Sometimes, our emotions, our past becomes inevitable. Some haunt beautifully and some mercilessly. Well, we all have battles to fight, to get tired of, to learn from. Manik was reticent, a reserved person, all for himself. He preferred loneliness, at most of times but Nandini altered his habituation which provided him with temporary solace, into something he needed. He needed love and more than that, something or a person assuring— assuring that he would be happy one day, one full day, genuinely and ardently. Nandini was seemed vibrant, lively but the abyss she fell into was deeper and what she sought was solitude. Sure, she had Amms and Jeff who had been her best-est friend since childhood but Nandini was undercover of numbness. She locked herself up in her room and did everything that a shattered heart would.

It's said, filling a mother's place is impossible but when someone makes soulful attempts to give you a motherly comfort, don't you want to give a chance at life? This was with her, she wanted to let go of everything and live, if not happily, atleast peacefully and when Manik set foot in her life uninvited, she was ambiguous of what they would turn out, likely some strangers with known faces or so she thought. But now the sitch is something peculiar. They knew what was happening lately with their hearts when eachother came around, together, after all they weren't any fools. They felt overpowering emotions that nudged them, to an extend that they wanted to hold each other. They were just going along with the time that would once dawn them with certainties.

—• ✰ •—

*Tring Tring*

Manik's phone went off and he halted his steps on the Tredmill in his inbuilt gym.

"Amms!" He beamed in his sweet morning voice.

"Beta, how are you both?" She asked lovingly.

"We're pretty good Amms. Aap theek hain?"

"Mein bhi achi hoon Manik. Today is sunday and it's been 2 months since your marriage. So.. if you have some free time, can you two drop by here?" A little hesitancy was visible in her voice.

"Amms but sheee... okay, will try Amms," he answered, thinking about Nandini for she hadn't yet patched up with Amms. After declining the call, he went to his room, to be precise their room.

Nandini was sleeping peacefully with her body conquering the bed, almost fully. Sunday mornings were totally hers for she would do absolutely nothing but sleep, sleep and sleep. She would be up only when she falls off the bed.

Manik came inside his room at 7 probably and he smirked seeing her hugging her toy, yes she had hidden her favourite teddy from his sight as she knew he would tease her until she cries away however Manik knew her secret from day one she started sleeping in his room and he didn't know whether to grin or smirk widely at this.

He climbed on the bed and observed her face contours. Her skin was slight apricot coloured, her lips were in a deep tinge of pink and not to mention, her cheeks that were chubby and soft. A bit of tufts fell on her eyes and a light frown formed on her brows. He cautiously tucked the strands behind her ear and leaned in.

"I know your secret!" He screamed in her lughole, causing her to snap open her eyes. For seconds, she couldn't get what was happening around but could see her husband deary with mischievousness evident and sat up abruptly on confirming that she wasn't dreaming.

"Mr. Malhotraaa! Are you crazy?! Why did you shout on my ears?!" She shouted her lungs out, drawing in heavy breathes and keeping a hand on her thumping heart in order to make it beat with the normal rate.

Firstly, Manik was just biting his lip to suppress his laughter but seeing her shout in fear and especially those widened eyes, annoyed brows, flaring nose of hers made him lose over all his control. He laughed loudly, his laughter echoing off the walls. Her already widened eyes grew a little more and she huffed in annoyance. She hid her teddy behind upon recognising his words and he couldn't help but laugh harder. Making faces, she face plamed herself.

Post seconds of laughter, Manik finally breathed. He watched her, again but this time with admiration. She indeed was the cutest. On perceiving quietude, she removed her hands and he failed to keep his hands to himself and pulled her cheeks a little actually as the cute woman managed to spellbound him. And as he took back his hand, a red tint caught her cheeks while he chuckled. She got up from the bed, tying her hair.

"Amms invited us today, are we going?" He surveyed her patiently. Her face sprinted from excitement to hurtful but when she looked into his expectant eyes, she was dubious.

"Nandini she loves us," he emphasized and he felt sorry for the generous woman who would decease which her grand daughter wasn't aware of, that she couldn't spend her most of flying time with her loved people. He was very fixated on making Nandini visit her, at least she might end up forgiving her.

"Manik I'm.. " No excuses could be fed as she herself wanted to go to her grand mother who once was the major reason of her existence. She gave in, sighing and Manik assured her, smiling.

It was eight when they both were ready in casuals and as Manik informed Amms about their arrival, she felt happier.

—• ✰ •—

Reaching there took them an hour. And as Nandini showed up at the entrance, she was stilled, feeling overwhelmed. Her eyes glinted with fresh tears when Amms came in her sight. Amms looked at her grandchild who looked back at her longingly. True, you can't hate someone you love from the very depth of your heart. Amms had been with her, everytime, offering her all the comfort she ever could. She had her shares of pain too, she was broken too of all that tragedically had to happen but all she needed was a smile of her only beloved, her grand daughter.

As Amms went near her, taking her hands in hers, Nandini couldn't restrain herself from holding her tight. Throwing her hands, she hugged her grand mother whom she missed badly in these few months. Words wouldn't be enough to explain what was Amms feeling. She made peace with her death arrival but can she ever leave her grand daughter behind? But she has to. She wished to take control over all these but can she? In fact, we all can never take control of destiny's play.

