Ugh. I know I am two weeks late but I really had a hard time writing this chapter.

And I guess I am really in need of some motivation, so comments are most welcome on this chapter.

Enjoy Reading!

_____

Manik let out a small sigh as he layed on the bed with his head on his mother's lap or his another heaven, as he always described. He was playing with the soft fabric of her night-wear, lost in his own thoughts while she caressed her hair.

Nandini was in their room talking to her parents, and making sure they were all at home tomorrow. She didn't want to share one of the biggest happiness of her life on a phone call, so they decided they would go there after their appointment with the doctor. She was happy, and that was all that mattered.

His mother watched in surprise as he turned and tossed over, his hand flapping at the bed out of habit of holding his wife close until he realized where he was and when he did, he closed his eyes with a sheepish smile.

Niyonika let out a giggle at his pink ears.

Niyonika: Manik, Are you happy?

Niyonika knew the answer already but she wanted to hear it from him. Manik knew it was his mother's own own way of making sure everything was okay in his life or he was happy with it.

Manik: Happy? That doesn't define what I feel, Maa. It is all- it is like a dream. Am I really going to be a father?

Niyonika: Yes, you are.

She laughed, nodding her head along. Manik whined for no reason at all. He sat down facing her, and she patted his cheek.

Niyonika: Mera bacha. Who would say you are married and now going to be a father?

Manik: Maa!

Before she could reply, the mother and son were disturbed by the sound of knob turning as Raj who was in the washroom all the time came out while wiping his hair. He made a bad face as his eyes fell on them, precisely on Manik.

Raj: All the time sticking to my wife. Did your wife kick you out?

Niyonika: Raj!

She gasped, not believing he just said that.

Raj: What! I didn't get him married for no reason. Go and trail behind Nandini!

Manik: So Rude.

Raj ignored his comment and rolled his eyes, watching as his wife glared at him with her eyes as large as saucers.

Niyonika: Raj, you don't tease my son like that!

Raj: Yeah Yeah, now he is more important to you!

Manik: ofcourse I am!

Manik smirked and as his father growled, spurts of laughter left his mouth and he watched his father walking to the dressing table and running his hand through his hair.

Niyonika: Manik! Raj, you can't be serious! Stop with this now both of you! And Raj, don't you think instead of taunting him, you sould sit down and give him some advice? He is going to be a father now!

Raj smirked, looking at Manik who made a bad face.

A lesson on fatherhood with his son, or more like telling him how much his wife loved him back than, oh yeah - he was definitely in for it.

Manik grinned as soon as he entered his room. It smelled of her, and it only made him smile more. He chuckled finding his own behaviour ridiculous and looked around to find her but frowned seeing her nowhere.

The bed was empty with crumbled bedsheet and he believed she was waiting for him. He looked at the clock which striked twelve in the night. Ofcourse, he was late and she could no longer sleep without his warmth.

Manik: Nandini!

Nandini: I am here, Manik!

She yelled back from the balcony the next moment, as if she knew he was here already. It was a weird how they could even sense each other even from a distance.

Manik immediately walked in the balcony only to find her standing there with her back facing the door. She seemed to be smiling to herself as she gazed at the sky filled with numerous illuminating stars.

She loved them. He chuckled and wrapped his arms around her from behind, pushing his face in her neck and she almost giggled pushing herself in him.

Manik: Why are you not sleep yet?

Nandini: You already know.

Manik: Right, you want to sit here or go back and sleep?

Nandini: Let's stay, I can't sleep.

Manik: Why?

He asked, concerned as she shook her head. She parted away and Manik frowned at her.

Nandini: I don't know.

Manik: Are you scared? Or nervous?

Nandini: both. It is my first time, so-

Manik: Yeah, right. It is my nth time, no?

He joked and stiffed a laugh when she glared at him with her big round eyes.

Nandini: Aap- go back inside and sleep!

Manik: Wait, No! I am sorry. Let's sit.

He blabbered but as he bend down to sit, he stopped and held her hand, his eyes fixed on her belly.

Manik: W-Will it hurt?

He looked up as she raised her brow in confusion even though she knew what he was saying.

Manik: I mean, the baby- If you sit down, it won't harm our baby, right?

Nandini: Manik, The baby is not even developed fully to get hurt.

Manik: Fine, but still.

She giggled, shaking her head in disbelief as he made a bad face and sat down with the support of the railing. Nandini sat beside him without another word but Manik seemed to have taken offence.

Manik: C'mon, I don't even know much about all this. By the way, How old our baby is?

Nandini: We will get to know tomorrow.

Manik: Oh, Can I talk to him, or her?

Nandini chuckled yet again. The baby couldn't hear them yet and she was sure Manik knew it too but he had to be this adorable cute child like man. She nodded her head as he leaned in and kissed her head first before keeping his hand on her flat belly.

It had another life inside her, Manik smiled as he thought of it. He bend down more to get easy access.

Manik: Hey baby, I know you have lots of time before we hold you, but please know- your mumma papa loves you so much. Come soon and don't trouble mumma, papa is not going to like it.

Nandini frowned at the last sentence. Manik couldn't be serious but to her surprise, he seemed damn serious. Still, she chucked all her thoughts and slapped his shoulder.

