"" Mr. Manik Malhotra, son of Mr. & Mrs. Raj Malhotra, the owners of Malhotra Industries & Co., got engaged to Miss. Alya Murty, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Venkatesh Murty, the renowned businessman of India. Their daughter, Miss. Nandini Murty also exchanged rings with Mr. Dhruv Vedant, son of Mr. & Mrs. Surya Vedant, the owner of Vedant groups of hotels.
The double engagement tied two famous businessmen families together in a knot yesterday at Mrya Hotels ""

I put the newspaper down on my desk & leaned back at my chair.
Now, I'm Engaged!

The door knocked. "Come in" Alya walked in.

"Sir... I've got some suggestions about Mr. Singh's consignment." She said n sat on the chair in front of me & opened the file. I nodded for her to continue. She started explaining, pointing at the underlined points on the file, showing me the designs n rectification...

While she's busy showing me about the project my eyes lingered on her ring on her left-hand ring finger... Engagement ring... Manik's ring!

I felt something uncomfortable while thinking about it. She's engaged to her BF, my buddy, her love. I'm her friend, her boss n I should be happy. I'm happy ...but there is something that felt wrong, hollow n incomplete...

Yesterday night too...

Alya looked so beautiful as a fairy in the red lehenga with neckpiece n bangles... Her face was glowing like the moon n the constant smile staying on her slim lips... ... I just forgot to breathe when she stepped in with her family.

But when Manik came n hugged her, I realized what I was doing? What's wrong with me?

When we four went on the stage n were exchanging ring... First Manik made Alya wear the ring n suddenly I felt that I couldn't see it.

All clapped n smiled... I too smiled... I tried forcing myself to smile n not get affected by nonsense feelings...After all, I'm getting engaged to the love of my life.

"DHRUV" a loud voice brought me back to the present. It was from Alya was looked worried at me.

"Yes?"

"Are u okay? I was calling u for a while but u r zoned out" she said looking at me. I looked at the worry her eyes carried for me.

"I'm fine. I'll consider ur points. Leave the file with me. I'll get back on it." I said trying to get myself involved in the file.

"Ok... Umm... If u r tired then u should rest for sometime before resuming ur work." she said while standing up from her seat. I looked at her.

"Sure... I'll" I smiled faintly n she walked out.

----------------------------

After I walked out of his cabin n entered mine... I took a deep breath in & exhaled slowly calming my nerves...

I'm going insane!

I'm engaged for god sake! Then why the hell am I feeling something like this?
I... I'm crazy!

'Alya, get this in ur head that u r happily engaged to Mr. Manik Malhotra. So, stop fantasizing Dhruv.' i mentally scolded myself for all the weird thoughts n ideas coming in my mind.

U won't believe what I felt when my eyes spotted Dhruv yesterday...

Suited in white, spotless Achkan perfectly buttoned till collar, hairs gelled in sexy style, handsome face with sharp jawline, lips twisted in a smile while talking with his friends near the stage...
My heart skipped...

I never saw him that way before... But my mental balance seems to have off track ever since our kiss... No. ... our lip brush.

I'm becoming crazy like ever. Am I feeling for....? No No...

I love Manik, my BF... now, my fiancé ... Right? !

How can I love two persons, Manik n Dhruv? Not possible!

It's just... my attraction... Ya!

'Just forget this, Alya... concentrate on ur life, ur work, ur fiancé' I console myself n get back to my work..........

-------------------------

"Congratulations" one of my colleagues wished me while I thanked her n walked ahead to the cafeteria for a cup of coffee...

I take a cup n press the coffee machine n waited. I look around n realized that most of them whom I didn't even talk properly before had congratulated me for my engagement.
Well, they r not invited to it, only I invited my team, but u know Media...

The cup got filled n I sipped while sitting on the nearby chair. I was holding my iPhone in my left hand which is kept on the table.

While sipping the hot coffee my eye fell on the glittering two hearts on my finger... and the very first thing came in my mind -

'Manik'

I slipped into the thoughts when the day before engagement Mom n Aunty r trying to take the tight ring out of my finger...

