N A N D I N I

Rubbing my hand by the side of the bed, when I didn't feel anything, I felt disturbed from my beauty sleep as I slowly kept my hand on my belly, getting up and switching on the side lights.

3:30 AM, the clock hanging by the wall said. A quick frown took over me upon finding no Manik by my side with an unsettling feeling in my heart.

He promised to be back by an hour or two. Where was he? And the most important question being, was he okay?

My stomach grumbled with hunger. "Baby, where is paapaa?" I whispered caressing it as I took some water and gulped it down my throat. Me and my baby were hungry and there were no signs of Manik, which made me worried and hungry at the same time and this combination was not good for my mood swings at all.

Slowly getting up and walking downstairs to the kitchen, I tried dialling Manik's phone but it came switched off. Keeping it away by the sides, I glared at the phone as if it was Manik. Let him come today, chodungi nhi mein usse!

Taking the packet of potato chips from the table I sat down on the stool, slowly munching it. You cannot blame me for eating potato chips at midnight, because that's Manik's genes in my babies that makes me eat all junk food. And also, my baby is going to be a big time foodie like his dad and Cabir uncle.

Maybe I should call Aryamman up, he was there with Manik in the party last night. Trying to dial his number, I sighed in irritation. His phone was switched off too.

Argh! I think Manik was right. Aryamman is gay and I'm sure Manik is gay too, because that can be the only reason why these two boys are gaayab leaving me alone!

"Paapaa is so bad!" I whispered to my baby who tumbled inside, as if telling me that I'm wrong and his/her paapaa is the best father in the world. "Before coming into the world only you're favouring paapaa, I think he was right. You're going to be his princess and not my champ!" I sighed walking out again.

Switching on the dim lights of the dining room, I sat on the couch angrily munching potato chips. Bas Manik ko aane do aaj!

3:30 am in India meant evening in London.

Taking my call, I immediately FaceTimed Mukti. I have missed all of them so much, and so has my baby!

"Mukti!" I almost shouted with a gleeful smile on my face and I couldn't help but notice how Mukti has changed over the time. We all have, but she has changed the most. She no longer wears the same shortest clothes in the whole world or that carefree nature wherever she goes. She's become a more mature from inside and turned into someone much more beautiful and sensible, having the knowledge of what she wants to do in life.

"Nandini? Itni raat ko? Tum theek ho? Omg please don't tell me that you're in labour pain and Manik gadhe bech ke so raha hai! I'd call him as soon as I can and usse maar dalungi mein! Tum tension math lo, I will just call the Doctor and believe me she's very helpful, Navya ke delivery time also she had helped all of us a lot, right? You just sit back and relax haa, I will make sure you're okay. Manik toh hai hi gadha, I hope zyada pain nahi ho raha ho tumhe...," she spoke all in one breath, panicking and almost on the verge of crying and I giggled. I was so wrong, she hasn't changed at all. By heart, she is still the same Mukti- physically koi kitna bhi badal jaaye.

"Oh my! Nandini is in labour? Is she okay?" Zubin shouted as he came in the frame panting as he probably ran from somewhere and my smile just increased at the two. Who even thought that Mukti and Zubin, who used to always fight, will be married one day?

"Guys! I'm okay, look! And baby is fine too! It just misses you all a lot!" I smiled looking at them relax, leaving the breath I didn't know they had been holding.

"Aw Nandini! We miss you too! Bohot saara! And that is why, we're coming back super soon, maybe in a few days! We want to be there with you, and look at the mini version of Manik or you come into this world!" Mukti smiled and then her eyes diverted at Zubin was already looking at her with so much love. They were the cutest couple you would see with the most bollywood style kinda love story.

"I know right, and my baby is super excited to see all of you too! And you know what, it kicked today!" I couldn't control my excitement. I wanted Manik to be the first one to know this of course, but it is him who didn't want to come home to his wife and baby till 4 in the morning. His loss!

"I want to feel it too! I want to be there with you!" Mukti cribbed pursing her lips together and I giggled. "Vaise, how are you awake so late?" She asked and I sighed.

"All thanks to Manik!" I gritted and my face and mood turned gloomy again as her eyes widened.

"Nandini! You both desperate creatures, 8 months pregnant sex is not safe!" She whisper shouted and my eyes widened. If she would have been here, she would have surely got one flying cushion on her.

"Are you crazy Mukti?" I shouted. "I meant I am waiting for Manik to return home, he's gone to attend some stupid party with Aryamman!" I frowned and she relaxed.

"Let us come back! Bohot daatungi usse! After all, who leaves such a beautiful wife alone and goes away like this?" She smiled and I smiled too.

"Okay Nandini! It's time for me to go! Take care of yourself as well as the baby! See you soon!" She kissed the screen and I smiled before shutting the laptop screen.

4:15 AM. Manik was here till now and it was making me worried again!

"Where you paapaa?" I caressed my belly as I got up to go back to my room.

On my way back, I think I saw some light flash across my face before it disappeared instantly. Frowning but ignoring, I continued walking towards the stairs when I saw another flash of colourful light across my face before it disappeared, coming from the backyard.

Was someone there? Maybe a thief?

With a heavy heart and scared for the life of me and my baby, I slowly walked towards the backyard, opening the glass doors.

But what I saw ahead amazed me. It was more than a sweet shock, something I couldn't take my eyes off.

Minute glass pieces of different colours were put together to form a huge collage of my picture, just like a mosaic picture, admist the artificial pond of our mansion, with lighted candles floating across the water and the reflection of stars making the glass pieces twinkle more in the darkness, making me feel I was in space.

I stepped out on the grass, looking around in amazement as the grass was covered with rose petals.

