Hello Fam :)

Look, who's writing a one-shot. :P

A/N - I think this Manik and Nandini are one of my most favorites out of all the one-shots. :P

Warning: I don't have an experience on internal workings of Indian Armed Forces. There might be so many mistakes and blunders that I don't know about. It's so far from a serious one-shot.

Happy Reading...

"Manik, you should see this."

Manik was on his fourth lap around the ground. He was woken up at the crack of dawn by his superior, summoning him to his room. He was then given a piece of paper, illegally tapped messages exchanged between members of a terrorist organization. The list was huge and Manik suspected a threat to the country. It was almost January and what could be a better date than the republic day celebrations.

"Are you talking to someone?", asked his best friend, Cabir.

Manik shook his head. He had his two ear chords plugged in to block out the outer noise as he repeated one particular message under his breath. It was from the given list and Manik felt it was familiar but he was unable to decode it. Somehow, he had a feeling if he could do this, he could decode the whole list of messages. "What's up, Cabir?"

There was an instant grin on his face. "Someone is doing theatrics on the training ground. You wouldn't want to miss this."

Manik cuffed his head. "I am busy, Cabir. Take over or complain to the chief. I don't understand, some of these youngsters join the Army for Instagram stories or something."

The grin only widened, compromising his sanity. "That's where you are wrong, my friend. The theatrics are done by a professional", he told, "in a jet."

"Jet?", muttered Manik, "dammit, Cabir." He was already dragging his best friend in the direction he came from. "I got a coded message in the morning and you are saying there is a flying activity. It could be an attack."

"Manik, no", he told but otherwise, led the way. "If they wanted to attack, they could have done it already. Moreover, the chief is enjoying the theatrics too. I guess, he is either part of it or at least knows who that it is."

He felt a relief wash over him. He wasn't in favor of an unplanned attack. It was too early in the morning for that.

XXX

The 'theatrics' as termed by Cabir involved a person flying the Jet in circles over the training ground. After a few rounds, it disappeared over the distance, earning multiple groans from the youngsters gathered over it. Whoever the person was, they were professional and were able to grip everyone's action on them.

Manik clicked his fingers at them. "Boys, the show's over. Rounds, now", he ordered.

One of them pointed to the sky. "Sir, it's back."

The Jet returned and this time as it was coming towards the ground, Manik frowned. "Cabir, what's the Air force doing here?"

"What?", muttered his best friend beside him.

"Their symbol at the side. It's the Air force", he informed. That explained why the chief was cool about an unknown jet taking over their grounds.

The Jet, fighter jet to be precise, landed on the ground amidst the appraisals of the youngsters. All the whistles died down at once when the pilot got down. It was a girl. She brushed her hair and flipped it over her shoulder as she passed by Manik. Beside him, Cabir was in awe and had almost the heart eyes.

"That's hot", said Cabir, grinning at Manik. "Never knew Air force training was this interesting."

Manik elbowed him and glared at him. Their juniors were listening to them. Where was the decorum of a defence person?

Cabir only smirked at Manik. "She is hotter even."

"Cabir, shut up", he screamed. "You all. The show's over, right? Ten rounds around the ground. Now."

They scrambled into their positions before starting over. Manik peeked a glance at the girl. She was talking to their chief. The chief looked impressed and it was saying something. There was another boy beside her, in uniform. What is the Air force doing in an Army base? Manik shook his head and went to his room. He had a string of messages to decode.

XXX

It was late evening when Manik saw Cabir again. After the training session in the morning, Manik had escaped to the library to refer to some books. He had gone through almost all the major Army books but he was yet to decode the message. It started getting on his nerves.

"Why are you holed up in this section, away from the world?", he asked, announcing his presence. "Aren't you coming to the party?"

"What party?", he asked. Why was there a party in the middle of the week?

"Because there are the hot Air force people among us", told Cabir.

Manik rolled his eyes. He wasn't ready to deal with some stupid Air force 'guys'. "What's wrong with you all? Why is everyone fawning over them? Haven't you ever seen any Air force personnel before?"

