*Giggles* "See... I'm...allllllll aloneeee!" *hiccup* "No one like... me, *sad pout* "A bad girll" Nandini muttered before sipping a lump of beer. "But... I'm not sooo bad. Justttt... little!" she showed the little gap between her thumb and forefinger, as if talking to the imaginary company she had.

She's has been drinking since like 2-3hrs, and of course, all can tell; she's drunk enough! Still sitting on the floor, leaning to the sofa, with the last can of beer left in her hand and all other empty cans scattered around her in a mess...
She's kinda depressed that the one she messaged hasn't come yet, nor any of her friends to accompany her. She knew; she's the one who pushed them saying she needs to be alone, but somewhere she needed a company only to listen to her... without judging.

...Ding Dong...

Hearing the doorbell, Nandini's head jerked up to the door and her eyes twinkled. "He cameee!" she muttered before standing up with support and practically stumbling and running to open the door and welcome her company.

The door opened...
revealing a 5'8 tall man in track-suit n casual t-shirt standing with a worried face evaluating her face and the situation for such an abrupt call.

"What have you done to yourself?" he voiced startled when she stumbled forward throwing herself on him.

"Arrryyyaaa" she uttered sluggishly feeling good getting a company, finally!

"How much have you drunk?" Aryaman exclaimed as he dragged her inside pushing the door behind.

Nandini passed a sheepish smile when Arya made her sit on the sofa and looked at the mess around. "You can't be serious!" he voiced in disbelief as he saw numerous empty beer can lying and here she's passing smile. He shook his head.

"What made you drink so much?" he questioned knowing she hardly drinks this much to actually get drunk; she can hold a good amount of alcohol, after all.

Hearing him, she remembers her sole purpose of drinking, and her smile died slowly as the flashes of her bad memories came back.

"Don't tell me you found your true love already and he dumped with you?" he added not seeing her sad face as she's her face looking down.

His exclamation again got her attention, pushing her bad memories she concentrated on forgetting it (the sole purpose of being drunk) and said looking up at him "Aww-how can I? Remember, I love you soooo much. H-how can I... betray u, han?" she gave him a cute pout.

"You lovee me" she pointed her finger towards herself "and I lovee u" then pointed at him "so, why need another lover?" she shrugged stumbling to stand up at feet.

They both are best friends and as Nandini had made this rule of not falling in love any soon, not at least before her revenge is fulfilled, and Arya is ever single and playful; they used to stick to each other saying they don't need any lover.

"No way"

Nandini shouted upon watching Arya's guilty face looking down, causing Arya to jerk his face up at her.

"Don't tell me... You found the one!" She pointed at him stepping a step towards him as if compelling him to split the truth. He looked left n right avoiding to answer, but who is he kidding? She caught him.

"Ohhhh Myyyy Lorddd Jesuss! You... you really..." she stepped more closer yelling in excitement "Who is the unlucky one?" she added standing just an inch away from his body.

"Who likes this- piggy nose of your?" she added pinching his nose making him huff and push her hand. But she rather smiled cheekily.

"Who's she... who wants to kiss this potato lips?" she giggled adding making him groan at his insult.

'She doesn't even forget roasting me in her drunk state?' he thought rolling his eyes at her.

"And this..." she forwarded her hands to mess with his hair "Jungly hairs" she added ruffling his hair which he's very possessive of.

He instantly grabbed her hands making her stumble at him and in the process of holding her drunken self safe, they both landed on the sofa the next second; Nandini below Arya with him holding her hand and their faces close on the impact of fall.

Arya stayed shocked by their position while Nandini just kept on staring at his face in silence...

"But... You look handsome, though!" she whispered as their warm breaths falling on each other cheeks due to their proximity.

At that moment...

Abhi with Manik made their entry and gasped at the sight folding in front of them; A man above Nandini... so close!

Manik eyes instantly turned dark, his palm fisted tightly, and blood boiled out at the sight; 'How dare...?' he thought splitting fire with his sight.

"Aryaman!"

Abhi voiced shocked watching his two best friends compromising situation. even though he isn't taking it in a wrong way as he knows both of them, but he just hadn't expected to see Aryaman here... with Nandini!

Hearing an additional voice both Arya n Nans turned their head to left. Aryaman instantly gathered himself and stood up from Nandini while Manik is busy controlling his building anger at this situation.

Just the fact of Nandini with another man is not at all digestible for him.
Why? No idea.

'But No one else can touch her.
She's mine!'

Finally, his mind admits that she's his and none else. Whatever may be the reason, but he's not gonna lose her. He's determined!

"Ohh! Two more handsome came for meee" Nandini exclaimed getting up from up and stumbling at her step.

"You're drunk, Nandu!" Abhi instantly came forward to hold her while Manik, who's busy sending deadly glares at Arya, shifted his focus at her.

She shooked her head vigorously "No handsome!" she looked closely at his face much to Manik's disliking.

"You... have small eyes like cockroach!.. tsk.tsk.tsk..." she added shaking her head in dismissing. "Although, you're handsome, my friend. But- You too... taken!" she detached herself from him, while Abhi stood dumbfounded like how did she know he's taken? He never told anyone his feelings for Mukti!

Nandini then looked ahead at Manik and stepped ahead towards him... She trembled at the last step hitting herself at the table, but luckily our hero caught her at place holding her waist.

She placed her hands on his shoulder for support while his hands rested on her waist holding her drunk body firmly. He's also mad at her to drink so wasted with other men.

"You..." She whispered and stopped roaming her eyes at his face finding any fault to point out while his eyes held hers with those unknown feelings and desires flooding in them... "are perfect!"

