Cut Camera MARRIED ^Manan FF^

Chp 3

"Smile like you're in love," Raghav hissed from behind the camera.
Manik's jaw twitched. "I am smiling. This is my 'madly-in-love-but-dead-inside' look."
Nandini didn't even bother hiding her eye roll. "If I smile any harder, my cheeks will file for divorce."

They were at their first public event since The Wedding-a glamorous film awards night.
Paparazzi. Fans. Screaming reporters. The works.
Also: one hyperventilating director-turned-fake-relationship-manager, Raghav Kapoor, currently combusting over their lack of "romantic chemistry."

"Look into each other's eyes!" he stage-whispered.
Manik turned dramatically. "Hello, wife."
Nandini smiled sweetly. "Hello, regret."

Raghav nearly screamed.
Veer, holding a fan-made Mr. & Mrs. Malhotra banner, muttered, "We're so doomed."

Flashbulbs. Cheers. Reporters screaming:
"Is it true love?"
"Was the wedding planned or a surprise?"
"When's the honeymoon?"

Manik and Nandini froze.
Nandini turned to Raghav. "Tell them we're going to the Himalayas for peace."
Manik added, "Or prison. One of the two."

---

Cut to: Afterparty - Backstage Chaos

Raghav paced, fanning himself with a rolled-up script. "You guys have ONE job-look in love! Smile! Hold hands! Maybe a forehead kiss-"

Nandini choked. "Forehead what?"
Manik was already heading for the exit. "I'm done."
"Oh no, you don't," Raghav blocked the door like a bouncer. "You're staying till the nation believes you're a real, functional couple!"

They both glared.
"Fine," Manik growled. "You want PDA? You'll get PDA."
He turned, grabbed Nandini by the waist, and dipped her in a full-blown dramatic Bollywood pose.

Click. Flash. Gasps.

Nandini blinked. "You're dead after this."
Manik smirked. "But the cameras? Got their shot."

Cut to: Social Media Explosion
#MananIsReal trending at #1
Fan edits. Wedding montages. Conspiracy threads.
Someone even dug out a blurry 2017 photo of Manik looking vaguely in Nandini's direction and captioned it: Fated from the start.

Veer: These people are feral."
Raghav, sipping green tea: "This is art. Chaos. Romance. Revenue."
Nandini: "This is a lie built on suffering."
Manik: "This is my villain origin story."

Raghav:People are calling you Couple Goals!"

Nandini (massaging her temples):
"This is torture. Actual torture."

Manik (shrugging):
"Welcome to stardom wifey."

Raghav (ignoring them, scrolling furiously):
"Oh, look! There's already fan art! Someone drew you two kissing under the stars."

Nandini (snatching the phone):
"WHAT?!"

She stared at the screen in disbelief.

Manik (peeking over her shoulder):
"Huh. They got my jawline right. Nice."

Nandini (screaming internally):
"I'm surrounded by idiots."

Later
In Nandini's vanity
Raghav bursts into their vanity van like a caffeinated hurricane.
"BREAKING NEWS!"
Nandini, face buried in a pillow: "Unless the Earth exploded, I don't care."

Raghav waved his phone. "The production house loves this buzz. They want a new film. With you two. Married. In love. With a baby. A DOG. And a happy ending."

Silence.
Manik: "...I vote we kill him."
Nandini: "Seconded."
Veer (already running): "I'll bring popcorn!"

At night: Nandini's Penthouse

Enter: One grumpy rockstar with five suitcases, two guitar cases, and the attitude of a man being exiled to a glitter prison.

Nandini (hands on hips):
"Manik, you're moving in, not migrating to Mars. Why do you have so many bags?"

Manik (dropping a suitcase with a thud):
"These are essentials. Guitars, leather jackets, skincare... obviously. Also, Raghav said we need to be 'believably married.' Married people live together."

Nandini: "You could've stayed in a different penthouse. Or, I don't know, a different continent?"

Manik flopped onto her pristine white couch, shoes still on.
"This one has better lighting for our fake couple Instagram Lives."

Nandini (deadly calm):
"One mark on that sofa, and I will end you."

Manik smirked, pulling a chocolate bar from her fridge like he owned the place.

Her phone buzzed. She groaned.
Caller ID: Raima Bhabhi

Nandini (answering sweetly):
"Hi, Bhabhi!"

Raima (panicked):
"Nandu! Are you okay?! I just saw the news-you're MARRIED? To Manik Malhotra?!"

Nandini (fumbling):
"Uh, well, it's not exactly what it looks-"

Before she could finish, Manik moaned. Loudly.
Both Nandini and Raima's eyes widened.
Mmm... Nandini... slower. God, you're driving me crazy."

Nandini froze. "What the hell are you doing?!" she whispered furiously.

Manik smirked):
"Babe, don't stop! That red dress is killing me. F*CK you are so hot

Raima: Jaana I'll call you later.
Raima said and ended the call.

Nandini turned to manik
WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?

Manik: Nothing wifey practicing to be a good husband.
He winked at her

Nandini (hissing):
"You're a dead man, Malhotra."

Manik (grinning as he bit into his chocolate):
"Gotta sell the act, sweetheart. You're welcome."

Precap: Manan first breakfast together and Maniks family getting to know about the wedding