~ Familes are like branches of a tree. We grow in different directions but the roots remain the same ~
The place was buzzing with chatters and bliss, Nandini noticed as soon as she stepped on the entrance, and forwarded her invitation card to the gatekeeper who cross checked and smiled politely at her. Shoving it back in her handbag, Nandini entered, a tad bit late for her very best friend's liking, but finally making it. Smoothening the edges of her sparkling pink dress that had purple sparkles, she tucked a loose curl behind while her eyes swam through the sea of guests, desperately searching for a familiar face.
Ironical much, that the legal adviser out in the fields who knew how to shut people up would be so uncomfortable in a party, that too the party of her own best friend's engagement?
Nandini scoffed at the thought, when she finally spotted a known face, not the one she wanted to, but at that moment anything would do. She walked upto the handsome man, clad in a black classy sherwani, and stood behind him, clearing her throat.
"Miss Nandini?", Manik turned at her voice, and was amused to see her uncomfortable face. He excused himself from the family he was talking to, and focused on Nandini who looked like she would be anywhere but here.
She hated crowds, especially full of people she didn't know.
"Hi!", Nandini smiled, a small smile as she tried to get past this weird feeling she always got around him, "I can't find Raima. Or Mihir Jeeju. Or anyone", she spilled the beans, blinking like a doll and making an extremely cute, confused face, all done subconsciously.
Manik couldn't help but chuckle and Nandini could not help but noticed how the corner of his eyes cringed when he laughed. The shine in his eyes was unmistakable, like he wore his heart on his sleeves, and it only confused her more. Manik Malhotra was a mystery she was trying to solve since last six months but had only failed uptil.
"Raima's dupatta came loose or something, so Maa took her upstairs and Mihir followed like the love sick man he is", Manik shrugged, smiling, and held Nandini's wrist to drag her upstairs, all this while unaware of the electricity that ran through her, giving her goosebumps.
It would not be wrong to say Nandini Murthy had a tiny winy crush on her best friend's brother-in-law, of which man in question was completely unaware of.
Pushing open the door to Mihir's bedroom, Manik stood by the door, smirking while Nandini only gaped, shocked.
Raima was standing by the mirror, fixing her makeup while Mihir and Mili were sprawled on the bed, playing ludo on their phones and Manik's mother,
Ishani Malhotra and Raima's mother, Shaila Maheshwari were gossiping like aunties, nobody concerned about the guests waiting downstairs.
"Maa", Manik called as he entered, and gave her a very sarcastic smile, "You know all your kitty party anties are waiting downstairs to comment on the Saree and jewellery you are wearing right?", he crossed his arms as Raima giggled.
"No, they are waiting to drool over my handsome son and he is already entertaining them acting the eye candy he is", Ishani winked, and this time Nandini giggled, and caught every body's attention, which saved Manik from a variety of comments because his cheeks had turned red at his mother's comment.
What followed was Raima's anger and Nandini's apologies, while Mili cheered to see who wins, and both mothers and Manik and Mihir walked down finally to attend the guests.
Ten minutes later Nandini was hugging the life out of Raima who was laughing at her too. Mili rolled her eyes at the duo, munching on her chips while she texted Rishi, her boyfriend who couldn't attend the party because she took a leave.
"Such melodrama I tell you", Mili commented, joining the group hug with the girls, "If both of you come into this house na, it's going to be my daily source of complete entertainment", her squeal made Raima giggle again while Nandini only slightly blushed at the prospect.
Dreams don't cost a penny, do they? Especially day dreams!
Nandini always loved family gatherings and after her own, the Malhotras were her favourite, so she clapped loud when Mihir and Raima finally exchanged rings, with Mili and Manik hooting the loudest, their grandmother Sumita Malhotra joining them as they hooted like teenagers on high.
Ishani and Shaila hugged and so did Ram and Raj, their attention brought to the blushing couple only when Pallavi Malhotra held Raima's hand and slipped in a bangle.
"Welcome to the family officially beta", she blessed them both and everybody smiled, knowing how much Pallavi loved the Malhotra kids.
