Same day, in evening.

Navya returned from office, and Nandini decided not to tell her anything regarding the day's event for now.

They talked on random topics, had their evening tea and snacks when Nandini got a call from Manik. She excused herself and came to her room for talking.

"Hello." Nandini answered the call.

"Hey, you ok?" He asked her about her condition first and she smiled seeing his concern.

"Yes, much better." She replied with a smile.

"Ok. So is Navya back?" He asked.

"Yes, she is here, but Manik I haven't told her anything. Neither about us nor about me." She informed him.

"But why? Nandini, she is your best friend. And as far as I know, you both never keep secrets from each other, then why now?" He found it strange as it was unlike of Nandini to hide anything from Navya.

"Manik, it's not that I don't want to tell her. I will tell her, in fact, others too. Bhai, Cabir, Mukti, I want everyone to know but not like this. I hope you understand what I'm trying to say." Nandini nervously said to him and he smiled listening her.

"Of course I understand. Don't worry, we will do it as you say. OK?" He replied with a smile.

"YES" she exclaimed happily.

They talked for while, where Manik made sure to keep her mood lighten and hanged up after a while.

Nandini moved out her room and along with Navya started with the preparations of dinner.

After having their dinner they retired to their respective rooms as both had office to attend the other day.

Nandini settled on her bed and was about to switch off the lights when her phone beeped. She saw the phone and smiled seeing the person's name.

"Good night 💖💖" message was from Manik.

"Your baccha missed you a lot. 😔😔" she replied back as it was after so long that she received his good night message , which became usual after their friendship.

Manik sighed reading her reply. He knew what she must have been through during the days when they were not talking to each other. He again blamed himself for everything and for hurting her when she needed him the most. But, Manik knew, he needed to stay strong for her.

"I know. And I missed my baccha too. But I promise, I won't let that smile fade away in any case. My baccha will always keep smiling because I love that smile of hers.😊😊" Manik replied.

Nandini smiled reading his reply.

"😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊" she replied back, smiling all the time.

"Good girl. And now be a little more good and sleep. Will talk tomorrow. Good night." He replied as he did not wanted her to stress herself by staying awake till late.

"Good night." She replied back and kept her phone aside.

After their little chat session, Nandini recalled all the events that happened with her. She had a peaceful smile on her face just with the mere realisation that Manik is now with her. She kept on thinking about all this and slowly fell asleep.

Manik while leaving from Nandini's place, brought her medical file with him. He studied the whole file carefully not to skip any detail mentioned about her illness. He then did some search work on net relating to her health. He checked about the treatment of her illness, precautions that needs to be taken, diet plans and other stuff to make sure he himself is well known to her problems and would be able to help her in case of any problems.

He kept on searching regarding this till late night and unknowingly fell asleep.

********************

Next morning.

Nandini and Navya were busy getting ready for their offices. Nandini prepared breakfast and meanwhile called Manik but he didn't answered the call.

She realized that he has resigned from the office so would be sleeping. She became upset with the thought that Manik will not be there with her in the office.

She then drooped a message that she is leaving for the office and asked him to call when he gets up.

****************

At office.

Nandini reached office and started with her work. After sometime, Cabir also came and they both greeted each other. Cabir was about to start a conversation when he was summoned by Vaibhav.

Since, Manik resigned, work pressure was more for everyone. Cabir was assigned to prepare a particular report till the end of the day.

Nandini was working on her system, but her mind was occupied with Manik's thoughts. She wanted to meet and spend time with him but then she had her professional commitments too. She recalled all the days right from the fire accident and their bond which became stronger when she was in hospital.

She remembered how excited Manik was on the day they were suppose to meet for the dinner. Her smile faded when she recalled how her happiness was shattered when she read her reports and in that frame of mind, she made him suffer as well.

"I was the one who ruined everything. Why not make everything right?" She thought in her mind and suddenly an idea clicked her mind.

She instantly surfed about some stuffs on net and made required calls. After half hour, she was done with what she wanted to do and was smiling to her fullest.

She was lost in her thoughts, when she got a call from Manik. She picked it up after first ring.

"Good morning Manik." She wished him with a smile and he smiled listening her chirpy voice.

"Good morning. How are you?" He asked her while yawning.

"I'm good. Woke up late?" She asked listening to his sleepy voice.

"Yes, woke up just 5 minutes back and saw your message so called up." He replied her.

"OK. Manik, are you free in the evening?" She asked him as she had planned her evening with him.

"Yes, I'm free. Anything important?" He asked her.

"Yes, kind of. Manik, you had planned an evening with me but it was ruined. So i was thinking let's go out for a dinner tonight. It's been long we were away from each other. Please don't say no. Please please." She pleaded like a kid to him and he smiled.

"OK OK. relax. we will go out tonight. Happy?" He asked her while smiling.

"Very happy. And today it will be all from me. Please let me do this." She replied excitedly.

"Do whatever makes you feel you happy. And if any help is needed ask me without hesitation." He replied in a commanding tone.

"Yes, I will. And Manik you rest for now till then I will finish my work super soon." She said.

"ok. take care of yourself, and don't stress yourself. Bye." He replied.

