Next Day

It was a fine morning just after Karwa Chawth. Dev's Marriage functions were going to start within 3 days and the youngsters were hell busy in preparations, but it doesn't mean they can neglect their work. They had pressure of work on their heads. Dev and Sid had to do a dance concert which will happen on July 12th ( the day before his Mehendi ), thanks to god it was in Paris. While, Soha had an advertisement to do and Nandini and Arya were busy with their business projects. Abhimanyu and Vishal too were occupied with their company works. Rishab has already joined Murthys' hospital and was having a hectic schedule since he was new over there. Ritesh was having exams too..

Fab 5 too were facing a similar situation. Since, they were going to take leave for Dev's marriage, they too had to complete their work beforehand. Totally, each and every youngster were busy.

In Malhotra's Mansion

Manik was getting ready for office.

Manik ( shouted ): Guys, we need to hurry..

Soon, fab 4 ran downstairs..

Manik ( frowned ): Where's Dad..?

Voice: I am here..

Manik turned to Raj who was all ready in his office suit..

Cabir ( sighed in relief ): Thank God uncle, you are ready. We were already late. Come, let's have our breakfast.

Raj ( smiled ): No Cabir. I am not gonna have my breakfast today. You guys carry on..

Manik ( concerned ): Dad, what do you mean by you are not gonna have your breakfast.? Are you alright..?

Raj ( smiled inwardly ): Nothing Manik..I am fine..

Dhruv ( confused ): Then, why aren't you having your breakfast..?

Raj ( smiled ): I can't eat something when my Love stays hungry, especially when it's for me..

Mukti ( frowned ): Uncle, I didn't get you..

Raj ( grinned ): Love is keeping fast for me, Viren, Swayam, Lalith, Akash and Ranvir..

They looked puzzled with this piece of information..

Manik: Why would she keep fast for you, Dad..?

Raj ( sighed ): Because, we don't have our wives with us to fast for us on Karwa Chawth. So, she is fasting for our longevity of lives by being a daughter..

Manik was the one to have a broad smile on his lips first after hearing Raj. If he is happy to get her in his life then his father is the most happiest man on earth to have a daughter like her, his love..

Cabir and Dhruv felt so proud of Nandini, that she was there with their father when they weren't. Mukti too smiled for the first time, in admiration for Nandini while Alya, she didn't know what to feel. She asked herself " was she a good daughter for her Dad "..

Raj: Chalo, tum log apna khana khao..We won't eat our food on this day until she breaks her fast.

Fab 4 occupied their seats while Manik, he again, didn't want to let her hungry alone..

Mukti: Manik, bet jaa..we need to hurry..

Manik ( rubbed his nape ): Uh..wo..I..I don't feel..feel like eating..

Cabir ( smirked ): Aur wo kyu, baba Manik..you were the one who asked us to have breakfast asap..

Manik glared at him. He just knew Cabir knows the reason. Cabir can read him, he even caught Manik, the previous day when he saw him staying hungry..Cabir was the one who helped him to get to terrace to break MaNan's fast.

Manik ( fake smiled ): Haa Cabir..I was the one to shout at you to bring that not-so-pretty-ass of yours to downstairs so that you could get rid of Nandini's anger. You know, she wouldn't mind to pluck your tongue out of your non-stop mouth just to get your ass to Dreamland. Haina baba Cabir..

Cabir made a bad face and others chuckled at him..

Dhruv: Buddy, let's not waste our time..if you don't want to sit and have our breakfast, then just eat an apple..

Manik ( nervously ): Uh, nahi buddy. I am not hungry..I will wait for you in my car..

Saying it, he just rushed outside while Raj was watching everything without any expression on his face..

Raj ( thought ): Jaise hi usse patha chala ki Love is keeping fast, usne khana khane keliye manaa kiya..Hmm, kuch tho zaroor gadbad hai..

At night

Moonrise

Nandini has already broken her fast and she was fed by all her Papas. Today, all of them were in Dixit's Mansion having dinner but the elderly men were eating like they were having food after ages. The youngsters were chuckling at them..

Abhimanyu: Papas..kisine kaha kya aapse bhooke rehne keliye..?

Swayam: Oye..hamari bachi bhooke rehthi hai poora din, wo bhi hamare liye..aur tum keh rahe ho ki hum khana khaake rest kare..

Akash: Chod Swayam, iske dimaak pehle se hi khaali hai, ab tum uske andhar kuch dalne ke bare mein sochna bhi math..apna haath hi gandha hojayega..

Abhimanyu glared at him making others chuckle..Nandini served more food to her Papas while Viren noticed something and nudged Raj's elbow..

Raj ( whispered ): Kya hai..?

Viren ( whispered ): Signal our group..

Raj got confused but still nudged Akash's elbow and said the same to him and it reached till every men of their group..

Swayam ( whispered ): Baath kya hai..

Viren moved his gaze and fixed it on Nandini, they followed it and saw Nandini having an eye conversation with Manik..

Lalith: Wow, mathlab baath yaha thak pohanch gayi..

They saw Manik keeping his hand on his stomach and making a puppy face at Nandini while she was glaring at him which made Manik to eat one more sandwich reluctantly.

