At night

In Dixit's Palace

The elderly men were sitting in Viren's bedroom but with different emotions on their faces. Ranvir and Akshay were biting their nails with a poker face. Ravi, Rohit, Lalith and Swayam were sitting with serious faces while Viren and Raj were calculating something..

Swayam ( sighed ): I just can't understand the point. I mean, why would Manik and princess will behave like strangers at home when they even spend their time together in office..

Lalith: But Swayam, we aren't sure about it. We don't know what happened in Princess' s cabin..

Akshay ( sarcastically ): Yeah right, wo dono uski cabin mein cricket khel rahe the, wo bhi poora Lunch break mein..

Rohit: Yar..bas bhi kar, tere Pjs sunke mein pagal ho raha hoon..

Ranvir: Jabse tu paida hue tabse sab kehthe the ki ye insaan pagal hai par kisine bhi yakeen nahi kiya, yaha thak ki teri beewi bhi..so, it doesn't matter..

Rohit glared at him..

Ravi: oho, ab ye sab bandh kar..ye soch ki uss cabin mein kya hua hoga..

Akshay: Jab ek ladka aur ladki saath mein hotha hai tho kya hoga, wahi hua..

Swayam: kameene, tu meri beti ke bare mein bath kar rahe ho..

Akshay: Tho mere liye dosth ki beti hai kya..

Lalith: Mathlab Viren tera dosth nahi hai..?

Raj and Viren just got irritated, their calculation just went wrong..

Raj/Viren: Shut up..Zip your mouth..

Viren: Poora calculation hi galath aaya..

Akshay ( disbelievingly ): Yaha hum apne bache ke bare mein bath kar rahe hai aur tujhe calculation ki padi hai, tu kya Aryabhatta ke pothe hai jo calculation ke bina reh nahi saktha..

Raj ( annoyed ): Mujhe agar kisise bhi beintehaa nafrath hai tho wo hai Aryabhatta, uss insaan ke wajah se mein maths mein kabhi bhi pass nahi hua..So, don't drag him here..

Rohit: Aryabhatta nahi, Manik Malhotra aur Nandini Dixit hai hamara topic..

Viren: Usseka calculation kar rahe the hum..

Ranvir: Ismein konsa calculate karna hai..are you calculating the percentage of Love they share..?

Lalith: Abey chup karna, tum kya computer software ho..?

Rohit: CHUP..Viren, Raj..what were you calculating..?

Viren ( sighed ): Have you realized that doll has started keeping fast for the past 6 years..? That, this is the 7th Karwa Chawth fast of her's..?

They thought for sometime and nodded at him..

Raj: And did you realize that its been 7 years since she came back from India..?

They nodded again after thinking for a while..

Viren/Raj: So...??

The men thought for sometime and stared at each other with raised eyebrows..

Lalith: Does it mean..?

Swayam: She is fasting..

Akshay: For someone special..

Ranvir: Whom she met..

Ravi: In India..??

Viren: Exactly..

Rohit: Can it be..?

Raj/Viren ( sighed ): Manik...???

The men fell back to their couches and looked at each other..

Akshay ( curiously ): Can he be the one..? As much as I know, princess has been fasting since she came back from India..? And like how Raj caught her in Manik's bedroom, it seems like they share some kind of relationship..

Ravi: And today, they both were in her cabin. Though, we don't know what happened inside but still, she won't ask him to work in that time..But, Manik didn't come out of her cabin until Lunch break ended..

Viren: Doll would never hide from me, if she is in any relationship, so I won't call it a relationship..

Rohit: And if Princess feels something for Manik, then why is she hiding it from us..?

Raj: Most importantly, why did she reject Manik's proposal if she liked him..? If our assumptions are true then, Love is keeping the fast for Manik, aur agar ithna gehra rishtha hai tho wo dono ek dusre se alag kyu rehthe the..Why did they behave like strangers all these days, in front of us..?

Lalith: Now, this is getting on my nerves..

Swayam: Me too..I can't come to a conclusion..

" KNOCK " " KNOCK "

Raj: Come in..

Someone opened the door and entered inside with a surprised face..

Person: Wow, is there any meeting going on..?

Raj ( smiled ): You think so..?

Person: If not, you wouldn't have gathered in Dad's bedroom..

Viren ( smiled ): Doll..come here..

Nandini smiled and moved towards Viren. He cupped her cheeks..

Viren: I always told you, you are just like your mom. Today, you proved it again..You look beautiful..

Nandini smiled at her Dad and kissed his cheeks..

Nandini: Its okay to miss someone even if that person lives in your heart. Mom would be so happy to know that you are missing her..

