I know I'm update after one whole month. But trust me, I missed writing this book and you all lots and I hope you missed me too.

Happy Reading, and thanks for still reading this! Inline comments would be love x

{ Long long update! }

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It was when I first looked at him that I knew, he was going to be worth the broken heart.

Promises

N A N D I N I

The sky kept colouring itself into various shades of dark blue and purple as I starred at the stirring clouds and my mind was a chaos of thousands of thoughts, but each thought was just about the man that lied beside me on the small white bed between the sands and the vast ocean, staring at the only thing that managed to bind us together— the stars.

"Did you notice that the stars shine a little less brightly today?," he nudged and I pouted to myself, almost frowning.

"Is it because it is my birthday tomorrow?" I asked, pretending innocence and he laughed a chime. There was some time for the clock to strike twelve, so we decided to pass our time by star gazing and talking our hearts off.

"No, stupid. They shine a little less bright because they're jealous of how you shine brighter than them, princess," he confessed in the lightest voice possible and the red hue crept to my face as I looked at him while he was already staring at me.

"Do you know how much I used to hate it when you called me princess?" I smiled and he nodded negatively.

"I don't, tell me. Tell me everything I make you feel," he turned to his back, leaning up but still looking at me. I turned a little to his side, biting my lower lip.

"I don't believe there any words made in this world that can explain how you make me feel, Mr. Malhotra. But if you do wish to hear, I can make a futile attempt in opening my chaotic heart in front of you," I said and he smiled a bright smile which made his eyes sparkle.

"There was never a point in life when I disliked you. But to be brutally honest, you made me mad most of the times. I hated when you called me princess but that breath taking smile of yours always did injustice to the anger in my heart since I would always melt just by looking at you. There's no moment that I spend with you which is ordinary to me, every second that I and you are together is engraved deep inside me because I'm afraid that one day you'd just disappear and our memories will be the only thing I will ever have to hold on to. You make me overwhelmed about everything, Manik. I can never hold you to myself, because I am not that selfish. But everything you make me feel is caged deep inside me, the key to which no one has, not even you," I smiled and he stared at me as if I held galaxies of stars in my eyes when all I had was some love for him in my heart.

"Do you know how poetic you are? You hold the universe in your heart to offer to me when I'm afraid I can give you nothing. This stardom, the fame, the looks, everything will subside one day. Would you still feel for me the same way?" He asked and I dry smiled.

"I don't want anything of your stardom, your fame, or even your looks. Okay, maybe just that breathtaking smile of yours. But except that, I want nothing. If there's anything in you that I want, it's you," I whispered and he held my hand into his slowly, softly kissing there.

"You're so precious, what did I ever do to make you feel this way for me?" He asked and I pretended to think.

"You smiled," I flirted, "and everything I knew just disappeared and I fell so hard, ah," he laughed.

"Well, Humesha is going to be one hell of a story then, princess. The author better do justice to us and to that book," he laughed putting a hand around me as he pulled me into his embrace and I fell back, crushed by his warmth.

"Seems like we are the writers of this book, Manik. Do you think we're doing justice to our story?" I asked and he pretended to think. Tricky question, was it?

"Somewhere, yes. And somewhere, no," he said and I squeezed my eyebrows at him. "I said yes because I love me and you the way we are and I would want to have it no other way. Everything that's come our way has just bound us together stronger and tighter and we've fought a lot of people together, unintentionally," he said and I nodded.

"And why do you say no?"

"No because.... had I known that it's going to be you and me in the end, I wouldn't have wasted time being all monster to you. I would have held you in my arms in the very first chapter and kissed you till the end of the book, and never let you go," He laughed and my eyes widened as I hit his chest, hiding my face.

"Shameless," I whispered hiding my face in the crook of his neck and he laughed louder.

"What? It would have been a best seller. That's what the audience always wants, us to kiss and kiss and kiss—....," he could have gone on forever if I had not shown him my eyes, glaring.

"So, what do you think?" He asked and I raised my eyebrows. "About what?"

"Should I kiss you here and end the book?" He asked, his hand encircling my waist and he pulled me closer to him, I was almost beneath him and he laid above me.

"Gladly," I said in a small voice. His smile widened as he squared his face upon me and just when our lips were about to touch, there was shattering sound, as if of some glass breaking which immediately made us both alert and he pulled away, getting up.

I followed him up as his eyes stared at the dome behind us, where we had dinner. "We were supposed to be alone here," I said in a panicky voice and he nodded.

"Stay here," he ordered climbing upstairs and I rolled my eyes. "I'm coming with you," I called out and he stopped.

"No you're not. Who knows who's there? It could be dangerous. Stay," his voice was cold and ordering and it was hard to believe that he was the same man who was flirting and laughing with me minutes ago.

"Okay, then I'd go before you," I argued back as I walked to him and leaving him behind, I walked upstairs. I saw him rolling his eyes from the corner of my eyes.

"Why is she not scared of me anymore?" He whispered to himself annoyed and I smirked proudly as we reached the lighted dome again and I saw a rather familiar face.

