Celebrity Castaway | COMPLETE | MaNan Fiction

60| Bonus 3: The Malhotras

A/N: Hello Readers, so this is finally it. The last published chapter of this fiction. I had made a promise that after all the heartbreak I will give you 5 healing chapters, including a 2 part Epilogue and 3 Bonus chapters, and this is me delivering that promise.  :)

I have written everything I ever wanted to write on this plotline and I am creatively exhausted here, so there will be no more Bonus chapters after this.

However, this chapter is important, how can you not see the final step of Manik and Nandini's evolution arc with their children? I believe with this chapter, my characters are self actualized, and as a writer, my job here is done!

I hope you readers enjoy this one more time, on that note, Happy Reading!

***

Ten Years Later

The night air in Mumbai was soft, scented with jasmine and distant traffic, when a custom limousine entered through the gates of Aashiana Bunglow, the one that was a landmark of Mumbai; the house of the country's biggest studio owner Manik Malhotra, and his superstar wife Nandini Malhotra. As the chauffeur stopped the car near their elaborate porch decked with Italian marble and minimalist sculptures, Nandini got off the car and walked across the marble driveway, her Filmfare award dangling from one hand, and her clutch in the other. Her hair was wild from the after-party, but her eyes are still blazing.

Manik was trailing behind her, grinning like a smug teenager who just got away with something silly. Tarun, their old butler, saluted them as they entered and whispered softly to him, "Sir, aj to Madam zyada hi gussa hain, kya kar diya aapne?"

Manik stifled his laughter and winked at him, assuring him. "Don't worry Tarun, I will still live to see tomorrow!"

Nandini, ignoring him, walked straight into their bedroom and dropped the award on their bed, and sat down to remove her heels, as Manik walked in, with a glass of cold water in hand, as a peace offering, like Tarun had suggested.

Nandini glanced at him and glowered. "You're insufferable," she muttered, not slowing down, as she hurriedly walked into the vanity area to take off her make-up for the night.

"What? Like a proud husband, I presented you the award!" Manik protested, hands raised in mock innocence.

"That you did" she snapped, before adding "but it didn't end there; and then you gave a full speech about how your wife is always right, even when she's wrong! You also mentioned how you'd have to call out my name even if the envelope had someone else's name, because apparently I'd kill you otherwise! And then..then you thanked Alia for 'almost winning.' but not really because you were up on the stage to present the award and that meant I'd get it!"

Manik chuckled, unlocking the bathroom door. "I said, 'Alia, you did a great job too, but I'm too scared to call anyone else out.' That's romantic, love!" he replied. How could he let go of such a wonderful opportunity to tease Nandini? Angry Nandini was his favourite, and especially the part where, in the aftermath, in order to coax her, he got to have his way with her! Make-up sex was always the best! Hah.

"Romantic my foot, that's cowardly." Nandini barked, nose red in anger and cheeks puffy. The nerve of this man! She pushed him to walk into the washroom.

"That's survival, love" Manik murmured, holding back his laugh, as he first stepped aside to let her into the bathroom, but got in behind her, and locked the door behind them.

Manik was right, Tarun would meet a happy Nandini the next morning!

***

Next morning, as they stepped inside the living room, their twins were already waiting there, they were back from their swimming lessons, and Tarun was about to get them breakfast. Dua, their daughter, was perched on the armrest like a queen, and Abhi, their son, was curled up with a comic book, legs tucked under him.