*NO PROOF READING, PARDON ME FOR THAT*

Nandini sunk down on her bed clutching Manik's photo in her hand. She knew that somewhere deep down it was her mistake, that she didn't share this with any of her members, when Manik was begging her to share it, but she became selfish and she didn't share her happiness with the people who made her happy. She regretted that she didn't shared that, but she knew that too it was late. Very very late to accept that she is in love with the person whom her sister loves.

What they will think? they kept her in their house, they loved her just like their own daughter, they fulfilled her all the needs since childhood till now. and her sister. She is a sweet heart, she never let her feel outsider, in fact she is the one with whom she has end number of memories and all are good one. It's not like they didn't fight, they did fight for many reason, but they were just small things. How can she go in front of her now and ask her sister to give her love to her? That will be her failure. She can't snatch the little happiness which her sister deserves. She can't snatch her parents trust on her. She can't.

She was crying and sobbing while thinking when her phone rang. She looked at the time and it was almost past 11 in the night. She took the phone from side and the person who was calling, she expected the same.

"Hello..." She spoke lightly controlling her tears.

A long silence spread across, no one spoke, neither she nor he. And what they will speak about. There was nothing to talk more.

"Nandini..." he spoke, almost took her name as a prayer.

"Manik..." she immediately took her name a little coldly.

"Nandini... why? why are you doing this to me and to yourself? Why are you punishing both of us? Doesn't we deserve happiness?" he spoke very very lightly in a calmer tone.

"My happiness lies in Alya's Manik. I love her. and what I am doing I know. Please." She spoke.

"And I love you. Can't you just understand? You are being very selfish right now" he raised his voice a bit.

"selfish main nahi hu Manik. Tum ho. Jo sirf apni Khushi dekh rahe ho." She too raised her voice.

"main? Main selfish hu? Nandini just think, I am thinking about us, but you, you are just thinking about yourself and your sister. There is no me in your life right?" he spoke.

"no there is no you now in my life. And yes I am thinking about my sister, because she is the most precious person I have and I don't want to lose her. Manik it's better you don't call me from now on at this late hour, you should be talking with Alya, my sister and not me. Good Night." She spoke in a breath and then cut the call.

She regretted saying that she just thought for herself and her sister. She did think about him, but she knew her sister is the person who can keep him happy.

"I am sorry Manik, mere liye aur mushkil mat banao ye sab." She said and looked at the photo of him which was lying beside her. she took the photo from side and caressed it. realising what she was doing she tore the photo in to small pieces and flushed it down. Her heart was bleeding while doing such thing, but she has to for her sister and her family, and for their happiness.

------------------------

It was a week later after Manik and Alya's official meeting had happened. Radhika called Pandit to fix the engagement and marriage dates, while Janvi being a total gossip queen, almost every relative of them knows about them now. In fact, Manik's Bua (his father's real sister) touched down to Mumbai as soon as she got to know about them.

Today they were all meeting again for the dates discussion. In all this time, Manik tried talking to Nandini, but very conveniently she kept ignoring him as if he doesn't exist. It hurt him to the core seeing his love ignoring him and going far away from him. But he was bounded, bounded by love and her promise.

"Are aaiye aaiye. Namaste" Radhika welcomed the guests as in Janvi, Amrita (Manik's Bua) and Manik. Alya stood beside her mother and touched Janvi's and Amrita's leg. She passed a warm smile to Manik which he passed to her too.

Amrita Kapoor (Manik's Bua)

"Come Manik, sit with me" Harsh spoke calling them inside.

All settled down on the couches in their big living room. Radhika and Harsh settled themselves on the one couch, On the other side Janvi and Amrita sat with Alya in between, while Manik sat beside Janvi on the single seat couch.

He tried finding Nandini but there were no traces of her, he looked down and sighed.

"to phir dates decide karle?" Janvi spoke excitedly.

Alya blushed and looked down.

"Are dekho dekho, humari bahu to bahot sharmati hai. Kya hoga Manik tumhara shadi ke baad." Amrita teased Alya a bit in the response Manik gave a fake smile to them and again looked around just another attempt for her one glimpse.

"Behenji, aapse milkar bahot achha laga. Sach me. Aap aayi sab final karne ke liye. Dil khush ho gaya" Radhika said referring Amrita.

