Chap 34

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5 years later...

There were all hustle and bustle in the Murthy's House. People running everywhere. To top it all, was a girly voice, shouting at anyone and everyone coming on her way.

And the girl was none other than the little doll who'd now taken the disguise of a tigress. And why would she not? It was her dear brother's wedding tonight after all and every worker had decided to sleep like logs that day, or that's the way she liked quoting. As they were all sitting without a work... according to her.

Where was her guy if she had been shouting like a maniac, running from here to there in the whole mansion?

Well, he was right behind her. Following her anywhere and everywhere she went, blinking at every worker with a smile she blasted on. Cause he knew how much they'd been working since morning to get all the last-minute tasks done. But Nandini being herself was overly worked up, thinking that her brother's wedding ceremony was gonna be a huge massacre if she didn't supervise things herself.

"Arre bhaiya fix the flowers properly na. The pillar should be fully covered with flowers. And why aren't you using the fresh ones? Ghar le jane ka plan hai kya?", there she blasted again, Manik rubbed her back in soft circular motions to calm her down and blinked at the florist to go and continue his work.

Anant-Tara huffed seeing this view for the last half an hour from upstairs.

"If not Manik, God knows whom we'd have found out for our walking talking cracker.", said Tara shaking her head. Anant chuckled.

"Of course he'd be the best our girl could ever get. Shrikant and bhabi would've been so happy seeing this 'impossible jodi' that we thought to be, were finally together.", Anant gushed with a hint of sadness as he too wanted his best friend and his sister to be with him today.

Nandini turned to Manik with a tired puppy-eyed look. "It's okay, sweetheart. All will go well. Don't worry, I'll look after everything. Okay?", said Manik wiping her sweat with his kerchief.

She wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his heart, "How are you so calm always?" He softly patted her head.

"How are you so worked up always?", he joked earning a smack on his chest.

A few hours later, in Nandini's room.

"Ughh this thing. Maniiik.", she whined again. Manik chuckled standing behind her in front of the same mirror.

"Yes? Commander Manik Malhotra always on duty for you, Ma'am." She gave him the nastiest glare, Manik laughed doing the doris for her.

And yeah, Manik grew a lot professionally in the past 5 years. And was respectfully promoted as a Commander a few months back. She was proud.

The next 20 minutes followed by more whines and millions of questions about lipstick shades, earrings, brooches, stilettos, and much more. And Manik answered everything patiently. Or should I say, answered everything 'randomly'? As he hardly spotted a difference in her lipstick shades or earrings or stilettos.

"Someone looks breathtaking tonight!", Manik exclaimed as she was finally done wearing her earrings. "Did you somewhat by mistake think it's our wedding tonight? Cause you're looking no less than a gorgeous bride itself.", he said wrapping his arms around her tummy. She blushed looking down.

Soon she turned around, still in his hold, and snaked her arms around his neck. "Oh how I wish, Mr. Fiance.", She said grazing her nose with his. "You too look no less than a dashing groom, Commander." He couldn't help surprising her with a quick peck and soon backed out not willing to make out as they had to attend a wedding too.

Nandini went to Cabir's room to check on him if he needed something and Manik made his way downstairs to check on all the arrangements.

Guests had started arriving and he saw the photo booth was already crowded. He shook his head.

"Hey!", a girl called him from behind.

"Yeah?", Manik replied confused as the girl reached closer to him. "Err... I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you..."

"Oh, I'm Navya's cousin, Myra. And- umm-", the girl stammered and within a second, she tiptoed and quickly pecked his cheek.

"What the-", Manik was left dumbstruck.

She said almost immediately, "I'm sorry!! It was just a dare my sisters had given me. I didn't intend to, but then they would've teased me forever. I'd seen you in previous wedding functions and I know you have a girlfriend-"

"Fiance.", he corrected her. And with a smile, he added showing his ring, "We're happily engaged."

"Ohkkk. That's really great to know.", she smiled too. "So, I was saying that I'd seen you with your fiance in previous functions too, and I've seen how much deeply in love you both are. And I always looked up to you. You consider Navya di as your sister, right? So in that sense, can you consider me as your little sister too? I'd be glad to have got a loving brother like you." Manik couldn't help but smile.

