~ A relationship is not always about compromise and adjustments, sometimes it's also about retaining your individuality!~

Nandini huffed and sat on the bed. Her chubby cheeks reddening with anger, every minute now. If it was in her power, she would have strangled a certain someone, or maybe break off some materialistic things to calm down. But then, she could not afford that either. So she sat on the bed waiting for her hubby to come home, as her mind went down the flashback.

*Flashback*

Nandini woke up the next day, after the melancholic night of tears and smiles. Manik was no where to be seen but a big bouquet of her favourite stargazers wished her a good morning. Nandini smiled wider smelling the fresh essence of her favourite flowers. She got down, took a pink Saree and went towards the washroom. Fifteen minutes later, she came out to find Manik standing with a her bed tea and rusk and of course his special boyish grin. The water drops fell like dew drops on her back, her bare waist now soaking wet under them. She walked towards him, and circled her arms around his nape, as her wet strands stuck to his face too, their morning starting with a kiss instead of the tea.

In the afternoon, Nandini was working in her office when the receptionist knocked and entered with a bouquet of carnations and chocolate sandwiches. Needless to mention, from her hubby dearest. Nandini blushed as she thanked him.

The evening witnessed a bouquet of white tulips and a mug of hot chocolate waiting for her in the room. The night was them sealed with a forehead kiss and a passionate embrace.

For the entire next week, the same pattern continued. The beverages and choice of flowers did change, but she received them every phase of the day. Initially she loved the pampering and these romantic acts, but now it had started irking her. Nandini was not that type of women who loved these things. Once in a while everyone loves them, but everyday these lavish things bored her. Moreover, there was something more that was bothering her.

Three days after this flower ritual had commenced, Nandini was happily ironing his shirt, humming to herself while Manik was having a shower. Suddenly her phone rang and she started talking to her boss about some projet, and as expected burnt his shirt, his favourite one for that matter. Manik came out and Nandini was ready to apologize since she knew it would have hurt him, but to her dismay he didn't react. He just smiled and pecked her forehead, and wore another shirt, saying that he knew it was a mistake. At first, Nandini thought it was he being the caring husband he was, but later it started bugging her.

It bugged her when he came home tired, but didn't complain and still took her to the beach just because she had told to him in the morning.

It bugged her when he didn't say a word to her when she accidentally broke the vintage frame he had specially ordered last year.

It bugged her when he agreed to wear a baby pink shirt to office just because she told him to, when all she had wanted was him to deny on that.

And now enough was enough. Manik malhotra definatety needed a lesson.

*Flashback ends*

Manik returned home early. After all it was just a day before Christmas. Kabir- Antara, Rishbah, Navya-arjun and Aaradhya had all went for a get together in the evening and Nyonika and Raj were as usual out, with their respective friends. He pushed open the door to his room only to be surprised. It was completely messed up, very unlike Nandini . Clothes were lying on the bed, pillows decorated the floor, the bed table was disastrous, his favourite perfume bottles lay broken! Manik took a few deep breaths before entering and called out for Nandini who came out of the washroom, with a scowl on her face.

" Ohh Manik! You came! See na the room is so messed up. Please clean all this!", She spoke, without looking at him busy drying her hairs. Manik gaped at her, this wasn't the Nandini he knew, but he still didn't comment.

"Sure", he said, and kept his bag aside, loosening his tie! But before he could start, Nandini jerked him, turning him to her and thrusted some papers in his hand.

" Manik Malhotra, I am divorcing you", she yelled while Manik was taken by surprise.

" Nandini?", His voice came out as a whisper, but Nandini didn't pay any heed.

"What's wrong baby? Did I hurt you?",  He asked, his voice quivering as he tried to cup her face.

"Yes. You did.", Nandini answered as few tears made their way out, even after her trials of resisting. Manik was stunned. What did he do?

"What happened Nandini? Atleast talk to me. Tell me what went wrong? I promise I will correct anything and everything", Manik pleaded and this time Nandini looked up at him.

"Nandini promise?", She asked again, forwarding her palm which Manik grabbed instantly.

" Nandini promise.", His voice was desperate.

" Then promise me you will shout at me, you will scold me, you will fight with me", Nandini kept forward her condition stupifying Manik.

" What?", He asked, as if he heard her wrong.

"Yes. You heard me.", Nandini was admant.

" But Nandini, t-that D-day you panicked and I-I...", Before he could continue Nandini kept her slender fingers on his lips.

