Hello Fam :)

Warning: ~4500 words of Manan. :P

Happy Reading...

"You know, Manik would jump from the top of a cliff for you", said Cabir.

Nandini was reading a file for one of her upcoming meetings when Cabir came to her. "What?"

"See, Manik loves his family and would do anything for his family. And he considers you as his family. Hence, proved he loves you and would do anything for you."

Nandini threw the file at him.

XXX

"Do you think you would take over Malhotra Industries sometime?"

"What?"

"Manik is the boss of Malhotra Industries and you are his once you get into the married bliss. So you could be the boss of Malhotra Industries in the future."

"Cabir, that would make me your boss too", said Nandini.

Cabir shrugged. "It's a small sacrifice I am willing to make for my brother's love."

"As your boss, shut the hell up", she said, gritting her teeth.

XXX

Nandini was with Nyonika helping her tallying some data regarding Nyonika's NGO when Cabir sauntered inside the room. Surprisingly, he sat quietly and watched them working.

"Is everything alright, kid?", asked Nyonika. "Never thought I would see you silent for more than ten minutes."

"Mom, I am thinking, you know. Manik also uses MS Excel for tallying his data", he told.

Nyonika laughed at her son but Nandini noticed the smirk on his face as he stared at the excel sheet on her laptop. "Doesn't half of the population use Excel sheets for tallying their data?", she muttered.

XXX

"Manik loves watching Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham", said Cabir.

Nandini rolled her eyes. "Yeah, because apparently the two brothers remind him of you two and I am Kajal, and SRK gets married to her. Yeah?"

"No. Because their parents' names are Yash and Nandini. He might not be Yash but you are his Nandini."

Nandini wanted to bang her head somewhere.

XXX

"Manik loves you more than his books."

"I don't even believe you on this."

"No, seriously. If someone forces him from reading his books, he would cry like a baby. But if something happens to you, he would lose shit and start punching people."

Nandini snorted. "I bet Manik would never punch someone."

"Yeah, because you do that before him but that's not the point. He would totally punch someone if you are in trouble. Apparently, that's how you guys got married", he said.

"Yeah, because marrying me is the same as punching someone?", asked Nandini.

"No, it's like punching himself but he would do that willingly."

"I really want to punch you now", muttered Nandini, rubbing her forehead.

XXX

"Manik loves your voice", announced Cabir.

"This is getting ridiculous pretty fast."

"I know you haven't ever sung in your life and your voice might be unbearable and out of tune but I would bet Manik would play it on a loop and smile like a lunatic."

"One more word and I would seriously start thinking of the ways to kill you. If you haven't noticed, Manik has given me divorce papers to sign. Your arguments don't even matter, however ridiculous they are", she told. She might not be high on logic like Manik but even she had a limit to tolerate Cabir's reasoning.

Instead of thinking or defending his arguments, Cabir burst out laughing. "You are sad because Manik gave you divorce papers? Who asked you to read them? Manik gives me his stupid fictions from time to time. I don't read them either."

Nandini thought it was high time she stayed away from Cabir's logic.

XXX

After the 'Ignore your spouse' week and Cabir's stupidest arguments 'proving Manik loves you' week, Nandini decided, it's time for the 'testing the theories' week. Nandini had stayed away from loving any person due to her parents and if she wanted to open her heart to someone, she wanted to have an assurance that it was only to someone who would love her back. After everything she had been through, she didn't need heartbreak to add to the list. And what better way than to give a surprise visit to Manik at his office and check if he still had the same happiness he had when she had first visited him before he gave her the divorce papers. Because who would be happy seeing his to-be ex-wife after giving her a divorce.

Hence, Nandini got ready and went to Malhotra Industries after informing Nyonika. When the older woman squealed in absolute delight, Nandini decided, even the great Nyonika Malhotra was infected with Cabir's logic. Seriously, that guy was more dangerous than a worldwide Pandemic.

