In Malhotra Mansion

It was a new morning and indeed this morning was so peaceful for someone. Because the last night was the most perfect night of his life after 6 years and 6 months of his life. If he has ever felt being loved then it was when his star, his shining star came to his life. He lost the way of living his life when Nandini left him and now he is feeling the same peace which he felt years back when she stepped in his life, for the first time..He couldn't ask more, and to top his happiness, he is having his Dad by his side and now he knew, he will be having many beside him to love him, why not, after all Raj Malhotra's friend list is so beautiful that they know only to love each other.

Manik has woken up early today and was getting ready. He wanted to meet her today, though they aren't having work in the morning today but he woke up early to meet his Lady Love..

He met Cabir and Dhruv on the way as they had slept for long and got up early, plus perks of working under Nanz because they are quiet early risers now-a-days..

They were walking downstairs when they heard someone's giggles. It looked so familiar for Manik..They looked at each other and walked further and reached the dining table only to widen their eyes..

Manik ( frozen ): Dad..

Cabir ( shocked ): What the..

Dhruv ( freaked out ): The Raj Malhotra is sitting on the dining table..

They moved further in shock and got surprised again..

Manik ( whispered with a smile ): Nandini..

Oh yes, Nandini Dixit was also sitting on the table in front of Raj and she was making some batter in a bowl and was giggling at Raj..

Nandini had come to Malhotra Mansion since she was free at home and her brothers were sleeping like kumbkharans and her Dad was also sleeping because he had a late meting last night, even her friends were sleeping..She can't even call Soha since she is with Arya so she didn't want to disturb the couple..The next person whom she could think of is Raj as he is an early riser..She decided to spend her morning with her Pops..

Nandini ( giggled ): Like really Pops..hot water..?

Raj ( chuckled ): Aur nahi tho kya..Akash was always a flirt and Akshara and Trisha had enough..you know the girls or ladies for now just switched on the heater and he took a hot shower..you should have seen his Head..He looked like a crow who got attacked by electricity..

She rolled on the table and laughed out while the 3 boys looked at Raj in horror..

Cabir: Bechara mere baap..

Raj ( chuckled ): Oye tu zyada hasna meth..tum bhi tho prankster thi apne school aur college mein..

Nandini ( sat again ): Haa..but our pranks were never dangerous you know..We play pranks on the bad guys and bit*** girls..But the boys of our gang used to play such dangerous things on guys who propose me and soulie..

Raj ( bad face ): Yeah yeah..at least Soha accepted someone's proposal and she is going to have a happily ever after soon but you never accepted any..NOT EVEN MANIK'S PROPOSAL..

Manik widened his eyes and his jaws could touch the floor any moment while CabRuv's eyes were going to pop out of it's sockets..

Nandini stopped making the batter and stared at her Pops in helplessness..She sighed in frustration..

Nandini: Pops, you are still not over with it..

Raj ( sighed ): You have just ruined my dream, so its obvious for me to feel like that..

Nandini held his hand in her's but she didn't dare to look in his eyes as she knew if she did something like that then she might end up in telling him that how much his son matters to her and she can never think about some other guy..

Nandini ( softly ): Pops, have I ever denied any of your wish..? ( he nodded in No )..So, is it necessary for me to tell that there might be a reason behind this rejection for Manik's proposal..

Raj ( sighed ): No..And you don't need to tell the reason too..I know what reason it could be..

She took her hand back and looked at him in shock..

Raj ( chuckled ): Ithna shocked math ho ja..I know my son..you rejected him Because, he has an Ego of a LION..!!

She stared at him with frowns on her forehead..

Nandini: What..?

Raj: Arey, lion is the King of forest so he obviously gotta be arrogant and so My son is self obsessed..

Manik was glaring at his Dad while Cabir and Dhruv were chuckling at him..

Nandini ( chuckled ): Your son should hear it..by God..I don't think he will leave you in apiece..

