Hello Fam :)

A quick question - Is anyone having a problem with their wattpad notifications? Just let me know if you are missing out on the chapters because of this. If everything is good, feel free to ignore this one.  

The chapter is dedicated to these two wonderful people - 

Itz_Me_Adi Thank you for all the free promotions. You are my Tara :P

pari_luv Darling, thank you for all the comments on the previous chapter. I didn't expect such a huge response but I loved reading them. :)

A/N - Here comes our hero. If you haven't read the previous part, I request you to read it before this. Manik will make a lot more sense after reading the previous one. 

Warning - This is a long one.

Happy Reading...

continued...

When Nandini grabbed a job at Infosys, Tara came up with the brilliant idea to rent a place somewhere near to their workplace as it was too far from their houses. Tara just wanted a chance to get away from her mom's place even if she wouldn't agree. After the day when Nandini broke her 'engagement', the mother-daughter bonded over talk about Nandini. Now, they aren't all mushy but still, they don't go at each other's throats which was an improvement.

Since Tara's music school was at a walkable distance from Nandini's office, they found a perfect two-bedroom apartment and it has been three years since they moved in together. A year back, when the owner of the apartment was relocating to States, he put the apartment on sale and both best friends bought it using all their savings. They invited Nandini's parents and Tara's mom, popped the champagne and Tara announced very loudly that it was in her bucket list to move in with her best friend, much to the amusement of the elders. They later Skype-called Tara's father and showed him the apartment, who just gushed about how proud he was about both the girls and promised to visit them soon.

At work, Nandini was promoted as the project leader along with another person, Manik Malhotra, who was actually from Delhi and joined their office 18 months back. He was really sweet and Nandini never felt any trouble working at her present company so much so that she politely declined every other offer she got for better pay.

Everyone has a bad day and today was Nandini's. It was August and raining heavily. Her car was at the service center and the cabs she was booking were getting canceled. After the fifth time where the driver called her to say sorry for unable to pick her up, she groaned and decided to wait until the rain stops and walk till her apartment. Tara was out of town with her music class kids and colleagues. They were participating in some music festival. The office was empty as everyone had already left early for their homes since it's Friday and she was surprised when someone called her name. It was Manik, her co-project leader.

"Hey", she greeted, "home?"

"I had a pending file to check", he said, "but what are you doing now?"

"Waiting for a cab. Dropped my car. Servicing", she replied. She was too tired to frame complete sentences.

He thought for a minute before he spoke again. "Would you like to come with me for dinner?"

Nandini got startled and raised an eyebrow. "You know, in a normal case, people usually offer a lift, not dinner", she said with a hint of tease. The weird question woke her brain up at least for a few minutes.

Manik rubbed the back of his neck. He does that when he was nervous. She noticed when he first joined their company. "I wanted to ask you for a long time but didn't know how you would take it."

Nandini frowned. Manik wasn't the guy who asks girls for dinner or even talked when it wasn't necessary while at work. "Sorry, Manik. I am really tired today. I just want to go home. Maybe some other time?"

"Hey", protested Manik, "I am not stupid to take you out for dinner in this weather. I was thinking about my place. Since you are tired, I will cook you dinner in 30 minutes, I promise I am decent cook, and we can eat and talk for a while or just watch some movies or simply get to know each other because I really admire you but I only know about you from whatever I have picked up from the office. I can even drop you home if you are uncomfortable or you want to leave. I won't make a fuss."

Nandini blinked her eyes when he finally stopped and took some deep breaths. Half of what he said went over the top of her head due to her own exhaustion. All she understood was there was a mention of food and he would start another round of rant if she rejected. So she agreed because she didn't have the energy to cook for herself.

Manik's whole face lit up and she decided he looked adorable. Almost all the girls had a crush on him and she wasn't an exception but she never let her crush transform into something more after what happened with Rahul. Somehow, she lost trust in a relationship. All the negative thoughts attacked her mind as she remembered her ex. She frowned and stopped in her tracks to question Manik. "Do you have a bike?"

Manik bit his lip and shook his head as if he was embarrassed. "I couldn't balance that thing for the life of me. When I saved enough from my first job, I bought a car for myself."

Nandini laughed out loud and just like that, relief washed over her. She told Manik about her own fear for the two-wheeler and they shared a heated conversation about why the vehicle is responsible for many deaths and should be banned until they reached Manik's place.

Manik lead the way to his apartment and by the time he unlocked his door, Nandini was dead on her feet. He pointed at some random directions mentioning his room, the guest rooms or the kitchen but Nandini's brain didn't process any of it.

When Manik noticed this, he bit back a chuckle. "Why don't you have a shower?"

Nandini was awakened by the feeling of hot water flowing through her skin and nodded eagerly at Manik. She didn't care if he was about to burst out holding his laughter, she could deal with everything later.

"There's the guest room and you can borrow some of Mukti's pajamas from the cupboard", he said, amusement clear in his voice.

She didn't bother to ask who's the girl or why there were her clothes in his apartment. Manik shook his head and laughed out loud as he walked towards the front door to lock it before going to his room for a quick shower.

