(A/N: Yaay! New update! Okay, I won't waste much time. The first ever interview of mine will put up on @lovepersonified106's account, The Writer's Touch is the book's name. If you wanna check it out, go for it. Keep smiling. Vote, comment and share. Tons of love.)

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Manik woke up the next morning, way earlier than me. It was one of those cute moments in my life that I pretended to be asleep just to see what he did while I slept. My hand was tucked under my head, with the duvet, stuck to my chest to cover my naked body. He hazily looked at me, pecking my nose and playing with my hair.

"You're so beautiful, Nandini. I just don't know what I did to deserve you. Sometimes I'm just so grateful to God, I wanna shower all and much more of my love for you on you. I go a little overboard sometimes, but it hurts me to hurt you." He whispered and my heart felt so warm. He was such a pure soul. Immaturely matured. It was bliss to see him treating me like I was a precious, delicate gem. He loved me way too much.

I waited and listened to his voice, the song he was humming, every gesture of his, recording it while I pretended to sleep.

"I love you so much. I cannot express in words how much you mean to me. You might find it stupid, even lame, that I love you this much. It may seem like a lame teenager thing, that'll fade off over time but Nandini, trust me, what I feel for you, it'll never ever die." He said with such assurance, it couldn't be more real to me. Never had anyone cared that much to assure me about something, even as petty as friendship. "You know what I love about you the most? The fact that you'll always fight for what you deserve, fight for the right and fight it right. You can never be easily broken and an emotionally strong you binds a weak-hearted person like me along." He placed a soft kiss on my forehead and I snuggled into him, as he engulfed me in his strong, secure arms.

"You're just everything I need. Really. The first thing I see when I wake up is you and the last thing I see before I sleep is you. I constantly want to be around you because when I'm with you, time flies so quickly. I love you more than Jack loved Rose, more than Edward loved Bella; I won't say Romeo and Juliet because it's classic and cliché and just doesn't fit the practicality of the present." He giggled and I fluttered my eyes open, acting like I'd just woken up.

"Good morning, love." He pressed his forehead onto mine with a giggle and I squirmed closer to him, pecking him just under his lip.

"Morning, Manik." I greeted with a cute, half-asleep smile and he gather me into his arms, with just the duvet between the two of us. I could feel his chest muscles thumping and I smirked as I felt a part of his body press into mine.

"How are you feeling?" He held me securely in his arms, gripping my waist.

"I'm fine, Manik. You don't have to worry. Nothing you do can hurt me. Plus, it isn't the first time, right?" I planted a soft kiss on his bare chest and he jerked me upwards, to keep me closer to him.

"I know but, are you sure? Don't just say 'you're fine' because of me."

"I'm seriously okay." I smiled, pecking the corner of his mouth teasingly. I smirked seeing him distressed and the sudden surprise.

"Alright then." He huffed as he turned me under him, holding my arms with his and locking my legs with his. He leaned down and breathed softly over my shoulder and I threw my head back, turning away in pleasure. It was his turn now, to tease me and embarrass me and that was exactly what he did. I was lying on the bed, anticipating some proximity but all he did was watch me behave desperate and then laugh hard.

"Too much haan? So mean." I groaned in disappointment, feeling dejected.

"Hehe... okay get up. I'll make some cheese toast and you get ready. College lecturers must have serious complaints about us." He pressed his lips into a cute expression, I didn't know how to comprehend it but it looked so cute. More like a pout but with his upper lip clenched behind and his lower lip sealing his mouth.

I giggled, threw a pillow on him, hitting him incessantly while he fell down beside me, laughing and enjoying getting hit by me.

"Sss... Ahh... Nandini, stop." He giggled playfully and in my fake anger, I fell into his arms giggling. "You are so scary you know, sometimes you are. You know, men are generally scared of their wives." His eyes beamed with evilness clear in them.

"Kyun?"

