A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 96 - Love/Hate

Nandini's POV:

"Entrance se yaha tak flowers arrange karna hai" I said when they were doing the decor. "Only red and white roses will go with the mandapam decor" I reminded again. Neha and Karthik are finally getting married after so many obstacles and I wish they should be happy and together for the rest of their life. I can't take any chance and I hope nothing should go wrong. Everyone seems as focused as me as no one want anything to cause a problem. "Nandini, garlands are ready, I've kept them in the fridge" Navya said. "Nothing should go wrong Navya, please look after everything" I felt nervous. "Don't worry, tomorrow is the big day, by this time, everything will be sorted" Navya said. "Nandini, you should take rest" Navya said. I just hope kal subah sab theek ho jaye. Sometimes I have a bad feeling and I'm feeling so nervous. 

It was already 2 am in the night and I can hear alarms ringing in the rooms. "I think we should get ready too" Navya said. I opened the wardrobe and searched for that saree which I have got here to wear it today. I didn't knew that Manik or his family would come. Is it right to wear this saree now. "Itna mat socho, just wear it" Navya said. This saree has amma's memories in it. I wrapped it with all her love and the drape was as perfect as her. I hurriedly combed my hair. "You really look good in this saree Nandini. Actually I got mogras for you, wear it with this loose hair" she suggested. "Loose hair ke saath flowers acha nahi lagega" I said making a sleek bun and adorned the flowers in the bun. I thought of checking on Neha and when I went to see her, she looked breathtakingly beautiful. There's some magic in being a bride, even though everyone gets ready, bride always stands out. 

"Looks like sunrise already ho gaya" I said looking at her. "Ha Karthik ke life ki sunrise hone wali hai" Tara said. She looked like sunshine in the golden yellow saree. "How do I look?" she asked. "Saree draping is perfect, makeup on point but still something feels off" she answered herself. "Bride ho tum, shyness adds beauty to a bride, wahi missing hai shayad" Jai said. "Nandini, I'm genuinely sorry for whatever happened" he said as he stood behind me. "It's okay, it wasn't intentional" I said. I don't want to go back ever in my life. "Dishti chukka" I said. "Oh yeah, that was missing" Tara said. "Is it really necessary, it won't ruin makeup right?" Neha asked looking at herself in mirror for the nth time. I stepped forward and took her kajal to put dishti chukka on her cheek. "This is to ward off any evil eye on the bride, makeup kharab nahi hoga and you'll look 100 times more beautiful than you already are!" I said. "Ok guys, can you please check on Karthik, if he is getting ready or not?" she asked. 

"Uski bhi shaadi hai wo ready hoga and anyways I have to get him to the mandapam, chill don't worry about him" Jai said. "Is your girlfriend here? Dr. Nandana" I asked him. "No, kal ke baad I don't think its a good idea to invite her now. I'll take her home once we go back" he said. I nodded and went to mandapam to see everything is it. "Panthulu garu, did you get everything?" I asked him. "No, where are coconuts, I've already sent someone for Jeelakarra-bellam and no one got it here" he said upset. "Ok, I'll see" I said. I never knew I'm supposed to get Jeelakarra-bellam, generally family members will get it. When I went into the kitchen, I saw Manik there. Seriously what is he doing here. "Why are you here?" I asked him. "I can't believe you, ye mujhe tumse puchna hai, I came here first" he said. I saw jaggery and cumin seeds with him. "Did he send you to get jeelakarra bellam" I asked and he nodded yes. "Tho ho gaya ready?" I asked him. 

"Main kya expert hu ye banaane mein, help karo na" he said. "Break this into pieces and join them together like a paste" I said. "Why don't you do it too, dikh raha hai na, ye jaggery break nahi ho raha hai" he said. I took the spoon from him and tried to break it. "It is just taken out from the fridge, this won't break easily" I said trying to hit it. "Do one thing, imagine this is my head and break it" he said. I glared at him. "Why do you think I would break your head" I asked him. He was the one who broke my heart. "Only maybe then you would find peace" he said. "What an irony! look who's doing this! Manik Malhotra ko sirf cheezein thodna aata hai, aur yaha kaam diya hai jodne ka". Aren't we supposed to be like this Manik! Jeelakarra bellam signifies the union of a couple, while we are standing near each other, but by heart, it feels we're miles apart. "I think you should do your job besides taunting me. Har choti cheez pe taunt maarna zaruri hota hai kya?" he said looking at me but hit his hand with the wooden churner.