Hello Fam :)

As requested by everyone. :P 

The Unedited Chapters will be published as quick as I could find some time. 

Happy Reading :)

Dhawan Mansion

Abhimanyu and Mukti reached Cabir's place and were waiting along with Cabir and Navya for Manik and Nandini. They arrive a while later.

Manik(grins): Hello, Everyone.

While everyone waves their hands at them, Cabir ignores Manik and turns to Navya.

Cabir: Navya, do you remember any "everyone" being invited here?

Nandu(frowns): What?

Cabir(smiles): Hello, Nandini. You are looking lovely today.

She looks down at her work clothes in confusion.

Nandu: Really? I am coming directly from the office. I haven't even changed.

Cabir(smirks): Koi zaroorat nahi hai, Nandu. You are naturally gorgeous.

Frowning, Manik side hugs Nandu.

Manik(warns): Stop flirting with my girl.

Everyone was shocked at his open claim except Abhimanyu who was smiling widely and a smirking Cabir.

Cabir(excitedly): Ab dekhna, she will punch him.

Manik(sarcastically): Sorry to burst your bubble but she is officially my girlfriend now. I can do whatever I want without getting punched. Now go die somewhere.

Mukti and Navya look at Nandu for confirmation to which she nods slightly and a huge grin appears on their faces.

Cabir(pouts): Matlab mera tujhe Nandu se pitwane wala plan gutter mein chala gaya?

Manik(glares): Completely.

Cabir(curious): Waise, yeh kab hua?

Nandu(casually): That's why we are here, Cabir. To announce our relationship.

Cabir(shrugs): Tere muh se yeh sab sunne mein bahut strange lag raha hai.

Nandu(chuckles): Try to digest the news tab tak I need a shower badly. Navya, just give me a pair of your clothes.

Navya nods.

Manik: Cabir, mujhe bhi shower lena hai. I am borrowing your clothes.

Cabir(sternly): Sorry, mister. I am possessive about my clothes. I am not sharing them with you.

Manik was taken aback by the rude behavior of his best friend. Dumbfounded, he stared at Cabir.

Manik: Yeh kab se?

Navya: Bhai, aap mere saath aao. I am giving you clothes.

Manik smirks at Cabir and goes towards Navya.

Manik: Navvu, what's wrong with this clown?

Navya(sighs helplessly): If only I have an idea, bhai. Subah se aap ka naam lete hi weird behave kar rahe hai.

Cabir(threatens): Navya, stop complaining. Aur tum dono. Alag alag bathroom mein shower lo. Combine shower lekar mere ghar mein adult movies mat chalao.

Nandu glares at him while everyone gapes at Cabir being shocked. Being tired, Nandu asks Manik to ignore him.

Half an hour later

Manik and Nandu, after freshening up, faced a questionnaire by Mukti and Navya about the proposal and the realization of their love. Abhimanyu who already has an idea was smiling and doing something on his mobile. Cabir was sitting with a frown, lost in his thoughts.

Nandu(smiles): So, that's how I realized, I love this homo sapien.

Manik grins at Nandu.

Manik: And I was always in love with you.

Mukti(slapping his head): Woh hum jante hai, Majnu.

They were teasing them when Cabir screams.

Navya(glares): Why the hell are you shouting now?

Cabir(accuses): Because of your best friend. Nandini Murthy, how can you play with someone's feelings?

Nandu(confused): What? Whose feelings?

Cabir: Abhimanyu.

Abhi(startled): Hein? My feelings?

Cabir: Haan. Stop pretending. You were always in love with Nandini.

Cabir states to a shocked Abhimanyu rather than guessing.

Mukti(amused): Really?

Abhi looks at Mukti and nods in no scaredly making her chuckle.

Manik(rolling his eyes): Cabir, gadhe, Abhimanyu bhai hai.

Cabir: What?

Abhi(explains): Yes, exactly. I love her but as a sister.

Cabir(pouts): Mera yeh plan bhi flop ho gaya.

Navya(surprised): Abhimanyu, tumne hume kabhi bataya nahi?

Abhi(smiles): Didn't I always tell you, Navya, I feel something very strong towards Nandu?

Navya(nods): Haan.

