I am back early with the new chapter. It's our hero's birthday today 🎉

👇🏻

Nandini got a little late while getting ready. When she came down, everyone were already dancing, singing or wearing henna. She stood and looked here and there to find Manik. But he was not anywhere to be seen. Nandini turned them her eyes fell on Manik who was coming down looking dashing as always.

"Where were you? I was looking for you from so long." Manik asked standing beside Nandini.

"I was getting ready."

Manik made her turn towards him. He checked her from head to toe and was bowled over by her beauty all over again. "You look like Barbie doll." He pecked on her forehead.

(Nandini's attire)

(Manik's attire)

Manik moved close to Nandini. His one hand was wrapped around Nandini's waist while with other he was holding Nandini's hand. They faces were just a few inches away from each other.

"Close close."

They were so lost into each other that they didn't notice the surrounding. Hearing the voice, they looked at Aryaman with a jerk when he took their picture.

"Stand a little more close. What happened? Are you feeling shy?" Aryaman teased them.

Manik pulled Nandini very close to himself. Nandini blushed with their closeness. Aryaman smiled and took their pictures.

Alya came there. "You guys are taking picture without me? That's not fair." 

"You also come."

Everyone joined them and they took a lot of group photos.

Nandini went to wear henna when Manik came and sat beside her. Nandini passed a smile to him.

"Have you written my name on your hand?"

Nandini blushed and nodded a no.

"What?" He then pointed towards the girl who was applying the henna. "Listen write Manik too on her hand."

"Okay." The girl smiled nodding her head.

Manik gave a quick peck to Nandini and left from there leaving a blushing Nandini behind.

At night
Everyone was tired after the henna. Alya and Nandini were in her room.

"Nandini, for how long more you are going to keep the henna on your hand? Go and wash your hand. We need to sleep." Alya whined seeing Nandini who was sitting looking at her henna filled hands.

"No, you sleep. I will keep it for some more time."

"Nandini, till now it has become dark as much as it could be. If you keep it for some more time, then it will start to fade away." Alya threatened her.

"Really?" Nandini became serious hearing her.

"Yes."

Then Nandini ran to wash her hand. Alya smiled at her antics.

After sometime Nandini came shouting her name. "Alya, see." Nandini showed her hands to Alya excitedly.

Alya saw it as the color of her henna has turned dark red. "Wow... The color has turned really dark. Manik's name has different shine on your hand."

"Listen, I have not showed this to Manik yet. Should I go and show it to him?" Nandini looked cute while asking this.

Alya smiled seeing her face. "Okay."

Nandini jumped out of her place and ran to Manik's room. She couldn't wait to meet Manik's and show him her henna. It's so deep. She couldn't wait to show it to him.

Nandini went to Manik's room. His room door was open. So, she barged in without knocking. But the room was empty. Seeing Manik not in his room, she pouted and started leaving.

When she was leaving, she felt a sudden pull on her stole. She turned to see Manik there.

"You sneaked into my room and leaving without saying anything, Miss Barbie Doll?" Manik smirked seeing her as her back touched his front.

Nandini closed her eyes blushing. Manik wrapped his hands around her waist and hugged her from behind. "So, what's the matter? You are here in my room at this hour."

Nandini turned to face him and forwarded her hands to show him her palm which was covered with henna.

"Wow. The color has come really beautiful." Manik pecked on her palm over the henna. 

"Look at it carefully." Nandini urged.

"It's lovely, baby." He whispered in her ear and pecked there. "And my name is looking the best in between every other thing."

Nandini blushed.

"But I didn't write your name." Manik made a bad face.

Nandini pulled his nose. "Boys don't apply henna."

"So what?"

"My name is written on your heart and that's enough for me." She smiled sweetly.

"That place has always been yours and it will be yours only forever."

Then they hugged each other tightly.

It was raining heavily outside.

Pulling herself out of Manik's grip, "Manik, why didn't you close the windows? It's raining so much."

Nandini went and closed the windows.

"Nandini, you sit here for 5 minutes. I will be back changing my dress."

Nandini smiled. "Okay."

Manik went. Nandini again opened the window and started feeling the cool breeze which was giving her peace. She liked the cold air.

Suddenly Manik's phone started ringing. Manik didn't return yet, so she picked up the call.

Before she could say anything, a girl's voice came from opposite side, "Hello! Manik, what is wrong with you? You were supposed to call me at night. Why didn't you call me?"

"Hello, who are you?" Nandini asked in confusion.

"Who the hell are you? Isn't it Manik's phone? Why is his phone with you?" The caller shouted from the other side.

Nandini didn't wait more and hang up the call. She felt something was breaking inside her. She was sacred what if her thoughts come true.

Manik's phone was ringing again and again but Nandini didn't receive.

She again went near the window and stood close. She was getting wet. She tried to remove the thought of the phone call from her mind but nothing was helping. She was feeling crying her heart out. But she couldn't.

Till then Manik also came out. He saw Nandini getting wet. He smiled at her love for rain. "Till now you were scolding me and now you are standing in the rain. Why are you getting wet, baby?"

Nandini didn't hear Manik's voice. She was lost in her thought. Her hairs were flying in the air. They were falling in her face but she didn't remove them.

Manik came to her and held her waist, kept his chin on her shoulder. "What happened? You will catch cold."

"You are forgetting something, Manik."

"What?" Manik was confused with her words.

"You forgot to call someone." Her tone was deprived of any sort of emotion.

Manik was taken aback. "What are you saying, Nandini?"

"Someone is waiting for your call, Manik. I didn't pick up the call thinking anything. That's why I had heard all this. I didn't have intention."

"Nandini........."

"She asked me why I picked up your call."

"Nandini, listen to me."

Tears welled up in her tears. "What's there to listen? I think it's the same girl who calls you everyday. That's why you don't pick up your calls in front of me. Right?"

Manik looked at Nandini helplessly. "You are taking it all wrong."

"You don't need to say anything. It was my fate." Nandini smiled sarcastically.

That time again Manik's phone started ringing. Nandini looked at Manik for once, then went to balcony of his room. 

Manik switched off his phone and went to Nandini. They both drenched in the rain. There was complete silence between them.

After it felt like eternity Manik moved more close to Nandini. Due to rain it was not seen that Nandini was crying. But Manik understood it very well. Her eyes were blood red. She was also hiccuping time to time.

"Nandini......."

Nandini didn't say anything. She was quiet. Manik held Nandini's hand and made her face him. He cupped her face lovingly and wiped her tears, "Nandini, I love you."

Nandini was still quiet. She was crying silently.

"You trust me, right?" Manik asked with a hope in his voice.

Nandini nodded her head positively. A smile crept on Manik's face. He felt light. A burden he was holding on his heart went away.

He joined his forehead with her. Their eyes met. Nandini could see the love for her in his eyes. Finally she also smiled. Seeing her smiling, Manik got his breath back.

Manik slowly kissed Nandini. It was sweet kiss yet full of passion. The rain was the witness of their true love.

After breaking the kiss Manik picked up Nandini in his arms and went to his room. He made her lie down on his bed and hovered over her. Then the night again witnessed their togetherness. They forgot the world in each other. They soaked in each others love.

Precap: Don't know.

Full of Manan and so much happenings in one part. How was it?

Did you like Manan moments?

Who was the caller?

Is Manik hiding something?

Do you think Manan will have their happily ever after?

Which one is your favorite scene?

Please do tell me and don't forget to vote.

Bye.

11.03.2021