(A/N: So many of you have been complaining about not being able to see the parts and I'm sorry about that. It is that I update in parts because you guys are extremely eager to read but I don't have enough time to provide whole chapters at a time. So I kindly request you all to refresh your library every time you get a notification of an update. You'll be able to see the parts then. Sorry for the inconvenience but hope you understand. Thanks. Please vote and comment.)

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Though his gesture didn't really mean a lot, I instantly gushed. Amma and Appa nudged each other as they looked at Manik nuzzling into me. I tried to pretend that I was getting him to his senses by shrugging him off in front of my parents. We tried to act like a typical lovey-dovey couple and it didn't suit us AT ALL but I didn't want that moment to end.

I found his gesture cute. Over the past few days, I had been seeing changes in me, that were so unlike me. I was observing Manik a lot closer than before, eager for him to speak to me, to respond, to be his old self. I knew it was going to be hard for him but perhaps, I would be making it easier.

I yearned for him, his touches, his care, his love. It would be wrong for me to say I wasn't jealous when that bitch college nurse threw herself all over my husband. I was fuming inside. Partially, that was the reason I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. I hated to see him with anyone else. I had committed myself to this marriage, and he had to, too, whatsoever. He could always take a divorce otherwise.

"Nandini..." He whispered in my ear and I shook under his breath. He smirked and stepped back, greeting my parents and began to freshen up. I stood there, like an idiot, reminiscing his voice over my ear. That was the voice I was yearning to hear. I was dying to hear his voice or more specifically, my name from his voice.

I just made some snacks for Amma and Appa and found an excuse to get into the room. I said I was going to put their luggage into the room. It was very certain they got wild ideas and it was hard for them to not believe their assumptions either. I walked myself in quickly and pulled Manik, who was rummaging through the cupboard for his clothes. I pulled his tank top from behind and turned him such that I was against the cupboard and he was pulled onto me.

He instantly lost balance and slammed his arms on either sides of my body and I gazed at him. We were in a compromising position, and given that my parents were around, none of us bothered to step away from each other. I blinked at him dreamily and Manik brushed his fingers over my face.

"Kyun kar rahi ho aisa mere saath?" He said in a trance and I saw his expressions instantly changing. He was deeply hurt, by courtesy me of course. He tried to withdraw but I cupped my hands over his face.

"Manik, you still have a chance." I whispered against his nose and gently pecked his lips. He smiled or rather blushed almost instantly and I found it too cute. Obviously, which guy blushes in this generation? Which girl is as lucky as me to have a man like Manik in their life? Nobody, after all.

He turned away and got himself busy meddling with the blanket to divert the attention he was getting and I nudged him, smirked and left the room. Amma and Appa were smiling at me, and I flushed.

"Aaj college nahi hai beta?" Oops. College. I totally forgot. With the excitement of seeing my parents or precisely, my fight with Manik, I totally forgot I had college. Not that I couldn't bunk but Raghav Sir was already quite furious at me.

"It's there, Amma. Shayad 1st class ke baad jaaungi." I said in dismay. Just then, Manik came out of the room, talking on the phone. He was in his tank top, ruffling his wet hair and wearing khaki shorts, which meant I shouldn't be surprised if we were to bunk classes today.

"Yeah Mom... Yeah... No no, Nandini's parents are here. They wanna spend time with us."
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"Surely. Nandu will get her notes done anyways. Mera toh dekhna padega." He stuck his tongue out playfully at me and I liked that we were at least 'okay' around each other.
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"Haan okay, aur agar Raghav Sir kuch bolenge toh bata dena ki main aake baat karunga unse."
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"Acchha chalo. Thanks love. Bubyee."

I was about to stand up and protest against bunking but perhaps he knew me better than myself. He signaled me to stop even before I started.

"Nandu, aaj hum college nahi jaa rahe hai. Bas. Ab kuch nahi bologi. Amma Appa, aap bolo, aaj hum kya kare?" He smiled with a warm smile and Amma and Appa looked at each other with happiness. I already knew what was going to come. I pleaded to God to make something happen and for them to stop the idea.

"According to our tradition, after the wedding, the couple visits our main temple, in South India but since we can't go that far..." They frowned and Manik immediately gave in.

