(Present starts in continuation after chapter 7)

Manik quickly changed into a white shirt and blue denims as we were to leave for the temple. As he came he looked at me for approval and I rolled my eyes in indifference.

"You are not going to sit with me for the Puja so it doesn't make a difference what you wear..we don't have to be colour coordinated", I made sure I was rude enough but he still smiled.

I got in the car and sat passively resting my back on the seat. The day had just started and I was already feeling tired. The fast was already having its affect on me. Manik fastened the seat belt around me and looked at me as I licked my lips in thirst and exhaustion.

"Listen Nandini please I insist have something, you look so tired."

"No I am okay, Manik we are already late please let's just go."

"Why are you being so stubborn?? You have to take care of yourself and our baby" , he paused for a bit for me to respond and then finally gave up, "Fine okay we will go..but you relax.. you sleep and I will take you there..it will take us some half an hour to reach at least relax till that time."

I was not sure if there was something else going on in his mind and knowing Mr. Malhotra, he was quite capable of doing that but I also knew I needed rest, "But you don't know the way to the temple..", I set forth my concerns.

"You don't worry about that, Varsha has messaged me the route you just go to sleep", he pushed back my seat further so that I had a comfortable posture and I closed my eyes.

I didn't realize when the distance was covered. I had a good nap in fact a pretty strong one. When Manik woke me up I was not ready to get out of the drool at first.

"Listen keep safe distance from me and don't create any ruckus in front of everyone", I warned Manik as soon as I gained my senses and got down from the car and started walking towards the stairs.

"Okay!!", he said the word sandwiching with giggles.

He didn't follow me in fact was staring at me smilingly as I took the stairs. I looked back at him and he flashed his teeth. I understood that there was something fishy but I didn't have the time to stop and ponder over it so hurried myself. Just as I reached the aisle I found Varsha pacing nervously. The moment she spotted me she came running to me.

"I am sorry... I am sorry... I know I am late.. please I got stuck because of that idiot", I apologized before she could start firing me.

"Come on fast!!! you can't imagine how I have managed Aunty all this while", she grabbed my palm and pulled me towards the temple.

But suddenly she stopped after two steps and looked at something carefully. I saw her face and it changed expression in blinks first a little surprise then a smile and after that she burst into laughter. I was puzzled and shifted my focus to her source of attention.

"Are you here to get engaged ya engagement karke aayi hai", Varsha was laughing like crazy as she held up my hand in front of me to show me the finger which had a ring. Confusion stuck on my face as I wondered where the ring came from.

"Happy engagement wifey!!!", I heard him whisper softly into my ears from the back.

For a moment I couldn't understand what had happened and then realized the catch. I should have known Manik's hidden agenda; this had to be the reason why he insisted me on sleeping. Manik and Varsha shared a hi five and I stood like a fool. It was hell frustrating to see the love turned hate of your life and your bestie gang up against you. I silently abused them while trying to get the damn thing out of my finger. And that idiot made sure that he got the most difficult ring on earth for me so that I could not get rid of it. Oh Shit!! What if someone spots the ring? How am I going to save myself? Although I needed an excuse to avoid the engagement with Dhruv this was definitely not the excuse that I was looking for. I wanted to kill Manik only if I was allowed by the circumstances. Varsha finished her hysterical laughing session with Manik and tugged me to come. I gave up trying and proceeded further. Manik by all sense of it was trying to cling to me and I made my attempts of being in safe distance from him. I saw Mom waiting for me. She was annoyed and relieved at the same time to finally see me. I had wasted enough time and she didn't want to waste further in scolding me. I took my place for the puja beside Dhruv. He smiled as he saw me. He seemed relaxed about the whole thing being sure that all of it is staged. Dhruv brought his face closer to my ears and whispered.

We will be going after the Puja na??, his nose rubbed against my cheek as he said that and I glanced at Manik straightening himself in annoyance at a little distance. He literally crushed the flowers that he had in his hand. Manik's eyes followed me whatever I did even if it was brushing Dhruv's sleeves to clean the dirt or smile at him just for the heck of it.

