Hello family!
So here I am with the last chapter of this story. 😢

This journey has actually been a roller coaster ride. It also taught me quite a lot of things. And I m very happy with my experience. I won't waste much time doing bak bak hope you guys enjoy this last chapter. 😀

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For one last time pls do give online comments.😊

Silent readers please do comment for one last time. ☺

Happy reading!
#6323 words
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Make a choice nandini. Manik or Me?

Vikram's words fell like a bomb on nandini. Choice between manik and her father. They both were equally important to her. On one side was her father who brought her up with all the love and care in this world while on the other hand was the love of her life.

Nandini Murthy.....Oops! I m sorry kya bulao main tumhe. Murthy ya phir Malhotra ya aur bhi koi naam hai tumhara Jiske baare main hum nhi jaante.

Vikram's sarcastic tone twisted Nandini's heart. She was shocked out of her wits. Pallavi too was shocked. Vikram what are you saying? Beti hai woh hamari.

Vikram turned towards Pallavi. Really! Beti haan. Kya kami reh gyi thi ISS BAAP se jo uski yeh BETI kal tak nazook phool jaisi thi aaj kaante ki tarah chubh rhi hai.

Nandini closed her eyes tightly listening to her Father's venom-ish words. Every word was laced with sarcasm, hurt and anger. Nandini could bear everything but her fathers hatred. 

Her Dad, the first man in her life. The first man to have picked her up in his arms and twirled her. The first man who always stood ahead of her in difficult times while in happiness he stood behind her. The man who always taught her the difference between good and bad.

Dad, the person who taught her how to walk on her feet. The person who taught her how to run. Her father. Her Dad, Papa, Pops but above all her first friend in the journey of life. Vikram was more important for nandini even more than pallavi. She was completely Papa's girl.

And today when she was standing at the most important turning point of her life she felt helpless. She thought that she was the most unluckiest girl who had to make a choice between two important men of her life.

Manik, the name itself was enough to wake up the sleeping butterflies in her stomach. The mere mention of him would make her heart flutter in joy and happiness. His only presence around her would make her blush. His voice was more than enough to make her weak on her knees. While his mere finger-tip touch would melt her insides.

How could she leave him when he had always been there for her. When he had always stood for her rights. How could she even think of leaving him when he had been her shield in need.

True by his name, he was a gem. Pure gem. A gem to be treasured always. A gem to be looked up to. A gem to be adorned for her entire life. A gem to be proudly showcased to the world. Manik was the most priceless and the most exquisite gem of Nandini's life that she could never afford to loose.

All these thoughts has started flowing through her eyes in the form of salty tears. Her inner self was loosing all the confidence that she had gathered, when she walked down the stairs, to face her father.

Not only nandini but others present there too were shocked. They stood frozen. Pallavi tried saying something but Vikram turned a deaf ear to her words. Pallavi being a mother could see straight through her daughters eyes. Seeing the turmoil that she was in, Pallavi wanted to go to nandini and take her in a hug but Vikram held her hand and stopped her, Nandini has to make this choice on her own. She has to choose between me and this boy.

Nandini looked at her father in disbelief who kept looking in forward direction not making an eye contact with anyone. Dad..... She meekly murmured. Tears didn't seem to stop.

Manik's state was no different. He felt paralysed. His legs didn't move while his mind seemed to have gone on flight mode. Hearing Nandini's voice he got his senses back. He walked upto nandini and wiped her tears. Nandini had a helpless look on her face. The more manik wiped her tears the more she cried. Seeing her even manik's eyes started shedding a few tears. He cupped nandini's face and placed a light and soft kiss on her forehead. He gave her a small faint smile. There was silence in the entire living room and all had their eyes on the distorted lovers.

After a pause of few minutes manik spoke, NANDINI HAS MADE A CHOICE. Hearing this everyone looked at manik. His voice created an echo in the eerie silence. The situation was of a ball and chain- none of them could speak their wish while none could even stay quiet.

