"Come'on get in" a Toyota Etios Car halted in front of me & my Di called me in, opening the backseat door. I'd to walk away a few lanes from my house saying I'm leaving for 1 week trip before joining Di's car.

"Namaste Uncle... Namaste Aunty" I greeted with a genuine smile to Navya's mom-dad who r seating in front of us.

"Namaste Beta! How r u?" Aunty asked with a smile.

"I'm good, Aunty"

"Tumne bahoot accha kiya ke tume humare sath chali... ghoom phir ke maza kar paogi" Uncle said turned to me with a smile. He too knew about me... My Appa n he used to a very good friend. Actually, Appa is very friendly, he has many friends...

"Nini, tum apna sara saman layi na??" Navya Di asked me.

"Yes Di!" I smiled, she too.

Then Aunty lag gayi shaddi ke preparation checking & phone pe bate... Uncle on his phone going through some important file as he won't be working for a week or more. ... And I & Di engross in gossiping about the events, which dress she bought, which I'd wear... About her friends, Jiju's friends and all...

"Wow Punjabi wedding" I shouted out of excitement when she told me the same, gaining Uncle Aunty's attention. I've never seen any Punjabi wedding before... I've seen on T.V. that their weddings r lavish n loud... 'Balle Balle Shava Shava' type...

"Yes Nandu! Cabir's family r Punjai na, isliye!" Aunty said with a smile.

"Oh!... I heard that Punjabi weddings are colorful, loud, sometimes over the top, fun-filled with lots of opportunities for singing and dancing one's heart out." I blabbered in excitement moving my hands in the air.

"Right! Aur toh Aur, they have many rituals apart from those we have generally... .....Oh God! I've to get the list of things needed in wedding rituals... Kitna Kam hai!!" Aunty was explaining when suddenly she remembers what she was doing n get engrossed in it. I just smiled at her motherly attitude in her daughter's wedding while Navya Di shook her head in disbelief that she has been preparing for so long still couldn't have enough.

"Arey han Nini!... Yeh ley" Di took out a Canon Camera and placed it in my hands... I looked at her confused.

"This is to capture everything... every moment of this 7 days in this... Even though there will be cameramen to click n record wedding shoot but this is for an internal photoshoot... and I'm giving this auspicious job to you" she said dramatically making me chuckle.

"Ok boss! I'll capture each n every moment of ur 7days wedding function... n present it to the most beautiful bride over here, the one n onlyyy ...Navyaaa Naveli." I too joined her drama company n we laughed...

"R we staying here?" I asked as we walked out of the car in front of a hotel. I thought we r going to stay with Jiju's family that's why we traveled so long.

"Yes Nini! n u know what! Cabir's Mansion is just one lane ahead... there" Di showed to left pointing to a direction.

"Come'on move fast! we've to receive our guests and then after we need to hurry to  Damad Ji's home... Come fast" Aunty shouted while heading in & we followed with our luggage carried by the hotel boy.

I entered my room which I'm going to share with Navya Di. She went out to receive her cousins n friends.

"I know I'll be alone amidst unknown people... and whom I know will get busy in wedding function... ... But no worries. I came here to enjoy... enjoy the fullest, because here no rokana-tokana... no Salluma, no Maddy... I'll be my own queen. ...I swear Appa that I'll live this 7 days like I used to when u were with me... Becoz I know, u r always with me... and I'm ur ladly Nandu!"

"Okay! In this journey of 7 days u, Camera will be my Saathi... Now, u just wait 5 minutes, main yiun gayi aur ready hoke yiun aayi" I said placing the Camera on the bed n moving to the washroom to change into a yellow off-shoulder two-piece. Wore the earrings n bracelet bought by Appa on my 15th birthday...It's not at all costly but handcrafted...I just loved them... And I applied eye-liner n lip balm... combed my hair open... And ready!

We reached Jiju's house.... And woow... What a house! I mean, a Palace!... So, elegant, huge, stylish... It's at least 100 times bigger than my house... I was busy ogling at the palace I've never seen, standing at the main entrance while others walked in...

