Part 25:

It was the day when Manik and Nandini were going to leave for Lonavala. Everything was ready, their bags were already in the car. Manik was willing to take a flight as Nandini would be comfortable in that but she insisted on the car as the route to Lonavala was very beautiful.

It was time for them to leave, when Manik knocked on Nandini's room.
Nandini: Yes!!

Manik entered to see her ready to leave but then he saw her wearing a sky blue shirt, with a navy blue slim skirt and a navy blue jacket kept on her side.

Manik: Nandini for the tenth time i m telling u, u r not attending the meeting!!

Nandini: I know...

Manik: Then why are u wearing office wears.

Nandini made a bad face at him for crushing her final hopes and then said,
Nandini: U hv a meeting as soon as we reach there. And ppl know me there as ur secretary. If by chance I run into any of themby mistake, i'll feel much comfortable in handling them if i m in formals.

Manik knew her actual reason but this reason was also right so he didn't say anything further and moved her wheel chair out. As they reached the hall they saw Dadi sitting there. She smiled seeing them and said,

Dadi: Ready to leave.

Nandini: Ji Dadi!!

Dadi: Have fun...

Nandini: Dadi u plz hv medicines on time... Don't miss them Ohk... And hv yr meals on time.

Dadi: Ohk Madam but now u listen to me... U too hv ur medicines on time, and don't u dare work at all. Manik, it's ur responsibility, she should not get to work Ohk??

Manik: Ji dadi...

Dadi: And yes... I know I don't need to say this, but still... Kal Fab4 ke aane ke baad kahin bhi ghumne jao, Nandini ka khaas khayal rakhna, usko achche se rest krne dena thik h!

Manik: Sure.... I'll take proper care of her i promise.

Nandini looked up at the two of them and again for emotional thinking what has she done in life to deserve so much care from them, when she is just an employee who works for them. Dadi caressed her face once, when manik touched her feet and she blessed him.

Manik: Take care Dadi!!

Dadi: U too..... And enjoy!!

Both of them smiled at her and soon they were out of the house on their way to Lonavala. As usual they sat together at the back seat while the driver drove the car.

The initial journey was mostly related to work as Nandini didn't want to leave it for later. It took them about 45mins to complete their work.
Manik: Finally done!!

Nandini smiled at him and kept the files and laptop inside.
Manik asked the driver,
Manik: Mohan how much time more to reach?

Mohan: Sir... I will take about an hour more. Or may be more than that depending on the traffic ahead.

Manik: Ohk shop at any resort or something whatever comes ahead.

Nandini: Why Manik??

Manik: Don't u need some rest.

Nandini: Manik relax we are already sitting over here. What rest!! Mohan don't stop u continue.

Manik: Ohk fine but atleast keep ur leg ur here... It shouldn't bend for long, keep it straight.

Nandini: No manik... I m not pointing my legs towards u.

After a lot of discussion also Nandini didn't agree to him, so Manik dropped the topic and said,

Manik: I think it's been quite long since u hvn't been on any holiday or trip. Right??

Nandini: Yeah...

Manik: Nandini.... U hv been working with me for more than 2 years right!!

Nandini: 2 years and 3 months.

Manik: And I don't even remember one day that u hv taken any off day or something. Apart frm this time of course. I mean how?? U leave Mumbai just with me for meetings and all. Even when i go out with Fab5, u either continue office or come with me. Why??

Nandini: I just don't feel like. I enjoy my work Manik. Thats it!

Manik: So when was the last time u went for a trip.

Nandini: I think not after i came to India. After all trips and holidays are not passed alone Manik.

Manik: Seriously... But what about ur friends, like the ones from ur orphanage or the ones who were with u during ur college, in vegas right?

Nandini: Yes vegas... I left contact with them as soon as i left LA.

Manik: But-

Nandini: Manik.... Can we plz talk about something other than this? I mean its just that i don't like talking about it. I faced a lot when i shifted to India, but then i left it all behind when i took up this job and i don't wanna remember that time.

And manik immediately knew that this wasn't a topic which she would discuss freely with him. Though it was hurting him as he wanna know each and everything about her past, all that she has been through. He knew living without a family wasn't easy and he wanted her to share it with him. But still he knew that one day she herself would tell him everything.

