It was her wedding night, she just got married to Virat Vadhera. Manvi was extremely nervous, she had no idea of what would happen now. She was sitting in Virat's room which was decorated with roses and lilies and candles and what not. She didn't know what to expect. She wasn't scared of Virat, after all he is her best friend; she knew him since the last ten years. When Jeevika married Viren, Manvi was ten. She was a very mischievous and bubbly girl and everyone adored her.
Her and Virat were partners in crime. There used to create havoc in house, run around, play pranks and torture all the elders. They used to get punished very badly; one time they had crossed all limits. A fake lizard was thrown on the wife of chief justice of high court when they visit the dadaji. The chubby lady squealed like a mouse and jumped down the stairs and ran out. Everyone laughed their asses off looking at her and the honourable chief justice who was fuming with anger. That day, dadaji blew the roof off with his anger. Dadaji assumed it was Virat, he yelled at him , slapped him and locked him in a dark room for two days. However, the real culprit was Manvi. Virat kept telling them it was Manvi but nobody would listen to anything he said. Manvi being Manvi, came in front of dadaji and scolded him for hitting Virat. She owned up to the crime but dadaji was too angry to listen to her. According to dadaji, Virat was a spoilt brat and even if a mosquito died seven blocks away, he would say Virat killed it. Virat was so upset after that incident he didn't talk to Manvi.
Five years passed, Beeji who takes care of Manvi became terribly sick and she sent Manvi to stay with Jeevika. She believed Manvi would focus on her studies away from her ailing beeji. So, Manvi came to live with Jeevika in Vadhera house. At this stage, Virat and Manvi fought like dogs. They were always bickering. Virat did not like Manvi staying in his house and everyone giving her so much attention. He would constantly tease her and left no chance out to make her life miserable. Manvi was no less. If Virat called her one name, she would call him ten. They fought over Jeevika. Jeevika used to get sick and tired of repeating that she loved them both equally.
Later, Manvi was sent to the same college as Virat. Virat was three years older than Manvi and he was a very popular guy in college. All the girls drooled over him and he could basically get any girl he wanted. Virat changed a lot in college. He had different group of friends and dated pretty girls. Manvi had her own group of friends. She was a smart girl and always topped her class. However, they both became good friends. Virat was very protective of Manvi in college. He warned all his friends and juniors not to rag her and not to mess with her as she was family. Virat would share all his secrets with her and she would do the same. She knew all affairs, his girl friends, his occasional drinking, clubs everything. They trusted each other completely and would take care of each other. But they never spoke straight, they would communicate only in fights, always teasing each other and pulling each other's legs.
It was Beeji's death wish to get Manvi married into the Vadhera family as Manvi would be able to stay with her Di. Virat's dadi also loved Manvi and they accepted this offer with open hands. Virat and Manvi had no choice. It was a little different in Vadhera house. They were very conservative and what the elders decide is final, younger people had absolutely no say in it. Virat was a rebel; he never listened to anyone but his mom. And his mom begged him to agree to this saying that she had never expected anything after his father died, and this was the only thing she would ever ask of him. Virat could not refuse. But he didn't want to get married. He did not believe in the system of marriage. Period. And Manvi? He treated Manvi like a kid. He could never imagine her to be his wife. He never looked at her that way and he thought he would never be able to.
He hated the idea.
He had no choice though. He decided he was going to get married, but only for his mom. He would marry but nothing would change he thought. Manvi can do whatever she wants and he would do what he wants. He was doing his residency as a doctor in the best hospital in Chandighar and Manvi was still in college, they would continue with their lives separately he told Manvi. Manvi was more than fine with it. She knew Virat did not believe in love or marriage. If he loved something, it was his dream, he wanted to be the best brain surgeon in India. He was very focused on his goals. Girls were just time-pass for him. Manvi did not have a choice anyways. And it was better than marrying some jerk who would change her life forever. This way, she could stay with her Di, continue her studies and enjoy her freedom. Haan Vadhera house is full of rules but she got used to it now. Virat's mom loved her and she would never be the typical mother-in-law. So it was win-win for both of them.
Jeevika was with Manvi fixing her hair. Kadambari and Amisha, Virat's chachis was staring at her. "Oh my god Manvi, kitni soni lag rahi hai. Virat kit toh lottery lag gayi" they were giggling. "Don't let him do everything okay. Our Virat is such a brat, you have to learn to control him otherwise he will totally dominate you" "And don't even let him touch you until he finds his name in your mehendi." Manvi looked anxiously at Jeevika. What the hell were they talking about? Manvi was really tensed now. Jeevika assured her with her eyes that everything is going to be fine. But, Manvi's heart was pounding hard. What if Virat wanted to..?? He is her husband now. He has every right to.
Virat was walking inside the room as the chachis blocked the entrance. "Not so fast junior Vadera. Mu dikhayi deejiye, phir entrance milegi" Virat was very annoyed, he was really tired with so many poojas and rasms, he wanted to fall on his bed and sleep like a log. "Ohh please Chachi, this is my room, I am the owner of this room. I don't need permission to go inside" "Looks like he is in a hurry" Chachis were teasing him. He very well understood what they meant and did not want to listen to another word from them. He took his wallet out and gave it to Kadambari "Mujhe ab baksh do mathe!" he joined his hands and bowed. All three ladies cracked up in giggles and let him go in. They closed the door behind him loudly.
Manvi could hear the whole conversation and her brain started imagining all sorts of crazy things. She was going mad in tension. Virat looked at Manvi, she had her goonghat on and she was twiddling her fingers nervously. Virat went and sat beside her. "Manvi?" he called her. She didn't reply. He lifted her ghoonghat. She looked like a typical traditional bride. "Was she blushing??" She was looking down. She was decked up in so much jewellery. Her hair, her nose, her ears, her eyes, eyebrows, looks like then didn't leave anything out. "Dude, you are wearing such heavy stuff. Aren't you uncomfortable?" he asked.
She looked up at him, a little relieved; after listening to chachis teasing, she expected something else. But, this is Virat, her buddy she relaxed a little. "Yes, I think I will die, I am carrying twice by weight" she threw a fit. Virat laughed. "Then why are you still wearing them" "Get them off you and go to sleep. I toh am really sleepy." "Apparently we have to visit another temple tomorrow, when will this torture stop? hey bhagwaaan!!" He said and went to change.
By the time he came out, Manvi had already fallen asleep on his bed cuddling a pillow. She had removed all her heavy jewellery but she was still in her red shadi ka jhoda. It was a big bed and Virat hesitated for a second. Should he sleep on the bed?
But he was tired to rationalize and he just wanted to sleep and the bed was calling him. "Ahh! Its fine, Manvi would understand." He got a blanket out and lied down at other end of the bed. He then realized the light on Manvi's side was on, he raised himself and reached for it over Manvi. Suddenly, his eyes stopped at Manvi's face. She was sleeping peacefully "Wow! Yeh bandariya hi haina? She is looking so different" he thought. She had removed all her jewellery but her magalsutra was still there. He looked at it, and it was slowly sinking in. 'She is my wife? I am responsible for her? huh?' As he was about to move, he saw his name in her mehendi inside a heart shape. It felt very strange to him like it has marked her as his. He shook off all these thoughts 'Stupid customs' he thought. He quickly switching off the light and he turned back, immediately falling into a deep slumber.
