Okay so, here is your super long update because our story is about to reach 100k. Yay! It makes me so happy. Thank you for all the love.❤️
I honestly don't know how this update is, so please do drop in your precious reviews. I know I don't reply to each one of them, but trust me, I read each and every comment.😌
I had planned a lot more for this update, but I couldn't write more as the update was already too long.😂 but I promise that I'll fit that in the next update.😋

Accha sorry for my bak bak.🙈
Happy Reading! 💞

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It was finally the last day of the International Business Summit, and Manik and Nandini were fully prepared. Since it was Nandini's first time, she was bound to be a little nervous as she had alone worked on the final presentation on Manik's supervision. And for Manik, he was confident enough that they would win the title for their company. They woke up early in the morning, checked the presentation thoroughly again and decided to leave after they had their breakfast. Nandini was dressed in a light blue and white checked shirt along with a navy blue colored skirt paired with red velvet pumps. While Manik on the other hand, looked sinfully charming in a gray suit with a white shirt and blue tie.

" How do I look?" Nandini asked as she twirled around a little.

" Perfect, as always." He said with a smile making her smile even more.

" Let's leave?" Nandini asked as they picked up their belongings to which he nodded as they proceeded towards their car.

~~~

"Manik are you sure the presentation will go okay?" Nandini asked for the umpteenth time.

" Ohho Nandini. Trust me, you've done a great job! Don't worry. I'm here with you okay? Koi mistake nahi hogi. Just be confident okay?" Manik explained patiently to which she took a deep breath and nodded.

They entered the building together after greeting the other counter parts humbly and settled on their place. After about three hours their presentation was completed where they talked about their upcoming projects, marketing strategies - careful enough not to reveal much and a lot more related to their company. The result were supposed to be out post lunch for which they had to wait in the seminar hall itself where they were served their lunch. After much ado of an hour or so, the results were out and expectedly, for Manik and unexpectedly for Nandini. They won. The chief executive then handed them over the prize money of fifty thousand dollars, which they accepted happily. While the other teams congratulated them for yet another consistent splendid performance.

" Manik." Nandini screamed as she hopped into his arms as they came out to which he happily engulfed her and twirled her around.

" I am so happy." She said with a wide smile, still in his arms.

" I'm happy that you're happy. I'm so proud of you. The presentation was perfect. Aise hi itna darr rahi thi." Manik said playfully making her chuckle.

" Meine toh pehle hi kaha tha that we'll win. Tum sunti hi nahi ho meri baat." Manik said while laughing as they moved back towards their car to return home.

" Appa and amma will be so proud." Nandini said softly with a smile to which he nodded.

" Of course honge. Call them up and tell them okay? But abhi they might be sleeping. It might be 3 AM in India right now." He said as he side hugged her to which she mouthed a cute 'oh'.

" This calls for a celebration!" Nandini said excitedly.

" Definitely! Let's go out for dinner today. What say?" Manik said.

" Superb!" Nandini said as she clapped her hands.

" But aur bhi celebration hona chahiye. Kuch meetha ho jaaye." She said dramatically making him laugh.

" Meetha jaise?" He asked with a smile.

" I feel like baking today. So cupcakes it is." She said with a wide smile to which he nodded happily.

" Bhaiii." Nandini said as she immediately took Cabir on a FaceTime call, forgetting that it was past midnight in India making Manik shocked.

" Nandini, it's 3.30 AM right now. So jaao naa." Cabir said lazily as he rubbed his eyes.

" Yahan pe dopehr hai bhaii." She said while laughing.

" Oh yeah." Cabir said as he closed his eyes again.

" Bhai, we won! " Nandini gleed making him open his eyes.

" See, kaha tha meine." He said with a small smile making Manik smile too.

" I'm so proud of you, Nandu." Cabir said.

" Oh hello, mein bhi hoon yahan." Manik said sarcastically as he photobombed the frame.

" Tu kyun j ho raha hai? Kaam karr apna." Cabir said to which Manik made a bad face.

" Accha ab aap so jaao. Bye. Good night." Nandini said with a smile as she cut the call.

~~~

" Huff. Finally we're home." Nandini said as she dropped her bag on the couch.

" Oh I need to bake cupcakes too." Nandini said with her hand on her forehead.

" Nandini, abhi rest karlo. Uth ke bana lena. Go freshen up." Manik said to which she nodded.

After freshening up and changing themselves into comfortable clothes, they decided to sleep for a while due to their hectic schedule.

" Chalo Nandini, so jaao ab. You need rest too." Manik said as he dragged Nandini with him.

" Arrey Manik, ruko na. You go sleep. I'll read for some time. I've not read my book ever since we came here. Pleaseee." Nandini said with a cute face.

" No. I'll sit with you too." Manik said stubbornly.

