MaNan- Yearning to be loved

Chapter- 10

How is it to feel jealous of someone..??

Jealousy, its a particular word which has got a lot of meanings with it. It could happen with any damn person irrespective of their gender or fame. Its a kind of feeling that you feel when you think that you're getting least affected for someone. You're getting ignored while someone else gets more than attention which is needed..

Possessiveness and jealousy have a great difference in between them. Being possessive for someone is when you confess to the world that you own that person and only you have that right while being jealous of someone is entirely different.

Being jealous is when you know that you can't have that right on that particular person because neither he/she hasn't given you the right nor you accepted that person. So, it's obvious, you would be scared to lose that person.

Well, the main reason to discuss about " jealousy " is because, Manik Malhotra was experiencing this feeling for the first time in his life. Though, he had a girlfriend whom he claimed to love, he never felt jealous of any other guys who lay their eyes on her but the girl whom he married, Mrs. Nandini Manik Malhotra is a different thing for him. He simply feels like crushing that person if he happens to lay his eyes on her..Why is it so..??

In the Mall

The Malhotras along with Mrunal, entered in the mall with their own emotion filled faces. Cabir, was still lost in his thoughts, Mukti was dragging Nandini and Mrunal with an excited face while the duo were just bickering over some or the other thing. And our hero, was still looking GRUMPY, just like how his wife addresses him..

Mukti: Oho, ab tho chup hojao aap dono..Lo, hum pohanch gaye..

Saying it, she dragged everyone to the ladies garments area..

Cabir ( cribbed ): Mujhe shopping se isiliye nafrath hai, patha nahi kithne ghante rukne padega..

Manik was least bothered. He was still grumpy..

Nandini ( annoyed ): Choti, hum yaha kyu aaye hai..

Mukti ( frowned ): Kya mathlab, shopping karni hai na..chalo ab..

Mrunal ( jumped in her place ): Wow, mein tho kal hi soch rahi thi ki shoppikng keliye jaana hai aur dekho meri kismath kithne ache hai..fluffy, your nanand is much better than you..

Nandini ( bad face ): Haa tho jao na..waise bhi tujhe shopping ki bukar hai..ab partner bhil mil gayi tho enjoy kar..Choti, aaram se karlo. Jab khatham hojayega na thab mujhe ek call dho thab thak mein waha accessories section mein kuch dekhthi hoon..

Mukti: Kya mathlab..aapke paas ithne saare kapde hai kya jo shopping keliye mana kar rahi hai..

Mrunal: Arey kapde ke nahi, bath ye hai ki Madam ko shopping pasand nahi hai..

Mukti ( shocked ): What...???

Cabir ( stunned ): What..?? Nandini, tujhe shopping pasand nahi..wah meri behna, tumne tho sabith kiya ki Cabir Malhotra ki hi behen ho..pehle kyu nahi mili tum mujhe..

Nandini: Ye dialogue bohath purane hai isilye mujhse koi dramatic expressions nahi milega aapko..

Cabir made a bad face while Mukti chuckled at it. Manik stared at her with, still a grumpy face..

Mukti: par Bhabi, aapko shopping pasand kyu nahi hai..??

Nandini ( irritated ): Arey ismein ithni excite hone ke kya cheez hai. Ek tho poore mall mein daudegi aur ithne daudne ke baad sirf ek outfit milegi, phir ussee outfit keliye matching accessories chunna padega aur matching stilettos..ithni mehnath karne ke kya zaroorath hai, online shopping karlo na..kaafi relaxing hai..

Cabir, literally had tears in his eyes. He took Nandini in his embrace who looked at him in surprise and the girls were clueless while Manik was like, what the heck happened to his brother..

Cabir: You're the exact mirror version of Cabir Malhotra. I'm proud of you..

Nandini: Patha nahi aapki beewi ki kya haal hogi, mathlab ithna drama karthe hai ki Shakespeare agar zinda hothe tho aapke life story bana dethe..

Cabir left her and made a baby face and Mukti pulled his cheeks..

Mukti: Poor Bhai..Bhabi, aapke jaise koi item hai tho batha dho..Cabir Bhai ki bhi shadi karlethe hum..

