“Manik, I choose to be by your side forever, I choose to be the reason behind your success..i choose to spend this lifetime and many more coming with you. I choose to help you find the real meaning of love, together, So Manik, Will you do me the greatest honor, of marrying me” she said, standing on one knee.

He was taken aback, by the sudden proposal.

“Nandini do you even realise what you just did?” he asked, lifting her up, holding her by her shoulders.

“I do. Now tell me Manik. And yes, i don’t need any perfect setting, i can’t give you two or three hours to plan your proposal. Just tell me, if it is a yes or a no” she said, while honestly she was expecting only yes.

“Nandini i have no reason to say no” he said with a huge smile on his face.

“So it’s a yes? Manik tumhe har baar lecture deni padthi hain. You never choose an option easily” she said hitting him.

“That’s how much i love to you listen to your talks” he said.

“Now tell your answer clearly” she asked.

“Nandini, I would love to marry you, and make you Mrs. Nandini Murty Malhotra” he said.

“Awwwwww….that sounds adorable. I love you Manik” she said hugging him.

“But right away? Nandini tumhe sach mein problem nai haina engagement karne mein?” he asked.

“No. I guess you have a problem. Tum ne mujhe bataya tha you need time. But Manik i am sorry. I was honestly feeling a little insecure. I have always been this mature, broad minded girl. But Manik that night was horrific for me. When Alya was telling i don’t deserve someone like you, i started getting second thoughts. And Manik, if you are not my present, I don’t think I can see a future for myself” she said, almost in tears.

“Nandini, I am always going to be there with you. And that’s my word. You know you can count on me” he said.

“I know Manik, but still it’s not just us right? You have seen how devastated Appa was right?” she asked.

“Yeah. I never thought i would get to see him that way. It’s partly because of me. Had i been more careful, this day wouldn’t have come” he said. They both sat down on the bed, holding hands.

“Oh then I don’t regret for what has happened” she said.

“Hain?” he didn’t get her point.

“Had this day not come, we would still be girl friend boy friend and engagement ka program bhi nai hota” she said.

“Ohhh.. Okay I will ask you something and tell me honestly” he said.

“Ahaan”

“When i asked you for more time, before we went public about us, you felt bad right? Sachi sachi batao ab. I won’t mind” he said.

“Okay. honestly, thoda bura laga. But what i told that day was true. For me, Appa is my only world. As long as he knows about us and is happy, I really don’t mind. But then, it’s a girl thing Manik. We tend to get insecure real quick. It’s not about you, really. It’s about people like Alya and Shivam, who come out of nowhere and try to blast our happy bubble. I was scared of that” she explained.

“You could have told me all this that day right?” he asked.

“I wasn’t sure of your reaction. I didn’t want this to end even before it starts” she confessed in the cutest way.

“So you thought i won’t understand your trouble?” he asked a bit sad.

“Aisi baat nai hain. Acha leave than now. You asked me one question and i answered. So let’s pass it now” she said.

“We’ll go down? They must be waiting for us. My mumma would be wondering ki kal pandit ji ko bulaana hain ya nai? Flowers saare nikalni hain ki nai” he said.

“Haha chalo then, let’s share the good news with them” they both went downstairs. Appa and mumma were waiting for them, Mumma biting her nails wondering what her son’s reaction would be.

“Toh kya socha tum donon ne?” she asked right away.

“You don;t have to cancel the flowers and pandit ji ko bhi bulaalo” he said indirectly.

“So you both are ready?” she asked, her face shining bright.

“Yes” he said and the next moment, she hugged him, literally crushed him.

“Mumma, that hurts” he said hugging her back.

“You gave me the biggest gift of my life. Mein soch soch ke pareshaan hoti thi ki tumhaare liye kaisi ladki leke aaooon, you made my life so easy. Thankyou son and thankyou very much much my future daughter in law” she said to Nandini as well.

“You’re most welcome future mother-in-law” she replied.

“Does someone realise even i am here” Appa asked raising his hand.

“Awww appa. You’re happy right?” Nandini asked holding his hands.

He kissed her forehead, “I have never been happier kanna. God bless you both” he said blessing her.

That beautiful night came to an end, with endless talks over dinner. Nandini and Appa go back to Nandini’s apartment post dinner.

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Next morning

Manik calls his manager and tells him about his wedding.

“SIr yeh toh bohot bada surprise hain sab ke liye” he said.