She hugged her Dad who was smiling in tears..

Viren: You talk a lot like her and I just miss her more, she would have been so happy to see her photo copy..

She giggled and broke the hug..

Nandini: Photo copy..Don't you know, Mamu says that if I got Mom's smile then I got your eyes so don't call me a photo copy of Mom..

Viren chuckled at her..

Lalith ( bad face ): Someone just forgot us..haina Swayam..

Swayam: Bilkil sahi kaha tumne..

Nandini turned towards the other men to see them making sad faces at her..She giggled and moved towards them and hugged each of them and kissed their cheeks too..

Nandini ( cute face ): Ab jalna bandh keejiye..dosthon ke beech jealousy achi baath nahi hai..

Akshay ( side hugged her ): Ab tei jaise beti hai tho jalna bhi koi buri baath nahi hai..

She shook her head..

Nandini: Waise, I am here for a work..

She turned to Akshay and made him stand straight and took something from her pouch and pinned it on his Kurta..She moved to every man and did the same thing..

Viren: A brooche..?

Nandini ( smiled ): My gift, for this Karwa Chawth..

They smiled at her. It was a routine of Nandini to gift them something on every Karwa Chawth. She actually does it to cheer the men who don't have wives with them..But it doesn't mean, she would just neglect others like Ravi, Rohit and Venkatesh..

Nandini ( excitedly ): How does it look..?

" Beautiful, just like our princess.."

She grinned and hugged them..

Nandini: Chalo teek hai, I will leave, I need to gift this to Mamu too..Ba-Bye..

Saying this she got out of the room while Akshay's face lit up again..

Akshay ( shouted ): Mil gaya..

Others got startled with his shout..

Ranvir: Abey saale chilla kyu rahe ho..

Akshay ( excitedly ): Yar mujhe idea mil gaya..

Ranvir ( bored look ): Paris mein idea network nahi mil saktha..So, keep that pj with you..

Akshay smacked his head..

Akshay: Mere baath tho sun kameene..

Raj ( annoyed ): Haa tho bol na..roka kisne..

Akshay: Aaj Karwa Chawth ha na th..

Viren: Haa hame patha hai aaj karwa Chawth hai, aur ye bathane keliye tu ithna excited kyu ho rahe ho..

Akshay: Chup kar saale..what I want to say is..

Raj: Tu bolega ya nahi..

Ravi: Usse bolne tho de kameeno..

" FINE "

Akshay( grinned ): Koi tho hai jiske paas dimaak hai, chal chod..so, the thing is, aaj karwa chawth hai and ladies would break their fast after moon rise and as per the ritual their fast would be broken by the man for whom they kept the fast..right..?

Raj ( annoyed ): Tera point kya hai, wo bol..

Akshay ( smirked ): Mera point ye hai, we could get to know for whom princess is keeping fast..

Rohit ( raised his eyebrow ): Aur wo kaise..?

Akshay: Abey duffer..if the guy for whom she keeps fast is Manik, then he would be the one to break her fast..aay samaj mein baath..

Eureka..they just looked at each other and grinned and then pounced on Akshay..

Akshay: Yar mujhe saaans tho lene dho..mere saare bache ka shaadi nahi hua abi thak..

They broke the hug..

Viren: Yar, tera dimaak ka kuch tho faida hua..chalo, dekhthe hai ki aaj Nandini Dixit aur Manik Malhotra kaise bach sakthe hai hamare hathon se..

And the men smirked at each other..

In Manik's Bedroom

Manik was standing in his vest and shorts, who was going to wear his dress for Karwa Chawth..He was looking pale due to tiredness..

" KNOCK " " KNOCK "

Manik frowned and went towards the door and opened it only to drop his jaw down..He was staring at the view with dreamy eyes..

" Manik " " Manik "

He came back to earth after hearing the voice..

Manik: Nandini...

Nandini stood there while giving weird looks to him..he was still in a daze..She looked at her left and right and after finding no one, she pushed him inside and got in and closed the door.

Nandini ( glared ): Tum tho aise ghoor rahe ho jaise pehli baar dekh rahe homujhe , what if someone has spotted me outside, I was calling your name out at least for 5 minutes..Kya tum sun rahe ho..?

He pulled her by waist startling her..

Manik ( huskily ): You look gorgeous..

She bit her lips and blushed..He leaned forward to her lips when she pushed his face and he made a bad face..

Nandini ( giggled ): Manik Malhotra..ithni aasani se nahi milegi aapko Nandini Dixit..

Manik ( smiled): I know, tabhi tho ithna mehnath kar raha hoon..Waise, tum yaha, wo bhi ithni taiyar hoke..iraada kya hai madam..

