In Malhotra Mansion

Manik walked to the living room and settled beside Madan and Haresh while Nandini walked inside the kitchen not before greeting the elderly men..

In Kitchen

Nandini entered only to see the younger daughter-in-laws busy in cooking. She felt too awkward because Myra and Abha are the only female souls whom she knew in Malhotra Mansion and the rest are just acquaintances..She, simply cleared her throat which gathered their attention..

Nandini ( smiled ): Good morning..!!

" Good morning " they replied with a sweet smile..

Esha ( smiled ): Nandini, you didn't need to wake up this early..

Nandini walked to them and gave a smile..

Nandini: I wake up early so I couldn't sleep more..

Maahi ( raised her eyebrows ): Even during holidays..?? i mean, you're a PVT Investigator, so you must be having a hectic schedule..

Nandini ( smiled ): Yeah, we do have a hectic schedule but then Ma is an early riser so she taught us to wake up early in the morning even if we sleep late at night. Aadat ho chuki hai ab..

Abha: Haa, tabhi tho tum unhe Mother India bulathi hai..

Nandini smiled sheepishly..

Navya ( confused ): Arey, ye tho achi baath hai na, early to bed and early to rise, that's healthy for a human being..

Nandini ( nodded ): It is healthy, par Ma is definitely not just about being an early riser. She is fully a sanskari beti, bahu and Ma. Extra morals, too much sensitive when it comes to taking care of family..

Maahi ( sighed ): You definitely need to call her Mother India, then..

Nandini ( giggled ): I never forget to tease her with that name..

The rest 4 too shared a laughter..

Nandini: Um, waise, mein bhi madad karoon..??

Esha: Nahi tum..

Nandini ( pleaded ): Please Bhabi, mana math keejiye. Mein bore hojaoongi..

Esha ( smiled ): Teek hai, just help us out then..

Nandini ( smiled ): Thank you, Bhabi..

Esha ( bad face ): Arey yar, ab tum aise choti choti cheezon keliye bhi Thanks bolna shuru kiya. Mujhe ye sab bilkul bhi pasand nahi hai..

Nandini ( held her left ear ): Sorry..I won't repeat it..

Esha ( smiled ): Now, its better..

Abha ( sighed ): Ye ladki pregnant kya hui, drama queen ban gayi..

Maahi ( pouted ): Arey, ismein galathi kya hai Bhabi, pregnant hogayi na, tho tantrums jhelna aapka kaam hai..

Navya ( grinned ): Acha hi hua mein pregnant nahi hui, warna Abha Bhabi aur Nandini tho mental asylum jaenge..

And the rest giggled..

Abha: Chalo, ab shru kare..Chiko, you can even learn everyone's tastes, especially Manik's..

Nandini smiled at Abha and nodded at her..Soon, the ladies got busy in cooking, they even gelled up easily with Nandini and she no more felt awkward with them..Right after an hour the ladies were ready with their foods..

Maahi: Wow, Nandu, ye kya banaya tumne..Um, waise, mein aise bula sakthi hoon na..

Nandini ( smiled ): Of course, Bhabi. Ismein poochne ki kya baath hai. And this is chocolate oatmeal pudding cake..

Navya: Oh yeah, though I've heard about it, I never tried..

Nandini ( smiled ): This is something I used to make at home, Dad and Pa eat they have never seen food while hottie is a fitness freak so I used to make it for them. You know, by looking at it, it's yummy but it's quiet healthy too, I was missing them so I thought of making it. Hope, none will have a problem with it..

Esha ( giggled ): Well, you're going right because here we have only foodies, except bade Chachu ( Haresh ) and Bade Daadu..

And Nandini noted to make such meals everyday..

Maahi ( laughed ): Wo tho hai, aise khana khaatha hai jaise 100 din se kuch khaya hi nahi..

" Arey, kya baath ho rahe hai.." someone spoke from behind..

Abha ( smiled ): Kuch nahi Daadi, hum bas yaha ke foodies ke barein mein baath kar rahe the..

Gaura walked inside with the elder daughter-in-laws..Nandini walked to them and bent to take blessings from them..

Gaura ( smiled ): Khush raho beta..

Nyonika ( smiled ): Nandini beta, mera paav math chuiye, mein budhi nahi banna chahthi hoon..

Nandini giggled and nodded at her and Nyonika hugged her followed by Indira and Pallavi..

Gaura: Chalo, khana banathe hain..

Abha: Uske zaroorath nahi hai Daadi, sab ready hai..

Indira ( surprised ): Kya..?? ithni jaldhi..?

