MaNan: Unadulterated Love|| Completed

30. Unlayering Nandini!

~ Being with you comes naturally to me, but loving you makes my life so much more worth living~

Nandini was standing on the door with misty eyes, but these tears were of happiness. She was happy beyond limits to see them moving on, trying to leave the past behind. She knew no matter how much she tried Manik always had this guilt within himself, of not being able to be the mother hen for his family. And today when the mother and son were enjoying their past, living only the good memories, ignoring the past, she knew he had taken a step towards letting go. She was ecstatic for him and this happiness took form of a few drops which dropped down her eyes with a bright smile on her lips. While she was busy in her world, thanking the almighty for making things right in her man's life, Manik came towards her and cupped her cheeks, wiping off the drops.

"Why these tears now?", he asked, concerned!

She shook her head in a gesture that it was nothing. Manik raised an eyebrow and she at last chuckled at his expressions, and why not! He looked absolutely adorable!

"Its nothing! I am just, happy, watching both of you!", she acknowledged sheepishly and Manik shook his head, at her. He was amazed at her abilities to be emotional in one microsecond!

Veebha also came towards them and Nandini leaped towards her and she took both of them in a bear hug. An epitome of the happiness they were feeling! Family is indeed a pure bliss.

"Hawwww!", Kabir's super dramatic voice broke their hug, "Bharat milap, without us?" , He exclaimed, when they turned and saw Kabir and Navya standing at the door with frowning faces. Manik just went to him and hugged him tightly, his happiness evident in his actions. Kabir hugged him back and winked at Nandini who smiled back at him.

Later veebha took all of them in her motherly embrace and all of them enjoyed every bit of it. Then she prepared lunch for all of them and even fed each one by her own hands. It looked like a happy family moment, the one everybody had been craving for.

If you have a roof over your head, bread in your plate and a loving family to ask you how was your day when you return home along with the spice of some good friends in life, it's more than enough. This might seem philosophical but it's definitely true. The luxuries cannot give you the peace you feel when your mother strokes your hair. It cannot gift you the smile that creeps on your lips when your friend says you to inform them when you reach home. Little things always give you bigger bags of happiness.

A month passed with this happiness beaming in the mansion. Manik was happy like never before and Kabir, Navya and Nandini were happy in his happiness. Life was getting back to normal for all of them. One of those weekend, Nandini was preparing lunch for all of them, because Kabir was missing her food, and hence he self invited himself and Navya, along with Manik, to her apartment for a lunch. Kabir and Navya were to supposed to join Manik and Nandini, since Manik had reached her house in the morning itself, on the pretext of helping, though he was doing nothing but staring at her. A few moments later, Nandini got startled when a pair of arms back hugged her.

"What are you trying to cook? ", Manik aksed with his chin over her shoulder, his eyes scanning the wide range of items on display.

"Malai Kofta with Biryani, for Kabir because bhe loves them, but then, Navya prefers chinese so some Manchurian and noodles, you adore Rajma-chawal so that, and some Palak paneer to send over for Aunty! And ice-cream for dessert!", she answered like a kid reciting the menu, but also chuckling at his changing expressions.