I want u to be there... For a little more than always!!
Part 29:

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.

Manik kept on looking at her, and said,
Manik: Nandini I.... Ohh shit!! How can i forget??

Manik immediately remembered something and sat up straight on the bed.
Nandini: What happened Manik??

Manik: How can i forget this?? Shit!!

Nandini: What Manik... What did u forget??

Manik: Arey to compliment u na!!! How could i!! U must have felt so bad... Ye Cabir na... It's all bcoz of him, he keeps on teasing me. I-

Nandini: Manik relax... It's ohk!! And i didn't feel bad.

Manik: Arey ese kese!! I know u did.... Achcha I'll rectify it, I'll compliment u now itself.

Nandini shakes her head dejectedly.
She knew she had to make Manik sleep any how otherwise it was gonna be a long long night. She was thinking of them ways when she felt Manik hold both her hands in his as he said,

Manik: Nandini I can't find words to express how breathtaking u r looking tonight. There moment i saw u this evening, i felt like i didn't ever wish to take my eyes off u.

Nandini blushed at it and shifted her gaze downwards. When Manik left her hand and lifted up her chin again to make her look at him.

Manik: Don't move ur eyes down Nandini.... It eyes are the best thing about u. They have a twinkle in them, just like the Stars.

Nandini: Manik....

Manik: Hmn??

Nandini: Plz go to sleep.... Its quite late.

And surprisingly the moment she said this Manik left her and lied down on the bed. He turned towards his side to face her and again held her hand keeping it close to his heart.

Nandini adjusted his blanket over him and was about to get up when she felt a slight tug on her hand.

She turned around to find Manik's gaze on her as he said,
Manik: I want u to sleep here.... I sleep peacefully when u r there.

Nandini: No manik... I need to go!! Mukti will come soon she'll wait for me.

Manik made a puppy face at it and pouted saying,
Manik: No she won't... Plz stay here!! Plz... I don't feel scared of darkness when u r around.

Nandini just couldn't say no to him after looking at his face and simply nodded. She removed her heals and simply lied down on the bed as it is. She turned to her side such that both of them were now facing each other.

Nandini: Good night Manik.... Sleep now!!

Manik: Don't go...

Nandini: I won't... U sleep!!

Manik simply closed her eyes as Nandini adjusted the blanket over herself. She knew Manik would be fast asleep with a few minutes and then she would moved out silently. She again turned towards the other side to keep her phone on the side table, her back was facing him when a smile crept over her face thinking about the things Manik had just said to her.

Yes, she loved him and such words coming from the person u love are more precious than anything in this world.

She was lost in her own thoughts, when she felt a hand moved our her bare waist. And before she knew what happened, she found herself in his tight grip. He snuggled his face at the back of her neck, in her hair when Nandini felt his lips moving over her neck and he whispered,

Manik: This is the place where u belong!!!

Nandini shivered at his proximity, feeling his hot breath on her neck, when she realised his breaths turn even indicating that he had passed out.

Nandini released a sigh of relief at it while she struggled to calm herself after his sudden action. Manik's hand was wrapped around her waist in a tight grip as she herself was cocooned by him.

It reminded her of this morning when she woke up to find herself within his arms. Her cheeks heated up as she blushed to the darkest shade of red. Instinctively her hand went towards his on her waist as she clutched his hand tight. Manik snuggled more into her in his sleep while Nandini too closed her eyes.

She had almost fallen asleep when she heard her phone ring, she immediately grabbed it from the side table before Manik could wake up and received the call.

Nandini: Hello!!

"Hello Nandini... Where r u?? U r fine right?"
Came mukti's worried voice from the other side.

Nandini: Relax Mukti... I m fine!!

Mukti: But where are u? Why rn't u in the room?

Nandini: Umn... Actually i wasn't feeling good so i came downstairs.... I m in the garden in front of the hotel....

Mukti: What r u doing there... Nandini its late, u wait i m coming!!

Nandini: No no... U must be tired na!! U go to sleep, i hv another key. I'll be there soon...

Mukti: U sure??

Nandini: Yeah i m sure....

Mukti: Ohk then good night!!

Nandini: Yeah good night.. Bye!!

Nandini disconnected the call and kept her phone back and again clutched Manik's arm as she too drifted to sleep.

