An Arranged Journey To Forever

102

Manik was seated on the bed, engrossed in the file before him, his pen gliding smoothly over the pages as he signed off on a few documents. The soft click of the door caught his attention, but he remained focused, knowing exactly who had entered. He could sense her presence, feel the way she moved cautiously, trying not to disrupt his work. It made him smile inwardly.

"Are you heading to the hospital, Nandini?" he asked, his eyes still scanning the papers.

Nandini, who was busy flipping through her wardrobe for a suitable outfit, turned slightly at his question. "No, I'm going out with Bhai. Do you want to join us?" she asked, her voice light as she pulled out a dress for inspection.

Manik finally looked up, setting his file aside. "I wouldn't want to intrude on your time with your brother." His voice was smooth, yet teasing.

Nandini glanced over her shoulder, smiling.

"But," he continued, stepping behind her with his hands casually resting in his pockets, "if I can steal a few moments with my wife before you leave, that would be perfect."

Her heart skipped a beat as she turned to face him. He was watching her with that signature look—the one that made her weak in the knees every single time. Before she could react, Manik reached past her, opening the drawer beside them. He pulled out a sleek, black matte-finished box and gently placed it in her hands.

Surprised, Nandini looked at the box, then at him. "What's this for?"

Manik arched a brow, his lips curving into an enigmatic smile. "Open it and find out."

With a small sigh, she lifted the lid, revealing a delicate pendant resting inside. The intricate design caught the light, gleaming beautifully. Tracing it with her fingertips, she let out a small, appreciative gasp.

"Manik, this is lovely," she murmured. "But why the sudden gift?"

"A friend of mine just launched a jewelry store in Bandra. I happened to visit and saw this—it reminded me of you. I knew I had to get it," he said simply, taking the pendant from her hands. As she instinctively moved her hair to one side, he fastened the necklace around her neck, his fingers brushing against her skin, igniting a familiar warmth.

Nandini turned to face him, her heart swelling with affection. "Thank you," she whispered before dropping a soft peck on his lips. Manik smirked, clearly pleased.

"Alright, I need to head out for a meeting. Have fun, and if it gets too late, call me. I'll come pick you up," he instructed, slipping into his blazer.

"You too, take care," Nandini replied as he grabbed his keys and left with a quick, muttered goodbye.

She watched him disappear through the doorway before getting back to dressing up, a small smile lingering on her lips.

At the mall, Nandini navigated the crowd with ease, her phone pressed to her ear.

"Bhai, I'm just reaching. Stuck in traffic," she said with an exasperated sigh.

"Finally! You took forever," Abhimanyu complained the moment she arrived, pulling her into a tight hug.

"As if I can control the traffic," she retorted playfully, sliding into a seat opposite him.

"So, what's the plan?" she asked, setting down her bag.

Abhimanyu took a bite of his burger before responding. "We're waiting for Nia."

Nandini nearly choked on air. "WHAT?! You didn't tell me she was coming!"

He chewed nonchalantly. "Why are you freaking out? If anyone should be nervous, it's her. She's meeting my family. Meanwhile, you're over here panicking."

Nandini crossed her arms. "I'm not panicking. But maybe if you had told me, I would've dressed better or mentally prepared myself."

Abhimanyu smirked. "Please, as if I don't know you. If I had told you, you wouldn't have shown up at all."

She opened her mouth to argue but stopped. He was right. Meeting new people wasn't exactly her forte.

"Fine, you win. At least tell me something about her so I don't feel like I'm walking in blind."

Abhimanyu's expression softened. "She's everything I need, everything I want. She's not your typical girl—strong, confident, fearless. She wouldn't hesitate to kick, punch, or slap anyone who messes with her. And today, I want you to meet her because it's important to me. I need you two to get along."

Nandini studied him for a moment before breaking into a grin. "You're so in love, Bhai. It's adorable."

"Please, don't start," he groaned, but the hint of pink on his cheeks gave him away.

She was about to tease him further when he suddenly waved toward someone. Nandini turned, spotting a girl walking toward them. She wore a casual jumpsuit, her hair pulled into a ponytail, and minimal—if any—makeup. Something about her effortless confidence immediately impressed Nandini.

As Nia reached them, Abhimanyu side-hugged her before introducing them.

"Hi, Nandini," Nia greeted warmly.

"Hello, Nia," Nandini replied, smiling.

"You're really pretty," Nandini complimented.

"So are you," Nia responded with an even wider smile.

Abhimanyu cleared his throat. "So, what do you two want to eat?"

"Actually," Nandini interjected, "Bhai, would you mind if I steal Nia for a bit? We can chat while we shop."

Abhimanyu groaned dramatically. "You're abandoning me already? Fine, go."

Nandini turned to Nia. "Is that okay with you?"

"Absolutely! Lead the way. See you later, Abhi," Nia said cheerfully.

As they wandered through the stores, their conversation flowed effortlessly.

"So, what do you do, Nia?" Nandini asked, browsing through dresses.

"I'm an intern at MSC Softwares."

"That's impressive. And how did you and Bhai meet?"

Nia chuckled. "Through a mutual friend. One of my colleagues had a birthday party, and Abhi was invited. We got talking, exchanged numbers, and before we knew it, friendship turned into something deeper. He talks about you all the time, you know."

"Oh, really? I hope it's good things."

"Mostly," Nia teased. "He does say you annoy him the most, but also that he wouldn't change it for the world."

Nandini smiled, touched.

"Here, try this," she said, holding up a black dress.

"It's lovely," Nia admired.

"For you."

"Me? Why?"

"Because you'll be family soon," Nandini said, insistently handing it over.

Nia hesitated before finally accepting it with a grateful smile.

Just then, Nandini's phone rang.

"Hello?" she answered.

"It's evening already, and not a single call? How mean," Manik's voice came through the receiver, mock-offended.

Nandini chuckled. "I got busy shopping."

"Obviously. How much longer?"

"An hour. Actually, why don't you come? You need new shirts. You can meet Nia, too."

Manik hesitated before sighing. "Fine, I'm coming."

Nandini grinned. "See you soon. Love you."