As the evening sun cast a warm, golden hue across the room, Manik and Nandini stirred from their peaceful sleep, their bodies still entwined in the comfort of each other’s presence. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with a deep sense of contentment and peace, a shared understanding that words couldn’t fully capture.

Nandini was the first to break the silence, her voice soft but playful. “I should make something for us to eat before we leave. You know, something quick and easy.”

Manik smiled, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “Not today,” he said, his voice firm but laced with affection. “Today, I’ll make something for you.”

Nandini raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “You? This I have to see.”

Manik chuckled, kissing her forehead before getting up from the bed. “You’ll see,” he said confidently, holding out his hand to help her up.

Together, they made their way to the kitchen, a space that had seen many shared moments between them. As they entered, Manik gently lifted Nandini and set her on the kitchen slab, her legs dangling off the edge as she watched him move around with a calm ease.

“Comfortable?” he asked, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

“Very,” she replied, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she grabbed a bar of chocolate from a nearby jar. “I’ll just sit here and be entertained.”

Manik laughed softly, turning his attention to the task at hand. He began making the dough for aloo paratha, his movements sure and practiced.

Nandini, meanwhile, broke off a piece of chocolate and held it out to him. He took it, their fingers brushing in a moment of shared intimacy, and popped it into his mouth, smiling at her indulgently.

As he kneaded the dough, Nandini chattered away, filling the room with her lighthearted banter. Manik listened quietly, occasionally glancing at her, his heart swelling with love for this woman who had become his entire world.

After the dough was ready, Manik started searching for something in the kitchen cabinets. His back was turned to Nandini, who was still nibbling on her chocolate, when she suddenly grabbed his arm and pulled him toward her. He stumbled slightly, surprised by the force of her pull, and looked at her with wide eyes.

“Nandini, what—”

“Shh,” she interrupted, bringing a finger to his lips to silence him. In her other hand, she held a pair of scissors, which she raised to his shirt.

Manik’s confusion deepened. “What are you doing?” he asked, though his tone was more curious than alarmed.

Nandini didn’t answer. Instead, she made a quick snip, and before Manik could protest, his shirt was in pieces, leaving him bare-chested. He stared at her in shock, his heart racing as he tried to comprehend what had just happened.

“Nandini…” he began, but his words trailed off as she leaned in, her eyes glinting mischievously.

Without warning, she grabbed a bottle of sauce from the counter and drizzled it onto his neck. Manik’s breath hitched as she moved closer, her lips barely brushing against his skin.

“Nandini, what are you—” he started again, but she silenced him with the tip of her tongue tracing the line of sauce down his neck.

The sensation sent shivers through his body, and he instinctively reached out to steady himself, his hands gripping the edge of the counter behind her. He tried to pull away, but Nandini was relentless, her lips and tongue exploring his skin with a mix of teasing bites and gentle kisses.

“Stop… we should… the paratha…” he managed to murmur between gasps, but Nandini wasn’t listening. She was lost in her own world, reveling in the taste of him, the feel of his body beneath her touch.

Manik felt his resolve crumbling, his senses overwhelmed by the intensity of her boldness. He had always known Nandini had a playful side, but this—this was something entirely different. And it was driving him insane.

“Nandini,” he groaned, his voice low and thick with desire.

He couldn’t take it anymore. With a swift motion, he grabbed a handful of her hair, pulling her head back gently to look into her eyes. The intensity of her gaze, the fire that burned there, ignited something deep within him.

He kissed her then, hard and demanding, pouring all of his pent-up frustration and passion into that one kiss. Nandini responded with equal fervor, her hands clutching at his shoulders, pulling him closer as their lips clashed in a heated dance.

Time seemed to stand still as they lost themselves in each other, the world around them fading away. It was just the two of them, tangled up in a whirlwind of emotions that neither could fully control.

Manik’s hands roamed over her back, her waist, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them. Nandini’s fingers dug into his skin, her breath hitching as he deepened the kiss, his tongue exploring her mouth with a hunger that mirrored her own.

Finally, they broke apart, gasping for air, their foreheads resting against each other’s as they tried to catch their breath. Nandini’s chest heaved, her eyes glazed with desire, but there was also a softness there, a vulnerability that Manik couldn’t ignore.

“I love you,” he whispered, his voice raw with emotion.

Nandini smiled, a tear slipping down her cheek as she pressed her lips to his again, this time gently, tenderly. “I love you too,” she whispered back, her voice trembling with the depth of her feelings.

They stayed like that for a long moment, holding each other close, savoring the warmth of their connection. Eventually, Manik pulled back, cupping her face in his hands as he looked at her with a mixture of love and concern.

“We should eat something,” he said softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

Nandini nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. “Yeah, we should.”

Manik helped her down from the counter, and together they finished preparing the aloo parathas, their earlier intensity giving way to a quiet, shared contentment. As they ate, they talked and laughed, the weight of the world outside their little sanctuary temporarily forgotten.

But as the evening wore on, reality began to creep back in. Nandini had responsibilities at the hospital, and Manik knew they couldn’t stay here forever, no matter how much he wanted to.

As they prepared to leave, Manik pulled her into one last embrace, holding her tightly as if trying to imprint the memory of this moment into his very soul.

“Three more days,” he whispered into her hair. “And then we’ll face everything together.”

Nandini nodded, her heart aching with a mix of fear and hope. “Three more days,” she echoed, holding onto him just a little bit longer before they finally, reluctantly, parted ways.

The next day, the morning air was fresh with the promise of a new beginning. Nandini, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves, dialed Mukti and Alya's numbers, asking if they could meet up for coffee. Both agreed enthusiastically and soon, the three of them found themselves seated at a cozy corner table in a café.

