Greetings my dear readers,

In order to mark my 19th B'day🎂, I'm treating you all with this super early update...❤️

Please give it a try.

And if you like the story,
please show some love by
voting and commenting
on this chap.

You may begin now.

🏵️⭐🏵️

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This chap is affectionately dedicated to - jkarayi🖤✨

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"That beautiful heart of yours needs to be safe........"

As Shaurya stepped more closer to her, automatically Manjiri shifted back uncomfortably trying to put some much needed distance between them. She could sense her breath getting hitched by his actions. Somehow she managed to utter some words hoping that they may help her to escape.

"I need to go...have a lot of work to do."

She said turning to walk away only to be yanked back by his arm. He kept his hand on her arm gently making sure she didn't try to escape again.

"Let me go!"

She hissed timidly. Their gazes met for a few seconds, but soon she broke the connection when she felt her pulse pick up a little. Whereas he couldn't help thinking of anything else at that time other than savoring these moments with foreign feelings in his heart. He didn't know what these feelings were...but he could sense that they felt so good as they were putting his heart at peace.

"What if I don't let you go?"

He asked her playfully still holding her arm. And this fueled not only her uneasiness but also her irritation. She tried to wriggle out of his hold but unluckily she couldn't get rid of his grip on herself. After struggling she took a deep sigh in frustration and told him straight still looking anywhere but him.

"Why do I feel like that your injury has started hitting your brain...
Leave me please!"

Hearing her he raised his one eyebrow in amusement. Soon she was taken by surprise as she felt his fingers brushing her cheek. She immediately upped her lashes and met his intense gaze.

They both were so lost in each other's eyes that they didn't even hear the knock on the door. They were interrupted by the room door opening.

"I'm sorry,... but I did knock twice and no one replied. So without thinking much I turned the knob......."

Shaurya and Manjiri moved away from each other when they heard Dev saying these words with an amused look and a mischievous smile on his face.

At then Shaurya not only mentally cursed Dev but also the lock of his room's door. On the other hand, Manjiri felt hell embarrassed so without wasting anytime she quickly turned around and made her way out of the room careful to not face anyone.

"My idiot brother, will you mind telling me why you're here?"

Shaurya asked Dev while gritting his teeth. To which he grinned sheepishly and said

"Of course, why not..... Actually Ved Bhai has called you."

When he saw Shaurya's hard look, he added

"Don't give me that look Bhai...I swear he insisted me... I didn't want to come here."

"Ok, tell him I'm coming in a few minutes."

Shaurya told him plainly while picking up his phone from bed.

"But what's the problem in coming right now... now even Miru Bhabhi is not in the room, then why few minutes?"

Dev asked with a hint of tease in it, to which Shaurya clenched his jaw and gave him a hard glare.

"Ok fine, take as much time as you want... I'm going."

Saying this Dev immediately ran out of the room..........

"The briefest moment shared with you, is the longest on my mind.........."

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_

Manjiri had never left her room for the kitchen as fast as she did now. She leaned against the kitchen's counter and rubbed her hand on her chest as if convincing her heart to decelerate it's beating speed. Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes. Accidentally her Chhoti Maa's eyes fell on her. She immediately came forward and asked her concerningly,

"Manjiri beta you look flushed...are you okay?"

Hearing her Manjiri opened her eyes and wondered,

"Okay?...Are you kidding me?
Maa instead of asking me....ask this to your super smart son. He's the one who is behaving strangely."

Skaking off her silly thoughts she was about to speak but was cut before only as Adishri came forward. Placing her palm against her little sister's forehead, Adishri asked worriedly,

"Do you have fever Miru?"

"I'm perfectly fine... don't worry!" Manjiri replied.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah Maa. I'm okay."

"Alright! You two set the table till then I'll go and bring everyone to the dinner table."

With this their Chhoti Maa left after wiping her hands with the kitchen towel.

-

"How do I unsubscribe from anxiety???"

Soon all were down, Manjiri was feeling very anxious knowing that she'll have to face both Shaurya and Dev at the dinner table. She was damn sure that Dev would not miss a single chance to tease her....she was mainly worried about the fact that what if he teases her in front of the whole family, then how would she handle that awkward situation.

She decided to make a deal with herself, if anything like what she's is fearing will happen to her then she'll never talk to Shaurya, as because of him she'll have to bear all that.

