Nandini wakes up early hearing her alarm and shuts it before looking at manik who was sleeping holding her like a soft toy.

She runs her hands through his hairs and he shifts resting his head on her chest. She blushed at his actions and looked for a way to get away.

"Manik",she called out shaking his shoulder a little.

"Let me go. I need to get ready.",she said and he moves back to bed and looks at her half opening his eyes.

" Take a leave today. We will go out somewhere.",Manik asked her and she kissed his cheeks.

"I can't. I have to work with another team now so I need to get comfortable with them. ", Nandini explains and he frowns.

" I will be free before lunch. It's just a small brief. I will take a half day.",Nandini said and he smiles.

" Okay then I will pick you from office for lunch.",Manik said and she looks at him.

" You won't be coming to office.",she asked and he kissed her cheeks.

"No I am taking a leave.",Manik replied and she nods.

"I will get ready then.",She said getting up from the bed.

" I will drop you and then go from there for some work.",Manik said following her to the bathroom.

He moved his hands to her waist and she realised she wasn't wearing a tshirt and was just in her bra and shorts.

She blushed at the realisation as she glanced at their reflection in mirror.

Manik back hugs her and kisses her neck nuzzling into them.

She chuckles and moves her hands to his hairs.

"Not now. I will be late for office and then I won't be able to leave early.",Nandini managed to speak as his hands traced her waist.

"One kiss.",he whispered and turned her around making her sit on the counter.

She smiles and lifts her head for him closing her eyes waiting.

He watches her and smiles at her.

"You are so cute.",He said leaning in closer holding her cheeks in his hands.

Manik kisses her firmly and she sighs at the pleasure and moves in closer for more gripping her arms tightly.

He breaks apart after a while.

"Still want to leave.",he asked seeing her red breathless face and she looked up at him.

" Manik",she said in defeat wanting to stay but couldn't and he smiled.

"If you are even a minute late. I will go up to the office and grab your hands and take you with me. I won't care if you are in a meeting or doing something important. ",Manik warned her and she nods smiling at him.

He picked their brushes and forwards it to her after putting on the paste.

She stands up facing the mirror and he moves behind her as her held her waist with his right hand and brushed his teeth with other.

"This is beautiful.",Nandini said watching their reflection and he looked at her.

"Us brushing together.",she explained and he smiles tightening his hold.

"Yes it is us brushing together half naked.",he teased and she blushed at his comment.

"And you know what's more beautiful?",he asked leaning closer to her ear.

" Us having a shower together. ",He whispered slowly and nandini blushed deeper and coughed making manik laugh.

She spit the paste out and glared at him making him smirk.

"So?",he asked after they both were done with brushing and she gestured towards the door.

He made a puppy face and walks out of the bathroom.

Nandini leans on the bathroom door and watches him sitting on the bed.

"I was asking you to close the door. But looks like you don't want to.",she teased him making a sad face and he looks at her surprised.

" Who said that? ",He asked walking closer.

"You lost your chance.",Nandini said with a smirk and shut the door as he came closer.

"Nandini",he yells frustrated and she laughs.

" Stop teasing me. ",He said over the door.

" You were the one who started it.",she replied back.

"Come out now.",he asked and she laughs in reply before going inside the shower.

He heard the shower running and sighs going back to the bed and ly down looking at the ceiling.

A smile forms on his lips thinking about what he planned for today.

He heard the door open and turns his head to look at her.

Nandini comes out in the bathrobe rubbing her wet hair with a towel.

She finds manik's eyes on her and gives a sweet smile to him before going inside the closet.

She keeps looking inside her closet and Manik stands near the door.

"What are you thinking?",he asked and she looked at him.

" What should I wear?",she said and he walks closer to her and looks at her closet.

"We will go out directly from office. So I am confused.",she said and he nods and looks into the closet.

" What about this?",he asked picking a  black dress and putting it infront of her.

"You sure you want me to wear this to office.",she asked raising an eyebrow and he rolled his eyes.