The Puja started and all of us concentrated with closed eyes and folded hands. One by one the other ritual followed and with every ritual that Dhruv had to hold my hand or something Manik's frowns increased. Given an opportunity I knew he would just throw Dhruv out and take his place. Finally the moment came when the priest asked us to exchange the rings. Mom handed over me the ring that I had to put in Dhruv's finger. I took it from her hand and slowly slid it into Dhruv's finger with both of us feeling a little uncomfortable yet helpless. Now it was Dhruv's turn to make me wear the ring. I found sweat beads on my forehead because of the holy fire and more so because of the already stuck ring in my finger. Manik proudly chuckled at me as if he had earned himself a brownie point in this love hate game. I slowly extended my right hand when Dhruv's Mom interrupted me.

"No beta not this one show the other hand..engagement rings are supposed to be worn on the ring finger of the left hand", she explained putting up a plastic smile.

"Aunty actually this ring has got stuck and it is not coming out only ..I have tried so many times", I admitted helplessly raising my left hand to show them.

"Nandini why did you wear a ring in that finger in first place..that was supposed to kept bare till the engagement didn't you know that." Mom yelled at me in front of everyone.

"I am sorry Mom I had worn it for the sangeet ceremony and since then I have been trying to get it out but..", I lied.

Varsha took charge and pretended as if she was so upset about it. She faked to get the ring out of my hand and resigned after faking for 5 minutes then it was Dhruv's Mom's turn and that enormous lady put in all the force of the world to pluck the ring out of my finger.

"Ahhhhh", I shrieked in pain as she mercilessly tried to pull it out.

"What the hell are you doing?? Cant you see its hurting her", Manik jumped in between and separated the giant from me. He rubbed my finger lightly to let the pain settle. We looked at each other. His eyes said it; he couldn't see me in pain. I suddenly realized that we were in between our families and jerked my hand off from his.

Varsha again came as a savoir and suggested that even right hand was fair enough for the ceremony and reluctantly everyone agreed. I saw Dhruv's mother face. She was certainly not elated by the fact that Manik held my hand in front of everybody. But then her intentions were too evil to be questioning mine. Finally it was over amidst trivial turbulence's. I gestured Varsha to talk to Mom and she quickly understood. Varsha told Mom that we had been called by the designer to do some last minute touch ups regarding the fittings.. She was too suave in her advances and Mom could not deny besides she had no reason to doubt as Varsha was accompanying me. Dhruv offered for a lift and Mom was more than happy to learn that. Three of us set off as the rest got busy in their own things. I knew there was one person who was watching me closely.

"where are you all going??...I will come with you", Manik crossed and path and said in an annoying tone.

"Manik I am not alone, Varsha and Dhruv are there with me besides it is our thing and I don't want you in this."

"I am not leaving you anywhere with this jerk", he gritted his teeth and looked at Dhruv.

"Manik once and for all you have no right on me so stop doing all this okay and lastly whatever I do in my life is none of your business okay", I didn't wait for his response and held Dhruv's hand and walked out of there.

We left from there before any one else stopped our way. Varsha got down mid way she had some important work and we drove to the registrar office. With the pace everything was running, getting Dhruv and Krissane married was the best option. I could not ask my family to stop the wedding nor did Dhruv have the guts to defend his love in front of his family so this was the last best option left for us. Besides once these two get married nobody would be able to do anything and everything would fall in its place on its own. Although Dhruv seemed nervous for this as well, the guy was too naive and innocent to resort to such master mind plotting. I too had my own reasons, to save Nanu from committing the blunder and more so I couldn't not imagine myself getting married to a nerd like Dhruv, good that he loved some one else.

When we reached the registrar office and inquired about the details we were dismayed. Apparently we had to apply for it a month before and with the time in our hand this was definitely not an option.

"How about a catholic wedding..I mean Krissane is a catholic and we can definitely work it out", I suggested as we walked out and moved towards our car at the parking lot.

"Hmm..but do you think that will work..I mean it could also take time like this one and all", Dhruv had his concerns right..

"Please Dhruv can you for once think positive..I will talk to Varsha and I think we can carry it out by day after tomorrow or so..you are sure na Krissane will be okay with it", I looked at Dhruv for reaffirmation.

"Yeah she will be fine..we had already discussed about these possibilities."

