Before reading this chapter, tell me if you guys have already voted for Niti or not? If not, then go vote now.

Also, I used the name Ananya for no particular reason. It is a nice name and I could only think of it when picturing Ananya's character. I didn't mean to hurt anyone so if it is your name, and you don't like me using it - please feel free to say. I will change it.

"What?"

"Manik, What are you saying?

"Manik!"

Manik looked at his parents who stared at him in surprise, his siblings adored the same expressions. Mr.Murty and Nandini looked no different.

While the woman standing in front of him looked almost heartbroken.

"Manik?" She stepped ahead to hold his hand but he stepped back. She clenched her fist but took a step back.

"You are?" He asked again. A voice in the back of his head told him who she was, but Manik wanted to confirm it. Maybe it was just a nightmare and he was still dreaming. He would wake up and Nandini would be the chosen one for him. He wished it would end soon. He wanted to go back to the past week where he was so happy. Where, Nandini came to visit him in the office, not only because she had work but because he was her to be husband. But alas, this nightmare was indeed a reality.

"Ananya." She confirmed,"How come you don't know me, Manik?"

"Ananya?" Manik looked at her, up and down and then turned to look at Nandini who stared at him surprised like everyone else. He gulped. He had probably made a fool out of himself again. He thought it was Nandini all the time, but it was Ananya.

No, this was wrong. This was wrong on so many levels.

That day, Nandini frowned at his behaviour because she was confused. He was supposed to marry her sister, but he treated her as if it was her. Everything made sense now. Her hesitation when he asked her for shopping, or when he gave her that gift. 

Manik's eyes went to her wrist unknowingly and he frowned seeing it empty. Her own bracelet was there but nothing else than it.

"Manik," Ananya called out again. Manik turned to her. He looked down at her hand, and his eyes squinted seeing the bracelet, the one he had bought.

He sighed, and looked at Nandini with accusation clear in his eyes. He wanted her to know how disappointed he was. He had bought it for her, and she gave it to Ananya? Did she think it was for her sister, probably she did but then, he had clearly told her it was for her. He wanted to make it memorable for them. They went out together for the first time, and the bracelet was supposed to store that special memory.

A happy moment they spent together, not this misunderstanding.

"Manik, what is happening? Will you say something?" It was his mother. Manik opened his mouth to clear, but no word came out. He looked down and frowned.

"There's a misunderstanding." He mumbled, embarrassed.

"What?" Mr.Murty came ahead before his mother could ask him,"What misunderstanding, Manik? You told us you had met Ananya at the party." Manik remained silent, having nothing to say. He wanted to clear it, the words were playing in the back of his head but embarrassment caught his tongue at best.

Gosh, he isn't that stupid. Is he?

"But Ananya told me they didn't meet, Appa." Nandini revealed, still surprised and all eyes turned to her for a moment.

"What?" Niyonika looked at Manik,"Manik, will you explain to us? You told me you had met her."

"Maa, I-I guess I made a mistake." He looked at her slowly, and then at his father. They both looked confused.

Manik gave a glance to Nandini and looked at his mother, gulping as he held her hand,"I-I thought you were talking about N-Nandini." 

Manik couldn't believe himself. It was the most stupid thing he had done. He should have let his mother complete that day. And moreover, how come he didn't know Nandini had a sister. She did say she was the elder daughter. It was indeed his own mistake.

He could hear everyone gasping at his words. 

"What?" Nandini asked, her tone a mere whisper as she heard him. Is that why he treated her so specially and never mentioned Ananya? It only made more sense. He had asked her to accompany him for shopping. He even gifted her. All that time, he thought they were to get married?

He had met her that day, and when his parents asked him, he said yes. He was not entirely wrong.

"Manik! Do you know what you are saying?" Mr.Murty asked, angry.

"How's that even possible? Niyonika asked and when he remained silent, she held his arm demanding him to look at her,"You thought we were talking about Nandini all this time?"

"Y-Yes." He mumbled,"I had only met Nandini that day. I-I didn't even know about Ananya." He tried to justify himself, "Y-You didn't even say her name, Maa."

"How can you be so stupid, Manik?" Manik gulped hearing his father. He looked more than angry and Manik wished the earth could open up and swallow him whole.

"Nandini is a married woman, Manik. Why would we ask for her hand for you?" Raj asked, not believing Manik had misunderstood the whole thing.

Manik said nothing as the elders looked at each other helpless.

At last, seeing no end to the situation, Mr.Murty stepped ahead and cleared his throat,"Now that we know Manik didn't mean it for Ananya, I guess there's no meaning to this meeting anymore." He looked at his daughters. Ananya looked upset, while Nandini was shocked with everything.

