Next Day

Rakesh & Viren greeted each other with hugs while their wives introduced themselves to eachother. Manik's Dadaji had decided to stay home but Cabir came along with the Malhotras.

"Acha sun....thoda sa na muskurana and yeah TALK....talking is kind of a key point of communicating so aise silent angry young man ki tarah mat rehna...just-"

"Ho gaya tera?" Manik whispered to his best friend. "Tu yahan mujhe tips dene aaya hai kya? I know how to behave with people."

Manik's outfit

"Really?" Cabir raised an eyebrow. "Mujhe aaj paata chala."

"Shutup." Manik glared at him.

"Boys...idhar aao." Viren called out. "Rakesh....you already know my son, Manik."

Manik greeted Rakesh & touched his feet with respect. Rakesh & Neelam exchanged impressed looks.

"And this is his friend...you can say an unofficial family member, Cabir Dhawan." Viren introduced Cabir who also touched Rakesh & Neelam's feet with respect.

The Malhotras & Cabir then sat down in the living room where Rakesh started talking to Viren while Neelam went into the kitchen.

"Nandu....tune pakore bana liya?" Neelam asked her daughter.

"Haan bas thodi baaki hai...lekin chai ho gayi hai." Nandini replied.

"Mumma...aap chai leke jayiye. Hum piche se pakore leke aate hai na?" Navya suggested.

"Thik hai." Neelam nodded. She took the tray of tea out with her and served it to Malhotras & Cabir. "Humari beti abhi aati hogi...tab tak aap uske haathon ka bana hua chai pijiye."

"Thank you bhabhiji." Viren smiled. Everyone took the tea and started sipping. A few moments later, Nandini with Navya, holding a tray of snacks. Cabir & Manik happened to look up at that moment and Manik spit out the chai he was drinking. Nandini & Navya stopped in their tracks looking surprised.

Nandini's Look (Ignore the other woman)

"Manik...kya hua?" Radhika asked her son.

"Uh...woh...garam hoga aunty...." Cabir mumbled, covering for his friend.

"Tu bhi na....bacha hai kya?" Viren scolded.

"Koi baat nahi Viren...hota hai. Nandu...isse washroom le jaa, bechare ke shirt pe chai gir gaya itna.." Rakesh said.

"Ji....Papa." Nandini nodded. She then led Manik down the hall to the washroom where she helped him wipe his shirt the best she could. After a minute of silence, the two of them looked at each other and then burst out laughing.

"Oh god! Haha haha! What....what are the odds?" 

"I know...tumhe bilkul nahi paata tha right?" Nandini asked.

"Nahi, tumne tasveer nahi bheji and Dad never mentioned your name." Manik shrugged.

"Haan...mujhe bhi bas itna hi paata tha ki tum Papa ke dost ke bete ho." Nandini giggled. "Maine sapne mein bhi nahi socha ke uss dost ka beta tum nikloge!"

Manik also laughed along and Nandini couldnt help but admire him.

"Yeh abhi kitna alag lag raha hai....I mean office wala Manik toh bilkul nahi lag raha hai." Nandini though to herself.

"Kya soch rahi ho?" Manik asked, seeing her look at him.

"Huh? Nahi woh, main bas soch rahi thi ki...tum haste hue kitne ache dikhte ho....." Nandini said, Manik felt nice hearing that and smiled. "Lekin...office mein humesha khadus banke kyun rehte ho?"

"Seriously? Yeh compliment tha ya insult?" Manik chuckled.

"Insult nahi...sach hi hai. Tum hi batao, when was the last time you spoke to anyone in the office aside from your boys group?" Nandini asked. Manik opened his mouth to answer and realized she was right.

"Ok yeah....I guess main kam baat karta hoon. Lekin mera koi khadus banne ka irada nahi hai....Im just not a very social person." Manik replied. "Im sorry...if I came off as rude."

"Di!" Navya came upto them. "Aap dono shirt saaf kar rahe ho ya apna married life plan kar rahe ho?"

"Navya!" Nandini grinded her teeth and glared at her sister.

"What? Sabko yehi lagega....washroom mein itna time kaun lagata hai?" Navya shrugged.

"Aa rahi hoon...tu ja." Nandini said.

"Nope...Mumma ne bheja hai so that main aapko room tak leke jaun. Bakki ke family planning wahi kar lena." Navya grinned.

