The soft morning light streamed through the curtains of Manik’s room as he paced around, his eyes darting to the clock every few minutes. His hands fidgeted, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt, smoothing down his hair, and straightening his collar. He was dressed immaculately, but something in his demeanor was restless, anxious. Manik Malhotra, who was usually so confident and composed, was finding it hard to keep calm.

Neyonika, who had been watching him with amusement from the doorway, exchanged a knowing glance with Raj. She stepped into the room, smiling gently. "Manik, darling, why are you so nervous?" she asked, her voice light and teasing.

Manik looked at her, letting out a small groan. "Mom, I don't know! It’s just… it feels different. I mean, we're just going to fix the date today, but I feel like it's a bigger deal than that."

Raj chuckled, walking over to his son and placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "Son, Her mother has accepted you. What else could possibly go wrong?"

Manik ran a hand through his hair, still pacing. "I don’t know, Dad. I guess it’s just the thought of it becoming real—official. Like, once the date is set, there’s no going back. It’s happening."

Raj and Neyonika exchanged a soft smile. "That’s how weddings work, son," Raj said, his tone playful but understanding. "It’s a big step, I get it. But you’ve been waiting for this, right? You’ve already fought so many battles for this moment."

Manik nodded, exhaling slowly. "Yeah, I guess so."

From the hallway, Alya’s voice cut through the air, full of amusement. "Oh my God, Manik! You’re acting like you’re going on a first date or something!"

Manik turned to see Alya, Dhruv, Mukti, and Abhimanyu standing at the doorway, grinning at him. Alya had her arms crossed, shaking her head at him in disbelief, while Mukti had a sly smile on her face.

Dhruv walked over and threw his arm around Manik’s shoulders. "Relax, bro," he said with a chuckle. "It’s just fixing the date. You’re already the groom, remember?"

"Exactly!" Mukti chimed in, laughing. "It’s not like Nandini’s going to suddenly change her mind now."

Manik shot her a look, but he couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at the corners of his lips. "Thanks for the support, guys," he said dryly.

Abhimanyu, who had been quietly watching from the side, stepped forward with a grin. "You know, Manik, this is just the beginning. The actual wedding day is going to be ten times more nerve-wracking. If you’re this jittery now, I can’t wait to see you on the big day."

Manik groaned, shaking his head. "Great, thanks for that, Abhi. Really calming."

Everyone laughed, the teasing lightening the mood in the room. Alya clapped her hands together, her voice filled with excitement. "Alright, enough picking on the groom-to-be. We’ve got a big day ahead, so let’s get going! Nandini’s family is waiting."

Manik nodded, taking a deep breath as he tried to steady himself. He could feel the anticipation building in his chest, but there was also a warmth in knowing that today was another step toward the life he and Nandini had dreamed of. It’s going to be okay, he told himself. It’s just fixing the date.

As they all made their way downstairs, Raj gave Manik one last pat on the back. "You’ve got this, son," he said with a smile.

Once they were in the car and heading toward Nandini’s home, the teasing continued. Alya, sitting beside Mukti, leaned over with a mischievous grin. "You know, Manik, if you’re this picky about your shirt today, I can’t even imagine how many times you’ll change on the wedding day."

Mukti smirked, joining in. "I bet he’ll make us late to his own wedding!"

Manik rolled his eyes, though there was a faint smile on his lips. "Okay, fine. I’ll admit I might be overthinking it a little."

"A little?" Dhruv raised an eyebrow, grinning from the passenger seat. "Dude, you’ve been acting like you’re about to meet Nandini for the first time."

Manik sighed, shaking his head. "You guys are really enjoying this, huh?"

Abhimanyu chuckled from the back. "Oh, absolutely. It’s not every day we get to see Mr. Calm-and-Collected Manik Malhotra get nervous."

In the soft glow of Nandini’s room, the air was thick with excitement and a touch of nervous energy. Nandini stood in front of the mirror, her reflection staring back at her, adorned in a simple yet elegant outfit. Her hair was styled perfectly, framing her face in soft waves, and her makeup was natural, highlighting her features beautifully. Despite her stunning appearance, Nandini’s anxiety was palpable as she fidgeted with her pallu of saree, adjusting it over and over.

"Navya, Soha... is this okay?" Nandini asked for what felt like the tenth time, her voice slightly shaky. "I mean, does it look good? Are you sure everything’s perfect?"

