“Good morning my lady. I wanted to wake up my sleeping beauty before leaving but remembering last night I think you need rest. I will be back as soon as possible. Take care of my boy and yourself. Miss me. Your Manik...!” She blinked her eyes to get ride of the tears pricking her eyes.

It’s been 8 days manik went out of country for an emergency meeting. After having severe hangover, when next morning nandni woke up he already have gone. But there was a just note besides her pillow with one red rose.

After having him around she totally have forgotten that how it feels like hell to live a single second without him. How every breath was burning her throat when she was trying to be strong at front of every one.

“Manik....!” She took his name while touching the soft petals of rose. She couldn’t help the smile that crept up on her face. Remembering every single thing and word they shared that night when she was drunk, she felt her cheeks started burning with embarrassment and shock. How she might be such fool to tell those stupid things.

“Oh God...!” She cursed herself million times a day, whenever she recalled that night. She couldn’t forget his dark eyes, how those chocolaty orbs were sparkling mischievously throughout the night when she was entertaining him like a silly girl. Just remembering every odd yet intimate positions they were in, goose bumps bloomed all over her skin. He was gone but warmth of his hands and his body was fresh like it was still spreading over her body.

        -------------

She skipped dinner tonight. She was doing it more often. It felt like with him she lost her appetite as well. All family members were noticing her condition. Their eyes full of concern. After showering and changing into sleeping dress, she sat at the edge of the bed.

She looked back at the pillow that cradled his head since the day they shifted back in their bedroom. This bedroom had lots of memories. She picked that pillow, rubbing her fingertips against it. She pulled it against her chest like it was him. Laying back she breathed in it and his scent was still fresh. As she pressed pillow against her chest, locket under her shirt felt cold against her skin. The same heart locket, other half piece of that she gave him at beach house before getting kidnapped. While holding pillow tightly, her hand clutched that locket tightly close to her heart. She closed her eyes, may be she could sleep.

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

Days were passing but still there was no news of manik. He called and informed that he was trying to complete his work and come back asap. But still after waiting for two weeks he wasn’t back. Today he didn't even call. All were worried but they knew it he must be busy. So they avoided to call him, so that he couldn't get disturbed. After waiting for his call finally nandni left for her room with Aaron in her arms.

One more day was over and still she don't know when this painful wait would be over. Making Aaron sleep at bed she joined him also.

        ---------------

A shiny black car entered in Malhotra mansion. Guard came running and opened the door. Manik came out and thanked him. He entered in living room. His hairs were messy, sleeves of shirt were folded up till his elbows. Tie was hanging loosely around his collar. He was looking so tired. He was going to climb the stairs when he saw light was on in TV lounge. Manik silently went to see who was still up in the middle of the night.

“Hi dad. Why you are not sleeping. Are you ok....?” manik asked while sitting closer to Raj who was reading a book.

“Oh young man, finally came back. How you doing....?” Raj patted his shoulders, removing his glasses he placed at coffee table.

“Well, I’m ok. Just tired...!” manik replied leaning back against sofa.

“Ok go and take rest. We will talk in morning.....!” Raj asked looking at his tired figure.

“You too dad. It’s already quite late. Let’s go I will leave you in your room.....!” getting up manik held raj's wheelchair and pushed him towards his bedroom.

“Good night dad....!” manik switched the lights off after tugging him in his bed. Holding door knob he was going to leave when Raj stopped him.

“Manik, you need to talk to her. Since the day you left, she isn’t looking right. She didn’t eat, she didn’t sleep properly. I’m worried about her...!” Raj said looking at Manik who was standing at door.

“I will dad. Don’t worry. Everything would be ok. I promise....!” manik replied before exiting the room.

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As he entered in his room the scene at front of his eyes was heart touching. In the middle of the king size bed Nandni was sleeping besides her Aaron was also in deep sleep. He came ahead silently and removed his tie. After making sure that his shoes don’t make any noise he removed them. Coming closer to them he planted a soft kiss at Aaron’s head but his lady love was sleeping having deep furrows at her face. Indeed she was in restless sleep. Something was bothering her heart and mind. After taking shower and changing into trouser and sleeveless shirt he came back towards the bed.

“Now where I would sleep. Both mother son taking whole space. Poor me....!” He thought looking at two faces, whom he missed during this business trip. He never thought one day these two will become a part of his soul. He cant live a single day without them.