Nandini took her time in the shower until she was wide awake. She wrapped a towel around her, scanned the cupboard for a pair of pajamas and changed it into them when she found one. As she looked around the room, she found the walls filled with photo frames of Manik and another girl. She guessed it was Mukti. Not even a single photo could pass a decent definition of a normal photo. They were laughing or were ready to burst out laughing. If not both, the poses were all weird but they looked cute.

She wandered herself to the kitchen and found a few more photos on her way. Manik was already changed and was cooking something.

"Do you need some help?", she offered.

Manik turned around surprised, shook his head in negative before returning his attention to the food. "I thought you slept off in the shower", he teased.

She rolled her eyes and leaned back on the kitchen counter. "The past few days were really hectic."

"And you have to do all the work by yourself", he said.

"I didn't have time to explain it to anyone. I found it would be easier if I get it done by myself", she said. She was working on it as a side project for many months when her boss asked her to. It was difficult to explain all the work to someone really new just before the deadline. "I felt relieved after submitting them tonight." She felt free as if she didn't care about where the world drowns because today is Friday and she can enjoy the weekend by being lazy.

"Maybe next time let me help you. You don't have to explain to me everything if you don't want to but you can at least break down a project and allow me to do a few parts?", asked Manik.

She didn't know how to react because she has always done her work without depending on anyone. Sometimes she even helped others and that's how she ended up doing most of Rahul's project in their final semester. She didn't know why Rahul was continuously popping in her head today. Pushing her thoughts to the back of her mind, she nodded at Manik and felt that was the best thing to do when he gave her a million-dollar smile.

Just to occupy herself, she glanced around the kitchen. There was another photo frame in the kitchen and Nandini felt it was weird even for couples. "Isn't Mukti coming home tonight?", she asked.

Manik followed her gaze and found the photo frame. "That's my sister. She lives in Delhi with my parents." When Nandini frowned, he explained. "She thought I would forget her after staying alone in Mumbai. When she visited me after a month I shifted here, she brought copies of all our photos from our childhood, embarrassing ones, and hung up all over the place."

"And you didn't remove them?", asked Nandini, teasingly.

Manik blushed. "I didn't have the heart too. I love her so much."

Nandini nodded with a small smile on her face. She watched Manik pouring the pasta into bowls and scrunched her nose. No one made pasta as good as her father and every time she tried eating the dish, she missed her dad's food even more and rushed to her home to ask him to cook. Tomorrow was Saturday and she calculated if she could manipulate her dad to make her some.

"Wine?", asked Manik, bringing her back from her thoughts.

"Huh? Yes, please."

"Do you want to eat here or in the living room watching tv?", he asked again while taking the glasses out of the cupboard.

She sighed. "Do you mind if I could skip showing off my manners?"

Manik laughed. "Please, feel at home. I hardly use the dining table. My mom nags all the time about grown-up children and eating disorders." He took the wine and glasses while Nandini helped him with the food and followed him to the living room.

They sat on the soft rug kept on the floor, totally ignoring the couch. Nandini mentally prepared herself for the pasta. As soon as the food touched her tongue, she closed her eyes and took her time to relish it. When she reopened her eyes, she found Manik staring at her nervously. She grinned at him. "This is so good", she said, not putting any effort to hide her excitement.

Manik sighed in relief and started to eat his own.

"My dad prepares the best pasta", told Nandini. "Once, Tara, my best friend, tried and I banned her from cooking again. I too don't get it perfect but it's manageable. I usually beg dad to prepare some when I try any other pasta. This is too good. Different but good."

Manik bowed his head and beamed. "It's my mom's recipe. I am not as good as her but I can pass."

"Dude, this is excellent."

They slipped into some random conversation until they finished their food and wine. Nandini was astonished at how easily she could keep a conversation going with him without feeling bored, however silly or serious the topic might be. The only other person was Tara. She grabbed her mobile to check on her best friend when Manik asked her if she has a crush on someone and she told it's him without lifting her head. She had to look at him when silence filled the room and found him staring at her wide-eyed. "Oh don't be so surprised", she said, stopping her urge to roll her eyes, "you are gorgeous and every girl at the office has a crush on you. It's an open secret going around in the office since you arrived."

Manik frowned. "Yeah but I never expected you to have on me."

She hesitated. "Does it make you uncomfortable?"

"No", he blurted and stared at the floor, rubbing the back of his neck. "What if", he started and took a deep breath, "what if I say I feel you are more than a casual crush of mine and ask you out?"

Nandini smiled but it was more sarcastic than her sweet one. "Manik, let's do this again, yeah? I will ask you if you are uncomfortable and you will say no, okay?" Manik nodded in yes without looking up and she felt bad about herself. She rubbed her forehead and decided to explain to him. "It's not your fault, Manik. I find it difficult to trust people in relationships. I have tried but I am unable to."

He finally lifted his head when she started explaining and by the time she stopped talking, he had a huge frown on his face. "Do I need to kill somebody?"

Nandini burst out laughing. It was really funny coming from Manik when he never ever said a word wrong to anyone at the office. He was known as the most well behaved and polite person. "You are a good person, Manik, but-"

He was eager to cut her off. "Please don't reject me even before you get to know me. I understand if it's your past and you don't want to talk about it. I can't change it but we can at least give it a try. Maybe you can tell me what all upsets you so that I wouldn't repeat it or you can leave whenever you don't want to be with me. Like a trial relationship. I can even write it down on paper if you don't trust me."

