Nandini

He was being so naughty. Nandini track and there's no diversion, aise dialogues maar raha tha. Toh galti se while he kissed me, my hand hit his cheek... ohkay.... I slapped him. But listen it wasn't intentional. Galti se lag gaya.

"You slapped me? For kissing you?" he asked, his eyes popping out.

"Sorry sorry sorry! Very sorry. It was accidental" I said holding my ears.

"Jhoot mat bolo. I know you took revenge right? Pehle i put you in trouble and then I came here, irritate ho rahi hogi shayad" he said with a sad face.

"Why would i get irritated by you? I am sorry baba. It was really unintentional. Kaan pakad ke sorry" I asked.

"Acha I am going to punish you, but abhi nahi. I will tell you what it is when the time comes" he said.

"Yeh kya suspense hain ab?" I asked.

"Acha chodo wohh baat, aur mujhe batao, do you ever sing? Do you like music?" he asked. Out of the blue!

"Yeh kaisa random question hain?"

"Random nai. I was going to ask you long back. Now tell me, do you sing?" he asked.

"I do. But bathroom mein"

"Come on, your voice is sweet. You can try. Can you sing something now? For me?" he asked.

"Now? No manik" I denied.

"Yes Nandini, just two lines"

"Okay let me go, stand there and then sing. And promise me you won't run behind me asking for my autograph" i said and stood near the door.

"Seriously? Okay I won't run behind" he said and sat on the bed.

"Chaaanta laagaaa...Hayyyy lagaa" I sang putting my hand on my cheek and on a count of three, started running downstairs.

"What the! Nandini, seriously? You seriously did that? Ab toh tumhe chodne nai walaa" he was running behind me.

I came down to the living room and we were playing catch and catch. I was throwing the cushions that were on the sofa at him, while he cleverly escaped them all.

"Appa? Aap jaldhi aa gaye?" he said looking at the door and I stopped right away. Only to see he fooled me and now I am in his hold.

"Ha-ha-ha. Nandini Murty, such a big fool you're" he said lifting me up.

"Manik, not fair! Jhoot bolna not allowed" I said glaring at him.

"Sing again, Chaanta laga? Ahaan. You've become so naughty these days" he said holding my cheek between his lips, tightly.

"Ouch Manik leave me na...please" I was trying to let go off him and his hold on the hand was too tight.

"Success" he said leaving my cheek.

"What success?" I asked.

"Wait" he said and showed me his phone camera on selfie mode.

"Aeyyyyyy.....yeh kya hain?" he bit on my cheek.

"Our first love bite" he said.

Love bite? "Manik, what if someone asks me what this is?"

"Tell them it's a love bite" he said very casually.

"I never knew there was this naughty side in you" I said. Well, it was sweet. I don't know what i am going to say when people ask me, but i liked it on my skin. It felt so special.

"As i told you already, even i didn't know I had this shade in me. See you are helping me re-invent myself" he said.

"You know I never had anyone come to this room for a long time. It was the my mom dad's room. That's why it's so big. When mom left us dad moved downstairs too. We got the entire thing renovated and made two rooms down. And this room has been locked since then. Only the maid opens it, cleans it and locks it back"

"Do you miss your mom? Acha listen, what if she comes back to you, at least for once and apologizes for the mistakes she did, would you accept her apology?" he asked.

"I don't think i am gutsy enough to do that Manik. Appa won't be happy to see her...ever. And I don't do anything that doesn't please him" I said.

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Manik

I was really struggling with myself. I don't know how I am going to hide the fact that I met her mother. Appa asked me not to let her know about it, I understand his concern. But I also think she has the right to know. Okay, for now even I am going to be a good son, and not do anything that displeases him. It's okay Manik, Appa knows her better.

--------------

They spent the rest of the day watching tv and Nandini showing her pictures from childhood to him. Appa returned around 4.

"So, how was your day? I hope Chennai treated you well Manik?" Appa asked resting on the rocking chair, on which Manik was sitting until then.

"I showed him my college and we came back after that" Nandini said.

"Kyun? You didn't go anywhere else? Beach?" Appa asked.

"She was feeling tired, and I told her, this is not the last time I am going to come here right, toh next time ghoom lenge. Let's get mumma along" Manik said.

"Haan haan, ab toh Chennai ka damaad jo banne waale ho" Appa thought, and a naughty smile appeared on his face, imagining the kids' reaction after neonika breaks the surprise.

"Kya soch rahe ho Appa?" Manik asked.

"Kuch nai, acha we need to leave in 30 minutes, Kanna can you make me a nice coffee? I will go pack my things until then" Appa said and went to his room.

Nandini went to the kitchen to make coffee for them all.

"Manik have you ever had the Madras filter coffee in Madras style?" she asked him.

"Nai, what's the speciality?" he asked.

"Wait for two minutes and you'll come to know" she said and finally the coffee was ready.

