*Many suggested that they should first become friends and all the usual. Well people in almost every fiction I found this same cliche way, and trust me till now in real life I haven't witnessed any such thing happening in arrange marriage. It just goes with the flow... So let it happen naturally naa! Also there's a specific plot on which I wrote this story, it'll be clear in next few updates! Tab tak, just enjoy!!!

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3 Days Later..

Nandini looked at the huge zipper hanging from her wardrobe with her hands on her waist. It was Aryaman and Sharon's wedding today and the ceremony was about to be held in 2 hours at Aryaman's Farmhouse in Manhattan.

Manik was getting ready since he was going to be the best man and she just walked into her closet after a bath.

She took out the zipper from her wardrobe and it read Elie Saab in golden block letters. Yesterday Manik had walked in with two of these, one for her and one for his sister. Mukti had squealed the whole house down and gave her brother numerous hugs, while she had thanked him.

Unzipping it, She watched in awe as the beautiful dress unfolded itself.

It was a gown, strapless and in a gorgeous shade of lavender making it look straight out of some Cinderella's Fairytale.

(Nandini's attire)

Nandini had read about the brand which dressed up Hollywood and Bollywood Celebrities and surely saw the photos in those glossy magazines but never imagined that she herself would own something like this.

It was strapless with a deep back, she had never worn something this revealing but then she didn't even have someone who would want to see her in this dress, but now she has.

Brushing up her hair, she styled it a bit using a curler. The results had left her satisfied because her hair now fell in soft beachy curls around her shoulder.

Doing some subtle makeup, Nandini got into the dress and zipped it up.

A pair of diamond studs for earrings, and a gorgeous swarovski pendant that Pallavi had given her the morning after her wedding as a gift to her daughter in law. The bangles Manik had gifted her worked beautifully complementing the dress.

When she had finished, Nandini couldn't even recognize herself for a minute in the life size mirror. The dress suited her beautifully, enhancing the curves she never knew ever existed in her body.

She had never been that concerned about vanity or beauty, didn't care about her body, curves or even her face for that matter which was quite unusual for a young girl like her but that's how it was.

All those three years in University, Nandini had been surrounded with A class fashionistas ranging from high stature of society, beauty pageant winners from the homecoming balls and so many more but all her concentration was focused on her studies and her grades which would get her into a good MBA course.

But today, when she's actually seeing herself as the woman she is supposed to be, a beautiful smile graced her lips.

Nandini twirled a bit happily, as if reliving her Disney Princess moment for she certainly felt like one!

Strapping her heels, She took a deep breath and walked out of the door.

Manik was in the room, straightening up his bow tie when the door to the closet opened and Nandini walked in holding up the skirt of her gown. He looked at her reflection in the mirror and for a moment, he sweared his breath was caught in his throat.

He had known Nandini to be beautiful, it was just that she was unaware of her beauty and perhaps that was the very reason he brought her this gown.

The color settled like cream on her flawless skin, her velvety shoulders were exposed and looked beautiful highlighting that mole she had on her shoulder which he had noticed quite a many times.

The back was deep revealing her creamy skin and Manik thanked his stars that his wife had kept her hair to one shoulder, her makeup was stuble enhancing her beautiful features and that bold stroke of eyeliner on her breathtaking hazel brown eyes gave her that vintage look.

Nandini caught him looking at her through the mirror and she could feel the warmth of crimson lining up her cheeks.

"Should I help you?" She spoke up softly.

Her words broke his reverie, and he realized that he indeed had been staring at her. The realization made him flush, making him look away sheepishly as Nandini chuckled softly at his cuteness.

"N..Nah. I can manage." Manik smiled at her, but his words were exact opposite of what he was doing though.

She shook her head and walked up to him, steadying him by the shoulders Nandini adjusted his bow tie perfectly, folded the pocket square neatly and placed it in his pocket along with the white rose which Aryaman had mentioned to be quite necessary for his best man.

"You look beautiful... Breathtakingly beautiful." Manik spoke up, huskily.

Nandini looked up at him, with a soft smile though she was aware of the crimson that must be lacing her cheeks along with the butterflies that flittered in her stomach. She was beautiful to him, that's all that mattered and certainly she felt beautiful from all she could remember or ever felt.

"Thank you. You look devastatingly handsome as well." Nandini spoke up, softly smiling.

And could there be any second opinion about it? He looked hot in that black tux, and originally she wanted to compliment him with the word but couldn't bring herself to say it and ended up saying handsome.

So Much For That!

"Let's Go! I don't want Aryaman pacing up and down like a dramatic chic!" Manik chuckled and the mere thought of Aryaman doing it made her laugh too.

