Hey guys!

Here is the new chapter.

Do read it out and shower your love.

Avoid mistakes if any.

See you guys.

18.05.2023

They say when something really important is there the time flies like super fast and when something exciting is there time goes slow. Apparently in both the houses i.e. Mehta's and Malhotra's tension was there. Mehta's were waiting for Nandini's answer and Malhotra's were waiting for the response from Mehtas.

"Yeh larki pata nahi kitna time legi. aapko pata hai Nandini ke papa, maine Manik ke bare mein sari information nikal li hai. Woh kaisa hai, uska behaviour kaisa hai, how often does he come etc etc.... Aur yahan yeh larki 48 hours se bhi jyada time le rahi hai." Nandini's mother commented making her husband chuckle.

"Arey, mohtarma. Uski zindagi ka sawal hai. Lene do jitna time lena hai. Kahi aisa na ho jald bazi mein liya hua faisla tufaan leke aaye uske zindagi mein." Listening him she understood it's important for their daughter. Sighing she went to make evening tea.

Nandini who was all the time in the room avoiding everyone was disturbed by a knock. The door was slightly open. Her bhabhi came inside making her immediately sit properly to give her some space.

"Hmmm, toh kya soch rahi ho tum?" Ansuha asked seeing her deeply in thoughts. Nandini shook her head and gave her a slight smile.

"Abhi bhi decide nahi kiya?" Nandini looked down in nervousness. Hell! She was feeling nervous with just thinking about it. But what will happen later?

"Kya hua hai Nandu? Itna kyun soch rahi ho? Pasand nahi aaya toh bol do na. Koi tumpe force nahi dalega." Anusha made her understand and she knew exactly how her parents are. They will never force her yet she felt so nervous.

"I don't know Anusha. Dar laga raha hai. Pichli baar se bhi jyada. Kahin main galat decision na le lun aur sabko upset kar dun." She voiced out her worries making her sigh. Anusha took her hand in hers and said

"Dekh, if you are not sure just meet him once. Aur phir bhi tumhe woh pasand nahi aaya toh mana kar dena. Vaise bhi zaruri nahi ki meeting ke liye haan bol diya isilye shadi ke liye bhi bol do." Patting her head she left the room to have her special snacks.

Nandini sighed thinking alot. She took the photo which was lying down on the night stand table. She kept it back after glancing the photo for few seconds.

She came down to have her evening tea. The environment around was screaming silence as soon as she came in. She settled beside her father taking the cup of tea.

"Agh.. I am ready to meet Manik Malhotra. Aap log unhe inform kar sakte ho." She said taking a sip of her tea where as others were quite surprised as they thought she will reject by just looking at the photo.

Mehta's smiled at her and bobbed their head making her smile. They had a great family time in the evening and then latter went to have a talk with Shreya. Nandini's parents called her and informed her decision about Nandini who was beyond happy. She just wanted Manik and Nandini to be together.

Malhotra House

Manik was watching some news munching on his favourite dhokla where as Mukti and Rhea were gossiping about some celebrity when their Yamini came with a bright smile.

"Kya baat hai mummy? Itni khush kyun ho aap?" Mukti asked which obviously got the attention from others as well.

"Meri abhi abhi Shreya se baat huyi, Nandini ne Manik ko milne ka decision liya hai. Ab Manik tumhari baari hai, kab aur kahan miloge tum batao."

Manik was surprised knowing so, Mukti and Rhea's happiness knew no boundaries. Manik smiled and told her a particular place.

Later in the evening Manik was tossing in the bed when Mukti entered the room.

"Bhai, andar aa jaun?"

"Aa na kisne roka hai. Bol kya baat hai jo itni der raat ko milne aayi hai." Manik responded taking a proper posture on the bed.

"Woh, maa ne Nandini ka number diya hai. Aap usne kal milne jaa rahe ho aur koi misunderstanding na ho ek dusre ko dhundne mein isliye." She handed him the paper and wishing him good night she went to her room.

"Hmmm! Nandini Mehta, let's see what kind of a person you are." He mumbled under his breathe staring the number.

XYZ Restuarant

Never knew week days could be this crowded. Already I'm 15 minutes late, hopefully he hasn't left. Glancing around the foggy environment which was filled with people I tried to find him. But alas he wasn't there.

"That means I'm first!" My happiness of reaching first was destroyed by a voice.

"Nope, I'm early than you. Just because I went to washroom you couldn't see me. Come here is the seat." His voice was lot more heavier than what I had thought.

I settled opposite to him biting my lips. Okay, he looks lot more handsome than the photograph. His dressing sense changed my opinion of him being in formals. Dude, he looks so good in casuals.

"Ahem, sorry for the delay. Just couldn't gather up myself." I stated my situation to which I only saw a smile forming on his lips. Seriously this guy is finding it to be funny?

"Ik, even I'm nervous but you know what you should throw away the nervousness outside this window. Jab insaan nervous hota hai na he creates blunder. So just keep calm, ask anything you want I'm all your ears."

Wow, baat karna koi issw seekhe. I just smiled and we ordered our snacks and drink to pass the time. I had so many questions but everything from my mind got brushed off after seeing him.