"This smells amazing Nandini" he said walking into the kitchen.

"Chote chote glasses, they are so cute" he said holding one of those empty glasses.

She took it from his hand, placed it inside a cup and poured the coffee in it.

It was foamy on top, perfect color and aroma.

(Coffee lovers, please do try madras filter coffee, at your nearest coffee shops)

"Have it and tell me how it is" she said giving him the glass.

"Acha there's a way you drink this, first pour some coffee in the cup" she said demonstrating.

"Now pour it back in the glass, i love this extra foam" she said licking her lips.

And here, it was getting difficult for him to tolerate her antics.

"And now pour it back in the cup, and have it from the cup...like this" she said sipping the coffee making the hissing sounds.

"Do i have to sound like that?" he asked looking at her.

"Of course" she said doing it another time.

"Acha stop now. You're tempting me" he said.

"Toh coffee tumhaare haath mein hi hain, have it na if you are so tempted" she said not figuring out what he was mentioning.

"Oh hello, I am not tempted for this coffee, I am tempted for the special coffee" he said looking at her lips.

"Manik. Kuch zyaada nai ho raha hai tumhaare special wishes? Ab chup chap yeh coffee pee lo" she said continuing with her coffee.

Meanwhile Appa also joined them.

He was looking super cool wearing a polo and jeans.

"Appa aap kis angle se hamaare Appa dhikhte ho? It's not easy to call you appa" Manik said looking at him.

"Thankyou. I take your compliment" he said grabbing his coffee.

They finished having the coffee, Nandini locked all the doors and they left for the airport in the cab.

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After four hours they reached Mumbai and went directly to Manik's home.

Neonika was ready with the house already decorated minimally, the work looks like it just started.

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Lovely Mummaa

Yeh donon ko mein itni badi shock dene waali hoo na, they have to faint looking at the house.

I started with the decorations, as i wanted the event to be held at our home. It's big enough to accommodate all our near and dear ones.

The flower arrangements were being made, meanwhile a small stage was set up, and they are working on decorating that right now.

I ordered for the rings as well, simple platinum love bands, from my favorite jeweller.

The only mess is the bedroom, the bed is fully filled with the lehengas I ordered for Nandini. I was going to give her the option to choose the one she likes. The side bed was filled up with Manik's dresses. Mera beta itna choosy hain, i had to order one of every color for him.

All my latest bridal collection is at home for Nandini.

It feels amazing to get to style your daughter-in--law. I know she is going to look amazing in whatever she chooses from these all.

"Yeh stage ke paas se yeh saare extra phool hataa do, sab saaf kar ke jaana jaane se pehle" the workers don't look very professional.

It's almost time for them to land. Ab tak Manik ka call kyu nai aa ra hain...

And here it is!

"Hi mumma" my son sounds energetic.

"Hello beta, pohonch gaye?"

"Ji mumma, just waiting to pick our luggage. Car bhej diya kya aap ne?"

"Yes son, he should be there at the arrivals gate. Meine driver ko wahi wait karne ke liye bola tha"

"Okay, dhekhtha hoon. Mom i am starving, khaana ready hain kya?"

"Yes, everything is ready, nandini ko bola direct yahi pe aaye. Khaana khaa ke they can go to her apartment"

"Ji mumma. Chalo i will see you soon"

"Yes yes! I am waiting"

He hung up.

Just can't imagine their reaction. Kuch samaj nai aayega unn ko.

--------------

Forty minutes later, they reach home.

Manik gets down the car to see the main door decorated with flowers already.

"What are all these flowers for?" he says looking at them. Appa on the other side was enjoying a personal joke.

"Kuch function hai kya ghar pe? Don't tell me mumma ne yeh incident ke baad mata ki chowki plan kar di" he thought

"Ring the door bell first" Nandini says. He rings the bell, Neonika checks in the camera to make sure it was them.

Taking a deep breathe, she opens the door.

"Nandiniiii, my darling" neonika says hugging nandini.

"Auntyyyy. Kaisi ho aap?" nandini asks.

"Tum batao, tum theek hona? And these bruises, dard toh nai ho rahe na?" she asks looking at her hands.

"Nai aunty ab theek hain" she said with a smile.

"Mumma, mein bhi yahi pe hoon, aur haan what is with all these flowers? Stage set up? Kuch shoot chal raha tha kya?" manik asks.

"Shoot nai, pehle tum fresh ho ke aao, khaana khaa ke sab discuss karte hain"

"Par mum" he was going to ask her something.

"Uh-uh...not a word" she says and then they leave to the rooms to freshen up.

Appa shows her a thumbs up, winking and she shows one in return too.

Manik was wondering what it could be, but the rats in his stomach were in a tight race, so he chucked the brain for the moment.

Neonika made Manik's favorite paneer butter masala, with rotis and fried rice.

