For the last time, asking you to Vote and Comment on this one:)

This chapter dedicated to each one of my readers, I Love You and mostly to khudayaakhair for many reasons:)

Ps- the song used in this chapter was moulded according to the scene (some lyrics were changed) but you can tune in to that song while reading that part! (It's Love story by Taylor swift)

Enjoy for the last time--

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wo behte samandar sa hai,
aur ruki hui hoon main,
wo hai mukammal sa,
aur tooti hui main,
uske aage- koi wajood hi nahi mera,
khazane sa hai woh,
aur looti hui hoon main!!

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[Four Years Later]

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"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed faculty, and distinguished guests, it is with great pride that we gather here today to celebrate the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. Among the many accomplished graduates of our esteemed institution, one name shines brightly, embodying the spirit of excellence and academic prowess."

The audience leans in, anticipation palpable, as the anchor continues, "I am delighted to announce that Nandini Murthy, a beacon of brilliance in the field Mass Communication and Journalism, has not only completed her degree with distinction but has also secured the coveted position of topping the entire university. Please give a round of applause to Ms Nandini Murthy, and I would like to welcome her on the stage to get her degree for her years of hardwork.

The whole auditorium was echoed with loud claps and Nandini stood up from her seat and walked to the stage with a smile and confidence oozing out of her walk. She moved to the position and stood under the spotlight. Dresses up in a saree with full sleeves blouse and open long hair, she was looking bold and confident.

"And, now to felicitate her with her degree, I would love to call our chief guest on the stage, who himself is a walking inspiration for the youth, and is everyone's favourite too. The rising young billionaire and your favourite, my favourite, rockstar Manik Malhotra. Please keep applauding people."

And again the whole auditorium cheered loudly and stood up from their seats as Manik Malhotra, the owner of the world leading automobile company, Nyanidah, a name which he says is a mix of the three most important women in his life, and the lead singer of the world famous band- The Fab Five.

Manik walked on the spot where Nandini was standing and looked into her eyes, and his gaze softened. He smiled ever so fondly making it difficult for Nandini to not smile back. But controlling her urge, she signalled him towards the crowd and he looked straight at the audience, his soft smile replaced by a formal one.

He took the rolled certificate from the helper and caressed it with love before looking at her, who was staring back at him and smiled when she saw the proud look on his face.

He forwarded the certificate to her and she took it and they both paused for the photograph with a small smile on their faces. The audience cheered and clapped and in all those loud sound, one voice highlighted the most making every head turn in that direction.

"Mumma!!! I'm proud of you."

In the crowd, Nandini directly looked at the source of the voice and her smile turned into a grin when she saw her daughter standing on her seat and cheering so loud for her. And even her brothers, and all the Malhotra family, were also hooting for her.

And that bought tear of happiness in her eyes. What else she even wished for?

The love of her life honouring her with her four years of hard work, and her daughter and family cheering loudest in thr crowd for her.

She had dreamt for this day when she was a child, but this reality was actually very beautiful than any dream she saw.

And she was living it.

The struggles and pain she had suffered finally made sense to her.

She was finally happy.

Very happy.

A journey, which was neither short, nor easy. But with her people around her, it was worth the time.

.
.

Manik entered in the Space College, and saw it all aloof, ofcourse, because it was past ten in the night, no student would've been taking classes at this time.

But he was here, because apparently his bunch of stupid friends decided to chill and reminisce old memories of their college days in college, and mind you at night.

He was against this, totally against it. He had all his plans made to spend his night with His Roshan Savera, staring at the stars and the moon, but he would state at her and when she would say that "Chaand yaha nahi, waha hai" he would reply with "Mera chaand toh yahi par hai." and then she would blush and would tried to hide her face with her hair but he would've tucked her hair to adore her pink cheeks.

Damm, how dreamy it would've been.

But, his friends had different plans. And they emotionally blackmailed his love, telling her that he doesn't spend time with them, due to which His Love, forcefully sent him here, this breaking his dreams.

How he dreamt of staring at her moon face, now he have to look at Cabir's moo face.

