It was Thursday and as said by Nandini today was the baby shower day in the Malhotra House. Shraddha was almost eight months pregnant now and Harshad was trembling. It was seven in the morning and guests were welcomed from nine. Shraddha was getting dressed up by floral ornaments assisted by Alya, Navya and Mukti whereas the boys were looking up to the decorations. Maddy was assigned the task to fulfill all the demands of priest and he was basically jumping from the backyard to the storeroom. Manik was going to perform all the rituals being the brother of the to-be mother as a result of which he was still into his closet unable to decide what to wear.

Nandini was all ready in a pastel blue colored full sleeved Indian dress accompanied by white stilettos and pearl jewels. Manik dressed her up half an hour ago and since then she was looking at the restless brother wandering in the closet in a towel. Suddenly his phone tinged.

Bro, the priest is here come soon.

He read the message sent by Navya.

I feel like firing all my designers today. Like seriously? Can't they include some outfits that can go with these type of ceremonies. Now what am I going to wear today - pajamas?

Manik huffed out. Nandini who got irritated by his nonsense talks stood up and faced him.

Manik why are you getting so worked up today? You have Indian wears and you have tuxedos. Decide one and wear it.

Nandini intervened. Manik looked at her and sighed heavily.

Choose one. I'll wear that and we can go.

He gave up and asked Nandini.

She immediately flashed a smile and chose a fade blue shirt to go with off white Ralph Lauren tuxedo which was rejected by Manik five minutes ago.

Wear this, we are matching.

Nandini exclaimed. Manik gave her a tired look and got changed. Soon both of them came to the backyard where the ceremony was held.

The entire place was decorated in shades of white, blue and pink. On the left were the food counters and on the right were the gaming counters. In the middle, right in front of the pool was a large swing on a podium for Shraddha where the typical rituals were going to be performed. All the guests comprising their friends, Shraddha and Harshad's workmates and their acquaintances were praising the star couple sitting on the swing. Harshad was in a white suit with pink shirt and Shraddha was in a lavender gown which covered her baby bump.

Manik and Nandini walked up to theirs friends who were waiting in a corner. Cabir saw Manik holding Nandini's waist and walking towards them and suddenly his expression got converted in a disappointing one.

Kya yaar, kaha tha na meine tujhe ke pink pehen ke aana.

He said once they arrived.

Manik at once looked down and realized he was wearing blue and then looked at the other boys who were dressed in a shade of pink.

Woh, mujhe kuch samajh mein nahi aaya toh Nandini ne ye select karke diya.

He reasoned out.

Ya right!

Abhimanyu exclaimed.

Apparently, the boys predicted that it was going to be a girl and so Harshad being the lead of this prediction decided that boys were to be dressed in pink. The girls on the other hand had no such predictions so they didn't bother to chose a specific color for their outfits and decided to go with pastels as all baby showers are supposed to be.

Breaking their trance, the priest called the mother-in-law of the to-be-mother to come and mark the beginning of the ceremony by covering Shraddha's head by the auspicious chuneri. Owning to his command, Harshad's mother came in front and did as told.

Being in the States and living in the 21st century the young generation didn't believe in the old traditions of getting decked up as a bride. Infact, Harshad wanted the baby shower to be westernized and just as a party to celebrate but his parents and Neyonika suggested him to perform the Indian rituals for their satisfaction and then continue the celebration the way he wanted. Thus, it turned out to be an American-Indian baby shower.

Harshad's mother blessed Shraddha and the baby with happy future and gifted her an idol of Baby Krishna.

She was followed by Neyonika who completed the ritual of Shraddha's mother and gifted her a book for baby's nourishment.

Ab hone wali maa ke bhai aur phir bhabhi aake unke ashirwad de.

The priest ordered.

Shraddha looked at Manik and blinked, to which Manik stood up and walked up to her after buttoning up his tuxedo.

Manik bend up to her level and took a pinch of the turmeric paste and made a tilak on her forehead and mumbled a sweet blessing to her.

He then took a flower and touched the baby bump with it and blessed the baby. He completed his part by pecking her forehead.

The entire place was in an awe looking at this sweet gesture by the shrewd billionaire.

