Unlike how Veebha had behaved, her father almost sounded ashamed of his daughter's behaviour. He even apologized to Nandini and everyone else. Manik would have thought the elder man was being sincere had he not known what kind of person Mr.Khurana was.

He knew why this apology came because it was the matter of a woman's dignity and if other times Raj remained silent, he wouldn't have been this time. Besides Nandini herself was not to be messed with. Khurana's would be a fool to go against such powerful people.

Manik rolled his eyes when the older man requested him to give his daughter another chance. And as he has expected, his mother handled the matter on his behalf - forgiving Veebha and all ready to forget the whole matter as if Veebha didn't just mess with Nandini's outfit to embarrass her in front of everyone.

As a result, Veebha stayed in the mansion under the pretence of spending some time with him - to clear some misunderstanding she believed he had regarding her.

And now, here he was - almost hiding in the garden. Veebha wouldn't stop following him. She was worse than a bee.

Just as Manik feared, Veebha appeared in front of him out of nowhere. Manik gulped as he turned to her. Right at the moment, he saw her stumbling and before they knew, she was falling down with a loud cry.

Veebha: Ouch! Manik, Help me!

Manik rolled his eyes, a little worried if she actually sprained it but when he walked near her and saw her smiling in secret, he pressed her foot hard making her shreik.

Veebha: Hey! Be gentle!

Manik: I am being gentle. I need to check if you broke it!

Veebha: No, I will be okay. Why don't you pick me up and take me inside, Manik?

Manik: I will call someone to help you.

Veebha: No! It is not needed. I mean you are here, it will look so weird if you call someone else to help your would-be wife.

Manik let out an irritated sigh. So much to avoid her and here he was, picking her up in his arms. He almost wished to drop her then and there but walked inside not to give anyone a show.

However, as he walked inside the hall and his eyes fell on Nandini - he understood Veebha's sudden falling down. Nandini almost looked ready to punch his face as he made Veebha sit down beside her.

Manik: I -

Nandini didn't even stand there to hear him out. She walked away with an eye roll and Manik cursed his fate.

____

At night was the Mehndi ceremony. Nandini wouldn't even look at him as she walked inside the hall in her green lehnga. She looked so pretty that his friends had to physically push him to move and not stare at her.

Their happiness however was eyed by the evil eyes of Veebha who couldn't stop the anger she felt seeing them stare at the other at every chance they got.

Veebha had started to get an idea. Manik agreed to the marriage not only for the land but also to make Nandini jealous. She was a fool to think putting down Nandini would work. So far, it had only infuriated Manik, resulting in him getting angry at her. She needed something more if she wanted his attention.

Just as Nandini passed by her, Veebha called out for her.

Nandini: What?

Veebha feigned guilt and stepped forward.

Veebha: Nandini I know you forgave me but I still can't stop feeling guilty for what I did that day. I am really sorry.

Nandini smiled sarcastically in return. She had no idea how did Veebha reach to a conclusion that she was forgiven.

Nandini: It is okay, Veebha. I know people like you very well, so you don't have to pretend in front of me.

Veebha: No, Nandini. You are really taking me wrong. I just - I was just jealous Manik wouldn't give me attention.

Nandini: So is he giving you attention now?

Veebha: Yes. Did you not see how he picked me up?

Nandini smiled forcefully, not having anything else to say. Manik did say along the lines Veebha would have made a scene if he had not when he was explaining to her but Nandini was not going to argue with her. She was not worth it.

Veebha: Com'on Nandini, I know we started on a bad note but we are almost going to be a family.

Nandini smiled again, nodding her head and then Veebha almost dragged her towards the seat decorated for her.

Veebha: Com'on, let's apply Mehndi.

Nandini didn't even know why she played along. Perhaps, she was way too bored. The music in the background was nothing fun. Nandini was almost dozing off until she heard the lady what name to write on her palm.

At the same time, the other lady asked Veebha who replied to Manik immediately. Nandini was so lost in her thoughts, she didn't realise the one who was applying mehndi on her palm had confused the names.

And as if the universe was conspiring against her, at the same time Manik came there along with Cabir, Dhruv and Aliya.

Aliya: Di, What are you doing here? We were looking for you!

Nandini just showed her mehndi and when she did, it was Dhruv who noticed it first. He nudged Cabir who zoomed his eyes on her hand and laughed.

Cabir: Nandini, I didn't know you were possessive kind of.

Nandini: What?

Cabir stepped forward and held her hand out for everyone to see, including Veebha whose eyes widened seeing Manik's name on her palm.

Nandini noticed it too and looked at her own hand in shock.

Nandini: What? But I -

Veebha: Nandini, I thought we were past this. What is this now?

Nandini shook her head, looking back at the lady who had applied Mehndi on her palm.

Nandini: I never told you to write this name on my palm!

Lady: But your friend answered this only when I asked!

Veebha looked heartbroken, even though she herself had Manik's name on her palm too. Actually, it was not full name since the designer had only fit in 'M' in the heavy bridal design.

Cabir controlled his laugh as he patted her shoulder.

Cabir: It is okay, Veebha. It is all about fate, if yours didn't have Manik's name, it means it was not yours to begin with.

Veebha: We are getting married, Cabir! He is my fate!

