After the function, they all reach Fab5 house, dead tired.
They decide to call it a day, as no one had any more energy, and there is going to be mehendi function tomorrow at their place for both the brides. So they are going to have so much work, so many people coming in.
"Goodnight guys! Sleep tight" Cabir said and went to his room, followed by others to their respective rooms.
In MaNan's room
"Jaisa socha tha us se toh bohoth hi zyaada accha hua sab kuch" Manik said
She was sitting at the dresser, removing her jewelry and make up.
"I agree! Sab ne bohoth enjoy kiya" she said.
"Tired?" he asked her.
"Not too much! Meine subah se zyaada kaam nai kiya. Aur tum? You definitely must be tired" she said.
"Yes! I was thinking to take a dip, wanna go to the pool with me?" he asked.
"Now now?" she asked.
"Yes now now! I need a break and nothing better than a dip" he said.
"Okay, let me change" she said and went to the restroom with her clothes.
Meanwhile, he changed into vests and tracks.
"See you at the pool" he said and left the room, after she said an Okay!
He took some roses that were left over from the house décor, in a small bag along with him. Before she comes, he plucked the petals off the roses and threw them in the water, spreading them to a little distance with his hands. Meanwhile she joined him, and was surprised to see what he did.
"Yeh sab kya hain?" she asked.
"Chotu saa surprise, just to make our first swimming experience special" he said shrugging his shoulders.
"You are crazy Manik" she said and sat on the edge of the pool, with her legs dipped in the water.
He took off his shoes, and got into the pool.
"Ab wahee baithi rahogi kya?" he asked her.
She smiled, and said, "Meri pool mein jaane kaa thareeka thoda alag hain" and got up, took off her shoes, and turned to the other side,
"Kar kya rahi ho Nandini?" he asked.
"Letting it go" she said, stretched her arms and jumped into the pool, on her back.
There was a splash of water, the moment she jumped. He was taken by surprise.
"Crazy tum ho" he said, pulling her from under the water.
"Ek race ho jaaye? To that end of the pool? Who ever loses, needs to do something for the other" she said.
"Haar jaogi" he said
"Dhekhthe hain" she said and on a count of three, they started swimming.
She was like a mermaid, doing some amazing back strokes and butterfly strokes, with utmost precision and speed. Since the moment they started, he was behind her, and she ended up being the winner.
"Dude you were amazing" he said.
"Inter-school swimming champion Nandini murty" she said proudly.
"Wooohoo! And I never knew about it" he asked her
"Well I stopped swimming, isi liye bolne ki zaroorat nai padi" she replied.
"Why did you stop swimming?" he asked.
"Aise hi, time nai milaa" she replied.
"Aise hi? Nandini you are an amazing swimmer, ithnii acchhi back strokes mein kabhi nai le sakta, you shouldn't stop swimming" he said.
"Chod dho na Manik, acha come with me" she said holding his hand, and they swam together.
All the while he was looking at her, "What? Aise kya dhekh rahe ho?" she asked.
"Dhekh raha hoon koi ithna beautiful kaise ho saktha hain" he replied.
"Tum hamesha aisi baatein kaise bol sakthe ho? Lines pehle se likh ke aathe ho kya?" she asked.
"Acha wohh lines kaa chodo, I have written something for you today, Tumhe dhekhna hain?" he asked.
"Of course, I would love to" she said.
They swam across, until they reached a small partition, and rest there, holding hands, looking at the sky.
He took his phone from the edge of the pool, came back to her, and showed her the lyrics. She had to blush after reading them.
"Gaake bathaao" she asked.
"Tune nai hain" he said.
"Ab banaao, it's okay" she said.
"Okay I'll try" he said and tried a couple different ways, and finally got the right one.
Jab se tere naina...mere nainon se...laage re...
Tab se deewana hua...sab se begaana hua...
Rab bhi deewana laage re...ho rab bhi deewana laage re...
He made her stand, put his one hand around her waist, and got her closer. with his other hand he was brushing her cheeks, setting back the wet hair, that was spread over her face.
Ho jab se mila hai tera ishaara
Tab se jagi hain bechainiya
Jab se hui sargoshiyaan
Tab se badhi hain madhossiyan
He put her hand on his heart, and his hand on hers,
Jab se jude yaara
Tere mere mann ke dhaage re...
Tab se deewana hua...sab se begaana hua...
Rab bhi deewana laage re...ho rab bhi deewana laage re...
Lifting her in his arms, he walked out of the pool and laid her down on one of those recliners put there.
