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How much control does a person has over their life ?

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Those mean world to me...

Happy reading.

Dated: 28th October, 2022

Same day, night

Nandini:

I was in my room scrolling down my phone, but my mind drifted to all that happened today, and also about mom's question. I did not realize when Mannat entered the room to find me sitting their all lost. She took her seat beside me and nudged me to pull me out of my land.

I jerked out of my thoughts and looked at Mannat who was looking at her with questioning eyes. I simply nod in no shrugging off the matter.

"Confused about jiju?" Mannat guessed while I looked at her in shock.

"Jiju? Mannat pull your horses!" I exclaimed, which Mannat ignored for now. I so wish to stab her to death sometimes. But then I remind myself that I am a doctor and not a serial killer who wishes to go for a round in jail.

"You answer my question first." She prompted. I sighed and turned towards her, folding my legs.

"I don't know. I mean I know he must be a good man. But in one meet, I cannot decide whether I want to spend my life with him or not." I spoke out. "And moreover, we don't even know each other properly besides our names. What do I do?" Mannat heard everything carefully and understood the matter.

"Dekh, I know what you are feeling and it's completely normal. About knowing each other, then you can obviously tell you mumma papa that you need time to know him." Mannat calmly said. "Nandu arrange marriage ki yahi toh khubsurati hoti hai . You get to know each other." She ended to which I nominated in agreement.

(This is the beauty of arrange marriages, you get know each other.)

Yes may be. May be we can try to know each other. But I also have no idea if he wants this or not.

Mannat opened the side drawer and took out two chocolate bars. Passing me one and having one with herself, she sat comfortably. I saw Mannat's eyes twinkling all of a sudden for some reason.

"What if going on in that stupid brain?" I poked her shoulders asking so.

"Let's stalk him." Mannat grinned excitedly and unlocked my phone. Opening Instagram, she searched Manik's name. Since he was a rockstar, it wasn't difficult for them to search his name with a verified mark not to forget.

"What? But why?" I frowned and tried taking my phone. She lightly pushed me away and huffed.

"Arey why not? Just now I said. 'Knowwwwww' him." She winked to which I palmed my face. I saw her opening his account. He had nearly five million followers.

His username spoke: the_manikmalhotra while his "name" spoke Manik Malhotra

Damn, itne toh mere saath pushto ke mila kar bhi nahi honge.

(Even my seven ancestors won't reach this many.)

My eyes drifted towards his profile picture and...damn. He is... hot! I shook my head to clear off these thoughts.

"Manu do not click on his story." I seriously warned her.

What?

I don't want him to know that I was stalking him. It will be so embarrassing.

"Ha baba." She answered, while her eyes still busy stalking him. I shifted towards her and peeked in my phone.

It was his latest pic with his mom. He was hugging from behind and there was a wide smile on both of their faces. The caption said, "Buttering her a little so that she makes pasta tonight." We chuckled out reading the caption.

But with this, I got familiarized with two things.

One, he loved his mom.

Two, he loves his food.

She further scrolled down slowly. I noticed a post with, he was sitting on a stool with guitar in his hands in red t shirt and jacket above it.

Point number three, he's a left-y!

I noted seeing his hold on the guitar.

Mannat clicked on that post to read his caption.

"Oh shit." She cursed. I frowned and checked what did this girl do.

OH FFFFF-

"MANNATTTTT!" I groaned loudly. "What did you doo." I cried out, quickly undoing it, but it was of no use. She freaking clicked that follow button on the top.

Oh god!

Why meeeeeeeee?

"Ah..chalo because me at least your slow train will catch up some speed." She tried joking but one glare from me, and she was shut. She shrugged off and leaned towards the headboard, continuing to munch her chocolate bar.

These small sisters I tell you. My hands itched to scratch her oh so beautiful face upon seeing her relaxing after putting me into his embarrassing situation.

Soon my phone pinged and there was notification saying, "Manik Malhotra has requested you for follow".

"Follow back right?" Mannat smirked asking so. I chose not to answer her and bite my lips looking at my phone. What he must thinking.

Aiyappaa

I cried out.

"There's nothing to embarrassed about." Mannat spoke. "He's your to-be-husband." She spoke as the matter of fact.

"It's not decided yet." I replied looking down. I quickly accepted the request, biting my lips praying to aiyappa.

"Is it?" She chuckled.

