Manik's pov

"Dad I am not going to marry any Soha Poha, got it?"

"Then look at this picture. She is Aliya Saxena, my business partner's daughter. She is pursuing fashion designing in Paris. She is beautiful, isn't she?"

"If she is that beautiful then why don't you marry her?"

"I would love to but when I die your mother will take my classes. I don't want to take any risk. You say, should I talk to her father for you or not?"

"No dad."

"Okay then see this picture. Mukti Verdant, my school friend lieutenant Pratik Verdant's daughter. She is black belt in karate. So you have to handle her very carefully."

"Dad, go and get your eyes checked. From which angle she looks like a girl?"

"Yeah, but love is blind."

"Dad...."

"Okay, okay. I think Aliya will be a perfect match for you. I am going to talk to her father right now."

"Dad, what's wrong with you? Why are you planning for my marriage suddenly?"

"I am getting old, young man. Don't I deserve to see my son getting married before I die?"

"Tell me, which Bollywood movie were you watching last night? Because you are talking like a typical 80's father."

"Forget about the movie and tell me why the hell are you denying me to get married when you and Nandini already broke up."

"First of all we weren't in any relationship and yes it's over between us. But that doesn't mean I will get married right now. I just joined the company, I need some time to adjust with this new phase of life."

"It's your company my son. You don't need to adjust with anything. You just need to order and everything will be adjusted according to you and if she can get married to someone else then why can't you?"

Thunderstorm fell on my head. Wait, maybe my ears aren't working properly. Let me confirm.

"She is getting married?"

"Yeah, she sent her wedding card. Didn't you see that? Wait let me show you."

Dad called a servant and told him to bring that wedding card which was delivered by Nandini's brother. Wait if Abhi delivered the card by himself then it's true. My dad isn't playing any games with me and she is actually getting married. Seriously Nandini? Was it over between us? Okay I admit it that I fired her from the job in anger but she didn't try to convince me for once. Selfish, self centered brainless girl. Couldn't she understand that I love her? I was lost in my thoughts when dad shoved that wedding card in my hand and said,

"Trust me, it's useless to wait for her now."

I saw that card carefully. It was very simple and when I saw the groom's name another thunderstorm fell on my head.

"Aryaman Khurana? She is getting married to her neighbor?"

"Yeah, see how fast she moved on? That's why I am saying don't wait for her and get married."

"I am not waiting for her."

"Then get married to Aliya and show her that you also moved on in your life. Should I talk to Aliya's father?"

My blood was boiling. I never thought that Nandini could move on so easily. Maybe she never had any feelings for me. When she didn't think about me then why should I wait for her?

"Okay talk to him and fix our marriage on the same date when she will get married."

"That's my son. Should I send your wedding card to her?"

"Of course. When she can show off, why can't I?"

"Exactly, tit for tat."

Dad hugged me tightly and said,

"Yayyyyyyyyyy, my son is getting married. I am so happy. I will welcome my daughter in law in a grand way."

Dad was happy but only if he knew that my heart was getting ripped off.

Nandini's pov

"Seriously Choti? You are refusing this proposal because of that rich spoiled brat right?"

"Bhai stop abusing him."

"Why shouldn't I abuse him? You are still waiting for him but see how easily he moved on in his life."

"He moved on?"

"Yeah, see he is getting married. He even sent you his wedding card to show off."

Thunderstorm fell on my head. Seriously, he is getting married? How could he?

"What? Who told you?"

"Cabir came to our house this morning when you went to your friend's house. He gave me this wedding card. See...."

Bhai gave me a gorgeous wedding card. That card must be very costly. Only rich people can afford it. I opened it and saw the bride's name. Now who the hell is she? Before I could ask Bhai said,

"Aliya Saxena, daughter of Ashok Saxena. He is a business partner of Raj Malhotra. Obviously which billionaire wants to get his son married to a middle class girl?"

"Bhai please, they aren't that cheap minded people."

