Hello Fam :)

Hey, early update. Blame the hours-long waiting to get my first dose of vaccination. I wrote this ignoring the whole world. Be proud of me. :P

Warning: Rollercoaster emotions. More stupidity on Manik's side but really not his fault. Also, it takes a storm before you get the rainbow. (The last one is a bit dramatic, don't take it seriously though.)

Happy Reading...

It was the evening of Abhimanyu and Mukti's engagement, the first event, and Nandini found herself helping Mukti to free her from the makeup and get her comfortable. All the wedding events were being held in Thakkar Mansion as Mukti had her own room and more pleasant memories growing up. The Vardhans were more than willing to do anything for their daughter, which, Nandini thought, was sweet. She always had a feeling that the Vardhans were fine and not like her parents. They never voiced out that they hated her as far she knew and there so much anger and assumptions on Mutki's part that ruined their relationship. At least, Mutki didn't have to lose them at the end, which Nandini was really happy about.

"If I had known weddings were this flashy, I would have called it off completely", muttered Mukti, looking at her reflection in the mirror, letting Nandini do the work for her.

"Yeah, of course. Says the one who was in love with an idiot since her high school", pointed out Nandini.

"Seriously, at this point, live-in sounds bliss. Even that Christian wedding. Remember the one we crashed?"

"How can I forget it? Dream wedding I have attended. My parents are mad."

"Your parents were always mad. Anyways, how is your married life going on?"

"Too good to be true", she muttered.

"What? I thought you were happy, Nandini."

"I am. Of course, I am. Nyonika mom treats me like her daughter and not like you-married-my-son-so-you-are-my-daughter kind but I-as-good-as-raised-you-hence-you-are-my-daughter kind. That's overwhelming sometimes. Cabir is a sibling I never asked. He pisses me off to the point of punching him yet he would be present when I need him. I got you guys, my best friends whom I thought I would never see again. I promise you, it broke my heart while parting ways with you. You were the only best thing of the better part of my childhood."

"And Manik?"

Something warm and pleasant crawls up inside her heart and Nandini slumps down on the bed beside Mukti, having finished with her work. "As perfect as ever. In simple words, my source of happiness and peace. He is always two steps ahead of me to make sure I am fine and comfortable. Knows when to push my boundaries and when to pull me back from my thoughts. It's scary sometimes how well he knows me. He has my whole life wrapped around his fingers, to control me, yet he treats me as if I am the one in charge of it, helps me to take it back under control, completely opposite of what I had to go through all my life and that itself builds a hope that I am okay. That he would be there if things go south."

"Do you love him?", asked Mukti.

Nandini rolled her eyes. "Who doesn't, Mukti?"

"You know what I mean?"

"I don't know how to describe it. If it's love or it's because he is the only one keeping me afloat. But I found a family with him and I am trusting him to keep it in my life. I have always believed that anchoring your life around one person is dangerous but Manik is the only one that makes sense to me. I lose him, I lose everything. I don't know if I have enough strength to lose everything this time."

"Why don't you talk to him?"

"We are talking, Mukti. I stay with him, remember."

"No, not about your feelings. Not what you have told me. He doesn't have any idea what he means to you. Do you even realize you have an odd content feeling on your face when you are talking about him? Your whole face lits up when he accidentally drops in wherever you are even if you are living in the same house. And don't even force me to start on your face when he does anything adorable. You have heart eyes, Nandini and you hate heart eyes. That boy is adorable almost all the time which means you have constant heart eyes around him. Trust me, we didn't want to interfere between you two because the last time we tried to do that, we lost you for four years. I had to threaten Abhimanyu in tying him up in the basement to stop him from talking to you about this."

Nandini bit her lip. She had stepped out of the Murthy Villa and hadn't bothered to consciously pull a mask over her emotions but now, she didn't know how to explain any of this. Wouldn't have been better if she did that? She was startled when Mukti tugged her hand, a similar gesture of Manik, she couldn't help but notice.