Raj ( shocked ): Ye hamara Manik hi tho hai na yar...

Manik and cute faces, really..??

Viren ( scratched his chin ): You know, you had shown me a lot of pictures of Manik, par unmein se koi bhi pic ithna cute nahi hai yar..kithna cute lag raha hai hamara Manu..

Raj hit his forehead..

Akash ( smiled ): Yar..bath tho sahi hai..Manik bohath khush lag raha hai..

Raj smiled wholeheartedly after hearing him. He stared at Manik who was staring at Nandini with a happy smile on his face while she was also staring at him and asking him to eat..

Ravi ( smiled ): Kuch tho zaroor ho raha hai in dono ke beech..

The men smiled at each other..

In Nandini's bedroom

Nandini was combing her hair when she felt someone's hot breathe in her neck..

Nandini ( whispered ): Manik..

In Manik's bedroom

Manik couldn't sleep tonight. He was keeping fast for the past 2 days but still, sleep was far away from his eyes. He got up with a frustrated face..

Manik: Aaj Nandini Dixit se baath nahi hua tho neend hi nahi aana shuru kiya..

He slipped his feet in his slippers and walked out of his room and sneaked into Nandini's bedroom without disturbing any of the family members..

He entered in her bedroom only to gape at Nandini..

Manik: Beautiful..

She looked in the mirror to see Manik staring at her intently..He slowly wrapped his hand around her waist and nuzzled in her neck making her breathe to hitch in her throat..

Manik: Are you fine..?

Nandini ( smiled ): Are you alright..?

She turned to him while he immediately grabbed her waist and she snaked her arms around his neck..

Nandini ( cupped his cheeks ): Dho din se bhooke rehthe ho tum, Manik..kya zaroorath thi..

Manik ( smiled ): Tum mere Dad keliye fast rakh liya aur mein mere Dad ki bahu keliye rakha..

Nandini: Haa tho, par....

She stopped in the middle after registering his words in her mind. She looked at him with widened mouth and he chuckled seeing her reaction. She slapped his arms lightly and blushed in the deepest red..

Manik: God, you look so cute when you blush..

Nandini ( whined ): Shut up, manik..

Manik ( chuckled ): Fine..fine..

He took her on his feet and started walking..

Nandini: Manik, kar kya rahe ho tum..?

Manik: Shh..let me walk..

He walked further and dropped himself on the bed and laid on it with Nandini on top of him..

Manik: Chalo, let's talk for sometime..

She smiled after recovering from the surprise given by him..

Manik: So, what's the plan for tomorrow..Dev's marriage is getting near..

Nandini: Yeah..it is..Dev wants a big fat wedding, so we don't want to make it so simple..He is a total Punjabi Munda..

Manik ( smiled ): Wo tho hai..but he looks a lot simpler, you know..

Nandini ( smiled ): He is very simple, actually. The only difference is, he becomes a Punjabi when it comes to traditions and morals. Like, weddings are something celebrated in a huge way, for Punjabis and so he follows it, he actually loves such things..

Manik ( smiled ): Why do you find a brother in him, Nandini. You already have 3-4 brothers..then why..?

Nandini smiled at his question..

Nandini: Something that you need to know before finding a loved one in someone is, never question your heart because we would never get an answer. It does what it wants and it's not answerable to anyone. My heart loves my friends a lot. Soulie is someone who doesn't need me to speak , she will get to know what I want, Sid, like I told you, a male version of mine, Aru is my brother, a stupid but a lovely friend who listens to whatever I say and gets over possessive without a reason while Dev..he was everything I needed. He sits with me for the entire time when he knows I am upset, he literally beats the shit out of Sid to leave both of us alone..He simply protects me even if I ask him not to, well you could say, I am a bit scared of him and his anger but I love him and I ended up in calling him Bhai, occasionally though..

Manik smiled lovingly at her little confession. He simply kissed her forehead as a reply making her smile widely..

Manik: You mean, just like how I never questioned my heart, why did I fall for you..

She smiled cutely at him and kissed his cheek..

Nandini: What if I ask you, why did you fall for me..?

Manik smiled and rolled her on the bed and hovered above her making her eyes go wide..

Manik ( caressed her cheeks ): A question which should be never asked to Manik Malhotra because even I myself don't know why did I fall for Nandini Dixit..All I could say is, you are the star of my life, who will shine for eternity, only for me..

She smiled with moist eyes..She caressed his cheeks and kissed his forehead and kept her's over his..

Nandini ( whispered ): Mani...

Manik's head snapped at Nandini in shock or delight..

Manik: Wh..what..what did you call..me..?

Nandini ( smiled ): Mani..kyu..bhool gaya kya..?

Manik hugged her in the next second tightly..He couldn't believe he actually heard it from her. He heard her calling Mani, nearly after 7 years..

Manik ( whispered ): You don't know how much happy I am..

Nandini gripped him tightly..

Nandini: I know..

They broke the hug and stared at each other lovingly. His gaze moved to her lips which were trembling in his gaze..He leaned forward and this time, even she leaned to him with her gaze on his lips..Their lips were just an inch apart from each other..

