A forced marriage, a reluctant partnership, yet an undeniable connection. Was it war or was it fate?

Manik’s POV,

I woke up groggily, the soft hum of the air conditioning the only sound in the room. Turning over, I saw the other side of the bed but found it empty. My eyes opened fully, and I glanced around. The bathroom door was open, and Nandini was nowhere to be seen.

I sighed and checked the time on my phone. It was already 8 AM. Stretching lazily, I unlocked my phone and scrolled through some emails and messages. I was replying to one of Dhruv’s texts when the door creaked open.

Nandini stepped in, looking slightly hesitant. Her hair was tied back in a loose braid, and her simple Kurti looked neat yet understated.

“Breakfast is ready,” she said softly, her voice a little unsure. “When will you come down?”

I set my phone aside and replied, “After getting ready, I’ll be there.”

She stood there for a moment, fidgeting slightly, before asking, “Should I bring your clothes?”

I raised an eyebrow at her, surprised by the offer. “You don’t have to take the trouble.”

“It’s okay,” she said quickly, almost as if she didn’t want to argue.

I sighed and shrugged. “Fine, your wish.”

Nandini nodded and moved to the closet. She seemed so meticulous, carefully selecting a shirt, trousers, and the necessary accessories. I watched her momentarily before deciding not to make things more awkward.

After my shower, I came out to find the room empty. On the bed, my clothes were laid out perfectly—a crisp white shirt, black trousers, Black coat, socks, my watch, and even a folded handkerchief. I shook my head lightly, a small smile tugging at my lips. She had gone above and beyond.

Once I was dressed and ready, I headed downstairs. The dining table was buzzing with chatter. Everyone was seated—Cabir, Navya, Mom, Dadi, and Dad. I sat and greeted everyone with a casual “Good morning.”
Nandini and Navya were serving breakfast. As Nandini placed a bowl of fresh fruit on the table, Cabir cleared his throat dramatically.

“Okay, everyone,” he began, “Navya and I are leaving for Bangalore this evening.”

I frowned. “What’s the hurry?”

Before Cabir could answer, Nandini chimed in, “Why are you leaving so soon, Didu?”

Cabir gave her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, Nandini. We’re not going for long—just a week. After that, we’ll be shifting here to Mumbai for good.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Have you finalized the house deal?”

“Yes,” Cabir replied. “The deal was signed last week, but Navya and I need to pack up our stuff and wrap things up in Bangalore before moving here permanently.”

The conversation shifted to light banter after that, and breakfast was soon finished. As Nandini was clearing the table, she turned to Mom and said, “Maa, I’m planning to join the office from today.”

Mom smiled. “That’s good, beta. But if you want, you can take a few days to settle in and rest.”

Before Nandini could respond, Dadi interjected, “You just got married, Nandini. It’s not good for a newly wedded bride to step out so soon.”

Dad, as always, came to the rescue. “Maa, it’s fine. Let her go. What will she do sit idly at home? Besides, Neyonika is also heading to her NGO today.”

Dadi frowned but eventually waved it off. “Do whatever you want.”

I observed the entire exchange silently, my mind filing away the dynamics between everyone. Once breakfast was done, we all dispersed to our rooms.

When we reached our room, I turned to Nandini. “Get ready fast.”

“It’s okay,” she replied, shaking her head. “You go. I’ll come by myself.”

I raised an eyebrow at her. “Your car is only arriving in the evening, and the other cars are already in use. So, you don’t really have a choice.”

She hesitated. “What if someone sees us together?”

I shrugged off. “That’s not a problem. Sometimes my previous secretary used to come with me whenever she had to hand over files early in the morning. No one will think twice about it.”

She seemed to relax slightly and nodded. “Okay. I’ll be ready in ten minutes.”

“Good,” I said, grabbing my bag. “I’ll be waiting downstairs.”

Sitting in my car, I checked my watch. True to her word, Nandini arrived within ten minutes. She slid into the passenger seat, adjusting her shirt sleeves. I noticed how carefully she was trying to button them to hide her chooda. Then, she fastened the top button of her shirt to obscure her mangalsutra. Finally, she adjusted her hair so that it covered the faint trace of vermillion on her forehead.

I said nothing, letting her have her moment. Once she was settled, I started the car, and we drove off in silence.

When we reached the office, she waited for me to step out first, maintaining a deliberate distance as we walked inside. Her steps were precise, and her demeanor was professional—completely different from the awkwardness she displayed at home.

