(A/N: Yo girls and fellow guys! 🙈 I just realized that about 88% of the people reading my story are girls in the age group of 14-22 and that's so cool! 😍 Thank you so much for your support. Now the important part.
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I was stranded in the middle of the road with nowhere to go. First of all, I was in a new country. Every place here seemed the same. I didn't know where I was. All I could see was some traffic and some lively streets. God! What will I do?

If Manik was here, I'd at least feel safe. Shut up, don't think about him. I started fumbling to myself about the possible things I could do in that country with zero cash and within a moment, I got an answer. Nothing.

I checked the time on my phone again. 8:04. I still had three hours until the entry to the bar would charge me. But from where in the world would I find that bar? It was a mildly cold night and I was cold and sticky with all that wet sand on me. I started walking aimlessly, trying hard not to cry. Manik was a jackass. He doesn't deserve your tears.

I passed by a few stores and streets, hunting for something that could get me back to the hotel. I instantly regretted my impulsiveness. If I had shut up and just ignored that drunk guy, I would've been in a warmer, comfortable place. It's all because of him.

I propped myself on the sand, vigorously rubbing my arms. Just then, my phone buzzed and actually to my surprise, it was Cabir. I accepted the call.

***

Manik was struggling to keep his balance. He ordered the driver to stop the car the moment his senses registered I wasn't there anymore. He wanted to get me back. He shoved some money onto him and stumbled out of the car.

He was subconsciously trying to understand what was going on. His arms were flapping in the air for no specific reason as he tried to gain balance and make himself feel secure enough to search for me.

He stepped onto the footpath and leaned onto the wall, drained out of energy and on the verge of passing out. He cringed to see his phone. He tried to dial my number but his phone couldn't connect. He visioned me leaving him forever and his heart couldn't take it. He hit his fist to the wall and began to cry helplessly, unable to do anything to find me. He wasn't even in a position to understand where he was and finding me was close to impossible.

He sat on a little bench, sobbing and talking to himself. "She's gone. She left me. She doesn't love me. I hurt her. She'll never forgive me. Chali gayi hai voh... mujhse bahut dur."

A short woman with blonde shoulder-length hair sympathized with him. She stopped on her way and leaned to check on him.

"Are you alright, my boy?" She was a woman in her late 40s and for some reason, Manik found that motherly concern in her. He started crying loudly like a baby, blabbering or rather complaining to her.

"Meri jaan thi voh! Chali gayi. Kahan dhundu main usse? I can't remember anything." The woman couldn't understand much but she sat next to him, pat his face and tried to calm him down.

"Shh..." She cooed to soothe him. It suddenly hurt him more. He and I, we both knew if anything happened to either of us, we couldn't forgive ourselves ever. But Manik was so vulnerable and defenseless to do anything.

"Bahut pyaar karta hu usse, bahut. Khona nahi chahta. Milegi na vapas?" He cried painfully and that woman rubbed his back. She couldn't understand a word, but she knew he was in so much pain.

"Everything will be okay. Come. Let me take you home."

"No no. I need to find her. I can't let her go." The woman smiled at him as she spotted the ring on his finger.

"Do you know where she is?" She asked with such a soft and consoling voice. He gaped at her blankly while he tried to recollect anything from the past. After a long pause, he spoke.

"No."

"Alright. Come with me." She held his hand and tried to take him with her but he didn't move an inch.

"Nandini?"

"Let's find her." She smiled. He held her hand and walked slowly along with her. She was way shorter than him but so kind at heart. She called a number and Manik waited with her, trying to balance himself.

***

"Hello?"
"Busy the?" I sighed in despair.
"Cabir, I'm in no mood for this. Bye."
"Oops. What happened?" I explained the entire situation and I heard Cabir's reactions, which clearly meant he didn't seem very pleased.
"What the hell? Where are you now?"
"I don't know. Just some beach."
"God! Itna strength kahan se aata hai tum dono ko? Ek din bina ladayi kiye beet nahi sakte? Goddamnit Nandini, you are in a different country." He tried to put some sense into me but I was so stuck upon the fact that Manik spoke so offensively.
"I don't know. I don't care. I'll sit on the beach the whole night. I'm not going back to him."
"Nandini, behave sensible. He's drunk. You know how much he loves you. This is not the time to fight. Anything can happen to him, or you."
"I don't care. Bye."
"Okay okay, relax. Stay on line. Keep talking."
"Cabir..."
"I have to make sure you're okay. Just keep talking."
"You don't have to..."
"I do. Don't you think of me as your brother? I don't care if you don't. You're still my brother's wife and he isn't with you so it's my responsibility."
"I'm going to the bar."
"Stop it. Don't behave like him. You are way mature than him."

