I tried to feel the bind around my waist but I didn't, there was nothing that was holding me tight and close, there was nothing that was stopping me from separating from him. I opened my eyes feeling the unease and was somewhat disappointed to not see Manik by my side. I had almost expected him to be snuggling by my back; I was secretly hoping him to have sneaked onto the bed at night. I don't know why I had had a feeling somewhere in the middle of the night that he was close to me, I felt his warmth and touch on me but yeah now I know there was nothing of that sort of just a stupid imagination. He wasn't there on the bed and for a matter of fact in the room too as I found the couch empty. I removed the blanket to get down and found Manini, she had half climbed on me and her head was close to my heart. My heart could listen to my heartbeat. I pulled her on top of me and kissed her head.

"Kaddu...baby...good morning", I ruffled her hair adorably. I was a little harsh on her last night. I was hoping she wouldn't remember it because if she did I would have a hard time to turn her around. She stirred a little and rubbed her nose on my chest and I knew she still had a lot of sleep left. I turned her a little and made her lay comfortably beside me; as such we had slept late so I didn't disturb her.

***

After freshening up a little I came out on the deck. It was just 7 so most of them were still under the blankets enjoying their holidays. I found Manik taking jogs around the deck and the moment his eyes fell on me he winked with a crooked smile and continued doing what he was. Uff!! This guy he was again in his shorts but given that he was working out it seemed okay. I suddenly felt like a jealous husband who doesn't like his wife in skimpy clothes. I was almost lost in my thoughts when I heard someone clearing his throat to grab my attention. I turned around to find Mitin.

"Hi!! Good Morning...ammm I am sorry about last night...I really didn't intend to bother you...I am really really sorry if I hurt you in anyways because I never intended to", he apologized genuinely.

I looked at him for a while contemplating on my response and then relaxed a bit, "Its okay...I am glad that you realized..amm so your are Harshad's cousin", I tried to get into discussing better things.

"Yeah our Dad's are siblings...I am a pediatrician by profession...I practice in Melbourne and this was just a perfect occasion to be in India", he did have an accent that I had ignored earlier.

"Oh that's good..I and Harshad have been friends for a few years now and Mukti is a dear friend...my husband Manik and she are business partners", I informed him the few things that he ought to know.

I glanced at Manik, his pace had slowed down and the smile on his face was over written with frowns. He stopped and came towards us dabbing his sweaty face.

"Any problem?", he asked giving a stern look at Mitin.

I couldn't let it get nasty with Harshad's guests that too this early in the morning hence I quickly intervened, "Amm Manik this is Mitin...Harshad's cousin from Melbourne"

"So??", he gave a sarcastic pause and Mitin could read Manik's offensive body language, "Amm..I mean good to meet to...this is my wife Nandini...I hope you know that", he pulled me by his side into his wet form disregarding my mild protests. Of course he had to show that I was already claimed and owned. Mitin pursed his lips and blurted a few formal talks and bid an unwilling bye and walked off.

"Manik ewww let go off me...you are all sweaty", I pushed him apart from me and rubbed his sweat off my hands making a disgusted face.

He ignored my repulsion and rather asked, "What was he saying? Was he troubling you again?"

"Nothing...he had just introduced himself when you barged in..he was being a gentleman and you were so rude to him", I tried to pin point his behavior which went bizarre whenever he saw a man near me.

"Harshad's kins are amusing you a lot it seems..I must say he has some pretty cousins too", he remarked with a lopsided smirk.

I rolled my eyes and started walking with him following me back to our room. His eyes twinkled to see his daughter sleep peacefully. He jumped on the bed in that state.

"Manik you are dirty...go take a bath first", I screeched irritably at his actions.

"Later...hey my princess...waky waky Daddy is here", he hushed me and got inside the blanket and tickled her. She protested initially groaning in sleep then in a blink burst out into giggles because it was her Daddy. Had it been me she would have made a hundred tantrums before getting up. Sometimes I really wondered how I had been managing her without Manik, he made a certain things so easy. The Daddy daughter cuddled each other, kissed each other and did a little pillow fight while I stood there waiting for my turn and when they didn't stop I intervened and snatched the pillow from Manik's hand.

