Sunday, Malhotra Mansion

As it was a holiday, Manik asked Nandu to spend the day with him without any files and she agreed. He was still sleeping when Nandu went to kitchen after freshening up. She with the help of the cook, prepares a breakfast for Manik.

Manik on not finding Nandu on waking up, goes to his room to freshen up. After having a shower, he notices the breakfast on his bed with a note stuck on it.

To,

My bundle of happiness and cuteness

With Love

Yours and only yours

He blushes reading the note and goes to find Nandu. Meanwhile, Nandu, after keeping the breakfast in Manik's room, calls Raj to talk to him.

Call

Nandu: Morning, dad.

Raj: Morning, princess. How are you?

Nandu: Your princess is missing her dad.

Raj: Why? Isn't my prince and her prince charming keeping her happy.

Nandu: Your prince makes her the most happiest girl alive but still your princess is missing her king.

Raj: Nandu, are you fine, beta?

Nandu: I am, dad. I am very happy. In fact, I feel blessed to have you both with me. I can't love you both enough.

Raj: Even I can't love you enough.

Nandu(excited): Acha, woh sab chodiye. Do you know, I made breakfast for Manik. Haan, maine help liye but it's my first.

Raj: I am gussa with you. Tune mere liye kabhi nahi banaya.

Nandu: Aap jaldi se apne meetings khatam karke aa jao. Main aap ke liye bhi bana dungi.

Raj: done.

Call Ends

Manik finds Nandu staring at her mobile in her balcony with a smile and back hugs her.

Nandu: Good Morning, Manik.

Manik: I love you.

Nandu: I said good morning.

Manik: I love you.

Nandu: Mukti tumhe isliye Majnu bulati hai na?

Manik(sang): I love you.

Nandu: Come, breakfast karte hai.

Manik: Wait. This note. Is this for me?

Nandu: nahi. Office ke watchman ke liye hai.

Manik: Nandu.

Nandu: Shut up and come.

Manik's room

Nandu settles on the bed as Manik searches something in his cupboard.

Nandu: Ab kya kho gaya tumhara?

Manik: My diary. Mil gaya.

He sticks the note in it and keeps the diary inside.

Nandu: What's that?

Manik: Treasuring my first note by you.

Nandu: You are crazy.

Manik: That's called love. Which reminds me, I love you.

Nandu: Will you ever stop saying that without any reason?

Manik: Nope. Never. I don't need a reason to love you.

Nandu: Manik. Breakfast karo na.

Manik: Yeah.

He frowns looking at her.

Nandu: Kya hua?

Manik: Stand up once.

Nandu: Why?

Manik: Please na.

She stands up confusedly. Manik sits on her place and pulls her on his lap.

Manik(smirks): Now feed me.

Nandu(glares): When did my assistant become this bold?

Manik: Nah. This is your boyfriend romancing with his girlfriend.

Nandu elbows him and starts feeding him the aloo paratha.

Manik: Aloo paratha? Mere liye banwaya tumne? Thank you.

Nandu(excited): How is it?

Manik: Why are you so excited as if you have..wait a second. Did you make this?

Nandu: Yes, idiot. Now tell me, how is it?

Manik: Tum kitchen mein kyun gayi? Are you fine? Did you hurt yourself?

Nandu: Manik, I am absolutely fine. I took the help. Batao na, kaisa bana hai?

Manik: Nandu, you don't have to do this.

Nandu: I wanted to.

Manik: I can't see you..

She takes a pen that was kept on the table beside and puts on Manik's neck.

Nandu: Malhotra, just tell me how is it otherwise, I will stab you now.

Manik: Stab me with a pen?

Nandu: Yes. When you can kill a person with a butter knife, I can stab you with a pen.

Manik: Am I rubbing off you?

Nandu: Manik, please na. It's my first time.

Manik: It's too good. And special. This means a lot to me.

He pecks her forehead and she closes her eyes to feel him. Manik feeds her a piece of the paratha.

Manik: Kaisa laga?

Nandu: Not bad. I am impressed.

They feed each other and complete their breakfast. Manik gives a leave to all the servants at home and offers Nandu to cook her favorite Chinese later that day whenever they feel hungry to which she happily agrees. At present, cuddling, they decide to watch a movie in Manik's room. During the movie, Manik keeps on whispering "I Love you's" to her making her giggle and randomly showers kisses on her. As a result, Nandu hardly remembers a scene from the movie.

Nandu: If this is how we are going to watch a movie in future, I swear, I wouldn't remember even the name of any movie hereafter.