"And you thought it was because of you, right?", She completed the sentence and Manik looked down.

Nandini sighed before resting her head on his heart, her hands circling his waist.

"What do you think Manik? Only you love me? Only you understand me? I love you too Manik, more than you think I do. I know that since that night, you are feeling guilty that you shouted on me and that was why I got a panic attack. Somewhere you also felt betrayed by me, that I couldn't differentiate between your love and my appa! Haina?", Nandini asked, and Manik hid his face in her neck, as he kept hugging her. She got her answer just with that.

"Manik, it wasn't you. I had been into that zone before you came. And someway or the other, that was bound to happen. Fifteen years of my life is ought to domainate me, but fifteen months of our togetherness brought me out of it Manik. You don't think I know, but I do. Every night when you caress my hairs so that I sleep peacefully, every day you call my office to make sure I am alright. Every day you talk to Navya and Rishbah like their own father, so that they stay comfortable. Every night the half hour you spend in the balcony gazing the moon, thinking through everything yet again, I know Manik. I might have never expressed the way you do, but I love you much more!", Nandini was almost in tears by now, her voice coming out raspy and in between hiccups. Manik didn't know what to say or what to make of it. He stood holding her close, as much as he could. The divorce thing had shaken him up. Nandini forcefully broke the hug and cupped his face.

"And this is why the last week hurt me Manik. I am not a doll, I am your partner. You are allowed to tell me that I am careless when I burnt your shirt or when I break your vintage collection. I don't need flowers and chocolate every day. I need your verbal assurance that you are there. But then, your opinion and choice matters the most to me. You don't have to wear a pink shirt just because I said it Manik. I want you to be the actual you, not a puppet who works as per my comfort. I want you to exercise your own rights about the choices we make because you and me both make a we", Nandini took a deep breath before she could continue.

"Manik, if you are guilty that you scolded me that day, you can't even imagine how guilty I am to ruin your chance of a perfect life, by binding you to someone as flawed as me. Please Manik, don't do this to yourself. In this relationship you are as important as me. And I can't see you like this, curbing your own desires and wishes just for me. I can't see you silently suffocate yourself. Because if this continues, I am certain I will d-divorve....", Nandini couldn't complete her sentence since he captured her soft petals in his, kissing the hell out of her. It wasn't a gentle one, but yet passionate enough for Nandini to realize how much he burnt at the mention of the D word. He kissed her like it was the end of the world, like he would never see her again. Nandini reciprocated him the same way, understanding the despair of his heart.

"I am sorry", he breaths heavily  with a cute pout as he rested his head on hers, his warm breaths dancing on her wet face.

" I love you", nandini blushed deep as she replied, dismissing his sorry, too cutely and he laughed at his wife.

"Okay lets clean this first, I have a surprise for you", Nandini exclaimed suddenly, now cursing herself for creating this mess in the room, while Manik enjoyed her expressions.

" By the way Nandini, you actually broke my perfume bottles?", Manik asked as he looked at her while Nandini enjoyed his perplexed ecpressions.

"No hubby dearest, I just changed the bottles, your perfumes are safe", she straightened her fake collars proudly as Manik shook his head at her.

A complete hour later, their room looked presentable enough. They hurriedly changed their clothes as per Nandini's choice. Ready, Manik forwarded his elbow towards her like a gentlemen and Nandini complied with a laugh.

When they reached the terrace, Manik's mouth hung open in shock.

"Nandu, snow!!!!!",. Manik screamed in excitement all ready to play with it when he heard a known and yet beautiful laugh.

"Manik it's not snow. Just decoration!", She still laughed like crazy and Manik now embarrassed laughed with her.

Together they decorated the star on the christmas tree and smiled at each other.

" Manik, I want my christmas gift!", Nandini looked up at him and he smiled.

"At your service", he bent forward dramatically.

"Just promise me that we will never loose our individuality as a compromise of our relationship. We will always be Manik and Nandini first, and MaNan next", she requested, her eyes now glistening with unshed tears.

"I promise. But I also promise that I won't let you cry again!", He wiped the tear before pressing his lips on her forehead.

The clock struck twelve and the sky lit up beautifully.

"Merry Christmas!", They wished together, before embracing each other again!

Note- Helloo, We are nearing the end now. Maybe two more chapters to go. So please please please, vote and comment. The journey had been amazingly beautiful and I want to remember the end forever too!