XXX

Nandini found Manik, near the entrance of the office, signing some documents while talking to Meera. Even before Manik noticing her, his assistant did and she glared at him. Nandini rolled her eyes. Just because she was quiet, doesn't mean Meera owns her husband. She would have understood if Manik hinted anything close to liking his assistant but he never brought up the topic. In fact, Manik hardly brings the office home. At the end of the day, he curls up with his book, unless there's something really important work pending. It was the one hope she had at things being normal because Manik and fiction make everything more sensible in her otherwise upturned life.

"Damn it, yaar, Nandini. What the hell are you doing here?"

Nothing was sensible it seems. It was clear from the irritation seeping through Manik's voice. She noticed the glare on Meera's face turning into a smirk. "You said I could drop-in anytime. I thought it still applied." Why does it already feel like they were fighting? Nandini felt every eye on her and it made her out of place. What did she even think about coming without checking if it's okay with Manik or not?

"Listen, I have plans and-", started Manik but stopped abruptly. He might have noticed the glances they were getting from his employees. "Come with me", he muttered and pulled Nandini by her hand out of their office premises and into the parking lot.

It was a whole minute and it was the longest one she had felt. Once they reached the parking lot, if she was expecting Manik to yell at her, he took her in surprise by engulfing her in his arms, leaving her speechless because as far she knew, they were ignoring each other until recently which later upgraded to one or two sentences per day on an average. Breaking the hug, Nandini could only gape at him as he grabbed her hands, followed by a triad of apologies.

"I apologize, Nandini. It might have felt as if we were fighting back there. That wasn't my intention. But you can't surprise me when I already have plans. I can't miss this out and can't also take you there because you wouldn't like it. Cabir doesn't ever."

He sounded as if he was going to do a crime, disobeying the government. The frantic anxiety in his voice brought some familiar feeling to her and she forgot about the little chaos a few minutes back. "Where are you going?", asked Nandini.

The huge grin on his face washed away any lingering bad feeling. "There is this annual book fair in Mumbai and I go there every year. I have been trying to take my time out for two days but couldn't manage it and today is the last day. I thought I would finish that and come back home early to surprise you."

Manik wanted to come back home early to surprise her. Nandini saved the thought away and chuckled. "Aren't you a Malhotra? Why do you need a book fair when you could buy an entire bookstore within half an hour or just order books from an online store."

Manik shook his head. "I can but it's so much fun going to a fair and physically selecting them than getting it from an online store. Even if buying a whole bookstore is tempting, it doesn't match with the happiness of getting a new book after finishing the previous one. You know, like taking the excitement in installments."

"Only you, my husband, Manik Malhotra can think of something like this. And here I thought you don't want me to come to your office again."

Manik tugged at her hand. "I would rather have you with me all the time."

Nandini thought how could someone be so open about what they want and then realized it's Manik, the boy who wore his heart on his sleeve. Apparently, it's still the same even after all these years. "Along with your books?", teased Nandini. Because how could he forget the reason for his existence?

Manik grinned. "Add Mom and Cabir to that list and I wouldn't ever ask for anything else again. Will you go home then or meet Cabir?"

Going home was boring. It was one of the reasons why she came to visit Manik and meeting Cabir meant tolerating his stupid reasoning all over again. Nandini had exhausted her patience for that. "I will come with you. I have never been to a book fair before", she said. What are the things she was getting into, courtesy of the Malhotra twins?

"But you will be bored there", told Manik.

She rolled her eyes when he was more worried about her getting bored in a book fair than she was. "How about you check out the books and I would check you out?", she teased. The redness that crept across his face was one of the most beautiful things she had missed during all these years. If Cabir could kill half of the population by his illogical reasoning, his twin could kill the rest of them by just blushing. Really, why wasn't it already in the news? The blushing CEO of the Malhotra Industries. Did the whole world go blind? They should start appreciating beautiful things than focusing entirely on making money.

Instead of answering her, Manik unlocked his car. The memories of the number of times they were confined inside a car attacked her brain. Most of these times, it was Nandini who would drive. She had missed her racing. It was the one that would keep her sane after an argument with her parents which partly explained why she was close to losing her mind these past few years. "Can I drive?", she muttered. It was a mere whisper but Manik was good at keeping attuned to her. There was never a complaint. Hopefully, there would never be one. Without a question, when Manik handed her the keys to his car, Nandini felt scared. "I never drove a car after that day on the farewell", she confessed.

