(A/N: Yolo. Long time eh? Well, here is the second-last part of the story. This chapter will be in two parts, or probably a six-shot instead. Vote and comment okay? Thank you.)

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Nandini and I were swaying to the beats. While she was dancing gracefully, I was just stumbling and awkwardly shifting from side to side, trying to not make it seem too obvious that I was completely smitten by the woman in front of me. She was totally into the music and I was into her. Never in my life had I seen a woman as beautiful as she was. The fact that in matter of few hours, I'd never see her again, was what shook me. I had to confess, before it was too late.

"Hmm..." I was thinking about it again. Her proximity just made it harder for me to think straight, more so because she was literally in my arms, with her hands around me, in the most romantic places possible. It might not be the right time to confess in the middle of a dance. Should I just tell her I love her? Come on. Stop overthinking, I reminded myself. I took a deep breath.

"Do you feel something between us?" I asked in the most creepiest way I could ever approach a woman. That vacation made me face much more embarrassing situations than I'd ever had to undergo in my entire life. Surprisingly, she didn't give a really bad reaction.

"Chemistry?" She chuckled and I felt my heart beat faster. Don't smile like that, Nandini.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, I do." I was so excited that she probably felt the same. At least, I was hinted that she was interested in me. Inside, it was like my mind was doing somersaults; my heart was beating at a different frequency and my body was heating up with anxiety. On the exterior, I shot a weird grin.

"I want to show you something. Mind coming with me?" I held out my hand. She smiled, placing her little palm in mine. I held it securely, almost like a promise, to never let go. I walked along with her quietly, to a little ventilated corner inside the camp. I sat her down and took a seat myself, still gaping at her.

"What is it, Manik?" I dreamily blinked, while she flushed. I took a deep breath, rehearsed my lines to not sound too creepy or anything, and prepared to speak.

"Since these are the last few hours we're going to be here, spending time together, I wanted to talk to you. There is a possibility we'll never meet again but before we part ways, there is something you need to know." I said in one quick breath. She smiled, placed her chin on her palm and cupped it, resting her elbow on her lap.

"Go on." I smiled faintly and rather in a weird way as I tried to put my feelings in plain language.

"Nandini... I am so madly, crazily in love with you... From the time I first saw you... I was blown away. I've... I've never felt this connection with anyone, ever before. Yeah, I know I should've told you this before but... I don't know. I just wasn't sure about how you'd react to this. It probably is like too late now; but better late than never right?" I found it hard to breathe. I could feel my heart beating in my stomach, real fast. I nervously fiddling with my fingers. I looked at her with a sense of hope, or rather met my eyes with hers. She seemed awestruck by my confession.

"Are you... sure? Like, 100%?" She asked with a tinge of doubt. How could I tell her she meant everything to me?

"Never been more sure about anything in my life. I am in love... with you, Nandini. Right from the moment I saw you, even now, I'm trembling. My heart is beating so fast. I-I can't form sentences..." I looked up to the sky and heaved a huge breath. She blushed and shook her head in disbelief. "Ahh... I'm sorry... It's just... Nobody's ever made me feel this way. That's why I don't want to let you go. I need you, Nandini. I need you in my life. I want to spend every moment of my life from this minute, with you." I sighed deeply as I completed whatever I had to say.

I actually had a proper proposal planned but circumstances failed to allow me to do so. As soon as I faced her, I couldn't speak. All I said was what I felt at that moment. I didn't care if it was right or wrong to say that and that's why I looked at her, with some hope. She gazed at me for a long time, making eye contact and I got nervous.

After a good duration, she broke eye-contact and stood up, shaking her head negatively. She adjusted her curls and her lehenga. In that lighting, she looked nothing less than a princess. She was literally dressed in a simple long white skirt and a beautifully embroidered orange top. A section of her hair was pinned to the side and her lashes fluttered gracefully.

"Manik... I can't be with you. I have no family, my studies..." She spoke with long pauses, flapping her hands in the air to justify herself.

"But I love you." I cut her sentence and she gawked at me. I couldn't believe I had the guts to say that, with that much confidence. "Just tell me one thing, right now. Will you marry me, if not now, Nandini, in future?" I stood so damn close to her, I could smell her perfume. She gulped.

"Sacchme pyaar karte ho mujhse?" She asked, sternly and slowly. I was literally centimeters away from her. Never did I think I'd be this stubborn. It was literally like I was trying to find reasons to prove I loved her truly.

