In Malhotra's Villa

Manik and Nandini were standing at the door step while Nyonika was doing their Arti. Indira put teeka on their foreheads and welcomed the couple inside. Though, it wasn't their home but Nandini was entering in their family for the first time,so they found it necessary to follow such rituals..

Pallavi ( smiled ): Nandini beta..ab aap bhi iss parivaar ki hissa ban chuki hai, ithna awkward hone ke zaroorath nahi hai..

Nandini smiled faintly. It's not the first time, she was being surrounded by her in-laws but it was really the first time, she being alone with her in-laws.

Gaura: Beta, tumhe agar fresh hona hai tho oopar kamre mein jaakar kar sakthe ho.

Nandini ( softly ): Ji nahi..mein teek hoon..

Malhotras looked at Nandini to see her getting uncomfortable..

Devashree: Navya..tum usse oopar le jaa..

Navya ( smiled ): Ji Badi Daadi..Nandini..aayiye..

Nandini smiled at her and was about to move when she felt a tug on her hand and that was the moment she realized, her hand was still tangled with Manik's. She looked at Manik and he simply shrugged his shoulders without looking at her. She tried to take her hand back when he tightened his grip..

Manik: Um Navya Bhabi..jaane dhe..Mein hoon na..I will take her upstairs..

Nandini stared at him with widened eyes while others were smirking..

Cabir: Acha ji..ithni jaldhi kamre thak pohanchna hai aapko..?

Abhimanyu: Manik beta, thoda tho sabr rakhiye..wo kahi nahi jaanewali hai, teri hi hai wo..aaj raath tumhare paas hi rahegi wo..

Manik glared at both of them while Nandini's face has turned red..

Manik ( pouted by looking at Gaura ): Daadi..

Gaura ( sternly ): Abhi..Cabir..chup hoja..Aur Mann..tu leke jao Nandini puthar ko..

Manik grinned at her and winked at her as a token of thanks who blew a kiss in return for him. Nandini smiled after seeing them. He was about to move when she tightened her hold on him..

Nandini ( awkwardly ): Um..kya mein jaa sakthi hoon..??

She stared at the elders and they smiled at her..

Aadesh: Haa beta..jao..

She smiled at him and Manik took her with him to upstairs..

In Manik's Bedroom..

Manik opened the door for her and lead Nandini inside. Slowly, she took her hand out of his grip and moved to a corner and stood silently, while he closed the door but didn't lock it and stared at her..

Manik: Um, you really don't want to freshen up..??

Nandini ( nodded in No ): Uh..No..I just got changed from my villa..

He simply nodded and looked at her and found she was getting too awkward and uncomfortable..He sighed and moved to her and forwarded his hand to her. She frowned, but then gave her hand in his and he simply made her sit on the bed and he knelt down in front of her on the floor..

Nandini ( surprised ): Mr. Malhotra..what..

Manik ( smiled ): Shh..just listen..will you..( she nodded ) Do you regret this marriage..??

She got shocked with such a question from him..

Nandini: Mr. Malhotra, do you even realize what you are asking..??

Manik ( nodded ): I do..And that's why I want to know a genuine answer from you..Do you regret marrying me..??

Nandini ( sighed ): Why would I regret, Mr. Malhotra..? I said yes in marrying you because I found you to be the one for me..I don't know what made you think like that but I seriously don't regret marrying you. In fact, I'm happy to be your wife, I'm happy that I got married to you..

He smiled genuinely and took her hands in his and caressed them which really did a havoc inside her..

Manik ( softly ): Then, may I know why do you feel so uncomfortable with me..?

And she got to know he was upset with it..

Nandini ( sighed ): I'm sorry for that..It's..

Manik ( sighed ): I don't want you to apologize, Mrs. Malhotra..I just wanna know the reason..

Nandini ( smiled cutely ): It's just, now that we are married, I have to be with you in a room, alone, so I'm..you know, kinda..awkward..You're my husband..so..If you ask me to be physical with you..um..you know what I mean, right..

He shook his head while laughing loud making her forehead filled with frowns..