"Aryamman?" I whispered, shocked. I could see Manik's intent stare on his step brother and had I not been here, I knew Manik could have killed him.

But Aryamman did not look at Manik, his eyes were fixed at me, a broken bottle in his left hand which he kept on the table as he walked towards me. There was another loud sound, as the clock struck twelve, which disturbed the darkness in the atmosphere.

Aryamman walked to me until there was barely any space left between us and his lips gently touched my temple, planting a soft kiss there. "One of the hardest decisions I think I've ever faced was to choose, whether to walk away, or to try harder," he whispered near my ear before he pulled away, leaving me in a pool of confusion.

"Happy Birthday, Nandini," he forced the smile back on his face, holding my face between his hands while I remained too shocked to react, I saw something shine in his eyes before it disappeared.

I felt numb, but from the corner of my eyes, I didn't miss Manik's hand that was fisted, as if ready to punch him anytime. Aryamman stepped away, his eyes flickered at Manik's sore face and he smirked. "Easy, brother," he smiled dryly before turning behind and walking away.

Manik stepped behind Aryamman and I knew his intentions so I simply held his hand and he stood rooted on his place. He did not protest to go behind Aryamman and hit the hell out of him and I was glad about that. Once Aryamman pulled away, Manik turned back to me, standing close, so close until there were no spaces left between us.

Manik's hand held my face tighter and I pulled a smile on, for him. His thumb touched my temple and he gently rubbed it there, as if erasing Aryamman's touch from there and I smiled, tilting my hand as I placed a soft kiss on his palm.

"I wanted to be the first one to wish you," he sounded disappointed and I bit my lower lip.

"Are you going to spoil your mood and the night for Aryamman?" I pouted and there was a sting in my heart. Aryamman was a very close friend, always there for me and I had this constant feeling that I was betraying him when I wasn't and all I wish for was to push this feeling to the back of my mind and make tonight special.

"No," he brought on the smile and I smiled too as his cold hand touched my waist pulling my closer and a shiver passed down my spine. His fingers traced my face, raising my chin upwards.

"Happy Birthday Love," He whispered looking into my eyes and my heart skipped a beat as he softly placed his lips on mine.

His kiss was soft and gently unlike all the other times and I wrapped my hands against his neck, one of them reaching his hair as I pulled him closer. His lips fought against mine as his hand left my face and held my waist and picked me up as my lips left his and our eyes locked while he carried me back to the small bed.

He placed me down and hovered over me, kissing me greedily this time and I reciprocated as much as I could, pulling him into me. Everytime his lips touched mine, there was a spark created inside my heart and the constant feeling of wanting more.

His lips touched my forehead, tracing down my eyes, nose and left no part of my face untouched before he kissed my temple, a little higher than Aryamman did and let his lips linger for a while until I forgot what Aryamman's touch felt like.

"Mine," He whispered looking into my eyes and I stared back at him, not shy, but reciprocating the desires he held in his eyes for me.

"Say it princess," he ordered, slowly burrowing his face in my neck and leaving a bite there. My hand gripped his hair tightly and a soft husk escaped my lips. His tongue touched the same soft, and my husk was replaced by a moan.

"Yours," I whispered and his eyes flickered to mine again, the beasts in them softening as he kept his lips on mine, slowly licking them away, teasing my patience.

"Only mine," he said again and I pulled him, kissing him greedily as we searched positions and I sat over him. I'm sure he smirked looking at me take charge but this wasn't me, it was the desire overcoming me.

We were both drunk. He was drunk on the rum. I was drunk on his smile, and the moonlight, and the wine. We were drunk on the starlight and the magic surrounding us and floating in an unknown water or desires and there was nobody to stop us this time.

As I kissed his face, marking every bit of it mine, his hand reached the back zip on my gown as he slowly unzipped it, taking it down from either or my shoulders then pushed it away with such a force that I'm sure it would have torn a bit but neither of us seemed to have cared for the piece of cloth that Manik spent bundle of notes on.

My hands reached his buttons and I unbuttoned a few but got stuck at the third, so I left it, pouting in frustration. He laughed doing it himself as he threw his shirt away in another corner, we couldn't care about more or less.

We swapped positions and I was beneath him once again, his lips travelled downwards from my chin, kissing my neck and shoulder and arms and cleavage and stomach until no part of my upper body was left unkissed by him.

His touch was magical and we were like two matches, burning into sparks of unstoppable desire when a thought crossed my mind.

"Manik," I called slowly and he looked up, his eyes meeting mine as he kissed my chin. "Yes, princess?" He asked and I smiled at the way he cared.

"I know you mustn't be ready for this yet, we ain't doing anything that makes you uncomfortable on your birthday, okay?" He said and I nodded negatively.

"It's not that. Haven't you promised Abhi?"

"You're the only one who could think of something like this in such a moment," He was laughing when something stroke him, "wait— does that mean you're ready?" He asked squeezing his eyebrows.

I was already red. "Of course," I said slowly, blushing into the deepest shade of red.

