Manik: Good night guys!

Manik wished all his friends as they walked out of his room late that night at around 2 am, after they all finished their dinner.

Cabir: Thank god it's an off tomorrow. I think I need to sleep for two days straight. I don't care what happens, no one should wake me up tmrw. Umn... On second thoughts, wake me up when there is food.

All of them chuckled at him as Mukti smacked the back of his head and pulled him along, not before calling out.
Mukti: Happy birthday Manik...

Manik: Thanks!
Manik replied to her, watching all of them enter their rooms as he too entered his and closed the door behind him. He turned around only to find his wife clearing up the mess on the table. A smile crept onto his lips as he walked ahead immediately wrapping his arms around her waist as he pulled her close, her back connecting with his chest.

He took in a deep breath in her hair, closing his eyes at the very familiar sandalwood scent,
Manik: God, I missed you so much...

Nandini too closed her eyes as she smiled, moving her hand over his, just letting the silence tell him that the feeling was very mutual.

Manik: I m literally never going on any tours from now on, either u come with me, or I skip it altogether.

Nandini chuckled at him before turning to face him and moving her arms around his neck.
Nandini: Never??

Manik: Nope...

Nandini: And what if there is some super amazing opportunity for Fab5, and ur friends need u to be there.

Manik: Work-Life Balance my dear... U can't blame me when I m trying to make the things right.
Manik said smiling at her as he rested his forehead on hers. Nandini too smiled before a yawn unintentionally escaped her mouth making Manik smile broader.

Manik: Come on... U seem tired!

Nandini simply nodded at him, not arguing with him. Manik walked into the washroom to freshen up while Nandini headed over to her bags. Both of them changed, as Nandini wore a pair of simple cotton shorts and a t-shirt while Manik simply got into a pair of tracks and decided to skip the shirt as he lay on the bed. Nandini turned off the lights, before laying down beside him as he pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist. She rested her head over his chest.

Nandini: Hmn... Now I'll finally get some nice sleep.

Manik: Same here babe... Same here! I missed u so much all these days, half of the time I wished for work to never end to avoid being free.

Nandini nodded at this before looking up at him.
Nandini: I did the same... But that reminds me, I have some news for u!

Manik: Hmn?

Nandini: We start the construction process for the hotel in two days!! All the work is done. I got the land cleared off, all the government official permissions too are done and so are the designs.

Manik's eyes broadened at this as he looked down at her,
Manik: U got all the permissions done! How?

Nandini smirked at him and smiled,
Nandini: Let's just say three days filled up with endless runs between those offices and continuous supply of coffee got it done.

Manik: U never fail to surprise me! All this wasn't even ur work.

Nandini: Ur work, my work! How does it matter? The major point out here is that now if everything goes according to plan, we'll be able to open it up sometime in the next year.

Manik: Knowing u... Its gonna be done much before time. Once u think something, u make it happen anyhow!

Nandini simply smiled at him before lying back onto his chest.
Nandini: I can do nothing without ur support. But now enough work talk!

Manik: Right enough work talks... Now tell me how many times u sneaked into the closet and tried to sniff my clothes like a creep.

Nandini's mouth hung open at his words as she hit his stomach making Manik double up in laughter.
Nandini: I did not!

Manik: Oh come on... U can tell me.

Nandini: I did not sniff ur clothes... I slept in them!
Nandini said whispering the last part slowly, which was still heard by Manik as he smiled at himself tightening his arms around her.

Neither of them said anything at all for a few minutes until Manik noticed her breathing to calm down and peeked over to find her already asleep. He smiled at her, kissing her forehead and closed his eyes in contentment.

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

The next morning, Nandini's sleep was disturbed by some annoying phone ringtone which she recognized to be Maniks. She shook his arm which was around her waist.
Nandini: Manik... Ur phone is ringing.

Manik hummed at her words, before snuggling his face further into hair as he slept peacefully.

