I want you to be there... For a little more than Always!!
Part 43
The next day, Nandini and Manik were sitting together hving their breakfast when Nandini said,
Nandini: Manik... There is a meeting scheduled for today with Mr. Khurana today for Fab5. His team called me that the contract for the final deal is ready to be signed today. I was thinking to invite them here in the Malhotra Mansion as after that I hv called Pandit Ji also to finalize the day for the wedding so that the preparations can be started accordingly.

Manik: Hmn... I think that would be fine. Just confirm it with others once.

Nandini: Ohk!!

Later that evening, while they were returning home after a tiring day at work, Nandini turned to her side to see Manik resting his head at the seat with his eyes closed.
She knew that he was very tired and thus, moved closer slowly caressing his head.

Manik didn't open his eyes and stayed still while she started giving him a head massage.

Manik: U don't hv to do that Nandini....

Nandini: Shh... Just relax!!

She continued her work along with moving her fingers lightly through his head, and soon saw a smile play on his lips.

Nandini: What r u smiling for??

Manik: No one ever did that for me.... Not even Mom or Dadi, i always just used to hv medicines or rather ignore it!!

Nandini: Don't do that ever again.... I'll be there!!

As she said this Manik opened up his eyes and turned to look at her. Those words were much much more than just words for him. He took her hand from his head and then sealed her words in his heart with a kiss on her knuckles.

Nandini smiled at him as she rested her head on her shoulder.
Manik: What would I do without u??

Nandini: Keep on changing ur secretary every 15 days and being the monster as always...

Manik smirked at her and and wrapped his arm around her. None of them said anything as they reached home. Manik got down the car as the servant ran to open up his door while the driver opened up the door for Nandini.

Nandini: Manik... Its still tym for everyone to come. U go and rest, l'll call u.

Manik: U sure!! U too must be tired we had back to back meetings today.

Nandini: Yeah... Go n rest! I'll go after Fab5 is here, as such I m not needed at the meeting with Mr. Khurana, so I'll get tym to rest.

Manik:. Ohk!!

With this Nandini got to some work and prepared a rough point list for Manik to discuss at the meeting. She talked to the pandit to ensure that he is coming and then ordered the servants to arrange refreshments for the guests.

Soon she heard Fab5 voice indicating their presence.
Nandini: Hi guys!!

Mukti: Hi Nandu...

Aliya: Hey Nandini....

Nandini: U all sit, I'll go n call Manik. Mr. Khurana too must be here soon.... Btw, I hv arranged the meeting in the study.

Cabir: Ohh great...

Nandini walked upstairs to Manik's room and entered to see him lying over the bed on his front, with his bare back with that tattoo facing Nandini.

She smiled at him and walked closer a s she sat next to him and caressed his hair lovingly.

Nandini: Manik....
On not getting any response, she grabbed bent further closer towards his ear and whispered,

Nandini: Manik... Wake up!! Fab5 is here... Mani....

And the next minute she was pinned to the bed with manik over her gripping her hands on either side of his face.
Manik: What did u just call me??

Nandini blushed at it and looked away, as he moved further close and asked again,
Manik: Say it again Nandini.... Once?

Nandini shook her head in a no and said,
Nandini: No matter what I said... The bottom line is that u r Monster Manik!! Now get off me and get ready before Mr. Khurana or worse Fab4 witnesses this amazing position of ours.

Manik smirked at it and whispered in her ear as his breath fanned over her face.
Manik: U n ur sense of humour... Always at the wrong tym to spoil my mood.

Nandini giggled at his words and pushed him to roll on the bed getting her over him.
Nandini: Mr. Malhotra... Tell me one time when u r not in mood!! U never see the surroundings....

Manik snaked his hands holding her waist in a tight grip and asked,
Manik: Oo really... Then who is in mood at present ??
He said looking at Nandini's hands that were now comfortably placed over his chest.

Nandini immediately removed her hands and blushed hard trying to get up but couldn't due to Manik's grip on her.

Nandini: Manik... Leave me!! Everyone is waiting!!

Manik loosened his grip on her and tucked her hair strand behind her ear,
Manik: First tell me what did u call me??

Nandini looked straight into his eyes as both of them felt captivated by each other. But she knew this wasn't the time, so she suddenly pushed him back and got from the bed.