The café was a small, intimate place, with warm wooden furniture and the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. The sun streamed in through the large windows, casting a soft glow over the room and adding to the warmth of their friendship.

Mukti was the first to speak, her usual playful grin lighting up her face. “So, what’s the latest gossip? I feel like it’s been ages since we met you.”

Alya nodded, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Yeah, how’s everything going on, and what’s up with Navya?”

Nandini smiled, sipping her coffee as she tried to calm the fluttering in her stomach. “Oh, you know, just the usual—patients, surgeries, long hours. Nothing too exciting. And Navya is perfectly fine. I called her too but she was in a meeting.”

Mukti leaned back in her chair, studying Nandini with a knowing look. “Come on, there’s got to be something more. You’ve got that look.”

Nandini laughed lightly, trying to brush off the comment. “What look?”

“The look that says you’ve got something on your mind but you’re not sure if you should share it,” Alya chimed in, giving her a gentle nudge. “Spill it, Nandini. We’re your friends now, you know that.”

The word “friends” hung in the air for a moment, and Nandini felt a warmth spread through her chest. It was still a bit surreal to her how close she had become to FAB 5 in such a short time.

A few months ago, she had known them only as Manik’s friends—people who were important to him but had nothing to do with her. Now, they were her friends too, and the bond they had formed was something she cherished deeply.

But with that closeness came a new layer of fear. What would happen when they found out about her relationship with Manik? Would they feel betrayed, or would they be supportive? The uncertainty gnawed at her, but she pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the present moment.

“Well, there is something,” Nandini began slowly, choosing her words carefully. “My birthday is coming up in a few days, and I’d love for you both to come.”

Mukti’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Your birthday? Of course, we’ll be there! What’s the plan?”

Alya nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, tell us everything! Are you doing something big, or just keeping it low-key?”

Nandini smiled, feeling a little more at ease with their enthusiasm. “It’s going to be pretty low-key, few of my close friends, colleagues, and business partners of pops I mean Navya’s father. But I’m really looking forward to it. It’s been a while since I celebrated with friends.”

Mukti leaned forward, a mischievous glint in her eye. “So, should we expect any surprises? Like maybe a special someone making an appearance?”

Nandini felt her heart skip a beat at the implication, but she kept her composure, her smile not faltering. “Well, you never know. Birthdays can be full of surprises.”

Alya clapped her hands together, her excitement palpable. “This is going to be so much fun! We’ll make sure it’s a day you won’t forget.”

As they continued chatting, Nandini couldn’t help but think about how much her life had changed since she first met them. She had been so nervous at the beginning, unsure of how to fit into Manik’s world. But they had welcomed her with open arms, and their friendship had grown naturally, organically, into something she now couldn’t imagine her life without.

Eventually, their conversation drifted to lighter topics—fashion, travel plans, and the latest movies. The laughter and camaraderie flowed easily between them, and for a while, Nandini forgot her worries, simply enjoying the moment.

When it was time to leave, they all stood up and exchanged hugs, promising to see each other soon.

“We’ll be there on your birthday, with bells on,” Mukti joked, giving Nandini a playful wink.

Nandini smiled, feeling a sense of relief. “I’m counting on it.”

As they walked out of the café, Nandini couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. She was excited for her birthday, hopeful that everything would go smoothly, but there was also a lingering anxiety about how the day would unfold. She had made her decision, and now she just had to wait and see how it would all play out.

Meanwhile, across town, Mahir was seated in the Malhotra’s grand office, discussing some business matters with Raj and Neyonika. The conversation had been flowing smoothly, but there was a certain anticipation in the air, something that Mahir had been waiting to bring up.

As the meeting wrapped up, Mahir leaned forward slightly, pulling out a small, elegantly designed invitation card.

“Before I forget,” he said, his tone casual but his eyes watchful, “I wanted to invite you all to a special event we’re hosting this weekend.”

He handed the invitation to Neyonika, who took it with a gracious smile. Raj glanced over her shoulder, his interest piqued.

“What’s the occasion?” he asked.

Mahir smiled, a hint of pride in his expression. “It’s Nandini’s birthday. She is like my daughter. We’re planning a small gathering with close friends and family, and we’d love for you to join us.”

Neyonika looked at the invitation, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. “We’d be honored,” she replied, her voice warm.

Raj nodded in agreement, and they both looked over at Manik, who had been uncharacteristically quiet throughout the exchange. He was staring at the invitation, a storm of emotions brewing behind his eyes.

Manik’s mind was racing. He knew this was the day they had decided to reveal their relationship, but the thought of how his parents would react, how the evening would unfold, filled him with a mixture of dread and determination.

He had always been able to handle pressure, but this was different—this was about the woman he loved and the life they wanted to build together.

“Manik?” Raj’s voice broke through his thoughts, and he looked up to see his father watching him curiously. “You’ll be there, right?”

Manik forced a smile, nodding. “Of course, I wouldn’t miss it.”

As the meeting ended and they began to leave, Manik couldn’t help but think about what Nandini had said earlier. They had been so focused on how her mother would react, but there was an undeniable truth that his own family and friends might have their reservations too.

He walked out of the office, the invitation still clutched in his hand, his mind already spinning with plans and contingencies. He knew that no matter what happened, he and Nandini would face it together.

But the weight of the unknown, the fear of what might go wrong, lingered in the back of his mind, a constant reminder of just how much was at stake.
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Hope u all like the chapter.....

Few words for Manik....

Few words for Nandini....

Few words for Vishakha....

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 ❤️❤️