Nandini sighed at the continuos rings of the phone before picking it up from his other side. She opened up her eyes a little bit adjusting in the brightness of the morning light as she saw Mr. Bedi written on the screen. She frowned at the unfamiliar name but accepted the call anyway.

Nandini: Hello!

Mr. Bedi: Hello, may I speak to Mr. Manik Malhotra, please.

Nandini: He is currently unavailable, this is his wife speaking. How can I help u?

Mr. Bedi: Oh Good Morning Mrs. Malhotra! I just called to give Mr. Malhotra the conformation for our meeting today at noon to finish off the final formalities.

Nandini frowned at it, not really knowing what this was in regards to but ignored it and replied formally,
Nandini: I'll make sure to pass on your message to him.

Mr. Bedi: Thank you, ma'am.
He replied before disconnecting the call. Nandini kept the phone aside and checked the time to notice that it was already 9 in the morning. She thought to get up, but then remembered that Manik was too tired the previous night and decided to rest for some more time with him. Snuggling further into him, she went back to sleep.

Around two hours later, the two of them woke up finally and got ready for the day when Nandini informed Manik about the call. Manik's eyes broadened at that as he immediately checked the time making sure that he did not miss it. He sighed noticing that it was still time left and then looked up at Nandini,
Manik: Come on... Get ready we have to go somewhere.

Nandini: We? What is happening? And who is this Bedi guy?

Manik: He is my broker. But I m not telling u anything more than that for now!
He replied to her vaguely as he got ready.

Nandini got finished getting ready before they moved out of the room together.
Nandini: Aren't we gonna inform anyone before leaving?

Manik: I m sure they are still sleeping. Anyways, let's leave a message at the reception.
They walked up to the front desk as a middle ages man turned towards Manik with a broad smile, "Good morning Sir!", though Manik did not miss his smile flattering as soon as he turned to Nandini, "Morning ma'am!".

Manik: Morning!! We are heading out for some work so if in case any of my friends ask u about it, just inform them that we'll be back soon.

Manager: Sure sir!
Manik nodded at him as they walked out of the hotel. Manik lead her towards the rented car that was available for Fab5 and opened up the door for her before getting in himself as he gave the address to the driver and turned towards Nandini.

Manik: What's up with u and that manager?

Nandini rolled her eyes at it and waved her hand,
Nandini: Nothing!! I may or may not have threatened him his job last night when he wasn't letting me in your room. It was quite an argument.

Manik raised his brows amused at her before shaking his head.
Manik: I m never getting on your bad books.

Nandini: Don't worry u have ur permanent place in some other book of mine.
Nandini replied teasing him back as Manik chuckled.

Nandini: Ohk so now in all this work stuff, I got confused on what to get u for ur birthday. Now, u have to tell me what u want.

Manik smiled at her before wrapping his arm around her neck and pulling her closer.
Manik: U r here... I couldn't have wished for any other gift.

Nandini: No, I still want to give u something.

Manik: That's your problem coz I don't want anything. Come, we r here!
He told her as the driver parked the car.

Nandini pouted at the change of topic and got down looking up at the simple two story office building. Manik walked around the car and entwined his fingers with hers as they walked inside.

Manik walked to the reception and soon they were lead to the first floor to a cabin at the other end. Neither of them said anything as, a guy apparently, Mr. Bedi greeted them. They took their seats across his table when Manik spoke up,
Manik: So I believe that u have all the documents ready?

Mr. Bedi: Yes sir...
He replied picking up a few files and forwarding it to Manik. Nandini saw as Manik checked through all the papers, reading up to some clauses nodding along. A few minutes later, he seemed convinced and looked up nodding at Bedi.

Mr. Bedi: As we already discussed, I talked to the party about getting the final papers signed in a week, but now as Ma'am is already here, I was hoping if we could finish it all at once. That way the property would be yours immediately.

