An Arranged Journey To Forever

Part 77

It was the evening of the sixth day of celebrations, and the atmosphere was vibrant with the colors of Mehendi and the rhythm of Sangeet preparations. Navya sat gracefully on a beautifully adorned swing, her hands and legs being carefully decorated with intricate henna patterns by four skilled artists. Bridal Mehendi required time, patience, and precision, and tonight was no different. The women surrounding her chatted and laughed, reveling in the joyous occasion.

Meanwhile, Nandini was seated comfortably on a couch nearby, one hand being meticulously adorned with Mehendi while her other hand remained occupied with her phone. Her mind was elsewhere, her heart heavy with worry. Since the Haldi ceremony, Manik had been missing in action, and apart from a brief message assuring her that he would be there soon, there had been no other communication. How could she not be anxious? She needed to see him, to feel his presence.

"Aunt, can I have your phone? I want to take some pictures of Mamma," little Radhika asked sweetly. Nandini smiled and handed her the phone, momentarily distracted from her thoughts.

Twenty minutes passed. Still, there was no sign of Manik.

"Would you like me to write a name in your Mehendi?" the artist asked, breaking Nandini's chain of thoughts. She looked up and nodded absentmindedly, about to respond when a sudden wave of cheers and whistles filled the air. The excitement in the room grew, making her self-conscious. Why were they cheering?

Perplexed, she turned her head to the side—and there he was.

Manik was kneeling before her, a warm smile playing on his lips. The sight of him sent a rush of relief and joy through her. It amazed her how just a few hours without seeing him had left her so restless, and now, just one glimpse of him filled her with overwhelming happiness.

"Manik," she whispered, as the Mehendi artist carefully inscribed his name onto her palm.

As soon as the artist finished her work, Manik extended his hand toward Nandini, his palm facing her. She frowned in confusion, but as she looked closer, her eyes widened in astonishment. There, beautifully imprinted on his palm, was a perfect portrait of her. Her heart swelled with emotion. She felt cherished, adored, loved.

"Do you like it?" Manik asked, his voice tender, searching her face for a reaction. She looked up at him, her eyes shining, unable to contain her emotions. Forgetting the crowd around them, she leaned in and planted a firm kiss on his cheek. The room erupted into cheers and teasing hoots as Manik grinned widely.

"How romantic, Manik! Dhruv, take notes!" Alya teased, nudging Dhruv, who let out an exaggerated sigh.

"Buddy, this is unfair. Stop raising the bar so high; we can't all keep up!" Dhruv said, shaking his head in mock frustration, making everyone laugh.

Nandini turned back to Manik, her gaze filled with love. "I love you," she whispered, and Manik smiled, his eyes mirroring the same depth of affection.

Moments later, Manik stood up and walked toward the stage. The ambiance shifted as the lights dimmed slightly, and a romantic melody began to play in the background. Taking his place with his guitar, he turned to Nandini, his voice filled with emotion. "This one's for you, my love. Happy one-month anniversary."

The realization hit Nandini instantly. In the midst of all the festivities, she had completely forgotten that today marked one month since their wedding. Memories of the past month flashed through her mind as Manik closed his eyes and began to sing:

'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginnin'
Even when I lose, I'm winnin'

'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, oh-oh

The music transitioned from slow and soothing to lively and energetic as Manik was joined by Mukti, Dhruv, Alya, and the groom himself, Cabir. The FAB 5 were ready to set the stage on fire with a rocking performance.

Mukti and Alya sang in chorus while Dhruv held the mic for them, considering their mehendi-adorned hands. Meanwhile, Manik and Cabir carefully stepped down, helping Nandini and Navya to their feet before heading to the stage. They danced their hearts out, ensuring their moves remained careful enough not to smudge their mehendi. It was a night of pure joy and celebration.

After the exhilarating performance, everyone proceeded to dinner, savoring the beautiful moments of the day. As the function wrapped up, Raj and Raman ensured that the handful of guests were comfortably settled in the resort before returning home. Exhausted from the long yet wonderful day, they soon found solace in their beds, where sleep welcomed them like a long-lost friend.

Noticing that everyone was fast asleep, Nandini quietly slipped out of bed and tiptoed toward Manik's, only to find him wide awake.

"I thought you were sleeping," she whispered, making sure not to wake anyone.

"Same here. Otherwise, I would've come to you," Manik whispered back, a playful glint in his eyes.

"Okay, fine. Get up and follow me," Nandini said, extending her hand toward him. Without hesitation, Manik took it, trusting her completely.

She led him to the terrace, and as soon as they stepped outside, Manik was left utterly mesmerized. A beautiful canopy, adorned with twinkling fairy lights, stood beneath the starry sky. Fireflies flickered around, adding to the enchanting ambiance.

Before he could voice his amazement, Nandini threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. The unexpected gesture took him by surprise, but he quickly wrapped his arms around her protectively, lifting her slightly off the ground.

"Thank you for today, Manik," she murmured, still holding on to him.

"So, was this the real 'better one'?" Manik teased, recalling their morning conversation.

Nandini chuckled and nodded. "It was the best."

"Happy one month, Manik," she added, pulling him under the canopy. To his delight, a small cake awaited them.

Manik smiled as they sat down and cut the cake together, feeding each other in celebration.

"You made this, didn't you?" Manik asked, savoring another bite.

Nandini simply hummed in response, watching him relish the taste. Just as he reached for another slice, she quickly moved the cake out of his reach.

"What?" Manik asked, puzzled.

"You're not allowed to have more," Nandini declared firmly.

"Why?" he asked, trying to grab another piece.

"I said no, Manik. It's not healthy. Once is enough," she stated, her doctor mode fully activated.

Knowing there was no winning against 'Doctor Nandini,' Manik sighed in defeat. They lay down together, gazing at the stars, reflecting on the beautiful month that had passed so swiftly. Time truly flew when happiness surrounded them.

"Thank you for coming into my life and making it so much better, Nandini. I can't even imagine my life without you now," Manik whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead as she lay against him.

"Copy, paste, enter," Nandini replied playfully, making him chuckle.

"By the way, I've booked our tickets for Bali," Manik announced casually.

"What? When?" Nandini asked, looking up at him in surprise.

"We leave next Saturday," he confirmed with a smile.

After much deliberation, they had settled on Bali. Nandini had wanted a destination with water, while Manik preferred the mountains. Bali, with its perfect mix of both, became their dream getaway.

And just like that, another adventure awaited them.