Abhi: I wanted to go with the flow without overthinking because it was always for Nandu's smile. Her smile gave me peace and I felt protective towards her. Jab main world tour par gaya tha, I met an Indian girl. She was much younger to me. We had to share a room for a day. And she shared everything with me about her past, her parents and stuff. She came to surprise her dad but he was out of the station. Suddenly the next day, when she left the place for meeting her dad, she met with an accident. Mere aankhon ke samne hua. I carried her to the hospital. Just a day and unknowingly I started crying for her. The previous day, she called me bhai. She said, she lost her brother in an accident. Uss din ICU mein uss ladki ko dekhkar, I got scared. Agar Nandu kabhi aise situation mein..I couldn't think straight and I came back. For her.

Everyone was just staring at him with a few tears. No one expected the ever smiling and carefree Abhimanyu to feel about someone so deeply. Mukti goes and hugs him to calm him down.

Nandu(smiling widely): How is the girl now?

Abhi(playing with her fingers): She is fine. Uske baad her dad came back and I narrated him everything. I waited for her till she regained her conscious. You know, Nandu, after seeing me, she gave a huge smile, calling me bhai even when she was covered with bandages.

Nandu(grins at Abhimanyu): And I am lucky to have someone whom I can call bhai who would do anything to put a smile on my face.

Abhi(emotionally): Nandini.

He goes and hugs her tight. Others smiled at their bond.

Manik(proudly): That's how ladies and gentlemen, she wins hearts. Effortlessly.

Mukti(slapping her head): Yeh Majnu phir se start ho gaya.

Manik pouts at her comment. They all settle in their respective places beside their partners. Manik wraps his hand around Nandu's waist pulling her closer making everyone roll their eyes.

Cabir(rubbing his palms in excitement): Okay, moving on...

Manik(teased): Kaha se moving on, bhai?

Cabir(smirks): Shut up. Nandu, why don't you tell us about Singhania's son. He has a huge crush on you, right? Aur tum dono ne ek romantic dance bhi kiya tha na saath mein.

Cabir smirked evilly as everyone started glaring at him. Nandu rolls her eyes when she felt Manik's hold on her becoming tighter. She looks at Cabir with a wicked grin playing on her lips.

Nandu(glared): Cabir, why don't we discuss about your new hot personal assistant?

Navya(gritting her teeth): Cabir, you didn't tell me, you have a hot personal assistant?

Cabir(to Nandu): Mohtarma, pranam. Mera divorce karwayegi kya? Navya, the new hot personal assistant jo yeh ladki ne bola is a guy and I am straight. So, you don't have to get jealous of him.

Nandu smirks at his plight. Mukti hi-fi's her.

Mukti: Perfect revenge, babydoll.

Manik(mutters): Guys, I need to make a call. Excuse me.

He storms off without waiting for anyone, confusing them.

Abhi: Ise kya hua?

Nandu(yells): Cabir, if at all he doesn't get back to normal now, you will do sit-ups saying sorry to him until you faint.

Cabir makes a horrified face as Nandu leaves behind Manik.

Outside the house

Nandini finds Manik leaning on to the car and staring at a distance. She walks to face him.

Nandu: Manik, yahan kya kar rahe ho?

Manik closes his eyes before opening but he ceases to make any eye contact with her.

Manik: Nandini, please leave.

Nandu(cupping his cheek, makes him look towards her): Manik, Cabir was just trying to make you jealous, baba.

Manik(frowns): Right. Aur tum uske saath romantic dance karne gayi. Mere saath ek normal dance bhi nahi kiya.

Nandu(explains softly): Manik, it was at a business party and I had to dance with him but it wasn't a romantic one. Just a formal dance. Aur tumhare saath kabhi chance hi nahi mila. Did you even ask me for a dance before?

Manik(pouts): Haan toh tum puch sakti thi na mujhe.

She suppresses her urge to smile at him.

Nandu: Manik.

Manik(glares): And that guy has a crush on you?

Nandu(sighs): No. He just said he sees me as an inspiration. Cabir just made it up, the crush thing.

He looks down in embarrassment on getting jealous of the guy without even seeing him or even knowing his name. Nandu entwines their fingers making him look at her.

Nandu: Manik, even if someone has a crush on me, it's you whom I love. So, it's always you who have every damn right on me.

