Hello Fam :)

Happy Diwali. Don't miss the note at the end. Also, I haven't reread the chapter. Feel free to point out if there's anything wrong. I will correct them later. :)

Happy Reading...

Nandini woke up with energy buzzing in her veins. She had a plan. She got ready and met Alya and Yash at breakfast. While her dad was busy putting the food on her plate, Alya gave her a once-over.

"You have decided something. You are planning something", she commented.

When Nandini glanced at her, the girl was smirking. She returned the smirk. "Not bad, Ally. After all these years, you still are good at reading me."

Yash raised an eyebrow at them. "Is this the point where I should be worried about you two ganging up on me?"

There was a tease in his voice but Nandini knew he was proud of them for trying. Their issues won't resolve overnight but they are trying. To show his support, Yash ruffled Alya's hair and raised both his arms when she whined for messing her hair on instinct before winking at Nandini. When Alya went upstairs, Yash pulled Nandini's hand, kissing the top of her head.

"I am so proud of you, Baby girl."

"For this? You will be even more proud of what I am about to do", she teased.

"I am scared of you, Baby girl", he repeated in the same tone.

Nandini laughed before leaving for the castle.

XXX

At the castle, she had put her things in her cabin before going to search for Abhimanyu. Once she found him talking to Cabir, she grabbed the man. "Cabir, I am borrowing this guy for a few moments", she said and dragged Abhimanyu towards the nearest room by his shirt collar.

Apparently, the nearest room was his room, and Mukti, his wife was present there. The girl raised an eyebrow in confusion looking at the two.

"Princess, ignore us for a moment, please", told Nandini before turning to Abhimanyu. "And you, are going to do as I say."

The guy raised an eyebrow similar to his wife. "Do you remember I am still the 'royalty' as you mentioned yesterday when you couldn't even punch me? And today you are ordering me. Holding me by the collar of my shirt, to be highlighted."

Nandini huffed. "When I marry Manik, we are going to be family and you would be my annoying mother-hen of an elder brother. I have full rights to boss you around."

The idiot just smirked. "You said when instead of if. Am I missing something, Baby doll?"

Nandini freed him only to punch him lightly in the stomach. "Call me a doll once again and I would hospitalize you myself."

"Forgive me for interfering", interrupted Mukti, "but OMG! Nandini, you are perfect for my Manik and this family."

"Love, only you could be excited about someone punching your husband", complained Abhimanyu pouting.

Mukti rolled her eyes and dragged Nandini to sit down beside her. "Nandini, what do you want him to do? Just order him. I will make sure you will get everything you want?"

"How about the biggest property the royal family owns in this village?", she told and waited for their expressions to change. She was going to have a lot of fun here.

XXX

A week later, Nandini was buzzing with energy as she reached Delhi. She had a plan. She just needed to go through it with Manik.

"What are you doing here?", exclaimed Manik.

Nandini looked at the way his eyes widened on looking at her and the frown on his face after a minute. It wasn't the expected reaction but she smiled. "Surprise."

Manik blinked his eyes before shaking his head. "I am sorry. Come in, first. Actually, I was thinking-"

Before he could finish there was another voice calling him from inside. Nandini scrunched her eyebrows listening to the girl. "Who's that?"

"Shanaya. She stayed overnight."

On top of everything that has been happening since last week, the girl emerged out of Manik's room and after a week of restlessness, Nandini's brain had burst out. "In your room?", she asked through gritted teeth.

"She was having a shower", answered Manik.

"Right", she muttered. "A girl, who had proposed to you last week, is staying overnight in your room and having a shower. What do you want me to think about it, Malhotra? You know what? Keep your explanations to yourself. I am leaving."

"Nandini, wait", interrupted Manik.

"Manik", said Shanaya. "I think we have completed most of the part. I will recheck it once and mail it to the chief at my place. You handle this." The girl went to the table to collect all her things before returning to the living room.

"Shanaya, I am sorry about this", said the idiot as if she was making the issue here.

She squeezed Manik's arm on her way out. "No, you don't have to say sorry for your girlfriend", she said and there was a slight tease in her voice.

Manik frowned. "Shan, I am sorry for the situation. Not for Nandini. She has every right to be mad at me for the situation that's happening in front of her eyes and she would have a reason for reacting in that way."

Nandini rolled her eyes but the girl chuckled before leaving the house. Nandini crossed her arms and glared at the girl throughout their interaction. How dare she? Once she left the apartment, Manik sighed and locked the door before pulling her towards his room. "Manik, what are you doing? Leave me."

