Chapter 23

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Nandini was applying the last bits of make up when she heard a honk. She ran to her window and peeked out to find Manik getting out of his car. It has been less than even an hour since Manik had left in the morning and here she was already waiting to see him again.

Manik's arrival marked a beautiful smile on her face as she hastily picked up her purse and spared a last time look at the mirror and ran downstairs.

"Bhai, am going out for breakfast....", Nandini shouted as she dashed through the hall and opened the door as soon as Manik placed his hand on the bell and was going to press it.

"Whoa.... I guess I don't need the bell now.. .", Manik spoke with a smirk.

Nandini was so overjoyed seeing Manik that she wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled him into a hug.
Manik too wrapped his strong hands around her and kissed her hairs lightly.

"Missed me?", Nandini asked in a baby tone.

"Missed you like hell,", Manik replied nuzzling in her neck.

Nandini pulled apart suddenly and Manik looked at her and asked," What?".

Nandini tiptoed up and reached Manik's ears after Manik too lowered himself...... "Hell signifies the worst things Manik.. I want you to miss me like Heaven..", she replied and placed a warm kiss on his cheeks.

Manik could only smile at her sweet request and spoke " I missed you like Heaven", and kissed her forehead.

Both of them lingered in that position trying to absorb the moment, but was disturbed by a cough.
"Nandu weren't you mad at him?', Rishab asked.

"Not anymore,", Nandini replied with a smile freeing herself from Manik.

"She was throwing you out last night and now she is in your arms..... Huh, whatever.", Rishab spoke and walked back to his room shaking his head in disbelief.

"I guess you have an important work in hand", Manik said to Nandini with a smirk as they both watched Rishab leaving.

"What work?", Nandini asked with a questioning look.

"Try to remember," he said and passed a glance to the car. Nandini followed his gaze and found Mannat sitting at the back seat staring at them.
She remembered how she had behaved with Mannat and she knew it would take a lot of work to make it up to her.

Nandini walked up to the car and as she reached to open the door, Manni turned her face to the other side. She was angry with her Nandu......

"Manni..", Nandini called in the sweetest tone possible as she opened the car and sat beside her.

Nandini tried to pull Mannat into her arms but she resisted. "Manni.... I am shooo sorry baby...", and Nandini held her ears. Mannat turned her head and peeked a little through her eyes to watch the pleading Nandu. But the cute little one was too much angry and she turned her head again.

Manik was enjoying the scene from outside but finally decided to intervene seeing that his baby girl is going to be tough.

"Manni, so my baby is angry huh?", Manik asked and without wasting anytime Mannat just hopped into her father's arms and hid herself in his chest and replied," Vely vely angly".

"But see, Nandu is so sorry she is even holding her ears. I think you should forgive her..... And then we may all go to the amusement park today?", Manik very well knew how to handle his pumpkin.

Mannat's eyes sparkled with joy at the mention of amusement park. She immediately extended her hands towards Nandini and she took her.

Nandini kissed her both cheeks and said," Nandu is very very very sorry." And in return she was rewarded by a large kiss in her right cheek and that marked the end of Mannat's anger.

"Let's go then..... ", Manik asked and both Nandini and Mannat nodded in affirmation.

The trio settled in the car as Manik drove towards the park. He took to the highway as it was a 2 hrs drive.

Nandini was in the backseat with Mannat while Manik was in the front. Nandini was busy with Mannat as she kept telling Nandini about their recent trip that she had gone to with her daddy and how they had missed Nandini there.

Manik kept stealing glances of the two stars of his life. He was overwhelmed as to how they had become so attached to him. He feared losing them even for a moment. The sight of his doll so freely chatting with anyone else other than him gave him immense pleasure. And the care and love that Nandini showered on his Manni made him belief that she was a perfect mother, may be even better than him.

Manik never thought that he would be able to trust anyone with Mannat. But know he knew that Nandini had unknowingly taken the vacant place in their life, the place that both Manik and Mannat were craving to be filled.

Manik kept gazing at the living beauty. Even with her light makeup she looked amazing. It was an ordeal for Manik to remove his gaze from her to concentrate on the road. His eyes craved for her.

The dazzling smile made her look perfect among all the imperfect. She was his star, the only source of light that had overthrown all his darkness, has pulled him out of all the negativities, had given him a reason to live, a reason to love.

Manik was not paying much attention to their conversation but when he saw Mannat jumping onto Nandini and she holding her close and then both of them bursting out into fits of laughter..........., at that very moment he knew that he had fallen heels over for this girl..... There was no coming back now and he is going to love her for as long as she will let him to..... And somewhere he knew that it will be forever.


Sorry for the late update. But my exams are near, so am busy in my studies. And I will be a little irregular from now on till 26th Feb. For exams.... :-( :-(
Sorry for this.

Hope you like the update. And don't forget to vote and share your views. Will be waiting for your response.

Till then happy reading.

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