I'm not at all satisfied with my writing of this chapter. Bear with it for now.

I'm fully blanked so don't know what I wrote.

Avoid mistakes if any

17.06.2022

"Manik woh aate vakt bundi ke laddoo lete aana. Kal Vivek lana bhool gaya." Manik's dad informed Manik to which he agreed. He moved towards the kitchen where his mother and wife were busy making sweets.

"Maa, aapko kuch chahiye kya marlet se? Main vahi ja raha hun." Listening him both the ladies raised their head. Neonika bobbed her head and asked Nandini to give him the list. She got up and after washing her hands she gave him the list.

"Maa, yeh sab kya hai? Itna sara saman?" He asked looking at the list to which Neonika chuckled and said

"Ek kaam kar, apne papa ko sath le jao."

"Papa busy hai." He replied/lied making her sigh.

"Accha toh phir Nandini ko sath le jao. Vaise bhi yeh sab bas khatam ho hone aaya hai. Jao Nandini, aur haan sab sahi se dekh ke lena bahut se aise hai jo kharab saman de denge." Neonika blabbered making her agree. She went and got changed into simple kurti and a jeans and taking the purse and a bag she moved out of the house.

She settled on the bike taking his shoulder's support. He smiled and started the bike.

"Vaise Manik, aapne jhut kyun bola ki papa busy hai? Woh toh aaram se TV dekh rahe hai." She asked him making him bit his lip and reply

"Woh is liye because I didn't want my wife to tire herself from all the household work. Bhabhi hai nahi yahan tumhara sath dene aur maa aur dadi bhi sambhal lengi. Subah se kaam mein lagi ho, mere baare mein toh socha tak nahi. Huh!" He complained making her laugh at his cute face.

"Haan haan haso tum bas. Mujhe tumse kuch baat karni hai." He said seriously making her gulp being worried.

"Kuch hua hai kya Manik? Aapko koi pareshani hai." She asked getting down from the bike as they had reached the market. Parking the bike he took the key and halmet.

"Kuch dino pehle main soch raha tha ki hum kahin ghoom aaye. Vaise bhi abhi tumhari chuttiyan chal rahi hai aur dedh hafte mein tumhara college phir se shuru hoga." They entered into a supermarket and Nandini started looking around for the stuff also listening him

"Gharwale..." Before she could complete Manik said

"Main sirf meri aur tumhari baat kar raha hun. Gharwalon ki nahi. Aur vaise bhi kahan hume yahan time milta hai ghumne phirne ka."

"Mujhe koi problem nahi lekin gharwalon ko aap bataoge agar maine bataya toh mere naam pe dhindora pitenge sab." Nandini said knowing his family's nature.

"Yrr! Fine! I'll speak. Lekin you better be prepared because tickets parson ki hai diwali ke baad." Nandini bobbed her head filling the basket. Manik helped her with carrying them. They paid the bill and moved out.

"Yahi rehna main mithayi ki dukaan se aaya. Tumhe kuch chahiye?" He asked looking at her down (because of her height)

"Ji, woh kachori kha lein? Bahut dino se mann kar raha tha." He smiled and held the bag and they both walked up to the halwai and they relished the kachori.

Around 4 clock they reached home and after freshening up they had their food and went back to take a small nap. When they came down to have their evening snacks Manik informed them about their plan.

"Par phir ghar ka kaam kaun karega? Neonika pe sab kuch chod ke chale jaoge kya?" Dadi asked being disappointed. Nandini looked at Manik with *see I told you* look who sighed.

"Kya dadi? Kuch hi toh dino ki baat hai. Aur aisa nahi hai ki humesha ke liye jaa raha hun. Aa jayenge ek hafte mein." Manik said holding her from her shoulders.

"Tum dono jao aur acche se ghumkar aana." Neonika said with a slight smile making them smile. Manik bobbed his head looked at his wife and winked at her making blush and glared at him.

Diwali Day

Manik ko pata nahi aaj hi itni der tak sona hai. Ugh! Bhagwan ji please help me.

"Manik! Uthiye! Dekhiye bahut deri ho gayi hai. Naha lijiye varna sabko late hoga. Diwali ke din bhi koi late uthata hai kya?" I pulled his blanket to which he groaned badly.

"Kya yrr! Sone do na. Vaise bhi kahan tum mujhe sone deti ho? Kal raat ko bhi you didn't let me sleep." What the hell! Maine kya kiya?

"Maine kya kiya? Aap hi gaye the terrace pe. Bola tha subah kar lete kaam lekin nahi...ab sara ilzam mere upar waah bhai waah! Aap na yahi pade raho." I threw the blanket on him and moved towards the cupboard in search of clothes.

"Aaye bade! Huh! Ek toh khud chale gaye lights lagane terrace par aur mujpar aise blame kar rahe hai jaise maine kahan tha. Huh! Ab toh uthaungi bhi nahi inhe." I was so busy to notice him standing behind me until he wrapped his hands around my waist taking my breathes away.

"Kya hai? Chodiye ab! Mujhe bahut saare kaam hai." I wiggled in his arms but his hold tightened.

"Shant meri maa! Shant! Vaise diwali ke din mujhe wish bhi nahi kiya. Aur se sada hua muh kyun banaya hai?"

Haww! Sada hua muh? Ab toh gaye yeh.

"Aap chodo mujhe! Aapki vajah se yeh muh sada hua hai. Jaiye so-yiye. Main nahi uthane wali aapko aur na hi wish karungi. Huh!" I came out of his hold to move away but he held my hand again making me sigh.