"They have such strong kitchen weapons, knives forks and stuff, and broomsticks and chappals so, a way to threaten them and chuck them out of the bedroom in the night." I chuckled and he pulled me into his arms, still smiling. He nuzzled into the crook of my neck, burying himself in my hair. I grabbed his face in my hands and gazed into them.

"Come on... Don't I treat you right, baby?" I frowned, acting cute to just provoke him.

"Nandini, main generally bol raha hun. You are perfect, okay?" He assured and I hummed, still not convinced. Why is it that I overthink for every single thing?

"Hmm..." He tucked some hair behind my ear, gripping my waist with just one of his arms.

"Chalo. Smile now." He placed his fingers on the two corners of my mouth, pulling them apart into a smile. Convinced with my expression, he pecked my nose. "Good girl. Go shower quickly. I'll get breakfast done."

***

I was glancing at the wall clock every 20 seconds to check the time. That was what happened every Chemistry class and given today we had three block periods of Chemistry, I was least interested in paying attention. Yes! Just three more minutes! I'd somehow made it through joblessly sitting for an hour and a half; playing Tic-Tac-Toe with Navya, texting Manik, playing Fruit Ninja and what not; after getting tired of Physical Chemistry. I was slouching on the table, trying to catch up on my sleep to study late that night.

"Your assignment for today is to note down the postulates of Valence Shell Electron Repulsion Theory with examples." The professor yelled loud enough for me to jump out of my sleep and listen to him. The bell rang and the professor left the class, making me sigh in relief. I scooted out of the classroom lazily with Navya. We walked on the aisle, randomly conversing about stuff.

"Nandini... mujhe tumse kuch puchna hai." She stated with a rather hesitant smile.

"Haan bolo."

"You really love Manik, don't you?" I gaped at her for a moment, trying to understand what she was trying to get out of this conversation.

"I do." I spoke frankly, admitting it. After all, who wouldn't want to show off a man like Manik?

"How does it feel? Like, how is it different from how you felt for Ma..." I turned towards her uneasily, not wanting to talk about that topic again. "I mean..."

"It's just... I wanna be with Manik, all the time. Moments with him make me happy. Thinking about him makes me smile. He respects me, he cares about me and he isn't afraid to display that. We're possessive about each other, we need each other and when we go through anything, it's always together. He never leaves me to crib alone and I think that's what love is. I don't know how to explain that feeling to you." I waved, explaining myself. "But why? Anything wrong?"

"Cabir... and I... like he clearly hates me; he avoids me, he makes ugly faces when he sees me but I really like him." She spoke innocently and I heaved a sigh. This girl.

"Are you sure?" How many times was she going to fall for the wrong person? Okay, now Cabir is really a gem and they'd kinda look cute together but maybe after Maddy, she shouldn't be doing this.

We'd reached the gate of our campus and just then, a bike scooted out from the parking over to the gate, braking right before us.

"Sure about what, ladies?" He smirked, shifting the bike to a side, while he adjusted his shirt, trying not to reveal too much, given I was coming along. God knew what he did in class in my absence but at least in front of me, he proved that it wasn't his fault that girls drooled over him.

"Just... girl stuff." I gave Navya a look and she nodded in approval, as we formulated an idea which involved: Manik won't know anything until later.

"Girl stuff that I don't know about?" He raised his eyebrows and tilted his head in a cocky way and Navya and I gasped. I slapped him real hard on his bicep, irritated by his pathetic jokes. He giggled as he held my hand for support while I climbed onto the bike. 

"I'll call you in the evening if we're combine-studying, okay?" I tried to get rid of the awkwardness in the air that Navya wasn't accustomed to. She nodded and I adjusted myself. "Bye."

"Bye Navya." He gleamed in a pathetic desperate manner at her and I scowled. She laughed and waved and Manik drove away.

"Are you serious? You're still flirting with her?" I punched him on his back and he yelped.

"Are you still jealous, Nandini?" He smirked. I gave him a disgusted look, rolling my eyes.

