ManikxNandini requested a leap and a bonus update toh here we go, dedicating this part to her! :P

Thank you for all your love everyone, hope I've done some justice to this series with this epilogue! <3

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Three years later...

In what would ordinarily be one of the most boring parts of the office, that dealt with managing employee regulations and monitoring employee records on a daily basis, a young woman's presence had been enchanting... and drawing the most crowd.

Employees from all departments would take a stroll through the Human Resources wing in their breaks to share sprinkles of random stories, that would become full-fledged debates or discussions depending on everyone's moods. And above all, it was this one segment in the office where coffee and its flavour profiles would be discussed in a lot of detail.

One of the design engineers who shared a passion similar to Manik's fascination with black coffee and no sugar pushed an unopened carton toward her. "Did you hear about the mint chocolate chip fiasco?"

Nandini took off her blue filter glasses and swivelled in her chair, twirling the box between her fingers. "I know right, like what the hell? Aise coffee kaun peeta hai bhai!?" She had skimmed through the ingredient list, and by that point, there were too many other flavours mixed into it that it was barely even coffee.

A senior member peeped behind Nandini's desk and brought her eyes to slits. "Nandini, you represent HR, you should be a good role model to the rest of the team," In saying so, she mildly smiled behind her monitor.

Most people in the department had been marketing officers or something in the communications field, slowly climbing up the ladder before landing in Human Resources. As a result, many lacked enthusiasm in their job.

It had indeed been energising to see a fresh face openly express her opinions with a strong sense of conviction, and question the choices of the higher-ups in the company that manufactured and supplied coffee across the country. But within the boundaries of an office, there were certain expectations and regulations to be followed.

Nandini bit her tongue. "Sorry ma'am." She crouched in her seat, swatting some air between her and her colleague. Then meekly she said, "Tum baadme aayiyo, yeh khadoos hume baat karne nahi degi!"

She went back to typing up a job application for a new opening in the company, being mindful of the time on her computer. 2:26. At 4:00 sharp, she would be out the door and off to meet some of her favourite people on the planet. Maybe she would also take that hideous flavour to him and get some firsthand customer feedback on their product.

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She was running down the series of stairs with a shimmery tote flying on her shoulders, feeling over the moon.

She had been questioned by a manager about why she had been so joyous and logged off an hour before clock-out time. In her defense, it was a very important day–so she called it a family emergency.

Her phone rang. She knew who it was even before checking it, because it had been less than two minutes since she'd sent a message on the family group about recipe ideas for a quick snack.

Usually, just as Nandini picked the phone, there would be a quarrel between the incompatible couple that would span along for a few minutes. So Nandini accepted it and waited for the complaining tone to stop.

A friend had passed by, and on seeing her hold her phone far away from her ear, the friend had smirked. Nandini gestured a sawing motion at her neck.

Then she placed the phone to her ear.

"So when your best friends come over, ask them if they want water. Without anyone prompting, provide them chai and some biscuits or some snacks," Nandini rolled her eyes at all those formalities. "...and yeah... cooking try mat karna beta,"

"Amma, how can you be so negative in life?!" Like seriously! "At least trust me a little bit... have thoda sa hope ki I can handle myself."

There was a background voice that said there was no way Nandini could go without a babysitter for a while. Then her father defended her and said something complimenting Manik.

"Actually, yeh na sab Manik ki galti hai, he has fed you with all these complaints about me taaki aap usse zyaada pyaar do aur mereko bhool hi jaao," She sulked, looking at the ceiling and groaning at her Aiyappa!

Anjali had popped her mouth towards the mouthpiece, speaking with a small smile. "By the way, Nandini, there might be another competitor for your attention soon in the family!"

It took Nandini a second to realise. "Really? I'm going to become an aunty?" It had been such heartwarming news for her.

She had loved kids from the start, but only from a distance. It was too stressful to be around one or entertain them constantly, most of all holding one—Nandini would not even bother trying. That would be like serving Manik with a platter of embarrassing experiences to choose from.

It had been so nice to recover from the hospital and come home after the whole stunt Nandini had pulled three years ago.

