I just found the response dropping in the previous update.

Also there were no suggestions when I asked for it. I mean when you all are Manan shippers and Story readers, you must be having some suggestions, some imaginations, some scenes in your mind that you would want me to write. Then whats making you hesitate when the writer here is all the while ready to accept all your ideas? You just have to go into the comment box and write up your thought. Thats it. But no....none of you could do this.

Voting on a story is the easiest thing to do. You read the chapter......you reach the end of the chapter.....you find 4 icons, one of them is a star and one is a message box. Just click on the star and thats it.....the writer is happy and motivated to write more and improve herself.

But no...many of you just scroll down the chapter....read it....and scroll out. Please don't do this guys. Kanjoosi mat dikhao na....its for free. No payments required for voting on a chapter.

I ask for inline comments and only 2 or 3 people do it. I mean its so easy. It feels so interactive and inspires to write more good content. Just select and hold on a line and a small message box appears at the end of the paragraph. Click on it and there you go. Post your views. It makes the writer feel good. Just try once.

Please guys....don't be this silent.

This is the last time. From the next update I would put up targets like I did earlier and no update till target is fulfilled.

Now dive in and enjoy....

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The rays of the sun suddenly fell on her face making her whine in sleep. Trying hard to hide it in the pillows, she again attempted to drift back into the peaceful slumber she was having after so long. A hand came on her, caressing her hairs ever so softly as she felt lips trailing over her cheek, making her smile cutely, eyes still closed.

" Wake up Baby. Its a new day. Look. ", came his hushky voice making her fill with content. How badly she had wished to hear his voice whenever she wakes up, soothing all her interiors. Turning a bit with her eyes still closed, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to herself, trying to take in his fresh cologne.

" Good morning.", she said, her voice still groggy of sleep and he chuckled seeing her cuteness. " Its Good afternoon baby. ", he said making her frown as her eyes jerked towards the wall clock only to gasp. It was freaking 12:20! How the hell did she sleep till so late?

Pushing him off her carefully, she woke up with a jerk yelling, " Shit! I got late for hospital. Oh my God! What am I gonna do now? Why didn't you wake me up earlier Manik? How the hell did I sleep till so late?", and he leaned on the bed rest with an irritated expression, silently watching her run here and there looking for things....trying to get ready.

Having enough of her panicking, he sighed and walked up to her, and softly holding her hand, jerked her to himself making her gasp. He held her close to himself, wrapping one of his arms around her waist, and with the other, he cleared the strands that were falling on her face, tucking them behind her ear, slightly trailing his fingers on her neck making her shiver at the proximity.

" You are not going to hospital today. Infact for the whole two weeks. ", he said, gazing into her eyes and she took few moments to process his words before shouting..." What?" And he palmed his ears to prevent them from bursting.

" Damn girl! Spare my ears Murthy!", he said but her eyes were still wide.

" What do you mean by I won't be going to hospital for the next two weeks? What am I gonna do? And how can I take such a long leave? Manik my patients! I have follow ups lining. I have few aneurysms to clip. And I also have that twins' case. What am.....", she was cut off by Manik who kept his palm on her mouth, looking at her irritatedly.

" Kitna bolti ho Shona?", he asked casually making her wiggle her head in his hold. " Ok just listen to me. You need a break. We need a break okay? We need some time to heal what has been broken. I need time with you. Trust me Shona two months away from you have been hell for me. I just want you all to myself for this whole two weeks. And then we are heading back to Mumbai. Coz if you have forgotten, then let me remind you.....we have events lined up. Saanchi Bhabi's God Bharayi followed by our wedding.

So now. Shut that little mouth of yours and go get ready. I'll make breakfast.", he said leaving her and she just stared at him for a while. Her eyes were moist thinking of the two months and he noticed that. And before she could get back to her self-blaming again, he decided to lighten up the atmosphere.

" Waise......The Manik Malhotra....The Hottt sensation is standing before you and all you want is to romance with those bloody an....what the hell is it...umm...yeah Anysms of yours? I'm......hurt.", he said dramatically making her look at him for a few seconds before her expressions changed to a bored one as she rolled her eyes at him.

