As everyone was having their dinner fab 4 , navya, abhi, started distributing invites for the sangeet ceremony. It was a fab5 style sangeet ceremony. Everyone got curious because they already knew about the sangeet but why these special invites.

Cabir: ok ok everybody i know u all are wondering why these cards and all...so let me clear the air..well this is not any normal sangeet ceremony ...be very clear on that. Rest i won't disclose now . come and watch it for yourself. Tomorrow evening sharp at 9 in the hall adjacent to this. And yeah no one is allowed entry in the hall till the show begins.good bye and good night.
With this , the hall buzzed with speculations as to what gonna happen tomorrow in the sangeet. Fab 4 and navya left the hall after that. Manik came to nandini with two plates of food and sat beside her.

Manik: nandini have your food baby, here take it.

Nandini: i was waiting for you!

Manik smiled and they started eating and continued talking.

Nandini: manik, what is up with fab4 and this sangeet ceremony??

Manik: for the first time nandini, i have no idea , what is up with them, they have completely shut me out, u know in last 15 days we have not even sat together and chatted for a while...

Nandini: hmmm ok ..relax ..after everything is settled ..i will make sure that fab 5 gets enough time to catch up.
Manik: well in that case i wonder if after marriage i will be willing to leave your side even for a minute..at least for a couple of months..

Nandini: manik...

Manik: what manik!! I m a love deprived puppy, look at my face , see...i am speaking the truth. You know once i am married i am sure my wife will love me and make love to me...for a few months..only then i will be fine..

Nandini: ohoo is that the case? Means your would be wife doesn't love you now?

Manik: i don't know..i think i m not good enough for her right now

Nandini : manik you know ..that is not the case..(eyes moistened)

Manik: hey relax sweetheart ..i was just playing around..i didn't intend to make you sad..acha ok..come i will take you to your room, you must rest now, most of the guests are gone..come...

He forwarded his hand , she took it smiling. They walked up to their family who were talking standing together. They saw the couple coming towards them and admired how good they are looking together.

Manik: maa (looked both the ladies one by one) if you people don't mind can i accompany nandini to her room, she is a little tired?

Sheetal: of course beta u can, now u two are couple officially, now u don't need to take permission for these small gestures.( she patted his cheek softly and lovingly)

Nandini: maa papa..good night, i will see u in the morning.

Neyonika and maan: (overwhelmed) wow that feels awesome from your mouth good night beta!!

They hugged her.

Nandini: goodnight amma appa, where is abhi bhai and rishabh?

Alok: well they left a while ago, saying they had some important work.

Nandini: ok!

Manik: ok good night everyone
Rest in unison: good night beta

Nandini's room on the door:

Manik: ok ma'm your escort service has landed you safely to your room, so good night.

Manik started to leave. Nandini looked here and there in the passage and then held manik's wrist and pulled him in closing the door behind him. Before manik could understand anything he found himself pinned against the wall.

Manik: whoa nandini !! what are u doing? If anyone saw, what must they be thinking (smirks)

Nandini: manik did not u listen what amma said?? We are officially a couple now..so i don't care

Manik: (holds her waist and pulls her to him) so you don't care?

Nandini: (snaking her arms around his neck and lost in his chocolaty brown eyes) i don't

Manik smirks and traces his finger on her cheek, she closes her eyes feeling the touch, he slowly traces her lips with his thumb and rubs them slightly, her eyes are still close but her heartbeat is racing, cheeks turn red as heat rushes up to them

Manik : (huskily) nandini...

She opens her eyes and the way he is looking at her with all the love and emotions of his heart swimming in his eyes, gives her goosebumps.

Manik: I LOVE YOU...i love you so much..i cant thank god enough for sending you in my life..i love you...

Nandini: manik...I LOVE...I LO...

Manik: ( his whole body shaking in anticipation, heart pounding suddenly, yet eyelock intact) yess baby u love..what?

Nandini: (snapping out of daze) manik i think you should go and rest..its quite late. (she huffed at her own hesitation)

She felt embarrassed to even look in his eyes, she tried to come out of his hold. While manik smiled on his own self and the way his body reacted to nandini's unfinished confession. He loosened his hold on her.

Manik: nandini!