"You better sleep." I kept my phone aside and switched off the lamp, before slumping into my sheets and getting into my world of dreams.

"Meri kadar hi nahi hai." Murmured Miss. Dramatic.

(I have no value here.)

I checked my phone for the last time to confirm whether the notification was true or not.

And it was.

Huff, aiyappa save me from the embarrassment.

End:

Mannat slumped down at her side, covering herself with the sheets. She unlocked her phone and read "their" messages for one last time. She shook her thoughts away and swept into a good slumber.

***

Manik:

It takes time for one to understand whether we want to spend the entire life with that person or not . It takes every ounce of a brain and heart to come into a conclusion. This room which once used to be only mine will soon be change to ours. The life which I was living for myself will now change into the life which I will be living for us.

And for that I need to know her whether she is ready for this change. Whether she is accepting me. Whether I deserve her.

And to know her I need to meet her. But I cannot obviously directly asked to her. I sat in my bed thinking about strategies and plans.

Whom help shall I ask for...?

My brains worked.

Obviously.

"Anu listen." And the next moment I was in his room. He was there sitting with a pile of files. He looked at me, on hearing my voice.

"Hmm?" He asked. I rolled my eyes and sat beside him. I snatched his file and kept it inside the side drawer. "What the hell? Give me that file." He screeched, stretching himself to open the drawer. I restricted this .

"No. First listen to me. Then you'll get your file." I said. He glared me and waited for me to speak further. "I need you to ask Nandini, that I want to take her out."

"Hein?" Came his immediate response. "Bro are you drunk?" I smacked his head. "What? You want me to ask bhabhi whether she can come out with you, from your side? Are you nuts?" He uttered in disbelief. I licked my dry lips and scratched my head.

"But do something. Use your nonsensical brain and come out!" I exclaimed. He smacked my face with the pillow which I easily dodged off.

"Okay lemme think." He leaned towards the headboard and started thinking. Even I did the same and slipped into deep thoughts.

It's not that I want to take her out only for the reason that we may get married. But there is a different wish in me to know her. Today it wasn't possible. Our families were there with us, and we couldn't even converse properly.

"IDEA!" My twin exclaimed. I turned towards him. "Look, we can say to bhabhi that we youngsters are going for a day out, which includes me, you, Mannat and bhabhi. Like this she won't even feel awkward and you can also spend time with her."

I thought about it for a second. A day out? With Anurag and Mannat? For the purpose of me and Nandini spending time together? Will it even be possible when these two are around?

"Arey we will give you enough privacy." He answered to my unasked question. He assured me, which I reluctantly accepted.

"But I don't have her number." I rubbed my nape sheepishly.

"Leave that on me." He winked and took his file from the drawer and picked up his phone.

Hush, my work is done. I got up to leave.

"By the way!" He called out. I turned towards him. "Good progress." He chuckled. I threw a pillow at him and left.

Reaching my room, I pulled out my phone and checked it. Opening my Instagram, notifications of dozens of likes, comments and followers came up. I clicked on that "heart" button. I scrolled scrolled and scrolled.

But one came caught my attention.

What did just happen?

nandinimurthy followed you.

My eyes widened. I sat on my bed and quickly went to her profile. It was a private account.

Tch!

I followed her back and waited for her to accept it. It took a few minutes but she did accept my request.

There weren't more than fifty posts.

Okay, so my work for tonight.

#stalking

End:

***

Next day, afternoon.

It was a Sunday and a good holiday. Nandini and Mannat were sitting in the living room, Shweta was in the kitchen while Neil was in the study room completing his project.

Mannat glanced at Nandini once and swiftly picked up Nandini's mobile from the table and went into a corner. She worked on her phone rapidly and save the number which was sent by Anurag yesterday.

She dialed the number and kept it on her ears, waiting for him to pick up her call.

"Hello?" Came out from other end. She covered her phone's end and hurried towards Nandini.

"Nandu take it." She passed her the phone.

"Who's on the call?" Nandini asked. Mannat kept the phone in her hand.

"I took Jiju's number. Now talk to him." She grinned, taking her seat opposite to her. Nandini's eyes were ready to come out of the sockets.

She was in the situation where she couldn't even speak anything or even react.

"Hello?" Came again the voice from the other end. Her breath hitched on hearing him and gulped. Her voice seemed dead.

"Hello?" Came again. Nandini looked at Mannat and nodded in no. Mannat glared her and pointed towards the phone.