"Go take a bath first", I almost ordered him in a legit wifey commanding tone and how could he dare to not listen to me. He blew kisses to Manini and once again pulled me to his sweaty chest, rubbing his body against mine thus irritating me to the core and went for the shower. I huffed at him and looked back at Manini who stood on the bed. Her nostrils were puffed and lips coiled and eyes were shortened. Hell!!! she did remember that I had scolded her last night.

"Aww my bachha is angry on Mommy...Mommy is shoo bad..Kaddu planned such a beautiful surprise for Mommy and she scolded my baby...my baby crrriiied", I stretched the last word adorably and cradled her in my arms.

She didn't say anything but squeaked a few cute sounds which needed me to pick her up and kiss her and adore her. I took her in my arms and gave her 5 kisses on her forehead, cheeks, nose tip and chin and she encircled her arms around me in affection. I thanked my stars that it was easy this time may be because Manik was around and my baby was as such on cloud nine.

"Mommy you got shoo scaled...you shhouted ahhhhhh", she held her arms wide and enacted my reaction from last night and gleed cheerfully.

"Yeah yeah Mommy is such a chicken heart right?", I complained making a grumpy face to which she took my face in between her tiny palms.

"Mommy I will nevel let you fall", she assured nodding her head up and down and ended with big fat kisses on my cheeks.

I was waiting for the bigger kid to come out so I could freshen my small one and he did finally. Manik looked heavenly tempting in his washed avatar. I was openly admiring his raw appeal and gaping at his sculpted body quite shamelessly. He noticed me like that and a naughty smile appeared on his face, he took a step forward and shook his wet hair on me and the water droplets trickled on my face zapping me put of my trance in a blink.

"Manikk!!", I squealed irritably wiping my face and he smiled like a fool. Manini giggled at her Daddy's deeds and climbed on his back in support. In the mean time my phone rang, it was Mom. Manik's face straightened as I greeted her warmly.

"Yes Mom we are good..no no initially it was a bit jittery but now I am fine...how are you?", I asked her and she replied contently. She queried about Manik being there and I somehow tried to avoid the topic and also the gaze of Manik. Manini jigged on Manik's back excitedly, she had to talk to Dadi, tell her that she was enjoying with Daddy and also narrate her list of mischievous accomplishments.

"Here Mom speak to your darling granddaughter..she is literally jumping", I smiled at my baby's antics and gave the phone to her.

"Ello mumu...I sacled Mommy..hehe...den Mommy scolded me and Daddy gave me two kisshy...del ale shoo many toysh fol me...Uncle Billa gave me and I scaled that blahhh Losh alsho...Mumu Daddy is sthaying with ush..we ale having shoo much fun..I am mishhing you", she pouted and planted two kisses on the phone as if that would pass it onto her Dadi's cheeks. Mom was more than happy to learn that even if for some days at least our cute little family was together. She was more eager than us for the trip.

"Mumu I am lyding on Daddy's back... you want to talk to him?", she didn't wait for either of their consent and held the phone on Manik's ear. There was a dead moment of silence. I dreaded if Manik would erupt but with Manini around him I could relax a little. I was waiting for Manik to react, to speak something.

"How are you?", Mom asked after waiting for like an eternity.

"Hmmm", Manik hmmed with a groan. I was thankful that at least he showed some reaction and now I was looking forward to more but what followed were a few more hmmm's and finally one wry okay.

"Godd!! Mom what an impossible son you have given birth to", I mumbled under my breath and they finished their miraculous telephonic conversation.

***

We met everyone at the dining hall for breakfast. Mukti and Navya were already there while Cabir and Mitin shared a laugh over something at a distance. Manik instantly got annoyed to see him talking to someone he didn't like. We joined them on the table.

"Kaddu you haven't eaten anything last night so stop troubling me and have this", I tried to feed her a small bite of parantha while she nodded her head vigorously to not take it. She hopped down off Manik's lap and ran to Cabir.