Nishchal came forward and placed his hand on manik's shoulder. Bhai.... he didn't know what else to say. Manik looked and Nishchal and blinked his eyes. Nandini was constantly looking at manik's face. Manik again looked at her. Pressing her cheeks tightly and giving a big fake smile to her he moved towards Vikram.

Vikram frowned and looked at manik. He calmly waited for manik to speak. For one last time I will take this decision for nandini. What you have asked is very difficult for all of us. For you as a father. For me as husband and for nandini as a daughter and a wife. But you are right this decision needs to be taken. What nandini and I have done is wrong on our part. Absolutely wrong. But we were helpless. Just like how helpless we are right now.

He then looked at nandini. Four years back nandini....Hum ne ek decision liya tha meri mom ke liye. It was OUR decision. Aur aaj ek baar phir hume ek decision lena hai. Iss baar tumhare dad ke liye. Your dad doesnt deserve this. He doesn't deserve what we have done. Agar sach kahe toh we have betrayed your family. We have betrayed their trust on you, on me and on us. And today on behalf of nandini and me I have decided that nandini will stay with......

He again looked at everyone. Lastly he looked at nandini whose intensity of tears had increased and lips had started to wobble. Nandini will stay with HER FATHER. From today Nandini and I part ways for a lifetime. Each and every person standing here is the witness to this, we promise that henceforth we will not meet and have any contacts with each other.

He looked at vikram. Manik's whole face was stained with tears and they kept on flowing while he still had a small smile on his face. Can I please ask for a promise. For the first time I am asking for something please don't deny. Manik requested with a feeble voice. Bit by bit, second by second he was loosing his strength.

Vikram scrunched his nose and looked at manik for a second before nodding his head in a yes. Please don't let nandini resign. Let her continue her job as a editor. She has talents. She has got this job only on her talents. The writing house needs a talent like her. And aap bhi toh chahte the ki aapki beti independent bane. This is her chance to show the world who Nandini Murthy is.

He stopped for a second and then spoke again.

Please let her continue and I promise I will stay far away from her. I promise to never cross my limits. The only relation that we will have hence forth will be of an owner and an editor. Nothing more or less than that. We will be total strangers outside the writing house. While inside we will maintain as much distance as possible.

Nandini walked towards him and held him by his collars. NO....NAHI.....NAHI MANTI MAIN TUMHARE ISS DECISION KO. I DON'T AGREE WITH YOU. SUNA TUMNE NAHI MANTI MAIN ISS DECISION KO.

Manik gently freed his collars from her hand and held her hands. Nandini.....This is the best decision for both of us.

Nandini looked at him in disbelief. How on earth is this the best decision for US. She stressed on us. Kaise ho sakta hai yeh best decision for us jiski wajah se hume ek dusre se dur rehna pade. Jiske wajah se hume ek dusre ka saath chhodna pade. Kaise ho sakta hai aisa decision hamare liye best. Bolo manik. Kaise? How can you take such a decision?

Manik held her hands in a tight grip. He waited for a few seconds after she completed venting out her frustration. Tum batao nandini kya tum reh paongi apne mom ke bina? Unki pyaar se bhari daant ke bina? Unke dulaar ke bina? Kya tum reh paongi apne dadu ke begair? Unke saath masti kre bina? Your bhai who loves you more than his own life. Tell me will you be able to. And your dad. Your role model. Inko roz dekh ke tumhe inspiration milti hai na to work and become independent. Kya tum reh paongi is inspiration ke begair. Will you ever be happy leaving all of them? Tell me nandini.

Manik's each sentence, each question made Nandini feel more helpless. She felt out of words. She looked up at him and asked, Aur tum? Hum? Uska kya manik? Agar Main apni family ki bina ni reh sakti toh tumhare begair bhi nahi reh sakti. Please don't do this manik. To us. Please.

Nandini don't make it more difficult for me aur tum ne hi mujhe sikhaya hai ki rishte kaise nibhate hai aur aaj tum hi itna selfish behave kar rhi ho?

Nandini looked at him in utter disbelief. Selfish....main selfish ho gyi agar maine apne kiye kuch maang liya toh. Bolo manik. Har baar family aur unki choices ko Humne zyada importance diya. Life main ek baar humare liye kuch maanga aur woh bhi log mujhse cheen na chahte hai.

