As the bright sunlight hit my face, I turned and hid my face with the fluffy pillow. God! Why can't you let me sleep some more? I complained in my mind while adjusting myself on my stomach.

"Wake up, my Queen" a soft voice hit my ears along with fresh warm breath over my cheeks when he bends over to place a kiss over my hairs caressing it lightly. He's smelling fresh as I know he's already taken his shower and after that only coming to wake me up.
This is our daily routine!

Sometimes you can say, even though my sleep is broke, I used to wait on the bed turning n twisting... for him to come & call me. It feels warm!

Turning and stretching my arms, I wrap my arms around his neck and he bends up to sit straight pulling me along to sit up. I can visualize a cute sweet smile playing on his lips as he's staring at my face; eyes slightly opening, sleepy teddy face with lips parted open. I know him! I opened my eyes adjusting to the light to first see the face of him, my Manik! And guess what, I really know him got proved by his eyes on me and his smile. Ohh! I so love him!

I immediately pecked his lips as a good morning kiss, even before I could register myself. Not that I'm surprised by this act nor he is. It just... caused his smile to intensify and my cheeks heated up.

"My Nandu is getting naughty in the morning!" he teased. How can he leave a chance to tease me?

Shyly I smacked his shoulder and pushed him to get up. "Okay... okay... come down soon, Mom is getting excited to decide the cards." He chuckled while I snapped my head towards the wall-clock when I registered his words.

"Shit! It's 8:30 already and I just woke up!" I literally yelled out.

I mean, think!
The Nandini who woke up early in the morning before the sun rises to finish up household chaos, and make arrangements for kids, their school, my tuition, etc... Is now walking up this late!

"It's all your fault. Your pampering is making me all lazy and late-raiser!" I pouted accusing Manik for this. Actually, he's at fault. He's the one always pampering me and I'm like this... See!

He smiled cutely rather and came forward to scoop me in his arms from my waist "Why do you need to wake early anyway? Servants are there for work and our kids are under good care of their grandparents."

He's right! We've shifted to his huge bungalow and here servants are there to look after every work which I used to do back at my place.
And Neel & Naina; Manik's parents are more than happy to take care of their needs, wake them up, make them eat healthy, even drop and pick up from school, take them to park, almost everything. They said, "We're all alone in this big house when our son is out for work all the time. Being with children makes us lively."

I glare at him knowing I don't have a say in this. "Whatever" I muttered coming out of his grip and hurrying to the washroom.

---------------

"Good morning Mumma" cooed my two sweet children upon watching me walk down the stairs while they sit on the dining chair waiting for their breakfast.

"Good morning" I planted a kiss one by one on their cheeks before walking to the Manik's parents and touching their feet.

"Nandu beta, come! Let's discuss the cards for the two weddings." She said getting up the chair to walk to the hall being all enthusiastic and excited "Oh God! It's just in a week, and so many works are pending, cards are still not selected, dress, jewelleries, guests, wedding hall, catering... so many works" She started getting all worked up in excitement.

"Mom... Don't worry, I've assigned a wedding planner. They'll do everything before time. You come and have breakfast first." Manik has to pull his mom to the dining as she's not at all agreeing to his words.

"Areyy... What wedding planner? What will they do? They'll all mess it up. I have to do everything. You don't know anything." She said.
I can't blame her. After all, she's excited about her only son's wedding. This is understandable!

"Okay, Mama. I'll come soon from the office and we'll look after everything." I voice trying to keep her at rest.

"That's not done. Why don't you take leave till your wedding?" she suggested while the breakfast came and everyone started digging in.

"No mom. She's the head accountant of my company. How will the company work without her?" Manik instantly injects looking up from his plate.

"Hun! How will the company work? 'Or' How will you work without her?" Mama didn't hesitate to put her words while I kept my eyes to the plate in embarrassment and shyness. "yeh baal dhoop mein saphed nahi kiye (This hair did not turn white in the sun) I know everything" She added shutting Manik who found it more amusing to concentrate on his food.

"Okay... okay... Finish ur food first. We've to drop kids to school. They have test today." Papa, I mean, Manik's Dad intervened in the discussion diverting the topic.

"Oh yes! Naina, have you learned the poem that's giving you a hard time?" Mama's attention shifted to the kids. I too remember, Nanina complaining that she has to recite a poem which is assigned to her from her book, but that is too long that she's messing it up.

"Yes, Dadi. Dad & Neel helped me out. Now I can even dance to the rhymes" Naina voiced happily. And I smiled looking at her then at Manik. He's proving to be a good Dad! no, Best Dad!

All these years... Yeah! you heard it right!
It has been almost two long years since we met 'yet again' and started our new life.

At first, I was reluctant on shifting to his bungalow with my kids; How will kids react? How will Manik's parents react? Will kids be able to accept Manik and his parents? Will his parents be able to accept my kids?

