every girl present in the house was sitting in hall and each one of them were surround by Mehndi artists 

(Nadini's outfit)

Nandini was sitting with her hands and legs covered in Mehndi she was done first as she was the one to start with, boys were out as they weren't allowed to be  a part of the function which they half heartily agreed to

once the Mehndi ceremony was over and boys entered the house, it was almost lunch time and girls were very hungry 

Boys decided to have a plate and feed the girls

A hope was going inside Nandini that maybe it was the chance for Nandini to talk with Manik and he would be happily feeding her and teasing her just the way Murat behaved with Hayat and the thought only made her feel blush but she felt sad when she saw Manik moving towards the seat where Aliya and Mukti were, he sat between them and started feeding both of them one by one and Nandini made a sad pout. 

as she wasn't able to talk to him so she decided to look for someone else who can feed her for now, she saw around but found no one

Raj and Uday were busy in preparations cabir was feeding Navya,  Anshuman was feeding Roshni and Ruhi and Prince was feeding Yuvika and Priya

Nandini was feeling hungry as she didn't even have breakfast in the morning she sadly looked down when someone appeared in front of her she looked up to find Dhruv standing with a plate of food in his hand and then he sat beside her

So feeling hungry asked Dhruv to which Nandini nodded in no and said nope it is nothing like that 

you know we all are human and feeling hungry is not a crime is it asked Dhruv smilingly to which she nodded in no being embarrassed

you know we both never interacted tell me something about you said Dhruv passing a spoon full near her mouth, having the bite slowly Nandini said what about me

what are you studying asked Dhruv making another bite

i just completed my school with science and once marriage functions get over i would start going to college said Nandini and took a bite

what about you Dhruv bhai asked Nandini

Dhruv smiled a little and said i work with my dad in his company other than that i have my singing carrier and college with fab 5 he said again filling her mouth

i am done i can't eat more said Nandini shoving the plate away

what you have ate just 3 spoons above that you didn't even have breakfast are you a girl or just an infant asked Dhruv in disbelief

i am a grown up girl said Nandini cutely pouting

you know i had a sister she was 2 years younger than me she was just like you same antics and same cuteness said Dhruv feeding her another bite

where is she now asked Nandini

she died at the age of 6 due to cancer said Dhruv

i am sorry said Nandini with guilt

its okay its not your fault Dhruv said patting her head

may her soul rest in peace said Nandini

i really miss her a lot i wish she was here said Dhruv

i can be your sister i know i cant take her place but i can be your second sister said Nandini to which Dhruv smiled

whoa whoa bonds forming and stuff ha what about me came Cabir

dramatic joker commented Dhruv to which Nandini giggled and Cabir rolled her eyes

i already call you bhai said Nandini shrugging her shoulders

Haw Nandini you called him bhai first and not me that's so bad of you said Dhruv dramatically

 and he calls me dramatic said cabir rolling his eyes

woh i talked to him first i am sorry said Nandini in a sad tone

hey we are just teasing you you don't need to get sad said Dhruv caressing her hair

you guys tease too much said Nandini pouting

you pout too much said Cabir pulling her cheeks to which she again pouted and they chuckled

though Nandini was not sad anymore but she badly wanted Manik to be there. she wanted him to be there to see how cute she is, she wanted him there to complement her, she wanted him to feed her and every time she showed tantrum to scold her or pamper her , she wanted him to talk to her,she wanted him to praise her when she does something good but he neither was doing any of them nor he wasn't making any initiative and when she would do he wouldn't recognize. she was getting pissed after all she  was a human being it wasn't she could neglect irritating things around her that Manik was doing. with getting pissed she was getting sad too she felt that she was unwanted for Manik and how couldn't she think like that any girl with wishes as well as self respect would think the same.

aab sab log jake aaram karlo kal shadi hai or kal bohot sare kam hai  said Nyonika coming towards Nandini who was sitting there lost in her thoughts she came and patted her head kissing her over her forehead 

mein aaj bahaut khush hu meri beti humare ghar aane wali hai said Raj joining Nyonika

Aliya's  P.O.V 

everyone moved towards there room except me and Manik

Are you Okay asked Manik

of course ... of course i am okay i said sarcastically i saw his eyes showing guilt and pain i feel bad for him but i cant do anything i myself am hurt you yourself should be okay to console someone i am okay to see the only love of my life marrying someone else continued Aliya

i am sorry said Manik with his eyes softened 

i cant do anything with your sorry i am hurt Manik and one sorry can't cure it, even it hurts more do you think you are making me feel good by saying sorry if you thinks so you are thinking wrong i cant see you going away, you promised that we would be together but we cant we just cant your sorry shows your helplessness Manik  and i could feel drops of hot salty water on my cheeks when I said those lines which hurted me more, i never expected that the only love of my life would hurt me so much 

