2 Months Later:

Nandini, where's my white shirt?" Manik shouted from his room while Nandini was in kitchen along with Nyonika. "Its in the cupboard Manik" she replied as loud as he shouted. He came out and called her again. "Ab kya hua!" Nyonika and Nandini came out from the kitchen. "I'm not able to find neither my watch nor my wallet, charger and phone" Manik said when Nyonika gawked at him. "You must learn to take care of your things Manik, why will she always have to help you! Chota bacha nahi ho tum" Nyonika said and Manik made a grumpy face. Manik signed Nandini to meet him in the room. She made an excuse to meet him.

"Manik!" she went inside slowly. "What was that!" he asked angrily. "What?" she asked as if she doesn't know anything. "I've ironed your saree, kal raat hi iska matching blouse boutique se le aaya, phone full charge kiya, yaha tak ki power bank bhi full charge kiya, purse, watch, your accessories sab set hai, but what did you do? Shirt tho naya hai so iron nahi kiya, where are my pants, watch, wallet, phone bhi charge nahi kiya, is this the way you call both of us equal" Manik said. "I'm sorry Manik, I woke up late today na!" she apologized. "Upar se mom soch rahi hai ki tum mere saare kaam kar rahi ho" Manik looked at her. "Sorry bol diya na, aur kya karu?" she said with a puppy face. "Waise you can do many more things to make it up" Manik hints her.

"Of course I can do a lot more things like..." Nandini said running her fingers in his hair and kissed his cheek. "Ye kiss tha!" Manik asked disappointed. "Neeche maa wait kar rahi hogi, hume baahar jaana hai, so not now Manik" she sweetly rejected him and went out. "Manik, ab nahi tho kabhi nahi, you should hurry up" he said to himself, got ready and came down. They all sat at the breakfast table and Nyonika looked at both Manik and Nandini admiring. Manik looked at her and was about to speak but Nyonika spoke before him. "Complementing your white saree with purple blouse is such a marvellous idea Nandini, this is looking so good on you" Nyonika complemented her. "Ye idea mera nahi, Alya ka hai" Nandini said. "What I'm I even listening, I thought you'll complement both of us but you just gave a complement to a saree! Seriously mom!" Manik asked unbelievably.

"Tum dono ka kya, har roz love birds ki tarah dates, gifts, dinners ye tho chalta rahega. Kabhi wo kuch keh kar maayke chali jayegi, kabhi tum usse ladke hospital jaoge, and you'll go to pacify each other even before I thought to come to you. Ye roz roz chalta rahega na!" Nyonika said. Shrikant had remained silent. "Aap kuch bol kyu nahi rahe papa?" Nandini asked. "Aaj se hum ye sab miss karne wale hai na beta" he said sadly. Nandini and Nyonika instantly turned sad. "Dad, hume bahar jaana hai ab ye faltu baate kyu! Come on Nandini, eat soon" Manik rushed her. "Kal se, I won't even get to eat like this with my family, aaj tho chain se khaane do" Nandini glared at him. "Your wish, shaadi pe muhurat se nahi pahunchegi tu" Manik said and she got ready. "I have invited your chacha chachi for lunch, try to come fast" Nyonika told and they agreed.

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"Bhayya, ye catering wala ab tak aaya kyu nahi, udhar bhi kuch phool lagana hai, time kam hai aur kaam zyada hai, aap please kuch jaldi kijiye" Navya said to someone in haste and she bumped into her dad. "Navya beta, zara sambalke, tum kaam chodo, jaa kar ready ho jao, I will look into it" Chandrashekhar said. "Catering wale ab tak nahi aaya papa aur.." she went on saying. "Navya, shaadi ke ghar mein ye tho hoga hi, you first go and get ready" he said again. "Arre tum ab tak ready nahi hui" Cabir asked Navya. "Jaise pooch raha hai ki tum poore tayyar hokar aaye ho" Chandrashekhar taunted him. "I'm eveready!" Cabir said.