"Bahut zyaada." She was literally in tears, and I didn't even know why. Why was she pushing me away if she really loved me? And if she didn't, why was she crying?

"Ek hafte main pyaar kaise ho sakta hai? That's lust na? Not love." Her eyes were tearing up, but she sniffed them away. I straightened my expression, sliding my hands into my pockets, for I'd gotten my answer.

"Pyaar karti ho tum bhi mujhse." She shook her head negatively, not looking at me.

"Nahi..." I placed my fingers under her chin and lifted it.

"Toh phir ro kyun rahi ho?" She wiped her tears and chuckled.

"Main pagal hun. Issliye."

"Nandini, answer me." She sniffed and looked up into my eyes.

"Humesha mere saath rahoge?"

"Until I breath my last breath." I vowed. She smiled, sniffing adorably. She touched my hand subtly and placed her fingers in mine. My heart fluttered in joy. Even the littlest things she did, meant so much.

"Then marry me today, right now. Karoge na?"

"If that's what you want, I don't mind." She shoved her face into my chest and started wailing. Her arms wrapped around my waist and I didn't know how to react to that.

"I love you, Manik. From the moment I met you, I just can't get you out of my head. The silly things you did, to get my attention, impressed me. The Augustus-Hazel lie you said, and covered up later, made you cute. The day you fell asleep on my shoulder, that was the day I realized how beautiful it would be to wake up to see that face every morning. I fell in love with you that moment." She has made my shirt wet with her tears and I felt euphoric. I'd conquered her heart. Nandini was mine.

"Really? Phir mana kyun kar rahi ho mujhe?" I cupped her face and brushed the tears off her cheeks. I didn't want to see her to cry ever, but I really didn't know what else to do. If I'd kiss her, she might get scared. It might be inappropriate.

"I was scared you'll leave me. I don't want you to leave me." She wailed and I wrapped my arms around her.

"I never will. I love you."

"I love you." She held me in her arms and I stood along, not trying to disturb and break the moment. I just waited and waited for her to calm down.

***

"Yahan kyun aaye hai?" I looked around to see a church. I prayed silently to avoid any lectures or sessions about the church and it's history in the middle of the night. Though it wasn't too late, I still was in no mood for it.

"Karoge na shaadi? Ghar main koi problem hogi toh?" Getting married to her at a church, that too so casually? Nobody would know me there. I had an idea of a dream destination wedding, where the entire world would witness us getting committed to each other, forever. I was a bit skeptical. Her face drooped. I couldn't see her that way. I ditched all my wishes that moment. The only thing that mattered to me was Nandini. I cupped her face in my heads and pecked her forehead.

"I can do anything for you, okay?" I pat her cheek. She placed her hand on mine and clutched it tight. We smiled and she leaned onto my shoulder, closing her eyes. I rubbed her hand and bound her to myself. We were already almost like husband and wife. Just vows and a signature, that would bind us together. The priest gave us a look. He probably thought we eloped or something. To clarify, I justified myself.

"We love each other. We have no family. Is that called eloping?" I asked out of sheer curiosity. The priest smiled and said something on the lines that every individual without a family has God with him always.

I let go of Nandini and stood on the other side of the aisle. She arrived from the opposite side. Despite our attires, we looked somewhat like bride and groom. The priest asked me to recite some lines and I did.

"I, Manik Malhotra, take Nandini Murthy to be my legally wedded wife. I promise to have and to hold us together, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish until death do us apart. Hereto I pledge you my faithfulness. I love you." I completed and smiled an assuring smile. She spoke her set of vows and I kissed her hand.

"I don't have a ring now, so..." She held my hand tight. The priest completed the verses.

"You are now legally declared husband and wife, under the name of God. You may now kiss the bride." I looked at her and she approached me. She put her hands around my neck and leaned into me.

"Manik... I don't know how to kiss." I smirked at her and held her waist. "Don't worry, I'll help you." I placed my lips on hers for the first time ever, rightfully claiming what was to be mine. She was now my wife, under the law. I tried to be as gentle as possible and I felt her tears blend with my cheeks. In that one kiss, I promised to keep her happy always and promised to give her a beautiful family she would cherish.

***

She insisted us to go to the temple too, after our marriage. I wondered how she believed so much in God and for her sake, I agreed to go there. We prayed to that idol and she applied vermillion on her partition. The sudden transition made feel overwhelmed. The fact that I was the reason for the vermilion being put on her partition, made me happy.

