A banquet was booked for Arzoo's marriage and on the D-Day, Manik was going mad looking after the arrangements. 

Till evening all was done and the arrival of the baraat was awaited.

Arzoo was still getting ready in her room and Manik had finally gone to take a shower and dress up.

Manik was combing his hair , when he heard the loud bangs on his door.

" Bhaiya!" Arisha was calling.

" Araha hu yaar! Door break karegi kya?" He shouted while opening the door.

" Suno...apke friends agye hain...Lawn mein hai...They were looking for you, so I came to inform you"

" Acha..Ok...I am coming" he replied and started collecting his wallet, watch, phone.

" Wse Bhabhi bahut beautiful lag Rahi Hain" arisha teased. Manik suppressed his smile and narrowed his eyes at her.

" Arey main toh bas bta Rahi thi...So that you manage to look equal to her!!" She teased and ran off, giggling.

" Kya kehna chahti hai tu? Main handsome Ni dikhta?" He asked but she was out of earshot by then. He quickly glanced at himself in the mirror and arranged the stole of his sherwani.

....
Mukti

Aliya

Navya

Cabir

Abhimanyu

Dhruv

" Wo Raha Manik!" Mukti pointed out to others as Manik came out in the lawn. He was still trying to locate them.

" Guys, let's cover up Nandini..." Alia suggested excitedly and others looked at her for explanation , while nandini's eyes were fixed on Manik.

" Ofo..Look guys, it's clear that once Manik looks at Nandini , he will forget everyone else" alia replied pointing towards the state of Nandini. " So let's meet up with him first and then we will leave these two to themselves"

" Nice plan, alia... you are learning Management skills quite fast!" Cabir smirked. They agreed with her and did exactly the same. Once they covered manik's view of Nandini, they waved at Manik, who located them almost instantly but as he came closer, he frowned watching them standing strangely.

" What why are you standing as if you are going to dance??" He asked while hugging cabir, then Mukti alia and Dhruv, then he smiled at Navya in acknowledgement.

" We were planning to dance, as you were busy, but now since you are here, we dropped the idea" cabir joked.

" Cabir that was such a lame joke...By the way, where is Nandini??" Manik asked.

" Nandini? She hasn't come yet" Mukti said convincingly, making Manik confused.

" Arey but...Arisha told me that Nandini is here and she is looking.." he stopped abruptly " was she lying?" He whispered much to himself. Nandini blushed hearing him, standing at the back. She was enjoying the teasing.

His friends exchanged looks and Manik caught Dhruv smiling and he understood that they are teasing him.

" Nandini kaha hai?" Manik demanded and they burst out laughing, then taking a pity at his desperation they shifted and finally he got a view of her dressed in saree and she took his breath away. She smiled shyly at his appreciative gaze. 

Their friends silently dispersed from there giving them some privacy, but both were aware of the onlookers.

" You are looking beautiful" he whispered and she tried to not to blush like a bride.

" You are looking every bit like the Bride's brother!" She complimented and he gave her a sexy smile " so everything is done?"

" Yeah...I have my fingers crossed...Sab theek se ho jaye" Manik said a little worried.

" Don't worry...Everything will be good...Wse baraat ane mein Kitna time h?"

" They have left there home 15 minutes ago...I think more 15-20 minutes lagenge"

" Manik...I think your mom is watching us from a distance" Nandini whispered panicked, as she caught sight of his mother. Manik's back was facing his mother. But before he could turn, dhruv, cabir and alia, came there with a drink each in their hands. 

" Nandini, you should try this! Its so delicious!" Alia spoke.

" Ye Punjabi delicacy hai. My chacha has arranged this" Manik informed.

" Oh!"

" Acha chalo...Let me introduce you to my family" Manik said and then took a deep breath gathering courage. Nandini passed him a faint smile reflecting her nervousness.

Nyonika

" Maa...Ye mere friends hain" Manik said and then introduced them one by one, taking a lot of precaution to not fumble while taking nandini's name. His friends folded their hands in greeting. His mother wished them well with a smile, but her piercing gaze, made Nandini uncomfortable.

" Tum log kya kar Rahe ho ajkal beta?" She asked them normally. While rest answered casually, Nandini got confused if she should mention that she works with Manik in California. So, Nandini looked in manik's direction for help and this was seen by his mother.