She stepped forward to stand beside Manik and in the rage she felt, Veebha didn't realise where she was keeping her palm. Because the next moment, her palm was flat against Manik's shoulder.

Veebha: Oh my God! My Mehndi!

She cried, teary eyes and stared at her distorted mess of Mehndi that was left behind.

Aliya: Veebha, you are so clumsy! See you ruined it. You should be careful.

Aliya chuckled at the end. They all would have felt sorry had they not known what kind of person she was.

Manik: Exactly, you ruined my kurta too! I need to change now!

Veebha: But!

Manik shrugged her hand off and looked back at Nandini. He winked at her and eyed her mehndi, making her eyes go round in surprise before he walked away.

Veebha: Manik!

Veebha called out for him and even followed him not before stomping her foot and glaring at Nandini.

Behind her, she could hear Cabir, Aliya and Dhruv burst out into loud laughter.

____

Veebha: I don't know what is wrong but no ceremony is going my way. Now, I don't want any mistakes during Haldi.

Veebha instructed the poor servants who could only just stand there with their heads bent and hands followed, nodding their head at the instructions passed on them.

Veebha: First, the haldi will be applied to Manik, and then the same leftover haldi will be applied to me, understood?

She heard several 'yes mam' and only then she looked away, eyeing the decorations with a smile.

Veebha: Haldi needs to be perfect!

Standing behind her, Black Shiners except for Nandini along with Fab5 rolled their eyes. Perfect and Veebha didn't fit in one sentence.

Dhruv: She is trying so hard.

Manik: She is trying for something that doesn't belong to her.

They all looked at him and at the same moment they heard Nandini's voice. She was walking down the stairs, phone against her ear and shouting at the other person.

Nandini: I do not want any excuses, Aman. I need this deal to happen. We have already faced so much loss with my accident, we need to get back on track!

Nandini sounded furious. They all knew losing a few deals was not a big deal for her, but this marriage was even if she wouldn't agree.

Manik: She needs a black coffee.

Before anybody could reply, Manik was walking in her direction. He snatched her phone, said something to Aman and hung up. Nandini glared at him but said nothing even as he held her shoulders and made her sit on the chair across the dining table.

He stopped a servant nearby and ordered a black coffee. They all watched in surprise as Nandini didn't get angry, she didn't stand up or walk away. Instead when the servant came, she thanked him and sipped her coffee while Manik sat across her simply.

The Haldi ceremony was doomed to be a mess with all of their friends planning. Aryaman and Madhyam took charge of exchanging the Haldi without coming in notice of Veebha.

Veebha was so happy that everything went well that she didn't even see the happiness on everyone's face. Because had she seen, she would have known there was something very wrong.

On the other hand, Nandini walked to her room as soon as she was done applying Haldi to Mukti and Abhimanyu. She didn't want to stay and watch Manik and Veebha.

She stepped in her room and was about to lock it when a shoe stuck in from the bottom, stopping her from locking the door. Nandini shrieked at the sudden intrusion and Manik took it as an advantage to slip his arm through the door and open it wide.

Manik: You think you can escape from me if you hide in your room, Nandini?

Nandini: You sound like a stalker.

Manik shrugged with a laugh.

Manik: I mean, I know almost everything about you. I searched for your past even so it is pretty much equal to stalking you?

Nandini rolled her eyes making him chuckle.

Nandini: Why are you here, Manik? Your bride to be must be looking for you.

Manik let out a low chuckle as he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer in one swift move.

Manik: No, she is not.

He tightened his hold. Nandini gasped and struggled to move away and the next, he had pinned her against the wall.

Nandini: How are you so sure?

Manik: Because I am looking at her right now.

Nandini's eyes snapped open which she had no idea when she even closed. Manik smiled, bending down and rubbing his cheek against hers. Nandini felt the still sticky haldi paste sticking to her skin.

Nandini: Manik!

Manik: You have my name on your palm, and my haldi on you, Nandini.

Nandini: I didn't mean to -

Manik: I know but - it is not like it belongs to anyone else. It is yours to begin with.

Nandini: What are you - Manik!

She let out another gasp, feeling his breath on the bare skin of her neck.

Manik: It is my marriage today, Nandini. I don't want to marry, Veebha. Stop me.

Nandini: W-Who am I to stop you?

Manik pulled back this time, disbelief all over his face and she turned away her head, not being able to face him.

Manik: Are you still asking me? You know everything, Nandini. I don't love Veebha. I love you.

Nandini: And you are going to marry her in less than twenty four hours, Manik.

She pushed him away this time, and turned away.

Nandini: This - All of this is wrong, Manik. It is cheating! Go away, please.

Manik gulped, after everything they had been through. After everything they had felt for each other, all the time they had spent together - it all seemed meaningless today. Manik stepped back, looking down with a bitter smile.

Manik: Cheating? Is that what our love is for you?

Nandini: No! I know Veebha is not a nice person but you chose to marry her, Manik! And no matter what kind of person she is, it does not change the fact that you are to marry her and the thing we just did now, it is considered cheating.

Manik: Okay, fine! I will leave but I promise, Nandini. If I leave today, I won't come back to you. You will lose me forever.

He waited for her to acknowledge him but Nandini never turn around even as her heart broke. She watched him open the door and walk away, not even for once did he look back.

And why would he?

Nandini herself was responsible for this heartbreak.