Manik POV
We both were married now in all terms! This relationship is a pure one which unites two souls! I don't know wether my soul is with her or not but yes today I have been gifted with a life full with a friend who is bound to not to leave my side for any damn reason!
I am blank when it comes to marriage and it's promises so i could only promise Nandini and myself that our this friendship is forever and always! When her dad gave her hand in mine she was in a weak moment she needed assurance and for that I stood for her and also swear to stand by her everytime!
Nandini's Bidaai was done as we had to go to Malhotra mansion the same night vacating the farmhouse! I felt helpless seeing her crying incoherently! What she must be feeling I was totally unaware without my consciousness my hands travelled to her hands placed on the seat of the car in which we were going! I placed my hands on hers and she looked at me with tearful eyes!
"As we decided to marry for our family the same way we need to accept the changes too for them!" i said "Manik I have accepted you as my husband, life partner and most importantly my friend but I just can't help my tears as they cannot forget my parents!" when she said she had accepted me as her husband I felt content everything seemed to be falling back to places like before!
We were talking about her parents and their memories and I was cheering her up which usually a friend does when we reached Malhotra mansion!
We reached the entrance where Sonakshi bhabhi was standing with Pooja thaal to welcome us! She did the Aarthi and then Nandini kicked the pot of rice with her right leg and like this we entered our home! Our?? Seriously? Manik tu toh gayo ji!!
"Manik Nandini tum dono jao take rest! Ham sab bhi sone ja rahe hai kal subah breakfast pe milte hai!" mom said and finally I'll be resting for some time these days seriously were tiring!!
I lead Nandini to my room which now was ours!! Her old room and our room had few similarities like black theme which I guess Nandini was fond of! We stepped into the room and I guess even Nandini noticed the similarities first!
"Nandini make yourself comfortable! Mai washroom mei change kar leta hu tum changing room mei karlo!" i said and she faintly smiled mostly must be remembering her house and room!
I walked in to change and mostly she to went to the changing room!
After a while I entered the bedroom to find nandini sitting on the bed leaning to the bed rest with closed eyes! I went near her and hesitantly touched her shoulders to find it unusually hot! And realization struck me she had fever! Sonia mom was saying that Nandini was a bit unwell before the marriage!
"Nandini you have fever mai mom ko bulata hu wait!" i panicked and she opened her eyes and said "Nahi Manik sab abhi rest karne gaye hai unhe disturb mat karo! Bas thak gayi hu rest lungi toh I'll be fine!" her voice was a meek whisper which indicated she is very weak!
I sat beside her and she shifted to give me place "Nandini do you have some pills so that your fever subsides till morning? Kal subah I'll call the doctor!" "Manik mai bhi doctor hi hu I'm fine! You don't get yourself worked up!"
"How can i not? Nandini you are here for the first time and that too down with fever!" i was hell worried that I could not even notice how close we were sitting and that too with no amount of hesitation!!
"Manik I am fine! Do you have a thermometer??" she asked "Yes! It's in the first aid kit! I'll get it wait!" I said and rushed to get the thermometer! Luckily it was in the closet itself so I got it to her!
"Open your mouth!" i instructed and she followed! She opened her mouth and I placed the thermometer! After good to mins of impatience and restlessness I took the thermometer out to see the temperature!
"Nandini how are you saying you are fine?? Huh?? It's 101°!!" i said with my jaw hung down in shock seeing the temperature! How was she fine during the wedding rituals?
"Manik 101 is not a big deal! I have few medicines with me I'll have them kal subah tak thik ho jayega!" she said getting up to take the pills! Water jug in our room was empty so i called Suresh to get water meanwhile Nandini brought her medicines! I have her the water and she gulped the pills down! She made a disgusting face which made me laugh but soon i Shut my mouth on recieving a glare from her side!
"Nandini the bed is big enough!" "Huh?" expected reaction!! "voh is room mei couch nahi hai so we will have to share the bed! You sleep at that end I'll sleep on this end okay???" she was hesitant which was pretty natural i mean who shares a bed with a friend nevertheless reluctantly she agreed!!
She lied down by the left side of the bed and I lied down the other side!! There was atleast a 2 feet distance between us as the bed was fortunately king size bed!! Nandini extended her hands to switch off the lights but she withdrew mid way automatically brought a smile on my face!!
I don't know why but i fell a asleep immediately done secure feeling had warmed up my heart!! And after ages I slipped into a peaceful slumber!!
Sunrays managed to piss me off by disturbing my sleep! This was the first time I was active like a juvenile who doesn't like to go to school! I got up rubbing my eyes to find Nandini folding her lab coat!!
"Why are you up so early?? And how's your fever?" I asked getting up from my bed walking upto her! "Voh nind khul gayi! May be because it's a new place! And now I am alright! By the by gud morning!!" she said adjusting her pallu which made me notice her dress! She was cladded in a beautiful blue and white saree! She looked elegant void of any makeup with wet hairs, nuptial chain and her scalp filled with vermilion!
