In the darkness of the room, amidst the moonlight, Nandini laid with his arm wrapped around her waist and his head resting on the crook of her neck. Her fingers raked through his hair comfortingly as he played with her mangalsutra in anxiousness as he said, "Maami meko bohot maarti thi. Ek din jab Dadi nahi thi toh unhone mujhe kaha ki main unke liye aur baaki sab ke liye chai banakar lau. Maine kaha mujhe nahi aati toh unhone cig–cigarette se meri saari fingers jala di aur–aur sab uchi uchi hasne lag gaye aur mujhe itna bada mental bolne lage." Manik recalled, fisting her mangalsutra and his eyes, filled with tears, raised to hers as he innocently queried, "Nanni Mumma main mental hoon?"

(She used to beat me alot. One day, when gradma wasn't around she told me to prepare tea for everyone. When I said I don't know how to make it, she–she burnt my fingers with cigarettes and then started laughing loudly. She even called me a mental. **Am I a maniac, Nanni Mumma?)

"Bilkul bhi nahi, mere bacha. Tu toh mera bohot syaana baby hain," Nandini replied, controlling her rage, and turned towards him, pressing numerous kisses on his fingers, making him giggle as he pointed to the end of his pinky finger and said, "Yaha pe bhi tha."

(Not at all. You're such a good baby of mine. **It was here too.)

Nandini pecked it and his his nose one last time, she laid back while he continued, "Aur ek baar maine ek chota sa puppy dekha. Woh na bohot shiver kar raha tha thand main, toh maine Riya Aunty ko kaha ki kya main usse apne saath le chalu toh unhene haan kaha aur hum usse ghar laaye. Raat ko Maami ko pata chala ki ghar main ek puppy hain aur jab unko pata chala toh unhene meko belts se bohot maara tha. Meri saari stomach pe. Mereko bohot pain ho raha tha aur main bahut saara roya aur Riya Aunty ko bhi khub bulaya, ki unhone hi kaha tha par Aunty ne kuch nahi bolo aur bas dekhti rahi. Un sab ne ek ek karke meko bohot maara tha uss raat, Nanni Mumma. Abhi bhi ni gaye woh nishan."

(*Once, I found a puppy on road. He was shivering alot and I asked Riya if we can take her along with us. She agreed and we brought him home. When Maami came to know about him, she beat me alot with belts. On my stomach. It pained me alot and so I cried. I even called Riya and explained that she had said that I could bring the puppy. But, she didn't speek anything. Everyone of them beat me alot that day. The marks are still there, Nanni Mumma.)

Nandini stared at him, her throat choking with tears as he raised his shirt slightly and stared at the burnt marks while showing her. She softly grazed her fingers over them as Manik stared at her before she snapped out of her reverie as he continued, "Esse uhnohe bohot kuch kiya tha mere saath. Mere ko unse bohot dar lagta tha. Par ab toh aap ho na mere pass. Aap meko protect kroge, Nanni Mumma?" Nandini nodded, assuringly and pressed a kiss on his forehead before moving away slightly as he asked, "Riya Aunty se bhi na?"

"Riya Aunty? Kya kiya unhone aur?" Nandini asked with a frown and saw as he nibbled on his bottom lip nervously.

"Woh na jab bhi main akela hota hu na yaa jab meko nahate hain toh woh na–" Manik started saying, his brows furrowed in confusion as he tried to explain himself before taking Nandini's hand in his and said, "Haan. Woh na esse karti hain aur meko bohot ganda lagta hain."

Nandini froze as he traced her hand over his chest, gradually sliding it down before she immediately jerked her hand away as it reached the waistband of his bottoms, making him say, "Woh na esse pura meko bohot touch karti hai. Ganda sa. Aur abhi aapke hath tha na isse bhi niche jaake woh–woh usko apne hands se press bhi karti hain. Maine unhe kaha bhi ki meko acha ni lagta toh unhone kaha ki essa sab ladko ko hi acha lagta hain."