Manik ( huskily ): Nandu..you know where we are leading it, right..

Nandini ( closed her eyes ): I do..

That was it, he knew she needs it too. He just placed his lips on her's and sucked them softly. She kissed him back in a very slow pace. Soon, the kiss turned wild, the craving which they had for each other since the past years were poured into this single kiss. They broke the kiss when they went breathless..

Manik ( softly ): I love you, Nandini...

Her eyes were shot open at his confession only to get drown in those chocolaty brow eyes which had tears of happiness..

Nandini ( in tears ): Wh..what..?

Manik ( smiled amidst tears ): I love you, Nandini. I love you so much, hamesha...

She crashed in his arms and rolled on him and hid herself in his neck and let her tears out..

Nandini: I love you, Mani..hamesha..

And this time, it was Manik whose face beamed in joy with tears of happiness..They hugged each other but this time their tears didn't have an end..

After breaking the hug, Nandini slapped his arm..

Nandini ( sobbed ): You took nearly 7 years to confess it, Monster Malhotra..

Manik ( glared ): Tho tum kya bohath pehle hi bol diya tha..

Nandini ( glared ): Mein ladki hoon, time lagega na..

Manik ( frustrated ): Tho kya..hum ladkon ko time nahi le sakthe kya..insaan tho hoon na..

Nandini ( annoyed ): Hum lad kyu rahe hai..

Manik ( irritated ): Mujhe kya patha..

They looked at each other for a while and busted out in laughter and then hugged each other..

Manik: You are my drug, Nandini Dixit..!!I just can't live without you..

Nandini ( smiled ): Feelings are mutual, Manik Malhotra..!!

Manik: Good night, Love..

Nandini: Good night, Mani..

Next Day

Viren was walking through the corridor with a frustrated face, but with closed eyes..

Viren: Aaj hi meeting rakhna tha uss stupid dealer ko..That too this early..

Nobody in Dixit's palace sees someone else other than Nandini's face after waking up from their sleep in the morning..But, Virendhar had an early morning meeting and he forgot to tell it to Nandini which was why he had to see Nnadini by going to her bedroom..

Viren walked to Nandini's bedroom and opened it and entered inside..

Viren: Huff, finally..

He opened his eyes with a smile but then the next second, his eyes went wide like it could even pop out of it's sockets..He just couldn't believe what he was seeing in front of his eyes..

Viren: Doll....Manik......

He simply palmed his face and rushed outside her bedroom and closed the door and started panting..

Viren: Baap re..ye kya dekh liya mene..ughh..Rajjjjj...

He stormed out of the Mansion and drove away..

In Malhotra Empire

Raj's cabin

Again, those 8 people have gathered around but their expressions were same except Viren's..

Akash ( frustrated ): What the heck is wrong with you, Viren..you are sulking like a baby..Hua kya hai..

Viren ( face palmed ): Yar..mein kaisa baap hoon..ye kya kiya mene..

Raj just held Viren's collars and took a pen and hit his head..

Viren: Ouch..what the hell, Raj..?

Raj: Tho kya karoon saale..kabse keh rahe hai.." mein kaisa baap hoon..ye mene kya kar diya "..ab ek aur baar bola tho mein apni maa ki kasam kha raha hoon..doll ki aanewali bache ko tere shakal thak dekhne keliye allow hi nahi karoonga..

Viren's mouth went wide..

Viren: Haww..tu kaisa dosth hai yar..meri bachi ke bache ko dekhne nahi dega..

Swayam ( irritated ): Shut up, you both..When will you grow up..apne bache ki shadi ki umar ho chuka hai..

Viren again went ot the morning incident and face palmed..

Viren: Ye mene kya kar diya..mein kaisa...

Before he could continue, Ranvir smacked his head..

Ranvir: Tu bolega ya pitega..

Viren ( puppy face ): I shouldn't have seen it..

Akash ( bored face ): Seen what..?

Viren: SLEEPING..

Lalith ( frowned ): Sleeping..? Yar..tumne kisiko sothe hue nahi dekha..?

Viren ( annoyed ): Dekha hai, par apni beti ko nahi dekha..

Raj ( frustrated ): Abey tu isse pehle Love ko sothe hue nahi dekha kya..

Viren ( frustrated ): Dekha hai, par hamesha akeli thi, MANIK ke saath nahi dekha na..

And this sentence just grabbed each and everyone's ears..

" WHAT "

Viren ( huffed ): Haa..Uss din Raj tha aur aaj mein..

Swayam: mathlab tu ne bhi unn dono ko ek saath pakda..?

Viren nodded with a puppy face..

Raj: Damn it..aaj bhi dekh liya..mathlab ye koi maamuli attraction nahi..they've got something strong for each other..

Akash: Ab tho iske bare mein investigate karna hai..

They smirked at each other but Viren was still sulking..

Rohit: Abey, ab kya hua..

Viren ( sulked like a baby ): Mein kaisa baap hoon yar, apni hi beti ko, koi baap apni beti ke bedroom secrets dekhega kya..

And others just hit their forehead and murmured " ye sudhrega bhi nahi "..

To be continued..