Mrunal: I'm extremely sorry, Mukti Malhotra, par iske jaise sirf ek hi item hai aur wo hai Mrunal Singhania but mereliye tumhara dhono Bhaiyon mein se ek jeeju aur doosra Bhai, wo wala feeling nahi aayi tho Bhai aur Jeeju bana diya..

Mukti ( bad face ): Poor me..mujhe laga ek aur patakha Bhabi milegi..

Manik ( annoyed ): Muku, tujhe shopping karni hai ki nahi..??

Mukti: Haa haa..chalo, bhabi, you're coming with me..no ifs and buts..

And Nandini followed the girls with a sad face along with the boys..Mukti and Mrunal were literally planning to buy the whole shop while Nandini preferred to sit like a person who's got nothing to do in her life..Cabir and Manik sat beside her. Manik was busy in his mobile, while Cabir was sulking like a baby..

Cabir: Ismein kaunsa fun hai..?? Thursdays are supposed to be Funday not Dieday..!!

Nandini ( frowned ): Dieday..??

Cabir: Arey mein yaha mar raha hoon tho hui na Dieday..

Nandini: Kithni bakwas dictionary hai aapka..!!

Cabir: Isn't it Deepika Padukone's dialogue..??

Nandini: Nope. Her dialogue was " Kaha se laya ithna bakwas dictionary ", ye Nandini Malhotra ki dialogue hai..

Manik: Oh hello dear brother and his sister. I hope you remember that I'm someone not interested in bickering..

Nandini: So..??? What can we do in it..? Should we help you in changing your perspectives on bickering..??

Manik: No thanks. Mujhe marne ke irada nahi hai..

Nandini: Arey, mujhe nahi patha tha ki tumhe suicide mein interest hai..

Manik: Tum chup nahi bait sakthe. Fine, mein hi chup hojaoonga..

Nandini: Good for me, mere kaanth ko shanti milenge..

Manik, simply plugged his earphones in his ears and concentrated in his mobile..While, Cabir turned to Nandini who was looking at the girls with a boring look on her face..

Cabir ( chuckled ): Manik Bhai se panga lena hai tho contact Nandini Malhotra..

Nandini ( casually ): Aapka Manik Bhai tho mujhe uthna bhi nahi darathe jithna ek chuha dara sakthe..

Cabir ( widened his mouth ): Tum Bhai ke baizati kar rahe ho..

Nandini: Ismein kaunse nayi bath hai..

And this made Cabir chuckle while Nandini looked at some point when she heard a lady's voice..

Lady: Oh hello , mein kabse keh rahi hoon ki mujhe mere size ke ek slipper chahiye..

Salesman: Mam, aapke size ke slipper iss model mein nahi milega..

Nandini ( murmured ): Arey ye Aunty hai hi ithni moti phir bhi bechare ko dara rahi hai jab wo kuch kar bhi nahi sakthe iss mamle mein..

Lady ( glared at him ): Tho tum mujhe moti samajthe ho..??

Salesman ( scared ): Mene aisa kuch bhi nahi kaha..

Lady: Kehne ke kya zaroorath hai, tumhare bathon se samaj sakthi hoon mein..naukar jaise tum maalkin jaise mujhe insult kar rahe ho..

Nandini: Iss budhi moti apne aapko queen Elizabeth samajthe hai..abhi dikhathi hoon..Queen Elizabeth ke naukar bhi nahi ban sakthi ye Budhi Tamatar..

She turned to Cabir who was still sulking like a baby, sighing in disbelief, she tapped on his shoulder..

Cabir: Ab kya..

Nandini ( grinned ): Agar bored ho tho mere dimaag mein kuch chal rahe hai, wanna join..??

Cabir ( excitedly ): Yaha se bhagnekeliye plan hai..

Nandini ( bad face ): Bhagke kaha jaoge..jab ghar thak pohanchoge tho Choti se maar khana padega aur waise bhi mere irada bhagne keliye nahi..

Cabir ( bored look ): Phir kya chal rahe hai tere dimaag mein..

Nandini: Zyada bhav math khaa..aapke bina bhi mein ye kar sakthi hoon..

Cabir: Hayye meri Ma..jeeth gayi tum..bol, kaam kya hai..

Nandini ( excitedly ): Uss Aunty ko dekh rahi ho kya..

Cabir: Haa wo jo Aunty uss salesman ko khaa rahe hai..

