Ignore mistakes as I couldn't even cross check the chapter.Do read the note in the end.

Couldn't arrange beautiful words to thank you that day(women's day),So This update is for you a_cosmic_dust ❤️

Happy Reading 🤗

Manik was a hyper active kid when it comes to surprises from Nandini cause they're always thoughtful, which gives him a piece.Some alone time of them,some soulful talks.No luxury only thoughts,No crowd only two of them,no posh candle light dinners or dates in country's most renowned hotel but their Home; where they can be their self only.

As soon as they reached Manik asked "where's the surprise Baby??"

"Mani,, relax!! Pehle room mein jao and get fresh n up !! Change karo then I'll show you.." Nandini said.

"I'm fresh see!! I don't need to change baby,please chalo.. I can't wait" Manik said restlessly to which Nandini chuckled and said sternly "Manik,,go & change"

"Lekin this is cheating Nandini,, sirf main kyun tum kyun nehi change karogi?? You also have to come with me" Manik said.

"I'll do everything baba!! You go first" Saying this Nandini pushed Manik towards the staircase.

Manik looked back with a puppy look & Nandini showed him her eyes to which he ran into their room.

Manik went inside and was about to take out his casuals when he noticed clothes already arranged on the bed.He went near and took the cloth in his hand and laughed remembering how Nandini forcefully made Manik buy this pair of night suit.

(Don't Kill me for this 😜🙈)

He nodded his head smiling on her acts and went inside to freshen up & change.

On the other side Nandini checked the last minute preparation as no one was at home,they all went to their beach house to let Manan spend some alone time.After making sure everything's ready she too went in Mukti's room to change in her night suit.

Manik was the first one to get ready and he got a chit on the mirror saying "Backyard it is".

Manik went to backyard only to find a beautiful cozy arrangement with tent & lights.Its all natural.She just used the lights in a right way. A smile broke onto his face.

He went near the tent and peeped inside to get amazed,there was a little t.v set up,some foods which were looking exceptionally amazing.

He look everywhere but Where's Nandini !!??

He called her name "Nandini ,, bachha where are you??"

"Main yaha hoon Mani" There she was standing with his guitar in her hand.He rushed to her and take that guitar from her;she smiled.

"How's It Mani?? You liked it?? Mujhe ghar pe jo bhi mila I used it,, I know it isn't like the ones you take me to but ...." Nandini couldn't complete as he captured her lips in his for a honey laced kiss.Which conveyed his feels to her.

After being satisfied that she understood how exactly he liked the set up they broke apart & panted to grab some air.

"I always loves your surprises n you know why ??!!" Manik asked her resting his forehead on her forehead cupping her face with his both palms.

Nandini nodded & a mere Whisper came out as "Why??"

He bussed her temple & said "They're so lively, so peaceful.you're so thoughtful that sometimes I get jealous of how can you always win like this when it comes to this??"

Nandini giggled & replied after giving smacker on his cheek "You don't have to be jealous Mr.Malhotra ,, I'll teach you some other time" & winked.

"I'll be obelised Madame" Manik too played along.

"Waise you're looking too cute Mani" Nandini laughed and pulled his cheeks to which he frowned.

"Nandini anything but cute please,Aur yeh bachhowale night suits kaun pehenta hai tell me" Manik said like a annoyed kid.

"Aab cute ko cute Na bolu toh Kya karela bolu!!?? Aur hum pehente hain,,kisi Aur ko kyun pehenna hoga?? Aab lets go inside" Nandini said in a blah tone to which Manik made a crying face.

They went inside & made themselves comfortable.

"Manik no need to eat anything except that drink,, I know you're full.Actually I wasn't expecting your surprise issi liye I made all these but now no need to have all these" Nandini said.

But how could he let her hard work get spoiled.After all she toiled herself so much just to make him happy.

"But I'm hungry ,, so please I need to eat all these,Issi dekh ke toh I'm more hungry,please jaldi do" Manik said.

"Manik I know your this drama,you don't need to i said Na ??" Nandini said to which Manik too imitated her tone "Nandinii"

After arguing for sometime Nandini had to let him eat whatever he wanted to.After finishing their food they lay down with the help of cusions which were kept in many numbers so that it doesn't get uncomfortable.

"Life is so unpredictable no??!! Never ever in my wildest dreams I thought that tum mujhe miloge Manik!!"

"Kaha baass ek bund khusi k liye I used to beg aur aj dekho I'm  the happiest woman alive in this whole world Mani.I can't thank god enough for giving me you" Nandini was saying looking at nowhere.

