~The beauty of life, essence of living and destiny of existence is known when the person who you love truly is found.~

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He was thinking that I won't come back home on the account of our birthdays. Knowing that our birthdays are merely four days apart, he was still thinking that I'd miss this golden opportunity just because of my UT's. Well, he happened to have forgotten that I had just got over with my exams and UT's won't happen so soon. Ah! I fed him all this and my Romeo believed it too. The thought of surprising him out of his wits again makes me happy every moment. I was travelling to India and was supposedly reaching there within the next three hours. There was a thought which was triggering me since I had finished my packing. Manik's mother, Nyonika Aunty has asked me to pack a Indian dress for Manik's birthday party. She said that it was the theme of the party since his birthday fell near Diwali. Mine too. I had no virtual plans to party this time, I'd prefer half day with my family and the other half with Manik and my friends. Nevertheless, I did as asked to.
His birthday has started already as it's around noon in India. He might be busy watching his wrist watch and probably screaming on it to strike 4 soon. It was 4 as I told him that I'll be online on Facebook by then. His party was set for the evening, it was quite a private affair only some friends, close colleagues and family were invited.

The next three hours passed in a jiffy with me catching upon my sleep which I missed because of the flight. I landed and had Rishab waiting for me. Mukti was already here as that ass was missing her brother so terribly that she came here two days back. Manik surely asked if Mukti wasn't having the UT's but we cited a silly excuse of Mukti being homesick can afford to miss on these UT's, she'd apply for re-test as her image was better than mine in front of our Professors. Bitch. But I was happy at least she lied for me. We proceeded for home. I was happy that I wasn't so jet-lagged that I needed to sleep. Reaching home, I catched upon some gossips with Mom, Dad was out. Later, after resting for a while I started getting ready for the party.

Nyonika Aunty knew that I was coming so it was decided when she and the people there will insist Manik to perform, I'll make an entry. My family was here already. Mukti's family too was there. It wasn't that I was nervous. He had long announced on his SNS accounts about him being in a relationship with a girl called Nandini Murthy. Nothing more was announced on everyone's and mine insistence. I was quite hesitant and overwhelmed kind of to make the first appearance in front of his world, the fame and glamour world.

As decided Manik was asked to perform. He stepped upon the stage and as anticipated my heartbeats rose and adrenaline rushed through my spine. He grabbed the mike and I made myself ready to go on the stage  once he finishes two-three lines.

Next I heard him saying something which turned to be pretty shocking. Leaving behind a question, "Who did that?". He said, "The song I'll be singing is dedicated to the love of my life, obviously. It's kind of a return favour as she sang for me in a party too. Umm...my love who's currently hiding behind the stage, all set for surprising me, please come up here."

I didn't show instead I waited for him to come and take me. I wanted to know the name of the culprit. "Boom!" And the hero's here. "Happy Birthday Love." I raised on my feet to peck his cheeks. "You surprised me actually." And here's the teasing again. A moment later we both exclaimed together. Our love you see. "Who told you about my arrival?" "Why are you wearing Indian?"

Before we ourselves could answer our questions, we heard Nyonika aunty's voice over the mike. "Let's keep it a secret. Some mysteries are better unsolved. Come here my children."
We made our way to the stage. This mystery would remain a mystery as she said. Ah! Question marks are better than exclamations. "So here we Malhotras and Murthys  welcome you officially to the Roka  ceremony of our beloved, Manik and Nandini." We both had that expression of shock on our faces. Those shock expressions soon changed into happy ones when I and Manik hugged our families whilst smiling-blushing looking each other.
That's how our common mystery found it's answer. It was because of this Roka ceremony that aunty asked me to wear Indian.

{A/N: MaNan. 😋}

The Roka ritual followed as we were seated on a couch on the stage. The exchange thing happened and the photographs were clicked. The guests one by one came and congratulated us. I observed that he was glittering with happiness the same way I was. Here we were officially tied together.

It was now time for Manik's performance. The lights were dimmed and felt his absence. He went on the stage. Gosh! I'd see him performing live for the first time.

(Plug in Tu Hi Toh Hai from Holiday- a soldier is never off duty. It's quite old but my favourite. 💘)

Awaargi karta hoon, par main awaara nahi
Chhoda khulla dil ko
Magar khud ko bigada nahi
Aise lage tere bina ab toh guzaara nahi

There he was standing in the middle of the floor with a spotlight focused on him. His tie loosened, his guitar in his hands and some dancers behind him. Wait. Dancers? He'll dance for me!

Kisi ka bhi hounga na main
Huaa jo tumhara nahi
Tu hi toh hai khayaal mera
Tu hi toh hai qaraar mera
Jhoote nashe jahaan mein kabhi
Tu hi toh hai khumaar mera

That was a trick! Shit. He was simply swaying the hard work to dance was bore by the dancers behind. The song had me bewildered. The background music plus his voice did wonders.

Tu hi to hai khayal mera
Tu hi to hai qaraar mera
Jhoote nashe jahaan me kabhi
Tu hi to hai khumaar mera

No doubt why the tickets to his concerts were sold out within minutes of release. Hence forth, I Nandini Murthy soon-to-be a Malhotra too, is the leader of the Manik Malhotra fan club.

Zinda hoon tujhpe mar ke
Bhoola sab tujhko padh ke
Kaisa hai pyaar tera haan

I bowed down in gratitude listening those particular lyrics. To give a start to my fan club business I took out my iPhone and clicked him in various angles. I even took a selfie, with me sharing a small fraction of the screen space leaving the rest for my Rockstar.

Main yaaran tere aage dekho dil haara hoon
Main yaaran jaise bhi hoon, Jo bhi hoon, tumhaara hoon
Jo teri chahatein samete, woh kinaara hoon
Kaise main ye kahoon

His fan club might have girls too. Oh yeah! I spotted two-three of them here itself. They were drooling over him. But let them be. Manik is mine. I know that right?