After this journey continued in a comfortable silence. Some time later, Manik was looking out of the window enjoying the soft music in the car along with the scenaric view in front of him. When suddenly he felt something on his shoulder, he looked towards his other side and saw Nandini had fallen asleep and rested her head on his shoulder. He smiled at her innocent face as her hair blew over to his face.

He shifted her more towards his side and lifted up her injured leg straight on the seat.
And the rest of the journey passed in a blur for him as all he was doing was admiring her face as the feeling of contentment came upto him hving her so close to himself.

The next time Nandini opened up her eyes, she was nicely tucked into a warm bed, in a pleasant hotel room. She looked here and there to realise that they had reached. She noticed the time and saw that it was almost evening. She was surprised that she had slept almost the entire journey and then about 2-3 hours more after that.

Nandini: Manik...

She whispered and looked here and there when she found a folded notepad sheet on her side table.

"Hello beautiful.... I hope u had a nice and refreshing sleep, and i didn't disturb u much while getting u to the room. And before u start wondering about me, let me tell u i m in the meeting and will see u as soon as I m free from here. Till then, I know u can now hop a little bit, but don't u dare do so without any help. There is a waitress, specially on ur service, right outside ur room, so just call her on for help, okay??? See u soon...

Yours,
Monster!!"

She smiled reading the note and kept it safely in the drawer.

About an hour later, Manik knocked on her door. He entered as he heard her voice, to see her sitting on the bed, totally freshened up and changed in a casual top along with a loose pair of pants bcoz of her injured leg, and flipping through the TV channels with a bored expression on her face.

But the moment she saw him, her bored expression changed into a glare. Manik entered the room with a smile and the closed the door, but the moment her turned around towards her, he received a pillow on his face.
Nandini: Manik Malhotra... I hate u! I hate u more than anything else.

Manik: What happened... What did I do??

Nandini: What did u do matlab? I m here with this irritating leg that's not allowing me to get up and even after knowing this, u took away my laptop as well as my office bag, leaving me with nothing to do at all.

Her angry pout along with her cute look made him smile again and she said,
Nandini: And then u r here smiling at me, like i m praising u for something.

Manik: Well... As u said, its been quite a long time that u hv been out for a holiday, so i think u hv forgotten what r holidays like. So this time i hv thought of teaching u.

Nandini gave him a r_u_serious look, which he ignored and moved closer and sat next to her.
Manik: By the way... U look cute when u r angry!! Especially this pout of urs.

And as an effect of his words, her checks warmed up forming into a blush.

Manik: So did u eat anything or u kept on sulking since u woke up.

Nandini: I was waiting for u!!

Manik: Hmm... Now as i was busy in the meeting and u were busy sleeping, we hv missed our lunch and evening snacks successfully. So Ms. Nandini Moorthy would u honour me a dinner with u tonight.

Nandini giggled at him and simply nodded at it.

Manik: Ohk so finally I get a chance for a date with u tonight.

Nandini: Date!!

Manik: Yes... Its a date! Any problem.
Manik said, back to his flirtatious tone but much to his surprise, Nandini too played along and said,

Nandini: Not at all.... But i m afraid, i don't hv anything in my bag that could be worn on a date.

Manik: U r perfect as u are now. U don't need a special dress to be beautiful, just ur presence is gonna make it one of the most memorable dinner of my life.
Manik said it all looking right at her, but more than his words, the intensity and truthfulness in his eyes made her shiver. Both of them got into an amazing eye lock, which continued for a long time, both of them were lost in each other's eyes, making themselves believe of the others presence.

Their eye lock was broken by Nandini who suddenly looked away after what seemed like forever.

Manik: Ohk... So I'll just freshen up in my room and then come so that we'll go for dinner.

Nandini: Yeah sure....

He returned back after half an hour and as again picked up her in his arms.
Nandini: Manik-

Manik: Shhh.... Its time for me to be just Manik and not The Manik Malhotra, so please don't stop me, as i m busy with my beautiful date for tonight's dinner.

Nandini: Manik... U won't be able to carry me all the way to the restaurant.

Manik: Nandini... I agree that u r not as light as u look and u do need to lose weight but still I m strong enough to carry u.

