Both Manik and Nandini were deep in sleep that night when Manik woke up by the noise of Nandini's phone ringing on the bedside table. He looked down at Nandini, finding her sound asleep on his chest as he stretched his arm and got hold of her phone. Immediately turning it on silent, he saw Rishab's face flashing on the screen.

He frowned at it before picking up the call as he noticed that it was 1:30 in the night.

Manik: Champ?
He whispered into the phone, in a worried tone.

Rishab: Yes Jiju!!

Manik: What happened? Are u alright?

Rishab: Umn... Yeah, I m fine! I was just wondering if it's possible for me to just crash there at the Malhotra Mansion tonight?

Manik rubbed his eyes knowing something wasn't right but still he spoke up,
Manik: Of course, u can come over. But don't go there, head over to our flat instead, we are both here.

He heard silence from the other end for a few seconds before rishab agreed and said that he would reach in 10 minutes. Manik looked back down at Nandini and decided not to wake her up as he slowly got her to lay on his side and got off the bed. He moved out of the room and headed towards their living room, waiting for Rishab.

It was not too long before he heard a faint knock on the front door and opened up the door to see Rishab looking all messed up.
Manik: Hey come on in!

Rishab entered inside and sat as Manik locked the door before joining in.
Rishab: Di??

Manik: She is asleep... I thought u would better like to sleep than to answer her questions right now, u know how insistent she could get.

A chuckle erupted Rishab's mouth as he nodded,
Rishab: That's Di...

Manik gave him a small smile when Rishab spoke up again,
Rishab: I m really sorry Jiju, I woke u up so late and disturbed-

Manik interrupted him immediately, keeping a hand on his shoulder as he patted his back.
Manik: Hey champ... There are no formalities between Family okay! If u wanna talk about it, then I m here... And if not, then u can sleep it off before ur sister drills it out of u tmrw mrng...

Rishab sighed at it rubbing his hands on his face,
Rishab: Its quite late.... I think I would call it a night.

Manik stared at him for a few moments before he nodded and got up moving towards the rooms. He showed Rishab the room right in front of their room, the one which he used to sleep in a few months back. Lending him a couple of his own clothes, Manik wished him a good night.

Rishab nodded at him and was about to close the door when Manik stopped him as he spoke up,
Manik: Rishab, I have told this to u before as well, and I m repeating it to u. This right here is ur family and no matter what u'll always find ur Di and me right next to u to lean on.... Don't give much thought to anything okay, just go to sleep, we'll talk tmrw.

Rishab smiled broadly at him as he hugged him. Manik wished him again before entering his room. He closed the door behind his back and crawled into the bed slowly, not wanting to wake Nandini up. Lying on his side, he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to himself, making her back cuddle into his chest as he placed a soft kiss on her hair before drifting back to sleep.

Nandini opened up her eyes, shielding herself from the early morning Sunlight. Snnugling further into Manik she wished to escape the sun but unfortunately, she was facing the windows. She tried to turn around in Manik's arm but found him deep in his sleep, his face lost in her silky traces as he spooned her with his arm tight around her waist.

Fighting the small smile on her face, she got out of his grip and stood up before walking to the windows as she pulled the curtains close. She freshened up soon and made her daily coffee before moving out to the living room Balcony as the amazing view of the sea made her sigh in content. This early morning view was something she missed the most about their place.

It didn't take long, before she felt a pair of arms encircling her waist from behind, making her smile.

Nandini: Good morning!

Manik: It isn't good yet..
Manik murmured to her, before turning her around as he slammed his lips over hers, taking her in for a soft sweet kiss.

Nandini couldn't fight her smile as she kissed him back. Manik broke the kiss soon after and whispered,
Manik: Now that's what I call a good morning!!!

Nandini chuckled at him shaking her head before Manik took a seat on the swing and pulled her into his lap, taking a sip from her coffee.

Nandini: That was my coffee!

Manik: Now it's ours...
Manik said with a shrug while Nandini rolled her eyes and wrapped her arm around his shoulders, leaning into him.

Manik: I have a party to attend tonight! Will u come with me?

Nandini: Party?

Manik: Yeah, success party for some movie where we sang a song for!

Nandini smiled softly at him, before nodding,
Nandini: Sure... I'll come.

Manik: Great...  So what will u have for breakfast?

Nandini raised her eyes at his question and teased,
Nandini: Why? U r cooking?

Manik: Yup... Today I m in a mood to prepare something special for my queen.
Manik replied before he suddenly got up with Nandini in his arms. Nandini squealed in surprise, clinging onto him further as he laughed at walked straight to the kitchen. He made her sit on the counter, standing in between her legs as he kept his arms wrapped around her.

Manik: So what would u like to have this morning Mrs. Malhotra?

Nandini: Sandwiches...

Manik: Ohk then sandwiches it is

Manik moved around the kitchen, pulling out the ingredients while Nandini turned up some music on her phone.

Nandini: So what did u guys think about that tour? Are u guys going?