As we reached the main hallway, she began reciting my schedule for the day. “You have a meeting with the marketing team at 10:30, followed by a client call at noon. After lunch, there’s a financial review meeting scheduled at 2 PM, and a discussion with the legal team at 4 PM.”

I nodded. “Good. Before anything else, go to reception and get me the weekly report. Review it and bring it to my cabin.”

“Yes, sir,” she replied, her voice steady.

As she walked away, I couldn’t help but admire her poise. For someone who’d been thrown into this situation so abruptly, she was handling it better than I’d expected.

Manik’s POV ends.

Nandini’s POV,

I stepped out of Manik’s cabin, exhaling slowly. It was only my first day back, and I already felt like I was walking on eggshells. My mind was still processing everything like hiding my marital status. But before I could dwell on it too much, I reminded myself that I had a task to do.

Heading towards the reception area, I put on a small smile as I approached the front desk. Priyanka, the receptionist, looked up from her computer and greeted me cheerfully.

“Oh, look who’s finally back!” she teased.

I smiled politely. “Hi, Priyanka.”

“Where were you all this time? And wait—” Her eyes dropped to my hands, and I followed her gaze. My fingers tensed slightly as I realized she was staring at the faint stain of mehndi on my hands.

“You got mehndi done? What’s the occasion?” she asked curiously, tilting her head.

I quickly pulled my hands back and tucked them behind me, forcing out a chuckle. “Oh… um, there was a family function at home.”

Priyanka raised an eyebrow. “Hmm… Are you sure that’s all? Because—” She squinted, looking closer. “Wait, Nandini… did you get married?”

I felt my breath hitch slightly, but I immediately shook my head, keeping my expression neutral. “No, no, nothing like that! Just a family gathering, that’s all.”

Priyanka laughed. “Relax, I was just kidding.” She trailed off before changing the subject. “Anyway, you won’t believe how peaceful the office was Manik sir was on leave. I mean, we all love our jobs, but you know how scary he can be when he’s in a mood!”

I let out a light laugh. “Yeah, I can imagine.”

She sighed dramatically. “But now he’s back, and so are you. Which means—”

“Which means,” I interrupted, picking up the report file from her desk, “if I don’t get this to him on time, I might be the first one getting fired, and then there will definitely be no peace in the office!”

Priyanka burst into laughter. “True! Go before the storm arrives.”

Chuckling, I nodded and turned to leave, gripping the file tightly in my hands.

Back in Manik’s cabin, I placed the report in front of him and stepped back, watching as he flipped through the pages with an unreadable expression. A few moments of silence passed before he finally spoke.

“We have to leave earlier today,” he said, not looking up from the file.

I blinked. “Huh?”

He turned a page and continued, “Cabir and Navya are leaving by 7. We’ll go by 5.”

I nodded. “Okay.”

Before I could move, I remembered the email I had received earlier. Clearing my throat, I said, “Um… I received a mail for the confirmation of a meeting.”

Manik lifted his eyes from the file and looked at me. “With whom?”

I hesitated for a second, my hands tightening around the hem of my shirt. “With the Murthys.”

His gaze lingered on me for a moment, assessing me. My face remained impassive, but I could feel the slight tension in the air. Finally, he sighed and leaned back in his chair.

“Dad will be joining back from tomorrow,” he said thoughtfully. “So, I think the day after tomorrow is fine for this meeting.”

I nodded. “Okay, I’ll send the confirmation email.”

Turning around, I walked toward the door, but then I hesitated for a moment before stepping back towards his desk.

Reaching into my bag, I pulled out a small tiffin and placed it in front of him.

Manik glanced at the box, then at me. “What’s this?”

I shifted uncomfortably, suddenly feeling awkward. “Um… I was packing mine and thought of packing yours too.”

Manik’s gaze remained on me, making me feel self-conscious. I quickly added, “Maa said she would send your lunch later, but I had already packed it, so…”

He looked at the box for a moment longer before nodding. “Okay.”

Without another word, I turned and walked out of the cabin, exhaling a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

The day passed by in a blur of work and meetings. Before I knew it, evening had arrived. I was finishing up some emails when my desk phone rang. I picked it up.

“Get ready. We’re leaving in a minute,” Manik’s voice came through.

“Okay,” I replied before hanging up.

Quickly gathering my things, I stood up from my desk. As I stepped out, I noticed two employees—Siddharth and Riya—chatting near Priyanka’s desk. They stopped talking when they saw me.

