Chapter 18

"What!!! Really!! She snatched her chocolate from a puppy? I can't believe it. How can she?" Mark said, jumping from his seat and laughing like a maniac.

"She was only five years old, Mark. But really naughty," Kevin revealed about Nancy's mischievous nature.

Mark laughed, imagining the scenario. "But still, Kevin, how could she snatch it from a puppy?"

"You can't imagine, Mark, how much I laughed at that moment. Even Mom got angry at me because I was laughing at her," Kevin shared every moment of their childhood with Mark, making Mark feel like a child again, forgetting his monstrous nature.

"The whole way back home, she kept that chocolate inside her pocket. But when we reached home, she just threw it somewhere. I got angry at her and asked why she threw it. She said, 'You are very bad. First, you didn't share your chocolate with me. And when I took it from you with mom's help, then that dirty dog ate my chocolate. Now I don't want it. I won't eat it now,'" Kevin mimicked her.

"Oh man! I can't laugh anymore! This was epic," Mark said, holding his stomach as it started to hurt from continuous laughing.

While the two gentlemen were busy laughing, a serene red figure descended towards them, unnoticed.

"Hey bro," a whisper grabbed their attention. They both looked towards the source of the voice and froze in place.

Nancy came down wearing the same red dress that Mark gifted her. She looked like a newly married bride.

Wait!! She is a newly wedded bride.

She was looking around, completely ignoring Mark's intense gaze.

"Beautiful!" Mark whispered under his breath but loud enough to be heard. Nancy looked at him and got captivated in a sinful eye lock.

Kevin cleared his throat to grab their attention and break their eye lock.

Nancy's eyes widened in realization. She looked down, biting her lips to control her blush. Mark looked around and thrust his hands into his pockets to control his ragged breath. Kevin pursed his lips to control his laugh at their reactions.

"You're looking beautiful, Nancy!" Kevin complimented her with a smile. Nancy looked at him shyly before running into his embrace.

"I missed you, Brother!" Nancy hugged him tightly and said emotionally.

"I missed you too, dear!" Kevin broke the hug and pecked her on the forehead. He looked at the 'Sindoor' on her hairline.

He felt so proud seeing her like this, a happily married woman. He knew that Mark was the right person for his sister and that he had made no mistake in choosing Mark for her. His chest puffed a little more with pride.

"You come alone? Where’s Freya?" Nancy's voice broke his trance.

He smiled and replied, "I'm not here to see you, dear. I'm here to take you home."

Nancy looked at him confusingly when Mark answered, "He's here to take you for a day, Freya is not feeling well so go and check on her"

"Oh my god! What happened to her?" she asked and sat beside Kevin, while Mark also took his seat on the other couch.

For some time, they sat and chatted, then Mark and Nancy had their breakfast. They asked Kevin to join them, but he declined, saying he had already eaten.

Then they settled in the lounge again and resumed chatting when Kevin spoke, "Time to go, Nancy! I have office today. After dropping you home, I have to leave for work."

Nancy became silent. She looked at Mark, who was already looking at her.

"What office today?" Mark broke the silence.

Kevin smiled and replied, "Mark, just because my sister got married to you doesn't mean that I can take advantage of our personal relationship."

Nancy looked at him sadly, "But I'm coming home today and Freya is also not well so you can take a leave for the day. Right, Mark?" She finished her line, looking at Mark to grant her brother a day off.

"Yeah Kevin, she is right. You're not going to the office today. I'm the boss, so you can't go against my orders, right?" Mark seconded Nancy and used his boss card again.

Kevin chuckled loudly, "So you're always going to play this 'I am the Boss' card right" Mark sheepishly scratched his nape, looking at Nancy.

Then Kevin stood up, "I'm waiting outside. Come quickly," he said and left, leaving them alone.

They looked at each other without blinking. With slow, easy steps, Mark covered the distance between them. Nancy looked down as she felt tears welling up in her eyes. Mark wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to his chest. She was still looking down.

Placing his finger under her chin, he made her look at him. She looked at him with teary eyes and bit her lower lip to control herself. Releasing her chin, he gently wiped her tears and kissed her forehead.

"Missing me already?" Mark said with a smirk.

She couldn't hold back and hugged him, shutting her eyes. A few tears rolled down her cheeks. "I will miss you!"

Mark smilingly broke the hug and said, "Just one night. Then you'll be back in my arms."

Nancy blushingly smiled and tiptoed to kiss his cheek. "I love you!" she said, pecking his cheek tightly.

Mark pulled her closer. "I love you too," and was about to kiss her when Kevin called Nancy. So Mark abandoned the kissing plan and just pecked her lips.

Then bidding goodbye to each other, Nancy left with Kevin.

Mark stood there staring at the gate.