A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 21- Kiss-Miss

With Aryaman's hint, Nandini decided to go easy on Manik. Nandini helped Nyonika select a bracelet and chain for Abhimanyu. On the other side, Manik is taken aback seeing a confident Nandini. She didn't look as scared as she looked before. Her 'don't care' attitude is really surprising him. They came back home and Nandini kept on talking Nyonika all along the way. Manik kept silent while Nyonika chatted heartily. As soon as they reached home, Nyonika went inside while Manik stopped Nandini but she spoke before him, ''Everything is done, Mr. Malhotra, if you think there is something pending, we'll talk tomorrow. Have a nice day. Bye'' she said not giving him a chance to speak. She was out of his sight before he could realize she left. He called her and she was quick to answer. ''Payments? I've not given any money'' Manik asked confused. ''That I figured it out with Aryaman. I paid advance amount for everyone, you can pay off the remaining tomorrow. I'll add up all these in the final fee'' Nandini said. 

Manik anxiously went to Aryaman and asked what did he and Nandini do to make payments. ''Manik, she said she will pay advance amount to everyone. Kal cake ke payment ke baad mujhe bhi wahi sahi laga, so I didn't give her any money. And dekho hum dono ko WhatsApp group pe add karke, she sent all the details of payment too'' Aryaman said showing his phone. Manik then realized that he did not check his phone. For a second, Manik found himself so desperate for Nandini. ''Manik, kya hua tujhe? What are you expecting from her? She is done with her job, let her go. Ok, delete her from your system'' he said standing in front a mirror in his room. 

***********************************************************************************************Nandini reached venue on the day of engagement before the decor team to monitor the arrangements. ''Hi Nandini, is everything going good?'' Aryaman asked her and Manik is tagged along with him. ''Ha decoration started, the stage will be ready in 2 hours'' she said. ''I hope kuch gadbad na ho, warna Abhimanyu ke family gussa honge'' he said. ''Don't worry, I'll manage, my team is here anyway'' Nandini assured. Navya came there and showed her thumbs up to Nandini. ''Ye kya secret code hai?'' Aryaman asked eyeing Navya. ''Even the booze is here, Navya arranged for it'' Nandini said. Manik looked at Nandini's perfectly kohled black smoky eyes while she talked to Aryaman. He stood there looking at her without speaking a word.

''Is he Manik? He looks so hot'' Navya murmured to Nandini when Aryaman and Manik left from there. ''Hot! My foot'' Nandini instantly replied. ''You've always complained about him but he seems silent'' Navya commented. ''That is because Aryaman asked Mukti and him to behave well with me'' Nandini said. ''Does that mean you and Aryaman have really become friends!'' Navya asked. ''Yeah, he seems to be a nice person. He made my life easier with his siblings'' Nandini said. Navya and Nandini walked till Mukti's room while they talked about Aryaman. Mukti looked upset as they entered inside. ''Kya hua Mukti? Is something wrong?'' Nandini asked with concern. ''There's nothing new, wahi haq jataana'' Mukti said. ''So, what have you decided  against it?'' Nandini asked. ''What could I do? I'm scared if Abhimanyu will ever speak on my behalf. He is so scared of his mom'' Mukti said in a complaining tone. 

''Why do you want him to speak on your behalf! Tum khud kaafi ho. You speak your heart out, maybe she will understand your concern'' Nandini said. ''I'm keeping quiet because I don't want Abhimanyu to carry my emotional baggage. I don't want her to think ill about me. I'm scared that I have to act all my life if I get married to him'' Mukti said. ''Mukti, you can't please everyone. Do you think you can be perfect for everyone? Be yourself, go easy on you. Mann mein jo bhi hai usse bol do, you'll feel better. What had happened actually'' Nandini asked. 

''It was already decided that we're going to have a Punjabi wedding and post wedding rituals will be from Telugu culture and now Abhimanyu's mom wants me to wear a saree that she got for me. Clothes, Jewelry sab kuch unke hisaab se main kyu pehnungi?'' Mukti said. ''Mukti, if you don't want to wear, tell her that you wanted to wear your lehenga, don't let someone speak on your behalf. Un logon ko lagega ki tum sirf saree na pehenne ke liye bahaane bana rahi ho. Go, and convince her and if she isn't convinced then stay there until she accept. Never let someone steal your limelight. Today is your big day'' Nandini encouraged Mukti to go and talk to her mother-in-law. ''Are you sure?'' Mukti asked with doubt. ''100%. Try tho karna hi chahiye'' Navya also said. Aryaman and Manik who heard this conversation entered inside. 

