A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 34- An Eventful Night

"What did you just say?" Aryaman was the first one to react. "I want to marry Nandini and maine usse propose kiya" Manik said again. Unlike some time ago, everyone paid attention to him. "And" Nyonika had an exclamation mark on her face. "And she said yes!" Manik concluded. "But ye sab hua kaise? I mean no one would have thought you both will be together" Abhimanyu said still not believing. ''Koi itna mat sochna, you'll know everything if you meet Nandini's parents tomorrow'' Manik said. Mukti, Abhimanyu and Shrikant were surprised while Nyonika and Aryaman were suspicious about Manik. ''Jahnavi?'' Nyonika remembered after Manik's shocking revelation. ''Me and Jahnavi, it isn't working out. We broke up last night'' Manik said very casually. Everyone had many questions in their mind but Manik didn't let them ask anything. He quickly ate his dinner and went back to his room.

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''What were you thinking when you said yes?'' Navya asked Nandini after learning that Manik proposed Nandini for marriage. ''It was only about amma nanna I have thought. I hate to admit it but Manik was really right about them. Both of them are feeling guilty, and I don't want to marry because of their guilt Navya'' Nandini said. ''Ok, what if you marry Manik and then you like someone? Did you think of it?'' Navya asked. Nandini don't have any answer. ''Agar Manik ko koi aur ladki se pyar ho gaya tho, how do you nullify your marriage? Ek shaadi shuda ladki se koi doosri shaadi kyu karega?'' Navya asked. ''Ye sab maine socha nahi'' Nandini said innocently. ''Ye shaadi hai koi khel nahi'' Navya said in a serious tone. 

''Amma Nanna, here there are thinking me to get married Navya. Rather than marrying a stranger and lead life with him, what's wrong in faking a marriage with Manik? Anyway he doesn't seem much interested in marriage'' Nandini had agreed to this marriage drama on compulsion as Manik promised her to postpone the wedding. ''Ok, don't worry. You've already told him everything, now do as I say'' Navya devised a plan. ''Tell me'' Nandini said paying attention. ''Ask Manik to meet you now, get him somewhere near my house'' Navya said. ''At this hour! Why would you think I would call and ask to meet me?'' Nandini would never do that. ''Nandini, for once at least, think before you say or do something. First you do something and then regret for doing that! Now do as I say, get Manik somewhere near my house. I'll meet you two'' Navya said. ''But where? Restaurants and malls will be closed by now'' Nandini asked again. ''Arre, there must be some public place where we can talk. Even I should sneak and come'' Navya said and cut the call before Nandini shoot anymore questions.

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Aryaman is still doubtful about Manik's proposal to Nandini. He decided to talk to Manik and went to his room. ''Tum yaha kya kar rahe ho?'' Manik asked as Aryaman came to see him. ''Have you really proposed her or is it some practical joke?'' Aryaman asked for nth time. ''You can call Nandini and ask her the same question. She said yes!'' Manik boasted to Aryaman. ''But when did it all happen? Last night Nandini's engagement broke and pata nahi kab tum aur Jahnavi break up kiya'' Aryaman said. ''Nandini ka engagement toot gaya tho isliye maine Jahnavi se breakup kiya'' Manik conveniently lied to Aryaman to convince him. ''What rubbish?'' Aryaman, being clever did not believe his brother. ''Main bol'' Manik's speech was interrupted by a phone call from Nandini. Aryaman noticed Nandini's name on the caller ID of Manik's phone. Manik took his phone but Aryaman snatched it from him. ''Ab baat karo, speaker pe daal raha hu!'' Aryaman used his last weapon and now it's Manik's turn to get nervous. 