She spoke passing a sharp look towards Vikram. Pallavi and Rishabh stood totally helpless not knowing whom to support and whom to rebel. Bot were equally wrong and right. Nandini again looked towards manik.

Agar mera tumhare saath rehna mujhe selfish banate hai toh theek hai hoon main selfish. Iss duniya ki sabsi badi khudgarz insaan hoon main. But that will not stop me from choosing you over Mr. Vikram murthy.

NANDINI. Manik yelled. Dad hai woh tumhare. Aise baat krte hai unse.  HE IS YOUR FATHER GOD DAMMIT

AND YOU ARE MY LIFE MANIK. Why don't you understand that I cannot make a choice between you two.

Saying this she fell on her knees in front of manik. Manik closed his eyes and a fresh stream of tears flowed through his eyes. Rishabh immediately ran towards her and held nandini by her shoulders.

Unable to bear this manik started walking towards the exit while Nishchal ran after him. Seeing him walking away nandini ran behind him and crashed herself in his back. She fisted his shirt  in her hands  from the front.

Manik held her hands and freed his shirt. He not for once looked at her and walked towards the exit. Nishchal tried stopping him. Even cabir mukti and navya tried telling him not to do this but he clearly indicated them to stay out of this. Gaurav tried talking to Vikram but nothing helped.

Manik was about to cross the door when dadaji spoke, Ruko. Koi kahi nahi jayega. Manik stopped and turned back. All eyes were on dadaji who had a stern yet blank face.

Dadaji walked towards nandini and wiped her tears. Ni mera baccha mat ro. Tera dadu abhi zinda hai. Aur mere jeete jee main aisa kuch ni hone dunga.

Vishambhar then walked towards Vikram. Kya kar rha hai tu? Apne gusse main itna aandha ho gya ki beti ki khushi bhi nhi dikh rhi tujhe? Kal ko agar main tujhe kahu ki pallavi aur mere beech kisi ek ko chun toh kya tu yeh kar payega.

Vikram tried speaking something but Vishambhar cut him in not allowing anyone to speak.

Maanta hoon ki inn baccho ne shaadi jaisi ek pavitra woh kya kehte hai....haan sacred cheez ko gudda-guddi ka khel bana diya lekin tune yeh dekha ki inn Baccho ne apni soojh boojh ka istamal kar kaise rishton ko sambhala. Jo kiya inhone woh maafi ke layak nhi. Bilkul nhi. Lekin uss galti ki saza dene ka haq tera bhi nhi. Bhagwan inhe unki galti ki saza de chuka. Chaar saal ek dusre se alag rahe hai dono. Do pyaar krne walo ki liye isse badi saza aur kya ho sakti.

Vishambhar looked towards manik and held his hand and brought him back towards the centre of the living room near nandini.

Dekh inhe. Dhyaan se dekh dono ko. Aisa lagta hai jaise aiyappa na inhe ek dusre ke liye banaya hai. Woh kya hai Rishabh....... Dadaji looked at Rishabh who had a small smile on his face. Made for each other kehte hai dadaji.

Haaaan....made for each other.....kitne pyaar lagte hai dono ek saath aur tu bewakoof inhe alag krne chala. Ek Baap hone ke naate tera poora haq hai apni beti par. Lekin tu uski zindagi par lagam nhi laga sakta. Aur tum dono bade aaye balidaan dene.

Dadaji now faced towards manik and nandini who had smiles on their tear stained faces. Dadaji walked closer to manik and twisted his ear Aaahhhh! Da...Dada....dadajiii... Manik exclaimed seeing the scene a small laugh escaped cabir's lips which immediately calmed the atmosphere. Manik glared at cabir while he shamelessly kept on giggling.

After some few minutes dadaji left manik's ear that had turned red due to twisting. Balidaan dene chala tha. Itni bade bade dialogues kounse movies se ratt ke aaya tha? Haan? Bata? Lekin main bata doon mere saamne tu abhi bhi ek kaccha khiladi hai. Samjha na? Iss story ka asli hero main hoon aur humesha main hi rahunga. Tum sab toh abhi bacche ho.