" Manik yaar. Tum jaao naa. I promise sirf thoda saa padhungi please. Books are my oxygen. Tum rest karo." Nandini said as she "tried" pushing him inside his room to which after a lot of arguments he agreed.

" Happy napping, Manik." Nandini said with a wide smile as he entered his room.

~~~

After almost an hour of a nap, Manik woke up just to see the other side of the bed empty, thinking that she was still reading in the other room. He slowly made his way through the wooden floors towards her room. He slowly opened the door, careful enough not to make any sound and peaked inside from the narrow opening, just to witness the most adorable sight infront of him.

There she was, sleeping peacefully without realising about her pink rimmed reading glasses resting on her nose and the book she was reading, was kept upside down on the side table. Her petite body completely covered with the furry golden duvet till her nose making her look even more adorable. He slowly walked towards her and sat on the little available space towards the corner of the bed after taking off her glasses from her eyes. Her face looked serene, without any sort of toil lines, eyelids closed softly against the room's yellow light, a tiny little button nose looking adorable as always, her breathing deep and calm with every inch of her skin on her face having its own shine, similar to a baby. He slowly brushed away the single strand of hair falling from behind her left ear and softly rubbing on her chubby red cheek. He softly brushed his finger on her cheek, tucking the hair strand carefully behind her ear making her snuggle a little more into the duvet. He never wanted to wake her up, but he had to because of her "let's bake cupcakes" spree.

" Rise and shine, little birdy." Manik said softly near her ear making her move a little.

" Wake up, wake up." He said as he stood up from the bed making her open her eyes a little.

" So, how was your beauty sleep?" He asked humorously.

" Good. But I don't know how did I doze off. I was reading and then I don't know what happened." She said with her palms covering her face.

" That's because you were tired. Are you still going to make cupcakes? Because I'm very hungry." He said sheepishly.

" Oh yes. Definitely." She said as she got down the bed after tying her hair in a messy bun.

~~~

" So Manik, which cupcakes would you like to have?" Nandini asked as she opened the recipe book.

" You're the in charge. You decide." He said with a smile as he settled himself on the kitchen stool.

" Okay so. I'll make red velvet cupcakes. Is it okay?" She asked to which he nodded positively.

She prepared the batter with all the necessary ingredients, thankfully all of them were available in the kitchen. She carefully transferred the cupcake batter to the molds and kept it for baking in the oven for good twenty minutes. Huff. And all this while, when she was preparing everything, Manik's attention was only on her movements and the little humming song which she was singing.

" And it's done. Phew." Nandini said as she took off the baking gloves.

" Manik, I'm going to call Amma, jab oven beep kare toh bata dena. It must be evening in India now. Tum bhi aunty ko call karlo." She said with a smile as she unknotted the apron from her waist and made her way through the stairs towards her room. While Manik decided to talk to his beloved parents.

" Hey mom." He said as soon as the call got connected.

" Hi baccha. Kaise ho?" Nyonika asked from the other side.

" Perfect mom. Aap batao? How's dad?" He asked.

" We're good. He's gone out for a walk. And of course, we're missing you, son. Come home soon." Nyonika said emotionally.

" Ohho meri filmy maa. I'll be there on Sunday. And I'm fine. Chinta matt karo. Accha mom, guess what? Our company won the title again!" He said gleefully.

" I already knew that. I'm so proud of you. And Nandini too. Where is she?" She asked.

" She's in her room, talking to her parents." He replied.

" Oh okay. Give her my blessings too." She said.

" Yes mom. What else? Sab theek? Office and everything?" Manik said.

" Yes beta. Everything is fine. So ab kya plan hai?" Nyonika asked.

" We'll roam around in New York for five days and then back home on Sunday. Nandini hasn't seen New York ever. So that's why." Manik replied.

" Looks like you're enjoying a lot with Nandini." Nyonika teased.

" Mom, I'll talk to you later haan? Nandini will kill me if her cupcakes get burnt." Manik said.

" You're in the kitchen?!!" Nyonika exclaimed. 

" Mom, dheere yaar. Idhar hi hoon mein." Manik said as he moved the phone away from his ear.

" Mera beta, jo paani bhi khud kitchen se nahi leta voh kitchen mein haii. Wow. I'm impressed." Nyonika teased a little.

" Mommm. Okay bye. Love you." Manik said.