"Don't regret saying the truth. We all want you to be happy. And I think you really would be happy if you just talk to Manik and tell him that he means the world to you", said Mukti.

Tell him already, Bhabhi Ji.

They turn around and find Cabir, smirking, and already inside Mutki's room. What the hell? How did they not notice the opening of the door?

"What the hell, Cabir? This was supposed to be a girl's night out", said Mukti, glaring and ready to throw him out of the room.

Cabir raised his hand in surrender. "Relax. Abhimanyu is having pre-wedding jitters and Bhai is handling him. I thought to check up on you if you have any, but here you are discussing my favorite topic these days. "Convincing the stubborn head girl to confess her feelings for her husband".

"Abhimanyu? Don't tell me he is having second thoughts about this", asked Mukti with a frown.

"No, he thinks he is not perfect for you", told Cabir. "Manik is there na. He would take care. Don't worry. Now let's talk about our head couple. And, Mukti, I have brilliant stuff to help you." He took their speechlessness as an invitation and took a seat beside Nandini, throwing a casual hand around her.

Nandini swatted his arm and when he didn't budge, she glared at him.

"Don't do that. I am trying to make sure you aren't running away after I blow your mind with my brilliant stuff. Mukti, are you up?"

"Your stuff isn't brilliant. They are crazy and hazardous to life", muttered Nandini, crossing her arms.

"This is rather hazardous to your heart, my love", he said, dropping his voice low and threatening. There was a smirk somewhere there. There always was.

Nandini narrowed her eyes at him and he yelped when Mukti pinched his arm.

"You are being creepy. Anyways, what's this brilliant stuff of yours?", asked Mukti.

He waited for half a minute and Nandini thought, it was purely to create a dramatic air and then he turned to Nandini. "I have an audio clipping of a private conversation between your husband and his assistant, Meera."

Nandini glared at him. Seriously, living with the animals had made him forget human necessities. "Stop being an imbecile, Cabir. I am not listening to any of your audio clips. It's breaching Manik's privacy and he would be really hurt."

Cabir grinned, all teeth like the wild animal he was supposed to be. "I think my Manik has fallen for this hidden Sati Savitri avatar of yours."

Nandini gritted her teeth. "For the last time, Cabir, he is not your Manik."

Instead of replying, Cabir tightened his grip on her before tapping the play option on his mobile.

Meera, I want to make a few facts clear, so I would respect it if you would understand this. I have been in love with Nandini for the past four years. It doesn't matter if she divorces me or not. I have been married to her, in my head, for the past four years and she would be my wife for the rest of my life. No decision of hers, no force from outside, and no opinion of others will change this fact. I hope you understand this. I really do. Otherwise, I am sorry but the company would regret parting ways with you. I---

As Cabir stopped the audio, Nandini was gaping at him. "Manik loves me?"

"And considers you as his wife for the past four years. Nandini, Bhai never wanted to give you a divorce. He still thinks you don't have any feelings for him and hence he is staying away."

Nandini felt her head spinning. This was too much. This was everything she had wished for and something more. She was happy, floating, and terrified that a jolt would wake her up and everything would be a stupid dream. The jolt came sooner than expected when Cabir squeezed her shoulder, rubbing small circles there. She turned to look at him, her eyes glistening and her vision blurred. She felt him kissing her head.

"I promise, fighter, you aren't dreaming. Manik has always been waiting for you", he muttered.

"I need to see him", she whispered back and rushed out of the room the moment he freed her.

Don't make out in front of relatives.

Nandini heard Cabir yelling and decided to deal with him later. She went past the relatives, ignoring the people who were trying to make small talk with her until she reached Abhimanyu's room. The twins were bunking in together while she shared her room with Mukti but Cabir last said he was consoling Abhimanyu. Luckily, she found Manik just outside the groom's room, closing his door.

He was startled to see her. "Nandini, hey, are you here for Abhimanyu? He is fine, went to take a shower."

Instead of answering him, she wrapped her hands around him, burying her head on his chest and concentrating on his heartbeat. It was enough for her to forget the whole world around her. It also made her want to burst out crying knowing she could listen to this forever, a word that never existed in her dictionary before today.

