Finally the day was here. She was sitting in her room already in a bridal dress as she could hear the baraat enjoying itself. She hid behind the window and saw his family, friends enjoying themselves. Dancing to the core. Her gaze found him who was dragged by Cabir in the middle of the crowd. They forced him to dance and he laughed, matching their steps. Her lips turned up looking at him. He was everything a girl would want as a groom. The helpers smiled and said to her, “Sir is really very handsome, ma'am!”

“Yes! And you both complement each other. You're also looking amazingly pretty! With minimal makeup!”, Other one complimented her.

She smiled and muttered a thank you. Her gaze again fell on him who was dancing but suddenly looked at her window. Her eyes widened when he winked at her and sent her a flying kiss secretly.

Smiling, she backed off to hide her blush and looked around to see if anyone else noticed it. To her luck, no one noticed.

After some time, finally the baraat decided to enter the villa. She was waiting for anyone to call her downstairs when she's required. 

Every girl feels anxiety at this moment but it's a moment for which she was prepared from the start but what's more she was looking for ways to start a new life with him and know the reason for the strained relationship with her baba.

She was in her thoughts when someone knocked on the door. Without looking, she stood as she thought it's the call but stopped when she found Nyonika at the gate.

Nyonika is a sweet lady but she met her once. Last time Manik got mad at her because she didn't respond to her hugs. The remainder of his response sent chills to her. Nervously, she looked down and her finger fidgeted with her churni.

“Andar aa jau!”, Nyonika asked with a smile.

“Ji!”, She said and went to touch her feet.

“Pair nhi dil me!”, Nyonika stopped her and hugged her lightly. She knows how Nandini was nervous when she hugged for the first time so she made sure that she'll keep her excitement in check and slowly make her comfortable.

“You're looking very pretty!”, Nyonika kissed her forehead, “Haa kaise kah di mery bety ko! Bandar lagta wo tery agey!”

Her eyes widened as she heard his mother laughing.

“Uff! You're so cute!”, Nyonika gushed as her cheeks flushed at her words about her son.

“Thank you!”, Nandini whispered with a smile.

Before they could say anything, Mukti entered, “That's not fair Maa! Aap akley aa gayi bhabhi se milne! Waha bhai niche mera sir kha rhe h!”

Her eyes turned to Nandini and she covered her mouth in happiness, “OMG! You're looking eternal, bhabhi!”

“Aiye! Nazar na laga meri beti ko!”, Nyonika complained as she put nazar tikka behind Nandini's ears.

All this was very new to her, people around her, talking to her. She never had anyone around her. She was just looking at them and absorbing the new relations, new moments.

“Acha! Avi se gang up! Kar lo kar lo! Main aur Dad ek team h!”, Mukti said.

“Aur tujhey kisne bola main Nandini k team me nahi hu!”, Manik's Dad entered with Manik who was standing at the door.

“Haww! Aap bhi?”, Mukti made a sad face. She turned to Manik and said, “Apsey toh puchna bekar hai!”

Mukti made a sad face. All of them knew they were playing but for Nandini it was new. She got scared. She was about to speak when Manik said, “Chup aur nikal bahar! Mujhey baat karni h inse! Mom, dad please! It's important!”

“Ayya toh tha main apni beti se baat karne par diye tujhey 5 min! Kar let baat!”, Raj said as all left the room leaving them alone.

Nandini nervously looked everywhere as she remembered Mukti's sad face. Suddenly Manik asking to talk alone sent her chills again.

She licked her lips with her eyes casted down as she waited for him to shout. But it never happened.

She felt his hand holding hers and freeing her dupatta. Taking her palms softly, he kissed it. Before he could say anything, he felt her tears on their spread palms.

“I am sorry! I promise aisa nahi hoga dubara! Main nahi karungi aisa! I promise!”, She said as tears fell continuously and a sob escaped her throat.

His forehead frowned and cupping her cheeks he asked, “Hey! Kya hua? Kya hua aapko Nandini! Aap ro kyu rahi h?”

“I'm sorry. Galti se ro diya maine!”, She hurriedly wipes her tears, “I'm sorry! I promise aisa nahi hoga!”

“Wait! What's wrong? Ek min! Aap baithey yaha!”, He said and made her sit on the bed. He kneels in front of her and asks looking into her eyes, “Kya baat hai? Why you're saying sorry?”

“I will never take Mukti's place! I promise! I know main apkey ghar jaa rhi par main apni jagah janti hu! Baba ney bataya hai! Main kabhi nahi dubara Mukti ko iss misunderstanding se sad hone dungi!”, She said while looking at him.

“Acha! Aur exactly kya jagah hai apki MERY ghar me?”, He asked as he sat beside her taking her hands in his.

She looked at him cluelessly and answered, “Nahi pata!”

“Toh baba ney kya batya hai?”, He asked again.

“Baba ney!”, She whispered and replied as her baba told those words almost everyday, “Apsey shadi kar k main apkey ghar jaungi aur apkey rules k according unhey follow karungi!”

“Nandini!”, Manik sighed in sadness as he's not sure how much her baba has destroyed her, “Pehly baat!”, He cupped her, “Aap mery nahi apney ghar jaa rhi hai! Kiskey ghar?”

