"Soulmates aren't the ones who make you happiest, no. They're instead the ones who make you feel the most. Burning edges and scars and stars. Old pangs, captivation, and beauty. Strain and shadows and worry and yearning. Sweetness and madness and dreamlike surrender. They hurl you into the abyss. They taste like hope."

- Victoria Erickson

* * *

Nandini unlocked the door with her keys, smiling as she entered the apartment Manik had begun to refer to as theirs. Even though she had not moved in yet-officially-he assumed she would stay over every day after work. She felt Manik had lured her in intentionally, all while appearing nonchalant about it as if it wasn't a big deal, most probably part of his grand strategy to keep her guard down. He had given her a set of keys the second time she had stepped inside the apartment, devoted a shoe rack to her shoes the third, made space for her clothes in his closet the first time she stayed over, and referred to the right side of the bed as hers ever since. Manik Malhotra remained as much a strategist and schemer as he always had been. He was lucky that her desire aligned with his, Nandini thought, fond and exasperated in equal measures.

When she stepped inside the apartment, a whiff of something delicious welcomed her, and her stomach growled, reminding her how hungry she was. "Honey, I am home," she sang her usual greeting with a giggle as she removed her shoes.

"You are late and you are hungry, aren't you?" Manik asked with a knowing look. "Go wash your hands; dinner is ready."

Nandini approached him with a smile, startling him with a quick kiss on his lips before racing off to the restroom, leaving him gasping.

"You started something you had no intention of finishing?" Manik yelled after her and smiled fondly when her laugh echoed throughout the apartment like music.

The smile on his lips remained the entire time, and when Nandini returned and kissed his cheek, he could not help but laugh in delight.

"That's it?" Manik asked with a mischievous smirk, enjoying as she blushed and pushed him away.

"Look at you, Manik Malhotra, cooking such complicated dishes," Nandini praised him after tasting the past he cooked.

"Well, I had an excellent teacher who taught me how to cook in the name of kitchen romance," he responded, his gaze playful and smile soft.

"That's right. You sure have come a long way for someone who once didn't know how to cut a lime," she teased.

"I can't believe you still remember that," he said with a chuckle.

"I remember everything about you," Nandini said, and when shadows clouded Manik's face, she smiled tenderly at him as she took his hand in hers. "You already know you just have to ask."

She had been reminding him ever since Manik had told her about the effects of Dr Shah's unneeded cure and medications. One of the reasons why she would never forgive Mr Malhotra and would celebrate his complete doom. He stooped way too low to prevent Nandini from being in Manik's life. Ever since that day at Dr Shah's office, eight months ago, they had been sorting through his memories together as she assured him that everything he could recall about her and them was accurate. Yet still, there were times when Manik felt as if a huge chunk of his memories were missing or false.

"We can always make new memories," Nandini reminded him with a smile. "As long as we are together, we will keep making new memories. Us being together matters the most."

"I love you, Nandini Murthy," he suddenly confessed as he gazed at her with so much tenderness that it took her breath away.

"That matters too," she giggled.

"Say it back," Manik demanded with a frown.

"Do I have to?" She teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Yes! Say it back," he grumbled, his lips slowly curving into a smile when she laughed.

"I love you too, Manik Malhotra," she whispered, too endeared by his antics to not give in to his every demand.

Their playful banter continued through the night, though Nandini could tell something kept distracting him. The tension never quite left his shoulders, and a slight frown made its way between his eyebrows whenever he thought she wasn't paying attention. After she changed into her nightdress and finished her nightly routine, with a determined nod to herself, she marched towards him.

"Okay, I am ready," she told him as she came to stand before him.

"Ready for what?" Manik asked with a confused frown, but within a blink, his eyes widened. He closed the book he was reading and advanced toward her at a very fast pace. Extending his arm, he pulled her toward him, making her stand between his legs as he sat on the edge of the bed, smirking as he looked up at her.

She laughed as she rested her hands on his shoulder and shook her head. "Don't distract me. I am ready for the talk you have been trying to have for the past week."

"You could tell?" He asked, sighing at Nandini's nod. When he closed his eyes, she reached out and caressed between his eyebrows with her fingers.

"You already know that you can tell me anything," she told him before kissing the scar on his forehead.

"I didn't want to go back to India, but to put an end to everything with Mr Malhotra, I would have to," Manik said, suddenly exhausted. He closed his eyes and sighed, tightening his arms around her. The difference in their heights permitted him to rest his cheek on her shoulder. He's always loved how she fit perfectly between his arms; it was as if his arms were designed to hold her. And he cherished the way her petite body could somehow envelop him in her arms when he needed comfort.

