Ignore mistakes!

Next day,

As Manik didn't mention the time of his arrival so Nandini got ready early and sat on her bed with her books waiting for him.

Manik had called Mr Murthy to inform him that he'll pick Nandini at 12 pm but he didn't inform her as he was busy with some other work.

At 12, a helper told Nandini that Manik is waiting downstairs. She immediately reached down.

Manik smiled looking at her who was climbing the stairs off. He noticed how she was tucking her hairs again and again as she was nervous. How her face was devoid of make-up. Not even the kohl were in her eyes but still she was looking so innocent and mesmerising. She was wearing just a simple suit and mojri but she was looking perfect.

As she reached the last stair, Manik, like yesterday, forwarded his hand and whispered, "I'll hold you!"

He smiled noticing that this time she didn't hesitate to hold his hand.

He took her to his car and opened the door for her. She sat on the seat whispering a 'Thank you' to him.

He sat on the driver's seat and took her hand in his hand saying, "You're looking mesmerising!"

She looked at him for a second with her heated cheeks and started looking everywhere but him making him laugh, "You look more mesmerising when you blush!"

He kissed her hand which was in his hold and started the car with his other hand.

"Aap--"

"Ohkay! Stop stop! Manik! We don't want to see live porn!", They heard a voice from the backseat and Nandini who was unaware that they're not alone immediately tried to free her hand from his hold. She fisted her chunni from the free hand. Manik noticed her movement but didn't leave her hand instead rubbed his thumb to her hand.

"Cabir!! Think before you utter anything!", Dhruv said, slapping Cabir's head who was sitting beside him.

Nandini turned a little to notice that there were two boys and a girl sitting at the back. Her heart started to beat more fastly when she realized that she was alone in a car with so many unknown people.

She tried to free her hand again but Manik didn't let her.

Manik was thinking that she was feeling shy that he was holding her hand in front of his friends but her inner turmoil was something very different.

She was scared. She was losing her breath. She never met so many unknown people in her life but in these two days she met a lot of people whom she didn't know.

Her breath accelerated when the girl sitting at back, Alia, said to Manik, "Manik! She's sweating!"

Manik looked at her and stopped the car.

"Guys! We'll be back in a second!"

"Jaa naah! Bas sach mey porn mat bana dena!", Rolling his eyes on Cabir's comment Manik came out.

He reached Nandini's side and softly took her out of the car. Looking around he dragged her to a nearby rock and kneeled down after settling her up on the rock. All this while she was so scared. Scared of his reaction. Scared of being with unknown people. Scared of being people around her.

"Feeling better?", he asked after she drank the water which he brought with him.

She nodded slowly and tucking her hairs he asked, "Did you feel bad because of Cabir's comment?"

She nodded in no.

"Acha toh he used porn word isliye you were nervous?", He again asked because he was unaware of her inner turmoil.

"What is porn?", She asked slowly, scared of his reaction.

He looked at her in disbelief and said, "Wait! You-- you're kidding, right?"

Innocently she nodded in no.

"You don't know porn? Don't tell me you don't know what's going to happen between us after our marriage!", He was amused, confused by her innocence.

"I will change the house and follow the rules of your house!", She answered because that's what she was fed and she read in the books.

"Nandini! What I'm gonna do with you!", He said of her innocence. Nevertheless,he smiled and cupped her cheeks in his palm, "I'll make sure to not to ruin your innocence! And don't get nervous! They're my best friends and second family! Try to get comfortable around them! You will, wouldn't you?"

As she said family she remembers their last encounter about him mentioning the value of his family. She nodded and sat back in the car.

"I'm sorry Bhabhi! If you felt bad!", Cabir apologized.

"Cabir! No need for sorry! I have told you guys thousands of times that my family doesn't need to feel sorry for anyone! Get that?", Manik said to which Cabir rolled his eyes, "The person I'm apologizing to is not anyone but your would-be wife! So, you shut up and Bhabhi I'm sorry!"

His soft and warmth created a tinge of happiness in her heart and she immediately felt comfortable.

Giving a small yet warm smile she said, "No, I'm sorry too!"

Dhruv cleared his throat and said, "So, everything is clear! Let's start from the start! Hello Bhabhi! I am Dhruv Vedant ,Manik's and Mukti's best friend!"

"And I'm Alia Saxsena! I'll stick to Nandini as Bhabhi is so out of the market! And you can call me--"

"Alu!", Cabir interrupted laughing earning a glare from Alia.

"Shut up! You moron! You can call me Alia or give me a nickname as I'm fond of it!", She chipped happily.

"Hi Dhruv! Hi Alia!", She said in a small voice but with a homely smile.

"Shoo! Shoo! You guys! Let me introduce myself! Hi Bhabhi! I'm Cabir! The great Cabira! Manik's all secrets are inside my brain from his childhood to his adulthood! Iskey dimaag ko sahi jagah par laaney ka kaam sirf main kar sakta hun!"

"And together, including Mukti, we are Fab5! My second family! The most important people of my life! No one can hurt any one of us if we're together and no one can ever come in between us! There's no space for anyone other than us in FAB5! My family and Fab5 will always be my priority!", Manik said looking at her.

