Part 13
"Nandini... Jawaab do... Chup kyun ho..." Manik brought her out of her trance.
"Hmmm..." Nandini turned and lift her head to look at him. She grabbed a pillow under her head and said.
"Manik... Ek baat kahun..." She asked.
"Haan... Bolo na..." He said while resting his head on his elbow lying on his side.
"Tum kitne weird ho Gaye ho nai..." She said.
"Matlab..." He gave a questioning look.
"Matlab yeh... Ki I have a doubt now... For sure... Tumhe goli dil mein lagi thi na... Kahin uska Asar brain pe tou nahi ho Gaya..." She was very serious.
"Nandini saaf saaf bolo... Kya Bol rahi ho..." He was getting irritated.
"You have changed so much... Your style changed , your way of expressing things changed..." She said taking a deep breath.
"You confessed your love in the bathroom , you proposed me in the bed room , and now you are asking me to marry you tomorrow on the bed lying on top of me... Isko weird nahi bolenge..." She said the whole thing in one go.
Manik laughed out loud and Nandini covered his mouth with her palm.
"Kya kar rahe ho... Amms jaag jaayengi... Be a little quiet..." She said leaning on him and makes him lie on his back.
He was still chuckling under her palm.
And he bring her closer holding her by her waist.
She was on top him now.
Being back to serious mode he pulled her more close to him and said.
"Weird nahi... You can say I became practical... Because I can't stay away from you anymore... Not even for a single second... And to be with you always... This is the one and only simple way..." He glanced at her.
"Tou Manik we can do the engagement naa... Than we will marry when you can inform all of your friends... Aur waise bhi Mukti , Aliya and Dhruv bhi Tou nahi hai naa yahan per... " she tried to explain all the odds and the consequences they will have to go through.
"Don't worry about all those things... I will handle everything and Mukti Aliya and Dhruv too... Bas Tum yeh bolo Kya Tum kal mujhse shaadi karogi..." He cut her off and... His expressions were damn serious.
"But Manik kal hi kyun... Why do you want to marry tomorrow itself..." Nandini asked.
Manik sat on the bed making a pretzel and hold Nandini's hands in his.
"Nandini eight years... We have lost eight years of togetherness... All the happiness , sadness , happy moments , sad moments , every little details of our lives... We missed so much... So now I don't want to miss any single second of our lives living separate... " he took a pause then continued.
"I want us to be together... And face all the goods and the bads of our lives together... You know since we met... We didn't even slept without each other... Not even for a single night and you think we can stay away from each other..." Manik finished and waited for her response.
But to his surprise she didn't say anything. She was listening to him quietly with all the attention.
He pulled her to a sitting position and make her sit face to face.
"Nandini... Tell me something... Within this two weeks your leave is gonna end... You will go back to your normal routine life and I will go back to Mumbai and will be busy in my life... There won't be ME in your life and there won't be YOU in my life... Will you be able to live like that without ME in it... Because as far as with me... I can't even think of my life without YOU in it..." He said again.
Nandini was silent imagine the situations were there's not gonna be Manik in her life.
She shudders with just the thought of a life living without him. She got scared and all of a sudden she climbed on his lap and hugged him tight.
He understood her fear of staying away from him and he hugged her tight pulling her to him on his lap.
He heard her sobs on his neck.
"Nandini... It's ok I understand... Even I can't think of living without you... Sshh... Please calm down... I'm right here... I'm not leaving you... Calm down..." He started rubbing her back with a lot of love to assure her that he's here for her.
The loneliness of last eight years flashed in front of her eyes.
She clunged to him more tight as if... Feeling that if she leaves him than he will disappear again.
"Nandini... Please talk to me... Don't be afraid... Share your fears with me... Share your feelings with me... What's making you insecure... Tell me honey... I'm here... I'm right here..." He gave his assurances to make her feel secure.
She loosened her grip and rest her head on his shoulder.
"Manik... You know... No matter how much fun I make... Or try to be jovial from outside... The fact is even I can't imagine my life without you... Just the thought of you going away makes me scared... I can't stay away from you not even for a second... Main soch hi nahi sakti Tumse dur rehne ke baare mein..." She makes her grip tight again hugging him.