Manik: Yeah, I agree with you on that. 
Manik nodded along at him before opening up the file again as he slid it towards Nandini.

Nandini raised her brows at him in confusion only for him to nod at her as he handed over a pen to her.
Manik: We would need a couple of signatures for this.

Nandini: You are buying some property?

Manik: Yes... 
Manik replied simply with a very small smile as she asked further.

Nandini: Okay! But why on my name?

Manik: Because I want to... Now if u would do the honors, please.
Manik said again pointed out to the place where she had to sign. Nandini shifted her gaze from the papers to him and back to the papers before finally sighing as she signed. She signed wherever they told her to after which Manik smiled and handed over a few papers back to the broker and kept the rest with himself.

Mr. Bedi: Congratulations sir!

Manik: Thank you, Mr. Bedi. It was nice working with you.

Mr. Bedi: The pleasure was all mine, sir. Have a good day!
He greeted them as Manan stood up, shaking hands with him before they finally made their way out of the office. They got back to the car when Nandini turned towards Manik, with her arms crossed in front of her and her eyes raised. Manik noticed her look and asked,
Manik: what?

Nandini: Are u serious? U r not going to tell me what was that all about?

Manik smiled at her before shaking his head,
Manik: Brunch? I m quite hungry!

Nandini: Manik!
Nandini tried again in a firm voice only for him to smile further.

Manik: Right... Let's go have something to eat.
He asked the driver to drive them to some nice restaurant and then sat back relaxing on his seat while Nandini turned her gaze out of the window, feeling annoyed by the fact that he was ignoring the topic in hand. Manik smiled at her angry face, but let her be for the time being as they soon reached the restaurant. 

He got down the car before walking around as he opened up the door for his wife and forwarded his hand towards her. Nandini glared at him still being mad and ignored his outstretched hand and got down on her own. Manik chuckled at her before following her wordlessly. Once inside, they took a table at one of the quiet corners. 

Manik: Come on Nandini it's my birthday. U r not allowed to stay mad at me today at least.

Nandini: I still am!!
Nandini replied to him sternly only to make him sigh. He opened up his mouth to say something when the waitress walked to their table. 

Waitress: Are u guys ready to order?

Manik: Not yet... Give us a few minutes, please!
Manik told her, sending her off as he reached forward and held Nandini's hands over the table. 

Manik: I know it may look like that, but I m not ignoring the topic Nandini. I just wanted this to be surprising for you, I was planning this as my return present for you.

Nandini's eyes softened as she looked up at him, finding honesty in his eyes.
Manik: I was willing to buy this property for quite a few months, but the owners were not ready to sell it off. Before this tour, they finally agreed and so I had this meeting scheduled to finalize everything. Here... It's for you!

He said softly before sliding the file across the table towards her and leaving her hands. Nandini continued looking at him until he smiled softly at her,
Manik: Go on... Read it!

Nandini nodded at him hesitantly before opening up the file as she read through it, it didn't take her any longer than 2 minutes to know what the papers were for, as an audible gasp escaped her mouth while her eyes moistened with tears filling up immediately. 

She looked up from the papers towards Manik, to find him smilings sweetly at her. She opened up her mouth to say something but closed it back again not having any words as the first tear flowed down her cheek. She jumped off her seat, moving around the table as she threw herself into his arms, taking a seat on his lap and hiding her face in the crook of his neck.

Manik wrapped his arms tight around her, holding her up close as she cried softly into his arms.
Nandini: Thank u. Thank u so much!

Manik: Shh... U don't have to. It rightfully belonged to you and now it is always gonna be yours only. 

Nandini moved away from him, still sitting on his lap as she looked up at him,
Nandini: I never thought I would have my Appa's house back. 

Manik: I know what that house means to you Nandini. I would have done anything and everything to get it back to you. 

Nandini: I Love You! I Love You so much...

Manik smiled up at her as he kissed her forehead, pulling her into a hug.
Manik: I Love You too!!