"No no. Nothing like that. We can. It's not a big deal." He smiled and I glared at him. Amma and Appa looked pleased and I slapped his shoulder, signaling him to shut up. He smirked and turned to them.

"I'll call my driver. We'll leave in 1 hour. Alright?" He asked them and they seemed extremely glad. Oh God! How would I make it till there? I get carsick. I am allergic to dust. I get cramps when I sit in confined places for long. How could I just travel that far? I gave a death stare to Manik but he seemed to ignore it conveniently.

"And your friends... If they can join?" Ugh. Stupid friends of his.

"Surely. I'll just give them a call. Chalo Nandu, packing karte hai." He pulled me along with him to the room and slammed the door behind me. He pulled me towards him.

"If you really stick by your word, that I still have a chance, come along." I looked at him for a few seconds and sighed. FINE. It wasn't like I had any other option. Plus Amma and Appa would be disappointed if I didn't tag along. I shrugged his hands off me and began to shove random things into a suitcase. I threw in some casual clothes, two traditional suits, for I knew what was going to happen, unnecessary things like paper clips, books, and plenty of CDs though I knew I wasn't gonna use any of them.

"Nandini, what the hell is this? We're not carrying these along." He held a few giant books in his hands and looked at me helplessly.

"I need those books. I can't survive a 12-hour journey with a grumpy, non-entertaining man. You're not taking any of them out." I ordered but he just casually shoved them out of the bag.

"Yes, I am. I have no space to put my clothes and you think I'm gonna let you carry these useless books? No ways in hell."

"Fine. I'm not coming then." I shrugged my shoulders and heard him heave a huge sigh in displease. He threw those books back in, grabbed a little bag from the closet and began to shove his stuff. He started stuffing his clothes randomly and the act looked hilarious. Who knew a 21-year old couldn't pack his own luggage? I giggled and he rolled his eyes.

"Ab pack bhi karogi ya sirf hasna aata hai tumhe?" He growled and I made faces. I packed my stuff and gave a call to Navya, to get notes ready for the next 2 days.

***

We were all set in a kind of a mini van that accommodates 10 people and for some reason, I was extremely pissed. Okay, I pretty much knew the reason yet I wasn't gonna have my way. So there was no point. I was all dressed in a beautiful white frill top and a floral skirt.

Alya and Dhruv were sitting on a seat together, Mukti and Amma, Appa was sitting next to Cabir and as usual, Manik and I. I found myself a window seat and sat with my headphones. The guys loaded the luggage and sat. Manik was busy doing some investigation about God knows what and I stomped my foot angrily.

"Manik! Aa rahe ho ki hum jaayen?" I roared out of the window and that moron came casually, with a small smirk. I rolled my eyes and thumped against the seat in anger. He scooted beside me, after figuring out everyone's convenience and I pressed my lips in annoyance. He cared about everyone but me and thence, the parade began to celebrate our wedding that happened a week ago like it was some stupid honeymoon.

To be continued...
***

Part-2:
I felt a warm sensation in my mouth as we headed south, towards my hometown. We were driving for almost 2 hours and there was a lack of fresh air, or so I felt. The music was booming into my brain and it seemed painful to me, though everyone else was alright with it. My head felt like it was throbbing and I felt sick. As the warm sensation filled my mouth, I knew what was coming. I quickly grabbed my purse to find some tablets but in that fit of fighting with my idiotic husband, I totally forgot about them. I clenched what I supposed, was the seat and took a deep breath, only to realize I was clutching Manik's hand and he was looking at me with deep concern. 

"Hey, are you alright? You're fine na?" He cupped my cheeks and I inhaled and exhaled deeply. The confined seat, the beaming noise of the stereo and the humidity outside were only worsening my condition.

"I'm not fine. I'm gonna puke." I gagged as I tried to not think of it. He scooted closer to me and helped me by holding my  head with his hands. He turned my head to the window and gripped my head.

"Puke. You'll feel better. Come on." He held my head in place and signaled me to try my best to puke it out. I pushed my head out of the window and puked. Amma panicked and ran towards me.

"Nandini, Nandu beta, sab teek hai?" She pat my head gently and Manik gave me some water.

