Many of you had a doubt whether Manik and Nandu knows each other and whether they are already in love... 

So let me clarify the doubts...

They never know each other... They have never met before nor they are in love.. 

Nandu z just showing her gratitude to the person who saved her and mukalya just helped her in passing her wishes to him... Manik just heard about princess Nandini ...so he smiled seeing that sweet gesture of hers...Tats it.. 

 They are not in love now... It will eventually happen and it can wait.... 

SO HERE'S THE UPDATE...NJOY READING...

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Abhimanyu was going through the necessary official files sitting in a gazebo beside the equestrian facility of the palace when a butler came in informing the arrival of Manik. He instructed the butler to direct Manik to the equestrian facility and to bring in some refreshments. Manik followed the butler all the way to the backyard of the palace and he got amazed seeing a beautiful equestrian facility and golf course there. He searched for Abhimanyu and upon finding him sitting under the gazebo , he walked up to meet him..

"Good Morning sir " Manik wished him politely

"Hey.. Major. Malhotra... Good to see u back... Hope u are alright now" Abhimanyu wished him back enquiring about his health

"Perfect sir... "Manik responded

"So u are back on duty from today..."Abhi quizzed closing the files and keeping it in the table

"Yes sir..." Manik replied

By the time, he saw two people who were doing a horse race reaching near to them. Abhimanyu also looked at them and a smile evoked in his face

"It seems Bhai and gudiya are done for today..." Abhi exclaimed in happiness

"I didn't get u sir..." Manik asked in confusion

"It is Raajasahab and Princess Nandini.. Its our habit to do horse race whenever time permits.." Abhi replied

"Then Why didn't you join sir.."Manik questioned

"I had to finish some files before reaching office... U know perks of being the CM of this state..." Abhimanyu replied in a calm voice

Just then , the horses halted near them and the girl on the horse back raised her hand indicating her win "I won again...." She screamed cheerfully

"I have let u win, princess..." The guy said jumping from the horse back

"hey bhai... accept that u lost it again..." The girl stated

The guy gave his hand to her to get down and the trainer walked away with the horses to the stable. The girl started removing her helmet and let her hair loose. Manik's breath stuck in his throat catching the first glimpse of Princess Nandini... A pure epitome of beauty and innocence... He failed to remove his eyes from her until she walked up to him and held out her hands to him for a handshake "Princess Nandini Singh Mewar"

Manik got out from his dream world hearing her voice and returned the handshake "Major. Manik Malhotra"

"I know..." She exclaimed freeing her hand from his

"How..." He questioned clueless

"Arey, u are all over in the print and visual media... The latest hero of Rajasthan..." Nandini stated drawing quotes in air and took a seat under the gazebo

"Hello man.. all well..." Aryaman walked into the gazebo wishing Manik

"Yes Raajasahab..." Manik replied

"Good..take ur seat..." Aryaman pointed to the seat next to him

"No its fine, raajasahab..." Manik politely rejected the offer

"No formalities please Major..." He heard Nandini's sweet voice and she gestured with her eyes to take his seat. He don't know why, but he took the seat. She poured the juice into four glasses and handed over one to Manik before giving it to her brothers...They talked about the treatment he has undergone in the hospital and the training he has taken in NSA. After sometime, Aryaman broke the conversation before getting up and said "So Major Malhotra, please meet us in the study in 20 mins.. We need to discuss something important with u" Manik nodded and Aryaman and Abhimanyu walked into the palace along with Nandini while Manik went to meet his subordinates.

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

Manik entered the study room of the palace and got astonished to see the vast space in front of him. Everything about the palace screamed elegance and royalty and the study is nothing less. It has a huge collection of books from all over the world and the antique finish of the room gave it an extreme charm.

"Major Malhotra, please be seated..." Aryaman pointed to a chair. Manik took the seat while Abhi continued "Let's not beat around the bush.. We will come straight to the point...We want you to take care of Princess Nandini's security"

"What.. I mean.. Why sir..." Manik asked for an explanation hearing the sudden change in his duty.

"Because her life is in danger... not from last week... but since her birth and we want to protect her... " Aryaman made things more clear to him

"And we feel that you can do the job better than anyone else..." Abhi completed

"But sir why me..." Manik asked in a serious voice

"We have gone through ur profile, Major and please understand that you seem to fit the role perfectly... If u don't have any objection, we can confirm this... But unofficially..." Aryaman continued

"Why unofficially..." Lot of questions were running thru Manik's head but all he could utter was those two words.

"Due to security reasons and safety of Princess Nandini... So officially, you will be in charge of palace security... " Abhi said

"Ok sir.. But I have something to say.." Manik stood up from his chair ready to talk some real business

"Carry on..." Aryaman gestured him to continue

"If u want me to take up this job, I want to know each and every thing about Princess Nandini and about the life threats for her.. I mean why is she under the threat and who is doing it..." Manik asked seriously

"We have a perfect answer for your first question Major Malhotra.." Aryaman said

"Sir, U can call me Manik.. That will be fine with me..." Manik said.. Aryaman started narrating the whole sequence of events that happened from their mother being the CM, the death of their father - the then King of Rajasthan in a plane crash, how Nandini got almost kidnapped at her tender age, the struggles they have to take to keep her safe, How he had to assume the throne of Jaipur and become its King in his early adulthood and everything related to the royal family.

