In Chopra's PVT Investigators

Manik was waiting outside while leaning onto his car with his head dug in his mobile. Hearing those familiar giggles, he looked up to find Nandini who was holding both Kashish's and Ishaan's arms and talking some or the other thing. He smiled seeing her happy and soon her gaze fell on him and she smiled at him cutely making his grin wider..

Ishaan ( smiled ): Hello Manik...

Ishaan and Kashish hugged Manik who hugged them back with a smile..

Kashish ( mischievously ): Tum yaha..??

Mnaik: Uh...mein, I came to pick Mrs. Malhotra..

Ishaan ( frowned ): Mrs. Malhotra..??

Nandini: Bhai, wo mujhe pick karne keliye aaya hai..

Kashish ( raised his eyebrows ): Tho tu hai iski Mrs. Malhotra..??

Nandini nodded in yes with a smile..

Ishaan ( stared at Manik ): Jithna mujhe yaad hai, ye meri behen hai aur mein apni behen ko tujhe shadi karke diya hai. Aur agar koi poochliya tho mere khayal se apni beewi ko naam se bula sakthe hai..tho phir, ye Mrs. Malhotra kaha se aayi..??

Manik ( bit his lips ): Mein...usse aise bulatha hoon..

Kashish ( scrunched his eyebrows ): Kyu..? Beewi ko naam se nahi bula sakthe hai kya..

Nandini ( cutely ): Bhai, kyu tang kar rahe ho..

Ishaan: Arey ismein kon kisse tang kar rahe hai..?? Bas logic batha raha tha na..

Manik: Uh..Ishaan, we just need...time..to get comfortable..you know..

Seeing her brothers' scrutinizing gazes for Manik and her husband's nervous face, she decided to rescue him..She moved to Manik and stood beside him and held his arm making him shock..

Nandini ( smiled at her brothers ): Mein inse khush hoon, bas, hume ek doosre ke saath comfortable honekeliye thoda time lagega..aapko humare rishthe pe doubt karne ke zaroorath nahi hai..mein khush hoon..meri muskurahat kaafi hai na Bhai..

Kashish and Ishaan smiled at her..

Kashish: Haa, teri muskurahat kaafi hai..par ye jo tum log ek doosre ko surnames se bulathe hai na, usse practice for getting comfortable with each other nahi, balki bewkoofi keh sakthe hai..

Ishaan: I agree, arey jab mujhe teri best friend ya teri devilie se pyar hua na, tab bhi mein usse chudail bulatha tha..

And this made others giggle while Manik stared at Ishaan in horror..

Manik: Aur usne kuch kaha bhi nahi..??

Nandini ( giggled ): Nahi..bas kiya hai..pitaai, wo bhi poore college ke samne..

Manik laughed at it while Ishaan glared at her..

Kashish: On a serious note, Manik, we were just kidding, we just..

Manik ( smiled ): I know, I too went through this phase so I know, how much worried you are for her..Trust me, she has become an important part of my life, so her happiness matters a lot to me..

Nandini stared at him with a sweet smile playing on her lips while the rest 2 simply hugged Manik..

Ishaan: Khayal rakhna iski..

Manik nodded at him and soon Chopras bade by to Manik and Nandini and left to their respective Mansions..

In Manik's Car

Manik: Thak gaye ho..??

Nandini turned to reply when she saw him buckling seat belt and her gaze fell on his right cheek, she frowned..

Nandini: Mr. Malhotra..

Manik ( still busy in seat belt ): Haa..bolo..

Nandini: Zara aapka chehra dikhayiye..

Manik frowned at her but then showed his face to her..She moved a bit closer to him..

Manik ( smirked ): Kya baath hai Mrs. Malhotra..subah mein jo diya wo kam reh gayi thi kya..

Nandini managed to glare at him, though a red hue was present on her face..

Nandini: Mein wo nahi denewali..

Manik ( pouted sadly ): Par kyu..

Nandini ( glared ): Aap kuch der keliye chup hoja..pehle dikhao..

She held his face in her hands and stared at his cheeks and her eyes widened in horror..

Nandini: This...is...my...Mr. Malhotra..you didn't wipe it..??

And, Manik knew what she was talking about..He rubbed his nape and nodded in No much to Nandini's shock..

