Nandini's POV

"So, where should I drop u?" Manik asked while driving out of our mansion.

I climbed down of Alya's balcony n got into Manik's car while he came out through door after bidding bye to my parents... I scooped down hiding myself... while we crossed the Main gate to avoid getting noticed by the security guard.

"Umm... Just wait a minute." I said as I scrolled down the WhatsApp messages from Sneha who invited me there.

"Ya... Redline Plaza, City road..." I read out the location.

"Really? ... Even Cabir wanted to meet me there." he said turning to me for a while...

"Oh... u might be meeting at the restaurant downstairs while our party is in the party lodge upstairs." I guessed.

He just hummed n focussed on the driving while I enjoyed the breeze n the night view outside.

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"Lo... Aagayi Hamari topper (here comes our topper)" I heard as soon I enter the party lodge... There r lights, music, drinks, snacks... And many people... Sneha told me that all the sections of our batch are being invited with their acquaintance... But many of them could not make it... still, it contains around 150 people around here.

"R u really our nerd, Nandini?" a girl in pink gown questioned me looking from my head to toe... Even all the people are staring at me as I just look unbelievably different from my past self... the quite, nerd, always keeping an appropriate distance from boys n strangers... Though I was popular at that time too, because of my fair skin, intelligence n even my artistic talents... but I always used to avoid much attention towards me.

"I guess u got me right!" I said with a smile walking to the group where Sneha n Anubhav r standing too.

"hey guys!" I chirped making a lot of boys faint, not literarily... n most of the girls jealous.

Then we had an introduction... a lot of talk about ourselves, about what we r doing n all... I reunite with some of my best friends from school time... many classmates... n also many familiar names...

I was walking around with a juice in my hand when I suddenly pointed a very familiar face ahead. I walked to him...

"Hey Cabir! u here?" I asked approaching him while he too was surprised to find me.

"Hey Nandini!... I came with my wife... and u?" he said with a smile while sipping his drink.

"I'm here for a reunion of my batch." I answered as I wondered if he or his wife anyone I know.

"Hey Nandu!.... what a surprise!" Navya said taking me to a hug while she joined us. We r close after a few meets... all of Alya's friends r very good n sweet, I must say.

"u look gorgeous" she complimented looking at my silver embroidered dress n I praised her back.

                                                                (Navya's look)

"R u here for ur reunion party?" I asked to confirm to which she nodded...

"... And u r... Navya... Haveli" I shouted as I remembered her all of a sudden.

Hearing 'Haveli' Cabir slipt his drink n laughed while I made a sorry face to an angry Navya... But this is what she is called during School time.

"Hello Captian! it's so pleasant to meet u after so long" I said again taking her into a hug...

"Sorry... I got late taking the call" I heard Manik's voice who came to Cabir. he looked at me & passed a smile which I returned.

'I didn't think to come across Manik here too... we met for quite a long time today'

"Cabir u know, she is one of the best players of my basketball team... but she ditched me in 11th standard." Navya said excitedly while the last past making an angry face.

"Sorry yar... u know na... Dad wanted me to accompany him... I hardly had time." I explained to her again which she already knew.

Yes! I used to play basketball with my girls' team of which Navya was the captain... but I left it... Actually, the basketball club was not my official club... it was 2nd optional. My official club was 'Artistic taste', a club with dancers, singers, painters, crafters and so on...

"Okay ok... but one match with me is for sure." she ordered.

"ok done" I gave her a thumbs up.

We are talking about our old day memories when there was an announcement...

"Give a big round of applause for our singers of Artistic taste club... Who r coming on the stage to perform a piece for all of us... " It gained a lot of hoorays n claps...

"Nandini... Come na." Sneha came running to me.

"Oh! hello Sir. ... u here?" she instantly asked looking at Manik n Cabir.

"We r here with Navya, my wife." Cabir answered her.

"Oh... Excuse me." she said turning to me... "Come"

"Arey... me?" I said as it had been a while I sang with my school band.

"Of course... how can our group be complete without roll. 21" she said before dragging me with her...

Ah... did I mention, I was known as Roll. no. 21 in my school as my name is long to be pronounced by lazy students n they started mentioning my roll no. which is the same as the cartoon, Roll no. 21.

Funny right?

Manik's POV

Roll no. 21 from Navya's batch... She?

