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Manik's pov

"You can ask for anything and I will get that for you."

"Promise?" Nandini said in a doubtful tone.

"Promise. Now say what do you want?"

"Marry me."

I was stunned. "What?" I couldn't believe my own ears what I just heard.

"I said marry me. NOW!" Nandini's voice was stern as well as determined.

"Nandini, what are you saying? Are you even in your senses? We can't just get married like this." I tried to make her understand but she was adamant.

"I know you don't love me anymore. You will leave me too that's why you are not ready to marry me." Her voice was harsh. I never heard her using this tone. I couldn't recognize the look in her eyes. This Nandini is so different.

I closed my eyes to control myself but it's not easy for me. Nandini isn't right straight in her mind, I know that. I need to be careful with her. I can't say her anything sternly, it will make the situation worse.

Mukti's words rang in my eyes. "Give her what she wants else it will worsen her condition."

If it was something else, I would have given to her right now. No matter what it is, how much valuable it is but I can't give this to her. She will regret it later and I don't want to do something which will make her regret. I have to be patience and make her understand.

"Nandini, listen, we are still young and we aren't even graduated. We have a long way to go. Trust me whenever I will marry, it will be only you. There will be no one except Nandini ever in Manik's place." I said her calmly.

She nodded her frantically denying it. "You are lying. I know you don't want me anymore."

"Nandini, what's wrong with you? I said right I will be there for you. I promise."

"You had also promised that you will give me whatever I will ask but you broke that. You will break it too."

Nandini's condition is getting worse. She is going out of control.

Oh! God, please help me.

I tried to make Nandini understand a lot but she was not ready to understand anything. She was stuck to her marriage thing only. I never seen her behaving like this. I was feeling like I have lost her in this darkness.

That moment I was so angry on pandit and Nyonika, I can't describe that. They are responsible for Nandini's this condition. I just wanted to kill them with my bare hand. They have damaged her till this extent that she is scared to trust me also. She is so insecure that I will leave her for all that.

"What happened, Manik? I know you can't do this for me. I know you also want to go away from me. Fine, I will leave. I won't come in front of you ever again." She was shivering and moving towards the stairs but I held her hand to stop her.

I know if I let her go now, I will lose her forever and I also know the consequences won't be good for us. But I have to do this. I can't see the insecurity in her eyes for me. Tonight I will remove all her insecurities even if it's the only way. I can't afford to loose her at any cost. I will see everything later but right now she is more important for me.

Nandini's birthday was supposed to mark a new beginning for us. I never thought it will be this way. But I know whatever happens, happens for good. May be right now it's the best for us. I looked into Nandini's eyes. She was looking at me with all her hope and I am not strong enough to break them.

"Lets get married. We will marry now only."

Her hope turned into happiness. She literally jumped on me taking me in a hug. I also wrapped her in my embrace. She is the solace of mine and I won't let her go away from me ever. AT ANY COST!

~~*~~

Manik was driving the car with Nandini on the passenger seat. It was almost 2 at night and they were searching for a temple. But all of them were closed after all it's late night. Manik looked at Nandini. Till now she was eager but not finding any temple her smile dropped and fear creped in her heart. Manik could see that clearly.

After searching a lot when they couldn't find an open temple, they stopped at a random one. Nandini looked at Manik being confused,

"This temple is closed." Nandini said in a low voice.

"Which temple will be opened at this middle of the night?" Manik said sarcastically and got down from the car. He opened Nandini's side door too indicating her to get down.

When she got down, Manik held her hand and took her inside the temple. Nandini was standing outside and Manik went in. He came back after 5 minutes with the priest.

"What do you want at this hour?" The priest asked in a sleepy tone.

"We want to marry." Manik replied.

"Marriage? Now?" His sleep flew away and looked at Manan being shocked.

Manik replied sarcastically but in stern tone. "Yes, right now. Any problem?"

The priest nodded negatively seeing the look on Manik's face. He got scared and started doing the preparation.

All the while Nandini was looking down silently. Nor did she say anything neither she interrupted him for once.

When the preparation was done, the priest called them.

Manik and Nandini were sitting beside each other. Manik was time to time taking glance of Nandini's face but she was looking straight at the fire. The priest was chanting some mantras. He asked for their hands. They forwarded their hands.

