A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 29- Wedding Day

''Mujhe tho aaj bahut khushi ho rahi hai. Mere bachchon ki shaadi honewali hai'' Nyonika said referring to Manik and Mukti. Nyonika and Shrikant made Mukti wear her chooda and gave her wedding lehenga. Both of them can't wait to see their little Mukti getting married. ''Aao Nandini, yaha baitho'' Nyonika said to Nandini. ''Me! but why?'' Nandini asked. ''You are going to be the next bride, tumhe bhi shagun dena banta hai'' Nyonika had gifted a saree to Nandini. ''Lo bahu bhi aa gayi'' Shrikant said as she saw Jahnavi entering inside. ''Sorry, Manik asked to meet me today'' she said. ''Sorry ki kya baat hai, jaldi mein tum iss ghar ki badi bahu banne wali hai'' Nyonika said. She made her sit and gifted a saree to her also. Jahnavi and Nandini looked at each other. Manik, as he came down the stairs observed what Nyonika is doing with Jahnavi. He wasn't expecting Jahnavi at the moment. He wished her with his eyes.

Manik looked content as his family looked happy with Jahnavi. She stole glances of Manik when everyone looked busy but it didn't go unnoticed by Nyonika. ''I'm so happy seeing you as a bride Mukti'' Manik said hugging Mukti. ''So everyone, say cheese'' Aryaman said trying to take a picture. He captured his family's happy moment. ''So, are you introducing your fiancé today?'' Shrikant asked Nandini. ''Yes uncle, he will be here for the wedding tonight with his team'' Nandini said. ''Bahut kaam baaki hai, Mukti you should take rest, wedding ceremony will continue for long hours, go and sleep now'' Nyonika said. ''Manik, why don't you show around the house to Jahnavi, she must be feeling bored'' Nyonika said. ''Mom, abhi tho aapne kaha ki bahut kaam baaki hai, doesn't Manik has any work?'' Aryaman asked her. ''Tu hai na kaam karne ke liye, Manik kuch nahi karega'' Nyonika glared at him while an obedient Manik took Jahnavi to show around.

''What happened last night?'' Nandini asked an already annoyed Aryaman. ''Kuch nahi'' Aryaman said carelessly. ''I'm asking about the girl who kept you waiting last night'' Nandini said. ''All girls are same, she didn't come last night'' Aryaman said disappointed. ''So, are you going to do something about it?'' Nandini asked. ''Main kuch nahi karnewala hu, I wasn't even that serious about her'' Aryaman said. ''Then why do I feel you're bluffing'' Nandini found something is wrong with Aryaman. ''But Aryaman'' Nandini wanted to speak something but Aryaman didn't let her talk anything. ''Aaj Mukti ki shaadi hai, both my siblings are getting married, aaj sirf unke baare mein baat karo, ok! Bye'' Aryaman went off from there. 

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''Baarat aa gayi hai! Shagun ki taali le aao'' Nyonika said to Nandini as soon as she saw the wedding procession. While everything was ready, Jahnavi asked Nandini to give it to her. Jahnavi gave it to Nyonika who felt obliged to see Jahnavi. Manik hugged Abhimanyu as soon as he entered the venue. Nyonika did the aarti and welcomed the groom and his family. Nandini did not find Aryaman there. ''Ye Aryaman bhi na kaha gayab ho gaya'' Manik said and tried to call Aryaman. ''I think Aryaman is a bit disturbed, agar kuch kaam hai tho tum dekh lena, let him have his space'' Nandini said to Manik. ''Disturbed, why?'' Manik asked Nandini. ''Don't get into details now, your Jahnavi seems to be waiting for you'' Nandini skipped talking to Manik. ''I guess she will have to wait but where's Abhinav, you said you're going to introduce him now'' Manik asked her. ''Yes, mom and dad are also coming with him, they will be here in few minutes'' Nandini said. 

''Hi Nandini, may I borrow him for a minute?'' Jahnavi asked. ''Oh, he is all yours, take him forever'' Nandini said. ''So, borrowing me from Nandini? Tell me, what it is!'' Manik asked Jahnavi. ''Aunty is calling you to mandap, Aryaman is there too'' Jahnavi said to Manik and took him. ''Nandini ke parents aa rahe hai, so let's just meet and go'' Manik asked Jahnavi to wait. ''No, no I think you should go'' Nandini insisted them to leave but he stayed. ''Wo log aa rahe hai'' Manik pointed towards Mohan and Anitha. ''Hi sir, hi ma'am'' Manik wished them. Mohan looked at Nandini and kissed on her forehead. ''You really look like a princess in saree'' he admired his little princess. ''This is Abhinav'' Anitha introduced him to Manik and Jahnavi. ''Future son-in-law'' Manik smiled as he shook hands with Abhinav.

''But in present, photography in charge for tonight'' Abhinav smiled too. ''Absolutely, your team is doing great'' Manik said. ''This is all for Nandini. Freelancing!'' Abhinav said. ''It's our engagement in 2 days, you should come'' Abhinav said to Manik and Nandini looked at Abhinav. ''I'm sorry I should have told Nandini first'' Abhinav said. 

''Nandini, as per horoscope, Abhinav's family decided that engagement would be in 2 days'' Anitha said. Nandini smiled in confusion. ''Congratulations Nandini'' Jahnavi said. ''Mom, this is Jahnavi'' Nandini introduced Jahnavi to her parents. ''Sorry, aunty uncle. Nyonika aunty is calling me, Manik shall we leave?'' Jahnavi asked Manik and they left from there. ''Ok, will meet you later, have a good time'' Nandini and Abhinav also left from there. Navya was already on stage looking after there. Manik happened to meet Nandini in a while. ''Nandini, 2 days mein tumhare engagement hai, should I get the event postponed?'' he asked her. ''No, I can manage'' Nandini said with a smile. ''Thank you and wo Aryaman! He is looking so off now. Did you know anything?'' Manik observed Aryaman after what Nandini said about him. ''I'll talk to him, please give me some time'' Nandini said. When everyone was busy in the wedding, Nandini tried to talk to Aryaman who sat alone in the garden. 

''Aryaman, kya hua? Tum andar kyu nahi aa rahe ho?'' Nandini asked as Aryaman burst into tears. ''Kuch nahi, leave me alone'' he said. ''Please mujhe batao, you said we're friends! Apne friend se share nahi karoge!'' she tried to convince him. ''She thinks I'm a play boy Nandini. She rejected my proposal'' Aryaman said trying to control his tears. ''Aryaman, pyaar life mein ek part hai, it's not the whole life'' Nandini tried to reason with him but failed. ''I had girlfriends in the past Nandini, but that doesn't make me a playboy, a womanizer! Tell me if I had ever misbehaved with you'' Aryaman asked. ''Aryaman, that doesn't matter! You can't go and prove yourself to everyone'' Nandini said. ''But I can't digest this fact Nandini! I loved her so much'' Aryaman said. ''It's Ok! You should move on!'' she said. 

''Will you ever marry someone without loving him?'' Aryaman asked and Nandini gave a thought.

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And, It's ten years of Kaisi Yeh Yariaan. So happy to be a KYYian.