"Uncle Bilaa!!!..whel ish my new toy", she pulled his trousers to make him look at her and a warm smile rose on his face to see her. He immediately picked her up and introduced her to Mitin. Strangely Manini liked Mitin, she greeted him with an Ello and a endearingly adorable smile. It took people quite some efforts to make my baby like them but her instant smile said she already liked him and of course this was noticed by her Daddy dearest enough to make him pull himself out of his chair and walk to them and I followed him with the food plate in my hand like a nagging nanny.

Manik was one insecure soul when it came to us. He couldn't even bear his daughter liking someone else other than him and with Mitin definitely the case was different because here the mother also liked the guy. He instantly saw Mitin as a potential competition to him but his daughter never failed to make him feel special. She swayed from Cabir's arms to go to Manik as soon as he reached them.

"This is my daughter", Manik again proved his claim in a blatant declarative tone.

Mitin pressed in a sarcastic smile, "I know..I have guessed that by now"

I smiled at all them while trying to feed my difficult baby. She swayed, dodged, and turned her face to avoid. We all got talking about the wedding and other random things. Manik made sure I was standing next to him only and often interrupted me when I spoke to Mitin. Cabir smiled stealthily at Manik's silly behavior and Manini was busy in her activities. She took small slices from the parantha and fed me and Manik one by one and we both in our involvement in the conversation didn't even realize and kept having them until she was done with the whole parantha. She gave a victorious smile as she was done with her mission and suddenly when I happened to glance on the plate, it was empty.

"Kadduu!!!", I screeched irritably realizing her tactic and she flashed her little pearls at me.

"Mommy I want pashtaa", she made a face that melted my heart.

I knew she wanted the pasta that I made for her with mozzarella, mayonnaise and coriander. As such she had hardly eaten anything so I gave up and stepped aside.

"Where are you going?", Manik turned back and asked as he saw me leaving

"To fulfil your daughter's demands...she wants pasta now"

"Haan so where are you going? I will ask the staff they will get it", Manik was about to call an attendant when I stopped him.

"No she wants the one made by me", I replied and Manik gave a questioning look at Manini and she nodded in a yes. She wriggled out of his arms and we went to the kitchen.

The kitchen staffs were a little surprised to see a guest in that area but Manini was a famous soul everywhere and in the very next moment I had all the assistance and cooperation from the staff. They helped in chopping the veggies while I put some oil on the pan. Manini kept on pestering me to pick her up and let her see. I ignored her but she tried to climb on me to see. I pulled her away to stand aside and in accidentally my hand hit the pan and it fell on my hand with the hot oil pouring. I yelped in pain in a fraction of a second. The burning sensation reflected in each of my nerves and the pain knew no bounds, tears poured in and I wailed in my loudest pitch loud enough to rock the whole ship. The burning pain in my hand was too much to bear. I was literally stomping on the kitchen floor like a fish out of water and Manini stood in a corner like a scared rabbit, she had never seen her Mommy crying like that. The kitchen staff around tried to help me but I was so paranoid that I didn't let anyone come an inch closer to me. Someone probably informed Manik and he came running to see me all scattered on the floor and wailing like a baby.

He skated on his knees to reach me instantly and all hell broke loose as I saw him in front of me. I wailed and shrieked and gasped and hiccuped endlessly. More than the pain now it was his effect near me.

"Goddd!!!! Nandu what have you done now?", he literally banged my ear drums with his shrilling query. He took my hand into his and hissed in reciprocation seeing the red patch on my hand.

My wails grew more hysterical. I could easily give the best of opera singers a run for their money and the concerned Manik made me over do it.

"I..I..wa..was..ook..cook..ing..pa..pah..ta..thi..fe..on..me..oi..splu..spl..ter ", I ate half the words and rambled in a language that was far from Manik's understanding.

"What???", Manik asked with a ridiculous face.

"I..I..wa..wa..", I started again but Manik cut me in between.

"Stop!! Hang on!! Princess you tell me what happened", he directed his queries to his daughter.

"Daddy.. Mommy wash makib pashta fol me and that ooooo fhell on Mommy", she pointed at the pan on the floor and the oil spill around.

"Gosh!!! Nandu you never have to listen to me na..who asked you to do this? I told you there is a whole damn kitchen staff to do it but no you have to do everything by yourself?"

