You mean more to me than the soul that grew along with my bones.

The next day, Manik and Nandini were seated in their living room. Manik was feeding her some fruits. Nandini was still scared of anyone other than Manik.

Just then the main gate opened and Cabir walked into the room.

Both of them saw him and stood on their places. Manik, for greeting him and, Nandini by getting scared of him. She instantly held Manik's arm in a tight grip.

"Manik!" She said in a scared tone.

He immediately held her close to him and cupped her cheeks.

"I'm right here love. Relax!" He said to her.

She still was scared to death.

"Baby it's Cabir. Your Darling. He will not hurt you. Believe me!" Manik again tried.

No reaction from her side. On the other hand, Cabir was getting more and more hurt by seeing his Sweetheart getting scared of him like this. He came forward making Nandini hide behind Manik completely. She held his T-shirt from the side of his waist.

"Sweetheart Relax baby! It's me. Cabir! Your Darling! I can never harm you and you also know that. Come out of your trance bachha." Cabir said softly.

His words did affect her. But she still did not react anything. Manik slowly pulled her to his front.

"You are my strong princess naa?" He asked her by cupping her cheeks.

She instantly nodded her head.

"Then you should not hide like this. Look at him and then tell me if he can harm you by any means." He said and turned her face to Cabir.

She looked at Cabir directly with fear on her face. Cabir smiled at her which slowly vanished her fear. Manik leaned on her shoulder from back.

"Now tell me. Do you still think he will harm you?" He asked and she slowly shook her head in NO.

"Good. So, who is he?" He again asked.

"My Darling." She said slowly making both the boys smile ear to ear.

Cabir instantly pulled her in a brotherly hug to which she neither restricted nor reciprocated. Cabir did not made the hug a longer one knowing she still is not completely comfortable with him. As soon as he broke the hug, Nandini moved to Manik and hid her face in his chest.

"You did great baby." Manik whispered in her ears.

He looked at Cabir and mouthed him study, to which Cabir nodded.

Manik broke the hug.

"Time for rest now." He said to her.

He took her to their bedroom while Cabir went to studyroom.

Manik entered the studyroom after making Nandini sleep in their bedroom.

"Did you get something?" Manik asked with hope.

"Yes and it's more than enough to break that father-son duo." Cabir smirked.

"Tell me." Manik said.

The next 15 minutes went in Cabir speaking and Manik listening to him attentively. After 15 minutes, he had a devilish smirk on his face. Gone away Nandini's sweet and caring Manik, this was The Manik Malhotra planning to burn down the Khuranas into ashes.

"Okay then make all the arrangements for her arrival. Provide all the facilities to her. She should trust us to co-operate with us." Manik said and Cabir nodded.

"I'm so sorry Bira I'm troubling you so much. But I cannot do this all by myself. Princess is not leaving me alone for a single minute. And I needed someone who would go to any extent for my baby's betterment." Manik said sincerely.

"Chal naa. I love my Sweetheart as much as you do. I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this for her." Cabir said.

Manik hugged him.

"Tere bina mera kya hi hota Bira." He said in the hug.

"Aree Manik baba senti nahi kar yaar ab. Nahi toh mai ro dunga aur teri T-shirt se nose bhi clean kar lunga. " Cabir said in the hug.

Manik instantly broke the hug with a disgusting face.

"Tu kabhi nahi sudhrega. Jaa ab kaam par lag." Manik said.

Cabir went out laughing at Manik. Manik also went to his bedroom and saw his life sleeping while cuddling to his pillow. There was a frown on her beautiful face.

He sat beside her and slowly removed the pillow and cuddled himself with her.

The frown on her face vanished automatically making him smile.

"Helloo!! Bhaiyaa!! Kahan ho aap itne din se? Aur didu!! Unke sath itna kuch ho gaya aap dono ne kuch bataya bhi nahi mujhe. How can you do this to me?" Rishabh almost shouted on the call with Manik.

Manik was in his study on a call with Rishabh. He and Nandini had not talked to Rishabh from the kidnapping. Cabir had told him earlier that day about his talk with Rishabh.

"Champ listen. I am extremely sorry I didn't answered to your calls and texts. I was busy in handling Princess. So much has happened in few days. Also, I could not gain the courage to face you. I failed to protect your sister. I'm sorry." Manik said with guilt-filled voice.

"No bhaiya don't apologise. Just tell me my di is okay. I wanted to come to India but Cabir bhaiya stopped me." Rishabh said.

"Your di is safe and sound now. Don't worry. I have increased the security ten folds. And Cabir is right. It's not safe for you to come India right now. The enemies are still out. " Manik said.

"Bhaiya who are these Khuranas? And why are they behind Di and you? I asked Cabir bhaiya but he just told me the names of them and said it's yours and di's right to tell me everything. Please tell me. My mind is getting crazy now. " Rishabh said with frustration.

Manik became quiet. He had no answer. What should he say to Rishabh? That the Khuranas are his parent's murderer? No. He cannot. Not alone. He knew that Rishabh has to know everything now. But he also knows that he cannot tell him everything without asking Nandini.

"Rishabh it's your right to know about this. But not now. It should be Princess's decision when and how to tell you. Not mine. But I will talk to her. Right now she is not talking to anyone properly other than me. Maybe tomorrow I will make her talk to you. But it's not possible right now. I hope you understand." Manik tried explaining.

"It's fine bhaiya. Just keep her safe please." Rishabh said.

"You know that you don't have to say this. I can go to any extent to protect her." Manik said.

"I know." Rishabh said.

Soon they ended the call.

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Lots of Love❤️
Dhruvi.