Nandini's POV

I'm walking around casually... After we cracked the song mystery... Sid, Dhruv, Alya, Cabir, and even Manik r busy gathering info. about something... so, they r least seen around. ...Navya is taking rest even though she wanted to go to her clinic. Mukti is going to her office but is coming during lunch n early in the evening as she doesn't want to miss any fun here...  What fun is going on, anyway? .... Abhi is here with his technologies to gather more about Roshni's kidnapping & also our mission Mumbai is ongoing... so, he just has to get the info n I'll be at work. ... Then coming to me, I'm not working at the nightclub now-a-days, as working there has a purpose behind it... which is fulfilled I guess, but still, I'd informed the club manager that I need a break not that I'm quitting.

I'm passing by a room when I saw the door a little open...a panting sound is coming from inside. Out of curiosity, I peeped in...

And I got to see a mouthwatering scene... that made me stuck my eyes on him only... ...Yes! Manik Malhotra is working out in this gym room... wearing only his black vest through which his sweated biceps n worked out muscles r clearly visible... and a track pant...

What is in him that I can't take off my eyes?... I'd seen many men, ...even some without clothes... But he... he is always attracting me in everything he does... in everything he wears... It is just...

"Done checking me out?" his hoarse yet sexy voice hit my eardrum... n then he turned with his smirk decorating his lips... his lips r soo...

What?     am I checking out... him?

"Ahem..." I cleared my throat while clearing the dirty thoughts from my mind n looked here n there except him... ... He is eyeing me in amusement...

"Umm... I... "I wanted to gather some words ...but Alash!

"Can I use ur gym?" I asked after composing myself... Actually, I need to workout n keep my body working, which I do in our previous house with home-kits & dancing is no less... But, since he has this gym, I can work out here better.

"Can u?" he asked raising his eyebrows while walking to the treadmill.

What's with him? Can't he answer simply, Arrogant!

"I'll take this as yes." I said before entering his gym... he didn't protest, thankfully!

I was already wearing knee-length tank pants and a loose, yellow cotton top... so, I walked to a side, keep my phone on the desk n started with a warmup, stretching my arms, legs, waist, and overall body...

I continued with my workout from one machine to another which I knew... actually, I'd used most of them while my training but a few r new... I saw that Manik is stealing glances of me... even I too, I won't deny!

Then I turned to rack with many holes, weight rods n dumbells attached to it... I somewhat got the idea about what it could is used as but I didn't know how?... I turned to Manik to see him already looking at me... His vest completely wet in sweat... and dripping from his body making him more hot... even my case is no different, my loose yellow top is wet n is sticking to my body too...

"What?" he asked while wiping his body with the towel.

"I don't know how to use this." I answered honestly.

"I'll help." he said before coming to me...

Manik's POV

I saw her peeping through the door n checking me out... After all, I'm the hottest n sexiest...

She asked to join me which I'm amused... She looked so soft n sweet to be working out hard n strong... But then, I've seen her aggressive look too...  The way she knocked down Albert yesterday without any hardwork... was something an expert does.

She proves the saying 'Don't judge a book by its cover'.

She did many workouts perfectly... Her body's moving gracefully with every equipment... Her dress sticks to her black inner which is visible through the wet cotton dress... her curves moulds perfectly, her round hips... her thin waist... Waw! a perfect art piece.

I was grazing her when I saw her turn to me... She told that she didn't know how to use the Smith Machine for barbell back squat.

I walked to her n showed using to once...

"Now... u try" I said siding away n she walked to it n grabbed the bar as I did...

"set the bar on the shoulder n back, not neck" I instructed helping her. She took out the barbell n moved back.

"Keep chest up, hips back, heel down" I said while gently placing my palm on her to show her... She is warm and wet with sweat.

I stayed at her back placing my hands on her stomach helping her with the bar... The closeness n her sweaty body made me hard... Maybe she could feel my hardness as her hips r back touching my lower part... n she stiffened.

Her balance lose making the barbell tremble ...but I caught it on time before its falls. ... Now, our body colliding, her back with my front... our hands holding the bar together... Her lose strand of hair falling on my face & my heavy breath on her neck.

There built a sexual tension between us... neither she moved nor did I...

I moved forward along with her n kept the bar on its place... we r still that close... I grabbed the clutch that was holding her hair in bunny n opened it... making her hair fall long...

I like her hair untied, long, black...

I played with her hairs in my fingers n nuzzle my head into it... Her shampoo smells so good...

