I want u to be there... For a little more than Always!!
Part 28:
All of them moved out of the hotel and soon reached the club. As the car stopped Nandini spoke up,
Nandini: Manik i m reminding u for the last time from now to the time we leave from here don't do anything.

Cabir who was sitting on the passenger seat, as manik drove laughed at it and said,
Cabir: Whatever it is dude... U have to accept it that she knows u damn well....

Navya too giggled sitting next to Nandini on the back seat. Mukti, Aliya and Dhruv were behind them in another car.

Nandini: Manik plz understand, i m not saying this bcoz of my challenge or ego.... Its just that this is the place where everyone would know u. They know u all as Fab 5. And just in case someone captures us na, then I'll not be surprised to be handling the media for u as they'll announce 'Manik Malhotra snapped carrying his PA in a pub in Lonavala/ Manik Malhotra snapped arguing with his PA in a pub in Lonavala'.....

Both cabir and navya brust out laughing at it,
Navya: I'll be there first one to give out that news....😝😂😂😂😂

Nandini: Yeah of course... How can we forget the greatest journalist in u? Come on guys i m serious

Manik: Ok ok i promise i won't!!! Now can we get out of the car if u allow me.

Nandini nodded at it when Cabir whispered,
Cabir: Promises and all... Going nyc buddy!!

Manik have him a deadly glare and got down the car. Before Nandini could you open up her door, Manik held it open for her and gave out this hand to her,

Manik: I hope u don't mind a help from me now...

Nandini smiled at his gesture and gave out her hand in his getting a smile for which girls would die.
She got out of the car, as dhruliya n mukti too joined them. They gave the keys to the valet and moved inside. Manik held Nandini securely helping her walk, while she just smiled at his care. As Nandini said, almost all the ppl in there knew Fab5. They took a comparatively private table at the corner and Manik carefully made Nandini sit comfortably on the corner most couch. He took a place next to her as the others too settled down.

A few minutes later, Mukti was sitting next to Manik as she whispered in his ear,
Mukti: Cabir and Navya are the new couple, but it seems like u both are.... Stop staring at her like this bhag nhi thi h and relax, she is fine.

Manik smiled sheepishly at it while Mukti gave out a hearty laugh.

They all ordered for some food as they had decided to drink in the end.

All of them enjoyed their time a lot. Soon dhruliya and mukti jumped on the dance floor. They danced for a while after which mukti pulled Manik along with her. Soon cavya too joined in while Mukti noticed Nandini alone so she simply sneaked herself out and got back to the table.

Nandini: Relax Mukti... U can go dance!! I don't mind sitting alone for a few minutes.

Mukti: Come on Nandini... No need to be formal ok!! We are friends right.

Nandini nodded at her while mukti took her in a side hug.

Mukti: Now i m telling u... From the next time whenever we make plans or party like this na, then u hv to join us Ohk?? No excuses...

Nandini: Aye aye captain!!

Both of them laughed at it when Manik joined them,
Manik: What's up girls??

Mukti: Nothing... Just chatting like old times!!

Manik: Old times??

Mukti heard him and bit her tongue, looking at Nandini. She turned back to Manik and then said,

Mukti: I forgot that u didn't know..... Chill I'll tell u later...

Manik looked at her once but then just shrugged. All three of them got into talking, and soon the couples too joined them back at the table.

Manik: Lets order some drinks now.

Cabir: Ohk so Aliya??

Aliya: I'll hv mild wine.

Dhruv: Same for me.

Navya: Me too.

Cabir: Nandini... What will u take??

Nandini: Mocktail....

Cabir: Oh yes... I forgot u don't drink!! Yeah so Mukti??

Mukti: Vodka shots!!

Aliya: Wanna loose again Mukti??

All of them heard her and laughed out loud when Navya asked,
Navya: What do u mean Aliya??

Aliya: Last time Mukti ordered shots.... And we all got into an argument which lead to a bet btw Manik and Mukti on who can drink more shots.... That was one of the most memorable days coz usually no matter how much we all drink, Manik never looses control while that day he had to win the bet anyhow, after which cabir, dhruv and I had to handle him all night as mukti passed off immediately after quitting.

And again they got into a loud round of laughter this time navni too included.

Cabir: So mukti ready again??

Mukti: No i m never getting in with Manik ever on this...

Manik heard her but still tired to instigate her,
Manik: Come on Mukti.... U r a star yr!! One bet....

Mukti gave him a not at all look at which he continued,
Manik: Arey yr.. It was fun!! Come on... Anyone else??

He looked at Fab 5 one by one when suddenly Nandini spoke up,
Nandini: I m in....

All of them turned towards her open mouthed.
Manik: Nandini....

Nandini: What?? Let's make a bet. Let's see who wins this time.
Manik smirked at her and said,
Manik: If u r so sure... Then let's do it.

Nandini: Ohk then... But let's make it interesting!! If I win then I'll join back work whenever i wish and u won't stop me.

Manik: Seriously???

Nandini: Why?? Are u scared?

Manik: Manik Malhotra is never scared vese bhi i know i m gonna win. Ohk then if in win then u'll drop all this stubbornness of urs and rest properly. And u won't even try to walk until i tell u to.

Nandini smiled at him and held out her hand for him, 'deal??'

Manik: Deal!!!

Cabir: Hang on!! Hang on!! Nandini are really sure about this... I mean u only said na that u left drinking.

Nandini: I know cabir... But the last time i got drunk, that was the day i lost everything that i had in my life. And today being in this pub, almost same as that one, it still reminds me of the past that i want to forget completely.....
I m here today and i m happy, i want myself to remember this day now and not that one.

No one said anything at it, while manik simply held her hand and gave her a assuring squeeze. Nandini smiled broadly when manik said,
Manik: Ohk so madam... Bet??