"Tou Maine Kab kaha Ki main tumhe chod kar kahin jaa raha hoon... Jab tak Tum Haan nahi karti... Main tumhe sone nahi dunga..." He traced his fingers on her hair.
She chuckles.
"Tou tumhe poora yakin hai Ki main Haan hi bolungi..." She asked with a tease.
"Yup..." He makes an interesting face and said.
"Aur agar main naa bolun Tou..." She teased him again.
"Bolke Tou dekho..." He framed his fingers in her waist and tightened it.
She kept quiet for a while and pulled herself away from him.
"Kya hua..." He asked.
"Manik... Let's get married..." She said with a serious face and than she smiled.
"What... What did you just said... Say it again..." He asked with disbelief.
"Let's get married... Main jald se jald tumhari ho jaana chahti hoon... Taaki no one... I mean no one can separate us..." She said.
He pulled her again in a big bear hug with so much of emotions and happiness that she has given him in just saying a yes to him.
"I love you Nandini... I love you so much..." He whispered in her neck.
"I love you too Manik..." And she answered back.
They drifted into sleep dreaming about the new morning in their life that will bring the togetherness they were waiting for years.
Next morning Amms woke up at 6am a little different from her daily routine because she slept late and she noticed Nandini was missing from her bed but she ignored thinking that maybe she woke up early and she went downstairs to make the breakfast.
When she came downstairs she saw Nandini and Navya in the kitchen.
Nandini went upstairs back again making excuse , and that gave Navya a chance to talk to Amms.
Navya almost let Amms know about Manik's plan to get married with Nandini today itself.
First Amms was surprised and than panicked too... But Navya handled her very gently by explaining her about how important it is... To get them both married before anything else happens.
To a certain extend Amms understand the delicate situation. And after all she knows how much her grand daughter has suffered staying away from Manik. The only light and star of her life.
After the breakfast Manik and Nandini sat in front of Amms and Manik took her hands in his.
"Amms... I wanted to tell you something... But I don't know how you will react... Actually I wanted to ask you something..." Manik asked hesitantly.
Amms smiled at his nervousness and said.
"I think I have a slight idea what you wanted to ask me... But still I wanted to hear from you... So go ahead..." She said.
"Amms... Woh... I mean... " he was looking here and there to choose the correct choice of words to express his feelings.
"Bolo Manik... Ghabraao nahi... Main sun rahi hoon..." Amms pushed him to say what he wanted to say.
"Woh... Amms...
I wanted to marry Nandini today... With your permission and blessings... " phew at last it came out...
Nandini was waiting for this to pass as it was the difficult situation for her too...
Because even she wanted to know Amms reaction.
Amms smiled widely. Manik and Nandini was surprised seeing her face and they exchange their looks to each other.
"What happened... You both look surprised... Actually... Thanks to Navya , she already gave me a hint that this was coming so she prepared me ahead of time... That's why I was not shocked..." She said.
She made them sit beside her on both her sides.
"Listen Manik... I know you guys , both of you have suffered equally... Living away from each other... And of all the people... I will be the happiest person if my Kanna will be happy in her life... What more do I want... And you both are mature enough to take your own decisions... So I am ok with it..." She paused and than continued.
"But... You know what you are doing naa... Baad mein koi problem ya Aur Kuch Tou nahi hoga na..." She showed her concerns.
"Aap bilkul fikar mutt kariye... I will handle everything... And I promise you I won't let any problem or any bad thing even touch Nandini... I won't let anything happen to her... Trust me Amms..." He gave the guarantee Amms wanted to hear.
"I trust you Manik..." Amms assured him.
"But what about the arrangements... How will we do all the preparations today itself..." Amms asked.
"Woh Amms... Cabir..." Navya interrupted...
"Cabir na... He left early in the morning and said that he knows people here and he will make all the arrangements and come back... Till than we have to be ready..." She said with a wide grin.
"Par clothes , jewelry... What about that... " Amms,asked again.
"Humne sab intezaam kar liya hai... Hume pata tha Ki Manik in sab ke baare mein sochega bhi nahi... Isliye hum sab Kuch apne saath Laye hain..." She gave a victorious look giving herself a pat in her mind.
Nandini and Manik gave an appreciating look to her.
Amms blessed them both by putting her hands on their head.
"Chalo... Nandini... Hum log ready hote hai..." Navya told Nandini and they both went in the room.
