Oh yess, its an update! Totally unexpected isn't it? But then I couldn't deny someone's wish on her birthday, I didn't had the heart to!

Update dedication ShikhaMananLover. Happy happy birthday sweetheart! Wish you truck loads of happiness. May you achieve all the heights of success. Keep smiling always and I hope you had a blast today! Loads of love babygirl❤

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Sun had been setting down beneath the formation of clouds when the shoot finally packed up. Manik was thoroughly happy with the shots he got, and these just needed to be photoshopped a bit more after which he would email it to the Vogue Editorial Team.

More concerns could be discussed in a meeting, right now he had to be home.

Manik was packing his stuff when Matt, one of the guys from his crew came up to him.

"Boss, that was an amazing shoot. Loved the shots!" He spoke up cheerfully.

"That it was. Thankfully the models weren't a wuss this time." Manik chuckled a bit making him chuckle too.

"Or even if they would be, I knew you would've aced it. Like they say, it's a model's dream to be photographed by you!" Matt smiled.

"You're too kind Matt, Thank you." Manik patted his back.

"So, you wanna hang out? The crew is planning on some drinks and dancing tonight." Matt offered.

"Nah, I think I'll pass. Have to be home, wife is waiting." Manik smiled as he hauled up his bag.

"You know Boss, it's so heartwarming to see you rush back home to your waiting wife. I wish you both a happy married life full of love." Matt smiled.

Manik smiled back, partly at his statement and partly at himself too.

He wasn't wrong, just a week earlier Manik didn't have a hurry to rush back home or say he didn't have a reason to be back home so soon after work.

Usually he would meet up with his friends, or hang out with the crew.

A couple of drinks, checking out a few girls, some exchange of numbers and maybe a good bit of makeout but these things didn't matter to him anymore, rather a young wife waiting for him back home did.

When Nandini opened the door for him somewhat an hour later, Manik noticed that she looked as fresh as a dew. The only difference was her hair was now tied up in loose bun from which flyaway wisps of hair escaped, framing her face beautifully.

"How was your day?" She asked him, smiling.

"It was good. The photoshoot went pretty well." He replied, keeping his equipments down.

"I'm happy to hear that. Aap fresh ho jayein, We're waiting downstairs." She smiled again and Manik couldn't help but think about the dimples that lined both her cheeks when she smiled.

He was surprised to see his clothes neatly folded on the bed before he went in for a quick shower. Truth be told, Manik wasn't used to such things.

The early demise of his parents had taught him and Mukti to be dependent on their own hands and feet. So this kind of innocent pampering, was new to him.

But he was married now, and maybe having a wife called for such pampering.

He smiled at her sweet gesture and walked towards the bathroom.

"Daima, trust me the call from Mark Mr. Murthy's lawyer was surprising but whatever he told me on the call was shocking!
Mr Murthy had set up a clause for Nandini in his will that if she marries a man on her own wish or an unworthy man say alcoholic, drug addict or a womanizer the whole of her share would be automatically transfered to Reema and Inaya." Manik discussed the call with Pallavi and Mukti.

"I just can't understand? How can he do this to his own daughter? Such a disgusting clause? Didn't he trust her?" Mukti added, shocked.

"He was clearly brainwashed by Reema. This was the reason why she wanted Nandini to get married to that Harshad so that she gets the share of Nandini's property too. Mark had called me to enquire about our marriage." Manik replied.

"Jo bhi hai, iss baare mein no one will utter a word to Nandini. Bacchi hai, uske dil ko taqleef pahuchegi after knowing all of this." Pallavi spoke up, firmly.

Manik and Mukti nodded and all went quiet as soon as Nandini walked in.

The topic was diverted skillfully by Manik as she came to sit beside him.

Happily, Manik observed she sliced up that delicious looking Blueberry Cheesecake and passed on.

What made him smile was the fact that she gave him the biggest piece!

Everyone tucked into the cake as she looked around expectantly.

"This is delicious! Boo, if you keep making such deliciousness then I'll forget my calorie counts." Mukti replied, her mouthful pointing the fork at her.

Pallavi too loved it, which brought a smile on her face but then she looked at Manik.

He took a bite as the delicious cream cheese filling swirled in his mouth and the crunch of crushed bluberries added a hint of tangy to the sweet, not to mention the soft gooey cake.

"Oh it's Heavenly!" Manik replied taking up another big bite, though his mouth was full.

Cutely, he forwarded his plate to her for another piece to which Nandini beamed and gave him another big chunk.

"There you go! You get an A+ then Boo." Mukti chuckled cutely.

"You both loved it too!" Manik replied, chewing onto his cheesecake.

"Yeah We did! But Bhai, Nandini specially searched the internet for the recipe and baked it for you. Though when we lived as Paying Guests, I had the occasional taste of her cooking but this is something she did just for you." Mukti blurted all out.

Manik looked at his wife, who was now quietly eating from her plate her face somewhat flushed with the secret that was out in the open.

"Thank you, Mrs. Malhotra." Manik spoke up huskily, with that adorable smile.

Nandini looked up at him, smiling as her chocolaty brown eyes twinkled nodding softly.

It gave him happiness, that someone cared about him. What he liked and what he loved!

Pallavi loved and pampered him too, Mukti cared a lot for him but guess there was something very warm and innocent about these little gestures Nandini did for him.

What was it? Concern? Care or Love?

Really? Love? What was he even thinking? It's just been a week. It isn't that easy or quick to fall in love with someone and here in this case, Nandini just knew him as her best friend's brother before they were sealed in this bond.

Manik shook his head at those idiotic thoughts and resumed eating.

* * * *

Nandini sniffed the delicious concoction of spices as she came into the kitchen, two days later to find Pallavi stirring something in the saucepan as she hummed.