" Back to your self obsession haan Mr. Malhotra? And by the way, its Aneurysm and its not mine.", she asked sarcastically making him grin mischeivously.

" Whatever. And why? You don't find me hot? Hmm?", he said pulling her closer to himself making a beautiful red hue creep up her cheeks making his heart swell in happiness.

" Umm....no...not at all.", She stammered making him roll his tongue inside his cheeks, smirking at his effect on her.

" Sachhi? Then why are you blushing?", he asked making her flush more as she looked here and there trying to escape.

" I'm ....I'm not blushing.", she said trying to hide her smile that was fighting to creep out on her face. He noticed it and decided to play with her more.

" But your cheeks are all red Shona. Kyun? Hmm? Bolo?", he asked and she tried not to meet his eyes and stammered out.

" Woo.....ac..actually....I'm hot.", she said and his eyes widened. Did she just say that?

Soon realisation dawned upon her and all she wanted was the floor to split and take her inside. What the hell did she blurt out! Aiyappa!

" Ohhhhhhhh! You're hot.",

" No...no Manik. I said the weather is very hot. ", she tried to reason out but all in vain. Manik tried hard to supress his chuckle.

" Shona you realise na...it's New York. That too February.", he said and she closed her eyes, cursing herself for being so lame while he just smiled widely admiring her cute expressions.

" Wait wait wait.....now I get it. It's hot....You're hot....What am I?", he asked ever so dramatically coming close to her face and her eyes widened.

" Manik...no."

" Arre no kya? Bolo? What am I?"

" Manikkkk", she whined.

" Kyaaa? Bolo?"

" Ummmmm" she whined stomping the foot on the floor and he copied her action teasing her more which made her angry and she just dashed out of there into the bathroom.

" Oh hello? Bol ke toh jaati?", he said looking at her banging the door hard and finally burst out laughing at her cute antics while she shouted at him from inside making him laugh more.

The smile wasn't leaving his face as he walked out of the room heading towards the kitchen to make breakfast. Things were slowly coming back to normal. And he was determined not to let anything ruin it this time.

**************************************

He looked up while mixing the batter for pancakes when he saw her walking up to him. She smiled at him and he smiled back gesturing her to try the custard he had prepared.

She looked down at the slab only to gasp. He had actually taken efforts to prepare the custard and decorate it with all sorts of fruits....just the way she loved. Lump formed in her throat. How much efforts he was making to fix everything that she had broken......and silently made a promise to her Aiyappa to work hard for his efforts to get the best results.

" Shona...what happened? Didn't you like it?", he asked unsure, making her shake her head. She took a spoon and scooped a large dollop of it, stuffing it in her mouth. Soon her eyes closed and a moan escaped her mouth as she savoured the delicious Manik Malhotra Special, much to his satisfaction.

" Ummm.....Manik! Where did you learn this good cooking skills? This is awesome!", she exclaimed making him smile, raising his imaginary collars. " Manik Malhotra hun. Ye to mere banye haath ka kamaal hai. ( I'm Manik Malhotra. This is no rocket science for me.) ", he boasted making her giggle as she continued savouring the delicacy, making Manik eat too as he proceeded to make the pancakes.

Soon he was done and he asked her to go out and wait at the dining table while he would serve her today and she happily agreed.

Nandini was sitting at the dinning table while Manik was taking his own sweet time to decorate his dish, irritating her more.

" Manik! Make it fast na.", she yelled making him chuckle. Not that she was hungry. Her appetite had reduced drastically because of her trauma. But just the thought of having a lovely breakfast made by Manik was making her excited. Soon Manik came out of the kitchen, and placed the dish infront of her.

" Tantanaaa....presenting to you....The Great Manik Malhotra special.....Pancakes!!", he announced proudly while Nandini stared at the dish unblinkingly. It was pancakes. Laden with chocolate syrup, banana and nuts. And it suddenly reminded her of the times when Lexie made them for her and she used to rudely deny her, sticking to her bowl of cereals. Guilt rushed through her and she took a mental note of apologising to her later.