He forced her to sit on the bed and sat down in front of her, maintaining the distance. "Nandini, I know all this looks wrong but I am not explaining anything to you right now. You are looking dead-tired and you need sleep. Me too. Last week was really hectic. I promise I would never cheat on you. How about you sleep for a while and then we can talk once we are not afraid, we would faint dead mid-conversation?"

Nandini didn't answer and he took her silence as agreement as he cleared the bed before turning to leave the room. "Manik?"

"Yeah?"

"This is your room. Where would you sleep?"

"Couch?"

"What?"

He sighed before kneeling down and taking her hand hesitantly as if she would scream at him for touching her. "Shanaya slept for a while in the other room and I don't want you to use that. We were in the camp all day so let me change the bedsheets first and then it would be good to use. Also, the tap in that bathroom is broken. Didn't get time to call the plumber."

She wanted to yell at him for showing himself as the perfect person. She wanted to cry and run away. She wanted to let all her insecurities and push him away because she had been avoiding imagining a future with Manik Malhotra for a long time and now that there was a scenario close to telling her that he could never be hers, she wanted to accept it and get it over with. Instead, Nandini glanced at her hand and the way he has held her hand so carefully while caressing it with his other hand. She saw the smile on his face that could calm anyone down. "Stay?"

And he agreed in a heartbeat, no questions asked, his smile only widening. He lay down beside her and pulled her into his embrace, before dropping a kiss on her head. "I am not going anywhere leaving you, Nandini", he whispered against her head, as if meaning more ways than one.

If she pushed herself more into his arms and cried all over his neck, he didn't utter a word.

XXX

Nandini woke up to the empty bed, tucked safely inside the blanket. She looked around for her mobile and when she didn't find it, she walked out of the room to search for Manik instead. He was in the kitchen. "Hey, Nandini. Give me a minute. Let me put the pasta to boil and then we can talk. Pasta is okay for you, right? By the way, Yash uncle called. Wanted to check if you have reached here or not. I told him you were tired and sleeping. I have put your mobile on charge. Give him a call if you want or you can call from mine. It's there."

Ignoring his babble, she wrapped her arms around him from behind. She felt Manik startle before he turned her around without disturbing her and then wrapped his arms around her properly. Once she calmed down, he picked her up onto the counter and cupped her face. "Nandini, Shanaya-"

"Don't", she interrupted. "Don't explain to me. I don't want to listen. I know you wouldn't cheat on me. I just jumped into conclusion."

"Because you were tired and hardly slept during the whole of last week. Uncle told me. Nandini, I have a responsibility. I have emergencies. I am not saying you don't, but you don't have to make yourself sick working."

"It's not work. I was getting worked up", she confessed. And then she narrated her conversation with Raj Malhotra to Manik. Manik was beaming by the end of it.

"Dad wants me to let me live my life in Delhi?", he asked, grinning.

She nodded, giving him a weak smile.

"Nandini, that's so awesome. I never thought he would understand my work. Thank you for making this happen", exclaimed the guy, hugging her. It took him a minute to notice the smile she faked. "Hey, you don't look happy. Is everything alright?"

"I am happy that you got your dad back, Manik. But where does that leave me? Us?"

"Us? What do you mean, Nandini?", he asked. "How's that related?"

Nandini took a breath, organizing her thoughts so as not to hurt Manik and the angel that he was, he waited for her patiently without leaving her hand. "Manik, I love you", she said so fiercely that the guy had snapped his head towards her but there was a grin. It was the first time she had confessed with such confidence.

He brought her hand towards his lips and kissed her knuckles. "You love me?"

Nandini chuckled. "My dad always said I shouldn't marry someone because they made sense but instead someone without whom nothing made sense. I have always known I would love you eventually but then Manik, I don't know when you have become an integral part of my life. A day without you in it feels incomplete."

His eyes glistened as he cupped her face before kissing her. "And I thought I was the only one when everything around me reminded me of you. It seemed as if I can't keep you out of my head, heart even for a short while", he whispered.

This time, Nandini laughed. "Looking at our history, you are never alone, Manik." Because their emotions were always in sync right from the moment they met.

The burning smell distracted both of them and Manik rushed to switch off the stove. There goes their pasta. "I am sorry", he muttered.

Nandini shook her head, the smile not leaving her face. "I will order pizza."