"Arrangements are almost done right! Do you guys need any help?" Aryaman asked. "I did everything at your wedding and ab tu guest bankar itne late aaya" Cabir said. "Ye madam ki wajhe se hi late hua" Aryaman threw it on Sanju. Navya was about to say something, "Dekho Nandini aur Alya ab tak nahi aaya, hum hi first aaya hai na" Sanju said. "Hum pe shikhayat karna band karo
Sanju" Nandini and Alya said at the same time. "Par tum late aaye ho na" Navya said. "Alya aur Dhruv ke liye hume wait karna pada" Manik said to Navya. "Hum kaha late kiya hai" Dhruv asked innocent.

Mukti and Abhimanyu came there. "Abhi!" Manik went till the car to receive them. Mukti and Abhimanyu got down with a baby. They all came as they Mukti with a baby. Sensing everyone's curiosity, Abhimanyu told them, "humne ek baby ko adopt karne ka decision liya hai". " That's a great thought" said Manik. "How old is the baby!" Nandini asked. "Just a month old, it's a baby girl" Mukti said hugging her baby close to her heart. "Congratulations ma'am, aap ne bahut acha kiya, ek baby ko sab kuch dene wale hai, uske liye apna pyar, acha future aap sab kuch de paayenge" Navya said. "By the way, choti sherni ka naam kya hai ma'am!" Cabir asked. "Ira" Mukti said.

"Bahut hi pyara sa naam hai" Alya complemented. "Maa papa ne rakha hai ye naam, I for Ishita and Ra for Raman" Mukti said. "Ye sirf meri beti nahi, ye meri mumma papa dono hai, iske aane se hi meri life mein khushiyaan wapas aayi hai" Mukti said. Chandrashekhar invited them inside. "Bride kahi nahi dikhayi de rahi hai!" Sanju asked Navya and Cabir. "Kahi makeup zyada hone se chup tho nahi gayi!" Cabir joked. "Stop it Cabir, I will go and get her" Navya said and went in.

Chandrashekhar was waiting for Navya to come out as pandit said the muhurat is only one 20 minutes. "Koi tension nahi hai, the bride is here!" Navya showed Saraswati to everyone. "Papa, maa bahut khoobsurat hai na" she asked her father. He smiled. "Var Vadhu ab var mala pehen sakte hai" Pandit told. Cabir and Aryaman lifted Saraswati so as to tease Chandrashekhar. "This is not fair, how can I go till there" Chandrashekhar said disappointed but he found himself in the air within seconds. Manik and Abhimanyu held him so as to meet his bride for var mala. "Dhruv tum bhi aana!" Manik called him. "Manik beta, mai utna bhi hefty nahi hu" Chandrashekhar said. "Main waha aaunga tho yaha ye sab beautiful ladies ka photo kaun keechega, I'm not coming" Dhruv escaped. "Liar" Manik murmured. "Rehne de, biwiyon ka photo keechna is so painful than this" Abhimanyu said. "Is it?" Manik asked. "Naya naya shaadi hui hai na, ab aisa hi hoga you'll get to know better with time" Abhimanyu said.

Manik and Abhimanyu were succeeded as Chandrashekhar finally made her wear var mala. "Ab kanyadan kaun karega" Pandit asked. "Hum" Navya and Cabir came forward. They did kanyadan to Saraswati and Chandrashekhar tied the knot. "Ab hua humara family complete" Navya said taking a selfie with her mom and dad. "Navya ki family aaj complete hua hai and kal se mera adhoora reh jayega" Nandini said to Manik. Manik chose not to answer. He saw Alya standing alone talking to someone on phone.

Manik went near her and she had cut the call. "Kitna mazaa aa rahe hai na shaadi mein!" Alya said. "Sonya kaisi hai?" Manik asked. "Manik!" she asked surprised. "I know you have complained on her but yet you went to withdraw your complaint and said she is mentally unstable so she did all these things" Manik saw Alya as if reading her face. Alya could not justify herself. "It's okay I know how much you love her. But please ye Nandini se kabhi mat bolna, wo dar jayegi, please" Manik comforted her. "Main kabhi Nandini ko kuch nahi hone dungi, di kabhi mental hospital se bahar nahi aayegi, main unhe jail nahi pahunchadungi" Alya said. "Kya kusur pusur chal raha hai yaha?" Nandini came there.