Suddenly, between the silence, there was a clap and small fairy lights above my head dazzled upon the trees and the fences.

It was as if there were stars below my feet, stars over my head and real stars over them. I didn't feel heavy and tired anymore, I felt as if I was light enough to fly.

"Manik!" I whispered with a smile keeping my hand on my belly but frowned instantly then. Where was he?

And as if to answer my question, there was suddenly some music playing behind me faintly, and it could louder each second, as if telling me that Manik was walking towards me.

Kacchi doriyon, doriyon, doriyon se
Mainu tu baandh le
Pakki yaariyon, yaariyon, yaariyon mein
Honde na faasley

He walked from the darkness into light, in his casual jogger's and black tee with a jacket, his beautiful smile playing on his lips and his eyes locked with mine, the guitar in his hand and my favourite song on his lips.

Eh naraazgi kaagzi saari teri
Mere sohneya sunn le meri
Dil diyan gallan
Karaange naal naal beh ke
Akh naal akh nu milaa ke

He walked to me, slowly wiping a small tear in my right eye away and I didn't even know how it escaped, and why. This suddenly brought me back to the time when he was a monster, he hated me, lied to me, tortured me yet today when I look back, it was all worth the pain. Everything was worth the amount of love he showers on me.

Dil diyan gallan haaye...
Karaange roz roz beh ke
Sacchiyan mohabbataan nibha ke

Slowly taking my hand in his, he pulled me closer, still singing and there was hardly some distance between us, except the bump ofcourse. I hated this bump for this one reason, it didn't even let me be close to him.

He was leaning towards me, so I closed my eyes in return, but instead- he placed it on forehead, holding my face in his hands.

Sataaye mainu kyun
Dikhaaye mainu kyun
Aiven jhuthi mutthi russ ke rusaake
Dil diyan gallan haaye
Karaange naal naal beh ke
Akh naal akh nu mila ke,
Akh naal akh nu mila ke

Dil diyan gallan...

I slowly kept my head on his chest, hugging his waist and he kept his head on mine, kissing my hair.

"I missed you," I whispered slowly and he just pulled me closer to him as an answer as I snuggled more into him.

"You know you shouldn't be awake so early in the morning, don't you?" He asked with concern and fake anger and I hmmed.

"Then you shouldn't leave me and go till so late! You know I feel safe and content only in your arms!" I whispered breaking away from him and he smiled. "I'm sorry baby!" He replied with a cute smile making anyone melt and I nodded in return.

"But you're never leaving again, okay?" I showed my eyes and he nodded hysterically.

"But... But... I have something for you!" He smiled and my eyes filled with excitement as he pulled out a box and I bit my lower lip, taking it from him as I opened it to find a beautiful baby pink coloured off shoulder maternity dress that reached the floor. I looked up at Manik in confusion.

"At 8:00 AM, we have the doctors appointment, where she's going to make us listen to our baby's heart beat! Tab, I want you to wear this, looking like a fairy, and the most beautiful woman holding another life inside her!" He said, happiness shining in his eyes. Manik was so happy with the news of the baby's arrival that it made me more happy for him than I am happy for myself.

Nodding slowly and emotionally, I wiped the tears of my eyes and kissed his cheek. "Thank you!" I whispered looking into his eyes.

"Thank you!" He whispered back and he didn't have to tell me why was he thanking me because I already knew.

"Come here!"  He sat on the couch and pulled me in his lap, feeding me slowly with all his love. I can give away my everything just to maintain that smile on his face which is brighter than the brightest star in the sky.

"Manik!" I whispered and he nodded. "I'm sorry! Mein bohot irritate karti hu na? Too suffocating I am, ain't I?" I looked down guiltily.

Ever since I was pregnant, I have been needing Manik with me all the time, such that our lives have actually almost mixed up and that makes me feel terrible. Neither do I need space, nor do I give him which is suffocating at times for him I'm sure, and still he keeps up with all my tantrums.

"Irritate toh karti ho!" He agreed nodding and I pouted as I slapped his chest playfully, leaning in and keeping my head on his. "But mujhe acha lagta hai, I like it!", he completed, making me smile.

"It makes me know that you love me that much to keep irritating me all the time, to not leave me anytime, aur yeh sab tumhara haq hai which I won't give anyone else! This is never suffocating, because this makes me happy to know that you find me capable enough to beat your tantrums. And I'm glad it's just me with you, no one else!" He kissed me temple and I closed my eyes.

He was my peace, my love and his smile was the most beautiful one you'd ever see and what makes me happier is that it exists just because of me.

"I can give my everything, even my life to make sure you're smiling this way!" I kissed his smile and he pulled me close.

"Just give life to this baby, and it'll do all the work of making me smile!," he whispered keeping his hand on my belly and I leaned on him more, snuggling into him when I felt a small jerk down there.

I distanced from Manik and he was just looking at me with a shock face. "It kicked!" He whispered slowly, his eyes still not blinking.

"Oh my god! Oh my god! It kicked! Nandini it kicked!" He laughed and shouted as he picked me up almost, twirling me around and then safely purring me back to the ground.

"It kicks Nandini, it kicks!" He whispered keeping his hand on my belly and hugging me side ways.

"I love you so much for gifting me this small bundle of our happiness!" He whispered and I closed my eyes, in my content, holding my world together.

And it kicked again, and again, and again, till my Manik's laughs and giggles of love filled the entire backyard as well as the house.

~your arms are the only home I have ever known~

~•~

Want to read ahead?

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And also, the name of this chapter Under The Stars is inspired by the name of a TS on MaNan by my friend and a very talented writer as well Crazy_for_PaNi_MaNan

I'd really like if y'all have a look at her books and give her the appreciation she deserves.

Thank you again!

x