Five days later, I feel a bit agitated that Malhotra's will be there at the mehendi. Whatever happened to the traditional mehendi's where the boys weren't allowed in! Those were the days…sigh… My mother comes in, bringing me out of my thoughts. She places my lehenga on my bed. She walks over to me and taps my cheek lovingly, while leaving the room. I smile faintly and watch her leave. I then leave towards the bathroom to have a quick shower. When I get out, I walk over towards my bed to have a look at my lehenga.

I pick up the choli and notice there is no back, but string ties instead. Well I guess its easier to take off and not ruin my mehendi. What a shame that would be! I put it on and ask my mother to help tie the back. When I was fully dressed, I sit in front of the mirror lightly applying my make up and finally the jewellery. At this point, the hairstylist arrives and styles my hair up in an elegant bun using very few pins. I throw my dupatta over my shoulder and walk out the door. The mehendi is being held at our house, considering that I am the bride.

My mother comes towards me as I make my way down the stairs. She ushers me towards the chair where all the mehendi artists sit. She forces me to sit down, while I wait for the guests to arrive. Navya and Cabir enter through our mansion. She makes her way towards me and sits down in an empty seat next to me. She is the only one that sees the anger underneath my false exterior. She gives my hand a sympathetic squeeze, while I faintly smile. The rest of the guests arrive except for the Malhotra’s. With that thought, Manik enters the premises accompanying his parents.

Their attire

Abhimanyu, Mukti, and Aryan follow them trying to settle down Aryan. He sure is a hyperactive child! He is cute, but very energetic. Aryan runs over towards Manik and holds him around his leg. Manik stops walking and looks down and grins at his little nephew, who is holding him captive. Manik picks him up and says something in his little ear. I, of course can't hear since they are across the room. Manik starts pointing at me, while Aryan nods excitedly. They both start approaching me, while I watch the happy little kid playing in his arms.

Manik towers over me and then crouches down. Manik says, "Nandini meet my little champ, Aryan! Aryan, this is your Nandini Chachi" He nods, but looks super excited. Aryan happens to be only three years old. Manik whispers to him and Aryan quickly places his hand out in front of me. Aww he wants me to shake his tiny hand. I take his little hand into mine and shake.

I say, "Hi cutie! How can you stand being in the arms of your very bad Manik Chacha? He is very mean right bacha?"

Aryan laughs and claps his hands saying, "Yes! Manik Chacha bad!"

Manik looks at him shocked and says, "Aryan! Manik Chacha is not bad, she is bad Nandini Chachi!" My mouth drops open, while he grins.

Aryan shakes his head and replies, "No, Nandini Chachi is good!"

I laugh while Manik rolls his eyes, "I introduce you to her once and you switch sides! You little traitor!"

I laugh, "He's just really smart!"

Mukti comes from behind, while Manik complains to her, "Bhabhi your little devil thinks I'm bad… Nandini is playing little mind games with him and is corrupting your poor child."

I open my mouth to protest, but hear Mukti reply, "It's your own fault Manik, You know how much Aryan adores you and he barely sees you anymore!"

Manik looks embarrassed and says while eyeing me, "Bhabhi I was a little busy, but now I'm moving in so my little champ better not say bad Manik Chacha!" Just then Aryan starts to cry so Manik takes him over to Abhimanyu.

The women all start getting mehendi applied on their hands. I don't even know what design to choose, it is all so confusing. There are so many to choose from. Mukti then says, "Nandini can I suggest a design?" I nod, "Of course!" Mukti goes over towards the mehendi artist and whispers in her ear. I look at her suspiciously, while she shrugs, "It's a surprise Nandini!" I shrug my shoulders and start talking to Navya, letting the designers do their work. From time to time, I notice the intricacy and details of the designs on my hands. It really did look beautiful. When it's all done, we all sit there and wait for it to dry. Manik keeps looking at me from a far, and it's a bit annoying. I try to send as many glares as I possibly can without attracting attention. Navya starts laughing, thinking my expressions are so hilarious. I wasn't really worried about her catching me.

After the mehendi is basically dry I look closely at every little design, but something doesn't seem right. There is a pattern, I just couldn't figure out what it was. Upon closer examination, I find Manik's name on my palms. I look at it horrified and then look up to see Manik looking my way. I get up in a huff making an excuse to go to the bathroom. This time that is exactly where I am going!

I go straight into the bathroom and close it without locking it. Obviously, I can't lock it without getting mehendi on it. It is practically dry, but I had to get it off! I reach for the tap, but hear the door to the bathroom swing wide open. I look up to see Manik smirking in the doorframe and looks over towards my hands. I look at him angrily and reach for the tap again, but stop due to his voice. 

He says cockily, "Trying to erase me from your destiny?"

I mumble, "I wish I could…" under my breath.

I turn towards him and say, "Get out right now!" I turn on the tap water and am about to scrub the mehendi off of my hands, but Manik locks the door behind him. He quickly pulls my hand away from the water and holds onto my arms in a firm grip. He pushes me against a wall, where I find myself cornered.
 
I'm so vulnerable at this point, I can't even touch him. It would look quite suspicious if I come back down with mehendi all over Manik's clothes and not on my hands, where they should be.

I look towards Manik angrily and yell, "You can't dictate me Manik! I'll do as I please! Get your hands off of me!"

He laughs hoarsely into my ear and says, "Maybe I can't, but I won't let you erase my name from your hands!"

I just reply, "I'll just go to another bathroom then and you better let go of my hands or I will kick you somewhere so that you can't get anyone else pregnant, you fool!"

He smirks, "I like this side of you!"

I raise my knee into position and he releases my hands from his grip. He says, "You better be going down the stairs!"

I reply, "In your dreams…" Before I can finish the sentence I feel him pull at one of the ties of my blouse. I stop in my tracks, knowing I can't go out like that!

He comes up behind me and says, "You were saying?"

I mumble, "I hate you…"

He chuckles behind me and starts tying the tie he had just undone. He purposefully brushes his hands against my back, sending shivers down my spine. He opens the door, while saying, "Now don't give me any reasons to keep you in this bathroom, sweetie pie!"

I growl, "UGHH!!"  I exit dramatically, while I hear him laughing from the bathroom.

Stupid jerk! It's my hands and I don't even have control over them! Note to self, never again put on mehendi! I became so defenseless, that I couldn't do anything and he knew it! Why does he keep trying to make me mad? Shouldn't he be trying to get on my good side? He is such a spoilt brat! He always has to have everything his way! The nerve of him to take advantage of my weakness like that! He's playing so dirty, that was a cheap shot!

I sit back down, while Navya asks me, "Where were you?"

I glare at Manik while replying, "I got a little held up…" She follows my line of vision and sees who I am giving all these deathly stares to and quickly gets her answer.

She whispers, "Why?"

I reply, "Look at this!"

Navya replies, "Yes, Nandini your mehendi looks nice…"

I shake my head and say, "What does this spell?"

She looks at me strangely and says, "M-A-N-I-K… Oh!"

I nod, "Yeah… His name is written in my destiny… and I can't erase it…"

* * * * * * * * *

Eid Mubarak!

You can expect faster updates, I'll be drafting couple of chapters tonight, so as soon as previous one gets its average views, I'll update the next one :)