"Nandini, are you okay?", he asked, confused. When Nandini nodded and broke the hug, the frown on his head only got deeper. "Are you crying? Nandini, why are you crying?"

She shook her head, resting her palm on his cheek, forcing him to calm down. Once he was calm enough to look at her without sending himself into a panic attack, she leaned forward to drop a kiss on his free cheek. "With you in my life, I am perfectly alright", she told, staring into his eyes. "Thank you for being the best person anyone could ask for in their lives."

She ignored the snickers of a few Aunties and the comments about the PDA of the young generations as she made her way back to Mukti's room, leaving a confused Manik. Maybe it wasn't too late to show off her husband to the world.

XXX

Nandini was in her room, after finishing a call with her manager at the office when Abhimanyu knocked on the door. He was looking tense and panicked for some reason.

"Mukti isn't here, Romeo", she teased. "Even if she was, I wouldn't help you in meeting her this time."

That brought a chuckle out of him and he shook his head. "You know right, I can go to Mukti's dad and talk to him if I want to meet her?"

Nandini raised an eyebrow. "Are you up for a demo, Mr. Thakkar?"

Instead of replying, he grabbed her hand and pulled her inside the room, making her sit down. He himself sat in front of her without taking his hands off. "Nandini, I need to tell you something. Listen, I was in my room with Manik and he got a call from his assistant to meet him. She is here and when he realized I was in the room, he panicked and asked me not to tell anyone that he went to meet her. Okay, I trust Manik but why so secrecy?", he said, muttering the last line more to himself.

Nandini couldn't help but smile at the concern of her best friend. She had missed his fretting over her for every small thing over the past few years. He was a mother hen and there would be no one like him in her life. She hugged him to show her gratitude silently. "Thank you for being my best friend. I should have told this to you much sooner but there was never a day when I didn't miss you during all those days."

"I love you too but are you sure I can't kill your parents in jail?", he asked before shaking his head. "Leave them. I want to know about Manik."

"Abhimanyu, I trust Manik but I need to have a conversation with Meera. I will go meet them. See you later." She gave him another hug on her way out when he looked concerned again.

XXX

Nandini found Manik a little away from the Thakkar premises, leaning against an unfamiliar car as he signed a few papers. Meera was standing in front of him, talking and laughing as he ranted passionately about something. At the distance, Nandini couldn't make out the words but she could see he was pissed off but since Meera was laughing, she thought it shouldn't be that serious.

She was proven right when she neared them and heard Cabir and 'taking unfair advantage of his imbalanced emotional state' in Manik's arguments. It must be about the leave he had signed without his knowledge then. Nandini cleared her throat to gain their attention and saw the instant rise in tension. Meera had stiffened up and avoided her gaze, staring at the ground while Manik's eyes widened somehow like a deer caught in headlights.

"How do you know I am here?", asked Manik.

"Abhimanyu", said Nandini.

Manik frowned. "I asked him not to tell anyone."

"I will come to that later, Mister", she teased but her husband might be having a mild panic attack as he gulped.

"Nandini, it's not what you are thinking. I apologize. I -"

She raised her hand, halting him mid-rant. "Have you done anything wrong?", she asked and smiled when he shook his head. "Then? Didn't I tell you not to say sorry when you haven't done anything?"

It brought a smile on his face, probably at the memory, which reflected on hers.

"Manik, when you are done with your work, can I talk to Meera alone?"

Manik glanced at her and then at Meera hesitantly. "If it's okay with Meera then?", he said, letting the question hang in the air.

"Of course, sir. I need to talk to ma'am too", muttered Meera.

Nandini grinned. "Meera, why don't we talk with each other instead of mediating with Manik?", she asked. "Manik?"

"Yeah, I will leave. Thank you for taking the trouble to drive here, Meera."

Once Manik was out of their vicinity, Nandini turned to Meera. "I will go first. I am sorry for whatever happened between us. I should have dealt the matter more maturely instead of being a child with my emotions."

