Nandini left the house early the next morning, her heart heavy with the weight of yesterday's events. She told Vishakha that she had worked at the hospital and would be late, hoping to avoid any further discussions or questions.

As she stepped out of the house, she felt a strange mix of relief and anxiety. Today, she needed to be with Manik, to find solace in his presence, away from the prying eyes of her family and the pressures weighing on her.

Meanwhile, Manik, too, made an excuse to leave home. He mentioned an old friend visiting, someone he hadn’t seen in years, and casually dismissed any offers to join him. He needed to be alone with Nandini, to hold her and reassure her that they would get through this together.

His mind was consumed with thoughts of her, imagining her distress and wishing he could take it all away. Nandini reached their secret sanctuary, Paradise Point, which held many cherished memories. It was a secluded spot, away from the chaos of their lives, where they could be themselves without any pretense.

She entered their room, her heart pounding, and walked over to the window, looking at the serene view. The calmness of the surroundings did little to soothe her restless mind as she anxiously waited for Manik.

The minutes felt like hours, but finally, she heard the soft creak of the door opening. She turned around and saw Manik standing there, his eyes filled with a mixture of concern and love.

Without a word, she ran towards him, and he caught her in his arms, enveloping her in a tight hug. It was as if the world outside had ceased to exist, and it was just the two of them in their own little bubble of comfort.

As soon as she felt the warmth of his embrace, Nandini’s tears began to flow, silent and steady. She buried her face in his chest, her sobs muffled against his shirt. Manik held her close, his hand gently stroking her back, letting her cry out all the pain and frustration she had been holding in.

He didn’t say anything, knowing that sometimes words were unnecessary. His presence alone was enough to convey that he was there for her, that he would always be there for her.

They stayed like that for a while, just holding onto each other, as Nandini’s tears gradually subsided. Manik then gently guided her towards the bed, still holding her close. He lay her down, then settled beside her, leaning over her protectively.

He kissed her face tenderly, starting with her tear-streaked eyes, then her cheeks, planting soft kisses all over as if trying to kiss away every trace of her sadness.He gazed into her eyes, his voice low and husky with emotion.

“Did that guy touch you?” he asked, his tone betraying the possessiveness and worry he was trying to keep in check.

Nandini looked up at him, her eyes still glistening with tears, and shook her head slightly. “Just my hand,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Manik immediately took her hands in his, bringing them to his lips. He kissed each finger, then her palms, and finally the back of her hands, his kisses filled with a mixture of reverence and love.

“These hands,” he murmured, “belong to me.”

Nandini’s heart swelled at his words, feeling the depth of his love and the intensity of his emotions. She pulled him closer, her hands moving up to his face, tracing the familiar contours she had come to know so well. Then, in a sudden rush of emotion, she moved on top of him, pressing her lips to his in a fervent kiss.

The kiss was different from any they had shared before. It was raw, filled with all the pain, fear, and longing that had been building up inside her. Nandini kissed him with an urgency that made Manik’s heartache.

She was pouring everything she felt into that kiss, seeking reassurance, seeking connection. Her lips moved feverishly against his, her hands clutching his hair, her body pressed against him as if she wanted to meld into him, to disappear into his embrace.

Manik let her take the lead, sensing her need to express herself, to let go of the emotions that had been tearing her apart. His hands moved to her waist, holding her gently but firmly, grounding her in the moment. He returned her kisses with equal passion, but there was a tenderness in his touch, a silent promise that he would be there to catch her, no matter what.

Nandini’s lips traveled down to his neck, pressing desperate, lingering kisses against his skin. She was losing herself in him, in the way he made her feel safe, loved, and cherished. Her kisses turned into soft bites as if she were marking him as hers, seeking solace in the familiarity of his body.

Manik could feel her desperation, the way she was trying to hold onto him, to make sure he was real, that he was there with her. But he knew they needed to talk, to figure out how to navigate the mess they were in.

As much as he wanted to lose himself in the moment with her, to forget about the world outside, he couldn’t. They needed to face this together, and they needed to be clear-headed to do it. Gently, he pulled her back up, his hands cupping her face. He looked into her eyes, his gaze steady and reassuring.

“Nandini,” he whispered, his voice soft but firm. “We need to talk.”

Nandini’s breath hitched, and she nodded, her eyes still filled with tears. Manik pulled her into his arms, holding her close, letting her rest her head against his chest as they lay together on the bed. He ran his fingers through her hair, his touch soothing, as he gathered his thoughts.

“I know this is hard,” he began, his voice a low murmur in the quiet room. “But we can’t run away from this. We have to find a way to make this work, to be together.”

Nandini closed her eyes, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. “I’m scared, Manik,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “What if we can’t make it work? What if our families...”

He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, cutting off her words. “We will make it work,” he said firmly. “We’ll figure it out. We’ve come this far, and I’m not giving up on us.”

She held onto him tightly, feeling the strength of his resolve. Manik had always been her rock, her constant in the chaos of life. She drew strength from him, letting his confidence seep into her.

