Nandini descended the stairs, her heart fluttering with excitement. As she reached the living room, she found everyone already gathered there-Navya, Bela, Mahir, and Vishakha-waiting for her. The anticipation in the air was palpable.

Seeing them all together, Nandini couldn't contain her joy. "I can't believe we're finally doing this!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement. "Manik is going to be so surprised. He had no idea that we were coming, and Mumma said yes! He's going to be so happy!"

Navya, who had been standing beside her, grinned mischievously. "Oh, I can't wait to see his face! He's going to lose it when he sees you." She teased, nudging Nandini playfully. "And you-just look at you, all giddy and blushing. Who knew our calm and composed Nandini could be so smitten?"

Nandini laughed, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of pink. "Stop it, Navya! You're embarrassing me."

But Navya wasn't done. "Oh, come on, Nandini! You're like a lovestruck teenager. It's adorable!"

Bela smiled at their banter, her eyes twinkling with affection as she watched Nandini. "You're glowing, Nandini. It's good to see you so happy."

Vishakha, standing quietly nearby, observed her daughter with a tender expression, though the worry in her heart hadn't entirely subsided. She couldn't shake the sense of unease, but she tried to push it aside for Nandini's sake. She offered a small smile, trying to focus on the happiness of the moment.

"Let's go," Vishakha said, gently urging everyone toward the door. "We don't want to keep Manik waiting, do we?"

With that, they all made their way to the car, the atmosphere buzzing with anticipation. The drive to Paradise Point was filled with Nandini's excited chatter about how Manik would react, with Navya interjecting teasing comments every now and then.

As they approached Paradise Point, Nandini's excitement grew, but so did her nerves. She couldn't help the butterflies in her stomach as they finally reached their destination. The place held so many memories for her and Manik, and today, it would become the backdrop to yet another significant moment in their lives.

When they arrived, everyone climbed out of the car, and Nandini felt a surge of emotion wash over her. She glanced at her mother, who gave her an encouraging nod, though there was a hint of something unreadable in Vishakha's eyes. Nandini took a deep breath, steadying herself as they made their way to the entrance.

As they stepped inside, Nandini's heart pounded in her chest. The living room was just as she remembered, but there was something different today-a tension in the air that she couldn't quite place. She saw FAB 5, Abhimanyu, and Manik's parents sitting on the sofa, but there were also two other people, their backs turned to the group.

Before Nandini could register who they might be, Mukti and Alya noticed her and Navya, their faces lighting up with excitement.

"Nandini! Navya!" Mukti exclaimed, jumping up from the sofa and rushing over to them. Alya followed closely behind, her smile wide and warm.

The girls embraced in a flurry of excitement, their joy palpable. "We've missed you both so much!" Alya said, squeezing Nandini tightly.

As they pulled away from the hug, Mukti's eyes sparkled with mischief. "What a surprise! We didn't know you were coming."

Nandini laughed, though her eyes were already searching for Manik. "It was a last-minute decision... Where's Manik?"

As if on cue, Manik's head snapped up, his gaze locking onto Nandini's. For a moment, he was rooted to the ground, utterly stunned. It was as if time had stopped, and all he could see was her-standing there, smiling at him, like a vision he'd longed for during all those painful days apart.

Nandini noticed the way he froze, and her smile softened. She took a small step toward him, her heart swelling with affection. "Manik..." she called softly, her voice filled with warmth and love.

Manik blinked, snapping out of his daze, and before he knew it, she was right in front of him, her hands gently cupping his face. The touch was so familiar, so comforting, that all the tension he'd been carrying seemed to melt away in an instant.

"Nandini..." he breathed, his voice shaky with emotion. Without another word, he pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her as if he'd never let go again.

Nandini wrapped her arms around him, feeling the steadiness of his heartbeat against her chest. "I missed you," she whispered, her voice muffled against his shoulder.

Manik tightened his hold on her as if trying to convey just how much he'd missed her too. "I missed you more," he replied, his voice thick with emotion.

For a moment, they stood like that, holding each other in the middle of the room, oblivious to the world around them. Everyone else watched them with tender smiles, feeling the intensity of their connection.

