Hello Fam :)

Warning: Really short one. Check the note at the end.

Also, guess who passed their exams? :P 

Happy Reading...

It was a free day before the wedding tomorrow. Nandini had started from not believing their love when Abhimanyu first told her to make plans to deal with the awkwardness when they would eventually break up to think they were a fine couple. And now her two idiots were getting married. Nandini took days to feel the happiness after coming to Malhotra house but nothing could have prepared for the happiness she felt right now. She felt nothing could ruin this.

Hence, she was surprised when Cabir came to her room, a look of panic and anger written all over his face. "Don't tell me you are breaking up for another stupid reason? I am not dealing with sadness today."

Cabir stared at her for a long moment before sighing and grabbed her hand, pulling her up. "We have to talk to Manik."

"Is he fine?", asked Nandini.

"He is fine", muttered Cabir.

But she was worried and kept on worrying about him all the way to their room looking at the younger Malhotra. What has gotten into him?

Navya was sitting in the room, working over a bunch of papers. Maybe she's working through distance. The girl threw a grin towards them which faltered when she saw their faces. Nandini saw Manik entering the room, typing something in his mobile, but there was a frown on his face. When Nandini raised an eyebrow at him, he faked a smile. Wow. She didn't know her husband could fake a smile.

"Navya, can you leave us alone for some time?", said Cabir, gaining the attention of both of them.

"Is everything okay?", asked the girl.

"Yeah. Just a family issue", told Cabir.

What the hell? She was family too.

But instead of replying when Navya gathered her things and tried to leave silently, Manik grabbed her hand and pulled her into a side hug. "What he meant was, it is a mess and we didn't want you to get into this in the middle of a wedding. You shouldn't even doubt about being a part of our family. You have been for years and now even mom is on board."

Nandini could make heart eyes all day looking at Manik and at the end of the day, he would come up with an entirely new reason for making her fall for him. Even Navya had a smile when she left the room.

Once she left the room, Nandini glared at the younger twin. "Dude, if you are hurting her again, I will cut you into pieces and throw them into the sea. No one would even get your dead body."

Cabir gaped at her before turning to Manik. "Bhai", he complained.

"No, I am out of this, kid. You were whining when Nandini didn't threaten you and now that she's doing, you don't get to complain", replied Manik. "Also, if Navya is hurt and you are the reason behind it, I wouldn't stop Nandini."

"Bhai", whined Cabir again, stomping his foot on the ground.

"Or do you want me to tell mom? She could deal with you."

Cabir glared at Manik now. "I can feel so much love coming out of you for me, Bhai."

"Baby, I am being really loving by not threatening you myself", said Manik.

"Do you think I feel safe between these two?"

"At least it would teach you not to hurt Navya again", said Manik, throwing in a sweet smile at his brother.

And Nandini couldn't love her husband more. When she said the same, he blushed as if he wasn't threatening his brother in his own weird way.

Cabir rolled his eyes at them. "Why is the topic of discussion me when we came here for Nandini?"

The question startled her because it instantly wiped the smile off Manik's face and he sighed. When they all settled down, he grabbed Nandini's hand, entwining their fingers before glancing at his brother. "Cabir, why don't you start with the news?"

Cabir nodded. The tension in his entire frame was making her feel tense. "Nandini, do you understand it is a mess when things that should stay dead wouldn't stay dead."

Wait, what?

Beside her, Manik groaned. "Goddamnit, kid. I told you to break the news. Not to be dramatic about it."

"When is he not dramatic about anything?", asked Nandini, throwing a glare at the younger twin before facing her husband and squeezing their joined hands. "What happened, Manik?"

"Your parents. Someone bailed them out. Cabir thinks they would come after you. Mom is working on throwing them into the jail again", said Manik.

"Oh", she muttered. Yeah, it made sense. Because things don't stay good for a long time. She shook her head. She was in a good place in her life and she wouldn't let her parents ruin this for her. "And what do you think?", she asked Manik.

"I don't want you to deal with them again." Manik tightened his hold on her hand. "Nandini, I wouldn't let them hurt you again."

Nandini smiled at him.

"Will you give a complaint?", asked Cabir.

