(A/N: Hello everyone. I think this part will be like a bedtime story because most of my readers are from India where it is now 11:11 exactly. So make a wish. 🙈 My wish is that tomorrow should be a beautiful day for you all ❤️️ Anyways, spread love and support. You can even follow me on Twitter.
Twitter: @torridtides.
Tap the ⭐️ button to drop me a vote and comment too, because it really makes me like writing for you all. Thank you.)

----------------

The house felt so empty. Manik was off to Cabir's place and I genuinely missed him. I glanced at my phone every two minutes to check the time, or for his calls or messages. I sprung on the couch and laid like Manik, swapping channels.

I unlocked my phone and tapped his number. Even before it connected, I cancelled the call. No, he is with his friends. They have a nightout. You can't disturb him and ruin it for him. I sighed and locked my screen.

I was suddenly feeling so bored, so tired and so lonely. I dialed Navya. We had a little conversation and then she came over, to keep me company.

"Hua kya hai? Tum aise kyu..." She pointed at my deranged outfit. If I were her, I'd laugh my ass off too.

"Voh, I caught a cold and Manik created a scene out of it." I shrugged in disappointment, suddenly missing his stupidity and his protective care.

"Aww..." She cooed and pulled my cheeks and I giggled.

"Haha... stop it!" I sat her on the couch with me. I sniffed as I turned towards her.

"You're really lucky, Nandini." I smiled and hugged her tightly.

"I miss him..." I whispered to myself, closing my eyes to imagine his presence. "What's up with your life?" My phone buzzed and I grabbed the phone hastily, eager for his message with a wide smile. 

*Do you want to upgrade your postpaid plan to...*

I didn't bother reading the rest. The smile on my face disappeared. I really missed Manik. I chucked the phone beside me.

"Cabir..." I cut her off even before she started. Let's be realistic, Cabir is noway going to choose Navya over all the other people in the planet. Their thoughts don't really sail on the same boat. I got up to get some food.

"Navya, don't you think you're aiming a little too high? Like Cabir ain't going to consider our existence, not even mine until Manik and I became a couple." I stated as a matter-of-fact. I brought some chips and biscuits, as I sat back on the couch. No junk food. I heard his voice repeating in my head. Hmph! Who cares? I shoved some food down my throat.

"Yeah..." She sighed thoughtfully. My mind was just not into the conversation. I really didn't seem like I was paying attention. I was randomly forming sentences just to not seem like I zoned out.

"From when, and why?"

"I don't know. Anyways... let's make something. Let's bake." She jumped merrily. She stretched her hands out to pull me up. I was however not interested.

"Navya, I'm not in the mood." I shrugged and sagged in my place.

"Stop missing him. Spend time with me now." She nudged and I shook my head negatively.

"Do you think about Madhyam, anytime?" Her face drooped the instant I mentioned Madhyam and why not? She probably did feel for him, even if it was for a short span of time, whatever I don't know.

"He's with another girl. I've moved on too." She didn't make eye contact with me and it didn't take me much to know that he still affected her.

"Does he... love her?"

"Are you affected?" She asked out of concern. My head shook. Obviously not. When I had Manik, I didn't need to bother about a mess like him.

"No! I don't even care, dude. I'm casually asking."

"Probably, yeah." She faked a smile as I gaped at her quietly.

"Then what about you?" She clicked her lips and tried to express her indifference that clearly contradicted her actual self.

"You know, college guys are like that only. They don't care about emotions. It's just about fun for them. They need a girl to..." She went on and I went back to missing him. He was probably one of the best people in the planet and to my fortune, I had him all for myself. Manik wasn't like the others. He valued me, us, our love.

Navya observed me spacing out. She snapped her fingers to get my attention. "Nandini, do you want me to help you pack?"

"Haan, chalo." I headed off to the room, to get done with one serious task in hand. Packing for our 'trip'.

***

It was somewhere around 7 in the morning and clearly, we both were on a holiday that day. We had lots to do and given how lazy and distracted we got around each other, we needed much more than a day. Yet, I woke up alone. He wasn't there.

"I missed you, baby girl." He scooted beside me, wrapping me protectively in his strong arms. I snuggled into him as I fell into deep sleep.