Nandini: In ur dreams Mr. Malhotra!! U know u can't force me....

She had moved out of the room when she heard him shout, which was even heard by Fab5 who were still sitting downstairs.
Manik: U r gonna pay for this Nandini...
Nandini laughed at his words and shouted back almost ordering him,
Nandini: We will see!! Now come downstairs ASAP...

She rushed down still laughing at his cute antics when Cabir took 2000 Rs note from Dhruv.
Cabir: I told u... I'll win!!

Nandini: Win?? What!!

Mukti: Well Cabir made a bet that manik would be busy romancing with u up there... And Manik's voice clearly told u did something to spoil his plans!!
Mukti winked at her making Nandini blush.

Nandini: Ohk so guys... Lets get to work.
I have made this list of a few key points which i guess u would like to check in the contract before signing it. Though our lawyer too would be here to proof read the contract for any loop holes.

Cabir: Ohk... Done!! Aren't u attending the meeting??

Nandini: Should I??

Mukti: Obviously... U r always of great help Nandu

Nandini: Umn Ok.. I'll attend-
"Not attend!!"
Again she was interrupted by Manik as he walked down and joined them.
Aliya: Not attending.. but why??

Manik: She's tired... She had planned to go n rest for sometime before Pandit Ji comes...

Mukti: Ohh yes... U should rest Nandini, We'll manage its just to sigh the deal only.

With this they all sat waiting for Mr. Khurana while Nandini moved to her room to take rest. Soon she heard the door bell and realised that Mr. Khurana must be there. By the time, she moved out of the room everyone had already settled in the study, so she went to the kitchen.

Nandini: Simi.. Have u made anything to eat for them.

Simi: Yes Ma'am...

Nandini: Ohk... Make coffee too, make it for Mr. Khurana and the lawyer too...

Simi: Ma'am there is a girl in Mr. Khurana's place... Maybe his daughter!!

Nandini didn't pay any attention to her and ordered to make coffee for her as she was busy in making one for Manik and herself.

Soon the servants took the snacks to them while Nandini finally went to her room to rest.
As the servant entered, Manik ordered him to simply keep the stuff on the table and go away. They all got into all the work discussions when they heard Cabir suddenly laughing.

Cabir: Haha... Sorry sorry guys!!

Manik: Whats it Cabir??

Cabir: Umn.. Manik!! I guess I took ur coffee by mistake, take this and plz pass me mine.

Manik gave him a r_u_serious look when Mukti passed him the coffee mug that cabir was referring to and immediately his face was adorned with a smile.

He noticed a small piece of paper stuck on the side of the mug with 'MONSTER' written over it. His smile was erased when he felt a finger caressing his face all through the forehead to the side of his lips.

Ohh yes, u got it right!! Soha Khurana!! Mr. Khurana's beloved daughter who for the time being has just one major life aim and that is to get into Manik's life.

Manik: Ahem ahem... Lets get back to work...
Manik said as he moved a little backwards to get away from Soha.

The meeting went on after that for more than an hour, obviously including a lot of disturbance by Soha as she kept on doing something or the other which Manik hated, while the others kept on suppressing their laughter.

The lawyer left as soon as the contract was signed but Soha didn't seem interested to leave any time sooner. All of them sat and talked trying to somehow get rid of her. A few minutes later, the door of the study opened and Nandini walked in speaking to Manik, she didn't know the Soha was still there as she thought that she would hv left with the lawyer itself.

Nandini: Manik.... Do u see the time?? Why do I hv to remind u always?? U know na that the-

She stopped in the middle looking at Soha while Manik seemed lost in her.

Manik: Beautiful!!
Manik murmured still lost in her. While the others burst out laughing and Soha fumed in anger looking at Nandini's blush. Manik saw her face and smirked at it.

Nandini: I m sorry I didn't know that u were still here... I'll wait...
Nandini said to Soha and turned around to leave when she heard Manik's voice.

Manik: Nandu wait...

She stopped right in her tracks as he got up from his place and walked towards her.
Manik: I m sorry na... Why r u getting angry like this BABY..??

Nandini turned around towards him with a shocked expression listening to his words.
Nandini: Huh....