What would she even complain about when they haven't approached her yet? It wouldn't be enough legally. She ignored Cabir who looked like he was waiting for her permission to pull out a pen and paper for her to write a statement. "Manik, I don't want to deal with them either. Let's leave them alone?"

Manik was silent but Cabir burst out. "After knowing what they could do? Have you gone mad? Or are you so in love with Bhai that his character is bleeding into you?"

"Cabir, shut up", interrupted Manik. He turned around to properly face Nandini. "You have suffered the most because of them. You have the right to decide whatever you want."

"As I said, I don't want to deal with them. I don't feel threatened by them", she muttered.

"They tried to threaten you by injecting external substances. Without them, you wouldn't feel threatened. It makes sense, Nandini", he said.

"Yeah, if they are contacting me, I can handle them", she told.

Manik nodded.

"Are you being serious right now?", yelled Cabir. "Bhai, are you seriously going to allow her to go with her decision? Will you wait for them to make the first strike?"

"Cabir, it's her life and she is the sole decider of what to do with it. I don't need to 'allow' her to do anything", told Manik, and turned to her. "Nandini, I apologize on his behalf. You own your life and no one owns you here. You don't need to take permission from anyone."

Nandini rubbed his arm. "Calm down, Manik. It's okay. Cabir, if I feel threatened I would contact you, contact Manik. Okay?"

"What if you don't have time to contact?"

Manik dropped her hand and stood up to cup Cabir's cheek. "Kid, Nandini isn't the problem here. They are. If we know Nandini would face a problem someday, we should try to eliminate the problem instead of cutting her freedom off, Cabir. Understood?"

Nandini felt her eyes stinging. All her life, where people tried to control her, to confine her to obey their orders, this man here was fighting for her freedom even if it could put her in trouble.

XXX

"Nandini said she doesn't feel threatened by them to put them back in jail. Cabir is protesting", said Manik.

He was in Nyonika's room after the lady asked him to inform her about Nandini's decision.

Nyonika chuckled. "She wouldn't be threatened without the drugs. She had dealt with them all her life. Now all you have to do is to keep those substances away from her body and wait for her to rule the world."

Manik grinned. Yeah, he could do that.

XXX

Nandini couldn't believe her best friends had finally married. The elders were teary-eyed as they looked at their kids. Nyonika stared at every ritual. Apparently, it was the first wedding she was attending after hers and as everyone knows, she was rubbish at rituals. The lady who cracked deals within minutes, couldn't decipher the need and pompousness of an Indian wedding.

As revenge for the past two days, Nandini planted Cabir beside her to explain or argue about it. Beside him, Navya was there who was equally enjoying the show because how could the baby Malhotra win an argument against the best businesswoman.

When her friends took the blessings of their elders, she felt Manik entwining their fingers. "The wedding ceremony is the most important thing in anyone's life. I apologize for depriving you of this happiness, Nandini", he whispered near her ear.

She freed her hand to wrap it around Manik's waist. "Manik Malhotra, you had never ever taken a decision in haste. You think multiple times before doing something. You don't let anyone play with your emotions. But you defied all your own rules to marry me and that's the decision I am proudest of. At the end of the day, you are my husband and I would never ever have it any other way."

"I love you", confessed Manik. "It was always you. I don't even remember seeing any other girl except you and even if the procedure was wrong, I am happy I finally have you with me. It's a bit postponed but Nandini Manik Malhotra, will you forever be my love and consider me as your husband for the rest of your life?"

Nandini leaned against him. "Manik Malhotra, I wouldn't want to share my life with anyone else except you."

A/N-1: So this is the last chapter I have in my drafts. The confession feels at the end felt conclusive and that's where I thought of ending the story. But along the line, a few things were added and I want to write some things before closing the book. Meanwhile, you can suggest whatever you want to try. I would ignore every scene which isn't relevant to the story or something I think I couldn't write or maybe add as a bonus. So, feel free to drop in your comments. :P :)

2: According to the latest plan, we still have 4-5 chapters. Not decided yet. And no, I am not writing kids or the usual drama. We have enough serials for that. If you know my stories, you know what to expect. ;)

Spoiler: Sweet and daring Manik :P

Also, since we are almost at the end, let me know if anyone's interested in a zoom or google meet?