Nandini: What...?? Why are you laughing now..??

Manik ( chuckling ): Seriously..? You feel awkward because I'm your husband and we are alone in our room.. You think I might lose my control and would end up in doing ' it '..

Her cheeks went red but she managed to pout in anger..

Nandini ( glared ): Mr. Malhotra..I don't find it funny at all..

Manik ( chuckled ): No, it isn't funny, but the way you said it..It really sounded funny to me..But Mrs. Malhotra, you have to trust me..I..

Nandini ( interrupted ): I trust you Mr. Malhotra..

Manik's laughter went to a halt and he stared at her with deep intensity in his eyes while she stared at him with a sweet smile playing on her lips..

Manik ( surprised ): What...??

Nandini ( smiled ): I trust you. I really do. In fact, I always had trust in you but I didn't know whether I really had full trust in you or not, until today when you kissed my forehead. You had the right to kiss me when the priest asked you to do but you chose to go against it and then I knew, no matter what, I will be safe with you. I also knew, you won't touch me without my permission..

Manik could only read truthfulness in her eyes. He could see respect for him in her eyes and he had no control in his happiness..

Manik ( grinned ): Friends don't thank each other but could husband and wife thank each other..?

Nandini ( frowned ): I don't know but why did you ask all of a sudden..?

Manik ( smiled ): Cause I feel like thanking you for trusting me..

Nandini ( smiled ): You don't need to, when you earn something, your heart simply flutter in happiness and I can see it in your eyes so I don't need a mere ' thanks ' from you..

Manik simply shook his head and cupped her cheeks and kissed her forehead and she smiled widely in peace..

Manik ( whispered ): And I just got to know how to thank you hereafter..

She smiled at him.

Nandini ( concerned ): Mr. Malhotra, you are kneeling in front of me since a long time. It will hurt..

Manik ( smiled ): Until I make you understand something, I can forget about my knees..

Nandini ( confused ): And..what is it..??

Manik ( held her hands ): Yahi ki aaj ke baad aapko aise koi feelings se rehne ke zaroorath nahi. You already know I won't touch you until I get your permission, but you also need to know that I won't ask you for it until we have that feeling in our eyes for each other. I want to make love not lust or not desire to you, Mrs. Malhotra..!!

And now, he just earned a step more high in her eyes..She smiled widely and her happiness had no bounds..

Nandini ( smiled with moist eyes ): Thank You..

Manik ( bad face ): I don't like when you thank me or apologize. If I don't thank you then even you won't. I'm not any outsider for you..

She giggled at him..

Nandini: Okay, I took my words back verbally..

Manik ( smiled ): Now, that's better..

He got up from the floor and she too got up from the bed..

Manik: I will get freshen up, we need to leave..uh..within 1 hour..

He was about to move when he felt a tug on his hand. He stared at her with a frown but then smiled after seeing her entwining their fingers..

Nandini ( smiled ): You said I shouldn't thank you but I still feel like doing it, so this..

She showed him their entwined fingers..

Nandini ( smiled sweetly ): This is something, I will do, when I feel like thanking you for whatever you do for me..

And he bit his lips to control the wide smile which formed on his lips..

Manik: I'm happy, then...

She simply smiled and was about to take her hand back when he nodded in No..

Nandini ( softly ): You need to get changed, Mr. Malhotra..

Manik ( sighed ): Fine, but you'll stay here. Don't go downstairs..okay..??

Nandini ( nodded ): Um, yeah..but, I need to ask you something, so will you make it fast..??

Manik ( frowned ): Yeah, sure..You just wait here..hmm..??

Nandini just smiled at him and he moved to his walk-in-closet to get changed. And Nandini turned around to have a look at Manik's bedroom which didn't look different from how the Chopra's workers used to keep it..

Nandini ( confused ): Inka koi taste hi nahi hai kya..

Right after 10 minutes, Manik walked outside and saw Nandini staring at the whole bedroom with a frown on her forehead. He combed his hair with his hands and cleared his throat making her to look at him..

