This update is dedicated to everyone who's ass was slapped by doctor in the month of "January"
...

After having our SupUnch or Supper as Manik calls in it in his language, he officially announced our marriage. The wedding preparations will finally start from tomorrow with all the pomp and splendor.

The much awaited days in my life are finally here. My fairytale wedding!

I was lost in my thoughts as I sipped water from my glass in the kitchen. Niyonika who was in her night robe entered the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water.

Even though I didn't want to have any conversation with her but my little happy heart couldn't control sharing it's happiness with everyone.

"My Queen, isn't the air quite different now that Manik and I will be getting married? It's finally a happy ending after all the troubles and villains in my life." I ended with a sigh.

She kept her empty glass on table top before giving me a side eye. "What's the difference? You both already slept with each other and this marriage is just a show off to the world."

She walked away after speaking those words disturbing my inner peace. Argh! Why can't she be happy for her son for once?

I went back to our room and saw Manik wide awake on the other side of the pillow border I made. He has accepted to sleep on the other side without a fuss these days.

"Why are you awake!" I questioned him.

"You are not beside me and I couldn't sleep. My 8 hours sleep is disturbed so you have to sleep here tomorrow as well." He gave the same excuse like every night to have me by his side.

"That won't be needed as I will be your wife. We can sleep beside each other without counting hours." I said jumping on the bed with a bright smile.

"That's true." He matched my smile, bright one.

I laid beside him and we kept our palms on the pillow trying not to touch each other's fingers or cross the border.

"We are getting married." Manik said moving his fingers an inch closer to mine. "Shouldn't we remove the border?" His fingers moved so close and finally interlocked with mine.

I inhaled his scent as he was now so close next to me and I borrowed my head into the duvet.

You already slept with each other, how will your marriage make a difference?

Her words were like a cold splash on my dreamy night.

"Manik." I called him coming out of the duvet and facing him. "I will sleep in the same guest room till our marriage."

"What?" He questioned not believing my words. "But why? We are getting married."

I sat upright.

"Exactly. We are still not married."

"So you think I will run away on our wedding? What's all this about Nandini?" He questioned me sitting up.

"What's the difference now, Manik? We are sleeping together before marriage, then what will a marriage make a difference in our life if we are doing all without it?" I spoke out.

He shook his head.

"These are not your words. Tell me who fed you this trash?" He questioned.

Your mother.

"No one. And that's not the point. Why even announce to everyone that we will get married when we are sleeping in the same room."

Now he's standing on the floor. "What do you want now?"

"I will sleep in my old room till our marriage. It will be good for everyone. Nobody will point their fingers at me." I tried to speak.

"You belong to the Boss of Malhotra Empire, Nandini. Remember that. Nobody has the audacity to lift their eyelids in my presence. You must be assured of it." He made his point.

"That's the thing, Manik. They won't speak infront of us but they will speak behind us. I don't want it, Manik." I said with a pout.

"I get it. This is done by someone close. Is it my mother?" He questioned and I gaped.

How did he guess?

"No." I instantly denied and stood away from his prying eyes.

"You don't need to hear her words, Nandini. You are going to be my wife. The only important thing should be 'us'. Ignore the world for now, Nandini." He said coming closer and cupping my face.

"Manik. I really want us to be closer. Trust me, there's nothing more important than being with you. But I don't want others to point out our story." I completed and he faced away showing his back from me.

"Manik?" I tried to round him and face him but he immediately turned away his face like a kid.

"Please." I said trying to face him but he sulked. "Please. Please. Please." I said repeatedly shaking his head.

"Okay! Let's do as the princess says." He finally gave up and I smiled bright.

I walked out of our room and went to my old room. Ah! The boring room is back. I looked at Mr. Pillow Malhotra on the couch and sighed.

"Looks like we got to adjust from tonight." I picked him up and laid on the bed. I wrapped my arms around it and took a sniff but it is no match for Manik. My Manik is different.

Ah! What is the use in regretting now? I myself came out of the room now I have to suffer.

I tossed and turned for an hour and finally gave up. I can't sleep without Manik!

I don't care what Niyonika says right now. I stepped out of my room and knocked on the door hoping the other person is not asleep.

A minute later Niyonika opened the door with drowsy eyes.

"What are you doing here?"

"To sleep with you." I said and stepped inside her room.

"What the hell do you mean by that?" She questioned seeing me making a place on the couch.

"It's all your fault. I was happy sleeping in our room and you have to mess my mind. I can't sleep alone now so I will be sleeping in your room till my marriage." I said with a pout.