Turning to Manik, she found him smiling widely at her which soon reflected on her face too. She gestured him to sit beside her and picked up the fork to take a bite and forwarded it to him.

" I've made it for you Baba.", he said but she shook her head gesturing him to take the bite.

" Did you forget what I had told you? I always first make the others eat and then eat myself. Remember our first date?", she said cutely and he chuckled before eating it and himself picked the fork to make her eat.

She let the delicious flavour of the pancake and chocolate syrup melt in her mouth, as she closed her eyes and took her own time enjoying the delicacy. After so long.....after so long she was having something other than those cereals, those dry buns or those mugs of coffee. Her buds seemed to have forgotten how real food tasted. Maybe that was the reason that tears formed in her eyes as she chewed onto the sweet breakfast, reminishing all those hardships she had endured on herself for some baseless reasons.

Manik noticed her eyes moist, but didn't say anything. He knew he has to support her. But her emotions....she has to fight her emotions on her own this time. She has to manage her feelings and dictate her thoughts herself. Only then will she emerge out stronger than ever before with the promise of never breaking again.

Soon she opened her eyes smiling widely at him as he pecked her nose, a silent assurance that everything was fine. This was needed. Timely. To keep her sane. And he never failed to do that.

" Manik. Why does it taste a bit like Navya's recipe? I mean these pancakes. These taste the same way as when she used to make it for me.", she asked and Manik smiled sheepishly.

" Umm...because its hers. Actually we used to spend a lot of time in the kitchen together, experimenting on various dishes. There she taught me this. But the chocolate and nuts with banana is my idea han.", he said rubbing his nape sheepishly and uttered the last sentence whiningly making her go all awe on him. She just pulled his cheeks hard, finding him too cute suddenly.

" Aahh! Shona yaar! How many times have I told you don't pull my cheeks.", he gritted his teeth, rubbing his cheeks which pained a bit, but soon went back to admiring her as she chuckled happily seeing his condition.

Her laugh was like the first rain of the year after a scorching summer.

Her smile was like the first ray of sunshine after a chilly frost.

She was precious and he was happy for being the only one whom she belonged to.

A few moments later as Manik walked out of the kitchen with another plate which he had served for himself, he found her lost in her thoughts. He followed her gaze to find it fixed on his phone lying on the table, making him frown.

"What happened?", he asked while taking his seat beside her once again and she just shook her head. Leaning on his shoulder, she inhaled a deep breath before uttering something that made him surprised....yet happy.

" I want to talk to everyone Manik. Everyone back at home. I want to talk to my family.", she wishpered and his eyes twinkled. He knew how much everyone back there were dying to meet her and talk to her. And Nandini herself doing the gesture was a commendable improvement in her condition.

He placed a soft kiss on her temple and assured her that they would call them at night as now it would be late night in India to which she agreed and smiled.

They proceeded with their breakfast. But a few bites into it, Nandini gestured that she was full making Manik frown. She hadn't even eaten half of what he had served. He coaxed her to have some more but she denied making him glare. She pouted seeing his stone face and held his hand.

" Manik. I just can't eat more. Please understand. I don't have the appetite. I will fall ill.", she said with a slight smile and his face hardened more.

" What do you mean by you don't have the appetite? Shona I remember you always ate less but not this little. This will have adverse effect on your body. What has happened to you.....", he suddenly stopped in mid-sentence, realising what the truth was. She had not been eating properly for the whole of last two months. This is problably the heaviest meal she have had in the past two months with the custard being added. Thats why she had difficulty in gulping down the contents.

" Shona. Tell me truly. What did you use to eat in these two months that I was away?", he asked sternly and she lowered her head. She didn't know how to tell him, knowing well how much angry he would be. She had in reality not eaten any real food lately, which would not be a pleasant thing to tell him. His temper would shoot up to the seventh sky.

She remained silent, not knowing what to do and he understood very well what it meant. His nostrils flared in anger and all he could think of was how much harm she has done to herself.

