Promises to Forever

Chapter 3

“When love is roaming in our mind, looping in the deepest fringes of our heart, undreamt spaciousness emerges, repealing the constraints of triviality and letting stifling narrowness fade away. While our mindset is besieged by a revolving burst of emotion, our world is ultimately opening up.” -Erik Pevernagie

For a healthy relationship, all you need is not just love, but also trust, understanding, forgiveness, commitment, and respect. Understanding needs a kind and sensitive heart, where you try and understand things from others point of view with patience. I believe that both love and understanding are important ingredients for a lasting friendship, family relationship or husband-wife. Many relationships have broken up not because of the absence of love, but because they don’t understand each other. All bonds can flourish in a healthy way with mutual understanding being the key ingredient, even more than love.

After a drive of an hour, Manik and Nandini reached their destination. It was past office time, so there wasn’t much traffic. Otherwise, it’s really difficult to move there. 

“Come out, we have reached.” Manik said while opening the door of Nandini’s side. 

She got down and held his hand before walking towards the gate. She read out the name and looked at Manik gleaming in joy. 

“Sanjay Gandhi National Park”

“How do you know that I have always wanted to visit this place?” Nandini asked. Her eyes were shining with joy.

Manik smiled looking at her smiling face. “I admit that I don’t understand you the way you do to me. But I know at least this much of you.” He said in a matter of fact tone.

Nandini side hugged him and they walked to get the tickets for them. 

“Ready to explore the place, sunshine?” Manik asked entwining their fingers together. 

Nandini nodded her head excitedly. They walked through the forest road holding each other’s hand and enjoyed Kanheri Cave visit, safari, boat ride, and toy train ride. Nandini enjoyed to her core. Manik was also relieved seeing her happy. He couldn't ask for anything else till the time she was happy beside him.

“Nandini, let’s go now. It’s already past lunch time. You didn’t have anything after breakfast. You need to have something.” Manik said worriedly looking at Nandini who was in no mood to leave from here. 

Nandini made a bad face hearing Manik. She looked at him with pleading face. “We will go after sometimes please. I am liking it here.” 

Manik exhaled a breath. He made her look at him cupping her face. “Nandini, we will come back here again but let’s go for now.” 

Having no option left, she had to agree to him and they walked out of the park. But Nandini kept admiring the place till it was out of their sight. 

They had lunch in a restaurant and did some shopping for their honeymoon. 

“Now I will take you to a famous place for couples.” Manik winked at her. 

Nandini was confused but that couldn't stop the red hue appearing to her face. “Where?”

“Marine Drive.” He replied while moving the car in that direction. 

Nandini nodded her head. 

They reached Marine Drive and got out of the car. Nandini looked around the place. She found people jogging and couples were sitting together spending time. 

She looked at the couples with some different kinds of emotions in her eyes. It didn’t go unnoticed by Manik. He knew what exactly Nandini must be thinking. 

He held Nandini’s hand tightly in his grip. That’s when Nandini looked at his face and passed a smile to him. 

“You don’t need to hide things from me. I know what you are thinking and trust me there’s nothing wrong in it.” Manik had an assuring look covering his face. 

Nandini smiled. “Thank you, Manik. Thank you for everything.”

“Do you want to stand here only or you would like to walk?” Manik asked to change the air. 

Nandini knew him. So, it wasn’t difficult for her to guess the reason for his sudden question. She also gave in. “I don’t feel like walking. Let’s sit somewhere.” 

Manik nodded without any argument. They walked a little further. They found an empty place devoid of much crowd. They settled there. As they sat, Manik entwined his fingers with her and Nandini placed her head on his shoulder. Manik wrapped his free hand around Nandini’s shoulder. 

“What are you thinking so much?” Manik broke the silence around them. 

Nandini moved her face a little and angled it in a way that now they could see each other’s face. “I was thinking, if my parents were not this much strict, then our relationship would have been like these couples. We could have done everything that a normal couple does. We also didn’t need to struggle so much only to see each other once. Things would have been easier for us.” She let out a breath at the end. 

Manik pulled her closer. “Nandini, I know it was difficult for us. But look at the brighter side, distance made our relationship stronger. Those difficulties to meet for a second, the distance between us made our bond more intense. We realized how much we mean to each other. We get to know how much we need each other. That helped us in a way. Anyways, our story has a different kind of charm which theirs don’t have.” He mouthed the last line and winked at her. 

Nandini couldn’t help admiring the guy sitting beside her who is now her husband. She never imagined him talking or thinking of something so densely. She understood the depth of his words and he was absolutely correct. If they weren’t far away from each other, then maybe today they wouldn’t be sitting together like this. 

“I never knew you could talk this deep.” Nandini said making Manik chuckle. “Can I be honest?” She asked looking at Manik. He nodded his head, gesturing her to continue. “You don’t fail to impress me even after so many years of togetherness.”

