"mom please stop crying" manik urged his mother, holding her in his arms "itna rona..sehat k liye theek ni hai mom, please"

"mujhe toh av bhi asa feel hota hai ki jaise kal ki hi baat hai jab maine mukti ko pehli baar apne god mein liya tha...aur aaj uski shaadi ho gyi?? Itna time kse nikal gya? Meri beti itni bari kab ho gyi??" she spoke among her tearful sobs crying into her son's chest.

"i know mom...mujhe bhi asa hi lag raha h...but aap ye bhi toh sochiye ki ab mukti ka apna ghar hoga, apni family hogi, wo ab aur bhi responsible banegi. Yahi toh life hai na , mom??" he tried to soothe his mother who was constantly crying after mukti's bidaai, an hour ago.

"main mukti ko bahut miss karungi, beta" she said still sobbing.

"i will also miss her mom...but aap ye socho ki aap aur main toh yaha hain ek dusre k liye but dad...wo kabse apne study room mein locked hain...you should talk to him mom. He needs you now, as do you" as manik said that neyonika got alarmed and got up in haste. She knocked on study room's door "maan....maan!" she called.

"i am busy neyonika" came his rumbled disconcerted voice and she sighed in relief as atleast he is talking. Manik stood a little distance away watching their love.

"i know you are not busy. Please door kholiye maan" neyonika urged softly. After a beat, the door opened revealing a soggy eyed maan. He was not looking in her eyes clearly uncomfortable showing his emotions being the man of the house. Neyonika just hugged him and started sobbing again. He held her in his embrace and a tear escaped his eyes.

Manik turned and walked away with moisture in his eyes, and a smile on his lips.

He lay flat on his back, on the bed and stared at the ceiling, memories from mukti's marriage started flooding his mind. How he had promised nandini that they would make love on the first night at Udaipur, but he couldn't keep the promise because of their friends , who had suddenly planned a on-the-terrace-night owing to the fact that from the next day mukti would be too busy and this was probably the last night with her. He was stuck!! The brother in him didn't allow to make excuses. He had hoped that nandini wouldn't mind. But whom was he kidding! Nandini being high on pregnancy hormones had to throw tantrums at me. she didn't participate in the gala citing the reason that she needs rest. No one doubted her but manik knew better. She was ready for the action tonight, but now she needs rest!! he had gone after her to talk but he saw her mother, i mean amma, talking to her and he didn't want to interrupt their mother-daughter time, so he came back on the terrace and had a fab5 style party. they sang, they danced, even got drunk and dozed off on the terrace itself.
.......
Next morning, the glare of the rising sun, woke them up. his head ached, result of all the ruthless drinking.

"mukti!! Ye kya tarika h!" came the high pitched shout of neyonika and all of them had to cover their ears. "teri shadi hai aur tu abhi tak so rahi hai!!"

Seeing their eyes and faces, neyonika was in doubt, she looked around and found liquor bottles. Now her anger had no limits.

"oh god! Mukti!!!!!!!!! Tumne drink kiya??? How can you?? Are these the values that i have given you? For god's sake tumhre sasural wale hain yaha...koi dekhega toh kya bolega!!"

"mom aap mukti ko kyu dant rahe ho...drink toh hum sabne kiya h...don't worry..kisi ne ni dekha...mukti shower le legi then she will be back to normal...aliya, mukti, go and get ready quickly" manik defended mukti. Neyonika glared at manik.

"tum toh manik apna muh band hi rakho...you have disappointed me so much"

Manik looked towards the heaven. Why are all the women in his life so pissed at him! Talking of life...how is my wife??

"mom, sorry!" manik said while cabir and Dhruv were still trying to gather their wits.

"you are not forgiven...and i am too busy to consider your faults. So do whatever you like...you are not a child anymore, in a few months time you will have your own child..then you will understand" she said and walked off. IS MY LIFE GOING TO CHANGE SO MUCH? What did mom mean?

"tu baap banne wala h...digest ni ho raha mujhse" cabir said faking fear at the prospect.

"cabir why are you scaring him?? Teri bhi shadi ho gyi hai..tu baap ni banega kya!" Dhruv chided, while cabir rolled his eyes.

"manik, relax, aunty gusse mein thi islye asa bol diya unhone....chal we have to get ready" Dhruv pacified manik and then pulled him along.
......
Manik knocked at the door of his room, but then he realised that the room is locked from outside, means nandini is not inside. He took out his spare keys and entered inside. After freshening up, he came down to have breakfast. He saw dr. Anjana, so he enquired about the medicines and she told him not to worry, as nandini had her breakfast as well as medicine.

In the midst of the rituals, when neyonika came face to face with mukti, she was avoiding looking at mukti and this pricked mukti's heart, and her eyes turned moist, she stopped neyonika from going away by holding her wrist.

"mom, i am sorry..please" she pleaded and neyonika softened a bit.