He now understood why did she look so lean and thin now. Earlier he thought it was because of her trauma. But now he knew the truth. And he was hell angry.

Trying to control his anger, he just pushed away the plate and walked away from there leaving her drown in the pool of guilt yet again.

**************************************

" Yug?", Kumudh asked as she saw Yug standing near the window with Shuvam sleeping in his arms. He looked at her and gestured her to keep quite as he was making their son sleep and she nodded. She turned on the bed to look at the clock which showed around 2 in the night. Sighing, she got up and went to the kitchen to get some water as the jug was empty.

" Nahin na. I want that Green chilli pickle with this.", she heard as she moved towards the kitchen, making her smile. She went near to see Saanchi sitting on the kitchen table, whining with a plate of veggie pasta, while Anant was rummaging the drawers, maybe searching for the pickle she asked for.

Smiling at the cute couple, she moved forward and greeted them making Saanchi smile widely. " Baby! See your Badimaa's here! Now she'll give you your pickle han. Your father is of no use.", she said excitedly, making Kumudh laugh while Anant made a bad face seeing her insulting him in front of their baby. But one look at her talking all excitedly with their unborn child, made him smile admiringly at her. Kumudh noticed this and felt happy seeing the lovely couple. Pregnancy was one of the best phases of a couple's life and she was happy to see the two enjoying it to their heart's content despite all the problems that had occured.

Saanchi had been affected a lot by the happenings. Being six months pregnant back then, she wasn't allowed to go to see Manik as it may have a bad imapct on her owing to her hormones. She would regularly video-call him and talk to him about the baby which really helped Manik in improving with all the positivity she radiated.

But Nandini's absence made things difficult. Saanchi was habituated to have Nandini around her most of the time, catering to all her needs and wishes. And her sudden disappearance made her go haywire. To keep her away from all the stress, she was first told that Nandini was there with Manik as he needs someone to take care of him and Saanchi agreed reluctantly. When she didn't return after even a month, she whined for her, when Anant told that she was in NYC working on a very difficult case that needed her attention. Saanchi being the innocent soul agreed to the lie thinking that the reason she didn't contact was the time differences. Little did she know all the problems that her family was facing while trying their best to keep her away from the stress.

Anant on the other hand had a tough time juggling between his roles of a husband and a brother. Even after being so worried about Nandini, he couldn't express it in front of Saanchi. Although he kept a tab on Nandini by being in contact with Yug all this while, he himself wanted to be there for his sister. But couldn't. That sometimes frustrated him. But when he would come back home to see Saanchi, the happy aura around her would just wash away all his worries and he would make sure that everything is perfect for his wife and baby.

About Yug and Kumudh, like CaVya, they too were burdened with all responsibilities. Being the eldest daughter-in-law, Kumudh had a tough job handling the family as they were all shaken by the incident. What made it difficult for her were Yug's continuous breakdowns over videocalls as he was a witness to Nandini's misery but restricted from going near her. She used to herself break seeing him crying helplessly, but kept herself strong to console him. She was the only one other than Yug and Vishal who knew the truth about Nandini's condition and had a hard time hiding it from others. Only when Yug came back after one and half months, that she breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that her strength was back.

Kumudh shook her head to bring herself back from her thoughts as she heard the two arguing, making her facepalm.

" Han toh who eats Pickle with Pasta? You are teaching such wierd eating habits to my princess!", Anant said scrunching his nose as Saanchi's nose flared.

" I'm not teaching anything to the baby. Baby is asking for it. And by the way its my Prince.", she yelled making Anant narrow his eyes.

" My Princess!"

" No my Prince!"

" Maine kaha na meri beti hogi!"

" Nahi. Mujhe pata hai mera baby boy hoga. Mumma's boy. Not Daddy's girl."

They continued to argue making Kumudh lean on the counter with her hand on her forehead. She saw Yug entering the kitchen seeing the ruckus, probably after putting Shuvam back in bed, and gestured him to stop these two. He nodded and walked to them clearing his throat.