She didn't look up. He held her chin up and when his eyes met her he said " i love you" and pecked her lips quickly and when her eyes widened he just smiled and walked out of the room muttering a "good night soon-to-be-wifey" . nandini smiled and mumbled "good night" mostly to herself as manik was out of field of hearing till then.

NEXT MORNING
Nandini's room
Early morning

Manik sitting on the edge of her bed. Nandini enjoying her slumber.

Manik: nandini get up baby. Its 8 in the morning.

Nandini: manik you also sleep na..why r u disturbing me? I slept so late.

Manik: do you mean i can sleep over here, on your bed, beside you, holding you??

Nandini opens her eyes wide. Manik laughs.

Nandini: manik you are such a monster!! You wont let me sleep na...ok tell me whats the matter?

Manik: (opens his laptop) ok so the thing is..i have to update sns announcing that i am taken (smiles and winks) . the photographer has sent some pics of yesterday's event. I want you to choose one which you think is best. Here take a look...

Nandini takes the laptop smiling and blushing and goes through the pics. While manik shifts a little so that his face is in her hairs and he inhales deeply and exhales such that his breath fans her bare shoulders. Nandini stiffens with his proximity. She moves a little and turns slowly to face him. Their faces are inches apart. Her eyes stuck on the mole just above his lips. She smooches it. When she is about to move back manik pulls her "now my turn" and eyes her lips. She covers her mouth with her palm. Manik is confused " what?" nandini moves her palm and speaks " manik i have not brushed my teeth" manik rolls his eyes "as if that's gonna stop me from kissing you" she stops him again raising her forefinger and the next finger "just 2 mins, i will be back, till then u upload this pic" and she runs to her bathroom . manik is annoyed but he does as she asked him to and uploads the pic on instagram and twitter.

He was busy doing this and his back faced the bathroom door.nandini came out after brushing and saw him busy. She knew he is angry , so she quietly moves on the bed and hugs him from back snaking her arms around his neck and said " sorry" manik could not help but smile on her cuteness " its ok, i m not angry now and pulls her on his side" see i have uploaded the pic and as i have tagged you,so my fans will target you now on your sns, don't react on the comments, i will suggest , don't even read them. Over the years i have learnt to respect their love , you will also get used to it , just give time, ok?" he was concerned for her and nandini smiled and nodded her head " ok let me check my insta, let me read the first few comments in your presence" manik nodded. Her last insta post is now flooded with comments, some are appreciating her beauty, some are terming her lucky, some are even bashing as they didn't find her beautiful enough to be worthy of manik... manik stopped her as these should not get to her head nandini we are getting late for breakfast, everyone must be waiting come lets go" nandini asked him to go ahead as she has to take a bath. But manik said that he would wait till she is ready. So finally nandini got ready after taking shower while manik waited outside her room and they left together for breakfast boufet .

EVENING

At exactly 9 p.m. the gates of the hall , where sangeet was to be held, was opened. All the guests settled themselves. The hall was arranged like a theatre, chairs placed in ascending height. The stage was hiiden behind the curtain. In the front row a two seater chair was arranged for the couple and on both the sides, immediate family members were made to sit. Who would sit where was already decided as during the entry they were given seat numbers by the staff.

After everyone was settled, cabir came in front of the stage.

Cabir:ok so ladies and gentlemen , i welcome you all to the sangeet ceremony of manik and nandini. So lets welcome the couple with a huge round of applause.

Just then manik and nandini entered the hall hand in hand , from the entrance.





Everyone started clapping .

it looked like greek god and goddess are coming. nandini was blushing while manik smiled. They walked down the aisle and before sitting down looked towards their parents, their parents smiled and blinked to assure them . so finally they sat down on the chair holding hands.

Cabir: ok so i see , you all are curious about the event thinking what the fuss is all about, well then i will not keep you waiting and begin the ceremony.( He took out a card and read it) so are you guys ready for the first performance??
Audience spoke in chorus: yesss
Manik and nandini smiled. The curtains went up and everyone gasped. The stage was huge, huge like huge!!!



The setup looked liked it was a miniature of "manila" living room. On one far corner orchestra was setup , somewhere else music system was setup and speakers were placed all around the hall.
Just when everyone was trying to sink in the info, they saw aliya dressed exactly like neyonika come and sit on the living room sofa.