"Oh god... this is fitted so tight." Aunty said while struggling.

"Hmm... It is not coming out as if it is adamant to not come out n stick to her finger forever." Mom commented.

"Ya! if a boy made one girl wear the ring this tight means they r tightly stuck with each other for 7 lives" Aunty laughed n Mom joined. I too smiled but her words strike me hard.

I had not told that Manik made me wear this ring... this tight.

"Ohh! finally, it came out" Mom signed in relief when she took the ring out of my finger. The finger had a dark red mark on it by now.

"It looks beautiful, Hai na?" Mom asked Aunty giving her the ring.

"Right! ... It's beautiful Manik!" She said making me look at her in confusion. What Manik? he is not here?

"Oh Yes! It is Red stone, Ruby or Manik (Gem)" Mom said laughing.

"It's Manik" I whisper inaudibly.

"Oh Hi" brought me back from my thoughts n I looked up to see the one I never wanted to see, at least not now; SOHA!

I smiled n she took the seat in front of me.

"Congo" She said while putting her legs one above another.

"thanks" I sipped my coffee.  I know what she'll say.

"U never said u r Alya's sister?" I raised my brow.

"U never asked." I shrugged my shoulder casually.

"But u said u r her friend?" she looked angry.

"That I am." I kept it short not wanting any drama.

"Fine.... ... I see that she got engaged to Manik n u to his cousin" she said leaning on the chair.

"No problem... She's just engaged... not a big deal. Tell her that she didn't win yet" She said with an evil grin n stood up slowly. I was all the time glaring at her not knowing how should I answer her n made her not-so-working mind on track. And she left.

Is Manik an object that u n Alya r playing the game n the winner will get him as a reward. Irritating Bitch!

I sipped the coffee... Now it also tastes BITTER!

-------------------------

"Congratulations Sir" they said n I nodded.

Goddd!!! No more, please... Since the moment I entered the office, all r raining their wishes on me...

I mean enough yar! Till when will u go on. It's not that I became a father or something. It's just an engagement. Damn man!

I scrolled through my emails when a notification popped in. It was the media page of our engagement news n pictures.

Me with Alya & Nandini with Dhruv!

She looks so breath-taking that I stopped breathing the moment she entered the hall. Whenever she smiled I felt that I could see her like this for years... just she smiling n me looking at her face.

I felt so bad when I saw that the ring is out of her finger n that now Dhruv is gonna make her wear the ring, my ring!

When I slipped the ring on her finger tightly that it didn't come out. I felt so happy n my heart started doing somersaults... It felt so right!

 But then... She got engaged to Dhruv, her BF, my bro, now her fiancé.

Even I'm engaged to Alya... but it didn't felt right! It's wrong... I don't know if what I'm thinking is correct is not, what I'm feeling is just or not... but... it just felt.... ... I don't know.  *Sigh*

I closed my eyes n my mind again flashed the scene...
Her soft n luscious lips against mine... we stayed for few seconds when she started moving her lips slowly n passionately... I joined her as if the time stopped, the world went blank n just we r transferred to another world... just she & me... lost in each other. Then she opened her mouth taking my lips into her making it wet yet hot at the same time... I'm just feeling different... I didn't initiate n let her do what she wanted with my lips... I just cooperated... My nerves r not mine they r under the control of her lips... all hers...

The blissful moment broke with the sudden brake of the car by the driver... ... And I opened my eyes. I ran my hand through my hairs frustratedly with the occurrence of the same video before my eyes since that night... not even letting me sleep peacefully.

She toh didn't remember anything but not letting me forget anything.

"U r driving me crazy Nandini!" I groaned.

Hey Friends! ✋

Thanks for ur encouraging words, lots of votes n follows.
Keep reading n keep telling me whether u liked it or not? Or what u think about the story plot, it's characters n ideas.
It's a pleasure to read everyone's comments n support.

Thanks a lot  🥰  🥰