An Arranged Journey To Forever

Part 85

It was 6 a.m., and the streets of Bali were bathed in the soft golden hues of dawn. Manik and Nandini walked hand in hand, their fingers entwined, savoring the tranquil morning air. This wasn't part of their plan—they had intended to visit the iconic Tanah Lot Temple first thing in the morning. But fate had other ideas. Since sleep had eluded them at dawn, they had spontaneously decided to explore the peaceful roads surrounding their resort.

The resort, nestled on the outskirts of the town, was surrounded by lush greenery that whispered serenity—just the kind of place Nandini adored. The crisp morning air carried with it the fragrance of damp earth and blooming flowers, a scent that made her heart feel light. Seeing her this content, Manik couldn't help but smile to himself.

As they ambled along the quiet path, a ball suddenly rolled to a stop at their feet. They exchanged puzzled glances before a tiny boy came running toward them, his face glowing with innocence and excitement.

"Hello, kya mai apni ball le sakta hoon?" he asked politely, his voice as sweet as honey.

The familiarity of Hindi in a foreign land took them by surprise.

"Haan, bilkul," Nandini said, bending down to pick up the ball and hand it to him.

"Thank you!" The boy beamed at them, clutching his ball tightly.

Nandini, charmed by his innocence, couldn't resist asking, "Tumhe Hindi aati hai?"

The boy giggled and nodded. "Haan, main India se aaya hoon yahan pe."

Manik crouched to the boy's level, his usual guarded demeanor softening. "Achha? Toh itni subah subah akele kya kar rahe ho?"

"I am here with my parents and sister. We were playing in the garden, and my ball rolled away." His words came in a flurry, overflowing with childlike enthusiasm, making Nandini chuckle.

A woman and a man soon appeared, calling out for him. "Rehaan, why did you run off alone? We were coming!" the lady scolded gently before offering Manik and Nandini a polite smile. Manik, true to his nature, masked his expressions, while Nandini flashed her warmest smile in return.

"Sorry, Mom! I was talking to uncle and aunty."

"AUNTY?!" Nandini exclaimed, her eyes widening in mock horror as Manik shot her an amused glance. The struggle with this word was universal for women, he mused.

The boy, oblivious to her reaction, explained earnestly, "Lekin aapke baal mein red color ka kuch hai, jaise meri mom ke paas hota hai. Toh married matlab aunty, na?"

Nandini melted at his logic. "Aww, tum kitne pyaare ho!"

Rehaan's father chuckled. "I hope he didn't bother you."

"Not at all. You have a wonderful child, isn't he, Manik?" Nandini nudged her husband, urging him to say something.

Manik nodded with a polite, albeit reluctant, smile. "Yeah, he's a sweet kid."

Rehaan suddenly tugged at Nandini's hand, signaling her to bend down. When she did, he planted an innocent kiss on her cheek. "Mom says jab hume koi pasand aaye toh unhe batana chahiye ki woh duniya ke liye achhe hain. Thank you, aunty, aap bohot acche ho!"

A heartfelt warmth spread through Nandini, her heart swelling with affection.

Then, with all the cheekiness a child could muster, he turned to Manik. "Aapke bagal wale uncle bhi acche hain, par aap jitne sweet nahi lagte. Unhe thoda mithai khilana chahiye!"

Nandini burst into laughter while Manik rolled his eyes. "Great, now even kids are roasting me," he muttered under his breath.

With a final wave, Rehaan ran back to his parents, leaving Nandini with a lingering smile. As they walked back to their room, Manik wrapped an arm around her shoulders, watching her thoughtfully.

"What did that little guy say to you that has you this mesmerized? Should I be jealous?" he teased.

Nandini shot him an exasperated look. "Seriously, Manik?"

"I'm just saying, you're still thinking about it," he said, biting into an apple from the table.

She hesitated before voicing what had been on her mind. "Manik, how do you see us in three or four years?"

Manik blinked. That was...unexpected. "I don't know. I just know we're going to be together."

"Of course, Manik! But..." She took a deep breath. "What do you think about having babies?"

Manik stilled. That was even more unexpected. "Babies?" he echoed, chewing slower. He had never really given it serious thought, though he loved kids. Raising one, though, was a different thing altogether. "Nandini... I love them, but I don't think I'm ready yet."

"Not ready how?" she pressed.

"I want us to do so much more first. I want us to have a house of our own, to travel more, to grow in our careers... I just want to give our child nothing but happiness."

Nandini nodded, understanding his perspective. "I get that. And I'm not saying now, Manik. But someday... you do want children, right?"

"Of course." He smiled. "I'd love a little girl who's my princess or a boy who'd watch football with me. With you and me together, our little family—it'll be perfect."

Her heart swelled at his words. She hugged him tightly, feeling a deep contentment settle within her. He held her close, still munching his apple with one hand.

"I knew meeting Rehaan did something to you," Manik murmured knowingly.

"Maybe," she admitted sheepishly.

A moment later, she frowned. "Where are your manners? Don't leave half-eaten apples lying around!"

Manik groaned. "Not this again."

"We are not talking until you clean this up," she declared.

With an exaggerated sigh, he wrapped the apple in a tissue and threw it away. "Happy?"

"Very."

Grinning, he leaned in. "By the way, what was with all your serious questions yesterday? Did someone say something?"

Nandini hesitated before explaining. "It was Navya's birthday, so I called her. She said something about how if we had an arranged marriage, we wouldn't be in Bali, that we're privileged. I think she was trying to make me feel bad. It did bother me, but then your floating house surprise made it all go away."

Manik listened attentively before sighing. "Navya is still stuck in the past."

Nandini nodded but then brightened. "But see? I'm not affected like before."

Proud, Manik kissed her forehead. "Good."

"Now, let's go to Tanah Lot. You don't want to miss the sunset, do you?"

The golden hour found them standing by the temple, the ocean stretching infinitely before them. Manik wrapped his arms around Nandini's petite frame as she leaned into him, feeling the rhythmic crash of waves below.

Bali, the sunset, and them—absolutely perfect.