2 Days Later..

Nandini's POV

Its been 2 days since I saw my birth family again. Honestly. I dont know how I kept all this a secret from Manik and my family and maybe I should tell at least Manik but I am afraid...afaid that he will also think I was wrong, afraid that he will be furious that I lied to him in the first place. I dont know how to tell him the truth now.

Today is Laksh & Choti's engagement and Ill have to face them all again...Ill have to pretend like they dont affect me. Last time, I somehow managed to avoid talking to them alone but what will I do today?

"Nandini...you ready?" Manik asked me from our room door, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Huh? Haan...Im ready." I smiled and walked towards him, Manik stopped me and checked my forehead. Him and everyone else has been extra protective since they think Im sick but....obviously thats not exactly true. "Manik...main thik hoon."

"Just checking." Manik replied.

"Acha ab chalo...sab niche aate hi honge." I say. We went down and saw that a few guests had already arrived. Fab 5, Navya & Abhi were all standing in a corner talking to Laksh so Manik & I decided to join them.

"So...Laksh." Manik clapped Laksh's back, "Excited?"

"Very....vaise aap sab ko Candy kaisi lagi?" Laksh asked.

"Kya karun main iss ladke ka yaar..." Everyone laughed while Manik slapped his own forehead. "Like seriously Laksh? If we didnt like her then we wouldnt be getting you guys engaged so quickly hai na?"

"Right..." Laksh grinned sheepishly.

"Aaye Mr. Khanna." 

I turned to see Dad introducing the Khanna family to some of the guests who didnt meet them the other day.

"Main...abhi aayi." Excusing myself, I went to go help Mom with the preparations for the engagement ceremony. From the corner of my eye, I saw Manik mingling with my parents.

"Nandu...yeh le. Tu anghutiya rakh apne saath. Baad mein zaroorat paregi." Mom handed me a tray that had two velvet ring boxes.

"Meri apni behen ki sagai hai...aur main puri tarah se khush bhi nahi ho sakti. Kaash aap sab ne mere saath woh sab nahi kiya hota....toh aaj main bhi apni behen aur devar ki shaadi enjoy kar paati." 

At that moment music started playing and we all payed attention to the centre floor area.

https://youtu.be/WRSeV_27z6k

(Say Shava Shava from K3G)

Say shava shava, say shava shava - 2

--MALE--
Roop hai tera sona, soni teri paayal
Hoye, roop hai tera sona sona, soni teri paayal
Chhan chhana chhan aise chhanke, kar de sabko ghaayal
Keh raha aankhon ka kaajal, ishq mein jeena marna, yay

Dadu was in the middle dancing with some background dancers."Wait..where did they even come from?"

"Haye Bhagwan...yeh Bauji kya kar rahe hai? Aur yeh ladkiyan kahan se aa gayi?" Mom asked. So I guess Im not the only one questioning this scenerio. 

--ALL--
Say shava shava maahiya, say shava shava maahiya
Say shava shava maahiya, say shava shava, yea

As he was dancing, Dadu suddenly dragged me onto the floor with him and urged me to dance. Since I can never say no to him, I started.

--FEMALE--
Roop hai mera sona, soni meri paayal
Roop hai mera sona sona, soni meri paayal
Chhan chhana chhan aise chhanke, kar de sabko ghaayal

As I danced, I saw my Ma...she had tears in her eyes as she watched me but I couldnt go wipe them even if I wanted to. As much as I love my Ma, she didnt support me when I needed it the most.

--MALE--
Hey, keh raha aankhon ka kaajal, ishq mein jeena marna...

Manik came up behind me and started dancing too.

Everybody!

Dadu joined in and we all started dancing together.

--ALL--
Say shava shava maahiya, say shava shava maahiya
Say shava shava maahiya, say shava shava

--FEMALE--
Maahiya ve aaja maahi, maahiya ve aaja - 4

Someone pushed Choti onto the floor and now it was the two of us dancing together. I remember, we used to love watching hindi dance songs on the tv and dancing along with it. That was our thing. 

--MALE--
Aaja gori nachle, ay shava
Nachle ve nachle, ay shava
Arre, aaja gori nachle, ay shava
Ae, nachle ve nachle, ay shava

Dekha tenu pehli pehli baar ve
Hone laga dil beqaraar ve
Rabba mainu kee ho gaya
Dil jaaniye, haai mainu kee ho gaya

Manik & Laksh held mine & Choti's arms respectively and then pulled us towards them.

--FEMALE--
Sunke teri baatein sone yaar ve
Maahi mainu tere naal pyaar ve
Haai main mar jaawa
Dil jaaniye, haai main mar jaawa

Choti got embarrassed and left the dance floor but I continued to dance.