Manhattan wasn't that distant and thankfully they didn't get traffic on the way. The day was beautifully sunny which was an actual relief after a day or two or consistent rains. White fluffy clouds lined the crystal clear blue skies as soft sunlight shined down upon the roads.

The ceremony was inside but the reception was outdoors, this weather was certainly a relief for the bride and groom to be, Aryaman and Sharon.

"I'm so happy for Aryaman and Sharon. They deserve the beautiful, fairytale conclusion to their love story." Nandini spoke up, smiling.

"I agree. Considering they have been together since college, just can't wait to see my friends getting married." Manik replied, as he took a turn.

"I understand. Though it will be fun to watch Sharon blush as a bride because she usually isn't that shy around Aryaman." Nandini laughed a bit.

"That will be interesting yes, but isn't it a tendency of the females to blush in the company of a man?" Manik spoke up.

"Yes it is, but that depends upon the company and the man.", Nandini replied as Manik parked the metallic Mercedes into the neat parking lot and both got out together.

Nandini looked around in mesmerized for Aryaman's Farmhouse was beautiful. Spread in acres, it had beautiful fields and a gorgeous garden with the season's bloom that scented the cool breeze that blew. She could even spot the huge poolside where the reception would be held after the ceremony.

Sunlight painted the whole of it in a golden hue which looked breathtaking against the shades of blues, greens and those gorgeous nature's pastel colors.

"It's Beautiful." She spoke as Manik came to stand beside her.

"Yes, it is. This belongs to Aryaman's Grandparents and when Aryaman announced his decision to marry and settle down with Sharon, his parents gifted this to him as a wedding gift. Both will be staying here, till they leave for their Honeymoon." Manik told her.

"I've many fond memories of this place. I, Sharon, Aryaman and Cabir used to hang out here a lot during College. I've photographs too, remind me to show you and wait till you meet Cabir, Our Cowboy!"

He chuckled and she smiled, she always loved when he talked about his younger days, college, childhood. Well, she could listen to him talk all day. Why? That was a mystery itself.

Manik offered her his hand, and she accepted it. It was here when she became aware of his musk cologne and that cinnamon scent. It was very unusual for a man to wear such a quirky scent, but it suited her lethally hot husband and she better not talk about the effect it has on her. Nandini could feel herself losing to the spicy warmth of that scent.

"So did you blush in the company of a man? Because you do that a lot whenever I'm around?" Manik asked, huskily as they started walking towards the door.

There it goes! She could feel herself blushing again as soft pink tinted her cheeks.

"Umm, I did once. I was in 4th grade I suppose. There was this nice guy who gave me all his colors during every coloring class because I had the habit of breaking or losing them every second day! Dad couldn't care less so he used to very generously lend me all his colors along with color sharpener and eraser. Can you believe that? He had blue eyes, and I loved the color blue so yeah I used to blush sometimes." Nandini confessed cutely as Manik listened attentively, amused at her innocence.

They had reached the door by this time and Manik had pressed the doorbell.

"I don't have blue eyes, so why do you blush around me?" Manik asked, as he brushed his fingers on her cheek.

And again those snaps of raw electricity sparked at the edge of her nerves!

"D..Do..W..What?" She fumbled unable to keep her thoughts in a straight line, his question already forgotten.

"Blush, whenever you're around me." Manik repeated, leaning in to look into those chocolaty brown eyes. She looked so beautiful today, he wouldn't mind if someone just asked him to stare at her whole day long.

His fingers travelled down to pendant, she was wearing. The swarovski glittered against her creamy skin and it was as if she enhanced it's beauty by wearing it around her neck.

Surely everything she was wearing today was ancestral, belonged to his mother which was passed on to his wife but Manik was happy that they found the rightful owner. He couldn't even imagine any of his exes or for that matter even Tisha owning or wearing them.

They didn't respected Daima, let alone respecting his mother's only signs.

Nandini's breathing hitched for just a few inches more and he could touch her very intimately. The mere thought had her heartbeats racing as her hands became warm.

"You're so beautiful." He whispered, his baritone deep and his walnut orbs were somewhat stuck to her soft lips.

Manik knew it was pervy but he couldn't help but think if those luscious lips were as soft as they looked?

His lips inched closer to hers and she could feel them parting readily which boggled her mind.

Did she want him to kiss her? Maybe she should kiss him like Sharon suggested.

Their breaths mingled and her eyelids drooped bit. This was it, Supposedly.

Nandini thought in her head aloud before shushing out every other voice. When the huge teak door opened and Mukti stood in the doorway, looking at them with that naughty glint

××××××××

🔫 or🌷 for Mukti?

Though I know poll is one sided, with 0 flower, am I right? 😂

Will be back soon, till then Tata💕