And she understood the meaning of his words. That's his family. The rules which he told yesterday were for Fab5 also. She nodded slowly to him as he was waiting for her response.

"Ohh! And there's one more person! Aryaman! Mukti's boyfriend! Though he's not a fab5 member but equally important to us especially Manik and Mukti!", Alia told her.

Manik stopped the car as they had reached.

"Mukti is already inside! You guys go ahead! I'll join after parking!", Manik said.

And everyone moved inside.

Nandini looked around and found herself in a Sabyasachi store. This is the first time she's been out shopping. Not that her baba didn't allow her but she got everything at home she demanded.

All of them went inside to find Mukti sitting there looking at the different lehenga.

As she saw them she smiled and said, "Finally, you guys are here! I thought Bhai wapas hi nhi ayengey!"

All rolled their eyes while Nandini immediately replied, "Sorry!"

"Chill Nandini! She's being overdramatic! There's nothing like that!", Alia said and they sat on the couch where the attendee was showing the dresses while boys went to the men's section.

Mukti and Alia chose lehenga for Nandini and said, "We have shortlisted these! Try it on and choose whichever you like! And if you like something else do tell us!"

Nandini was nodding as they were choosing for her. She looked at their choice and gave a small smile.

They pushed her to the changing room where she was standing. Changing outside even if it's changing room is something which she never did. All these were new to her. But she knows Manik's family has told her so she had to follow.

She covered the mirror with her dupatta and unzipped her kurta. She looked around the room if anyone was watching. She was scared. The room was big enough but still she felt suffocating. But the RULES. She had to follow it.

At last, she looked at the blouse and gulped looking at it. It was a cleavage backless blouse which is totally different from what she wears. She looked at it and without trying anything wore her clothes back.

She was about to come out when she heard Manik, "What's going on, Mukti?"

"Bhabhi is changing! You know I have selected the best lehengas for her and yes, I made sure one of them was red. Let's see what she chose. I so wish it's the red one. Oh God! She'll look so pretty! I'm so excited!", Mukti gushed over.

Manik laughed at her excitement and said ruffling her hair, "Never lose this smile my baby sister!"

Nandini nodded to herself knowing what she had to do. She can't break the rules. She can't let Mukti lose her smile even if it's uncomfortable for her. Rules and her smile is more important than her. Her baba has taught her whatever she might be feeling but she can't break the rules according to her choice.

She came out after a few minutes and was bombarded with Mukti's questions.

"Bataye na, Bhabhi, which one? Or do you like something else?"

"The red one!",she said with a smile without looking down fidgeting with her chunni.

Both Aliya and Mukti jumped in joy while boys chuckled on their excitement but Manik's eyes were keenly observing how Nandini was continuously fidgeting with her chunni.

He came to her and held her hand to stop her from fidgeting. He took her aside and asked, "What's bothering you?"

She looked everywhere but him. She knows even if she'll share what's bothering her according to rules things are not going to change so lied for the first time, "Nothing. I.. I.."

"Don't lie.", his strict tone scared her to death but she knows if she'll break the rules she'll get punishment. She remembers how her Baba punished her when she was 10 and she threw the paysum in the dustbin because she hates dairy products. As a punishment, her Baba made her do the house chorus for a week when he got to know the reason. Punishment scares her.

She wets her dried lips and said, "I. I'm... thirsty.!"

Her sluttering tone told him that she's lying but he let it pass and ordered a glass of water for her after which they joined others.

Mukti was showing Nandini's lehenga which she had selected for her to everyone when MaNan joined them back.

"Bhai! Look! Isn't it an exceptionally beautiful piece. She'll look like your Queen!", Manik looked at the lehenga when his eyes fell on the blouse. His eyes travelled to Nandini present attire.

From the first day he had noticed her wearing clothes which covers her entirely. Realization dawned to him.

"Mukti! Go outside! I'm going to select her clothes! She's clearly not wearing that!", he said to which Mukti asked in confusion, "But why? She chose this one! Right, Bhabhi?"

Nandini immediately nodded in yes with a big smile which no one thought was actually a fake one.

"And since when did you start questioning my statements?", Manik said and rolling her eyes Mukti stood saying, "Fine! But kuch acha pasand karna please!"

After that all dispersed for their shopping leaving the couple behind. Manik sat beside Nandini and said, "Choose one lehenga! Jo aapko pasand ho!"

Nandini picked the same lehenga which Mukti had selected but Manik took it from her hand and said, "Jo apko pasand ho!"

"Pasand hai mujhey!", she said in a small voice.

"Fine! Choose something else! We're not buying that one!", she nodded and picked the other choices which Mukti had selected.

Looking at her he sighed and held her hand in his.

"Look into my eyes!"

She finally did. Her eyes told her story. Her helplessness!"

"Mery family k khusiyon k khayal rakhney kaha tha par iska matlab yeh nhi ki aap apna comfort chor dey! Iska matlab yeh kabhi nhi ki aap apni ijzat, man samman, jis chiz sey apko pareshani ho rhi ussey bhul jaye! Khusiyon ka khayal rakhey par apney aap ko iss kadar nichey naa rakhey! Samjhi aap?", he said and kissed her palms which brought tears in her eyes and a big smile which her eyes told is not a fake one.

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