“Haan, aur ise sahi tareeke se todni padegi sab ke saamne. I don’t want any media for the event. It’s going to be in my house, but make sure there isn’t going to be any coverage. Private event hain aur bohot kam logon ko invites de rahe hain. I need your help in this” Manik said.

“Sure sir, aap mujhe guest kist de dijiye. Mein handle kar loonga” he said.

Manik, mumma and the manager sat together and prepared the guest list. Nandini had a just a few people coming in but no one knew who the groom is going to be. It’s gonna be a surprise for them all.

“Cherry, tum ghar aake apni dress select karlo na, mumma bula rahi hain” he called her.

“Aa rahi hoon. 5 minutes” she hung up.

20 minutes passed and she still didn’t come to his place, he called her back.

She didn’t pick up. He called appa. He didn’t pick up too.

“Mumma, cherry apna phone nai utha ri hain. Mein abhi check karke aata hoon” he said.

“Ab uss ne milne ke liye bahaane bhi banaane lage ho huh?” mumma asked.

He opened the call history in his phone and showed her.

“See meri maa. Sach mein phone nai utha rahi hain” he said.

“Acha baba jao. And ask her to come soon. She needs to select her dress and uske hisaab se i need to decide on the styling” she said.

“Okay” he said and left to her house.

When he was going to the staircase, the watchman stopped him.

“Madam ghar pe nai hain” he said.

Ghar pe nai hain? Where could she go?

“Kaha gayi? Kuch pata hain? Aur uski dad?” Manik asked.

“Ek police aaya tha, unke saath donon gaye, gaadi mein” the watchman replied.Police? He called up Vikas immediately.

“Hello Vikas. Tum nandini ke saath ho?” he asked.

“Haan hum bas abhi station jaa rahe hain” Vikas replied.

“Zara usko phone do ek baar” manik said and vikas gave her the phone.

“What do you think of yourself? Aise binaa bataye chali jaogi toh mera kya? You know how nervous i was when neither of you picked up” he said.

“Sorry. Mera phone silent pe tha” she said.

“I am coming to the station” he said and hung up.

He went back home, took his car keys and left without informing mumma.

“Isske gusse ka kuch nai ho sakta” she thought seeing him leave with the very famous coconut face.

When he reached the station, Alya’s dad was also there.

He was passing angry glares at him.

Manik went and stood beside Nandini holding her hand.

Seeing him all angry, she was caressing his hand, trying to control his anger.

Shivam- Alya- Manik. Not really a good combination.

“How dare you?” manik let go off her hold, and held Shivam’s shirt collar.

“Manik! Manik please leave him” nandini tried to stop him. Appa held his hand and pulled him back.

“We don’t have to get down so low to reach them Manik. Calm down” he said.

“Alya! How could you even think of harming her, even after knowing about me? What harm has she done to you? Did i ever tell you that i like you? Or that i am interested in you? How dare you lay a finger on her? I thought tumhaara dimaag kharaab tha, leking tum toh poori ki poori paagal ho. Crazy. Mr. Saxena, what good is for your business, when you can’t even handle your own daughter?” he asked her dad.

“Mind your words Manik” Mr. Saxena said.

“I won’t., Kya karloge tum huh? Mera career barbaad karoge nai? That’s the only thing you can do. And listen I neither care about it, nor i am scared of you. I love Nandini and that is the only truth you guys have to know. Tell your daughter to get over her madness before I do something that you’d regret” he warned him.

“Manik how could you love someone like her? Just look at her. And you’re supposed to entertain your fans, not love them” Alya said.

“Did i ever tell you Nandini is my fan? Did i ever tell i like you?” he asked her.

She didn’t reply.

“Nandini is my life. And you are nothing infront of her. It’s not just your face that’s made up, your brain is too” he replied.

“And Shivam you, I don’t know what your reason was behind this stupid act of yours. So before i beat you up, tell me what it is” Manik warned him.

“Manik, Shivam’s brother was nandini’s ex-colleague. His name is mahesh. He liked Nandini. They were on the same project when Nandini joined the company. No one except their boss knew he was Shivam’s brother. He tried to reach out to her, but she never gave him a lead” Vikas was explaining everything, and Nandini was trying to recollect.

“Mahesh? He was his brother?” Nandini was shocked.

“He tried to misbehave with Nandini when she was continuously rejecting him. So nandini complained about him and he was caught in the CCTV footage. They fired him, and until now he has not been able to find a job. He thinks Nandini ruined his career” Vikas said.