Manik went outside after calling Cabir and making sure about his whereabouts.
He took the cab and joined him.
It was evening when Cabir and Manik came home after arranging everything.
From the temple , to the priest who's going to get them married , and the flower garlands and what all was necessary to get two people married.
Till than Navya made Nandini ready turning her into a beautiful bride. And when Manik was trying to entered the bedroom she denied his entrance saying that now he will see her in the temple.
Nandini reminded Navya about Manik's medicine.
"Navya... You are not letting me meet him... But at least let me give him the medicine... He will only eat by me..." Nandini request her.
"Hum hai na... Hum khila denge... Ek din Woh hamare haath se kha lega..." Navya said and taking the medicine she went to the other room where Manik and Cabir was getting ready.
After knocking the door she entered and offered the medicine to Manik.
Manik got little upset not seeing Nandini with the medicine.
"Nandini ne kaha hai Ki tumhe yeh dawai khani zaroori hai... " Navya informed him.
"Haan rakhdo... I will eat later..." He said lightly.
Navya understood his carelessness and said in a firm tone.
"Dekho Manik...l know that... Daily you eat medicine with her hands only... But today to keep yourself fit and fine you have to eat it even without her...ab shararafath se yeh khalo... Hume bhi ready hona hai..." She said and left from there.
Cabir laughed at his wife's attitude.
While both Navya and Cabir getting ready in the washrooms Nandini grab the chance and sneaked out of her room and went to Manik's room. The door was half opened. She peaked from the door and called Manik.
"Manik..." She whispered slowly...
"Haan..." He answered back. He was about to open the door fully but she stopped him.
"Don't open the door... Tumne medicine le li..." She asked.
"No..." He hesitantly answer.
"Ok.. Close your eyes..." She said.
"What..."
"Close your eyes... Please..." She pleaded again.
"Ok..." And he closed his eyes.
She pulled her veil to cover her face and entered the room.
Taking the medicine and the glass of water she came near him.
"Open your mouth..." She said.
Like an obedient child he open his mouth with his eyes closed.
She put the medicine in his mouth and makes him drink water and was leaving the room.
He pulled her with a jerk holding her elbow , that her back collided with his hard chest.
Her heart skips a beat with his sudden pull.
"Manik... Navya ne kaha... That you can't see me..." Se said worried.
"Sshh... My eyes are closed... Few more hours... Just couple of hours... Than you will be mine... No body can keep me away from you..." He whispered through her veil (ghungatt)..
She shivered with the thought and releasing herself from his grip She ran into her room.
'Don't worry Nandini I'll make everything alright... Just let this marriage happen...' He said to himself.
Everyone was ready and were stepping out of the house to leave for the temple..,,
Right than a car came in the driveway and stopped in front of them.
And the person coming out of the car was Abhimanyu.
Nandini Manik and Cabir smiled seeing him.
He came forward and greeted everyone. Took the blessing from Amms bending and touchy her feet.
"Abhimanyu... How are you son... Aise achanak... Kya baat hai..." Amms asked.
"I think I'm disturbing you guys... You are ready to go out... Maybe going in a wedding..." Abhimanyu studied all of their attires.
No one said anything. Amms also exchanged the looks with Manik and Nandini.
Looking at their panicky faces he said.
"I won't keep you guys long... I just came to check on Manik and Nandini... How are they feeling ..."
Nandini interrupted and says.
"Abhi... Manik is fine... Recovering very fast... And his stitches has almost healed... I'll bring him in to do an X-Ray for his chest in a day or two..." She hide her fallen part from Amms signaling him to stay quiet.
Abhimanyu smiled.
"Ok than... I think my job is done...so I'll take your leave..," he said and turned to leave.
"Dr. Abhimanyu.., " Manik called and gestures Amms to say something.
Amms understands what Manik wants.
"Abhi... Bete darassal baat yeh hai..." And she explained everything to him.
"What really.., pehle kyun nahi bataya... She's like my sister... I'm happy for her..,," Abhimanyu was excited to hear about there wedding.
"Abhimanyu... You can join us if you are free... " Manik gave him the invitation.
"Of course... Why not... Tum agar nahi bhi kehte tou bhi I will definitely come..." Abhimanyu answered.
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Edited by Redcrystal - 8 years ago
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