The next morning, Manik groaned in his sleep as he lifted his arm and shielded his eyes from the sun rays entering the room. Turning and tossing on the bed for a few minutes, he finally got frustrated as he got up and moved straight to the window, pulling the curtains close. 

He turned around rubbing his eyes from sleep when his gaze fell open the petite figure on the other side of his bed. A simple sigh escaped his mouth as he moved back onto the bed, sitting there as he moved his hand forward, tucking the loose strand of hair behind her ear. He caressed her face lightly, delighted at the feel of her soft skin under his fingers.

One major thing that he had learned about Nandini, in the two months of living with her, was that she spelt like a Baby and she absolutely Loved her sleep. Being out of the Kapoor Mansion now, she gave herself the liberty to increase her number of sleeping hours and Manik didn't dare to disturb her in that knowing how grumpy she would become after that.

He chuckled at it before planting a soft kiss on her temple as he moved to the washroom to freshen up.

Manik: Crazy Girl!
He whispered to himself with a smile. He moved into the closet to change into his workout clothes when he saw his tracks and vest ready onto the chair along with a spare towel while his shoes were right next to it beside the chair. A smile came onto his face knowing who would have kept it ready for him as he muttered to himself.

Manik: I don't know what I would do without her! 

Soon enough he found himself in the gym room as he ran on the treadmill with mind busy going on through how much his life had changed since they got married.

Earlier he used to hate having nothing to do and thus, he would always busy himself either in work or in Music and the rest of the time he would somehow convince his friends to go somewhere. The past few months before they got married, he would meet Nandini everyday after work roaming around somewhere or the other. He always thought that it was because Nandini wished to stay away from her house, but now he knew it was actually him who was always craving to spend more and more time with her. And now even when he spends almost every waking minute of his day with her, he didn't somehow seem to get himself to complain. 

Their was something about Nandini that no matter what, he could never get bored of her company. Their friends and family kept on gushing on how much deep the two of them are into each other. Its not like they ever actually tried to show them that, but still everyone believed it. Every now and then the word Love would pop up into his head, but then the same image of his dearest sister on her death bed would haunt him.

He tightened his jaw as the thought came to his mind. Love brought weakness along with it. It got misery and pain with it and he knew he would never want that for himself or for Nandini. He cared for her too much to make her go through the pain of being in love. Friendship, on the other side had always got him happiness and peace. Nandini was his best friend, and he would do anything for her, in the same way as she would for him.

Harsh: Manik... Manik!
Harsh called him out making him snap out of his thoughts as he saw his father on his side exercising on another Machine.

Harsh: Where are u lost?

Manik: Oh nothing dad.... Just thinking. U were saying something?

Harsh: Yes.... I asked did u talk to Nandini about the honeymoon?

Manik: No.... Didn't get a chance yet. It was quite late by the time everyone left and she seemed quite tired so I let it drop.

Harsh: Its ohk! Just talk to her about the exact date of her event and then we can plan ur trip.

Manik: Yeah!
Manik said nodding at him as he continued running.

Harsh: By the way, ur mom has insisted to plan out ur entire trip. From ur schedule to the stay arrangements to the tickets, she wants to do it all herself.

Manik slowed down at his words frowning at it before he finally turned the Machine off and got down wrapping a towel around his neck.

Manik: Dad u know I can manage it all myself!!

Harsh: Of course we know u can.... But U r our only Son! Ur mom has some dreams, let her do what gives her happiness okay?

Manik sighed at him nodding with a slight smile,
Manik: Fine... As u guys wish!

He continued his workout for about an hour more, compensating for the other days of the week as well coz he couldn't work out much daily. He moved back to his room to find Nandini still sleeping and decided to wake her up after having a bath. In there standing under the shower he mind wandered back to Mansi.

His sister was everything for him and he had seen what brought her down. No matter how much the iconic world of Love seemed fantastic, he had known the truth at a very young age. He was the only person who knew what all his sister had suffered just bcoz she was in Love with her sick of a husband. And in the end even when it got so far, she preferred taking her own life than revolting against her love.

Weakness.... He hated that word. He could never like any feeling or any person who was weak. Somehow maybe that was something which made him look upto Nandini. He knew how difficult her childhood was, but still she stood strong and made herself what she was today.

What exactly were his actual feelings for her then?

Well..... He simply Adored Her!

Every little thing about her somehow seemed to pull him closer and he knew one thing for sure and that was the fact that he never wanted to move back.

He moved out of the washroom, dressed up in some casual 3/4ths and T-shirt when he moved closer to her. He took a seat next to her on the bed before slightly shaking her arm.

Manik: Nandini..... Nandini...

Nandini moved her arm away as she turned her back towards him.

Manik: Nandini wake up its almost time for breakfast.

Nandini: I wanna sleep... U make the breakfast today!
He heard her muffled voice through the pillow as he chuckled as she had forgotten that they were in the Malhotra Mansion.