"Bye." She said and disconnected the call with a broad smile.

She then fully concentrated on her work and finished off her work soon and left the office.

********************

At Manik's place.

Manik was getting ready to meet Nandini. He looked at himself for the final time in the mirror and smirked thinking about Nandini's excitement.

He picked up his phone and called Nandini. Call was answered after many rings as Nandini was in washroom and came running when she heard the phone's ring.

"Hello" Nandini answered panting heavily.

"Relax, what's wrong? Why are you breathless?" Manik asked in concern

"Ahh, nothing. I was in washroom and came running to pick up the call. You say." Nandini answered.

"Ok. Fine. Ya, I called to tell you I am ready and will be leaving in 5 minutes. You be ready." Manik said in a casual tone.

"nooo.." Nandini shouted from the other end and Manik was startled.

"Why are shouting, what's wrong?" Manik asked

"No I am not shouting. And Manik, you need not come to pick me up. You reach the venue and I'll be there soon." Nandini replied and Manik frowned listening to her.

"Nandini, what's this? Let's go together na. What's this going all alone?" Manik cribbed from the other end.

"Manik, please please please do as I say. Please for me. You reach the venue and I'll be there soon." Nandini pleaded him and Manik sighed listening to her cute pleading tone.

"Ok fine. I agree. But at least tell me the venue. Where will I go?" Manik asked her as till now she didn't disclosed the venue to him.

"That I will message you. And now you will not call me. Whatever will be the venue, please reach there, without any fuss." Nandini commanded him.

"You are impossible." Manik sighed from the other end listening to her and she giggled.

"See you soon." Nandini said in her chirpy voice and Manik smiled.

"I am waiting." Manik replied and with that the call was disconnected.

"What is this girl up to?" Manik murmured to himself but putting the thoughts aside he checked himself for the final time in the mirror and left the place.

Nandini, on the other hand, after talking to him was smiling to herself all lost in Manik's thought.

"I hope you like it Manik." She thought in her mind and composing herself, she messaged him the address of the venue.

While he was coming towards his car, he received her message. After settling himself in the car, he checked the address and was dumbstruck after reading the address.

"This is girl mad? We are supposed to meet for a dinner and she?" He murmured furiously and shook her head in disbelief.

Having no other option, other than follow her instructions, he left for the venue.

********************

After driving for almost one hour in the traffic on Delhi, he was finally in front of the venue.

"THE CLARIDGES"

He came out of the car and handed the keys to valet. Moving inside, he walked towards the reception.

"Hi.. I am looking for Ms. Nandini Moorty." Manik said and receptionist after checking the details called the manager.

"Hello sir, please come I will guide you." Manger said politely to Manik and he nodded with a smile.

The manager accompanied Manik and he quietly started walking with him. After sometime, he noticed that in spite of taking him towards room or towards the restaurant, the manager was taking him towards the terrace. Manik's anxiousness was increasing with every passing minute. They were about to enter on the terrace, when the manger stopped and turned towards him.

"Sir, I would take a leave from here. Hope you have a great evening." Manager said smiling politely to Manik.

"Thank you so much." Manik forwarded his hand for a hand shake and smiled affectionately at him.

Manager left from there and Manik took a deep breath before entering the terrace. He walked in and moved towards the lighted area and the very next moment, he was left spell bounded.

The terrace was glowing under the tiny flames of the candles. The view in front of Manik made him smile ear to ear.

He moved ahead and saw a table arrangement under a canopy that was near the edge of the terrace and from there view of the river was just a cherry on top. In front of the canopy was a heart made by the candles.

Manik's smile was increasing with every passing minute. He did not had even the slightest idea that Nandini would be doing all this tonight. He was mesmerized by everything as he kept on staring everything for a minute.

After sometime, he realised that the person who did all this, who made him feel this special, was missing. He looked around for her but his princess was not seen anywhere.

"Nandini." He called her out, but there was no response.

He was about to call out her again but before that he heard a voice.

"Manik." And he was frozen at his place. He never knew, his know name would one day sound so melodious to him in her voice. He turned to look for her but his patience was getting tested a lot. She was still not there.

"Nandini, where are you?" he called for her with desperation.

"Manik .. This one is for you and I mean every word of it." He again heard her voice but she was nowhere. But before he could say anything he heard a music started playing.

Haan aa o...

Main jaan ye vaar doon
Har jeet bhi haar doon
Keemat ho koi tujhe beinteha pyaar doon

Saari hadein maine meri, ab maine tod di
Dekar mujhe pataa awaargi ban gaye

Haan hasi ban gaye
Haan nami ban gaye
Tum mere aasmaan
Meri zameen ban gaye

He listened to each and every word of the song carefully and smiled heart fully sensing the meaning behind it. He was standing there smiling when he felt a hand encircling his arm from the back.

He turned his face and found her standing beside him smiling to her fullest. He looked at her and his heart was full of happiness seeing her in the red dress that she wore. He clutched her hand and gestured for a dance. She readily gave in and they started to move slowly with the sync of the song.

Aa o... aa...

