Next Morning...

Nandini woke up in the arms of her love. She smiled at Manik, admiring his peaceful expression as he slept. Noticing that the sunlight was bothering him, Nandini held her hand up to block the light from touching his face.

"Your arm will start hurting babe." Manik mumbled, snuggling closer to her.

"Tum soh nahi rahi ho?" Nandini asked, putting her arm down. Manik opened his eyes and smirked. "Idiot...gadhe. Bol nahi sakte they? Main itni der se tumhe dekh rahi thi like a creep!"

"Oye...khabardar jo meri jaan ko creep bola toh!" Manik warned. He slid his arm under her body and rolled her on top of him. "She is my cute little sweetheart."

"Manik!" Avni's voice was heard from outside the door. Nandini gasped as her eyes widened in panic. She quickly rolled off Manik, falling onto the ground with a thud. Manik sat up and looked concerned but Nandini was just busy wrapping herself in the blanket to cover her body. "Manik? Did something fall? Yeh awaaz kya tha?"

"Babe...you okay?" Manik whispered.

"Main thik hoon...par Avni Di bahar hai!" Nandini whispered back.

"Yeah...I can hear her." Manik replied casually, teasing her.

"Manik...she will see me! Woh bhi...iss halat mein! No No...I have to hide!" Nandini stood up...letting the blanket fall to the floor. Manik watched in amusement as she ran around trying to find a hiding spot...then she quickly ran into the washroom & closed the door. 

"Hello? I know you're awake!" Avni kept knocking. Manik rolled his eyes & pulled on his t-shirt & pants which were on the ground before walking over to the door. He opened the door to see Avni standing there with Neil.

"Morning sis....bil." Manik nodded.

"Bill? Manik...iska naam Neil hai not Bill!" Avni corrected him.

"Woh wala Bill nahi....bil...B...I...L...Brother-In-Law." Manik clarified.

"You could just call me Neil."

"I know I can....par usme maaza kaha hai?" Manik replied.

"Acha....yeh awaaz kya tha? Kuch gira kya?" Avni tried looking inside but Manik had the doorway blocked.

"Haan....woh...blanket." 

"Blanket? Usse itne zor ki awaaz?" Avni asked, feeling suspicious.

"Blanket ke andar Nandini jo toh thi..." Manik thought to himself. "Nahi..I...uh...I mean files tha. Main kal raat office ka kaam kar raha tha so they were on my bed."

"Tu bhi Na....such a workaholic!" Avni scolded him. 

"Avni....do you have a specific reason for coming to wake me up at this time? Ya ainvayi aa gayi pareshaan karne ke liye?" Manik asked.

"Shut up....idiot." Avni glared at him. As Neil watched the two siblings tease each other....he remembered the bond he had with his own sister.

Flashback

"Bhai I want a piggy back ride!" little Nandini demanded as she climbed onto Neil's back. Neil decided to prank her and fell dramatically to the ground like he was injured.

"AAHHH! My back! Mumma!" Neil cried out loud. Nandini got scared and ran to a corner as Megha ran over to see what happened.

"Kya hua?" Megha asked.

"Mumma....Golu squashed me!" Neil pointed to Nandini. Thats when Nandini realized Neil was just joking and she got mad.

"You're so MEEEAAAANNNNN!" Nandini threw a pillow at him as he laughed. 

"Neil..."Megha let out a chuckle, shaking her head. Neil stuck his tongue out at Nandini and she started chasing him.

"Golu! Golu!" Neil teased.

"PAPA!! Bhai is annoying me!!!!" Nandini complained to Gaurav.

Flashback Ends

"Neil..." Avni shook him out of his thoughts.

"Huh?" Neil asked.

"Kya soch rahe ho?"

"Just....kuch yaad aa gaya." Neil shrugged.

"Oh...ok. Anyways Manik...hum tujhe yaad dilane aaye they ki aaj sagai hai so no office got it?" Avni warned.

"Haan yaar....I know. As if you would leave me in one piece if I dare go to office." Manik replied.

"Good." Avni smiled. She & Neil turned to leave but then she turned back to Manik. "Oh haan....agli baar tujhe kisi ladki ke saath puri raat bithani hai toh at least hide her clothes."

Manik slowly turned back to look inside his room & was shocked to see Nandini's dress & bra lying on the ground in perfect view for Avni to see from the door.

