A new journey had started, full of love, happiness & friendship. Finally life was getting back to normal, in fact, it was getting much better than normal. Everyone was happy & contended. This was what Manik had always wished for. It was around 5am in the morning & Manik was sitting in his room thinking about the same. His first official date with nandini had been really special & memorable, just as nandini had wished for. He droped her home at around 3:45am. Soon he returned back home, but sleep was a way too out of his reach. And here he was sitting on his bed, staring at Fab5's photograph which was hung on the wall. When his gaze got fixed on their faces, & he could see something missing in their smiles, but now he knew that all his friends were actually happy. And when he thought about the reason, the only answer that his heart gave him was "Nandini!!"

Her arrival got happiness in all their lives & love in his life.

He got sleep of about an hour after which he got ready for office & went downstairs to have breakfast with Mukti & Raj. He went there & Mukti said,

Mukti: Good morning Bhai!!

Manik: Good morning madam... Good morning Dad!!

Raj: Morning son... Come sit along with us.

Manik joined them & the servant served him, when Mukti asked,

Mukti: Bhai what got u so late last night??

Manik: Last night!!

Mukti: yeah... Where were u?? I know u returned back home at around 4am, I got up when u came into my room to see me.

Manik: Ohh ya... Actually I got stuck somewhere.

Mukti: So late??

Manik: Mukti.. Chill!! It was something important.

Manik knew that his jungli billi was still not convinced but before she could say anything else he looked at his father & changed the topic & said,

Manik: Dad.. R u coming to the office with me?

Raj: Yeah.. I m!!

Manik: Ohk... We hv a meeting with the Singhania's this afternoon.

Raj: What is the meeting for?

Manik: Nothing much!! Just to review on the terms.

Raj: Ohk..

Manik noticed Mukti getting bored at this discussion & smiled looking at her.

Manik: By the way Mukti how is ur college going on?

Mukti heard him & immediately remembered one thing,

Mukti: Ohh ya... Good that u reminded me!! I hv got to tell u something

Manik: Yes say na...

Mukti: Nyonika got me yesterday.

And just the mention of her name was enough to change Manik's mood. Even Raj got angry listening to it.

Manik: What does that lady wants?? Enough now!! This time I m not leaving her, she is not allowed to meet u or talk to u in my absence. I m going to-

Mukti: Bhai... Relax!! Chill.. At least listen to me.

Manik: No Mukti.. Not this time!

Mukti: Bhai.. wait.. She did wish to talk to me, but I didn't let her. There was some meeting after which she stopped me, but when I didn't let her say anything & was leaving, that time she called me out & asked me to remind u that its the day of the month tommorow.

Manik: I can't even handle her around u for a minute.

Mukti: Calm down Bhai... Its just a dinner thats it & moreover u will be there with me right? Then why do I need to worry.

Manik calmed down listening to this & immediately a smile crept on his face, Mukti noticed it & asked,

Mukti: Now why r u smiling??

Manik: Nothing!! Just seeing the change in u from the past 2-3 months. Remember these lines belonged to me.

Mukti smiled at it & so did Raj.

Manik: My younger sister is finally growing up.

Mukti: Yeah... And u r becoming a kid day by day. Seriously Bhai, I m telling u these days u r showing very much tantrums, God knows who is gonna handle ur tantrums now.

Manik smiled listening to this & said slowly,

Manik: U wont hv to do that, some1 else will..

Mukti: What??

Manik looked at her & said,

Manik: No No nothing!!

Soon Manik & Raj left for office while Mukti went to college.

Later that day, Manik got a call from Mr. Kapoor to get the time fixed for the visit to the site. Manik asked him to wait & called Raj.

Raj: Hello!!

Manik: Hey Dad..

Raj: yes manik..

Manik: Dad... Ms. Moorthy's manager is on the line, actually she is back in town & thus, was asking if u would wish to visit the site today.

Raj: Ohh ya!! Sounds great...

Manik: Ohk dad... I'll get the time fixed then.

Raj: Sure!!

Manik talked to Mr. Kapoor & they fixed the time at 3 in th afternoon.

