The next day dawned with bright anticipation as everyone gathered, dressed and ready for a full day of engagement shopping. Cabir, as usual, was in a playful mood, especially keen on keeping Manik away from Nandini. He pulled everyone aside, whispering, “Alright, team. Today’s mission is clear—Operation Keep-Mr.-Hopeless-Romantic-Away-From-His-Girl. We can’t make it too easy on him, can we?”

Nandini overheard the plan, and a giggle escaped her, which she quickly hid behind a hand. She knew this was going to be interesting.

They arrived at the mall, and everyone scattered to different sections, with Cabir keeping a close watch to make sure Manik was always at a distance. Anytime Manik tried to subtly inch toward Nandini, Cabir or someone else would swoop in to lead her to another rack or pull him away with some fabricated excuse.

“Seriously, Cabir?” Manik muttered with a frown after yet another failed attempt to catch up with her. “What, do you have a radar on me or something?”

Cabir just grinned, slapping a hand on Manik’s shoulder. “Come on, jija ji. You’re supposed to be patient, no? The bride needs her space!” he teased, winking.

Manik groaned, clearly exasperated, as Dhruv and Abhimanyu joined in on the laughter. “Patience isn’t exactly my strong suit, you know,” Manik muttered, glaring at them with mock annoyance.

A few steps away, Nandini caught a glimpse of him looking utterly dejected, his shoulders slouched. She bit her lip, trying not to laugh, enjoying the sight of him sulking like a schoolboy who’d just been denied his favorite treat.

Meanwhile, Navya, on her own mission, was buried in a sea of dresses, looking both determined and frustrated. “I just don’t know what to pick! There are too many options, and none of them seem right!” she huffed, tossing one dress back on the rack.

Nandini was about to go over when she paused, an idea lighting up her eyes. She turned to Soha with a soft smile. “Hey, Soha, Navya looks like she could use a hand. Could you help her out?”

Soha glanced over, her eyes widening slightly at the suggestion, then nodded with a faint smile. “Yeah, sure,” she said, walking over to Navya, her steps careful.

Navya noticed her approaching and tensed slightly, but kept her gaze focused on the dresses, her frustration evident. Soha, sensing her hesitation, gave her a gentle smile. “Mind if I help you pick something? I was actually eyeing that color for you earlier,” she said, holding up a soft lavender dress that shimmered subtly under the lights.

Navya glanced at it, her expression softening. “Really? You think this will look good on me?”

“I know it will,” Soha replied, her voice sincere. Navya hesitated for a beat, then took the dress, a shy smile forming as they continued browsing together. Soon, the two of them were chatting, sharing suggestions and even laughing over a few questionable fashion choices.

Nandini watched the scene from a distance, her heart warming. She’d always hoped for her two sisters to get along, and this small moment felt like a step in the right direction.

Meanwhile, Mukti and Alya were by her side, helping her pick her own dress. “Oh, Nandini, try this one!” Alya said, holding up a deep crimson gown with intricate silver embroidery along the neckline. “I think Manik will completely lose it if he sees you in this.”

Nandini laughed, glancing at the dress. “You think so?”

“Oh, absolutely!” Mukti chimed in, winking. “Trust me, his jaw will be on the floor.”

Nandini felt her cheeks warm as she took the dress, nodding shyly. “Alright, let’s give it a try then.”

Over on the other side, Dhruv and Abhimanyu were attempting to help Manik pick a suit, but Manik’s eyes kept wandering over to the other side of the store, trying to catch glimpses of Nandini amidst the racks.

“Manik, focus,” Dhruv said, rolling his eyes and waving a royal blue blazer in front of him. “We have to make sure you look as sharp as Nandini.”

Abhimanyu snickered, holding up a sleek black suit. “How about this one? It’s classic, and it might help distract her from all the sulking you’ve been doing today.”

Manik snatched the suit with a mock scowl. “I wasn’t sulking. I was… being tactical. You know, observing from a distance.”

“Sure, let’s go with that,” Abhimanyu laughed, patting him on the back. “Now let’s get you fitted.”

While Manik was trying on his suit, Cabir sauntered over, leaning casually against the fitting room door. “Having fun, jija ji?”

Manik’s eyes narrowed as he adjusted the suit collar. “You know, Cabir, this teasing of yours has an expiry date, and it’s coming up fast.”

Cabir just grinned, unperturbed. “Well, I still have time until then, don’t I?”

After a few more rounds of playful arguments and enough teasing to last a lifetime, they all finally finished shopping. As they gathered their bags and regrouped, Alya suggested, “Alright, how about dinner? I’m starving!”