"Breath, Manik", she said. He was nervous again and she needed her best friend. "I need to make a call." When Manik nodded, she dialed the number but as soon as Tara answered the call, the line went off due to low balance and Nandini groaned. "I will kill this girl." She asked Tara to recharge her mobile in the morning because Nandini was getting late to the office.

"You can use my mobile", offered Manik, "I need some water."

She mentally thanked him for giving her the privacy and dialed her best friend's number. 

Even before she could utter a word, she heard Tara speaking. "Sorry, I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

"And?", prompted Nandini.

"I might have forgotten to recharge in the morning. I went back to sleep after you left", replied Tara. 

"We will talk about that later but listen, I am at Manik's place, you know the Delhi guy, and he", her speech came to a halt when she heard someone calling Tara's name, some guy, and instead asked her, "who the hell is that?"

"We were actually in the middle of something", replied her best friend. Dude, shut up, that's my best friend, she heard Tara yelling at the boy.

"Why the hell did you even pick up the call? Actually, don't answer me. Do whatever you were in the middle of. I will handle it here." Nandini hung up without giving Tara any chance to speak and to save herself from further embarrassment. Nandini was okay with Tara's numerous flings and she never brought any guys home because she didn't want them to even look at Nandini with their 'uncontrolled hormonal retinas', she termed. Nandini never bothered to question because she wanted to know as least as possible about the sexual adventures of her best friend but this was a whole new level.

"I heard you screaming", said Manik, entering again the living room, "is everything alright?"

"Do you have anything stronger than wine?", she asked, tiredly.

He nodded and came back with a bottle of whiskey. "It was a gift from a friend and was lying around. I actually haven't tried this."

The familiar bottle brought an instant smile on Nandini's face. An hour and half a bottle later, Nandini confessed everything about Rahul, their relationship, the way he controlled her with his male dominant ideals till their accidental engagement and the reasons why she couldn't gather her courage. She felt really good when instead of showing sympathy, Manik was furious. Nandini half-expected him to start a screaming match like Tara but she knew he wouldn't. He had more control over his emotions than any person she had ever met, at his age.

He didn't disappoint her when he looked at her with his forehead creased and hands curled around his ankles as if he was restraining himself from moving any of his limbs. "You really should have allowed your best friend to kill him."

That's one of the reasons why she doesn't discuss anything related to Rahul with Tara. Her best friend just felt Nandini didn't find any right guy to date and she was fine with it. "You wouldn't be saying this when you have to meet her. She made me promise to take her approval before dating any guy."

"I am really terrified but is that a yes?", asked Manik, with hopeful eyes.

She didn't realize what she blurted until she saw the grin on Manik's face. "Were you planning to seduce me by cooking food?"

"Did the plan work?", he asked so cautiously that Nandini couldn't stop herself from laughing.

XXX

Nandini was preparing the brunch before Tara could discover it's already eleven in the morning. It was Saturday and Nandini slept in late, at least she thought she was late but later found out her best friend was still sleeping. Last night, they had a Harry Potter marathon while waiting for Manik and went to sleep in the early hours of the morning. Manik had been busy with some office work, which Nandini has no idea about, and just texted her after which all the calls went to his voicemail. An instant smile appeared on her face thinking about Manik.

It has been three years since they started their 'trial relationship' and Nandini didn't even realize when it transformed into a real one. They never had any long confessions or speeches neither did they discuss any day about the status of their relationship. While Nandini believed she had to give everything in a relationship, it felt good when Manik too gave his everything. He treated her as if she was precious but still allowed her to breathe and let her live as she loved. His relationship with Tara was a whole different issue. It still made her laugh thinking about their first meet.

Tara didn't miss the word 'Manik's' place when Nandini called her. After she made sure Nandini was at her parent's home for the weekend the day after, she called repeatedly on Manik's number, harassed him with messages and blank calls. When Manik had enough, he blocked the number and asked Nandini to explain to her best friend because Tara didn't give him a chance to utter a word. The next weekend when both the best friends found time from their respective works, Nandini sat Tara down and explained to her, how decent Manik was. She even told her about their trial relationship to which Tara wailed dramatically and ranted about betrayal and best friends getting changed after getting into a relationship. Nandini ignored her until she was sensible enough for a normal human being. Tara very sternly asked Nandini to bring Manik home to interview him if he was capable enough in taking care of her best friend. She even made her promise not to 'donate' her place in Nandini's life to him.

On Sunday, Manik, twitching and turning in his place, sat on the couch of their living room while Tara sat on the armchair, with her arms crossed and shooting daggers at the boy. To help Manik breathe, Nandini sat beside him and threw a glare at her best friend asking her to stop making him nervous, which she very conveniently ignored.

"What are your long term plans regarding Nandini?", asked Tara. "Do you intend to have fun within the year before turning into a prat or do you plan to harass her for a lifetime?

"I know where you are coming from and I more than wish I could erase every bad memory of hers", he said. "I don't want to suffocate her in a relationship just after getting into one but she is important and I would try my best to make her feel the same."

"Straight from a romantic novel", said Tara. All the while she ignored Nandini and the warning in her eyes to behave until Nandini gave up altogether. "Do you have a problem if Nandini works after you think it's time to take your relationship to the next level?"

"Why would I stop her from doing what she loves?", he asked in disbelief.