Manik(mutters): I am sorry.

Nandu ruffles his hair and pecks his cheek. They go in and find out they were discussing something.

Nandu(casually): What's going on?

Cabir(grins): Let's play a game. Confession or dare.

Nandu(glares): Cabir, if this is again some stupid plan of yours, I will kill you.

Mukti: Babydoll, khelte hain na.

She looks at Nandu with her best puppy dog face making Nandu chuckle. They sit in pairs and spin the bottle. The first one lands on Nandini.

Cabir: Confession or Dare.

Nandu: Confession and can I choose the person?

She looks around expectantly and they all agree. Before she could utter a name, Manik speaks.

Manik(sheepishly): Are you going to choose me and confess your love for me all over again?

Nandu(chuckles): Nah. I want to choose Mukti.

Mukti(confused): Me?

Nandu: Yes. Mukti, I am sorry. We knew each other since long but never had a proper conversation. And it's all because of me. I just ignored you whenever you tried to strike a conversation with me. I was always jealous of you, of the way you make Manik smile when I couldn't. I never understood why. I thought you took away my place in Manik's heart. I even thought you both were a thing. I didn't realize my feelings for Manik at that time but I used to hate you. Your closeness made me uncomfortable.

Mukti was hurt by her words but smiled instead. She didn't want to come in between her best friend and his love.

Mukti: Nandini, I am sorry for making you feel like that. I can leave...

Nandu(frowned): Nahi. I acted immaturely. When you came back to Mumbai and when we used to stay together, I realized how beautiful of a person you are. I was ashamed of my own thoughts. And I decided not to ruin your friendship or even love between you two because of my stupidity. Manik's happiness was all that mattered and if it was with you, then I was happy to move away. But then Abhimanyu happened and I was shocked to know that you were single and the names you used to call him was to tease him for me. I just wanted to say sorry for all those days.

Mukti: Nandu, you don't have to do this.

Nandu(shaking her head in a no): But I want to. The guilt was eating me up. Can we start our friendship afresh?

Mukti(grins): Babydoll, I have already told you, you are special to me. Mere Majnu ki Laila ho tum. But listen, it's not even my fault. Yeh ladka kabhi apni lover boy ke harkaton se bahar hi nahi nikalta. Ab tak toh tumhe bhi pata chal gaya hoga na.

Nandu(chuckles): Woh toh hai.

Manik(pouts): What's my fault in this? She is damn adorable.

While the rest of the people were smiling in disbelief, Cabir groans in frustration.

Cabir(mocks): Yeh rahe apne Laila Majnu. (pointing towards Mukbhi) Aur woh rahe Romeo Juliet.

Abhi(rolling his eyes): Bro, what about you.

Nandu(smirked): Monkey and angel.

Cabir(grins): I am an angel. Thank you.

Nandu: A male monkey and a female angel.

They all laugh before continuing. They spin the bottle again and it lands on Manik.

Cabir(sarcastically): Laila ke peeche peeche Majnu. Tujhe bhi Abhimanyu ke liye kuch confess karna hai kya?

Manik shrugs casually and turns to Abhimanyu.

Manik: Bro, Nandu jitna bada nahi hai. But I fell for you since the moment you confessed you love Nandu as your sister.

Abhimanyu laughs at him and bows his head down dramatically. Mukti slaps Manik's head.

Mukti(scolds playfully): Dude, that was too rude.

Cabir: Okay, so now your dare is..

Manik(puzzled): What dare? Maine confess kar liya na.

Cabir(smirks): woh trial tha. And as you have already confessed, you have to choose dare. And your dare is to kiss your partner.

Manik(bewildered): What?

Nandu(smiles sarcastically): And why do you think, I will let you see our private moment?

Cabir(argued): Because everything is fair in a game. We didn't see your proposal, so this. Come Manik, be a man.

Manik looks at his friends and saw everyone was cheering him not even bothering to hide their excitement. He realizes they were of no help and looks towards Nandu nervously but finds her smiling instead.

Manik(whispered): Nandu, close your eyes.

Nandu(confused): Why?

Manik(pleads): Karo na.

Nandu(shrugs): Fine.

She closes her eyes. Manik nervously leans forward eyeing her lips when he was stopped by Nandu's voice.