Nandini had dreaded the confrontation. She had been wary of the details of her relationship with Manik from the start and had kept her sister in the dark for way too long, that was a fact. But all this taught Anjali one more thing–most of the mismatched wavelengths between the siblings had been due to the older one shouldering family expectations while the younger had been secretive due to the lack of open-mindedness within the family.

That night, Nandini decided to come clean and face her love with courage. She disclosed everything she could remember about the two of them, and Anjali realised she had been so quick to judge her sister and box her into an inferior version of Anjali. They had stayed up the whole night talking like college girls in a dorm room, keeping a box of tissues beside them as they cried over every problem they could think of, and then hugged it out to comfort each other's sorrows.

Now, her sister had been her second favourite person in this universe. To transpire to other universes would require a lot of favours and lengthy time commitments from Anjali's side.

Nandini did not let the opportunity go to waste. "Waise you're sure na that Jiju is the father?"

Mr. Murthy grumbled into the phone from somewhere further, "Nandini..."

Nandini had reached the last step. A woman dressed in a kurti and jeans, with a single braid on her shoulder, was massaging her hands in her lap as she scanned the office. Nescafe–it must be so cool working for a coffee company, she thought. Upon seeing Nandini, her face lit up.

"Amma they're here, will talk later!"

"Hi!" Nandini threw her arms around her best friend from college. Navya Naveli. Oh sorry, it had become Navya Saxena.

"It's so good to see you! Come, everyone is waiting," Navya urged and Nandini shivered, unable to contain her joy. "Your office is so cool by the way,"

"There's a job opening, do you want to interview for it?"

"Can I? Nepotism nahi hogi?" Navya asked, giggling.

She twitched her lips, remembering something important, "Arrey, but you'll be interviewed by that khadoos yaar, aur tera kaam karne ka mann hi chala jaayega phir,"

Navya had led the way to a black SUV, and on nearing it, everyone hopped out. Giving everyone a warm, tight hug individually and sharing some pleasantries regarding their journey and whether they had eaten, Nandini went through one of those foldable seats, to accommodate herself at the back.

"It's 4:11, is it too early to pick up Manik?" Dhruv asked from behind the wheel, through the rear mirror.

"Nahi, waise toh woh bada busy rehne ka naatak karta hai, he doesn't have as many responsibilities as he shows," 

Mukti who was sitting on one side of Navya rubbed her hands together evilly, "He's going to be so excited!"

"I can't wait, it's been so freaking long!" Alia exclaimed, side-hugging Nandini again. The girl who had been so possessive of Manik during the beginning days of their friendship had become so important to Nandini. How beautiful her life had become, since Manik...

Nandini gleamed with joy. "I'm just so happy ki between the two of us, I'm you guys' favourite, despite most of you knowing him bachpan se!"

Cabir turned in his seat and gave her a handshake, gesturing 'well-played'. "Issi bahaane ek bet laga dein?"

Navya nudged him on her right, "Oh hello, puraane wala ka settlement hua nahi hai abhi tak!"

Nandini put her hands on each of their shoulders, jerking her head in question.

"Guys Nandini ko pata nahi hai," Alia realised.

"Tum lougon ka jab just friends wala phase chal raha tha..." Navya smirked at Cabir, "...the four of us used to make bets constantly using Manik and you as our puppets."

Cabir who understood where the conversation was going, followed with, "I think the biggest stakes wala one was the one we made with Navya: if we lose, we'll sponsor her a trip abroad somewhere pooling all four of our college savings, and if we win, she will name each of her children after us,"

Nandini suppressed a smile, "And what did you bet that for?"

"Which of you guys would first grow some brains, obviously, and we lost kyoonki you confessed first," Mukti said in an 'as-a-matter-of-fact' tone.

Nandini smirked, somewhat in thought.

"I still am very grateful that you managed to stay alive though, warna humaare bet ke Terms and Conditions mein waise wale clauses nahi the, about what would happen if one of you attempts to suicide," Cabir slow-clapped as he laughed at the last bit, earning a high-five from Mukti.

Alia who was unsure of whether to join in the fun or feel sorry for her friend and take her side reminisced something and couldn't control her chuckle, "It was so funny, I remember when Manik told us about it,"

"Haan... Itna vistaar mein bataaya tha..." Dhruv too had begun mocking her? Since when?!

