Apologises for the late update!

And enjoy reading!

Manik was more than excited. He was getting married. Married! As much as cheesy it sounded, he had always dreamt of a happy family, a family of his own apart from his parents and siblings. Within a matter of a few weeks he would have a wife, and since he was an exception, a daughter too.

Although Manik hadn't exchanged a single word with Ruhi, he was very positive with the thought of her being his daughter. She was simply adorable from what he had seen, reserved but a cute child nevertheless.

He chuckled and at the same time there was a knock at the door.

"Come in."

Manik straightened himself as Aman, his father's assistant, walked in.

"Sir, Miss.Murty is here to see you." Aman said. Manik noticed how he addressed Nandini as Miss not Mrs. He wondered if everyone knew of Nandini being already married and then divorced. Anyways, She was going to be Mrs. within a month.

"Sure, send her in." Aman nodded and turned around to leave but stopped as Manik called out for him.

"Next time, Don't keep her waiting. She is family." Aman nodded, confused but not having enough guts to question his boss.

A few moments passed, Manik waited for Nandini to enter in patiently. He looked at the screen of his laptop, setting his hair and straightening his blazer to make sure he looked good enough for his bride to see.

"May I come in?" He heard her polite voice. Manik looked up and everything fell into silence for a moment. Manik smiled, seeing her standing there all in her glory. For a simple beige coloured shirt and black pants, Nandini wore nothing special but still Manik's heart managed to skip a beat.

Nandini cleared her throat, breaking his chain of thoughts. He smiled sheepishly, realizing he was staring at her for so long.

"Yeah sure. Why do you ask, come in already." He was a blubbering mess. Nandini passed him a strange look as she walked in. He gestured to the chair in front of him, and she settled down.
She looked around his cabin, noticing how small it was. There was nothing luxurious as she had thought.

"Anything wrong?" Manik asked, seeing her frown.

"No, just thought you were under training for CEO? So-'' She stopped, suddenly embarrassed while Manik shifted uncomfortably but nevertheless, passed her a small smile.

"You thought I would have a big cabin all for myself?" Nandini nodded at his question.

"As much as I hate to admit it, I am going to be the CEO in future. Dad says, I need to get used to this. So yeah-, I do have some privileges but he does want to keep me grounded so this small cabin." He shrugged carelessly gesturing to his place.

"You hate it?" She asked. She hadn't seen anyone who hates these privileges. Infact, Vihaan-

"What is the use of marrying you! You couldn't even get me the CEO'S position!"

The voice still lingered in her head. Manik noticed her closely, watching as a small flicker of panic shone in her eyes. He immediately cleared his throat and spoke,"Yeah, kind of. I don't like it that I am given everything so easily."

"Y-You are getting trained. I don't think it is anything easy." She eyed the heaps of files kept on his table which more seemed like a punishment and Manik smiled sheepishly confirming that it indeed was.

"I may or may not be an early riser."

Nandini chuckled. Manik smiled but frowned when he saw her expression changing again. She shifted, cleared her throat and then looked up, appearing more confident,"Anyways, I am sorry I showed up unannounced. I called Raj uncle regarding our project and he asked me to contact you." She cleared, making Manik frown. Why was she saying sorry for visiting him? And why would she contact his father, not him?

Before Manik could voice his thoughts, Nandini continued.

"There are some terms I would like you to focus on." Manik made a bad face inwardly at her professional tone. Although he loved seeing her in that role, she was his to be wife right now, and didn't have to be so professional. She was doing so good a few moments before, what even happened to her now?

Nevertheless, she was telling something important and he could only hear her.

The discussion went on for over an hour, Manik sighed in relief when she closed the file finally. She stood up, followed by him and they shook hands.

"I will take your leave now." She smiled, her lips curved up at its slightest, eyes dull and voice way more than professional.
As she turned around to leave, Manik called her from behind,"I-I was thinking if we could go shopping?"

"Shopping?"

"Yeah, I have to buy a few things." Nandini thought for a moment before nodding her head. Ananya wouldn't mind a simple shopping. It was not a big deal.

"Sure."

"So what is your favorite color, Nandini?" Manik asked as they walked inside the mall side by side. For a second, he heard no reply.

