In the Orchard

Manik and Nandini were standing with an embarrassed face by looking here and there. While Eva and Myra stood with a teasing smirk on their faces..

Myra: Bhai, what took you so long to reach when we have already reached a minute back..

Manik ( nervously ): Uh, nothing. I..I was just..slow..slow in walking..

Eva ( scratched her chin ): If I am not wrong, you've got long legs and people with long legs could walk faster, hai na Cutie Patootie..?

Myra ( grinned ): Oh yes, you said right..

Manik managed to glare at Myra and gave a stupid grin to Eva..

Manik: Um, I think..I should move ahead..

Saying it, he started moving but Eva's vocie stopped him again..

Eva: Arey Jeeju, agar apko kahi jaana hai tho jayiye, meri nanandh ko bhi le kyu ja rahe hai..?

Manik frowned but then noticed that he was still holding onto Nandini's hand and he looked at her to see her looking, correction glaring at Eva with a red face, it was hard to guess, whether she was red due to anger or was she blushing. She turned her gaze to Manik and gave a nerovus smile. He simply took his hand back..

Manik: Um...bye..

He literally ran from there leaving the girls to bust in laughter..Nandini was about to escape from there when the girls caught her by arms..

Nandini: Arey mujhe Bua bula rahi hai..

Eva: koi nahi, hum saath mein jayenge..waise bhi hume ter saare baathein karne hai tujhse, kyu Cutie..

Myra ( grinned ): Ye bhi koi poochne ki baath hai, waise didu, aapko mera Bhai kaise laga..?

Nandini ( bit her lips ): Uh..tumhara..Bhai..umm..tujhe patha hai na..mujhe kuch din pehle hi patha chala..ki tum Sachan Bhai ke choti behen ho..phir kyu pooch rahe ho baba..

Myra ( smirked ): Wow didu, aap tho aajakal excuse banana bhi seekh liya. I'm impressed. Waise, let em make it clear. I was talking about Manik Bhai, your to-be-husband..

Nandini ( looking here and there ): Um..Manik..yeah..what..about him..

Eva: Devilie, wo pooch rahi hai ki tujhe kaise laga wo..

Nandini: Arey ye tujhe nahi patha hai kya Cutie Patootie, tu uski behen hai tho tujhse zyada koi jaan sakthi hai kya usse..acha mein chalthi hoon..Ma bula rahi hai..

Nandini got out of their grip and was about to move ahead when Myra stood in front of Nandini and held her hands in her's..

Myra ( smiled ): Teek hai, let's not joke. Aap sach bathayiye..Did you like him..?

Nandini stared at Myra to see her with raised eyebrows and eyes with full of curiousness..

Nandini ( smiled ): Like ka tho patha nahi Cutie. You know its an arrange marriage so liking your would-be won't be possible until you understand him enough and I am just trying to understand your brother. All I can say is, your brother is a good person, though he sound like an impulsive and arrogant soul at first but he is good by heart and I am happy to be his would-be wife..

Myra smiled in happiness and hugged Nandini tightly making the girls smile..

Myra ( breaking hug ): Didu, I know he seems to be arrogant but his heart is so pure. Just like a baby, he needs someone to take care of him and his anger. He shows his true face only to his family and now you're going to be a part of it so gradually, you will get to know his real character and trust me you'll love him truly..

Nandini smiled at her words and nodded at her..The girls moved ahead and reached the elders..

Indira: Arey aagaye tum log. ( turned to Chopras ) ye hai humari beti, Myra..

Myra moved forward and took blessings from elders who blessed her with a sweet smile on their faces..

While someone stood shocked after seeing Myra..

" Tu ithe kya kar rahi hai moti baby.." Myra heard the voice with an irritation but then jumped in that person's arms..

Myra: Aapko irritate karna hi mera favorite hobby hai, Ishaan Bhai..

Nandini and Myra giggled while Ishaan glared at her. Malhotra brothers were observing them keenly. They never let any guys close to their sister but since Myra called him BHAI, it was okay for them.

