EK DUJE KE LIYE (part 14, pg32) - Page 9

Manik in his room reminiscences about the events of the day and is smiling. He messages Nandini that he has spoken to Nyonika about them and she is happy for them. Nandini messages him good night see tomorrow morning at 6am.

Sharp at 6am Nandini comes to Malhotra's house. Seeing her Nyonika hugs and kisses her forehead,

Nyonika : I always saw my future daughter-in-law in you, only you can handle my son, he is little short tempered, but very gentle at heart.

Nandini : Is he awake ?

Nyonika : he said h would be awake early but is still sleeping I think

Nandini : could I check on him

Nyonika : of course Nandini don't have to take permission for it , this is your home you can go anywhere, and come here anytime.

Nandini goes to manik's room and finds him sleeping. She sits on the bed beside him admiring him and kisses him on his cheeks. Manik wakes up and sees Nandini next to him wraps his arms around her and pulls her in his arms and kisses her on cheeks.

Manik : good morning my love. I love you. What a morning to start with. I hope my every morning starts with you only.

Nandini : good morning , I love you too, are you coming with us for jogging

Manik : aaj mood nahi hai, and I don't want you also to go, lie down with me , it is very peaceful with you in my arms.

Nandini : I have to go manik , mom and dad kya sochenge

Manik : Nandini you don't have time for me. You are there for everyone.

Nandini : shaadi ke baad time hi time hai tumhaare liye , get up if you are coming or then sleep.

Manik : shaadi ke baad I will lock you and myself in a room and not let anyone interfere. Manik gets up for jogging.

While jogging Nandini shares her shopping plan with Nyonika and her parents, n asks them to company her for shopping . Manik is little upset listening to her, as he won't be with her alone but also happy to see nandini's concern for their parents. Nandini has few patients' today so she returns back home early. After lunch, they all head for shopping. Nyonika and Shailaja purchase sarees and Venkatesh and Harshvardhan , safari suits for them.

Nyonika : we have got our stuff what about you both?

Nandini : actually aunty our friends are also coming, so we are waiting for them. we will shop together.

Nyonika : there they are . (pointing towards fab4)

Fab4, navya , abhi come and hug Nyonika and Harshvardhan and get introduced themselves to nandini's parents

Nyonika : good to see you all after a long time.

Aliya : waiting for the week long outing aunty at Pune. We all would be together. Excited main edda

Nyonika : hmm. I think we are done with our shopping , so why don't you guys carry on with yours , we will take a leave from here. What say shailaja do you agree?

Shailaja : ya , my legs are hurting , so I better , go home and rest.

Nandini : you should have told me na before maa, I will also come with you if it is hurting I give you a massage.

Shailaja : it is not that bad , just I need to lie down you don't bother I will be fine you go ahead with your shopping and come back early as 5pm you have dancing session , hope you remember.

Nandini : yes maa , su will be reaching at 4.30 I will be there by then, but you are sure na maa you will be fine , if you need anything then call me okay.

Manik's and nandini's parents leave from there. They decide to go to some restaurant for snacks and then leave for their home.

In restaurant four of them are seated when Nyonika speaks

Nyonika : Venkatesh bhaisaab I had to tell you or in fact ask you

Venkatesh : what is it that makes you so serious

Harshvardhan : it about our son manik and your daughter Nandini. Actually manik yesterday night told us that he loves Nandini and wants to marry her, and he has spoken to Nandini, even she loves him and wants to marry him. So I humbly offer you marriage proposal of my son manik with Nandini, please accept it .

Venkatesh : is it true , I am honored by this proposal, but before accepting it I would like to speak to Nandini as she has not confided in us till now.

Nyonika : maybe she is shy to tell you both. I want manik to come to you both with marriage proposal for Nandini. We have asked you both because I wanted to keep you both informed. Waise we trust our children, they will take wise decisions

Venkatesh : very true Nyonika I trust Nandini more than myself. I accept your proposal but only after I to talk to Nandini.

Nyonika : of course you can , as I told you earlier that I want manik to take initiative so don't ask about to it to her. Let's trick them today night at dinner . so where it would our place or your place.

Shailaja : our place.