Manik was traveling in the woman's car, trying to find me. "Rob, go slow. See if you can find her young man." Manik scanned through the windows, squinting and straining his eyes to see if he could spot me.

They'd come to the beach area and Manik felt some flashes of his memory come back.

"She's here. I know." He spoke excitedly. The man stopped the car and helped him out. They crossed the road and walked into the sand of the beach. Manik spotted me in the distance talking on the phone. He withdrew his hand quickly from the lady's grip and ran towards me, despite his weak condition. He tripped and almost fell and the woman attempted to help, but was stopped by her husband.

Manik approached me quickly. I turned around and suddenly I felt him pounce on me, so much I almost fell. He hugged me so tight and the phone dropped from my hands. He was literally crying and I felt so sorry for him. The fact that he actually managed to get to me in that state was surprising. He pushed me further into his body and I placed my arms around his shoulders, digging my face into his chest. We stood like that for a while, embracing each other's presence.

"I was so scared. Why do you do this to me, Nandini?" He cried and realization struck me. I pushed myself out of his hold and looked away from him.

"We have to go." I spoke as I picked my phone from the sand and dusted it off. I started walking away and I was held back by him.

"Manik, please. I'm tired..." I spoke without even turning back.

"Nandini... I..." He spoke with some pauses and I turned around. His senses shut down completely and I caught him just in time. He clung onto me but made no movement.

"Manik! Manik! Wake up, please?"

"What happened?" The couple came to help us.

"He's passed out. He never does this. He can handle alcohol very well... We need to get him to the hospital." Just then Cabir called again. They helped us into their car and I sent a message to him, confirming I was okay and with Manik.

***

I was impatiently fiddling with my fingers. I looked to the side to see the couple waiting with me. It was so nice of them to do that. I was really wondering what would've happened if they weren't with us. "Thank you so much for being with him." They smiled.

"Your fiancé reminds me of my son." The man spoke and I seemed interested.

"Why so?"

"He was such a difficult man to be with. He was madly in love with a girl, but she married someone else." I didn't know how to react to that.

"Oh. Is he alright?"

"Must be. Haven't spoken to him ever since. He lives in Germany now. I don't know anything else about him." I nodded disappointedly, empathizing with them. It must be very painful not talking to your child. What would Amma do if I was like that?

"How long have you been engaged?" She asked.

"We're married actually. For about 6 weeks now." I spoke, adjusting the ring on my finger.

"Whoa, really? You look very young and beautiful." I smiled as she complimented me. The doctor came out and I bumped into him, all in a fit of urgency.

"What happened? Is he okay?"

"He's unconscious because of alcohol overdose. It seems to be he has consumed something his body isn't used to and to top it, he has exerted too much." I gaped.

"He's fine, right?"

"You don't have to worry. You can take him home now. Just make sure he takes in healthy food and lots of water until the alcohol leaves his body. Ensure he gets enough rest." I nodded and the man left the premises. I signed some reports and was ready to take him home.

"We can't thank you enough for doing all this for us, really. We don't know how to pay you back."

"Think of us as your godparents. Stay happy and together always." I smiled and they left. I booked a cab and took Manik back to the hotel.

***

(A/N: Unfortunately I broke the promise. I had the part written by 9:30, but I was studying and eventually my phone was tossed away somewhere in the exam mess. I totally forgot about this. So this early in the morning, I'm updating to apologize 🙈 I love you all. Thanks for being patient. Vote, comment and share.)

In the car, Manik squirmed and pushed his head into my lap. Even in his subconsciousness, he needed to be assured that he was loved and taken care of. Especially by me. I felt sorry for him. I'd already troubled him too much. I placed my hand over his head and brushed his hair gently.

"I'm sorry, Manik." I whispered and pressed my lips onto his forehead. "You know na, how strong your emotions are? Kuch bhi karte ho, extreme main karte ho. And I'm nothing less. Aise akele choddkar chali aayi main." He smiled and I was really upset. I was on the verge of breaking down.

"Humesha Cabir mujhe matured bolta hai. Today, I've proved him wrong. Tum mujhe dhundne nashe main chale aaye aur maine kya kiya, dekho." I ruffled his hair. He turned towards me and smiled slyly.

"Shh..." He put a finger on my lip and signaled me to stop with his not-so-sober eyes. I adjusted him on my lap, in fact grabbed his face into my chest and closed against him.

"Manik, I'm sorry." I kissed his forehead again and he gripped my hand hastily.

"I'm sorry too, Nandini." He slurred as I held him like a newborn baby, caged against my body.

