~•~

six months later

M A N I K

FUC-. Alright, I'm not allowed to curse in this place. If Nandini hears me, I'd be dead and she'd be a widow.

"Patience is the low key secret to success my buooyyy!" Zubin shouted in my ears and I rolled my eyes at him. It was so weird that in these six months, we came so close, he became the sixth wheel to our Fab5.

I smiled at him as I tucked the sherwani once again. "Stop being conscious about your looks bro, be a man. Aur yeh kya tu Barbie doll ki tarah apne aap ko har do minute check kar raha hai? Dulhan woh hai, tu nahi!" Cabir mocked at me and I rolled my eyes at him. Nothing could go in peace without atleast one such comment by the great Cabir Dhawan.

"Shut up boys! Look at this place, this is so beautiful. Why couldn't you get such a romantic place to get married Dhruv?!" Aliya cried admiring around and I smiled. The place was indeed very peaceful and beautiful, just like I and Nandini wished it to be.

"So what baby? Tum chaho toh hum ek baar phir shaadi kar lete hain!" Dhruv smiled cheekily and Aliya placed a kiss on his cheeks while he blushed like a sick lover boy. But maybe, I was the same in Nandini's love- a lover boy.

Mom came in front of me, fixing the red turban on my head and I smiled at her, admiring the old beauty of her smile as a few tears slipped off her eyes.

"Kitna bada ho gaya hai mera beta, shaadi hai uski aaj!," she emotionally smiled to herself and she sounded just like Nandini's chaachi. In the past month of wedding preparations, they both had bonded so well.

"Mom!" I smiled as I took her petite frame in a hug and kissed her forehead because I was much taller than her. Actually I was taller to everyone except Zubin.

"And she's here!" Mukti whispered in my ears softly and the smile widened even before I looked up. My heart beat at a faster rate and I just couldn't look back at her because I knew, I would be left breath taken if I look behind.

But nevertheless, I did turn behind to greet my bride. And just as I had expected, I forgot to breath the moment my eyes fell on her.

She wore a gold lehenga enlightening her smooth and perfect skin, making her glow with light blue and pink duppatas running through from one side to the other while the one on her head was tomato red. Her hair were open on the sides, reaching her waist and she wore minimal but beautiful make up and antique jewellery, especially the beautiful gold nose ring, making her look so ethereal.

She looked down as she walked to me, the red hue and the big smile not leaving her face for even a second. Abhimanyu and Aryamman held a red chunri dupatta above her head as she walked towards me, her final destination.

"Jao Cabir, tum bhi chunri uthao Nandini ki!" Zubin poked Cabir's arm and he urged him away. "Mein Nandini ka kuch bhi ho sakta hu, bhai nahi!" He gritted and all laughed. Something's would never change, and maybe they were not even supposed to.

But I heard nothing as my eyes were stuck at my princess as she walked towards her monster.

"Manik, muh band kardo beta. Varna honeymoon ki raat par food poisoning ho jaayega...!" Dad giggled and hi-fied Cabir. He was Cabir's new partner in doing everything that irritated the hell out of me, even on my marriage.

Her eyes finally rose up slowly to meet my admiring ones. Her eyes.... they looked different. There was some unseen emotion in them, some shyness, some nervousness, some excitement, some happiness and a whole lot of love, just for me.

She raised her eyebrows as if asking me a what when she reached me and I just blinked my eyes at her dreamily. She indeed looked no less then a princess. She was my only dream, my life, my bride, my everything. She was my wife.

Mom went ahead and hugged her, but not for once did her eyes leave mine. Her eyes were shining like stars, the same way they were when for the first time we were sitting by the seas in the darkness and I told her about my past. That was the day I fell in love with her eyes, when I realised all I need is her. And till today, I love seeing her eyes shine like stars like she will shine for me.

She stood besides me, her contagious smile passing to everyone. Just with her standing besides me, I felt complete. Without her, I was and will always be completely incomplete.

"Everyone loved the place a lot, it's beautiful!", I slowly whispered in her ears as she slowly lifted her face to look at me. "My choice!" She boasted.