"Nini... come in" I heard Di calling me ahead. And I hurriedly picked the camera to capture this Mansion which looks like a dream...

I slowly n slowly walked in, admiring the rare view I got to see... the outside garden, swimming pool, the lightings, the stylish architecture of this palace... WOW...

At the time I reached inside the mansion, about 20 people are talking, hugging n greeting. I just stood quiet and try to see who r whom?

"Arey! Nini come, I'll introduce u" Di said seeing me stand back n listening to them. She took me to the front n made me stand in front of one old lady in Punjabi suit, one lady in modern saree and three young men, two beautiful ladies... I was just staring at them while they stood with smiles.

"So, here is my little friend, Nandu, Nandini Murty." Di said n I flashed a smile to them. This is really awkward standing in front of new people who r staring at u like they'll eat u.

"Oh Nandu! I finally got u see u" one of the young men said with a joyful smile and I'm sure that he is my Jiju.

"Same here Jiju... I was so excited to see u personally... and I finally met the prince charming of my princesses Di." I chirped.

Then they introduced all and we'd our breakfast sitting on a huge and magnificent dining table... And the food... OMG! just amazing.

We finished the delicious breakfast and moved to the hall where all sat on the lavish couch... there is a huge chandelier at the center roof... I was just keenly watching around as I'm not interested in elderly talk of how r u? How do u do? and all. ...

I could see wedding arrangement going on in full swing, many servants r involve in it; decorating the palace with flowers and lights, putting banners, arranging things...

"Di, I'll go, walk around in the garden" I whispered in Navya Di's ears while all r busy talking. I'm really bored here. She nodded in ok and I sneak out.

"Wow, what a garden! Seems like they r conducting a flower exhibition... So, many flowers. Oh My God!!!!..." I excitedly remark as I looked at the garden from the mansion's corridor.

"Appa... See this! We always visit flower exhibitions every year... but after u left, this is my first time looking at so many beautiful and fragrant flower plants... this is so amazing." I said looking up at the sky. I should capture everything in this camera, not to miss any of this wonderful thing I'm looking for the first time in my life...

I am hurriedly walking out the corridor to reach the garden when I spot someone..... It seems like the back of some young man in a blue suit and jeans.... and in front of him probably a girl is standing...

"What r they doing?" I thought n focussed my camera on them... "I know... I'm might not click pictures of someone without permission... But, it's not like I can't see it."

I saw the man hand holding the girl's face... the girl's eyes slightly closed... faces are very close... the man is moving his head while girl tilting her.... It's like.....

"Are they Kissing?...... Here?" my eyes went wide as I realize that they must be kissing... I've seen some kissing scenes in movies... It's somewhat like this... OMG! "Bhaago" And I ran to the garden as soon as possible... "Ufff" I took my breath in relief.

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

"Uff... Jaan bachi iss musibat se... Kitna chipku hain! If something went in her eyes, she should have asked her friends... But no! She'll specially come and ask me. Oh God! Please iss Soha se mujhe bacha lena" I walked fast to reach inside. I'm already damn late.

Cabir asked me to come by 8... I mean, seriously! Who wakes up so early?...

I just woke at 9:30, all thanks to his call... Then, I had egg n bread before driving here... But still, it took me full 1 hour... And then, that Soha stick to me... making me more late! Only if she wouldn't be Mom's friend's daughter, I would not have withstood her for a minute.

I stopped at my track when I saw something beautiful... A girl in yellow, with her long black hair blowing in the air, hands on the camera, clicking her own pictures in the middle of the garden... I just want to see her face...

"Palat!" .... ..... "Palat na!"

And she turned... yes!....

NO!... She held the camera on her face hiding it... Damn! Can't she take pictures later on?... But God! the smile on her pink pouty lips...

I was watching her eagerly becoz she seems so enthusiastic between the flowers and butterflies... I've never seen one.