On the way back to the camp, I was looking out of the window, admiring the city. I felt my girl scoot closer to me. She took my hand, entwined her fingers with mine and placed her head on my shoulder. I smiled and adjusted myself to comfort her.

"Manik, after so many years, I finally feel at peace. All these days I thought I had nobody and there was no reason for me to live. Now I have everything. I am happy." She whispered softly. I kissed her head gently and tightened my grip.

"You are my world." I meant every word of what I said. I never thought I'd be someone who believed in such blissful love, but it was true. She was my everything.

***

I tossed and turned in my room, trying hard to sleep. I checked my phone to see the time, 12:07. How could it be that I could just sleep after how much my life changed in a matter of 4 hours? I had to see her. I had to be with her. I tip-toed out of my room without waking Cabir and went to hers.

I tapped the door lightly. "Manik, tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?" That was the first thing she asked me the moment she opened the door.

"What do you mean kya kar raha hun? Chalo mere room main." I grinned at her and held her hand. She struggled and withdrew.

"Tumhare room main kaise? Cabir hai na vahan?" She murmured quickly and I smirked.

"So? You are my wife now. Remember? Tonight is a special night for us." I pulled her into me and shot that cheeky grin. She blushed profusely, being addressed by that name.

"Manik... the special night can wait..." She pushed me away and smiled. "Abhi mujhe jaana hai. Okay? So tum bhi so jao." She pushed me out of her room and tried to shut me out, but how? I stuck around, being the taller and physically stronger.

"Come on Nandini, humari pehli raat hai." I nagged and tried to act cute.

"Mumbai jaane ke baad I'm all yours, teek hai? Bas thodi der ki baat hai." She tried to convince me and I clicked my lips in disapproval. "Ab jao. Good night!"

"Okay... Bye." I groaned, totally not interested in letting her go. She shut the door behind me, and smiled. She stood in front of the mirror and observed herself carefully. The vermillion on her forehead made her smile. The sudden change in relations made her feel elated.

I went back to the room, so damn irritated. I threw myself on the bed beside Cabir but that man was snoring so loudly, I couldn't tolerate it. I pulled the bed sheet from underneath him and threw it on the floor, on a thin mattress. I twisted and turned, all in vain. It was such a memorable day for me. How could I just sleep it off?

I heard the door knock and jumped off to check who it was. I peeped out to see her dressed beautifully, like a newly wedded bride. Her dupatta hung over her shoulder, almost sweeping the ground.

"Aa gayi?" I squealed and she palmed my mouth shut almost instantly.

"Shh... Cabir so raha hai." She gasped. I looked around and pulled her inside, shutting the door and pushing her against it.

"Let him die. I don't care." I breathed over her face, mesmerized by her. I pushed her hair strands behind her ear and leaned onto her neck. Her scent made me crazy. I inhaled her and placed a wet kiss right under her ear. She gripped my shirt and whimpered. I immediately let go, embarrassed by my own act. I couldn't behave that desperate. I walked away slowly and fell onto the little bed I'd made for myself. She walked behind me slowly, sitting next to me, with her knees slightly bent and her feet on the mattress. She slid her arms underneath her knees and smiled warmly.

"Don't sleep next to me." I warned as my breathing hitched seeing her look at me like that. She smirked and lied down right beside me, her face inches away from mine.

"Kyun?" Her orange-tinted lips moved beautifully in the dark, as she blew on my nose. Her eyes gazed into mine.

"I can't control. I might do something inappropriate." I felt her hand graze on mine and slowly grasp it.

"Manik..." She closed in against me. Literally half her body was touching mine. I felt sparks of adrenaline. All I could manage to say was...

"Hmm..."

"Can you make love to me? Please?" Even before I could protest, "Manik, please." I immediately obliged. I grabbed the mattress and sheets and took them along with me to the balcony. The balcony was a concealed place, usually that's how hotels are, with a huge area to have get-togethers. I placed the mattress and the bedsheets over the floor and pulled the curtains over. I went back inside, swept her off her feet and carried her outside bridal style.

I placed her on the bed I'd made. She writhed under me and as slowly and subtly as possible, I made love to her.

"I love you so much, Nandini and I will, until my last breath." I promised as I claimed her lips once again.

"I love you, Manik."

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(It doesn't end here. Wait for another part, it'll be up by this weekend. It's taken me so long to write this. Please drop your votes and comments. Loads of love. Spam me, okay? I love spams. Okay bye.)