"Are Radhika, itna formal hone ki kya baat hai, Aur Manik mere liye bhi to bete jaisa hi hai. To kyun na aati. Aur bhai khaandaan me pehli shaadi hai" Amrita spoke smilingly.

"Ji Bilkul. Ab kaam ki baatein kare? Wo kya hai na meri biwi ko yaha waha ki baato ka bahot sokh hai." Harsh spoke smiling slyly.

Radhika slapped his arm in order to show him her anger while others laughed seeing them.

They discussed the dates and finalize it on the sooner dates. Though Manik kept denying it, but Amrita was adamant on nearer dates.

The wedding was fixed exactly after two months and it was going to be a destination wedding as per Alya's wish. The Marriage was going to take place in Udaipur along with engagement ceremony and other ceremonies too.

"Janvi see this resort will be perfect I guess, haina Manik?" Amrita asked Manik grabbing his attention towards the discussion happening in the hall.

He looked at the picture and then nodded awkwardly.

"Papa..." suddenly he heard her voice, after so many days and it felt like his life was back to him after a long long distance.

Harsh turned and found Nandini standing there holding some papers in her hand "Haan bacha."

"Papa... these are all some brochures for further studies in overseas. Ek baari dekh lijiyega." She spoke and kept her all attention to her father just to ignore Manik.

"overseas? Matlab?" harsh took the brochures from her hand and asked.

"Papa... maine aapse kaha tha na ke I want to do masters so bus was searching out and had filtered it. aap ek baari dekh lijiyega jab aap free ho jaye, so that we can finalize the college and I could apply ASAP." Nandini spoke.

Manik kept looking at her but she, she didn't turn her eyes towards him. he felt rejected, humiliated by his own love.

"are Nandini... tumhare baare me me puchne hi wali thi. Kaha thi tum? Hmm? Behen ki shaadi ki excitement hi nahi hai bhai tumhe to koi." Janvi spoke, finally she turned her face towards them.

How much peace he felt after seeing her, that only he knows. He knew she is not fine, but she is a pro in hiding things within herself.

"Nahi aunty aesi baat nahi hai, ye sab baatein bado ki hai, so just though not to disturb. Aur shadi ki jitni excitement mujhe hai utni to kisi ko nahi hai. Aakhir meri behen ki shadi mere best friend se hone jaa rahi hai. Main khush kyun na houngi." She said smilingly.

Liar. Manik thought.

"achha, achha. Majak kar rahi thi. Inse milo, ye hai Manik ki Bua Amrita Didi." She said pointing towards Amrita.

Amrita smiled at her warmly, while Nandini went to her and touched her feet.

"Aapse milkar bahot Khushi huyi." She said with a warm smile.

"tumse milkar bhi Nandini. khush raho." Amrita said and caressed her hairs.

"Nandu, bahar jana zaroori hai kya? I mean yaha Mumbai main bhi to kitne saare ache ache colleges hai. Yahi se kar lo na beta." Harsh finally said, as he was busy in reading those brochures.

Nandini sighed and went to her father "papa... please. I want to go out."

"But Nandu. Alya bhi chali jayegi, tum bhi chali jaaogi, hum... kaise rahenge beta?" Radhika spoke almost chocking.

Nandini and Alya looked at each other and went to her mother.

"Mom... I will be here anytime when you need me." Alya side hugged her mother.

"Aur Mom, main kaha humesha ke liye jaa rahi hu. Bas do saal. Phir wapas aa jaungi. Please." Nandini too side hugged her.

"Par Nandu..." Harsh again tried speaking but she cut him in between "papa... for me. I just want to... figure out my life... I promise, I'll be back." She held his hand in hers.

Janvi and Amrita kept looking at them with adoration in their eyes.

Finally, harsh sighed and nodded in yes with a small smile.

"Par Nandu... tumhe bahar kyun jana hai beta.?" Janvi asked.

"aunty... kuch cheeze hume khud sikhni hoti hai, to bas samj lijiye kuch sikhne jaa rahi hu, par akele." Nandini spoke slightly looking at Manik who was observing her till now.

All smiled and then Nandini stood up to go.

"Reh paaogi humare bina?" Manik asked out of nowhere. All of them turned their gazes towards him.

Nandini stood there, she felt that her feet got glued to the floor.