Tarush ( whispered ): Aap logon ko zyada ghoorne ke zaroorath nahi hai. Ishaan Bhai was also in the same school which Myra used to go..

The brothers made an " OH " face..

Cabir: Yar Manik, agar mujhe patha hotha tho mein Myru se help maangtha tere aur Nandini Bhabi ke setting karwane keliye..

Manik ( glared ): Chup kar saale..

Tarush ( widened his eyes ): Setting..?

Manik and Abhimanyu slapped their foreheads..

Abhimanyu: Tere pet mein kuch nahi rahega hai na..

Sachan ( frowned ): Kya mathlab hai, Abhi..

Abhimanyu, Manik and Cabir made a tensed face while Sachan and Devarsh were looking at them with suspicious gazes. Thanks to their grandmother, they both were called by Gaura for some help.

Manik: Huff, bach gaye..Cabirrrr..

Cabir ( showed his tooth ): Mein tho unn dono ke bare mein bhool hi gaya tha..

Zaara ( to Ishaan ): Tum Myra bete ko kaise janthe ho, Ishaan..

Nandini: Arey Dim..( suddenly she realized she was with her in-laws too ) Um..Bua, Myra humari junior thi, school mein..

Zaara ( suprised ): Your Cutie Patootie..?

" Yupp.." Nandini and Eva grinned at her..

Ishaan ( bad face ): That's the only thing I hate about their friendship. I mean, seriously, Cutie Patootie..what kind of name is that..

Eva ( glared ): Tho, tumse aise bulane keliye nahi kaha na humne..

Myra ( frustrated ): Ye tho mujhe moti bulatha tha..

Ishaan ( chuckled ): It suits you..

On the other side,

Tarush ( suspiciously ): Bhai, chal kya rahe hai..

Manik grinned nerovusly at him while Abhimanyu was looking here and there..

Cabir ( casually ): Oh nothing, Manik has already liked Nandini before fixing their marriage..

Tarush's mouth was wide opened..

Tarush: WHA....!!!!

Manik glared at Cabir while Abhimanyu shushed Tarush from shouting..

Abhimanyu: Mere chote Jeeja ji, chillayiye math..ye baath kisiko patha nahi hai..

Tarush signaled Abhi to remove his hand from his mouth for which he obliged immediately..

Tarush ( still surprised ): Manik Bhai..aap..aap or kisi ladki keliye liking..seriously..?

Cabir ( fake sadness ): Yar Tarush, maana ki tumne Manik ko kabhi kisi ladki ke saath nahi dekha par iska mathlab ye nahi ki tu isko gay samjhega. He is seriously straight.

Manik ( scowled ): Cabirrr..agar tum mera Bhai nahi hotha aur Navya meri Bhabi nahi bani hothi tho sach mein I would have pushed you off a cliff..

Cabir ( scratched his chin): Tu ne movies mein nahi dekha hai kya Manik. Even if you push a person off a cliff, he will be alive. Someone down there will be waiting for a person to fall off a cliff so that they could save him and bring him back to his life.

Abhimanyu ( held his head ): Navya ko madhubala bulane ka shauk tha iss gadhe ko par ye khud 80s ke hero ban gaya ke isse drama ke alawa aur kuch aatha hi nahi..tell me something honestly Cabir, how come you are businessman when you have no sense in your brain..

Cabir ( shrugged his shoulders ): Mene mana kiya tha iss Manik ko hume advertisement company nahi kholna balki koi musicians banenge par ye mere koi baath sunthe kaha..

Manik ( pity face ): Cabir, mujhe kuch poochna tha..poochoon..

Cabir: Haa bol na..

Manik ( pissed face ): Tum mere bade Bhai ho ya 5 saal ke chote bhai..tere harkath dekhke mujhe rone ka mann kar raha hai..

Cabir made a bad face, Abhimanyu was still huffing while Tarish already occupied a seat and was watching his brother-in-laws boring drama. No, not boring, he was actually finding it annoying..

Tarush ( raised his hand ): Koi mujhe kuch poochne ka mauka dega..

Abhimanyu ( annoyed ): Ab tujhe kya poochna hai..