"Kuch nahi, Alya se kuch important bol raha tha" Manik said. "What is it?" Nandini asked. Aryaman, Dhruv, Abhimanyu,Mukti and Sanju also came there. "I'm so happy to inform all of you, Lifeline Hospitals has new trustees now. As we already know Sanjana holds 42% stake while the new board member is Alya with 58% stake" Manik said and everyone congratulated them while he handed over the legal documents to Alya. "What is this Manik?" Alya asked surprised. "I have transferred all the properties to your name Alya, ab se tum Sonya ke legal guardian ho" Manik said and blinked his eyes in assurance. Alya thanked Manik in her heart for always being there for her whenever she needed.

"We are going to miss you all at the hospital from now on" Abhimanyu said while everyone sat for lunch. "Ha dekhte dekhte 1 year kaise beeth gaye pata hi nahi chala" Mukti said. "But this year, it was so special and this batch is also so special for us" he said looking at Nandini. Cabir cleared his throat. "Aap ke liye tho special hai, apne pyaar jo mila hai iss saal" Cabir said. Manik and Nandini looked at each other and smiled. "Kahi Nandini ke jaane ke baad iss saal koi aur pasand aaya tho!?" Cabir didn't even complete his sentence and Nandini is already glaring at Manik like she could kill him through her looks. Manik tried to talk and she left from there. "Cabir, aisa kyu kaha tum ne?" Navya said and everyone gave the same look to him. "I'm sorry" Cabir said and Manik came back with Nandini.

"Tho tum sab kya karne wala hai ab se! Any plans after the internship?" Manik asked. "Navya got the seat in Bangalore hum thode hi din mein Bangalore move ho jayenge" Cabir said. "Oh so you both will be in same university!" Mukti asked. "No, Cabir is not going to study" Navya said. "Aisa nahi hai, if we both study ghar kaun sambhalega. So Navya will study and I will look after her, our home, our expenses and I'm going to get a job or I'll set up a clinic for myself" Cabir said. "Its a good decision Cabir, that's the spirit, you'll get the seat next time" Abhimanyu said. "Cabir already got the seat in Pondicherry but he is not going to do his Masters" Navya said sadly. "We both applied for same university but it didn't happen like that, I don't want a long distance relationship between us, I'll try next time and main uska junior banunga, agar agle saal bhi nahi hua tho humesha aise hi reh jaunga, of course Navya will get a good job" Cabir said. "That's so sweet Cabir" Alya remarked.

Manik was eating and Nandini called. "Do you have something to say now!" Nandini asked. "Yeah congratulations and all the best Navya" Manik said. "Cabir ke liye?" she asked again. "That's commendable Cabir" he continued eating and Nandini glared at him. Aryaman looked at Alya and signed each other that something is wrong with both of them. Everyone were chilling and Manik got up to leave. "Ok guys, shall meet you all in the evening, sab aa rahe hai na!" Manik asked and everyone nodded. He didn't gave time to Nandini to speak and took her away.

She didn't talk on the way and the silence killed Manik. He played FM, "lag jaa gale ke phir ye hasi raat ho na ho" they heard the song on player. "Shayad phir iss janam mein mulaqaat ho na ho" Manik hummed the lyrics and Nandini was in tears. Manik suddenly stopped the car. "Nandini kya hua? Tum ro kyu rahi ho!" he asked concerned. "Why did you sing it! Kya hum iss janam mein phir nahi milenge?" she asked him and he hugged her. "I didn't mean it that way, hume kaun alag kar sakte hai!" he asked.

"Its you, tum soch rahe ho alag karne ka" she said. "Its not like you think Nandini" he tried to explain her but she didn't listen. So he silently drove home back and saw her chacha chachi there. She ran towards them and hugged. "Nandini kya hua beta, aise ro kyu rahi ho!" chachi asked. "Nandini thoda emotional ho rahi hai" Manik said. "Nandini its OK, Manik ye tere liye hi kar raha hai" chachu consoled her. "I'll go, freshened up and come back" Manik excused himself. Nyonika set up the dining table but Manik hadn't still come back. "I'll go and call Manik" she went to their room.