" Don't wear it then. ",He said about to put it back but she stops him and takes it.

"I will wear it. Now go take a shower. I will get late.",Nandini said and pushes him towards the bathroom.

She puts on the dress and smiles at her reflection.

Having some time in her hand. She straightened her hairs and parts it from the middle.

She put on some light jewelry and did a light makeup keeping in mind she will be going to office.

She put on black heels and took her purse putting her designs in there and walks out.

Manik was busy putting buttons on his cuff when she walks out busy with checking her purse for her designs.

"How about I give everyone a leave today? I would like to have you by my side.",he asked staring at her and she rolled her eyes at his cheesy statements.

" How about you come with me to office instead and we will be together?",She said putting her purse aside walking close to him.

"Only if you promise to stay in my office with me.",Manik said and she smiles putting on the buttons he was struggling with.

"Fine with me. I will ask Mr. Sharma and my team to have our meeting in your office.",she said wrapping her hands around his neck .

He frowns and she gives him a smile and kisses his cheek.

"Let's go. It's a matter of few hours only.",She said and he nods.

"By the way where are you going? ",She asked and he smiles and leans closer to her ears.

"You will know soon. Let's go now.",he said picking his jacket and she frowns and follows him with her purse.

Manik drops her in the office and drove away.

Nandini felt people's eyes on her seeing her wear such a outfit for the first time in office and walks to her cabin.

Karan whistles to tease her and she slaps his arms in return.

Arjun wraps his hand around her shoulder.

"Babe you are joining the new team and we get it that you want to impress the boys there but let me tell you something you are married now. You had a chance with us before but you missed it. ",Arjun said teasing her and she glares at him and tried to move his hands away but he laughs in reply.

"I don't mind if you dress up to impress me even though you are married. ",Karan said with a straight face and she frowns at him.

"Stop it both of you. I am not trying to impress anyone and I didn't dress up for you. ",She said and he makes a sad pout.

" I am very happy in my married life and this is for him. I have a date with manik after office.",Nandini said and karan acts like he got his heart broken and nandini rolled her eyes.

"Good Morning Manik.",Arjun said and Karan gets scared and both of them laughs at him.

Nandini picks her designs and bids them bye to go to her team for the project.

She gelled up with her team and discussed the project and designs with her team and got started with it.

"So that's it. We will get on it from Monday. ",Mr. Sharma said and everyone agreed.

Nandini packs her things and karan looks up from his work at her.

"Leaving so soon.",he asked and she nods with a smile.

" You know we can go on a date. It will be far more better and fun then with him. What say? ",Karan asked her and she rolled her eyes.

"What happened to that girl from the club you were seeing?",she asked and he makes a face.

" I left her for you. ",Karan said and she narrowed her eyes at him.

" She dumped you.  ",Nandini clarified and he rolled his eyes at her.

" We will have fun together. I will treat you with your favourite food in your favourite restaurant. Manik will bore you with his stupid business talks. ",Karan said and nandini eyes widen looking behind him.

" Nandini you haven't left yet.",Arjun asked coming near her.

"Was just leaving. ",She said staring behind karan. Arjun looks in that direction and stands straight putting on a formal smile.

"Good afternoon manik sir.",Arjun greeted and karan rolled his eyes.

"You seriously think i will get fooled by the same joke twice. Nandu what do you say? Are you coming with me? I will talk to him. ",Karan said confident and arjun cursed karan as nandini glares at his timing for teasing her.

Manik wraps his hand around karan shoulder.

"What do you want to talk to me about?",Manik asked and karan looked at him scared and tired getting away but manik didn't let him.

"Sorry sorry.",he repeated and nandini comes to his rescue.

" Manik let him go. He was just having a little fun. ",Nandini said and manik looks at her once before leaving him.

Karan smiles at nandini who narrows her eyes at him in return.

"Let's go.",manik said her and she nods.

