"You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope...I have loved none but you." ― Jane Austen

One of the rarest and most beautiful things in this world is to meet someone who has the ability to intoxicate you. Every moment with her was exhilarating, and every moment without her was spent captivated by thoughts about her. Sometimes you can't stand the sound of her voice and other times you wonder how you'd even breathe if she wasn't there. That's marriage. Love is not love which alters it when alteration finds, or bends with the remover to remove. Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks within his bending sickle's compass come.

Nandini was in her room pacing to and fro waiting for everyone to sleep so that she can sneak Manik in. She was biting her nails in tension. She was really frustrated on this boy.

But she can't do anything. She has to let him in else he will surely ring the bell and wake up everyone. He will do anything to come in. Nandini let out a breath thinking about him. A few moments later, Nandini walked out of her room when she didn't get any sound of chacha chachi. She still went to their room and checked on them. She found them sleeping.

Nandini had a shawl wrapped around her shoulder as she had already changed into her night dress and it was a little cold outside. She descended through the stairs tip toeing making sure she doesn't make any sound.

Then she opened the door silently. 'Ayaiappa, how many times more this boy will make me do this? I always have to sneak out at late night for him. But today I have to sneak him in.' Nandini complained making a cute pout. She moved out and found Manik already standing there leaning to the wall. With one hand he was doing something in his phone and there was a big bag in his other hand.

Manik turned towards the door as he heard the door being opened. He spotted Nandini and stood straight. He kept the phone in his pocket and he was grinning. "Finally wifey, you're here." He said wrapping his hand around her shoulder.

Nandini made a bad face. "Come in fast and don't make any noise. Chacha chachi slept just now. If they wake up, we will land up in trouble." She whispered warning him.

Manik nodded dramatically making a fake scared face. He walked in with her and moved up without waiting for her. Nandini nodded her head in disbelief seeing Manik, she again closed the door silently and walked upstairs. Manik was already there in her room sitting on his bed, Nandini too came there and locked the door properly so that no one can come in.

She sighed in relied that no one saw them.....

"Come here, what’re you doing there?" Manik said making himself comfortable on her bed. He was behaving as if it's his own room.

Nandini rolled her eyes seeing Manik but it affected him least. He simply shrugged his shoulder. Nandini walked near the bed and sat on one corner.

"What's in this bag?" Nandini asked looking at the bag confusedly.

Manik grinned. "Open it and find out." He said pushing the bag towards Nandini's side.

Nandini opened the lock and there were so many things, more precisely girly things. Her eyes went wide at first seeing so many things. She composed himself and gave Manik a confused look. "What's all this? Whose are these?"

Manik looked at him as if she was some alien. "I have 10 wives more. I got all this for them." He said sarcastically. Nandini threw a glare to him. Manik did the same. "Of course, all these are for you."

Nandini looked at him with wide eyes. "Manik! Are you serious? This is too much! Are you mad?"

"I liked all of them and couldn't decide which one to take. It was difficult. So, I bought all of them. So smart I am!" He said shrugging his shoulder.

Nandini left a breath. "I can understand but what was the need of buying so many things? Why did you waste so much money for me?" Nandini said looking at the things Manik has got.

Manik smiled looking at her worried face. 'She is already behaving like a typical wife.' Manik said in mind. He held her hand and pulled her close to him. Now she was sitting between his legs and she had his hands wrapped around her. "Why're you thinking so much? Didn't you like them?" He asked softly.

Nandini nodded her head. "Manik, I loved them. But....." She was about to say something but Manik cut her in between.

"You liked them that's enough. There's no more ifs and buts here. Okay?" Manik said.

Nandini nodded her head with a small smile. But Manik stretched her lips. "Not this one. Your real one." Manik acted like her. Nandini finally smiled. "That's like my Nandini. Now see them and tell me how are they." He said excitedly pointing towards the belongings.

Nandini sighed at his childish behavior and started going through the things Manik has got. There were so many things. Earrings, bangles, a few pair of dresses and there was a sindoor box too.  Nandini took the box. "It's so beautiful." Her eyes shined.

Manik smiled. "Thank you." 

"By the way it's your birthday and you are giving gifts to me." Nandini said keeping all those things in a side. 

Manik forwarded his hand for her. Nandini smiled and held his hand. Manik pulled her close to him. Nandini's back was touching Manik's front. He wrapped his hands around Nandini and she snuggled more into his arms.

"You've already given me the most expensive gift of my life." Manik looked into her eyes. "You. My old Nandini. That's what matters."

Nandini too smiled.

"What'll we do now?" Manik asked after they settled themselves on the bed.

"Manik, let's talk." she said after a brief minute of pause.

"Talk? Talk about what?" Manik asked being confused.

"Talk about us." Nandini said shrugging her shoulder. 

Manik had no option than agreeing to her. So, he just agreed to her. Manik was lying on his back and Nandini's head was on his heart. She could clearly hear his heartbeat. Her left hand was entwined with his left one. Manik's free hand was wrapped around her shoulder.

"Happy birthday once again, Manik. Thank you for coming in my life and making it more beautiful. I don't know how I would have faced these situations of my life without you. Be with me always." Nandini said and placed a kiss on his heart.

Manik's lips curved into a beautiful smile. He turned her face towards him. "Thank you so much, Cinderella. Not me, you have paced in my life and made it worth living. You have turned a monster into a human. What more I can ask for?" He finished caressing her face.

Nandini too smiled. 'Should I tell Manik about Nyonika and Harshad right now? No, it's his birthday and he is in good mood now. I don't want to spoil it. Tomorrow he will come to college and then he himself will get to know.' She was thinking in mind. Manik saw Nandini lost somewhere.

Manik suddenly placed a wet kiss on Nandini's cheek which broke her thought. Nandini looked at him with wide eyes. "What was that?" She asked raising her eyebrows.

Manik pulled her more close with a jerk. "Your husband is here just beside you and you are lost somewhere else." Manik said making a bad face. Nandini chuckled seeing that. "By the way what were you thinking so deeply that you didn't even hear I was calling you?"

Nandini closed her eyes for a moment. "Nothing much." She took a pause and again started. "I was thinking about us. We have seen so many ups and downs in just few months of us. I can't still believe that you are here with me. We are together." She said with a smile tighting her hold more strong around him.

Manik made her face him. "Your this trick won't work on me. I know you are hiding something for sure. But I won't ask you anything right now. Tell me when you think it's the time to tell me."

Nandini simply nodded her head. "You know you are too good for your own self." She said caressing his light stubble filled cheeks.

"We should sleep right. We have college in the morning." Manik said and pecked on her forehead. Nandini closed her eyes to feel his touch.

"Good night, husband."

"Good night."

Then Manik and Nandini both drifted into slumber. Both had different thoughts before slipping into sleep. Manik was thinking what there must be in Nandini's mind which she is hesitating to share with him. Other side Nandini was thinking how will Manik react when he will face Nyonika and Harshad tomorrow.

Precap: Back to college.

That's all for now. Full of Manan moments. Did you enjoy it?

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Bye.

05.05.2023