*unedited*

M A N I K

Fuck.

I wish there was no sunlight in this fucking world because it always loved to disturb my fucking beauty sleep.

"Nandini yaar curtain band karo!" I shouted covering my face with a pillow.

"Nandini? Saale, ab yahi reh gaya tha! Tu mujhe Nandini bulaayega?" I heard Cabir scream and I got up with a jerk. Iski toh kal shaadi hui thi, yeh yaha kya kar raha hai?

"Don't you fucking love your wife? Mere room mein kya kar raha hai!" I screamed in frustration at him and he ignored me royally. I have been this frustrated since Nandini left, yes she left.

"Saale, meine tujhe itna pyaar diya, paal-poske bada kiya! Aur tune kya kiya?" He asked wiping his imaginary tears and I rolled my eyes.

"Chal bahar aa! Check out karna nahi hai kya?" He said as he left, leaving me alone once again. I hate his feeling of being alone, ever since Nandini has left.

Well, it's just ten hours since she left. She left last night and it's the morning now.

And also, I know everyone reading this story is fucking highly shocked since I didn't stop her from leaving. But thoda toh trust karo apni writer pe, she had already mentioned na that this isn't a cliché love story?

And also, mein koi bollywood hero thodi hu that I will fight with the security guards, run behind her, stop the flight and propose her, bringing her back home?

But ever since she left, this darkness surrounded me. It's like I can't breathe properly any more, it brings me back to the time when she had left me after the mishap that happened two years ago. But this time, it's not so easy. This time, I wasn't letting her go. And this time, I wasn't doing the same mistakes again.

With a smile on my face, I got up and freshened up. This was her magic, her mere thought just lightened my mood, bringing this smile on my face.

Argh Nandini Murthy! I love you way too much.

When I got out, all my friends were already waiting for me with bored expressions. "Saalo thoda toh sympathy do mujhe, the love of my life left me last night!" I said wiping fake tears and they rolled their eyes.

"As if you will let her leave you!" Dhruv smirked and I laughed.

As if I will let her leave me.

Not so easily Nandini Murthy, you're mine.

~

N A N D I N I

Twenty four hours. Twenty four hours since I say Manik, since I heard his voice, since he held me in his arms, since I entwined our hands together. I missed the way he held me tightly, I missed the way he kissed my forehead, the way he nuzzled in my neck, the way he does his magic on me. I miss him.

After a deadly long flight, we finally landed in London. All the flight, I have kept myself covered with blankets, music in my ears, and tears in my eyes.

I still can't believe it's over. It's over once again.

But still after one day, the first voice after getting on land that I wanted to hear was Manik's. That was the way I loved him, super selflessly. He can keep pushing me away, keep hurting me, but I'd crawl back like a spider to him for his love.

But this time, I can't blame him, since the fault was mine. How could I think that Manik will raise his hand in anger? How could I be scared of Manik? He was my Manik! My Manik. Yes, he gets angry, yes he is a mess, but he is a glorious mess that I love and will keep loving forever.

We took our luggage from the luggage belt and each passing second made me realise that it felt so difficult to live a life without Manik Malhotra.

We walked out and I kept staring at people aimlessly and lifelessly, not having interest in anything anymore when my eyes caught a similar face, a charming smile.

"Manik!" I whispered in disbelief as I saw him looking at me with a charming smile on his face, his passport in his hands. Just the sight of him brought back the smile on my face as I but my lower lip.

Our eyes locked and he winked at me from where he was standing. Oh, my heart just skipped a beat.

I jumped at my place looking at him as I ran towards him. I knew it Manik, I knew it you love me, you wouldn't let me go.

Aryamman and Abhi Bhai kept calling me but I didn't care as I ran towards him, pushing away the people on my way. I love you, Manik Malhotra.

I ran towards him as I jumped upon him, making him lose his balance as I hugged him with all my life, making him lose his balance as he stumbled a few feet away, but not falling as he held me tightly.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, digging my face in his chest and he put his hands around my waist, pulling me tighter as he raised me above my feet, still hugging me.

He came, I knew he wouldn't leave me!