Arjun hugs her bye and gave her purse and she hugs karan who kissed her head to tease manik and nandini elbows his stomach and walks near manik who was glaring at karan.

She kissed his cheeks seeing everyone were at the cafeteria except them and he smirks pulling her closer.

Arjun and karan laughs at his actions and walk to the cafeteria for their lunch.

"So where are we going?",She asked putting on her seatbelt and Manik smiled and started the car.

" Manik?",She asked again impatient and he just smirks ignoring her.

"Okay fine I will give you a hint. We are going down a memory lane.",Manik said and she gets into thinking and Manik chuckles seeing her making cute expressions.

"When do you think I started liking you?",Manik asked her after sometime out of the blue and she looks at him surprised and gets into thinking again.

"I don't know. My birthday maybe?",She guessed and he smiled and shake his head.

" Okay so then valentine's day.",She guessed again and he smiles and nods in no.

" So was it after marriage then. ",She said getting frustrated and he laughed looked at the roads almost to their destination and turned to her.

"The day I brought you here. I knew you meant something more to me. You were special.",Manik said as he parked the car and nandini smiled looking at the restaurant where they came for the first time and manik gave her the star bracelet as a gift.

"Come on.",he said and pulled her inside guiding her to the same table they sat before.

"I didn't know you liked me back then.",She said honestly now thinking if she missed any signs.

"Why else would I take so much effort and get a gift myself instead of giving you my card like I always did for my friends.",Manik confessed and nandini blushed recalling and feeling stupid for not seeing it.

He ordered her favourite food and she smiled grateful.

"Where were you in the morning?",She asked and he smiles at her.

" Somewhere.",he said and she grew curious.

"Manik you won't tell me.",she asked making a cute face.

" Stop making these faces. I feel like eating you up instead. You will get to know soon.",Manik said and she agreed knowing he won't tell.

She went on to tell her about her day and how it was and he listened to her speak and smiled seeing her excited face as she kept on talking about how good it was before laughing telling him about karan and the complete story.

Manik smirks thinking something and Nandini looked at him.

"There was something I wanted to be done. I think karan will be perfect fit for it. I will give him the work the first thing tomorrow. ",Manik said smirking and Nandini felt sorry for her best friend.

" No no you won't be saying anything to him. He was just having fun with me also he is having his rough phases so I was happy to see him have fun today after long.",Nandini said him and he looks at her and smiles in response.

They had their lunch talking about anything and everything.

Nandini was delighted having spend time with him after long and felt happy talking to him like old times.

"Now where to?",she asked and he looked at her as they sat inside the car.

"Do you want to go somewhere else?",he asked her and she frowns a little.

"Are we going home?",she said slowly not wanting to go back.

"Hmm",Manik said with a straight face and Nandini nods and looked outside the window in daze lost in thoughts.

Manik smiles and shakes his head at her as he drove.

He turns on the radio and continued driving as he hummed to the song.

Nandini realised that it doesn't take so long to reach home and looks out and then turns to him.

"Are we not going back?",She asked seeing they were on other route.

" Do you want to go back?",he asked her with a teasing smile and she realised he was teasing her and frowns slapping his arms.

He laughs and holds her hands in his.

"Nandini",he said and she looked up to him.

"I am not taking you home back so soon. Don't worry and if you didn't want to go home why didn't you say so. Even if i didn't made plans we would have gone for long drive. ",Manik asked turning to face her while looking at the roads.

She thought for a reason but couldn't find one reason to say.

"I don't know. ",She said thinking with a frown and he smiled and opened his dashboard.

"Here I got something for you.",Manik said and forwards the chocolate to her.

She gave him a big smile and takes the chocolate from him.

"I really wanted to eat dessert back in the hotel but I was completely full with the food. Thank you.",She said as she took a bite and he laughs a little seeing her childish excitement.

"I know.",he said and wiped the chocolate from the corner of her lips with his thumb.

"Where are we going manik?",She asked seeing the empty roads now and he smiled.

" Where I took you for our first date.",he replied and she smiled excited.