Navya ( joked ): Aapke daughter-in-laws multi talented hai..

The elder ladies chuckled at her..

Pallavi: Acha chalo, sabko bulao phir..

The girls nodded at her and soon the dining table was ready with breakfast..

Breakfast Table

The men got settled down and the women plated for them and sat beside their husbands. Manik held Nandini's hand as soon as she occupied her seat beside him..

Nandini ( whispered ): Mr. Malhotra, kya kar rahe ho..sab hai yaha..

Manik ( shrugged his shoulders ): Haa tho, mein apni beewi ki hath pakad rahi hoon tho kisiko bhi problem nahi hona chahiye aur agar hoga bhi tho mein nahi dartha kisise..

Nandini looked at him in disbelief and then started eating. He simply entwined their fingers and started eating with his left hand..

Pallavi: Mann, kithne baar bolun tujhse, don't eat with you left hand even if you are a lefty..

Manik looked at her with a sheepish grin while Nandini didn't look at anyone..

Manik: Pallavi Ma, I'm not comfortable with right hand..

Indira: Tho comfortable banna chahiye. You're eating food and you must eat with your right hand..

Manik was making puppy faces while Abhi and Cabir looked at Manik keenly. Had it been some other day, Manik would just make a bad face and will start eating with his right hand but now, it looked like he has no choice but to eat with left hand..They looked at each other and at Manik's right hand which was below the dining table. They looked down and soon smirks found way to their lips..

Abhi: Arey Indu Ma, zara gor se dekhiye tab samaj payenge aap..

Indira: Kya bol rahe ho, Abby..??

Cabir ( sang with a smirk ): Table ke oopar nahi..Table ke neeche hai..Table ke oopar nahi..Table ke neeche hai..

And the ladies looked down only to see Manik leaving Nandini's hand who immediately kept it on her lap..

Nyonika ( grinned ): Tho yahi wajah thi..hai na Mann..

Manik started looking here and there while Nandini's face has turned into red..

Abhi: Yar sharam kar, mathlab sabke samne hi hath pakadne hai..

Manik glared at Abhi who simply ignored it..

Cabir: Aise kaise, Manik Malhotra jo hai, tho bas chance milna chahiye baaki ka kaam wo khud karega..

Manik ( glared ): Cabir....

Abhi: Usse patha hai uska naam Cabir hai..

Aadesh ( his his grin ): Acha bas bacho, khana khao..

And they nodded at him like obedient kids..Aadesh looked at a particular recipe and frowned. He stared at it with twinkling eyes but also confused. How come someone can keep something sweet in front of him. They never gave him sweets because, he had high level of Sugar and also Cholesterol.

Aadesh ( sweetly ): Devashree...

Devashree ( raised her eyebrow ): Ji...

Aadesh ( smiled ): Kya mein taste kar saktha hoon ye..Ab ye tumhari galathi hai, tumhe mere samne rakhna nahi chahiye that. Aur ab mene dekh chuki hai tho, ek bite de sakthi na tum..??

Devashree followed his gaze and she frowned..

Devashree: Arey mene nahi rakha ye sweet yaha..Gaura beta, tumhe patha hai na Aadesh ye sab nahi khaa sakthe..

Gaura ( confused ): Nahi Ma, mene nahi rakha..bacho, aaj tum logone khana banaya na, ye sweet yaha kyu rakh liya..

Abha ( smiled ): Kyunki, ye aapki nayi bahu ne banaya hai..

Devashree and Gaura turned to Nandini who was looking at them nervously..

Devashree ( smiled ): Nandu puthar, bura nahi manoge tho mein ek bath keh sakthi hoon..??

Nandini ( smiled ): Aap mere liya meri Daadi jaisi hai, kahiye na..

Devashree ( smiled ): Aadesh ko hum sweets nahi dethe hai, usse high level of cholesterol bhi hai aur diabetic bhi, agar wo nahi khayega tho koi dikhath tho nahi beta..

Aadesh's face went sad which was noticed by everyone but they couldn't take the risk by giving him something sweet..Manik looked at Nandini to see her staring at Aadesh with a smile which he didn't understand because Aadesh was looking sad..

Manik: Bade Dadu, aapke cholesterol level check karthe hai pehle phir aap khaa leejiye ( Aadesh gave a nod to him while Manik turned to Nandini and smiled ) Mrs. Malhotra, Bade Dadu ko sweets nahi de sakthe hai, you can understand what I'm trying to make you understand right..

Manik asked her with hope in his eyes. Just like he said before marrying her, he neither will take his family's side nor his wife's side but with the truth, but also he doesn't want her to think that he's a dominating husband..