He doesn't know what Nandini will blabber now. Aryaman had answered and put it on speaker. ''Manik'' Nandini's voice was filled with anxiety. ''Nandini, tum iss time pe call?'' Manik pretended in front of Aryaman. ''Mujhe abhi tumse milna hai, kya tum abhi ghar aa sakte ho?'' she asked in a go. ''Now! Nandini raat ke 11 baj chuka hai. We can talk tomorrow'' Manik didn't knew what's wrong with her. ''No, I can't wait till morning. This is so important, are you coming or should I come?'' Nandini asked. ''Nahi nahi. I'm coming, but why?'' Manik asked again. ''Main ye phone pe nahi bata sakti, I'll tell you when you're here. Ghar pe kisi ko mat batana'' Nandini instructed him. ''Ok, see you in some time. Bye'' Aryaman was shell shocked as Nandini wanted to meet Manik personally in late night. ''Aryaman, did you hear that? Ghar pe kisi ko mat batana ki main Nandini se milne jaa raha hu. Jab main wapas aaunga tab call karunga, door open karo. Now you can close the door after I left'' Manik made his way out of the room, leaving a shocked Aryaman behind.

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Manik was not sure of why Nandini wanted to meet him. He called after reaching at her home. ''Wahan se nahi, come to back gate'' her voice is barely heard. ''Ok'' Manik nodded to himself and went near back gate where he saw Nandini covering herself in her dupatta. She got into Manik's car as she saw him. ''Oh hello, aise aadhi raat ko ghar pe kyu bulaya mujhe?'' Manik asked. ''I'll tell the directions from Maps, you just drive as I say'' Nandini said busy looking at her phone. ''Excuse me, are you seeing me as your personal driver?'' Manik asked. ''Personal driver ke saath aise raat ko ghumne ki shauk nahi hai mujhe'' Nandini faked a smile. ''Go home now. I'll come and talk to your parents in the morning. Aise bhaagne ki kya zarurat?'' Nandini tried to read Manik's expressions when he said that. ''Do you really think I will go out with you leaving everything behind?'' Nandini asked and instructed him to start the car. After a drive of 20 minutes, she asked him to stop. ''Reached our destination'' Nandini said and got down the car.

''Kaha! which destination?'' Manik asked getting down. ''Yahi'' she pointed towards the other end of the road. ''Metro station! Seriously! If you want to go somewhere, we can go by car'' Manik said. ''No, we're going to meet someone here'' Nandini said and went inside the metro station. Having no clue, Manik followed her. Nandini looked out for Navya and met her. Manik saw two friends hugging each other. They've found a spot to sit. ''How did you ask Nandini to marry you? No, you asked her to fake your wedding'' Navya shot a question to Manik. He glared at Nandini. ''Why did you tell her?'' he asked. ''Navya is my best friend, I won't hide anything from her'' Nandini said. ''I've got something for both of you'' Navya said taking papers out of her bag. She handed it over to Manik. ''What?'' Manik asked taking them. ''Contract of Marriage'' it read. 

''Don't you know prenuptial agreements are not legal in India?'' Manik asked. ''What is this Navya?'' Nandini asked. ''Wedding contract, which will tell you about your marriage'' Navya said. ''Dekho hum apne shaadi postpone karne ke liye hi try karenge. Once we both agree for marriage, we can try to postpone it for at least a couple of months. And then, even if we marry, it will be an open marriage. Nandini can see other men if she want to. If she love someone, we both will talk to him and I will get her married'' Nandini said. ''How can you marry her off?'' Navya asked. ''If that person cannot take the fact that Nandini is already married, then he isn't really in love with her. I will explain him about our arrangement'' Manik said. ''Yes, that is what this agreement will do! Whatever you said will be in this agreement'' Navya said. ''What if you find a girl before I find someone I love'' Nandini asked. 

''I'll wait till you find someone, if I marry again, it would only be after you marry'' Manik said. ''And why would you do that?'' Navya asked with a hint of doubt. ''Because Nandini had trusted me. When I said I wanted to fake wedding with her, no other girl would have trusted me. And I never want to betray her trust'' Manik honestly said. ''What if both of you don't find anyone?'' Navya asked again. ''I have a plan for this too. We'll adopt a baby, we will become its mother and father. Maybe after few years, we develop respect for each other. Rather than being husband and wife, we would love to be parents of a child'' Manik said. ''What if one of you love the other one?'' Navya asked. Nandini and Manik looked at each other. 

''I can never love this human'' Nandini said confidently looking at Navya.