MN - The Fragile Magic ** Epilogue - Pg 140. - Page 50

'okay now what if all of us go on an outing today", nupur broke from the hug and the kids squealed,

"yes !, yes!!", they started jumping but suddenly rahul's voice dimmed, 'but dady won't go, he doesn't likes going out" , he said and nupur picked him up, "daddy will go", she looked at mayank authoritatively and mayank sighed, "okay fine, I will go", and with this the kids jumped again and nupur passed him a look saying GOOD - YOU - AGREED while mayank returned her a I HAD NO CHOICE expression.

"yes but first breakfast, come on go rush brush your teeth", nupur ruffled their hair and both of them rushed to their dressing, with little bickering over who will get ready first, and nupur was smiling at their voices when she felt a soft peck on her cheek and suddenly turning she almost collided with mayank's chest,

"thank you so much", he removed strands of hair from her face and and nupur smiled, "mujhe kyun thank you bol rahe ho ap?', she opened her eyes wide and mayank took a step towards her, "tumhain thank you is liye bol raha hon kyun k tum bohat achi ho", he confessed honestly and nupur broke in a giggle,

"main achi hon tu is main thank you bol rahe ho ap?', she was still laughing and the voice of her laughter was music from heaven for him.

"how do you let go off your pain so easily nupur?", he asked and suddenly nupur's eyes turned silent, she lowered and them and was about to move away when mayank pulled her close from her wasit and made her look up, "you are very brave nupur, I don't think I would have smiled like the way you just did now, I know you felt the same way I did last night, but you didn't create a havoc of it, how are you so patient?"

"mayank,, dekhiye .. ,

"you know what nupur, I don't know if I will ever be able to share your pain, but if your ever want to talk, I am right here , I am very bad at consolotions, but I promise to listen .. I promise nupur .

"you don't need to promise mayank, and you don't need to feel burdened, pains are shared when you want to, not when you think you have to..",she smiled and kissed his cheek, "and now please smile, this frown doesn't suits you", she pulled his cheeks and he hugged her, "thank you nupur, thank you so much", his hold was very tight and nupur as always, rubbed his back.

Just then the kids returned from their dressing and were about to squeal when their mouths were left open seeing their parents totally clinged to each other. Both of them for a spilt second just stared and then started giggling.

On that sound Mayank and Nupur sprang apart, "wow!, mummy daddy you both hug for so long?", Rahul asked opening his eyes wide and mayank and nupur exchanged a nervous look,

"and you both were so quiet", pranav joined Rahul in explaining the hug and they both fumbled and were thinking what to say when the kids solved their problem.

"okay now lets have breakfast na .. then we have to go", both them ran out of the room and mayank and nupur took a deep breath,

"GOSH these kids!!, no hugging in their room from now onwards", he glared at nupur and left the room and nupur too followed him giggling.

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After their breakfast, the kids went in their room to change and so did mayank and nupur.

Nupur was still digging her wardrobe while mayank returned dressed in a lined brown full sleeves shirt and a black pair of denims. He stood in front of the mirror and was constantly observing nupur's expressions from her reflection in the mirror, which were showing that she was maybe in the worlds's biggest dilemma.

"kia hua?', he came close to her, with placing his arm on the cupboard and nupur was totlly under his arm but she didn't get conscious,

'mujhe samjh nahi a raha k pehno kiya", she sighed, rejecting another sari.

'kuch bhi phen lo, you look good in everything", he said and nupur looked in his eyes and found sincerity, "haan per phir bhi ..", she smiled and then sighed ..

"okay chalo why don't you wear this , he picked out a white anarklai suit and nupur's face lit up, "wow!!, mera dehan nahi gaya is pe .. thank you", she smiled taking the suit and rushed to the dressing, while mayank was left in awe of her, and then went down stairs.

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"mummmyyy",

The kids were shouting and pacing in the lounge as nupur was taking so long, while mayank was also getting worked up, and was huffing silently.

"mummmyyy",the kids shouted in another chorus and mayank finally lost his cool, "bachon ap dono tu araam se beth jao, itna shor kyun macha rahe ho?, he glared and the kids pouted,

"daddy mummy ko bula rahen hain", pranav said and Rahul also came forward, "mummy is taking so long", he also made a face,

"haan tu ap dono k bulane se jaldi nahi jaye gi, beth jao chup kar k , I don't want to hear any voice:', he said strictly, opening the newspaper and the kids sat down , now whispering to each other.

Mayank had just read the first page of the newspaper and was about to turn to the second when he heard the kids squeal, and preparing himself to scold them again, he placed the paper away but himself was left speechless ..

Nupur was standing there, dressed in a white anarkali frock, with churidaar of the same color, her duppata flowing on one side, and hair were back combed plainly, a few flowing strands captured by pins. Her huge eyes were looking even more huge due to a light use of black pencil and her lips were shining with a light gloss. Her slender arms were graced by silvery bangles on one side and a watch on the other. She was smiling and giggling in a care-free manner, talking to kids and mayank felt his eyes glued to her.

"Dadddyyy",

The chorus of the kids brought him back to the world and he found that three of them were looking at him quizzically.

"umm , haan .. chalo chaltey hain", he said taking out the car keys from his pocket and kids ran out of the lounge and mayank was about to follow them when nupur's nervous voice stopped him .

"suniye .."

He turned to find nupur walking towards him, "umm .. ap ne kaha k main her dress main achi lagti hon, tu aj kaisi lag rahi hon"?, she searched his face and mayank pulled her from her waist,

"roz tum achi lagti ho , aj bohat bohat achi lag rahi ho", he softly kissed his cheek and nupur smiled and kept her eyes lowered.

For the first time she felt her heartbeat increase near mayank and for the fisrt time she wasn't able to gather energy to raise her eyes and look in his eyes back. She just closed her eyes and bit her lower lip when she felt mayank's breath on her ear, 'I think both of us don't want kids to catch us again like this, so lets go", he whispered and kissed her cheek again, whereas nupur opened her eyes as a reflex action and met his eyes.

The eye-lock sent chills down her spine and taking a deep breath she moved away, but not very far,. as mayank entwined their fingers and they both walked out, Nupur with crimson cheeks and mayank with a strange warmth - today for the first time - his wife blushed on his nearness.

Chapter 13 - Page 81