" Thank you.",Nandini said sincerely smiling at him.

"You haven't seen it yet and you are thanking me. First let me get you there and what is this plain thank you. I think I earned more than just a thank you .",Manik said complaining and she smiled and leaned in to give him a kiss.

"Not now. Wait wait. We are almost there.",he said and she frowns but then smirks.

" Manik",she whispered slowly near her ears.

" You sure about it.",she asked breathing over his cheeks and he closed his eyes for a second to compose himself.

"Don't distract me. I am driving.",Manik said as she kissed his neck lightly before moving on to kiss below his ear and blowed making him shiver and grip the steering.

He stopped the car at a side and glared at her. She laughed and he lets out a smile forgetting the irritation seeing her laugh.

"I will get back to you for this and what you did in the morning.",Manik said and Nandini gave him a smile not believing him.

"Let's go",Manik said and Nandini realised he stopped because they reached.

She gets down and looks at her outfit.

"I don't think I am dressed up properly for here.",she said and he assures her before giving her his hand and helping her walk properly.

She stumbles with her heels a few times and manik picks her up.

"I am fine. I can walk ",she tried but he ignored her and she happily wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Manik",she called and he turned to face her.

"You are beautiful.",She whispered out after gazing him for a while.

He broke out into a smile.

"How can a man be beautiful?",he asked and she frowned.

" Why can't a man be beautiful? I find you beautiful like how people find poetry and paintings beautiful. Everytime I look at you I feel like I am seeing something different or something new in you that I missed earlier. It makes me wonder if I will ever know you or understand you completely. You are like the sunsets you know. It sets the same way every day but if you look at it you will still find it beautiful and see something new in it everyday. You give me hope and calm me down and  make me realise that no matter how bad the day went the end will be beautiful because I come back home to you. ",She confessed and he pulls her closer in his arms not able to say anything to her heartfelt pure confession.

"Let me just keep the feelings I am feeling right now inside my heart. I don't want to let it go by saying it out loud.",Manik said her and she understood and leans in kissing his cheeks.

"I have a proposal for you.",She said with a excited smile and he looks at her curious.

"You carry me everywhere and I will do anything you say in return.",Nandini said and he laughs and shakes his head.

" Think about it once. Don't blame me if i bring you to office like this and then ask you to kiss me.",he said and she realises and frowns.

" I just love it when you carry me in your arms.",Nandini said getting comfortable.

" You are becoming lazy day by day. From tomorrow you will join me at the morning jog.",manik said and she frowns and slaps his shoulder.

He looks ahead and smiles before turning to her.

It was evening time and sky was filled with golden colors with birds returning back to their nests.

Nandini looked up at the tall trees and open sky and smiles.

"Close your eyes.",manik said and she did as he said.

He puts her down and stands infront of her.

"Open it now.",Manik said and she looks at his face before he moves aside and she sees what he was hiding.

"Manik its.. it is a treehouse.",Nandini said not able to believe it.

She looked around and realised it was the same place where they had their dinner on the first date and the house wasn't there then.

"This is beautiful.",she said as she walked a little closer.

"How? I mean when?",She asked and he just gave a smile.

"Come let's go inside.",Manik said and her face brightened up.

"Let's race till there.",Nandini said opening her heels before manik could protest.

There was grasses around so manik didn't worry about her being barefoot and agreed.

"You think you could win against me.",Manik asked teasing her.

"I used to run tracks don't underestimated me.",Nandini challenged and they took their position.

" Okay 1.. 2.. ",before manik could say 3 she ran and he ran too behind her.

" Its cheating.",manik yelled while running.

" Everything is fair in love and race.",she said laughing running faster as she felt him approach her.

She did a little dance jumping around as she won and manik narrowed his eyes at her.

"Looks like someone needs to exercise more.",Nandini teased him and he gives her a look and she moves away ready to run.

"Let's take a break.",she worked out a deal running away from him and he nodded as she came close slowly.

