As the evening unfolded, Nandini moved through the crowd, greeting guests and exchanging pleasantries, her mind occupied with the upcoming revelation. Suddenly, she spotted Navya, Vishakha, Bela, and Mahir engaged in conversation with a couple she didn't immediately recognize. Curious, she made her way over, her heart skipping a beat when she noticed a young man standing with them.

As she approached, the couple turned to greet her with warm smiles. "Happy birthday, Nandini," the woman said, her tone gentle and kind.

"Thank you," Nandini replied, forcing a smile as she tried to place their faces. The young man next to them, with a shy smile, stepped forward and wished her as well. "Happy birthday, Nandini," he said, his voice soft.

"Thanks," she replied, her smile feeling even more strained as she realized who they were. This was Mr. and Mrs. Maheshwari, and their son Ronit-the very man her mother had chosen for her to marry. Nandini's heart sank. Why were they here?

She exchanged a few more polite words with them, her mind racing as she tried to maintain composure. Finally, she turned to Vishakha.

"Mumma, can I talk to you for a moment?" she asked, her voice steady but laced with tension.

Vishakha nodded, excusing herself from the conversation and following Nandini to a quiet corner of the garden. The air was cooler here, and the noise of the party seemed to fade into the background.

Nandini took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "Mumma, why did you invite them?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, though the urgency was clear.

Vishakha looked at her with a mix of surprise and confusion. "Nandini, they're family friends. And now we're going to be family, so it's only natural they'd be here."

Nandini felt a pang of frustration. "Mumma, I didn't say yes to anything yet," she said, trying to keep her voice calm but unable to hide the strain.

Vishakha's expression softened slightly, but there was a firmness in her tone as she replied, "Nandini, do you have any issues with the boy? Or his family?"

Nandini shook her head, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on her. "No, Mumma, it's not that. Ronit seems like a nice guy, and there's nothing wrong with his family, but-"

Before she could finish, Vishakha interrupted, her tone growing slightly sharper. "Then what is the problem, Nandini? If the boy is nice and there's no issue with his family, why are you hesitating? Do you think I would make a wrong decision for you?"

Nandini felt a rush of emotions-frustration, sadness, and a deep sense of helplessness. She wanted to tell her mother everything, to explain why this arrangement couldn't work, but she couldn't find the words. Not now, not like this.

She sighed, feeling defeated. "Mumma, I just... I just need some time. I'll talk to you about this after the party, okay?"

Vishakha looked at her daughter, her expression softening as she reached out to gently touch Nandini's cheek. "I know you're nervous, beta, but trust me. I would never choose something that isn't right for you. Now, let's not think about this anymore. It's your birthday, and everyone's waiting for you to cut the cake."

Nandini nodded, her heart heavy with unspoken words. She knew she couldn't push this conversation any further right now. "Okay, Mumma," she said quietly, forcing a smile. "Let's go cut the cake."

As they walked back to the center of the party, Nandini's mind was spinning. She knew she had to have this conversation with her mother soon, but for now, she had to put on a brave face and get through the rest of the evening.

As she approached the table where the cake was waiting, she felt Manik's presence nearby, a comforting reminder that she wasn't alone in this. She glanced in his direction, and their eyes met for a brief moment, giving her the strength she needed to face what was ahead.

The crowd gathered around as Nandini took her place by the cake, the candles flickering softly in the evening breeze. Everyone began to sing, and as she blew out the candles, she made a silent wish-that everything would work out, that she and Manik would find a way to be together, no matter what.

As the cake was cut, Nandini carefully sliced out a piece and turned first to Vishakha, offering it to her with a gentle smile. Vishakha took a bite and then fed Nandini a small piece in return, her eyes shining with pride. Mahir and Bela followed, each taking their turn to feed her, and then Navya, who gave Nandini a playful hug after.

With the family taken care of, Nandini turned to her friends, her heart lightening as she approached them. Mukti and Alya were the first to receive their pieces, followed by Cabir, Dhruv, and Abhimanyu. Each one of them offered a playful comment or a warm hug, their presence a soothing balm to her nerves.

