A/N: Why should only MaNan receive double celebrations? We all deserve a treat, eh? Happy reading xx
"Wow!" Dhruv says, bursting my bubble of joy with a needle. "Wasn't that something?" He dramatically wipes fake tears from his cheeks, wincing as his fingers brush against his broken nose. "I'm touched."
Manik comes over to my side, snaking his arm around my waist. He stares at Dhruv with a bored expression as if he's a game Manik has played a hundred times and now winning has become redundant.
"While you two were doing that child's play," Dhruv says, nodding his chin towards Manik's car. "I learnt some very interesting info." His working arm extends towards me. "Congratulations on the wedding." I stare at Dhruv's filthy hand, hoping the disgust I feel internally is also evident on my face. "I'm sure my invitation got lost on the way over, eh?"
"Once again, Dhruv, you've lost and I've won." Manik says, taking the back of his hand and pushing Dhruv's hand to the side. "I suggest you don't embarrass yourself anymore tonight and just go home to whichever bimbo is unfortunate enough to share a bed with you tonight."
"Manik," Dhruv tsks, shaking his head. "I haven't even finished catching up with your lovely wife. There's so much to tell. Hmm...where should I begin from?" He taps his index finger against the side of his head thoughtfully. "Ah, yeah, of course. Nandini, that's your name right? Has Manik educated you about what happened with Rebecca?"
At once my husband's grip tightens around my waist. Who is this woman? Every time Dhruv brings up her name Manik goes into a mode of tension.
"I would be surprised if you knew and still agreed to wed him." Dhruv says, narrowing his eyes at me. "Or do you not know anything?"
"What Manik tells me, or doesn't, is none of your business." I snap, fully well understanding Dhruv's intentions. He wasn't able to prove my lack of trust in Manik, and so now he's trying to sway it by other means. Little does he know that our relationship isn't so weak. "Manik, let's go. It's late."
"You're lucky I haven't fractured your other arm as well." Manik says in a dangerously low voice. "Don't push your luck though."
"Manik, stop wasting your breath." Cabir says, stepping in front of the Devil. Gently, he pushes him backwards by the shoulders. "Let's go somewhere else and celebrate."
"Again?" Manik sighs dramatically, throwing his head back. "Lord, I'm fucking tired of celebrating my wins against Dhruv. It's so damn boring now." He smirks, eyes glued to Dhruv. Unable to think of a retort, our enemy continues to glare at us as we head towards Manik's car.
Until tonight I used to link the tracks with a ton of negativity. A few minutes back, however, that has changed. Sure, we encountered Dhruv tonight and the situation didn't go exactly as planned, but regardless of it all, I got a confession from Manik tonight. An indirect insight to his inner feelings. What more could I want? Nothing can ruin tonight for me, or the days to come. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I'm soaring on cloud nine.
*****
"A coconut for my beautiful wife." Manik says, lowering himself onto the spot beside me. I take it from his hands gratefully, still unable to wipe the smile off my face. "I'm assuming you're this happy because of the fact that you're alive." I shake my head, grinning.
"No, that's inconsequential in front of the cause of my joy." I say, resting my hand above Manik's.
"Then? Angel, you haven't stopped smiling since we got into the car." I shrug, glancing up towards the sky. Aiyappa, how can I thank you for sending this beautiful soul into my life? The joy he gives me is infinite. In fact, I strongly believe that I'm living the best that life can offer when I'm with Manik.
"Do you remember what you told me after you got out of the car?" I ask, raising my eyebrows questioningly. My husband frowns hard, trying to take himself back to that moment and find the answer.
"Um..." Manik's thinking face makes me smile even harder. Taking a hold of it I bring his cheek towards my lips, leaving a kiss against his skin. "Wow, okay." Manik smiles. "Now I definitely won't be able to think."
"You said that I was okay," I help him. "And you kept repeating that, and then..." I trail off, waiting for him to give his input. Manik stares at my face for a few seconds before shaking his head. "Your exact words were, 'I love you so fucking much for being alright.' Do you remember that by any chance?"
Manik's eyebrows fly up so high that I fear they'll disappear into his hairline. He shakes his head at once, eyes wide.
"I didn't...I never said that." Manik denies, refusing to make eye contact with me. He's looking at everything under the sky except for my face. "I think you got carried away in the excitement and misheard me somehow."
