Engagement Day

Every relationship starts with a casual friendship. And then the friendship grows into higher level. Fore some, friendship turns into being siblings and for some it will be turned out to be lovers. The same applies to fiances too. Before becoming someone'e husband or someone'e wife, they crave to become their best friend and Manik and Nandini were feeling the same thing. They knew they were destined to become better half for each other but still, they wanted to start with friendship. What much better start you need other than being friends, after all they understand you the most after parents..

In Malhotra Villa

Manik's Bedroom

Manik was made to stand in front of the mirror and he looked at his reflection only to smirk, that's something he loves the most..

Maahi ( whistled ): Whoa..I never knew my devar looked this handsome..

Esha ( winked at Manik ): Aaj tho Nandini tujhe dekhke hi behosh hojayegi..

Manik bit his lips and ruffled his hair while blushing..

Navya ( grinned ): Oho...someone is blushing..

His brothers too had a smile on their face, they now knew Manik was more than happy with this marriage..

Cabir ( smirked ): Yaar Manik, this isn't your Suhaagrath..!! So, keep some red hues for your first night too..

Manik glared at him while others laughed at it..

Abhimanyu: Kuch bhi na Cabir, don't you know, Suhaagrath is the night of action so he wouldn't get time for blushing..

Manik was getting more embarrassed and others couldn't stop their laughter..

Manik ( whined ): Bhabii...

Abha ( glared ): Acha chup raho sab, Cabirr, Abhii..zyada chedna math, wo bacha hai na abhi bhi..

Cabir ( faked shocking expression ): Haww Bhabi, don't tell me you're getting a child married to Nandini. Yarr, wo goli maregi phir..

Manik smacked his head and Cabir was busy in chuckling..

Manik ( scowled ): If you don't keep your mouth shut, then mind it Cabirr, I wouldn't let you sleep with Navya Bhabi for your whole life..

Cabir ( smirked ): Jaise ki wo manegi..

Manik looked at Navya with a puppy face..

Manik: Kya aap nahi maanegi, Bhabi..??

Navya got melt with her little brother's pleading face, she turned to Cabir and glared at him..

Navya: Cabir, chup hoja, warna tumhe bedroom mein entry nahi milegi..

Cabir widened his mouth in shock while others chuckled. Manik gave a victory smile to him and he cursed Manik for umpteenth time..

Devarsh ( chuckled ): Ab bas bhi karo yar, warna Dadi aayegi humpe chillane keliye..

" Bachoo.." they heard Gaura's voice..

Sachan ( chuckled ): Grandson ho tho Devarsh jaise, kithne ache se janthe hai wo Daadi ko..

And the rest chuckled and moved downstairs..

In Chopra's Villa

Everyone were running here and there with last minute preparation. Since they engagement and marriage is happening in Thailand, they couldn't invite any distant relatives but soon they will be arriving for marriage, which is why for the engagement only the family members and Chopra's staffs will be present as the guests..

Aanchal ( annoyed ): Maanav, mein kabse keh rahi hoon, mujhe akele chodne keliye..

Maanav: Arey mujhe tumhara help chahiye tha..ye bolo, konsa shawl pehnna hai ye sherwani ke saath..

Aanchal hit her forehead and took one shawl form his hand and made him wear it..He was nagging like a child for the past half an hour saying he's got two different shawls yet they both were matching with his sherwani..

Aanchal: Lo..hogaya..

Maanav ( pouted ): Are you sure..what if the other one is better..

Aanchal ( frustratingly ): Aaj apka nahi balki hamrai choti pothi ki engagement hai tho koi aapka ghoorega bhi nahi..

Maanav ( attitude ): Aise kaise, Maanav Chopra naam hai mera aur mujhe bina notice karke koi yaha se chalega bhi nahi..

Aanchal ( sighed ): Inka kuch nahi ho saktha..Kailash is jsut like you when it comes to attitude, bechari meri Janki..

Maanav shrugged her rants off and started getting ready again while she made an angry pout and stormed out of the room making him chuckle..

In the living room

Janki: Stephen ( worker ), make it fast, we will be starting the event soon..Maria ( worker ) don't keep it so high, flowers should be seen by others, they will give a prettier look to the view..

Takshvi: Ma, aap kabse kaam kar rahe hai, jaakar taiyar hojaiye..

Janki ( smiled ): Mein teek hoon beta, aaj meri hunny bunny ki engagement hai aur mein kuch karne ke bina rahoon, impossible..ab tu jaakar taiyar hoja..tu ne tho soya bhi nahi..

Takshvi ( smiled ): Kya karun Ma, sab ithni jaldhi ho rahi hai ki bohath anxious lag rahi hoon..Ma, hamari bachi khush tho hogi na uske naye ghar mein..

Janki kept her hand on Takshvi's shoulder..