Nandini: What...!!! Aap..poore din..iss..lipstick mark...you're just coming back from your office right..

Manik ( smirked ): Zyada tension math le, jo aapne diya, uske barein mein kisi ko bhi nahi patha..bas Manik Malhotra ke style mein hide kiya..

Nandini ( sighed ): Hide...tho mene kaise dekha ye..

Manik moved closer to her face and she moved backward and got trapped between him and the window..

Manik ( huskily ): Because, none could sit this close to Manik Malhotra like how you've seated beside me..

She bit his lips due to his breathes which were falling on her face and it just ignited the desires in him..He moved more closer to her lips when she held his shirt's button, something which she is obsessed with now..

Nandini: Hum car mein hai..

And this brought him out of his trance, he kept his forehead on her's to control himself and she smiled at it..

Nandini: Waise, aapne kaise chupaya ye mark..

Manik ( smiled ): You won't believe it..

Nandini ( frowned ): Aisa kyu..?

He looked at her still being in the same position while she looked at him, still playing with his shirt's button..

Manik: Because, I just got into a shopping mall while hiding it with a tissue, just to buy a box of foundation..

Nandini ( horrified ): Foundation...? That's something, we ladies use..

Manik ( chuckled ): Isiliye tho bola na, you won't believe it..I have applied foundation on it to hide it from others, you know, people could think it was my skin tone..

Nandini started laughing hearing him while he simply glared at her..

Nandini: Seriously, you applied foundation..to hide my lipstick mark..ye sab kiya hi kyu..you could have wiped it..

Manik ( smiled ): I didn't want to remove your kiss..

And this made her look at him. She smiled sweetly at him and looked at his cheek..

Nandini: You should get it wiped, Mr. Malhotra..

Manik ( adamantly ): Nope..

Nandini ( sighed ): Mr. Malhotra, hum ghar jaa rahe hai, koi dekh liya tho kya sochega..

Manik: Meri beewi ne kiss kiya..

Nandini ( blushed ): Mr. Malhotra...

Manik: Yes, Mrs. Malhotra..

She huffed and turned her face the other side. He chuckled and moved clsoer to her ears and her hold on his shirt's button became firm..

Manik: I would wipe it, but I want something in return..

She looked at him with a ' not again ' look while he was smirking..

Manik: Warna, I won't wipe it..

Nandini ( pleaded ): Agar sab dekh liya tho..Cabir Bhai aur Abhi Bhai mujhe bhi tease karenge..

Manik ( shrugged his shoulders ): Tho mujhe kya, I'm used with it..Bachpan se lekar aaj thak hum ek doosre ko tease karthe hai, aur jaise tumhare sath shadi fix kiya, wedding teasing bhi shuru kiya, isiliye, mujhe koi thakleef nahi..

Nandini ( sighed ): Kya chahiye badle mein..

Manik ( thoughtfully ): Something to make me happy..

Nandini ( frowned ): Aisa kya..??

Manik: Arey mujhe nahi patha..kuch aisa karo jo mujhe khush karwaega..

Nandini stared at him and he was smirking at her..Soon, his smirk went to dustbin when she kissed him again, this time on his left cheeks..He looked at her with widened eyes. She palmed his eyes while giggling..

Nandini: Aankhen bahar aayenge..

And this brought him out of trance, he removed her hands from his eyes and stared at her while smirking..

Manik: Seriously Mrs. Malhotra..you wanna play with me..

Nandini ( chuckled ): Bilkul bhi nahi, you said you want something which will make you happy, I thought it will make you happy, koi nahi, aaj ke baad mein aapko cheek kiss nahi doongi..

Manik ( shouted ): Noooo....

She started giggling seeing his desperation and he pulled her by waist making her shiver..

Manik: Zyada hasna math Mrs. Malhotra..Car mein hai ya bedroom mein, mujhe koi dikhath tho nahi, romance karne mein..

Nandini ( blushed ): I know...par, ab hame jaana chahiye..ghar pe sab intezaar kar rahe honge..

Manik nodded and kissed her forehead and moved back in his seat and she too adjusted in her seat and he drove to Malhotra Mansion..

