After asking nandini to wait in the room, manik made his way to the mini kitchen downstairs. Though never in his life would he step inside a kitchen but still he was doing so for nandini. It was like their ritual since childhood, he making hot chocolate for them and then they both spending some good time together and he made sure that it continued.
He entered the kitchen all prepared and started gathering the ingredients required to make hot chocolate and soon enough he got busy making it. If someone else would have seen the manik malhotra like this in the kitchen then he would have surely fainted of shock because this manik standing in the kitchen wasn't who the world knows, here he was only the manik that nandini knows, he was nandini's manik right now and the glow on his face and that shine in his eyes were enough to convey that he was more than happy to be nandini's manik.
Meanwhile, in the room nandini was getting all bored and was wondering what was taking so much time for manik to come when the photos stuck on the wall caught her eye. Those were photos from her and Manik's childhood when they were too little to understand what life was and how carefree they were back then and how everything has changed now, the one who was her best friend when she was a baby was now certainly the love of her life.
That's life, full of surprises.
Nandini was busy admiring those pictures when she heard the click of the door knob and soon manik entered in with two mugs in his hand.
Manik: so what were you doing?
Nandini: nothing....was just seeing this pictures and reminiscing some really memorable parts of our childhood
Manik: aah! So in that case lets do it together along with your favourite hot chocolate...what say?
Nandini*beamed*: hot chocolate!
Manik nodded smilingly and passed her the mug and settled down next to her, mollycuddling her in his embrace under the warm comforter.
Nandini: manik you remember that picture?
She said pointing at a picture where manik stood in between nyonika and asha(nandini's mom) and both the ladies kissing either sides of his cheek.
Manik: yes and god look at that...I was so chubby and look at Abhi
Manik
Abhi
He said pointing out at his portrait on the wall.
Nandini: I was no less. I am toh still chubby
Nandini
She pouted looking at her portrait to which manik chuckled.
Manik*pulling her cheek*: that you are and you look cute with it
Nandini frowned but nevertheless smiled.
Manik: you remember that? (Pointing at a picture) I wasn't listening to mom that day and was being stubborn and asha mom was calmly explaining me to be a good boy. (Sigh) I so miss her and ashok (nandini's dad) dad
Manik and asha
Nandini: I know...they were the best but maybe my fate wasn't
She said misty eyed.
Manik: hey it wasn't your fault alright. Your aiyyappa called them too soon cuz maybe the heaven up there was short of good people
He gave out the most genuine smile.
Nandini: maybe
She whispered, her eyes still moist from the tears.
Manik: by the way nandu (teasingly) you remember that picture?
Nandini looked towards the direction where his finger was pointed and a blush crept over her face. It was a picture of little nandu kissing little a cribbing Manik's cheek to irritate him.
Manik and nandini
Manik: cute na? Ekdum made for each other types...hai na?
He commented cheekily.
Nandini*hitting him playfully*: manik don't tease me na
She whined blushing and sniffing, her nose had become a tad bit red due to all the sobbing she did remembering her parents a while ago which made manik laugh.
Manik*laughing*: acha acha chill...okay
Nandini: better
She replied and cuddled him more as manik embraced her again.
Nandini: manik...what do you have to say about that pic?
Manik and nandini
Manik eyed the pic nandini was pointing and now it was his turn to get embarrassed or certainly blush.
Manik: aa voh toh was...(scratches the back of his neck)...but even you were smiling in the pic na means you were liking it
And that was how nandini's plan to tease her lovely boyfriend backfired.
She stared at him with wide eyes, her cheeks flushed in embarrassment, she opened her mouth to speak but closed it again as nothing came out. Manik chuckled internally and awed her babyness, feeling himself to be the luckiest to have all of her as his.
Manik: you know I think that pic....the center one...(nandini nods) ya that's the cutest of all....I mean me and Abhi literally squeezed you in the middle
Abhi, nandini, manik
Nandini pouted at this.
Nandini: poor me...hey look at that...me, appa and ma...that's my best picture
Nandini with her parents
Manik: and that is my second best picture cuz not even family can replace you and Abhi in my life
He stated pointing towards the right corner of the wall.
Manik with his parents
Nandini: manik
She was surprised or rather should say was stunned by the little confession he made.
Manik: nandini no arguments please...its only because of you and Abhi but mostly because of you that I have my family but still you guys will always be on top so no arguments over this please!
Nandini: ok
She smiled.
Manik: and that picture...we look so cute...me, mom and Abhi
Abhi, manik, nyonika
Nandini: see that...me and mom
mom
Nandini and asha
And that was how they adored each and every picture that contained their sweet childhood, remembering their old times, sometimes bickering over nothing and sometimes smiling and laughing reminiscing stories behind those pictures.
It was after almost an hour when finally they were done gazing at their childhood through those pictures, sipping their hot chocolate and cuddling to each other when manik suddenly thanked nandini, taking her by surprise.
Manik: thanks nandini
Nandini*confused*: thanks? Kyu mani?
Manik: thanks for coming in my life, for making me realise how much my parents love me, for always being my star and shining bright for me, for bearing all my tantrums, for calming me down whenever my anger turns me into a monster as you say monster manik (chuckles) , for always being there for me and finally for loving me and being mine
Nandini: whoa whoa whoa manik achanak itne meherbaan kyu ho rahe ho tum?
Manik: kyuki I feel like. You know right how bad I am when it comes to express my feelings but today dunno why I felt like expressing my gratitude towards you. I wanted to thank you since a long time but always found it difficult but today all this is coming naturally to me so please accept my thankyous
Nandini was overwhelmed. She cupped his face with a sweet smile playing on her lips and began speaking.
Nandini: manik yaad hai hume amms humesha kehti thi ki family ke beech thank you aur sorry ki koi jagah nahi hoti and we are toh a family since forever and now we are going to start our new journey by being each others better halves, I won't say lovers or Soulmates cuz that might take us long so that's why better halves isliye thank you is out of question samjhe? So never thank me and stop being so formal (pouts)
Manik*smiles*: ok...sorry
He says holding his one ear, making a puppy face.
Nandini: better be
She laughed.
Manik: come on now lets sleep...you must be tired.
Nandini nodded and closed her eyes but opened them the very next second.
Manik: Kya hua? Why did you open your eyes?
Nandini: manik we forgot the movie! We were going to watch my favorite movie na
Manik slapped his forehead in disbelief seeing her getting worked up for a movie.
Manik: princess the movie isn't running away...fir kabhi dekh lenge. Abhi you sleep, Tum thak gayi hogi na?
She nodded lazily.
Manik smiled and patted her head to sleep. Nandini closed her eyes and held his hand in hers asking him to sleep besides her which he obliged not before pecking her forehead for a goodnight kiss and soon both the best friends, now better halves according to nandini were sound asleep, hugging each other close with a contented smile on their faces.
Hope you liked it.
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