"beta tum samajhti kyu ni ho..you are not just a girl now, you are going to be someone's wife, daughter in law, sister in law and many other such roles. You have to be responsible now, wo befikri wale din gye" she explained. Mukti nodded, relaxed that neyonika is no more angry with her.
.....
"god ye nandini kaha h...subah se mujhe dikh ni rahi" manik wondered while looking around. Then someone informed him that nandini is on the grooms side, performing rituals. "ab kya karun? Udhar jaa ni sakta...idhar mom ne pucha toh...pehle hi bahut upset hain...! kya life hai yaar!"

"kya Barbara raha h akele?" asked cabir.

"kuch ni"

"ok...chal wo franco..ko tujhse kuch baat karna hai"

"chal"
.....
sangeet ceremony

nandini was draping the dupatta of her lehenga when manik entered in the room.

Nandini's outfit

"finally aaj tum mujhe mil hi gyi, all to myself" he sighed as soon as he saw her. But nandini didn't react.

"2 din ho gye and you have not talked to me" he said coming close to her but she pretended to be busy.

As he came closer, her nose caught the smell of something, and her stomach churned. She cupped her nose. He looked perplexed.

"ye kis cheez ki smell hai?" she asked walking towards the window for fresh air. He sniffed his shirt and underarms, confused.

"lavender ki smell hai i guess, i was with the florist" he explained walking towards her.

"mere paaas mat ao" she ordered.

"what??" manik was flustered and he didn't stop. So it became unbearable for her and she rushed to the washroom and emptied her stomach in the sink.

He came after her to sooth her, but she signalled him to not come close. He looked helplessly at her while she retched and retched. He rushed out of the room, and thankfully found alia in the passage. He called her and explained the situation. Alia went to nandini and rubbed her back and then gave her a glass of water. Till then manik went to dhruv's room in a rush, took a quick shower and wore fresh cloths.

"tum theek ho?" alia asked and nandini nodded feebly as she settled on the bed.

"alia bahar kisi ko mat btana...i am really fine..wo log uselessly worry karenge. Main thori der mein ajaungi...you go and enjoy ok??"

"ok..but tum akeli rahogi?"

"haan i will just take a short nap"

"ok " and alia left the room. on the way she met manik, who was coming towards nandini's room with a glass of juice and dry fruits. They talked and then manik entered the room locking it.

"i have showered and the smell is gone" he explained, watching her panicked expression.

"i want to sleep" she said petulantly.

"i know and you can sleep but only after finishing these" he placed the tray on the bed in front of her.

"main kha lun gi...tum jao" she said.

"i am not going anywhere till you eat these"

"manik"

"nandini"

"huff"

Huff

"argh manik !! i will kill you"

"eat first then you can do whatever you like!"

"most of the times i am not able to do things that i want to"

"let this wedding be over, we will do everything you want"

"don't promise things that you can't fulfill"

"nandini. Eat"

"no"

"yes"

"no"

"nandini...trust me if you don't eat it , right now, i will make love to you right now...and don't blame me when our families ask what took us so long"

"you won't"

"trust me , i will" he warned her and to scare her, he moved to kiss her.

"ok ok..stop...i will eat"

"that's better" he smirked.

"i hate you"

"but i love you. Now eat" . she starts eating.

"since when did you become so bossy??"

"from the time you started throwing childish tantrums."

"i am childish now?"

"yes you are. A child is bearing a child" he said and laughed.

"its not funny"

"i know" he said and got serious.

"once we are at peace , we need to talk" she said and he nodded in understanding.
.....
"manik! manik!" this voice brought him out of his reverie. He got up from his bed.

"yes mom"

"chalo dinner is ready"

"ok i am coming. Give me two minutes"
....
After freshening up, he went down to have dinner.

"tomorrow morning you will go for mukti's pag phera and bring her along with nandini"

"yes mom"

"good"

Manik smiled because thankfully his mother had long forgotten the drinking fiasco.
.......
"i am missing you so much. This bed is too big without you" manik said over the phone.

"i am coming tomorrow na." Nandini replied.

"hmmm...ok tell me how are you??"

"main bilkul theek hun manik"

"aur mera baby??"

"baby bhi theek hai"

"aur mukti...is she fine?"

"she is happy"

"ok"

"ok"

"can i get a goodnight kiss?" manik asked cutely.

"if you want we can video call"

"oh that's an interesting idea" he says and then they change their call into video call.

"ye kya pehna he tumne??" manik asked confused by her attire. While nandini is gawking at him.

"ye nighty hai. Amma ne mera liye liya tha but why are you shirtless, main toh waha par hun bhi ni, fir bhi?"

"i thought i should give you an eye treat" he smirks and then notices her blush "kya hua nandini? Tumhe kuch kuch ho raha hai??"

"haan ho raha h bahut kuch...par tum kya karoge?" she surprises him by her answer.

"tum meri majboori ka faida mat uthao. Once i get you...you will be begging for release"

"hah hah...dreams dreams!!" she instigates him.

"oh mrs malhotra , you have invited trouble" he says dramatically. Nandini rolls her eyes and he smirks hard, already plotting his plan for the next night. nandini notices his expression and thinks if she really has invited trouble? But then her subconscious is elated at the prospect.
......
So just tell fast fast that how was the chapter?

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