~ Love is how when one heart flutters even at the thought of the other one, even if it's not near~

Struggling with the tie, like he did everyday, Manik walked out of the cupboard to ask his dear wifey for help, but found Nandini waiting for him, with what he assumed was the naughtiest glint he had seen in her eyes.

"What?", he raised an eyebrow, and Nandini immediately kept his phone aside, and walked on her knees, over the bed to the side where he was standing, reaching for the tie. Tying the first knot, she batted her eyeslashes.

Manik raised a brow, shaking his head. This women was upto something, he could guarantee with his life.

"Didn't you find the tickets?", he questioned, motioning to his phone, and Nandini shook her head, smiling to herself, as she tied the second knot, making him more confused.

"We had never talked about this before but Manik, how long have you been in love with me?", Nandini back questioned, taking him by utter surprise. He was surely not expecting this.

"Uhh, I-", he stammered, his cheeks went red and his plams went all sweaty. Nandini pulled his cheeks as she 'Awwed' him, singing it along, much to his irritation. She was one of those people who knew how to have fun in life, but lately teasing the hell out of Manik had become her idea of supreme fun.

" Shy boy! Were you like looking at me through the mirror kind of lover? Talking to my pictures? Getting lost in my laugh, like totally filmy way? Say no?", Nandini asked again, hyperexcited as she jumped on the bed, clapping her hands and Manik fixed the position of his tie, scoffing at her, trying to hide his blushing face.

" What does this have to do here? ", Manik shrugged, but Nandini who was standing on the bed, and seeming a good one inch taller than him now, kept her hands on her waist and glared at him, making weird faces.

"I have to calrify if you are my filmy, romantic lover or you know, a dangerous stalker?", Nandini mentioned as casually as she could, taking a step back, admiring her nails but Manik choked hearing her, coughing out in fear.

"STALKER????", he had an expression of disbelief, and his eyes went wide as he stared at her, his head tilted up to face her, for the first time in his life. Nandini couldn't pretend anymore and burst out laughing, falling on her knees on the bed as she rolled on the bed, joyous out of her wits at her husband's dramatically scared face.

While Manik stood silent, admiring the child in his otherwise super mature wife. She was laughing like crazy, and he couldn't help but smile at her antics, eventually beginning to laugh himself as he sat down on one side of the bed. Nandini literally had tears from all the mad laughter and she sat up, trying to hold back, taking deep breaths to calm himself.

Once calm, she gave Manik her best smile, and leaned closer to him, softly kissing his cheek, before leaning away to watch his flushed face.

"I have always known you have loved me since before, but watching it first hand today was a memorable experience", she blushed too, but she had learnt that with Manik, talking things out loud was the best thing to do. It helped him have confidence in himself. When Manik showed no sign of understanding the context, she picked up his phone and unlocked it before thrusting it in his face, watching it all dawn on him, and he bit his lip, smiling anyway.

Before Nandini could go out, Manik grasped her wrist and pulled her into himself first, tucking away her falling strands.

"You know you are one of a kind right?", his left thumb was caressing her lower lip as he eyed them humgrily and Nandini could feel the shiver running down her body.

"Have been told that before!", she answered, her voice huskier than she wanted it to be, while Manik cupped her head and kissed the life out of her, tugging her lower lip. Nandini gave in almost immediately, ruining all his perfectly made hair, but ravishing her husband at his very best.

Both broke apart taking deeper breaths as lack of oxygen forced them to and Nandini pushed him away, blushing deep red.

"Go or you will be late", before Manik could even respond, she had locked the washroom door behind her, leaving a flustered husband outside.

Manik shook his head, as his eyes caught his own reflection in the mirror and he wasn't surprised to see the huge smile on his face. He knew he had been smiling a lot lately, and he couldn't complain anyway.

A whatsapp text notification broke his trance and he checked his messages with a determined face, typing the reply with confidence. There was nothing to fear, anymore anyway.

------

A few days, a lot of fussing, hurried out reservations and packing later, Nandini and Manik were sitting in the boarding room in the Mumbai airport. It was Friday evening, and they were taking a flight to Delhi, so that they could have the weekend to themselves before Manik's case on Monday. It was hardly a two and a half hour flight, and Manik was emailing his staff about the case details while Nandini was scrolling through the books available on the bookstore. She had applied for leave in her college and that had been approved with loads of difficulties but somehow she had convinced the authorities. Now she wanted to spend time with her husband who was busy working, and it made her grumpy.

After boarding the flight, Nandini settled in aisle seat while Manik sat beside her, both switching off their phones as per the instructions.

Nandini immediately turned to face Manik with a big smile, and raised her eyebrows.

"What are we going to do in Delhi?", she was excited and it was seen in the way she was bubbling with joy. After all it was their first trip together, post marriage.

"Technically it's our honeymoon!", Manik shrugged, like this was meant to explain what they were supposed to do, but if he had expected Nandini to blush at that, or shy away, he had again underestimated her.

She leaned into his ear, and mischievously spoke," That aspect I have taken care of, you don't need to worry".

Manik was taken aback at her winking at him. She definitely had something planned, and it scared and excited Manik at the same time because he had realised his wife was really unpredictable. She could do anything and go to any extent, not that he had any problems with her planning. He was upto any surprise.

"Ahaan! What should I expect then? I didn't know you were this excited for honeymoon!", Manik laughed, winking back, and expected her to answer anything except what came his way.

"Just expect no sleep tonight, because if you had any idea what I am wearing beneath this kurti, you would be dead!", she was thoroughly enjoying torturing Manik and she could see his eyes getting darker at her words.

Before he could reply she took out his ipod and started to listen to music. Manik smiled and agreed it was the best to not continue the conversation, especially in a plane, sitting between so many other people.

Nandini on the other hand frowned listening to the tune, it was the same guitar tune Manik had been listening that night while sleeping in the study. Something about the tune was enduring, it was addictive, no doubt. But it wasn't a professional instrumental, the chords were shaking in between and she was sure she had never heard it before.

Turning to Manik, she poked him with a finger.

"What song is this?", she pouted, and Manik laughed watching her so worked up on a tune.

"It's no song yet...", he stated, and she frowned some more in confusion.

"It was a tune I composed, a long back in college. Dhruv and Mukti were supposed to write the lyrics, but then, things fell apart and we couldn't complete it", he exhaled, and Nandini was shocked. One more hobby of her husband. He could play guitar too!

" Is there anything impress you can't do?", she sighed dramatically, and Manik looked at her drama, rolling in his lips.

" I mean a girl, especially a girl like me who had grown up reading fantasy novels, young adult chicklit, and love stories. And now you tell me you paint, you play guitar and you make me laugh like crazy. Could have told me years before. I would have married you then and there! ", she threw her hands in air, and Manik burst out loud at her melodrama. This women was definitely one of a kind.

Nandini watched him laugh and immediately made a grumpy face. Here she was baring her heart out and he was laughing. How dare he?

But before Manik could even try to pacify, Nandini turned to face him again, this time with an exciting face. Like Manik, Nandini wasn't wary of her talents, she was confident about everything she did.

"If I give you lyrics, can we record this song?"

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Note :Lots of twists coming ahead, stay tuned.
Also, I did not exactly plan to, but since I was given the opportunity, I entered this story for #wattys2019.

So, it's my sincere request to all the silent readers that even if you don't want to comment, Atleast vote on the chapter. And if you could write a word about how you liked or did not like the chapter, I will be grateful.

Thank you.