Her heartbeats were not supporting her. She glanced at the phone ones before keeping it back on her ears. What was she even suppose to speak? He was on the other side waiting for her response and here, she is not even in the condition to speak. She shut her eyes and took a deep breathe to calm herself.

"Ab aap kuch bolengi bhi ya aapki saanse pehechane ki adat dal lu? " Her jaw dropped on hearing him. Red color dropped on her cheeks and she immediately disconnected the phone, panting.

(Will you speak anything or should I familiarize myself with your breathes in order to know you?)

She looked down and hid her face into her palms. Mannat looked at her sister and chuckled out. Nandini looked at Mannat who was giggling seeing her state. She looked here and there. Unable to match her gaze, she ran away from there picking up her phone.

"Aiyappa!" She breath out, keeping her hand on her chest. That sentence rang in her ears. She hit her forehead and controlled the smile that was forming on her lips.

***

Manik chuckled out loud as the phone got disconnected. It wasn't as if he knew that it was her call. But it's just the instinct made him feel that it was her. That sentence came out automatically and when the phone got disconnected, he understood that it was her.

He saved her number and opened up the whatsapp to find her. There she was, already online. He dropped a message to her. He saw the ticks turning to blue soon enough, and then she was typing. He chuckled at her reaction . She did not reply after his message which made him understand her hesitancy.

He grinned wide and kept his phone aside.

"Anu!" He called out from the living room for his brother who was sitting in his room.

"Bol!" Anurag shouted back.

"Talk to Mannat ones. I've talked to her, so you talk to Mannat." He replied (shouted).

"Okay!" Anurage replied back from his room. "But who's 'her' ?" He asked. And no reply. "Hello?"

"Wrong number." Came Manik's reply.

"Keep shouting from here. Don't move your legs okay?" Neyonika shouted angrily from the kitched glared saying so. Manik scratched his head. "And that anu, another idiot." Neyonika flared.

"Arey mumma." He tried coming towards her.

"Dare you come here. I'll make your sabzi and serve it to dogs." Manik sat back, scared, cautious enough to not mess with his mom when she's in kitchen.

Mannat's phone rang showing Mr. Jerk . She answered it up and kept it on her ear.

"Hello?" She said.

"Today five PM me and my bro will come to pick you and bhabhi up. Be ready. Bhai has already talked to bhabhi about it. Bye." He ended the call after saying so while Mannat stood their dumbstruck. He did not even wait for her response and ended it.

Like seriously.

"What the hell." She uttered angrily looking at the phone. Mannat marched towards Nandini who was sitting in the living room along with Neil. She went behind the sofa standing behind her, and poked her shoulders taking her attention.

"So you made an outing plan with your Mister, along with his brother and that plan included me. WHY DON'T I KNOW ABOUT IT?" She ended up shouting hearing which Nandini covered her ears using her palms.

"I thought you knew." Nandini made an innocent face to which Mannat passed a pissed look saying, I-know-you-better.

"So you both have plans?" Neil asked.

"Ha..I mean he messaged asking about it. So.." She trailed off.

"Who he ?" Neil asked. Nandini looked at her father, widening her eyes.

"Appa!" She said in disbelief.

"What? He's asking something. Tell us." Mannat sat beside Neil hi-fie(ing) with him.

"I hate you both." Nandini angrily poured.

"Arey why are you troubling my Nandu!" Swetha intervened, coming downstairs.

"Only she's the one who understands me." Nandini huffed. Swetha sat beside Nandini before side hugging her.

"But who he?" Swetha turned towards her asking so. Nandini looked at her with that shocked look.

"Traitors all are!" She stomped her foot before running towards her room. The rest three burst laughing.

"Poor she." Neil said between his laugh.

"She is no poor. She's no less than a chudail." Mannat commented.

"By the way, when is your plan to go?" Swetha asked to Mannat.

"Jer...I mean Anurag said that jiju and he will be here by five." She replied.

"It's already half past four." Swetha said.

"Yep. We'll get ready." Mannat stood up saying so. She further made way towards her room. She went in to see Nandini standing in front of her wardrobe, picking her dress. Ones done choosing it, she went in and Mannat chose hers.

Neil had to leave for the office urgently because of some unavoidable work.

Within next half an hour, both of them were ready and there was a horn from out at the same time. Nandini's head jerked towards the door. Morning incident flashed in her mind. How is she gonna face him?