Janki: Tumhara darr jayaz hai but don't worry. I have seen the way Malhotras take care of their daughter-in-laws and I am sure they won't be able to stop themselves from loving our daughter too..

Takshvi smiled in assurance and walked away while Janki started instructing the workers again..

In Nandini's Bedroom

Zaara entered the bedroom to get the girls out of her bedroom..

Zaara: Bacho..jal...

He words went into dustbin after seeing Nandini clad up in a bridal attire looking extremely gorgeous with a glowing smile on her face after seeing her Bua..Zaara kept on admiring her with moist eyes..

Nandini ( twirled herself ): Kaisi lag rahi hoo mein Dimples..??

Zaara walked forward and kissed Nandini's forehead...

Zaara ( winked ): Aaj meri baby ekdum gorgeous lag rahi hai, tu ne tho sabith kiya ki tum Zaara Mukherjee ki niece hai..

Nandini ( pouted in anger ): Mathlab mein achi lag rahi hoon bas aapki wajah se hai warna mein tho kuch bhi nahi hoon..

Zaara ( giggled ): Ab sach ko accept karna hai na..

Nandini glared at Zaara and turned her head sideways..Zaara took a table mirror and kept in front of Nandini's face..

Zaara: Zaara Mukherjee ke physical xerox copy tho nahi but Nandini Chopra has got a facial feature to crave for..

Nandini smiled and hugged Zaara who hugged her back in equal favor..

Nandini ( sadly ): I will miss you..

Zaara ( hid her tears ): Me too..aur sunn, meri jagah kisi aur ko math dena..acha hi hua Manik ki koi Bua nahi warna tu usse Bua bulaegi na..

Zaara complained and Nandini giggled at her and pulled her cheeks..

Nandini: You are too cute..

Zaara ( raised her fake collars ): I know, that's why your Pa still runs behind me..

Nandini: Haw..kya mathlab..My Pa is no less than Tom Cruise..

Zaara: Yeah right. Tom Cruise kaha hai aur tere Pa kaha hai..

Nandini: Oh hello, my Pa is handsome, cute, sweet and understanding..he is the best along with my Dad, Hottie, Papa and Grand Pa and Bhais..

Eva ( irritated ): Tu keh kyu nahi dethe, tera family men hi sabse best hai..

Zaara ( grinned ): Ye bhi tho ek point hai..ye pagli Manik ke khayalon mein rehke sab kuch bhool gayi...

And Nandini started looking here and there with reddened cheeks..

Hetal ( teased ): Make up tho zyada daala nahi tumne phir bhi tere gaal ithna laal kyu hai, bells..

Iksha ( grinned ): Arey isse kehthe hai side effects of being someone's..hai na giggles..

Nandini ( pouted ): Bhabii...

The girls chuckled and pulled her cheeks in return she just made a bad face..

Jhanvi: Acha chalo..baathein baad mein, iska rajkumar aatha hi hoga..

Nandini bit her inner cheeks to get a grip over her blushing situation..

In the Backyard

It was time for the guests to arrive and whoever have come started gossiping about Chopra's taste in arranging an event. Indeed, it was looking beautiful with black and white theme as everything about this marriage should be odd, in a special way though. Since, it will be a beach wedding they decided to wear Indian traditional outfits like of Indian marriages for the engagement..

( Abha's Attire )

( Esha's Attire )

( Maahi's Attire )

( Navya's Attire )

( Myra's Attire )

Malhotras were welcomed gladly by the Chopras and were made to sit comfortably. Manik was waiting patiently for his bride on the stage with his gaze kept keenly in the entrance..

( Dinner area for family members )

( Dinner area for guests )

( Jhanvi's Attire )

( Hetal's Attire )

( Elisha's Attire )

( Iksha's Attire )

( Eva's Attire )

And soon, Nandini walked down the aisle along with her brothers but stopped in the middle after seeing such a big crowd. She, may be a private investigator but from heart, she is always a bubbly person. She, may know how to use a gun but still there's a part in her who holds her brother's little finger and asks them to protect her and so today, she was feeling so anxious after knowing that the whole crowd was actually waiting for her and their gaze was only on her..

Ishaan held her hand and gestured her to move, she bit her lips and tried to calm her running heart and looked in front only to get lost in the person who's gaze on her was so intent she forgot about the world and she just kept her gaze on him, only on him, her man, her Manik..He was looking extremely handsome that she had to admit at last that indeed he was the most attractive person she has ever seen, not just because of his physical appearance but his heart too where she was residing..

While Manik was looking at her without a blink, she was looking so gorgeous that he couldn't take his eyes off her as if he's scared that what if she vanishes when he blinks his eyes for once..He could tell the whole world that he is the luckiest man on earth to deserve a girl with a bewitching personality and a heart which he wants to claim as his, only his..