When he got me back on my feet, he slightly kissed my forehead and I held him tighter, feeling his touch.

Just when I thought it was over, my hope won. Manik came for me, for us.

"missed me so much, haa?" He teased and I bit my lower lip, looking everywhere but at him.

"Itna hi miss kiya mujhe toh chodke gayi kyu?", he asked and I flushed but reality hit me. What was he doing here, faster than me?

"Manik-... tum! Tum! Yahan kya kar rahe ho?" I asked him and he frowned.

"Aur mujhe laga tum mujhe dekhke khush ho!" He rolled his eyes and I slapped his bicep playfully. Khush? I feel like the luckiest girl in this world.

"I came by my private jet, tumse pehle!" He said showing me his tongue. Baby Malhotra! I so loved drooling at this man in front of me.

"Aur tum yaha kyu aaye ho?" I teased. For me, isn't it?

"Haww tumhe nahi pata?" He said acting, as he covered his open mouth by his hand, "kaisi best friend ho tum!" He mocked and I knitted my eye brows.

"Cabir aur Navya ki shaadi! They were supposed to have two wedding right, ek Indian style Udhaipur mein, And ek like her parents wanted, church mein, in London!" He said and with each word, my heart sank a bit more.

{A/N- yes, this is mentioned in the book, Cabir tells them. If you don't remember, check the present part of chapter 'kisses and misses'}

My heart sank and the hopes inside me shattered. I thought he was there here for me.

"Oh!" I said fake smiling as I finally saw Fab4 and Navya standing there behind, smiling at both of us.

"Tumhe kya laga, mein tumhaare liye yahan aaya?" He asked and I felt like crying out of embarrassment.

"Agar tumhare liye aana hota toh mein tumhe airport pe hi nahi rok deta?", an imaginary Manik mocked at me.

He is such a monster, I hate him.

"Kabhi-Kabhi bol dena acha hota hai, Manik Malhotra!" I said glaring at him as I picked up the jacket I had dropped while hugging him and I walked away to my brother standing in a corner, waiting for me.

I could hear Manik laughing behind me. Such a tease he is! Monster!

"Cabir!" I screamed while running to him and hugging him. "Aaye meri jaan-e-Mann!" He said hugging me back equally. Can't Manik be like Cabir? Kya jaata uska?

"Nandini, you are staying with us, and no more discussions!" Navya argued. I do envy Navya because Cabir is hers totally, can I exchange Cabir for Manik to Navya please?

"Yes Nandini, chalo, we'd get your bag from your house!" Manik smiled at me and I just glared at him in return.

It is confirmed- Manik Malhotra has split personality, bipolar disease.

But before I could protest, his hands wrapped around me and I was in his arms as he picked me up and I was pushed into a car and the door was slammed close as Manik got into the drivers seat.

Does he realise this is London and he doesn't have the license to drive? Acha hai, when they catch him and put him into jail, I wouldn't even bail him. Monster kahin ka, he deserves this punishment!

I frowned and looked outside the window, pouting and I heard him laughing. Shameless! But should I say sorry for our fight from before? Was he angry at me because of that?

"Nandini!" He called me and I looked even more away, outside the widow. "I don't want to talk to you!", I said pouting. But whom am I lying to, everyone knows I cannot ignore him.

"Nan-...", he tried again. "Meine kaha na mujhe tumse baat nahi karni!" I shouted.

"Theek hai, don't talk to me! Then even I will keep sitting here. Kyuki tumhaare ghar ka adress toh mujhe pata nahi hai...!" He said folding his hands and I flushed red, again.

And here I was thinking that he wanted to talk to me! How stupid I am. I didn't even realise how the tears filled in my eyes as I typed the adress in the GPS and looked away.

"Nandini!" He called again with so much love that I wanted to melt. "Kya hai Manik?" I sniffed.

"Oh shit! Are you crying?" He almost screamed and I nodded negatively.

"Nandini-...", he called and I nodded in a yes. "I am so sorry, mein- mein mazaak kar raha tha!" He said in a soft tone feeling guilty.

