40. THE WEDDING GIFT

Manik parked his car in front of a villa and helped Nandini to get down. She looks around and her eyes widen seeing the beauty of the house. 

The house is not as big as the Mansion but it is not less than that. The house looks simply magnificent with a modern touch. The color combination of black and white is giving it a unique touch. The glass exteriors with wooden doors are drool-worthy. 

Nandini is finding it difficult to say anything to praise the beauty in front of her. Whereas Manik is biting his lips nervously and waiting for her reactions. 

Manik:- did you like it? 

His question brings her out from her drooling land. 

Nandini:- Huh? 

Manik:- ( smiles seeing her reaction ) I asked, did you like it? 

Nandini:- ( finding it difficult to say anything ) ya… um…. Yes….. yes! But, whose house is this? 

Manik:- OURS…… 

Nandini:- what??? 

Manik:- ( cupping her cheeks ) yes, this is our house and we have to make it OUR HOME. OUR LITTLE HOME, OUR PARADISE. 

A tear slipped down from her eyes which were rubbed by him the next second. 

Manik:- this is the moment we have to cherish so, don’t ruin it by crying. Your tears are as precious as you are to me. ( huskily whispers in her ear ) So, keep it safe till I make you cry in pleasure. 

Nandini becomes red hearing him and looks around to avoid the red hue making him chuckle. 

Manik:- I will tell you everything later but first, let’s go inside. I am way too excited to show you the house. I personally designed everything keeping your comfort in mind. 

Now, Nandini became more excited and intertwined her hand around his arm. 

Nandini:- ( happily ) then, why are we waiting here? Let’s go inside, Patidev. ( Husband )

Manik smiles wholeheartedly and brings her in front of the door. He rang the bell and waited. 

Nandini:- ( confusingly ) who is inside? 

Manik:- ( smiling ) wait and watch.

Soon the gate opened and a lady stood there who was around mid 40. Seeing the couple, the lady smiles and gestures to them to stay there. Within a minute, the lady comes back with an aarti thal. She placed a small red-colored dot on their foreheads and moved the thal in front of them. 

Then, she placed the vase filled with rice around Nandini’s feet and gestured her to enter the house after kicking the bowl slowly. Nandini smiles beautifully and intervenes her hand with Manik’s before taking a step.

A beautiful memory crossed their minds as they entered inside together. This is the same way they enter inside their home when they come here from India.

After entering inside, Nandini and Manik both bend down and touch the feet of the lady, making her gasp. 

The lady:- arey…. Aap ye kya kar rahi h. ( arey, what are you doing? ) 

Nandini:- taking your blessing. 

The lady:- ( hesitantly ) but…… mai….. 

Manik:- oh oh, Suhani saa…… leave that and bless us. 

The lady smiles and blesses them for a happy married life. Then, Manik came around and took her in her side hug. 

Manik:- Nandini, meet Suhani. I call her Suhani saa with love as she is like a mother to me. She is the one who took care of me when I was here and now she will stay here with us. She was with her daughter till now but she comes back as soon as she finds out that I am back here. 

Nandini smiles and greets Suhani again. After that, there was awkward silence whereas Manik rubbed the back of his hair smiling awkwardly. Understanding the situation, Suhani goes from there to the outhouse giving privacy to them. 

Manik smiles wholeheartedly and locks the door properly before picking Nandini up in bridal style. Nandini locks her hand behind his neck with a shy smile. 

Manik:- let’s give you a tour of the house in my style. 

First, he shows her the royal living area then, takes her towards the kitchen and describes everything properly with a tinge of naughtiness. Nandini is blushing all the time and snuggles in his warmth. 

Manik:- Now, it’s OUR BEDROOM. 

Suddenly, all Nandini felt was shivers. Manik kissed her cheek in the same position and took her inside their royal bedroom. 

The room consists of a modern closet, a king-size bed with very stylish interiors. 

Nandini is gawking at the magnificent bedroom. The room has everything that anyone can wish for. 

Nandini:- Manik, this is so….. So….. beautiful. Did you design it yourself? 

Manik placed her back on the floor and pulled her towards himself through her waist, caging her in his hold.

Manik:- yes, I chose everything because I know what you like. And this is your WEDDING GIFT. 

Nandini hugs him immediately, being emotional, and keeps her head on his chest. 

Nandini:- this is the best gift. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH…… I DON’T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I DIDN’T FIND YOU. I AM SO LUCKY TO HAVE YOU. 