Listening to dadaji everyone broke into fits of laughter. Especially the younger clan who seemed to have developed an instant liking for Vishambhar.

Vikram walked towards nandini and stood in front of her with his hands folded. Maaf krde apne Baap ko. Gusse main itna pagal ho gya ki pta ni kya kya bol baitha. Maaf krde mujhe.

Nandini immediately held his hands and said, Dad hai aap mere. Aapka haath uthe toh mujhe aashirvaad dene ke liye, maafi maang ne ke liye nhi. And gussa krna aapka haq. Galti ki thi Humne. Aap jo saza chahe de sakte hai bas agli baar aisa kuch mat kehna. Main kabhi bhi apni two families ke beech choose ni kr paogi. Jitne important mere liye Murthy's hai utne hi Malhotra's. Main inn dono ke beech kabhi choice nhi kar paogi.

Listening to nandini all of them had a smile on their faces. Gaurav who had slight tears in his eyes walked towards Vikram and stood in front of him.

Mr. Murthy manik aur nandini ke alawa main bhi  aapka gunegaar hoon. Manik aur nandini toh bacche the lekin main....main toh bada tha na.....Mujhe inn ko samjha na chahiye tha....lekin main apne main hi itna ghum tha ki maine bhi inki naadaniyo main inka saath de diya. Ho sake toh mujhe bhi maaf kr dI ji ye ga.

Gaurav stood there with his hands folded in front of Vikram. Seeing this manik and Nishchal felt bad but they knew this was needed. Vikram placed his hands over Gaurav's hands and said, Dosto main kaisi maafi aur Kaisa gunaah.

This one line bought a smile on many faces. Gaurav's head that was hung low rised up immediately listening to Vikram. Smiling at each other both shared a brief hug.

Moving apart they all settled on the sofa while the girls moved towards the kitchen along with Pallavi.

Once inside the kitchen pallavi and nandini shed a few tears and hugged each other. Navya and mukti too joined the hug. After breaking apart and wiping off their tears they set to prepare for lunch.

In the living room all men were talking about work and business. Manik and Vikram were slowly gradually gelling up. Vikram asked a few questions to manik regarding work which manik answered in a very polite manner.

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Post a hearty lunch all were sitting in the living room. Mukti and cabir looked and each other and nodded at each other. They both stood up at their places gaining attention of each and every member present there. Nishchal, Navya and Rishabh giggled seeing them while the rest looked at them with raised eyebrows.

Manik and Rishabh looked at each other and smiled evilly. Both got up from their places and stood exactly in front of mukti and cabir.

So......Manik said evilly rubbing his palms making mukti and cabir gulp in nervousness.

Punishment toh tum dono ko milegi. Ab punishment jo haI woh hum decide krege aur tum dono ko bina koi argument usse fulfil krni padegi. Bolo manzoor?

Having no other option both nodded. Rishabh and manik smirked at each other and spoke. Sit ups.

Listening to them Navya and Nishchal laughed loudly while nandini felt pity for Mukbir. Before she could say anything Rishabh spoke. 100 sit ups and only then will you guys be forgotten and your time starts now.

They both held their ears and started doing sit ups.

The scene looked so funny yet so adorable that a smile escaped manik and nandini's lips. Rishabh, Navya and Nishchal were rolling on the floor laughing at the two arch enemies who currently looked like school going teeny-weeny kids.

The elders looked at them while manik and nandini explained what had happened. Listening to them and seeing Mukbir elders also smiled while dadaji joined the trio in laughing out loudly.

Mukti who felt embarrassed murmured, yeh sab iss cockroach ki wajah se ho rha hai. Kaash maine iski baat hi ni suni hoti. Kaha phas gyi main.

Cabir who was standing next to her heard her and said loudly forgetting about others, Aye crocodile, cockroach kisko bola.

Mukti too got in her viraat roop yelled. Tujhe bola. Godzilla kahi ka.

Aye Anaconda kahi ki mujhe godzilla bolti hai. Cabir too yelled.

