A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 63- Shocks and Surprises

"This isn't something you should request me for!" Nandini said holding his hand as Manik smiled. "Par sone se pehle dessert khaana baaki reh gaya hai" she said. "Not for me! I'm already full" he said. "Feels like ghar ka khaana after ages" Nandini taunted him. "It's sad that I get to hear this after cooking for you twice a day" Manik faked a disappointed look on his face. He went to his room while Nandini sat with others for dessert. "This is the first time I'm having something which you have made" Nandini said to Mukti. "Sasuraal mein sab seekhna pada Nandini. Glad you liked it, at least it's of some use" Mukti said. "Mukti, can I talk to you for a minute?" Nandini stopped her in the kitchen.

"You must be tired after the flight, we can talk tomorrow" Mukti avoided speaking to her. "But Manik tho yaha isliye aaya ki" Nandini was cut off by Nyonika. "Chalo Nandini, pls jaldi so jaana, kal subah tum aur Manik kuldevi ke mandir bhi jana hai" Nyonika said and sent Nandini to her room. "Kuldevi ki mandir?!" Nandini said as she entered in the room. "Did you say something?" Manik asked. "Maa is trying to send us both to kuldevi ki temple tomorrow" Nandini said. "What!? They're really making it tough for us, but main bhi kam nahi hoon, I will not leave until I speak to Mukti" Manik said determined. Nandini looked worried.

"Manik, what are they trying to do? Why are they sending us out to a temple. They seem to continue where they have stopped. It would have been better if I had stayed back in Bangalore, all these rituals" Nandini said stressed. Manik understood that Nandini is taking stress as Nyonika is making them go through all these again. "I've thought this shaadi ki drama would end after our marriage but ye log tho rukne ki naam hi nahi le rahe hai" Manik said. "You have no idea of how guilty I'm feeling right now for faking our marriage with our own families" Nandini held her head. "Hum Mukti ki problem jaan ne ke liye aa gaye par khud hi problem mein fas gaye. I'm really sorry Nandini" Manik apologized.

"Isme tumhara koi galti nahi hai" Nandini said. "I'll do something to stop mom, don't you worry, relax" Manik assured her. Manik laid back and Nandini went to change into her night dress. She tucked herself in the bed and wished Manik, good night. Manik tossed in his bed unable to sleep. He wondered how Nandini slept in a jiffy even though that's a new place for her but he can't sleep in his own room. He looked at her sleepy innocent face. If someone had told him that this is the girl he would marry later, he would have never believed but now seeing her right beside him in his bed is unbelievable for him. 

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Manik was fast asleep and he felt someone shaking him. He ignored and still felt sleepy. ''Manik!'' he heard Nandini's voice and faintly opened his eyes. To say that Manik was awestruck as he saw Nandini would be an understatement. Nandini looked fresh and all decked up in the dreamy red saree. She was so close to him that her perfectly kohled eyes looked bigger than they actually are. Its still a mystery for Manik that her eyes always tell him a different story. If someone had asked Manik, what's the most beautiful thing about Nandini, he would undoubtedly say that it's her eyes. They lure him, love him and would even kill him at times. ''Utho, It's time to go to temple'' she said and turned. She flipped her hair showering the droplets of water from her hair on him. 

Manik's eyes have hugged her as he can't take his sight off of her. ''Why are you just standing and staring at me?'' she caught him red-handed. He then realized how he was checking her out. ''Were you the same girl who was stressed about going to temple with me last night?'' he asked. ''Uske liye mere paas ek plan hai, now go and get ready soon'' she said passing his towel. ''But wait, time kya hai abhi! Seems like mid night'' he said yawning, trying to act sleepy. ''I know you're fully awake now, please make it fast'' she said and literally pushed him to bathe. She was ready with a kurta as Manik came out. He wrapped towel on his body and didn't expect her to be there yet. ''Tum yaha meri wait kar rahi thi'' he asked as Nandini turned to other side seeing him half naked. ''Ha neeche sab wait kar rahe hai and they would ask me about you if I go down'' Nandini said facing a wall on the opposite side. Manik took another towel from his wardrobe, ''now that you are checking me out in the mirror, don't force yourself to act like you didn't see me at all'' Manik was in good mood to tease her.