I moved my other hand on her tummy lazily while she arched her back leaning more to my chest... She is liking it as much as I do.

I slid her hair from the right shoulder with my hand n placed my lips on her back neck making she shiver with my touch... I placed an open mouth kiss there n lingered there only to feel it to the fullest...

...BEEP...BEEP...

And she got away with a jerk... awkwardly looking here n there... she grabbed her phone n ran away...

"Fuck" I groaned running my hand in my hair... irritatedly cursing the one who messaged her at the right time.

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Nandini's POV

What the hell was that? ... Did I lose myself... to him?

But he was hard... for me!

It... it felt soo good... his touch...

I felt like I want more... more of him... I want him to go on... Damn! Fuck!

"Nanduuuuu" I heard a scream making me halt at my place n look around... I'm in the hall n Navya is calling me...

"Han?"

"What yar? ... where r u lost? I was calling u from last 5 minutes" Navya shouted.

"Oh sorry" I mumbled sitting next to her.

"Ok! Let's watch this movie... Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety... I'd paused it for u." she said excitedly n played it...

....

"Arey, what r u guys watching?" Mukti asked as soon as she entered the house.

"Movie... without me... rewind it" she demanded sitting next to me.

"No Muku... it's almost finished." Navya protested.

"SO, Dosti aur ladki main kaun jeet ta hai?" Abhi asked walking to us.

"Obviously... Dosti ... our friendship" Mukti chirped before taking us in a hug.

We broke the hug n Abhi settled down with us... when we saw, Cabir entering the house. He passed a smile to Navya which she returned n turned blushing.

"Did we miss anything?" Mukti asked my thoughts.

"What's going on?" I added with a teasing smile.

"Nothing... we just became friends..." Navya answered trying to her blush...

Mukti, Abhi n I looked at each other n burst into waves of laughter...

"Just friends" I said while quoting with my fingers in the air... and again burst into laughter...

"Shut up guys" Navya said throwing the decorative pillow to us.

"Okay... okay... but... seriously, r u guys ... just friends?" Abhi spoke with his laughs.

"Umm... he said that he did like me... but the series of events going on now-a-days... ...So, we should get to know each other before deciding anything." Navya justified n we stopped laughing. We understand.

"Acha Nandu, u saw my text?" Abhi asked me... Yes! he texted me while I was in the gym. ...It's about our next mission.

"When will we do it?" he asked.

"The sooner the better." I answered. Then we saw Manik n Dhrulya entering the hall. I noticed Manik eyeing me... I felt strange inside me...

A message beeped n I checked it to found it from Abhi...

"Join us too" Mukti said n Abhi nodded... and then we 4 r joined in our messaged discussion as we couldn't loud out about our mission in front of others, right!

(Note: words in bold r messaged talks)

"Detective Dharma is going to handover the confidential reports on the scam in State Health dept. and he has a life threat." Abhi stated.

"Any info. about the report... I mean who can be the culprit as he'll try to kill him and grab the reports, Right?" I told.

"No reports... everything is very confidential... But, after a lot of research, I'd made some guesses... which I believe to have an 80% chance of being right" Abhi told.

"What?" Mukti, Navya asked before I could.

"I've shortlisted some of the potential culprits... There r 4 of them... 1st; one businessman who is responsible for all the contracts of making hospital n accessories... 2nd; a famous doctor whose family has the criminal background & he could be involved in organ smuggling... 3rd; one of the ministers under Health minister who wanted to get power by hook or crook... 4th; owner of city hospital who wanted his hospital get fame all over the world in a blink." Abhi described.

"Ohh My... there r too many selfish people playing with people's lives in every field." Navya commented.

"True" Mukti added.

"And?" I asked.

"And I think, he's going to open his confidential report before the Ministry Dept. Meeting at 10 pm tonight... For that, he'll be starting at most about 8 pm from his hideout to reach the official building." Abhi said.

"Where is his hideout?" I asked.

"No idea... but definitely not in central Mumbai... So, at least 2 hrs need to reach the meeting." he informed.

"So?" Navya asked.

"There r 3 roads from 3 different directions joining to one Main road & one Sub-road leading to Official Building... More chances are that he'll take the Main road... Then, on the Main road, 5kms road is passing through a less populated area... And..." Abhi said.

"And that can be where they'll catch him... and we'll protect him." I completed his statement.

"right!" he agreed.

"So, should we arrange some of the goons for this?" Mukti asked. I looked up from the phone to her... then to all who r already waiting for my view...