In Malhotra Mansion

The Malhotras had their dinner and were sitting in their living room when Aadesh looked at Devashree and she nodded at him smilingly..He too smiled back at her and looked at Nandini who was sitting beside Manik but talking to Maahi and Esha..

Aadesh: Nandini beta..

Nandini turned her attention to Aadesh and smiled at him..

Nandini: Ji Bade Daadu..

Aadesh: Yaha aayiye..

Nandini nodded with a smile and looked at Manik who also smiled back at her. She got up and moved to Aadesh who patted the empty couch beside his where he and Devashree were sitting. Nandini, occupied the empty couch..

Aadesh: Waise tho mujhe ye kal hi karna chahiye tha, par tum kal apna ghar gayi thi aur wapas raath mein aayi aur aaj subah bhi tum kaam keliye gayi thi, isiliye abhi ye dena chahtha hoon..

Nandini ( frowned ): I'm sorry Bade Daadu, par mein samjhi nahi..

Aadesh ( smiled ): Samjhatha hoon..

She too nodded at him with a smile while others looked at them curiously except Gagan, Devashree and Gaura who were smiling at the duo..Devashree gave something, like a box, to Aadesh and he forwarded it to Nandini..

Aadesh: Apna hath dho..

Nandini, like an obedient daughter-in-law forwarded her hand to him and he kept the box in her hand..

Aadesh: Ye tumhare liye hai..

Nandini ( frowned ): Mere liye..?? Par, Bade Daadu..

Aadesh: Ye tumhe kyu de raha hoon, yahi sawal hai na..

Nandini nodded at him smilingly and he smiled at her and kept his hand on her head..

Aadesh: Jab nayi bahu ki pehli rasoi hojathi hai tho hum bade log unkeliye taufa dethe hai aur kal tumhari pehli rasoi thi..

Nandini nodded in understanding, she has seen it happening at her home too..She took the box from him and opened it only to look at it in admiration. She touched them and smiled at it but then frowned too..

Gaura ( curiously ): Beta, pasand aayi tujhe..

Nandini turned her head to Gaura who was sitting beside Manik..

Nandini ( smiled ): Ji Daadi, its beautiful..

Gaura smiled in relief..Nandini looked at Aadesh and Devashree who were also smiling in satisfaction, since Nandini liked it..

Nandini: Bade Daadu, agar bura na maanoon tho bolun..

Aadesh ( glared ): Pehli aur aakhri baar keh raha hoon, aaj ke baad tum ithna formal hone ke barein mein sochna bhi math..mein tumhe apna pariwar ke hissa maan chuka hoon and I hate when my family gets formal with me..

Nandini smiled sheepishly at him while Manik adored the duo..

Nandini: Sorry, aage se repeat nahi karoongi, wo..mein bas soch rahi thi, ithni badi tawfa kyu, mathlab wo bas rasoi thi aur ye tawfa ithni keemthi jo hai..Agar kuch galath bol rahi hoon tho sorry..

Devashree ( smiled ): Beta, tum galath nahi ho, tumhari tarah hi hum bhi aise soch rahe the jab hame aise tawfe mile the..ye khandhani necklace hai aur aise necklaces keemthi hona chahiye, aur jab hum tawfe dethe hai tho khandani jewelleries hi dethe hai..

Nandini ( smiled ): Jaise aap kahe Badi Daadi..

Devashree smiled at her and so others..Soon, the Malhotras retired to their bedrooms...

In MaNan's Bedroom

Manik: Mrs. Malhotra, chalein..

Nandini: Um, can I get changed, mein saree mein travel nahi kar paoongi..

Manik ( smiled ): Haa, it's better to get changed, hume thoda paidal jaana padega..

Nandini smiled at him and nodded and moved inside their walk-in-closet while Manik waited for her..Soon, she came out in her comfy clothes..

Nandini: Chalein..??

Manik turned to her and smiled and moved towards her and took her hand in his and entwined them and moved out without making any noise..

Nandini: Hum kaha jaa rahe hain..?

Manik: Wo surprise hai..

Nandini ( jumped in her place ): Surprise..?? Kya hai wo..??

Manik ( sarcastically ): PVT Investigators ko Surprise ka mathlab nahi janthi hai kya..??