Half an hour later, they were curled up together on the couch abandoning the left-over pizzas.

"Why were you worked up, Nandini?", asked Manik.

It took her a moment to make sense of his words. Of course, she forgot about it. "Manik, are we on the same page that we want to marry each other?"

Manik nodded. "At this point, if I am marrying anyone else, I would be betraying them."

She pushed the feelings down because she needed to have this conversation without Manik being the angel descended from heaven for her. "Manik, what would happen to us when we marry each other? You would be in Delhi and I would be working there."

"You don't think long-distance would work? Is that what it is?"

Nandini sighed. "No, Manik. I understand you think your dad's trying to control your life but you have more responsibility because you were born in that family."

"You can't seriously imply that I should come back?"

"How do you think this would work?", she said vaguely pointing between them.

Manik shook her lightly. "Nandini, we have been through this already. When we are getting married, you could handle the things there and I would come to visit you whenever I get some free time. Or you can come here when you want to get away from there."

"That's the point, Manik. I can handle things there but the people don't want me to. Listen, Manik, I am an outsider to them and they don't trust me. Even if they did, it wouldn't be the same as trusting the kid of the family that has been so brilliantly taking care of them. So, yes, they might rebel against me or even worse, feel like my authority has been thrust upon them or that I have snatched away from their rightful prince. Your dad is all on board for you to stay in Delhi permanently but even he is aware of this scenario to take place sometime later so, no, he isn't overly enthusiastic over us getting married."

Somewhere between her rant, Manik had abandoned the couch and started pacing around. He stopped to make a point but when he could get a word out of him, he resumed his pacing. Finally, he slumped down beside her although maintaining a reasonable distance which had hurt more than it should have. "I thought you would understand me", he muttered, his voice barely audible.

And Nandini gripped the back of his neck to pull him against her into a hug. By now she was totally familiar with the chaotic idiot hidden inside the Angel doctor who would yell or bolt out as soon as anything related to royalty was mentioned. "Manik, I don't let anyone walk all over me or cut off my freedom. How can I do that to one of my most loved people?", she told, her words assuring him the importance of him in her life. "I have always been amazed at your ability to save people. I would smack the head of everyone who would want you to quit your job." She counted it as a win when she felt Manik relaxing.

"I can picture you doing that", he muttered.

"Yeah? Good", she teased, before freeing him. Manik blinked his eyes but otherwise sat straight, the physical distance between them somewhat decreasing. "Manik, I have a plan. Give me a chance to explain and if you don't like it, we can think of something else. No way in hell am I compromising on your happiness but don't leave me. Is that too much to ask?"

Manik shook his head but otherwise didn't say anything. It was totally okay until he was running away out of the house.

"Manik, I have been going through some of your properties during the last week."

"Those aren't mine", he interrupted.

Nandini rolled her eyes. "Listen to me, idiot?", she told. "As I said, I was going through the properties and I got an idea. Amritpuri or the nearby village doesn't have any multi-specialty hospital there. Basic medical facilities sure, but if there's something major people still have to travel miles. So how about we just do that there. We build a hospital there, we employ the best staff there with you being in charge. You would be practically saving their lives so no one would question you if you won't get involved in your kingdom's politics. Meanwhile, we all can continue our works as before. You can stay with your family without feeling like they are breathing down your neck."

Manik looked surprised before taking some time to process everything. "You have really thought this through, right?"

"Wouldn't want to live without my Princess", she teased.

He laughed out loud. "I missed that one", he told before sobering up. "You are a goddamn strategist. But do you think I could handle managing a whole hospital?"

"Manik, I never thought I could handle your entire kingdom but here I am doing it and I really enjoy working with your dad. He is fun and I don't want you to miss that fun or lose your dad more than you have, not when you didn't have to. So, take a leap of faith. You will have help. We can bring in someone. I don't know who. You would be better at it. But if I can trust someone to save the people's lives back at home, it would be my angel descended from heaven."

Manik rolled his eyes. "Does dad know about this?"

"Abhimanyu and Mukti are totally on board with the plan", she said deflecting the question.

Manik narrowed his gaze. Because of course, he knew her better. "Dad?"

She sighed. "I have clued in where he got the idea that I am stealing some property from him to test his patience and he asked me not to do anything to the villagers' ones and that I could steal anything that was exclusively on his name. So, yeah, that conversation was a bit messed up and since I didn't want him to have his hopes high before you agree, I didn't correct him."

