The next morning when Nandini woke up, she was no longer outside the room. Instead, she was tucked in the bed under a warm blanket. She was still wearing her bridal wear except for the jewellery. It was kept on the side table and Nandini wondered if Manik removed it.

Manik was in the room too, standing in front of the dressing table, getting ready. His hair was still wet and she concluded he had just taken a shower. He looked ready to leave for the office in his black formal pants and white shirt.

Manik must have noticed she was up from the mirror from the mirror with the way he cleared his throat. She waited for him to speak but when he didn't, Nandini simply stood up to change out of her own heavy clothes.

Her suitcase - which she had no idea came from where - was by the cupboard. Aliya must have dropped it here. Did Manik ask her?

By the time she came back from the bathroom - in her regular clothes, she expected Manik to be gone but to her surprise, he was sitting on the couch working on his laptop. As soon as he saw her, he kept the laptop at the side and stood up, clearing his throat once again.

Manik: I am sorry for what I did yesterday. This room is yours now as much as it is mine.

Nandini looked at him in surprise, she didn't know why, she knew Manik would never hurt her. He looked very much guilty of how he had behaved yesterday.

Manik: However, I want to make a few things clear.

Nandini: What?

Manik: I don't want others to think we have problems, so outside this room, we will behave like a couple but inside, you - we can be strangers. I won't disturb you. We can't get a divorce before six months so bear it until that. After that, we can go our own ways.

It took a few moments for his words to even make sense. Nandini wondered if she had heard wrong. Divorce?

Nandini: You want to divorce me?

Manik chuckled making her frown.

Manik: You didn't want to marry me. So, I won't force you to stay married to me.

There were moments Nandini was absolutely proud of her wit and humour but there were also moments where she felt so scared, timid, like she had so much to say but the words won't cooperate with her.

She wanted to tell Manik in that moment how much she loved him, or how she didn't want this divorce. She didn't marry him because of only his father. She wanted to be with him.

But words failed her. Manik picked up his blazer, gave her a glance with his eyes lacking any kind of warmth before walking out of the door. All the while, she stood there watching her hope shatter in front of her own eyes.

_____

Turned out, Manik really meant what he said. The moment she walked in the dining room and found everyone in their seats, already eating - Manik was all smiles. He smiled when Cabir teased them both. He laughed when Aryaman made a joke about the wedding.

But when she sat beside him to eat, she noticed the smile falter on his face. Nandini's heart clenched in the worst possible way. She wanted to run away again, so when she would be out of his sight, he would be happy again.

She was not sure if she even smiled at the greetings or congratulations she received. She noticed Cabir frowning when she didn't reply to his teasing. Before the frown could change into worry from everyone, Manik pulled a plate for her, distracting her and everyone else by speaking.

Soon after breakfast, Manik left for the office despite everyone telling him to stay at home. Technically it was Nandini's first kitchen ritual. She was supposed to cook something sweet but Nandini knew nothing of cooking. So she was spared.

Mukti didn't have to do the ritual here since it was not Abhimanyu's home. Although she did cook the breakfast for him which to everyone's surprise was not burnt.

So when Nandini was passing by the kitchen an hour before it hit noon, she heard a servant talking about Manik's lunch that needed to be packed. Nandini had no idea Manik's lunch was packed from home and sent to the office.

Nandini was not sure if it was a good idea to work but she was already in the kitchen - the cooks looking at her wide eyed for the mess she had created. There was rice and sugar all over the counter and she had managed to knock over a little milk too. Who knew making kheer was such a task? YouTube could only help a little but Nandini was grateful by the time she was done.

She would have known she made it too sweet if she had tasted it but she packed it for Manik, wrote a note that said "I made this on my own, I hope it tastes good and you enjoy eating it."

The servants smiled despite the cleaning work she had left them with as she walked out of the kitchen with a small smile.

It was a pathetic attempt to win him back. Nandini felt like a hypocrite, pushing him away before and trying to mend it now that they were married but it was all she could do to make up for what she put him through.

_____

Manik was surprised to see the kheer. He had not expected Nandini to cook, especially with so many problems between them. It was like a game of chess they had been playing and now he had no idea how to take this sudden move from her.

