The next chapter is all ready. Will post after editing. I promise.

But then please please vote and comment.

Awesome update, waiting for the next update. No not these kinds of comments. But inline comments.

Also I have changed Prerna's name to Mannat:)

Happy Reading:)

"Thank you for today Manik," Nandini said as they both adjusted the seat belt. Manik just smiled at her in return. She never expected him to talk to her so nicely in the first place. Wishing her for her birthday was something that really caught her by surprise.

"Let me treat you." Nandini offered. That's the least she could do. Manik had really helped her to lift her mood.

"Oh my my! Nandini Murty offering a treat to me , Manik Malhotra?" And lo the sarcastic Manik was back.

Nandini rolled her eyes at him. "That's the least I could do Manik for you for what you done  for me today."

Manik's expression turned serious at this. "Nandini whatever I did today, was for myself. I don't want anything in return." He spoke as he reversed the car.

Nandini's eyebrows furrowed at his explanation. What did he mean by myself? She opened her mouth to question him but he beat her to that.

"But if you are ready to give me a treat as a friend, I am in. I am no one to deny free food!" He winked at her.

"We are friends?"

"We aren't?" Manik countered her back as if daring her to deny it.

Nandini had blank expression thoughts running in her mind. But then she gave him a small smile. She didn't want to argue with him today. She just decided to leave everything for tomorrow.

" So have you roamed around?" Nandini asked him.

"No. I haven't."

" Since you love cutting chai, I assume you will have no problem with street food "

" Absolutely not."

Nandini and Manik were currently sitting at a bench kept near the food vehicle (gaada) at Juhu beach, waiting for their order to arrive.

"So you shifted here for business?" Nandini asked.

"Yeah! We wanted to expand the business. Dad had few contacts here. So to understand the market better I decided to shift here."

"Don't you miss Delhi?"

"Yeah. I do. Specifically the street food there" Manik laughed. " Also Maa ke haath ka khana " he added.

"Don't worry you won't miss street food at least. Mumbai also has amazing street food."

"Miss Murthy, by anyways are you suggesting that Mumbai street food is better than Delhi street food?" Manik asked as he wiggled his eyebrows at her.

"No Mr Malhotra, I would not dare to say it," Nandini replied laughing.

"But you just hinted at that. I will never forget Delhi food." Manik stated proudly.

Nandini chuckled at him. " No one is asking you to Manik. I just said that you won't miss good street food."

"But please tell me you are not one of those who are into the Mumbai street food versus Delhi street food debate," Nandini said, widening her eyes, feigning horror.

"Why aren't you one of those?" Manik asked as he took the order that arrived.

"No. Never. I believe food is food. Kahi ka bhi raho! Aur woh bhi street food? Puh-lease. I would never drag myself into such a debate."

"True. Me too. I was just playing around." Manik agreed to her as he took a bite of pav bhaji. He moaned at the taste.

" This is really good."

"I know, right?!"

And without any further discussion, they dug into their plates. They moved on to have bhel puri and now they were heading to have Pani puri.

" Aur beta bahut dino baad. Aryamann bhaiya nahi hai aaj saath mein?" The pani puri vendor asked Nandini.

"Nahi kaka, aaj dusre friend ke saath ayi hun!"

"Kaka ek plate hamesha ki tarah aur ek plate medium lagado"

" Do you regularly visit here?" Manik asked as heard the conversation.

"Yeah! Aryamann and I –" Nandini's mood suddenly turned sombre as she remembered Aryamann, but then shook her head to shoo away the thoughts. "Yes, I am a very frequent visitor," Nandini replied with a smile.

"Didi you are visiting after so long! Kaise ho?" A boy around age 14 yrs asked Nandini.

" All good, Shivam. Tum batao, Padhai kaisi hai?"

" Bas abhi exams huye didi! Aapke notes kaam aye."

"Good."

"Since you are visiting after so long, no Pani Puri competition today?"

" I am with someone else today. With another friend."

Manik who was silently observing everything saw a good opportunity to jump into the conversation. He had observed the turn of mood earlier on the mention of Aryamann. So to divert the topic he spoke immediately.