Cabir shrugged. "As a matter of fact, I did. But no one could compare to the girl from the morning. She is hot."

Manik threw a book at him. "Stop calling her hot. She isn't a temperature."

He raised his arms in surrender. "Okay, Malhotra. I am not calling her hot in front of you but she is. Apart from flying, did you know she had blasted off our chief?"

Manik frowned at him. "Blasted off?"

"Yeah. They are here because of the message given to you. They got some email threats and she came to check with us. I bet she knew that we got the message too but when the chief said we are all fine, she called him out on his lie and screamed at him for almost an hour", explained Cabir.

"And how do you know all this?"

"Rumors spread fast", he told.

"One more issue to concentrate on", muttered Manik. "But before that, I need to find this. I have been out of my mind since morning."

"I have a better idea. Come to the party. Have fun and come back again. Who knows after refreshing your mind, you can find it within minutes?"

Manik knew it was a stupid plan. The more time he was wasting, the more danger they were in. For all he knew, they could be attacked at the party. He shook his head. He was getting paranoid unnecessarily. It's still the 30th of December. He told Cabir to meet him at the party directly. He could use a shower right now.

XXX

The party was going on in full swing. It was the first party for the training cadets of the new batch. Unsurprisingly, almost everyone's attention was on the new girl. She was in a pair of casual jeans and a shirt, nothing fancy, but it was as if she had cast a spell on everyone. The other Air force guy, the one from the morning, was by her side and has yet to leave her alone. It was almost irritating if it wasn't cute. She was the only woman around a group of two hundred Army men, strangers for her. If the way everyone was ogling at her, Manik didn't blame him, not that she needed someone to protect her. A girl who could ride a fighter jet-like that, she could definitely shower a few punches to keep herself safe.

"Hot, right?"

Manik turned around to find a smirking Cabir. "Would you quit saying that about a girl?"

"Hey, I am not objectifying her. She is hot because the fighter jets were recent and she had managed to master it within a short period, according to inside sources. Also, the way she is carrying herself in the party. Whoever is asking her for a dance or flirting with her, she is turning them down with a laugh", he told.

Manik snorted.

Cabir ignored him and continued further. "Almost everyone has tried to at least get a dance from her and she is yet to fall for anyone's charm."

He looked up from his glass. "Why are you telling this to me?", he asked. Manik hadn't realized but there was a small crowd around him now. His friends and a few of his juniors had welcomed themselves into the conversation.

"Sir, because she has even punctured Cabir sir's ego. He is banking on you", said one of his juniors.

"Me?", asked Manik.

"On your charms to be precise. It would be my highest honor to watch you make her fall for you or lose your heart to her. I am up for anything", he said. "Not a compulsion though, you can opt-out if you are scared."

Manik raised an eyebrow. "Is that a dare?", he asked and smirked when Cabir shrugged. "You are on, Dhawan." He took a final sip from his glass before abandoning it to find the girl.

"That's Nandini Murthy, FYI", yelled Cabir.

"You would be surprised", muttered Manik, over his shoulder.

XXX

Half an hour and a dance later, Manik walked back to his group, with Nandini Murthy on his arm. It took him fifteen minutes to convince her to dance with him and once they had hit the stage, everything around them came to a halt, quite literally. Everyone had their attention on them and it was his dancing skills along with the girl's that they saved from stepping on each other's feet.

Cabir was gaping at him when Manik introduced them to Nandini. "That's Cabir Dhawan. We have been together since we have joined the Army."

Nandini had a smirk as she shook her hand with Cabir, who was openly glaring at her. He had a death wish, thought Manik.

"Why does he get to dance with you while I am rejected?", asked Cabir.

Manik almost face palmed himself. That's not the way to question a girl and not especially one who could take you down in ten minutes. Beside him, Nandini slid her arm so that now she was holding his hand. What wouldn't he give to keep that hand there forever?, thought Manik.

"Mr. Dhawan, it's nice to meet you", said Nandini, interrupting Manik from his thoughts, "but I wouldn't exactly go out with a person who says, 'Are you Air force because my heart is flying?'"