Nandini: Wahi..uss moti tamatar ne bechare salesman ko dara rahi hai, kyu na hum uske sath thodi masthi karle..

Cabir ( smirked ): Plan kya hai..??

Nandini whispered her plan to him while he smirked at her and gave a thumbs up sign to her..She stood up from her seat and walked to the lady..Manik, who was listening to some music in his mobile got distracted when he saw her moving away..

Manik: Cabir, where is she going..??

Cabir: Where is she nahi..Where are they going kaho..

Saying it Cabir too got up while Manik looked at them with a confused face..He too followed them..

Nandini: Hello Aunty..

The lady turned to Nandini and saw a sweet smile on Nandini's lips..

Manik ( murmured ): Iske smile kuch zyada hi sweet lag rahi hai..

Nandini: Any problem, Aunty..Aap bohath pareshan lag rahe hai..mein madad karoon..

Lady ( suspiciously ): Tum ho kaun..??

Nandini ( faked sweetness ): Arey Aunty, mein tho bas shopping keliye aayi hoon tabhi aapko ithni parshan hue dekha, mujhe aise chehre bilkul bhi pasand nahi tho socha agar mein madad karoon tho shayad aapke chehre pe wo muskan aajathe jo kahi kho gaye hai..

The lady smiled at her while in the mean time, Cabir signaled the salesman and he moved to Cabir..

Cabir: Lo, tereliye hai yeh..jaakar chai peeyo..

Salesman: Kya..? Par, mene aapse paisa maanga hi nahi..

Cabir: Maanga nahi tho kya de nahi sakthe..Abey zyada naatak math kar..mein khud yaha tumhe paisa de raha hoon aur tujhe lene mein problem hai..

Salesman: Nahi saab..leejiye aap..

Cabir: Ye hui na baath..ab sun..yaha tumhare zaroorath nahi, agar tu wapas aaya tho tu apne ghar mein ek hi piece mein nahi lautega..

The guy got scared and nodded at Cabir while taking the money from him and moved away..

Lady: Kya bathaoon chori..mere size ke slippers mil nahi rahe hai aur oopar se ye naukar...

She turned to look at the salesman but found none. Taking it as the opportunity, Nandini took a slipper and did something with it which was seen by Manik and he widened his eyes..

Manik: Fevicol...

Lady: Ye ladka kaha gayab hogaya..

Nandini: Shayad kahi gaya hoga..chod na Aunty..waise, ye slippers bhi bohath khoobsurath hai..

The lady turned to Nandini and looked at the footwear which was in Nandini's hands..

Lady: Arey yahi tho mujhe chahiye thi par iske size nahi hai..

Nandini: Aapke size kithne hai..

Lady ( coolly ): 60..

Nandini ( thought ): Oh teri ki..aise bhi sizes hai kya..Mein tho pehli baar sunn rahi hoon. Ab uss bechare ka kya galathi hai ki iss budhi tamatar ke foot ithne bade hai..

Nandini: Arey Aunty, aapko koi galathfehmi hogayi..ye footwear bhi size 60 ke hai..

Lady ( happily ): Kya..sach mein..tho dhe na chori..

The lady took it from Nandini and without any second thoughts, she wore it while Manik was about to shout when Cabir palmed his mouth..

Cabir: Kya kar rahe ho Bhai..?? Uss budhi tamatar ya aalu..umm..yaadh nahi, jo bhi ho..usko bachane ke koshish kyu kar rahe ho..??

Manik removed his hands from his mouth and glared at him..

Manik: Tho ye tha tum dono ka " where are they going " ka mathlab..uss lilliput ne wo bechari Aunty ke shoes mein fevicol daala hai..

Cabir: Haa tho kya hua..she deserves it, ek tho uske chappal ke size mil nahi rahe hai aur uskeliye wo bechara salesman ko khaa rahe the aur oopar se insult bhi kiya ab aap hi bathayiye aise logon ke saath pranks khelne mein kaunsa paap milna hai, ab aap Mr. India banne ke koshish math karo Bhai..

Manik ( glared ): Mr. India invisible tha..!!

Cabir: Kabhi kabhi aapko dekhke mein bhi sochtha tha ki kahi aap Mr. India tho nahi mathlab kuch bath nahi karthe hai na tho invisible bhi ho sakthe..