Vishambhar, Vikram and Pallavi looked amazed while the rest wanted to band their head on the wall. Pallavi spoke, koi inhe roko. Kaise lad rhe hAi dono.

Nishchal snickered and said, aunty inke beech main ghusna ka dusahas koi ni krega. Inki fight ko rokne ke chakkar hum dono ke beech main crushed ho jayege. Toh isiliye aap bas baithiye aur iss comedy sequence ka maza uthaye.

Laughing over Nishchal's choice of words manik nandini along with Rishabh, Nishchal and Gaurav sat down enjoying the live telecast of, human-version, of zoo animals.

Pallavi and Vikram looked at each other while Vishambhar has also seated himself on the couch. Not having any other option they too awkwardly nodded and sat down.

You are a hippopotamus!

You rhinoceros!

Rhinoceros kisko bola you elephant.

You know what you are yak! Ku ki yak-yak krne ke alawa tujhe aur kuch aata bhi nhi.

What the.....! How dare you call me a yak! You chameleon.

Oh! Atleast unlike you I do work! All yak's do is yak yak yak yak yak yak.

Cabir went on singing while mukti was fuming wd anger. She then smirked and replied loud enough for cabir to stop.

Atleast I do yak yak yak unlike you, who only knows how to shed crocodile tears.

The family was having their own time listening to them taunt each other.
Breaking  the moment Nishchal spoke loud enough to be heard by the two junglee animals.

I think hum na discovery channel se pak gye hai ab toh I think we should change to pogo or cartoon network? What say guys?

All of them started laughing while Nishchal took the remote that was lying on the coffee table. He pointed it's direction towards cabir and mukti and acted as if searching for a nice cartoon channel.

Both of them felt embarrassed. Seeing their flushed faces the family laughed. The sound of laughter and merriment was heard in the entire house. They all looked like all happy family. Enjoying their time to the fullest everyone departed for their respective homes. The younger clan decided to meet up for dinner at cabir's place. Since mukti was to leave the next day this was their last night together.

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All of them were sitted in cabir's house enjoying their soft drinks. None of them touched any kind of alcohol. They wanted this evening to be a peaceful one. Cabir's lame jokes, navya's babyish acts, manik and nandini's romance, cabir and mukti's stupid fights all these had drained out the memories of past few hours.

They were talking on a random topic when Rishabh asked, Waise manik I have a question.

Manik nodded. Pucho na bhai.

Hum yeh toh samjh gaye ki tum dono divorce ku liya lekin mujhe yeh samjh ni aata ki jab Nishchal theek ho gya toh uske baad tum wapas nandu ke paas ku nhi gaye the?

A sudden silence was spread over the room breaking the merry environment. Mukti broke the silence saying manik wapas aaya tha but jaise woh suddenly aaya tha waise hi suddenly wapas chala bhi gya. Maine pucha tha nandini se par usne koi jawab ni diya. Phir maine bhi zyada pucha ni. Ab bta manik kya hua tha uss raat.

Now everyone looked at manik.

Main gaya Tha bhai wapas nandini ke paas. After our divorce and all that, jab Nishchal theek ho gya tha toh main wapas nandini ko lene gaya Tha. But uss din......

Manik looked at nandini with sad eyes while nandini's eyes depicted extreme hurt and pain.

Yeh wapas aaya tha mere paas. But usne mujhpe trust na kr ke kuch unwanted logo ko trust kiya. Nandini's words left everyone baffled. Nishchal who thought that manik never went back was actually surprised listening he went back and what nandini said left him in utter state of shock. Manik started speaking again looking at nandini. While nandini not for once looked at him.

When I went back to London, I directly went to Trinity. Before I could meet nandini I came face to face with those guys who had drugged Nishchal and had actually made the principal believe that me and nandini had an illegal marriage forcing us to drift apart. Seeing them after so many months everything came back to me and in anger I got myself into a fight with them.

