2 More Days later...

The Malhotras had a small wedding ceremony that only included family & a few friends as they didnt want their enemies to find out.

Nandini was sitting on her new husband's bed, her ghungat covering her face. Finally the door opened and Nandini saw her husband walk in. She curled her toes up and brought her knees closer to her chest. Her heart pounded louder and louder as her husband came upto the bed. She watched as he took out two guns from his pocket and placed them on the side table. Then he took out a long sharp and shiny knife that had a special carving on the handle. Propping up one foot on the bed, he used the tip of the knife to lift Nandini's chin up to face him. Her ghungat was still covering her face so he couldnt see her face clearly but she could see him.

"Look....I never wanted to marry you." He said. Nandini, terrified peaked up at him through her veil. "Lekin mere parents ko paata nahi kya ho gaya aur zid leke baith gaye....I only married you for their sake. Toh tum raho yahan...jo karna hai karo, tumhe koi nahi rokhega....but no matter what, meri biwi banne ki koshish mat karna! Do I make myself clear?"

Nandini gulped as he loomed over her and slowly she nodded.

"Good...no get out."

Nandini was confused.

"This is my room...aur Manik Malhotra ke kamre mein rehne ka haq kisi ko nahi hai. So...get....OUT!" Manik's booming voice startled Nandini and she quickly ran out of the room, gathering her lehenga up in her arms. As soon as she left, Manik slammed the door shut and Nandini slid to the ground in tears.

"Nandini?" Nyonika who was walking by saw Nandini on the floor outside of Manik's room and came to check on her. 

"Dr Nyonika...main thik hoon."

"First of all, ghar mein...its Mom, ya phir Ma. And second, Ma se koi kuch chupa nahi sakta." Nyonika. "Come...Ill talk to Manik."

"Nahi Dr...I mean Ma, Its okay. He is right, its his room. Aap mujhe guest room dikha dijiye." 

After Nandini insisted, Nyonika finally agreed and took Nandini to a guest room which was only a few doors away from Manik's room.

"Mom...aap bhabhi ko guest room mein kyun le jaa rahi hai?" Dhruv asked as he was walking by with Riddhima. Nyonika didnt say anything but they understood that Manik probably kicked her out. Riddhima went over to Nandini and placed her arm over her shoulder.

"Dont worry...Manik bhaiyya thoda sa intimidating hai, but you'll get used to it. In the mean time, main aaj ke liye apni hone wali jethaniji ko company deti hoon." Riddhima said. "Thats ok right Dhruvji?"

"Haan of course....Just inform your family." Dhruv smiled.

"I will." Riddhima nodded.

"Riddhima beta, Harsh bhaisaab aur bakki sab kyun nahi aaye?" Nyonika asked.

"Aunty, actually they were busy and this was a bit last minute so...Im really sorry."

"Thats ok. I understand. Anyways, you girls get to sleep....its pretty late."

Riddhima took Nandini into the room and sat down on the bed as she started crying.

"Nandini...I know how you must be feeling right now. Tumhe iss sab ki aadat nahi hai, isi liye maine aaj tak tumhe mere mafia connections ke baare mein nahi bataya." Riddhima said. 

"Ridhs....I had so many dreams, meri shaadi ko leke...ki meri shaadi kisi aise insaan se hoga who will love me the most in the world. Someone who will be my saviour, mere so called family se mujhe jo bachayega...lekin instead I got married to this...this MONSTER." Nandini cried.

"Manik bhai isnt a monster Nandini, I know tumhe lag raha hoga ki Im biased lekin Manik bhai sirf bahar se scary aur intimidating hai, andar se he is a different. Trust me, main unko bachpan se jaanti hoon. This may seem like a lie kyunki yeh mafia ke log hai par Manik sach mein tumhari saviour hai...just give him and this relationship a bit of time." Riddhima said. Soon the two girls fell asleep while talking to eachother.

Next Morning...

Nandini woke up early as she was used to it and saw Riddhima was still asleep. She was cuddling a pillow and mumbling to herself.

"Dhruvji aap boooohhhhooot sweet hai." 

Nandini giggled to herself and then went into the washroom to freshen up and change. In the washroom she found a saree and some jewelry kept on the counter with a note from Nyonika.

Nandini beta, this is your first morning as a Malhotra Bahu. Yeh saree aur jewar pehen ke niche aa jao, aaj tumhari pehli rasoi hogi aur phir shaam ko Muh Dikhai ki rasam.