" Yahan kya ho raha hai?(What is happening here?)", he asked as he approached them standing beside Saanchi who immediately wrapped her arms around him, all ready to put forward her list of complaints against her dear husband.

" See na Bhaiya. Your brother is so bad. He is not letting me have pickle. I so want to have Pickle with Pasta. But he says its wierd. He is not letting me have it.", she complained making a crying face, melting Yug immediately. After Nandini and Navya, Saanchi was the closest to his heart. His third sister whom he had vowed to love and protect. So he was always very lenient towards her.

" Anant. Its not wierd okay. If she wants to have it, she will have it.", he said to Anant faking sternness making Kumudh giggle while Anant made a bad face, raising his hands in surrender. " Don't worry Saanchi. Leave this idiot. I'll get you your pickle. Tell me which flavour?", he asked her lovingly to which her eyes twinkled with joy and she happily told him and he got the same for her, making her eat, while she blabbered all about what she talked to her baby that day to which he was all ears. Anant walked to Kumudh and placed his head on her shoulders as they both admired the scene in front.

**************************************

" Come on Nandini. You can do it. He is your Manik yaar. What more will he do? Dash you to the wall in anger. Or may be....may be break one or two of your bones. Bas. Then he will himself do your dressing. Bas story finish. You can handle this much na. Yes. You can. You can handle the monster.", having a self prep talk, Nandini was standing outside her room, trying to gather all her courage to go in and face the angry monster. But all in vain as she was hell scared to even knock.

But before she could decide what to do, the door opened revealing Manik, all decked up in a plain white shirt and black jeans. She scrunched her brows in confusion. Was he going somewhere?

She was about to ask him, when he just walked past her ignoring her presence, picked his phone from the table and walked out of the house without a word, leaving her flabbergasted.

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" He will come back.", she said while adding the onions absentmindedly without turning the gas to simmer. Some small drops of hot oil splashed on her hand making her hiss, bringing her out of her trance.

It had been around three hours that he was gone but there was no call or message from him, making Nandini highly worried. She kept repeating to herself that he will come back, just to keep herself sane. After a lot of thinking ...correction: overthinking, she decided to make something to eat for him. She knew how much he loved pasta and she decided to make some delicious pasta to manofy him when he came back. Putting the pasta to boil she had started making the sauce. But still their was no trace of him.

" Don't worry Nandu. He'll come back.", she was contionuosly trying to assure herself as she sauted the onions and garlic. She took a capsicum to chop it when suddenly the knife slipped in her hand, making a long cut on her palm.

Her face contorted in pain as she held her hand tightly. Blood oozed out of her palm, filling it. But what was shocking to her was the flashes that came in front of her eyes as she looked at it. She could see her palm stained with Manik's blood when she held his wound trying to keep it closed. She closed her eyes to stop them from invading her mind, but it was too difficult. " No no no he'll come back!", she murmured, trying to distract herself, but all in vain.

Everything came back to her. Those scariest of moments, those scenes in the hospital, and lastly him dashing out of the house without a word. She felt herself burning. Burning in unknown, unwanted anguish.

Leaning on the wall, she slipped to the floor. Tears were flowing from her eyes without her knowledge. Her whole body turned cold. She felt herself going into darkness.

A darkness that she feared.

A darkness that she hated.

A darkness that was choking her.

But suddenly she found someone calling for her.

Someone's soothing voice, filled with worry.

" Nandini! Shona! Kya hua?", she heard him yell as she felt him rushing towards her. She wanted to open her mouth and yell at him that she was okay. But she couldn't. She so wanted to run and hug him. But she felt as if she had no strength.

Someone hugged her tightly, taking her in his warm embrace, pulling her away from all the darkness and she recognised him immediately. Just his touch made her feel suddenly getting back to life. The warmth radiating from him spread through her body, and she felt alive again. All her fears dissapeared as she again felt strength rushing back into her.

She wrapped her arms around him, hugging him as tight as she could.....afraid that he would vanish. " Don't...don't leave me. Please don't leave me. I'll die. Please don't leave me. ", she kept muttering, as she continued to cry holding him.