Everyone instantly understood that it is a musical play as the orchestra started playing the tune. Neyonika was so surprised and shocked to see aliya dressed like her. Manik and nandini looked at her while everyone started laughing and neyonika blushed as her secrets were staged . the one-act showed that neyonika is a fashionista, she likes to go to parlour and do kitty parties, when aliya finished and looked at neyonika , latter showed fake anger and aliya just held her ears and mouthed a sorry and ran from there. In the background cabir spoke:

Cabir: ok people you must have understood by now our plan , yeah exactly we are trying to acquaint nandini with the secrets of her in-laws , so that she doesn't find it difficult to adjust with us. Ok enough of my blabbering , presenting to you now , dhruv as maan uncle, everyone com'on cheer up for him.

Maan suddenly got conscious, as till now he was laughing on his wife and now it is his turn to become laughing stock.

Curtain raised once again , setup was changed. Its the miniature of malhotra heights office. Dhruv enters followed by a hired actor as his p.a. everyone cheered for him, maan looked at himself and then at dhruv. Dhruv was wearing the same suit as maan.

Tune started playing and maan was shown as a hardworking and focussed boss, who doesn't believe in failure, shouting on his employees sometime and on other times making them happy by giving bonus and perks. A true business man.

Curtains went down. Everyone clapped for maan. Manik went up to him and hugged him tight. Everyone got a little emotional by this. Maan patted manik's shoulder and they broke the hug and manik went back to his seat. Nandini squeezed his hand to relax him. He smiled.

Cabir in background: ok ok that made manik emotional , so i m thinking to make him cry (he laughed, while manik rolled his eyes) have a look at this buddy. And nandini you have a task , just make sure that manik doesn't cry like a baby.

Nandini held his arms and pulled him closer. Manik laughed and nandini said "i m doing what i m told to do" she winked and smiled and tightened her hold on him. Just then curtain went up . set up is of manila living room.

Dhruv(maan) walks in from one side calling out "neyonika, neyonika, " aliya(neyonika) comes from other side and runs and hugs him "maan!!! How was your trip?" they part and walk up to the sofa and sit down.

Dhruv: it was good , we cracked the deal. It feels so good to be back home. I am so tired.

Aliya: wait i will bring coffee for you

Dhruv: no please just sit here. Hey!! Where are the kids?

Two little kids , one boy one girl come running.

Kid boy : i am here dad.

Kid girl: and me too dadda. (mukti calls maan dadda)

Dhruv: arey mera bachha kaisa hai?? Did you miss your dadda??

Kid girl: i missed u illa sala dadda (itta sara) (now she speaks cocking her head, copying mukti) dil u bling my oclate dadda?(did you bring my chocolate dadda?)

Dhruv realises he forgot , he looks at aliya, she blinks and passes him a box kept behind the cushion.

Dhruv: this chocolate princess??

Kid girl jumps in his lap and claps "yes dadda you al the best!! I lobh you" (you are the best, i love you)

Kid boy sitting in aliya's lap: dad you wont go anywhere na now?

Dhruv: why beta what happened? Why are you asking this?

Kid boy has tears in his eyes. Kid girl jumps down the lap of maan, and kid boy hugs maan" because i miss you dad" dhruv looks at aliya asking through his eyes as to wat happened all of a sudden. Aliya shrugs and shook her head .
Dhruv rubs kid's back and asks " manik beta kya hua?why are you crying? Kisi ne kuch bola? Kisi se jhagra hua? Tell me..stop crying beta.
Kid boy: no no dad its nothing like that, i just missed you a lot, you were not there to play cricket with me, and video games too. Without your help i lost 2 times in that video game.

Kid girl wipes his tears, and says "bhai don't cly..when i will be this big i will elp u, pakka.

Kid boy smiles and pulls her cheek.

Dhruv: manik...come we will play video game..i will never let you lose!! (manik runs towards the room to start the game and mukti follows him)

Aliya: but maan...you are tired! You should rest first!!

Dhruv: no i m fine neyonika...bye!

Curtain comes down.

Everyone was admiring maan and neyonika's love for their children. The hall burst with claps. All through the act , manik was stifling his tears. He knows how much his parents have sacrificed for him and mukti. Nandini was also moved by the family emotions remembering her own times with her family but she time to time rubbed manik's arm to calm him. Finally when the play ended manik sat there controlling his emotions. Mukti came running from behind the stage and hugged maan and then said cocking her head" dadda i lobh u" maan laughed. Manik also came up followed by nandini and hugged neyonika.