"Shutup...also, yeh mera bhi ghar hai so I know the way to my room." Nandini rolled her eyes.

"Ok if you say so." Navya teased. After she left, Nandini turned to Manik. 

"Sorry about my sister."

"Its fine....mera koi bhai behen toh nahi hai but....Cabir hai, so I get it." Manik replied.

****************************

"Vaise I honestly didnt think ki aaj ke zamane mein koi arranged marriage mein vishwas rakhta hai." Manik spoke up. The two of them had been sitting awkwardly in silence in Nandini's room.

"Toh tum kya mujhse love marriage karne aaye ho? I mean...tum bhi toh arranged marriage ke liye hi aaye ho?" Nandini asked.

"Yeah...I mean, Mom aur Dad ko pura vishwas hai ke tum mere liye perfect ho and all that.." Manik shrugged. "Lekin mera point yeh hai ki kisiko bina jaane kaise shaadi kar sakte hai. Like pehle ki baat aur thi....but aaj kal kitne type ke serial killers, stalkers....aur psychopaths hotey hai-" Manik stopped as he saw the horrified look on Nandini's face. "Ok...I maybe kinda watch too many true crime documentaries."

 "Well I hardly think humare parents bina puri research kiye humare liye life partners choose karenge. They raised us...so unse acha humme koi nahi jaanta and they would always want whats best for us. But yes....marrying a complete stranger is kind of weird to me too. Isi liye choice unka hai lekin final decision mera hai." Nandini told him.

"That makes sense...." Manik replied. "So tell me about yourself...tum apne life partner se kya expect karte ho?"

"Hmm...nothing much. Bas woh mujhe apni credit cards de for daily shopping sprees....mujhe 24/7 paata hona chahiye ke woh kaha hai kya kar raha hai....oh and he cannot have ANY female friends at all....even cousins are not allowed. Mujhe uske emails, text msg aur bakki saare social media accounts ki access honi chahiye so I can keep an eye on him......thats it." Nandini replied casually. Manik's mouth hung open after hearing that and he looked like he wanted to run. Nandini then laughed while pointing at his face. "Haha haha! Shakal toh dekho apni! Relax Mr Malhotra...main tumhare kisi true crime documentary se bahar nikal ke nahi aayi hoon. I dont expect any of that. Main bas itna expect karti hoon ki meri life partner meri izzat kare aur mera vishwas kare humesha."

"Wait...thats it? What about love?" Manik asked.

"Pyar toh dheere dheere ho hi jayega lekin I believe ki agar kisi rishte mein bharosa aur izzat na ho toh wahan pyar bhi nahi ho sakta kabhi." Nandini replied.

The two of them talked some more and both liked each other's company. Soon over an hour passed by with them just chatting and neither realized.

"Ahem."

Manik & Nandini were startled by someone clearing their throat. They turned to see Cabir & Navya at the door.

"Guys...you realize ghar mein aur bhi log hai tum dono ke elava right?" Cabir teased earning himself a glare from Manik while Nandini blushed.

"Acha chalo abhi...sab niche bula rahe hai." Navya chuckled. She pulled her sister along while Cabir smirked at Manik.

"So?" Cabir wagged his eyes as Navya & Nandini left the room. 

"So...what?" Manik asked, trying to act casual.

"Mr mujhe love marriage chahiye...its totally a yes na? Tere ankhon mein dikh raha hai! You like her! Main bhi jaake sabko batake aata hoon." Cabir yelled and ran out before Manik could stop him. Manik quickly followed him.

Downstairs, Neelam was questioning Nandini if she liked Manik. 

"Arre Mumma...just look her lal lal gal...its def a yes, hai na Di?" Navya teased.

"Sachi?" Neelam asked Nandini happily and Nandini nodded.

"Mumma itna excited mat hoyiye...pehle Manik ka faisla toh sunn lete hai." Nandini said as Neelam got excited.

"Yahan bhi haan hi hai....so aunty, aap bindaas excited ho jayiye." Cabir announced as he came down with Manik behind him.

"Manu? Cabir sach bol raha hai?" Radhika stood up. Manik looked at Nandini and then nodded. Radhika & Neelam happily hugged each other while Viren hugged Manik. 

To Be Continued...