Manik looked at other while the rest attentively listened to him. Our fight gathered crowd and since it was inside college premises the principal to was informed about it. The principal along with few guards came and separated us. I was totally bruised while two of the boys were badly injured and taken to the hospital and one of them was as hurt as I was. Those two boys were immediately admitted to the hospital while the other guy, their leader, along with me were taken to the sick bay. Later we all were standing in the principals office. They were given a suspended from the college while I was sent to the police.

Nandini freed me from police custody by taking my guarantee and paying for the charges that were charged on me. Manik said while looking at everyone else. I had to stay in London for 24 hours as my passport  would be returned the next day.

Nandini took me with her to the apartment.  She tried telling me what I did was wrong and could have got myself into a grave problem. I just didn't listen to her. I was too overpowered by my anger. Anger on seeing those douche bags. Anger of not being able to take revenge. Anger that as usual they got away with a mere suspension. And in all this I forgot why I had returned back to London.

Manik then looked at nandini while speaking the last few lines. Nandini without looking at him continued.

Main manik ko London main dekh ke bohot surprised thi. Pehle mujhe laga ki yeh mera koi dream hai. But phir woh jo situation main tha usse dekh I was sure that I wasn't hallucinating. Manik ko police custody se free karake I took him to my apartment. Woh itne gusse main tha ki meri ek baat tak nhi suni.

Somehow I made him sit down and applied ointment to his wounds. But he was fuming in anger. He kept on venting his anger in me while I let him do it thinking ab shaant hoga........ ab shaant hoga. Jab mujhe koi raasta ni dikha toh I slapped him.

Again a preganant pause was there. The silence was killing them and deafening their ears. Unable to bear the silence anymore navya asked phir?

Nandini ke thappad ne mere ego aur gusse ko aur bhadka diya main gusse main aake kuch aise cheeze bole jo mujhe ni bolni chahiye thi. Aur uss din maine apne hi haathon se nandini aur mere rishte ko khatam kar diya. Mere gusse ki wajah se uss din maine nandini ko apne aap se dur kr diya. Aur jab tak mujhe apni galti realise hoti tab tak bohot late ho chuka tha. Jab tak main nandini se apni galti ki maafi maangta tab tak toh woh mujhse bohot dur chali gayi thi.

Everyone was looking at manik and nandini. Those bitter memories once again flashed in front of her eyes while his head was hung low. Both had tears in their eyes. Nandini got up and walked towards cabir's room. She seated herself on the bed and let walls break down. All the pain that she had been suppressing, since the day she saw manik in mumbai, was now flowing through her eyes.

After sometime she heard the door opening and closing again. She heard the lock being twisted and instantly knew who it could be. Not even looking up for once she spoke. Go away manik, tumne hi kaha tha na uss din ki woh sab jo bhi tha humara beech woh ek....ek....

Nandini couldn't complete as the mere mention of that kills her insides and burns her soul.

Nandini shut her eyes, remembering the words he spoke which broke her heart into million pieces. Those words which kept haunting her for years. Those words which shook her entire existence, killed her belief in love and her trust in him.

She continued after opening her glistening and hurtful eyes, woh sab jo bhi tha humare beech woh bas tumhare liye ek nasha tha, jisko tum bas enjoy karna chahte the.....

Tears kept escaping from her eyes as she continued, feelings nahi thi, pyaar nahi tha tumhare liye, woh sab ek DEEWANAPAN tha. Yahi kaha tha na tumne manik. Humare pyaar jo tumne hormonal teenage love se compare kiya. Aaj tak......abhi tak.....woh har ek word mere kaano main bajta hai. Lekin tumhe kya manik tumne toh badi aasani se apne gusse main aake humare pyaar ko, nhi nhi humari junooniyat ko deewanepan ka naam de diya. You called our true love as INFATUATION.

Manik frantically nodded his head. Nahi nandini. Mera woh matlab kabhi ni tha.

Nandini pulled him by his collars.  Accha toh kya matlab tha tumhara manik. Bolo na. Kya kehna chahte the tum. Woh sab jo bhi tha woh hum dono ke ehsaas ki dor thi, Jo tumne ek end se chod di toh main kaise usko sametke rakhti. Aaj us dor ko wapis jodne ke liye tumko thoda jyada effort dalni hogi coz mera trust aaj bhi toota hua hai.

