A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 1- Restart Life

Nandini's POV:

''Navya, please help me brainstorming some ideas for the new name'' I almost ran out of the ideas. ''Nandini, why don't we start with your old name, Wedding bells, theek hi tho hai'' she said. ''No Navya, I don't want anything that is there in the past, badi mushkil se main sab kuch bulakar aage badhna chahti hu'' I said. ''Nandini, don't worry. Everything will be okay'' Navya patted my back. I think Navya is the only one left with me. Amma nanna ke maut ke baad, I lost everything. Never in my life, I felt alone. They have handled everything very well. I was like a princess in my own world. With their death, the reality of the world had hit me. Pehli baar, assets and debts ko analyze karna pada. From dad's little princess, I suddenly turned to damsel in distress. Nanna had spent all his savings in my life and there's nothing left after them. 

It was disheartening to know that not even a penny is left for them. I had to sell my Amma Nanna's dream home for my survival and I'm so guilty of it. ''Happily Ever After, how is it?'' Navya said. ''Sounds like Made in Heaven, wo web series dekhne ke baad tho sabko hum pe expectations aur badh jayenge na!'' I said. ''How about Veduka?'' I suggested. ''Ye tho literally celebration hua na'' Navya said. ''Jashn-é-veduka'' I was awaiting Navya's approval and she approved with a thumbs up. ''Ab tho hume Jashn manaane ka time bhi aa gaya hai'' Navya said. ''When are we going to open?'' she asked. ''In 2 days. It's mom and dad anniversary'' I said. ''Good luck Nandini, Main pandit ji ko bhi inform karungi. Don't worry sab acha jayega'' she wished and she left from there. 

I managed to open a decent office space with a personal loan. I don't know how would I manage salaries and all. Navya tho bina salary mere liye kaam kar rahi hai and I don't want to overburden her. Photographer, caterers and other vendors need to be booked as per the occasion. Zyada se zyada paisa tho advertising ke liye hi karch kiya humne. I hope this would open a new chapter in my life. I entered the flat and found it so messy. I should have set it before going out and now it's 10 pm and I have to set it all right. I cleaned the kitchen and just made rice and sambar for me. I was scrolling through my phone will eating and I'm done with dinner. ''Amma, Nanna! I'm going to restart my career all over again. Please bless me. I'm so sorry that I couldn't meet your expectations'' I said standing in front of their photo. ''Life is not easy without you. I should have not called you that day. If I haven't called you, you would have never board that bus and you both would be alive today. I should have come to you when you wanted to be with me. Maine life mein ek galat decision liya hai and it turned our lives upside down'' tears fell down my eyes but I tried to wipe them. 

''I will not let that decision take control of my life. No, you did not raise me to be a loser. I would again try to re-establish myself'' I promised them. ''I hate myself for being that immature back then'' I cried in front of them. I don't have anyone to call them mine. ''Why did you both leave me?'' I still remember the day when I came to know about the bus accident. I was searching madly for you. My heart sank to the floor when I was asked to identify both of your dead bodies. It's not just you that died, that Nandini died too. Like every night, I slept with a hope of starting a new morning tomorrow.

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''Pandit ji, aap pooja start kijiye'' Navya said. ''Iss saree mein bahut achi lag rahi ho Nandini'' Navya complimented. We opened our new office after the pooja ceremony. I have invited only a few of them to the pooja and had lunch. ''Nandini, congratulations on your new venture'' Abhinav congratulated me. ''Thanks Abhi. I would definitely need your help going forward'' I said. Abhinav is a freelance photographer and is my childhood friend too. Pehle bhi hum saath mein hum events karte the. ''Whenever we need a photographer, we would definitely call you'' Navya formally said to Abhinav and he bid bye. ''Why were you being formal with Abhi? We can't even do a single event without him. We would need a photographer for any event'' I reminded how important photographer is to any event management company. 

''Sirf Photographer nahi, makeup artist, caterer, mehendi artist ye sab equally important hai'' she said. ''What's your problem with Abhi?'' I asked Navya. ''Don't act like you don't know, he still has crush on you'' she said. ''Whatever! You know I don't pay attention to such things'' I said. ''But I don't want anyone near you Nandini. I won't let you anyone hurt you again'' she said. ''Ok meri maa, ab shant ho jao'' I said to calm her down. 

