MaNan- Yearning to be loved

Chapter- 3

What's a plan..??

In definition, it means, a scheme or method of acting, doing, proceeding, making..etc..

Well, isn't it quiet similar to what we humans do. We always keep a plan before doing something. We do have a backup plan even before murdering someone.

But, what people can't understand is, a plan is actually something useless. When you plan something, it's not necessary that you'll succeed in it. You plan a great future before getting married but you may end up in divorcing each other due to several problems. Did you plan your divorce too..?? Of course not, so what's the use of having a plan..??

There's no use and so Manik Malhotra stopped having plans on his future since the past 2 years of his life. Which is why, he's getting married without even having a conversation with his would-be-wife, well leave the conversation, he hasn't even seen her, not even her photo..

In an Auditorium

The Marriage Mandap

Manik was sitting with an angry face, who was actually waiting for his bride. He turned to his right and glared at his family who didn't even bother to look at him..

Mukti ( fake smile ): Cabir Bhai, mujhe darr lag rahi hai..

Cabir ( confused ): Kyu..? Tere peeche koi gunde hai kya..?

Mukti ( glared ): Kabhi tho serious hoja. Yaha Manik Bhai aisa ghoor rahe hai jaise mujhe tukde karke khaane keliye bhi unhe koi dikhath nahi hai..

Cabir ( sarcastically ): Tera Bhai koi Anthropophagite nahi hai. Waise bhi, you won't taste good for a an anthropophagist too. Tum ladkiyan make up dalthe hai na, tho natural taste nahi milega..

Mukti made a bad face at him..

Nyonika: Raj..ladki kaha hai..

Raj: Arey, muhurath nikla nahi abi thak. Thoda sabr rakho..

Nyonika: Mujhe tho jaldh se jaldhi hi ye shadi karwana hai..

Mukti: Waise Dad, what's her name..?

Raj: Nandini...

Cabir ( raised his eyebrow ): Nandini...and what..? Surname...?

Raj ( sighed): I told you right, Cabir. She's an orphan so you can't expect her to have a surname..

Cabir nodded in understanding..Soon, Raj's eyes caught the bridal figure walking towards the Mandap..

Raj ( smiled ): Lo...aa gayi dulhan..Nandini..

Rest of the Malhotras too looked in the front to see Nandini walking towards them with a girl beside her..

Mukti ( squealed in adoration ): She looks so beautiful...

Raj ( stunned ): She's looking different, in this attire..

And the next second, Nandini stood in front of Malhotras with her family..

Nandini ( smiled ): Hey Gra....

Raj ( immediately ): Arey tum bohath khoobsurath lag rahi ho..Chalo, muhurath ka waqt nikalne wale hai..aur ye sab...kaun kaun..?

Nandini ( smiled sweetly ): Thank You. And this is my best friend, Mrunal Singhania. And her parents, Mr. Avinash Singhania and Mrs. Revati Avinash Singhania..

Avinash glared at Nandini and she smiled sheepishly..

Nandini: And yeah, just like my parents..

Raj ( smiled ): Nice to meet you, Mr. Singhania. I have heard a lot about your business skills. By the way, I am Raj Malhotra, and this is my wife Mrs. Nyonika Malhotra..

Nyonika greeted them with a smile..

Raj: And they are my kids, Manik, the groom's younger siblings..

Cabir: I am Cabir Malhotra. Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Singhania..

Mukti: I am Mukti Malhotra. Nice to meet all of you..

The Singhanias greeted them back with a smile on their lips..

Nyonika: Chalo, shadi ka muhurath hai ab..

Nyonika and Mukti took Nandini with them and made her sit beside Manik. Mrunal, stood behind Nandini.

Nandini looked at Manik from the corner of eyes only to see him busy in his mobile. She moved her left hand behind as if asking Mrunal to come forward..

Mrunal ( whispered ): Kya hai fluffy..

Nandini ( whispered ): Tujhe patha hai, jaise tu ne kaha waisa hi hai ladka..

Mrunal: Mathlab..?