Stomping his feet he entered into the empty corridor which was illuminated with lights. His steps halted when he saw something before the turn into another corridor which would led him to the canteen where his friends asked him to come.

He frowned and bent down to pick up the thing, which as he picked, he realised was a book, which was wrapped. Frowning he looked here and there before unwrapping it and as he looked at cover his frown disappeared and he looked here and there again, and then again at the cover and title which was 101 Ways to Scare Boys Off.

A memory flashed in front of his eyes and his lips broke into a tiny smile. He caressed the book cover and opened it, and a note fell from it. He picked up the note and reading it, the tiny smile on his face turned into a full fledged wide grin.

That day, you taught me that one of the ways to scare the boys off is to punch them. Thank you for teaching me how to Punch.

~ your Miss Deep Eyes:)

Biting his lip, Manik kept the note back into the book and turned into another corridor, this time with excitement. And his eyes shone when he saw the whole path to the canteen was illuminated with fairytale lights. His heart missed a beat only to start beating with double the speed in anticipation. His gaze fell on the wall where polaroids of him with Nandini and Anahita were sticked.

And then his gaze fell on a scarf on the floor. He picked that and saw a note attached to it too. Smilingly, he read the note.

This one holds a special place in my heart. For the first time, we held hand using this scarf. Thank you for teaching me, that love can be soft too.

~ yours Sunshine.

Yes, only Mine. He muttered with a smile and walked ahead and frowned when he saw a transparent polythene with something red in it. He picked that up too and investigated it to know what's this, but then read the note.

Don't worry, it's not blood, just ketchup (Cabir's Idea) That day, when you saved Anahita's life, you just didn't saved her life, you saved mine too and very effortlessly broke the first piece of the wall around my heart. Thank you for keeping it secure.

~ yours Princess' Mumma.

Manik chuckled and shook his head. Not being able to control himself anymore, he took two long strides and opened the door of canteen wide. But he was met up with darkness. Getting accustomed to it he took his first step and a small ligh illuminated. And he looked at the source and saw a Polaroid was attached with light which illuminated. He looked at the Polaroid and was surprised to see that it was a photo of his diary, which he wrote for His The One, His Nandini, with her own addition at the bottom.

He read the first one and blinked in surprise.

To his, "The One, come soon okay?"

She had answered with "Right now am small, but I'll come soon. Keep waiting."

He giggled at this and took that in his hand and took another step and again a light illuminated and he took the another Polaroid attached to it, where again she had wrote something at the bottom, kind of giving answer to him. He kept moving, lights kept illuminated and he kept collecting the polaroids while laughing and giggling in between.

He laughed when he read reply on the one where he had wrote that he made new friends Cabir and Abhi but didn't made Mukti and Navya his friends because he thought she would feel bad if he makes girls as his friend.

She had replied, "It's okay, you can make Mukti and Navya as your best friends but stay away from other girls."

Shaking her head he moved ahead and soon he collected all the polaroids and his eyes were shining with the smile.

Seeing the end he looked around himself and found himself in a heart illuminated by the fairy lights. And everywhere around was dark.

But then a spotlight fell and his breath hitched when he saw her sitting on a barstool with his guitar in her hand.

He looked at her who was dressed up in a baby blue gown, hair tied up in a bun with some strands falling on her face. With everything  he was already feeling overwhelmed and was just wanted to go and take her in his arms, but he stayed rooted at his place, and then he heard her voice.

"One day, you sang this song for me, and today, I'm singing this one for you, with all my raw feelings. Please ignore my not do melodious voice because you love me."

He chuckled and she tuned the guitar. He held his breath feeling all the emotions hitting him. He looked at his hand which were holding the polaroids and when he heard the sound of guitar strumming, he looked above while she was already looking into his eyes.

And next he heard her voice, which was beyond melodious for him.

We were both young when I first saw you
I close my eyes and the flashback starts
I'm standin' there
On a balcony in summer air

Nandini stood up while singing and started taking slow steps towards him, while Manik kept looking at her with love and only pure love in his eyes.

