Punch.

I punched him in his chest and he did not react. This wasn't enough. I crumpled the hoodie in my fist and lifted him above my head.

I twirled him around twice and threw him on the floor and he fell with a thud.

"That's what you get for irritating me." I panted looking at him pooled in a corner.

Like always I calmed after my session with Mr. Pillow Malhotra and kneeled beside him to set the pillow properly into the hoodie.

After bringing him back to shape I hugged it tightly to calm both of us.

Why must Manik lose his memory exactly when he finds me unappealing?

It would be nice if he could remember everything except our wedding night. Then we could recreate it everyday. He would still be sweet to me and we could learn many lessons together.

Nandini!

Suddenly, I realised what I was thinking. When did I became so bold? How can I even think about... about... it?

"It's all your fault, Mr. Malhotra." I punched the pillow. "If you want to lose your memory and trouble me then you should have done it even before getting married to me. Now, I feel so cold without your arms around me."

It's almost a year since our wedding night... I mean our wedding day. The entire year could have been so happy and romantic but everything must be destroyed in just a second.

I sulked.

What if he won't remember me?

I immediately stood up leaving Mr. Pillow Malhotra on the floor.

No.

What will happen to me? Do we have to live like this all our life?

That must not happen. We have promised each other many things and we still have a lot to do.

The memory of his warm eyes and protective arms flashed before my eyes.

I miss my Manik. So much.

I ran out of my room and tried to open the knob of our room door but it's locked. He must have locked it before going to bed.

I turned back on my heels feeling sad. There's no use of knocking on his door too. He is taking his medicines these days which would put him to sleep. It's not like he would welcome me inside if he was awake.

Wait! He is asleep. That means he will not utter any crap.

I clapped in excitement.

What if the main door is locked? My Manik has built the secret path joining our both rooms, right. I am going to take full advantage of it from now on.

I went back to my room and locked it from inside before opening the door leading to our private garden. From there I hurriedly moved towards our room and opened the door.

Familiarity hit my senes as I saw our room after long time with Manik sleeping peacefully under the dim light.

I closed the door behind me and slowly tiptoed near the bed where he is sleeping.

"Manik?" I called him once and twice to check if he is already asleep or awake.

He did not move and I released my breath which I have been holding for a long time. I stretched my arms wider feeling free in my room.

"Home. Sweet home." I giggled looking at his painting.

My smile dropped as I saw the wet towel on the floor.

Argh! The basket is just one feet away from the place and he has to drop it on the floor. He can forget everything except this habit.

I picked the towel with my toes and dropped it in the basket. See, it's that simple. But no, he has to behave like a kid everytime.

I huffed and went back to the bed to warn him from throwing the used towel on the floor but stopped seeing his innocent face glowing in the dim light.

Awe!

I bent on my knees and crawled towards him to have a closer look at his face. His thick hair, his beautiful eyebrows, his long eyelashes, his relaxed jaw, his clean shaved cheeks, and his soft lips.

He is my Manik. Only my Manik.

But what's the use he doesn't like me. Oh! My story became one side love story. He is pinning for his crush and I am pinning for him.

I sighed and layed beside him leaving some space between us. It felt nice having him on my side.

Should I sleep beside him or go to my room?

But I won't be able to sleep anywhere except here. Also, he won't be waking up till the morning due to his medicines. And I can wake up before him and sneak out of our room.

I smirked with my evil plan.

Yeah! Now I am behaving like the wife of the Mafia Boss.

I rested my body on my left side to stare at him till my heart's content. But a lifetime won't be enough to look at Manik.

I must be the only woman in the world to sneak into my husband's room and crush on him.

I forwarded my hand and caressed his cheeks. He is shaving all his beard and keeping his hair short. Unlike, the Manik I know who sported beard and long hair. I could feel his sharp tiny beard hair as I moved up his jaw and left my fingers there.

"Manik." I called him with all the need I have for him.

"Hmm." He replied in his sleep.

I froze for a second thinking him to be awake but thankfully he is still asleep. Maybe he could still feel the connection. And that brought a smile on my face.

I leaned forward towards his face and cupped his cheeks. I placed my lips over his forehead and kissed him like he taught me.

A kiss of pure love and adoration.

"Hold me tight and don't leave me, Manik." I whispered against his skin.

I regret saying those words. Because the next second his arm wounded against my slender waist and he pulled me closer under him. His entire weight was on me and I was practically being crushed between him and the mattress under me.

"I didn't mean like this, Manik." My voice was breathless feeling his arm over my bare waist as my top rolled above when he pulled me.

His body was cold while I am burning with heat and that must be the reason he was not leaving me in his sleep.

My face was pressed in his broad chest while his face was buried in the crook of my neck. I gulped as his tiny sharp beard was poking my sensitive skin and his warm rhythmic breathing falling over creating a havoc in my senses.

The butterflies are back in my internal stomach organ and I don't know what to do. I couldn't push his strong muscular body with my little strength and I can't wrap my hands around his broad shoulders with my tiny arms.

The highest I could do is lay down and sleep. He is sleeping peacefully while creating a tsunami inside me.

Argh!

I know the next morning when his medicine will wear out he would be back to his cold self. I will accept it as I want to be selfish tonight. I want to be with him. I want to be with my husband, my Manik.

...

"The fuck!" Manik jumped out of the bed as soon as his medicine wore off and he woke up.

Nobody would think he is a mafia Boss the way he jumped out to run away from me. Am I human eating demon?

"Good morning, Manik." I said with a smile.

Yes. Let's act normal. Gone are those times where I have cried or felt like a loser.

I got my much needed energy from his hug all the night. Now there's no stopping for me, until the energy level depletes. In that case, I will need another hug, so it's a win win situation for me.

My winning smirk wasn't something he was expecting first thing in the morning atleast not after finding me in his bed. Oops! Our bed.

"You look pale, Manik. Do you need another dose of medicine?" I asked with the smirk not leaving my face.

...

How's the update?

What must Manik do now?

What must Nandu do now?