“Nandini?” Priyanka called out. “You’re leaving early today?”

I froze for a second, my mind scrambling for a response. I couldn’t exactly tell them the truth.

“Oh… um, actually, there’s a meeting with a client,” I said, forcing a casual tone. “Mr. Malhotra asked me to accompany him. It’s expected to run late, so I’ll be leaving straight from there.”

Priyanka frowned slightly. “That’s strange. I don’t have any record of a client meeting in the evening…”

My pulse quickened. “It was a sudden schedule,” I said quickly. “That’s why you don’t have it noted.”

Before they could question me further, a familiar deep voice cut through the air.

“Miss. Murthy.”

I turned to see Manik standing near the entrance, his face expressionless.

“Let’s go,” he said simply.

Grateful for the interruption, I gave a quick nod to the others and hurried toward him.

As we walked to the parking lot, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. This entire day had been a balancing act—hiding the truth, navigating through awkward situations, and maintaining a professional front.

And something told me this was only the beginning.

Nandini’s POV ends.

Manik’s POV,

As we drove back to Malhotra Mansion, my mind was preoccupied with the events of the day. The office and my work were the same, but everything else had changed. Having Nandini around, knowing she was my wife—even if only in name—added a strange weight to my thoughts.

When we reached home, the scene inside was lively. Everyone was gathered in the living room—Mom, Dad, Dadi, Cabir, Navya, Alya, Mukti, and Dhruv. It felt like a full house, just like old times. As soon as we entered, Mukti’s sharp eyes landed on us, and she smirked.

“So, Mr. and Mrs. Malhotra,” she drawled, leaning back on the couch. “How was your first day in the office after marriage?”

Alya joined in, nudging Dhruv. “Yes, yes! Tell us. Did anything interesting happen?”

I rolled my eyes at their antics, already expecting this kind of teasing. “Yeah, very interesting. I worked. She worked. End of story.”

Mukti fake-gasped. “Wow, Manik! What an exciting love story!”

Alya shook her head. “At least let Nandini answer.”

I glanced at Nandini, who was sitting beside me, her head slightly bowed. She looked nervous as if she didn’t know what to say. Typical.

Before she could even try to respond, Mom cut in. “Navya, did you check everything? Are all the bags packed?”

Navya nodded. “Yes, Maa, I checked most of them, but I’ll go through them once again just to be sure.” Then she turned to Nandini. “Nandu, come help me.”

Nandini immediately stood up. “Yes, Didu.”

As they left, I turned to the others. “I’ll just go change.”

They just nodded, and I left for my room.

After changing into a comfortable t-shirt and joggers, I sat on the bed, leaning back against the headboard. My mind was still circling back to the things I had learned yesterday—especially the part about Nandini being forced into this marriage.

I had known from the beginning that this arrangement wasn’t her choice either. But blackmail? That was something I hadn’t considered.

A sudden knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts. “Come in,” I called.

The door opened, and Cabir walked in, shutting it behind him. He sat down on the couch, stretching his legs lazily. “Alright, spill it. What’s going on in that overthinking brain of yours?”

I frowned. “Nothing.”

Cabir scoffed. “Don’t even try that with me, Manik. I know you. So talk.”

I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair. “It’s just… this whole situation. It’s too complicated, Cabir.”

He didn’t say anything, just watched me, waiting.

I continued, “I always knew this marriage was forced on both of us, but I thought she agreed because of family pressure, just like I did. Never did I imagine that she was blackmailed into saying yes.”

Cabir sighed, rubbing his face. “Yeah, it’s messed up. But Manik, you can’t change what happened.”

“That’s not what bothers me the most,” I muttered. “It’s the fact that she hates her parents. It’s not just the marriage. It’s something more. Something deeper.”

Cabir leaned forward. “You think there’s another reason she was sent away?”

I nodded. “Yes. And I don’t know what it is.”

Cabir didn’t respond immediately. He just sat there, thinking. After a few seconds, he stood up. “Come on.”

I frowned. “Where?”

“To the guest room. Navya wanted to talk to both of you before leaving.”

With a sigh, I got up and followed him out.

As we reached the door of the room, we were about to knock when we heard voices inside.

“I can’t believe this was the reason Dad sent you away,” Navya’s voice came, sounding upset. “How could he even believe that? I’m so sorry, Nandini. I wasn’t there to support you when you needed me.”