"You don't have to puncture my ego in front of my colleagues", grumbled Cabir, amidst the whistles and clapping of the people around them.

"Then shouldn't you be asking me your question in private?", she asked. "Unless you are scared to approach me in private? Is that the reason?"

Manik burst out laughing. In his entire career in the Army, everyone had given up on shutting Cabir from being a chatterbox or drama queen but this girl, this precious girl had made it possible within the first fifteen minutes of their meeting.

"Manik, stop laughing and defend my honor", complained Cabir.

Manik controlled his laughter and managed to keep his most serious face. He nodded at Cabir, freed his hand from Nandini, and turned to face her. "Just because you have managed to show us the impossible as possible, your place or mine?"

There was an abrupt silence. Everyone in the camp knew Manik Malhotra could charm any girl if he wanted to but that's the point. Manik never wanted to charm a girl and Nandini wasn't just any girl. He felt Cabir's hand around his arm as he tried to make a joke about his words in front of Nandini, probably to keep Manik from dying but he ignored him. "I am serious, Nandini. Let's escape from here", he told again. This time Manik even forwarded his hand towards her.

Nandini took a minute to glance at the people around them and then she smirked at Manik as she put her hand over his. "The guest house given to me is more private."

There were whistles. Manik had won more than the dare. Before they could escape, Cabir pulled him aside. "I don't know what you have done but have fun, you idiot. You deserve a break."

Manik chuckled and shook his head before following Nandini.

XXX

They walked hand in hand until they reached Nandini's room. Once, they were inside the room, Manik bolted the door and leaned back on it, giving in to his laughter. "That was fun", he told.

Nandini was holding her stomach, laughing, as they recollected the faces of everyone at the party.

Even when his laughter died down, Manik couldn't keep the happiness out of his face as he stared at the girl in front of him. His best girl. She only grinned back, pulled him down by his collar, and crashed her lips on his. Manik pulled her close and kissed her back. "I missed you", he whispered and enveloped her in his arms. He rubbed his face in her hair and smelled the familiar smell of her shampoo.

Nandini placed a kiss on his heart and broke the hug. "Not believing, Mr. Husband. You haven't even looked at me since morning."

Manik chuckled and cupped her face. "I was surprised and so impressed by your little theatrics. When did you master it? The last we talked, you said, you were trying to get permission to at least have a look."

"I might have blackmailed my officer. He was sweet."

"I shouldn't have underestimated you, eh? You know Cabir was making heart eyes at you after your performance. Almost everyone was impressed by you", told Manik.

"That Cabir guy. Is he always that dramatic?", she asked.

Manik laughed out loud. "Always. But tell me, I don't get a single message and then you guys show up at the Army base. How?"

"I haven't seen you during lunch", she told. "Are you skipping food?"

"Nandini", he glared at her.

She pinched his cheeks. "Right, we don't talk when you behave irresponsibly."

"Nandini", he screamed again.

She rolled her eyes. "We got a message last night. It's an attack on Army base camps. The information was incomplete. I thought since the attack was supposed to be on the Army, they might have sent you the other part. We contacted the telecom department and realized your chief got some pages worth of information. Hence, I am here."

"They are with me", told Manik. He was carrying his papers all this while because they were confidential and he didn't want to lose them. "I tried deciphering it but I am unable to. It's getting on my nerves. I have read almost all the Army books."

"Did you try Air force?", asked Nandini. There was a frown on her head.

"What?"

"This code here", she pointed to the one page he felt familiar, "it was used during the ancient times by the Air force people. Shit, this is bad, Manik."

"Why didn't I consider this? That's why it was looking familiar. We need to decode this", he muttered.

They were startled by a banging on the door and Nandini took her revolver out.

"I will check who it is", told Manik. He had his gun under his shirt. He opened the door and found the other Air force guy in front of him, grinning. "What do you want?", asked Manik.

