Manik wore blue ombre woolen tshirt and blue jeans as he entered the Reddy house. He saw Mr Reddy reading newspaper and Nandini doing the pooja. He took a deep breath and then hyped "You can do this" and then started to go towards Mr Reddy
"Arey Manik, you..." Mr Reddy stopped as Manik sat on his knees infront of him. Nandini who was done with puja turned to see this.
"Sir. I know you don't know me enough but I promise that I have loved your daughter with my everything and I want to marry her, so please give us your blessings. I am asking you to trust me and give me the responsibility of Nandini with our sons and also give me a honour to be your son in law and care for our family together please" Manik said with atmost sincerity. Mr Reddy smiled and ruffled his hairs.
"I have known you Manik. From my daughter's stories, from my grandson's tantrums. And I truly believe that you will be the best husband for her. So I give you the permission to marry her." he patted Manik's shoulder and Nandini smiled.
"Thank you" Manik said
"Toh kab shadi?" Mr Reddy asked
"Kal" Manik and Nandini said together
"Kal?" Mr Reddy asked stunned and looked at Nandini who nodded "Kal tak ho jayega sab?" he asked
"Haan main kar dunga sab" Manik said.
"Ok phir. Mujhe kya karna hai?" he asked Manik
"Aap ko ready hona hai aur shadi attend karni hai" Manik said and Nandini smiled. Mr Reddy patted his head. He took aarti from Nandini and then even Manik took aarti.
"Nashta lagati hu aa jao aap dono, bahut kaam hai Aaj" Nandini said
"Nandini prasad?" Manik asked and she out hand on her head
"Bhul gayi" she went and get the plate of motichur ladoo. Surya took one and Manik took one. Two were left in the plate. Manik got up, broke the laddo in half and put it in Nandini's mouth and had the other half.
Nandini went smiling away and Manik went to dining table and sat with his laptop. He was referring Rishab's drawings and finalizing the decoration.
In some time Ayan and Aman ran in calling "Amma! Amma!" They stopped and ran to Manik. Manik who was busy didn't actually see them. Ayan and Aman peeped in to see what he was doing. Ayan's body touched Manik and he looked at Ayan and then Aman. He put away the laptop
"Kab aaye mere babies?" Manik asked making them sit on the table in front of him
"Abhi Baba" they both said togther and Manik looked at them. His water teared up but he controlled his emotions. But still a tear slipped and Ayan and Aman wipped his tears
"Aap ro kyu rahe hai?" Aman asked
"Apne Baba bola na. Mujhe bahut accha laga" Manik said
"Aap bhi Amma ki tarah khushi mein ro dete ho?" Ayan asked and Manik chuckled. He remembered how he had asked Nandini not to cry in happiness but now he was doing the same since last two days. May be he was so used to cry in pain that he did not remembered crying in happiness.
"Haan shayad" he said
"Aap mat ro, happy ho toh smile karo na" Ayan said and Manik chuckled. How did he not see this before? They were like him. Then he remembered Cabir saying it that day in school. Then he remembered Cabir fumbling and getting jittery on the Cabir Chachu thing. He knew. Manik smiled remembering Cabir's smile, after seeing him with the twin the other day. He smiled himself.
"ManAn what are you doing here? School jana hai, go take a bath and get ready" Nandini said coming at the bale with food and even Mr Reddy sat on his place at the dinning table. The kids looked stunned and then looked at Manik and then looked school. Manik gulped and looked at Nandini