He had come last night. I remembered. I found the bathroom door ajar and soft hums coming from inside. "Manik..." I smiled to myself as I jumped out of bed and headed to see him. I popped my head inside the bathroom and sighed happily.

"Good morning." I gleed as I approached my man. I hugged him from behind and swayed from side to side, still clinging to him, sleepily.

"Hey! Morning, baby!" He blew a flying kiss to me and turned back, to brush some shaving cream on.

"Kal raat kab aaye the? Ek call tak nahi kiya. Aur itni jaldi kyu jaag gaye?" I whined and complained. I missed him so much and he, he didn't even seem to bother. Or so I thought.

"I came at 4. You know I was dying to come home. It was so boring." He sulked adorably, ranting about how his friends hid his phone so that he wouldn't contact me and I just giggled, lost in his perfection.

"Bahut kaam hai. Packing karni hai, thoda practice bhi karna hai. Abhi ek mahine main match hai na, quarter-finals?" He puffed his upper lip up cutely. I scooted to his front, standing between him and the mirror. I intently put my arms around his neck, admiring him.

"Ohh... so mera hubby responsible ban raha hai? College chala jaayega subah subah?" I spoke in a very possessive and upset tone. Nevertheless, Manik always managed to lighten up my mood.

"Nahi nahi. Tumhe good morning kiss dene ke baad hi jaaunga." He fluttered a kiss onto my nose. He was the cutest.

"I love you, bubby." I touched his forehead to mine and squeaked in glee. He chuckled at my lame nicknames for him.

"Hahaha... now what's that?"

"It's cute na? Bas. That's why." I cringed my face to look more cute.

"Logic hoga kuch? Like Nina? Yaad hai?" He leaned into me and teased.

"Stop it! Yeah it's 'boo' plus 'hubby' so..." I stuck my tongue out and he blushed. He pulled me from my waist, cuddling cozily into me.

"Aye! Baby girl!" He dropped a few kisses and examined me for any signs of fever or aggravation of my cold.

"Acchha, main shave karu?" He chuckled heartily at the sudden interest in me to shave him.

"Tum?" He grabbed me in his arms, still giggling. "Razor pakadna aata hai, Nandiboo?" He squealed and my face cringed. How the hell did he come up with such cheap names?

"Chee... kya ghatiya naam hai?" I slapped him on the head very gently. He nuzzled into the space between my eyes and cheek.

"RUDE."

"Okay sorry!" I frowned, pulling him closer. He clicked his lips in indifference.

"So you'll shave me?"

"Haan? I wanna try." I grabbed the razor from him and adjusted it in my hand, to hold it comfortably. After all, I didn't want to end up killing my man.

"Just jaws. Chin and all main hi kar lunga. Accidentally, if you cut me, I'll die." He laughed it off like a joke but no, I was obviously pissed off. I literally fought with him over the stupidest of issues.

"That's so mean. You don't trust me? Okay..." I crouched and got out of his grip. I headed out of the bathroom but I was jerked back onto him.

"Hehehe... acchha baba... tera voh panda kidhar hai?" He attempted to divert my attention. What did he think, I was 5? The way he treated me was literally like that.

"Hai kahin." I flapped one arm in the air and struggled to get away from him.

"I was kidding, baba." He pressed my body into his yet I fought. I'd never get tired of fighting with him, probably that's why he loved me so much.

"I told you pehle bhi, talking about horrible things is not funny. Don't talk to me." I hit his cheek and he laughed.

"Nandini... chalo shave karo. Dekhta hun." He wiggled me up to prep myself for the dangerous task. I took a deep breath and began my job. "Aye, kitni pyaari lagti ho! Kaun karta..." Manik was constantly talking and it was irritating me.

"Sss..." I hissed, in the fear of cutting him because of his non-stop conversation with himself, or supposedly me, but I was least bothered.

"Kya hai?" He frowned and I tapped his jaw closed from his chin. That man, couldn't he understand that me not trying to cut him is more important than his useless chit-chat? Jerk.