"I'll go" I stated making their eyes wide.

"U sure?" Mukti asked.

"U r kidding, right?" Navya asked.

"Can u escape from these clans?" Abhi asked to which Navya n Mukti offered him angry glare.

But before I could save poor Abhi from these two protective and for now, angry girls... Dhrulya interrupted us...

"What r u guys doing?" Alya asked with a curious look.

"Seems like some secret talk?" Dhruv added while Manik was just staring at us...

"U r right!" I answered as a matter of fact.

"Are u guys planning against us?" Asked the Skeptic Malhotra.

"Do u guys have anything against us?... If no, then we r not even thinking about that. ... Doubtful person" I answered with confidence while the last two words inaudibly.

"Did u say something?" Manik asked hearing an unclear mumble.

"Yes!... I need to go out tonight for 3hrs...And, And... before u say something, ...... I'm not asking, I'm telling u... I've some work to finish up... so, I need to go." I completed not giving anyone a chance to speak in-between.

"Which work?" Here came the interrogation from Malhotra.

"Our work... Devils' work" I kept it short.

"And... no more questions... I'm leaving, I need to get ready." I said before walking fast to my room.

"What the Fuck???" I heard him groaning before I enter my room.

At exactly 7 pm... I opened the room's door n walked down. Completely covered in black, hair tied in a tight bun... not showing a skin except my face which I'll cover latter...

I saw my friends, Manik, Dhrulya, and even Cabir r present on the hall doing respective works... turned to look at me.

"Is everything ready?" I asked Abhi as I asked him to arrange a bike n some guns. He nodded.

"Are u going somewhere?" here comes the question from our one n only Cabir who was surprised with my dressing...

"Ya! need to finish up some work." I kept it short.

"U... Means it was u??" I heard Alya uttering something in utmost shock.

"What?" I got confused with her words.

"no... nothing" Dhruv cover-up for her giving her looks... Something I strange between them... Even Manik is constantly glaring at me with his dark n deep eyes...

"Ok!... so, I'll leave then" I said to them n turned to my friends.

"I'll be back by 11 at most..." I said to Mukti n Navya who nodded n hugged me.

"Keep me updated." I said to Abhi who mouthed 'yes' n hugged me too.

"Are u going to kill someone?" Manik asked in his hoarse & heavy tone while I turned to leave.

"Maybe... not" I answered before warning them...

"Don't think of following or spying on me... We don't come between ur work... u shouldn't bother about our's too... or else... consequences won't be desirable." And I walked out.

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After Nandini left, Mukti, Navya n Abhi entered into Abhi's room for keeping an eye on everything...

Whereas at the hall, All r standing in surprise, shock, amused, and what not...

"Are u thinking the same as I?" Cabir asked recovering from his state first.

"Hell yes!" Alya screamed gaining everyone's glare.

"But, I think she is the one." Dhruv said while looking at Manik who is still not saying anything.

But inside him, Manik is completely sure that She is the ONE. ... she is his mysterious savior, who saved him twice. He still remembers her eyes... the look they share.

After that night, Dhruv had guessed that the mysterious savior to be someone from Devils' group as all the victims n captives who r kept in the basement had been released safely... and the Devils does these type of jobs... But when they got to know as Nandini n her friends being Devil... so many things happened... they found the lead to Roshni n got busy in that... so, this thing slipped from their mind until now... when they saw Nandini in complete black...

"What do u think, Manik?" Cabir asked with a glimpse of tease in his eyes as he has seen the strange spark between them and especially how Manik's behavior changed after his entry in his life... Before, he used to get angry to great extent n act as a merciless beast... but not now since she came.

"Maybe... not" Manik said not showing any interest outside. But Cabir found his words interesting...

"Wow... ... u two r very much similar even in words" Cabir exclaimed.

"What do u mean Cabir?" Alya asked confusingly.

"Areyy... they said same words in the same style... ... 'Maybe...not' " Cabir mimicked making Dhrulya chuckle n Cabir too... ... Manik gave Deadly glare to Cabir making him stop n run away...

But, somewhere inside the stone heart of Manik, he felt so good finding himself similar to Nandu. ... Why?... he didn't know...or maybe he didn't want to admit.

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Mukti, Navya n Abhi comes out of the room as they saw Nanz's GPS approaching... As soon as they reached the hall, they found 5 clans including Sid discussing something serious at a corner...

And entered Nandini from the gate taking slow steps... the unusual slow walk with a faint smile on her face worried her the devils, who run to her... But no sooner they reach her, she fell down losing consciousness.