--ALL--
Say shava shava maahiya, say shava shava maahiya
Ve shava shava bhangra, ve shava shava

Everyone danced together....even those random background dancers.

--MALE--
Mm hm hm hm hm hm hm
In kadmon mein saansein waar de
Rab se zyaada tujhe pyaar de
Rab mainu maaf kare
Rabba khairiya, haai mainu maaf kare

Manik & Laksh went to Dad & Mom and touched their feet for blessings. Dad & Mom hugged them both.

--FEMALE--
Tum to meri jind meri jaan ve
Meri tu zameen hai aasmaan ve
Tujh bin main kee kara
Rabba khairiya, haai ve main kee kara

I went towards my parents crying and hugged them. My brothers and choti came and joined the hug. Ma kissed me on my forehead and cried.

--ALL--
Say shava shava maahiya, say shava shava maahiya
Say shava shava maahiya, say shava shava, yea

Manik shook my shoulders and I realized that I hadnt even moved. I was still standing in the middle of the dance floor and my parents were off to the side with choti.

--MALE--
Ae, roop hai tera sona sona, soni teri paayal
Chhan chhana chhan aise chhanke, kar de sabko ghaayal
Keh raha aankhon ka kaajal, ishq mein jeena marna
C'mon!

--Everyone--
(Say shava shava maahiya, say shava shava maahiya
Ve shava shava bhangra, ve shava shava bhangra) - 2

After the song ended, it was time for the ring ceremony so Choti & Laksh were both taken towards the small stage that was set up. Everyone clapped as they exchanged rings and then took blessings from the elders. After all the parents, soon Laksh and Choti stood infront of Me & Manik.

"Oye...main utna bhi bada nahi hoon...gale lag." Manik said to Laksh as they bent to take blessings. He hugged Laksh and held out his other arm for Choti. I smiled seeing how affectionate towards Choti Manik had gotten within just a few days...and he doent even know he has a double relation with her. 

"Bhabhi! Aapki ashirwaad toh banta hai!" Laksh replied bending down. I stopped them and lovingingly placed my palms on their cheeks.

"Mera ashirwaad humesha tum dono ke saath hai." I reply. Laksh hugged me and I saw that Choti was holding herself back so I held out my hand. Happily, Choti hugged me tightly.

*****

After the ring ceremony, I really needed to get away from there so I just excused myself and went out to the back, sitting near the pool.

"Did you learn how to swim yet?" Jumping, I turned back to see my 3 brothers standing there.

"Aap log yahan kya kar rahe hai? Andar aapki behen ki sagai hai."

"Humari behen?" Kartik Bhaiyya said, "Choti teri bhi behen hai...teri behen ki sagai teri hi devar ki saath ho raha hai andar aur tu yahan baiti hai....kyun?"

"Do I really need to answer that? Aap logon ko nahi paata main yahan kyun baiti hoon?" 

"Nanhi...." Veer Bhaiyya took a step forward, reaching his hand out. I jerked away and stopped him.

"DONT...call me that. Maar gayi hai aapki Nanhi."  

My brothers looked devestated at that but at that point...I really didnt care. They had also put me through alot of pain and sadness.

"Aisa mat bol Nanhi...mujhe paata hai humse galati hua-" 

"Galati?" I laughed, cutting Rishabh Bhai off. "Apni behen ka saath na dena...usko ek murderer bulana...usko selfish bulana....woh sirf ek galati tha?"

"Nanhi...we were in pain...Hum excuses nahi de rahe hai lekin-" Kartik Bhaiyya said.

"But you are! You are giving excuses...Tauji aur Taiji agar aap dono ki parents they toh woh dono mere liye bhi parents se kaam nahi they. I was also in pain Bhaiyya! Lekin meri burri kismat, main na toh coma mein chali gayi...aur nahi maar gayi. Agar maar gayi hoti toh aap log itni asani se mujhe blame nahi kar paate na?" I cried.

"Nanhi!"

"Maine kahan na! Dont call me Nanhi...aap log mujhe woh bulane ka haq kho chuke hai!" I yelled.

"Pls....aisa mat kar na Nanhi. Chachi...Chachu, infact hum sabhi ne tujhe bohot miss kiya. Chachi ki toh subha hi teri tasveer dekh kar hoti hai. Humari Choti ki sagai hai aur-" 

"Haan," I stopped Veer bhaiyya, "Choti ki sagai hai...mere devar ke saath. Aur main nahi chahti ki aap sab ki vajah se meri behen ki khushiyon par aanch aaye toh its better for everyone if you just pretend that you only have one sister. Asan hoga na aapke liye? Main toh murderer hoon..."