“Apney!”, She replied, looking into his eyes.

“Ji! Aur apkey ghar mey aap mery yaa kisi aur k hisab se ni jayegi! Apni marzi se faisley legi! Haa main rahunga apka dhyan rakhney! Apkey galat ko sahi karney aur apko humesa protect karney k liye lekin apkey baba ney jo b bataya, sikhaya sab galat hai!”, He said as he took her in embrace and caressed her cheeks lovingly.

She looked at him without breaking the hug and asked, “Sab galat?”

“Ji! Sab galat!”, He kissed her forehead, “aur rahi baat Mukti ki toh we're kidding! She's not sad! Jab wo sad hogi uska bhai rahega uskey liye! Ussey protect karne k liye! Agar kabhi apki wajah se ho bhi wo udash toh aap tension na ley main ussey khush rakhney ka solution nikal lunga!”, He said to which she nodded.

They were interrupted by a knock.

“Bas kar Saley! Nichey sab inte'zar kar rhey hai!”, Cabir entered with Aryaman.

Manik stood between Nandini and his friends to hide her.

“Haa! Aa rha!”, He turned to Nandini who also stood with him. Wiping her tears, he said, “Apney ghar chalney k liye tayar ho jaye!”, He pulled her cheeks and said, “Aur mukaraye nahi toh kha jaunga apko main!”

Her cheeks crimsoned. Their moment was broken by Aryaman's voice, “Humey bhi dekhney dey Manik! Nandini kaisi lag rahi hai!”

Nandini held Manik's hand and hid more behind him. Looking at her, he found it fishy but didn't say anything.

“Bhabhi! Not Nandini!”, Manik replied to Aryaman.

“Comm'on Manik! We're not oldey!”

“Only bhabhi, Arya!”, Manik declared with a tight smile, “Aur ijzat hai wo! Main chaunga tum bhi unhey waisey hi ijzat do jo sahi hai!”

Aryaman smiled and nodded, “Sure! Why not!”

“Chaley?”, Cabir interrupted.

All except Nandini moved but Aryaman made sure to turn and give a dirty look to Nandini to which she shivered.

Later, all the rituals were performed. And they were finally a couple. Manik kissed her forehead and said, “Welcome home! Nandini Manik Malhotra!”

It was time to touch the feet of elders. Manik stood and turned towards Nandini's father while Nandini turned towards Manik's parents. Feeling a pull, they stopped. Manik turned to her and said, “Baba k pair pehly nahi chuney?”

“Apney ghar k bado k pehly!”, She replied with a teary smile.

“Apkey ghar k!”, He nodded as he understood her feelings. She wants this family to accept her which her father never did. Be her family!

They bent to touch Manik's parents' feet when both stopped Nandini. Taking her in a warm hug, Raj said, “Betiyan dil me rhti hai!”

Nyonika also caressed her cheeks. Manik smiled looking at them to which Raj said, “Tu kya dekh raha hai bewakoof! Pair chu!”

Nandini chuckled at Raj's words while Manik squeezed his eyes. “Abhi sey pati par hass rhi!”

She stopped laughing as she understood she's not serious and looked at his parents. Nyonika twisted his ear and said, “Tu rokeyga ussey?”

“Oww! Maa! Avi 5 min pehly biwi bani hai meri kuch toh ijzat rahney dijiye!”, Everyone laughed and they had a family group hug where Mukti was pulled.

After that they went to her baba, he hugged Manik and said, “Hope you have a great life ahead!”

Manik nodded with a smile. Nandini bent to touch her feet when he took an unnoticed step back which Manik didn't miss.

Nandini stood and whispered as Manik friends pulled him, “Dalheej par karney sey pehly jawab milney ki ijzat hai?”

“Aap apni maa ki najyaz awlad hai! Mainey bht sara kiya tha ussey! Wo bhi karti thi yaa bolo dikwa karti thi par humarey bich rishta banta ussey pehly wo apney ashiq k saath bhag gyi! Jab paisey khtm ho gye toh tumhey pet me le kar wapas aa gayi! Mainey fir b ussey apnaya! Pyar karta tha na! I announced to everyone that you're my child! Par tumhry iss duniya mey aney sey usski health par complications the. I told her to kill you but she was so in love with her lover that she chose to die. And she died the moment you came to this world! Nafrat nahi ghin aati hai mujhsey tumsey! Tumhra chahra bilkul tumhre baap sey milta hai! I killed him the day your mother returned to me! She returned but never loved me! I accepted everything but she didn't return the love! Tumhey dekh kar mujhey sirf uska dhoka yaad aata hai! Bahut baar kosis ki tumhey marney ki par tum haar baar bach gayi! Khair! Maa na sahi illegitimate child hi koi profit de gaya! Tumey jo yeh pyar mil raha hai na Malhotra se haqdar nahi ho! Kosis karna kahi bhi tmhri sachai bahar na aye varna yeh darwaja ab tmhre liye band ho gaya hai!”, He confessed and turned to move away. Leaving her numb at her place. 

After sometime, Mukti pulled her with them and sat in the car to go to her new life. She closed her eyes and gulped her sobs to hide her pain as her baba is right. Nobody will keep an illegitimate child with them.