"Nandini, what's wrong?" He asked. "Nothing much manik, just thinking how life changed. Kitna kuch hogaya hai, kitna kuch hoga - last time one misunderstanding and our life just changed within a blink of eye. I don't know what next moment is going to give us or take something away from us." I said all my heart. "Nandini, relax! What happened? Why are you talking like this? All okay?" He asked worried. "Nothing, but I was just thinking.. we don't value our relations, and one day they just go away without any warning. You know mom and dad, they used to stay together but they were never together. One car accident and they lost each other, they lost me and I lost both of them. You know, I was angry on them, because I arranged one skype call on my birthday to talk to them, to talk to the people who brought me in this world but they fought in front of me, neglecting me totally. I hanged up the call that day, didn't call them after that and then after a week I got the news - that they died." I said.

"But nandini you never told me all this?" He questioned.

"Manik like everything was smooth between us? It wasn't." I said.

"This was the reason that you fell ill on your birthday and you didn't celebrate it." He said remembering the incidents that took place.

"Manik, I wasn't sick that day, I faked it." I said.

"But.."

"Manik kuch ifs and buts ke answers nae hotay hain." I said and got up and walked out of lounge. I sat on the corner of the bed, waiting for manik. I knew he wants to know a lot of stuff and even I need to put some sense in him - what is family and what role a mother plays in one's life.

Manik stepped inside, looking here and there, struggling with words. This is for the first time I saw him not having words to define his feelings.

"Manik come here." I said and held my one hand out in air. He came and sat on the rug placed on the floor.

"Manik let's talks about Nandini Murthy from the start." He just nodded. "Manik, you know nandini only, who's from a broken family. After I got my senses and started to feel the difference between the fights of tom and jerry and fights of my parents. First I used to think they're fighting just because of me, I used to think that they never loved me, but then I realized I'm not the reason that they're fighting but I'm the reason that they're together. Time passed, but as it passed thing became even worse. After 10th boards, I; one 16 year old asked them to decide what they want in life. And I told them what I've decided and moved out of the house as I got the confirmation letter from the college of Delhi, my parents being educated one they supported me instead of locking me in the room. Rest you know, but what you don't know is; I miss them, still I pray that they just appear from this door, that door." I said pointing towards the door. I went into that emotional zone, but I had to look strong for him.

"Nandini.. I." I shushed him. "Manik you don't have to say something to me, I've got my own regrets. Now the only thing left with me is, 'Kaash' well we're not here to mourn on your day, one special day."

"Hmm." I smiled. "Manik, you know what's special in this day, this day 25 years back, tumhari mom ne tumhe is world me laane keh kiye kitna pain bardasht kiya tha? The amount of pain you can never think of and right now one scratch on your body and she'll panic like someone tried to kill you. Manik think of it." He chose to stay quiet and listen to me. "Manik, honestly I don't want you to regret anything in life. You have time, you have your family around and they're waiting for you - apologize, talk and clear the misunderstandings. Your dad loved you, but he never loved your mom. That's why she left him and she also suffered with you. But now ultimately your dad is happy with his life so don't you think you, your sister and your mom also deserve happiness?
There's no point in staying angry with your mom for what she did for your dad, she loved him and for his happiness, she let him go, with the person he loved. He's happy in his life, tum kiska wait kar rahe ho?" I continued. He got up from his place. "Chalo!" He said pulling my hand. "But where?" "Ghar." He said without making an eye contact. "But manik is waqt? What are you up to? Manik if you're planning to hurt aunty, I swear on my life I'm never gonna forgive you." I warned him. He didn't reply me, instead pulled me out of his flat, locked it and made me sit in the car. After 10 minutes drive he stopped the car in front of Malhotra Mansion. "Manik, I hope you remember what I said. "Yes boss. You sound more like my mom's daughter than my girlfriend." He mocked. "I'm her daughter." I smirked. "So technically you're my sister? Omg, I'm dating my sister." He made one horrified face. "Shut up manik!" I glared at him. "Chalain?" "Chaloo."

I had messaged di earlier in the car that her brother is in action so prepare her mom for it. The servant opened the door, we both went inside, it was a big mansion. Never been to his house, I knew he was rich but this rich, I never expected. I was busy absorbing the mansion's beauty then I heard di's voice. "Manik! Finally!" She came to us and hugged her brother, he made a least interested face, actually he wanted to see his heaven, his mother. "Bahar jao dono!" We both heard on strict yet soft voice and his mother appeared with pooja's thali. As soon as I saw her, I understood why she said that. I pulled manik back with me. We stood there together, holding each other's hand - to be honest I was very nervous, tho I met his mother a lot of times, but still some strange feelings were taking birth in me. She came to us, she did what she had to, I felt like a newly wed when she was blowing blessings. She asked us to come inside, but manik held her hand asking her to stop. "I want to talk. Maa." He said and tears welled up in her eyes. "Come lets sit and talk bacha." She instructed him. We sat on the sofa's placed in the living area. No one said a word, I supposed it was because of me, "Di, this place is so beautiful. Show me na." I said and tried to get up from my place, manik held my hand and was about to say something but his mom spoke, "No beta, you don't have to feel alien, isko sambhalne wali tum ho. Tumhara yaha hona is a must." She said politely. "I know aunty but.." "No ifs and no buts." This time manik said glaring at me. "Okay." I said softly. Manik got up from his place and touched his mother's feet. "I'm sorry maa, for hurting you, for keeping you away from your son, I'm sorry for everything I did, I'm sorry for whatever I've done. I know one sorry is not enough for what I did to you. Even if I say sorry in my every breath wo bhe enough nae hoga." He said and placed his head in her lap. "Manik, what happened in the past.." "Mom, no please. Lets end it right here. No one's gonna talk about dad and what happened years back. Okay?" Manik cut his mom in between and put his point in front of her. She just smiled and kissed his hair. I felt touched and sad too that my mom is not there with me, to hug me, to kiss me. I admired the beautiful sight in front of me, tears welled up in my eyes. I wiped the tears who made their way out of my eyes and turned my face on the either side. I felt two hands cupping my face, it was manik's mother. "Nandini, to kya hua if your parents are not here but they're watching you, they love you so much, they can't see tears in her lovely daughter's eyes." She said with a smile. I smiled back at her. "Aur nandini, tum meri beti ho aj se." She said and hugged me. "Thank you so much aunty." I smiled. "Aunty nahi. Maa bolo." She said. "Okay aun.. maa." I said. "Chalo lets sleep. It's late already." His mom instructed. "Manik, tera room bilkul wese hi hai jesa tu chor ke gaya tha. You go sleep and nandini you sleep with me." She said. I knew Mr. Malhotra wanted me to sleep in his room, with him but his mom spoiled his plan. I winked at him and moved towards her room and manik went to his.