"Why are you shouting at me ?..ek toh itna jal raha..its paining so much..aur tum mujhpe hi chilla rahe ho", I blurted amidst hysterical sobs.

He gave me a deadly glare at my retort and barked at the staff around to get some ice for me. Of course in the tussle between her parents Manini had to check my injury. She dodged Manik's arms to come near me. She coiled her lips in a O looking at my hand.

"Daddy Mommy ish ooouuu", she pointed at the wound and by mistake poked it a little and I hissed in pain

"Princess stay away from Mommy you will hurt her", he literally rose his tone and was about to rebuke her. Her lips curled in agony, now even Daddy was about to scold her.

"Usse kyun daant rahe ho?..she will cry now...baby you are okay na... come to Mommy", I sniffled and called her and she jumped to my side making a face to her Daddy and wiped my tears.

Manik would literally go crazy with these two ladies in his life but he loved them to bits to see them hurt. One of the staff handed him the ice tray and he immediately took my hand and dipped it in the ice, the sudden contrast in temperature did shock me initially but the ice had a tremendous soothing effect, it tickled a bit but gave me some instant relief. Manik carefully brushed the ice around the burn patch, by now it had turned a little dark. I didn't need to tell him to be careful because he already was. He wrapped some ice in a cloth and asked me it hold it on the wound and I did that. The pain was still there but the burning sensation had receded a little.

"Come I will take to you", Manik attempted to pick me up.

"Manik its my hand not my leg...I can walk", I tried to remind him with soggy eyes putting up my hand in front of him.

"Shut up!!", he hushed me and picked me in his arms and walked out of the kitchen and Manini flopped behind him with two ice cubes in her hand.

"What happened?", Cabir asked as he and Navya saw us entering the lobby like that.

"Don't ask!! Madam ne apna haath jala liya", he glowered at me and I frowned back at him, "Cabir please ask Harshad if there is a doctor on the cruise..she needs to be medicated"

"Amm I can help...I am a doctor by profession", Mitin spoke in an apprehensive tone from behind. Manik looked at him and gave a submissive look for the first time. Mitin advised him to take me to our room while he got his medical kit.

As Mitin moved away hurriedly he bumped into Rewa whose eyes were fixed at me in Manik's arms and obviously she couldn't see Mitin coming and before Mitin could offer his hand for help Rewa had already landed on the floor on her bum. She hurled a few abuses to him under her breath and cried in pain meaning fake pain to garner Manik's attention. Manini giggled clapping with the ice cubes in her hand and I tried to hush her. Rewa held her ankle and cried louder to gather some sympathy. But to her dismay Manik asked Cabir to help her to which Navya frowned.

"Navya please feed Manini something..she hasn't eaten anything...and Kaddu please don't trouble aunty and for heaven sake throw those ice cubes..you will catch a cold baby", I sang my list of concerns while Manik headed with me towards our room.

"Nandu please let her be...at least my daughter is more sensible than you..she is better equipped to take care of herself unlike you", he taunted me pathetically and I slapped his chest in response.

***

Mitin checked the wound; a layer of skin of the affected area had come off. I hissed in pain when he tried to hold my hand. Manik didn't let him touch me and held my hand instead. He appreciated Manik for giving the quick treatment with ice and handed some pain killers and ointments to me. Manik arranged the pillow behind my back and thanked Mitin for the help.

"Amm hopefully the pain will recede now and keep it away from water", Mitin lent a few more advises and went out.

***

"I think your ankle is fine now", Mitin remarked sarcastically at Rewa as he found her walking normally in the lobby.

"Listen dude whatever..I don't think it's any of your business," she replied with an unapologetic disregard. Mitin smirked a little and made his way out of there when Rewa stopped him, "Amm waise a piece of information for you... Manik and Nandini are not together so you can try your luck if you want."

Mitin chuckled at her suggestion, "I shall keep that in mind and by the way Manik is a big time fool that he doesn't even look at you", he arched his brows and replied with a dash of apathy as if adding salt to Rewa's fake wounds and vanished before she could make further comments.