"In his eagerness to get you to be his daughter-in-law, he doesn't know what he is getting into", teased Manik.

If she wasn't trying to think of a better comeback, she would have noticed that Manik had taken more than one big decision of his life and which she was very much part of.

XXX

Nandini woke up in the morning and was surprised to find Manik still at the apartment. "You have a late shift?"

"I am on a leave actually", he said, putting down the plate for her.

"What?"

He chuckled. "I wanted to visit you. Technically, I would have been on the bus if you hadn't been surprised me yesterday. For a week. But now, I guess I have to change the plans. Hence, I am going to the hospital and I will talk to the chief."

"Is that why you were disappointed when you saw me yesterday?"

"Yeah. I had a plan of sleeping for a few hours before getting ready to meet you after wrapping up my work with Shanaya."

It was also probably the few times when Manik willingly took a leave to visit his place without someone forcing him to which was a huge step in itself. "I am sorry about Shanaya too."

"No, I understand. I know you wouldn't have reacted that way if you didn't have a solid reason too. So, it's cool."

She sighed. He was really an angel and she had been repeating that word since yesterday. "Do you want me to accompany you?"

"You would be bored. Do you have any work here?"

"Yes, actually."

Manik nodded. "How about you take my car, drop me at the hospital, and then pick me up when I am done? Let's just wrap everything and then we can go home in a day or two."

XXX

"Hey, dad", said Nandini, after dropping Manik at the hospital.

"Your majesty", teased Yash. "Or should I say Queen? When are things going to be official?"

"What? You already know Manik agreed?"

"The kid called me in the morning to check if he is making the correct decision or 'just letting the love of his life cast magic on his life choices' as he had put it."

"That idiot. He called you?"

"Yeah. He said Raj would anyway agree and that his family would have a twisted opinion because they want him there. Apparently, I would give him unbiased advice."

"I don't know whether to be impressed or smack him on the head", she muttered.

She heard Yash laughing on the other side. "You picked a good one, kid. I don't know if I would have found you anyone better than him. Anyway, I have a meeting with Cabir who said he doesn't like people who aren't punctual. So, I have to show up at the castle on time."

"Dad, why are we surrounded by idiots all around?"

"Your choices, Baby girl. Blame yourself."

She huffed. "Don't let him seduce you. I will deal with him after coming back."

Her dad just chuckled. "Hey, Baby girl. Are you happy there?"

"Yeah", she said. "And it's not the 'I am excited' kind of happy. It's more 'I think things would fall back into place' kind of happy. So, I think I am doing right, dad."

"I am happy that things are falling back in place. Even if they aren't don't stress out. We will deal with it together, right, kid?"

"Yeah."

"Now, go. Come soon with your prince charming. I can't wait to meet you two."

XXX

Nandini was waiting outside the hospital to pick Manik up when she found Shanaya approaching. She smiled when the girl did.

"You must be Nandini", she said.

"Yeah. Sorry for the other day."

Shanaya brushed it off. "As Manik said on that day, you might have a reason. Also, you know I have proposed to Manik. So understandable."

Nandini shrugged. "Not the excuse. Because there would hardly be anyone who doesn't love him."

"True", said Shanaya. "But he is totally smitten by you. You should see the way he talks about you. And he gets into his head thinking about you. It's happening quite a few times lately. I have wanted to meet you after listening to him. And I am glad I didn't miss on that one."

Nandini chuckled. "I don't know why he would be smitten but feels pretty good."

"I have known him for a few years, Nandini. We went to college together. I have loved him for almost as long and I am not the only one. But if he chooses to be smitten by you, you must have done something special."

She didn't know what to say to that. All she did was to be a decent friend to the guy.

I see you two have met already.

Nandini sighed in relief when she saw Manik.

"Did I make you wait for too long?", he said, putting his hand on the small of her back.

"No, I just came", she told.

"I don't think I should introduce you two again?", teased Manik.

"We did that ourselves, Manik. We would miss you here", said Shanaya, before pulling him into a hug. "Stay in touch, you idiot."

"I will", he told.

"It's nice meeting you, Nandini", said Shanaya. "Invite me to the wedding."

When she left, she found Manik pulling her into a hug and dropping a kiss on her head. "Are you fine?"

"I am fine, Princess. I am guessing the Chief agreed?"

"Yeah, he did. And he said he would guide me."

"He knows about you?"

"The only one in the hospital", said Manik. "Apparently a long-lost relative of Abhimanyu."