Manik ( irritated ): Ek tho wo lilliput mere dimaag har din khathe rehethi hai aur ab tum bhi shuru hogaya..

Cabir ( frowned ): Kaun lilliput..ek second..you mean Nandini...??

Manik ( sarcastically ): Nahi, Nandini ki bachi...

Cabir ( raised his eyebrows ): Mathlab, aapki bachi..??

And Manik looked at him with a frown but soon understood the double meaning and he glared at Cabir who was busy in laughing..

Cabir: Once, she should get to know that even you've kept a nickname for her..

Manik: Cabirr..dartha nahi hoon mein usse..

Cabir: Of course nahi..acha ab ispe break daalo, mujhe uss Aunty ke chehre dekhna hai..

The lady tried to push her feet in the footwear, but it simply got stuck and Nandini bit her lips to control her laughter..

Lady: Ye nahi jaa rahi hai..

Nandini: Arey jaayegi bhi nahi na..aakhir 42 tho aapki size hi nahi..

Lady: What...!!!

Nandini ( smirked ): Ji haan budhi Tamatar, iss stiletto ki size 42 hai aur aapke size 60, tho andhar kaise jaa sakthe..!!

The lady looked at her with a frown but soon, she understood it was a prank..

Lady: You brat..!!

Nandini: Oops, save it for your grand kids..

She started running and the lady tried to remove her footwear..

Lady: Bathathi hoon mein tujhe...uh..ab isse kya hua..

Nandini turned behind and winked at the lady..

Nandini: Sorry for the late confession, par usmein fevicol hain..

Lady ( shouted ): What....!!!

And, Nandini started running again and banged with Manik who held her from her waist making her stand in shock and Cabir was on the floor laughing while seeing the lady's face which was red in anger..

Nandini ( smiled sheepishly ): Hi, Grumpy Coffee..

Manik ( glared ): Seriously..??

Nandini ( made a serious face ): I'm serious, Hi..ye kaafi hai kya..

Manik left her and moved away and she sighed in relief..

Nandini: Uff mujhe laga iss Grumpy Coffee ke sath jagda karna padega, energy nahi hai mujhmein..

She turned to Cabir who was still laughing, she sighed in disbelief..

Nandini: Aap tho aise hass rahe hai jaise aapki beewi first night mein hi aapko shock diya..

And this put an end to his laughter, he stood up and faced her with a confused face..

Cabir: Mathlab..? Wo mujhe first night mein shock kyu degi..

Nandini: Jab wo bathayegi ki wo kisi aur ke bache ki Ma bannewali hai..

She walked away while Cabir made a horrified face..

Cabir: Hayee Rabba..iss ladki ke koi bhi prayer ke jawab math dena warna meri shadi hi nahi hogi..

Nandini walked towards Manik and sat beside him who looked at her with an angry face..

Nandini ( sighed ): Grumpy Coffee, mujhe bilkul bhi interest nahi hai tumse ladai karne keliye..bohath thak chuki hoon hospital ke kaam ke wajah se..

Manik: Acha, to phir wo kaun thi jo uss Aunty ke stiletto mein fevicol daala..

Nandini: Nandini Malhotra naam hai uss vishesh ladki ka aur agar aapko zyada information chahiye tho wo Manik Malhotra, yaani ki aapki beewi bhi hai..aur kuch..??

Manik ( frustrated ): Haa...mujhe ye jaana hai ki kab chutkara milegi tumse..

Nandini ( scratched her chin ): Um...shayad, agle janam mein...you know log kehthe hai ki jisko sacha pyar mila hai wo hamesha apne pyar ke sath rahenge, har janam mein, par hamara tho aisa koi rishtha hi nahi, isiliye agle janam mein chutkara milegi aapko..Mein nahi rahoongi aapke paas..

She shrugged her shoulders and concentrated in her mobile while Manik kept looking at her..

" Mein nahi rahoongi aapke paas "

That line kept ringing in his eyes. And, he didn't feel good hearing it..

Manik ( thought ): Why is that mere sentence affecting me, badly..?? Mujhe tho khush hona chahiye ye sochke ki kam se kam uss janam mein tho chutkara milegi par mujhe ek dardh mehsoos ho raha hai..jaise mein kuch kho raha hoon..what the hell is happening..??