"You love me," I state matter-of-factly, grinning like a fool. "Mr. Manik Malhotra, also infamously known as the Devil, is in love with Nandini Murthy." Manik shrugs, his gaze fixated on his shoes. Giggling like a schoolgirl, I shift myself closer to him, looping my arm through his. "In case you didn't know, I love you too." Tilting my chin upwards, I leave another kiss at the corner of Manik's lips.
"I...I..." Manik struggles to find words.
"Aiyappa, he's blushing," I squeal. "Manik you're blushing!"
"Fuck no!" He denies at once. The palm of his right hand cups his cheek at once in an effort to conceal the light tinge in his cheeks.
"I should change your name to Cutie," I suggest. "It's more suitable now. I mean, I barely get to see the Devil anymore."
"Call me that and I'll show you what hell looks like." Manik threatens with zero conviction in his voice.
"Oi! Be nice to me," I warn. "I mean, I haven't forgotten the fact that you didn't compliment me and still have to make up for it."
"Yes!" The Devil exclaims, popping off the bench. "I'll be right back." And the jerk has left me again. Sighing, I chug down the coconut water, Manik's words playing on replay in my head.
"Viola!" Manik says, holding a bag in front of me.
"What's this?" I ask, taking it from his hand. He seats himself beside me once more, nodding excitedly towards the bag.
"Go on, open it." Manik encourages, as if he's a child on Christmas.
"When'd you have time to buy me a present?" I ask, reaching in and taking out a box. It's wrapped in a wrapping paper that is decorated with baby angels. "How fitting," I comment, grinning.
"I bought this a while back," Manik explains. "But the time to present it never arose. Good for me though because now it can act as an apology." I shred the paper away from the actual gift as if Manik will snatch it away from me if I don't act fast enough. My eyes widen at the sight of the present, a gasp of disbelief escaping my lips. My mouth falls open, my mind going blank. A professional camera's packed box is staring back at me.
"Manik!" I exclaim, throwing my arms around his neck. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you so much." Only I know how desperately I've wanted a professional camera and today I've received one. "This is unbelievable. Thank you, Manik." Unlatching myself from him, I remove the lid of the box to find a black camera staring back at me. My fingers brush around the object as I caress it like a newborn baby. Aiyappa, this looks so new. The parts are shining with the look that only new objects carry.
"Do you like it?" Manik asks, doubt clouding his tone. "For real?" I nod my head vigorously.
"Of course I love it!" My fingers trail around the edges of the box as I admire my camera. "I had given up all hopes of acquiring one and now you've..." I trail off, tears blurring my vision. "This is perfect," I whisper genuinely. "Thank you, Manik. God knows how I'll ever repay you."
"For fuck's sake, Angel, don't talk shit. Presents aren't supposed to be repaid," Manik says dismissively. "I'm just glad it appeals to you. The strap and case is in the bag." I shake my head in disbelief, my cheeks aching because of grinning like a fool.
"Thank you," I repeat. "Thank you." Once I've safely shut the box again and placed it in the bag, I embrace Manik once more. "I love you."
*****
"I love you." Manik's hushed voice enters my ears. Pouting, I tug my blanket further up my body until it's covering my ear. Aiyappa, now Manik's love confession is also echoing in my dreams. "I love you," he repeats, my eyes popping open. That voice sounded far too real to be coming through the realm of my dreams.
"I love you, Angel," Manik says unsurely. Frowning, I shift onto my back. As soon as my eyes adjust to the dark they land on Manik's back. He's positioned in front of the floor length mirror that's in the corner of the room. Is he making love confessions to the mirror? I glance over towards the clock on the bedside table. It's five in the morning. Aiyappa, my husband's lost it.
"Angel, I love you." He says, tilting his head to the side. It's almost as if he's learning a new language and so he's trying to practice pronouncing the unfamiliar words. "I love you, Murthy." It takes every bone of self control to keep from giggling at my Devil's antics. He clears his throat. "You have my heart, so shut up." Thank heavens I love Manik so much, otherwise he'd be facing divorce papers due to his useless words. "I love you, don't ever bring this up again." I mentally bang my head against a wall. Aiyappa, this man needs coaching in the love department.