Manik ( raised his eyebrow ): Koi takleef..?? You are frowning, without any reason..

Nandini ( smiled ): No..it's..your room, its actually looking the same like how the workers used to keep. Why didn't you change it..? I mean, arranging some books or posters or photos..anything like that..??

Manik ( rubbed his nape ): I think, I should tell you, I'm so lazy when it comes to such stuffs..I..I don't find it necessary to have a taste. Ghar pe bhi, mera kamra Myru ne design kiya warna mujhe tho kuch aatha hi nahi..

She looked at him in disbelief..

Nandini: Mathlab, life khaas nahi hai kya aapkeliye..

Manik chuckled and walked to her and stood in front of her..

Manik: Aisa nahi hai..I'm way too. Apart from doing office work, I do nothing, I simply stay with Mom and irritate her..

Nandini ( giggled ): You're still a kid..

Manik ( chuckled ): Kinda...Waise, you wanted to ask something..What was it..??

Nandini ( nodded ): Yeah..I wanted to talk something important with you..

He took her hand in his and made her sit on the bed and he sat beside her..

Manik: Chalo..poocho..kya poochna hai..

Nandini ( smiled nervously ): Um..how's..your..family..??

Manik ( frowned ): Mathlab..??

Nandini ( bit her lips ): Um mathlab..how's their characters..Like, jithne bhi log hai wo sab ko kya kya pasand hai aur kya nahi pasand hai..

Manik ( confused ): Tum kya koi survey kar rahe ho..??

Nandini ( glared ): Kya mathlab hai aapka..??

Manik ( shrugged his shoulders ): Arey ab tumne hi tho poora Malhotra khaandhan ke character sketch maanga, tho yahi tho poochna chahiye na..

Nandini ( whined ): Mera mathlab wo nahi tha. you know, I wanna know them. Like, for example, your Daadi, how's she by her character. Sweet..? strict..? her morals..? I just wanna know what she doesn't like..

He stared at her with a smile..

Manik: Mrs. Malhotra..mere pariwar wale ithna bhi bura nahi hai. Haa, jithna pyar aapko apne pariwar se mili hai uthna milne keliye thoda time lagega par dil se bohath saaf hai tho ithna panic kyu ho rahi ho..

Nandini ( sighed ): Panic nahi, Mr. Malhotra. It's just, I don't want them to think that I can't be a good daughter-in-law..

Manik ( smiled ): And nobody is gonna think like that, even if you don't know what they like and what they don't. Because, they liked you for me, they saw their daughter-in-law in you, so it means, you need to become yourself to have a place in their heart and don't worry, you already hold a good place in their heart..

She smiled in relief...

Nandini: Okay..

She entwined their fingers and he knew she was thanking him so he simply kissed her forehead..

Nandini: Mein jaathi hoon..

Manik ( frowned ): Kaha..??

Nandini ( smiled ): Downstairs..sab neeche hai na..

Manik ( stupid grin ): Jaana zaroori hai kya..we still have half an hour left..

Nandini ( giggled ): Mr. Malhotra, sab neeche hai aur mujhe aise aapke saath kamre mein nahi betna chahiye..achi baath nahi hai..

Manik ( smiled ): Okay, tho hum saath mein chalenge, eve I have nothing to do..

She nodded and they both got out of the bed and moved to downstairs..

Downstairs

Manik instructed the workers while keeping the luggage in their cars while Nandini moved to one of the bedroom to see the ladies who were arranging bags..

Myra ( smiled ): Arey Didu..aap yaha kyu aayi..

And this made the rest to turn their attention to Nandini..

Maahi ( smiled ): Nandini, waha kyu khadi ho..andhar ao na..

Nandini smiled and moved inside..

Nandini: Wo...agar mein kuch madad kar sakthi hoon tho,.

Esha: Bilkul bhi nahi..tum tho nayi bahu ho aur tumhara kaam hai bina kuch kare kahi betna..

Nandini ( smiled ): Arey par, aap sab kaam kar rahe hai tho mein kaise..