"What's it, Manik?" She asked gently.

"It wasn't just because of Mr Malhotra or the accident. There was also another reason I didn't return to India," he muttered.

Nandini waited for him to continue, but she could tell he was struggling with the flashbacks, memories, and pain of those years of loneliness. Burrowing her fingers through his short hair, she tried to push away the negative emotions that tormented him with the warmth of her love for him.

"Cabir told me you fought Nyonika when she was trying to file the case in court to declare me dead," Manik whispered, tightening his arms around her when she gasped and tried to pull away. "It's okay," he assured her.

"It's not okay," she protested as she rested her cheek on his head and warped her arms around him more tightly.

"That's such a Nyonika move, so nothing new," he muttered in her collarbone and placed a kiss there to console her.

"Still... How do you even know about it?" Nandini asked.

"Mr Malhotra told me."

"Of course," she muttered bitterly.

"He also showed me the case file. It wasn't only from Nyonika; the appeal also had signatures from some of the Fab5 members," he revealed after some hesitation.

"What? Who?" Nandini asked sharply, pulling away so she could see his reactions. "Who, Manik?"

"I didn't want to tell you because it doesn't matter. Cabir thinks I should. And of course, you have the right to know. But in the past four years, they were more of your friends than mine. I don't want you to lose your friends because of me," he muttered.

"Don't you already know that you matter the most to me? And anyone who sided with Nyonika at that time is a backstabber anyway," she said with a frown.

After a few minutes, she asked more gently. "Who, Manik?"

"Alya and Dhruv. And Mukti," he whispered. "Cabir thinks Mukti's signature must be forged. She has always hated Nyonika way too much to give in, no matter what the reward," Manik revealed.

"What do you think?" Nandini asked as she ran her finger through his hair.

"I'd like to assume she didn't. She was aware of several incidents with Nyonika when we were kids, and she has harbored hatred for Nyonika for many years. We bonded over the fact that we had bad parents. She is like a sister I never had," Manik muttered with a sigh.

After pausing for a minute, he continued. "I wish none of them did. But if they did, it's understandable. Our friendship had ended long before that; we were dragging its carcass, too afraid to be alone yet too destructive to stay together. But we have grown up and can detach and be more objective about things. Knowing Nyonika and Mr Malhotra, they must have offered tempting or at least satisfying rewards. For as long as they knew, I was dead anyway, so at least they got something out of it, right?" Manik ended with a shrug.

"Mukti still hates Nyonika," Nandini confirmed. "I agree with Cabir on hers being fake. I don't know about Alya, but Dhruv? Oh, I had warned that idiot." She huffed, her fists clenched, intending to beat the man at the first sight of him. "Apparently, two punches were not enough."

"You punched Dhruv?" Manik inquired with a glint of humor in his eyes and took her hand to caress the back of her hands with his thumbs.

"Oh, yes, and I plan to beat him as soon as we reach India," she muttered, something burning in her eyes.

"You would do that for me?" He asked, delighted, but he pressed his lips to hide how much her words affected him.

"Tell me the names. I will beat anyone and everyone who hurt you," she promised, drawing her hands out of his just to crack her knuckles and nod at him, ready for the fight.

At the sight before him, Manik began to laugh uncontrollably, head flung back and loud. At first, Nandini felt offended by how lightly he was taking her, but when tears began to fall from his eyes and he bit his lips to hold back sobs, she couldn't help but bring him back into her arms. Years hadn't changed him after all; he remained the same boy who wanted to appear strong and unaffected by the cruelty shown to him and hide away his wounded heart.

"I would fight the world for you, Manik. You are worthy of so much more. If it's true, it's their loss, not yours," she whispered in his ears, kissing his hair.

Even when he stopped crying, they stayed silent, and she continued to press kisses on his forehead and hair, her arms tightly warped around his shoulders. When Manik eventually raised his head to look up at her, his brown eyes were warm, like melting chocolate, vibrant, and free of shadows. Swallowing hard, Nandini smiled at him before kissing him.

That night, she held him close to her, loved him so tenderly, and accepted his passion for her so openly that Manik felt her devotion to him warm all the cold corners in his heart that once had longed and mourned at the loss of the existence of a creature so perfectly in tune with him. She was here, finally. She was with him. She was his. And he would make sure she stayed.