***

I woke up before him the next morning. I was certain he'd have a horrible time waking up. Plus I felt really guilty for being consumed in my anger, that I cared less about him. I made him his favorite French toast and sat next to him, brushing his face. I murmured a few 'sorry's to that sleeping beauty of mine and before I could realize, I woke him up myself. "Good morning hubby." I placed a kiss on his forehead and crawled onto him. He held me protectively even in his sleep, since we were at the edge of the bed.

"Vah! Kya baat hai? Aaj bahut pyaar aa raha hai!" He growled, shooting a few yawns and stretches here and there. I was dressed in his tank top and my shorts. I knew how much he liked it when I wore his clothes and besides, what's a relationship where your girl doesn't steal your clothes?

"I'm sorry for last night." I kissed his lips lightly as my chest pressed onto his. It was more like an attempt to tease him. He didn't seem quite convinced. He pulled me over his stomach and bent his knees so that I sat in the space on his stomach, supported by his thighs.

"Hey, it's alright, love. I was a little too high." He giggled as another yawn made its way. He looked so adorable even when he yawned. I loved him so much.

"Tum sacchhme gussa nahi ho na?" He clicked his lips in indifference.

"Not at all."

"I love you, Manik." That pang of guilt, it hurt so much. My stupid impulsiveness got him admitted to the hospital. In my fit of anger, I didn't care about my drunk husband. I am such a horrible wife. I said to myself.

"More, biwi." I dug my face into his chest, suddenly feeling so emotional. His gentle strokes on my back, helped me ease out a bit. He was a blessing in my life. I love him.

"Aaj kya karen hum?" He hummed against my hair, stroking my strands delicately.

"Aaj hum cook karenge hotel main. We can't eat outside everyday na?" I said in a determining tone; and this was taken so unlike the kiddish Manik. He was not pleased at all by the idea of shopping.

"Okay. Kab jaaye?" He squeaked cutely and I was all in giggles. I pressed my lips onto his closed ones again.

"Jab tum uth jaoge, tab." He snuggled me closer, like a little baby with both his arms and nuzzled into my face.

"Toh chalo, uthenge nahi hum aaj." I turned me over and he was on top of me. His arms were on my sides, confining me to the bed. He dropped his face into the crook of my neck and I giggled. He knew exactly how I reacted to particular things. His stubble brushed my skin and he began planting kisses there, while I tried to wiggle out.

"Manik!" I squirmed and moved but Manik was in no mood. He was generally quite physical and territorial about me and he just had to show me he loved me so much with those gestures of his. "Manik..." I struggled and he dipped into my neck.

"Kya? Bola na, nahi uthenge hum." He mumbled and from his shoulders, I strolled my hands into his hair, tugging.

"Okay, 10 minutes. ONLY." His arm sprung around my waist. In one swift motion, he grabbed me, rolled over and threw me over himself. He adjusted his arms around me, so that I was safe and secure.

"No." I touched his face and stuck my face against his stubble again. I leaned into his ear.

"Please Manik?"

"Hmm..."

***

Manik grabbed a trolley while I fiddled with my hair.  "Coles. Hmm... fancy." I spoke supposedly inaudibly, but Manik creeped me out by suddenly popping himself there; and how could it be that he wouldn't hear?

"We'll name our first baby that?" He flashed all his teeth adorably, in a rather mocking way and my jaw dropped. Out of all the people, Manik was doing this to me.

"Amma will murder me. Ek toh naam suit nahi karega. Coles Malhotra. Tum pagal ho?" I whined as the tables had turned. It was no longer Manik getting teased by me.

"Haanji." He pouted, leaning to reach my lips and I pat those lips gently with my hand, to stop him from acting cute.

"Idiot." He grinned and stealthily put his arms around me, not touching me yet. It was only after I was towered by my man did I realize I was caged in his arms, against that trolley. I gaped at him and he smiled sheepishly.

"Chalein?" I nodded and I almost stumbled every alternate step Manik took. He was trying to stay close to me at all times. Momentarily, he resented to that trolley of his.

"Vegetarian pick karo kuch bhi." He whispered and I got a little freaked out.

"Haan." I stood there, watching the vegetables. Manik got irritated.

"Haan kya? Khadi kya ho? Help karo tum?"

"Mujhe vegetable shopping karna nahi aata." I murmured almost guiltily.

"What?"

"Haan." Manik huffed in irritation and it was a clear coast for me to take advantage and embarrass him like he always does to me.

"Toh khaana kaise banati ho?"

"Thodi na dhang se banati hu. Thoda bahut aata hai. Bas." I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms, tapping my legs agitatedly.