"But we can talk about Manik and Ananya now?" Raj asked, hoping to solve the whole situation. He didn't want to strain their relationship just because of a mere misunderstanding. 

"Dad-" Manik started but frowned when his mother glared at him.

"Does he want to?" Mr.Murty turned to Manik. His expression were sure gentle but Manik still gulped seeing the seriousness in his eyes,"Manik, Are you interested in marrying Ananya?"

"They can talk and decide once." Niyonika spoke, desperate to clear the mess but Manik held her hand.

"I-It is Nandini who I like, Maa." He muttered, his voice no more than a whisper and his mother stared at him in shock.

Having to misunderstand the situation was one thing, but now he liked her?

"Manik, Nandini is a married woman. Which part of it you didn't get?" Raj asked, anger clearly evident on his face and in his voice. Manik shook his head but didn't dare to look him in the eye.

"She is divorced." He tried to reason.

"And she has a daughter!" 

"How does it matter?" He asked,"Ruhi is only three years old."

"Manik, Nandini is elder to you." His mother tried to explain as she pleaded with her eyes to stop it and held his arm but Manik silently removed her hand.

"It doesn't matter to me, Maa. She is only three years older than me." 

"I do not think we need to discuss about my daughter in this way, Mr.Malhotra. It would be better if you go home and make Manik understand." Mr.Murty joined his hands. He was not angry but he was not happy either. His daughters were literally made fun of and he just couldn't stand simply.

"Uncle-

"Shut up, Manik!" Raj chided.

"I can't believe it!" Ananya broke her silence. She laughed mockingly and looked at Nandini,"Dii, How come you didn't realise he was misunderstanding the whole situation? You met him that day, right?" She questioned and Nandini looked at her taken aback.

"I-I didn't t-think about this!" Nandini frowned and looked back at Manik who was looking at Ananya now.

"Ananya, it was my mistake. I should have clarified." He defended her,"Nandini had nothing to do with this. We didn't even talk about any of this!"

"Oh, is that why you took her shopping?" She accused, clearly mad that even after the misunderstanding being cleared Manik was taking her sister's side,"I can't beleive you behaved so stupid, Manik!"

"Ananya!" Mr.Murty interrupted,"This is no way to talk to him."

"But Appa-"

"Enough." He scolded and she didn't say anything this time.

"Mr.Murty, I think we should talk calmly before coming to any conclusion." Raj said.

"We should leave." He looked at Manik who still couldn't find himself to look in his eyes.

Niyonika nodded and they took their leave immediately.

However, as Manik passed by Ananya, he stopped and stared at her wrist. He stretched his hand and demanded,"Give me the bracelet."

"What?" Ananya looked at him dumbfounded. But Manik remained still, his eyes on the bracelet on her wrist. He knew everyone were staring at him, but he didn't care for a moment.

"Are you serious?" She asked, disbelief all over face.

"Yes, I didn't buy it for you."

"Wh- Really?" She stared at Nandini who looked down silently.

"Ananya, I told you it was my mistake. It is not Nandini's fault." 

"Whatever!" She took off the bracelet and Manik snatched it from her hand. He glanced at Nandini before keeping it in his pocket and walked out from there.

As he was going, Nandini couldn't help but stare at him. 

"Nandini." Mr.Murty called and she turned to him, nervous and scared,"We need to talk."

"I can't believe it, Manik!" Manik almost flinched with his father's loud voice booming in the whole mansion. Raj was beyond angry so Manik felt it was safe to just stand with his head low and hear him scold him.

"Why would you even think we would get you married to someone who is already married, elder to you and mother of a three year old!?" 

"Why wouldn't you, dad?" Manik looked up this time,"She is a single mother, and only three years elder to me, what is the problem if I get married to her?"

"Really? You think age doesn't matter? Her being already married doesn't matter? Or her having a daughter doesn't matter to you? Nothing matters to you, right?"

"You are right, Dad. It doesn't matter to me, all of the above you said." He replied,"What matters to me is that I like her. She is an amazing person, I met her twice!"

"You met her twice and concluded she is a nice person?" His mother asked. Manik nodded.

"You asked me if I met Uncle's daughter and laughed when I said yes, Maa." Manik chuckled at the hypocrisy. If only Nandini was not married, they would have married them happily.

"Manik." Raj called out sternly,"I am warning you. I do not want to listen to this baseless argument again." He paused,"Your alliance was to be done with Ananya, not her elder sister and if not Ananya, we will get you married somewhere else. Anyone but a woman who is married already and has a daughter." He said, firmly and turned to his wife without hearing his answer.

"Niyo, I am in my study. Can you please make me a cup of tea?" 

"Yes, sure." His mother nodded, and walked to the kitchen. His father went to the study room while Manik stood there in the center of the hall staring at their retreating figures.

What has he gotten himself into?