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Chapter 2
Shades of Love
Three shots (TS)
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Manik comes to the room and finds her sitting on the bed. Her way of sitting tells him that she is not ready. He comes to her. He sat beside her and held her hand. She shifted uncomfortably.
Manik- Don't worry I won't take a single step without your consent.
Nandini- I am sorry but I can't do this. See I liked someone before marriage but he betrayed me. He never loved me. But somewhere even I knew that it was not love. It was just a mere attraction.
Manik- Nandini I just want to ask, Do you still like him?
Nandini- No... I want to forget him. Please don't break this marriage. I wanted to tell you about this before marriage. But my mom and dad stopped me. I couldn't do anything. Please don't leave me.
I started crying. He hugged me and said.
Manik- I don't care whom you loved in the past. The thing that matters to me is that we have a present and future together. So can we give "us" try?
Nandini- I will try. But can we take it slow? I want to forget him. I want to feel different for you. I want to give "us" a chance.
Manik- Always do what your heart says.
Nandini- Manik... I.. I.. wan...wanted to knowww... why did you marry me?
Manik- You don't know me but I do. Remember Ashiyana NGO.
Nandini- I know but how you are related to Ashiyana?
Manik- That NGO runs under my company. One day I came for paperwork there and found you there. It was love at first sight. I knew that it is you, whom I had been searching. Well now sleep.
Saying this he lied on one side of the bed and me on the other side. I slept thinking about all the fiasco that happened in the last few months.
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It's been few months since our marriage. I observed that Manik is a nice man, a simple man, very affectionate and loving. I started liking him, loving him for the way he is. He has a romantic side too. He listens to music a lot, sings a line or two apt to the situation. He loves to express himself in a song rather than mere words. He writes romantic two-liners which have a much deeper meaning. I enjoy listening to them.
I tease him by asking.
Nandini- which song is in your mind right now?
I know his fondness for songs and lyrics that he has a song in his mind always and can start from anywhere. When I asked this after a month of our marriage, he immediately sang this for me.
Manik- "kabhi kabhi mere dil mein... ye khayaal aata hai...
Ki ye badan... ye nigahein... meri amaanat hai...
Ye kesuvo ki ghani chaav hai meri khatir...
Ye honth aur ye bahein meri amaanat hai..."
I was floored by his love and hugged him tightly. Did I forget to tell you that he proposed to me 3 weeks ago?
Well, he proposed to me in a very romantic way. I was amazed to see the intensity of his love. He didn't force me to say "I love you too". I was confused with my own feelings. I wanted to be sure of what I feel for him. I needed time. I asked him honestly and he gave me time. But his little romance never faded. He always gets time to make me blush with whatever he does.
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Once he messaged from his office.
"pal pal dil ke paas... tum rehti ho..."
It's his way of telling me that he missed me. I replied.
"tu... tu hai wahi... dil ne jise..
apna kaha..."
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In all these months we had our share of disagreements too. He always excused me for my impulsiveness and emphasized on healthy way of expressing our views. He is my friend, philosopher, and guide. He is everything to me.
My wounds are healed now. Maddy's chapter is now buried deep. It's only Manik in my mind and heart. I long for his presence. I await like a child for him to return from the office. I love him so much... so much so that this one life is not enough for me to express it. I decided to confess my love for him.
I take out my cell and message him.
"ek baat kahu kya ijazat hai....
Tere ishq ki mujhko aadat hai"
He came home immediately after reading the message. What he saw cannot be defined in words. The whole house was decorated with flowers and balloons. Candles were doing their work and there I stood in his favorite color saree which he gifted me on my birthday.
Nandini- Manik you know what now I am sure what I feel for you. I really love you. I love you Manik Malhotra.
Manik- I love you too Nandini.
Later that night I asked him to take our relations to the next step. Believe me, that night was pure bliss.
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One fine day we were walking in the mall, hand in hand. Manik asked me to have lunch in the nearby restaurant which was under my husband's big, NM empire. He renamed his company after my name. He always says that my name should always come before his. That's why, NM industries, Nandini Manik Industries.
Did I tell you that he had given his 51 percent shares in my name? However, I never had any interest in the business. I love fashion designing. He supported me all the way from sitting with me all night for studies to admitting me to the world's most prestigious fashion designing college. He was there for me, always. And here I stand. India's most popular fashion designer, Nandini Manik Malhotra. Oh how much I love my name joined with his name!
We walked in and sat in the private lounge of the restaurant.
Manik- Baby order whatever you want to eat and order for me also.
Nandini- Manik even last time also I ordered. Today it's your turn.
Manik- Baby I am very tired today and was planning to make you tired once we get home, so, please.
Nandini- Shameless creature! Fine I will order. But where is the waiter?
Manik called the waiter.
Waiter- Yes Sir and Ma'am! What would you both like to have?
The sound was familiar to me. I looked at the person and he was Madhyam Singhania aka Maddy, My ex-lover.
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YOU ARE READING
Second Chance ~ Manan TS ✔
Fanfiction"My mother nailed the point directly. My father was looking directly into my eyes as if he too demands an answer for this. I gathered lots of courage and said that we like each other and would like to marry." "But- You loved me- We loved each other...