Shraddha wiped the tear that escaped her eye.

Ab hone wali maa ki bhabhi aage aa kar inhe tilak kare aur iss khush khabri ke liye taufa pradan kare.

The priest demanded.

Mere bhai ki abhi tak shaadi nahi hui hein.

Shraddha expressed her concern and before the priest could suggest an alternative,

Meri shaadi abhi tak nahi hui hai lekin Shraddha ki Bhabhi hai.

Manik said gazing at Nandini.

Again this came as a shock for everyone as the most awaited bachelor just admitted being bounded. This was the first ever time when Manik made their relationship official. Even Nandini was astonished as he never discussed this with her. She knew that Manik always saw her as his future wife but neither did he ever proposed her for the marriage nor did she expressed her desire for the same. Everyone saw him admiring someone and got curious to know who the fortunate one was.

Manik walked towards Nandini who blushed and looked down. He caressed her hand from her shoulder and firmly held her palm. He gave a tuck to her hand and dragged her from admist the crowd towards the podium. His this gesture made the world aware that this gorgeous was now taken.

He made her stand on his former position and forwarded her the holy plate containing the turmeric paste and flowers.

Nandini didn't know what to do and thus repeated what Manik did and blessed both of them with prosperous life.

She gifted her with a Baby's Growing Up Journal and instructed her to fill it with all the first times of her baby.

Shraddha accepted the gift and requested Manik to come near her.

Manik bend towards her and Shraddha whispered,

I liked your gift the most.

She said indicating his recent act and winked Nandini who had heard her whisper.

My pleasure.

Manik replied and descended down the podium with Nandini holding her hand.

The ceremony concluded after lunch and the guests dispersed. Fab 5 and the rest moved inside the house and Shraddha decided to rest for a while and so she along with Harshad moved to their room.

They settled down in the family room. Everyone took a place they could find, some on the couch and remaining on the floor. Cabir sat on the floor taking support of the couch on which Nandini sat. Manik excused himself and moved towards the kitchen. He quickly made some quinoa rice with apple juice for Nandini and brought it with him in the family room.

Here you go.

He sat next to Cabir on the floor and handed Nandini the plate and forwarded the glass to Alya sitting next to Nandini to hold for her after taking a sip from it. Nandini without any tantrums started eating meanwhile engaging in the ongoing conversations.

Vese Manik, Shraddha is pregnant.

Abhi said.

Manik looked at him as if he grew some horns.

Achha? Sachi? Mujhe toh pata hi nahi tha.

He faked seriousness and all of them bursted into laughter.

Abhimanyu made a bad face and replied.

Mein abhi bol raha tha,

Manik indicated him to continue.

Meanwhile Harshad came down and listened to the ongoing chat.

Toh agar Shraddha pregnant hai aur tu uska bada bhai hai toh tujhe nahi lagta ke tune Nonna ko propose karne mein kuch jyada hi time le liya?

Abhi completed. Manik got confused in his behind the bush talk and when he understood his taunt, he smirked and replied,

First of all, this wasn't a proposal. Mein meri Nandini ko privately propose karna chahta hu naki puri ravan sena ke samne.

He said without getting timid by the fact that the girl he was talking about proposing was sitting right behind him.

Woh kya hein na Mr. Thakkar, apne ye sawal galat insan se puche hai. Dekne jaiye toh meine filhal 27 ka hun aur Nandini 22 ki. So this is an ideal age for her. Dilchuspi toh iss bat mein hai ke Shraddha 23 ki hai aur Harshad ko kuch jyada hi jaldi hai apni kamai schools aur extension care mein donate karne ki.

He completed being on Abhi's path of beating around the bush and put forward the conversation to Harshad.

Harshad on understanding where the talk was heading shouted at Manik,

Abbe haraami tu mujhe mat samjha, it was my and Shraddha's decision to conceive - OKAY! Aur bhul mat agar Nandini se tujhe shaadi karni hai toh tumhe mujhe permission lene aana hoga. Yaad rakh mein uska bada bhai hu.

Everyone rolled out of laughter including Manik who knew that he was instigating Harshad deliberately.

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