Main yaaran tere liye zameen pe utaara hoon
Main teri bholi-bhaali aankhon ka ishara hoon
Jo teri chahatein samete woh kinaara hoon
Kaise main yeh kahoon

He copied the entire thing then how could he forget to come to me and grab my hand for a dance. I stood up with much excitement. We swayed a bit and he kissed my forehead too. The fan-girls are gonna die. Huh!

Tu paas bhi (zara, zara..)
Tu pyaas bhi (zara, zara..)
Tu raaz bhi (zara, zara..)
Main ho gaya hoon tera

I did the chorus too besides the background singers. Everyone was laughing, enjoying and soon our family joined us. We all danced while Manik continued. I blushed as Cabir and Mukti nudged me on my arms standing on my left and right respectively.

Tuhi toh hai khayal mera
Tuhi toh hai qaraar mera
Jhoote nashe jahaan mein kabhi
Tu hi toh hai khumar mera.

The elders did too everything in their hand to make me and Manik blush. A blushing and singing Manik is all what you need to make your moment heaven. Ah! My fiance be your goals.
Only am lucky to have him. Yayie!

Zinda hoon tujhpe mar ke
Bhoola sab tujhko padh ke
Kaisa hai pyaar tera haan.

He ended the song and rushed towards me for a hug.

...

4 DAYS LATER

"Get me ready faster." I repeated the same sentence for the nth number of time in the previous 55 minutes. The make-up artist was legit lazy. She was time and again checking her phone as if something wrong would happen if she didn't check it time and again. I was angry as she was wasting some previous time of my birthday which I could spend more judiciously otherwise. I had already cut a cake but I had something more important to get done in the day. It was my engagement, after all. Had it been Mukti and me, we could have managed getting ready within 30-40 minutes. Alas! The results weren't too appreciative though. The look which  we used to carry after getting done with our make-up was like the look which commonly girls carry after the party they have to attend gets over. Well, this is one of those unfortunate perks of being a PhD student.

She got me done in exactly an hour. And as the clock struck 6 my Mom along with Mukti and Navya made their entry. I noticed their faces getting horror-struck or whatever 'shock' it was. Did that artist spoil my face on my big day? That was momentary as Mom came forward and pecked me on my forehead and muttered few compliments to me and the artist.

I was so excited to get engaged that I myself went and sat in the car while my family was busy in exclaiming their happiness, checking stuff and fishing some touch-up's for me. It was 10 minutes later that all of them came out. We proceeded for the venue and reached their in the next 25 minutes. Walking stopwatch I was. I was calculating every single minute. That wasn't so me but that's what is Manik's effect on me. He was punctual and gifted some of his punctuality to me too.

I will always remember the scolding which Amma gave when I insisted to spoil their 'planned entry' for me and move in directly. When I came to know what they had actually planned I was giggling. But as they all said it was Mom behind it so I gave in and sat in that rickshaw sort of thing which took me from the back to the stage. I heard everyone talking that Manik too arrived in something similar. Welcome to the world of celebrities, Nandu. Our engagement was happening on a grand scale, there were gossips on the internet about the same.

I somehow reached my buddy-boyfriend and checked him out. I wasn't doing it for the first time but whenever I did that I found him all the way more attractive. Thank God he was all mine. I know we both were looking fabulous, not perfectly co-ordinated but still we managed to do so. Heights of co-incidences. Blue and Magenta. Manik and Nandini. Romantic af.

{A/N: Can't help putting outfits for all the occasions I write. Sorry. 🙈}

That was it, our eyes got locked and locked in a way that it didn't break till  the end of the ceremony, I guess. I noticed him praising me voluntarily. I replied the favour back too. 

The ceremony proceeded according to all the Hindu rituals. I was thrilled to see the difference between these rituals and the rituals which I have commonly seen in America when I attended any wedding or party. It was soon time for the rings exchange, Manik and I were equally excited and impatient. We were grinning continuously much to the annoyance of our parents and the photographer. It seemed like we were two extremely impatient teenagers, getting what they have been trying to get since a long time.

The rings were exchanged. He gave a diamond and ruby studded ring whereas I gave him a diamond studded one. The paparazzi present  went bananas when the rings were exchanged. Finally, we both were taken and reserved. We posed for a selfie before getting clicked by the professionals reiterating the annoyance of everyone. Together we were annoying for the world yet perfect for each other. Finally, I got to mark my best birthday ever on my life's calendar.

...

It was time to go back. I was reluctant this time. To my shock, Manik wasn't. Last time when was going back he was literally crying but now he was smiling. Aisa kya hua? He reasoned his happiness saying it's just a matter of few months as when I'll get my PhD degree, I could conveniently hunt for internship here in some of the good hospitals. This gesture of him made me fall a little more for him, though it happens daily but today it happened more than it happens commonly. He respected my goals and aspirations and that's what most people lack today. Life couldn't be better. Could it?

I boarded the plane only to come back again that too for a FOREVER this time. Then, our time won't end this soon. Until then my engagement ring, our pictures and videos and of course Facebook are more than enough to survive.

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Lalalala! How are you all? Ah! Better than fine. Right? I hope the epilogue did so. Please drop in your reviews at least here. Have set my hopes higher this time. Don't disappoint me. Okay? 😋🤗

The credits of the beautiful new cover goes to the one and only, my best friend @thelovesickteenager . I love you Saha. Thanks for getting it to me on such a short notice and not to forget the beauty you have put into it.

Now, it's time for a short break. Have a pre-planned surprise for all of you in partnership in collaboration with-. Um, let's keep it a secret.🙊
Keep guessing. Adiós. 😘❤

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~IwishInever