"I-... of course I came for you! Aur kiske liye aata mein, hmm? Do you think I can even live without you anymore? Come on yaar! Aur tumhe kya tum toh mujhe chod gayi. Ek baar bhi nahi Socha how will I feel without you? You know I hate goodbyes and yet you keep giving me that!" He vented.

"I asked you to stop me Manik!" I whispered back as he stopped the car in front of my villa.

"Choti bachi ho jo I tell you everything, nahi samajhta tumhe kuch bhi? Do I have to tell you everything for you to understand?" He screamed behind me as it started drizzling, because of which we both ran inside.

As we entered in, I found Manik's eyes stuck on a portrait and I followed my gaze to see a huge picture of me and Aryamman hanging on the side wall. He frowned looking at that in jealous and possessiveness. In other times, I would find this cute, but today, it just angered me more.

"Dekho! Thoda aur dekhlo! Sometimes Manik, just sometimes, you need to say things aloud! Or actually, you shouldn't. Jaise iss potrait ko dekh rahe ho na, vaise hi keep seeing. I will get married to Aryamman, have kids with him, and enjoy my life!" I slammed, blinded by my anger, running into my room.

As we walked in, I slowly went upstairs to my room. But just when I opened my door, I felt a pull and the next moment I was pinned between the wall and Manik. Yeh har jaga mujhse pehle kaise aa jaata hai? Is he Flying Jatt?

His hands roamed around my arms, caressing it, as I shivered under his touch. His eyes gazed into mine, sending shivers down my spine. Our faces were inches apart, we were inches apart.

"Please kiss me, Manik.", I wanted to beg. I wanted to be in his arms, kissing him until I beg for oxygen. I never thought I could be this way, but he has made me. I wanted this to happen because we have had enough of staying away, enough of being angry, enough of the games. I love him and he loves me and it is all that matters.

Just then, there was a huge thunder and it started pouring outside. I looked into Manik's eyes and he looked into mine. I realised I had spoken a bit too much outside, specially after knowing how much he fears that I will leave him like everyone else.

"You're mine, I already told you. How many times do I have to repeat?" He whispered and breathed the scent of my hair. I knew he'd be jealous, but I hadn't expected the anger that I was seeing in his voice.

"No Gay has a right to call you his, get that?" The coldness in his voice made me shiver.

I immediately wrapped my hands around him hugging him tightly. For the first minute, he didn't even hug me back.

But later, I could slowly feel his hands wrapping around my back, as he left a huge sigh.

"I've missed you, I had such a bad nightmare last night and-....!" He whispered, sounding vulnerable. I shouldn't have left him, I should have never come here. I hated the fact that I was the reason behind Manik's pain.

"I know and I'm sorry, I love-...!" I whispered in his ears and the words left my mouth before I could even register. My eyes widened at what I was going to say.

"What? What did you say?" He said almost pushing me apart from him, yet holding me close.

I realised the words that had slipped out of my mouth. I opened my mouth to say something but I closed it again as my face turned red with the blush creeping over my cheeks, and the way he was staring at me with a playful smirk wasn't helping anyway.

I got out of his clutch as I ran into the balcony-terrace attached to my room, getting drenched in the heavy down pour.

He followed me and I could feel him standing and looking at me as I enjoyed myself in the rain.

He walked close to me, very very close. His hands travelled to my back, pulling me close, as he drew doodles over my wet, naked skin.

His lips touched my right ear, sucking the water from it as I closed my eyes holding his arms tightly. Cold breeze ran past us, and the proximity gave me shivers.

"Nandini Murthy, I'm alive because of you. You're my heart beat, princess! Never talk about leaving me again. Never again, okay?" He whispered and I nodded in a yes, drowning myself in his eyes.

"Mine!" He whispered possessively as he wrapped his arms around me and took me into bone-crushing, ground-shattering, soul-healing hug.

I didn't need an 'I-Love-You' when I knew I was already his. I didn't want to tell the world that I was dating him, his arms were my forever and he is my Prince Charming, my happily ever after.

"Yours!" I whispered as I kissed his heart.

His heart is mine, his love is mine, and he is mine. Just mine.

~he was hot as fire and she was cold as ice. But when they came together, stars shined, fireflies glew and miracles happened~

~•~