The night before Nandini’s birthday, the Malhotra family gathered around the dinner table for a meal that was, on the surface, just like any other. The dining room was grand, with a long table set with fine china and crystal glasses, the warm glow of chandeliers above them casting a soft light on their faces

As they were finishing their meal, Neyonika spoke up, her tone casual but with a hint of expectation. “Mukti, Alya, we have a party to attend tomorrow. I hope you two are prepared.”

Mukti raised an eyebrow, exchanging a glance with Alya before turning back to Neyonika. “A party? What’s the occasion?”

Raj, dabbing the corner of his mouth with a napkin, responded, “It’s Mr. Sehgal’s daughter’s birthday. You know, the company we’re collaborating with. It’s a significant event.”

Alya’s face lit up with realization. “Tomorrow’s Nandini’s birthday! We’re going to her celebration. We wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Mukti nodded in agreement, a playful smile on her lips. “Yeah, we’ve been looking forward to it. It’s going to be great.”

Neyonika looked mildly surprised, her perfectly arched eyebrows rising. “Isn’t that a coincidence? Mr. Sehgal’s daughter is also named Nandini. It's okay then me, Raj and Manik will be going there.”

There was a brief silence as the connection was made, and then Alya gasped, turning to Manik. “Wait, even will come with us Manik! You’re coming to Nandini’s birthday too, right? We’ll go together!”

Raj, slightly puzzled, leaned back in his chair. “What would he do at your friend’s birthday party?”

Mukti couldn’t help but laugh at the situation. “Dad, you’ve forgotten. We told you about Nandini—Manik’s best friend. It’s her birthday tomorrow.”

Neyonika looked at Manik, her curiosity piqued. “Manik, why did you say yes to the party if you already had other plans? You could have mentioned it.”

Manik, who had been silent throughout the conversation, finally spoke up. His voice was calm, but there was an underlying tension that only those close to him could detect. “There aren’t two Nandinis. It’s the same birthday party we’re talking about. Mr. Sehgal is Navya’s father. So, it’s the same.”

Mukti and Alya exchanged looks of shock and excitement. “Oh my god, really?” Alya exclaimed, her eyes wide.

Raj, still processing the information, asked, “Who is Navya?”

Manik, his voice steady but with a hint of affection, replied, “Navya is Nandini’s best friend. You could say they’re more like sisters. Mr. Sehgal treats them equally. He’s very protective of both.”

Neyonika, still intrigued, asked, “Did you know Mr. Sehgal personally before this?”

Manik shook his head slightly. “I’ve seen his pictures, but I didn’t think it was appropriate to introduce myself as Nandini’s friend the first time we met. It would’ve seemed unprofessional. I kept our personal connection separate.”

Mukti, ever the enthusiast, clapped her hands together, her excitement contagious. “So we’re going to the birthday party! This is going to be so much fun.”

Alya nodded in agreement, already planning out what they could do. “We’ll have a blast. It’s been so long since we’ve all had a good time together.”

Manik managed a small smile, though his thoughts were elsewhere. He couldn’t shake the feeling of anticipation and anxiety about what tomorrow would bring. Everything was in motion now—their plans to reveal their relationship, the intertwining of their personal and professional lives, and the potential fallout.

The table conversation shifted to lighter topics, but Manik remained somewhat distant, his mind whirling with thoughts. His love for Nandini, the complications of their situation, and the uncertainty of how everyone would react weighed heavily on him.

He knew that tomorrow could change everything, for better or worse, and while he was prepared to face it, there was a part of him that feared the unknown. As they finished dinner and began to leave the table, Manik’s thoughts returned to Nandini. He wondered how she was feeling, knowing that tomorrow was the day they had been both looking forward to and dreading.

As the clock ticked closer to midnight, the anticipation in the air was palpable. Manik sat in his room, his phone in hand, watching the seconds count down. He knew Nandini was waiting on the other end, just as eager as he was. Finally, the minute hand clicked to 12, and without hesitation, he pressed the call button.

Nandini’s phone lit up, and she answered on the first ring. Neither spoke, just listening to each other breathe, the silence between them filled with the comfort of knowing they were connected in this special moment.

Manik waited until the clock officially struck 12, then whispered, “Happy birthday, love.”

A soft smile spread across Nandini’s face, her heart warming at his words. “Thank you,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. She knew she had only a few precious seconds before she had to cut the call, so without wasting another moment, she hung up.

She barely had time to compose herself before there was a knock on her door. She quickly opened it to find Navya bouncing on her toes with excitement, a wide grin on her face. Navya practically jumped on her, enveloping her in a tight hug.

“Happy birthday, Nandu!” she exclaimed, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.

Nandini laughed, returning the hug with equal warmth. “Thank you, Navya!”

Vishakha was next, stepping forward with a gentle smile. She cupped Nandini’s face in her hands, her eyes filled with love and pride.

“Happy birthday, my dear,” she said softly before leaning in to kiss her forehead.

Nandini closed her eyes, soaking in the warmth of her mother’s affection. “Thank you, Mumma,” she whispered, her heart swelling with emotion.

Bela stepped forward next, her smile warm and affectionate. “Happy birthday, Princess,” she said, giving Nandini a quick hug.

“Thanks, Mom,” Nandini replied, feeling a sense of gratitude for the love that surrounded her.

