Manik and Nandini were facing each other. Nandini looked here and there. Then she again looked at him.

Nandini whispered: kya?

Manik (whispering): I don't know. You say.

Nandini looked at him with confused expression (whispering): matlab?

Manik came near to her now they both were lying on the same pillow. Nandini was looking straight at him.

Manik still whispering: tumhe bura laga?

Nandini confusingly: kis baat ka?

Manik: wo maine jo kiya, in dare.

Nandini smiled a bit: no,mujhe kyun bura lagega. It was a dare. Aapko bura laga maine jo kiya?

Now Manik smiled: no. main bas soch raha tha, how you became so bold.

Nandini laughed lightly: Mr. Manik Malhotra, don't you know, me already bold hu.

Manik: achha. Hmm I can see that. See this red mark (showing her his mark on his neck)

Nandini was till now smiling, but she looked at his neck, the hickey turned red to little bluish.

Nandini touched it and caressed it: is it paining?

Manik closed his eyes and moaned: Nandini...

Nandini looked at him and took her hand back. Manik realised her hand is not on his neck so he looked at her and then sat up straight. Nandini too sat beside him.

Manik: it's not paining.

Nandini looked at him, while Manik stood up and extended his hand to her, she accepted it and stood up. They started walking, but Nandini stopped and took a blanket and then checked all, who were sleeping and cuddling to each other.

Manik too looked at them. He saw his Bhaiya & Bhabhi sleeping cuddling to each other, a small smile crept on his lips. Nandini stood beside him and saw him smiling.

Manik: Bhaiya & Bhabhi kitne khush lag rahe he.

Nandini looked at him: aap khush he na?

Manik looked at her, smiled at her and then held her from shoulders: me bahot khush hu. This is what I want. My family should be happy. You beside me. This is life.

Nandini smiled.

Manik: chale?

Nandini smiled and they both started walking towards the railing. It was another part of the farmhouse.

They both adjusted themselves on the floor resting their back on railing. Manik wrapped blanket over them and hugged her sideways. He was playing with her small delicate fingers. Both sat in complete silence.

Nandini finally broke the silence: Manik.. Can I ask you something?

Manik looked at her confusingly: Nandini, you don't need to ask me for this.

Nandini smiled & continued: woo.. Bhaiya Bhabhi..?

She looked at him, instantly his smile got vanished, he knew what she is asking.

She sensed the tension: its okay Manik, if you don't want to share.

Manik placed his finger on her lips, she instantly shut her mouth, and Manik look straight in to her eyes: there is nothing which I don't want to share with you. Always remember that.

Nandini smiled and hugged him. Manik hugged her back and continued.

Manik: one year ago, I was in Cape Town for my vacation, with my friends. Suddenly one day Bhabhi called me and asked to check on her parents.

Nandini looked at him confusingly, Manik understood it.

Manik: Bhabhi ke Parents Cape Town me settle he.

Nandini nodded. Manik again continued.

Manik: I was shocked why Bhabhi is asking me to check on them. Then suddenly Bhabhi asked me to get tickets of Cape Town without informing them. I asked so many times that what happened, but she didn't answered. Then after 2 days she came here. We were staying in a hotel. She too stayed with us only. Then she told whole story ke Bhaiya office me bahot busy he, pichhale one moth se they were fighting. He is not giving her time. Pehle aisa nahi tha, Bhaiya was not so romantic, but he always give time to her. But achanak he started to ignore, beech me Bhabhi ko ye bhi laga may be he is having affair. So Bhabhi once followed him. Par aisa kuch nahi tha. But Bhaiya ko pata chal gaya ke Bhabhi unpe spy kar rahi he. Bhaiya gussa ho gaye. They both fought. Bhabhi ne ek din gusse me aake bol diya ke me ghar chhod ke jaa rahi hu. Bhaiya didn't stopped her. She was broken. Unhe apne parents ko bhi nahi batana tha. So unhone mujhe call kiya. Then mom ke kehne par I told everything to her parents. Her parents took her to their home. Me bhi thode din unke ghar pe hi ruka. One day Bhaiya came there and said sorry to Mukti Bhabhi. But she didn't forgave him. And why will she forgive him? I have seen her crying, crying like hell. How can Bhaiya do that to her? I was so worked up. Bhaiya infact talked with me too. Fir Bhaiya ka point sunke laga ke no one is wrong. Actually the situation is wrong. I was so worked up aur waise bhi term shuru hone wala tha, so I left for London again. Then after two weeks Mom ka call aya tha. She said everything is fine. Bhabhi bhi ghar aa gayi he. So this is what happened.

Nandini caressed his chest in order to soothe his pain.

Manik had a tear in his eyes: you know Nandini, tab ek pal ke liye aisa laga ke shayad maine meri family kho di. They are my life Nandini. I can't see them in pain. I just cant.

Nandini looked at him, she also had a tear in her eyes. She wiped his tears.

Nandini: koi unhe hurt nahi karega.

Manik hugged her tightly, may be he wants to give half the pain to her. So that they both can share that. Again silence took place in between. Manik stopped crying, but suddenly he heard sound of sniffing. He looked at Nandini. Yes his guess was right. She was crying. He instantly took her face in his hands.

Manik lovingly: hey, what happened? Why are you crying?

Nandini apart herself from him and started wiping her tears: Kuch nahi bas aise hi..

Manik held her hands, she looked at him, he instantly understood something happened to her.

Manik asked lightly: what happen?

Nandini looked down: kuch nahi.

Manik made her look at him: Nandini, we are trying to know each other right? So tum aise kaise baat chhupa sakti ho?

Nandini looked at him with teary eyes: what am I to you Manik?