His trance was broken by Mukti who stood in front of them with 2 pairs of outfits in her hands..

Mukti: Bhai..Bhabi, mein inn mein se konse le loongi..??

Manik and Nandini looked at her and he smiled..

Manik: Tum jo bhi pehenogi khoobsurath hi rahogi..

Mukti ( grinned ): Thank you, bhai..par mujhe jaanna hai..actually college mein ek party hai and we can wear whatever we want par mein confused hoon mein kya pehenke jaaon, mathlab log mujhe notice karna hai tho kaunse type hona chahiye, western, Indo-western or traditional ya phir bold outfits..kuch bhi samaj nahi aa rahi hai..Bhabi..aap bathayiye na..

Nandini ( sighed ): Hum apne style log notice karne keliye nahi balki hum khud apne aapko notice karne keliye pehenna chahiye..

Mukti: Mathlab..??

Nandini: Mathlab yahi ki..tum jo bhi pehenogi wo tumhare dil ko khush karna chahiye. Your heart should say that yes, we look beautiful. You don't need any damn person's comment on it. Bas, tum jo ho, wo bano..

And Manik looked at her without blinking his eyes..

" Mukti, ye kya pehenna hai tumne..?? " asked Alya, who have come to Malhotra Mansion along with Manik..

" Mathlab kya hai Alya, I'm in my party outfit. I have a get together in my school.." said Mukti while plastering a fake smile on her face..

" Wo tho mujhe patha hai, Manik ne bathaya hai. Par mera mathlab ye hai ki tum aise kapdon mein jaoge, wo bhi SPACE jaise famous school ke party mein. Bhool gayi kya, Manik Malhotra ki behen ho tum aur tum bas ek casual crop top and long skirt pehenoge kya..?? " said Alya with a disbelieving look on her face..

" Alya, she likes to be simple. Tho rehne dho na.." said Manik while looking at his sister's sad face..

" Manik, you don't know anything about fashion. Ye hum girls ke mamla hai. Aur Mukti ko bohath kuch seekhna hai mujhse. Ab mein uski honewali Bhabi hoon tho mein hi ye sab samjha sakthi hoon.." said Alya with fake sweetness dripping in her voice..

" Mukti, mere saath aao..I'll give you a shimmering thigh length outfit, you would look hot in it.." said Alya in her commanding tone..

" Alya, I'm sorry to interfere par Mukti ye sab pehenne keliye bachi hain..Let her get in her college life tab dekhthe hain aur waise bhi, it's up to her..not any of us.." said Cabir with an irritated look on his face..

" Cabir, I know how over protective you guys are for her, but it doesn't mean you'll let her life get spoiled. Ladki hai tho enjoy bhi karni hai..Ab ye sab pehenke jaogi na tho koi bhi ladka palat ke dekhega bhi nahi.." said Alya while flipping her hairs on her shoulders..

" Alya, he said right, she isn't comfor..." Manik got angry for hearing such non-sense against his sister..

" Nahi Bhai, Alya is right. I need to be someone like her..Aakhir mere Bhai jaisa koi mujhe bhi milna hai aur shayad uskeliye Alya jaise banna chahiye.." interrupted Mukti who wiped her lone tear without anyone's notice and faked a smile..

" See, she is much matured than you both..chalo Mukti, mere saath ao.." saying it Alya took Mukti with her to upstairs while Cabir looked at Manik...

" Aajkal sirf Mukti ko nahi balki mujhe bhi Alya pasand nahi hai.." said Cabir and walked away leaving Manik in distress..

Manik was brought out of his trance when he saw Mukti hugging Nandini with a beautiful smile on her lips, yet he could see some tears in her eyes..

Mukti: You know what, you're the best Bhabi one could ask for and I'm so happy to have you in my life..

Nandini: Ithni bhi praising math kar, zyada din mere sath rahoge na tab patha chalegi tujhe. Sabse bada point yeh hai ki tum khud apne aapko curse karegi ki mujhse dosthi karne keliye..

Mrunal: Wo tho hai, I had cursed myself for being your friend, na jaane kithne baar..mathlab tu hai hi ek museebath..

Nandini: Tujhse koi poocha hi nahi, waise bhi, tujhe mere jaise hi dosth milegi, ithni badi kameeni hai tu..