"Uhmm...Paneer" he said opening the lid.

They have dinner, with neonika enquiring everything about the incident.

"We shouldn't leave them" she said after hearing the entire story.

"Aunty jaane do na" nandini said.

"Kaise jaane de beta? Acha abhi ke liye jaane dete hain kyun ki mujhe uss se bhi bohot hi zyaada important announcement karni hain" she said.

They finish dinner, and move to Neonika's room.

Manik and nandini are surprised to see so many outfits, on the bed.

"Yeh sab kya hain?" manik asked.

"Parsau tum donon ki engagement hain, bas usee ke liye mein kuch outfits leke aayi hoon tum donon ke liye" she said casually.

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttt??????????" both scream together at the top of their voices.

"Itne bhi shock ho ne ki zaroorat nai hain. After all that happened, I think, I mean we think, this is the best thing to do" she said pointing toward Appa.

"Engagement? Par mumma itni jaldi? Iss ki kya zaroorat hain, we could have dealt it in a different way" Manik said.

"Different way? Kaise Manik? Mujhe toh yahi sahi laga. Dhekho tum donon ne kaha you like each other, we gave you guys time to talk, tum ne baatein bhi kiya, sab kuch share bhi kiya. It's been a long time now. Toh yahi sahi hain. Ham ne aap logon ki baat suni hain, toh now it's your turn to trust us" she ended her speech.

"Mumma lekin" he was again going to say something when she interrupted him.

"Tum chup raho. Nandini tum batao, do you think it's not the right decision? Do you think ham parents aap logon ke baare mein sahi se soch nai sakte hain?" she asked nandini. Bull's eye!

"Bilkul nai aunty, of course aap o bhi sochte ho it's for our good. But when Manik is not at all ready for it..." she was stammering.

"Toh iskaa matlab, tumhe yeh idea theek hain?" she asked.

She nodded in yes.

"Dhekho Manik, even she is fine with it. Tum bhi ek baar thande dimaag se socho toh tumhe bhi theek hi lagega. Mr. Murty, aap kuch boliye na" she said.

"Hmm...See Manik, there is no right time or perfect time to do something. If you are confident about it, then there's no harm doing it. We both know, and we realise you are perfect for each other, baaki tumhaari marzi. We won't do anything against your wishes. If you don't want this now, then we won't do it" he said.

"Nandini mere saath chalo" manik said going upstairs.

"Go and use samjhaane ki koshish karo" mumma said.

Nandini followed him to his room.

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Manik

Engagement? Seriously? Mumma ne itna bada decision le liya woh bhi binaa kuch bataaye.

"Manik?" i heard her voice.

"Aao baitho" i said with a smile, trying to keep my calm.

She sat on the beanbag and i was sitting on the floor opposite to her.

"Are you ready for this?" i asked.

"Pehle tum batao Manik, tum ne kuch nai kaha ab tak" she said.

"Look Nandini, I love you. I love you very much, and i want to give you a life that is perfect. Perfect in every way. I want to be that perfect partner for you. And i don't think i am really perfect now. Mujhe life mein bohot kuch haasil karna hain. It's not like i am not ready for any kind of a commitment. I definitely am. But nandini i can't give you everything you deserve" I said.

There was a weak smile on her face.

"Manik, tum itna kyu soch rahe ho? Now you listen to me, no one is perfect and so is any relationship. When people fall in love na, they are imperfect individually, but when they are together, they automatically become perfect for each other. You can't define a perfect life. You make a perfect life, with every passing day. Manik, I am financially independent and so are you. Our parents don't expect anything from us in return, except for love. What else do you want Manik?" she asked me.

How can she such things so easily? How is she so matured? May be the life she faced, she lived made her so mature.

"You know what, i guess you're right" I had to agree.

"So jaise meine kaha, kisi bhi relationship ko perfect banaane mein, perfect logon ka honaa zaroori nai hain, dho imperfect log bhi ek perfect zinfdagi bana sakte hain. By helping each other, by correcting each other and just by sticking to each other. And i am sure, you'll never leave my side. So Manik, let me ask you something" she said and got up from the chair.

I moved aside, "Get up" she said.

I got up and stood across her.

And the next thing she did, blew my brains off. I was flabbergasted. 😲😲😲😲😭😭😭😭😢😢😢😢

She was standing infront of me, on one knee, extending her hand asking for mine.

"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 asked. ❤️

She was answering every question i asked her, while proposing her. Okay, for a quick recap this is what i exactly asked her, in case you guys don't remember, You know they say a man's success depends on the kind of woman he chooses. So cherry, i choose you. Will you be my side forever? Will you let me spend this lifetime and many more coming, with you? Will you help me find the real meaning of love, together?

I was moved. I was terribly emotional. I could feel my eyes moist, i have goosebumps all over my body with every single word she uttered.

How does she become the romeo of our story every single time??

This girl is magic.

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