Navya was dying, holding her chest to regain her breaths. "Hum toh Alia aur Mukti ke saath hi the when he told us, and I was so hooked kyoonki aise toh sirf filmo mein hota hai!" She stated proudly.

"Phir pata chala sirf ek floor ki height se tu khood gayi! Kya yaar Nandini," Cabir sulked.

Nandini wanted to dig a grave for herself and fall into it. First Manik was teasing her, now them?

"Guys, can you let it go? It's been over three years now!" Everyone brought their fingers to their lips obediently for some moments, then one of them cracked and all of them burst into laughter. Nandini shrugged her shoulders. "And tum sab mere expense pe aise mazey le rahe ho, it's unfair! Even I want to be part of this betting business," The last part sounded like a whine, but it seemed to shut them up.

Cabir thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I have a good one... What do you think Manik's first reaction would be on seeing us?"

"Ooooh, I think he would–" Alia said, lingering for some ideas.

"Nahi that's a bit vague, let's call dibs on the first sentence, ki woh kya bolega..." Mukti said.

Alia asked animatedly, "Tum loug yahan kab aaye?"

"Pakka? Lock kiya jaaye?" Cabir asked. "Okay Alia ne bol diya, anyone else?"

Navya uttered, "Wow yaar, what a surprise..."

Mukti rejected, "Nahi, he's usually more enthusiastic than that around us,"

"Around us nahi, that was because Nandini was around and he wanted her attention," Alia said, smirking. Nandini bit her lip and looked here and there.

"He wasn't that starved also, they used to eye-fuck each other all the time, maine notice kiya tha..." Mukti said confidently, and Nandini's jaw dropped. Chee... that phrase itself had sounded so vulgar. She squirmed in her seat.

The others heartily laughed while Nandini turned red. "What the hell guys!? Mereko khelna hi nahi hai yeh bet-vet," She said, crossing her arms.

The rest enjoyed coming up with some dialogues on Manik's behalf. Nandini was on one hand wanting to use this one opportunity to regain some respect within the group and assert that Manik had been the first to crack–and that too while they were still in college. That would have meant Fab 5 would win, and Navya would have to name each of her children after Fab 5: she would then need a minimum of five kids!

No no, she couldn't punish Navya like that. After all, part of her had felt grateful that Fab 5 had lost their end of the bet–after all, they had used her as the butt of their games.

Nandini pulled her bag closer to her, feeling the carton box. What would Manik say first? Her take was that he would ask something related to bringing him coffee samples, which was usually the case when he saw her in or around his hospital after work.

They finally reached the hospital, and Manik was talking to a patient's family, comforting them and assuring them of something. He told some nurses something which they promptly agreed to. They hurried towards the hospital's pharmacy as Manik went into another ward. On his way back, he saw them lingering at the entrance.

He beamed as he approached them swiftly, waving at each of them. Every person in the group was eagerly anticipating the first remark he would make. After all, that was the deal breaker for the bet.

One of his arms wrapped around Nandini's waist, pulling her in for a fluttery kiss. Butterflies zoomed in her belly.

"Did you remember to bring me a refill pack?" Her eyes had shone at the question–indeed there was no need for her to bet on him against his friends. There was nobody else in this world who knew him better than her. And no one could make her feel as special as he did. 

"Yeah, it's a new flavour though–mint chocolate chip,"

"Sounds gross, but I'll try it," He said passing a soft glance at her.

The group flapped their hands in the air, clearly defeated.

Mukti sucked her lips, "THIS! This is live soft porn!" She waved at them.

Cabir sided her, also sulking. "Manik tu bedroom mein jaake yeh sab kar yaar!"

He laughed, pulling them all in for a group hug.

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I hope this part fit in a little bit with the characters I originally built up... and didn't feel forced/too out of character!

I really wanted to highlight a segment where Nandini focuses on her career, so I'm happy that made the cut! And I also wanted to steer a little away from typical stereotypes, I hope I did justice to that.

Most of all, I hope Nivi Di khush ho jaaye yeh update ke baad!