Agar Tum saath ho..
Dil yeh sambhal jaaye!

----------

"Manik Malhotra, that's not the way you hold a guitar" Nandini said.

Manik has become so desperate in the time being, that he took special permission from work, to get an off every day for an hour and enrolled for Nandini's music class.

"Nandu" he said and she showed him eyes, indicating they are in the class.

"Nandini mam, this is just the third day for me in the classes and on top of that, never in my life had I held a guitar, so how do you expect me to do it perfectly already?" he asked. (I know this seems some kinda joke, digest it digest it, no problem! I know you can do it.. hehehehhee)

"Hey you, she's our teacher, dare not speak to her in that voice" a guy from the class said.

Ahem ahem...not liked by our monster.

"You bimbo, mind your business" Manik was going to say something when she interrupted him.

"Rakesh, that's fine, tum apne music pe focus karo" she told the other guy, "And Manik, I need a minute with you, follow me" she said to Manik.

"That's what I have been doing all along" Manik said in a low voice audible only to her. Amyra was enjoying this private joke of the three.

"Amyra ithna kyu has ri hain?" the student next to her asked.

"Kuch nai, bas kuch yaadh aa gaya" she covered up.

-------

"Manik yeh ghar ya koi restaurant nai hain, there is a classroom etiquette" Nandini said.

"Acha, then teach me na" he said holding her hand.

"Manik kya kar rahe ho" she asked, getting out of his hold.

"Trying to learn classroom etiquette" he said.

"I am afraid I have to punish you" she said.

"I am ready, get the shackles" he said.

"Manik, you are not allowed for today's class, you've been so outstanding, that you need to stand out of the class for the whole session" she said in a loud voice, audible to all the students.

The guys who envied him, as she was giving so much attention to him unknowingly though, were enjoying this moment, silently highfi-ing.

"Nandini this is not fare" Manik said.

"All is fare in love and war, and this is war" she said and got back into the classroom. The rest of the class he stayed outdoors. Amyra excused herself for a minute and went out to see her bechaara bhai.

"tch tch tch tch... Dekho kya haal ho gaya, romeo banne ki chakkar mein watchman ban gaye" she said teasing him.

"Chup kar" he said irritant.

"Mein toh chup kar jaoongi, but the boys inside na, they are having fun seeing you here, especially that BIMBO rakesh, I guess he has a crush on Nandini" she said. Manik was puzzled.

"How dare he" he said and was going to enter the class, when she held his hand and stopped him.

"Bhai bhai relax! mein hoon na, don't worry" she said and he stopped.

"Jaa tu andar ab. And don't let Nandini go to him, use agar doubts aaye toh tu solve kar dhein, agar kuch zyaadha kiya toh ek punch maar" he said.

"Haha okay! Chill maaro, let me go in now" she said and went in.

Nandini gestured a sorry with a cute pout to her, and Amyra nodded in a no.

After a long one hour, the class ended, and guess what our Manik Baba was doing outside.

He was happily sleeping leaning to the wall, sitting on the floor.

Nandini was the first one to go out of the class as the students were still taking some notes. She was shocked to see him like that.

"Manik utho" she said patting his shoulder.

He didn't move.

"Manik Malhotra" she said a little louder. This time he woke up with a jerk.

"Yes boss, the designs are ready aur is time koi London Paris nai" he said unknowingly.

"haha Manik, boss nai, girl friend" she said and gave him her hand. He got up.

Slowly the students started coming out. So she moved away from him.

"Tum punishment ke time pe so gaye Manik?" she asked as they reached the parking lot. Amyra had her dance class and Nandini was done for the day. so she was leaving with Manik.

"haan toh kya karoon? To attend this class I wake up at 6 o' clock every day and reach office by 8. Phir dho ghante kaame kar ke I come here, to cover up these two hours that I am not in the office" he said angrily.

"Toh aathe kyun ho yahaa? We see each other every day right?" she asked.

"That's in the night baby, how do you think I can focus on my work all day?" he asked.

"You are impossible Manik" she said and got into the car.

