In the evening, before going to pick up nandini, manik made a conference call to fab 4.
Manik: watsup guys? Tumlog studio pahunch gye?
Cabir: nahi be , navya is also coming so use pick up karne ja raha hu, nandini ne use invite kiya hai, but ill be there on time.
Mukti: bhai , mai , aliya aur dhruv pahunch gye hai. Wat about you and nandini?
Cabir: mukti , meri jaan , don't you think tujhe nandini ko bhabhi bolna chahye...?
Mukti: cabir tujhe ni lagta bhabhi looks too old, after all wo hamare age group ki hi hain...bhai what do you think?
Manik: listen guys mujhe ye sab ni pata, mukti tum nandini se sort out kar lena ye sab, ar maine ye sab discuss karne k lye tumlogo ko call ni kiya hai..
Cabir: ha wo toh hame pta h, tu ab sirf nandini k bare me hi baat karega, hmlog kaha important rahe ab...dost hua paraya (he said it dramatically)
Manik: ho gya tera drama..ab seriously baat kare?
Mukti: cabir tu chup kar yaar thori der...bhai boliye kya hua?
Manik: so guys listen mujhe pta chala hai ki nandini v gaati hai..she is also a singer though not professional, kyunki usne kabhi ise seriously ni liya. So i want you guys to do something that she sings today. Will you do it?
Cabir: seriously yaar?? Matlab i now have a strong feeling that u two are destined, made for each other.
Aliya: wow manik you are really lucky , i must say.
Dhruv : true buddy, nandini is multi-talented, u r lucky
Manik: arey wo sab toh thk h par jo maine bola wo kar paoge tumlog?
Cabir: ha yaar
Dhruv : arey it will be very easy. Relax buddy
Manik: ok then i m getting late, talk to u later bye
Manik reached down her office building and called her, she came down after informing her dad and abhi. Manik was waiting near his car and they both smiled hugely seeing each other.
Manik: nandini will u do me a favour ? will u drive? Actually i want to sit back and enjoy the "VIEW" (he quoted that in the air with his fingers and gave a sheepish smile)
Nandini had not expected this because she thought men like to show chivalry and here he was offering her to drive and that moment she literally fell in love with him. Manik was not like men who dominated women , he considered them to be equal and his actions were a reflection of his belief. Manik had unknowingly gained respect in the eyes of nandini. She took the keys from him and sat on the driver's side and he beside her , on the passenger's side. The drive started and manik sat looking at her and didn't look anywhere else.
Nandini felt manik's constant gaze on her and she smiled and said "if u keep looking like that i wont be able to drive" he just " hmmm" nandini thought no point telling him anything and its better to focus on the road but she realised that she had forgot to clip her front hair bags and they were constantly falling on her face and disturbing her view, so she angrily muttered to herself "i will change this god damn hair style!!" butmanik heard that " don't u dare think of changing ur haircut, i like them when they fall on your face, so don't even think about getting rid of them" nandini was really happy as it was for the first time that he was showing possession on her , she replied "ok but i think ill have to stop the car on sideway to put a clip on my hair" but before she could do that manik asked her " where is the clip? tell me i will put it on" nandini was amused, she replied " r u sure?" he nodded she continued " its i n the inner zip of my hand bag" he took her bag and followed her instructions and finally found the clip. He took the clip and moved forward in his seat and removed the bangs of hair from her face and put them behind her ear, tracing his fingers from her forehead to the back of her ear. Shiver ran down her spine and her hold on the steering tightened , heartbeat started racing but she focussed on the drive to avoid any mishap. Manik put a clip on her hair and again deliberately traced his hand on her cheek, he liked her soft chubby cheeks , he wanted to pull it and do a googly-woogly-wush but...but...but...
he controlled himself , just then nandini shivered under his touch and muttered "manik" in a pleading tone, he removed his hand instantly smiling. He liked it and he would do it often now. The drive of 10 mins lasted for 20 mins and they finally reached.
Manik offered his hand to her as part of his resolution to do it often' and she happily gave in. They walked inside the huge studio and manik led her to a room which looked like a recreation room for the fab 5 with sofas and beanbags and other necessary stuff. Nandini was awestruck with the grandness of the studio and a sense of pride filled her that she is going to marry the man who is behind all this success. Fab 5 and navya welcomed her with party poppers and announced "WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY BHABHI" and everyone hugged her one by one. As they settled down aliya and mukti brought a cake "welcome" written on it. She cuts the cake and they were having a good time. Aliya mukti and navya took nandini to another set of sofas for some gossiping and the guys discussed about their plan to make nandini sing.
Nandini: gals i need ur help (a little hesistantly)
Mukti: ha nandini bolo (all others nodded)
Nandini: actually i was thinking since i m getting married to manik so i ...ummm...if i should revamp my wardrobe..i mean buy some classy and trendy dresses..u know...right..wat i mean
Aliya: nandini...see i know what u r thinking but u don't need to do this...manik is not like that...u should know this..wat u wear wat u don't will not define u..but ur attitude wil and i guess manik likes u the way u r...that is why he agreed to marry u in just one meeting. So chill
Mukti: yes aliya is right , so relax
Navya: ok ok that is good but we can shop right..after all its her wedding she will need new dresses.