Manik pulls the rope ladder down and gestured her to go first as he held the rope tightly.

She climbed up slowly and manik climbed behind her.

He looked up at her and smirked.

"This is a great view .",Nandini said as she stops at the end and looks around.

"I agree.",manik said with a tease and nandini looks down to find him staring at her back.

"Such a pervert.", She said narrowing her eyes at him, before climbing on the platform.

Manik chuckled and stood beside her.

"Come",he gestured taking her hands in his and gave her a tour.

"I loved it. This is amazing. I have always wanted to play in a tree house when I was small.",Nandini said looking inside the house.

" How did it happened?",she asked him.

He sat on the bean bag on the side and pulls her on his lap.

"I got it made as a memory. This place have very beautiful memories of my life so to treasure it I got it made.",Manik explained and nandini grinned.

" Can we stay here for a while.",She asked and he nods as she went near the window and looked at the sunset.

He stood beside her and they silently stare at the clouds and the sunset.

Nandini turns her eyes to him and couldn't take it off him as she remembered everything and efforts he had taken and done for her.

She takes a step closer and kisses his cheek.

He looks at her confused.

"I love you.",Nandini whispered slowly and manik eyes widen in surprise and face relaxed at her sudden confession.

She realises a little later that she actually said it out loud and looks at him.

She finds him staring at her for long and calls him out loud.

"Manik where are you lost?", She asked and he nods in no.

"I will see if there's coffee.",Nandini said him and turns to go but he holds her hand and pulls her to him.

"What did you just say?",he asked and she smiled.

" I said I will see if there's coffee.", She said innocently knowing very well what he wants to hear.

"No before that?",he repeated and she makes a confused face.

" When? We were staring at the clouds and you got lost somewhere and then I asked for coffee.",Nandini said and he frowns.

" I was imagining that?",he questions himself and nandini stifles a laugh.

He lets her go from his hold and she smiled.

She walked near the small kitchen and made some coffee.

She eyes manik time to time and chuckles seeing him confused and pulling his hairs.

She composes herself as he walks near her.

"You sure you didn't say anything?",he asked her again and she nods in no.

" I will be back in a minute.",he said her frowning as he walks inside the bathroom to wash his face.

His eyes falls on his reflection and he moves closer as he sees a faint lipstick mark on his cheek.

Realisation gets drawn to him and he walks out annoyed and glares at her.

"Nandini", he called out frustrated and she laughs and runs away as he tries to come closer.

"You have become a real tease. Wait.",Manik said trying to hold her.

"I am sorry... sorry..... sorry",she said still laughing running in the small space away from him.

"You just looked so cute being confused I couldn't stop myself from teasing you.",she said laughing imagining his face and he caught her from behind making her gasp.

He pinned her to the wall and leans closer.

She looks at him trying to stop laughing as he glares at her.

"Say it again.",he asked looking into her eyes rubbing her cheeks with his thumb.

" I am sorry.",she said with mischief in her eyes and laughed again making him roll his eyes at her.

He withdraws his hand from her cheeks and was about to walk away annoyed but she grabbed his collar and pulls him back to her.

"I Love You.",she repeated slowly saying each word carefully looking into his eyes and a small smile appeared on his face as his eyes shined with different emotions.

"And you aren't imagining this.", Nandini said standing on her toes to lean closer to his ears as she dropped light kisses down his jawline.

He moves his head down and brushes his lips against hers.

His hand cupped the back of neck holding her head in a firm grip and other moved to her waist pulling her closer.

"You have been teasing me a lot nowadays.",Manik whispered rubbing his nose against her cheeks and she smiled and leaned closer to him.

"Now its my turn.",he said smirking and she looked at him confused.

He picked her up in his arms and she lets out a scream in surprise.

Before wrapping her hands around him and getting comfortable as he walked inside the small room with a canopy bed having white curtains around and decorated beautifully.

"The fun begins.",he said and she looked at him confused as he drops her in the bed.