Upon walking upstairs, Manik found the door to Nandini's room not locked. He slightly pushed slowly and peeped in hesitantly only get mesmerized by the sight.

Nandini in cute white knee-length frock is standing in front of the mirror trying to zip her dress with her open back visible to Manik...

"Wow" This thought along with other not-so-innocent thoughts passed through his mind on this sight while he stood there not urging to get his eyes away from this angelic beauty.

Here Nandini who's completely oblivious of Manik's presence is struggling with her zipper whilst making faces "Ayyiappa... Why me? Aapko aur koi nahi milta kya? Phasa diya na mujhe! Offphhoo" She complained trying to stretch her hands back. "Ek toh Manik uper se yeh dress... Sab mujhe pareshan karte rehte hai..."

This caught Manik's attention and his eyebrow raised at her complaint to her Ayyiappa "What did I do?" he thought and decided to help her with her dress seeing her failing struggles.

Nandini is so immersed in the struggle that when suddenly she felt a cold touch on her bareback she jerked away with loud gasp being scared.

"It's me" Manik muttered seeing her afraid and she looked through the mirror to find him behind her.

"What are you doing here? How did you come in? And When?" She bombarded him with questions wide-eyed.

To her answer, Manik just passed at a brief smile through the mirror and shifted her glance at her open back and his fingers at the zip. Nandini, who's watching his movements through the mirror gets conscious and sensitive at his touch.

Shivers ran down her nerves when she felt his fingers moving feathery tracing over her skin ever so slowly. Her eyes get closed feeling this sensation which is so new yet pleasurable to her. Something's happening in her stomach... that was so... ...unexplainable!

While Manik has done with zipping her dress amidst dancing his naughty fingers. He curiously slides the hair from her side to get a view of her mark, when Nandu is fully in trance with eyes closed.

Manik finally get to see the mark on Nandu's neck and remembers the scenes from yesterday night when he gave her this hickey. Somewhere deep down his heart, he's feeling so proud of his job and seeing his mark on Nandini multiplies this joy.

He lowered his head closer to her neck side as his warm breathes hit on her hickey, he whispered "Maine tumhe kab pareshan kiya?"

Hearing his words Nandu gets back to sense and looked over the reflection to find him leaning closer to her. With the erratic heartbeat and tensed nerve, she immediately turned around trying to control herself and faking anger on her face "Aur nahi to kya? You always bite me... See, it leaves a mark. What will others think of, seeing this?"

"I bite you? Always?" Manik took the chance to tease her and acted as if not understanding anything.

"Yes! Always! Uss din bhi mere lips bite kiya, kal mere neck-" She abruptly stopped and bit her tongue upon finding Manik looking at her amused with raised brows.

"Stupid nandu! Tu Chup nahi rah sakti kya?" She mentally cursed herself before turning back embarrassed. She started doing her hair hastily, applying powder, lipgloss and concealer completely avoiding Manik and his intense glare on her.

Being done she was about to move when a platinum debit card appeared in front. She looked up to its owner questioningly.

"Use this while shopping." Manik said forwarding it and she left taking it silently not wanting to make the situation more embarrassing by opening her mouth.

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

Nandini's POV

....Ding Dong.... I waited after ringing the bell and looked back at the trail of men holding the shopping bags and boxes behind me.
Well, It's not me. It was my Sister-in-laws.

As soon as Manik opened the door, I shoved him aside making space for the men to get the things inside "Please come upstairs and place it inside" I guided them to my room, and showed them the closet.

Finally, they left keeping the boxes and bags on the floor and I'll be doing the most difficult job now; arranging my wardrobe!
Argh-I feel like dying of heart attack at its mere thought. I mean this is too much man. They shopped almost a full shop for me only. I mean, Seriously?

Anyways, Let's get something to eat first, I'll hell hungry, after all, it's dinner time now.

I changed into my pajama-top and walked downstairs towards the kitchen only to find Manik already present there.

"Your finally back!" He exclaimed looking briefly at me before concentrating on the dish on the stove. I wonder what's cooking?

"Yah! I've never in my life had shopped for the whole day long; from breakfast till dinner. And bought so many things costing more than my fortune." I shook my head even at its thought.

Manik let out a low chuckle hearing me "This is nothing. You've not seen Mukti n her wardrobe. It changed completely every month."

"Haye Bhagwan, I can't hear it anymore!" I just got dramatic putting my palm over my ears covering it.

Well, knowingly or unknowingly I always get comfortable with Manik. Even though I know him for like 3-4 weeks and we got married not so many days ago, but I used to feel free around him like I know him for years, like I used to be with my Appa. Carefree!

"Chalo. Dinner's ready" Manik said turning off the flame and served it in two plates.

First, I looked at the plate, then at Manik with surprise actually. He narrowed his brows at me before taking the plates to the dining and I followed him.

"Noodles? Like seriously!" Lastly, I voiced it out with a frown. Here I was thinking what's special is cooking?

"Yeah! Don't you like it?"

"No... I mean, I just didn't think to get noodles for dinner" I replied honestly while picking up the fork to eat.

"Oh! I just know to cook this only." He spoke meekly before starting to eat.

"Ohho... So, Mr. Malhotra doesn't know how to cook. Only Noodles hun!" I made a remark with a smirk while shoving a bite of it. He made a bad face.