Nandini heard him with an open mouth and hit his upper arm.
Nandini: U think i m fat!!!

Manik continued laughing at her, enjoying her cute angry expressions. They had still not moved out of the room when Nandini said,

Nandini: U know what... Leave me, i don't wanna go anywhere with u. U hv ur dinner alone, or get another date for urself. Leave me.

She started moving vigorously in his arms. Manik thought she might fall down, so he placed her on the bed and said,

Manik: Ohh so u want me to go without u. Cool enough!

Manik: Ohk so I'll send someone to take ur order for dinner, and there is a really hot girl in the room next to mine. I saw her after i felt from ur room otherwise i would hv asked her for dinner. Plus she is a fan, i m sure she'll agree.

Saying so he was about to turn around and leave when suddenly nandini held his hand and pulled him back,

Nandini: Don't u dare.....
Manik saw her face which was clearly irritated by him. He somehow suppressed his smile though his heart was dancing at it, he said,

Manik: Why?? Nandini yr she is damn hot... I'll hv dinner with her u take rest ohk.

Nandini: U will hv dinner with me and only me. Did u get that?? I don't care who is hot and who is not. U r NOT going anywhere.

Manik: But u only asked me to leave u alone na...

Nandini: I just said that in anger, I don't want u to leave me ever.
Nandini said in a rush without even realising it, but the moment she saw him smiling at her, she remembered what she said,

Manik: Well neither am I willing to leave u ever. And my that I really mean never ever.

Nandini immediately blushed at him while Manik simply picked her up and moved out of the room. All through the way, Manik had a slight smile on his face, while Nandini couldn't control her blush, and neither did the constant eyes of ppl in the hotel lobby helped her to decrease that blush.

Manik walked to the restaurant, where a waiter greeted him and lead him to a private table on the other end. As he left Nandini looked at the table and her blush increased. He had planned for a quite candle light dinner, as the table consisted of a beautiful candelabrum surrounded by white roses and a few orchids. She looked back and noticed the entire restaurant illuminated by bright lights while their private chamber was mostly dark except for the two lamps on the either side and the candles on the table.

She looked at Manik to see him already looking at her face, the intensity in his eyes made her smile further. She heard him sigh a relief seeing her smile, which clearly told that he was nervous for her reaction. He moved inside and made her sit on the chair.

The moment he took his seat in front of her, he looked at her and smiled,

Manik: U look even more beautiful in this candle light. Its a treat to watch.

Nandini blushed at it again and then said pointing at the decor,
Nandini: Its indeed a Date.

Manik: Absolutely.... How could I ever miss such an amazing chance!!

Nandini: Everything is so beautiful.

Manik(murmured): Not more than u...
But Nandini still heard it and blushed even more. This definately was gonna be a long and memorable dinner for them.

Just then the waiter entered along with a bottle of wine. Nandini looked at him and back towards Manik who said,
Manik: Thats fruit wine... I didn't know if u would like to hv alcohol or not so I ordered this.

Nandini nodded at him with a smile and whispered a thank u to him. The waiter served it for them and left. Manik picked up his glass flute and held it forward towards her. Nandini clicked the glass as Manik said,
Manik: To friendship and us!!

They took a sip, and the night began. As soon as they placed the order, manik said,

Manik: Nandini... Tonight if I ask something from u will u give it to me?

Nandini looked up at him and she didn't need to think at all before replying,
Nandini: Sure....

Manik kept his glass aside and then looked up straight into her eyes.
Manik: I wanna know u!! I wanna know what the actual Nandini is like.

He paused at this, trying to know if she is comfortable or not, but when she saw her blank expression, he continued,

Manik: U hv been around for so long, but i never knew u the way i saw u in the past few days. Now i know that there is a different person inside the Nandini that u show. The more lively girl, who is much much more confident, talented and smart. I wanna know about her.I wanna know, what she likes, what she doesn't. Her preferences, her dreams, her expectations from life, everything. I wanna know the real Nandini under the working head that u put on.

He saw her expression but still it was blank when she finally looked down and picked up her glass and said,

Ohk ppl, thats it for today. Lets see in the next part what Nandini says. For now, its a long and amzing night left for u all to witness. So wait for it and don't forget to comment ur veiws below...