Following Week.

Manik's house.

Nandini's parents had arrived as asked by neyonika to discuss about MaNan marriage. Four of them were sitting, while Arisha served them snacks. Seeing the locality and manik's home, nandini's parents were on backfoot and we're uneasy about nandini's decision but the only positive, Manik, was keeping them firm on their decision.

" Jee...Manik Ko toh hm school k time se jante hain...Bahut sidha bachcha h...Apne bahut achi parvarish di h" nandinis mother said and neyonika was shocked to know that MaNan knew each other from school days while Manik who was sitting in his room, slapped his forehead. Neyonika recovered quickly from the shock and answered " ji shukriya. Toh jse ki aap jante hain bachcho ne khud sab tay Kiya h toh hum bare kaun hote hain unhe rokne Wale. Main bas ek hi baat btana chahti hu ki av av meri beti ki shaadi Hui h aur hamara riwaz h ki ek saal tak dusri shaadi Ni ho Sakti h"

Nandini's parents were worried that where this conversation is going so they just nodded for her to continue.

" Toh main chahti thi ki av dono ka roka aur engagement ceremony kar dete hain. Ek saal Baad ka koi acha muhurt dekh kar fir shadi v kar denge."

Nandini's​ parents felt that this was not a suggestion but an order. So they didn't contradict her. " Bachche 15 din Baad wapas Jaa Rahe hain...Toh agar engagement iss baar hi ho jae toh acha rehta " said nandini's father.

" Ji main v yahi soch Rahi thi. Pandit ji se puch kar main bta dungi." Neyonika replied " aur ek baat aur, shadi Punjabi riti-riwaaz se hogi. Mujhe umeed h apko koi aapatti Ni hogi" neyonika informed and nandini's parents exchanged looks after which they decided to go with her opinion.

" Ji hamein koi problem Ni h" nandini's father replied and then after talking for a while, they returned home.

.....

" Mom, dad aap agye" Nandini exclaimed opening the door.

" Ji beta hum agye!" Nandini's father smiled broadly and kissed her forehead before sitting down on the sofa.

" So kya baat Hui??" Nandini asked.

" Acha puch toh aise Rahi ho jse tumhe Ni pta kya hua! Hamare honewale damaad ne toh tumhe minutest details mein btaya hoga" nandini's mom teased. And Nandini turned all red in embarrassment because her mother was right.
.......
Same night

" Main jab se Manik k ghar se wapas ai hu mere dmaag mein bas ek hi baat ghum Rahi h...Nandini waha Kse adjust karegi" nandini's mom spoke to her husband when they were on the bed.

"Sach kahu toh mujhe v kuch thk Ni lag Raha. Jab wo shadi k rasmo k baare mein bol Rahi thi toh asa lag Raha tha jse ki wo chahti ho ki hm disagree kare aur bol de ki shadi Ni hogi"

" Wo Ni chahti h ki Manik aur Nandini ki shadi ho. Bas Manik ki Khushi k lye unhone haa bola h" she voiced her opinion.

" Humare liye bhi Nandini ki Khushi matter Karti h. Islye main shadi hone dunga. Manik Ko dekh kar Ni lagta ki wo Nandini Ko hurt karega"

" Aap sahi bol Rahe h. Main Bhagwan se pray karungi ki dono Ko jivan bhar sath rakhe"

" Nandini Ko Ni pta chalna chahye ki humlog kya sochte h. Uski Khushi mein koi kami Ni honi chahye!"

" Ji...Thk h chalye ab so jaye"
.......
"Mrs. Nandini Manik Malhotra, Wow! Kitna grand sound karta h ye!" Nandini spoke dreamily sitting opposite Manik in a coffee shop, the following day.

He smiled at her and held her hand on the table and squeezed it gently " I can't wait to make you mine" he whispered in almost a seductive tone which made Nandini's heart flutter " I have always been yours , Manik, right from school time!" She said blushing but Manik shook his head smiling and said " officially" and she rolled her eyes " and what difference will it make??" She asked sarcastically.

" I will be able to do things to you that you have only heard of" he said wickedly, eyes glittering. Nandini's insides clenched and a million butterflies started doing salsa, by just hearing the husk in his voice.

" You know you can do those things to me even now. I won't mind!" She said blushing but not able to meet his eyes.

" Hmmmm I will hold you to that...May be when we return to California..." He let the idea float in between them and Nandini nervously tucked her hair behind her ear due to his intense gaze on their intertwined hands on the table.

" So...What are you going to wear on engagement day?" Nandini asked to distract him.

" What do you want me to wear?" He asked simply without a thought.

" No, I didn't mean it like that...I mean I just wanted to know" she said surprised by his sincerity.

He caressed her knuckles with his thumb " no , I will wear whatever you like, so tell me" he urged.

" Ummm... Formals?"

" Ok? Do you have any specific colour in your mind?"

" Colour?? Well I have not thought about it yet...But I think black will suit you best"

" Ummm Nandini I don't think I will be allowed to wear black. Maa will not approve of it, she thinks it to be an inauspicious colour, not to be worn in such occasions" he explained and Nandini made a mental note of this fact.

" Oh ok..Toh fir I will tell you once I buy my own dress, then I will know which colour will go with my dress."

" Perfect ! And yeah about the ring...Well I don't think we will be allowed to choose it together. So tell me what type do you have in mind?"

" Type? Matlab?"

" Arey you know shape, size, design"

" Whatever you like...But just keep it simple because it will be in everyday use"

" Wait I will show you the images available on Google and you can tell me which one you like so I will choose accordingly"

Then they began surfing the net and selected a design for the ring then Nandini also showed him the prototype of the dress that she is going to wear and in this way they spent a lot of time together and then parted to go to their respective homes.

The next few days were spent in shopping and preparation. Nandini  on her mother's insistence, took the suggestions of arzoo and arisha in selecting the gifts that had to be given to the groom's family . Nandini's parents were already sceptical about neyonika's behaviour so they didn't want to give her any excuse for drama.

Mukti, alia and Navya, like true friends, were always by her side the entire time. And cabir and Dhruv assisted Manik and his family in the preparations.

Soon arrived the D-DAY and the most awaited day for Manik and Nandini. They would finally be officially tied to each other.