A broad smile came onto his face as he moved away from her bed slowly. He positioned himself at the far corner of the room near the closet door as he said in a stern loud voice.

Manik: What the hell Nandini? Its 9, u r still sleeping... U forgot u have a meeting with the investors at 10.... 

Before he knew what happened Nandini immediately sprung awake with a yelp as she moved on the wrong side making her slide down the bed and on the floor with a Thud!

Nandini: Ouch!
She groaned rubbing her head as she sat up, opening her eyes. She looked around herself, realising finally that she was in the Malhotra Mansion and that there was no work today.

Her gaze shifted towards Manik, who was still leaning on the closet door, bitting his lips to stop his soft chuckles from turning into full fledged laughter.

She managed to untangle her legs from the duvet, placing it back onto the bed as she got up on her feet this time rubbing her butt to ease the pain. Manik continued chuckling at her making her narrow her eyes at him.

Nandini: Manik.... What the hell was that?
She shouted stomping her foot onto the floor.

Manik looked at her glaring at him, as one of her hands rested on her waist trying to intimidate him while the other hand still rubbing her back side. Her hair coming off from three different sides, messing it all around due to the fall while her chubby checks turning red in anger making her cute peach coloured nighty. And this time he just couldn't stop himself from laughing out loud at how adorable she was looking at that particular moment.

Nandini's jaw dropped as he saw him laughing at her as she picked up the pillow from the bed before throwing it towards him.
Nandini: U jerk.... How dare u laugh?

Manik laughed louder this time dodging the second pillow that she threw towards him as he started moving towards the other side of the room still laughing his guts out.

He saw Nandini walking closer as this time she threw a cushion from the couch somehow hitting him straight onto his head as he rushed towards the door. He opened up the door, dodging another cushion as he saw her picking up the last two from the other side of the couch.

He held his stomach from laughing so much as Nandini huffed at it, pouting in her anger while her cheeks turned further red as he ran straight towards the stairs.

He didn't have to turn around to know that she was following him as he heard her shouting,
Nandini: Manik Malhotra u r so dead today!

He laughed out at it still running as he heard her footsteps following him. He reached the last step when another cushion hit his head.

He saw his parents at the other side, near the dining table as he ran towards them still laughing.

Nandini: Manik stop right there...
He heard her shouting again which he conveniently ignored and ran to the other side of the dining table finally facing her as he saw her running towards him and threw the last cushion at him.

Nandini: U idiot... Stop Laughing!
Nandini said to him as she rushed towards him while he ran towards the other side, moving around the table while his parents sat their laughing at the tom n jerry race.

Manik: Come on Nandini..... It was just a joke!
He finally managed to say between his laughter making her angrier as she snapped back,

Nandini: Making me fall off the bed! That is not the way u wake someone up U Duffer....
Nandini said running faster as he moved towards the living room. Nandini followed him as she again started picking up cushions from the sofa and throwing them at him. Not to forget that no matter how much he tried to dodged them, his wife was just too good at her throws, he still remembered his first meeting with Mrs. K when Nandini had smashed a glass jug right next to her feet that to without looking.

Her hits continued towards him as his laughter echoed through the entire house. Finally he heard her huff as he stopped running and turned around to see her catching her breath from all the running.

Manik: Aww.... Tired already!

Nandini: I Hate U...
Nandini snapped back at him, holding her stomach.

Manik: Oh u don't baby!
Manik teased again when Nyonika and Harsh walked closer and stood next to Nandini.

Nyonika: What is happening here early Morning now?

Nandini: Mom, look na this idiot scared me so much, I literally fell off the bed....

Nyonika eyed Manik holding up her own smile as she caressed Nandini's hair trying to tame them down while Nandini continued eyeing Manik with an angry pout.
Nyonika: Manik!!

Manik rolled his eyes at them, chuckling softly as he walked forward.

Manik: Its not my fault that u weren't ready to wake up! And then see how cute u look with ur checks matching ur outfit...
He pulled her cheeks saying so only fort Nandini to swat his hands away.

Nandini: U na just wait and watch... I m not gonna talk to u at all now!
She said to him before she turned around and walked straight to their room.

Manik shook his head smiling at her while Nyonika hit him playfully.

Manik: Arey chill Mom... She'll be fine in sometime, won't even remember it till the afternoon...

Harsh laughed at it and patted his back,
Harsh: Come let's hv breakfast now!
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Sorry for the shorter Update this time guys, I have my xams going on and studies have been keeping me busy! Thank u for all the comments in the last part too coz I hv not got time to reply to ur comments.

Anyways.... I do hope this update answers all ur questions about why MaNan havn't yet fallen in Love even after being together for 2 Months.

This story as I had earlier mentioned is not gonna go like the usual cliche' in which the couple gets married and then some new character enters making one of them jealous and immediately falling in Love.

That is not what I planned for this ff.....
Anyways.... Do comment ur views and don't forget to vote!

Lots of Love,
Navya❤