See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns
See you make your way through the crowd
And say, "Hello"
Little did I know
That you were Romeo, you were throwin' pebbles
And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet"
And I was cryin' on the staircase
Beggin' you, "Please don't go, " and I said
Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone
I'll be waiting, all there's left to do is run
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes"

Manik laughed a little when she missed the tunes but didn't stopped singing and gave the guitar to someone else in her way.

The world was always betraying,
Ended up losing faith in everyone around,
No hopes for a new beginning,
T

hen I met you on the outskirts of town, and I said--
Romeo, save me, I've been feeling so alone,
I didn't see you coming, but you became my home
Is this in my head? I don't know what to think,

And then she entered in the heart shape still at few feet away from her. And the way she was singing he knew she was telling him the truth. He noticed that the lyrics weren't of song anymore, but her own. The unshed tears in her eyes were the proof, but those eyes were shining with love too, love that her heart beholds for him and at that moment he felt himself the luckiest.

And what happened next had his breath hitched and his heart flipped to his feet literally as he stood with baited breath.

I knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring
And said, "Marry me, Manik
I never want to be alone
I love you and that's all I really know
I talked to our family, go pick out a white tux
It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes"

Kneeling on the ground on her one knee, Nandini hold the ring for him and sang the lines. He saw his family appearing out of nowhere and kneeling down with her infront of him with t-shirts on which had "Marry Her" written on it.

His eyes filled up with tears and he knelt to the ground in front of himself and bobbed his yes frantically.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" And still whispering his Yes he took her in his arms and Nandini hugged him back with tears in her own eyes but a beautiful smile too.

"Oh god yes.", He whispered in her ears and hid his face in her neck kissing her there making goosebumps appearing on her skin.

And Manik smiled remembering that how once he was even afraid to hold her hand and now she trust him with her body and soul even with her eyes closed.

Soon they broke the hug and he kissed her forehead lovingly and she closed her eyes in pure bliss. He joined his forehead with hers and whispered,

"I Love You."

"Always?" She asked and he smiled.

"And when the years have passed, and we have watched thousand sunsets, and we are bent, our bodies crooked with age ask me again. In the twilight, in the shadow of the life we have shared, ask me if I love you, and my heart will answer before my lips can part. My love, my life, my heart never left your hands. Always, evermore, even after. Still."

Nandini smiled and  leaned forward making Manik's heart beat wild. She looked into his eyes and no-one knew who covered the remaining inches distance between their lips, but they met in between.

This was their first kiss.

They've known each other for five years and this is the first time they've known each other's mouth. It's a tragedy. It's a travesty. It's outrageous.

They kissed forgetting the world.

They kissed forgetting themselves.

While there family who were witnessing the love, shook their head and looked here and there. They were happy too. Very happy because their children were happy.

Although Goenka brothers were sour seeing the scene but their wives had them in control otherwise they would've broken the moment long ago.

Panting, MaNan broke the kiss and a shy Nandini hid himself in his chest which made him chuckle. But soon he broke the hug and Nandini frowned seeing him frowning.

"Princess?" He asked and she smiled.

"She is waiting for you where you first met her." Nandini answered and Manik frowned but soon he realised and his eyes widened.

"In the Mall?"

"In the Mall." Nandini replied back and he hurriedly stood up holding Nandini's hand and rushed out saying bye to his family who laughed at his antics.

Reaching the Phoenix Mall in no time, Manik was surprised when he realised that the Mall was still open when it was close to twelve in midnight. But not wasting any time he hurriedly moved to the corridor of the second floor where he first met his Princess, holding Nandini's hand.

Reaching there he again found himself in sheer dark and he pulled Nandini close to him which made her smile and she kissed his cheeks making him smile too.

But before he could say something a spotlight fell on him and he saw his little Princess who is growing too fast according to him walking towards him, dressed up in a beautiful white frock hair tied up in a pony and a board in her hand.

He blinked when she came and sat on her knee grinning ever so widely and flipped the board, and Manik's heart again flipped reading it.

