Part 40:
The party went on in full swing while Manik was quite busy with the guests. Nandini too was enjoying it as after working with him for almost 3 years now she knew a lot of business associates over there. It was quite late when she turned around and looked all through the party hall for Manik, and found him still busy with Mr. Singhania. Being tired, she excused himself from the others and sat at the bar counter at the corner.

Nandini: Excuse me... A Mocktail plz!!

She sat there simply sipping her drink and enjoying the slight soft music being played around. When a guy approached the counter at looked at her from bottom to top.

He ordered his drink and stood there while Nandini could clearly tell how drunk he was. She tried to ignore his gaze for a minute or two when he suddenly said,

Guy: Hey beautiful girl!!

Nandini simply gave him a small firm smile and finished off her drink to go away.

Guy: A girl as hot as u shouldn't be drinking something so average as this Mocktail. (To the waiter) Hey, make a large vodka for the lady.

Nandini: No thanks.... I m fine and moreover, i was just leaving.

She got up and turned to go when he suddenly held her hand.
Guy: A night as dark as today's and a girl like u Alone!! Not fair... Isn't it??

Nandini felt disgusted at his words but looked around and maintained her professional front as she turned towards him.

Nandini: I would appreciate it if u plz don't think much about things being fair for me and leave my hand.

The guy was about to say something further when Nandini felt an arm curl all around her waist. She didn't need to turn or look to know who it was as he stood right next to her and she visibly relaxed now being in his presence.

Manik: Harshad Saxena!!
Manik said in a voice filled with hatred.

Nandini felt his grip around her hardening clearly signifying his anger. But his anger spoiling a day so important for him was the least she wanted. Harshad immediately left her hand listening to him while Manik continued,

Manik: Some ppl never change right..... Four years and still the same!!

Harshad: But things do seemed to have changed in ur case... Haan??
Harshad smirked at him as he eyed towards Nandini again. Nandini looked towards Manik just to avoid her anger to build up over Harshad and saw Manik fuming in anger himself.

Manik was about to say something when she suddenly placed her hand on his chest and said slowly but enough for Harshad to hear.
Nandini: I m very tired... If u r done with the party then Can we plz go home??

Manik looked at her finally with his eyes read but saw her pleading look which he couldn't deny.
He shot a glance at Harshad and turned around taking her with him. As they walked ahead Nandini slowly tried to get out of his hold when Manik shot an angry glance to her and held her back firmly.

Within a few minutes itself they met a few ppl and were out of the party from the back entrance to avoid the press. Manik didn't leave her till they reached the car and they sat in.

For the entire way back home none of them said anything as the driver took them to their destination. As they reached back, Manik immediately got out of the car and entered the house moving straight up to his room. Nandini thought about to follow him but then decided to freshen up first. She went to her room and freshened up as soon as she could.

She heard him playing the guitar or to be said better, making noise in his room and walked upstairs. As expected she entered the room to find it in mess, but sighed a relief seeing nothing broken yet as Manik sat at the other end. Walking closer to him she grabbed his hand stopping him to play.

Nandini: Stop!!

Manik: Nandini.... Leave me alone...

Nandini didn't say anything to him and snatched the guitar from his hand keeping it aside.

Manik: NANDINI...
Manik said firmly and got up but Nandini held his hand and made him sit back as she sat next to him.

Nandini: Taking out ur frustration over Music doesn't suit u much... Calm down!!

Manik: Calm down.... Literally, u r telling me to calm down!! How dare he?

Nandini: Manik relax... He was drunk.

Manik: Yeah... And that gives him a right to say that.
Manik grunted in anger.

Nandini: Manik just-

Manik: Nandini.... WHY didn't u say anything to him??
Manik said loudly still not listening to him.

Nandini knew he wouldn't shut up at it and shouted,
Nandini: YES YES.... I wanted to kick him on his balls right there for saying those words and holding my hand with those dirty gaze over me... U heard that!! Yes I wanted to do that. But I know, the results of it would hv been far far more worse than what any of us wanted. U would hv taken up my side and beaten the shit out of him and the newspapers tmrw wouldn't be shouting about ur success but instead about this drama.

Manik shut at her words and hit his fists on the wall on the side to control himself. While Nandini rushed and held up his hands to stop him from hurting himself and hugged him tight.