He turned to her, taking note of the indifference on her face, "Nandini?"

"Y-Yeah. I-I don't have a favorite color." She shuttered. Manik frowned but said nothing. He may have taken her by surprise with such a sudden question.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"But I thought blue was your favorite?" He mentally chuckled as she stopped and turned to him, so fast that he feared she might break her neck for a moment.

"How do you know?" She asked, surprised.

"That blue bracelet, you were wearing it that day too even though it was no match to your dress and now even today, So I guessed." He shrugged as she looked at him wide eyed for observing such a miniature detail about her.

"Y-Yeah." She mumbled,"I-It is not my favorite. Just a color I like." She tried to justify herself.

"Nandini, it is okay if it is your favorite. There's nothing wrong with it. Come." He sped up as they reached a store. Nandini frowned behind him.

"Really? You are a grown up married woman, Nandini. What's this childish behaviour about favourite colors!"

"Are you nervous?" Manik asked suddenly, bringing her out of her thoughts. She mentally thanked him for it.

"W-What? No, Why would I be?" Manik nodded, turning to look at her and chuckled when he saw her biting down her lower lip in nervousness.

"Right, you have no reason to be nervous." He chuckled out loud. She nodded hurriedly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Manik's eyes lingered at her for a few seconds, before he nodded too.

Few minutes later, Nandini stared at Manik with wide eyes while he was shopping, obvious to her stares. She looked on as he turned to her holding two different diaries.

"Nandini, which one?"

"This." She pointed at the one with a brown cover and Manik smiled while taking it.

"Good choice."

"You write diary?" She asked, surprised and curious. Manik paused for a second at the amusement in her tone but then smiled.

"Sometimes," he chuckled,"I heard girls love writing diaries, do you write too?"

"No," She was quick enough to reply. Manik frowned as she continued,"I don't think there's any use of writing a diary. In fact, it only adds to your pain."

"How?" Manik asked, as they moved to the billing counter. He paid and they walked out of the store.

"Suppose something bad happens to me. So do you think I would get a diary and relive the whole incident again? Doesn't writing it mean, saving it with you?"

"So you think, not writing helps you move on?" Nandini fell silent, having no answer to his question. Move on? How does one do that? She had no idea.

Isn't it always burying it inside you? She thought.

She watched as Manik walked out of the store and followed behind immediately. Realising, Manik slowed down and waited for her to catch up with him.

"Writing about your day is helpful. Trust me, diary makes a good best friend." Nandini looked at him curious and he continued,"You see, when there's no one to listen to us, or there are things we do not want to share with others, at that time, a diary acts as your best friend. You can literally share anything and everything with your diary without the fear of getting judged."

Nandini nodded,"I have never kept a diary." She paused, as if choosing the right words,"I am scared. What- What if somebody steals your diary?" She expressed and he burst out laughing. Nandini frowned, finding it ridiculous.

"Nandini, Why do you think somebody will steal our diary?" He asked, the smile not leaving his lips.

"And if someone asks me to let them read my diary?"

"Deny them. You decide if you are okay with someone reading your diary or not." He stopped abruptly and came in front of her. She looked at him with knitted brows as he took out the diary she had chosen along with a blue velvet box.

"Nandini, This is for you."

"But- it is yours."

"Yes, but I want you to keep it and this is just a small gift for you." He eyed the blue box and smiled sheepishly,"I bought it for you when you got on the side,"

"But I can't take this from you, Manik." She looked at him hesitantly. She should not be doing this. What would Ananya think of her? He was her to be husband, and he had not even mentioned her for once. Her father had told them, he seemed happy about the alliance but now she couldn't say the same.

Or maybe he just wanted to befriend her so he could know more about Ananya? Maybe.

"Why can't you, Nandini? I have all the rights to gift you, so why can't I" He insisted, and she sighed before taking both the things from him.

"Thank you!" She smiled faintly.

"Mention not!" He grinned, holding her hand and taking her out while Nandini frowned.

She looked at their hands, entangled so beautifully and her heart twisted.

Why was it that she liked this feeling?

Why was her heart fluttering?

What was she even doing?

Ananya and Manik were to be married,

Not her and Manik, she reminded herself.