"Ok... So, Manik, the reason for the possible threat is she being the heiress of entire Mewar property with major share of the property being hers, let it be our business, estates whatever...." Aryaman explained

"and the second answer for who is behind her life, even we don't know... whoever we caught trying to harm her, has done suicide before they uttered the name of the culprit... so the person/ persons/ family behind her life is still unknown to us..." Abhi continued

"This is all we could reveal to u Manik... hope u understand... " Abhi finished his talk

"I understand sir.. from today, princess Nandini's safety is my responsibility... I vow to protect and safeguard her even at the cost of my life" Manik stated with utmost sincerity

"Thank u Manik... We know we can trust you upon our sister...." Abhi and Aryaman said together

"U can sir... I will never let ur trust go down" Manik said shaking hands with them sealing the deal.

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

Nandini was walking along with Manik all through the grand staircase of the palace leading to her suite room. She walked in complete silence which was quite unlike her, he thought. She must be in some deep thinking.

"You are not asking me why am I walking behind u always...." Manik asked trying to initiate a conversation.

"No.. I think I know the answer" She replied without turning back

"And what could that be" He asked again

"That you are my new bodyguard..." Her answer took him by surprise. He never saw her talking to her brother's during breakfast. So he thought, she might be unaware of the recent developments.

"And What makes you think so..." He asked curiously

"Oh come on... the day u saved me from that assassin, I was sure that my brothers and mom will assign you for this duty... " She replied and her answer earned a genuine praise from him

"And you are happy about me being your bodyguard" He asked again

"why not... after all I am getting 24/7 security from an efficient NSG commando.." She answered looking at him sideways

"Oh.. so you find me to be efficient.." He asked her looking straight on her face..They are now walking beside each other

"yes.. after all you proved it Major.." She gave him an appreciating smile. They stood in front of the door of the suite room. She went inside before asking him to take a seat in the formal sitting area adjacent to her bedroom. Manik looked at the entire room and thought that his entire house in Punjab will be smaller in size compared to her suite room.. "These royals live larger than life..." He thought.. His thoughts were broken by her voice calling him "Major"

He turned to see her standing with a wide smile. She walked near to him and took his right hand in her hand and placed a small velvet box in his palms before saying "Thank You... Thank you for saving me"

He opened the box upon her insistence and saw a beautiful chain with an antique evil eye pendant.. He loved it but he cannot take it... He smiled at her sweet gesture and said "Thank You Princess... But I cannot take this. I was doing my duty only"

"I know you were doing your duty only... But this is my way of showing my gratitude.. please mana mat karna, Major" Her pleads melted his heart and he placed it in his pocket.

"U can call me Manik..." He said

"No, I prefer Major..." She replied before taking a seat opposite him

"As u wish...But on a serious note, what are you doing Princess...I mean, studies and all" Manik tired to continue their conversation

"Nandini... Call me ,Nandini... I just finished giving my 12th board exams..." She replied with an ever sweet smile adorning her face

"Even I am fine with Princess... so, Princess..You went to school...." He asked in surprise

"R u kidding... My over possessive cum over protective brothers and mom will never do it... I have done home schooling and gave my exams in a special room set up in our school..." She replied with a laugh

"Oh... So what plans after this..." He asked

"Let the results come... U know even my 18th birthday will be around that time... So, I can ask anything to my brothers and mom that time and I already have a big plan for that.." She whispered in a low voice trying not to let others hear her secret

"What is it..." he is so curious to know what is running in the chotu sa mind of hers

"That you will get to know... wait and watch Major..." She winked at him and walked to the mini library in her room to get a book.

"But seriously don't u miss the life of being a commoner... U know, this life is like caged bird" He asked out of curiosity

"I know... Certain life comes with certain restrictions... but I know all these restrictions are there because they love me more than their life... so anything for them even if that includes my freedom... U have to sacrifice something to earn something else. If sacrificing my freedom brings peace and happiness to my family, then why not" She made her point clear while going thru the books.

"But even I do have my piece of fun.." She added to it

"woh kaise..." He couldn't hide the excitement in his voice

"u will get to know... aaj hi start kiya haina... with time, u will get to know everything Major... " She replied with a naughty smirk on her face. She saw him standing just behind her and she looked at him through the mirror kept there.  

"but u look so innocent to do naughty pranks Princess.." He looked through the mirror and made a valid point looking at her innocent smiling face.

"U know major, looks can be deceiving .." She replied looking at him while taking a book out from the adjacent rack .

"really.." He asked

"Yes..." She nodded

"OK... What are your plans for today, Princess..." He asked her getting into his duty mode.

"I am staying in the palace only, to be precise my room only.. so u can go ahead with your other work..." She said before walking into her bedroom..

"Ok... let me have a review of the palace security measures... see u around..." He said before walking out of her room

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

It was afternoon and Nandini was not seen outside her room even after lunch. Manik saw a maid going with Nandini's lunch to her room but she never made her way out of the room even for once... Even all the maids of the palace has gone to see the fair happening in the city and so the palace was in complete silence... 

Manik was making amendments in the security arrangements when he thought of checking what Raajasahab Aryaman has shared with him in the morning.. The location tracing tool attached with Princess Nandini's pendant unknown to her.. He opened the application in his phone and pressed the button to trace location and what he saw made him freeze on his spot...

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Hi guys, How was the update...

Hope u guys liked it...

Let me know ur reviews.. It means a lot to me...

Urs,Abha