Manik(teases): Tumne kuch bola, Nandu.

Nandu: Really, Manik?

Manik(smirks): I loved the movie. Especially, the lead actress. Baal silky silky, gaal chubby chubby. And uski skin bhi kitni soft hai.

Nandu: Tum kya tv ke andar ghus kar touch kiye the use?

Manik: Yes. Do you want me to show how?

He leans towards her and she pushes him making him fall on the bed. He pulls her along with him such that she is above and swifts there position putting him over her and tickles her. What followed was their laughter, random kisses and giggles filled the room.

Late afternoon, Kitchen

Nandu was sitting on the kitchen counter as Manik was cooking. They were reminiscing their school days and about how Manik used to get scolded or punished by their teachers.

Manik: Stop teasing me na.

Nandu: Those are facts, Malhotra.

Manik: I hate you. I am not talking to you.

He huffs and concentrates on cooking the food when he felt a pair of hands crawling across his chest making him smile which he hides it soon. Nandu rests her head at his back and speaks.

Nandu: Sorry na, Manik.

When he doesn't respond, she uses her golden card.

Nandu: Aarav, apne Nandu ko maaf kar do na?

He turns to face her and rubs her cheek with his thumb.

Manik(emotionally): You know, whenever you call me Aarav, mom ki yaad aati hai. Maybe, that's why I feel even your love and affection is just like mom's. Pure.

Nandu: How did you even survive without talking about Nyo mom to anyone all these years, Manik? You were always a mama's boy and never used to leave her side. But now, you hardly even take her name while talking to dad.

Manik: She makes me emotional. Isliye baat nahi karta unke bare mein. It won't look good for people to see The Manik Malhotra cry. You know, mere image se suit nahi karta.

Nandu: Aur mere saath?

Manik: Tumse kya chupana hai, Nandu? You know me when I am about to cry or what things makes me emotional. And you don't judge me even if I shed some tears. I never thought, after mom left me, someone could ever fill the void inside my heart. But I have you. There are days when I just want to curl up in a ball and hide somewhere and those days, it's your warmth that gives me peace.

Nandu: How can you just stir the inside of my heart and soul even without touching me?

Manik: Perks of being a writer, I have an advantage here. I can just play with my words.

Nandu: I just feel like hiding you so that I can have all of you to myself.

Manik(blushes): I am all yours, princess.

She teases him for blushing. They finish cooking and Manik arranges everything on the table. Just when they were about to eat, they hear a knock on the door.

Nandu: Ab kaun aaya hai?

Manik shrugs. Nandu goes to open the door and gets shocked seeing the person. There stands, in his all glory, the Raj Malhotra with a smirk plastered on his face. Nandu squeals and hugs him tight. When she was taking time to come, a tensed Manik moves towards the door to check her and gets surprised seeing his father. While he was hugging him, Nandu frowns looking at Raj.

Raj: Itne mein teri khushi kaha chali gayi?

Nandu: What are you doing here?

Raj: Tune hi toh bola that you are missing me. How can I let my princess miss me?

Nandu: haan, but you still have your meetings left. And I told you to come after completing those.

Raj: Woh sab mujhe nahi pata. You hardly call me during a meeting saying you miss me. And when you did that today, how can I not fulfill your wish? Ab tu mujhe andar aane degi ya nahi?

She nods her head in disbelief and makes way for Raj to come in. Ignoring her disappointment, Raj puts his hand around her neck and starts blabbering about his journey, meeting and stuff. Manik couldn't help but smile at their bond. She is the only one who could make the two Malhotra men act crazy for her. After having lunch, all the three were sitting in Raj's room with Nandu and Manik on the couch and Raj on his bed.

Raj: Manik, what happened with Mr. Saxena?

Manik frowns looking at Nandu asking for her permission. She nods in a yes. Their eye talks were noticed by Raj. Manik explains him all that happened during Nandu's childhood in brief leaving the details so as not to make her uncomfortable. He shares how Harshad reappeared in her life and made her life hell and also his threatens and finally, the fight and his arrest. Raj had a few tears in his eyes. He calls Nandu towards him and makes her sit beside him. Taking her hand in his, he speaks.

Raj: I am sorry, princess. I couldn't protect you.

Nandu: Dad, all this happened even before that accident. You saved me by acting stubborn to take my guardianship instead of Mr. Saxena even after their numerous protests. I don't even know what I would have done hadn't if you..

Raj: I won't let anything happen to you, Nandu. Manik, I am so proud of you. I guess, it's our happy times as my princess is back.