Tarush ( sarcastically ): Yahi ki, aap theenon kaise shadi kar sakthe, do tho already shadi shuda hai aur teesra shadi karne wala hai, mere theen Bhabiyoon ki zindagi kyu barbad kar rahe ho..

" Tarushhh "

Tarush ( irritated ): Kya..mujhe aap logon ke bath sunke rone ka mann kar raha hai..Kabse bachon jaise lad rahe hai, mene tho bas itha nahi poocha ki Manik Bhai kaise like kar saktha hai aur aapne wo baath kaha thak pohanchaaya..

Manik: Oye, tujhe mujhein koi kammi dikhayi de raha hai kya..Can't I like a girl..

Tarush ( grinned ): Of course you can but I never thought you would actually like a girl. I mean, pehli baar hua na, so just a side effect..

Abhimanyu: Ab uss side effect ko nikal dho. He's already smitten..

Tarush ( chuckled ): Waise Bhai, you guys will make a great couple..ek impulsive aur gusse wala aur ek goli chalane wali..kya jodi bana hai rab ne..

Manik ( annoyed like hell ): Tarushhhhh..

Tarush kept a finger on his lips..Before they could continue their fight, they saw Myra approaching them with Nandini, Eva and Ishaan..

Myra: Didus and Bhai..ye hai Tarush..

Ishaan hugged Tarush who reciprocated with equal favor while Eva and Nandini side hugged him..

Nandini ( smiled ): How are you, Tarush

Tarush ( smiled ): All good Di, how are you..?

Nandini ( smiled ): Same here..

Tarush ( smiled ): Eva Di, how about you..

Eva ( grinned ): Ekdum masth..

Ishaan ( smiled ): Waise tumhare business kaise ho, moti was telling about some tension that you had to go through some months back..

Tarush ( smiled ): Everything is fine now, Bhais were a great help in it..

Tarush stared at Manik, Cabir and Abhimanyu with a smile and they rolled their eyes..

Manik: Tarush, it was you who did a hard work in bring your business at it's peak..

Tarush ( chuckled ): Of course, it was me Bhai. But, it wouldn't have been possible if you weren't by my side..

They just smiled and Nandini stared at Manik and she felt some kind of pride for him..

Eva ( mischievously ): Wiase, tum abhi bhi Ishaan se darthe ho kya..

Tarush ( pleaded ): Di, please don't bring that topic..

Nandini and Eva giggled along with Myra while others were confused except Ishaan who was just smirking..

Cabir: Aise bhi kya hua..

Myra ( giggled ): Kya bathaoon Bhai, The great Tarush Bedi Singh ke izzath ud gaya..

" Kya.." they echoed in shock..

Ishaan ( chuckled ): Moti, don't exaggerate it. Guys, nothing like how she is saying it..

Myra: Arey mera mathlab aisa nahi tha. Actually, jab pehli baar Nandini Didu se Tarush ne mila, wo mera college time ke waqt tha and Didu wanted to make sure of it ki Tarush wasn't a fraud so she kept a meeting and she shot questions at him like she was actually questioning a murderer.

Nandini ( smiled ): Hey, but I was impressed. His love for you was genuine..

Eva ( smiled ): Yeah, it was. But, you shouldn't have hugged him..

Eva and Myra started laughing while Nandini too was chuckling but others were clueless..

Abhimanyu: Yar, Myru elaborate it na..

Tarush was palming his face in embarrassment..

Myra: Arey nothing much, after finding out that Tarush wasn't a fraud, Didu smiled and approved of our marriage and she side hugged him and he too was happy so he hugged her back but to his bad luck, Ishaan Bhai saw it and he thought some random guy was hugging his baby sister and he..

Myra stopped and giggled and saw Tarush glaring at her..

Manik ( raised his eyebrow ): He what..

Ishaan ( coolly ): I punched in his face..

Manik, Cabir and Abhimanyu stared at him with widened mouth..