In the mall

Mukti : so boys you go to boy's section and get your stuff and we girls go for shopping in girl's section

Manik : why we can't come with you for your shopping and girls help us with our shopping

Nandini : I think he is right

Mukti : wah abhi se , haan mein haan,

Nandini : please let him be with me na, it will easy for me to decide. (Nandini did not want to leave manik alone again, as he would be depressed)

Manik is super excited hearing Nandini, grabs her arm and moves towards the girls section without giving Mukti a chance to speak. Everyone follow them

Manik : have you planned what you would wearing for the functions

Nandini : not really , but I plan to wear a salwar suit for engagement , white dress for haldi , lehenga choli for mehendi and sangeet and a saree for wedding.

Manik : I like the saree idea for wedding.

Everyone is busy engrossed in checking the stuff and then the trials for the dresses they have selected. Every time Nandini tried dress manik would gesture mental kiss and Nandini reciprocated the same. Nandini gets busy with other girls for their selection of dresses Manik sees a saree in another shop in display and likes it very much takes a chance and goes to that shop, asks the shopkeeper to gift wrap that saree. Nandini purchases lehenga choli , dresses for the functions but could not finalize the saree. she tries many sarees and asks manik for them but he refuses all of them , so she does not buy any of those sarees . Other girls too have also finished with their shopping. They all shift to the men section for their shopping . Nandini selects a sherwani for manik and few kurtas for manik, even the boys are through with their shopping. They all dump their shopping bags in their cars and plan to head for a restaurant, as all were very hungry

Nandini : I am sorry guys I will not be able to make it to the restaurant , as I have to reach home my friend sujata will be there , we have dance practice also at 5 pm, you guys carry on. I will make it on my own home, don't worry about it.

Aliya : sujata is the bride right.

Manik : yes aaliya even I have to meet her so guys why don't you all come to my home , we can order food at home and nandini can go home. Then we all can go and meet sujata.

Everyone agrees and leave for manik's residence. In the manik's car only he and Nandini are travelling,

Manik : I must say nandu you have good choice in clothes , I like the sherwani you selected for me. And even your dresses, but what are you going to wear for wedding.

Nandini : you know na, you did not like any saree I tried so what could I buy

Manik : well I did not like anyone because I liked one I saw in another shop , so I bought it for you. I hope you will like it

Nandini : you bought it for me and you did not even tell me I would have tried it there only na, anyways if you have chosen it then I am confident it must be good, show me where is it.

Manik : I will give you when we reach home but on one condition once you reach home and meet your friend you will not forget me , you will call me ASAP I am waiting for your call. I want to be next to you, I am missing you already.

Nandini : aww , my baby is upset, Don't worry I will do everything fatafat and call you , we have to practice in the community hall , so you come there when I call you , ok dear , even I can't stay away from you and kisses on his cheeks.

They reach their respective homes manik gives nandini her saree gift packet, nandini goes to her room and opens the gift , she is amazed to see the saree ,it was so beautiful, shailaja comes to her room to see her shopping , she also likes the saree very much. Door bell rings at nandini's house.

Venkatesh : nandu , sujata is here

Nandini : haa paa send her upstairs

Sujata comes in the room and hugs shailaja first and then nandu. Seeing the saree

Sujata : wow nandini .what a saree girl, you will look so pretty wearing this, from when your choice became so good, did not even send me pics of dresses , nor did call me, akele akele shopping karlee , what's wrong with you from past three days.

Shailaja leaves the room on pretext of making coffee for both of them

Sujata : now I am here , so you go ahead with surprise

Nandini : arey sabar kar, itni kya jaldi hai. First let me freshen up , I have just come back from shopping let's have coffee together then I will tell you or rather show you.

Sujata : you are sounding very naughty kuch to khaas hai. Make it fast yaar . cant wait. did you enquire from nyonika aunty about manik ? I just saw three cars parked outside their house has he already come tell me na.

Nandini : patience pays , so chill, I will back in minutes.

Shailaja brings coffee for them and three of them sipping coffee discussing with sujata about her marriage preparations. Nandini is rushing up as she is worried that manik must be getting impatient.

Sujata : you all are leaving with me and my family to Pune , Daddy has arranged bus for all of us, actually there are two buses so we all and even nyonika aunty, harshvardhan uncle will be in one bus

Nandini : and harshad and his family

Sujata : (shyly) harshad will be with us in the same bus , but his family and relatives in the other bus.

Sujata : I have to meet nyonika aunty and inform about the bus to them. It will fun nandini travelling together to Pune.