We were almost done with our conversation and proceeded to return. Dhruv had just taken a step forward when his way was stopped. My eyes widened. I really didn't know how Manik managed to sniff me out from the whole city and then it struck me it had to be my dear friend doing the honors.

"Didn't I ask you to be with me..what are you guys doing here??", Manik was angry and I could see it in his eyes.

I didn't answer him instead looked at Dhruv who looked completely lost and gulped air in nervousness.

"Come on answer me dammit!!!!"

I knew my silence was escalating his rage. I was thinking of what to say when Manik spoke again.

"Fine you wont open your mouth then I guess I have to resort to your not so would be husband", Manik turned to Dhruv and before I could react or stop him Manik raised his fist and swung across Dhruv's jaw in the blink of an eye. The impact of the punch was so hard that Dhruv would have touched the ground in no time had Manik not grabbed him by his collar.

"Manik leave him", I shouted at Manik but in vain.

"Just stay away Nandini, I am going to teach this jerk and his family a lesson that they will not forget for the rest of their lives."

Dhruv was in a bad state. Manik's single punch was too much for him to handle. I saw him bleeding. I knew he was not in a state to save himself, Manik's anger was reaching heights with his silence. I tried to grab Manik's hand and release Dhruv from his clutch but even my attempts failed. Manik raised his fist for a second punch and I clenched onto Manik's sleeves and found myself drawn downwards.

"Manik...Manik.." was the only word that I manage to utter before I found myself being dragged towards the ground. Manik's focus shifted from Dhruv to me and he immediately left his collar and held onto me before I hit the ground. In a fraction of a second his fuming red eyes were clouded with care and concern.

"Nandu..what happened..Nandini open your eyes..please Nandu look at me", he tapped my cheeks continuously to make me look at him as I struggled to keep my eyes open.

Manik didn't waste a single second and he picked me up in his arms and hurried to his car. Manik got really scared as I didn't respond to him. He placed me in the car carefully and drove. He panicked not knowing what to do as I was not gaining my consciousness. He quickly searched his phone to locate a nearby hospital. When we were at a safe distance from the registrar office I shook myself and straightened to sit properly. Manik pulled the car to a halt suddenly and looked at me as if he had seen a ghost.

"What??? Why are you looking at me like that?? Its called tit for tat..you cheated", I held up my hand and pointed at the ring on my finger, "So did I!!", I shrugged nonchalantly.

"So you were pretending..", he said in disbelief, "Are you crazy?? Do you have any idea how scared I got??", he shouted his lungs out in the middle of the road. Thankfully the glasses were up and no one could see us.

I could have defended myself but I didn't. I knew he really got very scared. I saw his eyes were somewhat watery.

"Hang on!! I will tell you what we really need to do", Manik pursed his lips and went back to his phone.

I didn't know what he was up to now. I surely had instigated the tiger in him and now I had to face the consequences. But what did he intend to do. Was he calling Nanu to tell him the truth??

"Manik what are you doing?? Please don't involve Nanu in this..okay I am sorry.. I swear I wont do it again please don't tell them any thing", there was no other option left other than begging.

Manik didn't call anyone but was searching something on his phone. He didn't respond and just started the car and drove. After a 20 odd minute drive he pulled in front of a hospital.

"Why are we here Manik??"

"We are going to see a doctor because we have to..I am sure since the time you have come to know of your pregnancy you haven't visited a doctor..now come out."

"Manik I said I am fine there is nothing wrong with me and I don't need a doctor."

"Fine then.. I guess I have to do it my way", he opened the door and dragged me into his arms and walked inside amidst me protesting and struggling to get down."

"Manik please put me down everyone is looking at us.", I said trying to hide my face.

The people around from the hospital staff to the patients and even other looked at us as if a super hero film was going on.

"Can you please tell me where the gynecology ward is?", Manik asked to one of the nurses on our way.

I tried all the tricks from pleading to threatening for him to let go off me but he was in no mood. He located the ward and took me there.

"Excuse me is there any problem??", A lady doctor asked as she saw me struggling to come down.

"Apparently yes ..right in my arms", Manik replied sarcastically.

I dug my nails at his back at his comment of me being a problem.

"Awww...", he shrieked out loud, " Doctor do you treat wild cats here?? The fierce ones..", he smirked at the last past.

The doctor was confused and I was plain annoyed.