There was a time he sent her away from himself but every second he craved for her. But no more. After looking at the little space at the back of nandni, he climbed the bed and pulling blanket gently, he laid back.

It was really difficult to keep his hands in control when his lady love is so close to him. He can feel her back moving with soft puffs of breaths against his arm. Her sweet like roses cologne capturing his senses. Groaning lowly at his wild thoughts he threw his arm at his eyes, tried to get little sleep.

All the work, meetings and other matters made him already exhausted. And even having his whole family around him he was trying to give pressure at his brain, but unfortunately he wasn’t able to recall anything. It was making him exhausted and light pain in his head started to be a constant thing. Manik got all alert when he woke up after listening of whimpering. He jerked his head towards nandni because, it was her who was may be having any nightmare.

For her it was an uncommon thing because she was having nightmares almost every single night since he left her. But now when he came back, surprisingly it stopped and she slept peacefully.

He tried to be as motionless as possible when he didn’t feel any further noise. But then again it started. Manik turned around towards her because it was kind of harder to ignore. Manik turned her on her back so that he can wake her up. Her face was having beads of sweat and her breath was coming in short gasps. Next moment she moved towards him pushing her head against his chest and had herself curled up against him. Her posture was tense enough to make manik worried.

“Ma...Manik. please don’t leave....!” She spoke quietly in her sleep but her words pinched his heart. She fisted his shirt so tightly like her life depends on it. He realised she was having nightmare about him. Tears twinkled between her lashes. She was bagging him to not leave and mere thoughts of her pain she went through these years after him, brought a fresh wave of pain in his chest.

“Nandni...!” He cupped her cheek gently, trying to mumble as lowly as possible. Didn’t want to wake Aaron up as he was sleeping behind nandni. Manik groaned helplessly when she pushed herself more into his chest like she was trying to hide away. He felt so strange to face such emotions. He wasn’t sure how he handled her in past but at this moment he felt totally useless, not knowing what to do to console her. How to make her easy and how he can remove all her fears.

He found her a very brave, strong and hard lady but this side was new for him. She was sobbing like a lost child, scared, alone, weak, vulnerable and helpless.

“Nandni. Nandni....!” He once again moved his fingers into her hairs to stop her sobs. She reacted at his voice but still didn’t move nor her sobs stopped.

“Please manik. I'm sorry...!” She sniffled in her still-asleep state. This time manik felt urge to take her into his arms and make her calm. Definitely she was pleading to him. She was begging for something but exactly what he doesn't know.

“Nandni look at me. I’m here...!” He whispered softly into her ear, his hand rubbing against her back. He felt her to stop mumbling but her chest was still falling and rising with deep hiccups. Abruptly she moved her arm so quickly like trying to hold something. Like she wants someone to hold her and never let her go.

Manik held her both wrists in his hand, stopping her to move. Next moment he changed their position and now she was beneath him. Crawling over her and holding her underneath so that she wouldn’t scare Poor baby besides her and make him fall of the bed. Her whimpering have stopped but her heart was thumping against his chest. Manik was afraid it will burst out any time. Her breaths were fast. When he felt she was much calm he moved back at his previous position still holding her against his chest. His one hand was holding her head and other went against her back.  Her fists got tightened around her shirt and he held her closer. His tight embrace made her little relaxed and it surprised manik.

“Nandni...!” manik once again spoke quietly. And now her whole body got stiff. Her rising and falling chest got stoned against him. Opening her tight fists she let go of his shirt and slowly she raised her head up from his chest. Her eyes were stuck at his concerned face.

Her body got tensed when she saw herself burying herself totally into him. She quickly pulled herself away from his grip. But manik abruptly held her arms tightly. He got scared what if she could climb on Aaron in her totally shocked and fearful state.

“Hey, be careful. Baby is behind you...!” He pulled her little closer and now she looked behind her. Her heart trembled badly when she realised that in her panicked state she even forgot that her baby was sleeping besides her.

“Sor.....sorry...!” She mumbled looking back at Manik and then her hands went up to wipe sweat from her face. Manik held her hands in tight grip when he found them visibly shivering. He felt she was controlling her emotions. She was controlling herself, since the day he saw her first time. Now he started being worried for her icy stoned emotions. She needs to let it go. She needs to be get free from these heavy feelings. Those fears and nightmares were crushing her.

He couldn’t focus on her meaningless apologises when he saw her eyes getting wet but she was still trying to collect herself together.