Shailaja was about to tell about manik when nandini signals her to be quiet

Nandini : arey Su , finish your coffee na soon we have to go to community hall for practice we are getting late.

Sujata : yaa yaa, coffee is hot , aaj itni jaldi kya hai isko

Sujata and nandini leave for the community hall, on the way nandini messages manik to come there. Sujata and nandini are waiting in hall. Sujata receives call from harshad , she goes to a side to speak to him. There were few children playing outside the hall, seeing nandini they called out her to join them. Nandini joins them , she playing with them when manik and his friends arrive there, seeing nandini playing manik and cabir run to join them. Sujata happen to see nandini playing with children and then she sees that manik holding nandini' s hand and hugging her while playing, sujata does not recognise manik from far so she hangs up the phone and comes near the ground to take a close look at him and finally she recognises him

Sujata : Manik she screams

Everyone stops hearing sujata calling out Manik's name and look at her . nandini signals manik that she is sujata . sujata is dumbstruck and she is just staring at Manan

Sujata : (to Nandini) is this your surprise

Manik hears this and comes near nandini and puts his arms around nandini shoulders and kisses her on cheeks

Manik : yes sujata you are absolutely right I am manik malhotra , I came back day before yesterday , and nandini is mine and always be mine. We both love each other.

Sujata is speechless and staring at manik. Nandini shakes sujata to break the trance

Nandini : how is my surprise

Manik ; sujata say something.

Sujata screams out of joy with tears in her eyes, hugs Nandini

Sujata : I am so happy for you, finally you meet him, man of your dreams, you have made my day this is my best wedding gift.

aliya, dhruv ,cabir mukti,abhi, navya join them and sujata is introduced to them by nandini ,

Sujata : in three days the world has changed for you nandu, is it true or am I dreaming?

Manik : your are not dreaming , you see fab5 are fast, super fast. So how long you have been friends with nandu.

Sujata : since our college days. I am Skin Specialist

Manik : oh I see.

Ricky comes along n asks nandini to start practising.

Suajata : Lots to talk but after class .

Manik holds nandini hands gesturing her not to go. Nandini pleads to leave her. Aliya and mukti go to ricky to ask him to choreograph songs for them also as they also have to perform in sangeet. Others just sit there watching their rehearsals

Nandini : manik leave me na. I am there in front of you only you are seeing me rehearse

Manik : leaves , but why dose.

Nandini signals mental kiss and Manik too responds back and smiles.

Nandini : just one hour more, then promise I will not go anywhere , I will be with you only

Manik and nandini enter the hall , they practice their steps sujata and nandini and aliya and mukti . After they are done with their rehearsals all just sit down and are chitchatting, ricky leaves from there, manik goes behind him

Manik : ricky actually I was planning a surprise for sujata so can you choreograph one song with nandini and me .

Ricky : why not

Manik : okay then , don't tell this to anyone , meet you tomorrow, one hour before our scheduled time for practice and select some good song for me.

Ricky : okay

Manik returns back to see that all are moving out,

Manik : where are you all going?

Nandini : to your home sujata wants to meet Nyonika aunty

Cabir : and then we all are going back home , tired and drained completely need some rest

They reach manik home, Nandini serves drinks to all.

Cabir : wah Nandini abhi se kabza

Everyone finish their drinks, and except Nandini and sujata everyone else leave for their home.

Sujata informs nyonika about the arrangement of bus to ferry them to Pune and request her to come along with them in the bus as it would be fun if all are together

Manik : of course, sujata we are coming in the bus as I want to spend so much time with you, and my parents and nandini's parents , and looks at Nandini , who realizes what he exactly meant.

Nyonika : nandu did you tell sujata everything.

Sujata : of course aunty, we are BFF's we don't hold secret among us?

Manik : Ya , Nandini is good friend , good daughter and may be good daughter -in-law also but...

Nyonika : what is bothering you manik , you are sounding weird, any problem

Nandini : nothing mom , he wants to spend time with me alone, since morning we couldn't so he is upset. he doesn't understand...

Manik : now you are complaining also, what's wrong if I want spend time with you , and you have no time for me. You are mine

Nandini : mom , see him , what can I do?

Nyonika : manik first of all she is not officially yours okay, so make her one then complain. Secondly you are lucky to have Nandini who cares for everyone, you should support her

Nandini teases manik

Nyonika : (to Nandini) it is good to care for everyone but at times it is good to be selfish n spend time with him and trust me we will not mind it.

