Arranged Bhasad

13. Blissful Days.

Nandini was dozing on the sofa, clad in tee and shorts when suddenly she heard the laugh of two men. Two familiar laughs.

"Aao Aao Manik beta.. Tumhara hi ghar hai!" Nandini quickly sat up and switched on the TV when Jaya too came to the living room and glared at Nandini who looked down.

Manik and Mrityunjay entered the living room and Manik quickly looked at Nandini which was notices by Mrunal, who laughed secretly.

"Aao Manik beta baitho!" Jaya made him sit a little far from Nandini who was looking down.

"Itni jaldi aagaye beta aap? Hume laga kuch samay lagega toh kuch tayyar Nahi hai..!" Jaya said to which Manik smiled "Koi baat nahi Maa. Bohot jaldi kaam hogaya toh papa ka office saamne pargaya toh unhe saath lekar aagaye.. Abhi sirf 4 baje hai..!" He said which relieved Jaya who said "Beta.. Aap aaram karlo.. Accha rahega!" Turning to Mrunal, she continued "Mrunu, Jijaji ko unka kamra dikha dijiye...!" Mrunal stood up and asked Manik to follow who gave a last look to Nandini and her attire and then walked upstairs while Nandini followed her mother to the kitchen.

"Aap gussa hai Maa?" Jaya quickly turned to her "Arey nahi nahi! Mujhe laga Manik ke saath uske parents bhi aaye hai.. Isliye main darr gayi.. Tu shorts and all me!" Nandini giggled "Aayiye, main kuch help kar deti hu!"

"Nahi! Tu jaa.. Rani meri madat kardegi..tu aaram kar!" After much insistence, Nandini walked to her room where Manik was 'resting' too.

She locked the door and heard her shower going off and smiled to herself. She was arranging her saree in the cupboard when she felt two hands sliding across her waist and a wet bare chest pressed against her back. Smiling to herself, she whispered "Kya hua Mani?"

"I like the new name..!" He kept his face on her shoulder and kissed the skin over there slowly.

"I missed you so much!" He said and clinged closer to which she laughed "I missed you too!"

"You look really good.. And hot, I must say!" He winked at her to which she slapped his chest "Aap chup karenge!"

"Wear this at home too na!" She glared at him "Divya Chachi, Maa, Baba sabke saamne?"

"Nahi, sirf mere saamne, mere liye!" He quickly pulled her as soon as she turned to him "Okay!"

"Accha Manik abb aap rest lijiye.. Main kuch der me aati hun!" Manik nodded and Nandini went away to help Mrunal with the gifts.

"Hey di!" Mrunal got elated having her and they both sat down to arrange the gifts.

"Yeh red saree Maa ke liya, pink waali Divya Chachi ke liye aur orange waali Aditi chachi ke liye..!" Nandini instructed to which Mrunal nodded and started arranging the gift wrappers.

"Kaise hai sab?" She asked in mid to which Nandini smiled "Acche hai! Maa bohot pyaari hai, Aditi Chachi bohot frank hai aur Divya Chachi bohot kha-"

"Manik bhai! Come come sit..!" Widening her eyes she turned to Manik who gave her a smirk "Divya Chachi bohot kha-? Continue?"

"Kha.. Khana banati hai..!" Nandini tried to divert her words when Manik laughed and side hugged her "Divya Chachi bohot kharoos hai! Like.. Bohot his gussa karti hai!" Mrunal smiled eyeing their bond and Nandini too smiled having him by her side.

"Yeh sab Nandini kyu?" Manik asked eyeing the whole lot of gifts to which Nandini made him understand "Pagphere ke rasm me humare ghar me sasural me gifts jaate hai..!" Mrunal walked away excusing herself for a bit.

"Itna kharcha kiya? Bohot zyaada hogaya na!! Simple gifts de deti.. Kaha Lavie, Giordano ki bags de rahi hon..!"

"Yeh Arunya aur Avneet ke favorite hai!" Nandini reasoned out to which Manik palmed his head "Arey! Unhe mile hai bohot acche acche bag!"

"Such a miser you are Mr. Malhotra.. I am their bhabhi and I know what to gift them!" Manik sighed and smiled a bit eyeing the love and possessive nature she has.

"Accha hum ek ghante me nikal jayenge..thik hai?" Nandini nodded and Manik lied just beside her on the bed "Aap kamre me jaake so jayiye na Manik!"

"Nahi!" He turned around and slept away and Mrunal too came back in some ten minutes "Aapse kitna pyaar karte hai Manik bhai!"

"Achaa! Wo toh hai..!" Nandini eyed his softly and then to Mrunal.

It was around 11:30 in the night when she  was laying on the bed with her head resting on the headrest. Manik came in after a minute and locked the door.

"Choro na book!" He pulled out the book from her hands and she glared at him "Main rakh rahi thi.. Aap bhi na!"

"Haan! I need your attention always!" He sat beside her, sharing the quilt with himself, took her hands and kissed them "Kitni acchi ho tum!"

She smiled deeply and hugged him "Aapne kitni mehnat ki aaj.. Kitna thak gaye the.. Still you took me to my house and even came back with me.. I am so lucky to have you, I love you!" She kissed his cheek to which he pulled her to himself and kissing her forehead, both drifted to sleep.