"Bhai... ye hai ur roll.21 ?" I heard cabir whispering in my ears... but I was too shocked to react to his words.

Is she the one?

FLASHBACK

I, Cabir n Mukti had passed out a year back from St. Joseph high school which is near DPS school... Cabir has been following Navya for a few days at that time... And luckily, we got to know that Navya's batch is holding a Farewell party in their school premises.

We three made our secret entry into their school n joined the students as the audience... While Mukti walked away to search for Navya, I & Cabir stood at the far end looking around the students sitting n searching Navya among them.

That's when a voice attracted me... it was so appealing, pleasant, melodious n sweet that I drew me to it... It was a girl in simple salwar-kameez, hair tied in braids... I didn't get to see her face clearly from that distance...

I was so lost in her voice that I didn't hear Cabir calling me...

"Do u like her?" he asked watching me see to the girl singing n lost in her.

"Yes!" I said in trance but got surprised myself.

"Got u... WoW... Jackpot! Manik Malhotra like a girl... it has to be in Guinness world record." he shouted excitedly... And I know why becoz I'm so damn hot n handsome that every girl wanted to be my girlfriend... but I never give them a damn. ... But today was something reverse.

"But who is she, yar? ... Wait, I'll ask" he said before grabbing a boy walking nearby.

"Hey wait! who was the girl singing right now?" cabir asked the boy, who in turn looked at us from head to toe... Maybe he guessed that we r not from his school.

"Roll no.21" he said before running away.

"What the!... what was that?" Manik asked.

"Maybe her roll no." Cabir said before spotting Navya. "there is Navya" and he ran away.

After that, we had to run as that boy had called teachers n gangs...

So, that's how Roll no.21 became my crush, my first crush ever...

END

The group took their place, one with a keyboard, one with guitar... and a boy holding a guitar in his shoulder came on to the stage n started singing...

Then she joined him with a mike... singing while doing steps...

https://youtu.be/BBAyRBTfsOU

The same voice.

"Ur first ever crush!" I heard Cabir saying with a smirk...

I never imagined I'll cross path with her to meet my crush again...

A smile came to my lips listening to her again n finding her after so many years...

The song finished with lots of praising n applauds... then she hugged the guy singing with her wrapping her arms around him... he too wrapped his arms on her back...

This boiled my blood n I fisted my palm...

Nandini's POV

I performed with my band after so long... we got to know each other... talked a lot... I'm just loving it.

The male singer with me is Sidharth... He is aspiring to his carrier as a singer. He really got an amazing voice and is a good friend of mine too.

We met after so long n performed together that too this well,  so we hugged. He was a bit surprised looking at my this side, as I used to maintain distance especially with boys, not wear sexy dresses as of today...

The dance started n he asked my hand for a dance which I gladly lent. I saw Navya n Cabir hitting the dance floor too...

"Do u mind letting me dance with this gorgeous lady?" Manik came to us out of nowhere n asked for my hand. Sid eyed me if I wanted or not. ...He is really, genuinely caring n nice person.

"Sure" Sid said leaving me after getting assurance from me.

Manik came forward n placed his left hand on my waist while right hand holding my left one. my right hand on his shoulder supporting him... in a dancing pose and we move in the slow rhythm with the song...

"Any problem?" I asked him as I look into his eyes, angry one... his tone before was also somewhat anger-filled, at least that's what I feel.

Manik's POV

First, they hugged... they r laughing together, holding hands, and then... danced together, his hands on her waist...

Enough is enough!

I asked with a lot of hardship to suppress my anger..."Do u mind letting me dance with this gorgeous lady?"

I couldn't figure out, Why the hell am I angry?

"Any problem?" she asked while I hold her dancing with the rhythm... Did she found out my anger or something?

"No" I tried to sound normal.

I whirled her around n made her back face my chest... I don't want her to read my eyes... read the thing I even don't know.

I placed my hands on her waist n pulled her closer... Our bodies swayed rhythmically with the music... While I bend to inhale the lavender fragrance from her loose, blowing hairs... Her smell is so relaxing, so intoxicating that I dig my face more to her hair n closed my eyes to feel the smell...

What am I feeling right now? ...

It... it is so different.

We stayed like that for a moment till the music change n she turned to face me...