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It's been a few weeks but we did not get any order. ''We spent our everything on advertising and social media but still there is no improvement. Hum isse zyada kya kar sakte hai'' I asked Ajay, who is the marketing head. ''Nandini, you need to have patience, hum advertise kar sakte hai par clients ko kaise pull karenge. Let me think on it'' he said as he hung up. ''It's a mess Navya'' I said. ''Nahi, dekho koi aa raha hai'' she said looking at the CCTV footage of the main gate. ''Are you sure he is coming here?'' I asked to confirm. ''Iss wing mein humare alawa koi office hai hi nahi, agar kisi office ka employee ho tho ID card pehenke aayega na'' she made sense. Like Navya guessed, he came into the office.

''Good morning sir, please have a seat'' I said sitting before him. ''Jashn-é-Veduka'' he said looking at the pamphlet in his hand. ''Yes sir, this is our office'' Navya said. ''Do you have any record of your previous projects?'' he asked. ''Yes sir, earlier we were only in wedding events but now we are trying to manage all the events'' Navya said. ''Oh, that's great, can I see the photos and shall we discuss budget after that?'' he said. ''Sir, we don't have any photos now. Actually we are newly opened few weeks back. But I was in the same business before 2 years. I had to take a break due to some personal issues but please keep your trust in us. We can plan any event based on your budget'' I said. ''I like your honesty. I came here for the same that you can plan any event in the given budget'' he said. ''May I know what event is it?'' I asked to note down his preferences.

''Cradle ceremony'' he said. ''How old is the baby?'' I asked noting down. ''He is just a month's baby'' he replied. ''Please mention your preferences on the food, guest list, venue, return gifts, any customs and traditions to be followed and other particulars in the form sir'' I said handing an application to him. ''Dekho, mera budget sirf 2 lakh hai. Please iske according plan karna'' he said while giving back the form he filled. ''Don't worry, we will take care. By the way, when is the event?'' I asked him. ''9th of the next month, aur ek baat DJ tho pakka hona chahiye'' he mentioned it very specific. ''Cradle ceremony pe DJ kaun lagwate?'' Navya asked him in his face. I also felt weird when I heard it from him. ''Please aap ye sharth maan lijiye, thanks'' he said and left from there. ''Kaise ajeeb aadmi hai ye?'' Navya wondered. 

''See, don't fight with me. Whatever my dad said would be final'' a girl said on top of her voice. ''Oh, it might be final for you, not for me and my family. We've already seen what your dad is capable of in the engagement. For now, listen to me and my dad'' the boy was not loud but seems to hold on his point strongly. ''Ab ye dono kaun hai?'' Navya sighed. Both of them seem to argue with each other and they sat in front of me. ''How can I help you?'' I asked them in a polite way possible. ''Hum dono ki shaadi hone wali hai'' she said with a big smile. ''And we would want you to organize one. Aren't you a wedding planner?'' the boy asked. Thank God, finally a wedding project. ''Yeah, you have come to the right place sir'' I said. 

''Oh don't be so formal, I'm Neha and he is Karthik'' she said. ''Hi Neha, Hi Karthik. Please tell me about your preferences'' I asked. ''Shaadi mein bahut kam log chahiye hume. I mean its shaadi, not a party meeting. Iski family mein politicians hai. You can't believe humare engagement mein 1200 log aaye hue hai'' Karthik said. That's a very huge number. I should have get that event. ''But my family is a bit influential here. They want a big fat telugu wedding'' Neha said. ''See, I'm a Keralite. We are marrying as per telugu rituals but aise bheed mein tho bilkul nahi. Lets just plan something a sort of destination wedding in Kerala'' Karthik suggested. Navya and I looked at each other listening to their preferences. 

''Ok, ok! Please be patient, we will address each thing one by one. First of all, marriage is a mutual event where both families have to agree on customs and venue too. Pehle aap dono families se baat karke, guest list aur customs and plans finalize karo'' I suggested. ''That is why we're Nandini, Aryaman has suggested you on hearing our problem'' he said. ''Aryaman?'' I was quite shocked to hear his name after a really long time. ''Ha Aryaman ki sister ki shaadi bhi aapne karwaya na, then we are here as he suggested you'' Karthik said. 

''Sorry I can't do this, you may leave now'' I turned them down and stood up from my seat.