Slightly brushing the water drops off her face, he was kissing every point where his fingers touched.
First her forehead, next her eyes, followed by her chubby cheeks, and then finally her red lips.
His fingers brushed her lips, slowly, feeling every inch of them. This was only making her go crazy. And the wet clothes, accompanied by the cool breeze made them both shiver.
"Thand lag Rahi hain" she said hesitantly.
"Lagne dho" he said. There was a something different she could see in his eyes.
And before she could think what it was, he came ahead with the next bouncer. She felt his hand on her waist, touching her cold skin from under her shirt. His fingers were brushing her skin ever so smoothly making her melt in his touch.
"Manik" she said.
"Hmmm" he spoke over her neck, giving feather kisses.
"Koi aa jayega" she said.
"Sab so Rahe hain koi nai aayega" he says continuing with his work.
"Manik please" she said.
"Fine" he said, lift her up again in his arms and walked into their room. Instead of placing her on the bed he went into the bathroom, made her stand and turned the shower on.
"Ab toh koi nai aa sakta" he said and she smiled.
He took off his vest, showing off his well built abs and toned biceps. Her hand involuntarily reached to his shoulder. Taking a step ahead, she reached out for his lips. The hot water was flowing through their bodies, and still nothing interrupted them.
He let her take the lead and was just getting played along.
After kissing like forever, she had to pull off hearing him sneeze.
"That could possibly be the worst way to pull off a kiss" she said.
"Toh cheenkh kaise roku? Just because you were kissing woh toh ruknewaala nai hain" he said.
"Chalo ab" she said giving him the towel. He went out of the bathroom wiping his head.
"Oh Mr. Sneezy, time toh dhekh saktha tha na aane se pehle, achha khaasa moment kharaab kar dhiya" he thought, and then, haccchoooo! Three sneezes in a row.
"Manik don't tell me you are going to catch a cold" she said.
"I am afraid if I already did" he said and sneezed again.
"Tum baitho yaha" she made him sit on the bed.
"This feels so good" he said holding her by her waist, she was drying his hair for him with the towel, and he was being naughty.
"Manik haath peeche karo" she said hitting on his hand.
"Nai karoonga. Tumhaare haath apna kaam kar rahe hain aur mere haath apne" he said, hugging her, with his face against her tummy.
"Tum kithne naughty ho gaye ho patha hain tumhe?" she asked.
"Haan patha hain, soch raha hoon thora aur improve karloon" he said talking on her tummy.
"Manik haha please hato naa" she said trying to push him away but his hold was too tight.
Giving up, she hugged him too.
"See, you want to do it too, just that you need that lead. Kab improve karogi Nandini malhotra!" he said.
"Karoongi karoongi..jaldhi kya hain. You know how good i am at surprising right!" she said.
"Yeah yeah! The day hoga jab tum mujhe aise surprises dhogi" he said.
"Acha chalo ab bas. Change kar lo, your clothes are wet. Already cold hain tumhe" she said pulling off.
"No! Its nice and warm like this, ruk jao thodi der" he said.
"Manik tum change kar ke aao, and then do whatever you want" she said.
"Okay, tonight you become my teddy bear, deal?" he asked looking at her.
"Acha baba deal, ab toh chodo mujhe, iss se pehle mein bhi cheenkhna shuru karoon"
She said.
"Chod diya! Chod diya! Chod diya!" he said letting her go.
She gave him another pair of clothes and left the room, "Abhi aathi hoon"
He changed into new clothes, and cuddled in the blanket, feeling cold.
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In the kitchen
Nandini
Ise toh apnaa dhyaan rakhna bilkul nai aatha. Ab ithna cold? Shaadi bhi baaki hain and there are lot of things he need to take care of. Bad time to fall sick dear husband.
I searched for the recipe to make kaadha for him, so that he can feel better.
Yukkk1 this smells so bad, i am sure he is gonna show me tantrums to have this.
I took some honey in a small cup, to make it better, poured it in his favorite coffee mug and went back to the room, when Cabir stopped me.
"Nandini tum soyi nai?" he asked.
"Nai, bas sone waali hoon" i said.
"Wohh kya hain? Raat ko chai coffee piyogi toh neend nai aayegi, yeh toh batha hoga na tumhe" he asked.
"Arre Cabir bhai, chai coffee nai, kaadha hain, Manik ke liye, wohh use cold ho gaya na, i thought he'll feel better after having this" i said.
"Cold? Achaanak? Shaam tak toh theek tha" he said.