"Well... How come you decided to enter into army?" Shit! I think I shouldn't have asked that his expression says something wrong.

"I'm quite surprised listening your first question. Jinse bhi main pehle mila hun they either have asked me how do I earn or leave the army." He took a pause and spoke.

"I don't know how I ended up being an army officer. May be my patriotic nature brought me till here. I can't answer that exactly in proper words." Understanding him I just let it be. Oh god, it's so awkward.

"I heard thag you teach in a school with Shreya aunty. How come you ended up being a teacher?"

"I had already thought in my middle school that I will be a teacher. With time my liking towards teaching increased and the students as well. I juat had to improve my knowledge and just cracked up being here." I said taking a sip of my coffee where as he smiled and bobbed his head.

Manik's POV

I was waiting for her like almost 10 minutes when the nature's call came so I had to rush down the washroom. When I came later I only saw her looking around, probably trying to find me. I was behind her when I heard her saying she reached first. I only chuckled at it and teased a her bit.

She was looking beautiful in that jumpsuit. Infact, she carries every outfit gracefully. First the photo in which she was wearing saree and now western.

When she asked me the reason why I joined the army it caught me off guarded. She is the first one to ask me this.

"Nandini, I think it's better if I come to the point. I don't want to get married."

"What?" Her response was more of a question. The surprised look conveyed the further question.

"Main milne aaya tumse because maa ne kahan. Main actually mein shadi nahi karna chahata." I said looking at her, I know may be I'm doing a mistake by saying so. But I don't want to spoil someone's life.

"Can I know the reason?" Her voice held that desperate urge to know. I took a deep breathe and said

"The thing is, main kisi ki life spoil nahi karna chahata. My job itself is risky. Kab kya ho pata nahi. Just imagine, if we get married aur future mein I'm not there you will lose out everything. I don't want to be the reason of someone to miss out their life. So it's better if you find someone from different profession."

Probably she will say no after knowing my reason. The silence around our table was making me nervous. She kept quiet for quite good time.

"Can I say something?" She asked only for me to encourage her to continue.

"I understand your concern, but zindagi mein aaj koi hai aur kal nahi iska matlab yeh toh nahi ki hum jina bhool jaye. Just because in the fear of you being not there for me that doesn't mean you will give up. Kya aapne apne desh ko give up kiya for some fears?"

I shook my head and looked down.

"Manik may be even you want to live up for someone. I would encourage to give yourself a chance of falling in love with someone. I'm not saying for you to agree to marry me. May be you will find someone good enough, unko haan bol dena. Lekin itni negatively mat sochiye. Kya pata aap hazaron saal jiyo."

I chuckled at her and bobbed my head. We spoke here and there until it was almost time for us to go ahead. We came out of the restaurant with her ahead of me. Before she could get in the taxi I called her name, she turned around with a smile

"Thank you for the advice. And please take your time before giving out the answer. I won't judge you." She bobbed her head and bidding bye to her I left with my bike. Whole way I was just thinking about her. She is very good with her words.

On reaching home I noticed everyone eagerly waiting for me. Ofcourse aur kiske liye? And my idiot friend is also sitting over.

"Bata, kya baat huyi?"

"Bhai, kaisi rahi meeting?"

"Manik!!! Bhabhi pasand aayi?"

The questions kept on going making me close my ears. They stopped seeing me like that.

"Ho gaya?" They bobbed their head.

"Ab baat kar sakta hun?" They again bobbed their head. Idiots.

"Acchi thi meeting. But I still need time to think. And no one I mean no one will force me to answer fast." They agreed and went back to their questions of asking what we spoke, what did we eat etc.

Few days later

Yamini was worried as it's been more than a week they have not received any response from Nandini's side. Somewhere even Manik felt she had rejected him.

Today for a change Manik was sitting with his mother taking a good head massage.

"Manik... Nandini se baat huyi?" She asked worriedly making him shake his head.

"Maa! Maa!" Mukti came running with her mother's phone in her hand which was ringing loudly.

"Utha na phone! Kyun chilla rahi ho." Mukti picked it up and a very exciting voice they heard with a good news.

"Yamini!!!! Nandini ne haan kar di." All got surprised, Manik was shocked

"Sacchi? Kab? Mujhe laga usne reject kiya Manik ko."

"Arey nahi, woh kuch dino se ghar nahi thi, apne gaon gayi thi. Toh aaj meri baat huyi unse, toh uhnone kahan hai ki agar Manik ki haan ho toh puri family ko milna chahenge." Yamini looked at her son who gave her a smile as a approval to go further.

Ofcourse who could resist Nandini Mehta's charm. Mukti exclaimed and hugged her brother tightly making him pat her back. His mother went to discuss further details.

"Bhai! Finally!"

"Bas kar meri maa. Ik you are excited, lekin meri body se hatt, reham kar mujhpe. Chal andar." Mukti pouted listening him and followed him inside their house.

"Manik, do din mein hum unse milne jaa rahe hai. Toh tum please apna schedule free rakhna. Yahan wahan mat jana." Yamini informed him who agreed to her.

How was it?

What did you like?

Few words for Manik.

Few words for Nandini.