“Sometimes It’s ok to let yourself weak...!” manik mumbled gently while pulling her towards himself. Now she was facing him, lying closer. He can feel her troubled breaths and fluttering heart. She was looking down, wiping sweat from her face time to time. She was silent, totally freezing silent. Manik was overwhelmed after seeing that willpower she was having in such condition.

He took deep breath knowing that, why not she would be silent and emotionless. When since years there was no one to listen her sobs, to share her fears, to give her shoulder to cry, no one was there who may whisper sweet things to her that don’t worry everything will be ok. She have every reason to build these walls around herself.
“Are you ok....!” He asked cupping her face, his thumb rubbing gently against her cheeks.

After bearing few seconds of painful silence, he hooked his hand behind her back and pulled her against him. Once again one arm wrapped around her back and other hands pressing her head against his chest. She gasped a little, she was shocked and lifeless like a frozen doll, like trying to figure out what just happened.

“Do you really think I will leave you that easily...!” he tried to make the atmosphere light but her silent response making him worried. She just inhaled deeply and her body slowly got relaxed. She just shook her head negatively. It was totally surprising for him and painful as well that, the girl who was begging and sobbing helplessly in her sleep, how trying to hold herself together.

“Damn it, nandni say some thing. I won’t leave you, never ever...!” He whispered yelling at her while pulling her closer. And that was all she needed. A promise that he wouldn’t leave her again. She wouldn't be able to survive if he left her this time. The next moment she buried her face into his chest and cried. Finally she started letting her feelings out. 

He kissed at her head softly, holding her tightly as she sobbed. He didn’t ask her to stop, he knew it she needed it and just for now he would let her cry, as much as she wanted to. He just adjusted blanket around her and even covered their baby too.

“I was scared, I thought you won’t com back....!” She sobbed and he got surprised listening her how she was feeling.

“No way, why I wont come back. I’m sorry for leaving urgently...!” He whispered lowly into her ear, his hand still moving lazily against her back. He enclosed her small figure into his thick arms all the time his eyes looking at Aaron who was sleeping silently. After don’t know how long her sobs got little stopped, she laid there letting her fears and all pain out. Then slowly she moved little away to look up at Manik who was looking back at her already. He was gazing down at her pensively. There was flash of pain, guilt and love in his eyes, the way he was staring at her.

“Very first day when you came in my house, infect in my bedroom and pushed Victoria away. Since that day I’m fighting my feelings for you. I always tried to take a step ahead but every time knowing that you are a married lady and in deep love with your husband, I had always got side tracked. It made me frustrated, helpless and angry. Not at anyone else but at my own fate....!” manik started whispering lowly. May be they needed to have this talk. Nandni was silently looking at him like giving him time to say every thing he was burying deep in his soul. She blinked her lashes, showing him that she was ready to listen to him.

“I’m sorry to fire you from my company, but I had lost every ounce of my Control. I couldn’t face you anymore after that night when I forced my self at you. I felt I ruined your innocence. I destroyed your purity which was only for your husband. I felt disgusted. But I...I couldn’t apologise for that. I couldn’t bring that night back. I wasn’t strong enough to discuss about that night. I couldn’t be sorry for that night because that wasn’t mistake. That night had special place in my heart. I didn’t use your body to just have pleasure, infect I wanted to touch your soul. I made love, because my heart never accepted that I don’t have any right at you. Deep down I have decided you were mine. But after seeing you around your whole family at parul's birthday I felt, how selfish I was. There is no one I can have at the name of family. No one who can love me. I felt my life dark and deep like black hole. I didn't want to pull any one in that darkness, not an angle like you. So that night I decided to send you away from me, forever. But I think I was fighting a losing battle. I just not lost you but I killed myself also....!” manik kept opening his heart and nandni couldn’t control fresh stream of tears.

“Please don’t cry, you are my strong girl. My brave warrior. I saw you standing against every challenge I threw at you. I really proud of you....!” He mumbled softly, wiping her tears gently. Leaning down he kissed her cheek.

“Manik...I...I...!” She tried to speak but her voice was still hoarse cause of crying. Manik placed a soft kiss at her forehead like encouraging her to speak.

“Yes, tell me I’m listening....!” He asked gently.

