"So why are we all gathered here?" Cabir asks as we all sit down. 

Nandini's family is also here. Shortly after we had decided to go ahead with the wedding, we called up our families to my house.

They all came rushing. By the looks on their faces, I can tell that they are assuming we are going to say no to the marriage.

My mom is looking at me with a sad face. She is probably going to cry anytime now.

I turn to look at Nandini who is standing beside me. We share a look which meant she realized it too. I shake my head mentally at their assumptions.

"Nandini and I have made our decision." I finally say.

"Can we cut the suspension and get to the point? I'm not in the mood of playing along with your act." Cabir huffs in annoyance.

I roll my eyes at him and tell him to shut his mouth.

"So as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, we made our decision. We are going to go ahead with the wedding."

My mother's eyes widen in surprise. I suddenly hear Nandini's mom and my mom scream in happiness.

They hug each other and jump around like kids.

"Someone record this moment, please. This is the only time I have made my mother happy. I'd like to remember this iconic moment until the day I die." Nandini yells over the madness that our mothers have created.

I instantly see Abhimanyu pulling out his phone and recording our mothers who are still jumping around in happiness. Abhimanyu is laughing as he tells them to calm down.

"So it just takes me to get married for you to be happy with something I did?" Nandini rolls her eyes before settling down next to her dad who laughs when he hears her.

Her mother hugs her tightly and I see my own mom walking towards me.

She cups my face in her hands and looks at me happily.

"You have made me so happy Manik that I could scream for days. Thank you. I promise this decision will be the best one in your life."

I know it will be mom.

My mom walks towards Nandini and hugs her. She looks so happy. Her face is glowing and the excitement clearly visible in her voice.

I see Nandini's mom hugging mine once more. Their expressions mirroring each others.

Nandini walks towards me and stands beside me.

I smile at her and grab her hand to hold in mine.

"They are very happy." She points out. We both look at our mothers.

"Indeed Miss Murty."

"So let's have the roka tomorrow. I don't want to waste any time." My mother's excited voice grabs both mine and Nandini's attention.

"Yeah mom, do everything quickly. You never know when Manik will change his mind." Hearing Cabir, my mom slaps him on his arm.

"Don't say that. Anyway, as I was saying we are having Manik and Nandini's roka tomorrow."

I heard them making plans for tomorrow but I was no longer listening. All my attention was on Nandini who was staring in my eyes with a shy smile on her face. She is looking so beautiful in her black jumpsuit.

"Are you okay with the roka being tomorrow?" With the pace that my mother is going, she'll probably get me married within a week. I need to talk to her. I don't want Nandini to feel rushed.

"Yes. Roka is supposed to happen quickly." True. Roka represents the beginning of a relationship between families and is supposed to let everyone know that the bride and the groom are taken and they are recognized by the families as to be weds. Although it is a very low-key ceremony and only close family members are invited. It's kind of like an informal engagement.

"Nandini, Manik would you two like to have a separate engagement party, or should we get over the engagement after the roka?" My dad's question makes me look at Nandini for an answer who is looking at me for one.

"What would you like? I'm fine with whatever you choose." I whisper to her.

"Let's just get everything done tomorrow. We have so many ceremonies to go through, let's not add one more." She whispers back at me.

"We would like everything to be done tomorrow. Having an additional engagement party is unnecessary."

They all nod and get back to discussing their plan for tomorrow.

"Okay, then we'll get going. We have so many arrangements to make." The Murtys start to leave and I see Nandini suddenly stopping in the middle.

She turns and looks at me.

"My purse is in your car Manik."

"You and Manik can go get it. We'll wait for you in the car." We both nod our heads at Nandini's dad.

I walk towards Nandini and after grabbing her hand and holding it tightly in mine, we go to my car.

"I have to get my car from school too." I hear Nandini tell me with a frown visible on her face.

"You don't have to. I'll get John to drop it at your house." I unlock my car and retrieve her purse.

"No, it's okay. I can do it." She takes her purse from me and puts it on her shoulder.

"Of course you can but I'd rather you didn't Nandini." My authoritative voice makes her sigh and after a few seconds she gives in. She fishes out her car key from her purse and gives them to me.

I look towards my left where I see John. I gesture for him to take the keys.

"Nandini's car is at the school we were earlier. I need you to drop it at her house."

"I'll deliver the car to the Murty's house right away Mr. Malhotra." I see him disappear from our eyesight. I turn my attention towards Nandini again.

I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her closer to me. Her hands slowly sneak around my arms. I drop a kiss on her forehead and let her go.

Taking her hand, I guide her to her parent's car. I open the car door and wait for her to go in.

Before climbing in the car, she smiles at me and gives a kiss on my cheeks. I hear her whisper bye before going in.