Ishaan ( sighed ): Now, don't stare at me like that. Arey, aaj thak jithne bhi iske friends hai sabko mene check kiya hai. None of them were frauds and then one day I was seeing some random guy hugging her so I didn't think twice, how can someone just hug my sister. Punch is my favorite job so I did it..

Manik stared at Ishaan with " really " smiled while Abhi and Cabir felt pity for Tarush..

Abhimanyu: Phir kya hua..

Nandini ( sighed ): Phir, I had to make him understand that Tarush was Myra's bf and I was just confirming that he wasn't a fraud..

Tarush ( baby face ): And the most important part, I was 2 years younger to Di..

And others just busted out in laughter while Tarush made a bad face..

Nandini ( giggled ): Ab bas bhi karo..Tarush, m sorry again on behalf of Ishaan Bhai..

Tarush ( genuinely ): Koi nahi Di, I am used to brothers' glares. Ishaan Bhai was just a step ahead than Bhais, I mean, they never punched but only glared and gave some tasks to deserve Myra..

Cabir: Yahi tho hoga agar pampered sister se shadi kiya tho..

Tarush ( smirked ): Wo tho hum aage dekhenge, kyu Manik Bhai..

Manik just knew what he meant, so he just glared at Tarush who was suppressing his laughter..

Aanchal: Acha bacho..yaha aaja..

Soon, the youngsters have gathered around the elders and listened to them keenly.

Devashree: Humne Pandit ji se baath kiya hai aur unhone kaha ki kal ek acha muhurath hai Engagement keliye..

Manik and Nandini snapped their heads at Devashree after hearing the simple yet an important word " Engagement ". They looked at each other..

Gaurish: Par Mom, ithni jaldhi..?

Jhanvi sighed in disbelief..

Zaara: Arey mere Golu, baby ki shadi 6 din mein hogi tho Engagement kam se kam kal hi hona hai na..

Gaurish made a bad face for calling him GOLU in front of his sister's in-laws while at the same time he nodded at her reluctantly..

Janki: Kisi ko koi takleef hai kya..??

" Nahi Nana/ Janki Dadi " youngsters echoed..

Manik raised his eyebrows at Nandini asking if she was okay with it and she smiled at him..

Nandini ( thought ): Marriage within 6 days and Engagement is going to happen tomorrow. Sab kuch ithni jaldhi ho rahi hai ki mujhe kuch samaj nahi aa rahi hai..Rabba, mere saath rehna..

Gaura: Chalo bacho..ab hum lunch karenge..

Malhotras and Chopras got seated around a big table and started having their lunch. Nandini was unusually quiet. Side effects of marriage..

Sachan ( remembered something ): Wiase Chiko, tumne kabhi bathaya nahi ki tum Myru ko kaise janthi ho..

Gaurish ( muttered ): Here he is..mathlab meri behen hai aur mene isko Chiko naam rakha hai tho ye mera haq hai na usse chiko bulane ka par ye sunthe kaha hai..

Jhanvi and Hetal heard it and murmured " hey bhagwan "..

Jhanvi: Gaurish, chup hoja, agar koi sun liya tho kaisa lagega unhe..

Gaurish ( rolled his eyes ): Tum sachmein meri Ma ki bahu ho tabhi tho aise Mother India ke karkathe kar rahe hai..

Hetal ( sighed ): Gaurish Bhayya, aisa nahi hai, unhe sach mein bura lagega..

Jhanvi: Aur nahi tho kya, Abha mujhse baath nahi karegi phir..

Gaurish: Beewi, mujhe tumhari dosth ya unke pathi se koi problem nahi par mera haq cheene nahi doonga, kisiko bhi nahi..

Jhanvi: Inka kuch nahi ho saktha..

Nandini ( smiled+ casually ): Sachan Bhai, mujhe bhi nahi patha tha, until she talked about that culprit..

Sachan ( frowned ): Culprit..?

And Nandini just bit her tongue. She looked at Myra to see her smirking..

Esha: What culprit, Nandini..?

Nandini: Um..uh wo..

Nandini was finding for words and others were just confused with her behavior..

Myra ( giggled ): Arey the same culprit whom we, yaani ki me, Manik Bhai and Cabir Bhai wanted to catch..