"Did I tell u that u r looking heavenly beautiful?" I said huskily as my anger is long gone while feeling her.

"Did my sister ever told u that u look hot in formals?" she said with a composed smile... My mind first registered 'HOT'... And I felt so good that she thinks of me as hot...

but then, I noticed her words 'SISTER' ... yes! I'm her sister's boyfriend.... n she is my would-be sister-in-law. ...What the hell r u thinking, Manik?

I mentally beat myself for these nonsense thoughts... 'but that felt right!' said my inner voice whom I ignored.  

'Even she is not thinking this way, Manik... and u shouldn't too' my conscious warned me making me agree to him.

"By the way, u sing really amazing" I complimented her with my heart but more in a friendly manner.

"Thanks... and I've heard that u too sing." she said while we r still swaying our bodies with the tune.

"Really?... Well, I just sing sometimes ...when I feel like." I answered casually but I was really, surprised that she knew it... Maybe Alya told her.

"I would like to hear a piece from u someday" she said.

"Sure... I'll wait for that day to come." I tried not to say something that sounds like a flirt but I genuinely meant what I said.

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Nandini's POV

I moaned ... while the cold chilling chocolate choco-chip icecream hit my taste bud...

I'm now having the third cone of my favourite chocolate ice cream cone that I brought from the party...

Actually, I got late, it's past 11 already, so I just grabbed two more cones of my love n ran out... Then Manik suggested to drop me home as he is on his way anyways... so I agreed. While he drove... I sat at the passenger seat cherishing my love...

I felt a strong graze on me when the car stopped in a signal... I turned to see Manik looking at me... Then his eyes directed to the ice-cream I'm holding...

"Don't even think... I'm not going to share my chocolate ice cream with u" I said hiding my cone to the other side...

He didn't say anything, ...just turned his gaze to the road. ... Strange!

Manik's POV

Hearing her moanings... I just couldn't hold myself from imagining...

How will it feel like... when she will moan to my touch?... How will it feel like, when she will moan while I will be kissing the hell out of her lips?... How will it feel like, when she will moan my name in pleasure?

When I temporarily halted my car in red signal... I got a chance to look at her moaning-self... in pleasure enjoying the ice cream...

I looked at the ice cream she was holding... when the only thought going on in my mind is... I have to be the one in place of that ice cream...

"Don't even think... I'm not going to share my chocolate ice cream with u" she voice made me realize that she is having my favourite chocolate flavour... then I should not think about her... but my love, the chocolate, Right?

I turned my gaze to road feeling so... so confused... so messed up...

I just could not register what all thoughts I am having... all of a sudden... When I have a GF, I'm getting married... Then? ? ?

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Nandini's POV

I stealthily stepped inside my room... locked the door behind me slowly... and finally let out my breath that I had been holding just to make no sound... n not get noticed.

Yes! Finally, I'm safe n sound in my room without anyone's notice.

Manik sir dropped me at the gate when luckily I saw the guard dozing off...

'This guard na!... But no issue, we have installed cameras for safety... and it's good that now I can move into easily...' I thought n messaged Alya to throw down the rope for me to climb up... And that's how I succeeded to reach my room, safely.

Changing to my night suit... I throw myself on my bed, all exhausted n tired... I closed my eyes n remembered today's event...

I did make a good progress with my traditional jewelry designing...

Then, Manik!... Manik, his closeness for the first time...

When we r dancing, he turned me and pulled me to make my back collide with his hard chest... Though we r swaying our body with the music, but that closeness made me lose... I closed my eyes to feel it... feel him... close to me...

What did I felt that time? ...

That... that was so different.

We stayed like that for a moment till the music change which made me aware of my mind n it's weird feelings.... So, I broke our moment n turned to face him...

"Did I tell u that u r looking heavenly beautiful?" His huskily was again making me weak on my knees... but I need to stop myself... n probably give him the right check...

"Did my sister ever told u that u look hot in formals?" I said after composing myself... And this made him aware n he created a friendly safe distance between us while dancing...

'but that felt right!' said my inner voice whom I crushed and slip into a deep slumber...

SO, this is it!

Which part u like the most?

After this, I'll continue the story in the leap of some days or weeks... furnishing the blooming attraction between destined lovers...

Stay tuned for it...

N don't forget to show ur love with ur votes n comments...

Thankz...