" Aur Nandini, tum v btao" his mother asked but Manik sensing nandini's dilemma, answered on her behalf " maa...Nandini mere saath California mein kaam Karti h" he stopped at that not wanting to give further details of their being in the same school as well as college.

" Oh" was his mother's reaction. Manik could feel his mother's disapproval in her reaction. She isn't happy but she didn't make it obvious. She smiled and then excused herself.

" Foooh!! Why did that feel like a life testing situation??" Cabir muttered. Nandini was not sure what to feel. His mother's reaction was unexpected. It's like she has developed instant dislike for Nandini. What went wrong? Nandini wondered. Manik's thoughts were also on the same tangent.

Navya and Mukti came laughing and talking to them" suno...Manik...Humein bride se v milwao..We are dying to see her!" Mukti pleaded.

" Of course...Chalo" he lead the girls' way and then knocked on the door, while the guys stayed back looking to help if needed.

One of the beauticians opened the door looking pensive. Arisha was there, ready but arzoo was not in view.

Arisha

" Arzoo kaha h?" Manik asked to arisha.

" She is behind the enclosure" arisha pointed towards the place " she is changing"

" Oh ok! But why are you looking worried?" Manik asked.

" Wo actually, di k dress mein kuch problem ho gayi h"

" Kya problem??" Manik asked frantically.

The girls noticed the hesitancy of arisha.

" Arzoo...If you don't mind can I see what the problem is...May be we can help" nandini said trying to ease the situation.

Arzoo

And they could hear the sobs of arzoo.

" Didi...Main bol Rahi hu...Don't cry...Kuch solution mil jaega" arisha said worried, going towards her. Nandini and Navya followed. Manik stood there helpless not knowing what to do..Should he even stay there or leave the girls alone.

" Arzoo...Tumhra makeup kharab ho Raha...Stop crying baby...Ye ansu Bidaai ke liye save kar kar Rakho! " Manik could hear Nandini saying those words.

" Di..Mujhe kal hi check kar Lena chahye tha...Ek Baar trial kar leti toh aaj ye problem Ni Hoti!" Arzoo was wailing.

" Arzoo tu toh meri strong sister h na! yu to Rahi h aise..Tu bas bol ...Kuch kar Sakta hu main..I will fix it...Tu bas solution bta...Bas pehle Rona band kar!" Manik comforted her.

" Mr. Manik Malhotra! Filhaal k lye aap bas room se bahar jaiye..That will be a great help!" Nandini spoke sarcastically from behind the enclosure, and arzoo and arisha giggled at her tone, arzoo for a moment forgot her worry and relaxed a little as Navya found a solution and the girls began their work.

Manik stared dumbfounded at the side of the enclosure.

" Are you kicking me out of my own place Nandini??" He asked.

" Yes I am" she spoke coming out from behind the enclosure and smiling at him.

He raised his eyebrows in censor " tumhe toh main Baad mein dekhunga" he said in a mock threat.

" Acha kya kar loge tum?" She asked in whisper.

" There are many things that I can do...But then I think you know!"

" Oh you two love birds! Don't start here and now!" Mukti warned. Nandini's eyes widened in horror looking towards arisha who was running across the room to fetch something.

" Don't look at me like that bhabhi! I know already!" Arisha teased.

" Bhabhi??" 

" Yeah that's what you are na...kyu bhaiya?" 

" Shut up arisha! Pehle help your sister!"Manik chided her.

" Wo toh main kar hi Rahi Hun!"

" Chalo Manik..Tum jao yaha se!" Nandini started pushing him towards the door. He smiled and offered resistance half- heartedly.

She opened the door and pushed him outside. Manik's mother was standing there ready to knock the door and the sight of Manik and Nandini , stirred her blood. While the duo were frozen to the place.

" Wo ..Wo aunty...Hum arzoo ki help kar Rahe the.." Nandini stammered.

" Haan aur main bas Jaa hi Raha tha..." Manik said trying to hide his panic.

" Manik kal subah arzoo ki Bidaai k Baad..Main tumse baat karna chahti Hun" his mother announced.

Arisha heard her mother's voice and she came out of the room, she sensed the situation, so to divert her mother, she said " mom...Apko pta hai didi k lehenga ka blouse tight ho gya tha...Toh fir Nandini didi aur Navya didi, aur alia aur Mukti didi help kar Rahi h...Now the problem is almost solved..."

" Main bahar ki taiyariyaan dekhta hu" Manik said and left from there, while arisha continued her narration.....
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