The truck sped towards her and she was unknown of it laughing freely.

Manik ran to save her but before he could reach the truck was about to touch her but a hand pulled her and someone embraced her in his arms.

Manik ran towards them and pulled scared Nandini in his arms and glared the person.

“Woaahh!! This is not fair Manik! You're supposed to thankful to me but here you're glaring me!!”

“Madhyam!! You very well know why I'm glaring you!! You know she's my girl!! And what do you think that I don't get it what you're trying to do? Stay away from my baby!!!”, Manik said gritting his teeth.

Madhyam smirked and said, “For now let's not discuss what I'm trying and you're thinking!! Like you said she's your girl and she's in shock so we'll talk about it later!! Focus on your girl bro!!”, patting Manik’s shoulder he left.

Manik took a deep breath to control his anger and looked his baby who has cocooned herself in his embrace and was shivering . Without saying anything he carried her in his arms and took her inside his cabin.

He came in the cabin and sat in his chair with Nandini in his lap.

She was shivering and snuggling more and more into his chest trying to feel his warmth.

“Stay still! Stop shivering!”, he shouted.

She slowly tried to look into his eyes but couldn't!

“I feel like giving you a tight slap! Mann toh kar rha yha lock kar dun tmhy!”, he said glaring her though his hands were saying the other thing as he was pulling her more and more close.

“S...Sor..”, she mewed like a sacred cat but couldn't even complete as she was damn scared.

“Do tapad lagau tmhy fir akal thikane ayegi tmhri! Hazar baar bola hai! Pyar se samjhaya hai ki jaan apna dhyan rakho! Tmhy karoch v ni aani chiye!  Tum baht kimti ho! Par ni! Apko kya hai! Bas meri sanshey rokny me sukoon milta hai! Hai na? Bolo? Chup kyu ho?”, he shouted angrily but his hands were caressing her arms and lips were kissing her hairs.

Finding her not responding he make her look into his eyes. That was enough for her to break down! Though she didn't cried loudly but silent tears which were stored in her eyes from a long started to flow which was enough to melt him!

He sighed and pulled her tightly in his arms kissing every cell of face, neck, hair assuring himself that she's safe in his arms.

“Jaan mera! Mera shona! Mera bacha! Kuch ni hua babu! I'm here na! I would have lost you today! Never ever pull that stunt on me my lifeline!”, he cried kissing her face, palms, hands.

She was silent just snuggling to him! His moments was disturbed by a knock!

He allowed the person with Nandini still in his lap.!

It was one of his female employee.

She blushed looking them in this position and about to go out but Manik stopped as she had an important file with her.

“Sorry to disturb you sir! But this is the file that you've asked for! I've checked it but we need your approval and I've mailed all other details!”

Manik nodded , “Miss Sirja! Can you please order someone to bring some chocolates!”

She smiled and nodded. Before going out she said, “Your wife is so cute sir! Just like a baby! You both look best together!”

Manik smiled and nodded kissing Nandini’s forehead but his smile turned to frown as he found her forehead burning!

After Sirja left he looked down at his baby who was now burning!

“Jaan! You're safe shonu! You're with me! Don't stress yourself!”, he said softly cupping her cheeks.

She nodded.

“Kya hua baby! Kuch bolo! Itna daar gya hai mera bacha?”

“Mo..Mon.. Monstu…!”

“Haa! Monstu ka baby! Aap safe ho! Monstu k pass! Chalo ab aap thode der so jao! You're so stressed!”, saying he patted her head pulling her more and more close in his lap covering her with his blazer!

She slept after sometime and Manik got engrossed in his work with Nandini in his arms! He was kissing her forehead again and again and, as he knew, her temperature cooled down as she was assured slowly!

After sometime, Sirja knocked as she came with chocolate which Manik has ordered!

Her knock disturbed Nandini's sleep.

She yawned as she woke up and looked at Sirja then at Manik then chocolates and again Sirja!

Sirja smiled brightly and showed her the chocolates but Nandini made face and hides her face in Manik's chest making him laugh.

“Sir! She didn't like me? Why is it?”

Sirja was an old employee and trustworthy person so she was kinda close to Manik as he considers her as sister!

“She's a little grumpy Sirja! Avi Avi utti hai na! Above all you have her chocolates toh isliye! Give her chocolates she'll be your friend too!”, Manik said laughing tickling Nandini who was too grumpy as he was tickling her!

Sirja laughed and kept the chocolates in front of Nandini and said, “Hey baby! All these is yours! But on one condition! You've to be my friend!”