"What if she talks to a guy while she is at work? What if she falls for him behind your back?", she asked.

Manik looked horrified and turned to Nandini. "You don't have to go behind my back. You are free to fall in love with someone else, Nandini", he told her with all seriousness. Nandini felt the sudden urge to wrap her arms around him and assure him that she wouldn't.

"And you would choose what she should eat without consulting her first when you take her out?", was Tara's next question.

Manik's frown got deeper. "Why would I do that? Everyone should have the freedom to choose whatever they eat." Maybe he guessed where the questions were coming from and held Nandini's hand. "Did he force you into all this? How did you even end up with him? You really should let Tara kill him. He is sick in the head."

Tara had a satisfied smirk on her face on finding the person with the same homicidal tendencies when it came to anyone hurting Nandini. "I am impressed, Manik."

"Eh, thank you?", he replied, confused.

"Dude, that meant, do whatever you want in this relationship and keep Nandini happy but I will break all your bones if you even think of hurting my best friend", threatened Tara.

"I understood as much. I will keep that in mind", he said.

A moment later, Tara asked him again. "Listen, Nandini wouldn't change but will it be a problem at your home if she stays as my friend", she asked, pointing toward her torn jeans, the dyed purple streak in her hair and the number of bands on both of her hands.

Nandini was at her side in an instant. "We have been through this a number of times. You aren't changing yourself for me and neither are you leaving me again." She knew her best friend's tendencies to storm off the room and disappear for hours or days.

Manik cleared his throat and grinned at Tara. "Nandini is right but you don't have to worry. Mukti is the same and mom is kind of used to her. You and Mukti would get along really well", he said.

Nandini blew a kiss to him in appreciation and took a seat beside her best friend.

"One final question", said Tara and Nandini noticed the mischief in her best friend's eyes. Manik nodded somewhat hesitantly looking at the sudden change in her mood. "When is your birthday?"

Manik sighed in relief. "July 31st."

Tara glanced at Nandini, mouth wide open, as Nandini face-palmed herself. Tara ignored her best friend, jumped from her place and hugged Manik, almost suffocating him. "My prophecy child!", she exclaimed.

Manik, on the other hand, was taken aback by the sudden change in the atmosphere of the room. He looked at Nandini for some help, who rolled her eyes.

"Tara, he isn't a Potterhead", she said, gritting her teeth.

Tara frowned. "You didn't read or watch Harry Potter?" Manik shook his head, scared and confused. In an unexpected turn, Tara patted his head and turned towards Nandini. "Not a problem, my Harry didn't know he was a wizard until he was almost 11", she told as a matter of fact and took Manik's face into her hands, so delicately and assured him as if he were a child. "Don't you worry, prophecy child. I will adopt you. I will teach you everything about the world you belong to and make a decent Potterhead out of you. I really have a record in that."

Later that night, Tara made them watch the whole series. They completed it after both Manik and Nandini called in sick on Monday. Manik even read the whole series to get a better understanding of the wizarding world and Nandini loved him a bit more when he discussed them with Tara with all his excitement as if she didn't force him into the series.

Yesterday was one such day. It was Nandini's birthday and Manik was supposed to visit them like every year for a harry potter marathon. Instead, he chose to disappear to god knows where.

"I don't know what shit happens to your boyfriends after three years of getting into a relationship", said Tara, entering the kitchen. "How can they forget your birthday?"

"We aren't comparing that idiot with Manik and it's just the first time he forgot. It's not as if Manik has changed anything like Rahul", said Nandini. "Coffee?", she offered.

"No", replied Tara before grabbing an apple and taking a bite of it, "and that's the reason your darling is still breathing on this planet."

"When did your prophecy child become my darling?", asked Nandini, amused.

Before Tara could reply to her, the doorbell rang. "I will check."

Tara opened the door and found Manik, grinning. She threw her half-eaten apple at him and crossed her arms. "What's the date today?", she asked.

It took Manik a minute to calculate and when he did, he looked horrified at Tara. "Shit, I missed Nandu's birthday."

Tara fake smiled at him. "How does it feel to finally get your senses back?", she said, opening the door and letting him in.

"I am sorry. I was busy with office work", he said, "where's Nandu?"

Tara pointed at the kitchen and whisper yelled at him, "compensate before I decide you to disown you."

Manik put his fist on his heart and said, "I solemnly swear I wouldn't let you disown me." He ruffled her hair before rushing to meet Nandini.

Tara followed after locking the door.

XXX

Nandini was checking the rice when she felt herself engulfed in a pair of arms. Manik became a familiar feeling to her just after a few months into their relationship. She smiled and turned in his arms to glance at her familiar feeling.

Manik was not as happy as her. "I am sorry I forgot your birthday. I was.."

Nandini, who by now has enough experience with his blabbering on getting nervous, stopped him by putting her hand over his mouth. "Breathe. It's okay, yeah?"

"No, it's not", came two voices simultaneously and Nandini rolled her eyes at both her boyfriend and best friend.

Manik chuckled. "I am sorry, really. I was planning a surprise for you and I forgot the date."

"Surprise?", asked Nandini.

"Yeah. A week's holiday to London", said Manik.

