The next few months felt like years....chemo therapy was brutal and took a toll on Nandini's strength but Manik supported her every step of the journey. The more time they spent together, the more they fell in love. Manik & Nandini had not confessed their love to one another but both knew....and they really didnt feel the need to say the words. Because even if they didnt say "I Love You..." they showed it to each other everyday. When Manik shaved his head for Nandini or when Nandini would get possessive infront of the nurses who flirted with Manik. When Manik cancelled his concerts to be with Nandini and also when Nandini worried about Manik's health even though she was so sick. Every action showed how much they loved each other. It was their love that helped them through the difficult phase and now Nandini was cured.

Morning....

Manik was asleep in his bed and Nandini was in the shower. As she came out, drying her hair which had started to grow out in the towel, she admired Manik who looked like a baby when he was sleeping. He always stayed up at nights for Nandini and didnt get a good night sleep in months so she was happy to see him sleeping so peacefully. Slowly she climbed onto the bed and planted a soft kiss on his forehead before turning to go. Suddenly a strong arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her back. She rolled over onto his chest.

"Manik...tum soh nahi rahe they?" Nandini asked.

"Ab jab subha subha itna pyara sa good morning kissi milega toh koi kaise soh payega?" Manik asked dramatically.

"Manik...tum bhi na. Kitne badmash ho gaye ho!" Nandini playfully hit his chest.

" Ho gaya hoon? I was born this way babes." Manik winked with a smirk.

"Ok Mr Born This Way....ab utho aur niche nashta karlo sabke saath. Phir mujhe kaam ke liye nikalna hai."

Manik grabbed her wrist as she turned to go again. "Oye...kya kaam? Tum abhi abhi thik hui ho."

"Haan Manik...thik hui hoon tabhi toh kaam pe jaa rahi hoon. You know I love my job par pichle 4 mahine se I couldnt go even a bit...aur maine Ma se bhi baat kar liya hai, she said I can go." Nandini replied. Manik frowned and looked upset. 

"So tumne mujhse...apne pati se puchne se pehle Mom se pucha?"

"Nhi...aisi baat nahi hai Manik." Nandini insisted. "Acha ok...ab puch rahi hoon tumse. Pls pretty pls can go to work? Pls Manik?"

Manik thought with a serious expression. "Thik hai...par fine bharna parega."

"Fine?" 

"Haan...you should have asked me BEFORE par ab jab nahi pucha toh fine bharna parega na?" Manik replied.

"Kaisi fine?" Nandini looked confused. Manik turned his face and tapped his cheek with his finger. "Seriously Manik? Abhi abhi toh mila...situation ka faida uthana koi tumse seekhe."

"Matlab nahi doge?" Manik looked away and pouted cutely with a huff. Nandini couldnt help but smile at the face.

"Aww! Mewa Hubby nawaz ho gaye?" Nandini asked in a baby voice. Manik kept pouting. Nandini leaned forward and kissed his cheek. Manik immediately lit up and gave her a pck on her cheek too, making her giggle. "Acha Manik ab tumhara fine bhi bhar diya maine toh chalo...nashta nahi karna hai kya?"

"Yes Boss." Manik saluted and then went to freshen up while Nandini went downstairs.

"Good morning everyone." Nandini cheerfully greeted her family.

"Good morning bacha." Raj smiled at her over his newspaper.

"Morning babydoll. Teri tabiyat kaisi hai?" Abhi asked.

"First class, Abhi Bhai." Nandini replied.

"Chachi!!" Ruhi came running over to Nandini. "Aap mere baal kar doge plleeeaasse? Mumma busy hai."

"Aww, of course baby." Nandini helped her stand on the couch as she braided her hair. When she was done she took over to the closet mirror. "See? Kaisi lag rahi hai humari princess?"

"Pretty!!!" Ruhi cheered. 

Finally Manik came down and everyone ate their breakfast before leaving for their work. Nandini then left the house and was waiting for a taxi when Manik drove up in his car.

"Kahan jaana hai madamji?" Manik asked.

"Manik...tum abhi bhi yahi ho? Rehearsal ke liye nahi jaana?"

"Chala jaunga, par tumhe tumhara music school drop karne ke baad. Mere hote hue tum taxi ka intezaar kyun karogi?" Manik said. Nandini smiled and got into his passenger seat.

"Ok then Driver, chalo." Nandini joked. Meanwhile, at a distance there was a man in a black hoodie who was taking pictures of Nandini. 

"Nandini.....Im back," The man whispered looking through the camera roll which was filled with only pictures of Nandini. "Back to make you mine..."

**********************

Nandini was greeting her students after a long time when the receptionist of the music school, Roma D'souza entered her class.

"Nandini ma'am. Do naye students aaye hai jo aapke class mein admission lena chahte hai." Roma informed.

"Ok...main aati hoon." Nandini replied. "Class...practice continue karo, Ill be back in a flash."

"Ok Ma'am!" The class replied. Nandini then left the room to see a man and woman with their two daughters.

"Oh hello ma'am. Tum hi yahan ki music teacher ho right?" The man greeted her. "These are my daughters, Riya aur Trisha. Main inn dono ka admission karwana chahta hoon."

"Oh its nice to meet you two. Mera naam Nandini Malhotra hai."  As soon as she said her name, everyone's expressions changed. "Kya hua? Kuch galat keh diya kya?"

"Nahi....I mean, woh bas tumhara naam kuch jaana pechana sa lag raha hai." The woman explained. Suddenly one of the girls gasped as she realized something.

"Are you ok?" Nandini asked.

"Aap...Kahi aap, Rockstar Manik....Malhotra ki wife toh nahi? Jo bimaar tha?" Trisha asked. Her sister nudged her in the side. "Sorry.. I mean, matlab humne news mein sunna tha ke aapko cancer ya kuch hai toh."

"Koi baat nahi." Nandini smiled. "Actually yes, bimaar toh mein thi par now Im all better....and also YES, main Rockstar Manik Malhotra ki wife hi hoon."

The family of four got shocked. Nandini was confused at their reaction. The man got emotional for a second but changed his expression.

"Aap sab...thik hai na?"

"Haan...woh...kuch nahi. Bas aise hi." The woman made an excuse.

"Okay....um you two can fill out these forms and-"

"Nandini ma'am! We need help!" One boy called from her class.

"Oh....sorry about that. Roma aapse payment aur bakki details ki baat kar legi." Nandini told them then went back to her classroom.

"Kunal...yeh Manik ki...wife." The woman whispered to her husband.

"Shh..." Kunal motioned to Roma who took out two forms and handed it to the girls. He walked a few feet away from her so she couldnt hear and his wife followed "Kitne saalon se maine unko nahi dekha Alisha. They were so small...aur ab seedha Manik ki wife se....I mean news mein sunna toh tha Manik ki shaadi ke baare mein par to actually meet her..."

"You miss them na?" Alisha asked. "Milne kyun nahi jaate?"

"I do miss the kids...Manik, Cabir Abhi....unn sab ki shaadiya ho gayi hogi na?" Kunal commented. "Par...uss ghar mein sirf bache nahi hai. Woh bhi toh hai...Raj Malhotra."

"Kunal, he's your brother. Kab tak naraz rahoge? Kab tak apnon se hi door rahoge?" Alisha said. "Ab chod bhi do narazgi.."

"Its not that easy....kash hota, par nahi hai." Kunal replied.

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Thoughts of this chapter?

Thoughts on MaNan's cute moments?

What do you think of the new entries so far?