Nandini breathed out before she cupped his cheeks with shaking hands and firmly said, "It doesn't matter ki aap ladki ho ya ladki. If anyone, even me, ever makes you uncomfortable with their touch then you have full right to say it aloud because this is your body and no one has the right to touch you without your permission. Aur agar koi kare toh doh laga dena uske muh par. And neither do you have permission to touch anyone in any way until they say so. Okay?"

Manik nodded before raising his arm to wrap around her waist and stopped mid way as he softly asked, "Main yeh rakh lu?"

Nandini laughed softly, pulling him closer as she mumbled, "Well, except me. You don't need permission from me."

Manik smiled at her, making her reciprocate before he rested his head on her bosom with his arm wrapped around her waist and she caressed his hair, lulling him to sleep soundly a few minutes later while she stared at the ceiling, her sleep far away as his every painful word echoed in her mind while her eyes were filled with unshed tears. But, gradually, she tired herself with dwelling over his past and fell asleep.

•••••

Nandini snapped her eyes open, turning on the light from the switch on the bedside table before moving closer to Manik as he slept with his back to her at the edge of the bed, whimpering in sleep while his body was drenched in sweat. Shaking his shoulder, she called out his name and after a few times, he woke up, turning towards her and as his haunted eyes met hers. Nandini immediately realized that he dreamt about one of the ugly episodes with his relatives as he pleaded, "Nanni Mumma."

Nandini immediately embraced him in her arms, her eyes watering, not knowing how to protect him from the darkness of his past as loud, painful cries ripped from his mouth on her chest while she patted his back assuringly and whispered, "Bas mera bacha. Sapna tha. Kuch nahi hua." Pressing continuous kisses on his face and head, she continued to assure him as he cried by softly mumbling, "Bas, mera shona puttar. Kitta strong baby hain tu. Itna kuch hua aur sapne se darr raha hain. Mera bacha. Rotte ni."

A few minutes later, he calmed down, hiccupping, his hold tightening around her waist with a sob, as she tried to turn away for water. She caressed his head as she softly said, "Pani de ri hu, guddu. Bimar ho jayega."

"Acha nayi," Nandini said, stroking his back lovingly as he continuously shook his head in protest while he rested his face in the crook of her neck, breathing deeply while hugging her tightly to himself for her comfort while her head rested against his.

A few minutes later, her eyes started to close again when Manik refused to sleep despite her assurances. When Manik raised his head to look at her, he got angry as he saw her sleeping while he couldn't due to fear and suddenly pulled himself away, making Nandini wake up immediately.

"Kya hua?" Nandini asked, her eyes heavy ridden with sleep and moved closer to him as he turned away, pressed a kiss on his head while whispering, "Manik, gussa ho baby?"

"Meko ninni ni aari aur aap soh rahe ho. Mereko dar lagta hain," Manik grumbled, making her sigh.

"Meri Jaan, main thak gayi thi is liye pata hi nahi chala kab aankh lag gayi," Nandini tried to explain but when he didn't budge, she sat up and leaned her back against the headboard, saying, "Acha, meri godi main late jau. Jab tak aapko nini nahi aayegi, Nanni Mumma nahi soyegi. Okay?"

Manik turned to his back and looked at her before shifting closer and placing his head in her lap. Her hands raked through his hair lovingly, pressing his head softly while his face nuzzled in her belly while his fingers played with her nuptial chain. Just as he was about to doze off, he was startled awake when a knock resonated on the door.

Nandini shushed him with sweet words as he grew frustrated before getting up, albeit with difficulty as he threw a tantrum and refused to budge. Opening the door, she was met with Dadi on the other side, who was holding a medicine box in her hand while the other hand held her back.

"Nandini beta, woh mere peeth main bohot dard hain. Is me se koi pain killer de de," Dadi said, handing over the box to her.

"Jee," Nandini mumbled and rummaged through it before handing the requested medicine and when the old woman winced while turning around, Nandini couldn't help but inquire, "Main spray laga du? Uss se aaram milega."

"Laga de beta. Tera bohot bhala hoga. Subah se pata nahi kyu itna dard ho rahi hain," Dadi mumbled and Nandini nodded, asking for a minute while Dadi walked to her room.

Turning around, she faced Manik apologetically who was glaring at her angrily while rubbing one of his eyes with his fist. Pulling his hand down gently, she explained before he could complain, "Only five minutes. Dadi is in pain naa. Then I'm all yours."