"That's so wrong Bua, I am already family and nobody ever gifted me such gorgeous bangles", Mili pouted, her jacket sliding across the floor as she walked to the front, standing near Raima, putting her hand on her shoulder.
"You need ancestral bangles? Haaye Ishani!! Talk to Rishi's parents", Sumita exclaimed and everyone burst out laughing loud, making Mili blush deep red.
"Daaadiii", she squealed, but that only made the laughing riot go strong, and Ishani kissed Raima's head, teasing Mili.
"The next set of Bangles is for my Manik's wife, you aren't getting any!", Ishani laughed, but Instead of getting offended, Mili smiled brighter at the prospect.
"Bhaiii! Are you listening, get us a Bhabhi soon. At least now that Mihir bhai is also engaged!", Mili placed both her arms around Manik's neck, clinging to him, but Manik shook his head at the melodrama.
"I know you all enough to see the conversation is all planned. At least today focus on the couple of the hour, instead of my non existent love life", he laughed, throwing buckets of water on his family's attempt of talking about his impending marriage.
He shuddered thinking how much butter and cheese he had needed to convince his parents, his bua and grandmother to let Mihir get engaged first, because as per tradition, the first born was to get married first.
Pallavi came and held Manik by his ears, making him yelp.
"Bua k bachhe!! You have grown too smart!", she scolded him but watching his adorable expressions, she left his ear and patted his cheek.
Nandini who was standing quite all this while, smiled watching all the drama. There was no doubt this family was so close knit and Manik loved all of them, and vice versa. The warmth in his eyes for them was sharply defined, and the way everyone adored Manik was crystal clear too.
She couldn't help but wonder why was Manik so reluctant to marry then? Did he had a past, did somebody break his heart?
"He is handsome, isn't he?", a voice spoke to Nandini who in a trance nodded.
"Too handsome!", it was only when she heard a laugh that she turned her head and in the next moment, literally wished for the ground to swallow her alive.
Beside her, Mili and Sumita were laughing holding their stomachs, while Nandini stood embarrassed, her eyes glued to the floor.
"Dadi", before Nandini could even approve, Sumita held Nandini's wrists and slowly caressed them.
"The size is perfect, and I already approve. Bus mere bewkoof pote ko pata le", she winked, and Mili high fived with her, before both of them disappearing in the crowd, leaving a shying Nandini behind.
When three years ago, she had moved to Mumbai from her hometown Delhi, wanting to taste success on her own, not by her father's name, she didn't know the city of dreams was going to change her life. From getting a job to finding Raima, the pen friend she had loved from far for all these years now living in the same city, same apartment as hers, Mumbai had been very generous. And a year ago when Raima told she had started dating her boss Mihir Malhotra and wanted her to meet him, Nandini was ecstatic. Raima's wasn't a loving family like hers, she came from a broken family and hence finding love was something very huge for her. But Mihir put all their repurcussions to rest. He not only treated like the queen she was, he also accepted Nandini in their life. He offered her the position of the legal advisor of Malhotra corporates and that made her career fly notches high. It was another thing that Nandini didn't give them a single change to regret their blind trust in her.
And now the same Malhotras were giving her another opportunity, to seek the love of her life. Or at least, the crush of her life.
Since the first day Nandini had seen Manik in the office, she knew there was something about the way he smiled that gave her goosebumps. The way he laughed, she saw stars in broad daylight. The way he teased his siblings and stood up for them Equally, made her heart swell in pride. The deep sense of respect he had for his parents, coupled with all the unbound love, made him an amazing son. And the fact that he definitely was an eye candy, only added to the overall asthetics.
There was no doubt Manik charmed her every time she saw him, which was often because being the MD, he dealt with the leagl stuff before filtering it for his brother, the CEO, but at the same time, he big time confused her.
Why would such a handsome guy who could have any girl at his feet, oppose marriage or any relationship so strongly?
Why would not he Atleast casually date anyone?
Why would he voluntarily be the MD when his family wanted him to be the CEO?
Nandini frowned as she watched Manik from the corner of her eyes, as she cheered a drink with Mihir and his dad. What was she finding it difficult to see?
Was there no chance that she could get Manik and her happily ever after together?