Bonus Chapter 1

Manik watched Nandini rushing around checking if everything is okay as the models were ready to go out on the ramp any minute and smiled walking closer to her.

"You will do great. Stop stressing. I will be outside.", Manik said and Nandini nodded taking a deep breath.

He pecked her lips before giving her a wink as he walked out and she cleared her throat seeing the staff amused staring at her and getting back to work. No matter how long they have been together he still managed to surprise her somehow.

Manik found his seat and took out his phone to check his messages.

He smiled a little excited putting it back in his pocket as he looked around. The fashion show was one of the biggest fashion shows Nandini was a part of. Right now in Paris, the fashion show was arranged near the Eiffel Tower in the afternoon and Manik was impressed at the arrangements made. The weather was good too as it was a cloudy day.

With each passing day, she had kept impressing him with everything she had achieved and he was proud of her. Even after doing so many shows this past year, she still became nervous before a fashion show and Manik found her habit cute.

The fashion show started and Manik was impressed yet again as the models start walking out. He could hear people whisper praises watching the designs and smiled proudly. His phone vibrates and he took it out and his smile went bigger reading the message.

He quickly replied and looked up watching all the models, waiting for Nandini to come forward.

Everyone stood up as she walked and he clapped proudly along with the others. She looked up at him in disbelief seeing the response and he smiled cheering for her and making her blush as she thanked everyone and gave her speech.

Nandini found Manik after the show and he hugged her immediately making her grin as she looked at him excited.

"Did you like it?", Nandini asked and he nodded kissing her head.

"Loved it. You are the best.", Manik said and she smiled.

"I will just wrap up everything and meet you. It will take only a few minutes.", Nandini said and Manik nodded.

Nandini walked out after picking up her things and looked around for Aditya or Nikhil but found them missing and shrugged dropping them a message.

She walked out and frowned not seeing Manik and walked ahead looking around. She saw a big crowd and walked closer confused about what was going on.

Music starts playing and she was surprised before realizing it was a flashmob. A grin comes up on her face as she gets excited before she picks up her phone to call Manik and not make him worry.

She stopped as the song started playing and looked up surprised to see people move apart and found Manik sitting on a chair in the middle with a guitar in his hand as he sang softly. Her eyes widen in surprise as she watched him with a smile and saw the people dancing in the background and grinned wider if possible seeing their friends along with some of her models as they softly danced in pairs.

Oh, I'm obsessed

With the way your head is layin' on my chest

How you love the things I hate about myself

That no one knows, but with you, I see hope again

Nandini grinned wider seeing him sing so beautifully for her as she stepped a little closer and wondered how she got so lucky to have him. He would literally do anything to fulfill her wish. She had once told him she loved flashmobs and guys who sing and now seeing him do that for her made her a little emotional.

Oh, I'm a mess

When I overthink the little things in my head

You seem to always help me catch my breath

But then I lose it again

When I look at you, that's the end

She chuckled as she heard the lyrics as tears filled her eyes knowing everything he sang was from his heart and he meant it.

And why do I get so nervous when I look into your eyes?

Butterflies can't stop me fallin' for you

Nandini found his eyes on her and took a step closer as she looked at her friends dancing in couples and smiled wide as she palmed her mouth in disbelief. She didn't think they would be here today surprising her like this. She remembers them telling her they were busy and that was the reason they couldn't attend her fashion show but to take out time and still come to surprise her moved her.

And darlin', this is more than anything I felt before

You're everything that I want, but I didn't think I'd find

Someone who is worth the wait of all the years of my heartbreak

But I know now I found the one I love

Nandini made eye contact with him and felt like it was just them two and he was reading his journal for her. She smiled trying hard to compose herself but knew it was getting difficult.

And I love the way

You can never find the right things to say

And you can't sit still an hour in the day

I'm so in love, let's run away because us is enough

She heard his next words and chuckled as a tear rolled down her eyes.

And why do I get so nervous when I look into your eyes?

And butterflies can't stop me fallin' for you

And darlin', this is more than anything I felt before

You're everything that I want, but I didn't think I'd find

Someone who is worth the wait of all the years of my heartbreak

But I know now I found the one

She sniffled not able to stop her tears anymore and Manik smiled getting up picking up the guitar and walking closer to her slowly.

Come close, let me be home for anything

Good or bad, I know it's worth it, whoa

Whoa

Nandini took a few steps closer to him and he smiled as everyone around them joined him singing in chorus, he gave his guitar to someone nearby and stared at Nandini who was staring at him back, wiping the tears that rolled down her eyes.

And darlin', this is more than anything I felt before

You're everything that I want, but I didn't think I'd find

Someone who is worth the wait of all the years of my heartbreak

But I know now I found the one I love

Manik stopped in front of Nandini and grinned as he took out something from his pocket and she looked at him a little nervous thinking about it.

"Do you remember I promised you the next time I get you jewelry it will be a ring? ", He said as he took out a ring box and took out the ring moving closer to her as he held her hand in his.

"Today with this ring, I am making another promise to you.", he said as he smiled putting the ring on her finger slowly and she couldn't take her eyes off him watching all those emotions in his eyes, to even glance at the ring.

