Few days later
In Malhotra Mansion

Neonika:- Manik, first have your breakfast then go.

Manik:- No Mom. I am already running late. First I have to visit a temple then the office. I will have something in the office. Take care, bye.

Manik went away and Raj said,

Raj:- He has become a workaholic.

Neonika:- Nope. He is running away from his real life. We should do something for him.

Raj:- How?

Neonika:- (smirked) Leave it on me.

Raj:- What a little devil you are!

Neonika:- (laughing) I will take that as a compliment Mr. Husband.

At Office

Manik:- Inaya I am going out for lunch. Keep an eye on Nandini. If you see her going out give me a call immediately.

Inaya:- Sometimes I really wonder, am I your personal assistant or your personal detective?

Manik:- Inaya no doubt that you have your brains along with your beauty but don't use your brain too much here. Otherwise it won't take me too long to throw you out of this office.

Inaya:- (pouted) You are so rude.

Inaya left there stroming her feet on the floor and Manik smiled seeing her going.

At a park

Aarav was playing football with his nanny and Manik was watching them from far. He wanted to play with his little buddy but he was helpless. His presence in Aarav's life was making Nandini insecure. She thinks he will take her son away from her.
Aarav was still playing when his nanny got a call and went a little far to talk. While playing, Aarav fell down and started crying. Manik immediately rushed there and picked him up in his arms.

Manik:- Shhh it's okay Buddy. I got you. Please don't cry.

Manik was rubbing his leg where he got hurt when he looked at the nanny and started shouting at her.

Manik:- You get paid for taking care of him not to talk on your phone.

Nanny:- Sorry sir.

Manik:- Now go and get water for him.

Seeing him, Aarav stopped crying but tears were still wetting his cheeks.

Manik:- Stop crying Buddy. You are not a cry baby right?

Aarav nodded his head cutely and said,

Aarav:- No no. Aru gol baby. (Aru is a good baby.)

Manik immediately kissed his cheeks and said,

Manik:- That's my boy.

Manik pulled out his hanky from his pocket when his phone also fell down but he didn't notice and tied that hanky around Aarav's wound. Then he took him to the nearby candy shop and bought him two big and colorful candies. Aarav was so happy when Manik handed those candies to him and he started clapping his hands. Meanwhile Manik's phone was continuously ringing showing Inaya calling but unfortunately it was on silent mode. Manik got busy playing with Aarav and time just flew like winds.

Manik:- (panting) Buddy I can't play anymore. Let's go home.

Aarav:- You go home wit me? (Will you come home with me?)

Manik:- No Buddy. You go to your home with your nanny and I will go to my home.

Aarav:- Whom play play. (With whom I will play then?)

Manik knelt down near his feet and cupped his face lovingly.

Manik:- Look Buddy if you don't go home your Mom will cry na?

Aarav nodded his head in approval. Then Manik again said,

Manik:- If I don't go home then my mom will also cry.

Aarav:- I wan play. (I want to play.)

Manik:- We will play tomorrow.

Aarav:- Pomis? (Promise?)

Manik:- Promise.

Clap

Clap

Clap

Manik turned back and saw Nandini clapping her hands. Seeing this Aarav also started clapping his hands as if it's a game for him.

Manik:- Nandini believe me....

Nandini:- (angrily) What should I believe Mr. Malhotra? What I am seeing or what you are going to say?

Manik:- Nandini I am not trying to take him away from you.

Nandini:- But you are doing the same. From when you started meeting my son like this?

Nandini turned towards the Nanny and said,

Nandini:- Do I pay you to let my son mingle with strangers?

Stranger? Is it? Manik's heart broke into a million pieces. He tried his best not to meet her or her son. But he couldn't stop himself from coming here daily just to see his little buddy once from afar. He knew he shouldn't meet him without his mother's permission but today when he fell down and hurt himself he couldn't stop himself.

Nanny:- I am sorry Mam. I thought he was Aarav's dad, that's why I didn't stop him and Aarav was also very friendly with him so I let him play with him.

Nandini:- You....

Manik:- Nandini, leave it. It's my fault. I shouldn't have come here. I am sorry.

Nandini:- (shouted loudly) Your one sorry can't mend it Manik. Your one sorry can't give me my three years back. You one sorry can't change my son's fate.

Manik:- (shouted back) Then what should I do?

Nandini:- Never try to meet my son again.

Manik:- I won't.

Saying this, Manik left and Nandini fell on her knees crying badly. People may judge her wrong but as a mother whatever she did was absolutely right. She can't let Aarav get attached with Manik, especially when she got to know that he is going to marry someone else and all the credit goes to Mrs. Neonika Malhotra, who again poked her long nose in this matter.

At Night
In Malhotra Mansion

Manik reached home and sat on the couch resting his head on Neonika's lap. Neonika was watching serials on tv. She started running her fingers in his hair lovingly and said,

Neonika:- Tired?

Manik:- Yeah.

Neonika:- I went to your office today. Your personal assistant Inaya said you went out for lunch.

Manik:- Sorry mom. I didn't know that you were coming, otherwise I wouldn't have gone out for lunch.

Neonika:- Inaya seemed to be a nice girl. What's say?

Manik:- Yeah she is.

Neonika:- Do you like her?

Target:- 222 votes and inline comments.

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I am so sorry for the late update. I was busy with sister's wedding and my exam also coming soon...🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️
Anyways how's the update? Did you enjoy? Please let me know your opinions by your comments and of course don't forget to vote.
Take care
Bye
Nahar...😘😘😘