Manik took her to the toy shop. They were at some distance with the shop when Nandini ran towards it leaving a shouting Manik behind, "Nanhi main bata rha hun agar tum giri toh mujhsey bura koi nhi hoga!"

She turned and showing her tongue zoomed inside the shop. The shopkeeper kept looking at her who went directly to the soft toy section.

Shaking his head Manik came behind in his normal pace with his hands stuffed inside his pockets. The shopkeeper immediately recognized him and said, "Good Morning sir! How can we help you?"

"Where is the Angry bird soft toys section?"

"I'll lead the way, sir!"

"No! Just tell me!"

"Straight and move right!"

Manik went there and found his baby jumping on her toes to take the toy from the uppermost shelf which she can't reach. Her one hand was full of few characters of the bird. Smiling Manik leaned to the shelf and clearing his throat said, "Need some help jaan.?"

She looked at him and nodded, "Wo wala bhi chiye!"

He took that but didn't give her. She jumped on her toes again to take from him but couldn't reach as he lifted it higher.

"Monstuuu! Give me!"

"Acha! Ussey mujhey kya milega.?"

She looked at him as if he's the craziest person in the world and said, "Fuck off!"

His eyes widen and he kept the toy back to the shelf.

"Nandini Manik Malhotra! How many times do I have to tell you not swear!!", he said angrily as he holds her hand.

"Monstu! Leave me! It's hurting!", she wiggled in his arms.

"Stop lying! You need punishment! And you're punishment is you're not getting any of the toys!"

She looked him shocked and shouted, "No! I will buy it!"

Saying she holds him from shoulder keeping the other toys on the lower shelf and wrapped her legs around his waist leaving no option but to hold her because she knows he won't let her get hurt. She climbed on him and with his shoulder keeping her one hand she lifted herself and took the toy while Manik keeps shouting, "What are you doing Nandini?"

She took her toy and climbed down. She picked her other toys and about to go when he holds her waist from back, "Acting smart.? Huh.? Keep the toys back! Now!"

"Nooo!", she shouted and bit his hand. Shocked Manik left her. She went to the counter for billing when the shopkeeper asked for money. Pointing towards Manik who was coming behind her she said, "He'll pay!"

"Mam! You have to wait till he pays!", the shopkeeper said politely while Nandini glared him. She went to Manik who was now standing at some distance enjoying her state.

She looked at him with puppy eyes and points towards the shopkeeper. Smirking Manik shrugged and whispered in her ears, "Fuck off!"

Nandini looked him in disbelief as if he has left her alone in the desert when she was asking for water.

"Monstu!", she whispered in disbelief.

He shrugged and stood with his hand in his pockets.

She looked back at the shopkeeper who smiled back and again looked at Manik.

Thinking something she looked at the counter where her toys were and smiled. Suddenly she hugged Manik startling him. He looked down at her when he realized she was taking out his wallet from his back pocket. Taking out the wallet she took his card out and thrust his wallet back in his blazer pocket.

She went to counter while Manik looked at her smiling because this was the first time in these years when she was ruling on him.

All these years he bought things for her, even if he knows she loves him and wants his love only but somewhere he always wanted her to his brat kid who spends money and enjoys her life without being understanding and mature. For the first time watching her spending money for herself and her acting so stubborn was making his heart swell with happiness.

She bought her toys and showed her tongue to him making him laugh on her antics.

He went to her and took her in a tight hug, "My baby!"

Both looked at each other and smiled forgetting their fight.

"Chale ab.? To shop for your trip?", he asked and she nodded.

"Deliver these toys to Manan Mansion on my name!", he said to the shopkeeper and both went shopping for her.

Whole day Manik bought new clothes and essentials for her trip while she keeping roaming around him.

They reached the house and as everyone was at Harshad place Manan Mansion was empty.

Nandini was jumping being excited for the trip while was following her with bags in his hand.

"Aur Monstu main na khub sare pics click krungi! Bahut sare!", she said as they went to their room.

"Acha baby! You won't miss me na.?", he asked and she halted in her steps.

"You won't be there.?", she asked though she knows the answer.

He nodded in no with a sad puppy face.

The next moment Nandini was in his arms wailing like a small baby.

"Arey shona.! Tumhrey friends rahegey na! You'll enjoy it a lot!! Nhi rote! You're my strong baby! Chup ho jao!"

"But how will I eat? How will I sleep?", she cried looking at him.

He smiled and said lovingly wiping her tears, "My baby is baby only in front of her family! But you're a strong girl! I know that! Aur isliye you won't cry anymore! Aur bacha aisa thode h ki main apse jyda din k lliye dur ho h rha hu! Bas 5 days aur fir tum mery pass wapas! And I promise a second b 5 days sey jyda ho gya toh I'll come to you! Toh promise me you won't cry and you'll enjoy it!"

She nodded and hugged him.

"Chalo! Get changed in your night wears till then I'll also change!", he said rubbing her back and kissing her hair as she was hugging him tightly.

He went inside the washroom. When he came back, he saw that she was sitting on the floor squatting in front of her pets who were in deep sleep. She was poking them with her fingers. Smiling he went to her and picked her in his arms.

Taking her in his lap he sat and said, "Sit quietly Nanhi! Let me check you!"

She, who was making face and nagging to him for hugging him, stops and asked, "Check? Kya check Monstu?"

"Aaj jitna you played and was running around I'm damn sure ache cuts and scratches hogey tumhre body me!"

She smiled sheepishly and said showing her neck, "Yaha jal raha hai!"

Manik gave an 'I-knew-it' look and applied the ointment on her neck.

Finally taking her in his arms they slept.

At midnight, Nandini wiggled in his arms to which sleepy Manik asked, "Kya hua Nanhi? Why are you wiggling?"

"Monstu! Washroom!", she said and he left her only if he knew she was not going washroom but kitchen.

Smiling evilly she went to the kitchen and took out the ice-cream from the fridge. Taking three large tubs of ice-cream she sat on the floor and murmured to herself, "Itni bhook lagi hai! Agar monstu ko bolungi toh he will make something healthy. Ice-cream toh khane bhi nhi dega! Huh! Chup kar kha leti hu!"

She ate all the three tubs of ice-cream sitting on the floor. Till the last tub, she was coughing badly and to her bad luck Manik came to the kitchen while finding her when she was coughing very badly and having the last bite of the third tub.

Frowning he went to her and sat in front of her, "Nanhi! You're coughing badly and still having ice-cream in this weather that too sitting on the cold floor!"

She smiled and offered her hand to him, "You can also have it! Aur bhi hai fridge me!"

"You brat kid! I know aur bhi hai mainey hi rakhwey hai but isliye nhi ki tum ek baar mey sab khatm kar do! Chalo! Stand up!"

Smiling she stood while he washed her hand rubbing all the ice-cream off. He wiped her face when she sneezed and felt her face burning.

"You're sneezing and burning! You know what agar subah tumhri tabiyat jyda kharab hui na baby toh You will not go to your college trip!"

Her eyes widen on that and she looked him with puppy eyes to which he said, "And that's my final decision!"