His face must have given away his thoughts as his father eyed him for longer before digging in his food.

Raj: Let's talk, after lunch.

Manik cursed his fate, shoving in a spoon full of kheer. Extra sweet but it still tasted heaven.

Manik followed his father immediately after lunch. He didn't have much of a choice to say.

Manik: Anything wrong, Dad?

Raj: You tell me that. What's wrong between you and Nandini?

Manik: Is there anything supposed to be wrong?

Raj shook his head with a chuckle at the stammer in his tone.

Raj: I am your father, Manik. I may not have been there for you all the time, but I still know what is happening with you. Are you angry with her?

Raj expected this much. He knew his son more than Manik thought he knew. Manik was stubborn and he was firm in his beliefs. If he had decided something he would do it.

Now looking at his father, Nandini's face when she looked down when he asked if was forced to marry him flashed in front of his eyes. Anger suddenly took over him and he frowned.

Manik: I am. I have so many questions for you, dad. How did you both make it happen?

Raj laughed out loud at his question.

Raj: Manik, Your friends are worth more than you take them to be. Aliya, Cabir, Mukti and even Black Shiners were included.

Manik stared at him in shock. Is that why Aliya didn't say anything during the vermilion ritual? It is also why nobody from her friends asked for her during the marriage. Manik took his own time to come to terms with the truth and when he did, he frowned at his father.

Manik: But Nandin didn't want this marriage, dad! Why would you force her into this?

Raj let out a chuckle, as if he had been expecting this question.

Raj: Because if I had just given her the choice, she would have never agreed.

Manik said nothing and his father sighed.

Raj: Nandini loves you, Manik. She had been loving you for a long time but whatever happened with her had changed her. She is insecure, she is scared of forming new bonds that's why she keeps pushing you away.

Manik: But we can't force her, dad.

Raj: It is necessary, Manik. Sometimes, you have to push someone for them to move forward. Do you know how we got the land's ownership?

Manik: No. In fact, I wanted to ask you. How did it happen, dad?

Raj smiled.

Raj: Nandini made it happen. She asked Harshad's help and Harshad approached Khurana through his own company, not Murty's. Mr.Khurana is a greedy man, of course he didn't look through the buyer. He saw the money and agreed.

Manik suddenly remembered Nandini asking Aman to find what the Khurana's had on him. She asked Harshad's help that day for the very same reason. Everything made sense now. And then, all of a sudden a thought crossed his mind and he stared at his father wide eyed who only smiled in return.

Raj: Yes. Nandini never intended to let you marry, Veebha. She was already planning to stop this marriage and I suggested her to take Veebha's place instead because it was the only way to close Khurana's chapter.

Manik scoffed, not being able to believe it.

Manik: Why would she not marry me then!?

Raj: I was waiting for you to ask, Manik. Nandini told me you know when I asked her to sit at Veebha's place and marry you. She said "Uncle, I can never fulfil the role of Manik's wife. I can never be the partner he deserves. He deserves to be loved and cherished, and I am too broken for that." That was exactly what she told me.

Manik: But - Nandini -

Raj: You both need to sit and have a conversation. There's so much you both don't know about each other. Marriages don't work with only love, Manik. There needs to be understanding, trust and respect. Throwing your wife out of your room at midnight is not what a good husband does.

Manik went pale, both from embarrassment and shame.

Manik: Did you - did you see?

Raj: I came to check on you both and saw you taking her inside. I know you are upset, Manik. You have all rights to be but there's a solution to every argument. You can talk, shout but doing stuff like that, it is crossing the line.

Manik: I know! I was just so angry. I thought she would go to her own room but she didn't. And I took her inside immediately after I calmed down and I apologised, dad. I - I will talk to her.

Raj nodded. He knew Manik would not hurt Nandini intentionally but he also knew what anger could make people do. Decisions taken in anger are never proven right. He didn't want his son to run his own life in anger

Raj: Good, and since she cooked for you, why don't you get her a present?

Manik looked down, the gears in his head turning. He didn't reply to his father and left the cabin, thinking of ways to make it up between him and Nandini.

He has to, for both of them and he will.