Hello, my super intelligent lovely ladies. Here's another part just for you people. Enjoy. If you like the part don't forget to hit the star ⭐️. And do comment your awesome reviews.
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I sit on the dressing mirror in my yellow dress all decked up in floral jewellery, ready for the haldi ceremony, my haldi ceremony. I still don't believe it's all coming to one circle. My wedding, me and and Manik are finally walking towards our forever. I dreamt of this day all my life, the way it would be, what I would wear, the way I'll look, and most importantly the person who it will be. And when I am finally one step away to the beginning, I am nervous.

"Kannaa....." my Aams long call held in midst as she saw me through the mirror. I smiled, and her eyes started shedding water for the 100th time in this week. The ganny-daughter duo is gone all emotionally lunatic from the day the wedding preparations started. "Doesn't she look amazing?" Mukti asked Aams like she's the one behind the master piece. Well yes she's the one who decided the beautician that too with Alya's help, but she can't claim all the credit. "My kannu is the prettiest." Aams says and with her ring finger smudges some khol from her eyes and marks me with the black spot behind my ear. I blush and look down. "Chalo, late ho raha hai..." she said and we stood up and moved downstairs towards the garden area where the function was held.

As me and Manik were sharing the same haldi destination, there was a floral curtain partition between the bride and groom's side. The sun was shining mildly and the cool wind was making the atmosphere most soothing as ever. Mukti and Neenu my cousin, were escorting me towards the swing which I was supposed to sit on.

The swing was decorated with lovely marigold flowers. "Oh hooo...Dekho toh, samne ye kon aaya .... dill me hui halchal..." I heard Mukti's voice and the other girls too hooted with her.. and my eyes directly lifted up and, there he was. In a plain white kurta, looking as handsome as ever. How does he manages even in plain kurta.

He sat on opposite to me. He was quite far away from me but his intense gaze on me did every work. He smirked at my blush and sang loudly that it was clearly audible to me. The very same song that Mukti sang , "samne ye kon aya dill me hui hulchal, dekh k bas ek hi jhalak ho gaye hum pagal!!" And he winked. I blushed profusely and couldn't help but look down at my fingers clutching my yellow lehnga.

And suddenly my phone rang which was with Mukti. I knew who it was.  "Loo, hone vale pati dev ka phone hai. " I received the call. "You look gorgeous Nandani..." he said and I blushed even more. I don't know what it is that is making me blush more and more but this feeling, it's so beautiful. This feeling, its something I could die for.

Soon Aams came in and with her was my darling brother Rishu, with a plate in his hand.

On the other side I saw Manik's masi came with the plate there, but before I could see more Aams blocked my vision, "shaddi k bad dekhna jitna dekhna hai use... koi tuje leke nai ja raha fir.." she said in her south Indian accent and all the ladies laughed around. Aams took the plate from Rishu and with the red vermilion made a small teeka on my forehead. She then handed the plate to Mukti and took the grass and dipped it in the haldi paste a little and on my legs, knees, hands, and cheeks.  She kissed me on my forehead and said, "stay blessed."

Soon everyone my auntie, my munnu chikkamma(masi), sneha chachi, diya akka, her small little girl Iraa, Indu aajji, every one.  And as my relatives went to Manik's side his Aunteys too came in to apply haldi to me I didn't knew each and every one by name but their location definitely. Like the Lucknow wali didi, bannaras wali badi maa, delhi vali chachi, kanpur vali bua aur unki padosi, who needed a separate room in the hotel, in the mid crisis of room. I didn't really wanted to but I had developed quite haterd for her. She needed a different room for her family so that she could get ready on time but today in the morning breakfast the whole family was late plus without having bath, which totally didn't serve the purpose of having an extra room.

"Gori madrasan pataa li manik ne to..hahahahah" se cracked a not-so-funny-joke while applying haldi to me. To which all the punjabi extra gold plated Aunteys laughed.

Soon the Auntey were done with the haldi application and now it was my friends turn. Mukti was ready with a wicked smile in front of me. I getting alert closed my eyes being scared of the haldi-cum-holi vibes comming from Mukti. But a few seconds passed I didn't feel anything so I slightly opened my eyes and suddenly something fell in my lap......rose petals ? I looked up and went awee over Rishu.

Once done. I grabbed his hand and brought him forward and made him sit beside me on the swing. I just looked at him. And my eyes filled with tears. All these years being away from this little one I never realised how grown up he has become. I still remember how we used to go tip toes to through the windows in summer afternoon to get cold coconut water from subru anna. I still remember How we both saved money in piggy bank for getting our first red super amazingly fast with attached carriage Hero cycle. I still remember how we both used to hold each other's hand when power used to go off in bad rains. When did my little Rishu grew up this much that he's now going taller than me.

"I love you akka." He said in sign language. And I hugged him and let my tears fall.