Nandini looked at her then Manik and chocolates!

She slowly stretched her hands and took two chocolates and again snuggled into Manik without saying anything.

Both Manik and Sirja laughed at her antics and decided not to bug her more.!

They discussed about the project with Nandini sometimes playing with his bands and sometimes looking both of them exchanging small smile!

After the meeting, Manik stood with Nandini to go back to Mansion.

She was walking slowly holding his hands tightly!

He knows she's still thrilled with the previous experience but didn't discussed about as he wants her to be fight from her fears! All he did is to give her the support, confidence and love which she needed!

After they reached home they were stopped by Manik's bua dadi who has arrived for the marriage. She saw MaNan together and being overdramatic shouted, “Haayyoooo Rabbaaa!!! Ae aaj kal ne kudiyan da main ki krda!! Love marriage krege toh yahi hoga na!! Zara mauka mila ni ki nikal gye hone wale khasam(husband) nu naal!! Sharma lihaz toh hai hi ni!!”

She was continuously saying when Manik said, “Bua dadi!! Chill!! Itna kyu hyper ho rhe ho aap? Nanhi ko main le kar gya tha!! Nanhi, in your room! Now!”, He ordered and showed his eyes to which she immediately ran to her room but one shout from Manik and she stopped running and walked silently.

“Manik beta!! Main darsa hu tenu yeh ladki sahi ni h!!”

“Dadi!! She's perfect for me!! And you know na she's my child first!! I don't want her to grow up!! Bachi h!! Aisi hi rhegi aur main aise hi rakhunga!! Kuch v ho!!”

“Par Manik!!!”

“Bye dadi! Shadi enjoy kro aur ashirwad do hum dono ka apna!”, Saying he went to his room where Nandini was playing with her pets.

He ignored her and went to change.

“Nanhi go and change! Sleep for a while fir mehandi k rituals h raat me!!”

She nodded and looked him with puppy eyes asking for sorry.

“Don't try these tricks on me!! Aaj jo galti ki h na tmne uski sazza yahi ki we're not talking anymore!”

“Monstuuuuu!!!”

“No Monstu! Go and change!!”

Sadly she went to change and laid down on the bed where he was already sitting doing some work on his laptop.

She slides and keeps her head in his lap and gives him puppy eyes.

He tried to ignore her eyes but eventually holds her tightly and kneaded her hairs to make her sleep!

It was night and the hall was decorated for the mehandi function.

Manik went to Nandini to woke her up.

He kissed her cheeks to which she turned and hugged him.

“Wake up! You have to get ready! Mehandi h na!”, he whispered still hugging her.

She nodded and opened her eyes.

“Gussa ni ho na??”, She asked.

“Yeh kisne kha?? Galti ki h toh punishment v toh milegi na jaan! Chalo wake up!”

She pouted, “Kissie!”

“No kissie! Wake up now!”, Saying he went to change hiding his smile.

She pouted and barged behind him in washroom.

“Moooonnnssstttuuuu!!!”, She cribbed but went out silently when he showed his eyes.

Silently she went to open the door as her designers and all the girls were waiting outside.

Manik came out and gelled his hairs all the while looking at Nandini who was looking at him angrily.

Manik gave her look and turned to go out looking dashing as always.

****

All the decor were done for mehandi.

Nandini came down with the girls.

She was draped in a beautiful green saree making her more beautiful for the function.

She sat down and Harshad came forward to do the rasam. He put a dot in her hands with mehandi and kissing her forehead joined the guys. The designer started applying the heena on her hands.

The night was going on full swing. Nandini was laughing all the time and Manik's heart was blooming looking her happy.

After the function everyone came together in the dining table.

Everyone was feeding their partners. Nandini looked around and found Manik is nowhere she smiled evilly and was sneaking out to room to avoid dinner but before she could sneak out Manik grabs her from waist.

“Monstuuuu!!!!”, She gasped and wriggled to run away.

He without saying anything carried her like that and sat on the chair taking her in lap.

“Monstuuuu! Bhuk ni hai”, she said as he kept the plate in her lap.

“Tumse pucha maine? Ni na? Bas then keep quite and open your mouth.”, He scolded her and stuffed her mouth.

She was so sleepy that she slept keeping her head on his shoulder.

He kissed her forehead and took he to room. He tucked her to bed and thought, “Aaj toh I kept you away from your dad but tomorrow? I've to be extra careful with you!  I don't know what's his next step but all I know is I can't let you go!”
*********
Next part is Shaadi!!