Manik got a message.

"Manik, could you please bring 2 kg rice and 1 kg toor daal?"

He smiled and replied, "As you say, Nandu" with the saluting emoji.

He once again opened her profile pic which displayed both of them on their roka ceremony.

Manik's bua had recommended Nandini for alliance with him. He had no problem with arranged marriages as his parents had one as well. He had always seen them lovey-dovey and happy and so he had no problem with this.

When he saw Nandini for the first time in a flare suit, he instantly fell for her beautiful eyes.

He remembered how his mother had made her sit near him and then it was just him glancing at her every 5 minutes. And his face cracked to a smile when he saw her doing the same.

Their roka ceremony was a close knit affair and he adored her in being pink simple lehenga with the red shagun chunni that his mother had made her worn.

She had also developed a liking for him when they talked after exchanging their numbers on their first meet.

And this was how, the world's most gorgeous lady is now his, for his whole life.

She had jelled up with his family so well. His mother now would hold his ear even if he didn't do anything.

One day, Nandini was chopping onions and tears fell from her eyes during the process. After she was done with it, there was still moisture in her eyes.

His mother came near her and asked worriedly, "What happened Nandu? Why are you crying meri bachi?"

"Are ma nothing-"

"Manik Malhotra, come right here!" His mother shouted and Manik came with a frown.

"Why did you make my daughter cry?" She asked, putting one hand on her waist.

"Ma, I didn't-"

"Ma, he did nothing. I was chopping onions and so.." Nandini explained and saw his mother going towards him and twisting his ear.

"Ahh ma, kya kr rhe ho?"

"Teri wajah se uski aankho me aansu aaye hain. Hm to pyaaz nhi khate, tu hi khaata hai aur teri wajah se pyaaz kaat te waqt uski aankho me aansu aaye. Ab agar pyaaz khana hai to khud kaat warna tu bhi mt kha, bs!" And Nandini withdrew her hand and hugged her, chuckling at her cute mother-in-law.

Manik smiled at his mother's childishness too but deep down, he knew Nandini had made a very special place in his parents' heart.

His father was the one who listened to nobody when he was told to walk in the morning. But, it was Nandini who convinced him to go for a walk because of his heart conditions. And now, every morning, his father goes to walk in the nearby garden and after coming back, only drinks tea made by his lovely daughter-in-law while telling incidents in the garden. They both have a hearty chat and even Nandini sometimes accompanies him for the walk. Since then, his blood pressure is in control.

But in all this, there's one thing still left. A true marital life shared by both of them. Both of them had become good friends till their wedding but they needed time to love each other with all of their flaws. And they knew they would do it one day, so for now they are those roommates who discuss life but not love (yet). Thinking all of this, Manik travelled back to home and saw Nandini coming out from a room which was her personal room where she made sketches and paintings. 

After a long day, Manik puts his head on Nandini's lap and she massages his head for sometime before they go for dinner downstairs.

He saw her lovingly serving his parents and it made him happy and fulfilled. He now had everything one wishes in their life. Family. Money. Home. Wife. And LOVE.

Yes, he had finally fallen in love with his wife and he wanted to confess it to her. So he had bought a chocolate bouquet for her. As the clock will struck to 12, he will wish a happy birthday to his pretty wife and also confess that he loves her to death.

Nandini was setting the bed when he came in the room and saw her.

As soon as she saw him, he acted to yawn, "Haaaaaa! Nandu, aaj to bahot thak gya mai. Jaldi se sahi kr do bed, bahot neend aa rhi hai."

Nandini was very happy, tomorrow being her birthday but her smile faltered because her dear husband wanted to sleep early today.

"Hmm" She said while putting the pillow to place and then went to change.

Manik quickly hid the bouquet in the cupboard and then went to sleep (pretended to).

When she came back, the lights were already dim and she saw Manik facing the other side, sleeping. She pouted. Mera birthday tak ni yaad ise.

She then went to her side to sleep. She looked at the time. 11.30. Her birthday would start in another half an hour. She couldn't sleep in this excitement. After sometime, the other side shuffled a little so she closed her eyes. She saw with half opened eyes that Manik tiptoed near the door and then went outside.

Matlab ise mera birthday yaad hai. Fir bhi naatak. Acha ji.

Nandini giggled and then sat up, waiting for his husband. When he went inside sneakily, he almost fell seeing her sitting on the bed, folding her legs and arms.

"Merko pta tha, tumhe mera birthday yaad hoga. Yippieee" She said seeing the cake in his hand and then jumped off to bed to take him in a bone crushing hug, while he balanced himself and the cake.

"Happy Birthday, Wifey!" He said sensually in her ear as she broke the hug and looked at him with wide eyes and flushed cheeks. She then tucked her already set hair behind her ear and lowered her eyes towards the cake and smile cheekily seeing her favourite chocolate cake.

She was then going outside when he held her arm asking, "Kahan chli?"

"Ma papa ko bulane. Unke saamne cake cutting krenge na." She said frowning.

"Nah! Ma papa so gye hain, aur mujhe instruction diye gaye hain ki main akele apni wife ke saath kuch time spend karu." He smirked while pulling her to him.

One, he was smelling chocolate. Two, he was again and again referring to her as "Wife."

"Manik, I want to cut the cake" She pouted and he chuckled at her childishness and said, "Why not!"

He then took her near the bed and put the cake on the bed. Both of them sat and he lightened the candles on the cake, made her hold the knife and said, "Wish something."

She closed her eyes and wished something and then opened her eyes, blew the candles and then cut the cake with a full blown smile while Manik clapped, smiling.

"Happy birthday to me!" She sang and then cut the cake and put the piece in front of Manik's mouth but he held it to her mouth, asking her to eat.

She ate while he cut a piece for himself and when she thought, he would eat it, he smudged it on her cheek. She whined, "Manikkkkkk!"

"Acha acha sorry, lemme clean it." He said and again, as she 'thought' that he would bring tissues, he came near her and cleaned the cake from her cheeks with his lips.

She stilled for a moment and her eyes voluntarily closed at this contact. He saw some chocolate below her lip so he cleaned it slowly with his thumb. Her breathing turned uneven.

Just as she had opened her eyes, he then smudged some more chocolate below her lip. He then went near to her face, she looked into his eyes when he went closer and whispered, "I love you Mrs. Malhotra." Her eyes turned wide and her ears turned pink.

He then cleaned the chocolate with his lips when she closed her eyes again. He then sat back and said, "Oye madam, tum bhi kaho."

She opened his eyes and then saw him and hugged him tightly.

"This is my best birthday ever. I love you too Manik." She mumbled, still hugging him and he hugged her back.

After sometime, he laid down and offered his arm which she gladly accepted and rested her head upon it. They both had the best sleep in their lives that night.

Ohh, correction! Every night after this witnessed their best sleep from that night onwards.

A/n: Now let's leave the couple to their own world.

Hey guys, I am back with another one shot. Do tell me how was it.

Love is one of the best feelings in the world according to me. It has the power to make you cry, make you laugh, just because of that one person.

Have my stories turned good lately? Maybe because I am myself into this new feeling hehe :)