"But Manik-"

"Let me finish, please?" He continued when Nandini nodded. "I was planning for this holiday for a few months. We deserve a break from work, right? A proper break. I have talked to the boss and asked him to shift all the work of both of us that we are supposed to do during that period to me. Last night, I managed to finally submit the work. I just know I had to submit it by yesterday but missed the date. I should have called you. I was exhausted and it was past midnight, so I thought you might have slept already."

"Wow, prophecy child. You have outdone yourself", Tara was the first one to react.

Nandini glared at her before turning to Manik. "This is too much to process. Is there anything else that I need to know so that I can gather everything around all at once?", asked Nandini, crossing her arms.

"I have applied a 15 days break. We have to start in 3 days in which we have to inform our parents, shopping, etc. One week stay in London and the rest for traveling and relax after coming back."

"But why do we need this holiday so suddenly, Manik?" She doesn't like it when Manik overburdens himself with her projects too and she made sure he understood that but.

"I know what you are thinking", he said, guessing her thoughts perfectly, "but that was the deal with our boss to grant both of us the leave. Please let it slide this one time."

She was still pissed but he looked so tired and exhausted that she gave in. She smiled at him and gave him a hug. His smile made her forget everything. Really, he could win wars with that smile. "Do you want to eat something?"

"Yes, please. I am damn hungry."

"Give me ten minutes."

"Meanwhile, I need to talk to Tara."

Tara, who was gushing at the two, perked upon listening to her name. Manik dragged her out of the kitchen and to her room. He took out the mobile and showed a picture in it. It was a ring.

"Oh my god! Is this holiday about what I think it is?", exclaimed Tara.

"Yes. I have booked tickets to Warner bros Tour studios. We are going to visit Hogwarts and the whole wizarding world. I want to ask her to marry me in her dream place because she can pretend how much ever she wants as if she isn't fond of Hogwarts but secretly she loves Harry Potter. I just need your opinion. Do you think she is okay if I ask her? Or would it backfire completely."

She stared at him with heart eyes. "Prophecy child, you are the best lover in the world. Get me loads of photographs, please."

Manik looked at her incredulously. "Get you photographs? You will be there, right? You can take as many as you want."

"Why would I be there?"

"Isn't this one of the most important events for Nandu? Why would I propose to her without you?", asked Manik.

"Wait, Manik. You aren't making any sense. You are proposing to Nandini. You are taking her to the holiday. You are-"

"Oi. Didn't I explain to you along with Nandini? I have talked to our bosses. I have taken leave and booked tickets and everything", he explained.

"You went to my music school?", she asked.

"Yes. Many schools have their exams and then they have holidays, so he was okay with our schedule. How can I go to Hogwarts without you? The one who introduced me to the wizarding world", said Manik.

"It's your private moment, you idiot."

Manik rolled his eyes and yelled to call Nandini. Just because she was her best friend, she had more right over her, Tara stomped her foot and yelled for her best friend too.

When Nandini rushed to the room, panicked, she saw both of them glaring at each other. "Guys, are you okay?"

Tara gritted her teeth. Without moving her glare away from Manik, she said, "Murthy, your boyfriend has gone mad."

"Nandini, she is refusing to come on holiday with us", complained Manik and smirked inwardly because Tara now wouldn't have a proper reason to refuse without revealing his surprise.

Nandini was surprised on realizing Tara was coming with them. She didn't expect Manik to talk to Tara's boss along with theirs. When the thought really sunk in her head, she wanted nothing but to kiss the love of her life right there. Instead, she gave him a knowing smile and asked innocently, "why would Tara come to our holiday?"

Manik gaped at her in disbelief. "Because she is part of our family", he said as a matter of fact.

Tara, who was staring at the floor, snapped her head towards both Manik and Nandini in turns. She came out of her shock when Nandini grinned at her, ear to ear. She was part of their family. As she tested the words out on her tongue, a smile formed on her face. "Manik", she said, startling the other two. Tara hardly ever called him Manik. "I love you so much." The words were barely above a whisper but everyone knew the emotion behind them.

To lighten the situation, Nandini sighed dramatically. "I see, he isn't my darling anymore?"

Tara grinned at her before pulling Manik into a hug. "No, my prophecy child. All mine."

Shaking her head as Nandini joined the hug, Manik sneaked a kiss across her cheek before wrapping his arms around her and completing their little family.

XXX

After Nandini stuffed Manik with her food, she forced him for his much-required sleep, ignoring his protests to meet her parents. Meanwhile, Tara gushed how amazing her prophecy child was as the girls discussed their upcoming trip.

The next day, Tara informed them about going to her music school to inform her boss about the leave herself again as it felt proper instead of informing through Manik. Meanwhile, Manik and Nandini decided to visit Nandini's parents.

As soon as Nandini's mom opened the door and saw them, she hugged both of them before rounding over Manik. "When was the last time you have called me?"

While Manik tried convincing her about all the office work keeping him busy, Nandini went in to find her dad. They were happy when she told him about the trip and how Manik planned it all by himself. After giving a hundred precautions to both of them, Manik asked Nandini to check if Tara's mom was at home. When Nandini raised an eyebrow, Manik whispered in her ear, "let me grovel their feet to make them believe I can keep their daughter safe." Nandini knew he didn't need to grovel and her parents trusted Manik as if he were their own son but instead chuckled and let him be.