I still remember the time when I've to answer my kids as to why we're shifting and who's Manik to them and to me?

"Mumma, why is Uncle taking us to his house?" Naina said innocently while Neel, being the mature one was silently processing everything. Manik was also present there with me, in my old apartment.

I glanced at Manik; it was really awkward and difficult to make them understand everything. Not that I have experienced this situation; It's normal to say that I was nervous too.

Sensing my difficulties, Manik came forward to take this charge and kneeling in front of Naina. Actually, more than Neel, Naina has got more friendly and comfortable with Manik. Reasons?:
Manik bought her that gift which caused her the happiest and best presentable before her best friend. He even brought her gifts and chocolates much to her liking and talk sweet too and this girl got carried away.

"Princess! Will you be happy to make me your Dad?" he asked lovingly while she just looked at him for a minute before turning her neck to me briefly and finally resting her eyes on Neel.

"No! Why will we call you our Dad?" Neel finally spoke up pulling Naina backward in possession.

I somewhere expected this... from Neel at least. Before I could speak, Manik added "Because I really love your Mumma and also you two. I will take care of you, play with you, take you to school, bring you many clothes, toys, video-games, and chocolates too. I'll be a good father. I'll love you both like your Mumma, promise! (he pinched his neck as a promise) Don't you want a Dad like your friends have?"

The question did hit the right cord and Neel's facial changes. I know they both wanted to have a normal family like their other friends; Mom, Dad, and they, together under one roof.

"Where are you all these years? Why didn't you come to us? Did you fight with Mumma or angry with us?" Neel questioned. I can understand him, for him, I'm his mother and his father is missing/unknown when suddenly Manik came into the picture to be the one.

I've not told them about their real mother... maybe when they'll be big enough to understand and handle themself, then I'll tell them.

I immediately kneeled beside Manik and grabbed Neel by his shoulders "No Neel, he's not angry with you, instead, he loves you both. He was just... working hard n hard to make more money so that he could come and take you to his house and we'll live there happily ever after"

This excuse worked! As a child, listening to stories and fairly tells of kings & queens, prince and princess, with their happily ever after, after a lot of struggle is somewhat easy to believe for these innocent minds.

Then after, we shifted to this bungalow and it was no less than a castle for my kids as it's very very very bigger than our flat of course. The kids were happy with their own big rooms, toys, fluffy bouncy bed, new clothes, and a lot.

Even I was happy seeing my kids happier and adding to this, my other nervousness got away when Manik's parents warmly welcomed me and my kids.

"These kids get a ray of happiness of us" they said and to my surprise, they got so gelled up with the kids in just a month or less that you would hear Grandpa or Grandma from their mouths every now and then.

Coming to Manik's relation with the kids... Naina didn't take more time to address him as Dad and enjoying his pampers. But Neel, for the first few months, he was eyeing Manik like a father check out his future son-in-law when he came asking her hands for marriage. Means checking each and every minute movements and act before trusting.
But Manik is no less... he did everything on his part and now-a-days Neel seems to forget his mother here!

And me; I got a perfect family!

"Nandini!" my got snapped out of my day-dreaming "Where are you lost?" I turned to Manik and saw him looking at me concerned. I smiled lightly shooking my head and look around to see only me & Manik on the dinning.

"Where are the rest?" I voiced.

"They left for school. Kids are getting late for the exams." he replied getting up to wash hands finishing his breakfast.

Here it goes again! I always get forgotten by my kids lately; all-day Grandpa, grandma, and Dad. Huff!

"Goodbye Mumma" a loud squeal forced me to look up to the doors only to see Neel & Naina came running to bid me byes.

My lips instantly twitched up brightly "Bye... All the best" I gave them thumbs up from the distance and they ran away shouting thank yous. They can never forget their Mumma!

"Oh Madam! Aren't you getting late for the office? Come fast." Manik said while wiping his hands dry and here I am sitting with my thoughts and an empty plate.

I walked up to wash my hands while replying "I'll come a bit late; after Mom and me selects the card design. She was all excited about this, I shouldn't just go away, right?"

"Hmmm... Fine then, We'll go after that!" he declared walking to the hall and sitting on the sofa.

"We?" I raise my brows walking to him "You're having meetings if you forgot!"

"Ah-that can wait. And what will I do without my accountant." He whispered pulling me closer to him as I sit down.

"Shameless" I muttered while looking around to find the servants but luckily they're not around.

"Don't worry, no one will come out invading our privacy" I know, he's this special order for all servants to not invade the privacy of anyone or family time. "And this is nothing, I will be more shameless... on our wedding night" he huskily whispered the last part grazing his teeth on my earlobe.

Someone turn on the A.C.! *fanning ownself mentally*

I cleared my throat looking down as I know I'm getting red out of blush.