He pushed Manik aside and welcomed himself in. Manik gritted his teeth but the idiot was talking already. "I was at the party and guess what everyone is talking about? That you, the one and only Manik Malhotra, has charmed Nandini Murthy and escaped to do some explicit stuff." He saw Nandini and pulled her into a hug. "Hello, love."

Manik crossed his arms and furrowed his brows. "Okay, so, they told you we are together and you still came for what? Where is your decorum, officer?", he asked.

"That went into the drain when I first saw you half-naked with my sister at a pool party", he told.

He rolled his eyes. "I was five at that time", pointed out Manik.

Nandini pushed the two apart. "Okay, you two. Abhimanyu, stop it for a second. Manik, I saw you. Why have you been shooting daggers at him since morning?"

"That idiot has been sending me pictures of both of you together since last week and with the same caption. 'Lucky are those who get to work with the Nandini Murthy every day.' What am I supposed to do? I have decided, I am ignoring his presence", he said and huffed in annoyance.

Nandini pulled away from Abhimanyu to kiss Manik on the cheek. "When I was five, I was given teamwork along with a boy and since then we have been working constantly as best friends."

Manik felt himself blush at that. This girl, his precious girl, would never ever leave his side or any chance to make him feel special. "I love you."

"Me too", said Abhimanyu and pulled Manik's hand to give him a hi-fi.

"Nandini", he complained.

The girl shook her head. "Abhimanyu, would you stop teasing him?"

"Nandini, love, I am his brother-in-law. It's my legal fundamental right to tease him for the rest of his life", told the idiot.

Manik ignored him.

Nandini sighed. "If you two are done behaving like kids, can we concentrate on something serious? Time's scarce."

It was only business after that. The three sat down on the floor, the papers scattered all around them. Manik thought it was good to have some Air force heads to decode the messages. Finally, they have all the plans and the rescue operation by morning. They had a flight to catch for Mumbai. Manik asked the two siblings to pack their bags as he went to his bunk.

XXX

It was around ten in the morning when they reached their apartment in Mumbai. Abhimanyu had his room. An hour later, they had gathered around the living room after freshening up. Manik had coffee prepared for the three of them.

Nandini inhaled the steamy coffee and sighed. "I missed your coffee, Manik", she told.

"I missed your food", told Abhimanyu.

Manik pointed a knife at him. "I am not cooking food for you."

Nandini rolled her eyes and unfolded the map. They had the city map for emergencies. "Manik, Mall-1, 1300 hrs. Abhimanyu knows the head manager. It should be easy. Mall-2, 1850 hrs, is tricky."

He nodded. "Not if we are going after sunset. Abhimanyu could handle the electricity. You are with me. Once we find the target, it would be child's play."

"Child's play", screamed Abhimanyu. "If defusing bombs in a crowded mall is child's play, what are they even teaching in the Army?"

Manik groaned but it was Nandini who punched him in the stomach. "Do not utter any word that could hint a civilian."

Abhimanyu nodded, somewhat scared at the look on her face. Personally, Manik thought she was his soulmate. They went through their plan again. When Abhimanyu didn't crack a joke during the next half an hour, Manik searched the whole kitchen and found some cookies. He checked the date and after making sure it hadn't expired, he gave them to him, earning a wide smile from Abhimanyu. "Civilians would panic and it would be chaotic. We are only three in number. It would be difficult to manage them. Smile now?", he said.

The boy nodded and muttered a faint sorry before grabbing the cookies.

"Guys, seriously?", muttered Nandini, "decide whether you want to slit each other's throats or go on romantic dates. It's a bit confusing here." She grabbed a cookie for herself.

Both the boys glared at her but they were interrupted by the doorbell.

"Seriously, who is it now?", muttered Manik. "No one knows we are in the city."

"Dude, our parents have cameras outside the apartment because we don't know when we are in the city. They might have seen us", told Nandini but she stuffed her gun in her jacket.

Manik knew there were some knives hidden too. Even if they were in the Air force, she had enrolled herself in Martial Arts when Manik did. They had their share of fun in the class.

