Happy Gudipadwa ❤️

Note - Hey guys I am changing Manik's name into Aarav. But face of the character is  Parth Samthaan only so don't worry, nd even Aarav is his name. I find it more relatable to this story than the name Manik. I will edit previous chapters too.

Day of Gudi Padwa,

Nandini woke up early in the morning at 4am. Then spend one hour to get done with her basic things so that she can start making food after bath. They are not allowed to cook before bath so after the bath she wore simple faded yellow dress and started her work.

"Nandini it's time for ur daily prayer ...... Sun is about to come ...... U go I will make Puran ( it's a sweet stuffing made for puran poli)" her mother said when she entered inside the kitchen after getting ready into her new saree.

"Thanks for reminding" after putting down the utensil which had boiled spilt chickpeas in it. Then she strained the water by clutching that utensil with cloth, making it easier for her mother.

"I will go now" she said after keeping the cloth away and then her mother looked at her faded dress.

"Nandini what u r wearing?" She said in stern voice.

"I'm just wearing it while making food after that I will change" she explained, she knows how her family hates to wear old nd faded clothes on festivals. They brings dullness into the day.

"Don't wear it for long ...... Go get dressed ...... Nd yeah I have brought new dress for u ...... That one is specially ordered from Lucknow so handle that carefully" she said in her usual tone but she knew Nandini is smiling with satisfaction. Indu knew Nandini wanted Red dress in Lucknow's chikankari but it's very difficult to import dresses from other states nd also it costs so much for normal people though her family is quite rich but not too open minded to spend lots of money on luxurious things.

"Also give us Gajaras( garlands) ...... Ur Aajji is also waiting" hearing this Nandini nodded silently.  She was quite worried about it as she has only two long Gajaras nd they will surely ask her reason if she herself won't wear it. She is thankful that Jija gave her at least two or else she was in big trouble. Now she at least have space to lie that she got very less flowers.

She got ready in her new beautiful dress, the dress was long, gorgeous and decent with no deep cuts at front or back but still it added charms to her natural beauty. She also applied little bit Kohl on her eyelids with her little finger, as her family don't like it much. As her hair were half wet so she left them open with middle partition after combing them.

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Aarav and Gopal also got ready in early morning because of the first festival of year which is also a start of Marathi new year. Aarav wore new, bright yellow kurta over white dhoti as his mother gave him for festival and similarly she gave faint green kurta to Gopal.

As per their daily schedule Gopal was going for his milk delivery so that he will return before the Pooja starts.

"I will also help you today" Aarav said taking a one steel milk container from Gopal.

"Dada .....  U don't need to ...... I will manage" he refused as Aarav is not habitual of it nor he is interested in it.

"I have holiday nd what will I do ...... I can't even study now so let me help u ..... I will just go nearby" he explained him and Gopal nodded in agreement.

"Okay go to Vahini's house ...... They have asked for more milk today" he winked at Aarav to which he glared at him seriously.

"I'm going" he ran away from there because he never had guts to face Aarav after teasing him. It's way much easy nd fun with Nandini but with Aarav it's scary.

Aarav just sighed and started walking after wearing his leather slippers. After walking a certain distance he smiled radiantly at the view in front of him.

He saw her offering water to Sun who just arrived over the horizon by scattering his orange shades in the sky. He took a glance of beauty who was standing there with closed eyes looking so etheral in her new, red dress. His heart twinkled from inside hearing her beautiful voice as she was singing a prayer. She just made his morning and new year beautiful with her one glimpse.

He looked around her house as it's in open space to see if anyone is watching his move or not but not seeing anyone present there at the given moment he just went behind her nd kept pocket of leaf there near the Tulsi and moved towards main door without disturbing her prayer.

"Aarav how come u here my son?" Gangadhar said affectionately when he came out with a stick to tie Gudi and he found Aarav at his doorstep.

"Today I came to deliver milk ....... Happy Gudi Padwa Aaba" Manik touched his feet after wishing him new year and Gangadhar blessed him.

Soon other family members also came out to start the ritual of raising Gudi. They waited for Nandini to get over with her daily prayer and when she was done she opened her eyes to see most desirable and unexpected person standing between her family members, looking more manly and attractive in that bright yellow Kurta.