Nandini put the saree and jewelry on for Nyonika's sake before going downstairs.

She made her way to the kitchen where Nyonika & Sakshi were preparing breakfast.

"Ma....aapne bulaya?" Nandini asked.

"Haan Nandini...tum Sakshi se toh mil hi chuki ho na Shaadi mein? Yeh meri devrani aur tumhari Chachi hai." Nyonika introduced her. Nandini bent to take Sakshi's blessings but was pulled into a hug.

"Humare yahan betiya pair nahi choote." Sakshi said. "Vaise Bhabhi....aapne toh badi hi khubsoorat bahu chuna hai humare Golu ke liye."

"Golu?" Nandini asked. Sakshi made a face as she realized what she said while Nyonika chuckled.

"Actually, Manik jab chota tha tab gol matol sa tha toh ghar mien hum sab usse Golu bulate they." Nyonika replied. Nandini couldnt help but start laughing and seeing her, Nyonika & Sakshi also laughed.

"Acha par, Manik ke samne yeh naam mat lena. Usse pasand nahi hai. Aur agar usse paata chal gaya ki maine tumhe bata diya toh gussa karega." Sakshi said. This reminded Nandini of Manik's behaviour the night before and her smile disappeared.

"Ji.. Chachi." Nandini replied.

"Nandini...tum ek kaam karo.Pehli rasoi ke liye tum apne pasand ka koi mithai bana do. Bakki sab hum kar lenge." Nyonika instructed. Nandini nodded and got to work.

Slowly the family members came down and sat at the table. Prithvi & his wife Vasuda sat at each end of the table and the other members sat around. Nyonika & Sakshi brought out the breakfast but stopped evryone before they started.

"Before you all start eating, Nandini ki pehli rasoi hai...pehle uski dish try karenge sab aur phir uske baad breakfast."

"Mom, I dont have time fro this nonsense...Kaam pe jaana hai mujhe." Manik rolled his eyes.

"Manik." Raj gave him a stern look. Manik sighed and sat back down. "Rehan beta, you also sit."

Rehan nodded and sat down beside Riddhima. Nandini came out with a bowl and placed it on the table.

"Arre vah! Khushbu toh badi achi aa rahi hai." Vasudha commented.

"Why does this look like literal shit?" Manik asked out loud. Nandini felt hurt and looked down while everyone glared at Manik for being so rude.

"Manik...Nandini made Kheer." Nyonika said.

"Kheer? Since when is Kheer brown?" Manik made a face.

"Woh...actually normal kheer toh sab banate hai toh I thought to do something different. This is Chocolate Coconut Kheer." Nandini said. 

"Whatever." 

"You're right Bhabhi." Rehan spoke up. "This is different and It looks delicious."

He took a spoon and tasted it. "MMMM...so good!"

One by one everyone tried it and complimented Nandini. Raj & Prithvi gave her money as a nek and seeing everyone enjoy the kheer, Manik also took a bite. The taste was truely very yummy, it almost melted in his mouth and the sweetness wasnt overpowering in any way. Manik didnt like anyone's cooking very easily but Nandini's kheer was so good that he ended up complimenting her. "Its nice."

Manik's younger cousin, Ishaan who was sitting on the other side of Nandini leaned in and whispered. "I know it wasnt very clear lekin that was Manik bhai's way of complimenting you bhabs. Nice job...pehle hi din aapne bhai ko apne khaane se impress kar diya?"

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Coming Next:

Nandini sat on the couch as guest came and gave her gifts and blessings. She was expecting Manik to be there but on the other hand she wasnt all that surprised that he wasnt. 

At that moment, Harsh Dhawan entered and was greeted by Raj.

"Harsh mere bhai! Itna busy tha ki Manik ki shaadi pe bhi nahi aa paya tu? Aur aaj bhi bhabhiji nahi aayi."

"Sorry yaar, I hasd to deal with some office work....and haan tere bhabhi aaj bhi nahi aa payi. Usse kuch kaam tha. Lekin now Im here, apne bahu se toh milwa." Harsh said. Raj pointed to where Nandini was sitting and seeing her Harsh was in shock.

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Note: Hope you like this chapter. Comment below what you thought. Why do you think Harsh will get shocked seeing her. If you have any thoughts on that pls send me a private message.