"Let me check", said Abhimanyu. He raised an eyebrow when Manik handed him his gun from the coffee table.

"We can never be too careful, idiot. Better safe than sorry. What if someone's tracking our movements?", he told.

They were on alert as the door clicked open and suddenly there were different voices. Manik concentrated on the voice frequency and he turned to Nandini. She held up four fingers, confirming his count. Manik nodded and relaxed once he heard them properly followed by Abhimnayu's over-excited scream.

Manik shook his head. "Can this idiot ever know how to take a situation seriously?"

Nandini patted his arm in sympathy and smiled when their parents reached their living room. They all seated down after the initial formalities but there was an awkward silence and Nandini kept on looking at her watch. They have to start in under an hour.

"Guys, we are very surprised by your unexpected visit when we haven't shared our travel details at all. Not weird at all", told Manik.

"Stop being rude", scolded Nyonika, Manik's mom. "We worry about you. We don't even get calls for weeks from our children even if you guys are in the city."

"Maybe because we are on official duty and don't have time to meet you", he muttered. He hated this conversation. He misses his parents, his family but sometimes our lives are part of the bigger picture and there's no space for personal lives. "I am sorry. I don't mean that but right now, we are tight on schedule. Anyway, how are you guys?"

"Manik, we are fine. You both were together so we thought maybe you got a few days free", said Ishita, Nandini's mother.

"No, small mercies. I am working with Nandini for a few days. Now, can we address the elephant in the room so that we can go ahead with our plans?", he asked. Because there's always a point. His eyes were wandering towards Nandini. She hadn't spoken a word since they came except the initial hellos. She was at the dining table while the rest of them are scattered but Manik was already feeling the distance. When Nandini caught his gaze, she winked at him and he felt the tension dissipating. "I am sorry, again", he told his parents.

"We understand, son", said Raman, Nandini's father, with a smile. "Your work is taking a toll on you. It's fine. We are proud of you. Not everyone's son serves the nation."

Manik nodded. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Nandini playing with her fingers.

"Nandini", said Ishita, addressing her daughter for the first time. "How are you?"

As Nandini looked at her mom, Manik knew it was time for testing his patience.

"I am fine, mom", she told.

"How many days are you on this trip?", her father asked.

Abhimanyu waved at them. "Hello, if I am visible but we have a flight tonight and some work to finish before we leave. I promise once this is all done, we will take a leave and we will play family-family."

"Abhimanyu, shut up", scolded Ishita. "If you guys have some work, go ahead. We want to talk to Nandini."

Disregarding their words completely, Abhimanyu flopped down beside Manik. "Carry on. I am totally free but can you finish the drama in half an hour? As Manik said, we're on a tight schedule."

Manik bit back a chuckle when Ishita glared at him.

She ignored her son and pulled a chair for herself in front of Nandini. It was a small two-bedroom apartment. Most of the time, they spend their time in camps during duties. Often when Manik's on leave, Nandini would be busy and vice-versa. When both are on leave, they would escape to their little abode while Abhimanyu shuffles in all the three houses, including the Malhotras.

"Nandini, what did you think about the thing we told you last week?", she asked.

"I haven't changed much since last week, neither did my decision", muttered Nandini.

"Did you at least discuss it with Manik?"

"No. I didn't get the time."

"And yet you are here with him. Didn't you get at least a few minutes to inform him? Why do you have to disregard everything we ask you to do?"

Nandini sighed. "Since we have already established that my decision is still the same, can we leave now? We have something important to do", she said.

Raman stood from his seat and went to stand beside his wife. "We have given you enough freedom, Nandini. You wanted to join the Air force, you went and you served your country. It's enough now. You are twenty-seven. What would society say if you are still not planning for the kids?"

Beside him, Abhimanyu was about to get up but Manik held him down and shook his head. Nandini would blast both their heads if they came in between one of her fights. He let her deal with her parents but was on guard if at all his wife needed him.

"I am living on the borders. My society, the people I live among, have never asked me about our kids. I don't know how it's a concern to the people you are surrounded with when they see me once in a year", she told.

