She built walls to keep the world out; he was too stubborn to stay on the other side.

Manik’s POV,

The office was buzzing with its usual activity. I sat in my cabin, reviewing the presentation for the upcoming meeting. My focus was sharp as always, but a small part of me was distracted—thinking about dinner last night, the priest’s visit, and the sudden acceleration of my life toward marriage.

My phone buzzed on the desk, cutting through my thoughts. The screen lit up with "Mom" flashing across it. I sighed, already knowing what this was about.

“Hello?” I answered, keeping my voice neutral.

“Manik,” Mom began her tone all too familiar—a mix of authority and impatience. “ I called to remind you to come to the designer’s shop after your meeting. We need to finalize your engagement outfits today.”

“Mom,” I started, pinching the bridge of my nose, “I have back-to-back work today. Can’t this wait?”

“Absolutely not,” she said firmly. “This is for your engagement, Manik. You and Nandini need to be there. Everyone else is already at the shop waiting.”

I leaned back in my chair, exhaling slowly. “Fine. After the meeting, I’ll—”

“Don’t forget to bring Nandini with you,” she interrupted.

“I’m sure she can—”

“No excuses, Manik,” Mom cut me off. “You’re both coming. Together.”

“Alright, fine. Bye,” I said, hanging up before she could start another tirade.

When I looked back at Nandini, she was still busy at her desk, completely unaware of the detour awaiting her after the meeting. Great. Another awkward car ride.

The meeting went as planned, though I was itching to leave before Mom’s call turned into a full-blown disaster. Once the conference room cleared, I walked back to my cabin, where Nandini was already organizing her notes.

“Miss. Murthy,” I called, standing by the doorway.
She looked up, her pen paused mid-motion. “Yes, Mr. Malhotra?”

“We need to leave,” I said, folding my arms. “Mom has already called me a thousand times. She’s waiting for us at the designer’s shop.”

Her expression shifted, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before she masked it with her usual calm demeanor. “Oh… okay. Let me just grab my bag.”

Within minutes, we were in the car. She sat quietly beside me, her gaze fixed on the passing streets. I could feel the tension radiating off her—it wasn’t uncomfortable, but it wasn’t exactly pleasant either.

“You, okay?” I asked, glancing at her briefly.

“Yes,” she replied quickly, her tone too polite. “Just… thinking.”

“About?” I prodded, curious despite myself.

She hesitated, then shook her head. “Nothing important.”

As I parked the car in front of the boutique, I noticed the bustling energy inside through the large glass windows. Great. Another round of interrogation awaits.

I glanced at Nandini, who was quietly gathering her bag. She looked like she’d rather be anywhere else, but so would I.

“Ready?” I asked, not waiting for an answer as I stepped out.

We walked into the boutique together, the soft chime of the doorbell announcing our arrival. The room was a vibrant mix of colors and fabrics, racks upon racks of designer clothes surrounding a group of very familiar faces.

“Finally!” Alya exclaimed, her hands on her hips as she turned to face me. “What took you so long?”

“Traffic,” I replied flatly, already anticipating the scolding.

“Traffic, my foot!” Mukti chimed in, folding her arms. “We’ve been waiting for ages. Do you even know how long it takes to pick the right outfit?”

“Yes,” I replied with a smirk, “exactly as long as it takes for you two to stop yapping.”

Before I could blink, both of them smacked my arms in unison.

“Behave, Malhotra!” Mukti said, narrowing her eyes at me.

“Seriously, you act like we’re the ones inconveniencing you,” Alya added, her tone exaggeratedly dramatic.

I sighed, rubbing my arm where they’d hit me. “You’re right. Next time I’ll make sure to clear my schedule so I can sit here and nod at every outfit you try on.”

“Don’t be such a drama queen,” Mukti said, rolling her eyes.

“Drama king,” Alya corrected, making Mukti laugh.

“Glad you’re both entertained,” I muttered, stepping further into the room to greet everyone else.

Mom and Swarna Aunty were seated on a plush couch, flipping through fabric samples. Prisha Bhabhi was holding up a lehenga against her frame, showing it off to Nandini, who had quietly slipped to her side.

“Hello, beta,” Mom said, looking up and smiling warmly at me.

“Mom,” I greeted, walking over to her.

“You’re late,” She pointed out.

“Blame the meeting,” I replied, shrugging.