“I tried to do hard work. I tried my best to never disappoint you. But I don’t know why, I couldn’t learn how to be a perfectionist. The day you fired me I lost my self confidence. That day I realised how much I try but still I can’t handle a single job. I know I can’t be a perfect businesswoman like you. But please just once tell me the truth, was....I....I really that bad to have a job in your company.....!” Her words sliced through his heart and he gulped the lump in his throat painfully.

“Hey, please don’t cry. Never think like that. You are perfect. You are intelligent. How jerk I’m to make you feel like this. I’m sorry. Everything I said it was shit excuse to fire you. Never ever think you are less than any one....!” manik said looking straight into her eyes. He wiped falling tears with his thumbs, she didn’t even realize she was crying once again.

“Are you saying this to make me feel better. Right....?” she asked trying to control her lips from quivering. She was trying to hold her emotions back, but how she can when after years she was seeing her old manik back. Who was speaking nothing but sweet things. There was nothing harsh, neither in his voice nor in his eyes, except heart touching softness. Manik grew quiet for a while. His watchful penetrating gaze intense on her face. Deep frowns at his forehead were showing how he was cursing himself for making her this much disappoint.

“I’m not saying to make you happy it’s truth. You know I didn’t change a single thing in your work, you have done before leaving. You know why because it was perfect, even more than perfect. I’m sorry I was selfish I was just saving myself from heartbreak. I couldn’t handle more pain. It wasn't easy. In that envelop I placed double salary. So that you can spend two months easily without job. After that I had arranged one job for you in my one business partner’s company already. But as they tried to contact you, you already have left this city. I tried to search you but no one knew about your address. This killed me knowing that you left because you didn’t have money. Thinking about Aaron, and whole family who was dependent on you, not for single minute my headache stopped......!” He was whispering and she was just listening him silently. Her wide open eyes were looking at him, like she forgot to blink them.

She thought he never cared about her but all this time he was trying to help her. She knew it, he lost his memory but her old manik was still there behind that fake mask. Every harshness of life couldn’t change his love for nandni. Deep down his care and kindness was buried somewhere.

“Nandni I didn’t have any thing to claim as mine, nor even my own family. I was alone. I didn’t want to you to bear the burden of my miseries. But from start my heart always knew it, you're mine. All of you. When I said you are not capable to do job in my company, I didn't really mean it. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry....!” as he finished there was pain in his eyes that broke her heart. She felt heavy burden was thrown away from her shoulders. She didn’t say any thing but just raised her hands and cupped his face in her palms in sweet and soft grip.

“What about you. Are you mine...?” she asked like wanted to listen in his own words. His lips twitched into a smile.

"I was always yours....!” His hands slipped around her back, holding her still and close. His tip of nose touching hers.

Manik leaned down, His lips stopped merely an inch away from hers. His both hands cupping her cheeks into soft grip. She closed her eyes when it got difficult to see through those sweet orbs. She nearly jolted when she felt Manik’s lips softly brushed against the corner of her lips. His lips remained there for such painful moments, when she would slip into darkness if he didn’t move away. She forced herself to keep her eyes closed. Then her flimsy heart slipped into content pace when he finally showed some mercy and moved away. The distance between their lips was still just a breath away. His nose still rubbing against hers. She looked up surprisingly when a soft chuckle vibrated through his lips.

“What a little shy thing you are...!” manik mumbled, his thumb moving lazily against her cheeks. His words just squeezed her heart with mixture of emotions. At one hand she felt shocked and at the other hand she felt embarrassed and wanted to pull herself away. Her lips opened and then closed, she couldn’t gather proper words to reply back.

“I mean, sometimes I wonder this baby really I produced with you, I mean I know process of making a baby, is really a fun but still with you it seems quite interesting thing. I really want to experience it, but this time not in drunken state....!” He whispered last line while caressing his lips against her ear lob. His words were promising and voice dipping into husk. Now she felt necessary to get ride of him.

“In your dreams Mr malhotra...!” She pushed his hands away and abruptly turned at other side. Now her back pressed against Manik’s chest. The way he was teasing her sweetly made her face burning red. Her eyes shifted at her baby, who was sleeping with light snoring. Placing his head at her forearm she took his tiny body in her arms. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath like just having him against her chest, something cold covered her burning heart. Manik smiled looking at both.

“Making team against daddy. Not fair....!” She gasped when unexpectedly he mumbled against her earlobe. She smiled when he placed his hand at the back of Aaron, like taking both of them into his protecting wings. 

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