Bade Acche Lagte Hain | MaNan

Acceptance.

“Nandini! Who is on the line? I got to know the call is from Lucknow.”
Jyoti's voice was stern as she stretched out her hand to take the receiver. Nandini’s face turned pale and the pretty smile vanished. She silently handed the receiver and stood with her head hung low.

In her house, it wasn’t allowed to talk to your husband before marriage and here she was busy chatting, oblivion to the surroundings.

She felt ashamed.

Glaring at her daughter, Jyoti muttered, “Hello?” Manik became serious and replied, “Namaste. It’s me Manik.” Jyoti's face hardened and she said, “Namaste Manik beta! How are you?”

“I’m good. Actually I’d called to inform that we are about to shift to our new house. She was about to call you but I stopped her and wanted to know what all things are required for our house. Father suggested me to ask her since she is going to handle everything in future.” Manik said in a go, trying to control the damage he'd done.

He cursed himself for not taking permission from anyone and putting her in a tight spot. Manas' idea was surely bad. Jyoti relaxed a bit, assuming that Manik stopped Nandini from calling her and she must have obeyed him.

“Congratulations son. We all are glad to know this.” Nandini frowned hearing her mother congratulating him, maybe about his business but she chose to stare at the designs on the floor and counting the chips of stones used.

“Thank you. Can I ask her what all furnitures and things are required for the house and kitchen, only if you allow.” Jyoti was hesitant, this was against the custom, what if they argue over something and Manik decides to call off the wedding. Her daughter’s life will be spoiled. But how to deny the request of her son-in-law?

“Manik, son, it’s against our customs, I hope you understand but I will talk to her father and let you know. I hope you don’t mind that.” Nandini’s eyes widened in horror, he actually asked her mother to let them talk, but how?

She was preparing herself for a good scolding, especially when her father and elder brother Shyam will get to know about her audacity. As much as they loved her, the rules were the same and she had broken them.

“I understand. I’ll wait for your answer. Namaste.” Saying so Manik hanged up the call, bummed out with the interruption. As much as he respected their customs, he never followed them and did what his heart desired. Nobody has ever stopped him and now he has to wait for her mother’s permission even when Nandini was willingly talking to him. Huffing irritatingly, he walked back to his room and indulged himself in his business related works.

Fidgeting with her dupatta, she treaded behind her mother with her head still hung low, who hasn’t said anything to her till now. Was it the silence before the storm? She shuddered at the thought of her elder brother getting angry at her.

Gulping down her saliva, she stood at the corner of the room as her mother recited everything. Nandini was brimming with fear to the level that she couldn’t grasp about the excuse Manik had framed which was somewhere true.

“Didn’t he give you enough time to even inform us?” Shyam asked, forcing Nandini to look in his eyes and answer. She can never lie to him or anyone in the eye.

“Bhaiya, do you think Nandini wouldn’t have informed us if it was possible? Right Nandini?” Ram tried to ease up the atmosphere finding his sister scared like a kitten.

“I...I couldn’t cut his words.” She stammered staring down, sending an apology to the Almighty for lying on Manik's name. Her heart never agreed that she did something wrong. Shyam calmed down understanding her turmoil.