" Are you by any means saying I won't be able to compete with you, Murthy?"

Before Nandini could reply to him Shivam beat her, " Yes, she eats like there is no tomorrow!" He answered laughing.

" Is it so? Let's see then!" Manik said, challenging Nandini for a competition.

" Drop it Manik," Nandini said with a smirk.

"Why sacred already?"

"Oh Puh-lease"

"So compete"

"Bring it on! If you are so eager to lose."

"Wait. What does the winner get?" Manik asked.

" Treat by loser one "

And so the competition started. No one was ready to back down. But then after a few more plates, Manik raised his hands in defeat.

" Ha, I told ya! " Nandini said with a smug smile.

" Oh! I lost deliberately. You know it's your birthday today!" Manik said in his defence.

"Yeah yeah whatever makes you sleep at night!" Nandini mocked him.

Paying the vendor, they started to walk towards Manik's car. " Thanks for the treat, Nandini. I enjoyed it a lot." Manik said genuinely.

" You still have time?" Nandini asked hesitatingly.

" Yeah, you want to go somewhere?"

" Do you mind visiting Marine Drive now?"

Manik looked at her for a moment and then nodded. Nandini gave him a bright dazzling smile, reflecting the same on Manik's face.

It was quite dark by the time they reached their destination. Parking the car, they moved out to take a stroll. It had started to drizzle again, but none of the both cared. There was a comfortable silence around when suddenly Nandini spotted something. She ran towards her desired spot and was back with a grin plastered on her face.

" Here, dessert for you, sir!" Nandini exclaimed as she handed Manik a malai kulfi.

"Nandini, it's already drizzling. Are you sure about having this?" Manik asked concernedly.

"As sure as the fact that we are friends now," Nandini replied.

Manik smiled at her. And they fell back into a comfortable silence again as they relished the kulfi. Soon they found a spot to sit.

"Nandini, can I ask you something?" Manik asked her.

"You are in luck, Malhotra. It's my birthday which was spent well when I never expected it to. So shoot!" Nandini assured him to ask his question.

" Back there you said-  Every decision of man, stems from a simple question, he wants something, or he doesn't. From where did the thought arrive or develop?" Manik asked cautious to avoid Aryamann.

It was bugging him for a long time. Mannat had the same opinion. And now again he could help but see and feel how similar Nandini was to his Mannat. Nandini's behaviour and her views strongly reminded him of Mannat, however, he tried not to.

" Amma used to say that," Nandini replied as she looked at the calm sea. It had stopped drizzling now.

"Used to?" Manik furrowed his eyebrows.

"No more. Amma, Appa. Car accident." That was all she managed to say.

But that had a strong impact on Manik. He remembered the demeaning things he had said and then the punch! God! What in the name of lord had he done? He would never be able to forgive himself.

" I am so so sorry Nandini"

"It's okay, Manik. You were not aware." Nandini replied.

Manik made her look at him. He could see a few tears gathered in her eyes. Mentally cursing himself, he apologized once again more clearly,"No Nandini. I am sorry. For. Everything." He pleaded.

Nandini understood what he was apologizing for. She gave him a weak smile. " It's really okay Manik." Manik was about to open his mouth again but Nandini beat him. " No Manik really it's okay. Let's drop the topic okay?

Manik could see her desperation to change the topic. Not wanting to ruin the night he agreed.

And just like that again they fell into another comfortable silence.

"Let's go back. It's late already." Nandini said getting up and dusting her clothes.They both got into the car and Manik drove them towards Nandini's home.

"Thank you so much for today once again, Manik. I really mean it." Nandini said smiling through the window of the car. "I really enjoyed a lot."

"It's my pleasure." Manik replied. "Good night, Nandini."

"Good night, Manik"

Nandini felt happy as she pushed the gates of Sargam. But as soon as she entered, she was surprised and stunned to see the person standing there whom she was never expecting.

So finally after 6393529283639 years, I did update.

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Love,
Krishna 💙✨