Finally, Mahir stepped up, his usual reserved demeanor giving way to a rare moment of affection. “Happy birthday, Princess,” he said, his voice gruff but sincere.

“Thank you, Pops,” Nandini said, feeling a little choked up at the family’s love and support.

They moved into her room, bringing a small cake with them. They placed it on the table, lighting a single candle on top. Navya started singing, and the rest joined in, their voices mingling in a sweet chorus of “Happy Birthday.” Nandini couldn’t help but smile, the simple tradition filling her with warmth.

As the song ended, she closed her eyes and made a silent wish before blowing out the candle. The room erupted in cheers, and she cut the cake, offering the first piece to Vishakha, who fed it to her with a smile.

Nandini went around, feeding others a piece of cake, her heart full. The warmth of the moment made her momentarily forget the heaviness of the day ahead. Here, surrounded by her loved ones, she felt cherished and loved.

Navya, ever the tease, nudged Nandini with her elbow after she finished giving everyone a piece of cake.

“So, did he call you at midnight?” she asked with a playful grin.

Nandini blushed slightly, nodding. “Yeah, just for a moment,” she admitted, not meeting Navya’s gaze but smiling nonetheless.

Navya laughed, giving her a knowing look. “I figured as much seeing you but I wondered how I missed this before.”

Vishakha watched the exchange with a curious look, but let the moment pass without comment. For now, this was Nandini’s night, and she wanted her daughter to enjoy it.

As they sat down together, sharing laughter, Nandini felt a bittersweet twinge in her heart. She knew that soon, everything would change—tomorrow would be the beginning of something new, something uncertain. But for now, in this moment, she allowed herself to bask in the love and warmth of her family, cherishing the simplicity of the night.

After everyone had left Nandini’s room, the warmth of their presence lingering in the air, she sat on her bed, her phone lighting up with a flurry of calls and messages. Friends, colleagues, and others sent their best wishes, filling her with a mix of joy and a sense of overwhelming love.

She responded to each one, her heart fluttering with every “Happy Birthday!” that popped up on her screen.

Finally, when the messages slowed down, she scrolled to the most important contact in her phone—Manik. Her thumb hovered over his name for just a moment before she tapped it, initiating the call. As expected, he picked up on the first ring.

“Happy birthday again, love,” Manik’s voice came through, deep and warm, instantly putting her at ease.

“Thank you,” Nandini replied softly, her lips curling into a smile at the sound of his voice. “How many times are you going to wish me today?”

“As many times as it takes to make sure you know how special you are,” Manik said, his tone light but laced with sincerity. “How was the midnight celebration?”

Nandini let out a small laugh, her heart lightening as she recounted the events. “It was really nice. Navya was her usual over-excited self, and Mumma was so sweet… Everyone was so loving. It was just perfect.”

“I’m glad,” Manik said, and she could almost hear the smile in his voice. “You deserve nothing less.”

For a moment, they just listened to each other breathe, the silence between them comfortable and filled with unspoken emotions.

Then Nandini sighed, a hint of apprehension creeping into her voice. “Manik, do you think everything will be okay tomorrow? I mean… it feels like everything’s on the line.”

Manik’s heart clenched at the uncertainty in her voice. He wished he could take all her worries away, wrap her in the security of his arms, and assure her that nothing could go wrong. But he knew he couldn’t make such promises. All he could do was be there for her, through every high and low.

“Nandini,” he began gently, “I know this feels huge, and it is. But I also know that we’re stronger together than we are apart. We’ve faced so much already, and we’re still here, aren’t we?”

She nodded, even though he couldn’t see her. “Yeah, we are,” she whispered.

“And we’re going to keep facing whatever comes our way. Together,” Manik continued, his voice steady and reassuring. “I don’t know exactly what’s going to happen tomorrow, but I do know that I’ll be right there with you. We’ll tell our families about us, and whatever their reaction is, we’ll deal with it. We’ll handle it.”

Nandini closed her eyes, letting his words wash over her like a balm to her anxious heart. “I just… I’m scared, Manik. Scared of what could happen. What if… what if they don’t accept us?”

Manik’s breath hitched slightly, the thought of such a possibility not lost on him. But he quickly pushed it aside, focusing on what he could control. “If that happens, then we’ll find a way. We’ll talk to them, make them see how much we mean to each other. And if they still don’t understand… we’ll figure something out. But whatever happens, I’m not letting you go. Not now, not ever.”

A tear slipped down Nandini’s cheek, her heart swelling with love for the man on the other end of the line. “I love you, Manik. More than anything.”

“I love you too, Nandini,” Manik replied, his voice filled with emotion. “And that’s not going to change, no matter what.”

They stayed on the line for a while longer, talking about little things, memories they shared, and dreams they had for the future. Manik did everything he could to make her laugh, teasing her, telling her stories, and even singing a bit off-key just to hear her giggle.

By the time they finally said their goodnights, Nandini felt lighter, her fears momentarily pushed to the background by the love and reassurance Manik had given her.

She knew the next day would bring challenges, but she also knew she wouldn’t be facing them alone. And that gave her the strength she needed to close her eyes and drift off to sleep, her heart full and her mind at peace.
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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???

What will happen tomorrow???

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

Thank u 🙂🙂

Love,
Kiara ❤️❤️