The entire group spent the remaining day at the beach. Having fun, running after each other as they played several games and spent some quality time away from the hustle-bustle of their busy life, away from the piercing eyes of their fans and media, just giving time to each other and relaxing. Manik was a bit off but no one seemed to notice it much as he tried to act normal. It was late evening, after the sunset when all of them were walking along the beach towards a party that Cabir knew about. Manik was off at the back with Rishab when Nandini slowed down and walked with them. Rishab skipped to the front leaving the two of them alone as Nandini held onto manik's arm.

Nandini: U know it very well that u can't hide it from me, the fact that it disturbed u.

Manik scoffed at it and looked at the sea.
Manik: I could have fooled myself into thinking so.

Nandini rolled her eyes at him but still said softly.
Nandini: Please just let it go. U know I don't-

Manik: Don't want to do anything about it. Yeah right, I have heard it a hundred times.
Manik snapped at her cutting her off.

Nandini: Manik, it's nothing!

Manik: Well, it's not nothing if it could have almost killed you Nandini. Why? Why didn't u tell me that before? I always thought that at least u fought her off, I can't even imagine the situation now that I know that u weren't standing up to her.

Nandini: Manik... Relax! She was my mother, how do u imagine a little girl standing up to her. Obviously, I started doing that once I got older right.
Nandini said trying to keep her irritation on the discussion in control.

Manik: But why the hell didn't u tell me all of this?

Nandini: Because it was none of your business and I didn't want u to know.
Nandini finally spoke up snapping at him a little as she stepped back leaving his arm. Pulling out her hair in frustration as she looked away from him. Taking a few deep breaths she turned back to face him to watch Manik staring at her with a shocked expression on his face. Guilt immediately filled her up as she tried to speak up but Manik beat her to it.

Manik: None of my Business? This is about you. And things like this about my Wife are supposed to be my fucking business!!!

Nandini: Ma-

Manik: No I have had enough of this conversation... It's no use talking to you.
Manik muttered shaking his head at her as he walked up straight in front, leaving her standing behind stunned. She continued to watch him walk away until he was no longer in sight and neither were any of their friends.

She sighed softly as she looked over at the waves crashing against each other. The serenity of the night fell onto her like a gush of cold water. She stared straight at the horizon, watching the moon reflecting on the dark water. She walked closer to it, locking all her thoughts at the back of her mind, just concentrating on the brightness of the moon as compared to the darkness around her. Ignoring the cheerful voice of the crowd around the beach, she let silence take its place and kept on walking until she felt the cold water hit her feet. She stopped walking when she felt her ankles fully into the water for a few seconds before the waves drew back. Closing her eyes for a few moments she waited for another wave to hit her. Another cold wave hit her making her sigh in content just as it vanished again.

"It never stays back... The reason for your content will also walk away in the same way..."
She heard someone say and opened up her eyes to find a guy standing a couple of steps away from her, looking at her with an observant face as if trying to read her, a beer bottle held in his hands.

Nandini looked back at the horizon just as another wave hit her feet and a smile crept onto her face.

Nandini: The difference here is simply in our eyes. U say it's never gonna stay back, but I find my content in the fact that no matter what it is gonna return back within seconds.

The guy smiled softly at her words raising his bottle in cheers as he took a sip.
"U r right... I guess it's all really in the eyes.

Nandini: Or maybe in our hearts!!
Nandini said softly as she turned around and walked away.

The guy looked at her with a confused expression before calling out,
"Hey??"

Nandini turned around at his voice but continued walking backward as she waved at him.
Nandini: Thank u!!

"What for?"

Nandini: For reminding me that it's not the eyes but the heart.
She replied to him before turned around again and walking towards the direction of the party.

It took her quite long to find the party and even longer to spot her friends who seemed to have realized her absence and were trying to find her around. She walked closer to them just as Aliya noticed her and took everyone's attention.
Aliya: Oh Thank God u r here... Where were u? U had us all worrying here.

Nandini: Sorry... I just lagged behind for a bit. Where is everyone?

Aliya: Somewhere around... Manik was going all crazy here, u should go and look for him.

Nandini chuckled at her and nodded before walking through the crowd looking for her husband, only to find him at almost the far most corner, surrounded by girls as he danced along with a few, she caught him eyeing her a couple of times and shook her head at his actions before walking away to join the other. She enjoyed the rest of the night with all the others making sure not to react to Manik's presence of absence.

It was quite late that night when the group returned back to the hotel, dragging their feet and leaning onto each other being either too drunk or too tired to walk straight.

Cabir: I m telling u na... I won! Accept it Mukti.

