DAY 1 OF THE WEDDING: GANESH PUJA
(The bride and groom seek Lord Ganesh's blessings, praying for a smooth and joyous wedding without obstacles.)
By 7 AM, the puja had already concluded, leaving a serene yet festive atmosphere in its wake.
Manik stood with Abhimanyu, Cabir, Dhruv, and Kartik, his gaze subtly drifting toward Nandini. She was caught in an endless conversation with a group of relatives, her polite smiles barely concealing her desperate urge to escape. Manik knew that look too well. He wanted to rescue her—he really did—but, truth be told, watching her struggle was far too entertaining.
His lips curved into an amused smirk as he watched her nod along, feigning interest.
Abhimanyu, ever observant, caught the expression and nudged the others. They exchanged knowing glances before Cabir, grinning widely, bumped his shoulder against Manik's, snapping him out of his trance.
Cabir raised an eyebrow, his smirk teasing. "Enjoying the view a little too much, aren't we?"
Manik, realizing he had been caught, quickly schooled his features. His eyes flickered between the boys before he said, almost too casually, "I was just... appreciating how helpless she looks over there."
The group followed his gaze, instantly understanding the situation.
Cabir let out a dramatic sigh. "Bhai, I pity Bhabhi. What kind of husband are you? Standing here, grinning at her misery instead of helping? So heartless. I swear, I should go tell her right now—maybe she'll reconsider marrying you."
With that, he made a move to leave, only to be yanked back by his collar. Before he could react, Manik shoved him against the wall, eyes narrowed.
"Don't run your mouth when you don't even have a brain," Manik muttered, voice low. "And while we're at it, you have some explaining to do, so don't push your luck with me."
Cabir raised his hands in surrender. "Whoa, whoa—easy there. I was just kidding! No need to kill me before the wedding even starts."
Manik let go, stepping back while Cabir straightened his shirt, muttering, "Deadly brother, I tell you."
Kartik, shaking his head, said, "Okay, jokes aside. We should help her. It's her wedding, and she deserves to enjoy it, not suffer through gossip sessions."
Manik nodded. "Yeah. We need a way to get her out of there."
Abhimanyu smirked. "So go call her, make up an excuse, and get her out of there yourself."
Manik scoffed. "Are you out of your mind? You want me to be the main topic for all those aunties?" He mimicked in a high-pitched voice, "Did you see the groom? He made an excuse just to steal a moment with his bride! Kids these days..."
Cabir laughed. "Oh yeah, they'd have a full-fledged discussion about 'young love' right after breakfast."
Manik shot him a glare. "Did. I. Not. Tell. You. To. Shut. Up?"
Cabir immediately pressed his fingers against his lips.
Abhimanyu rolled his eyes. "Fine, let's send the girls instead. They'll handle it without suspicion."
Cabir, already pulling out his phone, grinned. "Good idea. I'll call Navya."
The boys fell silent, exchanging glances. Kartik was the first to smirk. "You will call Navya? Now that's interesting."
Cabir, oblivious at first, glanced up—only to find everyone, especially Manik, staring at him with expressions ranging from intrigue to amusement.
Manik folded his arms. "Ah. The answers I mentioned earlier? I think we should discuss those right now. But first—call her."
Cabir, keeping a straight face, continued the call. The moment he hung up, they watched as the girls swooped in, pulling Nandini away under the pretense of selecting her jewelry.
Manik smiled as she walked past him. Their eyes met for a fleeting moment, and he could see that she knew. Knew he had been watching. Knew he had enjoyed her frustration.
She shook her head slightly. How can a guy be this ridiculously cute?
Shrugging off the thought, she gave him a small, knowing smile before disappearing with the girls.
Manik, still grinning, turned to Cabir and grabbed his arm. "Now, you—come with me."
Ignoring Cabir's protests, he dragged him to his room, shut the door, and crossed his arms as he sat on the bed, staring expectantly.
Cabir sighed in resignation. "No escape, huh?"
Manik leaned forward. "Not a chance. Now spill."
Cabir exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "It started at the Murthys' place—the day Radhika and Navya arrived. The first time I met her, I felt... something. A connection. But when I learned she had a daughter, I assumed she was married. Then, when we found out it was a broken relationship, I felt... relieved. And that confused me. Why should her being married or unmarried affect me?" He paused for a breath before continuing. "At first, knowing Radhika was her daughter held me back. But the more I spent time with that little girl, the more she grew on me. She's the cutest thing, Bhai. Then Tennessee happened... and that's when I realized Navya felt the same. We both agreed to take things slow. There's something between us, but we need to be sure—because this isn't just about the two of us. Radhika is part of the equation too."
The moment he finished, Manik stood up and pulled him into a tight hug.
"I'm proud of you," he said, voice filled with sincerity. "And whatever happens, you've got my support."
Cabir smiled, hugging him back. "Thanks, Bhai."
Manik pulled away, smirking. "But just so you know... I will be keeping an eye on you."
Cabir groaned. "Great. A protective brother and a detective? Just what I needed."
Manik laughed, throwing an arm around his shoulders. "Come on, let's get back before they think I killed you in here."
And with that, they stepped out, heading back toward the celebration—where the wedding festivities were just beginning.
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