"Who'll do the kanyadan?" The priest asked.

"You do it. No one is here." Manik replied to him. The priest nodded and continued.

They were asked to change the garlands which the priest gave them. They did it accordingly. Then the priest tied Nandini's dupatta with the corner of Manik's jacket.

"You both stand up for the phere."

Manik got up first and helped Nandini in getting up holding her hand.

1st round

"Whatever food you earn with hard work, I will safeguard it, prepare it to nourish you. I promise to respect your wishes, and nourish your friends and family as well." Nandini mumbled.

2nd round

"With a well managed home, with purity of behavior and thought, you will enable us to be strong, energetic and happy. I take this second step with you for the strength of body, character and energy." Manik spoke. 

Nandini continued. "I will manage the home according to my ability and reason. Together, I promise, to keep a home that is healthy, strength and energy giving."

3rd round

Manik started. "I promise to devote myself to earning a livelihood by fair means, to discuss, and let you manage and preserve our wealth."

Nandini joined. "I promise to seek your consent, as I manage our wealth, fairly earned, so it grows and sustains our family."

4th round

Manik told. "I promise to trust your decisions about the household and your choices; I promise to dedicate myself to help our community prosper, the matters outside the house. This shall bring us respect."

Nandini followed him. "I promise to strive to make the best home for us, anticipate and provide necessary things for your worldly life, and for the happiness of our family."

5th round

Manik uttered. "I promise to consult with you and engage you in our source of income."

Nandini also uttered. "I promise to participate and protect all useful things for our family, necessary for our happiness."

6th round

Manik held Nandini's hand more securely. "I seek you and only you, to love, to have children, to raise a family, to experience all the seasons of life."

"I promise I will be the means of your enjoyment of all the senses. Through life's seasons, I will cherish you in my heart. I will worship you and seek to complete you." Nandini's heart shivered.

Manik noticed a hue crept on Nandini's face with this vow. He smiled seeing her.

One day they will have their own family.

7th round

"I promise we will be friends first, be my constant wife." Manik looked into her eyes.

"Today, I gained you, I secured the highest kind of friendship with you. I promise I will remember the vows we just took and adore you forever sincerely with all my heart." Nandini felt different as soon as she said the last line.

Then they both again sat on their places.

"Fill her hairline with this vermilion." The priest forwarded the plate with vermilion.

Manik looked at Nandini's eyes which were filled with content. He was happy that Nandini is happy finally. He took a pinch of vermilion in between his fingers and filled her hairline. Nandini closed her eyes to feel the moment.

Nandini opened her eyes and her gaze directly fell on Manik who was already staring at her. They drowned in each others eyes. Their eye lock broke with the priest's voice.

"Do you have at least mangalsutra with you?" The priest asked.

Manan again sighed as they never thought all this before coming. It was so sudden for them. They nodded negatively. Suddenly something struck Manik's mind.

"One second." Manik stopped him who was going to bring some holy thread from inside.

Manik took out the black thread from his neck and made Nandini wear that.

"Is it okay?" Manik asked him.

He nodded. "You are husband wife from now on. May Durga maa keeps your bond safe always."

Manan passed a smile to him. They got up from their places. Nandini bent down to touch the priest's feet to seek his blessing. Manik also copied it seeing her doing this.

For the first time Manik Malhotra is bending down in front of someone that too for a girl who is supposed to be his everything now.

Manik took out his wallet and gave him all the money he had that moment. Both Nandini and pandit ji was shocked. But they didn't get to say anything.

"Nandini lets go. We are getting late. It's already 3."

Nandini nodded and went behind Manik. He opened the door for her. She was about to sit when they realized her dupatta is tied with his jacket. They looked at the knot and it hit them that now they are tied together for the rest of their life.

Manik opened his jacket and gave it to her. Nandini sat their quietly holding Manik's jacket. Finally they drove to Nandini's place.

Precap: Getting caught or not???

Unexpected much? Shocked?

Did you think they will get married like this? How was the chapter?

Did you like Nandini's birthday gift?

Were they right?

What do you think will happen next?

Do share your favorite scene?

Bye.

19.12.2022