Raj: Oye..kya mathlab..mein kya koi chomu hoon jo uske gusse dekhar bhaagne keliye..

Nandini: Yeah yeah..you are the most handsome and strongest man in this world..

Raj ( raised his collars ): Wo tho mein hoon..

She sighed in disbelief but then both ended up in laughing..

Nandini ( sighed ): On a serious note Pops..I had a genuine reason for rejecting the proposal..

Raj ( cringed his eyebrow ): Not his Ego issue..then what..?

Nandini: Pops..our characters don't match. I tried to become Fab 5's friend but they never were interested. I believe that if your life partner can't be your friend then he can never b your Love..I want a husband who could love me..And when I rejected the proposal, Manik and I were not even friends. Then how am I supposed to say Yes for your proposal..

Raj stared at her and sighed. Manik was looking at Nandini without blinking his eyes..

Raj: I know, Love..Its just, Viren and I have dreamt on seeing both of your marriage. You know, the moment Viren saw Manik for the first time, he said only one sentence to me.." Raj, if Chhavi and I are going to have a daughter then let me tell you, she is going to be your daughter-in-law because I want your son to be mine and it can happen only when he marries my daughter. Moreover, only your son would be able to protect my Princess.." ..

Nandini could only stare at Raj with a smile. She knew how much her Dad loves Manik. Yes, Virendhar Dixit loves Manik to no extent, but never showed it outside since Manik was never close to him. Raj was the most important person in Viren's life and how much could you love your buddy's son especially when you could see your buddy himself in his son..

While, Manik was standing with some tears in his eyes..He never knew that Virendhar had so much of affection for him. What would you feel when you wake up in a morning and gets to know that you have lots of people in your life who consider you as some precious part of their lives when you were living in a hell for the past years of your life thinking that you had no one beside you to Love you. Manik was going through the same feeling..

Nandini ( softly ): I am sorry, Pops..

Raj side hugged her..

Raj ( glared ): Dare you apologize to me..I know my daughter enough. I am not gonna act selfish but haan let me tell you, I still have hope..Kya patha mere bete ne ek din tera dil jeeth liya..after all Manik Malhotra is Raj Malhotra's son. Handsome and charming..

He winked at her and she giggled at him..This scene brought a smile on Manik's lips..He moved further and cleared his throat..

Manik ( hid his smile ): What so funny..?

They stopped laughing and looked in front to see Manik with a questioning face..The duo looked at each other and spoke through eyes " Did he hear ? "..

Nandini/Raj: Nothing..Nothing at all..

Manik pressed his lips to control his smile..

Manik: Dad, what are you doing on this table..?

They breathed a sigh of relief..

Raj: Nothing, I was having a conversation with my daughter..You got any problem..?

Manik ( shrugged ): Why would I have some problem..?

Nandini ( got down ): Even if you have, we don't care..Pops, let me bake the cake and you take a bath in the mean time..

Manik stood with opened mouth..Raj chuckled and bowed down in front of Nandini..

Raj: As you wish My Lady...Anything else..

Nandini ( sarcastically ): Yes, wear something attractive. I will push you inside your bedroom if I see you in any executive attire at home..

Raj made a bad face and went upstairs while Nandini turned to the boys..

Nandini ( coolly ): What..? Are you watching Twilight series ?

Boys: Huh..

Nandini ( annoyed ): What huh..You are gaping at me like you were watching Edward Cullen sucking blood from a human body..

Manik ( irritated ): What..? Didn't you get anything else..?

Nandini ( shrugged ): Well, that's something unusual and so your behavior..

Cabir ( sarcastically ): We have just watched something unusual..Raj Malhotra getting ordered by someone..

Nandini ( walked to kitchen ): I am his daughter so I have that right plus he has a very bad taste when it comes to outfits..Now, you guys can freshen up and if you've already freshen up..Then..sit simply..