"Our destiny were meant to be together honey,,Uss din nei toh kisi Aur din hi sahi,, waise nehi toh kisi Aur tareeke sey hi sahi we had to meet,You had to come like the sunshine to my darkness.I should be thankful to your aayiappa & mom for bringing you in my life.I too used to crave for love Nandini and now!!! Your love has made the worlds richest man" Manik said making her look at him.

They stayed there for sometime without exchanging a word.Sometimes it's silence that speaks volumes,you don't need words to express to your loved ones what you're feeling exactly.Its the silence that'll convey on your behalf.Cause well timed silence has more eloquence than speech.

"SOMETIMES, THE MOST MEANINGFUL THINGS ARE FOUND THROUGH "
-Unknown

Retour En-Arrière -

It's been 10 days Manik was in hospital,Fab4 has turned a part of hospital into their own place.Decorating it in their own way to keep Manik happy but this boy is in some another world!!!! Always in his own thoughts,sometimes behaving all restless.No one except Cabir knew the reason.

Cabir too was trying his every possible way to find Nandini but failed oblivious of the fact that Nandini everyday came to the hospital and asked about Manik's progress to the receptionist;who for the first few days refused to give any information to her but then eventually she too have in & started giving details of his health to her.And on the other hand no one knew any damn thing about her other than Cabir,who have seen her once or twice that too from car when Manik showed him.

It's the day when Manik was going to get discharge "Cabir you got anything ??" Manik asked hopefully.

"Buddy relax we'll get her don't worry,,You just get well soon please" Cabir requested him to which he didn't deny.

Fab4 packed his stuffs from hospital as they're taking him home.Dhruv was helping with his wheel chair with Mukti & Alya by their side & Cabir went to bring the car at the hospital gate.

They made Manik sit in the back seat with Cabir & Dhruv took over the driver seat with Mukti beside him & Alya at the last.

"Ok Na buddy !!?? You aren't feeling any pain right??" Dhruv asked Manik before starting to which Manik replied negative saying "I'm absolutely fine buddy ,,Tu chal"...

But Cabir knew that he wasn't fine,, he was in a complete mess.Then too he was a mess when he first saw Nandini and now he has even seen her,touched her but still can't find her,She's disappeared.

"Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love."
-Mother Teresa

Cabir lightly pressed his shoulder and blinked his eyes to assure him.They're chitchatting as everyone tried to cheer up Manik's mood.Cabir too played along with them.When suddenly Manik almost shouted "Buddy stop stop stop the car". They all got scared "Kya huya Manik ?? Tu thik hai Na??"

"Manik is it paining too much?? Should we take you to the doctor again??" Cabir asked but stopped as they saw Manik struggling to open the lock of the door looking at particularly somewhere.

When he couldn't open,he cried out in fraustation "Buddy open the fucking centre lock damn it!!!" ,,Dhruv got scared and opened it to which Manik almost ran giving a damn to their shouts.Cabir followed his gaze and was surprised to see Nandini.

Cabir got down after telling them not to stop him,he'll be with him.

Manik was trying to run behind Nandini,who was walking in full speed don't know why!!! But Manik was walking far behind of her.It was way too tough for him to even walk but there he was almost running which took all his energy at that time with all the injuries,broken limbs but nothing could stop him and Cabir too didn't stop him but chose to walk behind him in case he needed him.

Covering half distance finally Manik screamed her name "Nandiniiiii" panting heavily,he rested his hands on his knees as it was getting difficult for him to breathe.

Nandini turned hearing her name being called and seeing Manik like that infront of her she was shocked to the core.Shocked will be an understatement. She stayed like that for few seconds to digest her surrounding. When Manik looked at her trembling,with a painful smile,pale yet red face;Nandini immediately ran to him & held him "Aap !!? Aap yaha Kya kar rahe hai?? Were you running ?? Where's your family?? Aise kaise chod saktein hain apko akele??Aapko toh discharge karne wale the na aj?? What are you doing here ??"

Nandini was blabbering where Manik was just looking at her,her face devoid of any make up,dried red lips,chubby yet pale cheeks,swollen eyes,white as sheet skin but these couldn't fade her beauty. Cabir smiled from a distance seeing him finally meet Nandini.

"Hi" Manik said still panting.

"Hi!!?? Like seriously hi ?? That too like this?? After all these?? Aap bataiyein k kiske saath hai ap yaha??" Nandini asked sternly to which Cabir came and replied "Humare saath!!" Just to earn a glare from her.

They took him to the car where everyone was waiting impatiently,As soon as they saw Manik they ran to help Nandini & Cabir. After making Manik sit properly & making him drink water which Nandini was carrying in her bag; she turned to look at four pair of eyes watching her actions like they've seen alien doing human activities.