"Why are you saying sorry? Manik sir is your husband and you have every right to. In fact, I am sorry for coming in between your personal life and messing your life."

"Meera, you didn't mess anything up. I understand where you are coming from. I really do. It's difficult to be reasonable when someone pops up out of nowhere."

"But he was, is, and will always be yours", said Meera.

If she wasn't wrong, Nandini thought she heard the resentment in that statement. "Meera", said Nandini and sighed. "Listen, I know how disappointment feels like. When you crave a little love and sometimes it's too much to ask. You might not have Manik but then again there's someone waiting for you who would make everything right. I never believed in that but now I do. Don't lose hope, Meera."

"Why are you being nice to me?"

"Because I got over my petty jealousy. Because you made me realize how precious he is to me", said Nandini. She was jealous of the Manik she couldn't ever have but now when she knew he still loves her all the same, wants to share his life with her, she didn't care about anything else. She has Manik. What more could she ask for?

"Because you realized that he always belongs to you?"

Nandini answered her question by pulling Meera into a brief hug. She felt the girl needed it. "Manik had put a lot of trust in your work and more than anything, he trusts your friendship. Thank you for being there for him."

She took a deep breath and then smiled the first time since Nandini arrived. "I guess I am lucky to have got a second chance at that. I will take a leave now, ma'am. It was really nice talking to you."

Nandini for the first time saw Manik's friend more than the assistant. If she could be with Manik without scaring him away for four years, she deserved the second chance and Nandini wasn't too eager to lose him his first friend out of college. "One more thing. Don't call me ma'am. I am not your boss. I am fine with Nandini."

"Okay, Nandini."

As she watched Meera going, Nandini felt a lot lighter. She didn't realize the presence of someone until they entwined their fingers. Nandini recognized the action. "Manik!", she exclaimed, the smile not leaving her face. "I thought you already left. What are you doing here? Did you think I would punch her or something?"

"I have a responsibility to keep you safe even if it's from my assistant. Can't leave you alone when her emotions might be fragile and could harm you", he explained.

"Yeah, I am totally not gushing", she muttered.

Manik laughed and wrapped his hands around her, pulling her in a bear hug. She could even apologize to all the people she had punched in her life if she was getting this in reward. Breaking the hug, he cupped her face and leaned forward. She felt him freeze mid-action and brushed his nose on her head instead of his lips before tucking her head under his chin. It felt like an aborted kiss and it wasn't the first time since the past few days. If she wasn't sure about Manik's feelings, she would have felt offended. Instead, Nandini wrapped her hands around Manik's arm. He would say what's bothering him when he was ready. No need to make him uncomfortable unnecessarily.

"So, Malhotra. What's up with this secret meeting?"

He turned as much as he could to face her without dislodging their hands, a look of horror and desperation on his face. "Nandini, please don't tell this to Cabir. It's my fault actually. I didn't sign the papers in hurry and Cabir made me promise not to touch any official documents or work during this week."

She suppressed her laughter and raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to say, you broke your promise you made to your baby brother, Malhotra?"

He was biting his lip in embarrassment, guilt written all over his face, and Nandini burst out laughing. "How can you be so cute all the time?", she said pulling her cheeks and was rewarded with her favorite red creeping his whole face.

"You know, I am so proud of you. I never expected you to forgive her so easily", muttered Manik.

The subtle idiot. Trying to divert the attention away from him. Well, two can play the game, thought Nandini and smirked at her husband. "Someone told me years back that I will be at peace if I forgive instead of holding onto the hate. Just listening to that genius."

The blush on his face deepened but he also managed to glare at her when he realized what she did right there.

Serves you.

XXX

Cabir frowned when he didn't find Manik since the time he woke up in the morning. After a quick tour to Mukti's room, he found Nandini missing too. When he asked Ishita, who was just passing by, a woman jumped into their conversation by telling him that she saw them going out one after the other as if what they did the previous night wasn't sufficient. When he asked her what they did to make her complain, she told about the girl kissing the boy in front of the whole family. Interesting. He could have said they were married but instead smirked proudly, clearly enjoying the discomfort of the lady. Finally, it was Ishita who slapped his head and told the lady that the couple was newly married and had gone through some rough couple of days.