Manik too gave into the hug and held her tight.
Manik: I can't bear anyone talking anything like that about u.

Nandini: Shhhh.... I know!!

Manik sighed again listening to her and slowly whispered,
Manik: No u don't Nandini... U really don't..

Manik broke the hug and cupped her face in his hands as he slowly kissed her forehead with his lips lingering over her head for a much longer time than required.

After quite a long time, Nandini moved out of his hold and said in a cheerful way.
Nandini: Chalo enough of ur drama... Go n freshen up fast!!

Manik gave her a small smile knowing that she was trying her best to cheer him up and moved to the washroom. He returned ten minutes later to see the room back to normal as Nandini stood in front of his cupboard keeping in something.

Manik moved closer and was about to hug her from the back when she said,
Nandini: Don't u dare.... Let me finish this off without ur disturbance!! And pass me the coat that u were wearing.

Manik made a puppy face at it and did as she said. She finished off her work and turned around to see his grumpy face and laughed.
Nandini moved closer and kissed his cheek,
Nandini: U r such a kid...

Manik smiled looking at her laugh.
Nandini: Time to sleep! Good-

And before she could complete saying, Manik held her hand and pulled her onto the bed.

He hugged her close to himself and finished it for her.
Manik: Good night....

Nandini: Manik...
Nandini said trying to get up but Manik didn't even flinch once. After which she too gave in.

Nandini: Good night Manik....

Manik smiled at her as she adjusted herself properly in his arms and hugged him close hiding her face in his neck.

A few minutes later Manik heard her slight whisper. And he could clearly tell that she was thinking something.
Nandini: Manik??

Manik: Hmnn..

Nandini: Who was h-

Manik immediately knew what she was going to say and blocked her this time.
Manik: Shhhh.... Forget it!! No one is gonna talk about it ever again. Never....

Nandini simply nodded her head and hugged him further tightly hiding more into him.
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The next morning Manik woke up early to get the most peaceful view ever of Nandini sleeping in his arms with a slight smile on her face. Though this wasn't the first time in this one month that he woke up next to her but still he couldn't help but thank his stars again and again for this.

He simply lied there watching her sleep and finally Nandini opened up her eyes about half an hour later.

Nandini: Good morning...

Manik: Good morning sunshine...

Nandini giggled at his choice of names and said,
Nandini: I thought i was ur shining star... Then how come sunshine this morning!!
Manik: That u are... But then sun is also a star right!!

Nandini: U n ur words... By the way, what were u doing????

Manik: Watching u sleep....

Nandini: Mr. Malhotra... U always get late than ur usual timing whenever i sleep here.

Manik: What can a man do?? When such a nice view is in front.

Nandini blushed at his words and soon left his room to get ready for work. Half an hour later, she was standing in front of the mirror setting her hair when she heard a voice from outside.

"Hello Mr. Award winning Businessman.... Where r u??"
Nandini smiled listening to voice and picked up her phone and left the room. She reached the living room to see Fab4 and Navya already settled.

Cabir: And here comes our famous mystery girl!! Welcome...

Nandini: Good mrng guys... Cabir u n ur jokes... Mystery girl seriously??

Mukti: Arey nandini thats not cabir's joke that's-

Manik: Hi guys!!
Manik interrupted her as he walked down the stairs.

Everyone greeted him and soon they sat around the dinning table for breakfast. Nandini went to the kitchen and returned five minutes later and sat next to Manik passing one of the two coffee mugs that she got.

Navya: but on a serious note.... Guys u don't need to worry, I'll make sure it stays out of the newspapers and Tv. Online news won't spread much.

Nandini: Woah... What news guys??

Manik: Yeah... I was also going to ask the same.

Cabir: Lo... Yahan humare majnu ko toh kuch pta hi nhi h!!
Cabir hit his head, while the others laughed.

Mukti: Hey u Mystery girl check this out....
Mukti passed her phone to Nandini with an online report. Nandini read the news and gave Manik an angry glare.

Manik: What??
Manik took the phone from her and read as the new said,
"Manik Malhotra, spotted outside the event view late at night with a his date. The couple seemed to be very close as they entered and left the party together. But the question now arises who is this Mystery girl?? And should all the female fans of this Rockstar be disheartened already?? Well, these questions can be answered only by Manik himself!! "
And it was followed by a picture of them in which Manik had his arm wrapped around her waist holding her close as they were about to step into the car. But thankfully Nandini's face wasn't visible.