Finally, Manik pulled back slightly, his eyes searching hers for answers. "How? Why? What happened?" he stammered, his mind racing with a million questions. "Nandini, how are you here? What about your mom? Did something happen?"

Nandini nodded, her smile wide and joyful. "Manik, She said yes. We're finally getting our chance."

Manik blinked, trying to process what she was saying. It felt like a dream, one that he was afraid might slip away if he dared to believe it. "She said yes?" he repeated, his voice a mix of disbelief and hope.

"Yes," Nandini said, her hands gently resting on his shoulders. "She said yes. And we're here to tell you in person."

Manik's face broke into a wide smile, the kind that lit up his entire face. He pulled her into another tight hug, his heart overflowing with joy and relief. "I can't believe this," he murmured into her hair. "I can't believe we're finally going to be together."

Neyonika's voice cut through the room. "Why don't we all sit down and talk?" she suggested, her tone calm and composed. "There's a lot to discuss."

Nandini and Manik turned toward the others, noticing that the atmosphere had suddenly shifted. As they made their way toward the seating area, Vishakha, Bela, and Mahir noticed the two unfamiliar faces seated on the sofa. As they approached, the man turned slightly, and the moment Vishakha saw his face, she froze.

It was as if the air had been sucked out of the room. Vishakha's heart pounded in her chest, her mind reeling as she recognized the man sitting before her. It was Vikrant Singhania-the man who had once meant everything to her, the man whose betrayal had shaped her life in ways she had never fully recovered from.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she felt a lump rise in her throat. She hadn't seen him in years, hadn't even thought about him in so long, but now, here he was, sitting in front of her, as if he had never left.

Raj stepped forward to make the introductions, oblivious to the storm brewing beneath the surface. "I'd like you to meet our guests," she began, her voice polite. "This is Vikrant Singhania, a dear friend and business partner of Raj's. And this is his daughter, Soha Singhania."

Vikrant turned fully, his eyes widening in shock as they met hers. "Vish..." he whispered.

The room fell into a tense silence as the weight of Neyonika's words settled over them. Everyone exchanged confused glances, wondering how Vikrant knew Vishakha.

For Vishakha, time seemed to stand still. She stared at Vikrant, her emotions a chaotic swirl of pain, anger, and confusion. She couldn't understand how he could be here, after all these years, after everything that had happened between them.

Vikrant, too, seemed lost for words, his eyes never leaving Vishakha's. The memories of their past flashed before him, and he could see the pain in her eyes, the pain he had caused.

The tension was thick, the air charged with unspoken words, and everyone else in the room felt it. They watched, waiting for someone to speak, to break the silence that had descended.

Finally, Vishakha managed to find her voice, though it was shaky. "What... what are you doing here, Vikrant?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Before he could say anything, Nandini stepped forward, her voice full of concern. "Mumma, are you okay?" she asked, her worry evident.

Vishakha tore her gaze away from Vikrant and looked at her daughter, her heart aching at the sight of Nandini's worry. She wanted to reassure her, to tell her that everything was fine, but she couldn't find the words.

Vikrant's eyes softened as he looked at Vishakha, seeing the pain in her eyes. He took a tentative step forward, his voice soft and full of regret. "Vish... is that really you?"

Vishakha couldn't speak, her throat tight with emotion. Tears began to fall freely down her cheeks, and she could only nod, the weight of the past crashing down on her.

The room was silent, everyone unsure of what to say or do. Nandini looked at her mother, then back at Vikrant, confusion and concern swirling in her mind. She could see the pain in her mother's eyes, but she didn't understand why it was there.

Vishakha quickly wiped her tears, trying to compose herself, but the shock of seeing Vikrant after all these years had left her shaken to her core. The room was filled with a sense of unresolved tension, a past that had suddenly resurfaced, leaving everyone on edge.
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Hope u all like the chapter.....

Few words for Manik....

Few words for Nandini....

What were your favourite moments???

What are your thoughts on Vikrant's Entry???

Will Nandini and Manik be together or separate again???

Thank u 🙂🙂

Love,
Kiara ❤️❤️