---

Me, maa and di in one room, I told her everything happened in past few years, about me and manik. How we met again, about his life and about my life. The stuff I said to him some hours back I told them everything. His mom was really happy that I did so much to bring him here but to be honest, for me only his happiness matters. We slept when it was almost morning.

---

"Nandini! Wake up! You're sleeping like a rhino on my birthday!" Manik nudged me for the nth time.

"Manik lemme sleep na, bohat der se soyi thi." I cried in sleepy voice and snuggled more in my quilt.

"Nandini, your sasu-maa asked me to wake you up." He said.

"What! Maa uth gayen? Shit. Shit. Shit." I panicked.

"Jee maa uth bhe gayi and she's waiting for you, har saal she does this pooja on my birthday. So tum jaldi utho, ready ho jao and nechay ao." He said getting up from the bed.

"No. Wait you didn't wish me properly last night because of all this happened." He smirked and sat on bed again.

"I did." I tried to act smart.

"Really?" He said and pulled me close by waist. Rubbed his thumb on my lower lip. "Manik.." "Shush." He pecked on the corner of my lip. "Miss Nandini Murthy, thank you so much. Thank you for cleaning the mess I made. Please do this always, you know me. Mein ghaltiaan karta rehta hoon." He said looking in my eyes. "Manik.. tum ab nahi karogay aur agar kiya bhe kuch to mein hoon na." I said.
"Acha chalo, hato abhi, I'm late already." I pushed him but he pulled me back. "Mera birthday gift?" He smirked.
"Kuch nae hai, bohat kuch dedia maine." I laughed and ran in the bathroom picking my stuff.

-----

We did pooja and went to an orphanage as per mom's wish.

Later in the evening.

"Wese nandini, our plan flopped." Di laughed.

"Di, don't talk about it. You know how scared I was!" I said making a horrified face.

"So was I!"

"Wait what happened? Whats going on?" Manik asked baffled.

"Nothing Mr. Malhotra." I laughed.

"Nandini. No. Tell me?" He was adamant.

"Actually, me and di; we both were planning this since a week, and you made it so easy for us. Actually we planned to get you here today and sort the differences out. But you made it really easy for us. So, thank you so much." I laughed.

"Jee janab. Nand-bhabhi on work already." Di teased.

"Di, I don't think you can ever call me bhabhi. You don't wanna know why!" I said faking irritation.

"Haww! Manik! You didn't propose her yet?" Shocked di spoke.

"NO!" I said nodding my head negatively.

"What manik? Beta iss bachi ne itna kuch kiya and tum isko abhe tak? Tch tch." His mom too joined in, all the ladies were hell bent to not let him speak.

"Aray. Ladies! Take a chill pill. Mauka hi nae mila!" He said scratching his head.

"Maa, you know yeh wait kar raha hai keh koi aur larka aake nandini ko propose kare aur janab action mode me jaake dishum dishum." Di laughed.

"Yeah. Right." He said with an irritated expression.

"Di, let it be. Yeh iske bas ki baat nae." I winked.

"Acha to aise baat hai?" He said.

"Jee bilkul, aisi hi baat hai." With this statement he sat down on his knees.
"Nandini Murthy, you know I'm not those romantic types who would say a lot of poetic stuff to make you feel my love, the thing I have for you I've never felt for anyone in my entire life. You've been a support to me, in my lows and my highs. You taught me how to live my life being with me or away from me. The moment I met you again you made me feel how complete I am now. I was a guy who used to run away from relationships, I used to think they're some monster who'll eat me alive - all because of one bad experience. Thank you so much for completing me, thank you for loving me for who I am - your messy punjabi munda. There's so much in my heart but I don't have words to explain. So, I'll just say - 'Will you marry me?'" He proposed me in the purest manner he could, tried to pour all his emotions in just some simple words. As soon as he ended, we both realized neither mom nor di was there, they left the moment manik started.
"Yes." I said and blushed on the thought that I'll be 'Mrs. Nandini Manik Malhotra' in some days.

xx The End xx

Hello guys, I don't know how you guys are feeling about the last chapter, I don't know if it was good enough, if the story was good enough or not. This idea was one random thought and I published chapter one. A cute love story (in my eyes lol 😋) how two people hate relationships because of some bad experiences. Thank you so much for all the love! Means a lot, really! Epilogue will be up as soon as I'm done writing it. 😅 and yes! Once again thank youuuuu! ❤
And for now, tadaa. 💋