Manan ~Our Life~ [EDITING]

Chapter: 6 The journey.....

Manik POV
The journey has started and it's been almost half an hour that I am simply driving and Nandini was busy watching outside as the window was left open and the AC was switched off!! I was getting irked as well as bored because firstly she was behaving as if no one's there in the car except for her and secondly silence doesn't go well with Manik Malhotra!

So hearing up I initiated "At how much distance is your temple??" she seemed to be started as suddenly my graveled voice popped up in utmost silence but composing herself she replied "Take the coming left and we will be there!" she appeared to be in deep thoughts as she reverted her gaze back to outside! Good knows what fascinated her in this darkness!

Again the silence! "Are you an owl??" i mocked "huh?" "What huh what is so good out in the darkness??" i questioned!! "An haunting comfort!!" she barely whispered but I could absorb it as you know silence!! "What is that now??" "Temple!!" she exclaimed! "What??" "We reached stop the car!" she said pointing out to the temple which I would have crossed but I applied sudden breaks!! "ouch!!" Nandini had slightly guy the car window due to the break!! "Ummmm .......... Sorry voh I didn't realise!" i said rubbing her forehead cupping her cheeks!! She was starting into my eyes like asking me for something but it was too early to understand her eyes!!

She broke the eyelock and mumbling a thanks she got down!! I followed her to the temple as she headed towards its entrance!! We reached the temple and were standing in front of the idols of Ram Sita & Lakshman!! I didn't knew what to do as this was the first time that I had stepped into a worship place!! Nandini looked at me and gave me a confused look! I blankly stared her! "Manik mandir hai! Fold your hands, atleast natak hi karlo!" she whispered into my ears!!

Ohh so I am supposed to fold my hands but school thodi naa hai but still it's ohk!! I stood like an obedient school going kid folding my hands against my chest! Nandini saw ne and have me a horrified look but why?? I did exactly what she asked me to do! The others in the temple gave me weird looks and done laughed at me but i was totally confused!! "Manik life mei kabhi mandir nahi aaye ho kya?? Why are you behaving as a kid who as first time been brought to an temple??" Nandini asked me in a low tone!

"Arre tum ne hi toh bola to fold my hands!" she hit her forehead with her palm and sighed in frustration "Manik I did not mean it on this way!! Join your hands like this!" she instructed bringing my palms close to one another and at the climax it was like both of our hands were alternately joined!!

We looked at each other then at our joined hands when someone commented from the back "Kitni pyaari jodi hai dono ki! Dekho naa Bhagwan see ahirwaad bhi ek saath maang rahe hai!" That was an embarrassing connect and inadvertently she withdrew her hands from mine and closing her eyes with great pressure she pretended to be worshipping!

After an ignominious encounter in the temple's main a area Nandini giving the money to the priest came to the lake-side where I was standing admiring the glowing water with water lamps!! I looked at her and the priest following her caught my attention, I gave a questioning look to Nandini pointing at the Pandit, she comfortably shrugged off!

She came to me and said "Voh Nyonica Aunty had called the priest and asked the priest to tell both of us to leave the water lamps in the lake!" I don't really know how to react but at this point of time it would be preferable to do what mom had asked to!

So we both headed towards the lake and the pandit handed a tray of diyas in leaf bowls to Nandini!

We both sat at the bank of the lake then I took one of the diya in my hands followed by Nandini placing her hands on my elbow! Looking into each other's eyes we let all the 3 diyas!!

It was beautiful! The diyas really lighted the lake turning up the black & dark area into a brighter one! Supposedly were both were having a brief look at our diyas which were sailing away from the bank!

"Nandini let's go! Varna we'll get late to reach there and already it's 8:30 here!" she slightly nodded and we moved towards the place where our car was parked!

I guess now-a-days even in my thought process i have started mentioning almost everything as 'ours'!! That's completely bizarre about me!

Hopping into the car the journey started!! I was lost in my thoughts thinking about the changes in me only in just a week!! Me and Nandini had fought for almost every small thing possible but yet today we're husband and wife!!

"Manik in your wedding naa I'll do the designing part Okay??"
"Ya sure of course babe mere aur Manik ke taste ko tumse Achcha kon Jaan sakta h??"
"Saale tujhse kabi bhi expect hi nahi kia tha ki tu mujhe chod dega!!" dramatic tone
"Nautanki salaa!"
"Meri hi best friend ko pata liya Haa??"
"Achcha chalo let's go party kr liye we're getting late!"
"buddy party?"
"Manik we don't require a reason to party dude!"

Suddenly I realized i had started shedding few lone tears and immediately i turned towards Nandini who was fast asleep leaning onto the closed window!! Her face looked so serene and calm as if she had no problems in her life!

She always carries a smile but the hidden pain and agony never went unnoticed to me but right now her face shows no worries and frowns but a tranquil face!! Automatically a small smile crept into my face! I feel connected to her in some way, maybe the way I am treating her is wrong! Infact yeah maybe she also never wanted this marriage which I almost knew like since forever but I ignored it because of my stupid ego!

The car stopped with an jerk! This time Nandini again would have got hurt but this time I prevented by holding her face in my hands and thankfully her slumber did not get disturbed! Leaving the ac on i stepped out of the car to check!! Unfortunately I could not find out what happened but apparently I knew the car had broken down!!

Almost 13 kilometres back the mechanic was left behind and in the reach of my vision there was nothing!! It was an scratch on the heart of jungle simply having a single road craved between dense forests!! I sighed on helplessness and then the reality struck me that it was dark all around and only the headlights if my car was on!! Nothing can scare Manik Malhotra but this bloody darkness can!!

The next moment I was in the driver seat closing the doors of the car securely and sitting leaning back to the seat!! I could manage to stare at the unperturbed face of Nandini!! Deep down the line her face gave me some assurance that nothing can happen to me!! Though we were not happy in this relationship but the fact was we were now life partners!!

I felt slight movement in her and i quickly Shut my eyes pretending to sleep!! She was waking me up in a very low voice "Manik! Manik!! Get up!!" i opened my eyes rubbing if as if acting like she just woke me up! "You are very bad in acting fake Manik! So Tell me what landed is here at a halt??" she asked surprising me as did she know me so well??? "Voh our car broke down and almost this is the Chief of the jungle!" "You could have called someone right??" "Yaa smarty but just now I said it's a jungle and practically there's no range!!" i mocked! "Ummmm...... If you want you go to back seat and rest properly!!"i said hesitantly! "Why are you being so sweet??" i mentally slapped myself to be so gud to her!! "But any ways I'll go back, but I think you should also join me behind as the driver seat would not help a giraffe to be comfortable in!!" i could do nothing but to laugh a little!! She was baffled seeing me laugh!!

I ignored and walked to the back seat calling her as well!! She came and we settled in the beach seat me leaning to the seat and Nandini to the window!

So guys how was it?? Hope you liked it!! Pls do drop your comments and pls vote!!

Precap: the night continues and the wedding ofcourse!!