Bade Acche Lagte Hain | MaNan

First Conversation

Continued from the last part...

After making each other have the sweets, the couple was clicked with their families and relatives. All the kids were stuffed in one picture as the roll in the camera was limited. Jay, Anil's younger son sat royally on Manik’s lap while Veer, Madhu's little son stared at his aunt Nandini with fondness and chose to sit on her lap only. Monica, Shravan, Anjali and other small kids of Bedi's family were upset with the intrusion and had to adjust in between or around the couple.

After a while when the photography session got over, the guests were ushered to have dinner. Asha came ahead to take Nandini inside for a while so that she could freshen up before joining Manik’s family for dinner.

Manik stared at her retreating figure before he was requested by Shyam to join the terrace party where only men were allowed. He accepted the offer since he was an occasional drinker too and today was his day. Men in the Bedi's family also drank alcohol in the parties so it wasn’t a matter of objection for anyone.

Manik sat beside his brother on the sofa who was munching on the chicken along with sips of whiskey. “Congratulations bhai!” Manas exclaimed with a smile which Manik returned with a small nod of acknowledgement.

“Did you like bhabhi?” He further questioned sensing his brother’s unusual silence.

“She is soft-spoken.” Manik shared what he observed in the duration they were sitting together.

“Did you try talking to her?” Manas was intrigued to know about his brother’s approach since Manik was always busy in his own world and seemed detached with everyone from childhood.

“I thought to give her some space till she gets comfortable. After marriage she is anyways going to stay with me.” Manik reasoned.

“Really bhai? You are engaged to her and have all the rights to be close to her in every way. She cannot deny you and also make her get used to you and your closeness at every time you meet her which is not going to be frequent . She might just consider you unmanly or wimpy after marriage otherwise.” Manas preached his brother all the wisdom he’d gathered with his experiences knowing how untutored Manik is, in these type of things.

“What are the elders discussing there?” Manik asked pointing towards the next table, taking a sip of alcohol and changing the topic. He didn’t want to discuss his and Nandini's dynamics with anyone. It seemed too private to him.

“Your marriage functions, dates and the venue. Uncle Anil has proposed the marriage to happen in Lucknow. Why don’t you go there? Harish ji wanted to know what are you going to demand from uncle Swastik. Have you decided on something?” Manik frowned at his brother’s questions as he was very clear about him being against the custom of dowry to his own family even.

“I have already informed uncle Swastik that I don’t want anything else other than her daughter and proper wedding arrangements for the guests and I still stand by it.” Manik's firm decisions woke Manas up from a beautiful dream.

“What? But why bhai? You could’ve asked for a bike or some furnitures and they wouldn’t have denied just like we gave a scooter to Harish ji ten years back.” Manas was piqued and disappointed.

“That scooter costed us our house Manas, the house which our mother bought for all of us. Though it was small and compact but we had our own shelter, not like today where we have to live in our maternal grandfather’s house. Moreover I don’t need a bike. I have my own scooter which runs smoothly on the road and even if I do in future, I can buy it on my own.”

Manik had always been bitter with words when he strongly disliked something. He was eighteen when his sister Madhu got married and had no say when Prakash decided to sell their house for Madhu's marriage arrangements and dowry- the groom’s family demanded. He saw everyone going through a tough time financially yet they fulfilled all the demands without a hitch and that is what made him vow to not be like Harish or his family. He had suffered and did not want others to suffer too because of him.