Nandini entered her house with a blushing smile. This was a different but beautiful feeling. The way he understood her turmoil because of the lehenga. She was so anxious that she nearly had a panic attack thinking about how she'll wear that lehanga on their wedding. But he came as a savior and pulled her off the terror.

She took the stairs to go to her room but a voice stopped her. The voice which instilled a fear inside her again.

“Nandini!”, Her baba called her.

Suddenly, why is Baba calling her? Living under the same roof for years, they never had a conversation except for an exchange of two or three words. Gulping her fear, she turned to him and hurriedly stepped down the stairs.

“Apne bulaya Baba!” She stood in front of him.

“Haa! Maine dekha window se avi kya hua mere gate par!”, He gritted his teeth in anger.

Her eyes widened as embarrassment and shame pulled her in.

“Shadi hui nahi hai! Jo bhi karna hai mere ghar k aas pass mat kijye! I don't want any controversy! If anyhow this alliance breaks before settlement, I'll have to look for other one! And these shameful deeds will create a nuisance for me!”, He said as she lowered her head.

She knows it's an alliance for her baba. But, his words cut her off. She muttered a sorry in low voice.

He rolled his eyes and turned to go when stopped and said, “Shadi ab issi hafte hogi! Jitni jaldi ho sake mere ghar se apko niklna hoga! Aur mar jana par mere ghar wapas mat aana!”

She nodded as tears already dried in her eyes. She expected a little amount of love which Mukti shares with his Dad but guess she is not lucky. She was never lucky.

Gulping her sob, she turned to room and pulled the duvet on her before sleeping in a deep slumber.

____

Next day, when she woke up she saw decorations going on. She stopped one of the househelps and asked, “Yeh kisi chiz ki tayariya hai?”

“Malhotra iss hafte shadi ko mann gaye hai! Isliye Mr Murthy ney kal ki date rakhi hai. Aaj sare rasam hai aur kal shadi!”, They informed her not knowing she's already started to panic.

Rubbing her sweaty hands together, she looked around and went inside her room.

Why? She's not ready to leave her space so soon. She needed time to adjust. She's not prepared for this. But, there's no one with whom she can share her turmoil.

She was in her thoughts when a helper knocked. After the permission, she came inside.

“Ji?”

“Malhotra Mansion se apke liye yeh tofa aaya h!”

“Udhar rakh dey!”

“Madam! Manik Sir ney bola hai avi kholne ko!”, She informed her and left the box on the bed.

She opened it and found a mobile. Before she could check it her mobile rang showing “Manik” on the screen.

Nervously, she picked his call, “Hello”

“Heya!”, He sighed, “I realized you don't have a mobile. Aur kal k baad apse baat kiye bagair mann nhi lag rha kisi kaam me, isliye a small gift!”

“Oh, thank you!”, She whispered, “Par baba se puchna hoga!”

“Kya puchna hoga?”

“Wo unhone bataya tha mobile allowed nhi h!”, She answered.

“Aur aisa kyu?”, He asked in confusion.

“Nhi pata!”, She whispered again.

“Pucha nahi kabhi?”, He asked sweetly.

“Baba dusre floor par rhte hai aur unhe kaam bhi bahut hota hai toh time nhi mila”, she answered, looking nowhere.

“Koi baat nahi! Kal se aap meri biwi hongi toh apko kisi se kuch puchne yaa permission leny ki jarurat nhi h! Bas mujhey bata diya kijyega!”, He said as he looked at her photo in his hand.

“Jarur!”, She knows after the house will change her husband will look for the rules.

“Tum khush ho na?”, He asked suddenly.

“Haan!”

“Kal apkey baba aye the mere ghar! He wanted to marry us within a week! Toh maine kal ka hi bol diya! Apko koi aita'raz toh nhi h na?”

“Jaisa aap sahi samjhey!”, She answered, not sure how to share her turmoil.

“Shadi apki bhi ha! Aaj karna hai yaa kal aap bhi utna hi decide karegi jitna mai! Isliye I wanted to call! What's your decision?”, He asked as he hoped for a positive response.

“Baba ney kya bola fir?”

“Haa bola unhone!”

“Fir haa hai!”

“Nandini!”, He sighed. She's not understanding it's not him or her baba but it's about her. She needs to decide. But it seems his doubts were true. He needs to work a lot and pull her out of the shell, “Thik h! Aaj se apki khusi ki jamadari meri! AAPKI HAR KHUSHI KO MAIN DUNIYA SE LAA KAR DUNGA AUR DUKH KO APSE CHUPA LUNGA!”

(Readers. Keep this line in mind. There's a big and really big plot twists in this story and that time this line will make sense)

She smiled. There was a knock which disturbed Manik.
“Maa bula rhi hai. Rasmo k liye! Baad me baat kartey hai! Apko jab jarurat lagey bina socha call kijyega!”