46. The reception.

                                    

                                          

Nandini 
"I need water." I murmured to myself as Manik checked the pictures with the photographer. Cabir stood up from beside me and headed to a waiter. 
"Thankyou." I muttered when he returned back with a sealed water bottle. Mukti came towards me.
"Use the straw. Your lipstick will be ruined.!" Cabir took the water bottle, uncapped it and handed me with the straw. I smiled at him making him wink back. 
"Manik.. kitna time lagega? Everyone's waiting for you both." Nyonika Maa came running to us. She was welcoming the guests with my family and Papa.
"It's done Mom. You guys go ahead. We'll be there in 5. Everything's ready?" He replied back coming towards Mom. I too stood up.
"Nandini you're okay? You look so tired already." Mom cupped my cheeks.
"No Maa. I'm fine. I didn't have water or anything, and it now feels like dehydration." I replied back. 
"Manik, get a room unlocked on the first or second floor. Nandini. You drink water okay. I can't have you fainting. We all will be around you... just call anyone of us and we'll take you to the room. Don't let this party affect your health. Your father-in-law will kill me if he got to know I let you attend the party even after knowing you were unwell." Mom placed a kiss on my head. Manik wrapped his arms around me. 
Cabir came running with a big tray in his hand, filled with different sorts of drinks and plain water and flavoured water. We all looked at him in confusion.
"Maa we can hide this behind their couch, she can take a sip in every 5 minutes." Cabir grinned. Maa chuckled at him and kissed his cheeks.
"Manu, you scold the poor child without any reason. Dekh kitti care karta hai ye apni bhabhi ki." Mom smiled.
"Haan because this poor child loves bickering with her and he can't have her getting sick. Tease bhi toh karna hai, hai na?" Manik looked at Cabir. Who pouted back.
"Mom ye humesha aise hi karta hai. Mujhe nahi rahna iske pass." Cabir turned back making me chuckle at his innocence.
"Mat kariye na." I looked up at my husband.
"Aap rest karna chahoge? We can try to shift our entry a little late. Fab4 will entertain the guests." Manik asked. I shaked my head in negative. 
"I'll keep drinking something. Just make sure to get me to the washroom on time." I said making Mom and him chuckle. 
"Chalo.. your entry song will start at 7:35. Take your places." Mom said and went away with Mukti, Alya and Dhruv who were getting their pictures clicked. The event manager stood behind us as Manik kept his hand on my lower back and I adjusted my outfit from the front.
"You ready?" He asked. I gulped down whatever it felt was stuck in my throat and nodded. The music started. I started walking. With him beside me.
(Entry song)