"But I? I love you a lot, you're more beautiful!" I smiled looking ahead and I could feel her bite her lower lip as she shyly looked away. "My choice!" I boasted as I slowly entwined my hand with hers and we moved towards the mandap.

Everything was so beautiful, yet it was my girl who stole all the attention. Not even a single attender could raise their eyes off her smile and her angelic face that glew in all the light falling on her face.

We both sat together with my parents on one side and her chacha-chachi on the other side, as the pandit started with his work.

It was so different for me. I couldn't believe what was happening. For a man who despised happy ending right since childhood, who hated the name of marriages, who wanted to be a monster instead of someone's Prince Charming, was finally getting married today. And all of this, the entire change was possible just because of one simple girl who created miracles in my life.

Opening my eyes, I nudged her with my arm and she opened her eyes, glaring at me as I leaned towards her.

"Tumhe mujhse pakka shaadi karni hai na?" I whispered in her ears and her eyes widened.

"Manik! Agar ab tumhara shaadi karne se mann phir se badal gaya hai na, toh mein yahi tumhaara khoon kardungi!" She gritted her teeth and i gulped my saliva. She isn't even my wife yet, aur abhi se dhamkiyaa chalu. Happy Married Life to you, Manik Malhotra.

"Tum mujhse humesha pyaar karoge na Manik?," she whispered in a low voice and I slowly turned towards her. "Situations will change in life, but one thing that will never change will be us, humesha!" I whispered.

"Humesha!" She whispered to herself with a content smile as she closed her eyes again shifting in her seat but I couldn't take my eyes off her. How can someone be so beautiful in her own flaws and so perfect in her own imperfections?

"Manik beta! Aaj le liye Pandit ji ko dekhle, phir puri raat tujhe Nandini ko hi toh dekhna hai!" Cabir whispered from behind and I swear to Lord, agar mere paas abhi gun hoti na, my wedding anniversary would have marked the death anniversary of Cabir Dhawan.

"Dulhe ki behen aa kar ghat bandhan karein...," the pandit said. Mukti came ahead and tied Nandini's dupatta to the pink one on my shoulder. I didn't need any ghat bandhan to tie her to me, our hearts had been tied together in the purest bond of love a long time ago.

"Ab dulha aur dulhan phero ke liye khade ho jaaye....," the pandit said and smiling like an idiot, I got up, offering my hand to Nandini to get up which she happily took.

"Yeh pehle bakra hoga joh halaal hone se pehle itna khush ho!" I heard Dad whisper to Cabir and they both giggled while Navya and Mom were shooting daggers at them. But I? I didn't care about anything. As long as Nandini wants, I will readily even give away my life to her.

"Pehle dulha dulhan se aage chalega...," the pandit instructed.

तीर्थव्रतोद्यापन यज्ञकर्म मया सहैव प्रियवयं कुर्या:

वामांगमायामि तदा त्वदीयं ब्रवीति वाक्यं प्रथमं कुमारी!!

I had understood nothing that the Pandit had just said. "I promise, I will take care of you with my whole and soul," I whispered in a tone only Nandini could hear. She looked up at me with tears in her eyes and I pressed my eyes with a smile as I walked ahead and she followed.

पुज्यो यथा स्वौ पितरौ ममापि तथेशभक्तो निजकर्म कुर्या:

वामांगमायामि तदा त्वदीयं ब्रवीति कन्या वचनं द्वितीयम!!

"I promise I will stay by your side, in your happiness and in your pain...," I said as her eyes were locked with mine, glistening with tears.

जीवनम अवस्थात्रये पालनां कुर्यात

वामांगंयामितदा त्वदीयं ब्रवीति कन्या वचनं तृतीयं!!

"I promise to be faithful, and to never cheat on you intentionally or unintentionally...!" I confessed. I have made a lot of mistakes, but not anymore. This phase was going to be the perfect that she deserves.

कुटुम्बसंपालनसर्वकार्य कर्तु प्रतिज्ञां यदि कातं कुर्या:

वामांगमायामि तदा त्वदीयं ब्रवीति कन्या वचनं चतुर्थ!!

