The next day being a Sunday, was a cherry on the cake for the entire gang. All of them were too tired to move from their beds the entire morning. It was around 12 noon when Manik finally got ready and decided to step out of his room.

He got out of the house and noticed that the weather that day was definitely in his favour. He entered his car and About half an hour later reached his destination, 'Marine Drive!!'. He searched the area with the least amount of public and parked his car.

A few minutes later, he found what he was looking for and smiled broadly,

Manik: Am I the one who is getting so intelligent or r u becoming quite predictable???

Nandini: OMG Manik... U scared me!!
Nandini said looking back at him as her hand was placed over her heart.

Manik: I know...
Manik took a seat right next to her and forwarded one of the two cups of take away coffee to her.

Manik: Coffee?? Nothing special like urs but its White Americano, cold.... Is it fine??

Nandini smiled at him taking the cup,
Nandini: Perfect!!

She took a sip looking at the ocean and then turned to look at him.
Nandini: So what r u doing here??

Manik: As I said, u r becoming quite predictable Ms. Moorthy!! I just saw the weather and I knew u would be here....

Nandini smiled at him and looked ahead again.
Nandini: This place is really very peaceful.

Manik: I know... But since its Sunday, and we hv an amazing weather, I m taking u for Mumbai Darshan!!

Nandini giggled listening to him and kept her coffee aside.
Nandini: Come on manik... I hv seen Mumbai!!

Manik: I know... But there r two places which I m sure u hvn't visited...

Nandini: And these r??

Manik: To start with... Haji Ali Dargah!

Nandini: Dargah... U wanna take me there??

Manik: Absolutely!! And ur reaction confirms that u hv never been there, so Ms. Moorthy I m not letting u miss out on such a famous and amazing place in Mumbai.

Nandini: Ohk.... But if we really hv to go there then I guess I'll hv to take a quick detour back home.

Manik: Home... Why??

Nandini pointed at herself giving him a R_u_serious look.
Nandini: Do u think I m dressed to visit anything like a Dargah?

It was then that Manik noticed her attire as a cheeky smile spread over her face.
Manik: Well I seriously don't hv any problem in u looking so hot but I guess the other ppl there might interrupt....

Nandini's jaw dropped listening to his choice of words while Manik immediately started laughing out loud looking at her expression. Nandini took a few minutes before she grabbed Manik's collar and jerked him forward towards her. His face stopped right an inch away from hers as his laughter died away feeling her warm breath over his face, as she said in a husky voice.

Nandini: U know I might hv to put some efforts but this is definitely not something I would like to be called hot in.... I hv been better!!

Manik gulped listening to her when she left his collar and stood up with a smirk on her face.

Manik noticed her smirk and sighed a relief.
Manik: U really r a very dangerous girl u know...

Nandini laughed at him as he too got up behind her.
Nandini: Flirting is not ur cup of tea Manik.... I can beat u very easily.

Manik: Well in that case Ms. Moorthy... Manik Malhotra never stops trying!
Manik winked at her and started moving towards his car.

Manik: Now come on lets go to urs... Then we'll head to the dargah.

Nandini nodded at him as both of them got into their respective cars and drove to the Kapoor Mansion.

Manik was the first one to reach there as he waited outside for Nandini to join him. As soon as Nandini parked a car, he saw a cute little 10 year old girl running towards Nandini.

Girl: Didi....

Nandini: Hi payal....
Nandini greeted the girl caressing her face. Her saw her pull out a chocolate from her purse and forward it to Payal.

Nandini: So which one today??

Payal smiled broadly at her and grabbed it.
Payal: Green...

Nandini kissed her cheeks and then walked towards Manik with a board smile.
Manik: What was that??

Nandini: Nothing... Just an inside joke!! She is the daughter of my gardener.

Manik: She is cute... And she really loves u.

Nandini: I guess yes... Come!!

Both of them entered the house as Nandini lead her straight to the right lobby of the Mansion and right upstairs into her room.

Nandini: Manik... Would u like to have something??

Manik: No thanks I m fine...

Nandini: Ohk then U make urself comfortable, I'll be back in 5.

Saying so she entered into her walk in closet while Manik simply sat on the bed busy into his phone. Exactly 5 minutes later, he heard the click of the door opening, he looked up only to drop his jaw as he saw Nandini walking out in a full length blue-black kurti.

Manik: Woah...

Nandini looked at him in amusement and confusion as she asked,
Nandini: What??

Manik: Umn.. Nothing!!! I just didn't expect u to wear Indian.... Never saw u before in ethnics... U look really beautiful!! It suits u..

Nandini: Thanks....Maybe coz we never met at such a place.... Usually its work, party or casual only!!

Manik: Yeah...

Nandini gave him a slight smile and walked to her dressing table as she applied a slight cream and an eye liner, while Manik tried his best to take his eyes off her. As Nandini finished she moved towards him and said slowly,
Nandini: Umn... Manik!! I had to talk about something to u...

Manik noticed her serious tone and immediately straightened up as Nandini sat by his side on the bed.

Nandini: Its just a small request.... By now u might hv very well guessed that I don't spend much of my time in this house. So Now that u know my place, I just wanted to say that whenever u come here.... Plz try and stick around my room only. The right side lobby that we took and this room.