Manik noticed Nandini's answers were plain which implies she had this discussion already, multiple times if her tone is anything to go by. He didn't understand why she wouldn't share it with him. Then again, the little time they get between their duties, they usually don't discuss things that make each other sad unless it was really important, and if the other couldn't manage by themselves. When they are free during their leaves, they would bring up some of the issues but by then it would be in the past and they would simply laugh it off. At least, in Nandini's case, she has Abhimanyu, who would listen to her rants about her parents, relatives, and anyone else for hours without a protest. To show his gratitude, Manik bumped his knees with Abhimanyu silently. The boy grinned at him before going serious.

"Nandini, when I was at your age, you were already born. There would be complications if you are getting older", explained to her mom.

"Mom, you wouldn't understand but I need time. I am not ready or in the correct state of mind to have kids right now", told Nandini.

Raman crossed his arms. "You have been married to Manik for seven years now. How much more time do you need?", he asked.

She snorted and stood up from her chair. She slipped her mobile which was on the table into her jean pocket before smiling widely at her parents. Manik knew when his girl was about to end an argument. "My marriage with Manik was nothing but stupidity. We were twenty when we got married and just out of our teens, angst, and hormones really high. I don't take our marriage seriously."

The elders gasped.

Nyonika was the first one to react. She was angry. "Nandini, what is the meaning of that?"

"Same as I have said", she told. "No one in our unit knows about our marriage. We are intending to keep it that way."

Raman crossed his arms. Manik wanted to laugh. The conversation was going above everyone's head. Abhimanyu was squeezing his hand and was on the edge of his seat.

"Then why are you staying with him? You have been legally married to him for seven years and now you say, you don't take it seriously", said Raman. "Explain to me, please. What do you mean by it? Is it some new concept of today's generation?"

"Nothing new", told Nandini. "The circumstances under which we got married is stupid. I am still with Manik because I love him and I can't imagine a life without him. We are happy, managing whatever little time we are getting but I am not ready to bring another person into my life. My country right now is in danger and I would do anything to protect it. Kids are a hindrance to the job I do. If I am planning to have kids, you will be the first people I would inform."

"Don't you think Manik would want to have an opinion about his kids?", asked Ishita. She turned to him and raised an eyebrow. "Manik, don't you want to have kids."

He nodded. "Everyone wants to have kids. Okay? Nandini too. If you have missed, she said, right now, she isn't ready. More than my opinion, I think we should respect Nandini's decision. We all would be just taking pictures along with her but she is the one who has a lot to put at stake and I think she knows what's best for her."

Manik saw the first smile on her face since their parents appeared in their apartment.

She turned to them with the same smile. He was sure it was getting on their nerves. "Now that time's over", she said and turned to Manik, "I will be waiting in the parking lot."

Abhimanyu was the first one to stand up after she had left the apartment. "Guys, I am twenty-seven too and I am never pressurized to even get married. I don't understand you at all. If the society is saying something, answer them if you trust your daughter. If you don't trust her, you don't need to worry about my sister." He stormed off, probably following Nandini, and to make sure she's fine.

Manik released a breath and poured himself a glass of water. The main drama's over.

"Manik, aren't you going to say anything about this? To her?", asked Nyonika. "She is disregarding your marriage. I haven't told her anything before but that's not acceptable. Are you trying to get a divorce?"

He sighed. "Mom, Nandini has said whatever she wanted to. There isn't anything between the lines. I can't ask her to carry my child and cut her off from her job while I enjoy being at the borders. She is an amazing officer, at the peak of her career and the country needs her. You don't know half the work she does there. If only you would have tried understanding that, you would be so proud of her."

"She is a woman. They don't play with their lives at the borders. What about family?", asked Ishita.

Manik frowned. "Before she was a woman, she is a citizen of this country. Despite being a woman, she could take down an entire enemy base in half an hour. Being a woman doesn't stop her from climbing the ranks in the Air force and she is the best than many men in her unit. She was in the Army camp for one day and my whole unit was completely impressed by her skills. She is a goddamn woman who has pledged to protect this country and has been doing it for years. Just because she is doing her work, all the women in the country are safe. Stop demeaning her by binding her to stupid societal norms."