* * * *

A warm breath on the back of her neck reminded Nandini that the heady perfume surrounding her was evidence of Manik's presence in her life. He had to have adjusted their position sometime throughout the night, as even though her head was resting on the pillow, his one arm was under the side of her neck, arms warped around her. His fingers held her upper arm, warping her in a protective cage she didn't want to escape. With a contented smile, Nandini remained still, not wanting to disturb Manik's sleep, but as his other hand, which was previously placed on her side, moved along with her ribs, an involuntary giggle escaped her lips.

"You were awake," Manik muttered from somewhere in the mess of her hair where he had been hiding his face.

"So are you," she said, giggling as his fingers stroked her ribs again. With a smile that hurt her cheeks, she turned around in his embrace and looked at him with bright eyes.

"What are you thinking?" Manik asked her, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"I can't tell you how many times I have imagined moments like these with you, right this one; I had prayed so desperately and hoped so blindly. And I had thought I would tell you this and that, but now that I am living in these moments, now that you are here, I have realized one thing..." Nandini whispered as she blinked the tears that were blinding her from the sight of him. "There are no words, in any language, in which I could tell you how much I've missed you or how happy I am that you are with me now."

With a sigh, Manik tenderly wiped her tears away. "And I don't think I will ever get tired of telling you how grateful I am to you for finding me, for not giving up, for still loving me, for holding on to hope so tightly. Nandni, I am grateful to you for so many things. I don't think I would ever get over how lucky I am that you are mine as I am yours."

"Happiness, joy, and serenity are what you mean to me!" she muttered as she tucked her head under his chin and warped her arm around his side.

"Nandini Murthy, you have become so cheesy," Manik teased to lighten up the mood and laughed out loud when she pitched him.

"Shut up! I go out of my way to romance you, yet you..." she left the sentence incomplete to huff and glared at him.

"Sorry, I won't say anything. Please continue," Manik promised.

"Forget it. Now I am not in the mood," she muttered and gasped when she suddenly was on her back. When she looked up, Nandini found him hovering over her.

"Then what are you in the mood for?" Manik asked as he glanced down at her, putting his weight on his elbows to avoid crushing her.

"Whatever you are in the mood for," she whispered, locking her arms around his neck.

Manik stared at her earnestly, his eyes fascinated to learn how much she had missed his attention and how freer she was in her expressions of love. He remembered her differently.

"Nandini Murthy, since when did you begin to approve of the physical aspect of our relationship so enthusiastically?" He asked her, raising his eyebrow.

"I have lived in regret for denying us of each other ever since you went missing," she confessed, her gaze set on his face as her fingers caressed his jaw.

"That doesn't mean you have to give in to my every demand," he murmured, his eyes narrowing in disapproval as he attempted to pull away from her, only to be stopped by her hand, which was now grabbing the back of his neck and holding him in place.

"I am the one who is demanding it, and you can't say no. After years of separation, we have a lot to catch up on," she ordered and giggled when Manik hid his face in her shoulder.

"I see, I was right; last night I summoned the monster I had created almost five years ago," he muttered, but looked up after hearing her heartily laugh. He rested his chin on her collarbone with a fond smile on his lips. "A very beautiful monster. So, so, so beautiful," he said with a grin, pressing kisses all over her face.

"That's right," Nandini giggled before holding his face between her hands and bringing it up close to her to kiss him on his lips.

"I am in love with you, Nandini Murthy. I always have and always will love you; my shining star!" he whispered, holding her neck before gently kissing.

"And I am in love with you, Manik Malhotra; nothing can change that. You are my hamesha!" She sighed, turning her head to the side as he placed kisses down her neck.

It may have taken them longer than she expected, much longer than she wanted to reach a serene place in their relationship, but the wait was worthwhile. Their relationship was worth all the waiting, sorrow, and suffering they endured. The threat of Mr Malhotra and Nyonika was still there, but they no longer had any power over Manik or them, and that alone made Nandini believe that they could finally heal and move on from the past. She hoped that returning to India would prove to be an essential step in the right direction for Manik and them.

All she could do now was stand by his side as he continued his war and pray for his triumph over the people who had made him and them suffer unnecessarily.

* * * *

Almost four years ago, when Manik had been on his way back to India to search for Nandini, he had been filled with dread, hope, and desperation in equal measure. He had been limping, wounded, and broken, pushing his limits to find her and prove everyone else wrong. And now he was standing on Indian soil once again, going through a mix of conflicting emotions, but Nandini was by his side, and her delicate hand warped around him. The relief and comfort of her presence made a world of difference. It was everything he ever wanted-everything he had ever asked for.