"sikh lungi...." She said turning her head towards Manik.

She stormed out of the hall and went inside.

All the present in living room diverted their attention towards the preparation, while Manik kept looking at Nandini who was walking away from him.

"uhmm... important call, I'll be back." He spoke faking a call at his phone. All of them nodded and he too stormed out of room and went straight to where she gone.

She was walking through the corridors of her house, when she felt someone pulling her from behind and took her to the nearest room.

In no time the door was closed and she was pinned to the door.

"Manik..." she yelled on him.

"Manik ye kya kar rahe ho, let me go. Everyone is down. Go down. Leave." she kept struggling in his hold, but he chose not be moved. He kept looking at her. She wasn't meeting his gaze, why?

He chins up her head and made her look at him "ye kab hua?"

"What?" she asked confusingly.

"Ye, study abroad? Want to go out, alone?" he asked.

She looked down and pressed her lips together.

"Mujhe to kabhi nahi bataya." He said.

"har baat main tumhe batau ye zaroori nahi hai." She looked up and said coldly.

He caressed her cheeks lovingly, while Nandini stood there with cringing her brows. He tucked some hairs of her behind her ears and leaned close to her.

"It's been so many days since I saw you baby... you don't know how much I missed you...." He said huskily leaning closer to her, while her hot breath came in contact with hers.

"Manik..." she spoke unknowingly.

"Shh.... Just be in the moment." His lips lingered over her ears.

She gulped down as his lips touched her lobe kissing it and nipping it. she was slowly wrapping her arms around him, when she opened her eyes and Boom....!!!

Reality hit her hard and she pushed him away from her forcefully. Manik almost fell down on the floor, but he controlled her posture and looked at her with shocked expression.

She looked here and there just to avoid him, she knew if she will look at him now, he'll get to know how much pain she is having within her.

She quietly opened the door, but Manik closed it again and pulled her close.

"Manik... Leave... It's wrong." She wriggled in his hold.

"When you can't stay away, then why? why are you doing this?" he spoke and she looked at him instantly.

"I... can... I can stay away." she said looking here and there.

She heard his small chuckle "Achha... to abhi kya hua tha hmm? Lost yourself in me?" he asked in a threatening voice.

She gulped down "Tum... Manik..." she rested her case and tears broke down from her eyes.

He melted instantly and cupped her face.

"Manik... mere liye bhi utna hi mushkil hai... shayad tumse zyada. Par Alya..."

"Alya kya Nandini... Alya won't happy with me." He spoke pulling her closer, while she squirmed more.

"She will... only you can keep her Happy Manik. Please Manik... Mere liye aur mushkil mat karo Please." Nandini wiped her tears.

"Baby..." he was about to say something, when she pushed him with a great force.

"Manik... tum kuch bhi karlo, mera faisla nahi badlega. Even if, even if you tell everything to everyone. I won't take a second to go far from all of you and never come back." She said in a determination.

"tum mujhe threaten kar rahi ho hmm? Aur tum mujhe selfish kehti ho. Okay I am selfish. I am thinking about myself. Why? can't I? Meri Khushi tumhare sath hai, par nahi, tumhe to bas apne baare main sochna hai. Tumhe bas mahan banna hai. Isme mujhe aur mere pyaar ko to bhul hi gayi."

She chuckled sadly and said "Pyaar... pyaar karte ho na?"

He nodded his head.

"prove it." she said crossing her arms near her chest.

He looked at her with confusion.

"Prove karo that you love me by marrying Alya." She said.

He laughed sadly and said "to aaj mera pyaar aese mod pe khada hai jaha mujhe use prove karna pade?"

Nandini looked away from him.

He nodded his head and said "thik hai. Agar mujhe prove karna hai that I love you by marrying Alya, okay I will do it. fine. Par kabhi socha hai tumhara kya hoga?"

She looked up at him again.

"hmm? Kahi aisa na ho, ke bahot der ho jaye, aur main kabhi laut ke n aa pau." Manik said.

Nandini turned herself and her back facing Manik "jaise maine kaha, main sikh lungi. Tumse dur rehna aur tumhare bina rehna."

"it's a deal Nandini... kitni bhi koshish karlo, mujhe bhula nahi paogi." Manik spoke.

She turned towards him again and said "It's a deal Manik."