Manik:- ( denied ) I AM LUCKY TO HAVE YOU. 

It’s been 5 minutes no one is willing to break the hug but Manik remembers something and moves back immediately making her confused. 

Manik:- one second, I have one more gift for you. Actually, this is not a gift, it’s a blessing from Dadi (grandmother). 

Saying this he brings a box from the cupboard which his grandmother gave him. 

Manik:- I kept it with me till now because I want to give you this on our wedding night. Now, it’s all yours. 

He opens it and makes her wear the two gold bangles in her respective hands. 

Nandini:- Manik, this is so expensive. How…. how… 

Manik kept his finger on her lips making her stop her useless blabbering. 

Manik:- this is your right, MRS. NANDINI MANIK MALHOTRA. 

Nandini hummed and adored the bangles but she became restless thinking about his family. 

Nandini:- ( while lost in deep thought ) Manik, will your family accept me? 

Manik became quiet hearing her question because he couldn’t know the answer either. But he is sure that Malhotra’s acceptance didn’t matter to him now. He wants to be happy in his life with her, ONLY HER. Yes, he sometimes misses his family, he wanted them to be beside him when he was taking those seven rounds around the holy fire. He comes out from his thoughts and settles down on the bed beside Nandini. 

Manik:- My family will accept you or not, it doesn’t matter to me anymore. What matters to me is the US. 

Nandini:- tell me honestly, didn’t you miss your family? Didn’t you want to see your family beside you during our wedding? 

Manik nods while rubbing his face in distress. 

Nandini:- then, at least call your grandmother and inform her about our wedding. Trust me, she will become happy knowing that, because she loves you more than anyone. 

Manik nods after thinking a lot and dialed his dadi’s ( grandmother ) number. 

Otherside, in India it’s lunchtime. The elder Malhotras are having their lunch in their room and trying to solve their differences. Yashoda is trying her best to mend Manik’s and Vishamber’s relationship. It’s been a year she hasn’t contacted Manik or I would say he wouldn’t let her contact him. 

When they were winding their lunch at the same time her phone rang with an unknown international number. She picked up the call with confusion. 

Manik:- Hello…… 

It wouldn’t take her a second to recognize who is on the call. Yashoda’s eyes teared up hearing her grandson’s voice after this long. She becomes speechless and sees her state Vishamber panicked. 

Manik:- Hello……. Dadi. ( grandmother ) 

Yashoda:- Manu….!

Knowing who is on the call, Vishamber’s eyes become moist too. He gestures to her to put the call on speaker so that he could also hear his grandson which she obliged with a hope that this time he will melt hearing Manik’s voice.

Manik:- dadi, can you hear me? 

Yashoda:- haa manu, kaisa hai tu? Aur kaha hai? Tune mujhe abtak contact kyu nahi kara. Tujhe pata bhi tha ki mai kitni pareshan thi. ( yes Manik, how are you? And where? Why didn’t you contact me till now? Don’t you know how much worried I was? ) 

Manik smiles brightly seeing her all worked up for him which brings a smile to Nandini’s face too. 

Manik:- oh my sweet-sweet dadi, I have good news. 

Yashoda becomes excited like a kid whereas Vishamber is also waiting to hear the good news curiously. 

Yashoda:- what is the good news? Tell me, I can’t wait for anymore.

Manik:- I GOT MARRIED WITH THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. 

Saying this he took a hold of Nandini’s hand and placed a kiss at the back of her hand making her red. While on the other side Yashoda, who was flying in the air till now, slumped down hearing him. Her happiness flew away in a nanosecond whereas Vishamber was genuinely happy for his grandson. 

Yashoda:- ( with a bad face ) oh lee……. Maine socha ki tu baap bane wala hai. Tune toh mera mood hai kharab kar diya. ( stupid, ………….. I thought that you were going to be a father. You spoiled my mood. ) 

Listening to her, not only Nandini but Manik also blushed like a teenager. 

Manik:- Dadi………… 

Yashoda:- what Dadi? I already knew that you guys are going to tie the knot but I didn’t know that you would take so much time in deciding that. 

Manik:- dadi….. 

Yashoda:- shut up! Now give the phone to my pota-bahu ( granddaughter-in-law ). 

Manik pouts cutely and places the phone in front of Nandini’s mouth who is biting her lower lip nervously. 

To be continued…