We didn't realise for how long we were caught up in the moment, until we heard Manik's voice, "okay, enough of crying now!" And from my behind a voice came which made me almost jump, it was Cabir, "cause enough of haldi, it's holi time and he applied haldi on my face like gullal. "Cabirrr...." I shouted and stood up but to my bad Manik caught me by my waist and applied haldi all over my face. Mukti and alya were laughing so I took the haldi plate from her hand and smeared haldi on their face. And that was the end, alya, dhruv, Abhimanyu, aruna, anchal, abhishekh , Rishu, every one was throwing haldi colours, water balloons, every thing on each other. Cabir and Manik didn't just plan haldi he literally planned a holi.

Finally all tired we sat on the lawn. It was almost afternoon and we didn't even had lunch. "God, what fun it was!! Just loved it and I am freakin hungry." Manik said resting his head in my lap.

"Absolutely man!" Cabir second him and added "Call for some food Manik."

"Noo, pehle clean ho jao fir food." I exclaimed "chalo Manik get up. Everyone hurry, Aams will scold and I don't want your relatives to give me any more tantrums so please let me go. And sham ko mehendi hai. I don't want you people sleeping then." I said patting Manik's shoulder. "Move Manik I need to shower."

He held my elbow and pulled me down to him, my hair fell all over covering our face. "Mere sath naha lo, time kam lagega...." he said with a smirk.

"Oooooooooohooooooooo-hoooooooooooo adult movie......." everyone hooted.

"Behave Manik.. ..." I tried to scold him but couldn't control the blush.
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The sun was about to set as I looked at the beautiful yellowish orange sky meeting the eternal sea from windows of the hotel room. This hotel was Manik's choice for wedding. The beach where my wedding is going to be conducted the day after tomorrow is visible from my room. As the wedding day comes closer so does my nervousness increases. Just a ritual will make me someone's wife, someone's daughter in law, someone's bhabhi. One new relation will bring a lot more colours in my life. This Nandani will no more be a murty, would be a Malhotra.

I look down at the lawn where the last minute decorations are being carried out. Cabir is running to and fro with big baskets and helping the people to set up for the food section. "Bhaiya sab dekh lo, fir last moment par khane me gadbad nai honi chaiye." He said to the sardar cook fellow with blue turban and tummy no less then that matches a pregnant lady's. "Aur Rahul, photographs achi honi chahiye, meri shaddi me bhi tuje hi bulaunga."

"Aams, ap dekh lijiye, ye sab saman aa gaya hai. Ab aur kuch lagta hai kya mehndi me?" I heard Mukti's voice as she was walking towards Aams and Manik's masi and Manik's dad, who were drinking their evening chai. Last few days Mukti has been so busy with the wedding work that she hadn't even had time to for our time pass. She wakes up early before me and is helping everyone around and she is so tired by night that dozes off anywhere she finds place at night.

Well on the other side Alya was scolding dhruv and Manik, "are, kya kar rahe ho, yaha kisne lagane ko bola tha , vo bethegi kaha.. bolo un bhaiya ko nikalo ye. Aur manik ek bar please lighting check kar lo and jao ready ho jao... it's already 6."

Last night all poor souls including Manik slept in the garden, as they were doing the last minute haldi preparations. One thing is sure looking at them, they will prove perfect wedding planners. Friends are the family we choose and I had the best family in the world.

The trail of my thoughts were broken by the sound of door click. I turned around and it was Mukti. "I know you look ultimately sexy in that bathrobe but for the mehendi you'll have to get ready so start getting ready" Mukti said. I smiled and said, "thank you."  To which she laughed and said, "bad kya paraya kar dia na..."  and left the room leaving me smiling behind.
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( this beautiful edit is done by the beautiful mehaklovely  she has an awesome collection of such edits... go people follow the artistic writer!)

Getting ready I was sitting by the dresser when I heard a knock in the rhythm of three. I knew who it is- My man is here to escort me. I lifted my gaze up as the door clicked open. Standing in front of me in black tuxedo, was my to be better half, my Manik.

He walked to me and offered me his hand and I took it more than willingly. "You look stunning Nandani.." he whispered in my ears, and that made me blush even more. He kissed my temple and his fingers lazily moved around my waist, making circles.

"Manik, everyone might be waiting downstairs." I managed to mutter enough to be audible. "Two days, and you'll be all mine, forever Nandani." He said and we walked towards the hallway way down. "Our forever beings here Nandani..." he said looking at the cute cardboard frames hanging on the way.

The decor was more than beautiful. Rani Pink but beautiful.

(The entrance)

(Nandani's seating arrangement)

As we walked down all eyes were on us.

Manik made me sit, on the centre couch and moved aside. Manik's Neena masi came with a plate of mehendi. She made me eat sweet from the plate and handed the plate to the mehendi artist. 