Prisha, chimed in. “It’s fine. They’re here now, so let’s get started.” She turned to Nandini, holding up another lehenga. “What do you think of this one?”

Nandini looked a little overwhelmed but managed a polite smile. “It’s nice.”

“She’s too polite,” Mukti whispered loudly to Alya, making them both giggle.

I shot them a glare, but they ignored me entirely. Typical.

“Alright,” Mom said, clapping her hands. “Manik, you’re up first. Go try on the sherwanis we selected.”

“What? Why me?” I asked, frowning.

“Because you’re the groom,” Mukti said, smirking.

“I figured that out, thanks,” I muttered under my breath.

Alya grabbed my arm, dragging me toward the trial room. “Come on, Mr. CEO. You’re not getting out of this.”

“Remind me why I keep you around,” I grumbled.

“Because we’re fabulous,” she shot back, pushing me into the trial room.

I emerged a few minutes later wearing a navy blue sherwani with intricate silver embroidery. Mukti and Alya were already waiting, their arms crossed as they inspected me like I was a mannequin.

“Well?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Turn around,” Mukti commanded, making a circular motion with her finger.

I sighed but did as tell, spinning around like an obedient child.

“Not bad,” Alya said, tilting her head.

“Looks good,” Mukti agreed.

“Can I take this off now?” I asked, already moving back toward the trial room.

“No!” they shouted in unison, stopping me in my tracks.

“Let us see one more,” Alya said, pulling another sherwani from the rack.

This was going to be a long day.

Manik’s POV ends

Nandini's POV,

The boutique was abuzz with activity, but all I wanted was to vanish into thin air. I stood by one of the racks, aimlessly sifting through dresses when Mom approached me.

“This one looks nice, Nandini,” she said, holding up a lehenga in pastel pink with intricate silver embroidery.

I glanced at her, my lips pressing into a thin line. Her overly sweet tone grated on my nerves. “Wow, Mom,” I said, forcing a smile. “When did you become so concerned about my choices? Is this the ‘family love’ everyone keeps talking about?”

Her face fell, and for a moment, I felt a pang of guilt. But she quickly composed herself, replying evenly, “I’m not faking it, Nandini. Whatever you think about me, I genuinely want you to look your best.”

I scoffed lightly, my sarcasm thick. “Of course, you do. After all, it’s all about appearances, isn’t it?”

Before the tension could escalate, Prisha Bhabhi stepped in, placing a calming hand on my shoulder. “Nandini,” she said softly, her tone filled with quiet authority. “It’s not the time or place for this.”

I took a deep breath and nodded, not wanting to create a scene. Thankfully, no one else was around to witness the awkward exchange.

After what felt like an eternity of Mr. Malhotra trying on his outfits, he finally returned to where I was seated, visibly irritated.

“Mom,” he said, his voice bordering on exasperation, “can we leave now? My outfit is done.”

Neyonika Aunty gave him a pointed look. “Manik, Nandini’s outfit is still left. We’re not done here yet.”

He groaned audibly, raking a hand through his hair. Mukti and Alya, who were loitering nearby, immediately seized the opportunity.

“Manik,” Mukti said sweetly, grinning mischievously, “why don’t you help Nandini pick something?”

He shot her a glare. “Help her? Are you serious?”

“Yes,” Alya chimed in, smirking. “What else do you have to do? Come on, be useful for once.”

Manik muttered something under his breath but didn’t argue further. Instead, he walked over and plopped down in the seat next to me.

The sudden closeness made me tense. I shifted slightly, trying to put some distance between us without being obvious.

Noticing my discomfort, he sighed and leaned back lazily. “Do you like anything yet?” he asked, his tone tired but not unkind.

“I…” I hesitated, fumbling for words. “I’m still looking.”

He shook his head, clearly running low on patience. “Listen,” he said, his voice firm but not harsh, “I’m already exhausted, and I still have work to finish. Let’s wrap this up fast, okay?”

I nodded quickly, feeling oddly self-conscious. Together, we started flipping through a catalog, his large hands brushing against mine occasionally as we turned the pages.

I spotted a couple of lehengas that caught my eye, and we called the salesgirl over to bring them out. With the selected outfits in hand, I headed to the trial room to try them on.

When I stepped out wearing the first lehenga—a deep maroon piece with gold accents—I found Alya and Mukti standing beside Mr. Malhotra. The moment they saw me, their eyes lit up with mischief.