This time Manik laughed and he placed a kiss on her forehead. “Can I be honest too?” Manik asked and this time Nandini nodded. “Even after all these years, you make me fall in love with you each passing second more deeply. Whenever I think it’s extreme, I can’t love you more than this. But every time you prove me wrong and make me love you more.”

Nandini blushed but the sparkling smile on her face wasn’t going to fade away from her face anytime soon.

“Manik, let’s have ice cream.” Nandini said looking at the vendor by their side.

Manik looked around and spotted the vendor. “Do you want to have it here?” He asked being unsure.

Nandini nodded her head. “Let’s enjoy the phase which we didn’t get before.” She passed a smile to Manik.

He too smiled looking at her face and nodded. “You sit here. I will just be back.” 

Nandini nodded her head. Then Manik got up and went to get their ice cream. While buying the ice cream, he noticed some kids who were staring at him. Manik smiled but that vanished behind the mask he was wearing. 

He gave a thousand rupee note to the vendor. “I don’t need change. Give the kids ice cream on behalf of me.” He said and walked away from there giving a final glance to the kids.

Nandini who was sitting far away from him noticed everything. Though she couldn’t hear anything, but she could guess what must have happened. She doesn’t feel proud of her husband just because he is an amazing player, but because he is the most amazing human being she has ever met in her life. She can’t thank God enough for sending this angel in her life. 

When she was thinking about all this, Manik came back and again settled beside her. “Here you go with your favorite flavor.” He said handing over the ice cream to her. 

Nandini smiled. She took the ice cream. “Have I ever mentioned?”

“What?” Manik asked smilingly raising his one eyebrow.

“That you are my favorite person.” Nandini said like a kid.

Manik chuckled. “No, you didn’t.” 

“Okay, I am telling you now you are my favorite person. I love you, Mr Malhotra.” Nandini uttered in her sweet voice.

“I love you more, Mrs Malhotra.” He said taking her in his embrace. “Now have your ice cream before it melts completely.”

Nandini nodded. 

They had their ice cream and spent the rest of the day talking to each other about various things. They walked by the Marine Drive holding each other’s hands. 

“We should go now.” Manik suggested looking around.

Nandini nodded. “Where are you taking me now?” She asked excitedly.

Manik nodded his head in disbelief looking at the girl beside him. “Mrs Malhotra, please look at the time. It’s almost dinner time. You have everything in your mind except having meal.” He said the last line sternly.

Nandini made a bad face hearing him but she knew he was right. So, she didn’t argue and agreed with him whatever he was saying. “Fine, let’s go.”

They walked back to their car which was parked a little away. Manik again drove to one of the restaurants. 

“What would you like to have?” Manik asked Nandini while checking the menu.

Nandini shrugged her shoulders. “Anything. You order.” She kept the menu back on the table.

Manik rolled his eyes and exhaled a breath. He ordered for both of them. After a few minutes, their food arrived. Nandini was about to get up after having a small amount only. But Manik forcefully fed her more. She made a bad face looking at him but nothing worked. 

When they stepped out of the restaurant, Nandini asked. “Are we going home now?” 

Manik denied. “We can visit one last place today.” He said in a matter of fact tone.

Nandini smiled brightly again. “Where? Tell me.” She asked impatiently.

Manik laughed seeing her excitement. “What about beach?”

Nandini’s eyes sparkled. “Great. Let’s go fast.”

Nandini dragged Manik with her near their car. Manik was laughing seeing her. They drove off to Juhu beach. It took them around an hour to reach there. 

When they reached there, it was late at night. So, the beach was empty. Nandini got down from the car as Manik pulled in the car to one side. She opened her arms feeling the cold breeze hitting her. Manik too got down and stood by her side. 

“Will you mind, if I open my shoes?” Nandini asked cutely.

Manik went all aww on her. He couldn’t hold back the urge to pull her cheeks. He did so. “Never.” He replied and both of them opened their shoes. They kept them in the car and walked hand in hand near the water.

They stood near the water and let the water pass through their feet. When the cold water touched their feet, a chill ran down through their spine. Nandini held Manik’s palm more tightly. The water was shining with the moon light falling on them.

“Let’s sit.” Manik told.

Nandini agreed and they both settled down on the sand in each other’s arms. They didn’t speak anything, instead they let their silence talk on behalf of them. It was peaceful. 

Few minutes later, Manik could feel Nandini’s even breath, he looked at her face and found her asleep. He smiled. “She got tired with the whole day’s events.” He thought in mind and smiled. 

Manik picked up Nandini in his arms making sure he doesn’t disturb her sleep. Then he put her in the car slowly and drove back to their home.

“You must allow your free-will to roam as freely as you want and delve deep into your dreams. Never limit yourself nor live according to the appetite of someone else.” -Mwanandeke Kindembo

I hope you all enjoyed the part. Do leave a comment and let me know your favorite part of the chapter.

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