Nandini: Arey, you read on articles right, about the Manik Malhotra. Ab ye tho dekho, kaunsa ladka mobile mein busy rahoge jab uski shadi honewali hai, wo bhi ithni sweet ladki ke saath..

Mrunal ( hit her head ): Meri Ma, aaj tho shadi hai, ab tho muh bandh karo na, warna ladka hi bhaag jayega..

Nandini: Achi baath hai na. I was missing the proposal meetings..

Mrunal: Tera kuch nahi ho saktha..

Mrunal stepped back..

Priest: Ab kanyadhaan ke liye, ladki ke pita aage badiye..

Avinash came forward and took Nandini's hand in his while Manik wasn't giving his hand, he was controlling his anger. Seeing it, Raj nudged Manik's shoulder with a glare and he ( Manik ) forwarded his hand to the left reluctantly and soon he felt a soft hand on his making him look at the hand which was filled with henna. He tried to look at Nandini's face from the corner of his eyes but he couldn't because she was looking down..

Priest: Ab saath vachan keliye uthiye..

Both Manik and Nandini stood up and he started with his vows and at the end Nandini completed her vows, totally they completed their 7 vows by walking around the fire, with hands tangled with each other's..

Priest: Ab var vadhu Sindhoor keliye beithiye..

Both Manik and Nandini occupied their seats again. Manik took a pinch of Sindoor from the taal and filled Nandini's hairline.

Priest: Ab var, vadhu ko Mangalsutr pehnayiye..

Manik took the nuptial chain from the taal and leaned to Nandini and tied it around her neck and for the first time, he got drowned in someone's fragrance..

Priest: Ab aap dhono pati patni hue..

Manik looked at the priest with" Finally, thank you " look while Nandini was looking excited..

Nandini ( thought ): I just can't believe it. I am married...Hayeee, ab tho mein hip-hop naachoongi..

Mrunal leaned to Nandini's ears from behind..

Mrunal: Congratulations daayan. Finally, mujhe chutkaara mil gayi..

Nandini: Thank You khooni. Aaj ke baad tera saath rehne ke zaroorath nahi hai mujhe. Kithni achi kismath hai meri..

They glared at each other and laughed...

Mrunal: Oye dekh, tera Pati uth gaya..tu bhi uth..

Nandini too stood up and Mrunal helped in adjusting her dress..Manik was about to walk out when Nyonika held his arm..

Nyonika ( whispered ): Dulhan ke saath bahar jaana hai tujhe, warna acha nahi lagega..

Manik ( angrily ): Mom, you know I don't..

Nyonika: I know you don't like it, but you have to follow it, Malhotras ke izzat pe sawal udega..

Manik balled his hands in a fist to control his anger and this was seen by Nandini..

Nandini ( whispered to herself ): Kya baath hai, Munda tho ekdum angry hulk hai. Nandu, tujhe tho bohath jhelna padega..

Soon, Malhotras took Nandini with them in their car and once they reached outside, Manik zoomed off in his car while others sighed.

Revati Singhaniya: Nandu beta, ye ladka sach mein ye shadi nahi chahtha hai..

Nandini ( shrugged her shoulders ): Tho mein kaha chahthi hoon, Aunty. Mere liye tho ye achi baath hai, koi Hindi Movie hero ke tarah mujhpe force tho nahi karega na..

Revati looked at her disbelievingly and so Avinash..

Mrunal: Yar, par tu waha rahegi kaise, iss angry bird ke saath ek kamre mein sona padega na..

Nandini ( sighed ): Tu chill kar na. Zindagi mein pehli baar mein kisi angry hulk ko real mein dekh liya hai, ab uska kuch tho fayda hona chahiye na..

Mrunal ( grinned ): Aur tu kal mujhe bathayegi ki kya kya kiya uss angry bird ne..

Nandini: Ye bhi koi kehne ki baath hai..

Avinash ( pity face ): Kisine sahi kaha, jodiyan tho rab khud banathe hai, chahe wo life partners ya soul sisters..

Revati too made a pity face while looking at the girls..Malhotras moved to them after curing Manik for leaving them alone..

