STUDIO
Manik asked fab 4 to come to Murthy place tonight with them but they said 'no' citing the reason that they want to meet nandini only when it will be officially announced that she is going to be their bhabhi. Manik and mukti did not force them as they also thought that they are going first time to nandini's place and increasing the number of people might cause inconvenience to her family. Just then navya called cabir and he started talking to her going in a corner.
He came back hurriedly in a few minutes and said to fab 4 that navya is asking as to why the Malhotra's are coming to nandini's place.
Actually when Maan had called alok, navya was at nandini's place. Nandini informed her about the phone call and also the fact that they did not tell the reason for visit. Navya offered help and said that she will ask cabir if he knows. So she asked cabir and cabir made an excuse saying he will tell her in sometime because he was not sure if he was allowed to share the information .
Malhotra siblings also did not know this was to be kept secret so they asked cabir to talk to neyonika. Cabir obeyed and called neyonika and narrated the incident. Seeing cabir panicking , neyonika chuckled and said that "since navya is his gf he should not lie to her and if Murthys know the reason for their visit beforehand , they will be prepared" and then cabir hung up the call after thanking neyonika for understanding.
Cabir then called navya and informed her. Navya started dancing and cut the call saying she will talk to him later.
MURTHY MANSION
As soon as navya got the news she ran to nandini and swayed her in air holding her shoulders. Everyone in the house got curious on navya's behaviour and nandini calmed her friend and asked the reason for her excitement. Instead of answering nandini , navya ran to alok and sheetal and informed them the reason for which Malhotra's are coming. Alok and sheetal could not believe their ears as they had no idea as to how much nandini had influenced them in just two encounters. After the initial shock, they doubled up their preparations and abhi too joined them in their happiness.
Nandini was bewildered, shocked and what not!! The first encounter with manik had left an imprint on her heart mind and soul but she thought was she prepared for marriage so early? She is just 24 and if she is not wrong manik is 25. but marriage?? Then her eyes stopped on alok and sheetal, their happy faces and the excitement made her think that probably she should prepare herself for this responsibility, for her parents, their happiness. On the next thought she concluded that manik was not bad and she liked him . Getting no negative points to counter her decision of marrying manik she happily gave in.
Navya shook nandini holding her shoulders.
nav: kya hua nandu ? kaha khoi hai? uncle aunty tujhe kabse bula rahe hain.
nandini: kuch nahi bas ase hi
nav: kya hua? kuch problem h? tujhe manik ni pasand h kya? but wo bahut acha larkah yaar. mai use pichle 1 year se janti hu. ek bhi buri adat ni h use. cabir hamesa manik ki tarif hi karta rehta hai. maine toh ar v bahut kuch btaya hai tujhe jab se main tere ghar ayi hu...
navya was continuously speaking and she would have said more but nandini stopped her and said that its not like she doesn't like manik, it was just that she was initially confused on the sudden proposal. Then navya and nandini came down and alok and sheetal said that they got excited after hearing the news and forgot to ask her opinion . sheetal asked nandini if she has any issues regarding the proposal? nandini just shook her head signifying that she agrees to marry manik. Abhi came forward and hugged her expressing his happiness. After the family moment everyone got busy in preparations for the evening.
IN THE EVENING
At exactly the specified time Malhotras reached Murthy mansion. They were welcomed by alok and sheetal. Seeing the happy faces of murthys , malhotras knew that soon they are going to welcome their bride in their home. They sat and soft drinks and snacks were served by the servants. After the initial formalities Malhotra duo directly came to the point and told the murthys about their intention of making nandini their daughter-in-law and manik's wife. manik felt a little awkward and shy too. Then the malhotra duo asked for alok-sheetal-abhi's opinion. They said that they will be obliged to have manik as their son-in-law. Everyone became happy and sweets were exchanged. manik was just smiling and answering whatever the murthys asked, but he was every now and then looking towards the stairs or around the hall. neyonika saw his desperation and then asked sheetal about nandini .
sheetal informed that nandini is in her room with navya. Abhi stood up and said that he will bring her and then neyonika asked mukti to accompany him if the murthys dont have a problem . sheetal asked abhi to take mukti with him.
After a while manik saw nandini coming down talking to mukti accompanied by abhi and navya. Maniks body reacted to her presence and his heartbeat increased. Nandini was wearing a simple , pink-coloured anarkali suit with jhumki in her ear and she had left her long black hair open which came up to her hips, with very light makeup in the form of kohl in her eyes and eyeliner outlining her eyelids and a pink lipstick.
Manik was struck by her beauty and those eyes again did the magic and he felt captivated yet again. They had an eyelock before nandini sat with mukti on one side and neyonika on the other. manik was sitting just opposite to nandini with abhi and maan. Manik looked at her everyone now and then while she was talking to neyonika. Sometimes they both looked at each other at the same moment and had eye contact.
neyonika after talking to nandini about her likes and dislikes said to others that manik and nandini should talk to each other before nandini is asked for her opinion. Everyone agreed and sheetal asked nandini to show manik the house. Nandani and manik got up and manik followed her. Nandani first took him to her room as she knew that they had to talk and showing the house will be a waste of time. As manik entered her room , he started the convo by praising her room and nandani just smiled
manik: do you want to ask something from me? anything?
nan: ummm no!
manik was shocked !
manik: r u sure? u dont want to know about my past or my relationships?
nan: that was ur past . so i dont want to know. if u promise me that ur present and future will only have my name embedded on it, then i dont want to know anything else.
manik was feeling out of this world. He was overwhelmed by her words and he instantly kneeled down in front of her and before she could protest he ssshed her nd said
manik: nandani i assure u that u r my present and promise that u will be my future and i also promise that your happiness will be my first priority and i will always be by your side in good times as well as bad ones. So like a gentleman i want to ask u...WILL YOU MARRY ME?
he forwarded his hand.
She quickly put her hand in his and shyly said a slow 'YES'. She felt like a princess by the way he proposed her for marriage. She was too happy but she also saw that manik was a very serious type of person so she thought that in their relationship she had to be the funny one and so she thought of teasing him or rather testing him. As manik got up from his knees without leaving her , she went close to him, close , very close and stopped only when their was no distance to cover. manik did not move back .
Their bodies touched, there was rush of andrenaline, manik felt uncomfortable . he was confused as to should he reciprocate her andvancement or just wait. no where did the thought cross his mind that nandini was throwing herself on him. He was somewhat enjoying her boldness.
Nandini, standing in the same position asked him " are you sure mr. malhotra that you want to marry me? maybe i m not like what you are expecting, you know what i mean" . Manik knew instantly that she was testing him. He replied by softly grabbing her shoulder and pulling her towards him" i am 100% sure about you Ms.Murthy. I trust you and i am not expecting anything from you. so even if you are like this, i am liking it. but are you sure about me? may be i am also not like what you are expecting"...and he once again pulled her , her palms landed on his chest and she could feel his heartbeat. They had an eyelock and manik removed the traces of hair that were falling on her face because of his sudden pull. Nandini realised that manik was playing along and that he understood and trusted her. She looked down out of embarassment of being caught in her mischief and also blushed on realising the closeness . Manik loosened his grip and she moved back a little looking down.
manik: come on! You dont need to feel embarassed, because i liked it. in fact you should do more of such stuff in future.
he said naughtily and winked at her. She smiled broadly and he too laughed. Nandini for the first time saw him laughing in a carefree manner and promised to herself that she will make it a habit for him...
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Credits to the writer- Manini Mehra