"I can't even think in my dreams living without you.. Please stay with me forever.."

Manik is in the court discussing about the problems faced by the people of the kingdom and some welfare policies.

After the court discussion was over, Manav approached Manik. "Bhai sa..."

"Hmm say.." Manik said.

"Why did you that with bhabhi? I heard everything.." Manav said.

"Manav, it's not good to hear anyone's talks" Manik said and starts leaving when Manav blocked his way.

"Bhai sa, you know bhabhi right? She is like that only, she can't see anyone in pain.. maybe it's her enemy also and then too.. you said all that to her" Manav said.

Manik makes Manav sit. "I know how much favorite Nandini is yours but I did that on purpose.."

"What do you mean by it?" Manav asked confused.

"I said all these words to her on purpose.. I know she'll get hurt but it was important" Manik said.

"Why?" Manav asked.

Manik takes a deep breath. "See Manav, as I already told you, her father wants her to be the ruler of Meerut and she was trained in it since very young.. She's good at war skills, intelligent, brave but there are few things she needs to change it.. A ruler should know to fight for her fears too.. Manav, I want to make Nandini ready like a ruler as her father's last wish. I will help her coming out of her fears and will teach her all important skills. And about what I said to her today is related to that only.."

"How?" Manav asked.

"A ruler while doing justice have to forgot all his relations and emotions. And Nandini is so much attached to it. She can't see Iravati getting punished because she's attached to her somehow but if she was a ruler, she must keep these aside to do a perfect justice.. Sometimes it's important to talk to her like that, so that she too thinks what's wrong that I yelled at her.. And don't worry we will sort it out" Manik said with a smile. "I won't trouble your favourite bhabhi anymore.. It's just for her benefit only"

Manav smiles at him and leaves. Manik too leaves for some other work. He moves to his room to get some important papers. On entering his room, he saw Nandini reading a book which he gifted her yesterday.

Manik then collects his things and is leaving when Nandini called him. "Manik.."

Manik turned to her.

"Sorry..." Nandini said lowering her head. Manik moves to her and sits besides her.

"Nandini, I don't like shouting on you.. But sometimes it's necessary to make you understand. I know you can't see her in pain no matter how much pain she has given to you.. But Nandini sometimes forgiving is not good.. If you will just leave her like that today, then she will keep troubling you and I don't want that..." Manik said softly.

"You are with me na to protect me.." Nandini said.

"I won't be with you everytime.. You have to learn to fight for yourself on your own.." Manik said.

"You are leaving me?" Nandini said holding his hands.

Manik takes a deep breath. "We don't know what future has stored for us Nandini.."

"No Manik don't say like that.. I'll do as you say and I understand you did all that for me.. Do whatever you want but just don't leave me.." Nandini said with moist eyes.

"Nandini, I'm not saying I'm going somewhere now.. It's just that we don't know about what will happen in future.." Manik said with a small smile.

Nandini hugged him. "Please Manik, don't ever leave me alone please.. I won't even let future to seperate us. You are very special in my life and I can't afford to lose you.. I can't even think in my dreams living without you.. Please stay with me forever.."

Manik breaks the hug. "Ok, I'm not leaving you fine and not going anywhere" Manik gave her a small smile.

Nandini smiled back at him. Manik then makes her stand. "Come with me now.."

"Where?" Nandini asked while he dragged her out.

Manik takes Nandini to a practice room. "Why you bring me here Manik?" She asked looking around.

Manik takes a bow and arrow and hands over it to her. "For teaching you shooting.."

"Ma-Manik... I won't.." Nandini said and kept them on the table.

"You will.." Manik said taking them back.

"I can't.. Please Manik" Nandini said and starts leaving when Manik held her wrist.

"Nandini, don't you trust me?" Manik asked to which Nandini nods. "Then just do it.. I'm with you na, I'll teach you. Nothing will happen.."

"But Manik.." Nandini was cut off.

"I know on seeing these arrows and all you just remember all those things but till how much time you keep running away from your fears.. You have to face them and I'll help you in that!" Manik said assuring her and handing her the now and arrows.

Nandini takes the bow and arrows and hold it the way Manik said her to.