"I promise to trust you, and to respect you in every walk of our life...!" I spoke before starting the fourth phera. Moms eyes shone with pride looking at me and I could see the first year already roll out of Nandini's eyes and she sobbed looking away, and then smiling at me.

"Ab vadhu var ke aage chalengi.....," the pandit instructed and she walked by me ahead of me. Our fingers slightly brushed against each other and the spark was still the same like when I held her hand for the first time.

स्वसद्यकार्ये व्यहारकर्मण्ये व्यये मामापि मन्‍त्रयेथा:

वामांगमायामि तदा त्वदीयं ब्रूते वच: पंचमत्र कन्या!!

"I promise to accept death before you, even if it comes your way...," she whispered, not breaking the chain as she moved ahead and I smiled at my girl-.. now my lady, proudly.

न मेपमानमं सविधे सखीना द्यूतं न वा दुर्व्यसनं भंजश्वेत:

वामाम्गमायामि तदा त्वदीयं ब्रवीति कन्या वचनं च षष्ठम!!

"I promise to never leave you, whatever the situation might be....," she said and my smile just kept widening. We were Manik and Nandini, we were not my parents. We wouldn't repeat the same mistakes that they did and even if I ever lose my track, she will stand by me through thick and thin to pull me out of the darkness I always end up creating for myself.

"Ouch!" She suddenly screamed lifting her left foot. Everything came to a hault as I rushed to her side to hold her bleeding foot and plucked the pin out of her toe as she cried in pain.

"Yeh kya! Yeh toh apshagun ho gaya, kya ab yeh shaadi ho sakti hai?" The pandit shook his head disappointedly and another year rolled out of Nandini's eye as I gritted my teeth holding her tight.

I swear if this Buddha pandit doesn't want to die, he should stop saying this shit. Another tear rolls down my princess's eye, and he will celebrate his death anniversary along with my wedding anniversary from today just like Cabir.

My eyes fell on Nandini, standing in my arms, looking down, her lips pursed with each other and silently crying. Without thinking much, I kept my hand on her waist and another being her neck as I picked her up in the bridal style, making everyone shocked including herself.

"Yeh kya kar rahe ho beta?" The pandit asked and I smiled the fakest smile I ever must have. Honeymoon mana raha hu, dikh nahi raha?

"Pandit ji, abhi toh meine usse kabhi nahi chodne ka vaada kiya, itne mein tod du?" I smiled. A tear rolled down my moms eyes and I could see it from the corner of my eyes as she kept her head on dads shoulder. "Aap mantra boliye, yeh shaadi rukegi nahi!" I demanded, my eyes at Nandini's face as I smiled at her.

परस्त्रियं मातूसमां समीक्ष्य स्नेहं सदा चेन्मयि कान्त कूर्या:

वामांगमायामि तदा त्वदीयं ब्रूते वच: सप्तमंत्र कन्या!!

"I promise to love you, humesha!" She whispered in an emotional voice as we reached back to our place and I put her down, pecking her forehead.

"Ab var vadhu ko mangalsutra pehnaaye!" The pandit announced and Navya handed me the nuptial chain.

Nandini's eyes looked into mine as I forwarded my hand under her dupatta and leaned ahead, close to her neck, making her weak the nuptial chain.

"Humesha!" I repeated in her ear before I got back to my place and she admiringly kept her hand on the sacred chain that had bond us both together, forever as a lone tear slipped out of her eyes with a beautiful smile playing on her lips.

"Yeh shaadi sampann hui, aaj se aap dono pati-patni hue!" The pandit announced and there was a huge roar of an applause everywhere but the smile and and contentment on mine and Nandini's lips couldn't be overshadowed.

"Nandini Manik Malhotra, I love you!" I whispered in her ears and she let the happy tears flow as she hugged my arms.

"Nandini Manik Malhotra....!" She repeated the words to herself and I smiled at her adoringly.

She was mine and I was hers, forever.

And now, she was officially my wife.

they vowed each other a forever in a world where even life is temporary

~•~