As soon as she left the place, Manik smiled at the two elders nervously. "Uncle, Aunty, I have something to tell you." He tapped his fingers on the table to give himself the time to frame his words even though he had practiced it a hundred times already.

"Is everything alright, Manik?", asked Nandini's mom. "You don't look so well. Shall I get you something to drink?"

He felt warmth in his heart listening to her as he always does and smiled at her. "I am fine, Aunty." He took a deep breath before continuing. "I am thinking of proposing Nandini to marry me. This trip is to take her to Hogwarts. She loves the place and I wanted to make it special. I have already talked to my parents and they are okay with it. I need your permission too."

Manik and Nandini arranged a meeting between both their parents when Manik's parents visited him once. Since then, the elders have become friends and treat each other as families. As Manik smiled at how amazed both of them were to see them interacting as if they were some long lost friends, he missed the panicked look that crossed the elders' eyes in front of him.

"Manik", called Nandini's father, bringing him out of his thoughts, "before giving you the permission, it would be best if you talk to Nandini first. Don't get me wrong, you have never given us the chance to complain and we trust you. You are a good kid. But.."

As he trailed off, Manik smiled and squeezed his hand across the table. "Uncle, I know where you are coming from. Nandini told me what happened with Rahul. I promise I wouldn't force Nandini into anything. I have asked Tara too and she was okay. That's another reason why I need Tara with me while I am proposing Nandini. She would keep me in check if I accidentally cross the line. Nandini's decision would be final and I will respect whatever it will be."

"I know you would but as a parent, I am out to worry about my girl", said her dad.

"I understand. I have seen dad worrying about Mukti and for a reason, I do too. I promise I will take care of Nandini as properly as I expect a boy to take care of my Mukti", promised Manik.

Nandini's mom pinched his cheek. "Keep on saying such words and I will adopt you into the family."

Manik pouted. "I thought I was your son already."

She slapped his arm before cupping his cheek. "I think Nandini would be happy by your surprise and I know you will take extra care of her just because as her parents we will always worry about her. But remember this thing, Manik, whether she accepts or rejects your proposal, you will always be a part of this family. Not because you are her boyfriend but because you are a precious little boy whom I never want to lose."

"You know", said Manik, peeking at her with a shy smile, "Nandini was right. You are scary when you get emotional or fuss over us."

She mock-glared at him after slapping his head. "Cheeky brat."

He chuckled. "So, I have your permission to ask your daughter to marry me, right?" He grinned when they nodded in a yes. "I will check what Nandu's doing."

"Are you leaving now?", asked Nandini's mom.

"And miss your precious food? No way. We are staying for lunch. I need to talk to Tara's mom too and I will bring Nandu along", he said before leaving.

XXX

If Nandini's mother was impressed by Manik, Tara's mom was smitten by him. When Nandini told about the holiday trip, she gushed about him even more than her daughter. Nandini waited patiently beside him as he explained their itinerary to her best friend's mother.

"I trust you, Manik. I just hope these two best friends wouldn't drown you in their insanity", teased Tara's mom.

Nandini gaped at her. "We aren't insane."

"No, just your mental stabilities fluctuate more than an average human", said Manik.

Nandini swatted his arm. They talked for a while before Manik informed her of leaving.

"How is Tara, Nandu?", asked Tara's mom.

"She is fine, Aunty", assured Nandini. "She wanted to come along with us but she had to go to her music school too."

Manik frowned. "Aunty, it isn't her fault that she chose music over a 10 to 5 job."

"I know, Manik. I have forced her to study, pushing her to the edge of rebelling against me", she confessed, "and I don't know how to rectify it."

"You aren't at fault", protested Nandini, "when you didn't even know she was interested in music until her final exams. You were just worried about her career." Even though she spoke to Tara's mom, she threw over a look towards Manik, to make him understand this.

Manik side hugged the woman who almost adopted him into her family and treated him no less than her own son. "How about we move on from the past and I promise you something? I will bring Tara home to meet you after we come back from London so that you could talk about your differences."

"Manik", warned Nandini.

Tara's mom chuckled. "I would be glad but I wouldn't hold it against you if you couldn't manage, Manik. I know my daughter."

"Let me try once", he looked at both the women in turns.

Nandini had to nod when her best friend's mom did. Manik bowed dramatically in return.

As soon as they were out of her best friend's premises, Nandini grabbed Manik's arm, halting his steps. "You idiot", she hissed, "stop making unrealistic promises. I have tried a million times to get my stubborn best friend to talk to her mom."

Manik sighed. "Nandu, it's not unrealistic. She might not listen to you because you practically grew up together. You have seen all her outrages, all her rebellion and she made you a part of them even without you knowing. When you ask her to defy her own thoughts, she would feel as if you are betraying her ideas while you listened to them during that time. Since I was never part of it, she will listen to me if only to argue that I am wrong."

"And then punch you until you are bleeding. This is insane, Manik", she told, biting her lip worried.

"Your best friend isn't exactly sane, Nandini", he said, freeing her lip gently from her teeth and winked at her. "If not for my reasoning, she would listen to me because I am her prophecy child."

Nandini still didn't trust his plan but she trusted him enough to take care of any theatrics her best friend would display.