There was silence for a moment before Nandini’s voice, quiet and resigned, responded, “It’s not your fault, Didu. I’ve already moved on from that.”

I stilled. What reason?

I glanced at Cabir, and he looked just as confused as I felt. But before we could hear anything more, he knocked on the door.
Navya opened it, and both she and Nandini looked a little startled to see us. But she quickly masked it and gestured for us to sit.

Once we were seated, Navya looked at both of us seriously. “Have you two thought about what you’re going to do next?”

Cabir crossed his arms. “This is important, guys. We know neither of you wanted this marriage. But it’s already happened. So, what now?”

Navya hesitated before asking, “Do you guys… want a divorce?”

The question hung in the air for a moment before both Nandini and I said, at the same time, “No.”

Navya and Cabir exhaled in relief.

I remained silent, waiting for Nandini to respond first.

She sighed and said, “Cabir Jiju, Didu… we can’t undo what’s already done. So, we should just let things happen as they will.”

“Then give this marriage a chance,” Cabir said. “You don’t have to force yourselves into anything, but at least be open to the idea of figuring it out together.”

I nodded, and so did Nandini. “We will,” I said.

Navya smiled slightly. “Good.”

She then glanced at the time. “We should leave now. Otherwise, we’ll get late.”

Cabir and I got up to carry the luggage outside. As we were about to step out, Nandini turned to Navya.

“Didu, aren’t you going to Murthy Mansion before leaving?”

Navya smiled. “We’ll visit while going to the airport. Don’t worry, I’ll talk to Rudraksh.”

Nandini nodded, seeming reassured.

After bidding their goodbyes to everyone, Navya and Cabir left for the airport.

Once they were gone, Nandini followed Mom to the kitchen to help with dinner arrangements, while I headed to my room. Mukti, Alya, and Dhruv followed me to the room.

“No escaping, bro,” Dhruv smirked.

Mukti crossed her arms. “Spill. What’s happening with you and wifey?”

Alya grinned. “Yeah, tell us. How’s married life treating you?”

I groaned. “You guys seriously need to get a life.”

Mukti shrugged. “Nah, this is too much fun.”

As they continued their teasing, I leaned back and sighed. This marriage was never something I wanted. But now that it had happened, I had no choice but to figure out how to deal with it.

Manik’s POV ends.

Nandini’s POV,

After finishing up in the kitchen, I picked up a tray of snacks and tea and made my way to the room. As I reached the door, I could hear laughter and light chatter coming from inside. It felt nice—this warmth of friendship and family. A part of me envied how close they all were, but I quickly shook that thought away.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door and entered. All eyes turned towards me.

“Ohh, snacks delivery!” Mukti announced dramatically, making everyone chuckle.

I smiled lightly and placed the tray on the table in front of them. “I thought you guys might be hungry.”

Alya beamed. “Aww, Nandini, you’re so sweet! But why are you just standing there? Sit with us!”

I hesitated for a second, but Mukti patted the space beside her, urging me to sit. “Come on, we don’t bite. Well… not always.”

Everyone laughed, and I found myself smiling at their easy camaraderie. I took a seat, not wanting to seem rude.

Alya turned towards me. “So, tell me, how are you feeling here? Settling in well?”

I hesitated, not knowing what to say. “It’s… good,” I finally replied.

Mukti scoffed. “That answer was so diplomatic, Nandini. You could be a politician.”

Alya smirked. “Or a CEO’s wife.”

I felt my cheeks warm, and I quickly looked away.

Mukti leaned forward with a mischievous grin. “Alright, forget that. Tell me—where are you guys going for your honeymoon?”

I froze.

Before I could even process the question, I heard a loud spluttering noise beside me. I turned to see Manik coughing violently, coffee spilling onto his hand as he tried to recover from his own drink. Dhruv quickly rubbed his back, trying to suppress his laughter.

“What the hell, Mukti?!” Manik finally choked out, glaring at her.

Mukti just grinned innocently. “What? I was just asking a simple question.”

Alya giggled. “Yeah, Manik, you’re reacting as if she asked something scandalous.”

I looked around awkwardly, not knowing where to focus my gaze. My fingers nervously played with the hem of my dress as I tried to ignore the heat rising up my neck.

Manik finally calmed down and shot Mukti an exasperated look. “Hold your horses, Mukti. We’ve already taken so many leaves from work. There’s a lot to catch up on.”

