Author's POV

The birds chirped as the sun began to shine on the horizon, depicting the start of a new day with new hopes. Rays of it scattered in the haveli from the curtains that were yet to be pushed aside, as the silence prevailed in the household except for occasional clattering of utensils as the women of the household started preparations for the day, except for Hooriya.

Hooriya stepped out of the washroom, freshly showered before she wrapped her husband, Javed, with a duvet, concerned about her husband's well being because of the stress of losses their company was going through.

She quietly closed the door and stepped out, walking to her daughter, Nandini's room, and called out,"Nandini! Uth jaye ab. Subah ho gayi hai. College bhi jaana hai."

(*Nandini! Wake up. It's morning already. You need to go to college.)

Nandini grumbled something incoherent and turned away at her mother's voice. After Nandini's nikkah with Manik a month ago, Hooriya had started waking her up early to lend her hand in the kitchen so that she can at least teach her the basics before her Rukhsati. She didn't want to give him or Nandini's in-laws, even though they were her Tayi Ammi and Taya Abbu, any chance to complain about her daughter or question their upbringing.

Nandini blinked her eyes open, sighing in irritation when her mother continued to shake her shoulder in persistence and cried out,"Uth rahe hai, Ammi. Jaye na aap."

(*I'm waking. You should leave, Mom.)

"10 minute mai niche rasoi mai hone chahiye aap. Dobara soye toh aapki khair nahi," Hooriya warned before stepping out of the room, making Nandini huff out a breath as she drifted off to the world of oblivion again.

(*You need to be downstairs in the kitchen within 10 minutes. If you slept again, you will face my wrath.)

•◇•◇•◇•

Nandini stared at herself in the baby blue colored suit with the jewel shaped neckline, with loop buttons as front closures, paired with straight pants which were lined with stones. She completed her look with the jaali dupatta with white hand embroidered borders at all ends, similar to those at the sleeve ends. She left her hair loose since she didn't have time to make a hairstyle.

"Aaj toh Ammi nai jaan nikal hi deni hai," Nandini mumbled to herself as she stepped out of the room, having left with only twenty minutes till she had to reach college. While she was frantically moving through the hall, she crashed into someone. Two muscular arms held her by her arms before leaving when she was stable on her feet.

(*Mom will kill me today.)

"Dekh kar chala karo," spoke a husky voice. Nandini swallowed nervously and met his eyes through her lashes in surprise, since he wasn't to return for another fifteen days. After their Nikkah, the same night Dadajaan had passed away and after he was buried, Manik had flown to London for some business for a month and a half.

(*Watch where you're going.)

Nandini took in her husband's face and didn't miss the beard he had grown, and the dark circles lining his eyes while a few locks of his hair fell on his forehead, giving him a rough look. He wore a black button down shirt with black jeans paired with a Rolex wrist watch. Nandini snapped out of her reverie as he cleared his throat, red tinting her cheeks.

"Ji...Ji Bhai," Nandini mumbled, closing her eyes at using that term and facepalming internally for brother zoning her Shauhar and knowing she needs to seriously get rid of that habit. She sidestepped him and left without a backward glance, too embarrassed, while feeling his eyes bore a hole at her back the whole time.

•◇•◇•◇•

Nandini stepped inside the kitchen, smiling as Tayi Ammi, Safeeya, gave her a smile before her eyes flickered to her own Ammi, and Nandini stared at the ground as her Ammi shook her head in disappointment being late before she said, "Manik aane hi vale he breakfast ke liye. Usko serve kar dena aur saath mai khud bhi apna naashta kar lena."

(*Manik is about to come for breakfast. Serve him and have your own breakfast too.)

Nandini nodded before moving to the dining room, where all of her cousins were having conversations amongst each other while having their breakfast. Her eyes flickered to the end of the table where Manik was sitting with a newspaper, ignoring everyone.

She picked up a plate and took out one of the breads from the packet and greased it with butter. She didn't raise her head as she felt everyone's eyes on her. Since, her Nikkah with Manik, they realized the girl that lightened their house with her antics and laughter had gone quiet. Manik stared at her as she placed his plate in front of him before picking up the kettle and pouring black coffee in a mug.

"You need anything else?" Nandini asked softly, and when he shook his head in denial, she pulled out her chair beside him and served herself the Aloo Paratha greased with oil from the chappati box. Both of them ignored the occasional glances thrown their way and focused on their breakfast.

"Nandini. Who will drop you at college now that your father has left for office?" Hooriya said, the corners of her mouth dropped.

"I can," Zaroon said immediately, while Manik eyed them with clenched jaw as Nandini gave him a slight smile, oblivious to his feelings and the way her small gesture lightened up his face.

But, his dream of spending time with his long time crush shattered as a throat cleared and Hooriya shifted her eyes at Manik as he continued to look at his newspaper and said,"I can drop her off since it isn't too far from the office. I'm early anyways."

"Shukriya bete," Hooriya said, while Nandini stared down, fidgeting with the table cover, peculiar about being with him, alone while Zaroon fisted his hands in anger.

(Thank you.)

A few minutes later, when both of them were done with their breakfast, they got up to leave. Nandini stopped mid step when Zaroon asked, "Nandini, will you cook pancakes for us in the evening? I loved them."

"Sure." Nandini shrugged innocently since all of them usually asks her to cook one thing or another since she started learning.

•◇•◇•◇•

"Chale?" Manik asked, and Nandini nodded after buckling up the seat belt. The car filled with silence, except for the soft music playing in the background as Nandini stared out of the window at the moving scenery.

(You ready?)

She snapped out of her reverie when Manik cleared his throat and said, "Aaj shaam Ammi humari Shaadi aur Rukhsati ki tareekh paki karne ke liye baat karengi."

(*Mom will talk about fixing our marriage and your Rukhsati's date today evening.)

Nandini swallowed nervously and tentatively asked, "Do you have any idea the date they might have decided?"

"Your college will be ending this week. So, she had decided for Rukhsati by the end of the month since Abbu and Ammi needs to go abroad for his eye surgery next month."

Nandini nodded, clasping her shaking hands in her lap before she looked up and released a shaky breath as Manik placed his hand on top of hers and squeezed it assuringly.

"Hume pata hai ki aap iss rishte aur uske saath aane vaali zimaydaariyo ke liye teyar nahi hai. Par hum par vishwaas kare. Aapke saath koi zabardasti ya jaldabazi nahi hogi. Magar hum sirf yai chaahte hai ki aap is rishte ko purre dil se apnaye aur isse mauka de," Manik softly said.

(*I know you weren't ready for this relationship and the responsibilities along with it. But, trust me. You won't be forced for anything. However, the only thing I want is for you to accept this relation wholeheartedly and give it a chance.)

She stared at him as for a moment as he looked at road ahead, while a shiver passed through her as his thumb grazed her wrist soothingly before his eyes shift to hers for a moment as she slightly smiled and murmured, "Jee."

(*Okay.)

When he stopped the car in front of her college, she pulled her hand away and collected her bag. As she stepped out, she looked back with furrowed brows as Manik lowered the glass window and said, "I'll pick you up from college. And don't cook those pancakes in the evening."

Before she could question his confusing demand, he was already driving away.

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