Manik's POV

I had finally confessed! How could I not? After all that we had been through tonight – her agonizing past; my ...well, now that I thought about – silly story, I had to give it a happy ending. What had started as an attraction had finally culminated into something much more significant. She helped me understand what I thought was the bitter truth of my life and give it a whole new meaning.

But now was the moment of truth. I kept gazing at her lovingly. Somewhere deep down I knew the answer but I still wanted her to tell me – I wanted to her to hear her confess her true feelings for me

"Manik, I...I am in love with you too" she looked down, blushing and the glow instantly returned

And I just wrapped her in my arms. This moment – right here - would go onto to becoming the most unforgettable and extraordinary moment of my life. I was hers and she was mine, forever and ever.... we finally fell in love!

We spent the entire night talking, she wrapped up safely in my arms – about nothing and about everything. I could just spend my entire life listening to her sweet voice. She spoke about her life in Delhi, her friends there, complained about her exams AGAIN ( yes, I don't think she could ever get over them) while I went on to describe my childhood – before I got to know about my dad, my life at school, my passion for music and how I needed to get back to it

After a while, we went quiet – enjoying the silence, our fingers entwined as they spent time exploring the back and front of our hands. Suddenly I realized something

"Nandini, you know I wrote an entire thesis a while back – very eloquently describing what I felt about you. And while I personally think my words are going to be difficult to beat, you know since I am so good with them, but I still need to know what you feel about me as well" I said, arching up my eyebrows

"Wow, Manik. How did you get to be so modest?" she said sarcastically

"That's one of my many qualities that am sure you are in love with. But I would like to know what else you love about me" I teased her right back

"You know, Manik? What I feel for you cannot be expressed in words. My feelings are indescribable" she said, looking deeply in my eyes as she slowly started caressing my cheek

I fell for it – well almost but her wicked smile gave it away "Well tried, Nandini. You think you are very smart is it? You aren't going to get away so easily. You have to tell me" and started tickling her

"Mannnniikkkkkkkkkkkkk, NOOOOOOOO, Pleaseee Stop, No Please" she screamed as she tried evading my hands and ran all over the house.

I followed her but she had the advantage of knowing every nook and corner of her house and she went and locked herself in the bathroom

"Nandini, comeon, don't do this. You know I deserve to know. This isn't fair" I complained like a little child

But she wouldn't relent. After a whole ten minutes of knocking, I finally gave up – a little frustrated

"FINE! Have it your way" and stormed off into the terrace. Thankfully, the rains had stopped and there was a slight breeze that just made the weather that much more beautiful

"I was right when I said that my feelings cannot be put into words" I heard her voice – nice and soft behind me and I turned to see her "That's because what I feel for you, Manik is something I haven't ever felt before in my life. I feel like I am dreaming but if I am, then I do not ever want to wake up. I want to continue living it cause it has you in it. You – just by being the sweet, charming, amazing you – have bought me so much happiness in just one night that I never want it to end. Remember I had called you my knight in shining armour? I was kidding that day but today, you have truly become one. You are everything I will ever want and need in my life"

Tears welled up in her sweet innocent eyes as she spoke and as overwhelmed as I was, I slowly walked up to her, wiped those tears away and took her in my protective arms – away into her beautiful dream