XXX

Three days later, as Manik and Tara were arguing over having a light snack while they were waiting to board their flight, a tired Nandini excused herself for the restroom, asking them to decide something and order. She was excited about her first long vacation with Manik and didn't mind his secrecy over the itinerary during their trip. What astonished her was even Tara excused him instead of constantly nagging him and getting him to spill his plans because her best friend can't sit quietly if people keep her out of their plans, especially when the said plans were concerned to her.

Lost in her thoughts, she bumped into someone on her way back. As she raised her head to apologize to the person, she was surprised to find Rahul in front of her, who was equally surprised at seeing her at the airport.

"Nandini", he said, smirking, "what a pleasant surprise?"

As he scrunched his nose seeing her baggy pants and a denim shirt, she rolled her eyes. Not everyone preferred to suit up while traveling, she thought.

"And you said I won't be successful in life?", he said when she didn't speak. "You know how much I am earning? Eighteen lakhs per annum while you are stuck at 70k per month."

"Stalker much, eh?", asked Nandini. "My definition of success varies from yours, Rahul."

"Those are empty words to hide your failure, Nandini. The reason why my mother rejected you before your downfall destroys us."

"Oh! Is that what the talk is in the market? Happy to save your family by the way", she said sarcastically. She was startled when she felt a hand around her waist. She looked up and found Manik, who was frowning at the boy in front of him. "Rahul, meet the love of my life, Manik", she said, proudly.

Rahul burst out laughing. "Are you still in the changing-boyfriends phase? Really? You should come visit my home for some weekend? My beautiful wife cooks amazing food", he taunts her.

"I am sure she is from a well cultured and respectable family", she said, stopping her urge to roll her eyes.

"Also humble and down to earth. Makes my family proud", he brags.

"Nandini, love", Manik interrupts their banter with a grin, "you don't want your best friend to send a search party for you, right?" As Rahul snorted, Manik flashed his teeth at him before giving him a hug, confusing the other two. Breaking the hug, he smiled serenely at Rahul. "Thank you for being in a relationship with Nandini. If not for you, I wouldn't have gotten this precious diamond in my life."

Nandini snapped her head at Manik. There's only one person who calls her a diamond. Her dad.

As Manik continued, Nandini shook her head to listen in and he looped his hand around her again. "She must have wandered off to weird people and you were the toll gate in her life, sending her in the right direction", he stared at her with heart eyes right in front of her ex-boyfriend and Nandini found it hilarious.

Manik isn't someone who would look at you with heart eyes unless Tara is beside him and both are staring at something related to Harry Potter. Instead, he wraps her in bear hugs whenever he feels 'his heart bursting with love', as he puts it, and peppers random kisses over her hair or head until the feeling diminishes. Now, as Manik was uttering cheesy lines and trying to pour all his love through his eyes, Nandini found it difficult to control her laughter.

"You know, we would definitely come and visit you for lunch on someday", Manik told Rahul, "but I would want to apologize beforehand if I can't appreciate the beauty of your wife because I wouldn't be able to take my eyes off the piece of my heart." He said batting his eyelashes at Nandini.

Rahul cleared his throat, uncomfortably. "I should leave. I will miss my flight otherwise." Looking at them weirdly, he walked away as soon as he can.

"See you soon, brother", yelled Manik to his retreating back.

Unable to control herself, Nandini burst out laughing. "What was that?", she asked in between her laughter.

"What? He can't walk away uttering nonsense to my girl", he said and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him.

There. Her favorite bear hug. She heard him taking breaths to calm himself down as he kept on kissing the side of her head in between. Once he felt him sobering up, she broke the hug. "Tara is a bad influence on you", teased Nandini.

Manik looked at her incredulously. "That's your influence", he protested. "If it was Tara's, I would have killed him on the spot." As Nandini chuckled, he linked their fingers. "Does he affect you?", he asked, hesitantly.

Nandini gave him an amused smile. "With you in my life? Never, Manik." She pecked his cheek before saying, "shall we go and find Tara before the search party arrives?"

XXX

Nandini found herself gaping as she stepped in front of the whole wizarding world. In her excitement, she didn't notice Manik fidgeting nervously or the glares her best friend was sending him. They roamed around the place, taking pictures, relishing the books and movies. Nandini was mesmerized by seeing the castle.

As the words, 'Hogwarts would always be there to welcome you home' echoed through her brain, she found someone tugging her hand. She found Manik and Tara beside each other, their expressions quite contradictory to each other. Tara had a huge grin on her face while Manik looked as if he would faint at any moment. "Manik, are you fine?" She cursed herself for ignoring everyone around her for the fantasy world in front of her.

He gave her a smile, which clearly didn't reach his eyes before taking her hand into his. "I know we started as a trial relationship but I am sorry our starting our relationship with a lie. It was never a trial for me. I never met a girl and felt her as my family. It has only been four years since I met you and three since we are in a relationship but now I couldn't imagine a day without you. I don't know if I deserve you and I am completely fine if you want to not continue our relationship or if you aren't expecting the same things as me, now or in the future. Remember I wouldn't ever force you, I promise.."

His speech was interrupted when Tara pinched his arm. "Dude, you missed the main question and started blabbering from somewhere in the middle."

"That's why I told you I would give her in writing", Manik whined.

Tara rolled her eyes at him. "Prophecy child, calm down and tell those lines that I made you practice. Those will convey your message perfectly." She looked somewhat smug and Manik scrunched his nose.