"Well, it's tasty, I must say!" I added bringing a smile on his face.
I mentally noted to not say anything to emotionally hurt him, intentionally or unintentionally, because anybody's mental state controls its physical well-being too.

Soon we finished our dinner and I walk to the sofa and sit there stretching my legs up. "Ah-My legs really hurt from standing and walking all day" I said to no one in particular but I know Manik heard it while he came to sit beside me.

"Is it paining much? Should I get the hot water bag?" He asked worriedly.

"No no... Zyada pain nahi hai. It will be okay once I sleep" I replied glancing at the clock striking 10:30 pm.

"Oh-Okay. Toh tum sone jao phir. You'll feel better once get to rest" He muttered but his tone says that he wanted me not to go to the bed this early. He has something to say, even I do.
We've to talk.

"Nahi! Let's talk. Hamari baat adhuri rah gayi thi na." He looked up uncertain and serious at the topic. He just nodded at me to start while I could see his tensed muscles.

"Manik! I read your medical file and search in google about it. From what I could understand, you have a fair chance of recovery." I carefully chose my words while noticing his expression and body language. He didn't react much rather kept his eyes down tensed.

"Manik! Can I ask you something?" I asked watching him to which he forced his head up to look at me and nodded.

"Where are your recent reports? Aren't you going for regular check-ups?"

Manik sighed again to look down "No... There is nothing to go check-up, this is hopeless."

"Areeyy... Kya ajeeb insaan ho. How do you decide that it's hopeless? Listen Mr. Manik Malhotra, this is not hopeless, but agar tum yahi sochoge toh it will be hopeless in no time. 
So, Don't try to be a doctor and focus on getting recovered soon. Aur isskeliye from now onwards you have to listen to me." I order in full attitude after seeing his attitude towards himself.

Manik raised his brows seeing a tiny girl ordering him, him The Manik Malhotra. He asked challenging "And why do you think, I would do that?"

But much to Manik's surprise, I smirked at his question "I thought someone here needs my help?" I said looking around for someone while smirking.

Manik got what she's indicating and knew she's right. He needs her. "Okay! I agree." I did an instant salsa in my mind hearing his agree.

"But, are you ... I mean- O-okay with helping me... with this?" He asked unsure if she would be comfortable with what he's wanting from her or not.

Nandu scrunched her brow not understanding what he's meaning actually "Yeah... I'm fully okay." Then I thought he might be indicating that we hardly know each other to get into helping and mingling with each other "Manik, I know we just got married, we'll take some time to completely understand each other. But as you can see, I'm comfortable with you. And I'm your wife after all." I shrugged my shoulders telling him not to be serious I'm okay.

Manik got happy hearing this and smiled lightly. Even I'm happy that 'Chalo finally sab clear ho gaya.' I bend to take the glass of water from the table and drink it.

"So, let's go to my room and sleep together"

I spilled the water out of my mouth as soon as my ears heard these words. Coughing in between I asked shocked "Whatttt?"

He gave me a confused frowning look. "Why would we sleep... together?" I asked surprised turning to him. What the hell is running in his mind?

He frowned more "You said right? that you'd help me with my problem" he asked.

"Of course I will" I answered agitated. Now how is this related?

"Then why are you over-reacting now?" he asked making me more confused and irritated.
God, What's happening?

Okay, Cam down nandu and think. I processed everything in my mind from the very first day till now, how I get to know about his disorder, how I decided to help him through this, what happened yesterday night... Night!
It strikes me.

"By help, you mean Sughagraat?" I yelled instantly with a horrified face, crossing my hands over my body and back away.

He looked at me with wide eyes, and then at my crossed arms "No... I don't mean it to that extent." he replied instantly. Then we stayed silent looking at each other trying to process what's going on in each other's mind.

"Ek minute. 'That extent' means? Say it clearly, Manik. I'm not getting anything" I asked breaking the silence knowing that nothing is clear, at all!

He sighed knowing the same before opening his mouth "I was getting treatment and medication from last 6 months n there is no sign of recovery. Every report is the same... no improvement, so I left the hope to get better that way." he paused looking down at his hands which are playing with the fingers. "But then you came, when we're cuddling on our wedding night and also at your house, I could feel it."

Now, I've no words to say. I'm just standing here silently looking at him playing with his fingers looking down and saying that... that he... I mean,... I'm blank!

"I think, you are the one; the only ray of hope in my case" he added making me befuddled.

"Par maine kya kiya?" this is the only thing that escaped my lips while I stand astonished. I mean, What did I do and how?

He looked up at my question and let out a deep sigh "I don't know. It just happened.
When I have you in my arms, nuzzling into your fragrant hairs, it gets life"

Now I'm getting goosebumps. I mean, this is awkward, at least for me... to stand here and hear it like this, talking on this topic, with a boy who apparently happens to my husband. But it is very new to me and I'm not getting how should I react.

"Toh... main kya karun?" I asked innocently trying to know what he wants from me. Like how?

"Can you... let me hold you for some time and sleep while cuddling with you?" he asked with hopes in his eyes while I stood there rooted not knowing what to say and how?

******

So, Kya lag raha hai what will be Nandu's answer? Aab kya hoga?

What's your favorite moment in this chapter?

Now, hold your seat belt tight, because the story's soon gonna catch leap.

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Wait for me,
Bye-Bye!