He felt her body shivering and his shirt wetting, which did nothing but only make him curse himself for behaving so hard with her. He had got a call from Cabir in the morning to look at some matter that had happened in their branch there and he just went there. But he being a jerk, didn't talk to her or tell her anything. Why? Because he was angry on her. Stupid him. Stupid Monster him.

He felt more guilty when he heard her words making him realise how delicate her condition was. Even a small incident scared the hell out of her and he cursed himself for leaving her alone.

He continued to place kisses on her head and carressed her hair to calm her down and it worked. Her breath normalised after sometime and sobs reduced. She pulled out of the hug and gazed at his face. " I'm sorry. Please. I won't do this to myself ever again. I'll take my meals properly everyday. Pakka. Nandini Promise. But please don't leave me like this. ", she pleaded holding her ears and he sighed. Taking her hands off her ears, he kissed her palm only to notice the long cut there making him panic.

" How did this happen?", he asked and she kept quiet. She was busy admiring his worried face as he got up to get the first aid box. Taking her to the living room, he made her sit on the sofa and sat on his knees in front of her. He cleaned the wound carefully and tied the bandage around it, continuously scolding her for being so irresponsible making her pout.

" Kuch wakt ke liye dur kya gaya tumne apna ye haal bana diya? Paanch saal ki bachhi ho kya tum? Aakhir ye doctor ki degree kaise mil gayi tumhe? Mili bhi hai ya aiveyi? ( I left you for a few moments and you did this to yourself. Are you a kid of five years? How did you even get the doctor's degree? Do you even have one or like that only?) ", he scolded sarcastically making her fume and slap his arms.

" First of all I'm a surgeon. And second my degree is hundred percent authentic. Infact for your information, I stood second in my batch.", she boasted, raising her head and folding her arms near her chest, and he gave her an ' I'm impressed' look making her smirk.

" Second? Why? Weren't short girls allowed to stand first? Or someone was shorter than you?", he asked innocently making her confused at first. But her eyes widened and mouth formed an 'o' as she understood what he said making her whine loudly.

" Manik!", she yelled while he laughed and ran away from there and she ran behind him with the cushion, ready to beat the shit out of him. " Stop right there! Tumhari aaj kher nahin Manik!( I won't leave you today!) ", she yelled running behind him. They ran all around the living room as he dodged the cushions that she threw at him. Finally he gave up as she reached near him, tackling him onto the sofa. She straddled him, both laughing their guts out as she hit him with the cushion.

Having enough, he held her hands, jerking her on himself as she fell on him, her hairs covering their faces, putting a halt on her giggles. Their eyes locked. He used his left hand to remove the strands that blocked his view, while the right one snaked around her waist, going inside her tshirt, making her shiver.

His hands did wonder on her as his lips moved closer to her, making her loose herself. He was inhaling her hairs and she moved near his neck, pressing kisses on his ears, earning a sexy moan from him. She inhaled his intoxicating cologne.........

..............but suddenly scrunched her nose as a strong burning smell caught her nostrils and her eyes widened in realisation.

               " Aiyappa! My Pasta!"

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Hahaaha! Nandini ka pasta jal gaya.

So.....finally another chapter.

Please don't throw chappals at me if you find it boring. Maine to bas aiveyi kuch likh diya hai.

Anyways....

How was Manan teasing scene? Reminded me of kyy while writing. Nandini's cute face...uff!

Who wants a boyfriend or husband like Manik? 🙋‍♀️He freaking cooked for her yaar!

Nandini really did wrong by ignoring her health. Was Manik's anger justified?

How was Murthy family? They are trying to find happiness among all the chaos.

Saanchi is so cute na?

Who wants Green chilli pickle with Pasta? 😅😅

Nandini again had an attack. But Manik saved her in time. What do you think?

Nandini ki degree sachhi hai na?😅😅

And finally.....pasta burned. 😝

Keep voting guys.

And I ask you once again. If you have any suggestions, feel free to fill my comment box. I'll be glad to recieve it.

Till the next update then.

Stay safe

Stay healthy

Yours Writer