"Let's go." Mannat shook her out of her thoughts. "Maa, we'll come." Mannat said.

"Ha okay!" Swetha replied.

Sisters came out. Nandini saw Manik waiting for her outside his car leaning towards his car, rolling up his collars. He was in a white and black checked jacket, white shirt and jeans. Manik looked up to find her coming towards thier car dolled up in mustard yellow one fourth frock.

He passed her his good smile as he saw her approaching towards him. Anurag was inside his car, looking out through the window. Sisters stood before the car. Nandini passed him his smile back and stod their.

Now the confusion was real. Anurag was seated in the passenger seat and Manik wanted Nandini to be seated there. But how was he suppose to say this here. Anurag chuckled and came out, took his seat backside

"Have your seat behena." Mannat winked and sat backside.

Manik opened the door for her, she smiled and sat on the seat. Shutting the door, he walked towards the driver seat and started driving.

"So, where are we going?" Mannat asked to the brothers. Twins looked at each other and then at the girls. They made no plans about this.

"Um.." Anurag spoke up. "How about beach?"

"No, let's go to have some street food!" Mannat exclaimed.

"I wasn't asking you." Anurag spoke rolling his eyes.

"I wasn't saying you." She rolled her eyes back saying so.

"But..."

"Shut up!" Manik intervened.

"Say her!"

"Say him!"

Duo spoke together. Nandini chuckled seeing their banter while Manik shook his head in disbelief.

"Actually..you both shut up." Manik passed a lip tight smile saying so. "Nandini?"

"Ji." She responded.

"Where do we go?" He asked her clearly ignoring the other two.

"Umm.. like not very far?" She hesitantly voiced out.

"Okay!" He answered. "But now where?"

"Bro." Anurag tried intervening.

"I said shut up." Manik said making Anurag scowl.

"Sahi hai." He huffed.

"Marine drive?" She asked.

"Oh yes." Mannat clapped her hands excitedly.

"Chalo done." He turned the car towards the marine drive which was about twenty minutes from here. Anurag bent forward and turned on the radio.

" Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to brave
How can I love when I am afraid to fall Watching you stand alone All of my doubt, suddenly goes away somehow..."

"Not again!" Manik groaned.

"Bro!" He whined as Manik switched off the radio. "It was my favorite song!" He exclaimed.

"Seriously?" Manik uttered in disbelief. "How can you like a series which is so unrealistic and stupid?" Nandini who was looking out of the window snapped her head in his direction. Mannat and Anurag's eyes widened looking at Manik and their faces swiftly turned to look at Nandini, who was looking at Manik, all shocked.

"What?" Manik asked confusingly as he saw Mannat and Anurag's reaction. Nandini blinked her eyes a couple of times and looked out, suppressing her small smile.

"Jiju just make sure you get a divorce even before getting married." Mannat whispered which was very much audible to everyone. Nandini continued looking out, resting her elbow on the window and resting her mouth on her palms. Anurag nod in agreement while Manik frowned.

Soon enough they reached Marine Drive. They got down and walked towards the shore to sit deeply there. Anurag frowned as he saw Mannat walking faster to reach Nandini. He doubled up and caught her elbow to stop her. Her eyebrows creased as she found Anurag there, restricting her actions.

"What?" She spatted.

"You were born mad. Weren't you?" He asked seriously.

"All are not born the same as you are." She rolled her eyes.

"Miss. Shorty, let them spend some time." Anurag pointed towards Manik Nandini who were walking together in silence.

"And what will we do." She asked him.

"I'll jhelofy you for a day." He sighed in sadness. Her nose flared and she stomped her feet on his before walking away towards the other direction. Anurag stood their yelping in pain and walking towards her.

Meanwhile Manik and Nandini sat on one of the rocks, looking peacefully at the sea and the sky.

"By the way." Nandini spoke up softly taking Manik's attention. "Twilight is my favorite movie."

"Oh." He replied. But then realization struck him and then he looked at Nandini who was controlling her smile.

Did he just spoke bad about the movie minutes ago, which turned out to be her favorite?

He look back at the sea, face palming at the incident that just happened a few minutes ago.

"I..I did not..I mean..I did not mean that..yo-you kno-know?" He stammered looking here and there. A soft chuckle escaped her lips and she shook her head in this belief. He embarrassingly looked at her and scratched his forehead.