Manik squeezed her hand. "The worse it could go is getting rusty because you are an amazing racer and one doesn't forget something that comes naturally to them. If something happens, we could always apply brakes or maybe jump out of the car like Cabir would suggest."

It brought a chuckle out of her. As she started the car, she felt like coming home. The roaring of the engine, the steering between her hand, the speed with which she was going, and the adrenaline inside her veins because of them, everything was so familiar that it ached her heart. If there were any knots inside her nerves, she felt them loosening up, however dramatic it sounded. After all these years, she felt as if she was flying and she had to check Manik to make sure she was still on the road. Even the way Manik was patiently sitting beside her was so familiar. Who would need a time machine if they had someone like Manik again? She shook her head. It was even more dramatic. Maybe, Cabir was really worse than a global pandemic if she was turning into a dramatic mess.

Once they reached the bookfair, she breathed in after stopping the car. Manik was already beside her, opening the door for her, but he also waited for her to come back from all the adrenaline with a smile on his face. As soon as she stepped out of the car, Nandini pulled him into a hug. "I never thought I would drive again. Never thought I would be free from them. Never thought I would be happy again. Thank you for making everything possible, Manik. Thank you for just existing."

Manik patted her head in reply. Breaking the hug, he gave another glance at the entrance, avoiding the slight blush creeping on his face. Nandini had let it slide. She should start getting used to it.

"Are you sure, you want to come in?", he asked again.

Nandini grinned at him. "Nandini Murthy never backs down from a challenge, Malhotra." Her smile faltered when she realized what she had uttered. Is it going to be like this? Will she remember her parents and the past every time she had to say her name? She hated the way they were controlling her emotions even while physically being far away from her.

Manik might have realized it too because he had entwined their fingers, tugging at it to gain her attention. "Nandini Malhotra. Nandini Manik Malhotra never backs down from a challenge", he said.

The smile reappeared on her face because this person would never see her sad, neither four years back nor now. He used to untangle all over worries and made everything easy for her and it's still the same now. When Nandini nodded at him, he threw in another smile before guiding her inside the fair, never once leaving her hand.

XXX

It was half an hour since Manik got stuck at one of the bookstalls. It was cute when he didn't leave her hand except when he couldn't function with a single hand until this stall where he is trying to select multiple books. He had already selected three and onto the fourth one. Even right now, Manik peeked a glance in between, to make sure she was fine and threw in a small smile before returning to his book. It felt strange but also nice when she could manage some of his attention away from his precious books.

However, Nandini was getting bored and the shop owner was absolutely delighted looking at her husband. She poked his arm. "Manik, why do you want to read this book? This is so thick. You won't even be able to carry this for a long time. It would hurt your arm." While Manik chuckled and shook his head without even glancing up, she gained the attention of the shopkeeper as he shot daggers at her.

"Madam, the book can be kept on a table instead of holding them. It wouldn't hurt his arms."

"Really?", asked Nandini. "But I don't read on the table. Anyways, who would even read paperbacks during the Kindle times? Manik, what do you think? You can subscribe once and can have multiple books."

While Manik continued skimming over the pages, Nandini entertained herself bantering with the shopkeeper. He only stopped glaring at her when Manik bought an extra book, apologized on her behalf, and dragged her out of the shop. With an arm around her, as he guided her towards her car, she threw her hands in disbelief.

"He was shooting daggers at me and you bought an extra book from him. Very supportive of you, Manik. Isn't it your duty as my husband to protect my honor or something?"

Manik laughed. "As I might have told you earlier, I wouldn't defend your honor unless you want me to. Anyways, you were holding up pretty well all by yourself. He was just pissed off because you were costing him a potential customer. Seriously, what do people have against books? In fact, everyone should start reading them."

"You must be his biggest supporter. And don't try to infect your addictions to me. I am perfectly alright as it is", she warned.

"Don't worry, Mrs. Malhotra. I have a surprise to make it up for you", said Manik.

Before Nandini could reply, they heard someone clearing their throat.

So, it's true about you two getting married?