Manik: Umn... I don't know! It will be a 20-day tour, the office will suffer if we go. Dhruv, aliya, and Mukti are ready but cabir and I are not so sure yet.

Nandini: U know I'll handle work in ur absence right?

Manik: Yeah, I know and that is why I was actually thinking about going in the first place.
Manik said keeping his concentration on the vegetables that he was cutting, while Nandini waited for him to continue.

Nandini: But?

Manik: But now Mom and Dad are also not here, u can't stay with them... And I don't want u living alone for so long.

Nandini sighed at his words before jumping off the counter as she moved towards him and hugged his back.
Nandini: Relax Manik... I will be fine! It's not gonna be the first time I will be staying alone.

As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt Manik stiffen, making her bit her lip. Manik took a deep breath, clutching the knife in his hands before he relaxed and continued his work. Nandini waited for him to say anything, but he didn't, making her sigh.

Nandini: What I m trying to say is that I m going to be fine! This is gonna be good for u, I think u should definitely go. Don't worry about me!

Manik: I know u r gonna be fine, but I don't want to leave u here and I know u will say No for coming along.

Nandini: NO... Please! I m not travelling with u guys everywhere. 
Nandini whined making Manik chuckle as he turned towards her and kissed her nose.

Manik: I know... 

Nandini: But that doesn't mean that u rn't going okay! This is work too, u should go...

Manik turned the flame to a low as he flipped the sandwich and turned towards Nandini.
Manik: And what will u do here alone? I won't be here... Fab5 would also be with me.

Nandini smiled up at him as she wrapped her arms around his neck, standing up on her toes.
Nandini: I will enjoy some time without u, being a bachelor. U know I could go to some nice clubs, meet some nice guys, have F-Fun...

Manik raised his eyebrows at her before smirking,
Manik: Guys haan?? I'll tell u what we can do...

Nandini's eyes broadened at his tone as she unwrapped her hands from his neck and stepped back, getting ready to run but she was too late as Manik's hands when up to her hips as he pulled her up, making her legs wrap around his waist as Nandini laughed out loud.

Nandini: Sandwiches??

Manik turned the gas off as he twirled her around, his grip tightening around her as Nandini continued laughing at the top of her voice.
Manik: Now say, bachelor?? Clubs?? Guys?? Anything else...

Nandini: No no no no...
Nandini exclaimed as Manik settled her back onto the counter, their foreheads touching together as the two of them laughed out loud.

"Am I disturbing anything??",
they heard a voice from the door making Nandini gasp while Manik simply moved a step back with a smile.

Nandini: OMG, u scared me! How did u get in?
Nandini asked her hand on her heart.

Manik: Chill he came last night! I guess we woke him up. Sorry champ!
Manik said getting back to making the breakfast while Rishab chuckled.

Rishab: Chill jiju!! Di knows how much I m used to waking up to noises... It is actually a welcomed change for it to be laughter. So what's happening?

Nandini: Manik is making breakfast. Anyways, u say what's up?

Rishab sighed at her and took a chair on the dining table.
Rishab: Nothing much... Dad just wouldn't stop bugging me about taking over his business, we had an argument. Mom kept on being the bitch again. I usually go over to Ashita's but she is out somewhere with her family. 

Nandini: Huh... U go over and stay at Ashita's usually??

Rishab turned red at her questions as he looked up at her,
Rishab: U got just that from my words? Seriously Di?

Nandini: Come on say na... U go stay at hers?

Rishab: Yeah sometimes when I feel like!
Rishab shrugged making Manik smile at him.

Manik: Way to go Champ!! Good for u... Ignore ur Di!
Manik said winking at him as he smirked at Nandini's face.

Manik: U do know that he is not 5 anymore right??

Nandini rolled her eyes at his words before hitting his arm as she turned towards Rishab.

Nandini: Rishu, tell me one thing? Are u at all interested in Business?

Rishab: Of course I m.... I love it! But I don't wanna get into it between college, just because Dad wants me to.

Nandini: Good then... U focus on ur studies, don't mention this to anyone now. I'll put off this drama myself.
Nandini told him taking in both Rishab's and Manik's attention.

Manik: What are u thinking?
Rishab: No Di, u don't have to!

Nandini ignored Manik's words and turned to Rishab,
Nandini: Rishu, I have to! That's what I do remember? I take up ur battles, isn't that what sisters are for.

Rishab: U haven't talked to them in months...

Nandini: I know.... But that doesn't mean that I can't right.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Ohk, so this was it for today!! 
Great apologies for being late, please bear with it.

Do tell me how was the part!

Precap: Party followed by some hot steamy Manan Romance.

Lots of Love,
Navya😘

NOTE: Anyone willing to read some another interesting story written by me. Please follow me on Dreame App and go through my works.

This time it's not a Manan fanfic, but something different. Do try it out and tell me how u think it is, Click on the link on the comment here!😉

P.s.: Any cover designers or editors here, plz ping me!