***

Late in the evening

"Manik I am telling na I can eat", I twitched with the spoon in my left hand unable to scoop some rice in it. Manik didn't stop me and kept gaping at me as I struggled with the spoon adamantly. I tried a number of times and as such Manik's constant gaze was doing nothing but disturb my concentration. Finally I got irritated and banged it back on the plate in defeat. Manik held back his victorious smile and held a spoon full of rice in front of my mouth and I gulped it reluctantly. It felt good to be cared for so much and Manik always did that without being asked for.

"Did you eat?", I asked him in a soft tone.

"I will...you finish your food and take your medicines", he continued feeding me.

"It's been a while..Manini must be troubling them", I knew my daughter well enough and also the fact that precisely how difficult was she for a third person to manage.

"No she is fine...I just spoke to Navya...I will go and get her in a while", he knew I felt restless not seeing her for some time.

We fell silent for a while as he finished baby feeding me. He dabbed to clean my mouth and helped me with the medicines. I made faces and gulped them down.

"I am sorry that you have to do all of this", I tried to be a little formal with him, needless to say I always enjoyed his attention.

"Yeah right only if you were a little careful about yourself..I would have been saved", he teased with a cheeky smile. I hated his untimed taunts

"I don't need your help...go away"

Manik pursed him smile at my annoyance, "Fine baba I am sorry...acha you rest I will go and get Manini"

He made his exit from the room and a heartfelt smile reflected on my lips. I felt special when he was around. I had the right to bug him, to trouble him to annoy him and he took everything that I gave. Our mistakes were not such that couldn't be pardoned but I wanted to make him the move. Well he did actually even if he never expressed in words his actions were always the loudest in showing his love and concern for me and Manini. I could sit there and smile like a fool till eternity but that wouldn't have helped much. The medicines were having there affect on me. I felt a little dizzy but had to change before I slept. I slowly got down being careful with my hand and got my night dress. My next challenge was to take off my kurti while managing my hand, I struggled to pull it over my head and after a long tussle with it I finally got rid of it. My eyelids felt heavy with sleep and I was trying to figure out how to dress myself again in the night dress when the door swung open. Manik stood in front of me and I stood in my lingerie. I flickered my eyes a few more time to keep him in focus.

"Why are you off your bed?", he sounded annoyed.

"I was changing", I said admist yawns.

Both of us were literally ignorant to the fact that I was almost half naked in front of him. He seemed more concerned that I wasn't resting rather than my physical state and I was as such not in a controlled sense to bother that I stood just in my lingerie in front of my husband. He walked up to me and took the night dress from my hand.

"Ammm...Cabir has told he will drop Manini... to the room... after dinner", he paused and spoke and paused to maybe distract me with the dress in his hand.

"You will dress me up?", I asked innocently struggling to keep my eyes open and he nodded sheepishly getting an idea that the medicines were intoxicating me.

"I promise I won't be naughty", he said sincerely and rolled the night dress to put over my head.

"You won't be naughty?", I nodded my head lazily and made a cute pout and looked at him questioningly. Even if I was not completely in my senses but I had senses enough to know that I was disappointed over his courtesy. A courteous Manik was never my fantasy. He grinned invariably reading the upset expression on my face and pulled my hand out carefully out of the sleeves. In that extremely defenseless state I felt vulnerable yet safe, weak yet protected, exposed yet secured.

"You know what Manini says her teacher taught her..whenever someone does good to us we should thank him... so thank you", I whispered naively tilting my head like Manini did and rose on my feet to thank him properly.

I hated this height difference whenever I had to kiss him. He always bent down comfortably and smooched me but I had to literally climb on him with his cooperation to kiss him. Manik stood there with a smile looking at me as I struggled to reach my destination. My senses were almost giving up while I tugged onto his shirt and pulled his collar and just before I touched the finishing line that were his lips, I felt weak on my knees and thumped on his chest.

Manik closed his eyes for a second and opened them and shook his head and clicked his lips in regret, "Shit!! 3 down hote hote reh gaya...never mind wifey lot more opportunities to come", he smiled looking at my cute sleepy face over his chest and picked his slightly bigger baby in his arms and walked over to the bed.

Dekha I did come early...comments time now...guys kanjoosi mat karna..do specify things u liked or didnt like