She went near the room. She saw Manik folding her saree and packing her luggage. He took one of the saree and kissed it. Tears formed in his eyes and he was stubborn enough to not cry. He caressed her saree and put all her things in her bag. She went inside and hugged him from back. "I love you Manik, I don't want to leave you" she cried. "I love you too, I love you so much" he kissed her. "Please ask me stop, I'll not go anywhere" she said. "No, you're going. Shaadi bachche sab ye sapne dekhenge but you have dreamt of becoming the best neurosurgeon, its your Amma and Appa's dream too. Not everyone will get a chance to live their dream Nandini, you got it. My love should be your strength not your weakness to stay back here" he said as he wiped her tears.

"Do you remember, the day we first met, you said no to me because you want to pursue your higher studies in abroad. But look at our destiny, we are together today, happily married, our life is just a fairy tale like we thought, but some day you'll remember that you had to give up your dream to stay with me. I don't want my children to look up to us as someone who could not achieve what we wanted. My love should never stop your life. We're always a part of each other, chahe jitne bhi dhoor rahe hum" he said. "But look at Cabir, he isn't sending Navya alone, because he doesn't believe in long distance relationship" Nandini said.

"Yeah, but he does the same. He didn't ask Navya to give up, even I don't want to give up and do you want me to accompany you to NewYork?" Manik asked her. "No, you be here with aunty, uncle. Chacha chachi ka bhi kyaal rakhna, they don't have to miss both of us, I'll be happy that at least you're there to look after them, even though I'm not here, I'll go alone" she said. "Now that's like my Nandini, smile karo" she managed to smile and he hugged her. "Manik, you are the best" she said.

They have packed the luggage and came down. "Come on Manik, we're already running late" Shrikant said. They left for airport and Manik sat beside her, taking her hand in his. "We never wanted to send Nandini abroad" chachi became emotional. "Ha, maine socha ki Nandini humesha humare saath hi rahegi but it was shocker for us when Manik said Nandini got the seat and she should go to NewYork" Nyonika said. "Please ab aap log shuru mat ho jayiye, its her dream you go there and study, har roz video call karenge, and let me tell you, I almost got a green card, we'll mostly go there when she have summer holidays, and one more thing, I promise I won't look at any other girl when you're not here. Bachpan mein wo pledge, All Indians are my brothers and sisters wala, I will take it literally" Manik said. Chacha turned to Manik, "so is that why you took a Green Card Manik?" he asked and everyone laughed except Manik.

Everyone came to airport by the time they reached. "Happy Journey Nandini" Navya hugged her crying. "I'll miss you all guys" Nandini said. Nandini hugged Alya. "Manik ka kyaal rakhna Alya" Nandini whispered into her ears while they hugged. Alya looked at her in confusion. "You're his best friend, I know how much he care for you. Now its your turn to take care of him. Mere liye tum khud apni behen ko mental hospital pahuncha diya, I heard it in the morning, I'm so sorry Alya" Nandini said. "You should not say it" Alya stopped her. "Don't ever let him know that I know about Sonya, please" Nandini asked. Alya smiled hearing same request from Nandini too.

"You guys are one soul in two bodies, may your love be like this forever Nandini" Alya wished good luck. Aryaman hugged Nandini and gave a gift. "Ye kis liye" she asked. "Ab lift nahi de paunga tho sirf gift diya" he winked. Cabir came to her. "Ache se padai karna, ache se apne holidays enjoy karna, we all know Manik jiju waha aayenge, chupke pyaar kiya tum dono ne, chup chupke shaadi bhi ho gya, but please jab bachche hue tho hume pehle bata dena, this heart isn't ready to take much surprises, please think of it uh!" Cabir said. "Ha ye tho sahi hai" Nyonika agreed with Cabir. "Anyways I don't agree with Cabir, you can always get a little friend for Ira when you wish to" Mukti said. Nandini bid bye to them and took her boarding pass to leave. She went a few steps and Manik called her. She looked back.

He ran towards her. "Remember, chahe hum jitne bhi dhoor ho jaye, utna hi paas aayenge, HUMESHA" he kissed her lips in front of everyone making them go Awww.

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A Big Thank you to those who voted, commented and shared this story. To those silent readers, who read but did never voted, kindly take time to Vote.

This book is dedicated to all the readers without whom I would not have thought to write these many chapters.

Hope this love will be showerrd on my new book too. Do leave your comments here.

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