97• I love you, Princess

Manik returned home after an hour. He was calmed. He went directly to the room, looking for his Kiddo, but she wasn't there.

"Kiddo, where are you?" He came downstairs, calling her, anxious for her.

"Where is Nandini?" He asked one of the maids of the house.

"Mam is in the kitchen. She is cooking dinner." As she told him, he immediately rushed to the kitchen.

"Kiddo, why are you cooking? The doctor said you require extra rest, you're weak." He chided her, walking towards her. She completely ignored him and kept chopping the veggies because she was angry with him for going on the ride without her.

He held her arms and turned her towards him. "Kiddo-" he paused as she frowned at him, her nostrils flared.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have shouted at you, but I was worried about you, Kiddo." He placed his hand on her face and lovingly explained to her, thinking that she was angry because of this reason.

"I'm not angry with you for shouting at me. I can understand your concerns about me, Manik." As she told him, his brows furrowed in confusion.

"Then why are you angry?" His brows raised as he asked.

"I'm angry because you didn't take us on the bike ride, Manik. You left us alone." Automatically a chuckle escaped his mouth as she adorably told him the reason for her anger, playing with his shirt buttons.

"Kiddo, I needed some time alone to think about the news. Seriously, my mind was exploding when suddenly I got to know that you're pregnant. So many things were going on in my head. I'm sorry if you felt bad that I didn't take you on the bike ride." First, he explained to her, and then graciously apologised while holding her hand and gently petting the tattoo of his name on her finger.

She just stared at him with immense love in her eyes for him. He always rendered her speechless by the way how calmly he explained all things to her. She never thought that one day he would love her as much as she loved him. She always felt fortunate to get his love.

"I love you, Manik, and I can do anything for you. If my pregnancy is stressing you so much, then I'm ready to abort the baby." She hugged him, and as she spoke the last sentence, a lone tear trickled down her cheek because it was hard for a mother to even think about aborting her baby.

Even though she had already developed a strong attachment to the child, she still got ready for the abortion for Manik because she loved him more than anything else. She would be willing to give up the entire world's happiness for him.

He pulled her apart and clasped her face. "You don't have to do this, Kiddo, because I'm ready to have our baby." Her eyes sparkled and a smile spread across her face after listening to his words.

"Really?" She asked, smiling with glee.

He nodded. "Yes, because who are we to question God's blessings if he is gifting us with our child so soon? And you said right that we'll manage together. So let's do this." He entwined his fingers with hers, and they both beamed at each other. A contented smile touched her lips as he placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

***

Nandini sat on the sofa at night, talking on a video call with Ella and Ethan, while Manik sat on the bed, working on his laptop. He had no idea how he would confront Ethan when he found out that he had made his sister pregnant so soon. He was quite anxious about this.

Ella and Ethan were lying in each other's arms. The delight of getting married was clearly evident in their beaming faces, and their joy could be seen in their eyes as well.

"Where is Manik?" As Ethan asked, Nandini looked at Manik through the corners of her eyes, and he shook his head because he wasn't ready to face Ethan.

"Ethan, he is in the washroom." She lied. "So bye now because I don't want to disturb you both on your honeymoon."

Ella uttered, "Oh, Barbie. You aren't disturbing us."

"But still, bye." She hung up the call because it was becoming increasingly difficult for her to conceal her pregnancy news from them.

She placed the phone on the table, and Manik strolled towards her, lay down on the sofa and closed his eyes as he rested his head on her lap. She could see that he was tense.

She caressed his forehead, ran her fingers through his ruffled hair and reassured him. "Manik, don't worry. I'll make Ethan understand."

He opened his eyes and clasped her hand. "I know, he'll understand us, but I'm guilty."

"You haven't committed any crime, Manik. Don't be guilty." She was constantly stroking his hair with affection, and her other hand was entwined with his.

"Okay, leave all this. Now let me talk to my Princess." He kept his tension on the side and said cheerily, turning his face towards her belly.

"Princess? How do you know that our baby is male or female?" She asked, arching her brows at him.

"I just know that we'll have a cutie pie Angel like you." He spoke with full confidence and jubilantly placed a kiss on her belly.

"But I want a junior hottie biker like you." She pouted at him.

"Now keep quiet, and let me talk to her." He gave her a stern look before moving his eyes back to her belly and smiling.

"Hey, Angel. I'm sorry for asking Mumma to throw you away. Don't think that I don't want you, it's just that I was only thinking about your Mumma." He politely apologised, placing his hand on Nandini's tummy.

"Manik, don't worry, I have already explained to our baby, and I was sure that you would accept our baby." He smiled at her as she told him with delight. He lifted his head from her lap and moved her face down by holding her neck before kissing her lips chastely.

"I love you, Kiddo." He whispered against her lips.

"I love you more, Manik." She breathed and pecked his lips.

"And I love you, Princess." He again placed his head on Nandini's lap and kissed her belly. "I'll keep in mind both you and your mother from now on, I promise." As he talked to their baby, she just beamed at him ecstatically.