Manik and Cabir ( confused ): What..?

Myra ( smirked ): Well, let me introduce my best friend who helped me in catching our Advertisement Company's betrayer and she is none other than Nandini Chopra or soon-to-be Mrs. Nandini Malhotra..

Nandini glared at Myra while Manik just spat his juice, uh-oh this time it was someone else..

Devarsh ( scowled ): Manik...

Manik just realized it wasn't Cabir while it was his duplicate brother Devarsh.

Manik ( grinned sheepishly ): Oh Hi Bhai..Aap yaha betha tha..

Devarsh ( sarcastically ): Nahi mein Eiffel tower ke topmost floor pe betha tha..kyu tujhe dikhayi nahi diya..

Manik made a puppy face and that was like a total surprise package for Nandini..

Nandini ( thought ): He can act cute...??

Cabir ( irritated ): Hold on guys, Myru..tumne kya kaha..Nandini..I mean our Nandini Bhabi, is the person who helped us in catching that thief..

Myra ( grinned ): Yup. The same person with whom Manik Bhai fought and the same person whom you guys actually approached for the first time in helping you guys out..

Malhotras stared at Nandini with " really " looks..

Nandini ( sighed ): Okay, I am sorry. I know, I shouldn't have intruded in between your work..

Manik ( interrupted ): Miss Chopra..

Nandini stopped her rants and looked at him to see him nodding in No..

Manik: I jsut wanted to know why did you agree to help us when I was the one to fight with you..

Nandini ( nodded ): Myra..maybe, you should know that she is just like a sister to me and when she said about your company's problems as she is the CFO , I got to know that you are her brother and Myra is from Abha Di's family. I knew I was the one to reject the offer but..I couldn't neglect her..So, I decided to put some help in it by giving her some ideas to catch the culprit.

Manik stared at her without any emotions, but from inside he was happy, he was happy to see his would-be wife having such a deep connection with his sister. He always wanted a family person to become his wife and today Nandini proved it by keeping aside her Ego and considering Myra as her priority not her job or not her differences with him that she used to have..

Nandini thought he was feeling betrayed because she never spoke about she being the helper in catching that culprit. But, she wasn't at fault too. She nearly forgot about such an incident. It happened long back, when they were in Mumbai and her differences with him was sorted out when they came in Thailand..

Nandini ( guiltily ): I am sorry Mr. Malhotra..I should have said i..

Manik ( interrupted again ): Thank you..

Malhotras stared at him with widened mouths to see THE MANIK MALHOTRA thanking someone..

Nandini: Huh..

Manik ( smiled ): Thank You for helping me out..

Nandini smiled at him and so Chopras. They were getting to see multiple shades of Manik Malhotra or to be precise, their only Jeeju..

Soon, they were done with their Lunch and Malhotras bade bye to Chopras after discussing the theme for engagement..

At Night

Manik's Bedroom

In the Balcony

Manik just walked into his balcony and stared at the calm see with a smile on his face. he closed his eyes only to see Nandini's serene face which immediately brought a wide grin on his face. he opened his eyes, yet again to see her face..but somewhere a bit far from him..

He rubbed his eyes and still, he was seeing her and the surprising thing is she wasn't alone. She had a baby in her hands, he furrowed his eyebrows and looked keenly..

Manik: Naitik..

He smiled and moved back to his room and sneaked out of his villa and walked towards the sea and stared at her lovingly..

Manik ( smiled ): She looks beautiful in whatever she wears..!!

He walked ahead and stood beside her and took her right hand in his startling her..

Nandini: Jeez..what the..

She just removed her hand from his and stared at her right in shock..

Nandini ( shocked ): Mr. Malhotra..

Nandini was getting bored in her villa. Everyone were jsut busy with her engagement preparations. She looked at Naitik only to see him looking at her grumpily. She picked him and made him sit on her lap..

Nandini ( poked his nose ): Ab mere chote saab ithna grumpy kyu lag rahe ho..

Naitik ( scrunched his nose ): Borey ( Bored ) Borey..