''Sirf tum nahi jaogi, hum bhi tere saath chalenge aur mom, dad bhi'' Aryaman said. ''Yes, tumhare khushi se badhkar kuch nahi. Agar tum udaas ho tho, what's the point of all these celebration'' Manik said. ''Aryaman, aaj sirf Mukti ko bolne dena'' Nandini said to Aryaman and he assured by blinking his eyes. Manik and Aryaman left with Mukti from there. ''What if Abhimanyu's mom doesn't accept Mukti's decision?'' Navya asked. ''Wo kyu nahi accept karegi?'' Nandini asked. ''Nandini, stop watching these motivational videos all the time. These I can do anything wale videos will sometimes leave you in trouble'' Navya said. ''Every person should have positivity in their life. But your level of positivity is not something required. To pass an exam, motivation is not enough, you need to study well. You've motivated Mukti but what if something goes wrong'' Navya asked. ''Now you are overthinking, nothing will happen'' Nandini said. 

After almost 45 minutes, Mukti came back to her room. ''Mukti, kya hua! Wo maan gayi?'' Nandini asked her. Mukti did not speak but gave a tight hug to Nandini. She is surprised but hugged her back. ''Iska matlab wo maan gayi!'' Nandini asked anticipating a positive answer from Mukti. ''No, but I've learnt to let her go. You were right, I cannot please her, whatever I do she will always complain about it. Today is my day, I will wear what I want to'' Mukti smiled. Nandini is in a confusion. ''Is everything okay?'' Nandini asked. ''Yes, of course. Thank you so much Nandini. I'm sorry for everything'' she said. ''Mujhe ready hona hai, I'll be back soon'' Mukti said and went to her room. ''What might have happened?'' Nandini asked Navya. ''Where are her brothers?'' Navya asked. ''Yes, we should look for them'' Nandini and Navya began searching for them. 

''There he is! Manik'' Navya pointed towards Manik and they went near him but they got caught off guard when they saw a girl along with him. The girl leaned over the door while Manik stood too close to her. She touched Manik's face and run her finger through his lips. Manik got hold of the girl and pulled her near him. Both of them are so immersed in each other that they failed to notice Nandini and Navya near them. ''K.I.S and S'' the girl said to Manik. ''Hmm'' Manik said nearing her. He leaned over her lips to kiss her as she opened her lips to invite him in. He was taken aback and pulled himself away from her. ''Did you have Panipuri?'' he asked her. She nodded her head in confusion. ''Hyderabadi girls and their obsession with Panipuri! Tumhe at least brush karna chahiye tha, before this kiss'' Manik said. ''Brushing?'' she looked at Manik like an alien. ''Kam se kam mint, why did you eat onion in the first place?'' he asked. The girl snapped at him and left him in frustration. 

Nandini couldn't control herself and burst into laughter as the girl left. Manik's face turned red as she saw her there. ''You!'' he cursed himself as she saw her. ''Poor Manik Malhotra, can't even get a kiss from a girl'' Nandini decided to tease him. ''Wo Abhimanyu ki cousin thi, isliye maine kiss nahi kiya. Hum ladkiwale hai'' he tried to cover up for himself but Aryaman's entry made it worse. ''Kya zarurat thi, usse Panipuri aur onion ke baare mein poochna. What if she had them! Kitna close kiss miss hua?'' Aryaman said in disappointment. ''I tried my level best, she is not even hygienic, she had a yuckiest perfume'' Manik complained. ''Aisa hai tho tu single hi rahega. Kab tera shaadi hoga, aur kab mera? I'm tired and I'll retire'' Aryaman left from there leaving an embarrassed Manik with Nandini and Navya. 

''Oh! So your younger brother is trying to hook you up with some girl. Bechara Aryaman and the girl was lucky'' Nandini commented. ''You better stay out of it ok!'' Manik warned her. ''Oh Manik! You'll also find a girl but uske liye 19-20 saal wait tho karna padega na'' Nandini teased him. ''I think a girl is already standing in front of me'' Manik said. ''What do you mean?'' she asked him. ''Ek ke saath kiss miss hui tho kya, I'm sure you didn't have onion'' Manik instigated Nandini as he came near her. Navya came to Nandini's rescue but Manik acted as if she didn't exist. He caught Nandini by her wrist and pulled her near him. Nandini closed her eyes tighter than ever and put her face away from his. '

''Relax, I'm not going to kiss you, because I have a better taste than you'' Manik smirked.