I want u to be there... For a little more than Always!!
Part 32:
Manik and Nandini sat beside the lake, with Manik's head on her lap.

He had shared something with her, that even the most important ppl in his life had no idea about. That made her close to his heart and she bloomed at that thought. Nandini looked up at the sky and thanked her Ayiappa a million times for sending Manik in her life.

Nandini shifted her gaze back to his face and saw a few creases on his forehead. She knew he might be thinking about his dad, she had seen his family albums and she knew how much he once loved him. She moved her hand from his hair to his forehead and moved off the creases.

Nandini: Your smile is hundred times better than the frown manik.

Manik opened up his eyes and Nandini continued,
Nandini: Whatever happened in the past, u can't hold on to it and suffer ur entire life. U hv to let go and move on.

Manik: Its not that easy Nandini....

Nandini: It is.... U r very lucky that even after all that, u still hv ur music in ur life and so u ur friends. Just forget it all and let go.

Manik didn't say anything at it and simply kept on looking at her.
Nandini: Sing Manik.... Sing for urself, both of us know how much peace it gives u.

Manik: No nandini... I m already at peace here.

Nandini: U r not.... I can see that!! Sing Manik, for urself.

Manik shaked his head and sat straight, raising his head from her lap. When Nandini held his hand,
Nandini: For me!!!

And how could he say no to her, manik didn't say anything but got up and walked to his tent. Nandini thought he went away to sleep but a minute later, she heard his guitar strings making out a melody.

Nandini turned around to see him standing behind her, leaning to a tree. With his eyes fixed over her, he finally started,

Pal bhar mein tere ho jayenge
Koi ishaara toh karo
Tere bin kahaan aur kidhar jayenge
Zara samjha toh karo

Nandini heard him and immediately shifted her gaze downwards. Yes, he was singing it for her and his voice straight from his heart touched hers like never before. No matter how many times she had fallen in love with his voice, this time knowing its truly ment for her, she felt blessed.

Saaye se tere lipat jayenge
Koi ishaara toh karo

She looked up again to see him walking towards her,

Chupke se neendon me aa jayenge
Koi ishaara toh karo
Raaton se teri guzar jayenge
Koi ishaara toh karo

Nandini got up from her place and turned around to walk ahead when he held her hand pulled her back. He came dangerously close to her and caressed her face, leaving his guitar.

Aankho mein dekho humaari
Naye khwaab kuch chal rahe
Shayad Khuda ki hai marzi
Hum aur tum mill rahe hain
Hum aur tum mill rahe hain

With that he again moved away and stumped his guitar again,
Chaahoge jab tum qareeb aayenge
Koi ishaara toh karo
Na chaahoge toh chale jayenge
Koi ishaara toh karo

Kabhi naa kabhi toh
Khatam hi ho jaayengi apni saansein
Tab tak mera saath dena
Jitni bhi lambi ho raatein
Jitni bhi lambi ho raatein

Nandini shook her head vigrously in a no as his lines hit her hard. Manik smiled slightly at her and continued,

Badloge karvat nazar aayenge
Koi ishara toh karo
Aankhon me teri simat jayenge
Koi ishara toh karo

Pal bhar mein tere ho jayenge
Koi ishaara toh karo
Tere bin kahaan aur kidhar jayenge
Zara samjha toh karo

As he finished his song, Nandini saw him smiling sweetly at her,

Nandini: Umm.... I... It... It was amazing!!!

Manik: Huh???

Nandini: Yeah!! It was really amazing...
She said again and started looking here and there.

Manik looked at her in disbelief and the next moment he started laughing like anything. Nandini looked up at him confused while he continued laughing. A few minutes later he stopped and Nandini asked in an irritated tone,
Nandini: Why are u laughing??

Manik again laughed a bit and suddenly pulled Nandini ahead. She banged into his chest as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

Manik: I made up an entire song for you to say something.... And all u hv is that it was amazing... Seriously Nandini!!

Nandini blushed purposefully at his words and struggled to get out of his grip. Manik tightened his grip and leaned closer to his ears as he whispered,
Manik: Say something Nandini!! U know i m not gonna leave u without listening anything...

Nandini smiled at him again and said,
Nandini: I m feeling sleepy... I need to go!!

Manik left her and forwarded his hand to her with his ever so charming smile,
Manik: Let me have the honour of dropping u to ur tent miss.

Nandini giggled at it and held his hand as both of them walked slowly. They reached near her tent went Nandini stopped in the middle.

Manik turned towards her confused when she stepped closer to him. She lifted her other hand and held it up higher, slightly caressing his cheek and kissed his other cheek. Her lips lingered there for a lot more longer than required, after which she whispered still brushing her lips to his cheek.

Nandini: That is gonna be my favorite, out of all the songs u hv ever sung. It was the best and the truth that it was for me, makes it even more special than my life.

Saying so nandini moved away and entered her tent leaving a baffled+happy+confused+crazily_in_love Manik behind with a stupid grin on his face as his hand touched the sweet spot where she had just kissed him.

He moved to the other tent that was his and lied down thinking about everything that just happened. While on the other hand, Nandini went to sleep hugging his jacket with an amazing smile on her face.

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

https://youtu.be/KPEQ6bCg-Kw

Mukti: Nandini.... Nandini wake up!!!

Nandini opened up her eyes to see mukti trying to wake her up.
Nandini: Good morning mukti!!