Right now, Cabir was gossiping with any random person sitting in the living room because he so wanted to catch his head couple redhanded. If what the lady was saying was true, he could quit his sweet job of being a cupid and go back to the sadist brother Cabir so that he could tease the hell out of the love birds.

He was rewarded with his entertainment when the couple walked into the house. Instead of their usual entwining the fingers, Nandini had both her hands looped around Manik's arm as she talked something. Manik was avoiding her gaze but the slight flush of his cheeks was answer enough for him. He excused himself from whoever he was talking to and strolled towards the couple. "Ahan, love birds. Where did you two disappear?"

Manik panicked on seeing Cabir and then glanced at Nandini who only smirked and freed one of her hands from her husband's arm only to wrap it casually around his waist. If he was seriously not imagining, he might have believed that she was patting there, moving her hand up and down in a very subtle movement. Cabir was surprised at the action but since his brother didn't react to it, he thought it must have happened before.

"We went for a walk, Cabir", answered Nandini.

He glanced at them skeptically. "Guys, it's eleven in the morning."

"Your point being?", asked the girl, raising an eyebrow.

"I thought it was hot outside", he told. He tried not to let his eyes wander to Nandini's arm around Manik because it felt intimate and intruding on their privacy but whatever she was doing was calming Manik down. Maybe just like Cabir, the head girl has her own tricks to calm the boy down. Wouldn't be the first time when she handled the nerves of her head boy.

Nandini smirked grew wider. "I wanted to spend some alone time with my husband and it was really difficult to find it between all the guests. Hence, I took him out for a walk. You got a problem with that?", she asked.

Cabir shook his head. Was the lady right? Did they really kiss in front of the whole relatives? Wow.

"Good", she muttered. She squeezed Manik a little tighter where her hands were before releasing him, drawing a sigh out of him. Blinking her eyes at him, she waved the two boys and left to meet Mukti.

Cabir gaped at her for a moment before turning to Manik. Flashing his teeth, he couldn't stop himself from almost jumping in his place. Almost. "Manik, did you two kiss?"

Instead of blushing, a frown appeared on his head. "Cabir, I need to tell you something", said the boy and dragged him towards Abhimanyu's room.

XXX

They were in their shared room for the period of the wedding. It has been fifteen minutes and Manik hadn't stopped pacing, with a frown on his head. Cabir knew his brother needed some time to figure things out or sometimes to word his worries properly and waited patiently while watching him. His pacing came to a halt when Abhimanyu barged into the room and dragging Manik's whole attention to him.

"Bhai, I can't get married", announced Abhimanyu. "Everything is so messed up and nothing is going right. What should I do? Mukti would kill me if I am canceling the wedding."

Cabir flashed his teeth and rubbed his palms. "It's okay, Abhimanyu. Chill, have a seat. We will plan a goa trip to cope up with your breakup."

Manik sighed. "Baby, shut up. That's not how you deal with someone's pre-wedding jitters", he told. "Abhimanyu, sit down please." Once he was settled beside Cabir, Manik pulled a stool to sit in front of the groom. "Abhimanyu, I am damn sure Mukti would understand you if want to call off the wedding but instead of that, how about we figure this out? What happened?"

On the contrary, Mukti would definitely kill him if he was calling off the wedding, thought Cabir. And when he tried to open his mouth to say it out loud, Manik nudged his foot with his, without taking his eyes off Abhimanyu. Yeah, he was supposed to shut up but this was more fun.

"My wedding outfit", said Abhimanyu. "It isn't ready and the guy is not picking up my calls."

"Abhimanyu, there is still time for the wedding. It would be done before that."

"But I have already sent it back thrice for the alterations and he is missing something or the other every time."

Cabir wrapped an arm around his friend and squeezed his neck, which usually calms Manik down. "Bhai, is it necessary to get married with so many obstacles on your path?"

