The mansion buzzed like a beehive from the moment the sun rose. Servants ran up and down with trays of mithai, decorators fixed last-minute flowers, and women in silks and sequins moved around like coluorful butterflies. The air was thick with *itar*, laughter, and the weight of centuries-old traditions.
Nandini sat in front of the mirror, a lehenga heavier than her body hugging her frame. Gold and purple shimmered in every thread, her dupatta pinned delicately. Her kohl-lined eyes looked stunning, but there was an emptiness too.
She hadn’t spoken to Manik properly since Mehndi night. His anger, his words, his possessive grip still replayed in her mind, making her heart ache and burn at once.
“Di, khud ko dekhain, dulhan lag rahi hain” Aliya squealed, entering with Mukti. Both sisters hugged her tightly, their laughter making her smile faintly.
“Ab rona mat shuru kar dena,” Mukti teased, already dabbing her eyes. “Meri best friend, meri bhabhi… uff main pagal ho jaungi.”
Downstairs, Manik was restless. Dressed in an ivory sherwani, he looked regal, but his eyes searched every corner for her. He found her near the stage, checking the seating with the event planner, her dupatta swishing gracefully behind her.
He strode over, catching her elbow.
“Bas karo, Nandini. Ek baar meri taraf bhi dekh lo.”
She pulled her arm free. “Manik, please. Mujhe kaam dekhnay dein”
The coldness sliced through him. He caught her wrist again, this time tighter. “Why can’t you leave me alone?” she burst out, her voice breaking.
His anger melted into desperation. He leaned close, his words sharp but trembling with raw honesty.
“Why should I leave you? You are my life. Zindagi ban gayi ho meri.” He whispered-yelled each word like he wanted to carve them into her soul.
But she looked away, ignoring his confession, her body stiff. She shoved his hand aside. “Stop it, Manik.”
His chest heaved, fury rising again. “Meri baat sunay ka tu tax lagta ha na!!” he shouted, startling a few cousins passing by. He turned his face away, jaw tight, while she walked off, heart heavy.
Back in the bridal room, Nandini sat silently while Mukti and Aliya fixed Faiza's dupatta and did few last minute touch ups. Aliya crouched down, holding her mehndi-darkened hand.
“Dida, you lookso pretty. Everyone is is gonna be stunned seeing you. "
"Also, ignore bhai. He doesn’t know kaise baat karni hai kabhi kabhi. But… unkay bagair bhi ap adhoori ho. Please aaj ke din khud ko torture mat karain" Mukti said, circling a hand over Nandini's shoulder.
Faiza added gently, “He’s angry because he feels too much. And you’re scared because you’ve never felt this before. But Nandini… yeh tum dono ka safar hai. You have to find the path together ”
Their words seeped into her heart. She hugged them both tightly, tears wetting her cheeks.
The maulvi recited the *khutba*. Guests sat in hushed reverence. Manik held Faiza’s hand, his voice steady though his eyes glistened. “Dida, ready ho?”
She nodded faintly, and her gaze flickered towards Ibrahim, seated across the partition, his head bowed, nervous.
“Kya aapko yeh nikkah qubool hai?”
Her throat dried, but when she closed her eyes, she remembered her mother’s gentle advice, Mukti’s hugs, and Manik’s words of comfort.
“Qubool hai,” she whispered, thrice, her voice trembling but clear.
Across the room, Ibrahim said the same, his voice low but firm, a man sealing his promise to the woman who had already stolen his every breath.
The hall erupted in claps, ululations, and showers of rose petals.
They were now husband and wife.
Veil lifted, partition removed. Now sitting beside each other on stage, cousins began teasing the couple mercilessly. Ibrahim slipped a ring into Faiza’s hand.
Cousins danced around them, singing cheesy Bollywood songs until Faiza buried her face in her hands.
When the time came to leave her home, Faiza’s heart cracked. Ayesha held her tightly, sobbing into her dupatta. “Meri beti… ab apna khayal rakhna, aur Ibrahim ka bhi. We are always there for you. This house is still yours"
Manik placed his hand on her head, his eyes red. “ap meri pride ho. Apku kisi cheez ki kami nahi hone dunga… aur Ibrahim bhai agar kabhi apku rulaaye, toh sabse pehle uska hisaab mein lon ga.” Ibrahim made a scary face to ease through situation and few cousins chuckled.
Faiza broke down completely, clutching Mukti as they both cried in each other’s arms. Finally, with trembling steps, she left the house, her world shifting forever.
Waleema:
The next evening, the banquet hall shimmered in silver and white. The waleema had none of the intensity of the shaadi night — instead, it was full of laughter, congratulations, and family bonding.
Faiza sat beside Ibrahim, greeting guests with a polite smile.
Manik was constantly trying to get Nandini’s attention. He looked at her every few minutes, trying to catch her eyes, but she avoided him still. Yet when their fingers brushed while taking a tray, she didn’t pull away this time.
Faiza sat proudly with Ibrahim, glowing as the new daughter-in-law. Mukti cracked jokes, Aliya clicked endless pictures, and Ayesha floated between tables, her face radiant with joy.
After the guests left, the family gathered in the Malhotra living room. Ayesha pulled Nandini close, stroking her cheek.
“Beta, tumne sab kuch itni khubsoorti se manage kiya. ghar sambhalna, faiza ka khayal rakhna… tumne waqai mein meri beti honay ka haq ada kiya.”
Nandini lowered her eyes shyly, but pride swelled in her chest.
Mukti sitting beside her. “Aur ab… kuch din ki chttiyan. Siraf aram... rest"
She shook her head. “Hospital mein shifts pending hain, paperwork bhi hai. Main kal se join kar rahi hoon.”
Listening to this Manik brows furrowed. “Nandini—you shod rest for at least a day. You have been running around constantly. " Manik said
“ha beta manik sahi kh raha ha, bemar pr jao gi. Elders said
" mama, baba mein theek hon. Already bohat chuttiyan ho gayi hain aur mein afford nahi kr sakti. " Nandini murmured, addressing her parents and ignoring Manik.
He clenched his jaw, silently fuming.
The next morning, despite the heavy schedule of wedding events, Nandini dressed in her work clothes and headed to the hospital. She plastered a smile for her colleagues, but her body was drained from days of rituals, sleepless nights, and emotional upheaval.
By noon, while checking a patient’s file, her vision blurred. The room spun.
“Nandini ma’am—!” a nurse shouted as she crumpled to the floor.
Her last thought before darkness swallowed her was of Manik’s furious eyes and his words echoing in her ears:
*“Tum meri zindagi ban gayi ho.”*
✨
Mystery
YOU ARE READING
Meri Jaan
Romance'Why can't you leave me alone' Nandani yelled helplessly. 'Why should I leave you? You are my life, Zindagi ban gayi ho meri' I whispered yelled each word so it stays in her mind forever. She ignored my confession as usual and pushed me away. 'Mer...
