Next morning, manik asked ramesh to bring his clothes and after getting ready, manik and nandini went downstairs to meet everyone. Nandini was thinking that her parents and abhi would be surprised finding manik here and would bombard her with questions, but as they approached, her parents had no ounce of surprise written on their face. They blessed manik when he touched their feet, but all of a sudden something happened which nandini didn't notice and the surprise element which she was expecting, suddenly popped up and her mom exclaimed feigning surprise ,"arey manik tum yaha! Tum kab aye??"

Abhi shook his head suppressing a chuckle at his parent's poor memory and acting skills. Actually manik had called them too for the emergency meeting and nandini didn't know as she was out with her friends. And last night they had heard him singing too! But they had to act as if they don't know anything about the fight and manik's manofying session, but they couldn't do this much also! Nandini found something fishy in their behaviour but didn't pry further.

"wo main kal raat ko aya tha...nandini ne bola uski tabiyat thk ni h islye" manik made an excuse and then secretly winked at nandini. Hearing the excuse , nandini for a second had her eyes widened but then in next seeing him wink she narrowed them in slits showing a i-wil-see-you-look' to him.

"oh acha" replied alok in exaggerated manner.

Seeing his parent's callousness abhi stood up to cover up, and went to nandini with a concerned look "kya hua? Tabiyat theek ni hai?"

Suddenly her parent's realised that they have to act concerned, so they too hurriedly got up "kya hua? Av tak tabiyat thk ni hui? Manik aya phir v ni??" asked her mother.

Nandini was confused, what was happening? Why are her parents acting weird? To save the situation, manik came forward and answered before nandini "amma! Appa! She is fine now, you don't need to worry! But you should worry about me...mujhe bahut jor ki bhook lagi hai...breakfast ready hai??"

With some oh's and aah's the murthys saved the matter and then after having breakfast, manik and nandini informed that they are going to Fiji tonight and murthys suppressed their brooding smiles. Nandini instructed her mother to be careful with her leg and to not exert herself. Sheetal assured her that she will take care of herself and that nandini should enjoy herself and not to worry about her.

After sometime, MaNan left from there bidding everyone good bye.
Nandini was emotional thinking that she would see them now only after returning from Fiji.

The drizzle that had started last night had not ceased till now and every where, there was only water and water. Manik and nandini discussed on the way, how one month back people were thirsty for water and all the wells and ponds had dried up and now the situation is paradoxical and people are trying to save their lives from the water. Water gives life and sometimes takes too. On the way, manik bought 100 umbrellas and distributed among the people who were living on the footpaths. They blessed manik and nandini whole heartedly . MaNan reached home and were welcomed by neyonika, who seemed quite overwhelmed and hugged nandini and even kissed her forehead. Maan patted her head lovingly. Nandini was perplexed, she looked at manik who immediately looked away and nandini knew there is something definitely cooking among her family members. She felt that manik has told them about their fight, that's why neyonika and maan are getting so emotional, looking at her. They sat down and started talking, after some time manik got up and said that he has some work and has to go. He asked nandini to start packing . maan and neyonika already knew about the Fiji holidays.

When manik left , mukti came running, "bhabhi, you are back!" mukti shouted and then hugged her.

Nandini smiled ear to ear and then mukti pulled her to her own room and started talking

"bhai kaha hain. When did you come? I just woke up.",

"he had some work, so he left and i came back a while ago" nandini answered "and what happened to you? Ye bhabhi , bhabhi q bol rahi ho? I am nandini only!"

"i owe my happiness to you. Had not you explained me so well, showed me the right path, i would have just thrown my happiness like that only! You are not my equal, you are above me...you are so mature, you deserve my respect. So i will call you bhabhi from now on!"

"acha! So now i get it...the main point is that you and bhai are together now!!" nandini jumped on mukti in excitement and started tickling her "

Chupi rustam!!! Bhabhi bolti ho and secrets rakhti ho!!" nandini tickled and mukti was running out of breath.

"aah ha stop it..ooh..bhabhi..bhabhi...aah..plzz...ok..i...am...sorry!!!!" mukti replied breathless and tried to push away nandini. Finally nandini too fell on the bed beside mukti, panting and laughing. Maan and neyonika were standing at the door, looking at the laughing figure of mukti and nandini.

They felt contented and happy.

Neyonika faked a cough to gain their attention. Nandini got up with a jerk and arranged her saree. Mukti sat up on the bed.

"arey mom, dad come na...sit here" mukti said and patted the bed beside her.
"nahi, beta, we are here to remind you two, that you have to do packing also...chalo mukti go and help your bhabhi.." neyonika commanded.

