Cabir: Manik! How can you marry Veebha! You told me you won't!

Manik sighed, wearing the weird jewellery he was supposed to with the cream colored shervani. The engagement ring on his finger stung his eyes, and he looked away every time his eyes fell on it.

Manik: I can't help it, Cabir.

Dhruv: You can! Talk to Nandini, Manik.

Manik: you think I haven't tried? This marriage is important to me. I need to do this.

Cabir: But Manik -

Manik shook his head, turning around and held his shoulders. He gave Cabir a sad smile.

Manik: Sometimes, you must learn how to let go, Cabir. Nandini doesn't want to marry me, and I won't force her. It is okay, Cabir. I am fine.

Cabir's face told him he didn't believe him but Manik didn't have the time to make him. He let out another sigh and backed away.

Manik: Now you two, don't you dare go to Nandini and say anything to her.

Dhruv: You still care for her?

Manik: I still love her, Dhruv. Of course, I care.

Cabir: and I care for both of you. You both are so so so stupid. I am going to talk to Nandini!

Manik tried to stop him but Cabir was already storming out of the room. Manik shook his head and asked Dhruv to stop him who only nodded.

_____

Love. What is Love? Manik was not sure. He loved Nandini but he was marrying Veebha. Nandini loved him but she wouldn't stop him. He blamed her for not doing so, but at the same time he blamed himself for going through this.

He needed this marriage even if he knew it came with the cost of ruining his life. He knew what Veebha was, what her motive was. He knew what his evil mother wanted through this marriage. Manik knew everything yet he couldn't stop it.

His friends gave him sad smiles as he sat on the mandap, waiting for his bride. Even Abhimanyu looked sadly at him. It was their own wedding and Manik felt the guilt creep inside him at ruining their special day. To ease himself a little, he tried to give him his best smile. Abhimanyu smiled back even when his reflected worry.

Veebha and Mukti walked in the hall side by side. They both had long veils covering their face according to a custom. Manik and Abhimanyu were not to see their faces until the wedding was done and they had to take blessings from the elders.

Manik completed the rituals with half heart, with his eyes roaming around the hall to spot Nandini somewhere between the crowd but Nandini was nowhere to be seen. Guess, she ditched his wedding too.

Manik sighed, standing up for the seven rounds. For a second, he looked at the figure walking infront of him in slight confusion. Veebha was slightly taller than Nandini but the one walking infront of him was of Nandini's height.

The next when they sat down and Manik tied the nuptial chain around her neck, he felt her flinch back just a little. However, he couldn't see her face even when he applied the vermilion in her hair partition since there was a cloth held in between them.

It couldn't been Nandini. If it was, Aliya who helped with the maang teeka on her forehead would have said so. Manik was so confused that the wait of the marriage did not even settle in.

Just as the marriage was done and the priest declared them husband and wife, they all heard a loud shout.

Standing in front of the mandap, with her eyes wide in shock and mouth hung open was Veebha. Manik's head snapped at the woman beside him and within a moment, he pushed her veil above only to find Nandini standing there.

The hall filled with murmurs. The guests were all talking. Niyonika was furious and so was Mr.Khurana. Cabir and Dhruv asked the guests to leave since it was a family matter. Within moments, they were all standing alone.

Mr.Khurana: What the hell is happening here?

Manik: Nandini?

Nandini did not look up. Suddenly, Niyonika stormed forward with furious eyes and turned her around harshly.

Niyonika: How dare you -

She raised her hand but before it could even reach near Nandini's face, Manik stepped forward and held it.

Manik: Don't. She is my wife.

He warned. Niyonika shrugged his hand with an angry scowl.

Niyonika: I knew you would flip at the end, Manik. You never wanted to marry Veebha at the first place!

Manik said nothing. Instead, this time his father came ahead and stood beside him.

Raj: Niyonika, enough. You tried your best to ruin my son's life but not anymore.

Niyonika and the others looked at him shocked.

Niyonika: Did you - did you plan all this?

Raj: Yes. I planned all of this. I never wanted Manik to marry Veebha.

Mr.Khurana: But Mr.Malhotra-

Raj: Shut up! I might not be handling my business here but I do know what is happening! You and your daughter wanted to take advantage of Malhotra's. You thought you could enjoy Malhotra's money after Veebha married my Manik. Am I wrong!?