Navya, who was standing to her left, sighed but smiled warmly, adjusting the end of Nandini's dupatta for her. "Nandini you look perfect," she reassured her. "Manik is going to lose his mind when he sees you."

Nandini looked at Navya with a small smile, but her eyes quickly darted to Soha, who was on her right, holding a tray with some jewelry options. "Soha, what do you think?" Nandini asked nervously, her fingers brushing over her earrings.

Soha’s lips curled into a gentle smile, her tone soft but sincere. "You look beautiful, Nandini. I promise you, Manik won’t be able to take his eyes off you."

Despite Soha’s kind words, Navya's jaw tightened. She gave a brief nod but didn't engage further, her discomfort around Soha still evident. Yet, for Nandini’s sake, Navya held her tongue, choosing not to create tension on such an important day.

The atmosphere in the room felt divided—on one side, there was Nandini's excitement and nerves about the big day, and on the other, the quiet unease between Navya and Soha. Every time Soha tried to help, Navya would subtly move away, creating a quiet but noticeable gap between them. Soha, for her part, kept trying, though her efforts were met with cold tolerance.

As Nandini stared at herself in the mirror again, she fiddled with her necklace, her brow furrowed. "Are you sure this isn’t too much? Maybe I should change it?" she asked anxiously, looking back and forth between Navya and Soha.

Navya rolled her eyes, her tone playful but filled with affection. "Nandini, stop overthinking! You’re stunning! Seriously," she said, tugging at Nandini’s hand to stop her from adjusting the necklace again. "Manik is going to be speechless, okay?"

Soha nodded, adding softly, "You look exactly how you should—like a bride-to-be. And trust me, Manik won’t care about the jewelry. He’ll only have eyes for you."

Nandini smiled, her heart settling slightly at their reassurances. Despite everything, having both Navya and Soha by her side gave her comfort. "Thanks," she murmured, her eyes flickering to both of them.

Navya smiled back, but the tension between her and Soha hung in the air. As Navya stepped back to adjust the fall of Nandini's dupatta again, Soha quietly gathered some of the scattered bangles, her fingers moving carefully as she tried to find ways to help without overstepping.

"So," Soha started tentatively, glancing at Navya as she handed Nandini a bangle. "I was thinking we could add some of these bangles for a more traditional look. What do you think, Nandini?"

Navya's eyes narrowed for a brief second, though she masked it quickly, nodding with tight-lipped approval. "Sure," she muttered, her tone restrained, "if Nandini wants them."

Nandini noticed the underlying tension between the two but chose to ignore it for now. Her mind was already buzzing with a hundred other thoughts. "Yeah, let's do that," she said, her voice soft as she allowed Soha to slip the bangles onto her wrist.

As Soha carefully placed each bangle, her fingers brushing lightly against Nandini's skin, she glanced at Navya. "I know things are still... tense between us, Navya, but I really want to fix things. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone."

Navya didn’t respond at first, her eyes trained on Nandini’s dupatta as she adjusted it once more. After a long pause, she spoke, her voice low but steady. "I’m doing this for Nandini. Let’s focus on that today."

The weight of her words lingered in the air, and Soha nodded silently, understanding that things wouldn’t be resolved in one conversation.

Just then, Nandini let out a nervous laugh, shaking her head. "I still can’t believe this is happening," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "I mean, I’ve imagined this day so many times, but now that it’s real, it feels... surreal. What if something goes wrong? What if—"

"Nandini!" Navya interrupted, placing her hands firmly on her shoulders and forcing her to face the mirror. "Stop it. Nothing is going to go wrong. This is your day. Everything is perfect. You are perfect. Manik’s waiting for you, and he’s going to be blown away."

Nandini looked into the mirror, seeing Navya’s determined eyes staring back at her. Her anxiety softened into a smile, though her heart still raced.

Soha, trying to lighten the mood, grinned and added, "Yeah, and besides, you’ve got us. We’ll make sure everything goes smoothly. No disasters, I promise."

Nandini let out a breathy laugh, feeling a bit more at ease. She looked at both Navya and Soha, grateful to have them by her side despite the tension. "Thanks, you guys. I don’t know what I’d do without you."

Navya softened, her eyes warm as she tucked a strand of Nandini’s hair behind her ear. "That’s what we’re here for."

In the living room, Cabir was bustling around with an unusual level of energy, making sure everything was perfect for when Manik’s family arrived. He checked the seating arrangements, ensuring the living room was spotless, and asked Vishakha for updates on the refreshments, clearly eager to make sure nothing was out of place.