The next morning, Manik was the first one to open up his eyes due to the sun rays that were falling on his face. He moved a bit and noticed Nandini hiding her face in his neck.

For a moment it seemed like it was the best thing he could hv ever seen early morning. He noticed his tight grip around her waist and tried to remember what happened last night.

He remembered how he lost the bet, how he got Nandini to his room, how he was about to confess and ended up telling her about his fear of darkness.

In front any other person, he would hv been angry on himself for making a fool out of himself. But now that it was Nandini, he somehow didn't mind. As he knew his secrets can be safe with her and he could trust her.

And then he remembered how he made her stay and in turn hugged her close to himself. And in all this only one thing stayed in his mind.

" She stayed.... She didn't push me away!! "
This was all he kept on repeating in his mind.

He was wide awake as he kept on staring at her beautiful face. After about half an hour or so, Nandini moved and snuggled more into him, when coincidentally her lips skimmed through his neck. She opened up her eyes slowly and Manik acted as if he was still in sleep.

He could feel her constant gaze on him but she didn't move. A few minutes later, he felt her trying to get out of his grip, which he had loosened by now. She got up from the bed and placed a pillow in between Manik's arm instead of her.

She wore her heals and picked up her stuff from the side table. When suddenly, he again felt her touch as she slightly moved her fingers through his hair and kissed his forehead.

Within a minute she was out of the room, closing the door slowly not willing to wake him up. Unknown to the fact that he was already up.

As she moved out Manik smiled to his broadest. He was feeling like a mad love stuck teenager.

Manik:
She too has the same feelings for me... Yes, now i m sure she too feels for me!! Yes!! Yes!! This is the best day of my life. Oh my God, nandini... What are u doing to me??? 

He sinked his head into the pillow as he went back to sleep, this time with an amazing smile playing on his lips.

On the other side, Nandini went to her room and slowly unlocked it only to find Mukti sleeping peacefully. She carefully, picked up one of her dresses and immediately got into the washroom to freshen up.

All this while her heart too was jumping with happiness.

Nandini's pov:
Ayiappa... What is happening?? Why m i so happy?? Its just the past two days sleeping in his arms, i feel like that is the most secure place for me ever. I just forget everything as i feel his touch over me. Just a few simple words from him make my day.

"This is the place where u belong!!!"
I just can't take off these words from my mind. The way he said so, it just took away my mind.

Yes, thats where I belong. Thats where i wish to be. Thats where i feel secure. Was he really going to say something last night??
Does he really feel for me, the way i do??
All his actions shout it out loud but then somewhere i hv this doubt that what if i m reading all of it wrong...

The way he cares for me, the way he looks after my needs, his possessiveness​ when we entered the club last night, his flirty looks, his words... Everything tells me that he feels for me too!! Am i really right??

Ayiappa... Help me na!! I just want to know if i m doing right or not. I don't want things to get complicated just bcoz of my feelings. But if he too feels for me, then this time i don't wanna let go of him. Plz Ayiappa only u can help me....
Pov ends.

Nandini moved out of the washroom after having a bath and saw mukti still sleeping. It was still to early for anyone to wake up, so she to decided to sleep for a bit more. She lied down next to mukti and soon drifted back to sleep.

A couple of hours later, Mukti woke her up!

Mukti: Nandini... Wake up!! It's late...

Nandini: Hi Mukti... Good morning!!

Mukti: Good morning!! Acha tell me... U didn't sleep all night, or u just woke up early and had a bath.

Nandini: Oh that... Yes!! I woke up early so thought to take a bath first. But then it was still time so i got back to sleep.

Mukti: It's good!! Coz Aliya hv been calling me up from a really long time, as we hv to go for shopping... That girl is very excited.

Nandini: Hmm... I just need 5-10 mins!! I'll freshen up and change.

Mukti: Cool.. Till then I'll hv a bath.

Nandini simply nodded at it and got ready. Exactly, 10 mins later Mukti got out of the washroom after hving a bath to see Nandini ready!!

Mukti: Wow that was quick... I just need a few minutes, then we'll see if everyone else is ready. Manik toh is having a very bad hangover... Cabir msged me a few minutes back.

And the moment Nandini heard it she freaked out,
Nandini: Hangover.... Oh!! Is he fine?? Is it too much...

Mukti: Relax Nandini... It's just that Manik never drinks too much, so he gets these hangovers very rarely. But whenever it happens, he isn't too good at handling it.