Mukti: Acha teek hai, ab aap dhono ladna bandh karo..Chalo bhabi, I'm selecting this..how does it look..

Nandini ( smiled ): Beautiful. Waise, according to me, red suits you the most..

The Malhotra siblings looked at Nandini in shock, Cabir who was also enjoying their bickering got surprised with it while Mrunal was sighing in disbelief..

Mrunal: Here comes the Red Queen..ithna obsession tho mujhe apne job se bhi nahi hai..

Nandini: Mujhe tho mere job keliye passion hai, tu iss dunya ki pehle insan hogi jisko apne kaam se obsession hai aur waise bhi kya burai hai Red color mein..it's beautiful..

Mrunal: Of course, par iska mathlab ye nahi ki tum Mukti ko bhi Red hi pehnaogi..

Nandini: Arey ye tho bas ek opinion hai..Mukti has a bold aura so red will look good on her, even that color is so intense..

Mukti: Bhabi, you're obsessed with Red..??

Nandini: Of course not, it's just Red is my favorite color. Whatever painted in Red is much beautiful to me compared to others. Ab isse obsession kahega koi..

Mrunal ( sarcastically ): Bilkul bhi nahi, isse hum craze bula sakthe hain..

Nandini: Tu kuch der keliye chup nahi beit sakthi..

Mrunal: Jaise ki tu bada muh bandh karke rehthi hain..

Cabir: Oho bas bhi karo ab..waise Nandini...rab ne banadi jodi suna hai kabhi..

Nandini: Ji nahi, balki Rab ne banadi jodi dekhi hai, bohath ache movie hai..

Cabir ( irritated ): Jithna poocha uske jawab dho na..

Nandini: Usseeka jawab tho diya na..nahi suni par ek extra information add kiya, usmein kya galathi hain..

Cabir: Forget it..mere kehne ka mathlab tha ki tum aur tumhara Grumpy Coffee bhi ek aise jodi hai jisse rab ne hi bana diya..

Manik ( frowned ): What..???

Cabir: Arey ab dekho na..RED is Nandini's favorite color and even Manik Bhai's..

Nandini ( freaked out ): What...!!! How could he like my favorite color..??

Each and everyone present there palmed their ears..

Manik: Tum chilla kyu rahe ho..

Nandini: Tum mere favorite color pasand kyu kar rahe ho..

Manik: Kahi likha hai kya wo sirf tumhari favorite color hai..

Nandini: Likha hai, mein bohath hi possessive insaan hoon. Jo mera hai wo hamesha mera hi rahega, so you better stay away from my favorite color RED..

Cabir ( face palmed ): Ye sirf ek insaan hi nahi hai, kuch aur bhi hai, par kya..ye tho khud usse bhi nahi patha tho mein kaise patha saktha hoon..

Nandini: Mene aapke bak bak sunn chuki hoon..zyada bhav khaya tho mein apne talent bahar dikhaaoongi, karate mein black belt hoon..

Cabir made a horrified face and stood at least a 100 centimeter distance from Nandini and the rest giggled except for Manik..

Manik: Hogaya tumhara..?? Ya aur bhi kuch baaki hai..?

Nandini: Haa bas ithna hi kehna hai ki mere favorites mein ek cheez bhi tumhara favorite nahi ho sakthe hai..

Manik ( glared ): Bachpan se lekar aaj thak sirf ek hi color mujhse sabse zyada pasand hai aur wo RED hai aur mein kisikeliye bhi badalne nahiwala hoon..

Mukti: Chup hojao na aap dhono, bacho ki tarah lad rahe hai..Bhabi,chalo, accessories section chalthe hain..

Nandini and the boys followed Mukti and Mrunal with helpless faces to the accessories store..

Mukti: Bhabi, iss outfit ke saath kaunsa color earrings lena hai..

Nandini: Mein tho koi color-coordinated earrings nahi pehenthi hoon but RED will look perfect..

Mukti and Mrunal palmed their faces..

Cabir: Wah..mere Brother ki dulhan hai hi ithni achi ki wo literally apna pati pe gayi hai..

Nandini: Bhai, kabse bak bak kar rahe ho aap..pyas nahi lag rahe ho kya..