"Bhai mein aap se kal baath karoon? Wohh so jaayega" i said to escape the conversation.
"Haan haan ja, and let me know if you need something" he said, i just nodded my head and left from there.
I went to our room and saw him cuddled up in the blanket.
"So gaye ho?" i asked.
"Nai, blanket ke neeche hoon, god i am shivering" he said.
That scared me.
I put the tray aside, and looked for the thermometer.
"Manik thermometer kaha hain?" i asked him as i didn't know where things are kept in this room.
He uncovered the blanket from his face, "Wohh waali rack, sab se neeche draw mein hoga shaayad" he said. I found it there.
"Open your mouth" i said and put the thermometer.
His body was burning, he's down with fever and i know that. I just hoped temperature zyaada na ho. Alas! I was wrong.
"Manik 103?" I was shocked to see such high temperature.
"I was wondering ithni thand kyun lag rahi hain" he said casually.
"Manik tumhe bukhaar hain" i said. Obviously.
"I know that, abhi toh tum ne bathaaya" he said. How can he be so normal about it?
"Manik, tumhe ithna zyaada bukhaar hain aur tumhe jokes soojh rahe hain?" i was sad.
"Nandini, sirf bukhaar hain beta uthar jaayega kal tak. Dont worry" he said holding my hand.
I covered him with more blankets, and increased the AC temperature. This man cannot survive without AC jithni bhi thand kyun na ho.
"Tum yahee ruko, i will come back" i said. I was going to go to Aryaman.
"Kaha ja rahi ho?" he aske dholding my hand.
"Abhi aathi hoon, tum rest karo" i said and left the room.
I am sure Aryaman must be awake, he works late night.
I knocked on his door.
"Coming" i headr his voice.
A: Nandini? Andar aao na
N: Nai Aryaman, tum mere saath chalo
I said and literally dragged him out of the room. His room is downstairs.
We started climbing the stairs, and he stopped walking.
N: Chalo
A: Ruko! Ek minute nandini stop
I looked at him and he must have sensed the worry on my face.
He held my hands,
A: Kya hua?
N: Wohh Manik...fever..103
A: Sahi se bolo nandini
N: Manik ko fever aa gaya, aur wohh bhi 103. I am worried, use bohoth thand bhi lag rahi hain, tum jaldi chalo mere saath
A: What? Acha chalo, you relax kuch nai hoga
We went to our room, and i could see his condition was only getting bad.
A: Manik
M: Arya tu? Nandini tumne ise bhi utha diya? Yaar it's just a fever medicine le loonga toh kal tak theek ho jaunga
A: Wohh tu mujh pe chod.
He said and checked his eyes, pulse and some other doctor things.
A: Bohoth thand lag rahi hain?
M: uhmm...yeah!
A: Let me get you a medicine aur kal subah we'll get your blood checked, mujhe toh normal fever hi lag raha hain. Hopefully! Waise tu toh poora din saath mein hi tha, when did you catch cold?
M: Wohh i was tired to went to take a dip, aur uske baad shower bhi kar liya, toh shaayad is liye
A: Okay, mein medicine le ke aata hoon
He left the room, i sat next to Manik, and touched his forehead. It was literally burning.
"It's okay Nandini, ithnaa sad mat ho jao ab" he said.
"Kaise sad na hoon? Ithna fever ho gaya hain tumhe" i said.
"I promise kal tak theek ho jaoonga" he said.
"Promise kar rahe ho Manik!" i warned him
"Haan baba! Manik promise" he said.
"Acha suno mein tumhaare liye kadha laayi hoon, medicine ke saath pee lena and you will be fine by tomorrow" i said.
"Kaadha?" he asked. Tantrums shuru!
"Haan kaadha" i said.
"Mujhe bohoth pasand hain kaadha, with honey, tum honey bhi laayi hona saath mein?" he asked. Hain? He likes kaadha?
"You like kaadha? I thought tum ithne nakhre dhikhaaoge ki mujhe pata nai tumhe kaise convince karna pade" i said.
"That's natural. Par yes, for a change, i like kaadha. Bachpan mein mujhe cold zyaada hota tha, probably because of that sinus thing, which i realized later, Tom meri mom kadha banati thi. Itna zyaada pee liya ki ab mujhe woh kharaab nai lagta" he said. Sweet!
"Yes mein honey laayi hoon, but not more than two spoons okay?" i asked.
"Okay baba!" he said and meanwhile Aryaman also got the medicine.