Everyone agreed enthusiastically, and they headed to a cozy nearby restaurant, settling into a large table. This time, Manik and Nandini managed to sneak a spot beside each other, much to Manik’s delight.

“Finally!” Manik sighed, leaning toward her with a playful grin. “I thought they were never going to let me near you today.”

Nandini laughed, nudging him lightly. “Patience, remember? Besides, watching you sulk was… entertaining.”

He raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Oh, was it now? Just wait, you’ll pay for that.” He leaned in, his voice low. “You look beautiful, by the way.”

Nandini blushed, her heart skipping a beat. “Thank you, Manik,” she whispered, her smile shy but thrilled.

The others noticed the two sharing a private moment, and Mukti clapped her hands loudly, pulling their attention back. “Alright, lovebirds! We’re here to eat, not to watch you two have your little romance session.”

Manik rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. “Fine, fine. What’s everyone ordering?”

They started discussing food, each placing their orders amid playful arguments. Abhimanyu teased Alya for ordering another salad, while Dhruv pretended to be shocked by Mukti’s enormous dessert selection.

Once the food arrived, they all dug in, laughter and chatter filling the table. Cabir took a spoonful of his dessert, turning to Manik with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Congratulations again, jija ji,” he said, feeding him a bite in an exaggeratedly affectionate manner.

Manik snorted, swatting Cabir’s hand away. “Thanks… saale sahab,” he replied, adding extra emphasis.

Everyone erupted into laughter, and Cabir, never one to back down, grinned. “Glad you’re finally catching on, Manik. Better get used to it now!”

As the evening wore on, the conversation shifted to shared memories and future plans, with everyone taking turns pulling each other’s leg. By the end of the night, they were all leaning back in their chairs, smiling, completely at ease in each other's company.

When they finally parted ways, Manik and Nandini shared a quiet moment outside, walking toward the car. He slipped his hand into hers, his thumb brushing over her knuckles as they strolled.

“Today was perfect,” he murmured, glancing at her with warmth in his eyes. “I can’t wait for us to start this next chapter together.”

Nandini leaned her head against his shoulder, a soft smile playing on her lips. “Me too, Manik. I never imagined things could be this beautiful. But with you, everything feels right.”

They stood there for a moment, wrapped up in each other, before the sound of a honking car brought them back to reality. They laughed, squeezing each other’s hand one last time before parting with soft, lingering glances, knowing that this was just the beginning of their beautiful journey together.

The house was filled with the festive energy of Raksha Bandhan, laughter ringing through every room as everyone gathered. Cabir, however, was in a different world, his gaze lingering on Nandini, lost in the idea of finally having his sister tie him a Rakhi after so many years. Manik noticed the glimmer of emotion in Cabir’s eyes and nudged him with a comforting smile.

“Hey, don’t go getting all weepy on me now,” Manik teased gently, wrapping an arm around Cabir’s shoulders. “She’s right here, and today’s gonna be perfect, okay?”

Cabir smiled, a mixture of excitement and nervousness shining in his eyes. “Yeah… it’s just been so long. I didn’t think I’d ever get to experience this with her.” He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “But you’re right, I’m here for it. Thanks, bro.”

Manik squeezed his shoulder, his own eyes softened with understanding. “Anytime, saale sahab,” he quipped, trying to lighten the mood.

Just then, Mukti bounced over, grinning widely as she held out a Rakhi. With a dramatic flourish, Mukti tied the Rakhi around his wrist, and they exchanged playful smiles. Then she turned to Nandini, smirking as she tied a Rakhi on her too. “Just a little reminder, the role you’re stepping into as Bhabhi is not going to be easy.” Nandini laughed, her cheeks flushed.

Alya came up next, her Rakhi ready. “Alright, Manik, Nandini, my turn!” She tied the Rakhi to Manik first, then turned to Nandini, who held her wrist out with a warm smile.

Once finished, Alya playfully nudged Manik. “Make sure you don’t get into too many fights with our new bhabhi, okay? Otherwise, you’ll have us to answer to.”

“Oh, I’m terrified already,” Manik smirked, earning a light slap on the arm from Alya as everyone laughed.

Nandini then turned to Navya, who was holding a Rakhi as well. They both shared a nostalgic smile, an annual tradition between them as they each held a Rakhi, ready to tie it on each other.

Navya smiled as they tied Rakhi to each other, saying, “Looks like our tradition lives on, no matter how big our family gets.”