"Main gusse mein kahan tha...I didnt mean it. I really didnt Nanhi." Veer bhaiyya looked at me with tears.

"Save it...mujhe nahi sunna aapki koi bhi baat. Mr Khanna, agar aap log yahan se nahi jayenge toh main hi chali jaati hoon." I glared at my brothers one last time and then walked back into the house.

3rd Person  POV

"Main gusse mein kahan tha...I didnt mean it. I really didnt Nanhi." Veer said as he looked at Nandini with tears.

"Save it...mujhe nahi sunna aapki koi bhi baat. Mr Khanna, agar aap log yahan se nahi jayenge toh main hi chali jaati hoon." Nandini glared at her brothers one last time before furiously wiping away her tears and walking back into the house. She was so upset, she didnt even notice Manik standing right there. After the ring ceremony Manik realized she was missing so he went looking for her. Thats when he heard the voices come from the pool area and heard basically everything. 

"Nandini ki bhai? Lekin....woh toh anaat....she said she was an orphan. Phir yeh Khaana uski family kaise hai? Nahi...agar Nandini ne jhoot bola hai toh there must be a good reason. Nandini aur uski family ki beech mein koi toh bohot badi wali problem hai...something about calling her a murderer? Why? Koi apni behen ko murderer kyun bulayaga? Woh bhi Nandini ko? She wouldnt even hurt a fly...Meri Nandini kabhi kisi ko hurt nahi kar sakti. Ulta, she looks so hurt..like she is in so much pain....isi liye Nandini uss din se itna ajeeb behave kar rahi hai. I didnt even realize, Nandini kabse itni pain mein hai."  Manik watched as Nandini walked towards Laksh and he got emotional realizing that she was putting on a fake smile for the sake of everyone. "Tumne humesha mere liye aur humari family ke liye sab kuch kiya na Nandini? Aaj bhi...you are going through so much lekin hum sab ki khatir you are smiling."

"Manik?"Manik turned and glared at the Khanna brothers as they walked in and noticed him.

"Kya kahan tumne meri biwi ko? Murderer? Nandini?" Manik asked, shaking with anger.

"Manik...calm down pls..humari baat toh sunno." Veer tried to calm manik down.

"Sunn liya maine...sab kuch. Nandini behen hai aap teeno ki...and aap logon ne usse bohot hurt kiya lekin ab aur nahi. Nandini ab akeli nahi hai!"

"Jaante hai Manik." Rishabh smiled sadly. "Nanhi akeli nahi hai ab...and trust me, hum sab bohot kush hai ke usko tumhare jaisa paati aur tumhari family jaisa sasural mila."

"Manik...hum Nanhi ki dushman nahi hai. Haan, humse ek bohot badi galti hua tha....we said things to her jo koi bhi bhai apni behen ko nahi bolta hai. Terrible things. If we could rewind back to that day, We would take everything back. Hum uss din se bohot regret kar rahe hai." Kartik said.

"I know...you have no reason to trust us Manik. Lekin humara rishta humesha se aisa nahi tha. We used to love Nanhi alot...we still do. Bas uss din, humara gussa aur dukh humare pyaar par havi ho gaya. Its not an excuse....we should have never said those things but Kartik and I had just lost both our parents and wee werent thinking straight. Hume paata hai, Nanhi is not the one to blame...woh bachi thi..." Veer added.

"Sach kahun toh...I wanted to say something." Rishabh spoke up. "Lekin uss din, Papa ke aur Veer aur Kartik bhaiyya ke gusse ko dekh kar....mera himmat nahi hua kuch bhi bolne ka. I failed as a brother....I failed Nanhi. Par Manik, everyone deserves at least one chance na? Nanhi ke saath jo hua...usme Choti ki koi galati nahi thi, you can ask Nanhi. Woh apni Di ko bohot miss karti hai....we all do. Choti ki khatir.. pls give us just one chance to fix our relation with Nanhi...pls. Humara parivaar saalon se incomplete hai....toota hua hai...pls Manik"

Manik stared at the brothers and realized their feelings were genuine so he took a decision.

"Fine....pehle main Nandini se baat karunga aur agar mujhe laaga ki uske dil mein aap sab ke liye abhi bhi koi jagah hai....then and only then will I give you a chance. Mere liye Nandini se zyada important koi nahi hai so it all depends on her." Manik replied.

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Note: Hey guys! For those of you who dont already know, I got in trouble with my parents so now as punishment, my time on my laptop is very limited. Still, Ill try to upload whenever I can. Anyways, I hope you like this chapter.