"Take care buddy! I will see you tomorrow morning aur kuch zaroorat ho toh bata dena" he said and left the room.
Manik took the medicine with the kaadha.
"Woo! Bottoms up huh! Impressive" i said taking the glass from him.
"Give me your hand" he said. I gave him.
He cleaned his mouth with the sleeve of my long hands t-shirt.
"Wives aisa karthi hain, with their dupattas. Ab dupatta toh nai haina" he said.
"Why are being so cute? My cupcake" i said pulling his cheek. Looks like role reversal.
"So jaaye?" he asked.
"Sure!" i said and hopped on to the bed from the other side.'
"Teddy is here" i said stretching my hands.
With a bright smile that brushes away all my worries, he moved closer and i locked him up my tiny arms.
"You know this is the disadvantage of having a small and pathli wife, mein fit hi nai ho raha hoon tumhaari hug mein" he complained.
"Stop complaining, ab choice nai hain tumhaare paas, it's too late already" i said.
"Ya ya" he said adjusting himself more. It was feeling so good. Now i can understand why he loves it so much to cuddle me while sleep. I could feel how relaxed he was now. I covered up us with the blanket and hugged him tight, making him feel warm and safe.
It felt like, i could stay like this forever!
And lost in the beauty of the moment, my eyes shut.
---------------------------
Manik
This morning when i woke up, i felt warmth, only after opening my eyes i realized, it was from her. How carefully she had me locked up in her arms. She didn't move an inch the entire night. The medicine kinda made me dizzy and i had a really nice sleep.
I slowly took her hands off my face, making sure not to disturb her.
It was difficult to get up without waking her up, but i still tired. Her hold was getting loser now, and i slowly slipped off.
I looked at the side table and there was a bowl of water and lots of hand kerchiefs.
I am sure she must not have slept at all.
I tried getting up but i was feeling weak. I hate fevers. With great difficulty i got up, and went downstairs.
There were so many people in the living room, ladies. What's going on?
I saw Navya down there running around, she was all dressed up in a beautiful saree, looking really very pretty.
There were red roses stuck on the walls, and on the railing of the staircase. I plucked one off and got down the stairs.
"Good morning bhabhi ji" i said patting on her shoulder. She was busy arranging something in a plate.
"Manik tum? Ab tabiyat kaisi hain tumhari?" she asked.
"Better, by the way this is for you" i said giving her rose.
"Wrong address mein pohonch toh nai gaya?" she asked with a smirk.
"Nai! Ek dum sahi address, you look very beautiful.
"Thankyou" she said taking the rose.
"Nandu kaha hain?" she asked, and we started walking to the kitchen.
"So rahi hain, waise Navya ye sab kya hain? Why all this hungama?" i asked.
"Manik abhi 10 baj chuke hain and mehndi ki rasam abhi bas shuru hone hi waali hain. Nandu ko bolo uthke ready ho jaaye" she said.
"Hmm bol doonga" i said and went back to our room.
I checked the temperature and it still reads 102. Raat se subah tak bas ek degree kam hua? Nandini is going to freak out.
I took another medicine and adjusted back next to her.
I wasn't sleepy though, just waiting for her to open her eyes.
After like 15 minutes, she finally got up.
"Good morning princess" i said.
She was so cutely rubbing her eyes and pulling the blanket over her, and continued her sleep turning to the other side.
"Nandini" i called her and no reply.
"Nandini uth jao princess" i said again and still no reply. Sound sleeper!
"Nandini" i said kissing on forehead. One last trial and sure she's gonna get up now.
She opened her eyes, and turned toward me.
"Good morning" i said
"Good morning Manik! Ab tumhe kaisa lag raha hain" she asked checking my forehead. Subah subah!
"Manik tumhe toh abhi bhi fever hain, i think we need to go to the doctor" she said getting up. Panic mode on!
"Nandini nandini relax! I have taken the doctor's appointment already, aur mein jaoonga, tum worry mat karna" i said.
"Kya matlab mein jaoonga? Mein bhi aaoongi saath mein, what time is the appointment at?" she asked.
"Tum kyu aaogi? Mehndi function is going to start in sometime. Tum enjoy karo sab ke saath aur mein hospital jaake aa jaoonga" i said. But who am i telling to?
"Mister! Now tell me at what time the appointment is" she asked.
"12 o' clock" i said.
"Okay so there's still time. You sit here chupchap. I will freshen up and get breakfast for you, and don't you dare move" she ordered and got up from the bed.
------------------------
Nandini went downstairs and realized that it's mehndi function today, but she cannot be there.