Nyonika: Um, chalein..

Nandini: Oh yes..

Nyonika simply gave a fake smile and so the rest..

In Malhotra Mansion

Nandini along with the Malhotras reached the Mansion only to see Manik standing outside the door with a pissed off face.

Nyonika: Ye ab thak bahar kyu khada hai..

Raj ( smirked ): Chabi nahi hai tho andhar kaise jayega koi..

Cabir ( raised his eyebrow ): Mathlab...?

Raj ( grinned ): Na hamara servants ghar pe hai aur na Manik ke paas chaabi hai kyunki wo mere paas hai..

Mukti ( grinned ): I'm impressed, Dad..

Nyonika ( excitedly ): Ye aapne kiya kab..?

Raj ( bad face ): Mujhe tumhare bete pe bilkul bhi bharosa nahi tha, isiliye chabi rakhliya apne paas, aur saare servants ko raath mein aanekeliye kaha..

Cabir ( smirked ): Wah, aap tho prove kiya ki Cabir Malhotra ke baap hai..

Raj: Cabirrrr....

Cabir chuckled..

On the other hand, Singhania couple were admiring the Mansion while the best friends were finding everything boring..

Nandini: Yar, mujhe iss lehenga se bahar nikaldho koi..

Mrunal: Tum kya koi bharni mein ho, jo koi aake tumhe usse nikalega..

Nandini ( glared ): Kyu, agar hotha tho tum aake mujhe bachaoge kya..

Mrunal: Very sorry. Kisiko bhi bachaon par tujhe nahi bacha sakthi. Khudko bharni mein rehna padega phir..

Nandini: Tho achi baath hui na, kisiko hame bachane ke zaroorath nahi padega, bharni khud hame nikalega, tujhe mere alawa aur koi jhel bhi nahi saktha..

Their bickering went to a halt when Nyonika lead them inside. Nandini was made to stand beside Manik, at the door step, who was actually glaring at Raj and Cabir, he knew either of them is the reason why he's standing outside his own home. Nyonika entered insdie and Manik was about to rush in, when she stopped him..

Nyonika: Mujhe, grhapravesh karna hai, Manik..

Manik's face turned more red..

Nandini ( thought ): Iska chehre dekhke lag rahe hai body temperature 150 degree pe gaye hai. Haww Nandu, kahi ye communicable tho nahi, mujhe kal hospital bhi jaana hai, bhukar ke wajah se ghar pe nahi bet sakthi mein..

Soon, Nyonika came with the taal and did the new couple's Aarti and put teeka on their foreheads. Mukti kept the pot of rice on the door step and a plate in the front..

Nyonika: Nandini beta, you need to kick this rice pot with your toe and then step in the plate and move forward..

NANDINI...That was the moment, Manik's ears caught the conversation.

Manik ( thought ): Well, she has got a beautiful name, God knows how beautiful my life could be..

Nandini nodded at Nyonika and did as per she said, and finally, Manik and Nandini were inside the Mansion and it didn't take him a minute and move upstairs while Nandini relaxed her body.

Nyonika ( awkwardly ): Um, Mr and Mrs. SInghaniye, we are sorry for Manik's behavior. He's...

Revati: You don't need to Mrs. Malhotra. We know, he isn't interested in this marriage and also we know why this marriage is happening..

Nyonika smiled at her..Revati turned to Nandini..

Revati: Nandu, hum chalthe hai. Agar koi zaroorath padi tho..

Nandini: Tho aapko phone karoongi, kehne ke zaroorath nahi hai Aunty..

Revati simply slapped her head and smiled and then hugged her and kissed her forehead..

Revati: Khayal rekhna apna..

Nandini ( smiled ): Of course, yahi tho mera aadath hai..

Avinash came forward and kissed her forehead..

Avinash: Ab tum apna khayal rakhogi tho isiliye mere khayal rakhne keliye kabhi kabhi hamara ghar mein aana chahiye..

Nandini ( grinned ): Ye bhi kehne ke baath nahi hai..