....BEEP...BEEP...

My phone vibrated popping a message from Cabir... "Agar tu abhi nahi aaya toh...I'll kill u"

"Oh God! Manik, kya kar raha hai?.... Apni jaan pyari hain to bhaag!" I murmured and I ran to reach others... All r talking in the hall... I greeted them n joined them.

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

"Nandini" I heard someone calling me & I turned to spot Alya, Jiju's friend.

"Come'on all of us, youngsters r having fun... Join us" She called me with a smile that I agreed. I liked her. She looked like a doll; designer off-shoulder one piece with shining ear-rings, make up face, a pendant on the neck, ring on a finger, and bracelet on hand... all seems expensive.

"What did u like in the garden?" She asked while we r walking.

"There r lots of beautiful flowers over there, rose, daffodil, candytuft, daphne, pansy, petunia, tulip, jasmine, and many more whose names I don't even remember... And not to forget those colorful butterflies attracted to the fragrance... just like me." I described excitedly.

She chuckled seeing my excitation... "you are so cute!" I smiled sheepishly to her words making her laugh.

"Lo! Nini aa gayi" Di said as soon we entered the lawn where all seated on either chair or couch or bean bags. I took one of the empty bean bags.

"Sab aa gaye, ya aur bhi koi baki hai?" Mukti Di, Jiju's elder sister asked. She is more beautiful and even taller than me... a bit taller, not more, Okay! *Faking anger*

"Manik kahan gaya?" Dhruv Bhai asked looking around. He's jiju's twin bro. But Jiju seems funny while he seems a bit mature n strict by looks. I don't know what's his nature.

"Manik?" I whispered inaudibly.

"Arey! Manik is out for a call... he'll come... Hum continue karte hain?" Abhimanyu Bhai answered. He's Mukti Di's husband. Both look perfect together. Bilkul Rab ne bana di Jodi.

"Ok!... So, we r talking about Cabir's college life?" Navya Di said with excitement.

"Ya!... Hum sab Bhai-Behan ek hi college main padhte thae, even Alya too... And we used to enjoy a lot during our time." Mukti Di told. I was smiling listening to them.

"Remember, Kitna maza aata tha when all the college used to obey us and are scared of us... Hum thae College ke boss." Alya added.

"Kyun?" I asked as I don't get why all r scared of them... They r not monsters or something... they toh, look sweet.

"Because hum ragging karte thae... And I used to record it n post it in my channel." Jiju said making my eyes wide. They look sidhe-sadhe... but are dangerous.

"Bechare bachon ko paresha karte thae!" Abhi Bhai commented.

"Pareshan nahi Abhi!... Ragging toh har college main hota hai... If u won't rag then others will rag u." Mukti Di objected.

"right!... Ragging is common... It's for fun. we don't force them to something unwanted. .... Acha Nandu! Tum batao, tumhare college me ragging nahi hota kya?" Cabir jiju asked.

"Hoti hain na!... Meri bhi ragging hui thi... first toh, main nervous thi, then I thought to act along aur Kya maza aaya tha!"

"Arey wa! Kya karwaya tumse?" Alya asked hearing my reply.

"They asked me to propose... So, I turned aside where no one was standing and said I love u. .......But they said that it was so simple and to do something interesting!"

"What did u do then?" Dhruv Bhai asked.

"Then.... I'll show u." I got up, took a red rose from the decoration n walked to a free space and turned towards the entrance...  and kneeled down on one knee forwarded the rose up...  and started dramatically....

"Priyatam,
Main tumhari prem ki deewani hun... Mera dil toh pagal hai, issme toh kuch kuch hota hai.... E mere dilwale, please aab tume Dilhan le jao."

By the end, all of them present over there r amazed by Nandu's dramatic acting... And shocked to see one person standing in front of her who heard her love proposal... to him....

"Manik!" they whispered.

Kaisa laga? How was it?

Is it unique?... Manan meet?

Any Guess, Nandu's POV?

Any Guess, Manik's POV?