What she did next second caught everyone off-guard and wide-eyed!

She fused her lips with Manik's lips out of blue.

Manik, who didn't expect this, has his eyes widen and his grip on her waist tightens while Nandini has her eyes closed, both out of pleasure and alcohol effect, and her hands started slipping higher to his back-neck. She moved her lips progressing the drunken kiss while he's still not responding out of shock.
But, how long could he hold back; started moving his lips actively against her soft lips. His hand slipped up to her back pulling her closer as his lips worked dominating the pace putting his anger and possessiveness in it. Nandini could just try to match up his level, but ending up moaning against his lips.

They finally broke the aggressive smouching kiss on courtesy of oxygen and breath heavily, still holding onto each other. While the other two creature in the room; Abhi & Arya who has been ignored by them, are staring at them in shock n disbelief.

Finally, Manik's attention goes to Abhi & Arya, but he's everything but embarrassed. Who are you kidding, Mafia King & Embarrassment; No chance! Also, Nandini is too much not in sense to feel embarrassed at the stunt she just pulled.
Rather, its the two guys standing and watching their adult scene and getting embarrassed. God save them!

"Ahem" clearing his throat, Abhi voiced "Let's get back"

"No" comes the instant cute pout reply from nandu who nuzzled more into Manik's arm with her head resting on his firm chest. Manik's arms encircled her in reflex.

"But Nandini-" Arya started knowing it's the best option to go back and rest, but he got cut by the stubborn Nandu.

"-No! You go back! I'll stay here... With him!" she added gripping tight on Manik's shirt.

"But how could he-" Arya again got cut off... this time by Manik.

"I'll stay and take care of her. You can leave!"

Manik surely couldn't feel more happier knowing Nandini wanted him to stay with her. He certainly doesn't want her to be with any of the men present over here. He doesn't like it... at all!

Although Abhi had felt this spark between Manik & Nandini and somewhere he knew Manik will take good care of her, but still he's not sure if leaving them alone is a good idea. Nandini is too drunk for her own good!

"Okay!" Abhi voiced uncertain "here is the car key! Take care of her" He added placing the keys on the table.

"Areyy but how could we leave her with him?" Arya cooed as he doesn't know anything about the man holding Nandini. He'll definitely not leave his best-friend with any unknown person when she's drunk.

"You...come!" Abhi dragged him along to outside closing the door behind.

"Leave, Abhi! How could you leave Nans with that man? For god sake, she's drunk, man!" Arya yelled jerking his hands away as they reached outside the house.

"That man, for your information, is Manik Malhotra, who's apparently, Mukti's real brother!" Abhi said.

"What?"

Arya spoke in shock. He has no idea what's going on with his friends. He's so caught up with his own mess, that he has not met his fellow devil mates for more than months.

"Yes!" Abhi bobbed his head sarcastically at his best friend who had been out-of-reach for months "By the way, you finally got the time to grace us with your divine presence, my lord!"

"Where were you dead, idiot?" Abhi added punching his stomach making him growled.

"Ouch! Bastard! I won't tell you, go!" Arya cried.

"You think, I'll leave you that easily." Abhi threw his left arm around his neck and grabbed him close. "Come! There are so many things to talk!" he added dragging him towards Arya's car and they left.

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

Manik's POV

"Here... sit here" I pushed Nandini gently to make her sit at the sofa.

"No" she stuck on to me, hugging me tight, being stubborn "I like it here" she whispered resting her head above my head.

As much I like her this close to me, but I'm afraid I won't be able to control my monster if she gets this cute, hot & sexy at the same time.
So, I need to make her sit down and rest.

"Nandini! Don't be a bad girl n sit down" I said sternly thinking she'll agree.

That worked!
Her hands loosen and she sat back in a thud, looking down at the floor.

"Will you leave me too?" she voiced meekly that I would not possibly be able to hear it if not for the early morning silence around. I frowned at her words.

"P-please... can y-you stay, please?..." she added with breaking tone and looked up at me surprising me to see her lips twitched down wobbling, and her eyes turning moist showing sadness and vulnerability "...I promise... I will be a good girl!" she added looking up at me with hopes.

This state of her is as much as a shock to me as it is pricking at my heart to see her like this. What caused her this vulnerable? I've never seen her like this!

"Heyy!... What's wrong?" I asked softly sitting by her side focussing on her.

"Maa... my Mom, she left me... becoz i-i'm a bad girl! ...very bad girl. I never listen to her. I left her... alone to die" She looked at me trying to make me understand her point "But she was not dead... I left her... then-then she left. Me alone! ...I'm so selfish! so bad!"

"Pls... don't leave me... no one loves me..." she blabbered with moist eyes and gripped my hands tightly as if I'd leave any moment.

"Shhh... Don't say that. I lo-" I stopped as the words slipping out involuntarily. What was I going to say?
I kept it aside for the moment and rather focus on Nandini.

"I'm here only. I'm not going anywhere... shhh... shhh.." I patted her back as she leaned on to my chest encircling her hands around my waist.

"I'm here!" I voiced softly as she shook on my chest as if she'd cry any moment. I don't know how to console her, I just patted her back caressing her hair lovingly.

For a few minutes, I continued caressing her back when I felt her not shaking anymore nor moving... I slowly rolled my eyes down to look at her...

There she, with her eyes closed and face pale, her breaths even, showing she's fallen asleep. I noticed a teardrop rolled down from the corner of her eyes, pinching my heart.

Forwarding my finger to lightly brush away the tear, I whispered:
"Why is your tear hurting me?"

**********

What do you think about Aryaman?

Any words for Nandini?

A/N: Please check my message board regarding further updates.