"Tum apna muh mat kholna. Humesha bak-bak karta rehta hai." I scolded and huffed in annoyance. Okay, yeah, I was short tempered but I wasn't always angry. Sometimes, that man just worked me up too much, testing my patience to the limit. He dropped sadly and I genuinely felt upset.

"Sorry." He faked a smile and I hated that smile of his. I grabbed his half-shaven jaws in my fingers. "Please na, sorry. Dekho, ab toh main tumhe kiss bhi nahi kar sakti na?" I frowned, seriously meaning it. When he was angry or sad, it hurt me. His silence kills.

"Okay." I let out a huge sigh of despair. I grabbed his shirt.

"No please, no 'okay's, no 'hmm's and NO 'fine's. Please na?" He grabbed and slammed me against the wall furiously.

"Then I want a proper sorry." I'd never seen this wild Manik before and for some reason, it was turning me on. He bent to reach me, his lips inching away from mine.

"Manik..." I meekly whispered, unable to control the proximity and my raging hormones. He pushed in further, almost teasing me.

"Ssshhh..." He carefully sealed his lips with mine, letting my skin sear in the absence of any other physical contact.

***

I opened my closet and grabbed all my new clothes and necessary stuff I'd need for our honeymoon. I began folding them and placing them in stacks on the bed, just to double check if I had taken everything before packing it.

"Kya kya pack karna hai tumhara? Rakh lo bed pe." I ordered. Manik was sitting on the bed, with his legs stretched, playing some sort of a video game.

"Haan..." He spoke and continued playing.

"We have less than 3 hours and lots to do, Manik." I tried to put some sense into that creature who was obsessed with games. How come suddenly so much craze for games?

"Aa raha hu." He stuck his tongue out, trying to strategically win and I cringed my eyebrows. I sat on my knees, placing my hands on my waist, as I watched him play so carelessly. That was it for me. I jumped up, pulled the phone from him and scolded at the top of my voice.

"Manik, be serious, please?" He sighed and got off the bed.

"Okay, what do you want now?"

"Pack karna hai ki nahi?" He smiled, walking behind me and engulfing me into his warm embrace.

"Pack kyu karna hai? Tum kaafi ho mere liye. Pure 20 din sirf..." He spoke dreamily and I broke his trance by making a very shrewd comment.

"Stop distracting yourself and help me out." He huffed, releasing his hold on me instantly.

"Fine." He stomped to his closet, shoving things out to pack them. He threw the neatly-folded clothes one by one on the bed, unfolding them in the process. I growled at him, chucking a paper ball from the filling of the suitcase onto his back and I knew, the fun had just begun.

He turned back hastily, chucking the ball back at me, right on my nose. I cried and rubbed it, throwing two of those crumpled balls at him, enraged. He smiled heartily as the fight begun and after that, needless to say, packing was a long forgotten business.

***

(A/N: Hey. I don't like these long notes but this is a bit important. A lot of you have been asking me questions, related to my story and myself in PM so I thought, why not share it here, like answering one random question everyday, more like a two-way interaction? Do you guys want that? Let me know in the comments below. Follow me on Twitter.
Twitter: @torridtides
Thank you so much for all your support. I love you all a lot.)

Part-2:
My parents and Manik's parents had come over to help us out with last minute packing. I had tons of work to do and being the clumsy me, I literally needed these last few minutes to rummage around the house and fetch my things. Amma was trying to help me transport luggage and stuff and Nyonika Mom was trying to clean up the house. "Amma, don't. Leave it." Manik howled from the couch.

He was seated on the couch, with me on his lap, caged in between in arms. He balled some rice and hid some bhindi in it. While I was busy looking around, trying to instruct and help my family, Manik tried to force the food into my mouth, like I was a baby.

"Aaa karo." I silently munched on the food. I mentally checked if my luggage was packed. It was always that every trip I pack for, I left something behind. Manik couldn't see me that disturbed.

"Dad, help Amma out please?" He requested, putting a mouthful of rice into his mouth. Rakesh Dad helped Amma carry the suitcase and kept it near the door. I signaled to him that was done and stood up. He clamped his stretched legs around mine, restricting me from moving.

"Kahan jaa rahi ho?" He scowled horrendously.