Nandini was in tears.

“Atleast until the night we went out, I trusted you Shivam. I thought you were my friend. You know i never maintained friendships at work. But i let you in my personal space. And this is what you were thinking all the time?” she asked, slapping him.

“I am sorry Nandini. I had to do it for my brother” he said.

“Shame on you” she said. Manik pulled her back.

“Make sure he gets punished tough” manik said to Vikas.

“And you, dare not let me know anything about you from now. Coz that’s only going to harm you. You better not mess with me” he said to Alya and her dad.

“Vikas, aage se inn logon ke baare mein kuch baat karni ho, toh call me. Not her” he said to Vikas and left the police station with Nandini and Appa.

The three of them were silent all the way.

They reach home and all the three go to Manik’s house.

Neonika opens the door and before she was going to ask him anything, he walks in, takes a water bottle from the fridge and goes upstairs. The rest of the three were watching him.

“Kya hua?” mumma asked.

Appa explained her everything.

“You could’ve told him. Jaante ho na uske baare mein, he is very possessive for us” mumma said.

“Use disturb nai karna chahti thi” she replied.

“Mein ab kya kam disturbed hoon?” he screamed her upstairs.

“Manik, aawaaz neeche” Mumma said.

“Use bhi daanto na. Aur Appa ko bhi. Mein tum donon se bohot naaraaz hoon. Appa, especially you. I thought you trust me now, but baat aisi nai hain. You’re still unsure about us” Manik said and closed the room door from inside.

“It’s okay. Thodi der mein neeche aa jayega. Acha nandini, tum mere saath chalo let’s choose your outfit. Aur aap, yahi baithiye, kaam chal raha hain na, toh keep an eye on them” mumma said and both the ladies went to her room.

“So tell me what’s your favorite color. Please don’t choose red, kyun ki shaadi mein red hi pehnogi na” mumma said.

The word shaadi brought instant blush on her face.

“Blue” she replied.

Mumma showed her three blue outfits.

“It’s really difficult to choose, all three are beautiful” Nandini said confused.

“Inky pinky ponkey? Coz that’s what i do” mumma said.

“Okay” so they finally settle on a dress.

Even without giving Manik a choice they choose him a blue outfit as well.

“Mein uske paas jaoon? I guess i need to convince him” Nandini said.

“Go ahead and all the best” mumma said with a wicked smile.

Nandini showed appa a thumbs up and went to Manik’s room.

She knocked the door.

“Kaun hain?” he asked from inside.

“Jis ne tumhaari neend aur chain churaayi” she replied from outside. That brought a smile on his face. But he was covering it up.

“Oh! Deepika Padukone?” he asked teasing her.

“Yeah, can i come in?” she asked.

“Of course” he replied. She went in and he was laying on the bed on his tummy.

She walked up to him, got up on the bed, and laid over hm.

“Badaa pyaar aa raha hai ab toh” he said.

“Sorry” she said caressing his hair.

“What if someone comes in and sees us in this position?” he asked.

“I locked the door from inside” she replied.

“Kanna has become bold” he said.

“Sorry na. I thought you’d get angry if you see them. Isliye tumhe nai bataaya” she said.

“Aisi stunt doobaara mat karna. Everything that is related to Nandini has to go through Manik. Understand?” he asked.

“Yes baba, now show you face” she said.

And he turned around making her fall on the bed.

“I love you” he said pulling her cheek.

“I just chose my outfit for tomorrow” she said.

“That’s nice. I need to do it too” he said.

“It’s done. We chose something that goes with my dress” she said.

“This is not fair” he complained.

“everything is fair in love and war” she said.

“And this is?” he asked.

“Of course love. Buddhu” she said hitting on his head.

“Miss Fangirl” he said holding her hand.

“Yes Mr. Potterhead” she replied.

“Feels like we just started talking, and then look at us, we are going to get engaged” he said.

“I feel the same. This seems unusually fast and dreamy. I mean getting married to The Manik Malhotra is definitely huuuuuugeee” she said exaggerating the word.

“There’s nothing so great about me” he said.

“Oh really? I am not in a mood to praise you and tell you all those things you already know” she said.

“I don’t even want you to do that. That look in your eyes, says it all” he said.

“I just can’t wait to start our happily ever after” she said.

“So do i” he replied.

They ended their conversation, sealing their lips, telling to each other those untold words, through actions.

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