Nandini opened her eyes, Slowly got up rubbing her eyes, she looked at time and realised it was too late, it’s almost 12 in the noon. She turned to look at her side, it was empty.

“Why didn’t Eshal woke me up” She mumbled getting down from bed, and slipping her feet into her fluffy slippers and walked inside in the dressing to get ready for the day.

There was lot of buzz and hustle in the house, Everyone were running all around busy in sone or other work, As Engagement going to take place today, all their closest relatives landed at  their place. 

Manik has specially assist them being the best organiser, he managed to do the Amazing decorations in the garden. 

“Wow Manik it’s very beautiful thanks a lot” Eshal said in graduate roaming eyes on the decor, then walked upto him, who was leaning on the wall hands in his pocket 

She wrapped her arms around his neck, taking him in hug, he got surprised, but never the less he patted her back slightly, Taking his hands out from pockets. 

“Relax I’m not going to eat you boy” Eshal remarked movie back seeing him getting awkward 

“Obviously you will eat your husband not me” Manik replied with wicked smile Eshal looked at him being dumbfounded.

“Don’t mind him he’s just shy around girls” Saad told her as he side hugged her 

“Oh! shy & all, but he’s not shy with Nandini” Eshal states raising her eyebrows mischievously at him 

“Yeah that I thought the same” Haadi remarked teasingly folding his arms around his chest Manik shot him a glare 

“Because I know her that’s why, and even I’m not shy around Haram, Fariyal because I know them” Manik clarified and left slapping Haadi’s head on which he whined 

~ 

Nandini descend down, dressed in navy blue long print kurti, paired up with Capri plain Blue trouser, And wearing her plain blue dupata on her head, As she was praying, she’s was looking absolutely gorgeous 

She greeted the few guests politely, as they ware chatting in the living room, Some ladies were just admiring her, as they were finding a suitable and cultured girl. 

“How’s my beautiful Ami is today” Nandini asked her well-being sitting beside side hugging her 

“I’m good, but why did you woke up so late? ” Ayesha asked her cupping her cheek with one hand before Nandini could open her mouth she head a lady speak 

“This has become so common nowadays, these youngsters nowadays are too lazy even for one work, and Nandini has return from Australia so what can you expect from her” That women taunted her, who was grandpa’s friend’ daughter in law, 

Nandini hand heard a lot about her, she taunt a lot people, being jealous of them, she can’t see others children doing better then her 

Nandini fumed she was about to answer her, when Ayesha hold her hand, and showed her eyes not to do anything. 

“As you must know her brother is getting married so there was a lot of work, she was busy with that” Ayesha replied with a fake smile 

“But Aunty, your are right, I agree with you, I was just busy with preparations that’s why I slept late, but I saw your daughter’s post at 3 in that night, and as far I know she is from here only, so yeah it’s common nowadays” Nandini being herself replied her back politely, with a fake smile on her face, Giving it back to her without even disrespecting her

While that lady just got embarrassed, and Ayesha looked at her proudly, they way she handled it.

Nandini got up and paced towards kitchen, she saw Jannat making something standing near the gas stove, And Haadi was sitting on the slab munching An apple 

Nandini wrapped her arms around her stomach taking her in a back her, Jannat smiled 

“Finally my princess woke up” Jannat said lovingly moving her hand back to caress her cheek, Nandini nodded in yes playing her face on her shoulder and tip toed to check what she’s is making 

“Wow you woke up so early today cousin” Haadi taunted her as usual 

“Yeah even I felt that same” Nandini answered him back forcing a Smile at him, he chuckled 

“For whom you are making this halwa mama” Nandini asked her licking her lips eyeing the tempting sweet dish in-front of her 

“Isn’t it obvious for bhai dumbo” Haadi replied rolling his eyes Nandini removed her arms from Jannat as she has to move. 

“Shut up duffer” Nandini said throwing a spoon towards him making his giggle while Jannat was just smiling seeing them, She dished out the halwa in a two bowls 

“Here for you” She said filing the spoon to feed her, Nandini eat with her hand, And moaned relishing the taste, 

Then she took the bowl from Jannat, and Jannat took the other bowl to feed his son, she went out from that kichen! 

Nandini wanted to drink water as she eat thr sweet dish and that too waking up, shetook the water bottle which was placed on the slap, 

She opened the cap, the placed the bottle on her lips people her mouth little, gulped the water 

“Woah, You and Bhai just kissed” Haadi exclaimed, making her chocked the water and it landed on his face he scrunched his nose 

“What?” Nandini screamed dumbfounded hearing him 

“What the hell” Haad scowl seeing her action, he took the tissue roll and wiped his face 

“Think before speaking you idiot ” Nandini scolded him slapping his arm,

“You just drink water from his bottle, placing your mouth on the same place, so it’s a indirect kiss” He explained teasingly, her face turned scarlet as what she heard she looked at the bottle and realised it’s his bottle which was empty now

She open the tap to filled it back before he came back finding it, her eyes went to him, who was walking this way only, wearing a sleeveless pink shirt, showing off his bulged out muscles, paired up with blue ripped jeans, Rubbing his wet hair with his hand, he just took a bath 