Nandini ( giggled ): Acha ji..hum dono ke tastes kithne milthe hai..mein bhi bored hoon, yaha koi mujhe kaam bhi karne nahi de rahe hai..chalo, ab kya kare..

Naitik ( grinned ): Ghoom ghoom..

Nandini ( grinned ): Chalo, as my chote saab wishes..let's go for ghumna..

She quickly took him and informed Jhanvi about going for a walk and walked out of her villa. She started walking with Naitik in her arms and not to mention, they both didn't stop blabbering.

Soon, she reached the sea and she just fell for the view..The night adorned with only stars but the beauty that carries was something mesmerizing. The moonlight was like a cheery on top. She loved nature, to no extent..

From nowhere, she felt a hand in her's much enough to freak her out. She jumped in her place and removed her hand from the person's hold..

Nandini ( shocked ): Jeez..What the..

She stared at her right only to get shocked..

Nandini ( shocked ): Mr. Malhotra..

While, he started chuckling..

Manik: Don't go hyper Madam, its me only..Manik Mlahotra..

Nandini ( shook her head ): God, you just scared me..Aise kaise kisi ke haath pakad sakthe..

Manik ( smiled ): Kisi ke tho nahi balki apni honewali beewi ke haath pakad sakthe..kyu..

Nandini stared at him in a snap and then bit her lips and smiled..

Nandini: Tumhe hath pakadne mein ithna shauk hai kya..

Manik just held her hand in his and entwined their fingers..

Manik ( looked in front ): Har kisike tho pakda nahi balki tumhari haath pakadna muje pasandh hai..

He stared at her to see her already looking at him with an adorned smile playing on her lips..

Naitik ( narrowed his eyebrows ): Hu al u ( Who are you..? )

Manik moved his gaze from Nandini to Naitik and smiled at him..

Manik: Arey tumhari Bua ne nahi bathaya kya..

Naitik looked at his Bua to see her looking at Mnaik with raised eyebrows..

Manik: Haw Miss Chopra, bad habit..you didn't tell about your would-be husband to your nephew. I didn't expect it form you..

Nandini shot a glare at him making him chuckle..

Manik: So let me introduce myself, hi..I am Manik, Manik Malhotra..

Naitik: Maaik Malota..??

Nandini busted out in laughter while Mnaik made a bad face..

Manik: Ithna acha khasa naam hai aur tumne kachde mein daala sab kuch..

Nandini ( miled ): Chote saab, inka naam hai Manik Malhotra..

Naitik: Haa wai ( wahi ) bola..Maaik Malota..

Manik ( sighed ): Tum wo chod aur mujhe kuch aur bulao..tumse nahi ho paega Manik bulana..

Naitik kept his finger on his chin and started thinking while Nandini too was thinking about a name for Manik..

Naitik ( grinned ): I wi( will ) co ( call ) u Pa..

Nandini's head snapped at Naitik in shock while Manik was a bit clueless..

Manik: Miss Chopra, what did he say, I didn't egt it..

Nandini ( still shocked ): Huh..

Manik: What did he say..just now..?

Nandini ( stared at Naitik ): He said, he will call you Pa..

Manik's heart skipped a beat in joy..

Manik: Pa..?

She looked at him to see him caressing Naitik's cheeks lovingly..

Nnadini: Baby..why Pa..?

Naitik ( grinned ): I..oways ( always) lik ( liked ) tha ( that ) wood ( word )..aap bhi Pa bulthi ( bulathi ) hai na, Ahaan Dadu ko..

And that was when she remembered how much Naitik loved to hear her calling Ahaan Pa. He never called any of his chachus as Pa but today, he found that man who deserves to hear Pa from him and that was Manik, her soon-to-be hubby..

Nandini ( stared at Manik ): He loves to hear that word Pa from me, that's how I address Bua's husband..He always adored that name and today he just called you by that name..

Manik bent and kissed Naitik's forehead..

Manik: And I am happy to know that I am the person to be called Pa from your mouth..

Naitik grinned and kissed his cheeks back while she stared at the duo lovingly..

To be continued..