~ Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, it is gonna be happier~

"Manik?"

"Hmm?"

"What do you think about having Kids?", Nandini blurted out, trying not to look at him while she tried her best to make it sound extremely casual, her fingers interlinked with each other as she fiddled with them, too anxious.

Manik raised an eyebrow and tilted his head to look at his wife, who wasn't looking back at him, and a sly smirk formed on his face.

"Ah! I absolutely don't mind the car experience, it has been on my bucket list", Manik commented, trying his best to not let the smile slip away, and Nandini turned to face him with a jerk.

"Maaanikkk!", she cried out, as soon as she got the meaning and immediately hit him lightly over his elbow, earning a heartfelt chuckle from him.

For a few minutes, Nandini completely forgot the issue nagging her. His laughter always did that to her, she felt like she was back in time, to her wedding night when she had heard him laughing like this for the first time, while making her sandwiches. She didn't even realise how she was staring at him like a love sick puppy, without even properly blinking, or that Manik's cheeks were flushed, owing to her strong, intimate gaze.

"Okay Akshara Bahu, CUT!!!! The scene is done, you can be back to being Nandini again!", Manik stopped the car in the parking of their building and stated, in an attempt to hide his blush, and ended up making Nandini red in embarrassment at his words.

She spoke nothing but ducked her head, tucking her hair behind her ear and moved out of the car holding her handbag. Manik rolled the window down to hand her the house keys and she walked towards the elevators, while he drove around to the parking.

When Manik entered their bedroom, ten minutes later, Nandini was already in the washroom. Opening the clip of his watch, he removed his watch, followed by his socks and shoes, then untucked his shirt. His eyes closely scanned the entire room to see if he had left anything unattended that could awaken his mini Monster again, but found nothing. Relieved, he exhaled loudly as he picked up the jug from their bedside table and walked out to fill it.

When he walked back in, Nandini was sitting on the bed, applying her night cream. So he kept the jug in its place and picked up his night wear to freshen up.

Rubbing the towel over his damp face, Manik walked out in his sweat pants and vest, expecting Nandini to already tucked in bed, but he found her sitting on the bed, cross legged. Throwing the towel aside, he jumped into the bed, breaking whatever chain of thoughts she was lost in. Nandini raised her head to look at him with her wide puppy eyes.

"Hey, what's wrong?", he immediately pulled her close, and Nandini moved towards him, resting her head on his chest as they lay in bed, his back resting on the headrest.

"Manik, we have never discussed about aur future family, have we?", she asked drawing circles on his chest, and he frowned, running his hand up and down over her bare arm.

"Yeah we haven't, but that's because I thought we both wanted kids at some point in future", Manik spoke, dazed by the suddeness of the conversation.

"So that means you want kids right?", Nandini sat up, looking at him, and Manik chuckled.

"Ofcourse I do Nandini. I have always wanted to be a dad, and a dad just like my father. I want to be the coolest dad around, spoil my children silly, discuss heartbreaks with them, and help them smash the neighbours window. I have so many dreams for them, and I am already telling you, I want Atleast one girl child and one boy child", Manik answered, excitement written all over his face, and all his blabber made Nandini laugh too.

"Hahaha, well me too. I am going to be coolest, no wait, I can't be coolest mother. I am hot, I am going to be the hottest mother", she exclaimed, and Manik looked at her like he had grown two horns before he began rolling on the bed in laughter. Only a matter of time before Nandini joined him.

Lying in each other's arms, Manik and Nandini tried to catch their breaths from all the laughing when Nandini moved up to kiss his cheeks.

"We will be amazing parents, haina Manik?", she smiled and he leaned down to kiss her forehead.

"Someday, yeah!", he hugged her tighter, and nuzzled in her hairs but Nandini was immediately alerted at his words. The entire issue came rushing down to her. She wasn't discussing this with him for future, was she?

She squirmed and broke the hug, confusing her husband who raised his eyebrows, and watched his wife sat up in the middle of the night, well literally at midnight.

"Manik?"

"Yes?"

"What if the someday is now?"

Manik wasn't sure if he heard her right, but once he was sure he did, he immediately sat up too.

"Now? Nandini tell me you are joking right? We are too young with our own relationship right now. You want to do a kid now? Forget being amazing parents, are we ready to be parents yet?", Manik could not hide the shock he felt at her words, and he would have said more if he didn't watch her pretty doe shaped eyes rolling fat tears down her chubby cheeks.

Taking a deep breath, he held her hands in his, and pulled her chin up.

" Nandini, tell me honestly, are you pregnant? That's why you started this conversation?", he asked directly and Nandini looked into his eyes, terrified.

"Are you gonna be upset if I say yes?", Nandini questioned rather than answering him directly. Manik didn't know what to say, he didn't want to hurt her, but he wasn't sure if he wanted a baby right now.

"Nandini!", he sighed, before pulling her closer, and helped her settle on his lap. She sniffed like a child before resting her head on his shoulder.

"Now tell me, are you pregnant? That's why you are so worried?", Manik asked her, very softly and she shook her head, hiding more into him.

"I Don't know. I might be. I might be not. But I am late, by two weeks!", she told him, suddenly bursting into loud sobs.

Manik held her, speaking nothing but comforting her with his actions. They stayed like that until she calmed down for good, and Manik knew that more than him, she was scared. If this came true, her life was going to be affected much more than his.

"Done? Or you want to cry more?", he wiped her cheeks and lightly tipped her nose. She looked extremely cute with red cheeks and redder eyes, her nose pink as she pouted at him.

"Now look at me, Mrs. Malhotra. I want a baby, you want a baby. We both want it in future though. But in case, you are pregnant right now, we will be here together. I know it's going to be difficult if we decide to keep it, but if you want to, we will do it. We will find a way out! Okay?", He smiled at her, and rubbed her arms in a comforting way.

Nandini relaxed, she had no idea how but somehow Manik had decoded she liked being held and rubbed like that when stressed.

" I want to means? You don't want to?", she asked, already knowing she was probably hyper reacting, but did it anyway.

"Nandini, you and I both know that we are probably not ready for a child right now, but if we agree to keep it either way, you are going to get more affected than I am. Its your body, it should be your choice. I promise I will be there with you, for you, in every step, and Nobody is going to make a judgement about whatever you choose, but at the same time, it's your choice!", he cupped her face as he stated looking right into her eyes, and Nandini felt them tearing up at his words.

"Okay we will discuss more of it tomorrow, and we will take an appointment with your gyanec. Right now, let's sleep", Manik saw her about to have another breakdown and immediately turned the topic, tucking her in bed with him.

Wrapping his arm around her completely, he let her hold onto him as she finally fell asleep, exhausted from the day. Manik stayed awake for some more time, confused with what was happening in their life, more so tensed about Mr. Murthy. Whatever conversation he had overheard he didn't know what to make of it. He just hoped it wasn't all those negative thoughts he had been having since. Taking a last glance at his sleeping wife, he finally feel asleep, awaiting and dreading the coming morning together!

Note: Hello.
Now firstly thank you to all those who joined me on instagram, I had a fun time discussing our favourite ships today. I hope you like the posts further too!

Secondly, we all have good and bad phases. Right now, I am in the middle of a bad one. So if the updates aren't good, or anything, I am terribly sorry. Just hold on for a while, I will be back in rhythm soonest!!

Love,
Srishti!