Finally, she moved towards Manik, her heart skipping a beat as she neared him. His eyes sparkled with mischief as she handed him the cake, and instead of simply eating it, he winked at her and dabbed a bit of the frosting onto her nose.

"Manik!" she whined, scrunching her face, but she couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips. In retaliation, she reached out and smeared a bit of frosting into his hair, eliciting a chorus of laughter from their friends.

The moment was light, filled with laughter and warmth, but it didn't go unnoticed by everyone. Vishakha stood nearby, her expression not one of amusement but of something more serious, a strange feeling brewing inside her as she watched the easy camaraderie between her daughter and Manik.

"Nandini," Vishakha's voice cut through the laughter, bringing the moment to a halt. "You should make Ronit eat some cake."

Nandini's smile faltered slightly, her nerves suddenly on edge. She glanced at Manik from the corner of her eye, seeing the tension in his stance, the way his fists clenched slightly at his sides as he tried to maintain his composure.

The room seemed to grow quieter, the festive atmosphere dimming as the weight of Vishakha's request settled over Nandini. She hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest, but when Vishakha asked again, this time more firmly, Nandini knew she couldn't refuse.

She turned slowly, her steps feeling heavier as she moved towards Ronit. He stood there with a polite smile, his demeanor calm and composed, completely unaware of the turmoil within her.

Nandini forced herself to smile as she held out the piece of cake to him. "Here, Ronit," she said, her voice steady despite the nervousness bubbling inside her.

Ronit took a small bite, and then, in a gesture of politeness, he broke off a piece and offered it to her. Nandini leaned forward, taking a small bite, her eyes flicking briefly to Manik, who watched from the sidelines, his jaw set in a hard line as he struggled to keep his emotions in check.

The moment felt like it stretched on forever, a symbolic act that carried far more weight than anyone else in the room could understand. But Nandini knew that this was just the beginning, the first of many steps towards the truth that had to be revealed.

As she stepped back, her nerves still on edge, she felt Manik's eyes on her, a silent reassurance that no matter what happened next, they would face it together. But for now, she had to navigate this delicate dance, balancing the expectations of her family with the truth she held in her heart.

The party continued around them, but for Nandini and Manik, the night had taken on a different meaning, each moment bringing them closer to the revelation that would change everything.

As the evening wore on, the party gradually thinned out, leaving only a few people. Nandini was standing with Navya, chatting with Fab 5 and Abhimanyu, when the quiet atmosphere was disrupted by the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Maheshwari, their son Ronit, and Nandini's family. They approached her with a purpose, their expressions warm but carrying an undercurrent of formality that set Nandini on edge.

Mrs. Maheshwari smiled at her, her eyes glinting with a kind of possessive pride, and before Nandini could fully grasp what was happening, she was gently taking her hand.

"Aunty, what-" Nandini started, confused, but Mrs. Maheshwari cut her off with a soft, motherly tone.

"Now, start calling me Mom, beta," she said, slipping a delicate gold bangle onto Nandini's wrist.

Nandini's heart pounded in her chest, her breath catching as the weight of the bangle seemed to anchor her to the spot. "Aunty, what is this? What are you doing?" she managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mrs. Maheshwari turned to Vishakha, her smile broadening. "I've taken Nandini as my daughter-in-law. We'll talk later about the engagement date."

Vishakha, Bela, and Mahir all exchanged pleased looks, nodding in agreement. "We're happy with this decision," Vishakha added, her tone carrying the finality of a done deal.

The Maheshwaris soon left, their departure leaving a lingering tension in the air. The garden that had been filled with the laughter of friends and family now felt suffocating, as if the joy had been drained out of the space.

But amidst all this, there were two people who were not reacting like the rest: Nandini and Manik. For them, the world seemed to have stopped. Nandini's body felt like it was no longer hers to control; her mind was struggling to process the reality that had just been thrust upon her. Manik, standing a few feet away, was paralyzed, the weight of the situation crashing down on him like a tidal wave.