Nandini went and hugged her appa. It turned out to be a good family moment.

Everyone started praising dhruv and aliya, they had not for once left their character. Manik asked mukti" mukti those two kids?? Where are they?"

Mukti: bhai actually we hired actors from a drama company , they brought the kids as we needed them"

Mukti went behind the stage and brought the two kids with their parents .

Manik picked up the girl "hey whats your name little girl?"

Girl: my name is isha. And he is my blothel (brother) ayuch (ayush).

Manik: (to the parents of the kids) you have such cute kids. She is so adorable" and he pulled her cheeks lightly .

Nandini was admiring manik. She went up to him.

Parents: i m so lucky i got to meet you manik sir. May god bless u two, u make a lovely couple. Ok we will take a leave . thank u and all the best for ur married life. And yeah i forgot plz can you give me your autograph.

Manik said thank you and also signed an autograph and then they left.

Rishabh's voice over the mike is heard: ok ok everyone please take your seats, as the show is still on. Ok thank u , so you must be wondering where did cabir bhai go..so hold on ...ok ladies and gentlemen presenting to you cabir dhawan as our very own manik malhotra!! Huge round of applause please.

Manik ( palming his face) : ho gya! I was dreading this..cabir as me..gawd save me now!!

Nandini chuckled " i am excited now"
Curtain raised. Scene is of a club. Many people are dancing. After sometime everyone spots aliya, mukti, dhruv, aryaman(cabir) cabir(manik). They come out of the crowd and go towards the bar . after sometime everyone is drunk except manik(cabir). He takes everyone with him and drops them safely at their respective homes. At last he takes mukti to her room and makes her lye down on her bed. She is not in her senses. He removes her shoes and tucks her in duvet.

Curtain goes down.

Manik: thank god cabir spared me this time.

Nandini looks at him with love filled eyes." You love your family to moon and back, don't you?"

Manik: of course everyone does , nothing special in it

He shrugged his shoulder to make it look casual, but nandini understood that he will never acknowledge his care and love .

Curtain rises.

Scene malhotra heights office.
Background song : papa kehte hain bara naam karega, beta hamara aisa kaam karega

Cabir(manik) reading files entering conference hall , shaking hands after deal finalised.
Cabir(manik) when free, even in his office , playing guitar sitting in his cabin.
Curtain down
Manik: wow they are exaggerating, they want to show me as a multi-talented personality, which i m not!!
Nandini: oh shut up manik, look there
Curtain up.

Set up of manik's birthday.
Cabir exactly dressed like manik (manik's last birthday when he met nandini for the first time.)

Cabir (manik) singing closing his eyes.
Navya dressed exactly like nandini (the black gown nandini wore on manik's birthday) comes on stage.
...
Nandini: (seeing navya) oh shit!! What is this navya doing??

Manik: (chuckling) embarrassment starts..

Both looked at each other. Nandini shocked , manik rolling his eyes.
...
Cabir opens his eyes. Cabir-navya eyelock. Cabir was behaving like a puppy.
...
Everyone laughed in the hall.
...
Cabir starts singing a song.

Hua hai aaj pehli baar
Jo aise muskuraya hoon
Tumhe dekha toh jaana ye
Ke kyun duniya mein aaya hoon (x2)

Ye jaan lekar ke jaa meri
Tumhe jeene main aaya hoon
Main tumse ishq karne ki
Ijaazat Rab se laaya hoon

Zameen se aasmaan tak hum
Dhoondh aaye jahaan saara
Banaa paaya nahi ab tak
Khuda tumse koi pyaara (x2)

Navya sings:
Baaton mein teri hain badmashiyan
Sab bewajah ki hain taarifiyaan

Cabir continues:

Main likh doon aasmaan par ye
Ke padh lega jahaan saara
Huaa na hoga ab koi
Yahan hum do sa dobara

Main duniya bhar ki taarifein
Tere sajde mein laaya hoon
Main tumse ishq karne ki
Ijaazat Rab se laaya hoon
(Rab se laaya hoon.. Rab se laaya hoon..)

