His

1 | First Meet

{edited version} 

Anonymous point of view. 

My alarm rang early in the morning making me cry. I was sleepy. I worked the whole night on completing my work and now honestly my body is tired. Yet, I got up and moved towards my personal washroom to get freshened up. 

I wore my blazer and moved out making sure my room was kept neat and tidy. Did I forget to mention I kind of have ocd. I settled on the dining chair and screamed for my mother to give me food. I'm hungry. 

“ma, khana do na please main late hora hu”. [mom food please. I'm really late today]. 

Mom came out along with the food and placing it in front of me spoke “aye, baba. Le kha le paranthe banaye hai”. [ I'm here.. Take. I've prepared aloo parantha  for you ]. 

“wow! Thanks mom”. I said already chugging down my food along with my green tea. 

Mom smiled  “Your welcome son”. 

That's when the both of us heard dad's voice "what's happening??" 

Mom replied turning around and hugging him. 

“Kuch nahi Raj Manik ko breakfast de ri thi. Aap bi lelo”. [ nothing Raj. I'm serving Manik food. Come and join us]. 

He came and settled next to me as mom served him as well. 

Dad told her “ wah mujhe bhi dedo”. [nice, serve me also please]. 

Mom: jee. [yes]. 

Dad after having a bite of the parantha said: Wah Niyonika kya banaye hai. Maza aagaya. [ amazing Niyonika. These are delicious]. 

Mom: thank u.

As they were talking I zoned out. Oh, I'm such a fool ain't I. I never introduced myself. Hey, I'm Manik Manik Malhotra the C. E. O. Of Malhotra Empire and I'm 23 years old. 

Manik's point of view over.... 

Coming out of his thoughts Manik replied too complimenting the food when he overheard his dad praise his mom's culinary skills. 

Manik: seriously mom they are amazing. 

Niyonika: bas bas ab khana khao bahut hogayi tareef. [ enough of buttering. Have your meal]. 

They both laugh looking at her while she made a angry pout but then joined them laughing like crazy. Suddenly they hear a voice. 

"Mere beger family time. Not fair". [family time and that too without me]. 

They all turned to see Mukti join them. Mukti Malhotra, the youngest member of the family and pampered by Raj and Manik a lot so Niyonika takes the role of a strict parent and puts her daughter under certain rules though she loves her a lot. She wore jean shorts and a white tank top with her hair done in a Fish braid. 

Mukti: good morning everyone. 

The rest: Good morning.

Mukti: dad what about my bhabhi. 

Manik started to chock on his food. 

Raj: what bhabhi bacha? 

Mukti: dad it's time na that Bhai gets married. I want my Bhabhi!! 

Niyonika: sahi kaha. Now even I want to bring my son's bride home. 

Raj: thike mere dimag mein ek ladki hai toh sahi par pata nahi ha hogi ki nahi. [ alright, I have a girl in my mind but I ain't that sure that it will be a yes]. 

Niyonika and mukti: kon? They both asked excited....

Raj: sharan ki beti nandini. She's a cardiologist in CH. 

They just nodded their heads and asked him to talk to Nandini's family. At the same time in flat no. 301; 

Woman: beta it's high time you get married. 

The girl who was having juice chocked on it and almost puked it out. She looked gorgeous in her white skirt and peach tank top with embroidery on it. 

Girl: what!!??! 

Woman: what what? It's decided. I am not going to hear a word. 

They were talking when they got interrupted by a person. 

Man: your mother is right Nandini.

Nandini: appa aap bhi.  [ dad you too] 

Sharan: ha beta main bhi. Hum ab tumhare hath pile karna chahate hai. 

(Yes dear me too. I want to get you married).  He came out wearing a grey color Armani three piece suit pecking her head. 

Nandini: thike. Lekin kon?  [ alright but who? ] 

Sh: Raj ka ladka Manik. 

Meera: you please talk to him today after your meeting. 

At the same time in both the houses. 

Sharan: thike main Raj se bath karta hu. [ fine I’ll talk to Raj about this ] 

Raj: thike main Sharan se bath karta hu.  [ fine I’ll talk to Sharan about this ] 

Then both Manik and Nandini left for their individual destinations for work. It was a long day both manik and nandini were exhausted. 

At Nanz home: 8pm

All were sitting at the dining table when Sharan said. 

Sharan: shadi ki tayari shuru kar do. 

Nandini ka rishta manik ke sath tey hone wala hai. [ start preparing for the wedding as Manik and Nandini are going to be bound in matrimony]. 

Meera asked him then. 

Meera:  aapki Raj bhai se bath hui. [ you had a conversation with Raj bhai? ]. 

Sharan: ha. Woh kal subah hamare ghar ayenge [ I indeed have. They are coming to our home tomorrow morning]. 