Later that day Manik & Raj reached the hospital site exactly at 3 as decided, but Nandini wasn't there yet. They got down their car & were about to enter when they saw two other cars stop there. And soon Nandini got down the car with Mr. kapoor. She moved towards Manik & Raj, followed by Mr. Kapoor & two of her guards as always. Just then she stopped & said sternly to them.

Nandini: Stay here!!

Guard: But Ma'am-

Nandini gave him an angry glare & then moved ahead. She reached near Manik & Raj and shaked hands with Raj saying,

Nandini: Good evening Sir, I m really sorry I had to keep u waiting..

Raj: Ohh no, we just came!!

Nandini smiled at it & shoke hands with manik,

Nandini: Hello Mr. Malhotra!

Manik: Hello!!

With this they moved in. The cheif architect there, explained nandini, manik & raj about the different proceedings going on & then showed them around. Raj went through it all & was again impressed by Nandini as her decision of keeping the doctors in the construction team worked out beautifully. Reached the top & finally Raj said,

Raj: Nice work Nandini... I really appreciate ur work.

Nandini: Sir... Its all because of my teams hard work.

Raj: Yeah right!!

Mr. Kapoor whispered something to Nandini to which she nodded & said,

Nandini: Get it prepared!

Mr. Kapoor went away along with the chief architect leaving Manik, Nandini & Raj alone. When raj said,

Raj: Just got back from college?

Nandini: Yes Uncle!!

Manik: And still u had the time to go home & get ready!!

Manik added with a bit of sarcasm, looking at her wearing a her usual formals, a knee length dress with contrasing coat . Nandini smiled at it & then praised herself.

Nandini: I got ready in the office itself, u know how I manage stuff.

Raj smiled at them & Nandini said,

Nandini: Ohk enough of joking around... Lets go down.

She turned towards Raj & said,

Nandini: Uncle, Lets go to the office room... There are some files to be signed by manik & I have arranged some refreshments for both of u.

Raj: It was not needed child. Especially here!! Its an under construction site.

Nandini: I think it was... Shall we??

Raj nodded & all the three of them started moving down the 5 story building. There were no proper stairs, they were getting down on the 3rd floor when suddenly Nandini's heel got stuck to a stone and as a result she was about to fall off the stairs. "NANDINI!!" Manik shouted as he stood a few steps behind her, he tried to hold her and held her hand but unfortunately as he pulled her, his grip got loosened. Nandini didn't fall off the stairs, but instead she fell on the stairs itself. She rolled down 6-7 steps & landed on the 3rd floor. Manik & Raj rushed towards her while the worker there called for the medical team. Manik immediately sat down by her side & looked if she was fine or not. Soon Mr. Kapoor along with all the other chief workers came running for their boss. On getting convinced that their was nothing serious Manik immediately hugged Nandini. Nandini understood his care, but still she knew that she had to calm him down,

Nandini: Its ohk Mr. Malhotra, I m fine!!

Manik got irritated by her official behaviour & said,

Manik: Just shut up.. Can't u see & walk!! U know na, this is a construction site, so what was the need to wear these heels.

Raj looked at Manik & smiled a bit at his care towards Nandini. Manik himself removed his heels & kept them aside, he clenched his fists in anger looking at her bleeding knee, which had a deep but due to her knee length dress. Nandini saw him clench his fists in anger & slowly kept her hand on his shoulder saying,

Nandini: Manik, calm down..

Manik gave her an angry glare & picked her up in his arms.

Nandini: Manik.. What are u doing?? Put me down!!

Manik: Just stay quite...

Manik took her downstairs in the office room where the medical team came & the doctor started cleaning her wound. Manik was sitting by her side, holding her hand tightly & the moment he would feel Nandini in pain, he would clutch her hand tightly. Both Nandini & Raj were looking at him. As the doctor finished he said,

Doctor: Its nothing to worry... But its a deep cut so it will take a few days to heel, but don't worry, it will be absolutely fine within a week's time. Till then try to give it some rest, so that it heals faster.

Nandini smiled at him & said,

Nandini: Thank u doctor.