As he arranged the cushions one last time, Cabir paused, his eyes wandering around the room. His mind drifted back to how everything had changed in such a short time. His sister—his twin—was getting married. A strange mixture of pride and sadness settled in his chest. He wanted everything to be perfect for her. She deserved it after everything she had been through.

Bela, who had been helping Vishakha in the kitchen, noticed Cabir standing quietly in the living room, staring off into space. She walked over to him, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. "You okay, Cabir?" she asked softly.

Cabir snapped out of his thoughts, offering her a small smile. "Yeah, just... thinking. It’s weird, you know? Nandini’s getting married soon. It’s not even a few days I got her back and here she is going to be away from me again."

Bela nodded, smiling warmly. "I know what you mean. But don’t worry you still have time to be with her, and she will not be that far from you. It feels like she’s grown up so fast. But you’ve done such a great job, Cabir. She’s lucky to have a brother like you."

Cabir chuckled softly, his voice tinged with emotion. "I don’t know about that, but... I just want everything to be perfect for her."

Vishakha walked in, wiping her hands on a towel, her expression kind but tired. "Everything will be perfect, Cabir. You’ve made sure of that." She gave him an approving nod before glancing at the clock. "We should be expecting them any minute now."

Cabir straightened up, his nervous energy returning. "You are Right Aunty. Let’s make sure everything’s ready." Vishakha frowned, and said, Whom are you addressing as aunty, just like I’m Nandini’s mother I’m your mother too."

Cabir got emotional and nodded saying, "Okay Mom. " Vishakha smiled and they got busy in preparations.

As the final touches were made, the doorbell rang, and everyone in the house seemed to hold their breath. It was time.

Back upstairs, Nandini was pacing again, her heart racing as she heard the sound of voices from downstairs. "They're here," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Navya and Soha exchanged amused glances before Navya placed her hands on Nandini’s shoulders. "Calm down, Nandini. It’s just Manik’s family. You’ve met them a thousand times."

Nandini nodded, taking a deep breath. "I know. But this time it’s different."

Soha smiled softly. "Different in the best way."

And with that, they guided Nandini down the stairs, where the next chapter of her life was waiting to begin.

Manik entered the house, his nervous energy still simmering beneath his calm exterior, accompanied by his family and friends. As soon as they crossed the threshold, Cabir's voice rang out with a teasing grin plastered on his face.

"So, Manik, now that you're here as Nandini's prospective husband, I think you need to be more respectful to me," Cabir declared, folding his arms and raising an eyebrow. "After all, I'm her brother first then your best friend. That changes things, don't you think?"

Manik shot him a look, sarcasm already on the tip of his tongue. "Respectful? To you?" He smirked, folding his arms in return. "I thought I was doing you a favor by marrying your sister. Shouldn't you be thanking me?"

Cabir chuckled, shaking his head as he moved closer, a mock-serious expression on his face. "No, no, buddy. You’ve got it all wrong. You need to be on your best behavior, or else..." He paused dramatically, leaning closer to whisper conspiratorially, "...I might not let this wedding happen."

Manik narrowed his eyes, glaring at him playfully. "Is that so?," he said in a low, mock-threatening tone, "I’ll dig your grave right here if you try anything."

Cabir laughed louder, ignoring Manik’s faux warning. He threw an arm around Manik’s shoulder, his voice dripping with humor. "Chill, Jija ji," he teased, drawing out the words with relish. "You’re stuck with me whether you like it or not."

The rest of the group burst into laughter, enjoying the light banter. Alya, Mukti, and Dhruv were snickering while Raj and Neyonika shook their heads with amused smiles. Manik, though he was trying to keep a straight face, couldn’t help but laugh along, rolling his eyes at Cabir’s antics.

Just as the teasing was hitting its peak, the sound of soft footsteps descending the stairs caught everyone’s attention. Manik instinctively turned toward the staircase, and the playful grin on his face slowly faded, replaced by a look of quiet awe.

Nandini was walking down the stairs, flanked by Soha and Navya. She was dressed in a saree, the very color Manik had once mentioned he would love to see her in. The way the fabric draped her frame, the light shimmer that caught the sunlight, and the way her hair cascaded in soft waves—it was everything he had imagined and more. She looked ethereal, and for a moment, Manik felt like time had stopped.