"A promise to always be by your side in any way you want, A promise to love you every day for the rest of my life and even after that. A promise to grow old with you. Darling, the first time I really saw you without all the anger and the misunderstandings, I knew if I ever fall in love with someone it was going to be you. You made my life better in ways you don't even know. You never tried to change me but always encouraged me and challenged me to get better. With you, I keep wanting more and more. I want to experience everything with you. I want to do every weird thing you have on that bucket list of yours. I want to take you out on dates and trips around the world. I want us to just cuddle on a lazy day watching some reality show that makes no sense. I want you in my memories, my experiences, my achievements. I want you in my life at every step for the rest of our lives holding our hands together. ", Manik confessed and Nandini watched him stunned at his proposal and completely moved by his words.

He forwards his hand to her and she looked down at it.

"Let's get Married. Let's take a step forward together. Hold My Hand, Darling. I promise to never let go.", Manik said with a smile, and Nandini immediately put her hand on his before hugging him making him chuckle as everyone around them clapped and she felt shy.

"Do you know how long I was waiting for this?", Nandini asked pulling back a little and Manik smiled.

"Your hints weren't as subtle as you thought.", Manik said teasing her and Nandini blushed.

"I thought you were an idiot who couldn't pick up the hints.", Nandini said with a pout making him laugh.

"You could have said it first if you couldn't wait.", Manik teased her and she pulled back to look at him.

"If you would have taken any more time. I would have. I am just glad you asked first. I don't have to wait for a year to hear your answer.", Nandini teased him reminding him of one of their jokes and he laughs.

"Well, that day you indirectly asked me to marry you so we can say it's my reply to you after a year.", Manik pointed out and she rolled her eyes.

Nandini looked down at the ring in her hand and he looked at her a little nervous.

"You like it?", He asked and she nodded.

"I loved it.", She said hugging him.

Their friends joined them and Nandini blushed as they teased them.

"But Seriously Nandini, you should have given him a hard time for not asking before putting the ring.", Mukti said slapping Manik's arms and Nandini turned to Manik raising an eyebrow.

"What? I knew you wouldn't deny.", Manik said and everyone glared at him in return.

"Is it too late to say No now?", Nandini asked turning to her friends and they nodded in no encouraging her to reject him.

Manik glared at them pulling Nandini in his arms.

"This proposal was just to make it official and fulfill your wish Darling. You and I both know you have said yes a hundred times before.", Manik reminded her and she blushed thinking about all their indirect proposals and jokes.

They talked with others for a while before the six of them left for early dinner.

"Will you guys be here for the week?", Nandini asked them a little excited and they gave her a sad smile.

"Nope just for a day more. You guys have fun together.", Ishaan said and she pouted sadly but nodded understanding they were busy.

"When did you plan all this? Who taught you how to play guitar and helped you with singing?", Nandini asked curiously, everyone laughed at her excitement and Manik kissed her cheeks.

"We have been planning for a while. Shravan helped me with the guitar and the song.", Manik said and she grinned hearing his reply.

The last few months were a little tough for Shravan after losing his mother but his and Manik's relationship had improved a lot and they have connected, helping each other out when needed.

"Remind me to thank him. By the way, why didn't he come? Is he busy?", Nandini asked and Manik nodded.

"He took a break from the office for so long so he didn't want to leave when I was not there as well. Don't worry we all will get together for dinner later when we go back. Now no more questions.", Manik said and she nodded eating her dinner without asking any more questions.

They all looked around the city, having fun before retiring to their rooms tired and Nandini lay down on the bed tired from walking around the whole day.

"Tired?", Manik asked sitting down beside her and she nodded.

"Okay then I will show you the surprise later.", Manik said and she sat up immediately looking up at him.

He shakes his head and pecked her lips.

"You are so cute.", Manik said and she grinned eagerly to know the surprise.

"I got a tattoo.", Manik whispered and she looked up at him surprised before tugging his shirt. he laughed before pulling his shirt off and she traced her fingers above his tattoo on the same spot as hers.

He actually wrote the line he always said he would. What surprised her was the small NM written beside it.

"You are what I never knew I always wanted ~ NM"

"NM?", Nandini asked as he grinned turning to her.

"It can be anything you want. Nandini and Manik, Nandini Murthy or Nandini Malhotra.", Manik said and she smiled wide leaning closer to him.

"I think I like that better. Nandini Malhotra.", Nandini said in a whisper and he smiled hearing her, and pulled her in his lap.

"I liked that too.", Manik said moving closer and pulling her in a kiss.

"I loved everything you did today. I can't think of a way to thank you for it.", Nandini said in between the kiss and Manik smirked.

"I have some ways in mind in which you can thank me.", Manik said and she raised her eyebrows as his hands moved to the zip on her back and she grinned moving closer and kissing him.

"Tell me about it.", Nandini whispered in his ears and he smiled pulling the zip down as he kissed her back.

"I can't wait to marry you.", Manik said and she smiled.

"Me too. Don't make me wait for long.", Nandini said and he smiled.

"I won't", He said pulling her down on the bed and coming over her.

"If you want, we will get married tomorrow.", Manik said and she smiled.

"Not that soon. I have so many things to plan and do.", Nandini said and he looked up at her.

"Okay whenever you want but now I have other things in mind and that can't wait.", Manik said and she giggled as he switched off the lights.