Devansh, who had witnessed his madness and later became a companion to whom he could confide about his inner struggles, was now back in India with him. However, the older man now had his own love by his side, to whom he was devoting all his attention. Manik probably would never get over how perfect they were for each other, though he would cringe at the sight of Cabir and Devansh being so whipped for each other.

"I am planning to take you to all the good places in Mumbai," Cabir said to his boyfriend, smiling and boldly holding his hand.

"I submit myself to your will then," Devansh beamed dreamily.

"Have some self-respect," Manik chided while lightly kicking the elder man on his leg.

"You are the one to talk, really, Manik?" Devansh pointed out the intertwined hands that Nandini raised to wave at him with a giggle.

"There is a difference between you and me!" Manik said, though no one believed him.

"What would you say if I told you I was going to take you to all the new sites I've discovered in Mumbai over the years?" Nandini inquired with a cheeky smile on her lips.

"In whose team are you?" Manik demanded; his eyes narrowed.

"On yours, always," she responded with a beaming smile.

"Are you sure, Nandini Murthy?" He asked, but maintaining a front after hearing her giggles was impossible, so he gave in with a hopeless sigh and let her drag him wherever she pleased.

When they stepped outside the airport, Manik was reminded how even though Mumbai was the city where he was born and raised, the same city now was both familiar and foreign to him. It had changed further in his absence but remained the same in pieces and bits. He along with Devansh followed Nandini and Cabir, who navigated the bustling city with the expertise that came after living in Mumbai for a long time. The last time they had been there, with Manik struggling to remember the streets and routes, they had wandered around the city directionless. After a few weeks, they had given up as Devansh, who had come back to India after more than a decade, had never been to Mumbai and hadn't been of help, and Manik had been plagued by inner struggles and haunted by memories that others claimed were illusions of his broken brain.

While on their way home, Cabir and Nandini continued to comment on both new and old buildings, expressing how delighted everyone was that Manik was returning and how they had already informed them about Devansh. Manik had been hesitating to go to his homeland and city ever since it was evident that he would have to, but he was starting to realize how much it was needed. For Nandini and them. He hoped being surrounded by familiar faces and the support of people who cared about them and whom they cared about would make the journey worthwhile.

"Only Navya and Nandini's family know about Manik, and we haven't told others anything," Cabir reminded with a look as soon as they reached.

Even though Manik no longer wanted to confirm whose signatures on that file Mr Malhotra had given him were forged and whose weren't, both Cabir and Nandini showed no intention of letting the matter go. They kept saying they needed to find out. Knowing that they were still very much in contact with Alya, Dhruv, and Mukti, it was natural for them to care about whose loyalty they could vow and who had stabbed them in the back. So Manik agreed. Now, they were determined to notice the reactions to Manik's sudden appearance.

Manik could lie and say it didn't matter to him, that he didn't want it to be true, but somewhere deep down he wanted to know, confirm, find closure, and reconnect or end the broken bond of friendship that had died long before he had the accident. Now that he knew what friendship and brotherhood meant, he didn't want to waste it on those who weren't worthy.

"Don't worry, I will observe each of them closely," Devansh said with a determined nod.

"You can do that only if you stop looking at Cabir for more than a second," Manik teased.

"Once again, Manik, this is the prime example of the pot calling the kettle black," Devansh muttered with a glare, ignoring how the younger man was laughing at him.

"They are here!" A loud female voice rang out.

"Ah, my Madhubala and her love for being filmy," Cabir sighed fondly.

"I am so excited to meet her in person," Devansh said, swinging their hands with a smile.

"They are holding hands; we can't we hold hands?" Manik protested when Nandini slipped her hand away as they heard steps growing closer.

The door of Murthy House flung open, and there she stood, in the brightest yellow dress, Navya in all her glory, beaming at them. With a giggle, she jumped on Nandini to kiss her cheeks to welcome her back and stepped back to look at Manik.

"Hi, Navya... I see you haven't changed much," Manik commented, just to be pulled down in a hug-attack.

"I don't care if you are going to find this awkward; I am going to hug you because I have missed you, monster Manik," Navya yelled out, her eyes misting but lips curving into a big smile.

"Thank you for being there for Nandini," Manik said, hugging her back with a smile.

"That's sweet, but you better not leave her alone from now on or I will give you a Nandini special punch," Navya threatened, glaring with no heat.