His breath hitched as his eyes remained glued to her. This was it—the moment they had both dreamed about, the one that was finally becoming a reality. Manik's mind flashed back to the countless times they had talked about this day, about their families coming together, about the excitement, the nerves, and the joy. And now, it was all happening, right before his eyes.

Nandini's heart raced as she carefully descended, her eyes darting nervously around the room until they landed on Manik. For a second, her gaze softened, and a tiny smile crept onto her lips. She could feel his eyes on her, and the warmth of his gaze sent a shiver down her spine. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she shyly sat next to Neyonika, her hands trembling slightly in her lap.

From the corner of her eye, Nandini noticed Manik still staring at her, his expression full of love and admiration. Her cheeks flushed pink, and she bit her lower lip to stop the smile that was threatening to spread across her face.

"Bhai, you’re going to burn a hole in Nandini with that stare," Mukti teased, nudging him with her elbow. The room erupted in laughter, and Nandini’s blush deepened as she glanced away shyly, unable to meet his eyes anymore.

Cabir joined in immediately, his grin wide. "Arre, look at him! He’s completely lost in her. Her brother is sitting right here, dude, and you’re acting like no one else exists!"

Manik’s lips twitched as he tried to suppress a grin. "Shut up, Cabir," he muttered, though the smile was already breaking through. His eyes, however, never left Nandini, who dared to steal a glance at him through her lashes.

Just then, Panditji arrived, and the room quieted down as the priest was led to his seat. He began to look through the Kundlis, running his fingers over the charts and doing his calculations. Everyone waited in anticipation, with Manik sneaking occasional glances at Nandini, who was still blushing under all the attention.

Panditji finally spoke after a few moments, his tone calm. "There are two auspicious dates available for the wedding. One is after one month, and the other is after six months."

The room buzzed with excitement, but before anyone could say anything, Cabir grinned mischievously. He leaned forward and announced, "I think six months would be perfect, don’t you all think?" He raised an eyebrow and looked around the room, smirking as he spoke.

The reaction was instantaneous. Nandini’s face fell, her eyes widening slightly in surprise and disappointment. She had been hoping for a much sooner date, and the thought of waiting six months felt like an eternity. Manik, on the other hand, shot Cabir a death glare, his jaw tightening as if he was preparing to lunge at him.

"Cabir," Manik said through gritted teeth, his voice low and dangerous, "I swear if you say another word, that six-month date will be the last thing you ever suggest."

Cabir, unfazed by Manik’s glare, simply grinned wider, completely ignoring the warning. "Relax, Manik. I’m just looking out for you. Maybe a six-month engagement will be good."

The room burst into laughter again as Manik clenched his fists, but his lips twitched, fighting the urge to laugh at Cabir’s nonsense.

Before the teasing could go any further, Vishakha intervened, smiling warmly. "Stop teasing them, Cabir," she said, looking around at everyone. "One month is perfect. Panditji, we’ll take the earlier date."

Manik relaxed, letting out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding, while Nandini's face lit up with relief. The pandit nodded and continued, "As for the engagement, there is an auspicious day in one week."

Everyone agreed eagerly, and as soon as Panditji finished the formalities and Vishakha handed him the Dakshina, the room erupted in joyful chatter. Hugs were exchanged, and sweets were passed around as everyone celebrated the upcoming wedding.

Cabir, ever the prankster, grabbed two large laddu and marched over to Manik, grinning ear to ear. "Here you go, Jija ji," he said cheekily, stuffing both laddus into Manik’s mouth at once. "Congratulations!"

Manik glared at him, his mouth full, but as soon as he managed to swallow, he smirked. "Thanks, saale." He raised an eyebrow and added with a playful glint, "Saale sahab."

Cabir raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained by Manik’s banter. "Ah, now you’re learning how to address me properly," he said, pretending to be serious.

Manik laughed, and before anyone knew it, he was pulled into a group hug, with everyone surrounding him and Nandini. The warmth of family and friends enveloped them both as they stood at the center of this new chapter in their lives.

Nandini glanced up at Manik, her eyes full of emotion. He squeezed her hand gently, his thumb tracing soft circles on her skin, silently promising that this was just the beginning of their forever.
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Hope u all like the chapter.....

Few words for Manik....

Few words for Nandini....

Finally our Manik and Nandini are getting married.....

So any particular wish as in any scene you want me to write????

Thank u 🙂🙂

Love,
Kiara ❤️❤️