With a content smile on my face, I watch their car slowly exiting my house.

Nandini's POV

As I put on my Sabyasachi mint lehenga(skirt) set, I can't help but wonder if Manik is going to be forced to wear traditional indian outfit.

The outfit is simple but I know nothing about Sabyasachi's overly expensive designer lehenga is simple. The silk material feels so good on my skin.

I fix the dupata(scarf) on my shoulder. It almost looks like I'm wearing a saree. I wish I had worn one. It would have been easier to walk. This lehenga is so heavy and so difficult to walk in.

I pull the silk material of the lehenga up, trying to walk down the stairs.

"Mom this is too heavy. I'm just going to wear it during the ceremony and change right after it finishes." I complain to her when I see her instructing someone to fix the flowers that were being used for decorating.

"Nandini, please. You have to wear it while everyone is here." Her tone doesn't leave any room for argument.

I sigh and pick up Smurfy who came to me running.

As I'm complaining to him about my outfit like he understands anything, I find the Malhotras along with my mom staring at me amused.

Now, this is what I call embarrassment.

I clear my throat and put Smurfy down. He runs towards Manik who has a smirk on his face and amusement in his eyes.

My eyes wander on Manik. He is wearing his navy blue suit with a light grey shirt underneath. Will I ever see him in anything apart from suit? Even though he looks extremely hot right now but I would like to see him in something else except suits.

Manik picks up Smurfy in his arms and holds him like a baby.

Even Smurfy likes him. The Manik charm never fails.

With slow steps and blushing face, I walk towards the Malhotras and greet them sweetly.

I stand in front of Manik and whisper a hi. I can't hug him since he has Smurfy in his arms.

He leans forward and places a kiss on my cheek.

"You are looking gorgeous babygirl." He whispers in my ear. His low voice is so sexy. It becomes even more sexy when he calls me babygirl.

Cabir clears his throat and comes forward. He pushes Manik to the side and hugs me. I see Manik glaring at his little brother. They are so cute.

"How are you, Nandini? You are my favorite sister in law."

"Cabir I'm your only sister in law." I chuckle and I see Manik rolling his eyes at Cabir.

"True. But you are still my favorite. I can't wait for you to join our family."

I smile widely at him and I see a smile form on Manik's face too.

Soon we are rushed by my mother to sit and start the ceremony.

We start with a small prayer to mark the first step towards our wedding.

Later on I see our families exchange gifts and sweets. The exchange of gifts is part of the ceremony. I don't really know why but it's something that we do on roka.

Throughout the whole process of roka, I see 4 unfamiliar faces clicking our photos. They are probably hired to take our photos. I hope I look good in at least one. Is my hair still okay? Maybe I need to fix my dupata.

Manik's mom approaches me with the red chunni (scarf), she places it on my head. The chunni ceremony makes everything official. The significance behind the red chunni on my head is to make me look like a bride.

Manik is being fed ladoo (indian sweet) which makes me laugh as he makes faces while chewing it.

"Okay let's do the engagement now." I hear my dad's voice.

We stand up and after taking my mother's permission, I remove the chunni from my head. I have to look nice for my engagement photos. Lol.

I smile at Manik before turning to my mom who gives me Manik's ring that I had selected yesterday.

I slide the 18 karat gold band on his finger. The ring has a star hidden underneath. We both love stars and a star shines in the sky no matter what. I'll be that star for him. I'll shine for him and bring him light. Always.

The photographer asks us to pretend like I'm still putting the ring on Manik's finger to get more photos of the moment.

After several poses and terrible acting, Manik takes my hand in his. He takes the ring from his mother and places it on my finger without wasting any time.

The ring shines on my hand. I take a closer look and I'm blown away by the beauty of it.

Later in the evening I discover through the social media that Manik had actually given me a $4 million 18 karat flawless diamond.

The price of the ring makes me stare at it in disbelief. Manik definitely has more money than sense.

The likelihood of me getting kidnapped has significantly increased because of Manik's foolish behavior.

And not to forget all the girls that are crazy for him. After Manik posted our photo on his Instagram, everyone had gone insane.

In the photo, you can't see my face as I'm hiding it in Manik's neck and my hair cover the little of my face that could have been visible otherwise.

My left hand is on his shoulder showing off the ring on my finger while his ring is shining on his hand that is wrapped around the part of my waist that is naked.

We both had decided that it is better if we didn't reveal my identity until the wedding.

It would make it difficult for me to work and unnecessary attention will constantly be on me.

Although I'm sure Manik agreed because of security reasons as I refused to cooperate with him and have a bodyguard around me all the time. I'm pretty sure the first thing he'll do after our wedding is to get me a bodyguard. The thought makes me roll my eyes.