisp chill in the air, the sky adorned with twinkling stars, and the bonfire crackling with warmth. The festival was in full swing, and laughter echoed through the air as friends and family gathered to celebrate.

"Here are the sheets! You all are supposed to write down your wishes for this Lohri, and we have to offer them to the fire. The wishes will reach God, and He will listen to all of us," announced Alya, her eyes twinkling with excitement.

It was a small game they had planned, adding a personal touch to the celebrations. Each person was handed a sheet of paper and a pen, instructed to write their deepest desires before surrendering them to the flames. In Indian culture, fire is believed to be the ultimate bridge between humans and the divine, which is why 'hawans' are conducted—to send prayers heavenward.

Mukti went around, distributing the sheets and pens. The rustling of paper filled the air as everyone got down to writing.

"You're not supposed to see what I'm writing, Manik," Nandini warned, pointing her pen at him like a weapon.

"And who said that?" Manik countered, his eyes gleaming mischievously as he tried to sneak a peek.

Nandini glared at him, her brows furrowing in determination. He responded with a challenging glare of his own, making her narrow her eyes even further.

"You two, stop fighting! Manik, write your own wish and stop troubling my daughter," Nyonika scolded, shaking her head at their antics.

Nandini giggled, enjoying Manik's exaggeratedly irritated expression.

"Whatever," he grumbled before getting up and striding towards the boys, leaving Nandini to finish her wish in peace.

"Someone has a lot to write," Abhimanyu teased, taking a seat beside her.

"Of course," Nandini replied nonchalantly, scribbling away. "It's about you, after all, Bhai."

"Me?" Abhimanyu repeated, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "Well then, I have to read it!" Without warning, he snatched the paper from her grasp just as she was about to toss it into the fire.

"Bhai!" Nandini yelped in protest as Abhimanyu darted away, laughing as he sought refuge behind Ishita.

But then, his laughter stopped abruptly.

"What the hell?!" he exclaimed, staring at the paper in shock. He stormed back to Nandini and gave her a light smack on the head.

"What are you two up to now?" Ishita asked, watching the scene unfold. Though their bickering was nothing new, they were, after all, surrounded by guests.

"Read what your daughter wrote!" Abhimanyu huffed, handing Ishita the paper. Soon, the rest of the family gathered around—Fab 5, Navya, Raj, Nyonika, and Raman—all curious about the commotion.

As soon as Ishita read the note, she burst into laughter, followed closely by Nandini.

"What's so wrong with it, Bhai? Mom needs someone to support her now," Nandini said, her eyes filled with sincerity.

"She's right. I need a daughter-in-law in this house now," Ishita added with a teasing smile.

"Go ahead, get married! What do I care?" Abhimanyu huffed, crossing his arms. "Just don't come to me later complaining about your wife doing this or that!" He turned and walked off in feigned annoyance, sending everyone into fits of laughter.

What no one seemed to notice, however, was Mukti blushing furiously, her eyes darting away shyly.

Before they could dwell on it, the rhythmic beats of dhols filled the air, drawing everyone's attention. Manik and Cabir had taken center stage, their fingers expertly striking the dhols, setting the perfect festive mood. The energy was contagious as everyone swayed to the rhythm.

Manik grinned and twirled the dhol sticks before turning his gaze towards Nandini. He moved toward her, circling around her while playing, his eyes never leaving hers. She smiled, feeling the warmth of his gaze.

"O giddeyan di raniye ni bhangre da raja, Aaja lakk nu hilaye hilaye non-stop, Naina nal pee ke aaj na jaavan talli haaye, Chaddi hi jaave teri naina aali dope."

Manik sang as he set the dhol aside and pulled Nandini into a twirl. She laughed, her heart racing as she was soon joined by Alya and Mukti, their hands moving in sync.

"Nachde tapde tere nal sohneya ve, Khul gaye black color de, Mere val sohneya ve."

Nandini sang, mirroring Manik's movements, her laughter lighting up the night.

"Tu kitta jo dil mainu offer, Tu kitta jo dil mainu offer, Jhatpat main mann gayi."

Navya jumped in, grinning at Cabir, who smirked at her.

Soon, the entire group joined in, dancing with full energy, their synchronized steps filling the garden with joy.

A Night of Celebration and Mischief

Later, as the festivities continued, Nyonika received a compliment from one of her colleagues.

"Mrs. Malhotra, the decorations this year are simply exquisite!"

"Thank you so much! It's all thanks to Nandini this time," Nyonika replied, gesturing for Nandini to come forward.

Nandini stepped up, offering a warm smile and touching the elderly woman's feet for blessings.

"God bless you, dear," the lady said kindly.

"Mamma, I'll just check on dinner," Nandini said before heading to the kitchen.

"Is everything ready, Bhaiya?" she asked one of the caterers.

"Yes, ma'am, almost. Just the dessert remains."

"Oh, I'll handle that! Please start setting the food in the garden," Nandini instructed.

She began preparing chocolate truffles—simple yet delightful. Just as she was busy with the batter, she felt a familiar presence nearby.

"What do you want, Manik?" she asked without turning, already sensing his mischief.

"You," he replied smoothly, leaning against the wall, his gaze fixed on her.

Nandini raised an eyebrow. "Well, in that case, I'm all yours," she quipped, pretending to be indifferent as she continued working.

Manik wasn't having it. He swiftly caught her by the elbow, making her turn to face him.

"How are you so casual about this?" he asked, his voice playful yet challenging. "Manik Malhotra is flirting with you, and you're busy making dessert? You do realize that girls would die just to get a smile from me?"

Nandini smirked, tilting her head slightly. "Well, it's a good thing they're dying, Manik. Saves me the trouble of having to kill them myself," she shot back sweetly, rolling her eyes before popping the dessert into the oven and walking out.

Manik stood frozen, processing her words.

"Did she just—roll her eyes at me?!" he muttered, blinking in disbelief before shaking his head and chasing after her into the garden.

And thus, Lohri night continued—filled with laughter, music, teasing, and a whole lot of love.