"Awwee... Look at your cheeks; I want to eat it" he said more like a tease and placed a long sloppy kiss on my tomato cheek. He'll be my death someday!

I blushed more on his words making him chuckle at my reaction and me; I just looked here and there to find some hole that will engulf me away.
That's when my eyes landed on the card designs spreading on the tea-table. Shifting a bit, I bend forward to grab some of those

"Manik!" I started checking the designs casually while Manik is still sitting with his arm lightly encircling over my shoulders. "Why two marriages? I mean, it'll take more time, double money double investments. We could have done an Indian wedding with full ritua-"

I got cut with his cold finger over my lips sending shivers down my spine. My eyes met his deep mesmerizing eyes which is looking at me with so much intensified love.

"First, we'll do Indian marriage with all rituals like Mom-Dad wanted and then at evening, we'll have a Christian style wedding just the way you wanted... ...Only for you!" his words made me fall for him again and again.

Just wondering, if really one can fall in love... all over again. I think I'd fall for this same guy every day.

I still remember that night... oh no! not the dreadful one. I'm talking about that wonderful night of birthday party when Manik open up with me and everything cleared between us.
One was that dreadful night when everything got snatched away from me, 7 years ago, but my Neel and Naina came on the earth giving me the reason to live... live for them.
And one was that wonderful night, when under the moonlight, near the lake, our favorite place, two years back, I got the guy I love the most... my Manik and with him, I got this perfect family; Mama, Papa, me, Manik and our kids, Neel and Naina. The family I craved for!

"Oomph!" I hissed when a slight bite sensation on my cheeks made me snap out of my lucky thoughts. I looked closely to find Manik licking that part easing my pain.

"Did you just bite my cheeks?" I asked in full disbelief.

"You're lost in your thoughts when you have me beside you" he replied grumpily making me go all aww over him. He's jealous that I'm not giving him my full attention.

"You're jealous!" my smiled teasingly. He groaned making me laugh loudly.

But his next act made my laugh die and I got all serious and conscious under his intimating self.
Yes! he just jumped over me hovering me resting his keens beside mine with my legs passing between them while I leaned back more to the sofa with his hands blocking me from both sides to escape. Not that I'm going to escape anyways!

All the while his eyes held mine... like we're being lost in each other without acknowledging anything about the surrounding... Nothing! Just he and me! Us!

His eyes... they held love for me... so much! How did I go so lucky, really?

He didn't move much nor did I. We've our hot erratic breaths mingling as our face stayed just an inch away. My eyes flickered to his lips briefly before again holding his eyes which has now turned darker watching my movement. As we stayed for a minute longer, this anticipation to taste his lips erupted in me and I know he's feeling no less. Don't know who leaned forward first, but in the next second, I only know; He tastes sweet and addicting!

My fingers are exploring his thick hair forest while the other hand is shamelessly roaming behind his neck pushing his collar to get more of his bare touch. His hands, which were cupping and massaging my cheeks sensually while we have our lips doing their works without break, are now moving down rubbing along my arms to shoulders, running over the cleavages and down. God! It's turning into a hot make out.

But suddenly he backed out breaking the kiss and even our contact making me instantly feel the coldness of surrounding. I was so turned on and wanting it to go on that his sudden moving away from me, standing back on the floor, leaving me at the edge... made me look at his face in confusion,  slightly disheartened while pulling my lungs to catch a breath. What's wrong?

As if reading my face, he looked over his shoulders to the back towards the main door. I followed his eyes in pure confusion and that's when I heard sounds from outside. Mama Papa has arrived!

Shit! it would have so very embarrassing if they would have seen us making out. I mentally cursed myself for getting so involved in my pleasure world..that too in the open hall! Holy Shit!

I instinctively ran my hands over my hair and straightened my dress perfectly, not everywhere but Mnaik while Manik did the same, but looking only at me. I could feel it!

Soon the door opened and Mama, Papa walked in taking slow steps. Mama looked happy that I waited for her.

"Mom, please select the card faster, we have a meeting. I'm waiting for Nandini outside." Manik spoke to his mother to which she made a bad face knowing I'll be going to office soon.

Mama is still not near the sofa when Manik bends down just almost touching me "Don't be disheartened, love. We'll have our all desires fulfilled very soon." He whispered huskily near my ears making sure I'm the only one hearing it and then stood up straight not before grabbing his phone from my side, winking at me before leaving. I blushed looking down at my lap.

I know, it'll be on our wedding night.*blushing*  In these two years of stay, even though I & Manik stay in the same room, the same bed... but he never crossed the line.
We used to cuddle and he'd always give me forehead kisses, he'd hold me in his arms every night and kiss me goodnight. We've developed this understanding, trust, belief, bonding, attachment, and love towards each other that is now stronger than ever.