Tu hai jo rubaru mere
Bada mehfooz rehta hoon
Tere milne ka shukrana
Khuda se roz karta hoon (x2)

Navya sings:
Humko pata hai yeh nadaniyaan hain
Aawara dil ki hai aawariyan

Cabir continues:
Yeh dil pagal bana baitha
Isey ab tu hi samjha de
Dikhe tujhme meri duniya
Meri duniya tu banja re

Hoon khushkismat jo kismat se
Tumhe aise main paaya hoon
Main tumse ishq karne ki
Ijaazat Rab se laaya hoon

Curtain down

Everyone was laughing and clapping as it turned out to be funny. Cabir following navya everywhere and trying to win her heart.

Manik: i have definitely not done that!! Have i??

Nandini smiling "relax manik..it was meant to be funny..i liked it"

Next act was where mukti was introduced. After that some celebrities from bollywood performed. Everyone was happy to see their fav hero heroine performing live. Everyone were enjoying.

Cabir: (on stage) ok we have saved the best for the last...are you all excited??
Audience roared in excitement.

Cabir : ok ok so presenting to you star performance of the night...MANIK AND NANDINI.

They both got up and went behind the stage.

Rest were surprised as to what is nandini going to do. While malhotra side was clueless, muthys had some idea as they knew that nandini sings too.
Curtain rises.

Nandini is sitting on podium with veena.

Manik was sitting across her on a stool with his guitar.

Maan and neyonika were surprised, so they asked alok and sheetal , who were sitting beside them "nandini is a classical singer??" sheetal and alok nodded. Malhotra duo were overwhelmed to know this. They clap and others follow.

Nandini starts playing her veena and sings. Manik lets her start , then follows her tune with his guitar. They synchronise.

Zehnaseeb, Zehanaseeb
Tujhe chaahun betahasha zehnaseeb

Manik sings playing his guitar in tune with her

Mere kareeb, mere habeeb
Tujhe chaahun betahasha zehnaseeb
Zehanaseeb Meaning: My Fate (someone who is destined to be yours)

Nandini:

Tere sang beete har lamhe pe humko naaz hai
Tere sang jo na beete uspe aitraaz hai
Iss kadar hum dono ka milna ek raaz hai

Manik:

Huaa ameer dil ghareeb
Tujhe chaahun betahasha zehnaseeb

Nandini:

Zehnaseeb, Zehnaseeb
Tujhe chaahun betahasha zehnaseeb

Both play their instruments

Nandini:

Lena-dena nahi duniya se mera
Bas tujh se kaam hai
Teri ankhiyon ke sheher me
Yaara sab intezaam hai
Khushiyon ka ek tukda mile
Ya mile gham ki khurchane
Yaara tere mere kharche me
Dono ka hi ek daam hai

Manik:

Hona likha tha yunhi jo huaa
Yaa hote hote abhi anjaane mein ho gaya
Jo bhi hua, hua ajeeb

Nandini:

Tujhe chaahun betahasha zehnaseeb

Manik and nandini together:

Zehnaseeb, zehnaseeb
Tujhe chaahun betahasha zehnaseeb

Hua ameer dil ghareeb

Nandini:

Tujhe chaahun betahasha zehnaseeb

Manik:

Zehnaseeb, Zehnaseeb
Tujhe chaahun betahasha

Nandini:

Tujhe chaahun betahasha

Manik:
Zehnaseeb

manik ends the last beat.

Maan , neyonika go on stage and hug nandini.

Maan: you sing soo melodiously beta!!

Neyonika: we are lucky to have her as our daughter-in-law maan, she is so talented!!

Alok and sheetal standing down the stage see their daughter being praised and loved by her in laws and they seem to relax thinking they have given her in right hands. Fab 4 and navya come on stage, aryaman, abhi, rishabh follow them. Everyone hugs each other. Abhi rushes down and hugs his parents. Cabir takes the mike .

Cabir: i hope everyone enjoyed. I f u people did then our hardwork pays off today.

Everyone claps and hoots signifying that they enjoyed to the fullest.

Fab4 navya bow down to thank everyone and declared that the show has ended and boufet is in the garden area.

Everyone heads out to eat.

While fab5 indulges in playful banter, mostly manik running after cabir to hit him. Nandini and navya cracking jokes and laughing.

In this manner sangeet ceremony ended and everyone retired to welcome new day.
_____________________________________
Credits to the writer- Manini Mehra