"Kid, quiet", scolded Manik before sighing. "Abhimanyu, how about you give me the alterations list and I will personally check the outfit is ready by evening? You would definitely get married to Mukti as planned."

"Bro, you are a savior", said the groom and threw his hands around Manik for a hug.

There was a protest on Cabir's face. He didn't want Manik to go without telling him what's bothering him but his brother gave him 'the look' which had him shut up and any other joke he tried to make. As Manik left the room, dragging Abhimanyu with him, Cabir was more pissed off than he was when he woke up.

XXX

Listen, you lost your mobile, that's not my fault. Stop manipulating me by calling from unknown numbers.

Before he could regret it, the words left his mouth, and then the line got disconnected. It has been an hour and they kept playing in his head, messing up his already ruined mood. He was startled out of his thoughts when Nandini walked into the room, without taking her eyes off her mobile where she was typing something.

He rolled his eyes. "What did you lose now?", he asked, sarcasm dripping from his tone. He didn't want an audience right now.

"My husband", answered Nandini. She clearly didn't recognize his tone otherwise, he would be at the end of one of her glares. "Have you seen him somewhere?"

"Husband, right?", asked Cabir. Maybe he could get his answers and divert himself from his guilt. "Did something happen between you two?"

Nandini snapped her head. "What would happen-? Wait. Is that why Manik isn't picking up my call? Did I hurt him somehow? Is he fine?"

Cabir cursed himself for worrying her and pulled her by the hand to make him sit beside him. "Nandini, Manik is fine. He went to pick Abhimanyu's outfit." To distract her, he started telling her stories about Manik when he thought he was in love with her during their college days. Now that, she knew he still loves her, he could tell every embarrassing story of his brother as he fell in love with the head girl without getting punched in return.

XXX

"Oh, God! He was so close to proposing to you on that day with a bunch of flowers, my idea I know, and then you stormed out of the canteen, and then I ran as if my life depended on it to save my brother from getting punched. Remember that time when he repaired your car? I can't make your day better but your car is working fine. How can he utter the cheesiest of lines without realizing and without ever dating anyone? You totally swooned on that day, right?"

He has been ranting to Nandini for an hour. Even though she was initially surprised how smitten Manik was by her but then she went silent as she grasped for every word that he told. When he looked up, he found Nandini staring at him with some sort of affection, and he felt speechless. It was rare for Nandini to be affectionate, especially when it involved Cabir. "What?", he muttered, chuckling embarrassedly.

Nandini shook her head, realizing she had been staring but the smile didn't leave her face. "I never believed I deserved Manik and I would have kept it that way. Manik wouldn't have thought about sharing his life with me given how he was. Somehow I think you have the bigger role for us being as we are. Why did you choose me for your Manik, Cabir?"

She said 'your Manik' and he knew what she was talking about. There was a time when he was the only one part of his brother's life and then Cabir decided to share him with Nandini even if it was as a platonic friend, initially. He gave her a smile and hoped he could make her understand what he was trying to say. "Nandini, Manik might not have a favorite novel but he has favorite characters, the one he keeps on falling in love with, and he treats you like you are one of his. You are no less than a superwoman for him, straight out of his novel. We dream to spend our lives with our favorite superheroes and when my brother found one for himself, how could I let you go?"

"And you trusted me just like that?"

He shrugged. "I had my moments. He is my twin and my everything ever since dad left us and mom got busy with work. I would do anything to make sure he is happy. How can I not do my homework on you?", he asked before shaking his head. "You two are idiots, do you know that? You don't trust anyone. While he displays his vulnerability to the world, you hide it behind your anger. No one had tried to become his friend before you and you are there like the superwoman he believes you to be, saving him from girls, fellow students, and from the world. After a few days with you, I had started seeing why you are special to him. He acts differently around you. He joins gyms so that he could save you. He gathers his courage to willingly tell mom that he is friends with you. Hell, he was even ready to take up the responsibility of an imaginary kid when he himself was barely an adult. Manik would never hurt anyone but you give him the courage to take the right step. You are made for each other, Nandini. Don't let anyone else make you believe otherwise."

