Manik:- ( crying ) Dadu…. What are you saying? It’s a prank, right? Please stop this prank here. I am getting scared.
Vishamber:- ( authoritatively ) Manik, I don’t want any discussion on this topic. You have to leave her ( Pointing at Nandini ) and get married to Innaya. This is my final decision.
Shocked is a very underrated word to describe Manik’s state. He feels like someone told him to jump down from the cliff. He can’t even think about leaving Nandini in his dreams, and here they are separating him from his soul.
Nandini is standing numb with tears falling down her face like a stream. The smile that she always wears is not on her lips this time. She wants all this to become her dream, and when she opens her eyes, everything will be fine.
Innaya smiles dangerously, seeing everyone standing against Manik or precisely supporting her. But her smile fades away after listening to Manik’s reply.
Manik:- No …. The answer is a big NO, Dadu. Never in my dream did I think to leave Nandini's hand. ( Smiles and stood beside Nandini and interweaved her hand with his tightly and gave a reassuring smile to her ) Dadu, you taught me how to love. You taught me how to develop relationships. Now you are saying that I should leave my love and move on with the girl whom I consider just a family friend. ( Smiles sarcastically ) You never taught me to give up easily, no matter what, so why should I give up on her now? Why should I cheat on her? SHE IS THE ONE WHO MY HEART WANTS. I held her hand forever, I promised her to stay with her till I am alive. ( after a brief pause ) Tell me one thing, Dadu, you also had a love marriage. If this happens to you, then you would leave Dadi like that? Will you stay happy without your soul, without her?
Vishamber:- ( angrily ) Manik….
Manik:- ( smiles painfully ) See Dadu, you can’t even be able to hear this. You can’t even think about a moment without Dadi ( grandmom ) in your life. So how can I leave her like that? How can I live without MY LOVE?
Varsha:- Manik, this is the way to talk with your dadu. ( grandfather )
Manik:- noo…..no… completely not. I didn’t mean to insult anyone. It’s just that Dadu taught me to take a stand for my loved ones, and I am doing that only by standing with my love.
Varsha:- ( aggressively ) by going against your family. These are the manners that I taught you? ( With venom in eyes for Nandini ) I don’t know what kind of black magic she did on you. That you can’t see how much Innaya loves you. You become blind in your so-called love, Manik.
She points towards Innaya, who is shedding crocodile tears. Whereas all Dixits keep standing there and glaring at Nandini, except the elder Mrs. Dixit. They are all accusing her of this drama.
Manik:- ( Frustratingly ) maa…. Please don’t use bad words for her. There is no fault of hers. It’s my wish to be with her. And I don’t think that I sinned by loving her. I just gave my heart to its rightful owner.
Vishamber:- ( angrily ) Manik, you forgot your manners. Is this the way to behave with your mother? I had enough of this. Now I need a clear answer from you. ( saying this, he moves behind the sofa and turns his back towards everyone ) Now you have to choose between your love and your family. Mark my words, Manik, if you choose YOUR LOVE, then you are free to leave my house. There is no place for this girl in my home. ( pointing at Nandini )
Manik stumbled upon Vishember’s decision. Whereas Nandini felt guilty for splitting such an amazing family, her tears are unstoppable. Yashoda moves toward her husband to stop him from doing this, but he doesn’t even let her speak.
Nandini’s grip on Manik’s hands gets tight. She is scared to lose him. NO, she doesn’t have any doubt about his love, but she knows how much Manik loves his family. How much does his family matter to him? She is scared for Manik. She doesn’t want him to choose between her and his family, but now she can’t do anything; the damage is already done.
Nandini pressed Manik’s hand more tightly to bring him back from his shocked zone. Manik looked toward her in a daze while she told him to choose his family through her eyes. He smiles, knowing how selfless she is. She always gives priority to others.
Vishamber:- ( still his back facing everyone ) I am waiting for your decision, Manik.
Innaya smiles inwardly and shows her fake tears as she knows that Manik cares for his family a lot. She knows that family is his priority. So, she is sure that Manik will choose his family, and after that, he will marry her under his family's pressure. And in the end, she will become the MRS. MANIK MALHOTRA. The queen of the Malhotra empire.