Manik shook his head, whining when she pressed a kiss on his head and held up her five fingers to him with same assurance while walking out of the room. She hurriedly applied the balm on Dadi's back and gave her the pain killer before going back to their room. Nandini frowned when she found an empty bed with Manik nowhere to be seen and noticed that his duvet and pillow were missing.

She checked the bathroom before walking out and going downstairs, breathing a sigh of relief when she found him laying on the sofa with his eyebrows knitted together in a frown and his lips protruding out in a angry pout.

"Yaha kyu soh rahe ho mere baby?" Nandini asked as she stepped towards him, mimicking him by whining when he whined as she pulled his head in her lap forcefully while sitting on the sofa.

"Aap dadi ke pass sojao na," Manik mumbled, his teeth gritted in anger and possessiveness.

"Naah, mereko toh mere pyaare se baby ke bina neend hi ni aati," Nandini said before Manik shoved her hair out of his face as she leaned down, pressing a sloppy kiss on his cheek while smiling. He groaned in irritation, wiping the salive off his cheek with a yuck face while Nandini laughed.

"Kya hain?" Manik asked, acting irritated while his heart was elated as she tried to manofy him by showering him with kisses while he tried to push her face off.

"Arrey, ab tere saath laadi ni karungi toh kise karungi?" Nandini asked before he groaned, truly frustrated as she again pressed a kiss on his cheek with a smile, thoroughly enjoying herself while mumbling after every kiss, "Mera nonna baby. Mera pyaar bacha. Mera rutha hua gussel bacha."

"Acha nayi hu gussa!" Manik said, exasperated, wiping his face when she continued to smother him with her kisses.

"Aww kinna pyaara hain baby tu," Nandini cooed, making his huff out a breath before he shook his head as she said, "Chalo ab room main chale."

"Nahi. Main yahi sounga. Aap jao," Manik replied, making her frown as she nuzzled her nose against his cheek and mumbled, "Chal na mere baby. Sorry. Abhi thodi der pehle aap ko dar lag raha tha na akele sohne main. Mereko sachi ni neend aati aapke bina."

"Yahi sote hain na, Nanni Mumma. Us room main acha ni lagta aur kisi main bhi nayi sirf Dadi ka acha hain," Manik said truthfully, making Nandini understand his reason finally and she nodded after pressing a kiss on his forehead. After switching off the lights and turning on the night lamp, he rested his head in her lap before cold air swept through her belly as Manik tugged up her kameez, demanding for milk silently.

Breathing out, she raised it properly and opened the hooks off her bra before baring one of her breasts. She covered his face with her dupatta in case Dadi came out while her one hand rested under his head in support while other sifted through his hair as his mouth wrapped around her nipple, suckling out the milk. It wasn't long before he dozed off.

Pulling away gently, Nandini arranged her clothes before settling the pillow and laying his head on it. She discarded the dupatta away and decided to sleep on the floor since the couch didn't have much space to accommodate two people and didn't want Manik sleeping alone.

Bringing in a bedsheet, she spread it on the floor before laying down and patted Manik's hand assuringly as he whined in his sleep, his hand searching the slight empty space beside him. After he calmed down, it wasn't long before she was lulled to sleep while holding his hand.

But, Manik, not feeling her beside him, couldn't calm his heart, even in sleep. An hour later, the restless led him to open his eyes and he looked around sleepily before he looked at her hand holding his. He saw her sleeping on the floor and gently pulled his hand from her grip and got up before crawling beside her and laying down.

"Nanni Mumma," Manik mumbled softly, needily.

"Aaja, meri Jaan," Nandini whispered, sleepily, used to his needs at night as she raised her arm slightly and let him wrap his arm around her waist and reciprocated his action, snuggling him close to herself and lulling him in a peaceful slumber.

Thank you for reading and my apologies! I hope you already know what for. I just can't get a break 😭 But still, do vote, comment and share if you liked it. It's encouraging and worth my time 🥺❤️

Do let me know in the comments section if you would like to read anything specific in next chapters. I would definitely consider and love to add them 💕