Nandini's pov
My eyes flutter open as I gasp for air, I didn't really recognize the surroundings but I knew I wasn't anywhere near that one person who could hurt me. Closing my eyes again I take a few breaths to calm down and once I was calm I open my eyes again getting up
I notice Manik sleeping beside me, all the memories from last night flood back in my brain, how aman betrayed me, how he left my life tearing my heart in pieces not because I loved him but because my mom broke down because of him.
My whole wedding went in a blur, I don't remember much other than the fact that Manik was the one who helped my mom and helped me. If he wouldn't have stepped in, everyone would have taunted my mom and I can't see my mom crying so for me Manik is a blessing.
Manik isn't a total stranger to me because he is a hot topic in my house, nyonika aunty well ma now, but her and my mom are always talking about Manik and what he was up to. Cabir, who is Manik's younger brother, him and I gelled along really well when he came to the engagement, he also talks about manik a lot.
I don't know, I should be very nervous and extremely uncomfortable but I wasn't. I was actually very comfortable right now, it's so much better than what aman had told me to be ready for, honestly I didn't even wanna marry hm but ma said he was a nice guy so I said yes
Manik stirred a little in his sleep bringing me out of my thoughts, I grabbed my phone and saw it was around 10 in the morning which is so late, so I slowly got up and ran into the shower, I didn't wanna be late and get scolded on my first day
I got dressed in a red anarkali suit, I didn't put sindoor on because my ma always told me your husband should fill your hairline for at least a few days after your marriage so I left it empty even though there was some form last night anyways.
i was expecting everyone to be glaring at me as I walk down the stairs but to my amusement, the living room was empty, so was the kitchen which took me a minute to find but it was so silent. I remembered Mumma telling me to make sweet on the first day so I ended up making gajar ka halwa and some breakfast.
I didn't know what else to do so I went back up to our room and as soon as I sat down on the bed manik groans a bit turning his head to me. His eyes opened and he smiles at me
"Good morning wifey" he whispers
My heart flips a little hearing him
"Good morning" I mumble back
"Oh my gosh, you are dressed. What time is it?" He asks not making a single effort to grab his phone so I grab mine
"It is 12:19" I tell him
"Oh, thats so early, why are you up?" He asks
"I mhm my sleep broke and I thought everyone would be up so I made breakfast but no one is up. Not even Cabir, it's like a museum down there, no nose, no humans" I ramble, something I do when I am stressed
"Shhh nandu, shhh one word at a time" he says
"Im sorry" I whisper thinking I over spoke
"No don't be sorry, I just didn't get anything you said, I was still half a sleep so im sorry. Okay what were you saying?" He asks rubbing his eyes
"Mhm no one is downstairs" I whisper
"It's because it's 12 and no one is up"
"But I thought I would get angry glares" he chuckles
"No wifey, no angry glares from anyone"
"But I made food and I don't know how to wake everyone up, do you wan food?" I ask as he sits up
"You made food, what did you make?" He asks, his eyes shiny
"Aloo paranta, poha and some gajar ka halwa, I didn't know which sweet to make" I mumble
"Oh my goshhh I am starving now" he says making me giggle
"I will shower and then I will eat, I hope you ate something"
"No" I whisper
"Why not?" He asks
"Because no one else has eaten" he shakes his head a little getting up
"Let me shower and we can both eat together" I nod
He goes into the bathroom while I start making our bed, I opened the curtains to let the sun in the room making me giggle as the warm rays fall on my face.
"Ayiappa thank you for handling everything yesterday" I mumble looking up
"Don't tell me there is a ghost in this room" i hear manik
"Ghost? You have ghosts here?" I ask turning around to see him wearing a red kurta matching me making me smile
"No but you were speaking looking up, I thought maybe there is one" I giggle a little hearing him
"Noooo, I was taling to ayiappa" i mumble
"Who?" He asks standing in front of the mirror fixing his hair
"Ayiappa mhm forget it, do you think Mumma is up?" I ask
"Im not sure about your mom"
"I mean both Mumma" I say
A small smile forms on his lips for some reason.
"Not sure, how about we both go down and check" he says turning to me
"Hmm wait" I grab his arm stopping him from walking
He stops turning back and looking at my hand that was holding mine, I instantly left his hand walking to the dressing table, I grabbed the sindoor box walking to him
"Whats this?" He asks
"Mhm mumma says that you have to fill my hairline for at least a few days" I whisper
he smiles grabbing the box, he opened it and grabbed some filling my hairline like he did yesterday, some sindoor falls on my nose exactly like yesterday making me pout a little
he put the box down on the table and wiped my nose with his other hand, I turn to see if he got it all and he had so I fix my hair a little and look at him
"You look beautiful" he says
"Thank you" I mumble looking down feeling my cheeks warm up a little
He tilts my chin up, our eyes connect. It was almost like a spark, something I have never felt
"Never look down like that, you are my wife, you will always have your head held high okay" I nod hearing him
His words are so meaningful
"Thank you" I whisper
he smiles holding my hand as we walk downstairs, I smile seeing Cabir walking to the couch rubbing his eyes. everyone was there, ma and mumma were also up siting on the couch.
YOU ARE READING
His Burden
RomanceA little short story on arrange marriage of two individuals, one who was about to get married to someone else and the other was a guest at the wedding, but both of them end up getting married.