Nandini: Mukti... U get ready!! Till then I'll just check on him once.

And before Mukti could say anything further Nandini was out of the room.
Mukti: These two... She isn't even able to walk properly, but still can't stop herself from going to him.

She smiled at it, while Nandini somehow hopped to Manik's room, right next to hers. She entered the room, not even thinking to knock once.

As she entered she saw cabir standing there while Manik was lying down on the bed still holding his head.

Cabir: Nandini... Hi!!

Nandini: Hi cabir... Manik r u alright??

She came straight to the point and hopped in. Manik didn't even look up at her and said,
Manik: Can u for once listen to me and not walk around everywhere like this??

Nandini: I think i asked u something and i expect an answer not another question in return...
Nandini snapped at him sternly and sat at the end of the bed.

Manik: No... I m not alright!! This hangover is pissing me off...

Before Nandini could say anything, cabir got up from the bed and picked up a glass of water. He took out tablets from his pockets and said,

Cabir: Here.... Take this tablet.... U'll feel much better!!!

Nandini: No no wait!! No need of this tablet... I know an amazing remedy for hangover. Cabir could u plz call to the room service and gimme the phone.

Cabir: Sure!!

Cabir dialed the room service and passed on the phone to Nandini.
A few minutes later, Nandini was right next to Manik forcing him to drink the mixture that she had prepared. By this time all the others had also joined them.

Nandini: Manik... Stop behaving like a kid. Hv this, it's not that bad...

Manik: No Nandini.... I don't want this. I'll hv the tablet only.
Manik wailed while Nandini seemed in no mood to let him go as she said sternly and loudly.

Nandini: Mr. Manik Malhotra..... Enough is enough!! I want this glass empty within a minute at any cost. Do u get that?? Now!!

Manik made a puppy face at it while Nandini again said,
Nandini: Manik drink it now...

Manik didn't say anything and gulped down the entire glass in one go. While the others were having a hard time controlling their laughter. Nandini has given Manik a glass of warm water mixed with lime and garlic juice.

Manik kept the glass to a side when nandini again said,
Nandini: Now get up and go hv a cold water shower. U'll be absolutely fine by then.

Manik simply nodded at it like a child being scolded by his teacher and picked up his clothes. But before he could get into the washroom, nandini burst out laughing at him, followed by all the others.

Manik turned to look at her and threw his clothes away,
Manik: U r so dead now!!

Nandini: No no... Manik don't u dare come near me!! Go n hv a bath we r all getting late.

Manik: Do u think I care??
Saying so Manik rushed towards the bed where Nandini was moving back by now.

He grabbed her and started tickling her.
Nandini: Ahh... no..... Manik.... Stop!!!

Manik: bhut hasi aa rhi thi na!! Ab haso... Laugh!!

Nandini: Hahahaha... Manik stop!! Maanik......
Hehe... Stop!!

Manik: Aww!! Why u don't wanna laugh now??

All of them were laughing their hearts out looking at the two of them.

Manik continued tickling her when suddenly nandini held his hand firmly and shouted,
Nandini: Ouch!!

It was then Manik realised that he was almost over her and he had totally forgotten about her leg.

Manik: shit!!
He immediately got to a side while the others too stopped laughing. He made Nandini sit resting her head on the head board of the bed.

Manik: Nandini are u fine?? Did i hurt u?? I m sry... I forgot-

Nandini: Shh.. shh!! Manik relax I m fine!

Manik: U sure...

Nandini: Yes... But u r such a kid manik!!

All the others started laughing at it again remembering the scene two minutes back when nandini heard Manik's whisper.
Manik: Only when u r around....

And almost instantly a blush crept over her face as Manik got into the washroom for a bath.
_------------------------

So that was quite a long one right. Happy?? Well u should be coz u r not getting the next part any sooner.
Enough of being polite with u all now. Guys seriously, it takes a lot more effort in writing the part than u think. Atleast u could take a few seconds and appreciate that... Itne views but not even half comments. 😣😣😣

Kisi maha purush ne kaha h, "Success without honour is an unseasoned dish, it would kill ur hunger, but it wouldn't taste good."
So now i won't write anything until and unless u all provide me with a tasty dish.😝😝😝

I know that was crap... But i mean it!!

Good bye tata... And don't ask for the next part until i get a proper response for this one.

Navya