"I'd love to have a baby sister too.", and he side-hugged her.

___________

Manik had been searching for the love of his life since that Myra incident. But she had probably decided not to show up yet. After almost half an hour, he spotted her at the drinks corner and immediately made his way to her.

She had been trying to have that olive stuck at the bottom of the sweet wine glass. She pouted in irritation. Maybe upon failing each attempt to have that olive. She looked cute, Manik thought.

For a moment her eyes landed on his as she immediately diverted her gaze and she wrapped her arm around a geeky guy... he was somewhat a few centimeters taller than her. Manik stared at her amused.

She again looked at him and gave a reaction as if she'd met a long lost BFF. "Oh hey, Manik!", and approached him hand in hand with that guy as she showed the fakest possible smile to him. Manik reflected her reaction as fairly as possible. "Meet my-"

"Her boyfriend, Smaran.", said the guy.

"Oh wow! You never said you made a new boyfriend, Nandini.", said Manik with an amazed reaction.

"Oh, not new, my friend. It's been a couple of years of us being together now.", Smaran said and Manik nodded with fake-ish interest dripping down.

"Woah!! You two look totally made for each other, you know.", Manik commented.

"I know right! I was telling the exact same to her a while back. Everyone here had been gushing on us since then. We're so compatible, that don't even ask. Right, Nandz?", Saying this he placed his hand on her waist and that was it for Manik.

He pulled her behind him within a fraction of seconds and walked dangerously close to Smaran. "So you had been dating her since years huh? Compatible bhi ho? Amazing." Smaran gulped.

"Then you must be knowing that she can't handle drinks? Still you let her have it? Oh, maybe you forgot. But you might be knowing that she's hell scared of needles? That she has a mole on her left thigh? That she has a mark on her cleav-" Manik shook his head and closed his eyes to control his anger and again asked, "Do you?" Smaran looked like a scared cat.

"Kuch nahi hoga tumse.", She taunted Smaran raising her hand up to punch him but backed off.

"And you. Come with me!", She ordered turning to Manik. Manik gave a bored look, as if challenging her that what'd she do if he won't. With a sarcastic laugh she said, "Suit yourself." and left rolling her eyes at Manik.

Manik sighed in irritation and smirked turning to Smaran, who was legit a gone case already. "Oh and did I forget to introduce myself? I'm Manik Malhotra, your 'girlfriend's fiance.", Said Manik gritting his teeth and left with a tight lipped smile. Smaran sighed in relief as Manik left.

Manik entered her room and locked the door behind. She was sitting at the edge of her bed. "What was that, Murthy?"

"Why don't you tell me first, what was that?", Asked Nandini equally irritated. "How can you discuss me with other guys?"

"You answer first. What was that fucking stupid act for?"

"Yaa sure. What else do you expect me to do seeing another bimbo kissing my fiance? And to top it all, when my beloved fiance hugs her in response?", She spitted in irritation. Manik sighed with an are-you-even-serious look.

Soon she strode to her dressing table, pulled out a wet wipes and reached him and gripping his collars she said, "You're mine. And only I have the right to kiss you." She ended planting a kiss at the same spot after wiping it.

Manik smiled kissing her forehead, whispering, "Yours."

____________

"We are now husband and wife, and now we promise to stay together for an eternity.", said Cabir taking the last vow.

"We'd stand by each other not only in this life but in the many lives to come.", said Navya.

Nandini stared at them with glistening eyes and unknowingly leaned back to the pillar of her life, who'd always got her back. She heard him sigh resting his chin on her shoulder as she rested her head on his torso.

"332 days to go, love. Can't wait to call you 'mine' officially. Can't wait to shout-out to the World that you're 'my wife'.", she heard him whisper amidst all the noise around and kept her palms on his, which rested on her tummy.

"And I can't wait to be called 'Mrs. Nandini Manik Malhotra' in front of all.", She sighed.

~β€’~
A/N: 2 or 3 more chapters to go before we bid adieu to Commander Manik Malhotra and Baker Nandini Murthy *wails loud*

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