"I just don't like you hanging out with other girls." I groaned eagerly waiting for some love but he was just not going to give me that. Navya and Manik always made me uncomfortable, right from pre-marital days.

"Why not?" He chuckled and I huffed.

"Because you're so sexy and yo..." I spoke senselessly, only to be broken by him.

"Sorry?" I gaped and tried to adjust my statement.

"I mean... you-you're fun t-to hang out... with and... yeah, so..." I shrugged and he clicked his lips with attitude clear over his face.

"No no no, what did you say before that?"

"I... I didn't say... anything." I stuttered and stammered and he had the time of his life seeing me like that.

"You did say something."

"Not at all." I lifted my elbows in indifference. The bike stopped at a signal and Manik turned to his shoulder, talking to me from there.

"Nandini... no, say it. I wanna hear you say it. Come on, why are you getting shy? You've said a lot more before." He smirked and I rolled my eyes, heaved a pathetic sigh and swatting my fingers across his back in a painless slap.

"So lame. I'm not telling anything." He smiled, grabbed my arms and wrapped them around his neck tight, pulling me closer to him. My face was popping between his shoulder and neck and he quickly pecked the corner of my mouth.

"You're so cute." He giggled rubbing his nose on my cheek. Just then, the signal changed and Manik got back to riding it back home.

"I love you." I spoke in between, which almost went ignored.

***

I slid a suitcase from under the bed and began to make my shopping list. We needed to buy lots of clothes, lots of things and with unorganized people like Manik, I wouldn't think twice to say I needed to plan ahead.

"Uff... College is so irritating." He threw himself on the bed, holding his head in his hands, trying to take some rest.

"Not more than you." I grit and retorted under my breath. He gave me a stare and I continued shoving things into the suitcase, random thins, all in a fit of anger.

"Ab maine kya kiya?" He frowned as he grabbed a bag of chips lying inside my bag and began munching.

"That's mine. How dare you? Do you have any common sense? Ladki ke bag nahi kholte aise." I stomped, grabbed the bag and clutched the chips tightly, breaking them into powder in my grip.

"Kyun nahi? Pati hun tera." He rested his head on the headboard and looked at me with a boring expression.

"Poof, that's what he said." I growled and he sighed.

"Who? Nandini... what's wrong with you?" He jumped off the bed, approached me and touched my forehead to check if I had fever.

"Maine 'I love you' bola and you just ignored. Why didn't you tell me that you love me?"

"Isn't it obvious that I do?" He pressed a look and I shook.

"No, if someone says 'I love you', you should respond properly." He grabbed me in his arms, making me arch back to maintain some distance.

"I love you to infinity, okay baby girl?" He kissed my cheek and I smiled.

"Okay."

"See... Now you also ain't replying." He pouted and I giggled.

"I love you too Mr. Malhotra." I took his lips into a cute little kiss. "Vaise about college, tumhara final year year hai. You're so lucky. Mujhe dekho. I still have three damn years."

"Who told you to take science, Mrs. Malhotra?" He smirked at my lame life.

"Wait, so after this semester, you'll be chilling?"

"What do you mean 'chilling'? I'll have to go to recruitments and start my career. I'll be a busy man you know? Earning for myself and all. Just 5 more months." He sounded so blessed about the fact.

"You won't take over Dad's business?"

"Well, maybe but not full time. I might just be like a share-holder or something. I have huge dreams. I want to become a graphic designer, publish worthy novels, not my own of course."

"You know, you can probably try for Dad's job first and after getting some experience, do your masters and then opt for graphic designing."

"That's what I'm thinking; but I have lots of time to think about it. Now, let me relish you!" He pulled me back into him and I struggled, as always, eventually giving in.

***
Part-2:
I was doing my makeup. It was really rare that I actually put on some makeup and given Manik was dressed in perfectly sexy clothes, I had to do my part.

He was outside the room, waiting for me to come out. He had been hogging omelettes all this while that he didn't remember I was in there for 20 whole minutes. After it came to his notice, the irritation and impatience in him made me chuckle.