"Uh....woh..." Manik didnt know what to say.

"Its ok....you're an adult." Avni chuckled. "Anyways...Mom aur Dad sagaai ke tayari mein busy hai so whoever you have hiding in your room....sneak her out from the back."

She then left with Neil and Manik closed his door. He picked up Nandini's dress & bra as he walked to the washroom. "Nandini....your clothes."

Nandini opened the door a crack and stuck out her hand. Manik handed her things to her and she quickly put them on before coming out.

"Avni di ko mere baare mein pata toh nahi chala na?" Nandini asked.

"Uhm....yes....and no?" Manik replied.

"Matlab?"

"Matlab.....she knows ki yahan ek ladki hai cause she saw your clothes."

"KYA!" 

"Shhh...." Manik sushed Nandini. "Relax.....she doesnt know WHO."

"Oh thank god.....agar pata chalta toh? Kya sochte mere baare mein? Ki main kaisi type ki ladki hoon?" Nandini sighed.

"Babe....shant ho jao." Manik softly tucked her hair behind her ear with one hand. "You know my family loves you....woh kabhi tumhare baare mein kuch galat nahi soch sakte. Woh toh tum nahi chahti iss liye hum chupa rahe hai varna I would go down and announce our relationship right now. Pyar kiya hai...koi gunnah thodi."

"Nahi Nahi Manik...we cant tell anyone. Baat sirf iska nahi ki tumhari family kya sochenge but ek baar families ko bata diya toh we will be pressured to take the next step. I love you Manik....I really love you par....shaadi pyar ka The End hota hai. Iska sabse bada example mere khud ke parents hai." Nandini explained. Manik kept quiet and just hugged Nandini because he knew that no matter how much he explained that not all marriages end up like her parents, she would not understand...especially not after seeing her mom's pain for years. Although they had many examples of successful marriages, Nandini's own parents relationship led her to hate the word marriage....and Manik never wanted to force Nandini into anything so they kept their relationship a secret from everyone. He was just happy to have her love.

"Shit....Manik look at the time!" Nandini saw the clock. "I have to get home...phir tayyar ho ke yahan vapas aana hai."

"Ok...chalo. Ill sneak you out." Manik replied.

"Main balcony se jaa sakti hoon Manik....I came from there na?" Nandini said.

"Absolutely not....I will never risk you getting hurt." Manik said firmly.

"Uff....tum bhi na Manik. Its not a big deal."

"Mere liye hai.....ab behas mat karo and follow me." Manik demanded.

"Ji Manik sir." Nandini nodded with a smile. Manik pocked his head out of the room & checked to see that the hallway was empty. Then he & Nandini snuck out of the room & slowly used the second staircase that led to back door of Malhotra Mansion. They made sure to avoid any servants or family members seeing them. Just as they got downstairs, they heard Gaurav & Viren walking towards them. Nandini & Manik quickly ran & hid behind a pillar. As they passed them, Gaurav stopped....sensing something.

"Kya hua Gaurav Ji?" Viren asked.

"Huh? I thought....nahi kuch nahi." Gaurav shook his thoughts away. "Vaise Virenji...pls call me Gaurav. Hum ek hi umar ke hai...aur ab toh rishtedaar baane wale hai."

"Ok...then you also must call me Viren okay?" Viren laughed.

"Deal."

While talking, they started walking away but Nandini felt like she heard his voice before. She turned to take a look. Manik pulled her back so they remained hidden by the pillar.

"Jaan...kya kar rahe ho? They will see us." Manik whispered.

"Woh kaun tha?" Nandini asked.

"Oh....Avni's future father-in-law." Manik shrugged. "Tum shaam ko sagaai pe aa rahi ho na....tab mil lena. For now....lets get you out of here without anyone seeing."

"Haan...you're right." Nandini nodded. Once Gaurav & Viren were gone, Manik & Nandini went towards the back door & Nandini ran to her car which was parked at a bit of a distance from the mansion.

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Teaser

Gaurav & Nandini face to face...

Nandini breakdown....

Ranbir confusion....

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Thoughts on this chapter?

In the show Manik was against marriage...I decided to make Nandini against marriage.

Will Megha meet Gaurav & her sons?

Pls leave your feedback & comments.