Nyonika: No... Not these!! I want everything to be matching. It should look right out of a dream.
Nyonika said rejecting a few ideas which Navya showed her.

Navya: Don't worry aunty! This is gonna be a day which would be remembered by each and everyone, I promise.

Nyonika: That's the spirit!! By the way, before I forget, I wanted to Thank u Navya.... For helping me with all this planning thing, otherwise if it was up to Manik he would hv not even let me prepare anything and got married today itself.

Manik: Did I just hear my name being called out!
Manik asked as he entered the house after work. It was Monday, the day after the Kapoor's party and finally Nyonika got time to kick start the preparations.

Nyonika: Yes... On how less time u hv given me to prepare for the wedding.

Manik: Come on Mom..... I know u aren't really complaining!

Nyonika simply shook her head at him with a smile before Manik settled took a seat next to her.
Nyonika: Manik.... What do u think? We are deciding the theme for the reception.

Manik: Whatever u want Mom.... I don't understand all this stuff.
Manik replied waving his hand off the topic.

Nyonika: Ohk... If not for urself, which one do u think Nandini would like!

Manik looked up at her words and nodded softly,
Manik: Anything simple yet beautiful! Nothing much fancy or glittery. Her choice is more of elegant I think...

Nyonika smiled at his words, his knowledge about her choice made her much more happier than she was.

Nyonika: Excellent.... Navya lets final this one! I m sure Nandini is gonna love it and everyone else too will like this.

Navya: Great... And I m sure this will suit the venue as well.

Nyonika nodded at her and looked down writing something up on her list when Manik spoke up,
Manik: Anyways... I m going to freshen up! Navya, why don't u finish this off by then before we head out to Aliya's.

Navya: Sure!

Nyonika: Aliya's place? Anything special....

Manik: Yeah... Nandini wants-
Manik started but then stopped in between as his eyes fell over Navya. None of his friends knew about the real equation between Nandini and her family. And he didn't wanna open it up until she doesn't.

Manik: I... I mean No! Just casually.

Nyonika immediately knew that he was lying but still didn't say anything to him. She simple nodded at him before turning towards Navya again.

Manik gave off a proud smile to her as he walked straight up to his room.

His family and friends were the most important part of his life and having all of them approve of the person he has decided to marry was something he really wished to have. And not just approve, they even loved her. He really couldn't hv asked for more.

His phone rang making him stop on his way as he picked it up to see Nandini's call.

Manik: Hello!

Nandini: What do u think, Would they really be angry?

Manik: What??

Nandini: Uncle-Aunty.... Aliya's parents! I hv intentionally not met them after coming from London Manik. Last I remember he said he had nothing to do with my mother.
She said hurriedly, her voice showing nervousness making Manik smile.

Manik: Nandini..... Relax!! He might hold something against his sister, but u r no where at fault here so chill.

Nandini: I m nervous Manik.

Manik: Nandini.... I will be there na, right next to u! U aren't alone. Now just relax and come there, I m also leaving with Navya in a few minutes.

Nandini: Ohk, I'll see u there....

Manik disconnected the Call and changed into something casual. Soon they reached Aliya's place to find all the others already waiting for them. Manik joined the them as they discussed about the music video which Dhruliya started recording that day. They were all busy teasing Dhruv while aliya sat there blushing hard.

Just then Nandini walked in and greeted them all slowly,
Nandini: Hi guys....

All of them smiled at her except for Manik, who frowned.

Cabir: Such a dull Hi, what's up!

Nandini gave off a small smile to him and shook her head. Manik lifted up his hand forward for her, Nandini held it softly, letting him pull her closer as she sat next to him.

Cabir: So much of love around me....  Wow!

Manik pressed onto her hand softly as he whispered,
Manik: Just relax nandini....

Nandini took a deep breath as and then said,
Nandini: I just want to get done with and finish this off. I don't want to think about what they say anymore, I want to know it.

Manik: U mean u wanna talk to them now?

Nandini nodded softly at his words and turned to face him,
Nandini: Would u come with me?

Manik: Do u want me there?
Manik asked back, his voice getting softer.

Nandini: Yes...
She whispered back unsure for his reaction when Manik smiled at her.

Manik: If u want me there, then there is no where else I could be.
He says back honestly and stood up taking her along. Everyone turned towards them when Manik said,

Manik: Guys.... We'll just be back!

Mukti: Arey but where r u guys going?
Mukti asked while everyone else waited for their answer. Manik was about to speak up when Nandini said,

Nandini: I m just going to meet Mami and Mama ji.... U know to tell them about the wedding and all.

Aliya immediately stood up at her words knowing the situation as she asked,
Aliya: Do u want me to come with u?

Nandini: No No its fine! Manik is coming along. U all continue, we'll join u soon.

Aliya: Ohk... They are both in their room.

Nandini nodded at her as Manik walked ahead. Both of them moved up the stairs as Manik lead her towards their room. Nandini stood in front of the gate and took a deep breath as she held Manik's hand tight and knocked on the door.

Footsteps were heard from the other side when Manik saw Nandini take a step back as she closed her eyes.

Manik: I m right here!