Aliya said Manik moving his hands to wipe my tears but i moved back and went away saying i want some alone time i know i was rude but i cant help it no one can think of anything in this condition especially if he or she is hurt and i really need time to accept the change going around me, i need time to accept the fact that everything is gonna change between me and Manik we would be just friends and nothing more

i entered my room and took a seat in balcony how much i try but i cant stop my tears i am hurt i always get hurt not by anyone but by my own destiny first my brother and then Manik i am feeling sick of myself and the pain is rising every minute in my chest i want to breath but i cant my feelings were getting heavier when a comforting arm held my shoulder it was Dhruv i didn't knew why but i hugged him tightly as tight as i could i kept crying for hours and hours and kept sharing my misery it felt like he was taking my pain away he wasn't doing anything except than caressing my hair but it felt like he did everything

Once done with crying i looked up and my eyes met with his that was it i didn't knew why but i grabbed his lips and started kissing him was it the heat of the moment or the warmth he gave me i didn't knew anything write now all i knew was it was special a hundred times more special than it was with Manik its not like i was comparing them but i just didn't have the correct words to describe the beauty of the moment

soon Dhruv scooped me in his arms and moved towards bed 

End of P.O.V

next morning the house was fully decorated when everyone was present in the hall and were talking about all the rituals of the day and especially Phere 

We need to have an urgent talk messaged Aliya to Manik

meet me upstairs in half an hour messaged back Manik and went away within half of the hour Aliya also went behind him 

Manik said Aliya reaching upstairs to find his back towards her for a minute no one said anything but someone atleast had to imitate so Aliya said Manik i think we should break up 

What the hell Aliya i thought We are here to discuss but here you are declaring your decession said Manik in a defeated tone

for once listen to me Manik i have reason said Aliya in a pleading tone

So you have reasons for your ungrateful work ok go ahead said Manik

i think we are just not meant to be and if we are the destiny will bring us together i know you don't believe in destiny but for once try to do it Manik may be it is the best may be your future was written with Nandini and mine with someone else may be we are good together Manik but we could be perfect with them who are made for us i know Manik you don't want perfection but you want love , but what if Nandini is the one to provide you more love than i do Manik i think this is the end of our relationship

listening this Manik turned around and engulfed her in a calming hug and said i cant do this Aliya i love you and i have only loved you 

i loved you to Manik but i don't think we are destined to be i am just saying that give a chance to yourself and Nandini and if you guys have that chemistry between you which leads to  love than its okay but if it isn't there then you guys will yourself feel that with time lets just go with the flow Manik and believe me you will never regret the step said Aliya 

you have become so smart Aliya i didn't expected this from you said Manik playfully, chuckling amidst his tears to which she slapped his chest lightly

Manik broke the hug and kissed her forehead you wanna say something asked Manik sensing nervousness in her body to which Aliya nodded nervously

Manik last night when i went away after having an argument with you said Aliya to which Manik nodded indicating her to continue Dhruv came there he gave me a shoulder to cry on and i didn't knew how but my cries led to kiss and that kiss led to ... said Aliya leaving the sentence incomplete

when she saw in Manik's eyes she found them red and she knew that he was getting angry oh all this speech you gave because you slept with someone else and that too Dhruv said Manik

Manik its not like that just listen to me once said Aliya to which Manik didn't said anything and was just looking at her taking it as a cue Aliya continued last time when bhai hurted my feelings you were there to hold me but this time when i was crying, crying on my destiny and fate for one by one taking bhai and you away from me there was no one at that time .Dhruv came Manik and when he hugged me i felt something different it wasn't like we never hugged before but Manik this hug was special it had those sparks which melted me it felt like he was taking my pain away Manik and while i am saying the truth Manik i felt different and better with Dhruv than i did with you Manik i am not comparing Manik and i never can you both are best in your own ways but i really want to give chance to Dhruv and me but not by upsetting you Manik we can't stay girlfriend-boyfriend anyway but we can be friends best friends the way Mukti and your family knows about us.

Aliya again took him in a hug which he unknowingly reciprocate

does Dhruv know you want to be with him asked Manik breaking the hug 

no but i would like to tell him soon said Aliya so that means everything is normal between us she continued smiling after a pause

i guess so said Manik and moved downstairs followed by Aliya 

reaching downstairs Aliya showed a thumbs up to Dhruv and other side Manik told everything to Cabir

Manik beta jaldi se aaja teri haldi hogi uske baad hi Nandini ki ho paegi said Nyonika coming towards him she handed him a packet containing his clothing

he changed into his dress for Haldi and came downstairs Nyonika made him sit at the center of the hall and one by one everyone applied him Haldi . once done with haldi he was moving towards his room when he heard Anshuman talking to Roshni

Do you remember how i sneaked into your house just to apply Haldi on you first said Anshuman

ha i remember you climbed all the way from pipe and bribed my friends just to apply haldi on me said Roshni

and that Haldi thing worked see how much we love each other said Anshuman sliding his hands through her waist 

stop your naughtiness and go to room i have to prepare Haldi for Nandini said Roshni moving away

i don't want to leave you said Anshuman 

but you have to said Roshni pushing him out of the kitchen 

by the talks Manik figured out that if the groom applies first Haldi to bride they lead a lovely life