~Expectations hurt, dreams don't.~

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She was coming here. Now that was something I never thought would happen this early. Though, it's been an year almost since I last met her. Her come back has given birth to certain mixed feelings which are like bubbles of water, they keep giving me jitters occasionally. At one side I feel it's so good to have my best friend back here but somewhere it's like what if I commit some mistake or hurt her. Consequently leaving me she'd move on with someone else. But then move on from me? That would happen if she and I might have been in a relationship. It's kinda just friendship. At once, I had that feeling that this girl could be a perfect partner for me but then there's a thing which made me re-think my conclusion. I have always had this goal of having my life partner who's a singer just like me. That singer for my family meant a singer who sang songs that were linguistically similar to us, Hindi songs as they say. But Nandini, can't. She was born, raised and has been living in the California, having almost no knowledge of Hindi. Her parents never did try to teach her as she says, she could sing sometimes but Hindi wasn't her cup of tea. I could have given in this disability of hers but what to do my family won't. They'll take her as an American. Belonging to an orthodox background it was actually impossible for my family to accept Nandini as my life partner. Knowing all this I tried to bury those feelings inside me and continue just a friend with her. I wasn't expecting something from Nandini but I had this dream of her learning Hindi and stand perfect for my family's demands.

She arrived. So did my happiness.

The next day is Nandini's parent's wedding anniversary. It was a grand party somewhat, planned by Nandini and her sibling, Rishab. I was invited too and to be honest was excited too for an unknown reason.

Nandini was jet-lagged and hence catching up on some sleep. A certain dress code has to be followed for the party and that was 'Gentleman with a hint of His Lady'. Since I didn't have any 'lady' whom I could call mine, I thought to go with the common colour of all the ladies i.e. pink.

Never did I even think that this party would be the best party ever for me.

The party was in full swing. The elders were having their own gala time, it was me who was waiting for my buddy. Girls I tell. Might be getting ready. I noticed her coming down the stairs. She came down and saw me but chose to ignore. What? She straightaway went to her parents who were all set to cut their cake. I went somewhat near the tabe where the cake was being cut.

She whispered something in her parents' ears and gave me a quick glance. I noticed she was blushing. She rushed to the DJ and the lights were dimmed a moment later. A soft music started playing in the background. It was damn melodious.

The moment when the first note of her song reached my eardrums, my eyes welled-up. Literally, my brain had stopped commanding and my heart had doubled it's rate to pump blood as if all of them waited too, to listen more.

{A/N: Plug in the song 'Kaun Tujhe' from MS Dhoni, the untold story. Disha nailed it. Didn't she? ❤}

Tu aata hai seene mein
Jab jab saansein bharti hoon
Tere dil ki galiyon se
Main har roz guzarti hoon

Her eyes were locked with mine. She learnt Hindi for me. She completed my dream, without actually knowing it. Or it was as I thought so? She might be knowing. She bridged that 'Best Gift Ever' void in my life.

Hawaa ke jaise chalta hai tu
Main ret jaisi udti hoon
Kaun tujhe yun pyar karega
Jaise main karti hoon

The feeling of being blessed beyond measure caught me. The eye-locked continued. I noticed the feeling of LOVE in her eyes. Oh my! She does love me truly.

Ho ho....

As her eyes shifted to her parents, I saw there eyes welled-up too. What happiness they might be feeling on seeing their daughter singing a song in their mother tongue.

Meri nazar ka safar
Tujhpe hi aake ruke
Kehne ko baaqi hai kya
Kehna tha jo keh chuke

Her focus shifted back to me. What more can prove her love? She presented her song not only to me but also to all her loved ones. Everyone close to her was happy and contended as their girl has supposedly overcame the language obstacle.

Meri nigahein hain
Teri nigahon par tujhe khabar kya be-khabar

The song was direct from her heart I can make it out as the from the lyrics to the music in the background were original. I really want someone to pinch me hard. If it's a dream, I don't wanna open my eyes and if it's a daydream I never wanna close them.

Main tujhse hi chhup chhup kar
Teri aankhen padhti hoon
Kaun tujhe yoon pyaar karega
Jaise main karti hoon

'Such a perfect musician your soul mate is!', shouted my inner god. I can proudly admit that this girl with just one song that too for proposing me has broken all the records I had set with my 'not-so-perfect' songs.

Ho ho....

My lips had already curved into a crescent moon like smile which reiterated on my girl's face too. My girl? Yes, she is. The proposal is long accepted I know it and she does too, I know that.

Tu jo mujhe aa mila
Sapne hue sirphire
Hathon mein aate nahi
Udte hain lamhe mere

She came towards me and I like a perfect gentleman took her knuckles and kissed them ever so lightly. It struck me then that unknowingly I had even followed the dress code. Me and my girl were wearing pink.

Meri hansi tujhse
Meri khushi tujhse
Tujhe khabar kya be-qadar

She took me in a side hug and nudged me to look towards her parents as I was literally staring her continuously since the time she started singing. What is ethereal? The moment right then was.

Jis din tujhko na dekhun
Pagal pagal phirti hoon
Kaun tujhe yoon pyaar karega
Jaise main karti hoon

Her parents were more than ready to accept us. Her father raised his hands to bless us and her mother blew a flying miss followed by blessing us in the same way too. A moment later we looked towards my parents, their actions weren't different too. I could see my mom's eyes wet with tears of happiness and a big smile spread on her and dad's faces.

Ho ho....

As soon as she ended her song, Mukti and Rishab pounced on her making sure she doesn't fall. They dragged me to join too. Her parents came near her and kissed her forehead one by one. They both were beaming with happiness and exclaiming how happy they were to see her daughter singing in Hindi.

{A/N: Pink 😍. Nandini is full pink and Manik has that pink tie. Goals ! 😍}

When all this got over, she was all ready to present another surprise which was anticipated after her song, though.

"Ap sab sabse ache ho aur main ap sab se bohot pyaar karti hu." And she aced her first sentence in Hindi.

"Hum sab bhi tumse bohot pyaar karte hain Nandu." We spoke in a chorus. Everything was at peace.

I was all lost in my thoughts and was brought in reality by my girl. "Kya tum khush ho?" Happy would really be an understatement to describe myself and my situation.

"Khush toh bohot hu par yeh itna bada gift kyu? Hmm?" How can I get away withoit teasing my girlfriend turned best friend.

"Haww? Matlab tumne song ke lyrics nahi sune? I clearly mentioned who'll love you as much as I do. I learnt complete Hindi and wrote this song exactly 6 months back. Tabse am practicing. Par jo mera motive tha who to complete-" She was hyper-ventilating, so I thought to relax her. I cut her sentence incomplete by completing it myself.

"Huwa. And I love you too." Actions speak louder so I let my lips do the magic. I kissed her forehead to deliver my feelings more deeply. She returned the favour by pecking me on the top of my nose. A clichè yet perfect start to the journey of us which will last until the stars shine and the fireflies glow. Forever it was, Manik and Nandini, MaNan.

~The End~
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So? Hope all of you are awake. How was it? I hope it was up to the mark. As promised, I gave it today itself. Didn't get a perfect response on the first part, hope it is good enough for you all to comment. Hmm?

Vote. Comment. Share.
*waiting like always*

~IWishINever