Manik was taken aback, suddenly she is asking strange question. Do he really need to tell her, what she is to him? They are going to marry in next six months, and here she is asking what she means to him? Is she insane?

His chain of thoughts broken by Nandini, she was shaking his shoulders.

Nandini: tell me na Manik, what I am to you?

Manik held her shoulders: Nandini, you know what are you talking about?

Nandini looked at him: yes I know. I want to know Manik.

Manik: so listen. You are the reason, why I am sitting here middle of the night, talking about my family secrets. Why Nandini? Because we are going to be Life Partner. We are going to be soul mates.

Nandini: exactly Manik. We are soul mates. Yet you treat me as a stranger. Or just a mere person?

Manik looked at her confusingly: tum... yee.. kyaa...?

Nandini wiped her tears: Manik. Its not ke me tumse ladna chahti hu. Me bas baat karna chahti hu tumse about us. Where do I stand in your priority list? I am not saying ke I didn't like the way you feel for your family. I am blessed that you take care of your family this much. But Manik, we are going to marry in just six months. Then I'll also be your family na? Then why mujhpe bina soche, bina jane gussa?

Manik realised what she was talking about: tum aaj afternoon ki baat kar rahi ho.

Nandini nodded in yes.

Manik held her shoulders: Nandini, aisa nahi he. Its just...

Nandini cut him in between: just what Manik? Here I am trying to put you among all. Why? You know why? Because I have accepted you as my Life partner. As My Soul Mate. But you...

Manik put finger on her lips: shh... bahot bolti ho tum. Aur ye kya keh rahi ho? You are among all. Aur jisase insaan gussa karta he & naraz hota he ussi se sabse zyada pyaar bhi karta he. You are very precious to me Nandini. Very precious.

Nandini was just listening to his talks very intensely. Manik caressed her cheeks.

Manik: on this point of my life, I can't imagine my life without you. I haven't felt something this much strong ever before. I don't know what it is, but jo bhi he, mujhe pasand he. And dare you aage se aise bola ke you are nothing to me, I'll give you punishment to you from next time.

Nandini wiped her tears and giggled a little: and dare you agar tumne mujhpe chillaya to.

Manik held his ears and murmured a sorry. Nandini held his hands, and hugged him. He too hugged her back.

Both sat silently, in to each other's arms. For her she was in the safest place in the world, and for him he was his solace, his peace. Both were enjoying cool breeze cuddling to each other.

Suddenly Nandini asked: Manik? Do you wanted an arrange marriage?

Manik broke the hug and looked at her confusingly, she asked him through her eyes. Manik signed.

Manik: actually, no. knowing me I didn't expected me to getting married to an unknown person you know. But when I saw you first time na, I was like this is the girl with whom I want to spend my entire life. Yes I didn't know you at that time, but still I wanted to know you. What about you? Did you expected an arrange marriage?

Nandini looked at him: actually yes. Kyunki kabhi time hi nahi mila Love and all ke bare me sochne ke liye. When I was small na, to tab bahot bar socha tha ke will be in love in future then I will marry him, par phir jaise jaise badi hui, responsibilities badha gayi, Mom Dad chhod ke chale gaye. Rishabh ki zimmedari. So many things. In sab me Pyaar to reh hi gaya.

Manik smiled at her and put some hair stands behind her ears.

Nandini continued: phir one day Chachji told me about you, firstly maine socha ke mana kar du. Phir socha, kya pata jis prince ke bare me me bachpan me sochti thi. Wo shayad yahi ho. And chachaji kabhi galat nahi hote. So isiliye I agreed to meet you. When we meet na, mujhe laga you will directly say no to me. Kyunki you were looking so good on that day. Mujhe laga I don't deserve you. But then you open up so easily. You told me about your past I felt like if he can share his important things to me, so I should also try. And that's how you gain respect Manik.

Manik smiled at her and pecked her cheek.

Nandini: you know Manik, this feeling. It is different, it is magical. I want to take care of you all the time. Tumhari likes dislikes. Tumhara gussa, tumhari aadate. I want to know all. I just want to be on your side always.

Manik took her hands in his hands and kissed on her knuckles: promise me Nandini. You will never leave me. What you are feeling is the same what I am feeling. I also want to know all about you. I also want to know your likes dislikes. And don't you dare think ke you don't deserve me. In fact I think that I don't dese...

Nandini put her hand on his lips: shh... don't say that.

Manik took her hand from his lips and kissed her palm, Nandini blushed and looked down: we both deserve each other, coz we both are made for each other. Right?

Nandini nodded and hugged him instantly, Manik hugged her back tightly. She snuggle more to him.

Manik: Nandini... I don't know if this is Love or not. But I think we are on right track. Track to love each other.

Nandini broke the hug and blushed. And was about to stand up. But Manik held her hand.

Manik: kaha? Kaha ja rahi ho?

Nandini made him stood up and held his left hand and showed him his watch: see it is 2:30 a.m. aur mujhe bahot neend aa rahi he. To so jaye?

Manik smiled and pressed his lips, and gestured her to come. They started walking towards their bed and lay down there. Both were looking at the sky, keeping a little distance in between. Manik looked at her, Nandini too looked at him.

Manik: don't you think thand bahot zyada he. You should hug me and sleep.

Nandini signed and went near to him and hugged him, Manik covered her with the blanket. Now they both were lying together. Nandini's head on his chest and her hands on his stomach. Both soon drifted into sleep.

It was peace, peace of Love. Love is in the air. Yes... They started feeling about each other. Not exactly love, but yes they are on right track. Almighty watched them, and proud on himself that he again made a successful pair which is there sleeping cuddling to each other.

******

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