Manik was invited inside the house cordially, Nandini accompanied him all time, when they reached main hall, all women walked to their respected works. Nandini walked to kitchen and started completing the cooking part for Manik.

Manik was offered lassi, then all sat down and started chatting about politics, some issues in kingdom, they even discussed about new ideas to be implemented. Manik shared with them about his idea of planting medicinal plants in every house. They all appreciated him.

When it was lunch time all men are seated in a row and servants brought the dishes with food, Nandini and Parth wives started serving food, Manik recognises that it was Nandini who cooked the food. He smiled at her. She too smiled back.

After lunch they all walked to respected rooms to take a nap, Manik was taken to Nandini's room, he looked around the place and found so many birds and rabbits in balcony, he smiled. He looked after them and played with them.

He remembered about his daughters who have so many birds and rabbits one peacock too, his elder daughter loves birds younger one loves rabbits. Manik always makes sure they are healthy and even try to bring new ones for them.

Knowing that Nandini too likes birds and rabbits he felt it amazing, he loves to bring them to her. When he was playing with them Nandini came to room. She found Manik playing with birds and rabbits.

"Pranam Hukum"

"Who brought the birds?"

"Bhayyasa!"

"Parth? You like them?"

"Yes I love them, they are so small and always happy"

"My daughters love them, they have so many"

"Acha!!!"

"I always gift them"

"If you don't mind can I ask you something?"

"Yes"

"Tell me about your children"

"My daughter's, they are small very chubby same as me, elder one is tall like me, younger as mole on her lip as me, both share my colour too"

"What are there names?"

"Mrugnaiyani, Mrinalini"

Beautiful names"

"I call them mini and lini"

She giggled

"They are learning some household skills"

"Can I teach them cooking?"

"Sure, I will tell them to meet you"

Nandini became sad all of sudden "no hukum I should stay away from them didisa don't like it"

Manik clutched his fist, but kept silent. Manik came to her hugged her from back "I will make them meet you"

"Na Hukum I don't want didisa get more angry when time comes we will meet"

"Ok as you wish, How are you? Did you miss me?"

Nandini smiled and nodded

Manik turned her, took her chin raised her head and took her lips, he kissed her softly she blushed closing her eyes.

"I missed you so much" he said in husky voice again took her lips.

Nandini responded this time, she too missed him a lot. Manik smiled while kissing.

After a long love making session couple slept peacefully. When it was evening Manik asked Chauhan's to take Nandini home, they first asked him to stay for night but Manik insisted to go away, so they said ok!! They filled The palaquine with gifts and her birds and rabbits too travelled with her back home.

Manik felt relaxed when Nandini came back, his mothers made grand welcome to Nandini then couple was asked to have dinner with all. They then entered their chamber.

"Now I feel like I am at home, this empty chamber lack of your Payal daound made me feel like kandar" Manik said hugging her

"I too feel I am back home" she hugged him back.

Next day morning king announced the second test of Hema and Nandini

"Tomorrow will be the test are you both ready?" He asked them

"Ji Rajaji" Both said in union.

Hema prepared well all this five days without any distraction where as Nandini was busy in new house and new people still she want to give her best to avoid war which Manik threatens her.

Next day morning again the people from royal judiciary came to judge along with king, around 200people came to witness this, Nandini and Hema are made to sit opposite to each other. King asked the prime minster to start the questions.

Each got twenty questions, same as before test. This time Hema answered all, Nandini went some place thinking but she too answered all. King said it as tie between them, their was a celebration 🎉 all the people who attended the test are given feast.

Manik was worried, he was worried that Hema May win the bet, he is worried that Nandini might give up on her, he decided to train Nandini himself in sword training. He know being Srinivasa murthy daughter she have that genes and even her dad trained her a lot but Hema is very strong opponent, Nandini should and must win this bet.

Manik after celebration completed, he came to Nandini

"From today on you should practice rigours, what happened today is not correct she was equal to you, and sword fight she is heavy I mean her strength is much more than you so don't take her light"

"First lesson of my grand father was never ever take your opponent lightly"

"Good then practice"

"Ok Hukum"

Nandini walked to practice area she was stopped by the guards "Badi bahurani sa is practicing she said no one can enter"

Nandini but her lip and said ok and turned back, Siya stopped her "bahu rani sa you can threaten the guard and go in"

"No siya she is elder when she instructed the guard he should listen to her if I intrude it will make the guard think cheap about both of us which I never want to, do let's us come another time"

"But Yuvaraj will be angry"

"I will talk to him"

Nandini came back. Seeing her back so soon Manik got angry "why are you back? This is why I am worried you wanted to loose the bet" he bursted out

She smiled "I want to practice with you"

Manik looked at her in confusion then frowned then smiled

"You are stronger than me, you are warrior who can be better one than you to practice so can you help me to practice Hukum?"

Manik flattered he smiled widely and hugged with one hand and kissed her lips she gasped as all workers and dasi are around them Manik winked at her she blushed and felt embarrassed.

"Come on I will practice with you"

Both walked to their personal practice area in their own chamber.