Arranged Bhasad

17. A tease

After a month.

Manik entered the mansion with a tired face and Pawan came up with a glass of water. He sat on the sofa to see Avneet reading a book. Moving closer to his baby sister, he caressed her hair "Mera baccha is studying!"

"Oh bha-" Avneet looked at him with a awkward smile which prompt him to further to look at the phone placed between the books. He quickly took out and what he saw next made him boil to the next level.

"What is this?" Avneet bit her lower lip "Ah bhai! Kamre me jayein.. Maa will get angry" He held her wrist and softly pushed her to his room and closed the door, but didn't lock.

"What is this, Avneet Malhotra?" Avneet had slight tears in her eyes and not able to see it, Manik turned the other way and questioned her.

"Wo bhai.. He's.. He's a classmate.. I like him.. I mean, he loves me.. Since two years.. We were friends..." She was crying badly when he shouted keeping the volume level on check "Are you guys in a relationship?" Two whole minutes went by but she didn't answer "ARE YOU GUYS DATING?" His shout led her answer "Y.. Yes.. 7 months.." He ruffled his hair and breathed heavily while she kept weeping bad.

He took a heavy sigh, sat beside her and hugged her caressing her hair "You know right it's your vital time?" Avneet snuggled to him and nodded "So don't you think you should focus more on studies" Kissing the top of her head, he spoke softly and she nodded "I have no problem unless your studies affect, you have to keep a check on that" Avneet came out of the snuggle and kissed his hands "Thank you so much bhai! I promise I will score good marks... Avneet promise" He patted her head "That's like my good girl and I am sorry for making you cry.." He kissed her forehead. She hugged him tightly "I love you!"

"I want to meet him after the exams btw! Okay?" She nodded with a blush when Nandini entered with two shopping bags "Mani! You are home!" She looked at saw Avneet smiling at her. Walking to her, she kissed her hair "Go to Apurva, we have got something for our princess!" Avneet hugged her tightly "Thank you bhabhi!" And she ran away pulling the door which locked it and Nandini turned to Manik and sat on his lap "I got something for you, love"

Manik blinked his eyes a time or two and giggled "What has got into you?" This led her to pout while she took out the tshirt and jeans from the shopping bag "Why? Can't I call you love?"

He let out another laugh "Ofcourse baby! Now show me what you got for me.." He unbuttoned his tee and she threw the tee on him while he made faces "Respect your handsome Nandiniiii" Nandini turned to him with a smirk "And where is it written?"

"Handbook to splendid married life" He said with a pride and changed into the tee when she suddenly bursted into a laugh "It was amazing last night" He was being reminded off very well but he was already a tease.

"I know! I am amazing in bed" Nandini widened her eyes and threw the jeans on his face "Such a grosssss!! I am just not talking to you anymore or letting you touch me!" Manik laughed out while she went downstairs to cut tomatoes carrying two under her eyes.

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"Maniii!! When you getting up?" She nudged the Kumbhkaran near her and sighed while he pulled the duvet over him "I am really tired jaan. Just 5 minutes more" She looked at him and adoration grew in her. She took a seat just beside him on the bed and caressed his cheek "Get up love. Have breakfast and then sleep again! Get up babyy!" He giggled at her and pulled her pecking her forehead "You go down! I will come down after brushing!" She kissed his cheek and caressed his stubble "Good Morning!" He smiled back while his eyes dozed off but he let it go and woke up while she went downstairs. It was a free Sunday for all after months. Arunya and Avni had their exams, Mukti was off to Boston, Arnav gave his mains very amazingly,  Cabir was still scratching his hair to pass in his exams, Manil was busy in his office, Nandini was busy in teaching and the elders were supporting them all. It was a perfect family until Nandini came in. She brightened the light more, precisely in Manik's life. He was always brightened with his toothy smile while she was always to pull his cheeks. They were just the ideal couple and the family loved.

It was a lovely morning and all had gathered near the dinner where large mats were being placed since Murthys had arrived along with Navya. It was a splendid reunion arranged by Sreelekha and Jaya over a phone call which briefly tells you how their relationship has changed from just in-laws to friends.

All the four ladies from both the households were having a discussion regarding some certain Kanjeevaram, Yash was playing with Nitara, Cabir was stealing glances of Navya who would blush unknowingly, Rukmini had joined the ladies already, Arunya and Avneet were laughing at the jokes Arnav was cracking while Mrunal was laughing which made it happier and merrier for him. Pawan and Roshni were sitting with all of them laughing with Arnav. The men were busy in some talk regarding a consultancy service and there the newly married couple were sitting on the corner. She was sitting and noticing the rest while Manik was lying on the mat and drawing circles on her lower back pushing the kurti aside and thankfully, quilt was till her waist which hid Manik and his antics.

"Manik! Stop! Sit up" She whispered but of no use. He showed his tongue to her and continued doing what he was. She closed her eyes and then opened it at once and looked at everyone who were busy in their own world, sighing heavily.

"I am notttt" She annoyingly looked at him and glared when suddenly Sreelekhaa called him "Are Mannu! Tu bata how was Pondicherry?" Manik quickly stood up pulling her kurti down which gladly went unnoticed by the elders "Ah.. It was good Maa! Jaya Maa you should also visit.. It was amazinggg" Looking at Nandini with dreamy eyes "until that Pandit intervened" he muttered under his breath which made her giggle.