"That arrogant jerk fired you from the job without any official reason and you are still taking his side?"

"But I deserve it. He was admitted into the hospital for three weeks. Just because of me, he had to suffer a lot."

"You told him to stand outside of your house for the whole day without eating or drinking anything? No right? It wasn't your fault at all."

"Yeah, but if I would have agree to listen to him then he wouldn't have done that."

"Whatever. But right now I want to know about your decision. Come on Choti, when he can move on in his life then why can't you?"

"Why do you want me to get married this soon? I mean I just completed my graduation. Let me find a good job for me and stable my life. Then I will think about marriage."

"Choti, we don't have anyone in our family. If something happens to me then who will take care of you? Please let me fulfill my duty as a brother. Trust me Arya is a good boy. He will keep you happy."

Manik, I thought you were very different from others but today you proved me wrong. When you decide to move on then what's the use of waiting for you?

"Okay, say yes to them."

Bhai immediately hugged me tightly and said,

"That's my sister. I am so happy for you. But there is one thing I need to tell you. They are very traditional minded people. So they will fix the marriage date according to their Pandit ji's opinion and we have to agree with them. Got it?"

"Yeah, okay."

So this is the end of us. I wish I never meet you.

Few weeks later
Third person's pov

The groom was sitting on stage wearing sehra and waiting for his bride. Nandini's best friend Navya brought her to the stage. Nandini was wearing a large veil according to tradition so her face wasn't showing. She sat beside her groom. After some time Pandit ji told them to stand up and walk around the holy fire seven times. Everyone was showering them with flowers. Then they again sat down and the groom filled Nandini's hairline with vermilion and tied the nuptial chain around her neck. Then Pandit ji declared them as husband and wife. He also told them to take blessings from the elders. Nandini couldn't see anything clearly because of her large veil still took blessings from all. After that they directly left for the hotel.

At night

Nandini was sitting on the bed with her large veil when her husband came there and pulled her veil up. Nandini was shocked seeing that person and said,

"You???"

That person was also shocked to see her and said,

"You???"

"What are you doing here?"

"I have the same question for you. What are you doing here?"

"I came here with my husband."

"I came here with my wife."

"I think you came into the wrong room. Go out and check the room number."

"Really? If I would come into the wrong room then how would this room key work?"

"Maybe you got the wrong key from the reception. Go and get your right key."

"Yeah, I am going. By the way, you are looking so beautiful in this bridal lehenga."

"Thank you."

After sometime that person again came into the room and said,

"Receptionist said it's my room key only. I checked the register and it showed that you are my wife."

"That means I got married to you? But how's this even possible?"

"Exactly, my bride was Aliya. How can I marry you? Wait, let me call my dad."

Yes, that groom was none other than Manik Malhotra. Manik called his dad while Nandini also called Abhi. Raj took them all into a conference call and said,

"So how's the surprise?"

"Surprise? Dad, what are you talking about?"

Abhi immediately said,

"Actually me and Raj uncle, we both knew how much you love each other. But your misunderstandings, stubbornness and ego messed up everything. So we made this plan to make you both jealous and you both fall into our trap."

Raj said,

"We had to do this otherwise you would never realize your mistakes and people learn from their mistakes only. I know, we both hurt you a lot but this pain was very much needed for you to remember each other's importance in your life."

Abhi supported him and said,

"Exactly. We elders fulfilled our responsibility now you both fight or make love we don't care. Wish you a very happy married life, good night."

They cut the call immediately. Manik and Nandini looked at each other and they both started laughing. Then Nandini said,

"You are a fallen star who came down from the sky just for me."

"You are my guide who led me to the right path of my life."

"So this is the end of our story?"

"No, a new beginning of our story."

The End

****************★******************
Finally I finished this story. Thank you so much for your love and support during this small journey. A special thanks to my buddy who always inspired me to write. Overall how was this story? Don't forget to give me your feedback.
Take care
Bye
Nahar....😘😘😘