"Umm..Daima. Bohot acchi khushboo aa rahi hai, What's Cooking?" Nandini smiled, as she came to stand beside the old lady.

"Red Thai Chicken, Manik ko bohot pasand hai. Soch rahi thi, ki aaj uske liye lunch Ghar se bhijwa doon. Roz Roz Canteen aur Shoots ka khaana is not good for him." Pallavi smiled.

"Mukku ne bataaya tha mujhe. Manik ko aapke haanthon ka khaana bohot pasand hai, especially Red Thai Chicken." Nandini replied, smiling.

"Toh why don't you try it?" Pallavi spoke, giving her the cooking spoon.

"Me?" Nandini spoke up, unsure.

"Why not? Biwi ho tum uski, ab tak usse mere haathon ka khaana pasand tha. Aaj se tumhare haathon ka pasand aayega, Go on pour all of your care into that." Pallavi smiled, caressing her hair and after instructing her a bit, left her to it.

A good few minutes later, when Mukti walked into the drawing space a sweet humming sound caught her attention and she walked into the kitchen to find her best friend busy in prepping up lunch as she hummed her favorite Selena Gomez song, Love You Like A Love Song.

She had known Nandini long enough to know, that she hummed this song only when she was happy.

The mere fact that she was happy brought a smile to Mukti's gorgeous face.

Almost every head in Shutters Photography Inc. turned as a butler from Manik's home walked up to his cabin holding a cute parcel bag.

Whispers started stirring up in the cubicles and cabinets as most of them properly guessed it to be from home and most importantly from the unnamed, unseen Mrs. Malhotra.

If the hearts that burned from jealousy had a count then the fire alarm in the office would've started ringing from the smoke rising up from them, releasing water jets.

Manik was going over the Cosmopolitan Shoot, that was booked for next week with Liza. Actually Scarlett had taken a sick leave and Manik had appointed her at the first notice for she seemed capable.

His decision had been fruitful. Liza was smart, sharp and capable. Unlike Scarlett she didn't have any interest in his personal life nor gossiped about it.

Her main focus remained work, for the whole of office hours and Manik was thinking to appoint her permanently asking Scarlett to hand over her resignation.

The Cosmopolitan Mag was a first time client, and he surely didn't want to disappoint them anyhow.

"Come in Benny." Manik spoke up when, the butler knocked at his cabin door.

Benny walked in and kept the parcel on his table courteously when Manik looked at it.

"Mrs. Malhotra sent it Sir." He explained.

Liza smiled and a adorable smile graced his lips too as he opened up the cute parcel bag.

Inside it, was an airtight lunch box and the contents inside were packed neatly.

There was a cute little dessert box filled with light fruit cake and there was a little note on top of it too.

Since Daima told me that you loved Red Thai Chicken and Jasmine Rice, I decided to try my hand on it!

Also because, canteen food isn't healthy. you need to work after lunch too, so a light fruit cake won't fill you up too much

Hope you'll Love it.😊❤

(A/N - Smiley and heart were handmade)

The neat handwriting and the smiley accompanied with the heart was worth every pulse of warmth that seeped through him.

She cared for him, She did!

"Sir, If you don't mind I think you should send Ma'am some flowers for this beautiful gesture." Liza suggested with a smile.

Manik nodded, the idea wasn't bad to thank her.

He got up, asking Benny to stay a bit and walked out of the cabin.

Getting out of the elevator at the ground floor, Manik walked out of the complex.

Times Square was busy at this time of the day as the lunch hour drew closer. But then, it was always busy being the heart of New York.

He walked up to the corner, there was a flower shop right at the turn and the owner Mrs. Elliot was a damn sweet old lady.

"Hello Mrs. Elliot!" Manik greet her sweetly.

"Hello Handsome!" She greeted him as sweet, her blue eyes twinkling.

"Don't Tell me you're here to get flowers for that redhead girlfriend of yours! She's a brat!" She added, scowling.

Manik laughed throwing his head back, well everyone seemed to loathe his ex.

"No, The situation is a bit tricky this time. I want flowers for my wife." Manik replied.

"Ah! You got married? Congratulations Boy! I'm so happy for you. The love, security and happiness a woman can give as a wife can't be given by a girlfriend." She beamed.

"So should I pack these beautiful red roses for you?"

"Umm, No. The relationship hasn't reached to that level yet. What else? I just want to thank her..... Daisies? Lilies or Orchids? Or even Tulips?" Manik spoke up, scratching his head cutely.

"Hold Up Boy! How about these gorgeous pink roses? They symbolize affection and adoration." Mrs. Elliot suggested.

"Perfect." Manik smiled.

When Nandini opened the door, Benny stood there with a huge bouquet of gorgeous pink roses.

And it was huge, litreally!

Perhaps there were 60 roses, which made it 5 dozens of them.

She didn't need Benny to tell her who they were from, she knew.

Taking the up to their bedroom, Nandini kept it on the table right beside her dressing table.

A smile lighted up her beautiful face and reached up to her eyes as she felt the softness of the petals and took in the sweet fragrance of it.

There was a cute note, attached to it which read..

Thank you, It means a lot! 😊❤

The heart and the smiley followed which wasn't that precise but still cute. Mukti who was passing by the door stopped and came in, her palms clasped to her mouth.

"They are Gorgeous Boo!!! Bhai sent it over?" She asked, happily to which Nandini just nodded.

Mukti then realized that there was no need to ask the second question, her eyes and that slight pink on her cheeks which matched the roses were enough.

"Are you happy?" Mukti asked on instinct.

"I've never been happier." Nandini replied, softly and Mukti believed it because she could see it twinkling in her clear beautiful eyes.

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Tum aur hum jo saath hain,
Khushnumaa ehsaas hai,
Sab kuch naya kyun iss tarah lagne laga...

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