"Are you done Nandini?" He tapped his watch impatiently, glaring at the door, trying to shoot daggers through as he paced back and forth outside. I just hummed and kept going with my makeup. He hated being ignored and as a consequence, he raised his decibels so high, the neighbors would've heard him. "Are you coming out or do I just pop inside?"

"Wait na?" I screeched in a adorably bugged tone. He was one intolerant man when it came to manners and behaving. Worse than a kid sometimes and sometimes as mature as an adult could ever get. Bipolar much.

I heard the door fling open and he stomped in, looking so handsome in semi formal, I literally would've pushed him onto the bed and got done with it if this shopping plan wasn't on priority.

"Is this what you're doing for 30 minutes now?" He gave a cursory look. I perked a smile up as I carefully applied the mascara onto my lashes. I fluttered them in the mirror, made my luscious red lips curve into a little pout and gaped at myself. I was looking pretty good. Well, better than ever. I twirled once on the heels of my legs. I paced slowly towards Manik, focusing all my attention on his lips while my finger traced the side of his face so gently.

"Well, to match standards with a sexy husband, the least I can do." I whispered, blowing onto his lips, turning him on. Even the littlest gestures got him reacting.  As expected, his hands grabbed my waist, filling his hands with handfuls of my supple skin.

"Well, I must say Mrs. Malhotra, you've accomplished what you've aimed for." He winked at the end and an impudent grin was bedaubed onto my face.

"You're still too good for me, boo." I chuckled, at my cliché attempt to sound romantic. That's the thing right? Guys are so romantic. They come up with cute lines to melt our hearts. We just... are blank around them, for the most part. I'd say I was a better wife than many other Indian women, who shy around their men so much, delaying the whole process of connecting intimately. One thing every girl should learn was that a man who really loves you can accept you the way your are. You are always beautiful for him, whatever you do, however you look, his eyes are always on you. I was proven that countless number of times but the little insane part in me, just wanted more.

"I'm not, babe." He sniggered in a cute attempt and I pecked his nose. He wasn't satisfied, the way his face cringed said that. He needed more. His eyes were on my lips, from the time he'd seen them, his attention was nowhere else. He tried to nudge me to give in. I battled for him to let go of me.

"Manik, cliché doesn't suit us." I sarcastically remarked and he chose to divert the topic instead, considering priorities at that minute.

"Okay, let's get going love. We have lots to shop." He grabbed my hand and pulled me out. He locked the door, pulled me into our BMW like a toddler would, when he needed something urgently. He bumped me in and occupied the driver seat.

"When are you going to learn driving, Nandini?" He smirked with a sense of superiority. Maybe guys just liked to think girls sucked at driving when they actually didn't and could probably drive better than most licensed yet rash drivers.

"I don't need to. You're there na?" I shrugged and turned the stereo on.

"What if something happens to me?" He cackled a giggle. That question left me in shock, the irritated and hopeless kind.

"Kabhi acchhi baatein nahi kar sakte... huh... humesha kuch negative kehna zaruri hai? Kabhi socha hai... how would I feel when you say such things? Aisa lagta hai ki Nandini doesn't matter to you." I frowned. I wasn't emotionally that weak. Yes, I cried but really rare. Not for these little tiffs, unlike Manik, who takes his emotions to another level, gets drunk and starts acting retarded; then finally admits his mistake.

"Arre, maine toh bas aise..."

"Aise koi bolta hai, voh bhi usse jisse voh pyaar karta hai?"

"Baba..."

"Nahi, tum baat mat karo mujhse. I'm just 'this' important to you. It's fine. Reh sakte na mujhse bina baat kiye? Baat kya... agar main marr..." He braked the car in the middle of the road as his eyes popped out of their sockets.

"Tum pagal ho gayi ho? Kya bolti jaa rahi ho?"

"Exactly. Mera question hai yeh." I tried to sound serious but for some reason, it turned out to be silly.