"Hold it straight like I'm holding Nandini.." Manik said showing her his arrows.

But Nandini wasn't able to do it because her hands were shivering. Manik sighed and keeps his arrows aside. He then moves to Nandini and makes her properly hold the arrows by teaching him her from behind. His warm breath were tickling on her shoulders. Manik is teaching her which Nandini is just staring at him.

"Nandini, look at what I'm teaching.." Manik said holding her hands in a right position from behind. Nandini quickly diverts her gaze from him and an unknown smile crept on her lips.

"Good, now just aim at the target and shoot it.." Manik said.

Nandini aims at the target and shoot it but she misses it.

"It's ok.. You will learn while practicing daily.." Manik said. "Try again"

Like this Manik spend a long time teaching her.

"Now you take some rest.. We will continue it tomorrow. I have some important work" Manik said.

"Thank you.." Nandini said with a smile to which Manik smiles back and leaves.

Nandini sees the arrows and smiles. She then leaves from there.

It's night when everyone are having dinner together but Manik isn't present.

"Dev bhai sa, Where's Manik busy? Even you are here too.." Nandini asked eating her food.

Dev looked at Rajeshwari.

"Nandini, he's busy in some other work and he only told Dev to have the dinner..." Rajeshwari said.

"It happens sometimes, Manik gets busy so he doesn't have his food with us.." Divya said.

"Oh! Then I'll have my food with him too" Nandini said wiping off her hands.

"Bhabhi you have your food na, bhai sa will be late in his work" Manav said.

"It's ok. I'm not much hungry.." Nandini said. "You all have your food, I'll have with him"

After everyone had their dinner, they move to their room. Nandini too moves to her room. She waits for Manik when he arrives.

"Manik, I was waiting for you since so long? The rats in my stomach were jumping because of hunger.. Come quickly, let's have the food.." Nandini said serving the food.

"Why you didn't have your food?" Manik asked removing his crown and dagger.

"I was waiting for you, so that we can we can eat together" Nandini said pouring a glass of water.

"But I already had my food" Manik said sitting beside her.

"You ate your food? When?" Nandini asked.

"I did when..." But Manik stops. "I'm sorry Nandini... I don't know that you didn't have your food because of me" Manik said. I'm sorry Nandini, I can't tell you that when I had my food and with whom.

"It's ok.." Nandini said with a small smile.

Manik understands that she's bit upset. "Nandini, let me feed you today"

Nandini chuckles. "I'm not a kid. I can eat it on my own.. And you must be tired, go and get some sleep"

"I know you aren't a kid, but you are my little wildcat, Monster's little wildcat.." Manik said and Nandini smiled at his words.

Manik puts his hand on hers. "Nandini, I'm sorry.. I don't want to hurt you. I wasn't knowing that you didn't have your food because of me.."

Nandini smiles and puts her hand on his. "It's ok Manik. You don't need to be sorry.. It's fine"

Manik then smiles at her and feeds her a piece of food. Nandini eats her food while talking with him.

After having her food, both of them lies on the bed when there's a knock on the door. "Come in.." Manik said.

Iravati comes inside with a jug of water and puts it on the nearby table and left not before glaring at them.

"Manik... Can I ask you something?" Nandini said putting her head on his shoulder.

"Yes say..." Manik said with a small smile.

"That girl's portrait which I saw that day, which you snatched from me.. You remember I told you that I have seen her somewhere.. I remembered who is she..." Nandini said.

"Wh-Who is she?" Manik said stammering. "I mean... what.. you know about her?"

"I don't know much about her but few months back, I met her at an ashram. We both bumped to each other accidentally and then we exchanged our names.." Nandini said.

"What's her name?" Manik asked gulping.

"Meera.." Nandini replied. "Yes, Meera was her name. Do you know her? And why you have her painting? Who's she?"

Nandini asked him a lots of question but Manik stays silent not knowing what to tell her.

Sorry for this small update.

Hope you like it.

How's it?

How's Manan?

What do you think Manik is hiding?

Where he had his dinner and with him that he couldn't tell Nandini?

Who's Meera?

What relation Manik has with her?

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Thank you❤