“The water is overflowing” Haadi said reminding her 

“Huh” Nandini uttered forgetting what she was doing, as she was totally lost in staring him 

“I said the water is overflowing” he repeated gesturing her to the bottle Nandini looked down 

“Wallah” she yelled realising it, and turn off the tap quickly, Haadi chuckled shaking his head and left winking as soon he saw Manik entering in the kitchen 

Seeing Manik Nandini felt her heart beating faster then usual, She fiddled her fingers nervously, seeing him taking steps towards her 

She put the water bottle on the slab and about to run, As after accepting her liking for his she is not ready to face him, and the recent moments were making her face scarlet. 

when she felt the tug on her dupata, it fall off from her head, she held it near her neck winding her eyes, but then she got relieved knowing manik won’t do anything like that, it must have been stuck 

She turned around to get surprised seeing him holding the edge of her dupatta, and starting at her, she felt shiver ran through her spine the way he was looking at her. 

“Why are you running away from me Nandini?” Manik asked her taking slow steps towards her still holding her dupatta 

“Manik please leave it,” Nandini pleaded him as she felt higher heart beating louder he might hear it, 

“Nope, first answer me why are you running away from me?” he repeated his question, as he saw her, how beautiful she was looking with that dupatta on her head, he was walking towards her seeing him she was ready to run, Even remembered she didn’t came down last night too 

He watched her, she’s is not even seeing him looking downwards, hiding her right behind her back 

“I…am..just..” She shutterd badly getting effected by his closeness, She moved back subconsciously and her back hit the Wall, she looked down realising she can’t escape now 

Manik stand a feet away from her, he placed her dupatta back on her head, she looked up at him at his gesture, which touched her heart 

He placed his right hand beside her head on the wall, Nandini felt something churned in her stomach with his action, he moved his other hand towards her she widened her eyes When she felt his hand on her right hand which she was hiding behind her back 

He take her hand out slowly and hold it in-front of his eyes, and saw his name beautiful craved on her palm, he smiled Nandini just closed her being embarrassed, and shy

“Because of this you were running away” He comments looking at her she opened her eyes 

“That designer did by mistake” She whispered telling him 

“It’s fine, it was not a big deal it’s just a name why were you running away?” he asked her without realising he was still holding her hand, Nandini was thinking how to tell him it was not just a name for her 

“Umm, I didn’t know how would you react so I was just hiding ” she told him he chuckled at her 

“That’s fine, now don’t hide from me okay” He odered Nandini just nodded her head, getting shy the way he was standing close to her 

“I..need to go” She whispered he realised he was standing very closed to her he moved back slowly and left her hand, Nandini without saying anything storm from there 

She stopped in between she turned back to look at him and saw him still staring at her she winded her eyes and run from their without turning back 

Manik chuckled at her cute behaviour, He shook his head with a smile and took his waters bottle moved towards terrace 

Nandini came in garden and saw the scenario, Everyone were stuffing food into Eshal’s mouth so she doesn’t feel hungry or low in the ceremony 

“Nandzi is here finally” Eshal exclaimed running towards her, as she was not able to eat more, and they were not stopping 

“Why is your face flushed” Eshal asked seeing her red cheeks Nandini palmed her cheeks

“is it showing that much?” She asked her worriedly thinking manik must have seen it too she palmed her face being embarrassed 

“Yeah but what happened” Eshal question seeing her behaviour then she winded her eyes  acknowledging something 

“Oh my god did something happen tell me” Eshal exclaimed getting excited Nandini sighed and told her everything thing Eshal smile was growing each second but then she frowned 

“Why the hell were you shying and getting nervous like old times, why didn’t tell him they you like him” Eshal complained with frown, Nandini rolled her eyes and Placed her hand above her eyes as the sun’s rays were disturbing her 

“I’m not bold like you, I can’t just go and confess my feeling, when he like some one else and i don’t even know how will he react” Nandini told her being dejected, then she felt the rays are not on her anymore but someone’s shadow , she lifted her head to look up and saw Manik standing staring at her protecting her, her heart fluttered. 

Manik was helping the workers in setting up the lights, when he saw Nandini getting bothered by sun rays, so he just stand covering the sun with his back. 

“They way he stare at you, i don’t think he like someone else you might have misunderstood it Nandini” Eshal said looking at stare game going between them, Nandini got lost in thoughts

“Why don’t you go and ask him directly” Eshal advised her placing her hand on her waist

“What are you mad no way, so awkward” Nandini instantly replied shaking her head in no 

“Fine I’ll ask him” Eshal said shrugging her shoulders casually marching towards him Nandini held her arm pulled her back and glared at her

“Fine I’ll talk to him after engagement okay” Nandini told her agreeing to her getting some confidence 

“That’s better, now that’s the Nanzy i know” She commented winking at her, Nandini sniggered at her talks 

“Nanhi Eshal, stop chatting you both, come here and eat something then you guys have to get ready” Barkat shouted for them Nandini nodded and Eshal made weird face hearing about eating again, Nandini chuckled 

“Come let’s do your hospitality dear Bhabhi” Nandini teased dragging her with herself.