Bade Acche Lagte Hain | MaNan

Taking the Plunge.

Hello lovely readers!

Thank you for the heart-warming love you've showered over this story and for accepting a new writer like me with open arms. I may not be expressive toward every comment done on this story but they mean a lot to me and most definitely put a wide smile over my face at the end of the day.

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Your writer,
A.

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1st November, 1995.

Waking up disoriented to the loud beating of the door, Manik and Nandini realised that the room was completely dipped in darkness.

Canoodled with his wife like a grapevine tendril, Manik slept again hiding his face in her hair, neither letting her move nor getting up himself to open the door.

"Manik, Nandini! Open the door." Madhu's loud voice grabbed their attention again. Nandini nudged him to move a bit and he groaned in response.

"Let me get up." She requested, although it was difficult for her to measure the steps till the switch board even, in this darkness.

Huffing and puffing he climbed down the bed himself and switched on the lights before opening the single door for Madhu.

"What?!" He asked, rubbing his eyes still filled with sleep.

"Do you realise it's been twenty minutes I'm knocking the door? It's 6:30 already in the evening and Nandini needs time to get ready. Freshen up quickly." Scolding him for his laziness, she handed him the tray filled with snacks and tea and marched away from the room.

Nandini gulped in fear, hearing Madhu's angry voice. She had hardly interacted with her and was now more anxious than before to even approach her.

Habituated to his sister's fussing nature, he shut the door and came inside. Keeping the tray on the night stand he slumped back on the bed.

Collecting her dupatta, Nandini tried getting out of the bed but was pulled by Manik next to him.

"What are you doing?" She shrieked as she was actually late and didn't want to upset her in-laws on the very day of her marriage.

"It's just 6:30." He mumbled in his raspy voice and she was amazed at how relaxed he sounded, as if Madhu never came and scolded him.

"I should help her. Maybe there are other guests too." She stated, her voice laced with worry that forced him to open his eyes.

"You just got married today, besides, aren't you tired?" His eyebrows arched together, he asked genuinely, his hold still firm on her.

"A nice sleep at night is needed to wear off this tiredness, not in bits and pieces." She put her point innocently unaware that her words gave him a reason to tease her.

"You think I'll let you sleep tonight?" He flipped, taking her under him and her eyes widened at his overt threat.

"Why?" Biting her lower lip, she wanted the bed to open and swallow her for asking him the stupidest question possible.

"You want me to tell you the answer, right now?" He grazed his nose on her cheeks to her neck and she shut her eyes in shyness, heaving a large puff of air.

"I thought you will be clever enough to find your name quickly and then we can sleep." She fumbled, trying to distract him from the embarrassing topic.