Nandini's POV:
''It's because I could never stand by your side, when you needed me'' he said. I turned towards him. ''I would never need you in my life Manik'' I said, ''and why are you keep saying that I made a mistake by taking divorce! Do you expect me to stay with you even if you don't love me?'' I finally asked him. He was about to say something but I didn't let him. ''Aaj sirf main bolungi'' I made it clear. ''I can't take this anymore Manik. Please end it here. Don't I deserve to live in peace?'' I asked him. ''I have many things to sort out in my life and do you have any idea on what I have to deal with?'' I asked. ''I know everything about you! You left me Nandini not me! And stop regretting for everything happened. Shaadi ke liye hum dono hi ha kaha. It was our mutual decision. Your parents died in an accident, get that into your head. There's no mistake of yours to feel guilty about it'' he stressed on it.
''What do you always say! that you are moving on? No, aaj bhi tum wahi ho jaha tumne mujhe chod diya. If you had really moved on, my presence would have never mattered to you. But look at you! not just me but you are scared of my family too. And yes! I don't love you but still I want you by my side'' his weird confession is making me go nuts. What kind of a relation is it? ''If you could ever thought of helping me! Please go away from me'' I did not just ask but pleaded him. ''I'm here for a business Nandini, I can't leave'' he said. ''Fine then, 2 days and I'm never going to see your face again'' I said. I left from there and was shocked to see Navya there. Did she hear everything? ''Dinner time'' she said with a forced smile. I nodded and followed her.
Everyone looked busy as they were busy feeding the ones who applied mehndi. Manik stood there like a lost child. Someone had asked him to take a seat but he denied showing M on his hand written with Mehndi. Now who applied mehndi to him? Didn't he stop them? I shook away my thoughts and then I found Manik sitting beside Nyonika aunty. She did not care for him nor she fed him food. She ate in silence while Manik looked at her like a 2 year old. I'm done with my dinner and went to wash my hands and I didn't see Nyonika aunty following me. She had mehndi on her left hand and struggling to turn off the tap while it was leaking water. I turned off the tap and she looked at me. She was about to say something when Manik came in between us and in an accident Manik put his hand on mine to balance himself between both of us.
The floor was too slippery and I had put my other hand on his hand. Oh Shit! His mehndi is now on my hand. Me and Nyonika aunty looked at Manik in shock. ''Relax, it's just mehndi'' he said in a calm tone. Me and aunty, went in different directions and I washed my mehndi as I reached my room. There is still some color after washing it off from my hand. I was a bit startled when Navya saw the letter M on my hand. ''How does this happened?'' she asked. ''Accidentally, I've put my hand on his hand'' I said trying to erase the faintly colored mehndi. ''Each time you meet Manik, you always say it's an accident'' she sighed looking away from me. ''Navya, whenever there is a road accident, each time it is some driver's negligence and the irony is I'm always that driver'' I don't know how I end up with him always!
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''I don't know how I'm going to convince uncle for Sangeet'' I said nervously standing at the reception waiting for Chowdary uncle. I called him and he asked to meet him at the reception. ''But you were so confident and asked others to rehearse. I thought he is OK with it'' Navya said. No wonder, I'll always create mess. Please God! be on my side for now, please! ''Nandini, what is it! You've asked me to meet me urgently! Is everything okay?'' he asked with concern. He tagged one of his brothers along. ''Uncle, I wanted to talk about Sangeet function. Everyone seems to be so interested to have a Sangeet function'' I said. Before Chowdary uncle could speak, his brother spoke. ''Sangeet! You said this is going to be a traditional and authentic Telugu wedding. Sangeet is not our culture. Our marriage culture is being highly influenced by North Indian and Western culture weddings. I was even against the intimate couple pre-wedding shoot, but Neha and Karthik insisted'' he said.