Nandini ( smiled ): Yes, I do. But, Bade Dadu can have that recipe, if he likes it..

Manik ( frowned ): Kya mathlab..?? Mene kaha na Ba..

Nandini: It's made of oatmeal..

And this caught everyone's attention except the younger ladies..

Nandini ( smiled at Aadesh ): That's a chocolate pudding made of oats and it's sugar free, even the chocolate is dark..Its healthy and I made it just because I used to make it for my Dad and Pa because even they have similar problems which Bade Daadu has..

Aadesh ( grinned ): Really..?? It's healthy..??

Nandini ( smiled ): Yes, it is..

Aadesh took a bite and licked his lips like a kid which really brought a smile on everyone's lips..Seeing him relishing it, Gagan and Cabir silently took a bite and they just moaned..

Cabir: Wah..mathlab, its sugar free and made of oats, something I hate, phir bhi ithna tasty..I should have tried it..

Gagan: Wahi tho, jaise mein oats ke naam sunthe hai waise hi mein bhagtha rehtha tha..I should have tasted it before coming to a conclusion. Nandini puthar, Thank you so much..

Nandini ( smiled ): You're welcome, Daadu..

Manik smiled at Nandini and somewhere he felt he should have listened to her first..

Aadesh: Cabir..

Cabir: Haa Bade Daadu..

Aadesh: Tumhara company mein zyada kaam bache hai kya..

Cabir ( frowned ): Mathlab..??

Aadesh: Mathlab, Manik ke bina tum aur Myru company chala sakthe kya, kuch dino keliye..

Cabir ( confused ): Arey Manik kahi jaa rahe hai kya..??

Aadesh simply palmed his face while his grand daughter got his point and she hit Cabir's head..

Myra: Aap tho Mr. Pizza hi rahega..Bhai, Bade Daadu Manik Bhai ke HONEYMOON ke barein mein bath kar rahe hai..

And Manik and Nandini snapped their heads at Myra in surprise. Nandini grew nervous. She knew, she doesn't need to give herself to Manik because he will wait for it but then they can't just say it out to the family..

Cabir ( mischievously ): Ye tho mene socha hi nahi..Nahi Bade Dadu, Manik ki koi zaroorath nahi hai. Waise, Manik beta, kaha jaana hai aapko apni beewi ke saath..???

Manik scowled at him and turned to Aadesh..

Manik: Um, Bade Dadu, abhi nahi, ab mujhe office mein thoda kaam hai..

Raj ( glared ): Manik, shadi hogayi hai tho kaam ke barein mein sochna nahi chahiye. Cabu ne bola na, zyada kaam nahi hai..

Manik ( rubbed his nape ): Nahi Dad, aisi baath nahi hai..Actually, company mein mera ek project hai, aur wo bohath jaldh hi karna chahiye..

Madan ( sighed ): Mann, company mein jo bhi kaam hai uska Cabu aur Myru dekh lenge. Ab tumhari shadi ho chuki hai, isiliye kaam ke saath saath beewi ko bhi apna time dena chahiye..

Manik bit his lips and thought for some better excuses while Nandini felt so low thinking he's lying to his parents only for her..

Gagan ( raised his eyebrows ): Waise tum tho har waqt desperate rehthe ho tho ab honeymoon ke baari aayi tho ithna pareshan kyu ho rahe ho..??

Manik ( grinned ): Kaun pareshan ho rahe hai Daadu..?? I'm just being truthful. I seriously have got a lot of work to do. We just came back from our holiday tho phir ithni jaldhi kaise jaa sakthe hain..

Myra: Bhai, hum yaha aapke honeymoon ke barein mein bath kar rahe hai aur honeymoons shadi ke baad hi hotha hai, wo bhi jithni jaldhi ho sake, uthni jaldhi..

Gaura: Nandu puthar, tu batha, tu kya chahthi hai..??

Nandini looked at Gaura and then found each and everyone's gaze fixed on her including Manik who was smiling at her in assurance as if he'll handle the rest..

Manik: Daadi aa...

Nandini: Jo Mr. Malhotra bolega, wohi sahi..!!

Manik looked at her with a smile. A simple sentence, which showed that they speak for each other not for themselves..

Cabir ( frowned ): Nandini Bhabi, agar aap nahi janthe tho mein clear kar saktha hoon, iss ghar mein totally 10 Malhotra men hai aur aap unmein se kiske barein mein bath kar rahe the..??

Manik ( glared ): Cabir..uska husband tho sirf mein hi hoon na, tho obviously mere hi barein mein bath karegi..