They turned around and saw their college principal and their English Professor, Prof. Verma.

"Hello, Sir, Professor. How are you?", asked Manik. "What are you doing here?"

"We are fine, Manik. Trying to load the college library."

"I miss our library", said Manik.

"I am damn sure you do", teased Prof. Verma. "How are you, Nandini?"

"I am fine, Professor", she answered. She found it hard to meet their eyes. These were some of the people who had seen her at her best and Nandini didn't want to face them while the worst days of her life were on display for the public to see. And before she could slip into her shell, Manik silently grabbed her hand, entwining their fingers, to ground her to the present.

"I am ashamed to call him as my friend once and I can't even imagine all the things you had to go through. Some of them happened while I have known you and you never let us question about it any day. But you are still my strong and the most efficient head girl the college had ever seen", said the principal.

Nandini was surprised. Did they still think that after everything that has happened? To answer her question, the principal patted her head and it brought another familiar feeling to her. These were also the people who thought the best of her and had been lenient on her on so many occasions.

"We really didn't believe the rumors of Nandini getting married to someone but I believed once I got to know that she was married to none other than the Manik Malhotra. I knew you both would end up together sooner or later from the moment you suggested his name as the head boy", told the principal. He looked almost proud of himself.

"It was Nandini?", asked Prof. Verma, faking a surprise.

"Yes, professor. It was our Nandini. Why do you think she didn't punch anyone even when there were rumors about these two all over the campus?"

"I didn't know this", said the professor. "Nandini, why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Professor", she said in disbelief and threw a half-hearted glare at the Principal. Were they seriously teasing her right now? He just burst out laughing. When she looked at Manik for help, he was avoiding everyone's gaze and she was damn sure it was to hide the blush that might have crept on his face. She chuckled seeing his ears turning red.

The principal held her free hand, startling her. Manik chose the time to remove his grip. "Nandini, I have always considered you as my child. I have seen you grow into a very beautiful human being. I never knew what was happening back at your home but now I couldn't stop respecting you for tolerating them for all those years. Nothing will change now and we still love you just the same. Everyone in the college is proud to have taught you and the students still look at your videos to get inspired and work. Don't let them affect you anymore, kid." He hugged her sideways before turning to Manik. "Now that you aren't part of the college, Manik, I am flaunting that Manik Malhotra was once a student of my college?"

"Sir?", said Manik with an adorable frown on his face.

"We are proud of you, Manik. It really makes us happy and proud when we see an article or a headline about you in the newspaper. You both are my star students and the best head student pair. I am assured, right, that Nandini will be safe and happy with you?", he asked.

"It is my responsibility, sir", told Manik.

"Why don't you go ahead with your plans while we go on ours? Nandini, we will see you sooner than the last time, right?", he asked.

When Nandini nodded, he patted her head again followed by Professor Verma. "Are you postponing your deals to the last moment like your homework?", he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Nandini shook her head.

"Do you think Nandini is anything but an efficient CEO?", asked Manik.

"Of course, not", said Professor Verma, laughing. "Take care, both of you."

Once they were out of earshot, Manik entwined their hands again. He would be doing that for years and she wouldn't lose the pleasantness around the action. It still felt as if it's the first time he was doing that.

"Told you. There are people who still love you the same", said Manik.

Nandini wondered how same was Manik's love for her from their farewell day.

When they reached their car, he opened the door and put his books in the backseat. "Do you want to go home or somewhere else?"

"Beach? And can I drive?", she asked. It has been ages since she has gone to the beach and the beaches are always serene when she's with Manik.

Manik smiled, giving her the car keys. "Why don't you drive until we reach home?"

When they were inside the car, Manik turned to her. "Can we make a stop in between? I have to collect something", he asked.

"Yeah, just tell me the directions."

XXX

Half an hour later, Manik asked Nandini to stop the car and got down to collect something. Her eyes followed him until he disappeared and when she couldn't guess his probable destination, she went to check her emails. It's not like anyone could guess what cooks inside his twisted nerd brain.