“Manik,” Alya said, grinning wickedly, “close your eyes. You can’t see her outfit before the engagement!”

He groaned. “Oh, come on, guys. Stop behaving like kids.”

Mukti smirked, covering his eyes with her hands. “Rules are rules, Mr. Malhotra!”

Alya joined in, adding her hands over Mukti’s to ensure he couldn’t peek.

“Guys, seriously,” Manik said, his voice muffled. “Get your hands off me before I lose it.”

They ignored him entirely, their laughter filling the air. I couldn’t help it—I laughed too, a soft chuckle escaping before I could stop myself.

Bhabhi walked up to me, her expression warm. “Does the outfit feel okay, Nandini?” she asked.

I nodded. “Yes, Bhabhi, it’s fine.”

She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a teasing whisper. “By the way, you and Manik look like a nice couple. You really complement each other.”

I rolled my eyes so hard it almost hurt. “Seriously, Bhabhi? Have you seen us? How could we possibly look good together? He’s so tall, 6 feet and… giant and I’m practically pocket-sized in comparison.”

Prisha burst into laughter. “You’re too much, Nandini.”

I grinned, feeling a little lighter. “I’m just saying the truth.”

After finalizing my outfit, we moved on to the jewelry section. This was the last stop for the day, and I was already drained.

The jewelry store was dazzling, with rows of glass cases showcasing every possible combination of gold, diamonds, and gemstones. My eyes scanned the sparkling rings as we entered, but my mind was still stuck on the teasing I had endured at the boutique earlier.

“Alright,” Mukti said, clapping her hands together. “Let’s find the perfect rings for these two lovebirds.”

Neyonika Aunty grinned, already stepping toward the nearest case. “Yes, it has to be special. After all, this is their engagement—we can’t settle for anything less than stunning.”

I felt my cheeks heat up. Lovebirds? Special? Their words were loud enough to make even the sales assistant laugh.

Mr. Malhotra, who was standing beside me, sighed deeply. “Can we get this over with?” he muttered, clearly exhausted.

“Manik,” Alya chimed in, her tone dripping with mischief, “this is your engagement ring. You can’t just get it over with. It’s a lifelong commitment.”

He shot her a pointed look. “Alya, stop.”

“Why? Am I wrong?” she teased, raising an eyebrow.

I tried to distract myself by looking at the rings displayed in the glass case, but Prisha Bhabhi wasn’t going to let me off the hook either.

“Nandini,” she called out, making me turn toward her reluctantly. “What kind of ring do you want? Something bold, like Manik? Or delicate, like you?”

I blinked at her, unsure how to respond. “Uh… I’m not sure. Something simple, maybe?”

Mukti gasped dramatically, nudging Manik. “Simple? Manik, are you okay with that? Don’t you think her ring should be as grand as your ego?”

Manik groaned. “Mukti, seriously?”

Prisha laughed, and even Alya joined in. “Come on, Manik,” Alya said, smirking. “Let’s at least make sure your ring matches hers. You know, couple goals and all.”

I wanted the floor to swallow me whole. My face was burning, and I could tell he was equally uncomfortable. He crossed his arms and leaned closer to the glass case, pretending to examine the rings.

“This one looks good,” he said abruptly, pointing to a simple diamond band.

Prisha leaned over to inspect it. “Hmm, nice. But what about Nandini’s ring? Let’s find something that compliments yours.”

Alya and Mukti exchanged a glance, their eyes glinting with mischief. “How about we try matching rings?” Mukti suggested, grinning.

Manik’s jaw tightened. “Mukti, I swear—”

“What? It’s a great idea,” she cut him off, clearly enjoying his discomfort.

Bhabhi tapped my arm, her voice soft but teasing. “What do you think, Nandini? Matching rings? Isn’t it romantic?”

I stammered, “I-I don’t know… I mean, if that’s what everyone thinks…”

“Everyone?” Alya laughed. “No, Nandini. It’s about you two. You know, the couple getting married?”

I looked at him, hoping he’d say something to end this, but he just rubbed the back of his neck, clearly as awkward as I was. “Just pick something,” he muttered.

The sales assistant brought out a tray of matching rings—delicate yet elegant, with intertwined diamond bands. They were stunning, but all I could think about was how this moment felt more like a punishment than a celebration.

Mukti slid one of the rings onto my finger and held up my hand. “See? Perfect! Look how beautiful it looks on her.”