He smiled naughtily at her and she slapped his arms lightly..

Nandini: Zyada sochne ke zaroorath nahi hai, Mr. one track mind..I am here to give this..

She took the packet which she was holding in her hand and it wasn't noticed by him until she kept it in his hand..

Manik: Ye kya hai..this packet..

Nandini: Khud hi dekhlo..

He opened the packet and his eyes shined in happiness..

Mnaik: Mere liye..?

Nandini ( sarcastically): Nahi..mere Bhai keliye..kyu..usse ye acha lagega na..

He made a bad face..

Nandini: Ab mein tumhareliye laayi hoon tho ye sawal poochna zaroori tha kya..

He grinned..

Nandini ( excitedly ): Chalo, wear it fast..

Manik ( smiled ): Tum hi pehnao..

She stared at him in shock..

Manik ( laughed ): What..andhar ke kapde tho already pehen liya hai..

Nandini ( glared ): Manik..jao..pehnke aao..

Manik laughed and went inside the walk-in closet..She sighed after seeing te room's condition..

Nandini ( smiled ): He will never change..

She started cleaning the mess and soon she heard his voice..

Manik: Nandini..baaki tum hi kardo..

She turned to see him wearing his vest with the pant. She glared at him while he smiled sheepishly at her..She walked towards him and took the rest from him and made him wear it..She stared at him form top to bottom and smiled widely..

Nandini: It suits you a lot..Um..wait..

She took her pouch and got a brooche out of it..She pinned it on Mnaik's kurta while he was just staring at her lovingly..

Nandini: Manik, comb your hair..I don't know what style you guys do..

He took the comb and brushed them and then arranged it with hands..

Mnaik: Am I ready..

She stared at him and admired with a smile..She tip toed and kissed his cheeks and whispered in his ear..

Nandini: Looking hot Mr. Malhotra..

He smirked and pulled her by waist again..

Manik: Don't you think we are looking color coordinated..?

Nandini ( grinned ): Yup, i bought it for you when Dad gave this dress to me..

She had a sweet smile on her lips..

Manik: Your Dad has got a beautiful taste..

Nandini ( smiled widely ): But this isn't mine totally..( he looked confused ) this is Mom's..she wore it on her first Karwa Chawth. I wear only her dresses on my every Karwa Chawth. I could feel her..

He smiled at her and kissed her forehead because he could feel that she was missing her mother's warmth..

Manik: She is watching you Nandini, so don't get sad, she won't like it..

She smiled in assurance and nodded in yes, cutely.

Manik ( frowned ): Wait, did you say every Karwa Chawth, you wear your Mom's dress..?

Nandini ( casually ): Haa..kyu..?

Manik ( shocked ): You mean, this isn't your first Karwa Chawth..?

Nandini ( smiled ): No, this is my 7th Karwa Chawth..

Manik ( shocked ): What..?

Nandini ( giggled ): Haa baba..I am keeping fast since 7 years, including this year..

Manik ( softly ): You mean, just after you came back to Paris from india..just after our separation..

She just nodded with a smile..He too could only smile at her and kissed her cheek earning a cute smile from her..Suddenly, Nandini noticed his eyes. they were looking reddish, she frowned. he wasn't angry neither he cried, he is looking happy, then what happened to his eyes.

Nandini: Manik, what's wrong with your eyes..its so reddish..

He avoided eye contact from her..

Manik: Ahh..Nothing Nandini, its just..something went inside my eyes..yeah..

She made him look in her eyes..

Nandini ( sternly ): Agar Nandini Manik se kuch chupa nahi sakthi tho Manik bhi Nandini se kuch chupa nahi paoge..

He stared at her with softened eyes..

Nandini ( worried ): you kinda look..pale..I've been noticing it. Tum ithna tired kyu lag rahe ho..hang on..

She took the jar of water and saw it was too full, but she chucked it and began to fill the glass with water and took it to Manik..

Nandini: Manik, ye lo PaNi..peeyo..

Manik ( pushed the glass ): Nandini, I am fine..

Nandini ( glared ): Manik, bacho jaise behave karna bandh karo..peeyo..

Manik: Mene bola na Nandini..

Nandini: Really..? Then, don't talk to me until you finish this glass..

Manik: Nandini..

Nandini ( stubbornly ): No means no..

Manik ( sighed ): I can't drink..I..I am fasting..

She looked at him with widened eyes and the glass fell from her hand but before it could fall, Manik held it and kept it on the tea-poi..

Nandini ( whispered ): What..??