"Teek hai baba, sorry. Gussa mat karo. It slipped out of my mouth."

"Agli baar agar galti se bhi yeh sab bola na..." I fisted his shirt in my hands, leaning real close to threaten him. He looked more turned on by the act than petrified. I had to give up. "...dekhna tum."

"Intezaar karunga, Nandini ji." He cockily giggled as the car behind us honked loudly. Manik started the car again, turn to the third left and we stopped at Phoenix Market City. It was a huge mall, with lots and lots of things to do. First things first, we had to shop for our honeymoon.

We stepped into the spacious mall hand-in-hand; after a little confrontation and some apologies and scoldings. It was a huge mall with lots of stores to shop from. After a few minutes of quarreling on who's clothes we'll shop for first, as always, Manik won and it was my turn first. As such I didn't want him to spend all his money on me. He wasn't earning. It was his parents' money and it didn't seem right for me to be spending it on myself. Of course, we got some tokens as wedding gifts but the whole trip would cost a lot.

Any woman who's newly married would understand how it feels to suddenly be dependent on someone else. It's that situation where you want to be yourself but you don't want others to compromise for your choices.

He led me into Gap. I got a few pricey, 'extra-short' clothes; courtesy Manik Malhotra. As an South Indian right, we're not used to wearing 'short' clothes. I won't call them weird, tempting or any names lame chauvinists call them but I'd just say they're not my type. It's just not something I'm comfortable with but Manik... he is hopeless. He lectured me for 20 minutes outside the change room about how people outside India don't give 'dirty-looks' like some Indians do and how nobody would even care and how he could keep admiring those legs of mine and all private things OUTSIDE the damn change room. It was one embarrassing moment for me, with people staring at Manik and I for the ruckus we were creating.

We shopped around in two more stores and I was done purchasing the clothing for our trip. I picked a couple of shorts, some tanks—and I'm fine with tanks, at least in the premises of my apartment; and a few sundresses, fancy dresses, denims, palazzos, peplums, plaid shirts, casual shirts, some winter clothing and a few pairs of different footwear, enough to last our 10-day trip.

Just when I thought things could be okay between us, Manik had to act all authoritative and superior; the man of the house, after all. He flicked his card casually to the cashier. The cashier accepted it, was about to swipe it and I pulled it out of his hand.

"Madam..." The cashier gaped as we began quarreling right in front of about 50 people.

"What is this, Manik? I'll pay." I growled. He shrugged uselessly, nudging me to the side and sliding his card back to the cashier.

"What? No. Take this." I grabbed it back out of his hands and he huffed.

"Dekho Manik, mere paas hai Appa ke card. Main pay kardungi." He slid his hands into his pockets. He lifted his shoulders gracefully, showing authority over me.

"Tum kyun karogi? Shaadi ki hai na mujhse? Main hi karunga. Tum bas vahan se dekhna, how I handle this." He smirked as he ordered the guy to get the payment done.

"No Manik, I'll pay."

"Nandini..." He threatened and that was it. Defensively, I began fighting for my rights. As useless as it sounded, it was hilarious. The drama we brought along with us everywhere entertained our audience.

"It's mine, right?" I clenched my waist with my hands, clearly annoyed.

"You're mine, right?" He bent down to reach me and our noses touched. I clicked my lips and scooted to the side, away from Manik.

"That doesn't mean you'll pay for it. I'll contribute 50%, fine?"

"No." He smirked. My patience had crossed limits now. For everything, was it necessary for him to argue and fight? Couldn't he just give up, for my sake at least? Egoistic man.

"Okay then, sir, I don't need these." I pushed the clothes into his chamber and began heading back. Even before I took a step, I was grabbed back.

"Wait, why? Nandini, you're acting so unreasonable!" He nagged as always. That's the thing. When he loses, he nags. When he wins, he overacts.