"Manik you freshen up mai niche hu!" she said walking out of the room! This friend of mine is indeed beautiful too!! Why is she driving me crazy?? Shooing away my thoughts i headed to freshen up!!
I was ready in casuals as dad had warned me not to step into the office for a week as I was MARRIED!! God he too knows that this marriage was for our parents but still!! Anyways I walked down to the living room!
Nandini stepped into the living room at the same time when I stepped! She glanced at me and gave a slight smile which I was bound to reciprocate as if I was under some magic spell!!
"Dad, bhai, Manik come breakfast ready hai!" Nandini said looking at Dev bhai and dad who were busy discussing some office work!! We followed Nandini and unusually the dining hall smelt very very good!
Family breakfast was not my cup of tea! As always I cannot requite their gestured adding more onto my guilt so I thought of giving some excuse when bhabhi entered with the servants with god knows how many dishes!!
"Manik aaj koi bahana nahi! Nandini ne khana banaya hai and you have to be here!" Sonakshi bhabhi instructed! I sighed and sat down avoiding my gaze from everyone! "Mom mai abhi aati hu! I need to inform Mukti ki aaj mai aur sonakshi bhabhi late aayenge!!" saying this she walked out and i asked "Bhabhi Mukti kaha h??"
"Voh 2-3 patients ka emergency diet chart submit karna tha toh voh jaldi chali gayi!!" sge said and I nodded!
The servants served us food as mom and bhabhi settled down leaving just one place for Nandini beside me! Nandini entered the dining room talking on phone! "Arre baba haa I'll get you your food my foodie! Mai aur bhabhi 2 ghante mei aa jayenge!! Okay??" "Bye!" she hung up and saw us then the only place left for her! She lowered her gaze and sat beside me!!
"Nandini itna sab kyu banaya?? Aaj rest leti naa you are not well! Nyonica ne bataya!" dad said! "Dad aisa kuch nahi hai I'm alright! Aur bhabhi ne help kia so it was easy!" she politely replied and I smiled! God why am I smiling so much?!
Breakfast was delicious! We had an eventful breakfast with me and Nandini hardly participating in the conversation! So similar!
"Nandini I'll get ready tum bhi ho jao ek saath nikalte hai!" bhabhi said as she came back after bidding bye to Dev bhai! They were a lively couple who loved each other till nothing! Their love had no end points! I admire them the most! But wait if Nandini is going why cant I??
"Nandini aaj kyu jaa rahi ho take rest thode dino baad shuru karlo naa!" mom suggested. "Mom voh actually aaj ek important surgery hai bus uske baad aa jaungi vapis just 2 hours of work!"
"Okay bachcha! Manik you come with me muje tumse kuch kaam hai so chalo!" mom said and I went with her!
Mom took me to her room and we settled on the couch! What she said to me left me shocked! "Manik look I understand you but please place yourself in Nandini's shoes and think she is your wife you both have to share all your lives with each other!"
"Mom what exactly what are you saying? Don't bear around the bush!" i said being confused! She let out a deep breath and said "Manik you need to tell your past to her!" "What??" i shouted getting up from my place!
"Manik don't shout!! Listen to me sit down first and listen to me!" i sat down "Mom you know I can't!" "Manik your past has an ex! If you don't share then it's like cheating in her! Manik she is a gem! I Know you are afraid of loosing her but Manik Nandini is not like HER!! She will never leave your side I can assure you that!" she said caressing my hairs!
Am I really cheating on Nandini? Yes my past had a girl! Maybe not telling nandini will be like cheating on her! "Look Manik I know her side of the story, Why she is like this! I don't know about her though but she deserves to know your story! Please tell her before anyone else does!"
Mom was right I need to tell Nandini! I silently got up and walked out of the room straight to my room! Nandini was leaving the room! She saw me all cooked up with red eyes! I immediately turned to wipe the tears that welled up seeing her!
She kept her hand on my shoulder "Manik what happened?? Are you fine??" i could not hold back i swiftly Turned and hugged her tight! She was baffled at first she did not reciprocate my hug so I pulled her more into me and she hugged me back! I smiled faintly! This is peace!! I felt home!
After few good minutes I gained my senses back and gently pulled back!
We both avoided eye contact when I was triggered about talking to her but she said she had an surgery so I said "Ummm Nandini I wanted to talk to you!!" "Bolo Manik!" "Ummmm....m.... Not now tum abhi jakar aao then we'll talk!"
"Okay! Mai abhi nikalti hu bhabhi wait kar rahi hongi!! Bye!" "Bye! Have a nice day!" i said and she grabbed her purse with lab coat and rushed downstairs!!
Today anyhow I have to tell her! But do I trust her enough?? If she leaves me after knowing about what past I had! But no Nandini's eyes day the truth! She is trustworthy! And yes she'll cannot leave my side! We are married and its forever!!
Marriage is such a bond that ensures you of an all time support system with you! Though whatever must have happened in the past but the two in this relationship blossom anew phase of life!! Manik has to tell everything to Nandini so that they move ahead same goes for Nandini but let's see what will happen next! Stay tuned, vote and please do comment!!!