Nandini: thike [ alright] 

Meera: main tayari kar lungi. Lekin kal subha. Bohot kam honge [ I'll prepare for it. But tomorrow morning? You know we have to prepare so much ]. 

Sharan: chinta mat karo main bhi hath bata dunga. [ don't worry. I'll be there to help you out in work]. 

They talked a bit and after dinner left to their individual bedrooms for sleep. 

Nandini's bedroom.

Nandini was both excited and anxious as her new journey might start tomorrow. She agreed for an arranged marriage for the sake of her family. She didn't know anything about the guy and that was the thing. She saw the happiness on her parents face. She was scared that Manik who ever he was might reject her and her parents becoming upset was the last thing she wished for. But removing all her negative thoughts she drifted to sleep. 

Next day. 

Manik's family was welcomed into the small and humble living room of the Murthys' as Manik touched their feet along with Mukti and both settled after everyone did. Manik was unknowing looking around wanting to see Nandini. Soon Nandini was brought out on Niyonika's request to see her by Alia and Navya. 

...................................

Manik's pov.

I was waiting for Nandini to come out. Thanks to mom that they brought her out. When she came out my jaw dropped seeing her. She was beautiful. So innocent. So pure. I knew that I wanted her to be mine. Only mine. My angel. She was blushing. She was wearing a pink grey saree and was just looking breath taking. I am not a fan of traditional wear that much but when she wore it she looked very pretty that I couldn't take my eyes of her. 

Mukti who was next to hit on my arm getting me out of my trance. That's when I realise everyone is staring at me and she's just blushing.

Dad cleared his throat and said: I guess we should let them talk. Kyu bhabhiji. 

Meera: why not. 

I love you Dad. My parents always read my mind. I was really looking forward to have a talk with my angel. 

Meera: take him to your room Nandini. 

We both got up and left. 

...........................................

Nandini's pov. 

We both were sent to my bedroom. He looked around before turning towards me. 

Hey. 

Hi. Do you like it. 

Well, yes I do. Would you like to play twenty questions. 

Sure. Why not. 

Soon we both got to know each other a bit. 

I got to know his favorite color is black and red. He loves green tea. He is a architect. He loves Punjabi food. He's not a violent person but when it comes to his family now including me he's dangerous. 

I was a bit scared but when he said I was a part of his family, my heart just simply melt. We talked more and got to know each other better. After five minutes there was a knock on my room door and Alia popped her head in and asked us to come out. 

We went out to find everyone's eyes on us. We were questioned for our thoughts over this relationship. 

My heart was racing and I was scared to face rejection. I really like him and my heart might just break into two today if he decides to reject me. My heart sighed in relief when that one word of three letters was out of his mouth. 

Yes. 

They all turned their heads towards me I just blushed and for me Alia said:It's a yes from her. 

I thanked her mentally. Me, Navya and Alia are soul sisters. We know each other in and out. Soon Mukti will join us though. All elders cheered and hugged each other and soon a priest was called while Alia called Kabir and Dhruv, their friends and told them to come to Manik's apartment and then brought them inside here. The priest came the same time and then he was offered a glass of water and then food. After his lunch. He was given the kundlis to match where 35 out of 36 gun(talents) matched. Then the pandit ji check the dates for the possible good days. 

Nandini's pov end 

Soon he said.

Pandit ji: dekiye yajmaan. Aaj ka din bohot shubh hai toh aaj aap roka karne ka dekh li jiye. Ek hafte baad sagai aur ek mahine bad 14 tarik ko shadi. Kya yeh thik hai. 

[listen sir. Today is a very good day so I did suggest to do their roka ceremony today, engagement after a week's time and the 14th of next month wedding ceremony. Are these dates in your favour??]. 

Sharan: aaj kaise sab kuch hoga. Itni tayaariyan karni hogi.  [ today how will it happen there are so many preparations to do and what not ] 

Raj: chinta na kar sab ho jayega. [ don’t worry everything will be done ] 

Sharan: thike pandit ji aap sham ko saath (7pm) baje inke roka ke liye ajaye. [ fine then sir you please come in the evening at seven o’ clock for the roka ceremony ] 

Pandit ji: thike yajmaan ab hum chalte hai. [ ok sir now I’ll take my leave] 

Elders: dhaniyavaad [ thank you ] 

Kabir went with him to drop till outside. 

......................................................

• Appa means father and Amma means mother in Tamil language. 

• hum ab tumhare hath peele karna chahate hai is a phrase used by people when getting their kids married. 

• brother's wife or friend's wife is addressed as bhabhi in a way of giving respect. 

• Roka ceremony is a way of declaring about the marriage ceremony and making it public that the families have decided and are not looking anymore for a son or daughter in law. 

• priests in Hindu culture are called pandits who are the ones who decide most things in religious and social aspects for people and are the highest in caste system. They get people married and are huge believers of god.

Word count: 1776 words. 

Snow♥️