Nandini ( bad face ): Fine, aap bhi mere bhaiyon pe gaye hai..

Manik ( chuckled ): I'll take it as a compliment. Your brothers are important to you, so even I'll be important for you..

Nandini ( smiled ): You're already important for me, Mr. Malhotra..

Manik looked at her and smiled and she smiled in return. They kept walking and Nandini was feeling cold, she looked at Manik, who was looking quiet excited for this surprise. She simply poked his arm making him look at her..

Nandini: Aur kithna dhoor hai..

Manik ( smiled ): Bas kuch aur..

She simply nodded, he looked at her and attire and it clicked him that her top was short and she might be feeling cold, he left her hand and held her bare shoulders and puled her to him making her shudder..

Manik: Mere paas blazer nahi hai, so adjust karlena..ab mujhe kya patha tha ki meri beewi mujhe seduce karne ke plan mein thi..

She looked at him with wide eyes and he chuckled at her..

Nandini: Chalo, I will manage myself..

She was about to move out of his arms when he pulled her more into him by her bare waist..

Manik: Chodne keliye thodi pakda hai, Mrs. Malhotra..

Nandini: Tho phir mujhe tang karna bandh keejiye..

Manik: Arey mein kaha tang kar raha hoon, mein tho sach keh raha tha, I didn't know my wife look..you know..

He smiled at her naughtily and she simply palmed her mouth while hiding her blush..

Nandini: Samaj gayi mein..aaj ke baad aise kapde pehnoongi bhi nahi..

He removed her hand from his mouth..

Manik ( smirked ): Achi baath hai par, mere samne nahi, baaki logon ke samne, jo mera hai wo sirf mera hi rahega, jaise ki tum sirf meri ho..

He held her possessively and she smiled at him..

Manik: Chalo, hum pohanch gaye..

Nandini, looked in front to frown..

Nandini: It looks like..a garden..

Manik: Yup, it is..we need to get it..

She nodded at him and both got inside and soon she felt herself smiling..

Nandini: This is beautiful..

Manik ( smiled ): You're yet to see the beauty of this place..

Nandini: You can't be serious, this is so beautiful and you're saying there is yet to see..

Manik: Yup, and here we are..

She turned her attention from him to the front only to gasp...

Nandini: Oh my God...Mr. Malhotra....

Manik: I know, its beyond words..

Nandini: Incredible....What place is this..

She moved out of his hold and twirled around and kept staring the sky while he stared at her with a smile..

Manik: I never named it..All I know is, I found peace here..I was always in search of a place where only stars could be seen and I finally, found it.

( Okay guys, I know, there are many stories which show Manik having a secret place and Nandini getting to know it so you might even call it copying, but honestly, it's not, I just wanted to show how trust builds up in their relationship, if you still feel I'm doing injustice with other writes, then I would remove this scene..)

Nandini ( smiled ): This is so beautiful..

He moved to her and hugged her from behind with his hands resting on her waist and his chin on her shoulder..

Manik: Well, ye mere jagah hai. I believe that every relationship should be built with trust and when you trust someone, there shouldn't be any secrets. Aur meri zindagi ki secret ye thi. Isiliye, mein chahtha tha ki tumhe iske barein mein patha chale..Point to be noted, this isn't known to anyone who's related to me but now, you know it..

Nandini tilted her head and looked at him whose face was an inch near to her face..

Nandini: But, I wouldn't have felt bad if you have chosen to hide it from me..Har insan ko apne space chahiye, aur mein apke aur apke peace ke beech nahi aaongi..

He smiled and rubbed her nose with his..

Manik: I know, tum kabhi kisi ke bhi beech nahi aaoge, par mein chahtha hoon ki tum ye jaane, because now this place isn't my peace..it's you who's my peace..

She smiled widely and turned to him and hugged him and he wrapped her in his arms happily..

Nandini: Why are you so good, Mr. Malhotra..??

Manik ( frowned ): Am I..??

Nandini ( smiled widely ): You've no idea how happy I'm to be with you, to be your better half..

His grin grew wide and he pecked her head..

Manik: Because, you've no idea how badly I'm falling for you..

She bit her lips and hugged him tightly and they preferred to be in each other's arms because they found out, their peace was in each other..

To be continued..