She saw Alya and Mukti in the living room talking to someone and joined them.
Except for her all were dressed up, but she was roaming around in pjs.
"Tum ready nai hui?" Alya asked looking at her.
"Uhmmm Mukti, I am sorry but I cannot be there for the function. Manik ki tabiyat theek nai hain and we have a doctor's appointment at 12:30" she said.
"I heard from Navya. Mein aane waali thi par socha aap log so rahe honge" she said.
"It's okay. Hum abhi uthe hain, you're not mad at us right?" Nandini asked.
"Are nai bhabhi. Infact i am happy, you chose to be with Bhai when he needs you. Aap worry mat karna, Alya aur Navya haina" Mukti replied.
"Nandini mujhe yaha akela chodke tum log gappe maar rahe ho?" Manik asked from upstairs.
"Manik ssshhh. Bohoth log hain yaha tum andar jao i am coming" she said.
"I will see you guys in a while" she said to Alya and Navya and went to the kitchen to makes oem breakfast. She took a couple of toasts and some milk and went back to their room.
"Khao" she said giving him the toast.
He took the ketchup and made a smiley on the bread and gave it to her.
"I gift you a smile" he said giving it to her.
She took the ketchup, and drew a heart on another piece of bread, "I give you my heart" she said giving it to him.
"Last 12 hours... i have had some really good time with you" he said.
"I agree!" she replied. They finihsed having breakfast and nandini told him that she will not be able to attend the function.
"Nandini you dont have to come with me, it's a girls event and i dont want you to miss it" he said.
"It's okay, i told Mukti already and she's fine with it" she said
"Tum ziddi ho" he said.
"Haan hoon" she said applying some ketchup on his nose, and what he did next was disgusting for her, and funny for him.
He licked that ketchup on his nose with his tongue.
"Ewww manik! Kya kar rahe ho tum?" she asked.
"What ewww? Have you never tried to do this? To touch your nose with your tongue?" he asked.
(Has anyone of you tried? Coz i did :D)
"No way! Why would i ever do that?" she asked.
"Tumhaari tarah tumhari tongue bhi choti si hogi shaayad" he said and started laughing.
"Baat meri height pe aayi, so i have to try it now" she said.
"Please go ahead" he said.
Making weird faces, she started trying, but she couldn't do it.
"Pull your nose down! Come on" he said, and she actually pulled her nose down, and now she could do it.
"Yayayyy!! See i did it" she said showing him a thumbs down.
"Idea mera tha, if you don't pull your nose down, you can't do it. Accept kar lo" he said.
"Tumhaari condition yeh thi ki i touch my nose with my tongue, ab aise ya waise, it doesn't matter" she said.
"Cheater ki cheater hi rahogi na tum" he said and she grinned.
"Acha tum thodi der so jao, i will go help them downstairs" she said and went down, while he got ready to take a nap.
Nandini went to Navya's room, and knocked the door.
Mukti was also there, getting ready and navya was helping her.
"Hello girls" she said going in.
"Hi nandini, aao na" Navya said.
"Kuch help chahiye?" nandini asked.
"Hamein filhaal nai chahiye, but Alya is trying to sort the gifts toh tum kya uskee help kar sakthi ho? Bohoth saare hain and i am sure she must be going crazy" Navya said.
"Okay! I can do that. Chalo bye! And Mukti you look great" she said and left.
Alya on the other hand, was excatly going crazy with the gifts.
"Hi Alya! I heard you need help" nandini said.
"You're my savior, yeh small bags haina, we need to put this jewelry box, and this candy cone in each of them, there are 50 of such" Alya explained her the task.
"Wooohh! That's so much work.Anyway, shuru karte hain" she said and they both sat on the floor, and started making the gift bags.
"You all look so beautiful today" Nandini said.
"I am sad, that you won't be there. Agra appointment jaldi khatam ho jaye toh you can join us i guess" Alya said.
"Yes! We can definitely try doing that" Nandini said.
They were halfway through when Navya came to the room.
"Kaisa chal raha hain?" she asked sitting next to Alya.
"Half way through. But ho jaayega in like 15-20 minutes" she replied.
"Jaldi karo, almost sab log aa gaye, and we will start the function in ten more minutes" Navya said and joined them in finishing it up.
Three hands now, made the job easier, and they finished it in 10 minutes.
"Okay ab mein jaati hoon, i need to get ready, manik ki appointment 12 baje ko hai and i need to take a shower and get ready" Nandini said and left for her room.
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