"Since I've broken so many rules and I'm going to hell anyway, let me go there nicely. Im breaking another promise for you, princess; look what you make me do," he whispered nodding negatively as the desire lit in his eyes again and I smiled holding his beautiful face in my hand.

"Do you know your innocence just makes me wilder?" He said and I nodded negatively, pulling him up. "Show me then," I replied boldly and he laughed, covering us with a duvet as I was ripped apart from the remaining clothes too.

The night changed colours, the clouds stirred above head and the stars twinkled upon us as they watched us together. We teased. We played. We kissed. We touched. We created magic. We left no part of each other's body untouched as if forming a map of each other in our heads.

I was greedy for him and he for me and we weren't ashamed about that. He was magic and everytime his lips touched a part of me, I believed in it a little stronger.

I always knew I needed him, but I didn't know it could be in this way too until he teased me so much, that I threatened him, if he doesn't give me what I was waiting for, I'd get up and leave the bed. And then what? He had to do what I was asking for.

We were crazy— more like crazy for each other. We did a lot of things that night that could be too embarrassing to list, but importantly, we loved. He showed me what love could be physically and I screamed his name as loud as I wanted because there was no one listening to us, and he showed me all shades of Desires, love and lust that one could possess.

We made love under the open sky until the darkness started subsiding and the stars started disappearing. It was getting Dawn when he left me from his sweet tortures and collected me in his arms as I snuggled to him, wide awake.

"Aren't you tired and sleepy, baby?" He whispered and I smiled softly. "Yes and No," I whispered back and he pulled me closer, caging me in his arms.

"How was I?" He whispered huskily in my ears and my cheeks painted red. "Manik!" I glared at him.

"What? You're still shy? I saw every part of you and you of me. Tell me, how was I?" He persuaded and I closed my eyes tightly, biting my lips. Once a shameless, always a shameless.

"You were magic, okay?" I replied and he smiled in content. I'd wanted to ask how I was but all the boldness and desires of the night disappeared as the shyness inside me returned.

"Wouldn't you ask me how you were?" He teased as if reading my mind and my eyes widened as he laughed. "You were more than magic, princess. The most beautiful lady I've ever let my eyes on and everytime I thought this was enough, I couldn't stop. You made the beast wilder," He complimented and I hid my face in his chest as he kissed my hair.

We lied in silence as I took in all the warmth he had to offer me. "Oh shit!" He suddenly shouted, making me flinch.

"What is it?" I asked slowly and he closed his eyes tightly. "I forgot the reason to get you here!" He asked and I giggled, yawning. "And what is that?"

"Alright, so, Miss. Nandini Murthy, would you like to be my girlfriend?" He smiled his breathtaking smile and my breath hitched as I stared into his eyes that held nothing but love for me.

I continued staring for a minute, "Okay," I replied nodding before I slowly laughed, hiding myself into his embrace.

"Okay?" He repeated to himself, confused, but he hugged me nevertheless.

"Okay, Manik Malhotra. I, Nandini Murthy, would be obliged to be your girlfriend," I replied and he smiled again collecting me in his arms as I took in his warmth and the satisfaction of starting my birthday in the best way ever, because I held within me these beautiful memories that I had trapped in myself, which would remain with me until my last breath and if Lord allows, even beyond.

"But where's my birthday gift?" I suddenly shook him and he was a bit shocked, but then he smiled sheepishly.

"I am your birthday gift," he replied smiling and I glared at him.

"So, will you stay with me forever? Since you are my birthday gift?" I asked and his smile slowly vanished. His face turned serious and I wondered if I had asked the wrong question.

He tuck a hair stand behind my ear. "My life, unlike others, has always been dark and broken and although I would love to lead a normal and happy life, I know I can't. I have snatched you and made you my happiness for a while by saying timeplease to the darkness and problems that awaits me. And one day, my old life will eat me up. And as much as I am guilty of letting all of that affect you, I'm helpless because you're bound with me now. I can give you even the moon if you ask me, but even if I want to, I can't promise to stay with you always," he said and a hole formed in my heart.

I knew he was right. I knew he and I are momentary even if our feelings are permanent and I knew that much before I fell in love with him or even dreamt of being his girlfriend. And I had promised myself that whatever time I have with him will be cherished by me until I live. I'd never keep expectations for more, I'll take what he gives me with open hands.

"But I can promise you something else," he told and I looked up at him, "I can promise you, that until this heart beats, it will always best for you," he confessed sincerely and a tear drop slipped from my eye which he kissed away.

"Will that ever be enough?" He asked, and he was upset. I put on my smile back.

"More than enough," I agreed hugging him and he pulled me closer as he carried me to sleep.

And as much as i wished to stop time right here, in his arms, and so I wished to remain till my last breath I knew that wasn't possible even though I so badly wanted it to be. But I had no problem. He was mine now and he will be, till our very end.

I was consistently, continually, and irrevocably in love with Manik Malhotra; but this time I wasn't alone, he was in love with me too.

The words never meant much
that's not how I loved
it was when he stroke my hair
when he thought I was fast asleep
that I knew he really did.

—Atticus

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Your writer,
Heer.
~StarsAndFireflies_