While Manik was lost in Nandini, the girls were busy discussing about the engagement dress. Mukthi kept showing different designs that she has liked and wanted something from every design, Alya helped in getting the fabric and matching colors while Nandini kept drawing the patterns with the changes said by Mukthi.
All their banters fell into deaf ears as Manik was completely lost in Nandini. Her big eyes that shone when she smiled, her lips that twitched when she has to make changes for the designs, her silky hair that disturbed her yet made her smile, everything made him rewind to the first day he saw her, which was almost 2 years ago. It was still the same feeling in his heart and his dreamy eyes passed a smile at her to which she bit her lower lip.
Though she was listening to Mukthi and her fingers tried to sketch for her, her eyes have time to time shifted to Manik who was clearly, openly admiring her. His gaze felt like a cool breeze to her which didn't make her uncomfortable but only blush.
"So yeah, design and fabric are final... What about the colors...!??" Alya said winding up the clothes to create some space and Mukthi sat beside Manik again.
She frowned seeing him in his own dreamland but then involved in their discussion.
"I feel this green would look great for this..." Nandini said taking a pastel green in her hand, and her voice brought Manik back to reality.
Mukthi almost got excited but stopped herself and nodded in a no and said "Umm...Not green please...Harshad doesn't like green..."
Manik looked at Mukthi while Nandini and Alya looked at each other and Alya asked "Harshad??"Mukthi said "My fiancé..."
"Ohh...But who asked him to wear your lehenga...!?" Nandini mocked bringing a smile on everyone's face, but Mukthi passed a lost sad smile.
Nandini cleared her throat and said "Okay I'm sorry...but look Mukthi...I don't know if I can advise you this or not...But remember... Never dress up to impress anyone... The only approval you need for your appearance is from your reflection when you look at yourself in the mirror...and no one else...Don't give that right to anyone as well..."
Manik smiled hearing her words while Mukthi thought for a second and nodded with a smile saying "Then...Let's go for green..."
Nandini smiled brightly bringing back the butterflies in Manik's life and the girls came to a conclusion.
Alya started taking Mukthi's measurements while Nandini noted them down and Manik gasped seeing the time when his mother called.
"Jii Mom..." He answered and closed his eyes in frustration and then said calmly "I'll do something Mom...Don't worry..."
"What happened bhai...??" Mukthi asked and he replied "I actually had to look for event organizers and now no one is available...We had one last option but seems like they too are occupied on that day...Let me try with Cabir if he knows someone..."
"Umm...Mr.Manik..." Nandini pitched in stopping him to dial Cabir's number and he forgot about the chaos that ran in his mind few seconds back.
And why not!? Her mere existence gave him peace in the storm that the world was facing for 2 years and now, when she stood in real, with whole flesh and blood and smiled at him, taking his name, he found it hard to breathe and blink.
"Yeah" He said looking at her with those breezy brown eyes and she looked down to control her blush but managed to say "I'm sorry if I'm intruding but by hearing your conversation, I understood that you are looking for event organizers...And if you don't mind, I have someone...Actually, they are our friends from school..."
"Ohh" He said with a relief, and she quickly got their card and he read "AAND Event Organizers."
"Yeah... It's a small one by our friends...You can trust us...And since we are making Mukthi's dress, we too will be involved in that event organizing... We are working with them after we got in touch with them from lockdown..." Nandini said and Manik smiled wide saying "Thank you...Thank you so much..."
Nandini took a small gulp and looked at the other two girls who frowned and Manik too understood that he was making it too obvious that he was drooling over her, quickly covered it up saying "Umm...You just solved the greatest problem for now...I'll get in touch with them...Thank you so much..."
"Pleasure is ours...And Mukthi...Your dress will be ready in a week...And we will have a trial once and check for the alterations..." Nandini assured making Mukthi smile widely.
Manik went aside to make a call with the event organizers suggested by Nandini and gave them all the details while they agreed to send the decorations and other quotes to him to select.
"Sorted" He sighed in relief with a smile and looked at Nandini who gave him a subtle nod with a smile.
Mukthi took her mobile and asked pointing at their boutique name "By the way...Who is Niya??"
Alya smiled and said "Nandini's NI and Alya's YA...NIYA..."
"Ohhh nice..." Mukthi smiled and nudged Manik to leave and bid bye to the girls before moving out and Alya went to arrange the clothes.
Manik licked his dry lips for the nth time in that 1 hour looking at Nandini and gulped before saying "Umm...Can...Can I have your number...!??"
Nandini frowned and he remembered her firecracker mode and immediately corrected saying "If...If Mukthi wants to give any...other details...wo...dress...and all..."
"She has my number" Nandini said hiding her smile.
"Ohh...If I want to discuss about the event??" He tried and she smirked saying "You have our card Mr.Manik..."
He rubbed the back of his neck at his failed attempts but then smiled saying "If you want to get any details from me...!???"
Nandini gave an appreciative look and took her mobile saying "Tell me your number then...I'll make a call if needed..."
Manik closed his eyes at his defeat but loved her intelligence of dodging his question with a smile and dictated his number which she typed in her mobile.
"It was nice meeting you Mr.Manik..." She said forwarding her hand and his heart beat quickened before he forwarded his hand towards her.
He gulped but shook his hands with her and said "Thank you...Same here..."
He looked back one more time before leaving the boutique, walking towards his car while Nandini looked at his disappearing figure.
"So hot na..." Alya said startling Nandini and went aside with the clothes while Nandini looked at her palm that shook his cold hand, a few seconds ago and mumbled with a smile "Snowman" and saved his number with the same name.
Ignore mistakes...
Why to wait for another special day to resume my beautiful story when we are already having one...!?
11th March 2024.