Manik:- I CHOOSE NANDINI……..
Everyone is shocked because they thought that Manik would choose his family. But here he chose his love over his family. Innaya’s hope was shattered with his words. Her dream of ruling both Malhotras and Dixits went down the drain.
Manik:- yup!!!!!! I choose Nandini over everything again and again. I know that I will die when she is not there beside me.
Nandini is shocked by his answer. She is nodding her head in the negative as if saying, “Manik, this is wrong”. Ignoring her, Manik continues.
Manik:- ( determined ) Yes, Dadu, I choose Nandini. Because I don’t want to lose such an innocent and selfless girl. ( Smiles towards Nandini ) See, she is telling me to choose you guys, breaking her heart. She knows my happiness lies in you guys. That's why she is telling me to choose you, but she is wrong. ( Seeing in Nandini’s eyes lovingly ) She doesn’t know what I would do with this happiness when I can’t even take a single breath without her.
Varsha:- You will regret it, Manik.
Manik:- No….. I know that I won’t regret this decision of mine ever.
Vishamber:- ( firmly ) So, this is your last decision?
Manik:- YES!...
Varsha:- ( crying ) What are you saying, Manik? You will regret this decision. I don’t know what black magic this unlucky girl did on you.
Saying this, she walks toward Nandini to slap her, but before she does anything to her, Manik comes in between and hides her behind himself and stands in front of her like a shield, protecting her.
Manik:- ( angrily ) Mom…… I can’t bear any scratches on her, and I don’t want to do anything that I will regret later. So move aside, don’t you dare to come near her.
Vishamber:- ( angrily ) Manik, you crossed all your limits. If you choose her, then get out of my house right now and live with your so-called love.
Varsha:- ( crying ) What! Please, Dad, don’t do this. How can I live without my Manik? ( Turning towards her husband ) Why are you not saying anything? Stop him, na Parveen please ….. Stop him.
Parveen:- ( consoling his wife ) It’s his decision, Varsha. Let him do whatever he wants to do. If he thinks that this decision is good for him, then let him live his life in his way.
Manik moves towards his room to bring all his documents, passports, etc. Yashoda too moves towards her room to bring something important, ignoring everyone. Somewhere, she is happy that Manik has chosen HIS LOVE above Innaya, which was his best decision ever. On the other hand, she is sad too because her Manik wouldn't live with them.
Manik is packing his documents in a bag. At the same time, his dadi came inside with a box in her hand. Seeing her, Manik sat down on the bed tiredly and palmed his face with both of his hands.
Manik:- Dadi, did I do something wrong?
Yashoda:- You are having second thoughts about loving Nandini? Are you doubting your love or your decision to choose her?
Manik:- ( immediately ) NO…… I didn’t mean that. I will never regret loving Nandini.
Yashoda smiled in response and cupped his cheeks lovingly.
Yashoda:- What does your heart say, Manik?
Manik kept looking at her, and she got her answer in a nanosecond.
Yashoda:- You did the right thing, Manik. I am proud of you, my son; it’s very difficult to take a stand for your love after going against your whole family. It needs guts. ( To lighten the atmosphere ) By the way, I must say my soon-to-be BAHU (granddaughter-in-law) is so beautiful. You both look good together. Never leave her alone, ok? Nahi toh I will beat you with a broom. ( Both chuckled at this ) Where do you find this innocent doll? ( After a brief moment ) Manik always keeps her happy. I know that you do that because love for her is visible in your eyes.
Saying this, she forwards a box to him that she bought with her. Manik frowned and raised his eyebrows, asking, “What is this?”
Yashoda:- yeah, khandani bangles hai. (These are our traditional bangles ) Give it to Nandini. It’s her right to wear this. It’s a ritual that elderly women of the house give this to their new daughter-in-law. But in this situation, I am not able to give this to her. So, keep it as my blessing for your brighter future.
Manik smiles and hugs his dadi maa. He knows that no matter what, his dadi always understands him and supports him too.
To be continued…