Alya leaned in, pretending to whisper but speaking loud enough for everyone to hear. “And now imagine Manik sliding it on her finger at the engagement.”

He groaned audibly. “Alya, stop making this weird.”

“Weird? It’s adorable!” she insisted, winking at me.

I quickly pulled my hand back, feeling like I was on display. “This one’s fine,” I said hurriedly. “Let’s just go with it.”

He nodded in agreement, clearly eager to escape. “Great. We’re done here.”

But Mukti wasn’t done teasing yet. “Wait, Manik. Don’t you want to see how your ring looks on her hand? You know, practice for the engagement?”

“Mukti!” he snapped, glaring at her.

Bhabhi laughed, putting an arm around my shoulders. “Okay, okay. We’ll stop. But you two really are fun to watch.”

Fun? I felt like I’d just survived a battlefield.

Once the rings were finalized and paid for, we stepped out of the store. He glanced at his watch and sighed. “Finally.”

I couldn’t help but agree. The day had been exhausting, but at least one thing was done. As we walked back to the car, I realized how different our lives were, yet somehow, we were both stuck in this whirlwind together.

And if today was any indication, it was going to be a long journey.

The sky outside was painted in hues of orange and pink as Mr. Malhotra drove us back to the office. The day had been long—exhausting, to say the least—but at least the shopping was done. As the car hummed softly along the road, I found myself staring out of the window, gathering the courage to bring up something that had been on my mind for a while.

His steady silence was both comforting and intimidating. He was focused on the road, his sharp features illuminated by the soft glow of the setting sun.

“Actually…” I began, my voice hesitant. “I wanted to ask something.”

He glanced at me briefly, his expression calm but curious. “Go on.”

I fidgeted with the edge of my dupatta, unsure of how to phrase it. “Are you sure there won’t be any media or outsiders at the engagement or the wedding?”

His brow furrowed slightly, but his voice remained steady. “It’ll be a close ceremony at Cabir’s hotel. He’s personally handling all the arrangements to ensure confidentiality. You don’t need to worry.”

I nodded slowly, but he wasn’t finished.

“As for the guest list,” he continued, his tone matter-of-fact, “it’ll just be immediate family and close friends. No distant relatives or anyone who doesn’t need to be there. My dad was very clear about keeping this private. He also mentioned that whenever we decide to disclose this marriage to the media in the future, there’ll be a reception for that.”

Relief washed over me. I hadn’t realized how much this had been bothering me until now. The thought of reporters and cameras intruding on something so personal made my skin crawl. Knowing that it would just be a small gathering gave me some semblance of peace.

“Thank you,” I said softly, glancing at him.

“For what?” he asked, his eyes briefly meeting mine before focusing back on the road.

“For agreeing to my condition and taking care of it,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

His lips twitched, almost forming a smile, but he remained composed. “There’s no need to thank me. You were clear about what you wanted, and it made sense. Besides, I’m not a fan of public spectacles either.”

I tilted my head, surprised by his response. “Really? You don’t seem like someone who’d mind attention.”

He chuckled lightly, the sound low and almost self-deprecating. “Trust me, I’ve had enough of it growing up. The last thing I want is for the media to turn my personal life into a circus.”

That caught me off guard. For someone who exuded confidence and control, it was strange to hear him admit to disliking the spotlight.

“You don’t talk much about your personal life,” I said cautiously, testing the waters.

He shrugged. “There’s not much to say. It’s mostly work and family. I prefer to keep things private, which is why I understood your concerns about the media.”

I nodded again, appreciating his honesty. “I guess we’re on the same page about that, then.”

A comfortable silence settled between us for a few moments. The cityscape blurred past the windows, the bustling streets alive with evening activity.

“You know,” he said suddenly, breaking the silence, “if there’s anything else you’re concerned about, you should tell me now.”

I hesitated, his straightforwardness catching me off guard. “I’ll let you know,” I said, managing a small smile. “For now, I think we’re good.”

“Good,” he said, his tone final. “Because I don’t want any last-minute surprises.”

I laughed lightly, surprising even myself. “Don’t worry, Mr. Malhotra. I’m not the type to spring surprises on people.”

His lips quirked up in a half-smile. “We’ll see about that.”

We reached the office just as the last rays of sunlight faded into the horizon. As I stepped out of the car, I couldn’t help but feel a little lighter.

Hope you all like the chapter.....

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Kiara ❤️❤️