Arranged Bhasad

9. Bliss

22 November, 2018.

Manik walked to the terrace and found her on the swing. Smiling to himself, he buckled up and sat beside earning a small smile from her which tensed him.

"Hey, what happened?" He asked to which she smiled "Nothing, aap ghar nahi gaye?"

"Nahi, socha kuch waqt bitaa lu tumhare saath phir!" She smiled at his words and looked at the stars yet again.

"Toh aapko kuch kehna nahi hai?" He asked after a peaceful and humble silence of minutes. Nandini remembered something and turned to him "Haan!! Manik!!"

Manik widened his eyes and tried to give a smile "Ah-Haan?"

"Aapne Sabyasachi ka lehenga kyu bhijwaya?" She asked crossing her hands around her chest to which he gulped his saliva "What? Toh? You love Sabyasachi!"

"I love Shahrukh too! Shaadi karwado?" She gave a humble and gentle sarcastic smile.

"Oye! You are only mine!" He pulled her closer to which she pushed him "Don't change the topic!"

"Arey! Tumhe pehenna tha na? Mrunu ne mujhe bataya tha.. Tumhe khush hona chaiye na?" He was absolutely clueluess about her anger.

"I am veryyy happy Manik! Lekin, it's costly... Wo nearly 1 lakh ka hoga!" Manik rolled his eyes at her statement and muttered 'Indian wives'

"Nandini! Shaadi ek hi baar karni hai baba! Usme kya kanjoosi?" Nandini sighed "Manik main Raj Kamals se le leti lehenga ya phir yeh Civil Lines me NS designer ya NA designer se hi banwa leti.. Mukesh bhaiya ne bhi banwaya tha! Aapne kyu itne paise waste kiye?" She said cupping his cheeks to which he kissed both her palms "I want to see you in that red Sabyasachi, looking the prettiest and that's final!"

"Thik hain!! Lekin Shaadi ke baad sirf meri baat sunoge aap! Aap bohot kharchile ho!" He let out a laugh and nodded "Haanji!"

"Waise, looking really beautiful!" He pushed his lips closer and kissed her cheek while she blushed "Thank you, you look handsome too!"

"Thank you!" He said and rested his back on the swing while she too did the same.

"Tensed?" He asked after nearly five minutes to which she looked at him shocked but soon at the sky after composing herself "I guess, Shaadi ki nervousness hai just!"

He sighed, moved closer to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder while she rested her head on his chest "You know right you can share?" She caressed his chest "Jee!"

"Darr lag raha hai Manik, kahi kuch hogaya toh! Kuch gadbad ho gayi toh. Maa and Papa naraaz hogaye mere kaam se toh? Chachi gussa hogayi toh? Aditi Chachi bhi kuch boli toh? Darr lag raha hai Manik. Agar main adjust na kar paun toh? Kahi kuch aisa bola diya jisse sab affect ho gaye toh?" She ended with a sigh while he caressed her shoulder to calm her down "Main hoon na! Nandini, I promise to be with you humesha! You are a star Nandini. Even being with so many scars, stars are everyone's favourite because they shine so bright. Same is in the case of yours. You live life very happily and keep doing so. Maa Papa ko bura lage toh apni pyaari si smile de dena, dono jhat se pighal jayenge. Aditi Chachi ko sirf ek puppy face dikha dena and dekhna kaise wo hass deti hai!" She laughed at his words while he continued, caressing her shoulder "Divya Chachi thora gussa karti hai, lekin tab hum dono saath me smile karenge toh pighal jayegi!"

"Aap bohot pyaare ho! Aap ke saath rahungi toh koi problem nahi aayegi!" She said caressing his chest. Placing her hand on the right side of his cheek, she pulled his face and kissed his left cheek while he smiled and kissed her forehead.

"Tumhe kya wedding night ke liye bhi kuch darr lag raha hai?" He asked all of a sudden confusing her "Wedding Night?"

"Su-" She mouthed an Ohh before he continued and smiled "Not really! I guess I am ready.. Thori nervous hu but I am ready after all I love you!" She said kissing his cheek to which he gasped "When did Nandini Junega became so bold?"

"So mean Mr. Malhotra!" She hit his chest while he laid out a laugh which made her heart beam with happiness. He was her happiness.

"Don't worry! We will see tab! Accha abb apni mehendi dikhao?" He was about to catch hold of her hands when she stood up and ran "Nahi Manik Malhotra! Baad me!"

"Nandini!!" He let out a frustated sigh which soon turned to a smile as he heard her anklets  while she was running downstairs. Manik too followed her and closely walked out of the house to his home.