Echoes of Fate (Part 2 of Hallway love series)

2

Nandani woke up to the sound of her alarm the next morning. She opened her eyes to see Manik snuggling into her with a frown on his forehead because of the sound of the alarm. She turned still in his arms and stretched her arms to turn off her phone. They slept maybe at 2-3 after their long night and now with Nandani back up she could not go to sleep. She kept staring at the ceiling still wrapped in Manik's arms and the sheet covering their nakedness. Her gaze then shifted on Manik who was still sleeping forgetting his entire world. She was about to remove his arm when she heard Manik.

Manik: Go back to sleep! We have done enough exercise for you to do more.

Nandani: You are awake!

Manik opened his eyes looking at her and before replying to her words he went ahead and kissed her forehead, took her left hand in his and caressed the ring which adored her finger since last night and said,

Manik: it is too unbelievable for me to sleep it off!

Nandani looked at him surprised as she whispered back to him,

Nandani: What is it?

Manik: That you said yes, that we might start preparing for OUR wedding, that me and you are a closed forever kinda deal!

Nandani: Manii! We were always a forever kinda deal! Why are you saying this?

Manik: I know but now, living in this moment! It feels unreal!

Nandani sighed in contentment and hugged him as he pulled her closer. They both lay there in silence with Manik occasionally running his finger over the ring and Nandani tightening her hold around his hand. No one knows who slept first but when they woke up the sun was shining brightly peeping through the curtains and straight on Nandani and Manik's face.

Nandani wriggled a little under his hold and came out of it without waking him up. She went to the washroom and after freshening up she went straight to the kitchen to make coffee for both of them. After that, she went back to the room and woke Manik up. He smiled at her and after freshening up they both went to the extended roof/balcony and sat under the shed there having coffee while Nandani read her novel.

After they both took a shower and were together making something to eat Manik asked Nandani,

Manik: So when are we telling our friends and family?

Nandani: why? You didn't tell them?

Manik: No! I wanted to surprise them together! Plus, I am expert enough to take the size of the ring myself than depend on Maya, Zoya, Alya, Mukti, or Navya and then risk everything just to tell any single one of them telling what I was planning!

Nandani giggled listening to him knowing that was very much possible. She tasted the curry she was making and said,

Nandani: why don't we call our friends today and break the news? I will call my mom and granny and ask them to have dinner with us. They are anyway coming back from Punjab after their trip and are leaving back for Paris 3 days later! We can take Mum, Dad, Mom, Granny, Cabir, Alya, Mukti and Abhimanyu to dinner? Family dinner CHECK and Announcement CHECK too!

Manik: hmmm! Why don't we call our friends the day after tomorrow? We can decide the dates and stuff with our family first and then hatch the plan with our friends because those girls are gonna jump into action once they all know!

Nandani: hmm nice plan! I will call Mom after having food! But What are we gonna do today?

Manik: Would you fancy a date? I would like to take MY WOMEN out on a stroll!