He gave her the last look and stormed out of the room immediately. Tears rolled down from her cheeks and she sat on the floor.

"dard hoga Manik. Abhi bhi hota hai. Jab tumhe aur Alya ka sath dekhti hu. Par ye dard Alya ki Khushi se badhkar nahi hai. Mujhe dur jana hoga, Tumse... Tumhare pyaar se." she sobbed and looked at the direction where he disappeared.

------------------

Here after, Manik left all the members were still busy in talking and deciding venues and menus.

"Are Didi... Madhyam kab aa raha hai?" Janvi asked suddenly.

"Madhyam.? Shaadi ke time pe hi aayega. You to know na, ab masters ke baad inka pura business wahi sambhalta hai." Amrita said.

"Haan... same aisa hi Manik ke sath hai. Par chalo ek chinta to dur huyi, mujhe koi ladki nahi dhundhni padi uske liye." Janvi said watching some photos in her phone.

"bas wahi ek chinta hai mere man main. Bas ab uske liye bhi koi achhi ladki mil jaye to..." Amrita sighed deeply.

Janvi's face lit up and looked at Amrita "Samjalo ke ladki mil gayi." She grinned.

"Kaun Mom?" Alya asked sitting beside her.

Janvi turned her face towards Radhika and Harsh "Nandini..."

Radhika and harsh looked at each other with shocked expression on their faces, while Alya wore the same expression.

"uhmm... Janvi, actually humne socha nahi hai kuch iss bare main abhi. Aur Nandini se bhi aisi koi baat nahi huyi hai." Radhika said awkwardly.

"Haan. Haan to ab karlo. Madhyam will be perfect for her. And Didi... Nandini jaisi ladki dhundhne se bhi nahi milegi." Janvi spoke.

"Wo sab to thik hai, par maine bhi Madhyam se kuch baat nahi ki hai, I mean..." Amrita too spoke.

"Are didi... Aap sirf itna batao ke aapko Nandini kaisi lagti hai?" Janvi asked.

Amrita grinned "Nandini pasand hai. Sanskari hai, Padhi likhi hai aur sabse upar wo Harsh aur Radhika ki beti hai"

Alya grinned and looked at her parents who were having an awkward silence.

"Kya hua Mom?" Alya asked.

"Actually... dekhiye behenji bura mat maniyega par koi bhi rishta shuru karnese pehle sab baate pata ho to achha hota hai." Radhika said.

Janvi looked at her with wide open eyes.

"Wo zarasal... Nandini... humari khud ki beti nahi hai." Radhika spoke and Alya looked down.

"Par beti se badhkar hai. Haan khoon ka rishta nahi hai, par kabhi bhi use ye mehsoos nahi hone diya ke wo humari beti nahi hai. Jaisi Alya hai humare liye utni hi Nandini bhi hai." Radhika said.

Amrita smiled and said "Radhika... tumhe kya lagta hai ke mujhe isse koi problem hogi? Are.. jab usme sanskaar tumhare hai, uska roop tumhare jaisa hai... zalak dikhti hai tumhari usme to phir wo tumhari beti kaise nahi hai?"

Radhika and Harsh grinned along with Alya.

"Mujhe Nandini pasand hai, ab bas, Nandini mere bete ko pasand karle, to main shadi ke liye ek din bhi na ruku." Amrita spoke folding her hand.

"JI zaroor... Par hum pehle Nandini se baat karenge, agar wo bhi Madhyam ko pasand kar leti hai to, hume koi problem nahi hai." Harsh said.

"are haan haan.. pasand zaroor karegi. Waise bhi dono milenge na Alya aur Manik ki shaadi main. Aur waise bhi Madhyam hai hi itna charming, koi ladki use dur nahi reh payegi. Nandini zaroor haan kahegi." Janvi said smilingly.

All of them smiled and exchanged some sweets. 

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Uff.... After long this story is updated....

So tell me kaisa laga? And destination wedding? Madhyam? Kaun hai ye Madhyam... (Don't visualize him as Yuvraj Thakur, I have another face for him.) 

So do tell me what do you think of this update? 

and yes, Do check my new book "The Unknown fate - MaNan FF" 

https://www.wattpad.com/341808016-the-unknown-fate-manan-ff-prologue

Please leave your precious reviews.

Until next time Tata....