"Hmph! Phir shaadi kyun kiya?"

"What do you mean? Pyaar kiya, toh shaadi bhi karli." I teased and Manik's annoyance hiked up. He didn't like the fact that I prevented him from romancing with me just to shop about something I had no idea of.

"Pyaar toh baadme kiya! Jhooti." He frowned a miserably low frown. He was so cute sometimes.

"Hehe... karo na tum! Tumhe toh aata hai." Manik shot an awkwardly twitching smile. There visibly was this muscle on his face that twitched, making his grin sheepish and awkward. He was so cute. I love him so much.

"H-haan... yeah... umm..." I pressed my growing smile.

"Haan... karo karo." Manik rummaged through for a couple of moments and gave up.

"Okay I have like a question. Which color should capsicums be? Red, yellow or green?" I thought for a while and came up with a decent explanation.

"Green ones are raw. Then they become a little ripe and become yellow. Red capsicums are fruits." I said in one go, so illogically and Manik seemed impressed. For a fact, even I knew it probably wasn't that way but I just couldn't back off in the last minute.

"Really?"

"Yeah, you didn't know? Tomatoes main bhi vahi toh logic hai." Manik seemed convinced. He grabbed a few red capsicums and strolled me along with him. On the way, he found something really fascinating and stopped by to have a look.

"Hey... What's this?" He pulled the animal with his hands and I jumped in fear. The animal was probably brutally killed just so that humans could eat it. The thought of an animal being sacrificed irked me. I held Manik's bicep and hid behind his back. How the hell do non-vegetarians eat all that?

"Chee! KANGAROO!"

"Wow! People eat this also? Exotic."

"Shut up, Manik! Gross! Put it away!" I flapped my arms against his bulky body but he didn't seem to nudge. He was so engrossed in that animal.

"You're vegetarian?"

"Then what?"

"You eat egg though?"

"Eggetarian." I huffed in irritation.

"Oops." He stuck his tongue out and shot that pathetic grin again. He put the animal down.

"Pagal." He giggled and his hand approached my face. "Don't touch!"

"Rude haan Nandini. Bas ek animal touch kiya, now you don't even love me..." I looked at him in disbelief. He was one hell of a man.

"Manik! Ugh. Just wash your hands." Manik frowned and lazily dragged himself to the bathroom while I watched the trolley that had just some red capsicums, or so we thought they were. I smiled at myself for my lame logic to get Manik to do work. I fiddled with his phone, playing Clash of Clans under the market's free WiFi.

"Things here are so costly!" He poked me, while peeping to see what I was doing.

"Yeah. Aur kya chahiye?"

"Let's make a fruit salad." The idea seemed pleasing. I nodded and we walked around. We picked apples, pineapples, apricots, plums and those capsicums, trying to cut down unnecessary expenses. All we could hope for was a decent meal.

***

Manik was busy checking some recipes while I lounged on the couch, browsing through Manik's phone. I loved doing that. Stalking him was my favorite pastime, more so because he was decently popular. Suddenly, his Facebook Messenger pinged and there was a message that I was curious enough to open.

"Manik, who is this, Amyra Kaur?" I glared at him, at the same time judging her appearance. In her display picture, she wore a white wrapped crop top and a flowing turquoise semi-transparent wrapped skirt, with a slit along one of the legs, right from the thigh. I was irked out, or jealous, to be precise.

"A girl from college. Why?" He didn't even turn around. He continued chopping the fruits and glancing at his laptop. I gave him a cursory look, trying to picture the two of them together. Hell, she was beautiful. A sudden feeling of possession overtook me and I was seething.

"Why the hell is she saying she misses you?" I roared angrily. Manik turned to see me and smirked. It was rare that he witnessed a scene like that and he had to take advantage.

"Ahh... She hits on me. She asked me out once. Give her a flirtatious reply. Tell her 'Darling, I'm waiting to see those charming eyes of yours on me.'" He overly gleamed, in an artificial way and my anger crossed bounds. I was a step away from breaking his jaw.

"Oh My God, Manik! Do you have any shame? You're married, for heaven sake." I stood on the couch, took two big steps and jumped off ferociously, advancing towards Manik real fast. There wasn't even a tinge of worry on his face.

"Married men can have fun too, right?" He smirked and I huffed. I clenched the phone in my hand tightly.

"NO! They have fun only with their wives." I grunted irritably. He was having the time of his life seeing me rage up.

"Acchha... by the way, you can't go through my messages like that. They're private." He stomped towards me. His hands followed mine, which were moving up and about in the air, to prevent him from having the phone.