"Hey Navya, where is my hug?" Cabir complaint.

"Oh, come here, you...I have missed you so much. Crying to you about my fiancé on the phone is not as fun as doing it live," Navya muttered as she warped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder with a dramatic sigh.

"Crying? Or do you mean gushing about your equally filmy fiancé?" Cabir said with a snort. "Anyway, meet my would-be husband, though you already know him from all the video calls we did."

"You proposed already? WHEN? Why didn't either of you tell me?" Navya cried out, jumping away from Cabir to shake Devansh's hand with too much enthusiasm.

"Hi Navya," Devansh muttered as he awkwardly tried to shut her up before she could give away anything.

"What's going on here?" Cabir asked, eyes narrowed as if sensing something.

"Devansh, come here, meet Nandini's brother, Rishab," Manik called out.

"Coming!" Devansh yelled before hurrying toward the friend who saved him, despite all the teasing.

"You have grown up so much," Manik said, messing up with Rishab's hair.

"Does that still shock you, even after all the video calls?" Rishab asked with an eye-roll yet leaned in the brotherly affection he was getting.

"And he got the typical teenage attitude," Manik commented with fondness, laughing at the glare he got.

"Manik..." The female voice that called him out was so full of affection that it melted him a bit.

"Chachi...How do you do that? You look more beautiful in person than you looked yesterday on the phone," Manik said, smiling when he was hushed down by the lady who blushed all the same.

"None of your smooth talking now...First, stand here and let me do Pooja to welcome you and shun away all the evil eyes," Chachi ordered and got busy chanting something under her breath.

Manik kept looking at her with a smile, now easily accepting the motherly love she had showered on him. How could she still have so much to give even after Nandini and Rishab had taken up so much of her heart? Was that how mothers were supposed to be? Was Nyonika the exception, or was Chachi unusually loving?

"My Sona Munda," she whispered, her eyes misty as she touched his cheek.

"Come in, Manik, welcome back," Chacha said as he thumped his back.

When everyone rushed around to welcome him inside, Manik couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the outpouring of kindness and affection. As if he earned it. As if he'd done anything to deserve it. He hadn't. Falling in love with Nandini was the only thing he had done. Ah, yes, of course, it was her loving him that had brought everything good in his life. Nandini Murthy had fallen in love with him, and warmth, love, and everything extraordinarily magical had followed her into his life.

Manik looked at her, who was standing by his side, beaming with pride and joy, and his heart swelled in his chest to make more room for her. He would soon drown in his love for her and be consumed by his devotion to her. He smiled and shook his head when Nandini turned towards him and voicelessly asked him if he was okay. God, he loved her; he couldn't stop thinking to himself how much he loved Nandini Murthy.

His heart-eye gushing about Nandini to himself would have continued for hours if it wasn't for someone gasping out loud his name and snapping him out of it. When he looked away from her, in front of him were three pairs of wide-open eyes. With their jaws dropped, they looked at him as if he were a ghost. And for them, he was...

As Manik looked at the three of his childhood friends, he didn't know what he wished the outcome of their upcoming interaction to be. He just knew he wasn't ready for it. But has time ever waited for someone? So it didn't slow down even for him...

* * * * *

A/N:- So, here it is, MaNan being MaNan chapter. I hope it was up to your expectations and was worth the wait. I keep saying that there are only a few chapters left with each chapter I update, but my list of things to write before the last chapter keeps getting longer. It seems I am terrible at ending/saying goodbye... So I hope that you still want to read a bit more of this story...? :D

So, about the chapter, there were a few of you who were very excited at the idea of MaNan living together. Any comments on the first part of the chapter? ;) Manik going back to India was something that had to be done, so here it is. Mr Malhotra needs Karma to hit him hard, right? Manik Malhotra doesn't do things halfway anyway... ;D The Fab5 appearance in the next chapter. Any requests? ;)

Chacha, Chachi, and Rishab are here again; who missed them? There is something to look forward to in the next chapter that includes them... Any guesses? :D

Devansh-Cabir meeting the family in the next chapter, and who got the hints about what else would happen? ;D

Leave a comment or more to let me know your thoughts and feelings on the chapter. If you like the story so far? If you liked the chapter or not. I would like to know anything you want to share... :)

As always, thank you so much for waiting, supporting, and liking this story so far. Thank you for sticking by, and I hope I will have your company till the end. Thank you for the lovely comments, reminders, and kindness that you all show me. Thank you for everything... :)

Thank you! <3

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