Alya rolled her eyes. “Ugh, you are no fun, Manik! You’re just saying it for yourself. At least ask Nandini what she wants.”

I quickly shook my head. “No, Alya, he’s right. We do have a lot of work to handle at the office.”

Dhruv sighed dramatically. “Fine, fine. But don’t delay it too much, okay?”

Mukti nodded. “Yeah, because if you two don’t plan something soon, we will.”

I gave them a small, polite smile, thankful that the conversation was moving on.

Alya suddenly checked the time. “We should get going now.”

I blinked. “Wait, what? Already?”

Mukti stretched. “Yeah, we have to go grocery shopping.”

Dhruv nodded. “If we don’t go now, we’ll be too late, and then Mukti will start yelling at us for not having snacks at home.”

Mukti smirked. “Damn right, I will.”

I tried to protest. “But you guys should stay for dinner.”

Alya patted my arm. “Next time, okay? Don’t worry, we’ll be back soon.”

With that, the three of them left, leaving just Manik and me in the room.

The silence felt heavier now.

Not knowing what else to do, I stood up and walked towards the closet, pulling out my nightwear. Without another word, I grabbed my clothes and went to the washroom to change.

When I stepped out of the washroom, I saw Manik sitting on the bed, his laptop open as he worked. His brows were slightly furrowed, and his fingers moved quickly across the keyboard.

I didn’t want to disturb him, so I quietly left the room and went downstairs.

As I reached the hall, I saw Dadi sitting on the couch, speaking to one of the butlers.

“Make some tea for me,” she said.

I stepped forward. “Dadi, I’ll make it for you.”

She looked up and smiled warmly and I nodded and headed to the kitchen. “How does she like her tea?” I asked the butler.

“She prefers it with ginger and very little sugar.”

I got to work, boiling water, adding the tea leaves, and letting the aroma fill the kitchen. Once it was ready, I carefully poured it into a cup and took it out to Dadi.

She took the cup from me, smiling. “Thank you, Nandini. Sit with me for a while.”

I hesitated before taking a seat next to her.

She took a sip of the tea and sighed in contentment. Then, turning to me, she asked, “Beta, why don’t you live with your parents?”

I stiffened. The question caught me completely off guard.

Forcing a smile, I replied, “I wanted to be independent. And the house I stayed in was close to the office.”

Dadi hummed in thought. “Being independent doesn’t mean living alone.”

I lowered my gaze, not knowing what to say.

Before the conversation could go further, Raj Papa and Neyo Maa entered the room and joined us.

“So, Nandini,” Papa started. “Have you settled in well?”

I nodded. “Yes, Papa.”

Neyo Maa smiled kindly. “If you ever have any issues, you can come directly to me.”

Papa nodded. “This is your home too.”

I was touched by their warmth. A strange lump formed in my throat, and before I could get too emotional, I quickly stood up. “I should check if dinner is ready.”

They nodded, and I walked back to the kitchen.

Just then, my phone pinged. I picked it up and saw a message from Navya Didu.

I met Rudraksh. But he’s still not ready to listen to anything. He’s still angry.

My heart clenched. Tears pricked at my eyes, but I quickly wiped them away and set my phone aside.

I took a deep breath and composed myself before calling everyone for dinner.

At the dinner table, Manik spoke up. “Dad, the meeting with the Murthys is finalized for the day after tomorrow.”
Papa nodded. “Okay, then I’ll come to the office tomorrow, and we’ll discuss the presentation for the partnership. We’ll also have a board meeting.”

Manik turned to me. “Nandini, note that down.”

Before I could respond, Neyo Maa sighed. “How many times do I have to tell you both not to discuss business at the dining table? And now you’re making Nandini like you too.”

Papa laughed. “Sorry, sorry.”

Manik raised his hands in surrender.

After dinner, everyone left for their rooms.

I sat on the bed, working on my laptop, when Manik entered.

He sat down beside me, and I hesitated before asking, “Should I schedule any other meetings for tomorrow or the day after?”

He sighed. “How many projects are still pending?”

I showed him the chart on my laptop. He went through it and instructed me on what needed to be done.

Once I was done noting everything, I shut my laptop and lay down.

Manik lay down as well, both of us facing opposite sides.

We weren’t yet used to sleeping in the same bed.

And maybe… it would take time.

Nandini’s POV ends.

Hope you all like the chapter.....

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Kiara ❤️❤️