Nandini shook her head. It would be just the only thing that Manik would need on top of his family. No wonder he avoided everyone.

XXX

Two days later, they drove home instead of the bus. Manik's luggage was sent earlier. It was dark when they reached the outskirts of Nandini's place.

"Let me drop you home first", he muttered, taking a turn.

"You think I would get lost otherwise?", teased Nandini. It was always fun messing up with him.

Manik rolled his eyes. "I would rather dare not think like that."

When they parked in front of Nandini's home, the house was devoid of any light and Manik grabbed her by her arm when she took a step forward. She turned and found a huge frown on his head. "What's wrong?"

"Everything", he told. "Why isn't any light switched on? It's suspicious."

"Yeah. How did I forget you become one chaotic idiot when you come home", she teased and ruffled his hair when he glared at her. "Hey, Princess. I won't let anything happen to you, okay?"

Manik chuckled more at the nickname than on her words. He let her take the lead into the house without leaving her hand, ready to pull her on the first sign of danger.

SURPRISE

Manik clutched her hand harder when the burst of voices startled both of them. They were surprised to find both of their families in the living room. "Are you okay?"

Nandini nodded. "What are you all doing here?"

"Checking if you guys are coming straight home or halted in between to make out", replied Cabir.

Nandini glared at him. "Maintain that distance between us or else I am killing you before the day ends."

"That's my Queen", exclaimed Raj instead of Yash and Nandini didn't know whether to laugh at their enthusiasm or facepalm herself.

Yash pulled both of them into a hug followed by the rest of the party. Abhimanyu smirked at her before pulling her into a hug.

"Welcome to the family, Baby doll", he muttered into her ear.

Mukti jumped on the duo. "I am so happy I am getting you as my sister-in-law and not some bimbo or someone who reads psychology books for fun", she yelled audible enough to everyone.

Manik glared at his sister but otherwise didn't say anything. Cabir, on the other hand, cleared his throat. "You don't know, Mukti. Nandini might surprise you. Don't you think there must be some side of hers that made Manik totally fall for her?"

"I love everything about her", declared the Prince.

Raj was the last one to approach her and raised an eyebrow. "You could have at least told me that you weren't planning to steal something from me."

"You know what, your majesty? I think Manik inherited his hidden chaotic trait from you. You accused me of stealing. You don't deserve a clarification", she argued.

"Arey, I was trying to assure you that I am okay with you taking anything you want as long as you are happy. It wasn't accusing you."

"Yeah? I am taking Manik with me for as long as possible to be happy", she told.

"The way these two talk to each other would give me a heart attack someday", muttered Yash.

"I wouldn't let anything happen to you", answered Manik.

Between all this when Alya smirked at Nandini, she smirked back. Somehow it was becoming the new normal between them and she was all up to see how far she could go to get her sister back to her. Their interaction was noticed by Manik and he muttered an 'I love you' and it made her feel proud of herself. They had their dinner and then sat down, the house quietening down for the first time since they came home.

Manik was beside Nandini, an arm wrapped around her, as they together watched their families interacting with each other. Seems like even Alya and Mukti were having a civil conversation. "I am glad I have decided on coming home", whispered Manik. "Thank you."

"You owe me a party, Princess", she teased.

"Anything for you", she replied.

"We were thinking of something", announced Cabir and glanced at Raj Malhotra.

As if on cue, Raj glanced at the two. "I want to announce Manik as the future heir of the kingdom along with your marriage announcement."

Nandini squeezed Manik's hand. He was the one who had to make the decision here because she was up for anything he was happy with.

"You know that I haven't agreed to sit on the throne, right?", asked the Prince hesitantly.

Raj rolled his eyes. "Of course, son. Your would-be-wife has made sure we understood that", he told, shaking his head when Nandini smirked at him.

"What?", muttered Manik looking down at her.

Nandini straightened up, without leaving Manik's hand. "Mr. Malhotra, I have talked in detail with Mukti and Abhimanyu but I have a few conditions."

"Anything you want", said Raj. "You know that."

"No. I would rather want you to listen to my conditions and then agree willingly. Otherwise, Manik is better off in Delhi and I would leave too. Probably."

"Nandini", interrupted Yash, a look of bewilderment on his face. "You could have put your conditions forward without having to threaten in the first sentence."

"What else did you expect from her?", said Cabir.