“We’ll take it one step at a time,” he continued, his hand rubbing soothing circles on her back. “First, we need to find a way to talk to your mom. We need to make her understand that this is about us, about what we want.”

Nandini nodded against his chest, feeling a sense of calm wash over her. “I’ll talk to her,” she said softly. “I’ll make her understand.”

Manik tightened his arms around her as if trying to shield her from the world. “And I’ll be right there with you,” he promised. “Every step of the way.”

They lay there together, wrapped up in each other, as the weight of the world seemed to fade away. For a while, it was just the two of them, lost in their love, drawing strength from each other to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

As they lay entwined on the bed, the weight of their conversation lingered in the air. The looming decision to reveal their relationship was a monumental one, and both Manik and Nandini knew it. They had been through so much together, and this was the final step, the one that could either solidify their bond or tear everything apart.

Nandini's head rested on Manik's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It was a sound that had always calmed her, a reminder that no matter how chaotic things became, she could always find peace in his arms. But today, even this comforting sound couldn't quiet the storm of thoughts raging in her mind.

“Manik,” she began, her voice a soft murmur, “my birthday is in three days. We’ve decided to tell everyone then, right?”

Manik gently stroked her hair, his fingers moving through the silky strands in a calming rhythm.

“Yes,” he replied, his voice firm with resolve. “It’s the right time. We can’t keep this hidden anymore, and your birthday gives us a good opportunity. We’ll tell everyone then.”

Nandini sighed, closing her eyes as she tried to gather her thoughts. “Mumma asked me to invite all my friends, so I’m going to call Mukti and Alya. I think it’ll be good to have them there. They’re important to you, and I want them to be part of this.”

Manik smiled softly, kissing the top of her head. “That’s a good idea. Having them there will make it easier. They’re my friends, and now they are your friends too. They’ll support us.”

Nandini shifted slightly, lifting her head to look at him, her eyes filled with uncertainty.

“Manik,” she whispered, “we’ve always been so scared about my mumma’s reaction, but… we never thought about what would happen if your family doesn’t like me. What if your friends don’t accept us? What will we do then?”

Manik could see the fear in her eyes, the vulnerability that she so rarely showed. He cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away the tears that had started to gather.

“Nandini,” he said softly, his voice filled with warmth and reassurance, “you don’t need to worry about that. My family… they might be tough, but they’ll understand. Once they see how much I love you, how much you mean to me, they’ll accept you. And as for my friends…They’ll come around, I promise.”

“But what if—” Nandini started to say, but Manik silenced her with a gentle kiss.

“No ‘what ifs,’” he murmured against her lips. “We’re in this together, and we’ll face whatever comes our way together. I know it’s scary, but we can’t let fear dictate our lives. We’ve fought too hard to be together, and I’m not going to let anything or anyone come between us.”

Nandini gazed at him, her heart swelling with love for this man who had always been her strength, her anchor. “I don’t know what I would do without you,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

“You’ll never have to find out,” Manik replied, his voice steady and sure. “I’m not going anywhere. We’re going to get through this, and we’re going to come out stronger on the other side. I love you, Nandini. More than anything in this world.”

Nandini’s tears spilled over, but this time they were tears of gratitude, of love. She leaned in and kissed him deeply, pouring all of her emotions into that kiss, hoping it would convey everything she felt. Manik responded with equal intensity, holding her close, as if trying to fuse their souls.

When they finally pulled apart, breathless and overwhelmed with emotion, Manik rested his forehead against hers. “We’re going to be okay,” he said softly. “I promise you that.”

Nandini nodded, feeling a sense of calm settle over her. “I trust you,” she whispered, her voice filled with conviction. “And I love you more than anything.”

Manik smiled, his eyes shining with the depth of his feelings. “Then that’s all that matters,” he said, pulling her into his arms again. “We’ll face everything together. Our family, the world… as long as we’re together, we’ll be fine.”

They lay there for a while longer, wrapped up in each other, finding comfort and strength in their shared love. It was a love that had withstood so many challenges, and they both knew it would withstand whatever came next.

As they lay there, the sun slowly began to set, casting a warm, golden glow over the room. It felt like a new beginning, a moment of quiet before the storm that was to come. But in that moment, they were together, and that was all that mattered.

“Three days,” Manik said softly, his voice filled with hope and determination. “Three days, and we’ll take the first step towards our future.”

Nandini nodded, her heart filled with a mixture of fear and excitement. “Three days,” she echoed, her voice soft but steady. “And then we’ll face whatever comes next, together.”

With that, they closed their eyes, holding onto each other as they drifted into a peaceful sleep, dreaming of the future they would build together, no matter what challenges lay ahead.
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Hope u all like the chapter.....

Few words for Manik....

Few words for Nandini....

Few words for Vishakha....

What will Nandini and Manik do now???

What were your favourite moments???

Guys any suggestions you want to give for upcoming chapters like you want to see something???

Thank u 🙂🙂

Love,
Kiara ❤️❤️