Her eyes sparkled as she looked down at the folded leaves. She smiled at the sight of Jasmine flowers tied into a thread. She inhaled their fragrance warming her heart. Corner of her one eye became moist with the thought he kept it for her. She didn't need to open her eyes to know he was there, sound of his footsteps is very much familiar to her ears that she won't ever forget it.

"Nandini...... Come here" her mother called her little loudly as she saw her lost somewhere, though she thought Nandini is lost in the purity of Bhajan which she sang earlier but only Manik knew the reason. He looked how her dupatta moved up as she tied her open hair into a bun before putting that white Gajara on her moist, black hair.

Pulling down the dupatta she came towards them and he was delighted hearing the chiming sound of her anklets in the peaceful morning. Also he didn't miss to notice that little Kohl in her eyes which was making her eyes more beautiful but he restrained himself from putting black dot behind her neck using same Kohl from her eyes.

"Happy Gudi Padwa and New year" she wished everyone and took their blessings.

Lastly she wished Manik and touched his feet with her whole heart, she was very pleased that he came here and also stayed till this point. He too wished back nd just lightly patted her hair in front of everyone. They both were blissed due to the pure moment they shared though it was only of 5secs. Her family smiled at her manners as how she respects every elder person.

"Manik u r staying for Puja?" Indu asked him but indirectly she was hinting him to leave. No matter how much she adores him but she knows his caste and they don't like other people involved in their personal Pooja.

"I will leave ..... My family is waiting for me for our Pooja ...... I just came to deliver milk and to wish everyone" he said honestly but Nandini felt sad knowing intentions of her mother. This reality always will be against their sacred bond.

"At least have this nd go" Gangadhar placed a neem leaf nd small jaggery stone on his hand. As it is the first thing every one is bound to eat at the start of year. Aarav also ate that nd left after giving smile to Gangadhar.

His heart was very eager to take her glance but he didn't have courage to do that in front of her family but on his way he turned back to see her taking neem leaf and jaggery from Gangadhar. After staring at her for a second he left for his house.

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"When ur friends are coming?" Nandini's grandmother asked her while making plates for them. It was late morning, sun was shining above their house making them sweat in the kitchen. Also whole family didn't eat anything as they were waiting for guests.

"Ur father and grandfather are waiting ...... It doesn't look good to keep them waiting" Indu also said in stern tone.

"Even I am hungry nd tired but still I am waiting ...... They will be here soon ..... They also have Pooja in their houses" she snapped back in very polite way not to spoil the festival vibe nd moved out of the kitchen towards her room to get ready. She was looking like a mess as she was working in kitchen she made more than 30 puran polis all alone and also the curry nd rice. Her hands were paining like hell still she was pleased with the thought that she made it for the people she loves.

After half hour everyone was sitting inside the long hall of her Wada, after taking blessings from elders, youngsters sat on their places. Her father and grandfather also sat with them to eat.

Nandini herself served everyone with her own hands, she didn't let her mother or grandmother help her. Very timidly and consciously Aarav admired her grace of serving people.

"Nandini now u also sit ...... Eat with ur friends ....... I'm here we will serve if needed" her grandmother  told her and she agreed. Hearing them Aarav silently shifted more towards Gopal without anyone's notice, making space between him and Manju.

"Go nd sit beside Manju" her mother said and Nandini looked at the empty space before sitting there more closer to Manju, keeping safe distance from Aarav.

"Let's start" Gangadhar said and after offering a small prayer they all started eating except Nandini. She was just playing with her food so that it will look like she is eating to others but Aarav knows better as she has occupied all his mind around her and also he knew what must be the reason for her not eating.

Everyone except Aarav were praising her food, they also said goddess Annapurna resides in her hands and she smiled whole heartedly. But Aarav knows she is very stubborn when she wants something nd she is very particular about few things that she won't give up easily.

"Nandini can you bring some curd" gathering all his courage he asked for it. Fot the introvert person like him it was so difficult but that was needed.

"Curd?" Manju frowned as normal people eat Puran poli with milk or jaggery water or curry.

"Yeah I like it with poli" he said in calm voice and Gopal was also confused since when he started liking this weird combination but he stayed silent.

"Indu will bring it" her father said but she was faster enough to stood up after shifting her plate to other side more to make place for her walk.

"It's okay baba ..... I will bring it" she said nd went inside. Aarav rubbed his sweaty palm on his dhoti, his heart was breathing faster than regular, he took his half eaten poli and then silently placed that into her plate which was very near to him.