"Okay fine, pay. Only half the bill." He retorted, pulling me in front of him, locking me within his arms on the counter and his chest. I tip-toed to peek into the counter to slide in some cash. The scene there must've been really cute. Me before him, caged inside his body yet not trapped or seduced. Manik kept whistling as he looked around for no reason. He had to pretend like he was so busy even when he certainly wasn't.

Manik couldn't see me struggle for long and hence, he pulled me onto his feet, allowing me to raise myself by a couple of inches. I almost immediately stepped down, afraid to hurt him but he didn't resent. He pulled me back up.

"I like to protect you, even when I absolutely don't need to. Stay?" He whispered into my ear. I quickly pecked his cheek, before anyone noticed, as he supported me with an arm around my waist.

We went to the lingerie store and I was surprised how Manik just tagged along with me inside, busy on his phone, so shamelessly. I didn't want to pick an argument because of that so I just chose to pay no heed. After all, I guess husbands are allowed. I stepped into the showroom and all of a sudden, there were millions to choose from. God knew what would people do with such huge variety but then again, that topic is going to get dirty.

I tried getting Manik's attention but he was so engrossed in his phone. I cleared my throat as I faced him, about two feet away. He met eyes with mine and I stuttered. 

"Umm..." I hummed and Manik made that usual 'what-the-hell' face.

"What?"

"You..." A woman tapped on his shoulder from behind and he turned as slowly as he could.

"How may I help you, sir?" He had a look behind and freaked out. He was in the middle of a zillion bras. He had no idea he was in that section, he jumped a step back in embarrassment.

"Oops." He turned and hurried towards me, sticking his tongue out between his teeth and hitting his head helplessly. I burst into giggles and Manik had a hard time getting me on my feet.

"Can you stop?" He fumed, adjusting his hair to avoid being embarrassed further. I did just that.

"Hmm... Poof..." I pressed my smile but giggles burst out.

"Nandini..."

"Sorry... mujhe pata nahi itni hasi kyun aa rahi hai." I fake coughed, adjusting the strands of hair on my face. We both had the same tendencies with small variations, in time and manner.

"Oh really? You want me to shut you up? I didn't know you were this desperate, Nandini. Tch tch... nahi toh main kabka kar leta, kyun?" He held me tight in his arms. He stepped forward and I took a step back, protecting myself from the monster. A wall obstructed my steps and I gasped. "Ab hasi nahi aa rahi hai? Huh?" He eyed my lips, focusing entirely on them.

"Ma-" He didn't let me speak. He grabbed me into the bathroom, not to mention, 'men's' bathroom and bolted the door.

"Washroom main?" I gawked at his stupid ideas. Clearly, three cubicles were closed and I was now stuck between a bunch of perverted men, husband included.

"Aur kya? Cameras hote hai malls main. Agar koi dekh lega toh?" He spat under his breath, with a tinge of annoyance. He looked so cute. Men really look cute when they're angry, especially for unnecessary things. I won't deny the punishments we women face because of their anger is deadly, but it's still cute.

"From when have you started caring about all this, Mr. Malhotra?" I crossed my arms and tapped my feet in question.

"Ever since my lady love got angry at me for demeaning her self-respect."

"Ohhh... really?" My lips moved to reveal my red parted lips. He had been waiting so so long for claiming them. We were so aggressive in our love. Always at extremes.

"No more questions." He cuffed my hands to the wall behind as he kissed me, aggressively. There was no passion. There was just desire; extreme desire. A day wouldn't pass without a minimum of two lip kisses and a few, almost uncountable, random kisses. We were that lovey-dovey teenage couple who everyone envied and desired. Physical intimacy was an important part of our relationship, more so because I believed in emotions more than words and he vice-versa. A compromise led to physical intimacy. The best way we could express our genuine love to each other. He needed me and I couldn't deny myself to him. I was so in love.

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(Cool. Honeymoon track coming up 🙈 Who liked this part?
Question of the chapter: Ain't Manik so cute? What qualities do you desire in your life partner?
Let me know 😘 Vote and comment if you liked it. Thanks.)