TRUE LOVE NEVER GIVES UP

Chapter-37: Birthday Plans

As the evening sun cast a warm, golden hue across the room, Manik and Nandini stirred from their peaceful sleep, their bodies still entwined in the comfort of each other’s presence. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with a deep sense of contentment and peace, a shared understanding that words couldn’t fully capture.

Nandini was the first to break the silence, her voice soft but playful. “I should make something for us to eat before we leave. You know, something quick and easy.”

Manik smiled, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “Not today,” he said, his voice firm but laced with affection. “Today, I’ll make something for you.”

Nandini raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “You? This I have to see.”

Manik chuckled, kissing her forehead before getting up from the bed. “You’ll see,” he said confidently, holding out his hand to help her up.

Together, they made their way to the kitchen, a space that had seen many shared moments between them. As they entered, Manik gently lifted Nandini and set her on the kitchen slab, her legs dangling off the edge as she watched him move around with a calm ease.

“Comfortable?” he asked, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

“Very,” she replied, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she grabbed a bar of chocolate from a nearby jar. “I’ll just sit here and be entertained.”

Manik laughed softly, turning his attention to the task at hand. He began making the dough for aloo paratha, his movements sure and practiced.

Nandini, meanwhile, broke off a piece of chocolate and held it out to him. He took it, their fingers brushing in a moment of shared intimacy, and popped it into his mouth, smiling at her indulgently.

As he kneaded the dough, Nandini chattered away, filling the room with her lighthearted banter. Manik listened quietly, occasionally glancing at her, his heart swelling with love for this woman who had become his entire world.

After the dough was ready, Manik started searching for something in the kitchen cabinets. His back was turned to Nandini, who was still nibbling on her chocolate, when she suddenly grabbed his arm and pulled him toward her. He stumbled slightly, surprised by the force of her pull, and looked at her with wide eyes.

“Nandini, what—”

“Shh,” she interrupted, bringing a finger to his lips to silence him. In her other hand, she held a pair of scissors, which she raised to his shirt.

Manik’s confusion deepened. “What are you doing?” he asked, though his tone was more curious than alarmed.

Nandini didn’t answer. Instead, she made a quick snip, and before Manik could protest, his shirt was in pieces, leaving him bare-chested. He stared at her in shock, his heart racing as he tried to comprehend what had just happened.

“Nandini…” he began, but his words trailed off as she leaned in, her eyes glinting mischievously.

Without warning, she grabbed a bottle of sauce from the counter and drizzled it onto his neck. Manik’s breath hitched as she moved closer, her lips barely brushing against his skin.

“Nandini, what are you—” he started again, but she silenced him with the tip of her tongue tracing the line of sauce down his neck.

The sensation sent shivers through his body, and he instinctively reached out to steady himself, his hands gripping the edge of the counter behind her. He tried to pull away, but Nandini was relentless, her lips and tongue exploring his skin with a mix of teasing bites and gentle kisses.