"Kuch acchhi khabar hogi." Cabir giggled and Manik glared at him. The girls including Amma giggled. I gargled the water and spat it out and Amma smiled at me.

"Tabiyat teek hai hai, beta?" She smiled with her motherly concern and I looked at Manik. He was already staring and I felt weak. I was weary. I wanted rest.

"Amma, I'm fine. I generally get carsick. I usually take medicines but today..." I made eye contact again and he looked a little petrified. Perhaps he thought I was blaming him for this, like everyone in the van. If only they knew... "I forgot them at home. I'll be fine. I just need to sleep." I said and leaned against the window, that was blowing air on my face.

Amma asked for a few confirmations if I was alright and I nodded relentlessly. They all went back to their seats and I heard a few chuckles from Cabir and Mukti. Cabir turned back to see us.

"Ho gaya kya? Man, you have skills bro. In less that two weeks?" He murmured and Manik puffed his mouth and kicked his leg harshly from under the seat. Cabir yelped and Mukti fell on him, laughing. I pressed my smile and Manik blushed looking at me. His leg brushed against mine and we made eye-contact. It was an awkward moment for the two of us.

"Nandini, are you sure you're fine?" He asked with concern clear. I just nodded and placed my head on his shoulder. My hands wrapped around his arm loosely and I closed my eyes. He smiled to himself and rested his head on mine. I let sleep consume me.

***

We got off the car and it felt so good to feel the ground beneath my feet. I gleamed and clung onto Manik, with the sudden feeling of being in motion. He pulled me closer to him, wrapping me with one of his arms.

"Man, what a journey! The songs, the fun. And bro remember, it has just begun. Yeah?" Cabir shouted as he jumped off the car. I sighed and wrapped my hands around him tighter and he held me.

"Trust me Nandini, as far as I am here, you don't have to worry about anything, okay?" He warmed me up in his arms though I wasn't cold. He looked into my eyes deeply.

"I know. I trust you, Manik. Humesha se." I whispered in a meek tone and he led me along with him to the hotel. We had planned to halt there for the night and then leave to my house, further in the city the next morning. Manik presented a few papers at the reception. The receptionist checked and then replied.

"Sorry Sir, the rooms you've booked are 022, 023, 024 and 025 but an immediate occupant came up with twice the amount and we had to give off two of those rooms." Manik's eyes popped out and I was certain this is how it would be. After all, when last minute changes are made, this is what happens.

"What the... How the hell can you do that, huh? Then what's the whole point of booking? Why ask for advance, huh? Call your manager. I wanna talk to him. This ain't fair." Manik was screaming at the top of his voice and now, even I was a little scared. I'd never seen him that angry. He never spoke so loudly in front of me ever before.

"Sir, they needed the rooms for the night. Please understand. You are 8 people, you can adjust na? We'll provide extra beds. Please Sir. They'll vacate in the morning." Manik didn't seem to calm down even after the receptionist explained himself. I felt a little helpless but I could understand. Sometimes, letting go is the only option.

"No. This isn't done. Call your manager. I need to speak to him." Manik's temper hiked up and I held his arm tight. I looked into his eyes and as soon as he saw me, his eyes softened.

"Manik, sirf ek raat ke liye. Please?" I pleaded and he huffed a sigh. He shrugged his shoulders helplessly and I knew I'd won. "Bhaiyya, aap chaabi de dijiye... aur yeh luggage upar laana hai." I signaled to the bunch of bags that were lying in the middle of the office.

"Haan Madam, ho jaayega. Just give me 5 minutes." The receptionist gave us the keys and we headed towards the corridor.

I unlocked the two rooms and was surprised at the look of it. It was a pretty lavish room with good ambience. I smiled at Manik but he still looked a little upset. I turned to see Amma and Appa waiting in front of the other room. I immediately ran outside to call them.

"Amma-Appa, you can stay with us. It's not a problem. Chalo." I tugged them gently but they were reluctant. They wanted to give us some privacy.

"Nahi nahi, we'll stay in that room. It's anyways big and there is a lot of space for us." They pointed at the comparatively larger room that could easily fit 6 people.