Nandini nodded, her eyes misty with emotion. “Always, Navya. I couldn’t imagine Rakhi without you.”

The two shared a brief hug, filled with warmth and years of friendship. Then Nandini moved towards Soha, who looked at her in surprise. With a shy smile, Nandini began tying the Rakhi on her, her voice soft.

“Thank you, Soha. For being here with us,” Nandini said as she tied it.

Soha’s eyes brightened, a soft smile on her face. “No, thank you, Nandini… I didn’t expect this.” She glanced over at Vikrant, who was watching from a distance, his own eyes filled with emotion as he saw his daughter being embraced into the family. Seeing her father like that, Soha’s smile only grew.

Meanwhile, Navya, after a little hesitation, stepped toward Soha. She cleared her throat, her gaze flicking to Nandini for encouragement. “Soha… would you, um… mind if I tied one too?”

Soha’s face lit up, clearly moved. “Navya… of course, I’d love that.” She held her wrist out, and the two shared a smile as Navya tied the Rakhi.

Nandini leaned close, whispering to Navya, “Thank you for this… for forgiving her.”

Navya shrugged, a soft smile on her face. “What can I say? We’re family now.”

Finally, Nandini approached Cabir, who took a deep breath as she tied the Rakhi to his wrist. His fingers trembled slightly, and as the Rakhi rested against his skin, his eyes filled with tears. He pulled her into a tight hug, unable to contain the wave of emotion any longer.

Nandini hugged him back, her own eyes teary. “Bhai… I’m here now. You’re not alone anymore.”

Cabir nodded, his voice thick. “I know. I just… I wish it hadn’t taken this long.”

They stood there for a moment, lost in their reunion, while the others watched with soft smiles, touched by the bond between them. Then, wiping his eyes with a grin, Cabir looked over at Soha.

“Hey, Soha,” he called out with a mischievous smile. “I’m Nandini’s brother, right? Which means you’re my sister now too.” He held out his hand. “You want to tie one on me?”

Soha’s eyes widened, then she smiled, her own emotions breaking through. She stepped forward, tying the Rakhi on him, her hands shaking slightly. Cabir ruffled her hair as they shared a quiet laugh, both touched by the newfound sibling bond.

But the moment of peace didn’t last long, as Manik, who’d been watching this scene unfold with a devilish smirk, decided it was time to turn the tables. He cleared his throat, looking at Cabir with a raised eyebrow.

“So, Cabir,” he began, smirking. “If you’re so ready to accept new sisters, shouldn’t Navya tie a Rakhi on you too? I mean, if she’s Nandini's sister, she’s yours too, right?”

Cabir’s eyes widened as he whipped around, glaring at Manik. “Oh, no, no, no. Let’s not get carried away here, Manik!”

Navya, catching onto the tease, blushed slightly but decided to play along, her face lighting up with mischief. “Why not, Cabir?” she asked, looking around as if searching for another Rakhi. “I mean, family is family.”

“Exactly!” Mukti chimed in, barely able to contain her laughter. “Come on, Cabir, don’t be shy. You can’t just accept some of us and not all!”

Cabir looked around, desperate for an excuse, his ears turning red as everyone broke into laughter. “Well, uh, you see… that’s different!” he stammered, running a hand through his hair. “Navya and I… we… I mean…”

Dhruv shook his head, chuckling as he nudged Cabir. “Face it, Cabir. You’re cornered!”

“But… I think I hear someone calling me!” He pointed toward the door, making a dramatic show of squinting into the distance.

Everyone burst into laughter, and Manik crossed his arms with a smirk. “Nice try, Cabir. But we’re not letting you off that easy.”

Cabir shot him a look of mock betrayal. “Manik, just you wait. Payback is going to be legendary, I promise you that.”

“Oh, I’m shaking,” Manik replied, laughing as Cabir retreated to the corner, red-faced and muttering under his breath.

The elders, too engrossed in their own discussions, missed the whole scene, which only made it funnier for the younger crowd. Finally, when everyone managed to calm down, they gathered for a round of family pictures, capturing the warmth, love, and teasing that had filled the day.

As they all settled down for a meal, Cabir still shot occasional glares at Manik, who only grinned in response. For everyone present, it was a perfect day—a day of laughter, love, and the promise of more such beautiful memories to come.
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Hope u all like the chapter.....

Few words for Manik....

Few words for Nandini....

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

I'm not getting proper response, there is less votes and comments. Am I lacking with something???

Thank u 🙂🙂

Love,
Kiara ❤️❤️