"Manik... I'm done. Bahut khaaya maine."

"Really? Both of us consumed less than half the plate. Don't fool around, Nandini. Just eat." He tried to pull me back onto him.

"I have lots to do. Tum samajh nahi rahe ho."

"But our vacation starts today." He nudged me gently. My hands held his shoulders in reflex and I was angled towards his body. He gazed ardently into my eyes, tracing his clean fingers from the small of my back to my waist, gripping gently, making me fall deeper in love with him. We were lost in a world where only we belonged. Our families were around but it just didn't matter.

My phone began to ring loudly, and I leaned to pick it up.

"Manik, move. I need to pick the call." He tightened his legs around me, holding me in place. He smirked as I struggled. I widened my eyes and glared at him for not behaving. "Manik?" I pressed the pads of my hand onto his shoulder blades, protesting yet smiling. "Manik!"

His hand slid upwards, grabbing my arm with a strong jolt. My hair fanned across his charming face. He closed his eyes in bliss. How he loved my hair.

"Stay like this." He purred into my hair as he huddled, pecking me discreetly onto my cheek. I gasped as the call ended. A moment later, it rang again.

"Manik!" I fought with all my strength and he let go, with a impudent grin. I picked the call instantly.

***

I helped Manik unload our luggage from Cabir's car. Alya, Dhruv and Mukti were gossiping about God knew what. Cabir sensed our urgency to get inside the airport, intentionally delaying us.

"Bhai, mujhe choddke chala jaayega apni biwi ke saath?" He faked some tears and leaned onto Manik's shoulder. Manik shot an uncomfortable look at his best friend and I was silently enjoying.

"You know, I wish I could take you along, bro." Manik pressed his lips into a petty frown, slapping Cabir on the back with a thud. Cabir gave that lusty look to Manik and given I wasn't surrounded by people, I'd be on the floor.

"I can dress up like your girl, you know? Up for the idea, Nandini?" He squeaked the first half of the sentence in a animated girly tone to Manik and Manik rolled his eyes. The girls giggled. Dhruv faintly smiled. I was having a great time watching Manik get embarrassed.

"Of course. After all, Manik will have an AMAZING time with you, akele akele! Hai na, Manik?" I grinned as I adjusted my brown pullover sleeve over my white tank top and Manik shot daggers at me. His reputation was at stake and I was finding it hilarious.

"Uhh... yeah." Manik cleared his throat, after giving me a look. Probably no straight and sane guy wanted to be called gay or even assumed to be one and Manik had some ego, it pricked him more. Cabir locked arms with Manik and pulled him into the airport.

"Chalo phir honeymoon manane jaate hai. Vaise bhi tere jaise handsome banda milega bhi nahi mujhe life main." Cabir faked a prayer to God and locked eyes with Manik, pretending to shy away almost instantly and I burst into hysterics. Manik observed his friends and I teaming up against him and he glared intensely at me.

"Yeah, go ahead, laugh. I'll just... be back." He grumbled, walking away from all of them, with his phone in his hand. I watched him leave and Cabir and I gave a high-five to each other.

*Manik: Meet me at the third gate in 2.*

"Guys, I'll just enquire the entry and come." I spoke, still looking at my phone. His friends shrugged at me and I headed towards gate three. I found Manik there, standing against one of the pillars, waiting for me. "Kya hai?" I approached him. Instantly, I was pulled into his tight grip. My eyes widened in shock.

"Teaming up against me huh? Against your husband?" He sarcastically spat at me and I scrunched my face up in irritation. My hands were clenched into fists, resting on both of his biceps, as my body arched behind, to maintain distance from my man.

"Nandini... tch tch tch. You targeted the wrong person. Have you forgotten, the next one month, there'll be nobody to save you from me?" He cleverly remarked in an evil and dangerous tone. I gulped as I thought about how no distractions, no people around actually meant trouble to me. I was instantly regretting my decision. I made a merciful face, almost pleading to be spared.

"Ab bolo, bahut hasi aa rahi thi na? Ab kya hua?" His eyes gleamed in lust and I was slowly getting creeped out by him. He bent into me, faces inches away and if anybody saw us like that, they'd get the wrong idea.