"There was a time when I thought you hated me", she teased.

Cabir laughed. "I still hate you for stealing my chocolates but as a cupid, I can't be mad at you for stealing my brother."

"Cupid?"

"I have self-appointed myself as the cupid of your love story."

Nandini groaned. "God, seriously? Can you be any more dramatic?"

Cabir answered her question with a smirk. His mood soured when his mobile buzzed as he glared at the caller instead of picking up.

"Who's that?"

Cabir masked a smile. "Wrong number. Can't understand a simple no."

"Block it then."

For the first time, Cabir listened to her without a protest. Why wouldn't he? She was his most important person after his mom and Manik.

XXX

It was late when Cabir heard the rustling in his room. He ignored it in favor of sleeping but after some time, he felt someone pushing their head into the crook of his neck and grabbing his hand in a tight hold. He knew who it was. Searching for his mobile blindly, he noticed it was close to midnight.

"Manik?"

He felt his brother shaking. "Sorry. Didn't mean to wake you up."

"Did you have food at least?"

"Ishita Aunty forced me. She is still up. I brought Abhimanyu's outfit. And some things she needed."

He nodded and pulled Manik close. Something was wrong. It felt as if he was on the verge of another panic attack but since his breathing was almost normal, he thought the panic attack was at bay, as of now. "Manik, is everything okay, baby? Shall I switch on the lights?"

Manik shook his head, tightening his hold on Cabir's pajama shirt to keep him from leaving. "NO. No, please."

"Okay, no lights. I promise", he told hurriedly and waited for a minute until Manik breathed normally again. "Do you want to talk about it, baby? Do you want to let it out? It's just me here, love."

He felt Manik choke a sob before he buried his face more into Cabir's shoulder. The younger twin ruffled his hair and rubbed his hand up and down his spine to calm him down. He felt some of the tension leaving Manik's body enough to have a conversation but since the elder twin wasn't ready to let him go, Cabir relaxed. "What's wrong, Manik? Is it something related to what you wanted to say in the morning? Or your panic attack earlier in the office?"

"Cabir, Nandini."

It was one word and Cabir sighed. One word was sufficient to explain. One name that could throw the composed Manik Malhotra off guard and on edge.

"Nandini is fine. I talked to her during dinner."

Manik shook his head. "Nandini is being physical with me. She is-"

Cabir's breath was caught in his throat. This wasn't what he was expecting. He thought they were fine. "Manik, stop it", he told, when he felt Manik trying to talk. "She is your wife. You would only hurt her if you continue this conversation."

"It's not what you are thinking", said Manik, hurriedly. "It's me. I am-"

"Manik, no", he said sternly. He didn't realize he would ever use that tone on his precious Bhai but sometimes even the smartest of people choose to be stupid. "Listen, Manik, I want to help you out with whatever is bothering you. I promise, I seriously do but like there are a few conversations we have just for us, this is a conversation that should happen between only you and Nandini. So, instead of overthinking, you would drag yourself to her tomorrow and talk to her about what exactly is bothering you. But if you are sprouting some nonsense and hurting her, so help me, I am taking this entire conversation to mom. Understood?"

Once he was certain his message was reached, Cabir pulled Manik closer and kissed his head. "I love you, Bhai, but sometimes I seriously want to tie you up and take you to school again."

One request-Hold on to your opinion on Manik especially about the last part. Cabir didn't let him talk and Manik was on edge for days. I promise you would agree with him once he explains what's actually bothering him. 

Nandini kissed him, on the cheek, yeah, but it's a big deal. :P

Now that she knows about Manik's feelings for her and since Cabir threatened Manik to talk to Nandini the next day, do you think they would finally propose and get it done with their relationship? If yes, who's first? Manik or Nandini. :P

Cabir is being a moron but we still have the wedding for curing him. ;)

Anything else you want to say, feel free to drop it.

Spoiler: Dhamaka without background music and firecrackers. :P