"Sorry baba! Accha aaj na yeh pehnana." He forwarded me a bag to which I frowned but still took it. It was a beautiful anarkali dress.

"Par Manik, aaj nahi pehen sakti. Maa ne saree pehen-ne ko bola hai." I replied with a sad smile to which he made a *tch!* Sound and said

"Arey! Kucch nahi bolegi maa. Tum yahi pehnana tab tak main naha ke aata hun." Saying this he pecked my cheeks making me blush. Thinking alot I finally wore the dress.

I hope maa kahi naraz na ho jaye. Oh god! late ho gaya, chal chal jaldi kar Nandu.

I came down and directly went into the kitchen as I need to make sweet (prasad) being new bride. I don't know what to make but the easiest and time saving is suji ka halwa.

"Nandini...maine saree pehen-ne ko bola tha yeh kyun pehna?" Shit!

"Woh...mujhe haan woh blouse fit nahi ho raha tha toh maine yeh pehen liya."

"Ohh theek hai. Koi na. Accha woh prasad jaldi jaldi bana le, puja ka samaj ho raha hai." She said moving out.

"Mujhe samaj mein nahi aata har baar diwali mein puja sham ko hoti hai yahan subah kyun?" I mumbled under my breathes looking around for the dry fruits.

"Nandini yeh jara fold kar do." Here comes my dear husband, ek ek baar baccho jaise behave karte hai.

"Fold kyun karna hai? Aise hi rehne dijiye." I said but he shook his head in denial.

"Vaise kafi acchi dikh rahi ho." He teased me with his tone or should I say indirectly expecting a compliment for his choice.

"Acchi toh lagungi hi...lekin mera ek kaam kar dijiye, upar ke shelf mein se dry fruits nikal ke de." I said distracting him because I knew he will start his teasing more than anything.

"Haan haan, abhi kaam hi karva lo lekin tarif mat karna meri." He opened the upper shelf and gave me the tiffin, I smiled at him sheepishly making him chuckle.

"Koi help chahiye?" He asked but I can't accept knowing that his dadi will be come soon.

He went out and so I finished my work also and moved out to see bhabhi already here. When did she come?

Soon we were doing puja with all the family members. After singing the arti and all were sitting in the living room when I got call from my father. Excusing myself I went to talk.

Manik

Nandini went to talk on the phone where as all of us were busy in gossiping.

She came back with a happy face making me smile.

"Woh, papa ne phone kiya tha. Aur unhone ghar pe bulaya hai sabko khane ke liye."

"Arey! Aise kaise? Yahan pe bhi toh dawat hai. Vahan jayenge toh yahan kaun sambhalega?" Dadi asked making me sigh.

"Lekin dadi...unhone pyar se bulaya hai toh main unko mana kaise kar dun?" Nandini asked her with sadness depicting from her voice.

"Main kuch nahi janti. Arey! Pehli diwali hai tumhari yahan iss ghar mein aur tum ho ki vahan jaane ki baat kar rahi ho. Huh!"

"Dadi, woh usko bhi ghar hai. Aur aisa kahan kaha Nandini ne sirf woh khud jayegi? Sabko bulaya hai na vahan." I said, sometimes I really don't understand why she behaves with her like that.

"Accha theek hai toh phir Sneha aur vivek ko bhej do." Seriously? I sighed and looked at my mother who was quiet and so was my father.

"Dadi, woh Nandini ka ghar hai na ki Sneha bhabhi ka. Bhabhi toh apne maike se ho ke aayi hai na, woh bhi ek din ke liye nahi gayi thi pura ek hafta reh kar aayi hai. Nandini jayegi aur sham tak hum aa jayenge." I said getting up from my place but listening dadi I really got angry.

"Haan haan, ab toh tumhe tumhare sasural vale pyare hai. Hum toh kuch lagte hi nahi. Shadi ke baad tum itna badal jaoge yeh mujhe nahi pata tha. Lo Neonika! Bahut ne usko apne pallu se band liya. Ab dekhne kaise iske peeche ghumta rahega."

"Dadi...aap kuch bhi mat boliye." Saying this Nandini went from there.

"Dadi aaj ke din bhi aap aise bol rahi hain? Bichari ne apne maa baap ko almost 3 mahino se nahi dekha bas milne ke liye ja rahi hai toh problem hai aapko. Jab aapki shadi huyi thi kya aap nahi gayi apne maike?" I asked angrily and dashed out from there. It's really irritating to see my family so narrow minded.

"Nahi papa, aaj bahut busy hai kisi aur din. Ji." I entered in my room only to listen her speaking to her father. She cut the call and looked at me.

"We are going to your house Nandini. Chalo." I said holding her hand but she pulled it back making me frown.

"Nahi Manik, maine papa ko bol diya hai aak nahi ho payega. Rehne dijiye. Aur abhi mera sacchi mein mood nahi hai." Saying this she lied down on the bed making me feel bad. I moved towards her and pulled her in arms.

"I'm sorry, aaj ke din bhi yeh sab hua."
I apologized to which she smiled and shook her head. I kept staring at her eyes which were sparkling in day light too. I don't know what got into me that I ended up putting my lips on hers. My hands moved up to her hair which were tied, removing the clip I let them set free. She has great hair.

I ended up moving her dupatta but didn't cross the line.... Yet!

How was it?