Mukti, Cabir, and Alya exchanged worried glances and then turned to Navya, who was standing close by. "Is this the guy who's Nandini's boyfriend?" Mukti asked, her voice laced with confusion.

Navya shook her head, her eyes darting between the group and Nandini. "No, that's not him. But Amma-Nandini's mom-is determined to make her marry this guy. Nandini said she was going to reveal her relationship tonight, but we didn't know about this proposal being fixed."

Abhimanyu, noticing the distant look on Nandini's face, chimed in, "Guys, look at her. She's not reacting... it's like she's in shock."

The group turned to Nandini, who stood frozen in place, her eyes wide and unseeing, as if the world around her had blurred into nothingness. The usual warmth and liveliness in her had been replaced by an eerie stillness, her body stiff as a statue. The girls quickly rushed to her side, calling her name softly at first, then more urgently when she didn't respond.

"Nandini? Nandini, can you hear me?" Mukti said, gently shaking her by the shoulders.

Nandini blinked, coming out of her trance, her breathing shallow and fast as if she had forgotten how to breathe properly. She looked at Mukti, her eyes wild with panic, and then turned to Vishakha, who was standing nearby, watching her daughter's reaction with a frown of concern.

"Mumma... engagement?" Nandini's voice was shaky, each word a struggle to form. "But... I didn't say anything..."

Vishakha stepped closer, her expression firm but soft. "You said they were nice, and the boy is good too. So what's the issue, beta? We're thinking of having the engagement by the end of next week."

Nandini's world started spinning. The room felt like it was closing in on her, the walls pressing down, leaving her gasping for air. "No... no... no!" she shouted, her voice breaking as she stumbled backward, her legs weak and barely able to hold her up.

Everyone around her froze in shock, the sudden outburst shattering the calm facade of the evening. Manik, who had been standing in a state of numbness, was jolted back to reality by the sound of Nandini's voice. His heart clenched at the sight of her crumbling in front of them, her body trembling with fear and panic.

Navya quickly moved to her, trying to support her as she stumbled, but Nandini seemed lost in her own world of despair. "No... this can't happen... no..." she mumbled, her voice a choked whisper, as if she couldn't get enough air.

Her breathing grew rapid and shallow, her chest heaving as if she was on the verge of hyperventilating. The panic was visible in every part of her, from the wide, frantic eyes to the way her hands clutched at her dress, desperately trying to hold herself together.

"Nandini!" Manik finally snapped out of his trance, rushing to her side. His heart ached at the sight of her, the pain she was in resonating deep within him. He gently took her face in his hands, trying to ground her. "Breathe, Nandini... just breathe..."

But Nandini was too far gone in her panic, her mind replaying the horror of losing Manik, of being forced into a life without him. Her breath hitched, and she began to gasp for air, her body trembling uncontrollably.

The group watched in shock, not knowing how to help, their own fear and worry mirroring in their eyes. Vishakha and the others were frozen, unable to comprehend what was happening or how to respond.

"Nandini, look at me," Manik said softly, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at him. "Look at me, okay? I'm right here. Just focus on me..."

Slowly, Nandini's wild eyes found his, and she clung to the sight of him like a lifeline. Her breathing began to slow, though her body still trembled as if she might fall apart at any moment. Manik kept his hands on her, his touch grounding her, reassuring her that he was still there.

After what felt like an eternity, Nandini's breathing evened out, the worst of the panic ebbing away. She still shook, her eyes brimming with tears, but she was slowly regaining control. Manik stayed close, his arms around her, whispering soothing words that only she could hear.

The rest of the group stood nearby, their expressions a mix of worry and shock, unsure of what to do or say. The gravity of the situation had shifted, and everyone knew that this night, once filled with celebration, had taken a turn that none of them could have predicted.
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Hope u all like the chapter.....

Few words for Manik....

Few words for Nandini....

What were your favourite moments???

Thank u 🙂🙂

Love,
Kiara ❤️❤️