" Take care baby. We miss you." Nyonika replied as she hung up.

~~~

" Nandini, your cupcakes are ready!" Manik shouted from downstairs.

" Aayiiii." Came her instant reply.

" Let's see the gorgeous cupcakes." She said excitedly while rubbing her hands.

" They look so beautiful, no?" She asked as she took out the red velvet cupcakes tray from the oven.

" Indeed, they do. Can't wait to taste them." He said sheepishly.

" Well, in that case, you won't have to wait much. I just need to put some vanilla icing on top." She said as she took out the icing tube from the refrigerator.

" And it's done. Here you go." She said after five minutes of decorating the cupcakes.

" They are so delicious." Manik said with wide eyes, as he took the first bite.

" I'm glad you liked them." Nandini said with a smile.

" I loved them." He said as he chewed the third cupcake.

" I hope I'm not disturbing your diet schedule with so much sweetness." Nandini said in a low tone.

" Nandini, food is my life. I believe in exercising enough and not compromising on the food. I mean, come on - who will resists such delicious cupcakes man?" He said as he picked up the fourth on in his hand.

" Phew. I'm glad. Now I'll taste them too." She said as she picked up one of the cupcakes.

" They're actually good." Nandini said as she gulped down a cupcake.

" Told ya." Manik said with a smirk.

" Manik, how about early dinner today?" Nandini said as she cleared the shelf.

" I have no issues. Yahan log vaise bhi 7 baje dinner kar lete hain. And it's 6.30 already. So we'll leave by 7?" He said.

" Great. I'll go and get ready then." She said.

~~~

After about twenty minutes, both of them were almost dressed when Nandini entered Manik's room wearing a simple black A-lined dress, hair flowing lose and with no other accessory except a silver bracelet adorning her left wrist which made her look even more beautiful.

While Manik was dressed in a simple plain light grey t-shirt with light blue distressed jeans paired with similar shaded grey shoes making him looking way too handsome, as always.

" Manik, hato naa. I need to comb my hair." She said as she nudged him a little while he was busy fixing his perfect hair.

" Tumhare room mein bhi toh mirror hai. Vahan jaao na." He replied.

" Haan hai. But it's not a full sized mirror. So please." She said with a forced smile to which he sighed and sat on the bed.

Nandini slowly put all her hair forward in attempt to brush them properly, when suddenly he shouted making her jump a little on her place.

" Nandiniii." He said.

" Haan Manik? What's wrong?" She asked.

" This. I didn't know you had a tattoo." He said as he softly caressed the tattoo with his thumb leaving a trail of goosebumps on her body.

" I was nineteen when I got this. I had this sudden obsession with tattoos but I couldn't figure out what should I get inked. So I chose this one. Swallows represent love, care and affection towards one's family and friends." She said with a smile.

" Wow. I didn't know this." He said while still running his thumb over it.

" Did it hurt?" He asked.

" A little. But this was years ago. So it's okay now." She said as she shrugged her shoulders a little.

" Let's go?" He asked.

" Sure. Let's go." She said as they climbed down the stairs.

~~~

" Manik, are you sure you can drive this?" She asked noticing the left hand drive car.

" Yes. Don't worry. I even have a license." He said with a smile as he opened the passenger door for her.

" You know I was always so fascinated with left hand drives when I was a kid." She exclaimed making him laugh.

The journey went by in laughing, talking, remembering memories and a sense of peace. After about thirty minutes, they reached the restaurant named, Eleven Madison Park which specialized in American cuisine. They settled themselves on their booked table which gave a view of the artificial waterfall which was just situated outside the restaurant. The waiter soon came with a plate having two fortune cookies. Nandini picked up one for herself and handed over the other one to Manik. She opened her's in which the chit said - " When one door closes, another opens." While Manik's fortune cookie had - " Eat Me" written on it which made both of them laugh. They ordered Mac and cheese and Vegetable Summer Rolls for the starters and Roasted Chicken Wings, Roasted fish fajitas, Bean and potato tacos, Italian French fries and blueberry pudding for dessert.

While they were busy talking around and eating, one of the waiters came and invited Manik and Nandini for a dance as it was one of the customers anniversary.

" So, miss Nandini Murthy, would you like to have a dance with me?" He asked as he bowed down in front of her, like a gentleman.

" I'd love to." she said as she placed her hand in his.

He held her close to him, with his hand resting on her waist while her hand rested on his broad shoulder. They danced softly, nothing apart from the slow music, their beating hearts and short gasps of breath were heard. She could feel the hardness of his hand on her slender waist, making her sigh a little in content. He kept looking at her as if she was an angel descended from heaven, with her face glowing a little more than usual in the dim yellow lights while she decided not to look into his dark brown orbs, because nothing would be able to stop her from drowning into them. He twirled her a little around, and pulled her impossibly close to him making both of them resemble a single body together as they slowly moved side to side. He slowly pushed one of those loose tendrils falling in front of her eyes behind her ear and gave a genuine smile making her heart flutter a little more. She slowly turned her head away trying to escape from the continuous embarrassment creeping inside her, while he in turn, pulled a little away from her as he stretched his arm towards her, pulled her close to him and dropped a long kiss on her forehead making her smile even wider. She smelled of peaches while he smelled of musk. That's how they were. A perfect harmony.

A healthy relationship whether it's romantic, brotherly, or friendly, is when each person is allowed room to grow, judged and still be loved.

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Lots of love,
~V.