An Arranged Journey To Forever

120

Manik glanced around the wedding venue, ensuring that every little detail was in place. He turned to the decorators once more, his tone firm yet polite.

"Please make sure that everything is completed before time," he instructed, his eyes scanning the arrangements meticulously. Only after double-checking everything did he walk over to Raman, who was anxiously keeping an eye on the preparations.

Raman was overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the event. He knew that Abhimanyu, the groom, was adamant about handling things on his own, but he just couldn't allow his son to shoulder this responsibility at his own wedding. And that was why Manik had stepped in—to ensure that everything went smoothly and that Abhimanyu could focus on his big day without any stress.

Raman sighed in relief as Manik took charge. He patted Manik's back, his gratitude evident.

"Thank you so much, beta. You are handling everything so well. I truly appreciate it."

Manik smiled reassuringly. "Papa, please go and rest for a while. I'll take care of everything that's left. There's no need to worry."

Raman hesitated for a moment but then nodded, realizing he could trust Manik to manage things efficiently.

Just as Manik was about to check on something else, he glanced at his watch and realized it was time for Nandini's medicines. Without wasting another second, he made his way towards their room. But before he could reach, his phone buzzed. Seeing the caller ID, a small smile made its way onto his lips. He immediately answered the call.

"So, Sir is finally out of the forests and back in the network zone," Manik teased as soon as he picked up.

"Oh, please, Manik. I've been trying to call you since morning, alright?" came the slightly exasperated yet amused reply.

Manik chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, sure. So how long are you back in civilization this time?"

"One week. I'm headed to the Amazon next."

Manik sighed dramatically. "And when are you planning to come and visit us, Mr. Cabir Malhotra?"

"Why should I? You just bore me to death whenever I visit. You're old now, Manik. Not cool enough for me anymore."

Manik smirked. "Oh really? I'm still strong enough to knock you down with one punch. Don't test me."

Cabir chuckled. "Yes, yes, Manik Baba. I'm shaking in my boots. Anyway, how is everyone?"

"Everyone's doing great. We all miss you, though. Just come visit, yaar."

Cabir sighed. "I will come, but not now. What will I do there right now? Next month, once I'm back from the Amazon, I'll fly straight to London."

Manik grinned. "Finally! You've decided to take out some time for us. I'm honored."

"Hmm, hmm. Alright, tell Amayra that I bought something super fun for her. Bye, Manik."

Manik ended the call and plugged his phone in to charge. It had been almost a month since he last spoke to Cabir. God only knew what had fascinated him so much that he spent most of his time in dense forests, away from civilization. By now, Manik was convinced that Cabir had already covered 80% of the world's flora and fauna. His passion for nature often took him to places with no network, making it nearly impossible to reach him.

Shaking his head, Manik stepped into the room. His gaze softened instantly as he saw Amayra and Nandini cuddled up together, peacefully asleep. Smiling to himself, he walked to the couch beside the bed and sat down.

He didn't want to wake Nandini up, but she needed to take her vitamins. Making space beside her, he leaned in, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"Nandini," he whispered, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

She didn't respond, but he noticed her flinch slightly.

"Nandini, have your vitamins and then sleep again, okay?" he coaxed, nudging her lightly. After a few more gentle appeals, she finally stirred.

"Manik," she whined sleepily, rubbing her eyes. "I was so tired."

"I know, sweetheart," he said softly. "Just take these, and then you can sleep all you want."

He pecked her forehead before handing her the vitamin tablets. Slowly, she sat up and took them, passing the empty glass back to him. The moment he placed it on the side table, he turned to find her already asleep again, her head resting on his shoulder.

Chuckling, he adjusted his position, ensuring Amayra remained undisturbed, and covered all three of them with a blanket before dozing off himself.

At 6 PM, Nandini's alarm rang, pulling her out of her sleep. She quickly muted it to avoid waking Manik and Amayra. Carefully slipping out of bed, she turned to look at them, a fond smile spreading across her face.

Sometimes, she still couldn't believe how blessed she was to have so much happiness in her life. Grabbing her phone, she quickly clicked a picture of her sleeping husband and daughter—the two people who meant the world to her.

Freshening up, she changed into a comfortable yet elegant suit, perfectly suited for a wedding environment. Over the years, she had learned to prioritize her comfort over society's expectations, and Manik no longer had any complaints about her not considering her own desires.

She bent down and placed a soft kiss on Manik's cheek, then one on Amayra's forehead before heading out to the pool area where Sunaina had messaged her to come.

"Ma, when is Naira reaching?" Nandini asked as she settled beside Abhimanyu, who passed her a plate of cutlets.

"I called her an hour ago," Ishita replied. "She said they had just landed."

Nandini nodded and decided to call Naira herself. Excusing herself from the lively group, she moved to a quieter corner and dialed Naira's number.

"Yes, Di! We're almost there. Ten minutes max," Naira answered cheerfully.

"Alright, we're waiting," Nandini replied with a smile before rejoining her family.

As she sat back down, a guest turned to her with a warm expression.

"Nandini, congratulations! We didn't know you were expecting again."

Nandini smiled. "Thank you so much, Aunty."

"A boy this time would be perfect, don't you think? Your family would be complete then," another lady commented.

Nandini chuckled softly. In truth, she was hoping for a boy this time. She adored her daughter, Amayra, and was incredibly grateful for her, but the thought of having a baby boy now excited her. Not that she would be disappointed if it were another girl—she would be equally happy either way.

The conversation drifted from one topic to another as laughter and chatter filled the air. Weddings were always a joyous occasion, despite being exhausting.

Moments later, excited squeals of children rang through the entrance.

"They're here!" Yug and Vihaan exclaimed, running toward the entrance.

Smiles spread across everyone's faces as they moved forward to welcome Naira, Kartik, and their little ones, Yug and Vihaan.

The evening was just getting started, and the house buzzed with love, laughter, and the warmth of togetherness.