However, much to her relief luckily nothing such happened as today Shreya is at Mohan Villa. And along with her son Vaidik she'll stay here for a few days. Therefore undoubtedly at the dinner table everyone's centre of attraction was cute little Vaidik. This made Manjiri relax a bit, though she chose not to acknowledge the fact that she and Shaurya kept on glancing at each other time to time during the dinner.

"The one eye sees while the other feels......."

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_

"Life has some stories and problems which are hard to explain and share......."

While walking back to the room Manjiri felt even more conflicted than ever. But anyhow she went up the stairs and soon found her inside her room. As soon as she entered in, a small smile graced her lips as she found Vaidik walking closer to her. Taking baby steps and flashing his brilliant smile, he hugged her legs and started giggling.

Hearing his giggles, Shaurya and Shreya snapped out of their serious conversation and looked at the entrance. They were seated on the couch near the balcony's door.

Manjiri carried Vaidik up in her arms, to which he touched her nose and smiled in recognition while babbling something which she find hard to understand.

Placing him on the bed carefully, she peeked a glance at the direction where the siblings were sitting. If she had known that Shreya was in the room, she might not have entered in. Sometimes she wonders why Shreya doesn't even considers her presence, she was the only person from her in laws side who never bothered to ask or tell her anything. Though Manjiri wasn't complaining as after all in her own view who was she to judge or comment on her..... At one moment she thought to go out of the room and give both the siblings some space to talk, and at the next moment she thought to drop that idea as going out after entering in will look more weird.

Suddenly a loud tootling ringtone of Shaurya's phone made her snapped back to the room from her thoughts. She peeked in their direction again and, found Shaurya picking up the call while marching towards the balcony. Abruptly her eyes met with a serious pair of eyes. Not knowing what to say or how to react, she just offered Shreya a slight but genuine smile. But sadly Shreya just nodded and didn't return the smile.

" Is this your handwriting?"

Picking up a register from the table placed beside the couch and opening it Shreya asked. Astonished by her question Manjiri looked at her. Shreya added

"I mean you wrote this?"

Manjiri mentally chuckled and wondered,

"Obviously lady! it's mine....and in case if you're assuming that it's your brother's, then you're wrong as his handwriting is hardly readable."

Shaking the thoughts, she replied

"Yes, it's mine Didi."

"It's nice and clear."

Shreya told her while putting the register back on the table and getting up. Manjiri couldn't believe her ears, she mentally asked herself surprisingly,
"Did I hear it right?"

Coming closer to the bed Shreya opened her arms and said

"Come Vaidik! Let's go..."

But it seemed that the little kid was in a mood for fun at that moment because seeing his mom coming near, he started rolling and running on the entire bed laughingly. Manjiri felt herself smile at the scene.

"Let him stay here for a while Didi."

"No, no...he has become really very naughty these days. And I'm sure you'll face difficulty in handling him."

"I myself will bring him to you in a short while...don't worry and let him be here please."

Hearing Manjiri's words Shreya didn't say anything further and unsuringly left the room.

As soon as she left Manjiri climbed the bed excitingly and started playing with the little bundle of happiness of both the families i.e Mohans and Nandas. Being the youngest in her family, she had no one younger than her and she really adored being around little kids. Therefore since childhood whenever she sees babies or younger kids, she always have a strong feeling to hold them, play with them or to just be with them.

She was so engrossed in playing with Vaidik that she didn't realize Shaurya entering in the room.

On the other seeing the scene in front of his eyes, a small smile played at the corner of Shaurya's lips. And on noticing how much Manjiri was engaged and enjoying herself, he decided not to interrupt and bother any of the two who were busy playing. Opening the laptop he made himself busy with some work.

"Slow progress is still a progress......."
_

When Manjiri felt that Vaidik was feeling sleepy, she took him to his mom.

And feeling exhausted she too drifted off to sleep as soon as she hit the bed. On the other hand after completing his work and switching off the lights Shaurya also lay down.

They both slept peacefully. But little did they know what was waiting for them the next day...........

"If you find it difficult to swim today,
Maybe it is enough just to flow........."

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This is it for now. Hope you liked it. I am sorry for the mistakes.

In case if you want to share your views or suggest something, you are more than welcome.

⭐My sincere request to all the SILENT READERS - it's my B'day, atleast vote today... : )⭐

Till then take care and stay connected.

Love ♥️✨