Manik ( smiled ): You are keeping fast for my longevity of life so I am just doing the same for you, though I never believed in such stuffs but you do believe in it, and I don't wanna eat when you stay hungry..

Nandini stared at him with softened eyes..

Nandini ( sighed ): Manik, you don't look well. No, just break it..

Manik ( shocked ): What..? no way..

Nandini ( glared ): Manik..

Manik ( glared ): I told you, I won't..

He sat on the bed..

Nandini knelt down in front of him..

Nandini ( worried ): Manik, you look weak. You won't be able to wait till moon rise..Please Manik, tum ye sab mein naye ho..

Manik ( smiled ): If its to protect you, then I can even stay hungry for my whole life..And, just like you said, Manik Malhotra can even kill someone to protect his loved ones so staying hungry isn't a big deal..

She looked at him in surprise. Those were the same words which she spoke when he confronted her for the first time after coming to Paris and he still remembers it..He pulled her up and made her sit on his lap and secured her in his arms..

Manik ( whispered ): Just stay with me forever, you will never see a weaker side of mine, I promise..

She smiled widely and kept her head on his chest..

Nandini ( smiled amidst tears ): I promise, I will stay with you, forever, no matter what..!!

They stayed in each others arms with a never ending smile on their faces..

Downstairs

10 minutes to Moon rise

Everyone were waiting for the moon rise. The ladies were starving but the love they had for their husbands or love just made it easy for them. their face never lost the glow on their faces.

Even, Sona was present there. Her father gave her permission to stay in Dixit's palace to break her fast and by rituals, she would be going to Kapoor's Mansion after her marriage so its not against their tradition too..

For the first time in her life, even Alya felt something for that family..Dhruv was noticing her, when he saw the Mehendi in her hand, it confirmed him that she too was fasting, because Akshara was telling him that they wear Mehendi on that day..

( Soha's attire )

( Alya's Attire )

( Mukti's attire )

( Navya's Attire )

( Sona's Attire )

( Manik and Nandini's Attire )

Manik was sitting with Cabir. He felt hungry but it wasn't shown on his face. He was staring at Nandini who was talking with Soha..

Soha: Soulie..aaj tho Manik yaha hai, so you can't break your fast by looking at the photo in your pendant..

Yes, Nandini Dixit was having a pendant around her neck with Manik's photo in it. She never takes it out, no matter what. When she breaks her fast, she used to look in that so that nobody could understand how she breaks her fast. Soha used to be a great help in covering up for her..

Nandini ( smiled sheepishly ): If you cover it up for me, then I am gonna break it without anyone's notice..

Soha ( curiously ): How..?

Nandini: Just keep everyone busy among each other phir baaki mein karoongi..

Soha nodded at her and smiled..

Soha ( cupped her cheeks ): Stay happy, soulie..

Nandini hugged her and whispered " I love you "

Soon, it was time to break their fast..

Akshara: Arey Shanno..dekho chaandh aagaya..bacho, its time to break your fast..

Soon, then men stood in front of the women..They took the thali in their hand which had a pot of water and sweets..they saw the reflection of Moon in water first, through a sieve. Water is offered to moon to secure its blessings. They, then turned to their husbands or love and looked at him through the sieve. Now, the man took the water and made their better half to take a sip of water and fed her the sweet..( Okay guys, i am not aware of all these rituals, whatever written over here is googled, so pardon me if I am wrong, I have no intention to hurt any religion..)

Nandini too did the same, the difference was, instead of looking at the man through the sieve, she looked at her pendant which had his photo..She completed her ritual and so others. She looked at Soha and she winked at her..

Soha: Papas..

The men who were keenly watching Nandini's every actions, got distracted by Soha's voice..

" Haa thumblina "

Soha ( smiled ): Mere saat ao na..aap logon ke saath kuch discuss karna hai..

Viren ( frowned ): Kya discuss karna hai..

Soha: Shadi related..

She engaged them in her blabbering and Nandini messaged Manik " meet me at terrace "

Soon, they both were at terrace..

Nandini: Manik, I called..

Manik just stood in front of her and made her take the sip of water. She stared at him with a smile..

Manik: I know, why you messaged me..ithna tho jaan chuka hoon mein tumhe..

She smiled widely..he made her eat the sweet. She made him drink the water and fed him the sweet..

He kept the plate aside and made her stand on his feet and kissed his forehead..

Manik: Thank you for enlightening my life with your presence..

Nandini ( smiled ): Pleasure is all mine, to be YOURS..

He grinned like an idiot and they hugged each other with she still standing on his feet and his chin resting on her head..

Manik ( thought ): I love you Nandini, hamesha..

Nandini ( thought ): I love you Manik, hamesha..

To be continued..