Nandini ignored the two. "Manik would sit on the throne but he would be a namesake King. We, that includes Abhimanyu and Mukti, would handle everything behind him. This way, no one would manipulate him into doing anything and the power doesn't lie with one single person."

She waited for Raj to process the idea. "Okay. What would Manik do here? Because this boy couldn't sit idle even for a day. He would pack his bags and leave the castle in the middle of the night."

Manik stood up abruptly to protest but Nandini pulled him down. "Manik, sit down. He has a point. And we all know that. Uncle, Manik would be setting up a multi-specialty hospital here and it would benefit so many surrounding villages. We would help him in recruiting the staff and the construction of it. He would be the King on paper and in reality, he would be the angel in disguise that we all know of him."

"I am damn sure this meeting could go without you two flirting with each other", interrupted Cabir.

Nandini threw a cushion at him.

Raj turned to Yash. "What do you think about this?"

Yash glanced at both Manik and Nandini, he noticed the way they held their breaths and chuckled. "What more do we need than our kids be happy?"

"I think that's what matters the most", said Raj with a smile.

"You are agreeing? You are seriously agreeing?", asked Manik, the excitement clear in his voice.

"Yes, son, even if it's difficult to believe I care for your happiness more than anything", told Raj. "I am sorry for not understanding you all these years."

Manik gaped at his father, without responding, Nandini glared at him. "Uncle, even Manik is sorry for not understanding you all these years." Because even if Raj Malhotra was wrong on so many levels, Manik wasn't either. The chaotic idiot that he was, he created a mess against every decision of his father.

"No, I am not sorry for anything", protested the said idiot.

Nandini rubbed his arm soothingly. "Manik, you are sorry. You just don't know yet and when you realize it on your own, you would write sorry for a thousand times and gift it to him."

The guy gaped at her, a protest on his tongue but then he thought better about it and nodded, agreeing to her.

"Did you see that, love?", said Cabir. "Nandini could twist and turn and manipulate Manik however she wants. When would you give me that pleasure? Now that Nandini is as good as married off when are we getting married?"

Stop flirting with my dad.

Stop flirting with my uncle.

As Manik and Nandini yelled together, the whole room burst out laughing.

"I told you, they are made for each other", yelled Cabir over all the noise.

It took another fifteen minutes to calm down because Raj wanted to talk about something. "Alya, would you be free to design the dresses for everyone for the party?"

"That would be an honor, Mr. Malhotra", said Alya.

"Would you two sisters quit calling me Mr. Malhotra already? We are a family now", said Raj with fake irritation.

Nandini smirked at him. "What do you want me to call you then, your majesty?"

"She wouldn't listen to me ever, right?", asked the King to her father.

Yash patted his shoulder in sympathy. "You should have thought about this one a bit sooner. It's too late now."

Raj sighed dramatically.

XXX

Since it was too late, everyone decided to sleep at the Murthy house.

"It might be a bit congested", said Yash, hesitantly.

Raj threw a hand around him. "I have considered you my best friend since the day you joined the castle years back. We have practically grown up together for the major part of our lives. Do you really think all these matters to me?"

"Yes, but-"

"You were family for years, you idiot. I don't care if you punch me in the face to get your point across."

"Sir?", said Yash.

Raj rolled his eyes. "You are as stubborn as your daughter."

Nandini smirked at the King merrily as he walked away to his assigned room. Yash sighed before turning to Manik. "Are you two sharing the room?"

"Aren't you supposed to threaten me not to sneak into Nandini's room in the middle of the night?", asked Manik, barely hiding a grin.

"Why would I threaten? I trust her and you are my son."

The grin faltered on Manik's face as he wrapped his hands around the older man. "I love you. I never thought I would get a dad when I would marry her. I would have done it sooner."

Nandini rolled her eyes. "Princess, did you just declare your undying love to my dad?"

Manik shook his head. "He is my dad too. Officially soon."

Cabir slapped both of them on their heads. "You two are idiots."

"And you are staying away from my dad", retorted Nandini.

Yash sighed heavily. "I am going to sleep. Nandini, make sure the kids are comfortable after you all are done with your arguments."

As opposed to everyone, hardly anyone slept that night.

A/N: As I said earlier, this is a short story. And this chapter marks the end of the book. I might write an epilogue about the announcement party, a very short one. 

Also, as mentioned earlier, I will try to complete the best friends sequel after this before starting any new books because I am hardly able to give time to one book at one point so let's just finish that book before going into the Mahirat fiction or the next manan one. See you soon :)