{Authors note: The lines in the above para (in underlined & bold) are written by NeetiDhandal. Thanks di. ❤}

Manik held her elbows and pulled her in a tight hug. He too had tears in his eyes. Tum jaanti ho nandini mera yeh kehna ka matlab nhi tha.

Nandini struggled and tried freeing herself but manik held her in a tight grip. He kept kissing her shoulders while talking. I love you nandini. Whole-ly and solely you. Uss din maine ek bohot galti kardi thi aur uske liye tum jo chahe woh saza de sakte ho but please iss baar mujhe chhodke mat jao. Main nhi reh paonga tumhare bina. Please nandini I beg of you.

Saying this manik slide down her body and fell on his knees in front of her. He was crying incoherently. Nandini too was sobbing. She bend Down on her knees in front of him and held his face in her palms.

She could Never be angry with manik.  He has always been her only strength and only weakness. He looked at her while she too looked at him. A sudden feeling of longing engulfed their hearts. Both of them kept staring at each other.

Unable to bear even the slight distance that was there between them, they hugged each other with all the strength. Manik held her waist in a death grip almost pushing her inside him. Nandini's hands were wrapped around his neck tightly.

Manik kept squeezing his hands around nandini's waist trying to fit her inside him. His name escaped from her mouths making them slowly part away. Seeing his tear stained face she nodded her head in a no and gently wiped the tears away with her thumb.

Manik too wiped away her tears. He planted a small kiss on her forehead. Inspite of him being on his knees, nandini still couldn't reach for his forehead. She held his shoulder and taking support of that stood up. Manik wrapped his hands around her waist. Nandini leaned her entire weight on him.

She gently kissed his forehead and looked in his eyes. She then tilted her head to her right and kissed his left cheek. She did the same with his right cheek. Her kisses were soft against his stubble and hard skin. The air surrounding them was turning intense with each kiss.

Both were looking at each other. Manik pulled her by her waist causing her to move closer while her hands wrapped around his neck, slowly. The way her fingers were caressing his hair while his fingers caressed her waist over the fabric caused a havoc in their senses.

Manik moved his face closer to hers. Nandini tilted her head a little to get proper access. Their lips were almost touching. Their hot breathes mingled with each other. Manik looked at her closed eyes. He with his fingers pulled her waist causing her lips to touch his. Manik smirked and within at fraction of second started sucking them.

The kiss that was supposed to be gentle turned out to be a passionate one. Still kissing each other manik settled himself on the floor with his back resting with the bed post. Nandini had held his hair in a strong grip. Manik pulled her and made her sit on his lap.

Their fronts were touching while the kiss seemed to be a never ending one. Manik kept chewing her lips harshly while nandini kept tugging and pulling his hair. The kiss made them breathless but none off them wanted to back off. Rather manik pulled her more closer causing nandini's entire body to be pressed against manik's.

Both of them broke apart panting for breathe. Nandini felt a deafening in her ears while she was unable to even open her eyes. Manik too had his head leaned against the bed post. Both of them felt blacked out for a few minutes. Slowly nandini kept her head on his shoulder. Manik lightly opened her eyes and smiled cuddling her closer. Nandini too had a faint smile. After sometime both looked at each other.

Manik rested his forehead on hers and kissed her nose making her giggle. He rubbed his thumb on her swollen lips. He sucked the thumb and once again rubbed her swollen lips sucking his thumb again. His actions made nandini blush while manik was smirking. He pulled her closer and kissed her again.

The kiss was gentle. Very gentle. It was a short kiss.

Manik took her hand and kissed her each finger. Smile didn't leave nandini's face for even a second. When manik finished and looked in her eyes he had tears in the corner of his eyes. Nandini immediately hugged him. Manik too hugged her back.

I missed you nandini.

I missed you more manik.

Nandini...... Manik whispered in the hug. Hmmm.....nandini too whispered back.

Will you marry me?

Nandini broke the hug and looked at manik with a shine in her eyes.

Will you marry me? This time a proper marriage. All the rituals. Everything. A proper marriage that I promised you of.

