It had been two weeks today since Manik and Nandini were married. Nandini was at her parents' house, and Manik had come to pick her up.

Though both of them were happy deep down, the memory of what had transpired the day Nandini was supposed to come to the Murthy house still cast a heavy shadow over their hearts.

Earlier

"Manik, I trust Mamma, but I don't trust the circumstances," Nandini said, sitting on the bed, her voice laced with concern.

"Nandini, we've been over this a hundred times. No matter what you feel, no matter what I feel, we are not— I repeat, we are not— going to confront Mom about this," Manik said, his tone sharper than he intended.

"Manik, open your eyes! She needs to hear this. She needs to know that in trying to be a good mother to Cabir, she's forgetting she has another son! You! And that is not fair to you!" Nandini shot back, standing up to face him.

Manik clenched his jaw, his patience thinning. "I don't need you to fight my battles, Nandini!" he snapped, his frustration bubbling over. "She is my mother! And I know she will realize this on her own someday."

Nandini let out a hollow laugh, shaking her head. "Someday? You think she will just wake up one day and magically see the truth? Have you even thought about what happens if she never does? If she is ever forced to choose between you and Cabir, what then? What if she doesn't choose you, Manik? Will you be able to live with that?"

Her words struck a nerve, but he refused to acknowledge it. Instead, he scoffed. "I don't care, Nandini. I don't care about some hypothetical situation you've cooked up in your head. I will not let my mother blame herself for something she doesn't even realize she's doing. End of discussion."

"No, it's not the end!" Nandini's voice broke with frustration, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "You're being blind, Manik! You're so scared of hurting her that you're willing to let yourself be hurt instead. That's not fair! That's not love, that's self-destruction!"

Manik exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "Enough, Nandini! You don't get to dictate what is or isn't fair when it comes to my relationship with my mother. Just drop it."

"No, Manik! I won't drop it! Because I—" she swallowed, her voice trembling, "I can't stand by and watch you pretend like this doesn't hurt you. Like it doesn't kill you inside. Because it does, Manik. And you're too damn stubborn to admit it."

He turned away, running a hand through his hair, his mind a storm of conflicting emotions. "I said drop it!"

"Fine!" Nandini bit out, her voice trembling with anger and heartbreak. "She's your mother, right? Then do whatever the hell you want!" And with that, she stormed out of the room.

By the time Manik turned around, realization hit him like a truck. The room was empty. Nandini was gone.

His heart clenched, panic rising in his chest. He grabbed his phone and dialed her number, only to hear it ring from the nightstand. She had left her phone behind.

"Fuck!" he swore, throwing his phone against the wall in frustration.

Two days passed without a word between them. Manik had tried reaching her through Nyonika, but Nandini had refused to take the phone back, saying her work calls came through a different number anyway. He hated the silence. Hated the distance. But he was too damn stubborn to make the first move.

Present Day

Today was the day he would finally see her. Guilt gnawed at him—not for what he believed in, but for raising his voice at her. For making her walk away.

Nandini sat in the kitchen with Ishita while the men had already left for work.

"Mom, I've decided to resign from the office," she informed Ishita, taking a sip of her coffee.

Ishita looked at her in surprise. "Why, beta?"

"Don't worry, it's nothing bad. The workload has become too much. I can manage the restaurant from home, but the hospital needs my full attention," Nandini explained with a small smile.

"Alright, I'll tell Raman," Ishita said, nodding. Just then, they heard the honk of a car. Manik had arrived.

While Ishita went out to greet him, Nandini stayed behind, taking a deep breath. Her chest felt heavy as memories of that argument flashed in her mind. Tears burned at the back of her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away.

"He wasn't completely wrong..." she murmured to herself, exhaling slowly before heading outside.

She stepped out to see Manik touching Ishita's feet, a small yet respectful smile on his face. And then his gaze met hers.

Two days. Forty-eight hours. It felt like years.

"Manik, come sit," Ishita offered.

"No, Mummy, actually I have some work. We'll leave if Nandini is ready," Manik said, his eyes not leaving Nandini.

Nandini simply nodded, went inside to grab her handbag, and soon they were in the car.

Silence.

Both had so much to say, but neither uttered a word. The only sound filling the space was the soft melody of Nandini's favorite song. Manik glanced at her, watching as she stared out of the window, lost in thought. After a while, he reached for the stereo and lowered the volume, making her turn to him.

"Your restaurant's interiors are ready. We'll go there first, then I'll drop you at your office," Manik informed her.

"Drop me at the hospital, please," she said, her voice calm but distant.

Manik frowned. "No office today?"

"I'm resigning," she stated simply, closing her eyes as she leaned back, exhausted.

Manik didn't press for details. He knew her well enough to understand her reasons.

After a quiet drive, they reached the restaurant. Their conversations were neutral, professional, devoid of the warmth they once shared.

The traffic was heavy on their way back, making the silence between them even more unbearable. Just then, a little boy knocked on Manik's window, holding a bunch of flowers. Manik rolled the window down.

"Hi," Manik greeted him.

The boy grinned mischievously. "Girlfriend hai?" he whispered, eyeing Nandini.

Manik chuckled, glancing at her. "Biwi hai."

"Biwi? Wah! Gussa hai?" the boy asked innocently.

Manik smirked. "Thodi si."

"Ye phool de do. Guarantee gussa udd jayega," the boy declared confidently.

Manik laughed, handing the boy a 500-rupee note. "Saare dedo."

As the boy handed him the flowers, Manik asked, "Naam kya hai?"

The boy grinned. "Manik." And then he ran off.

Manik shook his head, amused. When the traffic finally cleared, he parked the car at a peaceful spot. Handing the flowers to Nandini, he said, "I'm sorry."

She took them, inhaling their fragrance, before stepping out to feel the fresh air. Manik joined her, and she leaned onto his shoulder.

"It's okay," she whispered. "I love you."

Manik pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "I love you more."

And just like that, the storm between them settled... for now.