She was already in the kitchen and keeping the cake's batter in the oven, by now..Manik saw Cabir and Dhruv occupying seats in kitchen. Taking it as a cue, he rushed to the kitchen.

Nandini turned back after switching on the oven only to get bumped with a hard rock..

Nandini: What the..

She looked up to see a smirking Manik..

Nandini ( surprised ): Tum yaha kya kar rahe ho..?

Manik: I just want to see you..

Nandini: Really..? Now, if you have seen me then please get out..

Manik ( coolly): Why..? This kitchen belongs to me too..

Nandini: Really..? Did the kitchen tell you that it belongs to you..?

Manik: Why would the kitchen speak to me..? I can understand its' thoughts..

Nandini: Wow..kitchen was your girlfriend and you could read her eyes..right..

Manik ( smirked ): Don't know about Kitchen but I surely can read the eyes of a girl who is blabbering at me, right now..

Nandini ( frustrated ): Ughhh..Manik Malhotra..will you get out of this kitchen.. I really don't want pops to see us together..

Manik grabbed her waist which startled her..

Manik: He is going to see us together anyway, in future..

Nandini ( panicked ): Manik..Pops should never see us in this situation..you know I..

Manik ( calmly ): Shh..I know it..He won't get to know about you and I until we both become US again..

Nandini ( shocked ): What do you mean by " until we both become US again "..?

Manik ( coolly ): Well, once I gain your forgiveness then i myself will tell about whatever happened back in India..

Nandini ( angry ): Are you mad..? DO you have any idea what will happen if you say the truth..? Bhai and baby are controlling themselves for our family. If Vishal Bhayyu comes to know then he won't leave you alive and Papas..no..noway..I won't allow..

Manik ( smiled ): You still care for me..don't you..?

Nandini ( looked here and there ): If you know the answer, then don't ask it..

He smiled and pulled her more to him..

Manik ( softly ): I just got to know that the girl whom I love is someone so much important to my father, so if I hide the truth from him then it will be the biggest mistake I have ever done to him..

She stared at him with a sweet smile..

Nandini: Pops was right..you are just like him..Not at all ready to show his true self to outside..

He bit his lips but then suddenly remembered something..

Manik: Oh wait..I had to ask you something..

Nandini ( frowned ): What..?

Manik ( glared ): You denied Dad's proposal for our marriage..

Nandini widened her eyes..

Nandini: How did you know..?

Manik: I heard you speaking with Dad..

Nandini ( looked here and there ): Woh..we..we weren't in a good relationship..

Manik ( sarcastically ): Really..? Fine, i agree but what about now..why didn't you tell him that you could think about it..?

Nandini ( glared ): Seriously, Pops didn't know anything about our relationship..Will I go and say him that " I am sorry Pops, at that time I was in a fight with your son and now I am trying to give a chance to your son "..shall I..?

Manik ( glared ): It wasn't a joke..

Nandini: Same here..

Manik: Nandini..

Nandini: Manik..try to understand my point..I didn't want Pops to feel bad..He was really sad on that day when I rejected the proposal..

Manik ( sighed ): Fine..but you are going to accept that proposal soon..

Nandini ( smirked ): Not so soon, Mr. Malhotra..You still need to work..

Manik ( nodded ): Fine..I am ready to wait..But, don't you think I could punish you..

Nandini: Hain..?

Manik: What hain..? Did you forget our rule..I can punish you if I feel bad by any of your act and vice versa..So, today I can punish you since I felt bad for rejecting my proposal..

Nandini felt nervous..His punishments were always a headache for her..

Nandini: Umm..ye..yeah..you..you can..

He smirked and pinned her on the wall and dug his nails in her bear stomach and dipped his head in her neck and bit her shoulder...

Nandini: Manik..

He licked the spot to soothe her pain and stared into her eyes..

Manik ( huskily ): Maybe now, you know what will happen if you happen to reject my proposal and this time it will be directly from Manik Malhotra..

She glared at him and he was just smirking..

To be continued..