But just then Manik asked,

Manik: Are u sure doctor that its fine... Do we have to take her to the hospital & get it checked once, actually nandini's ankle has a previous injury that was told to be taken care of. I hope there has been no damage in that, because of this.

Doctor: No Mr. Malhotra... She is fine!! All the strain was on her knees & thus, her ankle is absolutely fine.

Nandini was feeling very awkward due to all of it. Firstly, because Manik was showing his care towards her in front of her entire staff, with whom she was always very professional. And secondly, as Manik's Dad was present there seeing manik know so much about Nandini.

With this the doctor left, along with all the others, leaving only Manik, Nandini, Raj & Mr. Kapoor.

Mr. Kapoor walked closer towards her & kept his hand on her head, Nandini smiled at him & said,

Nandini: Kapoor Uncle.. me thik hoon!! Dont worry.... aap ghar jaaye aur kal se thode din me office nhi aaoungi toh office ki duty aapki!!

Mr. Kapoor: par beta me rukta hoon na, aap-

Nandini: Mr. Kapoor, Its an order.

Mr. Kapoor: Ohk madam.. But take care!

With this Mr. Kapoor left from there. Nandini was still feeling awkward bcoz of Raj, she turned towards Manik & said,

Nandini: Manik...

Manik didn't respond to her so she again said in a mocking tone,

Nandini: Manik... Plz na leave my hand u r hurting me...

Manik immediately left her hand & shouted,

Manik: What do u think haan, its so much fun na!!!! What if anything would have happened. What if u would have fallen down... Say!! How can u be so careless Nandini??

Nandini: Calm down Manik... I didn't slip purposefully..

Manik got up & banged his fist on the table in anger. Nandini got furious at it & said,

Nandini: Stop shouting at me like this... U know what, just stay away from me... Bloody monster!! Don't dare talk to me now.

Nandini got up on her feet but it hurted her leg, she stumbled in her feet. Manik saw that & was about to hold her, when she stopped him by lifting her hand. Nandini looked at him angrily & shouted, "Guards!!".

The very next second, both her guards stromed in, she took the support of one of them & moved out. Manik looked at her walk away & followed her a few seconds later. He reached outside along with raj to see her talking to the architect,

Nandini: All work should get going as it is. I'll keep on coming to check. We have to complete it a week before the completion date.

Architect: Yes ma'am.

Nandini: Good... Keep me updated!!

Nandini was walking towards her car when Manik went towards her, and said sternly

Manik: Nandini!!

Nandini: I don't wanna talk to u.. Go away U Monster.

Saying this Nandini sat into the car & said,

Nandini: Driver take me home.

Manik stamped his feet in anger & sat back into his car. Raj smiled at him & he too got in & then left for the Malhotra Mansion. Just as they reached Manik went straight into his room & played his guitar in anger. After about 30 minutes Raj went to his room & saw him sitting on the bed. He stood at the door & asked,

Raj: If the monster is gone, can I get in?

Manik looked at him & said,

Manik: Ohh Dad, come na!!

Raj got into the room & sat by his side & then after a few seconds he said,

Raj: So my son is finally in Love!!

Manik looked at him, shocked but soon realised that Raj would have guessed it by seeing manik's reaction at the site.

Raj: Don't be shocked son. I knew it the moment I saw u looking at her when Mukti first introduced me to her as ur friend. The happiness on ur face when I came here, clearly told me everything. Ur love & care towards her is clearly visible in ur actions...

Manik smiled at him & Raj kept his hand on his shoulder.

Raj: I can very well see how much she has changed my son, & I must say I like this Manik a lot more than the earlier one, i.e., Monster manik..

Manik laughed a bit & hugged him.

Raj: I m very happy for u son..

Manik: Thanks dad!!

Raj: Manik, Nandini is a really nice girl but u have to understand that no matter how much happy, bubbly & strong she seems from outside, she is a lot more delicate & weak from inside. That girl has grown up facing world all alone & she needs a lot of love & care. She has never got this from anyone in her life & she expects it from u...

Manik smiled at him & nodded,

Raj: Now go, she needs u at present...

Manik hugged him again & said,

Manik: Thanks dad, Love u...

Saying this Manik left from there.