"Are you not scared that people will see us together?" he asked her.

"No, I'll tell them you are like my brother" she said and started laughing looking at his face.

"Hain?" he said wide eyed.

"Hain nai, haan. Ab chalo, you are getting late for work" she said and he started the car.

"pehle brother uske baadh daddy hi bolegi ab" he said to himself.

"Haha Manik patha hain, kithna funny lag rahe ho tum?" she asked.

"Nandini shut up okay, gussa hoon mein" he said and seriously.

"Okay" she said and acted as if she locked her mouth and threw the key out of the window and that instantly made him smile.

They reached her home, he dropped her there and drove back to work and saw something which he least wanted.

"What brings you here?" he asked looking at that person.

"Where were you for the last two hours?" the person asked.

"How does it matter to you?" he asked.

"Manik I am your mother" she said.

"Namesake" he said and was going in when she held his hand and stopped him.

"Who's that girl you are going out with?" she asked. And what the heck? How did she know about Nandini was what he thought.

"Who girl?" he asked.

"Don't pretend Manik, I have seen you at the coffee shop and she seems to be close, Amyra bhi tumhaare saath" his mom said.

"My girlfriend" he said.

"Girlfriend? Manik tumhe ghar se baahar jaane ke liye permission dhiya is kay eh mathlab nai ki you do whatever you want. That girl doesn't seem worthy enough, and if it is something like hanging out, then better stop it at the earliest" she said.

"It is not hanging out" he said hanging out in air brackets.

"I love her, and she is Nandini. Not any girl. It would be better if you don't interfere in this" he said.

"How dare you talk to your mom this way?" she asked when he got a call.

It was Nandini.

"I am getting late for work. So you can get going" he said and went inside.

"Guess I need to deal with this Nandini by myself" she thought and went away.

He called Nandini back,

M: Hello, aleady missing me?

N: Nai, I wanted to check if you reached office ya phir raasthe mein hi so gaye

She was laughing again.

M: Okay enough now! I just reached and guess who I met

N: Shahrukh Khan? She asked naughtily.

M: Nai Dumbo, my mother

N: What? Wait does she know about me? Was she there to ask you about that? Oh no! Manik I told you not to

She was speaking without as break,

M: I love you

He said and she was blushing on the other side. There is a reason for that. That was the very first time, he said that. Like really the first time. They haven't confessed their feelings in words till that moment.,

N: Manik

M: What Manik?

N: You cant say it like that

M: Acha? Why can't I?

N: Mathlab aise hi phone pe? I wanted to see your face, I wanted you to see my reaction! You spoilt everything!

M: hang on

He said and facetimed. She was shocked on the other side, but still accepted the call.

M: Now you see my face? Wahh! I love that blush

She turned to the other side.

M: Nandini look at me

She did

M: I love you Nandini

He said again and she smiled bright.

N: I'll tell you when you come home for dinner

M: Going to love the wait, anyway I called you up for something important.

N: Aha tell me

M: Can you come to my office now? I am sure my mom will be coming to your place to deal with you, because she couldn't with me, and trust me inexperienced people like you are easily going to fall for her cunningness

N: Manik she's your mom. Have some respect

M: Respect and my mom don't go together, anyway you just take a cab and come here, we'll plan something

N: Okay fine, I will see you

---------------------

Nandini was on her way to Manik's office, while as expected, Manik's mom reached her home. She is Mrs. Malhotra, it wasn't difficult for her to track the girl down.

She rung the bell many times but no one responded. She asked the security about her, he must not have seen her coming back home, and he said that she was at college.

----------------------

"Don't you think this is wrong? I mean we need to talk to them and let them know" she said to him. he took off for the rest of the day, requesting his boss, and telling him that he was going to do overtime during the weekend. His khadooos boss somehow agreed. They reached his apartment and were talking there.

"I know it's not correct, but I never felt like doing correct things with my parents. I don't think they deserve me being the good son, it's better to be bad for those who are bad...you know evil for evil" he said handling her a steaming hot cup of coffee.