"Mukti tu bhi mehendi lagva rahi hai, no if and buts ok." I said and shI  cringed her nose while every one laughed. But finally she sat down to apply hena. The mehendi artist did her job while Manik's aunts played dholaks. Manik was roaming near me and feeding me something every now and then. While discussing about the bachelors with the boys which was held tomorrow. The girls too seemed to be preemptively excited about the bachelorette. I wondered what they had planned. Rishu was busy with the cousins and sometimes Manik.

The mehendi ended with all the dance and fun. These party animals danced like real animals. I laughed and blushed at Manik's cute tactics. He even made Aams dance. I danced with Manik's dad, Rishu and Manik.

After dinner we were heading back to our rooms. All the elders were already retired to their respective rooms. Manik told me not to eat too much for the dinner so I skipped it. After changing into my pajams, i was removing my makeup when my phone buzzed. It was Manik's text. "Come on the terrace- now" 

I went upstairs and was surprised to see the beautiful setup. Table with candles and fairy lights, and that frame which said- "OUR HAPPILY EVER AFTER BEINGS HERE...."

I walked to the table and Manik pulled the chair for me.  I sat and he took the chair opposite to me. He lifted up the lid of the casserole and it was our favourite- rajma chawal. "Wow... thank you Manik." I exclaimed.

"Thank you Nandani. Thank you for walking into my life. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for making me look upon my life in a more meaningful way. This dinner is a promise that I make that nothing will change after our marriage, I will never try to get a upper hand on you. We will be the same as we were. You cooking and me doing the dishes. I will respect you and your choices as mine. I will love you the I used to always and forever."

I didn't realise when my eyes welled up with tears, tears of happiness, of the feeling of overwhelming happiness. "Bas ab roti hi rahogi k khana bhi khilaogi?" He asked and it made me smile with tears. I served us food and we ate cherishing the beautiful moments we lived together.

After food we both were looking at the sea. I was holding his hand and resting my head on his Shoulder. "Nandani, you never had second thoughts about getting married this early?" Manik asked.

I smiled at his question, cause I myself never thought about it. "No, I never had second thoughts. Because When I met you, we became friends, then lovers. Our relationship was like a ladder and the higher I climbed the more beautiful it became.  Yes I was never too much career oriented, but I wanted to stop. Stop in the midst of the chaos of this busy life and hold your hand. Forever. Yes this marraige will bring responsibilities in my life, but I know I am not alone."

We looked at the sea quietly again but the silence broke by the phone call. Manik's phone rang. He picked up the call.

"Hello.."

"Yes, Manik Malhotra."

"What??" He said and his voice sounded like he couldn't believe it.

"When?" I was looking at him for answers, but he kept on looking here and there while talking on the phone. The hand which I was holding a few seconds ago, that hand was holding mine like, I don't know. Did something go wrong? Is everything okay? 

"Ok. I am comming." He said and ended the call.

"Manik kya hua?" I asked.

He looked at me and said, "hmm??" Like he didn't heard what i said or his mind was too much worked up to process the answer to my question.

"Kuch nai..." he lied. I knew he did. "Acha koi nai me Cabir k sath ja raha hu. Thoda kam hai. Okay."

"Okay." I said. I didn't wanted to force him. Tomorrow morning there is no such function I'll ask him tomorrow.

"Take care, dhyan se jana....." I said and he smiled and kissed me briefly. I don't know why I wanted that kiss to last more as it made me feel that what if it's our last kiss.

As he walked fast, he picked up his keys from the dinner table and by mistake the frame that said- OUR HAPPILY EVER AFTER BEGANS HERE. Fell down and broke apart. He didn't wait to look back. And my eyes were struck at the broken galass of the frame.

I picked it up and moved down to my room. J wanted to divert my mind cause sleep was far away. I grabbed my diary and jotted down all my feelings, the haldi the mehendi, every thing. My mind found peace for a while.

And I signed the diary for the last time as - NANDANI  MURTY.

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Mukti's pov (FLASHBACK OVER!)
I flipped the blank pages of the diary and realised the diary was over. It was the last thing she wrote before she just vanished. Flipped the pages I found a photograph of the mehendi night. May be Manik had must have kept.

I couldn't help but smile. How could any of us could forget that day. The day after our when we both searched for them like mad people. The wedding was called off. We found Manik in an unexplainable stage all wounded up, bleeding, injured. But Nandani, she never returned. I miss you nandu. I just hugged the diary and cried. I got the answer I was came here for, but the happiness of sharing it with her still awaited. We miss her. We miss her badly. We all are going to Ooty in two days. We hope to find her there. And this time it will be the final showdown. Madhyam Khurrana- we will have what is ours.

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Huff ...... a long update for the loveliesss....

I have written a one shot named -
KAHI ANKAHI BATEIN

PLEASE DO HAVE A LOOK ! Please and give your golden reviews.

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