Nandini: Why would you say that to our baby?

Manik shrugged as she controlled the urge to roll her eyes.

Nandini: Manik, it is just a baby, our baby. What harm could our own baby cause us?

She chuckled as Manik turned away his face, too embarrassed to even form a sentence but still he remained firm on his stance.

Nobody harms her, not even their baby.

Nandini joked about something to ease the situation. Manik seemed to buy it as they indulged into a stupid random conversation. She was telling him weird stories she read on internet about pregnant woman and he tried his best to provide her with all his attention.

Nandini caught him zoning out in between. She had no idea what was going around in his head. Manik always had the bad habit to overthink. He would overthink to the point where she would get worried and then at the end he would dump all the information he had collected infront of her, asking her to to solve whatever he was going through.

It was weird but that's how he worked.

Nandini: Manik, Aap theek ho na?

She asked, halting him in the middle of a sentence and he stilled at his place. What a fool he was to think he could hide it from her.

Manik: I am fine, just tensed.

Nandini: Is it about dad? Did he say anything?

She asked again, worried as he shook his head.

Manik: I had a talk with dad and he was just giving me tips. You know, he told me it is not going to be easy and now, I am not sure of it.

Manik could hear her gasp. He didn't want to tell her- he feared the reaction she was giving him. She stood up abruptly and he followed her.

Nandini: What do you mean?

Manik: Nandini-

Nandini: Tell me, Manik. What do you mean you are not sure of it!

She raised her voice and Manik glanced at the surrounding. They were still standing in the balcony and although nobody could really hear them from here, it didn't feel right.

Nandini followed his gaze and stormed in the room without another word while he walked behind her with a small sigh.

He made her sit on the bed and filled a glass of water for her. She was not fine and he hated the way he started the topic at first place.

Manik: Take this. Nandini!

He called out sternly when she pushed away the glass, the water spilled on his hand but he cared less.

Nandini: Nandini what, Manik? You want me to be calm after you tell me you are not sure of our baby? Tell me, are you already regretting it?

Manik: What! No, Nandini! You are taking it all wrong.

Nandini: Yes, right. I am taking it wrong! Let it be, Manik. Come, Let's sleep.

She said, and stood up. Manik tried to hold her hand but she jerked it away. She was angry and he didn't blame her. He would have behaved much more aggressively if she told him the same but then, he was selfish- he hated when she ignored him.

Like a guilty child waiting for his mother, Manik stood out of the washroom door waiting for her to come out.

Nandini walked out of the washroom after good ten minutes. She glared at him and walked past him without saying anything. Although, she knew he had a lot to explain, she was in no state to hear it.

She was angry.

She was hurt.

More than that, she was shocked.

Didn't they plan this baby together? What happened now?

She closed her eyes as she layed down on the bed and her eyes drifted back to that day.

It was around a week later after their second anniversary, Nandini wanted to talk about this to Manik.

She wanted to tell him she was ready for a baby. As much as she was okay talkin' about intimate things to him, she needed privacy and she was getting anything but it.

Manik was too much busy or actually pretending to be busy. The only time she actually saw him properly without his files or laptop was either on the dining table or when they had company.

Somehow, he seemed reluctant about something too.

It was just any another day and Nandini was brushing her teeth in the morning. She was running late when Manik walked in with messy bed hair and sleepy eyes. He walked to her, kissed her head and mumbled a good morning before moving to pick his brush.

He had plopped the paste on his brush when his eyes fell on her from the mirror. She was brushing her teeth while thinking and she looked so adorable.

Manik knew she wanted to talk to him and she knew exactly what. He had seen her watching those pregnancy videos, reading those articles and even checking out her shape in the mirror twice in the past two days.

Manik: Let's make a baby, Nandini.

And she did choke on her paste that day.

Tears seeped out of her eyes as she wiped them again harshly. It was his decision too, they both wanted this baby. So how could he say he was not sure of it.

The baby was here, in her womb.

He couldn't back out at the last moment. Nandini knew Manik wouldn't do that but her altering hormones didn't help a bit.

She felt her head throbbing in pain due to stress. Her heart was beating so loud and then he just came and sat beside her. He gently removed her hand from her forehead and rubbed the balm. His soft fingers worked on forehead and she found herself drifting in sweet slumber.

He covered her with the quilt and caressed her hair.

Manik: I am just not sure of seeing you enduring it, Nandini.

He chuckled, wiping the wet from her face. He had so much in his mind. They were just two normal human beings, married and in love - why was he feeling everything so strong?

Did every human felt the same when they were in love?

Was it right that he felt his heart breaking at the sight of her teary eyes?

He looked down, closing the small bottle and bend down to kiss her head.

Manik: and I am scared of watching you in pain.

To Be Continued.

One more chapter down. How was it guys?

I hope it didn't turn out boring. And I will try to wind up the pregnancy within few chapters, it will be quick and ofcourse I will try my best to not to make it boring.

Btw, Few words for Manik?

He is a sweetheart, isn't he?

Anyways, Let's meet next Sunday, Hopefully.

Thankyou,
Have a nice sleep, or a nice day ahead.