"arey mom chill, me and alia have everything ready. We just have to stuff them in the bag" mukti informed non chalantly and nandini had not-again' look on her face.

"first show me, what dresses you have selected, mukti" nandini said in a horrified tone.

"ok ...come i will show you...you are going to love it!" mukti replied confidently and dragged nandini with her to nandini's home on the floor above.
....

"mukti!!" nandini yelled gritting her teeth while mukti had a sheepish look on her face "ye kapre hain ? are these clothes? You think i am gonna roam around all the time , clad in bikini??"
"arey bhabhi...its Fiji...just imagine, the warm sun, cold water, cool breeze, romantic sunset, wild night...everything will be so romantic and if you wear these sexy lingeries , it will be icing on the cake" mukti explained while nandini sat down on the bed with a defeated look and thought kuch ni ho sakta' while mukti continued "and you don't need to worry, see even bhai's clothes are minimal. He will give you company" and mukti continued packing and explaining and nandini nodded her head like a baby.

Mukti received a call, just as she finished packing and answered the call

"hey alia, what's up??"

"you are not coming? But why??"

"oh yeah, its really raining hard yaar"

"hmmm i understand"

"yeah don't worry i have packed all the stuff..."

"yeah she is upset, but i know once she is in Fiji...she will thank me"

Just then manik entered in the room and mukti whistled looking at him and then left the room explaining the reason behind the whistle , to alia.
Nandini was shocked to see the changed look of manik. He looked so different but young and handsome at the same time. Manik felt conscious, and ran his fingers through his newly trimmed hair and bit his lip. Nandini was just staring at him like a love struck teenager. She thought so this was the work!'

"so, done packing?" manik initiated the conversation as he plopped down on the bed beside her.

Nandini stopped gaping and looked down "hmmm ho gya"

"kuch problem h? " he asked sitting up on the bed.

"nahi, kuch khas nahi...wo bas mukti ne ek v proper dress pack ni kiya..aur wo meri baat sunne ko tyar bhi nahi hai..." nandini said lowly and manik smiled at her cuteness. Nandini was sitting cross-legged on the bed so manik shifted a little and kept his head on her lap and looked into her eyes and said "relax, i will buy you dresses in Fiji...ab smile karo.."

Nandini smiled cutely and manik kissed her palm. Nandini brushed his hair a little and asked "wese ye new hair cut q?"

"q? You didn't like it?" manik asked in order to avoid answering her.

"ni, ni, of course i liked it, you are looking so handsome"

"acha?? Am i looking handsome...? " manik asked getting up in a swift move and propped on his knees and looked at her like a hungry lion , "tell me, am i really looking

handsome...hot...desirable and its hard for you to resist me..." manik spoke seductively , sometimes looking at her lips and sometimes in her eyes, nandini was feeling like a pup and her breathing became erratic , as manik tried to rouse her with his words "tell me...you want me to take you down , right now" manik spoke breathing over her lips and nandini couldn't look more into his eyes and shut them, breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling in sync with manik's.

"manik..." nandini breathed over manik's lips.

"hmmm" manik responded and touched her lips with his. Manik noticed that nandini was fisting the sheet. It was a sign that she doesn't want the intimacy right now. He smiled realising that she did not try to stop him. He pecked the corner of her lips and pulled back and waited for her to open her eyes. Nandini had been uneasy but she didn't want to stop him either thinking he might get offended as they had not made love from quite a while. She opened her eyes and looked inquisitively at him, "kya hua?"

"tum btao , kya hua? Why this uneasiness?" he asked smiling to tell her that he is not angry.

"wo, wo.." nandini was hesitating and she rubbed her forehead lightly .

"hmmm i am listening" manik urged.
"periods" she just said the word and it was enough for manik to understand.

"oh acha" it was awkward, manik thought.

"umm, toh tum theek ho? Kahi dard toh ni ho raha?" he enquired.

"ni, i am fine"

"r u sure you can travel? Its almost 15 hours travel time from here..." manik asked further.

Nandini smiled, "manik its just periods. Relax." Manik understood that she will be fine.

"hmmm. Yeah. Ok" he replied awkwardly. Seeing manik behaving awkwardly, nandini giggled and jumped on him, making him fall on the bed with her on top. Manik was surprised. Nandini shifted a little to lie on his side on her elbows smiling all the while. She moved her slender finger over manik's face down his throat to his chest. Manik was enjoying her teasing. She spoke "i wasnot pushing you away, i just wanted to inform you that we can't make love...but definitely we can kiss and ..." she trailed off as she noticed the hardness of manik. In order to tease him further, she raised her leg and put it over there. Manik's hold on nandini's waist increased and he started breathing heavily as nandini moved her foot and as a surge of pleasurable emotions rushed through him , manik closed his eyes.

