A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 16- The Good Old days

Hi All,

From this chapter, I'm writing the story in third person POV. All the chapters will be in italics to represent past story. I hope it is clear and keep reading.

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Abhimanyu and Aryaman were sitting in the office and waiting. ''Hello, how may I help you?'' Navya asked them cordially. ''Hume ek wedding planner ki zarurat hai'' Aryaman said. ''Then you are at right place'' Navya said sitting in the chair. ''Ok, will you let me know the services you're expecting, about how you want the wedding and all. First tell me the dates, so that we can lock the deal'' she said. ''First things first, this is gonna be a Punjabi wedding'' Abhimanyu said. ''Interesting'' Navya said. ''And we would like to see your packages for wedding, so that we can plan the budget'' Abhimanyu said but Aryaman interrupted. ''Why do you worry about the budget, my mom and dad can afford the wedding'' Aryaman boasted his wealth. ''FYI, I don't want to take anything from your parents Aryaman'' Abhimanyu said. Navya stood there without any chance to speak.

''Ok, meri jaan, hum wedding expenses 50-50 karenge, and ab isko mana nahi karna! Ok'' Aryaman said pinching Abhimanyu's cheeks. Navya ran to see Nandini after hearing their conversation. ''Nandini, two boys have come here'' she said. ''Ha, take their details and confirm the date'' Nandini said as she was engrossed in painting a pot. ''It seems like they are talking about Gay wedding'' Navya said in a hurry. ''Are you sure they wanted to have Gay wedding?'' Nandini asked Navya to confirm. ''I think I cannot handle them, please you go!'' Navya forced Nandini to meet Aryaman and Abhimanyu. Nandini washed her hands and went to meet them. ''Hi, I'm Nandini Reddy, Navya said about both of you. See this is very sensitive issue, sorry that is not even an issue. Let's have a clear idea about what we do? Aap log samaj rahe hai na'' Nandini tried to elaborated. 

''This is so simple, Ms. Nandini. It's just a wedding and you have to just plan a wedding'' Aryaman simply said. ''But we've never done a Gay wedding before'' Nandini said hesitant. ''What? Gay wedding!'' Abhimanyu freaked out. Aryaman banged on the table in front of them and Nandini looked at him in horror. ''How did you interpret that we're having a Gay wedding, it's my sister's wedding with him'' Aryaman lost his temper. ''Sorry, I've assumed it based on your conversation'' Navya confronted. ''We're sorry'' Nandini apologized to them. ''Why did we even come here?'' Aryaman said to Abhimanyu. He was not ready to listen anything from Abhimanyu. 

''Sir, please calm down. We're sorry'' Nandini apologized again. ''Aryaman, come sit'' Abhimanyu tried to calm him down and made him sit. ''I can register your details if you confirm the date''  Nandini's voice is shaken as she said that. ''Nandini, can you please come home and take details, my fiancé is unwell so she couldn't come here. Aryaman is her brother. Would you mind coming to meet her?'' Abhimanyu asked and Nandini said that she will come. ''Cool, I'll text you the address'' Abhimanyu said and they both left from there. ''I'm sorry Nandu'' Navya said. ''Thank God, we're saved today'' Nandini sighed.

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Aryaman was the first one to see Nandini at his place. Nandini smiled at him but he ignored her and called Mukti. ''Hi Nandini, I'm Mukti, Abhimanyu said that you're coming. He might be on the way, so please make yourself comfortable'' Nandini sat there in the living room when Nyonika and Shrikant joined. ''Mom, yahi hai wo Nandini, who thought Aryaman and Abhimanyu are getting married'' Mukti said and Aryaman glared at her. Nandini stood there with an apologetic look. ''I'm so sorry ma'am, I didn't mean to hurt your emotions'' Nandini said. 

''No problem, we had a good session of laughter when Abhimanyu told us about you'' Shrikant said. Abhimanyu came there in some time and Nandini greeted him. ''So, these are the bride and groom, Mukti and Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu's parents suggested you as the wedding planner'' Nandini thanked Abhimanyu with his eyes for saving her. ''So, I have the basic information about the dates, based on your requirements, we can plan the theme of your wedding, venue, outfits and all'' Nandini said. ''Hume ek Punjabi wedding chahiye but please keep in mind that Abhimanyu is from Hyderabad and we respect his culture and tradition too. Make sure ladke wale kabhi naaraz na ho jaye'' Nyonika said. ''Sure ma'am'' Nandini replied. ''You can co ordinate with Aryaman for anything and everything'' Shrikant said and Nandini looked at Aryaman in horror.

''Sir wo!'' Nandini looked uncomfortable when they mentioned that she has to co ordinate with Aryaman. ''Ok, you can work with Manik, anyhow he will be here in 2 days'' Nyonika said. ''Manik?'' Nandini doesn't have any clue of who Manik is. ''Manik is my elder brother, elder to both me and Aryaman. Don't worry he is an easy going person'' Mukti hinted. Nandini smiled formally and left from there and called Navya. ''What happened? Is everything fine?'' she asked. ''Kind of, but we're still not there yet'' Nandini said. ''Why?'' Navya stressed her words. ''They mentioned that I have to work with Aryaman, but then I had to deny looking at that angry young man then they asked me to co ordinate with his elder brother, Manik'' Nandini said. ''Then, what's the problem?'' Navya asked. ''We are already the victims of chote bhai ka gussa, what if his brother also does the same?'' Nandini said worried. 

''Don't worry everything will be okay'' Navya said. ''You keep saying this until I die'' Nandini said. ''Navya, I'm getting another call, will talk to you later, bye'' she said and attended the other call. ''Hello'' Nandini spoke first and there was complete silence on the other side. ''Hi, Manik Malhotra here'' Nandini instantly remembered the mention of Manik's name. ''I'm Nandini Reddy'' she said. ''I know! So, you are the one who Abhimanyu's family suggested. But Ms. Nandini, don't you think that ye recommendations ka zamana nahi hai, you have to prove yourself to be hired'' Manik said. ''I think I'm capable of doing this job. I have previous experience too'' Nandini justified her work. ''Previous experience doesn't work, because every wedding has a new story'' he said. 

''What does marriage mean to you?'' Manik asked. ''Excuse me!'' Nandini wondered why he is asking her this. ''Tell me your opinion, I'll tell you why am I asking this'' Manik said. ''Marriage is a union of love, be it between the couple or between the two families and I believe it's a sacred bond and a celebration of love'' she said. ''Abhimanyu's family is pure vegetarian and you know Punjabi shaadi mein non veg mandatory hota hai, otherwise we don't even call it a celebration. So, will you allow the non veg counters?'' Manik asked and Nandini thought for a second. ''Of course, we can have a non veg section, we can select a venue which has two different dining sections, one for veg and one for non-veg. We should have separate caterers too. And non veg dining section should be little far from the actual wedding area'' she said. ''Brilliant, I hope this solves a problem at my home'' Manik said and Nandini looked happy. 

''Non veg is allowed but booze is not'' Nandini said. ''But Abhimanyu's family is OK with it'' Manik said. ''These are my personal ethics, just now I said marriage is so sacred, we believe that God comes to bless the new couple, so alcohol is strictly not allowed in wedding venue. Cocktail party, Sangeet mein tho hota hi hai na'' Nandini said and continued, ''if you don't like my principle, you need not sign the contract'' Nandini said. 

''You're hired Ms. Nandini, see you in 2 days'' Manik said and cut the call before she could speak.