Mukti: Gm... Listen... Wake up and freshen up fast we hv to get back to the hotel!!

Nandini: Yeah...

They changed, got ready and moved out of the tent to see the others were all ready except aliya. And the guys were already on their work to dismantle the tents.

Nandini: Good morning guys...

All of them turned towards her and wished her back while manik stayed shut mentally praising her look.

Navya: Nandini... U look beautiful!!

Nandini: Thanks!!

Dhruv: i hope u slept well!! Aliya has been nagging about it all night...

All of them laughed at it while Nandini's eyes flickered towards Manik. She smiled at him replied,
Nandini: Yes.... I slept quite well!!

Cabir noticed them and winked at mukti,
Cabir: oh that's good.... By the way Manik, how did u sleep.

Manik: We r getting late guys... Get going!!
Manik said showering Cabir with draggers. And soon they started their journey back to the hotel as they had to leave for Mumbai soon.

From the hotel, all of them settled down in one car while the driver followed them in another car along with their bags. They journey started with a lot of masti but soon everyone fell asleep due to the tiredness of the two days.

Nandini was sitting right next to Manik on the passenger seat as he drove. She was eating some chips which she offered to Manik. Manik looked through the rear view mirror and found everyone else was sleeping. He smiled at it when nandini again offered,

Nandini: Manik... Will u hv some??

Manik: Ohh yes... Sure!!
Manik said simply and opened up his mouth. He waited for her to make him eat but when she didn't he turned towards her to find a shocked Nandini blushing.

Manik: No matter how much I love that blush of urs, but right now i m quite hungry and i wanna hv these chips through ur hands.

Nandini smiled at him trying to hide her blush and failing miserably. As she made him eat a few, manik smirked at her and whispered,
Manik: I will always hv my way through when it comes to u.

Nandini looked back once more to confirm that everyone was sleeping and said,
Nandini: Manik... I hv something for u!

Manik: For me?? What?

Nandini picked up her hand bag and took a small box gift wrapped.

Nandini: U wanted me to give it to u myself. So here it is.... I brought gifts for my entire family and this is yours.

Manik gave her a 1000 volt smile, like a 5 year old getting a birthday present. And picked up the gift from her hand.

Nandini: Open it when u r alone plz!!

He turned to look at her pleading face and simply kept it into his pocket.
Manik: Now I'll be busy thinking about the possible gifts within that small box.

Nandini: Well... Patience is the name of the game my Friend!!

Soon they reached nearer to their destination, thats Mumbai. Nandini woke up the others and Manik said,
Manik: Guys... Its evening already!! Lets all just pull up at Malhotra Mansion, u all can rest and go back the next day. Dadi will feel ecstatic seeing everyone together.

Cabir: Cool enough... I don't see and problem.

Aliya: Sounds like a plan... Lets go then!!

Soon they all pulled over at the Malhotra Mansion.
Nandini was the first one to get down the car as she moved inside. All the others followed to see Dadi already seated in the living room.

Nandini: DADI....

Dadi: Arey Nandu!! Aagyi meri bachi...

Nandini slowly walked to her as Dadi stood at her place. Nandini straight took her in a bone crushing hug.

Dadi: So i see that someone has recovered quite well....

Manik: And the credit goes to the care taker.

Dadi smiled at him as Manik too walked closer and hugged her.
Manik: How r u??

Dadi: I m f9... But u tell me whats with the care taker thing??

Manik: Woh i-

Nandini: Oo ho... U leave it!! Dadi, don't listen to him. If is was according to him na then either i would hv spent the entire trip in his arms or sitting on the wheel chair.
Nandini complained to Dadi who simply smiled while Manik admired his love. He was busy in his thoughts when he heard a voice,
"Son!!!"

Manik turned around to see there were two more ppl in the living room sitting facing their backs to the door which Nandini missed. But the moment he saw them, his smile vanished and he said,
Manik: So we hv company here!! Hello Mr. and Mrs. Malhotra, what a pleasant surprise.

Yes, it was none other than Manik's parents there.

Nyonika: Son, I-

Manik: I m really sorry... But i m actually very tired. I would like to go ahead and get some rest. Plz be comfortable and enjoy the company of ur host!!......
Manik said looking at Dadi who just looked down. With this he turned around and started walking towards the stairs, when he suddenly stopped and turned towards the door where his friends were standing,

Manik: Umnn.... Guys!! I m so sorry, i think the plan is cancelled. I'll see u guys tmrw!!

All of them simply nodded at it and left while manik started moving up. He went upstairs and blotted the door of his room.

As they all heard him banging the door, Dadi looked at Nandini.
Nandini: Don't worry he will be fine. I'll talk to him.

Raj: So u r Nandini.... Heard a lot about u frm Mom.

Nandini: Thank u sir...

Nandini was about to say something more, when suddenly she heard a shout,
' NANDINI!!.'

All of them looked up to see Manik standing there.
Manik: Into ur room right now?

Nandini:. But I-

Manik: Nandini... I said in ur room right now...

Nandini didn't say anything and simply walked off to his room while Manik too banged his door again.

Nyonika sat there crying,

Nyonika: He won't forget it so easily... He won't!!

Dadi: He will Nyonika.. he will!! I know whose words matter to him.
Saying so Dadi smirked, while Nyonika and Raj looked confused.