Mananff-Forever Mine

Chapter 21

As Manik returned home after finishing his college, he opened he door and was greeted with an overly excited Pihu, chatting with her new friend, Nandini.

Nandini had offered that she would take care of Pihu today as Mahi had to go for her work and Manik couldn't miss his college today.

As he entered further, he saw Pihu sitting on the floor with colours for Rangoli and stencils scattered around her. She was making something which looked like a flower and beside her was another piece of incomplete work which looked like it was done by a professional. He knew it was done by Nandini.

'Mamu!' Pihu shouted excitedly and ran towards him, her hand covered with different colours. He scooped her up and threw her in the air before planting a kiss on her cheeks.

'Hi princess.'

'Mamu see...hum colour kar rahe hai.' She pointed towards the work she had done and Manik went towards their work. He put her down and bent down towards it, inspecting it.

'Aree wah...ye to bohot acha hai' he said praising her work to which she smiled broadly.

'But princess... Aise colour nahi karte.'

Pihu then looked at him confused. He chuckled.

'Aise karte hai.'

Manik dipped two of his finger in the colour nearby and without wasting any second, he ran his finger over the little girl's cheek. Pihu squealed, in surprise and excitement and tried to jump on him.

Manik chuckled and stood up, saving himself from his niece who tried to jump as high as she could, but couldn't reach more than his thigh.

Pihu stopped jumping as she got irritated, unable to reach his face. She placed both of her coloured hands on his jeans, which imprinted two little handprints on his jeans.

'Aww...bas baby thak gaya? Aur kuch nahi ho raha hai aapse?' He laughed and tried to tease her.

Pihu giggled for some reason and the next second, two hands filled with colour pressed against his cheeks from behind. Before he could react, the hands had got all of his painted.

'Why don't you pick someone your own size?' Nandini whispered in his ears.

Manik tried to ignore the butterflies that rose in his stomach due to the intimacy of her. Maybe she didn't realise the effect she had on him. Nandini chuckled and came in front of him with a teasing smile on her face.

Pihu laughed jumping up and down, and gave a high-five to Nandini. A small smile appeared on his face as he ran his fingers on his cheeks. He looked at the red colour on his finger and then at Nandini, with mischief in his eyes.

'Aur tumhe lagta hai ke wo tum ho...haina?' He asked taking a step forward towards her.

She stepped back and kept her hands in front of her maybe to calm him down.

'Dekho manik, tum aise-'

'Maniiiik.'

Manik jumped forward before she could complete her sentence and she ran for her life, giggling and laughing all along. Pihu also squealed, clapping her hands and watched both of them run through the living room.

Nandini stood behind a sofa, watching Manik trying to get to her through the other side of it.

'Iske baad tumhari bari hai.' He said looking towards Pihu.

Nandini saw that Manik wasn't looking at her at that moment and tried to run towards the kitchen, but Manik was faster.

Keeping an arm around her waist, he dragged her back to his chest. And in reflex, her hands went towards his, trying to steady herself. He pulled her even closer, if that was possible, pinning her arms to her side and she laughed, trying to break free.

'Now...what were you saying....own size ha?' He whispered in her ears.

'Manik....' She was still trying for him to leave.

Manik leaned forward and rubbed his cheek with hers, ignoring her pleas and transferring the colour from his face to hers. He rubbed again and again, enjoying the feel of her face on his, both having silly smiles on their faces.

'Ye kya ho raha hai?' A stern voice halted them in their trance.

They didn't hear the door open or Mahi's footsteps coming in. Manik and Nandini turned to see her. She had her arms crossed around her chest and lips pressed.

Manik loosened his arms around Nandini but didn't leave her, as if he didn't want to let her go.

Mahi shook her head.

'I don't believe you guys.' She said looking at all the three of them. They looked away guiltily.

Mahi bent down, dipped her hand in the colour and stood up.

'At least teams to fair rakhte.' She said with a mischievous smile and Pihu giggled loudly....

***

Suraj ki kiran chupaye to kaise,

Phulon ki mahek churaye to kaise,

Dekhe na unki jhalak agar,

To aap hi batae hum muskurae to kaise...

***

Hieee....

Kaisa tha?

I really enjoyed writing this chapter. Did you guys enjoy reading it?

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#affy...