Manik's heart tightened as he watched them as a silent spectator. Not because he saw them crying together but that he knew the reason for Amm's tears. He knew why she was weeping badly, than Nandini. Manik Malhotra felt anguished, he felt hopeless that he felt after losing his mother.

Amms, regaining some strength, broke off the hug and kissed Nandini's forehead lovingly. Amms never wanted to hide anything, any single thing from her but she lacked that specific strength of watching her loved one with her own eyes breaking, from the roots. And thus, she decided to take all of Nandini's genuine smiles in before closing her eyes forever. Sure, it was all tough for her but it has to be this way.

As Manik's teacher saw him distressed, she strolled towards him and caressed his face, blessing him. He smiled as if he understood her eyes that asked him to remain strong. Showing off an alluring smile, Amms shouted for one of her servants to bring arti to welcome both of them, following rituals. After some rituals being done, they sauntered in. The hallway, the tiles with ancient prints were reminiscent of Nandini's past days. Thousands of memories bloomed across her heart, both bad and good. Manik saw her leisurely imprinting her fingers in a hanging picture frame which displayed the family of four and undoubtedly, it was Nandini's. She was so little, as in her mother cradled her with her father in the centre, side hugging her mother, beside Amms. She smiled, letting her fingers on her mother's face that wasn't quite similar to Nandini's.

Manik's phone went off, pulling Nandini to Earth. Excusing himself, he was all ears to the caller and came back, informing both the women that he had got some appealing work to look into.

"I'll be back soon" He informed, specifically looking at Nandini and in return she waved. Amms welcomed the slight smile that formed on her lips on witnessing a little lov-, affection for each in their eyes.

Few hours later

"Oh, Manik. You are on time. Acha beta be here, I'll arrange the lunch," Amms instructed to which Manik nodded, who just returned back from work.

He was looking around, of course searching for her. A dangling sound caught his ears, resulting him in to follow the sound. Some vague footsteps were heard and in a second, he got enslaved to the sight, to the woman if being precise, walking before him in a yellow gold elegant saree. He could now make out that the sound was from the few swinging wrist bangles and blinging earrings she had on. Totally tranqulized by the woman, his eyes took an intense and entire appearance of the gorgeous human which he sure god has spent much of his time on. Of all, what tantilized him the most was the obvious thin pinch of vermilion applied along her hairline which was hidden otherwise, complementing her looks as a perfect married woman. It was for the first time, Manik Malhotra stood utterly ensnared in someone's beauty.

He was just simply spellbound.

Nandini was quite busy in adjusting her saree pleats that she wasn't used to wear. Just when she was about to face Manik, a servant got her attention, who suggested to take the call that was ringing alone in her room. Oblivious to Manik's stares, she headed towards her room. By the time she was done with the call, Manik had reached her room as his legs took control over him and manifestly, he got into her room.

"What's up?" Manik whisper-yelled, smirking mischievously and she shuddered at the unanticipated voice.

"Manik! You scared the daylights out of me! Are you, like in a mission to scare me out the whole day?" She scowled, looking as scared as a kitten while he snickered. Shaking her head in annoyance, she started walking past him. He pulled her back to himself by clasping her elbow. She questioned him with her raised eyebrow that he opted to ignore.

"You don't actually know how eye-catchy you're looking now, do you?" he asked, his thumb softly tracing her cheek bones. Gliding his free hand down, he faintly drew doddles on her bare waist, galloping the rhythms of her heart. "You do realise you are enticing with that vermilion applied, do you not?" he interrogated with his almost heavy breaths fanning across her face. He began tracing her cheek with his index finger, leisurely that Nandini was losing all her senses. Her orbs closed, automatically for all the sensations he was stirring upon her felt out of world. His finger halted at her collar bone and he pulled her closer by her waist, caging her in the ecstatic moment.

"What are yo-you doing? I mean— stop," she stammered that he didn't reply to nor inclined to stop, deliberately. Pulling out her nuptial chain, "Perfect," he whispered over her lips. Pretty surprised, she opened her eyes, welcoming him to lose his sanity in those black eyes she owned which sparked. "You like it that much? I mean, the nuptial chain on my neck?" Was that she asked as curiosity happened.

"Why will I not?" he questioned back. "I might be a fool to not like this. I love this in fact," he spoke as if in a trance.

"You're a fool anyways!"she joked, shrugging her shoulders. "Such a lame one," he remarked, nonchalantly. "Nevertheless, Truth is truth, you fool," she darted her tongue out in a playful manner.

"I see," Manik's eyes got intense, making the ambience fervor. He travelled his hand from her hip onto her stomach as she tried swallowing her shaky breaths.

"Leav-e me, Manik,"she quivered at their intimacy, at the skipped beats of her heart. Fondling her bottom lip with his thumb, he breathed on her face that inflammed her cheeks. He sighed softly in her lavender fragrance as though it soothed his whole system. Her black glossy hair slightly waved across his face in air, making him take a deep breath, teleporting them to a whole new world.

"Manik, Nandini? Where are you two? Lunch is ready," Amms called out for them which was probable she broke their moment. Having it as a chance, Nandini pulled herself out of his hold and flew out of his eyes, that impeccable smile not slipping off their lips.

—• ✰ •—

Happy New year y'all! May you shine brighter and higher. Stay happy and healthy ♥.