"Leave it..she needs to get her check up done..she is pregnant"

"And who is she..", the doctor seemed curious.

"My wife Nandini Manik Malhotra", he declared proudly.

"I am not his wife doctor.. he is lying", I tried to clear the air.

"Look at her finger..that's my ring..", he said gesturing at my hand that had his ring, "she is a little upset you see..pregnancy ...mood swings..you must be knowing..she wanted chocolate and I got her a vanilla ice cream and you can see the aftermath I had to almost kidnap her to get a check up done."

The doctor and a few other staff around us giggled out loud at our sweet bickering.. I didn't know if I should even attempt to clarify because it was clearly of no use.

"Please get her in", the doctor suggested and Manik took me inside her cabin.

"Okay so Mrs. Malhotra what is the duration??", The Doctor took her seat and gestured us to sit across her table.

"2 months and 3 weeks", I answered plainly, it was surprising how I didn't react to the name she addressed me with in fact I was quite comfortable.

Manik listened carefully to what the doctor had to say. She asked for a few more details about my medical condition, diet, precautions and I answered one by one. Manik made sure he was involved in the whole conversation as much. Even if he didn't understand half the things, he peered and nodded as if he had fathered 10 kids so far.

"Okay so Mr. and Mrs. Malhotra, it seems quite fine but still we will go for a few tests..have you eaten anything since morning??"

"No doctor..I told her so many times to have something but she never listens to me..she had to do some stupid fast in this condition.", Manik said in an agitated tone.

"Well that is definitely not advisable Mrs. Malhotra you have to take care of your diet but as of now it is okay because this test requires you to be empty stomach after that you can have something and we will conduct rest of the tests further. First let's have a quick check up."

She directed me and I lied on the stretcher cum bed on the cabin itself and the Doc pulled the curtains.

"Doctor can I please stay I want to see the baby.", Manik requested pulling the curtain aside.

"Mr. Malhotra I am not going to show you anything it is just a regular check up besides the fetus must not have even developed its limbs at this stage."

"Still please let me stay.", he insisted further.

"Okay.. I must say Nandini..if I can call you so, you have a very loving husband and Mr. Malhotra you would make a doting father too."

I gave a forced smile and Manik chuckled at the doctor's certificate of being a good husband and a father only if she knew what a monster he was and what I had to go through because of him.

"And she doesn't let me come close to her..", Manik complained to the doctor as if she was going to prescribe along with the medicines, let Manik touch you twice a day.

The doctor smiled at us and started the check up of my tummy. Manik looked at my tummy as if he could see his baby there itself. He was emotional; the last time when he kissed there he thought the baby was gone, he had lost it. I knew he wanted to touch and feel but somehow controlled himself in front of the doctor. The doctor called for the nurse and Manik got his moment. He slowly attempted to touch my tummy but I stopped him. I didn't say anything but just looked away. I really didn't want him to see my tears.

The nurse came almost immediately and conducted the test while Manik talked to the doctor outside. I could see him through the curtains; he was completely involved in the discussion and noted everything that the doctor said. I braced myself for the blood test. I have no qualms to admit I am hell scared of injections and the needle that I saw in the nurse's hand was massive. I shut my eyes waiting to be pricked hard but nothing happened. After waiting for some time when I opened my eyes and looked at my hand I found the needle stuck on the bed instead my hand. I looked at the nurse whose focus was no where on the injection but she was shamelessly gaping at Manik and his perfect features. I felt like snatching the injection from her hand and shoving it in her a**.

I sat up on the bed and just couldn't help myself to say, "Will you stop ogling at my husband like that or you will find your eyes rolling on the floor??"

The nurse quickly brought back her attention to her job and I hear a loud and deliberate giggle beyond the curtains. Manik was trying hard to control his laughter while the Doctor looked puzzled. I didn't even realize when the nurse had gone ahead and taken my blood samples.

"Okay Mr. Malhotra I am sending for some fruits and soup..make sure she has that while I come back from my rounds."

The Doctor left, leaving me and Manik alone.

Note:

Guys I am really disappointed with this cold response..I mean there are at least 200-300 reads for each update but I hardly get 8-10 comments which is very discouraging on my part. Silent readers please let me know your feedback coz I really don't get motivated to continue here.