Kya khoob Rab ne kiya
Bin maange itna diya
Warna hai milta kahaan
Hum kaafiron ko Khuda

Hasratein ab meri tumse hai jaa mili
Tum duaa ab meri aakhiri ban gaye

Haan hasi ban gaye
Haan nami ban gaye
Tum mere aasmaan
Meri zameen ban gaye

O...

Aa o... aa...

They were lost in each other's eyes with a broad smile on their faces. Manik smiled listening to the lyrics and rested his forehead with hers. Both closed their eyes, to drown themselves in the feel of the moment. Music was stopped but they were still holding on each other, drinking the presence and trying to believe in the moment.

After few minutes, Manik still with closed eyes, whispered, "Thank you Nandini."

Nandini too smiled with her closed eyes but the next moment she opened them and saw his face glowing in the light of the candles and more than that, glowing with happiness. She moved out of his grip and he opened his eyes, seeing her backing off.

Having a huge grin on her face, she made him turn to the other side of the terrace and what caught his attention was the biggest surprise of his life.

There was again a heart made by the glass candles and rose petals and above the heart was written I LOVE YOU with the same.

Manik was speechless. Just till 2 days before, the same girl was not letting him enter her life and tried every possible way to push him away and today she was making him feel the luckiest person of the universe.

There is always a big difference in knowing that you are special to someone and feeling that you are actually special. Manik knew he was important and special to Nandini but what he was experiencing today was making him feel every bit of it.

Manik was just staring at the "I love you" written over there with a huge smile and Nandini was smiling looking at his happiness.

He turned his face and found her already looking at him.

"I love you Manik. Love you so much." She spoke softly looking into his eyes and he found himself floating on the seventh heaven.

She moved forward and holding his hands in hers, she started, "Manik, I don't know what future holds for me but whatever time I have, I want to spend it with you. I was a fool to constantly push you away from me thinking that I might hurt you by not being with you, by leaving you alone but forgot that by doing this I was hurting you even more. I can't live without you Manik, I just can't. I love you." She confessed with her pure heart and misty eyes and Manik pulled her towards himself for a hug.

"I love you too Nandini." Manik confessed back with a huge smile and Nandini smiled listening to it.

"I am sorry Manik for what I did. I did not wanted to..." Nandini started to apologise but was stopped by Manik.

"shh.. It's ok. No need to apologize. I understand everything." Manik whispered back in her ear and rubbed her back to comfort her.

Breaking apart, Manik cupped her face and kissed her forehead gently. She kept her hand on his over her cheek and said, "Manik I promise, with my every breath, I will always love you, till my breath last. I promise." She confessed again.

"Nothing will happen to you. We will fight for it together. You are not alone in this. I know it's a bad phase but trust me it will vanish soon. We will be together, forever and ever. I promise." Manik spoke softly to her and she managed to smile.

Manik too smiled back at her and again pulled her for a hug. Both stood there absorbing the presence of each other and had a never ending peaceful smile on their faces.

They broke apart after few minutes and Manik again looked around the terrace and then looked at her.

"It's beautiful Nandini, really. But you didn't needed to do this. This hotel and all. This must be all very expensive. You would have just said it to me and that would have been the best gift of my life." Manik said to her.

Nandini smiled at his concerned statement and said, "Manik, I just wanted you to feel special. You always made me feel special and in return I hurted you so badly. That's why I did this, just to tell you that you are the most special person of my life and will always be."

Manik smiled listening to her words and just then Nandini recalled something. She held his hand and brought him towards the table.

He saw a chocolate cake kept over it and the message over it just made him chuckle. He turned towards her and saw her grinning.

"You are mad." He said smiling and encircling his arm around her shoulder pulled her near and kissed her temple.

They both cut the cake and fed each other. Rest of the evening passed in the blink of an eye. They laughed together, danced and some time teased the other too.

After spending good quality time, Nandini ordered their dinner for them which was again Manik's favorite.

After the dinner was done, Manik said to her, "I think it's late, we should leave."

Nandini smiled and said, "Manik, I wanted to spend some with you, so I booked a room here. We will stay back tonight. I hope you don't mind." She ended up being nervous.

Hearing her Manik smiled and said, "not at all. OK. We will stay back."

After sometime they decided to move down as it started getting cold, when Nandini remembered something.

"Manik, one minute." She said and moved towards a corner of the terrace.

Manik frowned seeing her going and said, "Nandini, what all will you do?" He asked her.

She came back with something in her hand that was not clear to Manik.

"Nothing much Manik, just this last thing." She said with a smile and lifted the thing from her hand which was a sky lantern with I love you written over it.

Manik smiled seeing it and Nandini gave a pen to Manik to write a message.

He wrote below the I love you message, "to the square of infinity."

Nandini smiled seeing it and Manik passed the pen to her.

She wrote the message, "Manik and Nandini together forever and ever."

Manik smiled seeing it and they together lit the lantern and with hopes and prayers to let them stay with each other, they released the lantern towards the sky.

Manik encircled her waist and she too wrapped her hand around his waist. They remained there, praying silently that their wishes and prayers get accepted, seeing the lantern till it got lost in the heavens.

***********

Longest update till date. Ispe response kharab hua to bye bye for few weeks.