She looked up at him to find confusion written over his face.

Nandini: Listen Manik.... I really don't wanna be rude, but honestly I hv never preferred hving anyone at my place. So its a small request, which i think might help me to keep things my way!! I just-

Manik could clearly see guilt over her face as he took her hand between his and stopped her from saying further.
Manik: Nandini... Relax!! Its totally fine.... And I m glad u actually talked about this to me, so chill... And I promise, I'll stick to the boundaries whenever I get here...

Nandini smiled broadly at him and got up immediately,
Nandini: Now that this is over... Lets go!! I m really excited for today...

Manik chuckled at her childishness as he too got up,
Manik: Off course Madam, u know girls usually always get excited in the same way when they get time to spend the day with me.... Manik Malhotra has his charm...

Nandini: Ohk now The Great Mr. Manik Malhotra... If u r done with ur self praising can we plz leave now....

Nandini held Manik's hand and pulled her out of the house. They both got into Manik's car and soon were out on their way.

Being The Manik Malhotra definitely has its perks as they didn't hv to stand in the long line outside the dargah and soon they were inside. Nandini bought a chaader and presented it inside the Dargah as per the tradition. They tied the red thread on the grill pane wishing for something really close to their hearts.

It was quite an experience, as they got back again into the car and Manik drove in the peaceful silence.

Nandini: Thanks Manik.... This seriously was an experience I would hv never liked to miss.

Manik: Ur welcome Ms. Moorthy! Ohk so now, I want to take u somewhere else too...

Nandini immediately got excited listening to it.
Nandini: Where now?

Manik: Well thats a surprise.... But i know u'll love it!!
Manik winked at her and continued driving. A few minutes later, Nandini saw them moving over the outskirts of the city.

Nandini: Manik plz say where r we going?

Manik: Come see it urself.... We r here!!
Manik parked the car at a side and got down. Nandini too followed at a queue to see Nothing but an empty road with forest over both the sides. He walked around the car towards her and forwarded his hand to her.

Manik: Ready??

Nandini looked around unsure but then held his hand nodding. Manik smiled at her and slowly started walking into the trees on his side.

Nandini: Manik plz tell me that u r not going to murder me and feed me to wild animals!!

He stopped in his tracks and looked at her in amusement,
Manik: U really hv a weird imagination Nandini... Do I look like a serial killer to u??

Nandini: How would I know, I hv never actually met one!

Manik gave her a r_u_serious look while Nandini maintained her serious expression after which both of them burst out laughing.

Manik: God, u r insane Nandini!!!

He held her hand again leading her carefully through the woods, exactly 5 minutes later, nandini saw them reaching to the other side as a cold gush of wind stroke her face. She looked ahead as her eyes broadened in surprise.

Nandini: Amazing.....

Manik left her hand as she walked ahead taking in the view in front of them as they stood on a cliff with the roaring ocean right beneath them. The smile on Nandini's face was something which she couldn't even control being there. She took her time taking in he view after which she realised that she wasn't alone and turned around to find Manik sitting on the ground over a spread mattress.

Nandini: Where did that come from??

Manik: I got it from the car, but u were so busy in imagining me as a serial killer that u didn't even notice it!!

Nandini rolled her eyes at him and walked towards him taking a place right by his side.
Nandini: This place is so amazing.... And there is no one else around, making it even more peaceful.

Manik: Yeah maybe that's why I use it as my Get Away spot.

Nandini: So how many ppl know about this place??

Manik: No one....
Manik whispered slightly making her head turn towards him.

Manik: I come here only to be far away from everyone, why would I tell this to them??

Nandini: But u told me...
Nandini said slowly feeling honoured.

Manik: I don't come here that often. But knowing u, I m sure u r going to use this place a lot.

Nandini: Do u mind??
Nandini asked again unsure, making him smile.

Manik: Not at all....

Both of them looked ahead to watch the sun slowly getting lower and lower until finally kissing the ocean spread the shades of orange, red and yellow all around. It continued moving down and down and down until finally hiding into the water.

Manik was busy staring at the place where ur disappeared when he noticed Nandini turning towards him.
Nandini: Manik??

Manik: Hmn...
He turned towards Nandini when she forwarded her hand towards him.

Nandini: Friends??

A broad smile crept over his face at this as he  shook hands with her,
Manik: Best Friends???

Nandini chuckled at it and then said,
Nandini: U r my only best friend ever...

Manik: Well I'll take that as a compliment. By the just out of curiosity, how many friends do u actually hv??

Nandini smiled at his question biting her lower lip. When she replied,
Nandini: Umn.. One!!! Including u...

Manik laughed out loud at this and held her hand again.
Manik: Wow... I really must be special yr!!

Nandini: Ohh absolutely,  after all u r The Great Monkey Manik Malhotra.

Manik: Did u just call me a monkey??
Manik asked shocked as she laughed again.

Nandini: Off course... These places where u hang out seem very apt for a monkey don't u think!

Manik: U r so dead....

And before Nandini knew Manik turned to face her as his hands stated tickling her stomach, making her laugh her guts out.

Well that was a start of a new friendship!!
Where exactly do u think this is gonna take them???