They still had questions but he was running out of time. He turned to Raman. "Papa, we love you guys. Nandini looks up to you. You are her family but every time you give in to the society's opinion and refuse to understand what she's trying to tell you, you are losing your daughter. Don't regret it when she's completely out of your reach."

He looked at them for one final time. "And guys, no, we aren't getting divorce as far as I know. If she wants a divorce, I will sign it but we still love each other and I don't think it would be necessary. Don't worry about it. Lock the house if you have a spare key. We are trying for a leave next month if the situation is stable. I will inform you guys."

XXX

In the parking lot, Abhimanyu was pacing around in front of Nandini. When Manik raised an eyebrow, she shrugged. He rolled his eyes and stopped his stupid best friend cum brother-in-law. "What's wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you two?", he yelled. "What do you mean by not taking the marriage seriously? Are you separating? What am I supposed to do?"

"Bring a car", told Manik. "We are getting late."

Nandini chuckled. "Don't harass him, Manik. Abhimanyu, we are fine and it's a long story. We can discuss it after our tasks are done."

He nodded and went to bring his car. Manik took Nandini's hand into his and gave a small tug. "I am sorry, you had to defend yourself there again. I am sorry they aren't trying to understand you."

"Manik, if they are wrong, you have to apologize to every girl who dares to dream. It's normal if not a little draining. But for now, we have two coordinates and two enemy plans to bust", she told, grinning.

Manik shook his head and kissed her head. "We will talk about this later, okay?"

XXX

It took them fifteen minutes to trace their targeted location in the mall in a restricted room. Once the first step was completed, finding the room, Manik had asked Abhimanyu to cut the power in that area. Since it was a restricted one and it was around the lunch break, they should have at least half an hour to complete the task.

"Manik", whispered Nandini. "Is this it?"

"Where are you? I can't see you", he whispered back.

"Thirty degrees to your east."

They had their Bluetooth on. No need to use their voices more than necessary. Manik found Nandini with a box.

"It's 3x4", he muttered. "We were right. It's just a warning." Since it's a warning, Manik didn't have to deal with more explosives than he was capable of.

"Can I explore?", asked Nandini.

Manik chuckled and shook his head in disbelief. "Do not touch the red wire", he warned before concentrating on the others. Nandini was holding the torch with one hand as she 'explored' the other wires. He had his alarm set to twenty minutes. There should be a warning.

"Why is it even scheduled for today?", asked Nandini.

"For someone good at fighting all the enemies, you are bad at keeping up with the dates", teased Manik. "It's New years eve today."

She gasped. "How can I forget it, Manik?", she asked. When Manik tried controlling his laughter, she punched him lightly. "I am not kissing you at the strike of twelve."

He stuck his tongue out because no way was he losing to his wife on that before returning to the work at the hand.

"You look hot when you are working, Malhotra", she said after minutes of silence.

"Oi, you two, stop romancing", grumbled Abhimanyu from their Bluetooth.

Manik flashed her a grin before cutting the green wire. He worked on the rest of them quickly and released a breath after defusing the explosive. "Finally", muttered Manik.

"Shall we leave it here for an element of surprise?", asked Nandini.

"Or we can take it with us and make him look mad", he suggested. The grin on his girl's face was the answer as he packed the defused explosives into the box. When it was exactly half an hour, Abhimanyu switched on the power back.

"Guys, the power's back. The culprit might return to check the material", told Abhimanyu into the Bluetooth. "Revert."

"Wait for us in the parking lot. We will be there in ten", replied Nandini.

Unfortunately, they were at the end of the corridor when they were confronted by a suited person. He narrowed his eyes at the two and under a minute, Nandini pinned him to the wall with her gun on his throat. Manik wanted to whistle at the time she took but it wasn't the right moment.

"Love, we don't have to give away our identities unless it's required", told Manik. "Sir, I assume you are the manager of this place?"