Cabir: Tum bhi tho karthi ho..

Nandini: I'm blessed with such a gift so I don't feel thirsty even if I talk for 24 hrs..

Saying it, she walked away and Cabir had to zip his mouth..

Mukti ( giggled ): Bhabi se bath karne ke barein mein sochna bhi math, Cabir Bhai..

Mrunal: Exactly, it's injurious for health..

Manik sighed in disbelief and roamed his eyes around the store for Nandini and saw her trying to reach a bangle while stretching her hand high..He moved to her and stood behind her with hands folded against his chest..

Manik: Kya bath hai, tum bangles bhi pehenthi ho..?

Nandini ( turned to him ): Kyu..?? Mere hath dekhke tumhe pair dikh rahe hai kya..??

Manik: What..??

Nandini: Arey tumhe mere ye dhono hath dekhke pair dikh rahe ho kya, pair mein tho bangles nahi pehen sakthe na..

Manik: Tum paida hi aise thi kya..?? Ya phir kisine sar pe maara aur ithni irritating ban chuki ho..??

Nandini: Agar sar pe maara tho seedha faint hojayegi ya phir internal injury bhi ho sakthi hai. Ye jo mental problems aathe hai na, wo sab movies mein hothe hai, asli zindagi mein thodi hothi hai..

Manik gave her a murderous glare while she got busy in getting the bangle. Soon, his gaze fell on some guys behind Nandini, whose gazes were on one particular area. He followed their gazes only to stop at Nandini's bare belly which was visible due to her crop top and since she was stretching, it was more than clear for them to check out..He clenched his fist with reddened eyes and looked at them but they were busy in checking her out..

And he did, what he was best at, he grabbed her bare waist making her bang in his chest but his gaze was on the boys who now noticed Manik Malhotra's glare which was enough for them to understand the girl whom they were checking out was HIS and they simply ran away in fear..

While, Nandini was looking at Manik with widened eyes because, this was the first time her skin came in contact with a man's. Though, this wasn't the first time, he held her but it was never like this. This was skin to skin, and there was something in his eyes which she couldn't even read. Her hands were resting on his chest but her eyes were still not blinking..

He turned his attention to her and he got drowned in her eyes which now looked so familiar to him. He felt, he could read a lot in it. His one hand was on her waist while the other, unknowingly, moved to her cheek and stroked them forcing her to slip in some new feeling. He moved closer to her face with his concentration on her lips while she could only stare at him..

But, everything was broken by a voice..

" Hey Ram...!!!! ye kya dekh rahe hum...!! " Manik left Nandini and they both straightened themselves and looked in their right to see a granny looking at them with a blushing smile..

Granny: Mene kuch dekhi hi nahi..

Manik gave a nervous smile and tried to escape when the granny stopped him..

Granny ( smirked ): Dikhne mein lagtha hai abhi abhi shadi hui hai. Kamre se bahar nikala hai kya kal raath usne jo ab usse aise maafi maang rahe hai..

Manik and Nandini looked at the granny with shocked faces with their jaws almost touching the ground..He, again, gave a nervous smile and ran away while she too tried to give a smile and was about to run when the granny stopped her, this time..

Granny ( mischievously ): Maana ki pathi pathni ho, tumhare sindhoor aur mangalsuthr hi kaafi hai ye jaanne keliye par har koi tum dhono ke feelings samaj nahi sakthe, isiliye aise publicly romance karenge tho log sirf burai kahenge..apna romance level ko thoda sambhalke rehna bacho..

Nandini ( nervously ): Uh..ah..um..

Granny ( laughed ): Koi nahi, mein samaj sakthi hoon..mera husband bhi bohath romantic tha aur hai bhi..tum bas tumhara romeo ko ghar pe kuzh zyada hi samay dena, public romance ko ek full stop milega..

And, Nandini just faked a smile. The granny turned to go and she was about to sigh in relief when granny turned back again making Nandini's breathe hitch in her throat. Granny smiled and cupped her cheeks..

Granny: Bohath ache jodi banaye hai Rab ji ne..hamesha sath raho..

Saying it, she walked away while Nandini stood there with a shocked face. The granny's words kept ringing in her ears..

Nandini ( thought ): Jodi..?? Wasn't my marriage supposed to be just contract-based..??

To be continued..