"Nandu" the devils yelled while Abhi caught her in his arms.

"Oh no... she has cut on her shoulder- arm" Mukti saw the blood oozing out from the right arm.

"Make her lay down" Navya shouted before running to her room to get the medical kit. Abhi picked her up in bridal style n made her lay on the nearby comfo. couch n adjusted her properly... Even the 5 clans r worried looking at the scene going on... while Manik is feeling restless as to why Nandini suddenly passed out n when Abhi picked her up... he felt so much to snatch her from him n punch him for picking her in his arms...

Navya came running n treated the wound n did some examinations n also gave an injection...

"What happened to her?" Manik asked after a patient wait.

"She got Bullet wound on her arms n she passed out due to poison whic..." Navya started but got cut by Mukti

"Poison?" she yelled.

"Yes, I think the bullet contains poison but since it just passed touching her shoulder, she got a very little of poison... No need to worry, I've given her Anti-venom injection... she'll wake up in half an hour." Navya completed while all nodded in understanding.

"Till then, I'll make something healthy for her..." Navya said before turning to walk to the kitchen.

"I'll help" Mukti followed her.

"I too" Alya too walked with them... The girls do have a good bonding but the sudden revelation & the situation created little drift in mind but still, bond by heart is bonded after all.

The boys get settled at the couch nearby Nandini n switched on the news on T.V...

""Now we r standing on the Mahiman Marg where there were gunshots an hour before... the police have found 3 goons dead and 6 injured... the local people r not hurt as this marg is deserted for 5kms but there is a couple who saw the fight live... let's ask them...

So, what u saw when u arrive here?

we r passing by in our car when we suddenly heard a gunshot n applied the brake... we saw that there was a red Santro ahead and many goons surrounded it... Then a well-built man came out of the passenger seat n started to fire but the goons fired at him making him fall... Then they dragged a man who was dressed in a suit from backseat n was asking him something... when suddenly a man completely wearing black dress came in a bike in super speed n fired at the goons... there happened many cross-firing...  and the biker man came near the suited man n  said something... and finally, the suited man took his bag n rode away with that biker man.

Oh thank u for informing our viewers the live scene.... but let me tell them all that the suited man mentioned here is none other than a famous detective Dharma who is now in the meeting in Govt. Official... We'll keep u posted as soon as he comes out of the meeting till then let's take a small break... stay tuned only in ur India T.V...""

As the news end, all have got the idea that the biker man is Nanz only...  They all turned Abhi who saw it... but before any question answer...

"Change the stupid news to some music" a whisper came making all turn to Nandu who slowly opened her eyes... Abhi ran to her n supported her...

"U okay now?" he asked softly. She smiled faintly sitting on the couch...

"Is this... u r still feeling pain?" Abhi asked in concerned looking at her face to find any pain... While Nandu just pulled him making him sit with a thud near her... and she lay down keeping her head on his lap...

"Turn on the music" she ordered while closing her eyes n Abhi played some music n patted her hair slowly...

But someone who is very angry or should I say, jealous... He wanted to run to Nandu n hug her tight but couldn't and moreover, he is not liking Abhi so close to her... and he is none other the Manik, who stormed to his room in tornado speed...

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Manik's POV

"Fuck" I muttered tossing in my bed as I couldn't sleep peacefully as always... but today my mind is all covered with Nandini... and her closeness with that bastard...

I feel attracted to her... possessive about her... But why?...  I definitely love her... I can't love anyone... all girls r bloody...

But anyway, I think she attracts me... sexually... Yes!!! After all, I'm a man. Even though I never feel any sexual attraction towards anybody. I only fuck sluts to release my frustration n anger but never let them touch me or kiss me...

But she pulls me like a magnet... she is driving me crazy... Crazyy...

I pulled my hair n stood up from the bed... It's 3 am mid-night so everyone is fast asleep n it's dark everywhere... I opened my room n walked in the corridor.

Suddenly I saw the lights r on in the lawn... and I walked towards it thinking who could it be this late at night...

I stooped at my track when I spotted a girl in a nightdress, hair open blowing with the wind, headphones on ear, a mug of hot chocolate in hand... staring at the stars in the sky... while swinging on the porch swing... she is smiling which brought a twist in my lips...

Who could be this girl, any guess?

Do u like the moment between Manan?... And sexual tension?

Those who've guessed the Mysterious savior to be Nandu... "Congratulations" ....... U r right!!!