Mrunal ( hugged her ): Yar, bohath missy karoongi, tere bina main wo apartment mein nahi rahoongi..

Nandini: Rehna bhi nahi chahiye, mera bohath personal stuffs hai waha..I don't want you to see it..

Mrunal glared at her but then they hugged each other again and murmured ' gonna miss you ' in each other's ears..

And then, the Singhanias bade bye to Nandini and Malhotras and drove to their destination, their home..

And back in Malhotra Mansion, Nandini turned to the Malhotras..

Nandini ( smiled ): Grand Pa..ab mujhe kya karna hai..

Hearing her, Cabir and Mukti raised their eyebrows while Nyonika was confused..And Raj, he was doing what he wwas best at, face palming..

Nyonika: Um, mein samjhi nahi, aap kisse bath kar rahe hai..

Nandini: Arey Grand Pa se..

Mukti: Uh..Grand Pa..hamara koi Grand Pa nahi, our grandfather passed away when we were kids..

Nandini ( casually ): Arey mein inke barein mein bath kar rahi thi..

Nandini pointed her finger at someone and the rest follower her finger only to look at the person in shock..

Nyonika: Raj...

MukBir: Dad...

Raj gave a very sarcastic grin to them and a glare to Nandini..

Nandini ( sighed ): Ab aap phirse math kahiye. I don't find you young enough to call you by name..Aur wo mere bas ki baath bhi nahi. Mein aise kaise aapko naam se bulaoongi, arey maana ki thoda hatke dikh rahi hoon par mujhmein bhi manners naam ke cheez hai..

Raj ( gritted his teeth ): Mere bache mujhe DAD bulathe hai kyunki mein uss umar ke hoon..

Nandini: Arey wo aapke bache hai so they have no choice..

Soon, they both heard someone's laughter and turned to find Mukti and Cabir laughing while holding their stomach and Nyonika was trying hard not to laugh out..

Nandini ( tired face ): Ab ye log hass kyu rahe hai..

Raj ( frustrated ): Aur ud mere mazaak...Ughhh...Cabir...chup kar..Muktiii

Mukti stopped laughing and tried not to think about it while Cabir was still laughing shamelessly..

Raj: Cabirrrr...

Cabir ( laughingly ): Like seriously..? The Great Raj Malhotra looks like a Grand Pa for a girl..

Nandini ( sighed ): Yar, mein kaha phas gayi..

Raj ( irritated ): Chup kar, Cabir...

Cabir: Okay...okay..

Cabir moved forward and stood in front of Nandini..

Cabir ( smiled ): Hi...I am Cabir Malhotra..aapka devar..mathlab aapke liye Bhai jaisa hi hai..

Nandini ( raised his eyebrow ): Uss Angry hulk ke chota Bhai hai ya Bada Bhai..??

Cabir ( stunned ): Kaun...? Kiska..chota bhai..??

Nandini: Arey jisse mene shadi ki..Angry hulk Malhotra..

Mukti came forward and palmed Nandini's mouth..

Mukti: Shh..ye aap kya bol rahe hai, agar Bhai ne sunn liya phir aapko koi nahi bacha paoge..

Nandini: Arey wo koi Tsunami tho nahi na...

Cabir ( confused ): Hain..? Tsunami kyu..??

Nandini ( irritated ): Ab ithna bhi nahi samaj sakthe hai aap..Tsunami se koi nahi bach paoge, par aapka Bhai tho insaan hai aur insaano se chutkara zaroor milegi..

Cabir and Mukti started giggling while Nyonika was staring at her in disbelief.

Raj ( sighed ): Cabir Manik ka chota Bhai hai par wo 23 ke hai..

Nandini ( smiled ): Ohh mathlab mujhse bade hai tho Cabir Bhai..hai na..

Cabir ( smiled ): Oh yes..ek aur behen bear kar saktha hoon mein..

Nandini: Dekhiye ab agar aapko mujhe behen banane mein takleef hai tho batha sakthe hai, ehsaan karne ke zaroorath nahi hai. Waise bhi bade bhaiyaan mere jaise behen milne keliye tadapthe hai aur yaha mein khud aapko permission de rahi hoon, phir bhi aapko problem hai..