As Nandini witnessed the whole scene amusingly, she bit back a chuckle looking at Manik's reluctance. Knowing her best friend, she must have planned something really crazy, embarrassing or dramatic, going by his expressions, at least for Manik.

When Tara convinced him enough by throwing death glares in his direction, Manik closed his eyes before looking at Nandini as if she would vanish any moment.

Nandini wanted nothing but to wrap her arms around him and ease his worries but all her thoughts came to a halt as he started speaking.

"Nandini Murthy, you are the semicolon to my code, the update to my software, the language to my program. You are the Hogwarts to my Harry Potter, the books to my movie. You are the breeze to my storm. You are the order to my chaos and I am completely incomplete without you. Nandini Murthy, will you marry me and bless my existence?" He fumbled in his jean pocket and took out the ring.

Nandini's breath hitched listening to the words. Right from the start of her relationship, even when they were in the trial, she never imagined lasting this long with Manik. Somehow at the back of her mind, she prepared herself to keep herself strong if Manik ever gets bored of her and decides to leave. When she realized Manik is the best person she had ever met in her life, subconsciously, she started treasuring every moment with him. They neither talked about the status of their relationship nor did Nandini ever dreamt of getting married to him someday. She promised herself to live in the present.

She never knew when did she become this lucky. She took a step towards him and then another until she was just one step away from him. "I am ready to take this step but", she said, her voice faltering, "promise me not to leave me ever." Her voice was barely a whisper but the piece of her heart, who was standing in front of her, understood her perfectly.

He closed the distance between them. "I promise, until the time we have even an ounce of love between us, I will you keep on holding you, holding us", he said. He slipped the ring on her finger before wiping the lone tear that escaped his eye.

Nandini couldn't stop herself but kiss him after listening to the earnestness in his voice and the emotion in his eyes. She didn't care if her best friend was right there, if there were people around them or if they were gaining attention. If given a chance, she was ready to shout out to the whole world to hear about her love.

He took her into a bear hug. "I am sorry for ruining my proposal speech", he whispered.

"Doesn't matter. I love you just as much", Nandini whispered back, still in his arms. She wasn't too eager to pull away from her safe haven.

"The last lines aren't mine too. Tara made me learn them. Speaking of which", he said and broke the hug. He chuckled when Nandini looked annoyed. From another pocket, he pulled a box. Bigger than the one holding Nandini's ring. He pulled Tara beside him and gave it to her. "This one is for you", he said.

Tara raised an eyebrow but opened it anyway and gaped at the silver bracelet. It also had little stars hanging around the chai. "Manik? This?"

"You are our Sirius Black. The person who introduced me to the wizarding world. You adopted me. You are the Hagrid and Molly Weasely combined in one to my Harry. How can you be not part of our most important day?", he explained.

Tara gave an accusatory glance to her best friend. "Your darling is flattering me by combining three characters into me."

Nandini smirked. "Guess whose influence is all this?"

A wide grin broke into her face and she hugged Manik. "My prophecy child! I raised you well."

Manik grinned in return and slipped her bracelet into her hand before messing her hair earning a swat from her.

Because everyone's emotions were running high, they went to Kings Cross station instead. Since Manik booked the tickets for two separate days, they decided to visit later when everyone was sober enough to enjoy the wizarding world.

Later in the evening, Tara was dead on her feet after all the excitement and slept as soon as they reached their room. Nandini's heart was jumping in its place and she went to meet the reason for it. She smiled when she found him on a skype call with her parents and was surprised when they told her they all knew the plan. They talked for a while before cutting the call.

"So", she started and trailed off not knowing what to say.

"So", Manik seemed to have the same issue.

Nandini waited for a whole minute before getting up from the bed and taking a seat on the couch. "This is getting awkward", she muttered.

Manik followed her but sat on the far end of the couch without crowding her personal space. "Did you notice the engravings on the ring?"

Nandini frowned and glanced down at her ring. She was glad it wasn't a diamond one. Just like the two-wheeler, she never managed to handle diamonds or jewels. The ring on her finger was a plain gold one and looked like a band. When she held it up in front of her eyes, she saw some dots and dashes. "This is.."

"'Manan' in morse code", he finished her sentence.

Manan was the ship name Tara gave them because she felt the two of them are destined to be together. When Nandini became serious about Manik, without realizing herself, Tara called him home and threw a party to both of them because 'her ship has sailed'. Even if they called her mad, the name stuck with them.

Nandini chuckled on realizing the code. "How did you manage engraving the morse code?"

Manik sighed. "The person, who was in charge of this, looked at me as if I have gone mad when I explained to him the code. I had to beg him to allow me to write the code and that I was a software engineer. He agreed only when I showed him the company's identity card." He waited for a moment as she caressed the code. "Does this weigh you down? The ring and..."

"The relationship?", Nandini finished his unsaid words when she felt him hesitant. She smiled looking at the ring. "No, this will keep me grounded. I will remember there's someone who will willingly share their life with me."

"Always", he said with an underlying promise in his voice.

They slipped into their comfort zone as they talked about the morse code, King's Cross and the wizarding world, never once realizing the changing dynamics of their relationship.

Morse code

A/N - Potterheads, where are you?

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