After coming back, instead of getting inside the car, Manik knocked at her side of the window, asking her to get down. She burst out laughing on seeing a bouquet made of chocolates as he handed them to her. How could she forget one of his main motivations to stuff her from chocolates? She was only wondering if he had given up this habit of his. "I am waiting for your ridiculous logic to give me these many. Hurry up", she teased.

Instead of laughing, Manik sighed and leaned back on the car door beside her. "These are to make up for all those times during these past years when you were sad and there was no one to make you smile. And a promise. Until I am alive, I will try my hardest not to lose that smile from your life."

The sincerity in his voice caught Nandini off guard. Manik was nowhere related to whatever has happened in the past. In fact, it was her who had pushed him and all her friends away. Yet, he was taking responsibility for her parents' actions and she believed when he promised because Manik would only promise the things when he was sure not to break them. Suddenly, all the education she had for years couldn't muster up the words to express her gratitude towards him. Instead, she wrapped her hands around him and thanked all the stars, planets, and anyone who was sitting up there for sending him into her life, for all the recent changes in her life.

Breaking the hug, she wiped the traitor tears that suddenly appeared out of nowhere and threw in the best smile she could possibly manage before he could work himself up. "Stay with me and I won't lose that smile. You are the only one who somehow brings that whatever may be the situation. It has been years and you still are best at it", she confessed. It was the most truthful confession she had said to someone during recent times and she prayed he did stay because who wouldn't want to take a break after what she had gone through.

To her surprise, instead of the blushing mess she had expected him to turn into, he cupped her cheek and probably for the first time in his whole existence kissed a girl's head. "I could never leave you if I could help it, Nandini. You are too precious for me."

When she had left home that day, she had so many questions about his feelings and the divorce papers he had given to her but right now, when she realized nothing has really changed between them, she didn't want to find the answers for them. Not today. She wanted to bask in the happiness that she was still precious to him. And that's what she did when they went to the beach. She rested her head on his shoulder, none uttering a word or breaking the silence between them, and devoured everything that had happened throughout the day. For some reason, it turned out to be a beautiful day and she wanted to treasure it.

They only realized the time when Nyonika called them close to midnight. Hours of time had just slipped by without any of them noticing. When they reached home, Manik went into a triad of apologies, which Nyonika brushed off. "It's fine, Manik. Just inform me next time so that I wouldn't be worried about your whereabouts", she said before glaring at Nandini. "And you, you are the daughter of this house and more importantly the daughter of Nyonika Malhotra. You have a responsibility to carry my legacy on. I don't care how much you love your husband. Don't let that nerd turn you into a nerd too. Going to book fairs? Cabir told me."

For a moment, Nandini thought she had crossed the boundaries because, at the end of the day, she really had the responsibility to be the Malhotra the world expects her to be. While she could just gape at the woman she started to love to death, Manik groaned beside her.

"Mom, it's close to midnight. Where is your secret stash of energy stored to keep up with all the drama?"

Nyonika smirked at Nandini. "Told you. Secret stash of energy? This nerd wouldn't talk the language of our normal people. Be careful around him."

"That's it. I am tired. Good night", said Manik, pecking her cheek and left for the room.

When Nyonika winked at her behind his back, Nandini hugged her and followed Manik.

XXX

"Today was the best day I had since so long", said Nandini once she got into the bed to sleep.

Manik was in his recliner, about to start one of the books he bought before he went to bed. He gave her a smile, wished her goodnight, and started reading the book.

Nandini wondered if she could ask Manik to sleep beside her since she had the best sleep with him and also an excuse to extend her best day. She didn't want the day to end as of yet, but she had always dreaded good times because in the past, whenever she had a really good time, her parents had to mess it up. Today no one was there to ruin it for her and Nandini decided she didn't need to push her luck any further. After so long, she drifted to sleep feeling content.  

If people are still mad at Manik for giving Nandini the divorce papers, I can't explain more than this right now. Maybe wait for a few more chapters and Nandini might gather up the courage to actually talk to him. Right now, she is testing the waters, experimenting if Manik really is still in love with her or not. Let's give her some time to get accustomed to the idea that people still love her just the same.

Spoiler - Something exciting and important happening during the next chap and the one after that. :P