"There's no way I am letting you sleep on my couch." She fumed.

"Awe! You are a gentlewoman to let me use your bed. But it's okay, I will adjust on the couch. You are the elder one here so you can take the bed." I smiled bowing my head.

"Damn it!" She said after a few minutes and finally switched off the light and crawled into her bed.

I stared at the ceiling in the dim light. Sleep is still far away from my eyes. I need only Manik. I sighed.

"Are you already asleep, Queen?" I called but she didn't respond. "Queeeeeeeen!" I screeched and she woke up startled.

"What happened?" She asked looking here and there.

"Oh! Were you asleep?" I questioned and she gritted her teeth.

"Look girl, I am already fed with everything. Don't mess with me." She warned me and laid back on her pillow.

I couldn't sleep and I just played all the scenarios in my head. "Why do you hate, Manik? Did you adopt him? Di you give birth to your step son?"

"I gave birth to the twins, dammit! How is it possible to be a stepmother for a twin?" She questioned in annoyance.

"Really? I thought you gave birth to your stepson. I mean in all fairytales it's the step family who mistreats the main character. Did you really give birth to Manik or did you kidnap him from somewhere." I questioned.

"I wish I didn't have to go through all the trouble and give birth to that bad omen. He brings more nuisance just like he brought you here." She muttered.

I stood up and emptied the water jug on her face. "That's what you get when you speak ill of my boyfriend."

I didn't stay there for another moment and got out quickly. She will never change and I will not even try. She is on my Blocklist officially after the little mouse which entered into my ducks home.

I went to the only place where I could get peace after Manik's arms; our private garden.

As if the universe want us to be together, Manik was already there on the garden sofa staring at the starry sky.

"Sit here." He said motioning towards the place beside him even without looking at me.

"How did you always know my presence?" I questioned sitting beside him.

He turned his face to look at me and traced his fingers over my cheeks. "Do you want to know?"

My breath quickened with anticipation. "Yes."

He came closer to my face and I closed my eyes shut expecting a kiss from him. But he stopped a few centimetres away from my lips and whispered against them briefly brushing as the words left. "Your vegetable friends told me."

It took me a moment to understand why he was smirking and I immediately hit his arm with a pout. "Manik."

"Nandini." He laughed and pulled me into his arms.

I willingly wrapped my arms around him and inhaled his scent. Finally, I am home and I can sleep peacefully.

"Will it be alright if we sleep here?" He questioned.

I smiled sheepishly and tried to make an excuse. "Ofcourse, we are not sharing the room and sleeping on the bed together. So, technically only our body seating organ is resting on the sofa while the other external organs are sitting upright. Dozing off in the garden while speaking doesn't count as sleeping together before marriage."

"You. You are different, totally." He said his line before throwing his head off in laughter.

He pulled me more into his arms and I snuggled closer.

"Manik." I called him while wrapping my arms around him tighter.

"Hmm." He replied.

"Manik." I called him again.

"Hmm."

"Manik."

"Whatttttttttt?" He stressed on the last letter making me laugh.

"Why did you say we will have a grand wedding with all the mafia traditions which will be remembered in the history?" I said and he stared at my face encouraging me to explain further.

"I mean, you were not interested in getting married with all traditions. You literally suggested a paper wedding when I was getting married to that Bullock Cart." I recalled those days.

"Because I knew you won't be getting married to that basta... I mean Harshad." He controlled his words and did not swear infront of me. "Sparing a day was more than enough for him but it's different now with us." He paused and tucked the hair behind my ear.

"This event must be memorable not just for us but for everyone down the next seven generations. We are creating a history already by getting married, a Princess and the Boss. It is my promise to make all your dreams into reality." He kissed my forehead. "You wanted a fairytale right? Let's create one together."

He looked extremely handsome right now in the moonlight while uttering romantic words. I cupped his face in my hands and looked at his eyes. I have to confess that I love him more than anything.

"I.... I.... Dove you, Manik. Replace the letter D with L."

I buried my face into his chest realising I failed to tell him the proper words.

Damn it!

He laughed and kissed the top of my head. "I love you, Nandini."

He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and I wrapped mine around his waist. I snuggled more into his warm chest as the cold wind blew over me.

Atleast, we are able to sleep without caring about anything happening in the world.

...

How's the update?

Ah! I am trying so hard to start the wedding ceremony but it's getting delayed. Hope you are enjoying these bits of Manan romance.

How do you deal with a trouble making roommate who always speaks on phone till midnight with the light on? How to make sure they leave this room? Any ideas please.