Manik and Nandini was still in Manik's room. Neelima called for Manik that's when Manik left Nandini and came out of her. Nandini giggled the way Manik walked out of there. He found Avneet and Siddharth had arrived there as well. 

"When did you both come?" Manik asked looking at both of them. 

"When you were busy romancing with my sister." Avneet giggled.

Manik's went wide hearing her while Sid chuckled. He gently slapped on Avneet's head. "Nandini says right, you've actually started acting mature than your age." 

"It's fine." Sid spoke in between and looked at Manik. "Why didn't you say us before that you're going to Delhi?"

"Yes, bhai. I called aunty that's when she told us else we wouldn't have got to know." Avneet added.

"I got the mail yesterday only. After whatever happened last night, I didn't get the chance to tell about it to anyone."

"When will you be back?" Siddharth asked.

"After a week." Till then Nandini had come there too and she stood beside Manik. "Nandini, I'm saying to you again, you won't scold Avneet much." 

Nandini made a face. "Umm! Here comes Avneet's brother. Okay, fine. I won't say anything much to her."

Manik went to his room. He got ready and came out with his bag. They all were standing in the hall. Manik touched his parents feet. 

"I'll be leaving now. Take care everyone."

"You also take care of yourself." Sid hugged Manik.

Manik smiled a little and looked at Nandini who also smiled looking at him but no words were exchanged between them. That was not even needed.

"Be careful and take care." Neelima instructed Manik like a school going who only nodded his head.

Manik went out through the door where a car was already waiting for him. They all walked him till the gate. Manik got into the car and looked at Nandini through the glass of the window. He could see her blurry figure disappearing in a fast speed as the car started moving ahead.

As Manik's car started going out of their sight, Nandini felt a sudden emptiness in her heart. She knew the reason too behind this sudden feeling. This is probably called the strength of love or made for each other. 

They all walked inside Malhotra House again.

Avneet and Sid had settled in the hall and they decided to watch a movie. But it was not that easy to pick a movie.

"Lets watch Batman. I've heard the new movie of this series is very cool." Sid suggested.

Avneet frowned and denied immediately. "No, we won't watch action movie now. We'll watch a romantic movie now."

Sid made a face hearing her. "No. I don't like those clingy romantic movies." He crunched his nose.

"Chh! Sid, take my suggestion and start watching romantic movies from now on, then you'll learn how to romance. I mean later when you'll have a girlfriend or you'll get married, you can apply them there." Avneet showed all her teeth to him.

Sid stared at her for a while before letting out a sigh. He knew Avneet was too stubborn to hear him. So, he had to give in. "Fine! Tell me which movie you want to watch?"

"The Space Between Us. I just love this movie."

Sid only nodded and Avneet started the movie. Avneet didn't realize when she fell asleep while watching the movie. Sid realized that she was fast asleep and he couldn't help admiring her peaceful sleeping face. That's when he heard a line playing which made him more confused about his inner thoughts.

'We're all messed up and scared and trying to be something that we're not. And if we all went around just declaring our innermost desires to the exact people we felt them for, well, then we'd all end up happy, or something.'

Sid was battling with his own feelings. He didn't even watch the movie. Sometimes later, Sid too fell asleep keeping his head over Avneet's.

Nandini was helping Neelima in the kitchen also in cleaning the mess which Manik had created in hurry. 

"Mumma, you sit here. I'll call Avneet and Sid. While watching the movie, they both forgot that it's lunch time and they need to have it too."

Then Nandini walked to call them. When she reached the hall, she found both of them asleep. She looked at them in disbelief.

"Oh, God! Just look at them! They're sleeping forgetting the world. They've no idea where they are!" 

Nandini now walked near them and called them a few times but they were in a deep sleep. Nandini shook Avneet a little who got up with a jerk.

"Avneet, get up. It's time for lunch."

"Where am I?" She asked in daze. 

"We're at Manik's place and you were watching movie with Sid. Now look at you both! You two are sleeping here."

Avneet looked at her shoulder which was feeling heavy and found Sid was sleeping there. Her eyes got stuck there.

"Avneet! Avneet! Where're you lost?" Nandini got her back from her world.

"Nothing." She gulped and looked back at Sid. "Sid, get up."

Sid too was startled at first after waking up. "What! What happened?"

"We were watching movie but fell asleep in between." Avneet told him.