Veebha: So what!? Even Manik was marrying me for the land's ownership!

Suddenly, she smirked looking back at Manik.

Veebha: And now, he will never get it.

Raj: He doesn't need to, anymore. Your father sold it already.

Manik's eyes snapped to his father while Veebha looked shocked at the new piece of information.

Raj: He never wanted to sell it to us.

Raj looked back and nodded at the servant who immediately brought him some papers. Manik snatched it from his hand and his eyes widened in shock reading it.

Manik: Dad - How?

Mr.Khurana took it from him and his own eyes widened. He had sold it to some international company at a higher price than Malhotra's were offering him so how come the ownership papers had Raj Malhotra's name on it?

Veebha: If you had the land already then why didn't you just stop the marriage? Why all this drama!?

Raj: Because I know what you are capable of, Veebha. Now, all your doors to Malhotra's are closed. Get lost now.

Veebha: I won't leave you all so easily. I will go to the police.

Raj: Sure, tell them we fed you sleeping pills but in return, we will file some cases on you and your father. After all, you both don't clean your tracks, do you?

Veebha: You-

Mr.Khurana: It is enough, Veebha. Let's leave.

Veebha: But dad!

Mr.Khurana shook his head, knowing Raj Malhotra was saying the truth. He could not afford law suits. Veebha agreed but looked at them with a glare.

Veebha: You all will regret doing this to me and my father. I will make sure to make you all cry. Just wait and watch.

With that, she walked out along with her father.

Niyonika: Raj, you didn't do right!

Raj rolled his eyes and turned to the newly wed couples.

Raj: We should complete the rituals.

Manik opened his mouth to say something but stopped. He looked back at Nandini and the nuptial chain hanging around her neck, the red vermilion on her hair.

Raj: Manik?

Manik blinked, turning around and nodded his head. Complete the rituals. Ofcourse he should with his wife. Mrs.Nandini Manik Malhotra.

So that's what he did, completed all the rituals with a big fake smile on his face. Laughing for the sake of it when his friends teased him and avoiding Nandini's guilty eyes trying to make an eye contact with him.

It was only when they reached the privacy of his - now their room that Manik let the smile drop from his face. Nandini waited for him to say something, ask her anything but he never spoke a word. Instead, he opened his wardrobe and started taking out clothes to change.

He didn't even spare a single glance to her as he walked to the bathroom. Nandini waited, not knowing what else she was supposed to do. However, when he came out, she stood up immediately.

Nandini: Manik.

Manik turned to her and this time his eyes didn't hold the warmth. They didn't hold anger either, instead his eyes were cold.

Manik: I have a question for you.

He said after a moment. Nandini frowned as he stepped forward, standing infront of her with a blank face.

Manik: Why did you marry me?

Nandini: Because - Because Raj uncle said -

Manik nodded along.

Manik: Did my dad force you into this marriage? Did you marry me because of him?

And it was when she looked down, Manik let out a low chuckle. He stepped back.

Manik: You know - I should have known how little I meant for you.

Nandini gasped, shaking her head and she held his shoulder to stop him.

Nandini: No - That's not it, Manik.

Manik: Then what it is, Nandini?

Manik was hardly able to control his rage. He grasped her shoulder, pulling her close.

Manik: Answer me in yes or no, okay? If - If dad wouldn't have asked you to marry me, would you have still married me then?

Nandini: Manik, that's -

She tried to explain but Manik shook his head, tightening his grip.

Manik: Yes or no, Nandini?

Nandini: No.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she watched his eyes soften for a moment before he pushed her away. Manik pushed her away. She had not even recovered from the shock of his anger, when he spoke again.

Manik: You know what - leave.

Nandini: What?

Manik: Get out of my room right now.

His words echoed in the empty room, laced with hurt and anger. Manik was way too hurt to understand anything.

Nandini stared at him in utter shock. When she didn't move on her own, he held her wrist and dragged her out of the room and closed the door shut on her face.

She banged on the door, again and again - asking him to open the door but Manik wouldn't budge. Nandini knew he was by the door. Her own body slid down against the wall outside and loud sobs shook her figure.

She cried and she could hear him throw things in frustration because he could hear her too. At the end, she slowly drifted into sleep - outside his room, curled up against the wall and shivering in the cold.

All alone, once again.