Nandu: Papa, there's something I need to ask you about.

Raj: Pucho, Nandu.

Nandu: Nahi. It's about company and I feel, you might not be comfortable talking about this in the presence of Manik.

Manik: I will leave now then.

Raj: Manik, wait. Nandu beta, Manik is going to be the board director. So, now I don't think we should keep any secrets from him related to company.

Nandu: Dad, you know me. I never wanted to keep secrets from him even when he wasn't the board director. But this thing is..

Raj: Nandu, even if I am uncomfortable, I have to get used to it because it's my son now. Ab batao. You are making me worried.

Taking a deep breathe, Nandu speaks.

Nandu: Malhotra Industries. Was it MM industries before? I mean Malhotra Murthy Industries. And did dad own 50 percent of the company?

Raj was tensed by her question and Manik, confused. Nandu hated herself for questioning Raj but she needs to clear this thing out before it eats her up.

Raj: Who told you all these things?

Nandu: Harshad.

Raj: How did he get to know this? And that's the reason why he wanted to take you away from me, right? For this company.

Nandu: Yes.

Raj: Nandu, I know how people are here. It took an entire struggle for me to become your legal guardian. And hence, I changed the name to protect you from them.

Nandu: But why didn't you tell me this? Is this the reason why you made me the CEO at such a young age even before me proving my capabilities?

Raj: Isliye nahi bataya tujhe maine. Because I know you, you would start questioning about your capabilities. Nandu beta, when our company was totally in loss and was about to shut down, it was you who motivated me to work again. Yaad hai tujhe, how you used to help me out day and night, sometimes even missing your classes? How you took care of me during those days, handing me coffees and taking the maximum burden upon yourself? And when the company was in profits, when you started getting your individual projects, you overworked by filtering out the traitors. Aur kya chahiye, CEO banne ke liye if not the one who works and cares about the company this much? You have earned the place that was vacant after Raman's death, Nandu. You are more efficient than him and even me. I am including myself because your father must be burning in jealousy wherever he is sitting now and watching us.

They smile through their tears. Manik thinks of lightening the situation.

Manik: Papa, I have a doubt?

Raj: Kya?

Manik: Are you sure, I am your son? Matlab hospital mein galti se main aur Nandu exchange nahi ho gaye na? Just look at you two. It feels as if she is your daughter and I am a stranger.

Raj: That's because it is true.

Manik: What? Main stranger hun?

Raj: Dekh, maine aisa nahi bola. If you feel like that, it's not my fault.

He fake glares at his father and Raj as usual ignores him.

Raj: Princess, aur kuch puchna hai?

Nandu: Haan. Now I own 50 percent of the company, right?

Raj: You know the figures better than me, Nandu.

Nandu: Papa, how about I transfer everything on Manik's name? He is capable enough to keep the company safe.

Manik: Oh hello, madam. Aise ideas aate kahan se hai tumhe?

Raj: Manik, wait. Nandu, I know why are you saying this. You are still afraid of Harshad coming back, right?

Nandu: Woh, papa..

Raj: Princess, trust me, I won't let even his shadow touch you. Now when I know about him, I will do everything in my power to keep him away from you. Now coming to the company, it's true, Manik is capable of protecting the company from Harshad. But what about others? Manik is, in a way, still innocent in this field and unaware of many things. People might take an advantage of him. And then, I know only you could pull him out of the trouble.

Raj looks at Manik and then at Nandu before continuing.

Raj: The reason why I want you both to jointly handle the company is because you both fit into each other like some pieces of a puzzle. When you are in some problem, Manik helps you out and when he is in some trouble and messes something, you just clear it for him and protect him. You both balance each other perfectly. Ab zyada soch mat, aur just go with the flow. Also, he isn't interested in taking over the company. He has an alternate career to look after.

Manik grins at Raj for explaining his unsaid words to Nandini. They were about to leave his room to give him some rest when Raj calls Manik and he stays back and takes a seat in front of him.

Raj: You know Manik, a boy is called a man when he knows when to protect his girl and when to give her the freedom and let her fly to achieve her dreams. Today, I can proudly say, my boy has become a man.

Manik: Papa..

Raj: I know, hum dono ke beech itne sweet talks aur direct praises nahi hote but I couldn't stop myself today after knowing how you have handled Harshad and behaved with so much of maturity. Manik, I just need one promise from you.

Manik: Anything.

Raj: Just keep her safe and happy. I have promised my best friends, I wouldn't let her miss them.

Manik: I will. (Hugs him tight) I love you, Dad.

Raj: Love you too, my son.