''Look Nandini, I've given you a chance only when you said that you will prove how traditional can weddings happen! But don't you think you're deviating from your promise'' uncle asked me. ''No uncle, marriages are always fun! I agree Sangeet is not a part of our culture but we always sing and dance in our weddings too. With time, the stage is set differently. Instead of traditional folklore, the movie songs are being played'' I tried to justify myself. They did not utter a word. ''I'm sorry to say this but none of your family members saw at least a photo from the pre-wedding shoot and you have already labelled it as intimate couple shoot! Aren't you too quick to judge'' I asked them. ''It is needless to see, we might not be comfortable seeing that'' Chowdary uncle's brother said it with a weird look. ''Dad! I've seen the photoshoot pictures, they are too good. You should also see once'' Jai came there as a savior.
''You both can see the photos without any doubt, the theme of the photoshoot was Kerala traditional wedding! It was an imagination of If they had a Malayali Wedding. Nothing was objectionable. Me or your children will never do something that will hurt your sentiments or beliefs. Please agree for Sangeet uncle'' I asked him again. ''Yes Pedananna, I promise we'll behave. Karthik already said there would not be any cocktail or bachelorette party. This will be so fun'' Jai persuaded him. Both Chowdary brothers seemed to nod their head in positive but half heartedly. I was relieved and continued with the arrangements only after thanking Jai for his help. I informed Neha and Karthik about Sangeet and they were happy and excited.
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Thank God resort manager had helped me finding a local DJ for the Sangeet night. I hope this doesn't spoil the mood of the party. I felt like I'm waiting for Navya since forever now. Where she should have gone? ''Why is this getting so late Nandini? Is there any problem?'' Karthik asked when he found me. ''DJ is already here, I have already forwarded the song list to him'' I said. ''We should have arranged a choreographer too'' he said sulking. ''I'm so sorry, if it was planned before I would have think of it but this was a last minute decision'' I said. I excused myself to search for Navya and almost all rooms were deserted as everyone is near the stage.
I was calling out her name while searching for her and opened a room as it was half open. I saw Manik and Cabir discussing something very seriously. They both gave a sharp look and I instantly uttered sorry. ''I was searching for Navya'' I said. ''I saw your friend going that side'' Cabir pointed. Manik was just throwing glances at me. I increased the base tone of my voice and called out for Navya. She left her phone in the room so I couldn't call her. ''Ab tak wo mili nahi?'' Cabir asked coming out of the room. ''No'' I said. I hope Navya is safe wherever she is. She doesn't go anywhere without informing me. ''I'm sure she didn't go back, yahi kahi hogi wo'' Cabir said. ''How did you know that she didn't leave from here? We might have missed her too'' Manik said. ''No, I could have heard her anklets sound, if she had left from here'' Cabir said.
He was right. Navya's anklets sound is peculiar and different. She likes to wear them even if someone tease her for it. Manik looked convinced. ''Then let's search for her. I'll go this side, you both search the other way'' he said and left. ''Don't worry, wo mil jayegi'' Manik spoke in a low voice. I couldn't speak as tears formed in my eyes making my sight blurry. ''When did you last see her? Do you know which color she wore today?'' Manik was asking something continuously and my head seemed to spin. Why is he asking me all these stupid questions instead of searching for her! Aryaman then came asking, ''Isn't your meeting still over yet?'' referring to Manik. I felt like a breathe of air when I saw him. ''Tumne Navya ko kahi dekha?'' I asked running to him. ''No, I didn't see her, but what happened?'' he asked me. ''Navya is nowhere to be seen. We are searching for her'' Manik said before I could speak. ''Then what are we doing here? Let's go and look around. She will be here anyway, don't worry'' Aryaman patted my back in assurance and I went with him.
With hundreds of thoughts running in my head about Navya, I could still see M mehndi stain on Manik's hand and his look when I moved away from him.
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A Part, Yet Apart
FanfictionNandini Murthy, a wedding planner who restarts her event management company after a two year break. She struggles to make her career in the competitive field. While on the other side, Manik Malhotra is an architect turned business man meets Nandini...