"What if they don't approve of me?" she asked.

"Do you think they approve anything I do? They don't. that's the reason I was never dependent on them. My job is purely because of my hardwork. You know I was my college topper" he was side-tracked.

"oh really" she asked.

"Don't believe? Hang on" he said and brought a photo album. There were pics from his graduation. He was being presented a gold medal for being the best student and the topper.

"Awesome! Proud of you my boy" she said patting his back.

"Thankyou girl" he replied

"Okay, I got side-tracked. So the thing is, let's just keep it this way, if my mom tried to meet you or try to convince about leaving me, then I request you, don't listen to her, just think of me, all the promises I made to you" he said holding her hands.

"I am never going to leave you" she said.

"Good to know" he replied.

Soon it was eveing, time to pick Amyra from college. The couple went on the job.

She was there waiting as usual, but what they didn't expect was, just a few moments before Manik pulled up his car before her, his mom's car was there and he saw her getting down. They both were having some conversation. Amyra was probably not ready to drive with her, but her mom had a serious expression on her face. She finally got in.

"She's going to hate me Manik!" Nandini said.

"Even if the entire world hates you na, my love is enough for you" he said.

"Are you always in this mode?" she asked.

"Whenever I am with you" he replied and they followed his mom's car. They were obviously driving home.

"Amyra is so dead" he said.

"Abhi they will have a board meeting on who is Nandini, Is Manik in love with Nandini? Why didn't you ever tell us? Bla bla bla" he said.

"What do we do?" she asked.

"Go in, answer them by our self, chalo" he said pulling the car in.

--------------

"What do you both think of yourself huh? Lenience dhiya hain is kay yeh mathlab nai ki you can just take advantage of it" their dad was yelling.

Manik can tolerate anything but not a word against his sister, whoever that might be.

"Dad" he said standing at the main door.

"Why bring her in between? Mom just because you couldn't get a hold of me, aap ko laga you can threaten her into this" he asked his mom.

"Manik, Is it true what your mom said" his dad asked.

Manik held Nandini's hand.

"It is" he replied. His dad got furious.

"Did you forget who you are? Have you lost it Manik?" his dad said.

"I am Manik and I haven't lost it. What's so wrong in this? I love her damn it" he yelled back.

"You are my son, Manik Malhotra! Just because you started earning some money, don't feel so independent, I can get you of your job in just a moment and you know that" his dad said.

"What else do you think I can expect from you?" Manik said. "Do what you want, till now, I thought of coming back some day or the other, but now I don't think this house deserves a son like me, and neither do you" Manik said.

"And Amyra bhi mere saath chalegi, I don't want you to use her for expanding your business, I got a call from Mr. Saxena this morning, How could you even think of hitching her with his son. You know he is such a brat" Manik said.

"Everyone who listens to their fathers aren't brats, and Amyra is not going anywhere with you, she is my daughter" his dad said.

"She can take her own decisions, Ammu, do you want to stay here or come with me?" he asked her. She looked at her parents faces. She knew, she wasn't going to be fine in that house.

She went upstairs and returned with a small bag.

"Mom, dad I always loved you no matter what. But mere peeche you wanted me to get married just for your business? Mom kam se kam aap se toh ye expect nai kiya tha, I am going with Bhai now and mein tabhi aaoongi, when you come for us, we are your kids guys, be a little thoughtful toward us" she said.

"Oh now for this girl, my kids are giving me speeches on parenthood" their dad said.

"Nandini I said. And you need not put in any money for Ammu from now, I can manage our living" he said and thr trio got out of the house.

"Don't you think you guys were impulsive? Like way too impulsive? You didn't even give them a chance to speak" Nandini said.

"That's how you deal with them" Manik said.

"I don't know about dad, but mom loved us, Dad ki wajah se she became like that. I know they'll come for us sometime soon. Don't worry" Amyra said.

------------

After voting on whose house to stay in, they decided with Nandini's. The jhoola in the balcony played a key role for Nandini's win. It's been two months since the trio shifted there. And today was the D-day, Nandini and Manik were going to get married finally.