"Be my father"  It had written on the board and with other hand Anahita forwarded the ring to him making him smile and cry at the same time.

Leaving Nandini's hand he too knelt to the ground and helped Anahita wear him the ring and both smiled cheekily after that before he took her in his arms and she gleed.

"Happy Birthday Rockstar. You are my best human being in the world."

Manik who had forgot that it's his birthday smiled and shook both of them in the hug and kissed her head.

"Thank you Princess. You gave me the best gift of the world. I Love you, and you are my most favourite being in the world."

Nandini wiped her tears and bent down to hug both of them while encircling her hands around them.

"And you both are the best and my most favourite beings too." The father daughter duo chuckled and Manik pulled Nandini in his arms too and kissed her temple and sighed in content.

And their families who came with them and Fab Four who were already present with Anahita smiled seeing the small family and blessed them with loads of love.

.
.

Standing on the other side of aisle Manik stood dressed up in a cream sherwani giving all the vibes of a royal king with pagdi on his head. He looked at his family who were sitting there, everyone had happiness reflecting in their eyes.

His heart was beating fastly in happiness. He still can't beleive that he is getting married, to his The One. For whom he had waited for years, and today wait seemed so fruitful and worth it to him.

He looked in the direction of the entrance when a soft music started indicating the arrival of bride, His Bride.

And for a moment he forgot to breathe, his heart skipped a beat only to start beating again with triple speed, as he saw her walking down the aisle in her red lehenga, adorned with jewelleries, but what outcasted everything for him was Her Smile, which holds the power to melt his heart any moment.

His eyes welled up when he saw her walking down the aisle holding hand with His Princess who was looking a Princess only, in her cream coloured lehenga, which matched his outfit. Biting his lips he wiped the one tear which was about to fall down and moved forward to hold her hand, this time for forever.

He forwarded both his hands for both, His Queen and His Princess who smiled at him and held his hand to ascend on the stage. He looked into Nandini's eyes which were shining and once again he fell in love with her.

The Priest asked them to exchange the garlands and they did with their daughter on their side, who was actually dancing with happiness, and her happiness was contagious.

Then they say around the holy fire where Nandini's three brothers and sisters-in-law together did her Kanyadan, and Nandini was surprised when Raj and Nyonika did their putradaan, to her, which was so wholesome to Nandini and she felt blessed to have them in her life.

And when it came the time of seven pheras, Anahita tied the knot with Anika's help and kissed both of their cheeks before sitting back. They took the seven rounds around the holy fire and made promises to each other for a lifetime and beyond that.

When Manik filled Nandini's hairline with vermillion she closed her eyes feeling complete and giggled when a pinch fell on her nose too.

Anahita too giggled when Manik put a tika on her forehead with the same vermillion and promised her a lot of happiness and no sadness in her life.

Tieing the nuptial chain around Nandini's neck, both felt complete as the Priest announced them as husband and wife, and they both looked into each other's eyes before Manik leaned down and kissed her making their families slap their forehead while Anahita watched the love of her parents with a adoring smile and tilting her head.

And she decided that even she wants a love like them.

Breaking their kiss both MaNan sat on their knees and hugged Anahita who happily hugged them back and everyone blessed this cute family with all their heart.

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That night sitting on her bed, Anahita opened the diary which her great grandfather gifted her and hurriedly scribbled something on the front page with the pen and smiled.

For My The One ♡

And turning the page she wrote--

Waiting for you, come fast!!

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AND WE ARE DONE!!!

My heart is sad and happy both as we are finally done with this beautiful journey of Manik, his Nandini and their little Anahita.

How was it?

Ps- the changes in the song (Love Story by Taylor Swift) were done by my and mostly by my beautiful person, moonscintilla

And if you liked my story, then please scroll down and do leave your reviews there:)

Thank You for being patient with me and not leaving the story behind with all my tantrums. I'm lucky to have everyone of you as my reader.

Signing off,

With Love in hope to meeting soon--

Your writer- A ♡