Mukti: Ayee... I won!! U can never win. I m the rockstar here.
Mukti shouted leaning onto Abhimanyu.

Navya: Shh... Guys stop shouting! U r gonna wake up the entire floor.

Cabir: Tell her I won na Navya...

Nandini: Shut up guys... My head is bursting out here! Stop cribbing, neither of u can dance to save your lives, u were both miserable, so no one won the bet.
Nandini groaned as she took her hand up to her head, trying to ease the pain while Mukti and Cabir both stopped walking and stood still looking at her in shock. All the others too stopped because of them as they watched tears well up in Mukti's eyes as she wailed loudly to Abhi.

Mukti: She called me miserable Abhi... Was I that bad?

Abhi: Ohh No no baby! U were amazing. U definitely won.

Nandini rolled her eyes at them just as they reached the rooms and she muttered to everyone.
Nandini: Finally... Ohk guys, good night! I'll see u tomorrow.

All of them hummed their responses as they walked to their own rooms. Nandini unlocked up the door and walked inside, leaving the door open for Manik. She picked up a random pair of shorts and a T-shirt from her bag and walked straight into the washroom.

She took a quick bath and returned back to the room to find Manik already changed up and lying on the bed facing away from her. A fit of sudden anger took over her as she threw her towel carelessly on the floor and walked to the bed, picking up the pillow from her side and hitting Manik without any warning.

Manik: What the-
Manik exclaimed in shock as he turned around and sat up while Nandini continued hitting him.

Nandini: What?
Nandini asked him for a second before hitting him again.

Nandini: Why are u here? What are u doing here, wasting your time in this room? U seemed to be enjoying a lot out there, right? Go On! Dance with all other girls, hug them, kiss them, go sleep with them, what are u doing here haan...

Manik grabbed the pillow and snatched it away from her throwing it aside, making her hit him with her fists as she continued on her rant.
Nandini: Deliberately showing off with other girls in front of me... Why not? Who is Nandini, a fool right? Well, what are u doing here, go back to ur girls na... I don't care okay! I m-

She stopped at her words as Manik got hold of her hands, clutching them tightly behind her back.
Manik: U don't care na... Then what is this? Say...

He pulled her closer, making her lean over him as she looked at him angrily.
Manik: U don't care if I m with other girls right? U won't care if I held someone else like this right?

He trapped both of her hands in one of his as he moved his other arm around her waist pulling her further close.
Manik: U won't care if I had my arms wrapped up around someone else...

Another tug and Nandini lost her balance as she sat onto his lap, almost straddling him.
Manik: U won't care if I had someone else sitting this close to me...

Nandini didn't realize that her hands were now free as Manik moved his hand to the back of her head, holding onto her hair as he placed a kiss on her shoulder. Kissing her all the way from her shoulder to her neck while speaking.

Manik: If. I. Kissed. Someone. Else. Like. This.

His hands moved all over her, moving lower from her waist to her hips and then back up, caressing her all over and kissing her neck at the same time.
Manik: If. I. Touched. Someone. Else. This. Way.

Manik heard a whimper from Nandini as he kissed and sucked onto her weak spot, making him looked up at her as he stared deep into her eyes.
Manik: Tell me Nandini... U won't care, would u?

The next second, Nandini pushed him back, making him lay down again as she crashed her lips onto his, her hands clutching his hair tightly, showing her anger to him. Manik kissed her back in equal fervor, holding her close. Both of their frustration came out into their kiss until they were too out of breath to continue and Nandini broke the kiss, her head resting onto his. Manik moved his hands up to her face, moving her hair to a side as he looked up at her.

Manik: Is the tigeress calm yet?

Nandini opened up her eyes at this and moved away hitting him again on his chest as Manik burst out in laughter, rolling her onto the bed and he got on top of her trapping her between his knees on both sides of her hips as he started tickling her, making Nandini try to squirm away from him before she too joined his laughter.

She pleaded him to stop after a few minutes as Manik moved to her side-lying on the bed and pulled her closer as they tried to catch their breath.

Manik: I'm sorry!
Nandini: I'm sorry!
The two of them spoke up at the same time before looking at each other as they laughed again.

Nandini: I hate you...

Manik: Ohh I know baby... I know... And I love you too!!
Manik replied back to her as he wrapped his arms around her, making her rest her head on his chest as the two of them cuddled together, forgetting all of the day's events in each other's arms, finding their solace.

Nandini: It never actually leaves!!!
Nandini whispered making Manik look down at her in confusion.

Manik: Hmn??

Nandini smiled up at him and shook her head.
Nandini: Nothing...
She told him closing her eyes with a smile on her face as she planted a soft kiss right over his heart.