Nandini: Bet!!

Manik: U r so gonna loose today Nandini!!

Nandini: We'll see!!

Cabir called the waiter and ordered shots for both of them in individual trays. The waiter nodded at him and walked away. Nandini saw Manik smiling confidently. She didn't wish to accept it but she was a bit nervous.

One thing was that she didn't know approximately how many shots Manik could drink. And secondly, even if she knew her limit, it had been 3 years that she had even touched alcohol.

Nandini's pov:
Ayiappa... Josh josh me bet to laga li!! What will I do now?? I just hope I don't loose control over myself.
Pov ends...

Just then the waiter arrived and kept the trays on the table.
Manik: How many??

Waiter: 20 in one sir!!

Manik nodded at him as he walked away, while nandini got a smirk on her face. Now she was sure whatever no. of shots Manik could hv was less than 20.

Manik: So Ms. Nandini Moorthy?? If u want u can get down from the bet. I m giving u an open offer.

Nandini: Thank u... But no thank u!! I don't go back on my words.

Cabir: Ohk then... Lets start!!

Both of them sat straight and picked up one each. Manik looked at Nandini and winked at her. Nandini hid her blush somehow and winked back at him making sure no one else could see it. And the expression at Manik's face was something beyond words. His jaw dropped in surprise seeing this side of hers.

Manik simply turned his attention towards his much needed shots and gulped it down. When he saw Nandini too turned the glass upside down drinking it. She made a crinkled face at its bitter taste but then smiled to her broadest.

All the others laughed at it and mukti said,
Mukti: Woah... Go on Nandini!!

With this they picked up another one and down, two down, three down and like this they finished 15 of them with no break.

As Manik picked up the next he turned towards Nandini thinking she would back down but surprising she gulped it again. He too went for it when he heard Nandini say,

Nandini: So Manik.... Done?? Or u wanna continue....

Manik: Manik Malhotra never looses....

Nandini: Ohh really... Lets see it today then...

Manik was further surprised by it when he saw Nandini pick up another shot and motion the waiter to get more of them....

Within the next few minutes both of them were 20 shots down and the waiter had already placed 10-10 more for each of them.

Manik picked up his next one and had it when he saw Nandini swiftly taking up hers and within a blink of an eye she was 5 more down.
He head was moving around indicating that he was already too drunk and seeing this he finally decided to quit.

All the others had their eyes bulging out of their sockets looking at nandini when they saw manik quit.

Cabir: OMG... Manik 21 and Nandini 25... Am i dreaming??

Mukti: For the first time in history... Manik Malhotra lost in something!!! Wow... This date needs to be remembered.

Nandini: And i won the bet!!

All of them laughed out loud at it when they saw Manik already half passed out on the couch.

Cabir: I guess we need to take Manik back to the hotel before he passes out fully!!

Nandini: Yeah...

Aliya: One sec... Nandini!! Aren't u drunk??

Nandini: Huh... Nah!! I m not drunk, just a bit tipsy...

Navya: Just a bit tipsy... And that too after hving 25 vodka shots in a go??

Nandini: Umn... Actually Manik doesn't know this but i used to be an alcoholic before i left drinking. I was an addict. It doesn't effect me much now...

All of them looked at each other knowing this new fact about Nandini. When Manik's head suddenly fell over Nandini's shoulder.

Nandini: We really need to take Manik now...

Cabir: Ohk then... U guys continue, I'll take him.

Navya: I'll come along...

Nandini: Me too...
Cabir nodded at it and they stood up. Dhruv helped cabir when Manik's hand around his shoulder when Navya moved closer to Nandini to support her.

Nandini: Relax Navya... I m fine!! Now that this Monster is not in his senses to interrupt, I'll like to walk on my own free will.

All of them laughed at it while they soon left the club.
As they reached the hotel, cabir dropped manik off to his room while navya went back to her room. Cabir too was moving to their room when he saw Nandini hopping slowly taking the support of the wall.

Cabir: U need help??

Nandini: Ohh cabir... No no thanks!! I m fine... How is Manik??

Cabir: Passed out already!!

Nandini: 😂😂Thats good... Ohk then good night!!

Cabir: Gud night...

Saying so he went away while nandini again started moving slowly towards her room. She had almost reached there when suddenly someone kept his hand over her mouth and pulled her towards some other room.

Nandini yelped in fear as the door closed when she saw the person in front of her and gasped,

Nandini: Manik...

Manik pressed her against a wall and kept his finger on he lips.
Manik: Shhh.... Shh!! Don't say anything....

Nandini shivered at it as he was just inches away from her. But just then Manik lost his balance and was about to fall.

Nandini: Manik... U r not in ur senses... U need to sleep.

Manik: But i want to talk....

Nandini: No manik...

Nandini somehow managed to get him to the bed and made him lie down. She sat next to him setting up his blanket when Manik moved his head from the pillow to her lap. He held her hand near his chest and made a pout saying,

Manik: I said i wanna talk... So i will talk!!

Nandini: Manik u should-

But manik didn't give any attention to her words and continued,
Manik: U knw i wanted to tell this to u from a while now... But u na, u never gave me chance and when u did, i didn't know what to say.

Nandini looked at him confused about what he wanted to say while Manik continued,

Manik: U don't hv any idea what all i hv in my heart. But i want u to know that. I hv no idea how will u react, but u should know this today. I... Actually I-

Manik looked up at Nandini straight into her eyes. Nandini seemed captivated by his eyes again while she waited for him to continue.

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Think think think.... Ab aage kya hoga??? Batau?? Nah... Wait for the next part.

By the way A very Happy New Year guys!! Let 2k18 show u the best version of urself.... Enjoy, live, love and keep reading😂😂

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Love😍😍😍
Navya_Mishra