Sea waves were gently touching their foot, and the fresh wind were striking their faces giving them immense pleasure to be with each other.

"You must be having so many fan girls and followers on Instagram. Won't they get upset after knowing that you've been approached for marriage?" Manik looked at her, who asked this question, innocence dripping from her eyes.

"They'll be happy in my happiness." He shrugged off. "By the way, Instagram se yaad aaya." Her eyes widened at the mention.

(Translation: By the way, I just remembered something from Instagram.)

"Kuch yaad nahi aaya." She turned her faces saying so, in order to avoid him. He laughed out loud on her reply. Slowly even she joined him and they laughed together.

Moments to cherish..

Mannat and Anurag saw this and sighed in contentment from a distance. She turned to face the seashore but her leg slipped off the rock on which she was standing. Anurag saw this and immediately caught hold of her hand and pulled her back.

He looked down to find her legs, little swollen.

"Are you mad?" He angrily spatted. She looked at him taken aback.

"What?"

"What what? Where are you? You would've fallen down and how bad it could've hurt you, do you even have a single penny of idea?" He lowered his voice shouting so, keeping the surrounding in his mind. He did not even wait for her response and walked away towards the car. Mannat stood there dumbfounded. Watching him going away brought her back to the reality. She gulped and followed his steps.

"Mr. Jerk!" She called out upon reaching him. "Arey why are you so angry?"

"Seriously?" He asked in disbelief. She made an innocent face.

"Shok se nahi giri na." She shrugged.

(I did not fall because I wanted to.)

"You're unbelievable!" He exclaimed in disbelief.

"Tch." She made the sound and shrugged off. He just shook his head in disbelief.

"Stupid girl!" He thought face palming. They concluded the day with some street food, ice cream and eventually Manik dropping them off to their house.

Hours turned to days and days to week. Manik and Nandini were continuing to have best time of their life. Nandini couldn't explain her feelings. She could feel being prioritised and the softness with which Manik handled her was not hidden from her.

He took efforts in knowing her day. To know what she ate or what she wore. Somedays he would just show up in her hospital with a rose and take her out for lunch, or other days they would just spend time after their working hours with an ice cream, ranting about their respective days.

Manik's feelings were no strange. He could feel the giddy feelings when his phone displayed her number. There were so many shades of his which he wasn't aware and Nandini would manage to bring all of it out. The fear of being judged seemed distant around her.

These days were beautiful in its own way. Not because of some expensive gifts or exclusive dates.

But simply because both of them were willing to give it time.

***

Three weeks had passed by. It was nearly quarter part eight when Manik's car halted in front of Murthy mansion.

"Thank you so much jiju." Mannat grinned saying so. Manik just smiled fondly. "And you.. whatever." She got off the car after speaking to Anurag.

Nandini too got off the car and moved to leave.

"Suniye." He called out halting her actions. She turned away to find him standing before his car, out.

"Ji?" She asked walking towards him.

"Aapka jawab?" Words finally rolled off his tongue. Words that itched to come out since last week but he couldn't muster up courage for the same. Understanding to what he was gesturing, she looked down for a moment and glanced back at him

(Your answer?)

"Pandit kab aayenge hume bata dijiyega." She replied and ran back into her house.

(Inform us when will the priest come.)

He stood there in confusion. What will Pandit do here?

Oh wait..

Did she say a...?

"Yes." Anurag intervened his thoughts.

"Huh?" He absent-minded(ly) uttered, turning blankly towards him. "Bro you're always this dumb aren't you?" He passed him a pissed look saying so.

"I know what she meant. Shut up." Manik tried covering up. But Anurag knew better and he thus chuckled out. Manik scoffed and sat on the front seat with Anurag on the passenger seat and left for their house.

Although the butterflies in his stomach said a different story.

Now both of their twins can officially address them as jiju and bhabhi..

_______________

"Hayeee can I get a Manik." I cribbed.

"No." Aiyappa straightforwardly denied.

"Whyyyyy?" I asked whining.

"He'll run away." I made a haw face and angrily turned my face away.

Precap: Big fact yet beautiful Indian wedding commences.

So people

*peeking up*

I know it wasn't upto mark but... grr .. imma embarrassed .

Okay, coming out of my embarrassment

How did you find the chapter?
*face palming*

How was Manik and Nandini ?

Few words for Anurag and Mannat?

Do tell me your views.

Stay tuned for further updates.

Lots of love

~
Mahak