"Excuse me guys!! I guess you're his family but how can you people leave him like that ?? He has gone through such a severe operation after the accident aur aplogo ney unhe aise dourney diya that too within 10days?? Itne careless aplog kaise ho saktein ho??What if kuch ho jataah??" Nandini was chanting non stop & they were staring at her shockingly.

"Excuse me!! Ms whoever ...." Mukti couldn't complete.

"Nandini..Nandini Murthy" Nandini corrected.

"Haan whatever,We....." Mukti again couldn't complete.

"Whatever nei baba Nandini Murthy,you can call me Nandini" Nandini again corrected to which a chuckle escaped from Cabir's mouth & Manik was mesmerised while Muklya were fuming.

"Listen you Nandini,don't flaunt your over smartness ok?? You're no one to tell us what should we do and what not !! So get lost" Mukti said to which Manik glared at her saying "Not a word more Mukti please".

Mukti's words like gave Nandini a reality check,, reality hit her that she's no one to them,,she doesn't have any right to interfere.But she didn't get why Mukti's word hurt her though Mukti was right. She didn't cry but as if her face changed its colour,that same old Nandini came back who's face doesn't hold any expression.

"I'm sorry for saying so much to you guys!!" Saying this she turned towards Manik and said sternly "Take care of yourself & Never repeat this". Her voice held some unknown domination which Manik couldn't deny.His eyes too held pain seeing her.She was and he couldn't understood why it hurt him.

Cabir tried stopping her but she ran and took an auto.

Back to present

"Immature love says -'I love you cause I need you' but Mature love says- 'I need you cause I love you"
-Unknown

"Mani can you sing please " Nandini asked suddenly when Manik caressed her cheeks with his thumb saying "Never ever say please,princesses don't plead they orders"

(Guys it's a request that do listen the song Gazab ka hai din from Dil Juunglee )

Nandini's smiled grew ear to ear hearing him.She knew if he's addressing her as a princess then he does treat her like a princess.

Nandini kissed on his palm. And Manik strummed his guitar.

"I feel love...
When I look into your eyes
I believe...
If you move out from my side
I'll be loosin' I'll be losin'
Grip on you... grip on you..."

True words those were which escaped his mouth.

"Dekho qareeb se
Mile hai naseeb se
Aayega pal yeh phir kahaan"

Nandini looked at him and smiled.Those cold breeze was helping to maintain a serene romantic atmosphere.

"Pucho zara iss dil se
Hum hain mile mushkil se
Kal phir na ho'n hum jo yahaan"

Manik stopped for a while and suddenly pecked her lips to which her eyes bulged out,she lightly gave a slap on his hand

"Gazab ka hai din, socho zara
Yeh deewanapan, dekho zara
Tum ho akele, hum bhi akele
Maza aa raha hai
Kasam se... kasam se..."

Manik giggled and sang those lines with Nandini beside him swaying.

Manik was strumming his guitar when Nandini stood up and faced her back towards him looking at the sky with closed eyes letting her hairs dance with the gentle wind,caressing her hands with her own palms. Manik was about to stood up when she started-

"Alfaaz kya kahoon main
Bechain si rahoon main
Tu bin kahe yeh haal jaan le"

Now Manik stood up with his guitar and stands beside Nandini singing-

"Mausam mohabbaton ke
Lamhe yeh chaahaton ke
Apne liye bane hain maan le"

Nandini opened her eyes to meet his hazel orbs.Her fingers ran through his cheeks.Manik asked her to continue when she sang-

"Phir kyun faasla
Main kahaan aur tum kahaan..."

"Gazab ka hai din, socho zara
Yeh deewanapan, dekho zara

she took the guitar from him keping that on the ground,she held his hands making him danced with her & continued -

Tum bhi akele, hum bhi akele
Maza aa raha hai
Kasam se.. kasam se.."

Manik was mesmerised with her singing skills how expertly she's singing.Her words were for him & that gave him jitters.He sang-

"I feel love...
When I look into your eyes
I believe...
If you move out from my side
I'll be losin'... grip on you.."

They finished the song still swaying;Nandini keeping her head exactly on his heart & he keeping his chin on her head.

After some soulful talks & bickering about which movie they're going to watch finally settled to watch Twilight.

"Do we really need to know
how much they enjoyed the night !!??"

~~***~~~***~~~**~~

Woohooo!!! 100k readers,50th chapter of Her Shadow and how!!! 😍💃🏼

This is unbelievable for me,,never expected this truly.But all thanks to my watty fam without who it wouldn't have been possible.Thank you from the bottom of my heart guys.❤️

Want to know me then do check my talks with The_Miniongirl ☺️

That's it for today.(2519 words)
Don't know what shit I've written please forgive me.🙏🏻