Manik teases nandini

Nyonika :okay now most important , we are all going for dinner at murthy's house , I am not asking you manik , I am ordering , so get ready . Come sujata we will go ahead, manik leave you after dinner don't worry. Nandini we are going ahead you come with manik help me to get ready fast (and winks at her . Nandini blushes), but don't take too long I have to answer her parents.

As Harshvardhan, Nyonika and sujata leave, manik hugs Nandini as tightly as he could.

Manik : I love you so much nandu, just couldn't bear it

Nandini : will you remain the same forever.

Manik : You doubt me.

Nandini : I don't doubt you , manik , I am speaking of change in you priorities

Manik : In my life two things are most important . first my family and my music. And you are my life. Without you these don't exist for me.

Nandini smiles and hugs him. Manik breaks the hugs lifts her chin with his finger and seals her lips with his.

At murthy's residence.

Nandini : maa you should have told me about the dinner. I would have helped you in cooking.

Shailaja : everything is ready don't bother,

Everyone is sitting in the living room, nyonika signals shailaja something . shailaja gets up and goes to her room and returns back with an envelope.

Shailaja : as all of you are here I have a news for all of you ,we have selected a boy for nandini , he is very good looking , settled , and also from a very good family , and he likes nandini also very much. we have invited him to our home so that nandini and he can meet each other and if everything is okay between them then we can proceed with wedding plans,

Manik , Nandini and sujata are shocked to hear this , manik looks for help to nyonika , nyonika signals him with her eyes to stay quiet.

Nandini : maa...when did this happen you did not inform me?

Shailaja : I m informing you na now , see I have brought his photograph also and gives her the envelope. First you see and manik and sujata even you all see and let us know how is he?

Nandini : ( annoyed and almost in tears)but maa... I don't want to see any photo

Shailaja : Have a look at his photograph at least , I am not forcing upon you

Tears start rolling down nandini's cheeks as she looks at manik , seeing her tears manik can't control himself, he gets up from his seat and kneels in front of shailaja and venkatesh

Manik : aunty and uncle , I am in love with your daughter and want to marry her. I promise to try to keep her always happy, never ever leave her alone. Please don't separate us I can't live without her.

Listening to manik, even Nandini gathers her courage

Nandini : paa and maa even I love manik and want to marry him only so please do not consider anyone else for me. please.

Everyone except manik, nandini and sujata burst out laughing loudly. Manik and nandini are in tears and could not understand what was happening. Venkatesh helps manik to get up and hugs him.

Venkatesh : we have already accepted you as my son-in-law

Shailaja : we just wanted to hear it from you both.

Nyonika : nandini but check the photograph at least , maybe he is really good or better than manik

Manik takes the envelope and removes the photo and laughs then he shows the photo to nandini. She too laughs as it was manik's photo only. Manik and nandini together bend to touch everyone feets to get their blessings, nyonika hugs nandini and gifts her a gold bracelet

Nyonika : from today your daughter is mine and my son yours.

Nandini is blushing and manik just couldn't resist his smile. He had strong desire to hug nandini tightly but had to control himself. After dinner manik and Nandini leave to drop sujata home. In the car manik asks sujata how she met harshad what are about her future plans etc. after they drop sujata to her house, Manik drives to beach, Manan hold hands and walk on beach for some time, then sit on sand watching the moon , the stars, feeling the cool breeze blowing from the sea. Manik puts his arms around nandini's shoulder and hold her towards him.

Manik : with you in my arms I feel I have the whole world for me.

Nandini : in three days my life has changed , three days before we were strangers and today we mean everything for each other, I am just loving it.

Manik : seriously never thought coming home will change my life so much, manik malhotra who never dreamt of marriage is eager to get married. I wish I could get married to you now at this moment. I can't stay away from you. I love you so much baby.

Nandini : never in my wild dreams I thought that The Manik Malhotra whom I loved so much, would fall in love with me and even want to marry me, it is like fairy tale .

Manik : Nandini tell me if I wouldn't have come back home and then if actually your parents would get proposal for you then would you get married to someone other than me , would you never ever confess how you felt for me to anyone. Would you let your dream man just l go.

Nandini : I don't know, manik , But now this is not the case so why talk about it, I want ice cream naa I want it