The door opened up and Aliya's Mom, Amrita smiled broadly at seeing Manik.
Amrita: Manik.... What a surprise? How come u remembered us today?

Manik: Come on Aunty... U know I love u a lot to ever forget u!
Manik smiled broadly at her as she took him in a slight hug. She noticed Nandini standing next to him and turned back towards him with a confused expression.

Manik: Aunty, she is our friend. She had never met u so I thought I would introduce her to u since I was coming here...

Amrita: Come in... Why are u standing here?
Manik walked in holding Nandini's hand tight. Nandini walked in slowly, hiding their entwined hands from her gaze.

Aliya's Dad, Vijay too noticed Manik and greeted him warmly. He noticed Nandini and turned towards Manik again, just like his wife. Manik exchanged a small glance at Nandini, as she gave him a soft nod when he spoke up.

Manik: Uncle-Aunty.... I m here for a special reason today!

Amrita: Special reason??

Manik: Yes... Well I hv a good news! I m getting married next month, meet my fiance'.... We r here for ur blessings!

The elderly couple smiled broadly at the news as they walked closer towards MaNan.

Amrita: OMG... This is such a nyc news! Congratulations son...

Nandini saw them smiling as a few blurred images passed through her mind. There was a time she was much more closer to the two of them and she couldn't help but press her lips together, stopping herself from crying.

She bent forward immediately, hiding her face as she touched their feet. Both of them immediately stepped back surprised by her action.

Vijay: What are u doing dear?

Nandini kept her face downwards as she replied back,
Nandini: As Manik said, we would be lucky to have ur blessings with us!

Manik bent down at her words as they kept their hands on their head.
Vijay: God bless u both!

The two of them got up when Manik noticed Nandini's tears as he held her hand tighter. Nandini looked up at Vijay as she whispered back,
Nandini: Thank u Mama Ji!

The couple looked at them confused until they finally understood her words when she saw him step back,
Vijay: Nandini???

Fresh tears flowed out of Nandini's eyes as she nodded her head in front of him, watching his jaw tighten at it.

Vijay: Why are u here?

Manik: Uncle plz just-
Manik spoke up for Nandini only to be stopped back by Nandini as she shook her head at him.

Nandini: I m here bcoz I want my family to be with me on the most important day of my life.

Vijay: Family... What family? Our relation ended the day ur mother decided to get married again. I already hate the fact that u and Aliya hv stayed in contact, don't try to push it Nandini.

Nandini: Did her getting married change my relation with u as well.... How am I into this Mama Ji?

Vijay: Stop calling me that! I hv nothing to do with ur mother anymore.

Nandini: And what about me? Am I nothing to u?
Nandini asked breaking into tears in front of them. Manik wrapped his arm around her holding her up as she continued,

Nandini: U r turning ur face away from me coz I m her daughter and here I m not sure if she would even wish to be my mother for once and give me away at my wedding....

Both of them looked up at her shocked at this when she nodded her head.
Nandini: U lost ur sister and her husband that year.... But what about me Mamaji. Even though, I just lost my Dad.... I lost everyone else too with him. May it be u people or even my own mother. I toh didn't even know about her getting married for about 6 years.

Amrita: What?

Nandini: She never told me.... She never came to get me back from the boarding school..
Nandini replied back softly before being engulfed in a tight hug by Amrita. Nandini finally broke as she cried into the hug.

Manik smiled softly at it as he saw Vijay too hugging her. He looked down and saw Nandini still clutching onto his hand. He shook her head smiling broader at it and broke her hand free from hers.

Nandini immediately broke the hug at his action,
Nandini: Manik...

Manik: Relax.... I should give u people some time alone, I'll wait for u downstairs...

Nandini kept on looking at him at that, mostly still confused at the thought of being alone until Manik blinked his eyes in assurance and turned towards the couple.

Manik: I'll see u both soon...

With that he turned around and left the room leaving Nandini staring at his back.
---------------------------

Later that night, all of them moved out of Aliya's house when Manik walked Nandini to her car.

Nandini: Thank u manik...

Manik: For what?

Nandini: If not for u, I would hv never been able to talk to them...

Manik: U should hv done this long back nandini.... If u had, then u wouldn't hv had to face all through the struggles alone.

Nandini: Its not like I didn't think of it ever Manik.... Its just that, I never liked talking about all this ever. I didn't want to come up to anyone and tell them my miserable story to get their sympathies. Not even if its my own family there.

Manik turned towards her at this and smiled up at her,
Manik: That is bcoz u have a very pure heart! And also bcoz u hv always been strong enough to hold up ur head. Nandini, u hv lived ur life on ur own terms and then grown up into such a beautiful person, this tells everything about u and I m proud of u for this, anyone would be....
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That's it for today people....

Sorry for being late!

I has planned to post it on the 4th for some reason, but I was just too busy.

Anyways, a very Happy Belated Birthday vidzy_vidhu....
Though not on time, but this part is dedicated to u Ms. Mind Reader😉....

Don't comment what u think about this part people!

Love,
Navya😘

P.s.: I very Happy Rose Day to each one of u!
Let's welcome this week of Love together with open arms!!!💝💝