Nandini smiled scratch that she was so happy that her excitement and happiness was unexplainable.

Yes yes yes yes hell yess manikkkkk! Nandini's voice echoed in the room while manik laughed loudly seeing her excitement. Nandini immediately got off his lap and started roaming around the room.

Manikkkkk you know we will have a proper punjabi wedding. With mehendi, haldi sangeet, and chuda. And I will decide the themes for all the functions.

Manik got up from the floor and looked at the bundle of joy with a big smile. Nandini again spoke walking around in circles. 

Actually I was thinking we will have a blend of rituals from both the sides. We will have each ceremony celebrated twice. No actually we will have it once in a grand way. Ya ya we will have it in a grand way with few guests no media. I want just us. Only us manik. Oh my god I m already so excited I don't know what to do. Oh ya we will also have a.......

Manik pulled her hand and pulled her closer stopping her from blabbering any further. Manik looked and her passionately while nandini's looked down.  Manik put a finger below her chin and pulled her face closer. He bent down and started sucking their lips.

Nandini pushed him during the kiss and started walking towards the door trying to hide her blush.

Manik held her by her elbow while he was still looking at the floor. Nandini didn't for once turn around while manik now looked at her back and pulled her closer. Her back dashed with his chest. Nandini had turned redder than a cherry. While manik being a tease continued his tortures on her neck.

He turned nandini around and pulled her face closer for another passionate kiss. Their lips were a millimetre apart when a loud knock on the door broke their moment.

Oye laila majnu! Mere bedroom se bahar niklo. Who else could it be other than the all time favourite cabiraaaa!

For a moment manik and nandini kept looking at each other and then burst out laughing. Both hugged each other still laughing. Before moving out they straightened their clothes.

Moving out they cane across 5 faces smirking at them. Seeing them nandini hid behind manik while manik too looked everywhere else. Seeing them the 5 broke into fits of laughter. Soon manik and nandini too joined them.

Manik and nandini shared their idea of getting married again in the presence of boh the families. The gang hugged them and celebrated. All were enjoying while manik pulled Nandini closer. I love you chimpi. My chimpi.

Nandini giggled. I love you more monkey. My monkey.

Unfortunately for them and fortunately for all, the gang heard them. Being the all time romance spoiler cabir spoke, Kya pyaar hai dono main. Abhi se baccho ke naam bhi soch rakhe.

Knowing what was coming ahead manik glared at cabir to which he feigned ignorance. Navya asked, matlab?

Arrey ae tubelight....Cabir said hitting on navya's forehead.  Manik monkey aur nandini chimpi aur bacche ka naam "Chinkey". Hua na perfect family moment.

Listening to him all of them broke into fits of laughter while nandini blushed profusely and manik glared at cabir trying to hide his smile. Chal chal kisi aur ko dara. Main ni darta tere gusse se.

As soon as cabir said that a tom and jerry fight broke between manbir. After a merry night all departed home. Manik and nandini reached their respective homes.

Freshening up both settled in the balcony gazing at the full moon night. Seeing the bright stars both had a peaceful smile on their faces. Reminiscing the time they spent together made them smile even more. Nandini picked up her phone and texted manik to which she got an instant reply making her blush as well as  smile more. Her cheeks started hurting but who cared when you had such a loving soon-to-be husband. The text was,

N:I love you humesha.

M: I love you forever, Junoon.

-*-*-*-*-*-*T H E - E N D*-*-*-*-*-*-

Here we come to the end of manik's & nandini's journey.

Junooniyat. This will always be my most memorable journey. I had fun writing this book.

Thank you all for dealing with all my tantrums and coping up with my nakhras😉

Hope you guys too enjoyed the journey of junooniyat.

For one last time please do vote and comment and please let me know how you have personally felt about the book.

Before I end the book my special thanks to ImLilMissComplicated SilentWarriorx AishwaryaKadam4 for  all the outstanding covers/ banners that they have made for this book. Thanks a lot angiee, fizzah di and aish.

Thank you NeetiDhandal for all the help you and support.

And a very big thank you to all my readers for reading and commenting.