"manik...! nandini...!" they heard neyonika's shout and manik's eyes shoot open as he remembered he had not locked the door. But before him nandini reacted and got off him standing on her foot quickly and adjusted her saree and ran her hands through her hair. Manik got up and spoke brushing his hair "i will come in a while...you go ahead" and he went inside the washroom. Nandini knew the reason, very well.

"jee, maa" nandini answered coming out of her room "main yaha hun."

"yaha ao beta" neyonika spoke from the living room, she made nandini sit and then showed her the eatables that she had brought for them "ye bag mein rakh lo...light snacks hain...waha har waqt kuch khane ko mile , ye jaruri ni hai...islye snacks rakhna chahye...manik ko toh tum janti hi ho...kitna bhukkhar hai.." neyonika was speaking when manik interrupted her, coming in the living room "mom!, apne mujhe bhukhar bola!" he complained and both the ladies giggled.

"arey ni beta...i meant you are...what you call in your language...haan! ...foodie...you are a big time foodie isliye har waqt food ready rehna chahye!" neyonika teased him further and laughed along with nandini

Suddenly, nandini noticed the mark of her lipstick on manik's shirt just below the collar! And she went blank. Manik noticed her expression and asked what?' through his eyes.

Neyonika was busy showing the food items and explaining things to nandini.

Nandini gestured to manik about the mark and just as manik looked at the mark at the same time neyonika's eyes too went there. But she pretended to have not seen while suppressing her smile. She was happy to see that everything was well and good in her children's paradise, Manik and mukti, both.

Actually She and everyone else had come to know about mukti and abhimanyu's relationship during the meeting and they were happy and blessed them. But they had to hide it from nandini till the surprise was out.

Mukti had told them that she didn't want to get engaged so soon. Parents had respected their children's decision.

Manik got up in a hurry , excusing himself , he went inside his room, and nandini sighed in relief thinking that neyonika didn't see the mark, while neyonika had a sheepish smile on her face.
....

"manik, its a flood like situation. How are we going to the airport?" nandini asked concerned, going up to the large spacious balcony of their room, while the helpers were getting the bags out.

As soon as the final bag was out, manik closed the door behind him and walked towards nandini and took her in a back hug.

"relax. You don't need to worry. I have things under my control" he spoke and kissed her earlobe. Nandini felt tingling sensations but she controlled herself and spoke "but manik, its raining...taking a flight?? Will it be safe?"

Manik paused his work of sucking her earlobe and spoke , "in 5 hours of flight, we will be out of this zone...so its pretty much sorted i guess" he said and resumed his work and his lips slid down from her earlobes to the back of her ear and slowly downwards to the nape of her neck. Nandini feeling turned on, already, caught his hands over her belly and squeezed them , in pleasure and closed her eyes, tilting her head , so that manik had full access to her delicate skin.

There was a knock at the door( manik rolled his eyes, nandini giggled) and then a voice followed "sir! The bags have been loaded and your family is waiting to see you two off!"

"yeah ok , i will be there" manik replied a little loudly so that his voice could reach to the other side of the door.

Manik was leading and i followed him. But instead of going down the building, he thumbed the button for the terrace in the lift. I looked at him in confusion "where are we going?"

"terrace"he replied and pressed his lips to stop himself from smiling. But i noticed that.

"and may i know why?" i asked and the lift door opened.

"for this" manik spoke pointing towards the chopper standing on the helipad. And then i noticed maa-papa-mukti waiting under the shed. They smiled and we moved towards them.
"are we going in a helicopter??" i asked knitting my brow in confusion and manik continued with his one-liners "only till the airport"

I gave him an annoyed look and mukti jumped in between , caring to explain the matter "bhabhi! Since the roads are blocked, the chopper will take you to the airport . from there our private jet will take you to Fiji...got it?"

I nodded, feeling a little lost. I had never anticipated, i will be married in such a rich family and lead such a luxurious life. I felt quite foreign in these surroundings. Manik and mukti were talking as if it was an every day affair for them, but to me suddenly a feeling of unease took over. papa was explaining things to manik and maa , mukti and me were talking, well most part of the conversation was being done by mukti and maa, i just nodded from time to time. Soon the operator signalled us that he is going to start and the next moment the blades of the helicopter started revolving and as it gathered speed, we felt a strong wind due to its movement. Maa kissed our foreheads "have a good time!"
Papa gave manik a tight hug and soft pat on my head as we touched their feets. I hugged mukti and told her to be connected and call me whenever she likes. She gave a sheepish smile and then manik took her in a brotherly hug "stay safe" he muttered and then waving a bye to them , we made our way to the chopper.
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Credits to the writer- Manini Mehra