Manik chuckled reading it and looked up to see Nandini still glaring at him.
Manik: Arey chill yr Nandini.... It's just an article and Navya said na that its handled. And no one can see and tell from this pic that its u...

Mukti: Wel we did....

Manik: Shut up mukti!! I m talking about others...

Nandini: I told u but ur anger na, it takes away ur mind.

Manik continued smiling when dhruv asked,
Dhruv: Anger?? Why??

Nandini looked at Manik again and saw his face turn serious again so she quickly changed the topic.
Nandini: As if ur friend needs any reason to get angry!!

Soon the topic was left behind and they finished their breakfast after which they all left for work.

Later that day, Nandini was sitting in her cabin and working when she heard a knock at her door.

Nandini: Manik... U tell me not to knock and now u only r doing so!!

The door opened slightly and he peeped in, "Its not Manik..."

Nandini: Ohh hi!! I m sorry... U know na no one else is allowed on the floor so I thought its Manik.

"Relax... Its ohk!!"

Nandini: But how come u r here in my cabin today?? U had to meet Manik, u can go he is in his cabin only.

"Actually i came to meet u, I need ur help."

Nandini: Help... Yeah sure!! Plz sit na Dhruv...

Dhruv smiled at her and took his seat. They talked to each other for about half an hour after which he got up to leave. Nandini too got up and hugged him.
Nandini: Ohh dhruv, I m so so happy!!

Dhruv: Me too!! ohk so l'll see u in the evening... And plz don't tell anything to Manik.

Nandini: Sure...

That evening Nandini msged Fab5 for their usual practice but this time, she didn't call them at Manik's or Cabir's place. She said that Manik wants to practice in open air and thus called them all in a garden. She somehow convinced Manik to go there with her stating some other reason. So finally all of them reached the venue directly from their respective work places only to see the entire area decorated with beautiful lights and flowers.

Manik got down the car and looked at the arrangements. He turned towards Nandini with a confused expression but then realised Nandini was no where to be seen. Soon Fab5 too joined him except for dhruv.

Mukti: Manik... Whats the decor for??

Manik: I don't hv any idea.... But what are u guys doing here??

Mukti: Nandini called us all for practice here... Where is she??

Manik looked around concerned for her and said,
Manik: What practice?? Here??? And We came here together... But she just disappeared.

Cabir: That means Nandini did all this?? But why??

All of them looked at each other when Manik asked,
Manik: Where is dhruv??

Aliya: I called him... He is on his way, he'll be here in sometime.

Mukti: Ohk then... Lets get in and see what has Nandini prepared for us.

All of them started moving in while Manik walked behind them, still looking around for Nandini. When he suddenly felt a pull in his hand as someone dragged him towards the dark and kept a hand on his mouth.
Nandini: Manik don't shout its me...

Manik(whispered): What r u doing??

Nandini: U'll know it soon... Just help me first.... U have to pull Cabir and Mukti here and Aliya shouldn't get to know it.

Manik: What??

Nandini: Manik plz just trust me and be fast plz...

Manik gave her an unbelievable look and slowly walked back towards the other three and grabbed cabir from the backside keeping his handkerchief over his mouth.

Cabir hit him hard in his stomach but thankfully they had reached Nandini till then.

Cabir: What the fuck are u doing??

Nandini: Shh... Cabir!!!

Cabir: Nandini... Whats this??

Nandini: Just wait for a few minutes silently.... Manik are u fine!!

Manik: Nandini... This better be good or else I won't listen to u ever again.

Nandini: Decide that later, just go and get Mukti now!!
Nandini ordered and looked at Aliya-Mukti who were walking ahead with no idea of their absence.

Manik went back and lifted up mukti on his shoulders after blocking her mouth, in the process getting a bit from her on his palm. Again they asked mukti to stay silent when Manik said again.
Manik: Nandini for god's sake can u tell me why r we letting Aliya go in there alone....

Nandini: Shh... Look there!!

All of them turned towards the garden area where Aliya was. When suddenly, all the lights went off making the entire area pitch black.
Manik: Nandi-

Nandini: Hang on guys!!
And as she said this, the other end of the garden was glittering in lights, with a really large message written there with lights in the centre.

"WILL U MARRY ME??"
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Longest update ever..... Finally finished!!

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