He also noticed extra poli was neatly kept on other corner of her plate. He shook his head at her stubbornness before taking that poli into his own plate. All the time he didn't look up nd kept his head lower nd waited for her to return.

"Here" she placed bowl of curd before sitting on her place. Taking her plate to her side again she was blissed with his deed. Nervously after taking a glance of him she started eating his half eaten poli and also saw him resuming his eating with her untouched poli which she had kept for him. She knows he never eats shared food so she didn't eat earlier and also she wanted to start her lunch with his shared food.

He silently ate tangy curd with the sweet puran poli and it really tasted delicious because for him maker's love was poured into it so it was most delicious meal of his life. Indeed she made his new year sweetest among all. Her feelings weren't less either, her heart was exuberant. Also all the time they didn't look at each other still fragrance of her Gajara kept their heartbeats silently in sync.

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"Gopu ask Indu Mami to pack two Puran polis for us" Aarav whispered this.

"Dada what has happened to u today ? ...... Why u r behaving like this?" He whispered yelled and Aarav just gave him one stern look.

"Umm can u pack two Puran poli, if it's not too much to ask ..... I mean I really love them so much" Gopal said sheepishly in front of everyone.

"U have already ate 5 ...... How much more u r going to eat?" Manju said it directly not caring about others, she is little childish as she is the youngest in their group. So she doesn't have proper manners to behave in front of elders.

"I can eat 10 more ...... Don't challenge my capacity" though he wasn't lieing. His diet is too heavy for any normal person nd it's not his fault he has got that body of builder.

"Okay okay don't fight ...... Nandu go nd pack some for him" Indu instructed and she went inside to pack the food and Jija too followed her friend.

"See how well mannered Jija is ....... Her mother was telling me that her would be in laws r are very pleased with her ..... I don't know when Nandini will learn this" Indu said looking at her retreating figure nd her words were enough to wipe that constant smile on Aarav's face.

"Why u always find faults in her ? ....... Didn't u see she made food for many people all alone  ....... Tasty and totally traditional food to be precise" Gangadhar said this nd then Indu couldn't bring herself even to look up at her father in law and kept quiet.

"Yes Aaba" Nandini's father too smiled proudly looking at his daughter who came with a food packed in cotton cloth. Though Aarav didn't say it but she guessed why he was whispering into Gopal's ears and she was very pleased to know how much her thoughts matters to him. So to avoid further questions she packed food in cloth.

"Here it is" she handed food to Gopal but her eyes were on Aarav who looked disturbed completely opposite to his earlier self. She couldn't understand the reason behind it but that disturbed her peace too.

"Thanks ...... Vahini" he mumbled last word only audible to Nandini who blushed without meeting his gaze.

After exchange of few words here nd there everyone left the place except Jija. Because Indu was packing food for her family too and Nandini decided to help her to walk her till her house.

"U made awesome food today ...... I really didn't think u can do this much all alone" Jija praised Nandini.

"U shouldn't underestimate the power of me ...... I can do everything if needed" Nandini replied with playful smirk.

"Yeah surely u can ....... Even ur mother was saying same as she brought ur marriage topic earlier" so this particular topic managed to remove that glowing smile on his handsome face and now even she can't do anything with it. She knows it will take him days to be fine again. She just sighed at their fate.

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"Dada why u asked for more? ...... Do u know how embarrassing it was for me" Gopal cribbed as soon as they were away from her house.

"Just go nd give this to Namdev ...... Tell him Nandini gave this" Aarav said it in his normal voice but from inside he was normal but anything.

"Ohh ...... Sorry to doubt ur intentions ..... But when did Nandini tell u this?" He asked as he didn't see them talking.

"She didn't but I figured out" he blurted out without being consious about his brother's amusement.

"Ohh heart to heart connection" he teased.

"Enough" he shouted in his cold yet calm tone which was enough to make Gopal shiver.

"Sorry" he said meekly nd left from his sight Asap. He got so scared that he decided he won't ever tease him.

He didn't mean to scare him but she is the only pick which can tease strings of his heart. She is the only key to open his emotions be it blooming of his heart or fear of losing his heart. She is so forbidden yet alluring that he can't control his heart nor he can change reality of difference in their castes.

.................... End ................||

Thank you so much Ummaatifa for this beautiful cover. I loved it❤️❤️

Let me know if you found any mistake.

How was the chapter?

.............. Aish ❣️............