Cabir stared at her with wide opened mouth and Nyonika and Mukti were looking at her as if they have seen some vampire..Raj moved to Cbair and closed his mouth..

Raj: Muh bandh kar, makhi ke taste ithna bhi acha nahi hai jo ek sau makhiyon ko entry de rahe hai..

Cabir made a bad face..

Nandini ( tiredly ): Grand Pa, I am so tired..Kya mein apne kamre mein jaa sakthi hoon..

Raj ( frustrated ): Ab tho mujhe aadat se chalna chahiye..Mukti, usse Manik ke kamre mein le chalo..

Mukti ( nodded ): Okay Dad, chalo Bhabi..

Nandini ( scrunched her eyebrows ): Er...Bhabi..??

Mukti ( nodded with a smile ): Arey aap tho mere Bhai ki beewi hai tho ere liye hui na Bhabi..

Nandini ( made faces ): Par mein dikhne mein ithni bhi buri nahi hoon. Mathlab mein kithne young hoon aur tum mujhe Bhabi bula rahi ho, budhi nahi hoon yar..

Mukti found her too friendly that she ended up pulling Nandini's cheeks which made her feel annoyed..

Mukti: You are too cute..Aap mujhse bade hai aur rishthe se Bhabi hai so I ought to call you that, ab chalo mere saath..

Nandini walked to upstairs with Mukti while others stared at Nandini's retreating figure in astonishment..

Nyonika ( shocked ): Raj, ye ladki tho...tho...

Raj: Kehne keliye tera paas words nahi hai, its okay. Hotha hai kabhi kabhi. Iske liye mere dimaag mein bhi koi word nahi aaya, isiliye rare specie kaha..

Cabir ( still shocked ): By God, Dad. Ye tho rare specie hi hai. I am 50% sure that we could get our Bhai back..

Nyonika ( sighed ): Hmm..Bass mere beta wapas mile mujhe..Aur Raj, ladki achi tho hai na. I mean, do you know anything personal related to Singhanias. Kahi Manik ke chakkar mein hum koi dhoka nahi khaa jaye..

Raj: Nyo..wo achi ladki hi hai. Haa thoda, nahi thode se bhi zyada bath karthe hai par dil ke saaf hai, I searched about her behavior through her hospital staffs. I even had a conversation with people whom she meet everyday, like salon, restaurants, ice cream shops..Agar achi nahi hothi tho kya mein ye shadi keliye haa keh detha..

Nyonika ( sighed ): Kya karoon, sabko bharosa nahi kar sakthe na..Chalo, kuch khaake sojayenge hum..

Raj and Cabir nodded at her and moved to their respective rooms..

In Upstairs

Manik's bedroom

Mukti made Nandini to sit on Manik's or Manik and Nandini's bed..

Mukti: Bhabi, aaj se ye hai aapa kamra..

Nandini ( bad face ): Tumhara Bhai ka favorite color bilkul bhi acha nahi hai..

Mukti ( sighed ): You might have heard about Bhai from Dad, right. He's full of dark, isiliye kamra bhi..

Nandini: Black hai...Hmm, ye sab tho baad mein handle karoongi mein..

Mukti ( smiled ): Chalo teek hai, waise khana oopar bhijwaa doongi, Bhai tho already khana hamesha saath mein nahi khaathe, when he is angry, he doesn't even eat..

Nandini: Hmm..thanks for providing your Bhai's habits. Aur mere liye bhi math bhejna. Mujhe bas sona hai..

Mukti: Khair. Jo aapko acha lage..Have a good night, Bhabi..

Saying it Mukti walked outside while Nandini relaxed herself while sitting on the bed..She looked around the room once again..

It was a simple lavish bedroom but now it was decorated like a wedding couple's room. Well, it's actually the their wedding night, after all..