"Head manager", he stuttered.

"Right", muttered Manik and freed him from the gunpoint. "Listen, we have information about a terrorist infiltration in your mall. Can you show us the security cam room? We might find the culprit."

"Who are you?"

"Military", replied Manik. No need to reveal the details for a covert operation.

The guy nodded and they followed him. Manik made sure he was in between Nandini and the manager. His girl was shooting daggers at him. They were running out of time and there's another mall to look at. He raised an eyebrow at her and she muttered a sorry. Manik blinked his eyes in assurance and sent a message to one of his friends in Mumbai.

Once they reached the camera room, the manager sent the operator away and Nandini shuffled through the cameras from the past one week. "Stop me if you are finding any unknown face or something suspicious", she told him.

It was on the video, two days back when they found someone suspicious and Nandini paused the screen.

"Are you sure he is the one?", asked Manik.

"Yes, he isn't our employee and only some of our employees have access to that room", said the manager.

Nandini snorted. "It didn't stop us from going", she muttered under her breath.

"Officer", called Manik, "would you please print his face? We can circulate it to the officials."

She nodded and they took a few prints. "I need shopping bags to put these."

When the manager escorted them to the entrance, Kiran, Manik's friend was already waiting for them.

"Sir, I don't have links to terrorists", whispered the manager to Manik.

"Don't worry, sir. It's just a formality. You are part of this operation. I hope you would cooperate with him", assured Manik, pointing towards Kiran. He handed the shopping bags, the print outs, and the camera visuals to the guy. "I need him in the cell before 26th, K."

"I will make sure. I have already drafted a team. The operation would be covert", told Kiran.

Manik nodded. He has known him since they have undergone their training together.

XXX

With the help of another Army man, recovering the explosives from the second mall was pretty easy and they have reached their apartment by eight-thirty. They were surprised to find Raj, Manik's father, watching the television in their living room.

Manik groaned. "Dad, do we have to go through that again? We are tired and have an early morning flight. Can we have a break?"

His father rolled his eyes. "Would you please stop dismissing us without even listening?"

"Would you please stop creating boundaries around my wife? She is so much more than bearing children and waiting at home for her husband to return from the Army", he retorted.

Raj ignored him in favor of Nandini. "Your husband has gone mad. How did your secret operation go?"

When Nandini grinned and explained about their activities without revealing any details, Manik felt himself relaxing. They freshened up and had their dinner together.

"Nandini, I am sorry, you had to go through that conversation in the morning", told Raj when they sat in the living room. "I tried reasoning with them but sometimes people just don't want to look beyond society. It's not their fault too because whatever they are thinking is totally normal and they have been seeing around them since their existence."

"But change now with the world. Why are they expecting her to sit at home? She will go mad in ten days without an action", told Manik.

"Change doesn't come easily, Manik. The terrorists you are fighting with, they think they are correct and that you are wrong. It's the same way. We are all right in our perspectives", he explained.

"So, you want to say that Nandini should understand their perspective and quit the one thing she loves so much", said Abhimanyu.

Raj rolled his eyes again, this time at Abhimanyu. "I know girls are not being held back in Indian Armed forces but are boys being robbed of their common sense?"

"Dad", protested Manik but it was half-hearted when Nandini laughed at them.

"Nandini, all I am trying to say is, even if they have their perspectives, you have yours and you have your right to act upon it. More importantly, if this makes you happy, then don't leave it", said Raj. "Be an inspiration to all the girls and a lesson to those parents who don't allow them to live their dreams."

"Why can't everyone be as awesome as you?", asked Manik.

"You don't even talk to me", he muttered. When the three of them hugged him together, he laughed his heart out. "Go save the country. I will refill your cookie jars by the time you return."

If there were tears in his eyes while saying their goodbyes, no one pointed out. Goodbyes were hard but they were harder for Military people when they don't know how they would return back. 

This has another part. I am checking if I am have missed something in that. It might be completed by the end of the week or earlier. 

Till then, don't let the stupid society rules hold you back. :)