Abha ( sighed ): Kyunki hum sab nayi bahu nahi par tum ho..ab chup chaap yahi kahi bet jaa..

Nandini ( pouted ): Abha Di...please..

Myra ( bad face ): Inka talent hai ye..anyone can melt with her pouts..

Navya ( teased ): Tab tho Manik ka control ka kuch nahi kar paoge wo..

Nandini bit her lips to control herself from blushing more while others laughed at her..

Myra: Acha Didu, aap yaha beitiye, koi kaam tho zaroor dena nahi wale..waise bhi, hum abhi niklenge..

Nandini nodded sadly..

Devashree: Myru..aage se Nandini bitiya ko Bhabi bulana chahiye tujhe..

Myra ( pouted ): Ye kaise baath hui Badi Daadi, mere liye wo pehle Di hai phir Bhabi..

Gaura ( sighed ): Par rishthe mein tere Bhai ki beewi hai..

Myra ( whined ): Please na Daadi..Didu, kya aap bhi yahi chahthe hai..

Nandini ( smiled ): Tum tho hamesha mere liye choti behen hogi chahe Bhabi hoon ya Didu. Agar Badi Daadi yahi chahthi hai tho..

Nandini looked at Devashree to see her smiling..

Devashree: Mere koi chaahath nahi hai Nandini beta..rishthe se tum uskeliye Bhabi ho..

Nandini ( smiled ): Mein nahi janthi ki mera logic sach hai ya nahi par mere liye Bhabi aur Nanand bas naam ka rishtha hai, unka rishtha tab gehra hojatha hai jab wo ek dusre ko behen manthe hai, aur jab mujhe Myra already Didu bulathe hai tho mere liye ye khushi ki baath hai..

The ladies looked at her with an admiring smile..

Indira: Bohath hi ache khayal hai beta tumhara..

Nandini smiled sweetly at her..

" Ladies, baahar aayiye.." someone said from outside..

Myra: Chalo, Mr. Strawberry bula rahe hai hume..

The ladies giggled at her and soon they moved out of the room while the workers followed them with their bags..

Outside the Mansion

Cabir: Chalo, sab apne apne car mein beithiye, if you want you can drive but we need to give the keys to Aanchal Paradise's drivers who will follow us in another car..and Manik beta, koi nahi, teri beewi tera saath ayegi..

Manik glared at her and smiled sheepishly at Nandini who was looking anywhere but not at him..

Manik opened his car's door for Nandini and made her sit inside while he occupied the driving seat and started driving..

Manik ( apologetic smile ): Cabir aisa hi hai, so don't mind him, Mrs. Malhotra..

Nandini ( smiled ): I like to be around him, aisa lag raha hai, Ishaan Bhai ke copy se bath kar rahe hai..

Manik ( smiled ): You love your brothers a lot, right..

Nandini ( smiled ): When it comes to a girl, love is always a delicate feeling..Chahe wo koi bhi ho jisse usse pyar hai..

Manik simply smiled at her. They will come to know about each other, soon..

Soon, they reached their Private Jet's Runway. Malhotras got out of their cars and the air-hostesses welcomed them in side..

Inside the Private Jet

Manik took Nandini to her seat and both occupied their seats..

Manik: Mrs. Malhotra, it will take us 4 hrs and 15 minutes to reach, you can take a nap, if you want..

Nandini ( smiled ): I'm not feeling sleepy, now..

Manik ( smiled ): You will eventually fall asleep, it's going to be hectic after sometime..

After sometime, they had some food and just like how Manik said, sleep was knocking at Nandini's brain..

She felt his hand entwining her's and she turned to see him resting his head on the seat with closed eyes..

Manik: You can sleep, Mrs. Malhotra..It's not an offence..

Nandini ( smiled ): I know..

He smiled, still with closed eyes..Soon, he felt some weight on his left shoulder and he looked at his left to see her sleeping with her head resting on his shoulder, which made him smile..He kissed her forehead and muttered " have a tight sleep " and he too closed his eyes and fell in a short slumber..

To be continued..