"Registrar marriage mein bhi ithna ready ho ke kaun jaatha hain Nandini?" Manik asked after looking at her. She was wearing a dark pink long chudidar, while he was wearing a simple plain white tshirt paired up with jeans.

"Listen Bhai, shaadhi na life mein ek hi baar hothi hain and why on the earth do you think ki she won't get ready for her own wedding? Aap ko ready nai hona, toh iskaa yeh matlab nai na, ki she goes to her wedding in joggers?" Amyra said,

"Did I say joggers? Kuch zyaadha ho gaya yeh" Manik said.

"Acha chalo ab, you both stop now, we are already getting late, Is se pehle ki registrar hi chalaa jaaye" Nandini stopped the cat fight between the siblings.

At the Registrar's office:

"Witness kaun hain" the registrar asked.

"Mein" Amyra said.

"Hamein dho witness chahiye" the registrar said. (Okay! now I am not aware of these laws and rules, not to offend anybody, but for the sake of the story I need to say two witnesses. It is purely fictional)

"Aap ke assistant ne toh bola tha ek witness kaafi hain" Manik said.

"Assistant kaun? Dho witness hain toh aage aao, nai toh bohoth log hain peeche line mein" The registrar said.

"Dho witness aur ho toh koi problem hain?" they heard a voice from behind.

It was their parents.

"Dad" Manik said.

"Haan dad, shaadi kar rahe ho wohh bhi hamaare bina! Ithne bure hain kya hum?" his dad asked.

"Huh, Look who's talking" his mom said angrily.

"Acha, okay I know I was wrong. I was wrong all the time. But that doesn't mean you both leave us like that" he said.

"You didn't give them a choice" his mom said.

"Oh Miss Prompter, will you let me talk to my kids?" he said.

"Mein prompter?" his mom said.

"Ab yahaa pe bhi you'll fight with me?" he asked her

"Manik, Amyra, this has been happening, everyday since you both left the house. She's so mad at me, so mad ki sometimes mujhe khaana bhi nai miltha tha, we have been married for 25 years and never did we fight so much. Now, you cant get married at the cost of your parents' married life right? Toh ghar waapas aa jao" his dad said.

The kids were silent till now.

"I am not coming there without Nandini" Manik said.

"Who asked you to come without her? Why do you think we would want to be the witness?" his dad said.

"Mathlab you are fine with us getting married" Manik asked.

"100% fine, okay let me confess something, I have been spying on her for the last ten days" his dad said face palming, " I wanted to know what made you fall for her so much that you could leave your parents for her and I realized that she is an amazing girl. I am sorry Nandini, I misunderstood you" his dad said.

"You spied on her? Dad you gotta be kidding me" Manik said.

"No he isn't. That's when our war reached peaks. It's today that I spoke to him again after 3 whole days" his mom said and his dad was standing there with a sad expression.

"Aaap ka yeh family re-union khatham ho gaya ho, toh formalities shuru karein ya aap ko shaadhi nai karnee?" the registrar asked disturbing their Bharat-Milaap.

"Nai nai, karnee hain na" Manik said and the registrar forwarded the marriage register.

They signed in it, exchanged garlands and yeh vivaah sampann hui!

"Welcome to the family" his mom said hugging Nandini.

"Thankyou" Nandini replied.

"Finally! Finally in dhonon ki shaadhi hui" Amyra said.

"Aur mere biwi ki smile mujhe waapas mil gayi" his dad said and that made everyone laugh.

"Family photo?" Manik suggested and the registrar himself clicked a picture for them. They headed back home, to Malhotra house.

------

And they lived happily ever after!

Okay, I don't know if this is a fitting epilogue or not, but this was all I could write! Sorry If it was bad or not convincing enough!

And this marks the real end of this book!

Hope you enjoyed reading it!

Raka_bd all the elements you wanted :)
Chaitv khush ?

shivu_05 you don't know how it feels to be someone's pride ! Thanks for saying it, time and again! ❤️