"Ohh!" Sid nodded and got up.

"Let's go. Mumma is waiting for us with lunch." Nandini told.

They all walked towards the dining hall. 

After lunch, Nandini went to Manik's room. He had another room which can be opened through another door of this room. No one was allowed in that room but who can stop Nandini? She had been there so many times with him or without him. She directly came to that room.

When Nandini stepped into the house, her eyes fell on her and Manik's photo which was hanging on the wall. She got a smile on her photo seeing that. Her gaze moved around the whole room.

'What has he done! He has hanged our photos in the whole room. He is unbelievable! He doesn't even remember that we are not married yet. He can do this after that too but who can stop him?' Nandini said to herself.

But a different kind of pleasant feeling started initiating in Nandini's mind. Coming out of the world of her own thoughts, Nandini caressed Manik's picture lovingly and pecked on the picture only. He was looking so handsome with the smile on his face in the picture. Nandini felt she couldn't take off her eyes from her.

"One step closer

I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more"

Nandini was humming the song. After cleaning the room, Nandini got out of there. 

DELHI

Manik was standing by the window of his hotel room in one of the busiest cities. But the greenery of the hotel area was making him feel different warmth. He was enjoying the beauty that his eyes could cover. He reached a few hours back and his conference would start from the next day.

The image of Nandini's smiling face was now floating in Manik's mind who was standing by the window. He kept his eyes close and tried to feel her only.

The busy city was covered with the foggy winter sheet. Cold air was blowing all around the city.

KAPOOR  HOUSE

Today for some unknown reason Nandini felt relieved than usual. They had returned to their home after having dinner with Neelima and Abhay only. Sid had dropped them, after whatever happened yesterday, he was not ready to leave them only. Nandini also didn't argue thinking Avneet was there with her.

Nandini checked on Avneet and found her asleep. She pulled the duvet over her properly and walked out closing the door behind. She took a shawl from her room and went to terrace. Nandini sat on the swing gazing the stars. She wanted to call Manik but was not sure whether she should do it or not. He must have a tiring flight, that's why she was unsure of him sleeping or not.

After thinking a lot, Nandini decided to message Manik. "What are you doing?" She was not sure whether he would reply or not. But the very next second she heard her phone ringing flashing 'Mani' on the screen. Her smile grew wider seeing his name. She immediately picked up the call.

"Hello, Mani."

"Someone was waiting for my call only! If you were missing me so much, then why didn't you call me?"

"I didn't want to disturb you."

"You know that you can never disturb me. Then?"

"I know you wouldn't have mind me calling you. But you must have tiring flight what if you were sleeping?"

"I was about to call you only. What were you doing?"

"Nothing. Just sitting. What about you? How do you feel there?"

"I was thinking of you only." His words made her a little blush even though her nose was already red due to cold. "And it feels amazing here. The rest house where I'm staying is very beautiful. I would get you all here once. I'm sure you all would love it too."

"Wow! I can't wait to see it." Nandini responded softly. "Did you have your dinner?"

"Hm. What about you? Don't skip your meal, I'll ask Avneet. You fall sick easily." Manik warned her.

Nandini made a bad face. "Don't worry, I've my dinner already and before you ask mumma herself had fed me."

"I see! Someone's getting too much pamper these days."

"You already know mumma loves me more than you. Don't be jealous of me." She bit her inner cheeks to control her laughter as she could imagine his poker face.

"I'm not jealous instead I'm happy that mom loves you more. You're mine which means she's loving my choice only. I'm okay with it."

Nandini was left speechless with his words once again. 

"I was thinking about the conference. I'm the youngest one here and everyone is looking for my presentation a lot. I just hope I don't mess it up." Manik spoke.

"Are you worried?" Nandini closed her eyes.

"A little."

"Mr. Malhotra can be scared also! That's new." She tried to lighten up the situation. 

"Who said you? I'm not scared." He denied.

"Then why're you worried? I've full faith on you. You can do this. Actually you would be perfect like always."

He closed his eyes. Her words gave him the strength which he was lacking. "That's why I need you in everything. Actually you're my everything. Your words never fail to encourage me. I love you so damn much." He yelled making Nandini chuckle.

"I love you too."

They hang up the call. A different kind of peace emerged in both their hearts and it was not some simple feeling. It is the attainment of their love.

~~•°•~~
That's all for today. Do vote and comment.

13.09.2024