Nandini ( to herself ): Ab kal se mission "Mr. Angry Hulk to Mr. Nice Guy" shuru karna hai..Chehre se dekhkar gusse ke alawa aur kuch aatha nahi wala dikh raha hai ab andhar se kya hai, ye tho sirf bhagwana jaane. Waise bhagwan ji, aapko har dafa ke tarah iss baar bhi mere saath dena hai, kisi aur ke chakkar mein mujhe math bhool na. Haa patha hai, aap tho mujhpe fida hai phir bhi yaad karwana mera farz jo hai..

Suddenly, she heard footsteps towards the bedroom..

Nandini: Lagtha hai hulk aa raha hai. Hey Bhagwan, kahi wo ladka mujhpe force tho nahi karega. Suna hai, ladke agar gussa hai tho kuch bhi kar sakthe hai. Let me cover my face, agar mere chehra dekhliya aur usse pasand aaya tho...haww nahi nahi, ye ho bhi nahi saktha..

And so, we could see Nandini sitting on the bed who covered her face with the veil, with only nervousness engulfed on it. Soon, the door of the bedroom was opened with a bang and Manik entered inside and locked it much to her worry..

Manik ( pissed ): Look, if you think I am going to make out with you, then let me make it clear, I ain't interested in this s**t. Leave making out, I won't even let you stay a 100 meter close to me..

He was about to move when he heard the Nandini's voice, for the first time..

Nandini: Whattt...!! You won't make out...Oh My God..let me die..My husband just denied my right..What am I gonna do...

And she started shedding tears. He got irritated and he moved to her and pulled her out of the bed and held her arms..

Manik: Shut up..just shut up. I seriously hate blabbering..And what right are you talking about, huh..

Nandini just took off her veil and stared in his eyes..

Nandini ( smirked ): Being your wife is the exact right that I have on you..

While Manik just stared at her with widened mouth..

This was the first time he was seeing her and he was smitten and also, someone just smirked at Manik Malhotra. A mere girl just smirked at The Manik Malhotra and back answered at him. That's an offence..

Nandini ( raised her eyebrow ): Why are you gaping at me..??

She got all her courage back when he himself said he won't touch her but now, this guys isn't even opening his mouth..

Manik ( gritted his teeth ): How dare you..?? How dare you smirk at me..?

Nandini ( confused ): Huh...? Smirk..? Is it an offence in your Mansion that one shouldn't smirk..??

Manik: Nobody. No damn person smirks at Manik Malhotra..

Nandini ( pushed his hands off her arms ): Oh really..? Then, get used to it. Mein tho kisiki sunne walon mein se nahi hoon aur ab tumhe bhi ye sab jhelna padega..

Manik ( scowled ): You...you..you just back answered at me..Do you realize what mess you've gotten into..

Nandini ( tiredly ): Dekho, tumhe jo kehna hai, jo karna hai, jisko daantna hai, ye sab baahar jaake karo, mujhe tho ye sab sunne keliye mann hi nahi hai. Agar tum kuch kehna chahthe ho tho kal baath karo na, umm, kal, after 5 in the evening. Mujhe subah kaam pe bhi jaana hai, tumhari tarah aiveyi kahi bat nahi sakthi.

Saying it, she walked inside the washroom while Manik was still staring at her with widened mouth. He was staring at the washroom door in disbelief..

Manik: She..that mere lilliput girl..just ignored me..me..The Manik Malhotra ko ignore kiya...how dare she..

Soon, he saw her coming outside in her comfy clothes and uh...unknowingly..he had to check her out..

Nandini: If you're done checking me out, you can sleep...

Manik ( annoyed ): I'm not an animal to check you out..!!

Nandini: Well, even animals check me out. So, compliment accepted..

She laid on the bed..

Manik: Oh hello, kaha..ye mera bed hai..

Nandini: Tumhara naam nahi dekha, isiliye mein so rahi hoon yaha..

Manik ( frustrated ): If you don't get up, I will be sleeping beside you..

Nandini: Cool, tomorrow morning, you'll be bruised with red patches on all over your body..I'm black belt in karate..

Manik ( shouted ): Kaha phas gaya mein...!!!

Nandini: Welcome to life..!!!

To be continued..