Taking baby steps, there she stood in front of him with her beautiful smile for which he fell all over again. He forwarded his hand towards her and she held it once she got the approving nod from both the families. He made her climb those three steps and made her stand beside him but his gaze still didn't leave her..

Myra stood beside Manik and forwarded the engagement ring to Manik who took it from her with an exciting smile and moved his left hand towards Nandini. She looked at him to see him looking at her with a smile which made her smile too. She looked at the men of her family and they nodded at her, she turned to Malhotra women and they smiled at her in surprise and then she gave her hand to Manik who made her wear the ring and kissed her knuckles making her blush while others hooted..

Eva forwarded the ring to Nandini and she looked at Manik and forwarded her hand and he just kept his hand in her's and she made him wear the ring and now, they belonged to each other..

Cabir ( shouted ): And from now, Nandini Chopra is soon-to-be Mrs. Manik Malhotra..

Manik's heart skipped a beat in joy and he looked at Nandini to see her with a beautiful smile playing on her lips..He simply held her hand and entwined them taking her in surprise, she looked here and there and on finding everyone engaged themselves with one or the other, she breathed a sigh of relief..

Nandini ( whispered ): Mr. Malhotra..sab hai yaha..

Manik ( smirked ): Shayadh ye aapke galath fehmi hai ki mein kisise dartha hoon, sorry to burst your bubble, but I am not scared of anyone Miss Chopra or soon-to-be Mrs. Malhotra..

Nandini looked at him with widened mouth and then shook her head with a smile on her face..

( Okay guys, you might have noticed MaNan addressing each other with surnames, so I would like to continue it till their marriage, they will call each other by name once the relationship between them gets "couple-ish". If you were a Qubool Hai fan, then you should understand why I am obsessed with it. Mr. Khan and Miss Farooqi should give an explanation, I think..)

Gaurish: Okay guys, its lunch time..

Soon, everybody were seated to have lunch and this time Manik and Nandini were sitting together..Everyone were having their food but Mr. Malhotra wasn't interested in food this time..He held Nandini's hand before she could think about having her food..She widened her eyes again and looked at Manik and shot a glare at him which he ignored..

Nandini: Mr. Malhotra..

Manik ( innocently ): Yes, Miss Chopra..

Nandini: Can I get my hand back..I need to use it to have my food..

Manik ( grinned ): Sorry, I need it with me for the entire lunch..wo kya hai na, aap humse ithni door rehthe hai ki hum dono ko zyada milne ka mauka nahi mil rahe hai..

Nandini ( raised her eyebrow ): Dhoor..? Ek kilometer kabse ithne dhoor hone lage aapko..

Manik ( widened his mouth ): Ek kilometer..mathlab 1000 meters..ye aapkeliye kuch bhi nahi hai..

Nandini ( hit her head ): Mr. Malhotra..ek kilometer ko convert karne keliye nahi bola hai mene aapse..

Manik: Haa tho mene kab convert kiya, mein koi Maths professor nahi hoon, Miss Chopra. I am a businessman..

Nandini ( sighed in disbelief ): Mr. Malhotra..please mere haath chodo..

Manik ( innocent face ): I would have love to but kya karun..maan nahi raha hai..

Nandini ( confused ): Kaun maan nahi raha hai..

Manik ( winked at her ): Mera dil..Dil hai ki maantha nahi..

She suddenly giggled because he was literally singing and he too chuckled with her..Hearing the sound of giggles, others turned towards the couple only to see them giggling at each other and this brought a smile on others' lips though they don't know the reason..

This time, even the youngsters kept quiet and didn't disturb them..

Nandini: I wanna eat, Mr. Malhotra..

Manik ( huffed ): Fine, par mujhe kya miloge..

Nandini: Aapko kya milna hai ismein..

Manik: If I am giving your hand back to you just for eating then shouldn't I get a reward for it. I would have got more time in holding your hand but you just snatched the right from me. So, you need to give me something in return..

Nandini ( disbelievingly ): You're impossible, Mr. Malhotra..teek hai, aapko jo chahiye wo milega..

Manik ( smirked ): Waada..?? you shouldn't back out, then..

Nandini ( pinched her throat ): I promise..

Manik ( smiled ): Then give me your time, tonight.

Nandini ( frowned ): What..?

Manik ( smiled ): I want your time, tonight. Only you and me..no family, no parties..nothing and none should enter there..Milega kya..

She smiled widely at him and nodded in yes..

Nandini: Done..par family se bina poochke nahi aaongi mein..

Manik ( smiled ): No problem...I will get it from your family..waise bhi apni honewali beewi ko lena chahtha hoon, mein thodi hi aapka boyfriend hoon..

She giggled at him again and the rest of their lunch was pure bliss for them..

To be continued..