"Manik..." I pushed him away gently with my balled fists but he didn't seem to respond or react to it. In fact, it only worsened my condition.

"Haan... bolo... excited na?" He mocked in a sarcastic yet enthusiastic tone, with an overload of expressions. I shook violently in his arms, to escape while he simpered incoherently.

"Choddo mujhe." I wiggled nervously.

"Nope!" He popped the 'P' and I sighed. That man was impossible.

"Manik, kahan gaya voh?" Mukti shouted and I came back to my senses. I'd be in deep trouble if Mukti found me talking to him. We were already termed desperate in their language and I didn't want to worsen the situation for either of us.

"Manik please, leave me?" I twisted and turned and he sneered heinously at my futile attempts to fight with him and possibly win.

"No." I shot an acute frown. "Unless you decide to payback." Manik had to act reckless at the most awkward times.

"Payback?"

"Haan... mujhe bhi kuch chahiye return main?" He slid his hands tactfully into the back pockets of my maroon chinos, making me gasp. He smirked confidently at me. I wasn't ready for that bold move of his. I was flabbergasted.

"K-kya cha-hiye?" I gaped at him, speaking in broken sentences, unable to react to his sudden gesture.

"I like to see you fumble. Isn't it rare?" He radiated some dangerous energy and I was stuck, clinging onto him in public, in a compromising position. "Vaise itna bhi mushkil nahi hai. 5 kisses, anywhere on my body, but 'proper' ones. And haan, same place main not more than one kiss." He smiled proudly at his achievement of leaving me speechless.

"What? Public place hai! Yahan?" I gawked at his dirty and almost useless mind. How could he stick me up with embarrassing situations all the time?

"Jaana hai toh karna hi padega na?" He raised one of his arms upwards. It wrapped around the back of my petite figure tightly, resting at my waist. I rolled my eyes and cursed him mentally. I put my hands on his neck, as I stood on my tiptoes, to reach my first destination, placing my lips onto his forehead.

One.

I withdrew slowly, analyzing my next target. I turned my face to the side of his, pressing my lips tightly onto his cheek.

Two.

I tilted my head upwards to drop a kiss on his neck, his sweet spot. I opened my lips to give him a wet kiss. His hands tightened around me. You tried seducing me, it's my turn, baby.

Three.

I slid my hand in his, cautiously. I raised his hand to my face and pouted my lips to place a kiss on his ring finger, that held my ring.

Four.

The last sensible option seemed to be the lips but going there would lead us to a situation we couldn't afford to be in, at that moment. I dropped the idea and pecked his chin quickly.

"Okay, happy? Ab choddo." My last kiss though, seemingly irritated Manik. He was expecting something major but I had denied it from him. He blew exasperatedly, with a chafed volume of air.

"Lips pe nahi diya?" He whined and he dug his nails into my skin.

"You didn't mention lips." I smirked. It was his turn to nag. Within a moment, I was tossed against the wall forcefully.

"Well, do I need to mention, Mrs. Malhotra? Do I need to mention that I love you every freaking time? Just like that, lip kisses are a must." He slammed his arm beside my already-withering body. I took deep breaths.

"That's unfair."

"All is fair in love and only love." He whispered against my face, fanning me with the smell of his minty mouth. It sounded all the more inviting to me. Mukti and my reputation was long forgotten.

"War too." I added thoughtfully.

"Our love is our war. The undue importance we give to arguments and disagreements constantly, this is our war." He closed in against me, pressing his body into mine, already claiming his possession with his body language. Do I have to mention how much I needed those lips to embrace me?

I cupped his face, making the first move, initiating yet another intimate moment with my man in public though no one seemed to care. I tugged on his lower lip, smooching him like I'd been deprived of him for ages.

"I love you." I gasped in a hurry as I sealed my exposed lips with his again, almost instantly, clearly expressing my need and desire for him.

-------------

(So, as decided previously, the next few updates will be private so follow me and follow this story.
Question of the chapter: Who is the character you don't want to see in this story anymore?
Comment below and let me. Drop your votes and precious comments. I love you all a ton!
Twitter: @torridtides
Keep smiling and stay positive. Thanks.)