And finally they agreed to go for shopping some day. Then mukti started her topic.
Mukti: nandini i wanted to ask you something!
Nandini: yeah go ahead!
Mukti: i was confused...i mean if i call u nandini instead of bhabhi,,will u mind? Bhabhi looks like you are too old..u know what i mean?
Nandini laughed and said mukti u r too cute!! And pulled her cheek "of course u can call me by my name and trustme i would like it that way" mukti was so happy that she took nandini in a tight hug and the rest of the gals jumped on them. Manik was busy in the conversation but hearing the commotion turned and saw the bond of the gals especially nandini and mukti and he felt relieved as well as blessed that everything in his life is going just the way he wanted.
As per the plan, the boys sat on their respective instruments and slowly started playing the tune acting as if they are practicing..the tune caught the attention of the gals and aliya mukti quickly got up and started playing their instruments...they chose an old number but improvised to give a modern touch...manik then asked nandini
Manik: nandini you have heard the song " dhire dhire se meri jindagi me aana" the old one?
Nandini , not guessing his intentions replied in an excited tone "yes and i know the lyrics word by word..actually its one of my favourites" manik smiled at her childish and excited tone.
Cabir: wow that's great!
Manik: yeah so will you sing the female part with me? Look you have told that you sing so i want you to join me plz!
Cabir: (faking innocence) really she sings?? Kisine mujhe pehle q ni btaya?? Chalo nandini you have to sing now.
Navya: arey cabir wo bahut acha gaati hai..maine suna hai!
Cabir: sweetheart tumne mujhe pehle q ni btaya( sarcastically)
Navya: wo i forgot (making a sorry face)
Nandini was thoughtful now , can she sing or not, "singing with manik and his band !! its a big thing, what if i do something wrong and manik is let down because of me?? No no i cant let this happen, i have to refuse , yeah this will be right." Manik noticed her lost face and uneasiness so he put his guitar down and signalled his friends to wait and he went to nandini "look nandini , i really want you to sing, i want to hear your melodious voice.." he was cut off by nandini " manik i can ..i can sing for u when we are alone but in front of your friends...wat if i don't catch notes and disappoint you, i don't want you to be let down because of me" he held her hand to assure her and said "nandini no one will judge you, they are my family, trust me on this, but if u still don't want to do this, i wont force you...relax ..ok ..only i will sing a different song for you..come" but she held his hand and said "i will sing" and she gave him a confined smile , he took her hand and kissed her knuckles and said "thank you" . the others smiled on manik's gesture!
Cabir: cough cough ho gya tumlogo ka PDA ab can we have the privilege to hear the voice of our bhabhiji?
Nandini: (confidently) i am ready, lets start...
Manik picked up his guitar and stood beside nandini taking the support of wall and started strumming the chords of the guitar and started singing the song. Nandini listened carefully to catch the beats and notes.
Manik:
Dhire dhire se meri jindagi me aana
Dhire dhire se mere dil ko churana
Tum se pyar hame kitna hai jan-e-jana
Tumse milkar tumko hai batana
Nandini:
Dhire dhire se meri jindagi me aana
Dhire dhire se mere dil ko churana
Tum se pyar hame kitna hai jan-e-jana
Tumse milkar tumko hai batana
Manik:
Jabse tujhko dekha dil ko koyi aaram nahi
Mere hotho pe ek tere siwa koyi nam nahi
Nandini:
Apna bhi hal tumhare jaisa hai sajan
Bas yad tujhe karti hu, aur koyi kam nahi
Manik:
Ban gaya hu main tera deewana
Dhire dhire se dil ko churaana
Nandini:
Dhire dhire se meri jindagi me aana
Dhire dhire se mere dil ko churana
Nandini:
Tune bhi aksar mujhko jagaya rato me
Aur nind churayi mithi mithi bato me
Manik:
Tune bhi beshak mujhe kitna tadpaya
Phir bhi teri har ek ada par pyar aaya
Aaja aaja abb kaisa sharmana
Dhire dhire se dil ko churana
Nandini:
Dhire dhire se meri jindagi me aana
Dhire dhire se mere dil ko churana
Manik:
Tum se pyar hame kitna hai jan-e-jana
Tumse milkar tumko hai batana
Nandini:
Dhire dhire se meri jindagi me aana
Manik:
Dhire dhire se mere dil ko churana...tune continued for a while and then ended softly!
All the while they sang looking into each others eyes and nandini realised why manik had chosen that song because he meant every word of it. The new emotion of love was visible in his eyes, in the way he looked at her. On the other hand manik also sensed a change in her. "is it love? The way she is looking at me?"
Nandini sang well barring few places where she missed a note but fab 5 knew that singing without prior practice is difficult. Nandini had impressed them with her skill and they appreciated her wholeheartedly. Manik was proud of his soon-to-be-wife. Soon it was time for nandini to leave as she had a meeting and she left with manik after wishing everyone goodbye...
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Credits to the writer- Manini Mehra