"No Amma, you can stay with us. It's not a big deal. After all, you are our parents. Whose children lets their parents sleep somewhere away. You can share with us." Manik intruded and they gave in in a matter of moments to their son-in-law. Again, after several protests, they were still too stubborn and that left us with the bed.

I changed my clothes and laid on the bed. Manik was sitting on the other side of the bed with his notebook and was writing something. I scooted towards him and put my head on his lap. He looked at me and then smiled and that brought a beautiful smile on my parents' faces. It must be happiness of a kind to see that your daughter is the happiest girl in the world.

"Kya kar rahe ho?" I whispered and he frowned after that. He probably realized he was supposed to be angry with me. He just made faces at me and ignored me completely. Amma and Appa just turned around to let us have our time. I kept on nagging and tugging at him to get his attention and when he had enough of me, he shoved the book away and rolled me over to my back. He breathed heavily over my face.

"I'm trying to stay away from you. Don't instigate me to do things you don't want me to do." He breathed on my face and I shuddered. I held his shirt in my fist. He was about to get off me but I pulled him back.

"Aur agar karungi toh..." I said with a small smirk and obviously, male ego, they had to do something to prove they were stronger. He smirked wider and leaned into me. He brushed his cheek against mine and nuzzled into the crook of my neck. He grazed his teeth lightly over my neck and I giggled. It felt ticklish.

"Maa... Manik... Kya... Manik, kya kar rahe ho?" I said, in between giggles. I felt him smile against my neck and he tilted his face in such a way his mouth was on my ear.

"Trust me, you won't be able to take it..." He whispered and ran his nose along my cheek. My fingers ran through his hair and he breathed over me. We stayed like that, looking into each other's eyes, gleaming. He got away from me and lied on his elbow as he watched me. My parents would've got terrible ideas but for some reason, I didn't care anymore.

"Good night." He whispered and closed his eyes. That was when I realized his hand in mine. I didn't know when it happened and perhaps he didn't realize either but I didn't wanna let go. I just closed my eyes and held it, as I drifted to sleep.

***

"Nandu, beta. Utho. It's getting late. Hume mandir bhi jaana hai na?" Amma shook me and I rubbed my eyes in my sleep. I turned to look at her and I blinked. I looked at my phone and then rubbed my eyes.

"Haan Amma. Just 1 minute..." I cuddled into Manik, shoving my face into his huge frame, and pulling the covers over our bodies. He moved in his sleep and put his other arm over my body. We looked like we were in hibernation, trying to protect each other from the cold. Amma smiled at us and let us be. Nevertheless, my alarm started blasting into my ears, and I had no option but to get up. We had to go to the temple and it was was already 6:30.

I jumped out of bed and pulled myself out of a cute Manik's grip. I searched for my toiletries kit and headed to get ready into the bathroom. I began to take a good shower. Just when I was done, I felt the door click open and I heard him whistle. I panicked and opened the shower curtain and screeched my lungs out. Manik got petrified and ran out of the room as fast as he could. He slammed the door behind him and panted like a dog.

"What the hell? Aise ghuste hai kya? Knock nahi kar sakte? Jerk." I ran towards the door and bolted it. I adjusted my towel knot properly, ensuring nothing was revealing and screamed at him.

"Excuse me? Mujhe kaise pata hoga ki tum andhar thi? Maine dekha toh door khula tha. Agar tum itni hi smart thi toh door lock bhi kar sakti thi. Tumhare ghar main lock nahi hai kya?" He made lame faces and I looked at him in disbelief. At home he doesn't behave this stupid. After I heard the last line, I cringed my facial muscles in distress.

"WHAT? Yeh koi reason nahi hai. Pagal kahika." I muttered out loud for him to hear and began adjusting my towel. He slammed the door with his hand and I knew he was angry.

"Mind your tongue, alright?" He snapped and I mimicked him in an overly animated tone.

"Toh hatto phir vahan se. Mujhe change karna hai." I screamed and he huffed.

"Ugh. This girl will be the death of me." He clutched his hair in his hands and stomped out of the room, shutting it hard behind him.

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(I request you all to refresh your library before reading this story. Thanks a lot for understanding and co-operating. Loads of love.)