Recently, as our attraction grew intense and I've got more than comfortable with him, we've a few times got carried to almost a make-out but he would always halt it before it goes that far and would say "I want us to this next step only after marriage. I want to make you mine fully, even legally, and socially." As much as I'd be overwhelmed by his this gesture, I could figure out how much hard it must be for him to control... because I know myself!

"Are you sick, dear?" Mama's concerned voice made me snap my neck to my left to see her sitting beside me. "You're all red and flushed" she added scanning my face.

I felt instant embarrassment knowing that I'm sitting beside my Mother-in-law and having such aroused thoughts. Jesus!

I shooked my head vigorously while trying to erase the hotness and redness on my cheek "I'm fine, Mama" I instantly grabbed a card diverting the topic "this card looks good... that one too"

"Yes... but I think, that one with Radha-Krishna is the best" she shifted her full focus to the cards and I sighed in relief.

------------------

My hands brushed over the white gown that wrapped around my body perfectly. I looked at myself through the mirror; I look just the way I've imagined, with simple yet beautiful white wedding gown on, hair pinned in a bulky mess, face make-up lightly.

It was almost time for my call to go over for my second wedding... with the same person, on the same day too.
Actually, as per the Indian style, the rituals have been going on since the last three days and today at afternoon we encircled the holy fire completing our marriage. And now it's time for our wedding in Christian style, like I dreamed of.

"You look beautiful" I hear, only to look through the mirror to find Piya. We've developed this sort of best friend relation which goes well with our professional relationship as well.

Yes! The same Piya, Manik's personal secretary. I got to know that she's already engaged to her lover and that media gossips about she & Manik being together was because she's always accompanying him to his every works and social gatherings being a perfect secretary and on the top, Manik let that be, as it was somehow preventing other leeching models to stay away from him.

"I always do!" I commented making her roll her eyes letting out a slight chuckle. She's not bad anywhere as I've portrayed her in my jealousy. To be honest, she's jolly and friendly to go with adding to her 'perfect' tag of being Manik's secretary. She's also got awards for best Secretary last year.

"Let's go. It's time." She gently grabbed my hands to pull me along with her outside. With every step, I can't help my erratically thumping heartbeats, even though I'm already married now.

This venue; the same place of my wish, the lakeside; Manik's Private property. It's decorated with flowers and lights, especially the old willow tree is outshining with decoration. I looked around the guests which mainly contain our adult employees with their wives or girlfriends or friends. Mama Papa and a very few of Manik's close relatives also stayed to attend this function.

As I walked ahead, Piya slipped back into the crowd of guests letting my hero, my Neel in suit-boot take my hand. He'll walk me down the aisle! Manik suggested it.

We walked along the path covered in white rose petals and I'm mostly looking around admiring the prettiness of this surrounding, leaving Manik to be admired at last. The best thing should be kept for the last to ravish as we can't get enough of it!

I always wanted a love story like a fairytale... Even though real life is not a fairytale... but with a person who loves you beyond infinity by your side, it's no less than fairytale either.

"Your flowers" I saw a bunch of white flowers being forwarded by my sweet Naina who's wearing a  pretty blue princess gown. I took it not before pacing a kiss on her cheeks making her giggle.

Finally, as I'm in front of my husband, I looked up to see him bending and placing a kiss on Neel and Naina's cheeks before they ran off to get back with our rings. And as soon as he stood up straight adjusting his tuxedo, looking into my eyes... I could tell the tingling sensation in my stomach is bursting more and the blush on my cheeks is getting darker.

No sooner, the kids came forward with the rings. Manik taking the ring from Naina's tray forwarded his left hand for me to give mine. I slipped my left hand over his which he held securely before putting the ring. I did the same with a constant smile playing in both of our faces and the crowd erupted with clappings.

"Shall we start?" the priest asked breaking our eye-lock. We nodded with my hand interwind with Manik's. "Today we've gathered here to witness..." Manik and I were back to staring at each other the entire time when the priest carried on with reading the bible.

With our hands clasped together, happiness in our face and the love in our eyes, we said: "I do."

"You may now kiss the bride." announced the priest making me look down blushing.

"You both, turn around and close your eyes" I shoot my head up upon hearing Manik's voice only to see him instructing our kids who're standing just in front with Mama Papa and the others.

The guests burst into peals of laughter along with my in-laws while my two innocent yet mischievous kids giggled before palming their eyes shut and turning back. This situation is not making my eye-to-eye smile vanish for a second while I know I'm getting red more.

As soon as the kids turned, Manik didn't waste more time before pulling me closer and placing his soft lips against mine, ever so gently and stayed still. Even though there was no smooching, biting, licking like other times, but still the feel of his lips over mine as we stand in front of a crowd of guest cheering for us made a feeling of euphoria burst in me.

"I love you" he whispered over my lips making my lips twitched up as I whispered back over the cheers "I love you too"

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