Nandu(teases): Ahan..tumse na ho payega.

Manik(stammered): Ho..ga..na.

Nandu(mimicking him): ok..ay, then.

He, after giving a final glance towards his friends who were now looking at the duo curiously, pecks her cheek and stares the floor, playing with his fingers. Nandu, on feeling his lips on her cheek, opens her eyes and touches her cheek with a smile.

Cabir(whined): That's cheating.

Manik throws a death glare towards him.

Manik: Tune kiss bola bas. Aur kuch mention nahi kiya.

Cabir(mocked): Bhai, tu abhi se itna darne lag gaya kya?

Manik stared at the floor, thinking of a reason to defend himself.

Manik(mutters): Listen, Cabir, it's not like that.

Cabir(shrugs): Iska chod. Waise bhi teri puri phati padi hai. Ghar par biwi boss hoti hai. Matlab kal ko agar teri shaadi hui, toh tere ghar aur office dono jagah Nandu hi boss hai. Haina?

Manik glares at him. Nandu, who notices the awkward tension between Cabir and Manik, glares at Cabir.

Nandu(teases): Exactly, Cabir. But Manik ka ek advantage hai. Manik ki boss main hun dono jagah toh Manik ka workload kam rahega. Because it's just me. But what about you? Tumhare ghar par boss Navya aur office mein uncle, your dad. Tumhe toh dono ko jhelne hai and if you neglect one, the other would kill you. Haina?

Cabir(pouts): Tu hamesha mere plan flop kyu karti hai?

Nandu(glares): Because, tum shaam se Manik ko tang kar rahe ho.

Cabir(angrily): Haan, toh he deserves it.

Manik(disbelievingly): Bhai, maine kya kiya? Jab Nandu mujhe mili nahi, you helped me to get her and motivated me to propose her. Aur ab jab Nandu mujhe mil gayi, why are you hell bent on breaking my relationship with her?

Cabir throws a pillow at him in anger.

Cabir: Dude, don't accuse me of your breakup. Ek baar bhi socha hai, Nandu ke table par teri book pahunchi kaise?

Manik was surprised and so were the rest others. Nandu smiles thinking about the day she read the book, the day her life took a new turn.

Manik: Tune woh book rakhi? Matlab, we are together because of you?

Cabir(pissed): Haan toh aur kitne din wait karta main tum dono ke liye.

Manik(grins): bhai, I love you. Thanks a lot. But then why are you behaving as a sadist since evening?

Manik finds Cabir shooting daggers at him.

Cabir: Yaad hai tune subah call karke kya bola? "Don't show me your face again". Main toh teri zindagi kachra karne mein laga hua hun na. Why did you even come to my house?

Manik: What? Woh. Only if you have any idea about what happened before that call.

Cabir: Kya hua. Kiss ke beech mere naam liya kya tune?

Manik glares at him. He goes and whispers in Cabir's ear about the suicide-cum-confession note. Cabir rolls on the floor laughing earning a smack from Manik. After a few more confessions and dares, they have their dinner and stay back at Cabir's house for the night.

Guest Room, Dhawan Mansion

Nandu was sitting on the bed leaning on the headrest and Manik was lying down on her lap.

Nandu(ruffling his hair): Manik, are you scared of me?

He sat up abruptly, facing her.

Manik: What? No. Why?

Nandu: Nahi, you didn't kiss me even when it's just a dare. The last thing I want to see is you being scared because of me. I don't want...

Manik(cupping her cheek): Shh... I was just nervous.

Nandu(confused): Nervous?

Manik(pouts): Sabka concentration mere par hi tha and how am I supposed to kiss you in front of them?

Nandu(teased): And you wanted to announce it to the world.

Manik(frowns): Announcing ke liye guts ki zaroorat nahi padti. Love is enough. But sharing a private moment there, do you even know at what rate my heart was beating?

Nandu(pulling his cheeks): And do you have any idea how adorably cute my boyfriend is?

Manik(pouts): Nandu, stop pulling my cheeks na. I am already too tired.

She teases him more as he snuggles into her stomach and they fall asleep in each other's arms. 

This was a filler chapter but an important one. How about some trouble in this happy paradise? :P