"Shut up! You're mine. Everything concerning you, concerns me too. There is nothing private between us." I growled into his face and he smiled a beautiful smile. Had I not been consumed by jealousy, I would've noticed the ruckus he'd created to get my attention. I sneaked his phone back to my abdomen level, where I generally use the phone. His hands glided from the air, down my arms, and rested at my waist. He admired my tensed face.

"Whoa... she said she loves you and you put a smiley? What is with you, moron? Chee... I hate you, Manik Malhotra." My anger crossed all boundaries. I fisted my hands tightly and began hitting his chest until he fell onto the couch, pulling me over. He was looking at me with a blank expression while I constantly went on nagging and irritating him.

"Really? You hate me?" He asked, as he held my arms and almost demanded for my attention. I stared at him with immense pain in my eyes. I was so hurt so so was he, both for unreasonable reasons and that was what made us unique. "Nandini..." He breathed and eyed his phone which was lying next to his thigh. I instantly caught the gesture and grabbed the phone even before he could.

"Phone vapas kardo?" He pleaded. I didn't know why but I suddenly felt so detached. The sane part of my mind said he loved me and only me; while the insane part of me did all it could to think about the worst possible things.

"No. Why are you defending her, Manik? Are you hiding something from me? How dare she? I'll kill her, wait!" I sat up on his stomach and rummaged through his phone. Though I didn't like what I was doing, nor did he, I was clearly not in sanity.

"Come on, Nandini... don't you trust me?"

"It's not about you. It's the way you're behaving that's scaring me, Manik." I confessed honestly. Manik stared at me and then pushed me off of him, himself stumbling into the kitchen.

I stared at the lock-screen on his phone, which had a picture of him and I kissing romantically on the beach at sunset in Melbourne. I didn't realize when Manik was back until I was pulled with a jerk; reflexing a gasp which he took to his fortune and slammed his lips onto mine, feeding me with the fruit salad he'd made. I didn't know what made him so aggressive all of a sudden, but he was hurt and so was I, that was evident.

We were so deeply involved in that kiss that the spice of the pepper didn't mean anything. The burning sensation on my tongue was nothing compared to the dreadful thoughts running in my head. I was pushed against a wall, while my top was fiddled with, with violent agility.

"Looks like those capsicums weren't capsicums after all." I breathed only to be shut up with a more forceful kiss. My top was off in a jiffy and his cold fingers came in contact with my bare fiery skin. I was lifted effortlessly by him, his hands on my back, and dropped onto the couch, with him cornering me. I closed my eyes and leaned forwards in anticipation while Manik sealed those lips of mine.

My hands cupped his face. His fingers slipped onto my waist, drawing small circles there, making me moan with the sudden temperature change. I gripped onto his shoulders while thrusting my tongue into his mouth. He parted with me when both he and I couldn't take it.

"Go marry Amyra Kaur only. Don't stick around with me." I dabbed his chest and that was it for him. He grabbed my body with one scoop. He carried me bridal style, while I was half-naked, holding onto him to support myself. I knew I was turning him on by giving him a proper view of my breasts but right now, that was the only thing I could give in to.

I was pushed onto to the bed and Manik began planting kisses from my lips to my cheek. He slowly deviated to the crook of my neck while my fingers slid into his hair. He planted a wet kiss there and ran his nose along, all the way to the center of my collarbone. He dipped his chin there and I arched backwards, closing my eyes. His hand entwined with mine and interlocked.

"You still think I like her?" He breathed heavily while I was frustrated with the sudden halt.

"Haan." I growled and Manik smirked.

"Well Nandini, you're putting yourself into trouble now. Trust me, you don't want this."

"I do." With one swift motion, his hands slipped underneath me, to unhook my bra. I pushed him gently to stop. He got his pants off and hopped in bed with me, back to his kisses. I began to tease him, running my hands along his chest. I slipped my hand and rubbed him in a teasing manner until he could take no more. He took over and went down on me, placed his mouth over me and devoured me with passion. I arched and felt dizzy with the sensation; the familiar building up.

"Manik... I'm..."

"I know." He whispered as he slipped the condom on and slowly penetrated my convulsing walls. I screamed as he hit the right places and I was shut up with Manik's kisses. He fondled my assets affectionately. There was aggression, but still care and passion. I felt him throbbing inside me and I knew he was close. I tugged at his hair tightly as I climaxed, soon followed by him. 

"You're so hot." He breathed as he dropped himself on me. He settled beside me lying on his stomach, tired as hell.

"So are you!" I kissed his cheek as one of his arms engulfed me. I was the luckiest woman on the planet.

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