Abhi: Like really, tum usse Mrs. Malhotra aur wo tumhe Mr. Malhotra bulathe hai, even after getting married to each other..

Manik: Haa tho kya burai hai ismein, hamari marzi hai..huh..

Others gave a ' what ' look to him which he ignored..

Manik: Dadi, wo bhi yahi chahthi hain, tho phir hum ye topic yahi end karthe hai..

Indira: Nahi, Nandu beta, kya tum apni marzi se bol rahi ho ya phir Mann keliye keh rahi hai..??

Nandini ( smiled ): Ji nahi, mein apni marzi se bol rahi hoon..

Pallavi ( smiled ): Agar aisa hai tho teek hai, Mann, jo bhi kaam hai wo khatham karna hai tujhe, wo bhi jaldhi, aayi samaj mein baath..??

Manik ( smiled ): Of course Pallavi Ma...

And rest of the breakfast went smoothly with casual talks..

In MaNan's Bedroom

Nandini was getting ready to leave for her house as per the ritual when she heard the door's click sound..She turned to see Manik entering inside who just closed the door..

Nandini ( smiled ): Mr. Malhotra..mein ready ho chuki hoon..

Manik looked at her and smiled..He moved to her and forwarded his hand and she gave her hand gladly which he entwined with his..

Manik: Um...kuch kehna tha..!!

Nandini: Kahiye..

Manik ( sighed ): Tumhe bura laga..??

Nandini ( frowned ): Bura kyu lagegi..??

Manik ( apologetic smile ): Wo jo breakfast table pe mene kaha..I mean, mein Bade Dadu ke chehra dekhliya aur wo bohath sad that, isiliye ein tumhe bas kehdiya ki unhe sweets nahi de sakthe. Trust me, mera intention tumhe bas samjhane ka tha, tumhe hurt karne ka nahi tha..

Nandini smiled sweetly at him. She tightened her grip on his and spoke softly..

Nandini: Wo apke Bade Dadu hai aur mere liya apna pati ke Bade Dadu, ha mein unhe apna manthi hoon, par iska mathlab ye nahi ke mein unhe pehchan sakthi hoon, unhe kya chahiye, kya nahi chaiye, kya khaa sakthe, kya nahi khaa sakthe, ye sab, agar mujhe jaana hai tho thoda waqt lagega, par aapkeliye aisa nahi hai, aap unhe bohath ache se janthe hai, in fact unke sab kuch janthe hai, isiliye aapka farz bantha hai ki aap mujhe unke barein mein samjha sakthe, unke likes and dislikes, unkeliye jo galath hai wo bhi samjhana chahiye and frankly speaking, aap ye sab nahi kar rahe the abi thak, kyunki aapne bas kehdiya ki mein jaan paoongi aapke family ko, dheere dheere aur sab mere saath sweetly behave karenge par jo aap aaj breakfast table pe kiya, mein wahi chahthi thi, you would be making me understand about your family so that I never commit any mistake in future. Jo mene shadi ke din aapse poocha, uska jawab aaj mujhe mila, haa poora nahi, kyunki aapka pariwar ithna bade jo hai, isiliye aur bhi bohath samjhana hai aapko mujhe..

Manik simply moved forward and kissed her forehead making her smile..

Manik: You have no idea what you got out of my heart..it was filled with guilt and I felt suffocating but you just made feel relieved..

Nandini ( smiled ): I too have a family of my own where I got to see husband-wife relationship so I can understand you and your emotions for your family..

Manik ( smiled ): And now, that family includes you too, Mrs. Malhotra..

Nandini ( smiled ): I know...waise..

She entwined her other hand with his other one making him confuse..

Manik: Ab kyu thank kar rahi ho..

Nandini ( smiled ): For understanding me. You said no for the honeymoon only for me, right..

Manik grinned sheepishly at her..

Nandini ( smiled ): It means a lot to me..Aapko bura tho nahi laga na..

Manik ( smiled ): Jab honeymoon pe jayenge na tab mujhe Mrs. Malhotra nahi balki " Nandini " chahiye..aur uskeliye thoda time lagega and I'm ready to wait because..I wanted to make you mine when we want it..

She bit her lips and simply crashed in his arms making him smile. He wrapped his arms around her..

Nandini ( whispered ): I'm so lucky to be your wife..

Manik ( smiled ): Nah, I'm just quiet lucky to get the jungli billi Pvt Investigator as Mrs. Manik Malhotra..

She pouted at him with a glare while he laughed out and she too giggled with him. He kissed her forehead and they stayed in each other's embrace..

To be continued..