Not only her even Fab4 was looking at him with shocked faces while Soha was fuming literally.

Manik: I know u r angry but I said na I m sorry...
Manik again said and hugged her. Nandini was too shocked to respond but then she realised her surroundings and struggled to get out of his grip.

Manik: What... Now u won't even let me hug u?

Nandini: MANIK.... U-

Manik: I know I know.. i had promised to take u out tonight, but this meeting got me late. But u don't worry u don't hv to wait any longer... I m done here!!

Nandini: But-

Manik: Plz baby... Don't get so angry na.... Plz!! Lets leave right now!!

Manik turned back towards the others and said,
Manik: Sorry guys.. I hv to go!! I'll see u later...
And Soha... Oo so sorry I forgot to introduce u two!!! Nandu meet Ms. Soha Khurana and Soha meet Nandini, my girlfriend...

Nandini immediately looked at him again shocked at his words which manik noticed and asked,

Manik: Shall we??
On getting no response from her, he immediately pulled her close towards him and the next minute she felt ground slip from her feet as Manik picked her up in his arms.

Nandini: MANIK......

Manik: Bye guys!!!
Manik shouted as they moved out of the room.

Aliya: Aww... These two r just too cute!!
Aliya said as soon as they moved out and as expected Soha too left immediately. The minute she stepped out of the house, all of them started laughing like anything. Literally holding their stomach, as manik too joined them who had been hiding right outside the study room along with nandini.

But they stopped immediately, when they heard Nandini's voice,
Nandini: Mr. Manik Malhotra.... Would u plz like to enlighten me about, WHAT D HELL WAS ALL THAT??

Manik: Comeon Baby... Don't be angry!!

Nandini: Manik... I asked u something!

Manik: Ohk ohk yr.... I know I took u by shock but I had no option... That idiotic Soha was literally throwing herself over me and it's not my fault, that u suddenly walked in looking so eternally beautiful.. I just played along...

Nandini: So u mean to say that it was my fault.... And played along, like seriously... Meet Nandini My Girlfriend!!
Nandini mimicked him while the others kept on laughing.

Manik: Haha... But Nandini I-

He was stopped right in his tracks on hearing the door bell.

Nandini: Must be the pandit ji!! I'll get him.

Soon they all sat together with the pandit, after a few minutes the Pandit finally said,
"There is a very good mahurat after exactly 27 days from today."

All of them looked at Dhruliya who simply smiled and nodded when Nandini said,
Nandini: Ohk pandit ji... We'll go with that date itself!! Can u plz tell the other details.

Soon the pandit left and so did the others. Manik went out to see them off while Nandini moved to her room to freshen up. She was standing in front of her cupboard taking out her night dress when she heard a knock.

Nandini: Yes!!

She heard the door opening up but no one said anything for a few minutes and she clearly knew who it was.
Nandini: I m still not talking to u!

Manik: Is it?? And may I know why is that so?

Nandini turned around crossing her arms on her front,
Nandini: Do I really hv to answer that?

Manik: Ohk lets take a guess!! U r mad coz I gave u the respect that u deserve in front of Soha. Or u r mad coz I hugged u. Or u didn't like me interfering u into the matter, just coz I wanted to get free of Soha.

Nandini: I didn't mind u hugging me ever.... For can u even think so Manik!!

Manik: Ohk so that means u didn't like that i referred to u as my girlfriend.

Nandini didn't reply any thing at this and simply turned around.

Suddenly she felt a sudden jerk on her arm as she banged into his hard chest with her back facing him. Manik grabbed her waist and held her close to himself as he bent over to her ear and asked,

Manik: Then how would u hv introduced urself!! What m I to u nandini?
Nandini shivered at his tone and closed her eyes trying to control herself but failed miserably.

Manik: Bolo Nandini...

Nandini: Ff.. Fri.. Friends!! We r friends...

Manik tightened his grip further over her and brushed his lips at the nape of her neck as he spoke,
Manik: Are we really Just Friends??
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Done done done..... That was early this time right!! I think yes.... So go on guys, likes, votes, comments!!! I want everything flooding in....

Ohh and Yes... Wait for the next part very very eagerly!! Fireworks on their way😉😉😉 Hey, but only on a nyc response!!😝😝