Nandini sobered up after Manik's amzing stunt that he pulled over while leaving the office as he drove the car.

Nandini: U know my car is still back there at office right??

Manik: So what... Let it be!! I will pick u up for work tmrw mrng, problem solved.
Manik shrugged looking at her making Nandini shake her head.

She was about to say something when she saw Manik pull over at a side. She looked at him confused as she asked,

Nandini: I thought u said that u wanted to go to the hill.... Why r we here??

Manik: U seriously thought that I was gonna take u there without making u eat anything before.... Even when I know that u skipped lunch today.

Nandini's mouth hung open at it,
Nandini: How did u know??

Manik winked at her as he got down the car. Nandini followed him out watching him move around the car towards her as he slung his arm around her neck, pulling her closer to himself as he hit her head lightly.
Manik: I notice u a lot more than u know Madam!!

Nandini rolled her eyes at him as they walked into the restraunt. They entered inside and walked over to the counter when a guy recognised Manik and smiled broadly,
"Manik!!! Hey dude..."

Manik who was facing forward heard a voice behind his back making him groan as he dug his face into Nandini's hair.

Right then the guy walked towards them and stood ahead.
"Long time Man!"

Manik pulled his face out of his hair, still hving his arm around her neck and faced ahead as he smiled at the guy,
Manik: Oh hi Rohan!!

Nandini: Ur face screams fakeness, u jerk..
Nandini murmured into his chest only for him to hear earning a glare from Manik.

Manik: Shut up Nandini!
Manik said to her making her give him a sweet smile.

Rohan: Such a beautiful lady is not to be shut Manik.....
Rohan smiled taking their attention as he held her hand forward and kissed the back of her palm.

Rohan: Hello there gorgeous....

Nandini gave him a small smile willing to pull her hand back when Manik kinda read her mind as he held her hand and took it out of Rohan's grasp, eyeing him cautiously. Rohan chuckled at it as he raised his hands in surrender.

Rohan: Woah.... So u r amongst the possessive ones haan! Chill buddy...

Manik: Whatever...
Manik muttered while Nandini smiled to change the topic.

Nandini: Hi... I m Nandini!!

Rohan smiled at her getting back to his cheerful self as he asked,
Rohan: So a table for two?

Manik: No we r here for a take away!

Rohan: Ohk then how may I help u guys today?

Manik: Ohh yes... We'll take the same, my usual order!!

Rohan: Cool... And for the lady!
He turned towards Nandini but Manik beat him to it as he smiled brightly at Nandini.

Manik: Nah... Make that two!

Rohan nodded at him and walked away as Manik said to Nandini.
Manik: U r hving my choice today!

Nandini: Yeah, I got that!! And it's not like our choices would differ much.. But what was ur problem with the poor guy?

Manik looked over her shoulder to see a vacant booth, he took her there as they took seats in front of each other.

Manik: Nothing... He is just too friendly for my liking.

Nandini: Says the guy who gives me lectures on my lack of friends... Come on Manik!

Manik: Excuse me Madam.... Being one of Manik Malhotra's friends is a privilege in itself!!

Nandini: Yeah... Monster Manik Malhotra!!
Nandini said waving her hand as she leaned back on her chair.

Soon the waiter got their parcel as they got up to leave.

Rohan: Get ur Girlfriend here sometime Again.... I would like to know the girl who managed to get into Manik Malhotra's heart!!

Manik stopped at his words as she turned towards him,
Manik: Umn... She..

He stopped in between thinking for a second before smiling broad,
Manik: Sure Rohan! See u later....

Manik turned around and winked at Nandini who simply shook her head and walked out of the place.

Manik: What u thought I would care enough to correct that idiot?

Nandini: Sometimes, U r so full of urself Manik!

Manik smirked at her comment as they got into the car and drove to the hill.

About an hour later, they sat comfortably at their usual spot as Manik spread out the matress and they lied over it, staring at the city lights blending with the stars and the moon.

None of the two had talked much since they had arrived but the silence didn't seem awkward. It was rather soothing.... Both of them lost in their own thoughts. When suddenly Nandini spoke up,

Nandini: Thank u Manik....

Manik turned to look at her to find her looking up at the stars as she slowly turned towards him.
Nandini: For coming into my life... For seeping ur way through the shell that I had created around myself.... And for giving me so many ppl to call as my friends!

Manik: U know u don't need to thank me nandini...

Nandini: I do.... I really do. The last few days spent in Goa, it has literally been the best trip of my life, even if it was for just a 2-3 days and it was all because of u all.

Manik: Nandini, friends truly are a blessing for us. And now that u hv us, Always remember that u have our backs, no matter what happens.

Nandini heard his words and looked back up facing the stars as a pained expression crossed her face. Manik kept on looking at her, waiting for her to open up. He knew though she was smiling and laughing genuinely with him but he had seen her putting up a smiling face in front of everyone since the morning, to hide her pain. And that was primarily the reason why he had got her out.

He sat there silently waiting for her to say anything about what had happened that morning, so that she could share her thoughts with him. But nothing came out from her. He turned back to look at her only to see slight unshed tears in her eyes.

Though it did hurt him a bit, she didn't trust him enough to talk to him or to share it with him but still he sighed and tried to ignore the voices of his heart.

He looked up, back at the beautiful stars as he took his hand ahead entwining his hand with hers. Nandini looked at him immediately, thinking that he might hv seen her cry, but relaxed as his gaze was filled upwards.

Her fingers tightened around his instantly, taking in his support as she controlled more tears from forming into her eyes. She controlled herself and brought a bright smile onto her face as she said cheerfully.

Nandini: I m hungry... Lets see what u got??

Manik smiled at her as they sat up straight and opened up the packets. They finished eating after which Nandini suddenly brought up an event that had happened during the trip and the next moment they started fighting about who amongst them was the best in swimming.

Manik was happy seeing that again, he had managed to get her forget about her home as she hit him hard laughing out loud,

Nandini: U r an obnoxious Jerk!!

Manik laughed along with her as he saw her get up and move towards the edge as she breathed in the fresh air.

Nandini: This is indeed the best place in this city...

Manik: It is.... After all, its Our Place!

Nandini: Right!!

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

Manik: Here u go Madam...

Manik said as he parked the car outside the Kapoor Mansion that night, when he went to drop Nandini.

Nandini: Finally.... Gosh, I m so tired! I just need some sleep now.....

Nandini opened up the door and got down while Manik too got down, and picked up her laptop from the back seat as he walked towards her and handed it to her.

Manik: Good night... I'll come to pick u up tmrw morning ohk?

Nandini: Yeah.... Good night!

Nandini said slowly as she nodded. Manik smiled at her as he moved closer towards her and cupped her face before pressing his lips on her forehead.

His lips lingered over her forehead for a little longer, as Nandini clutched his coat in her fist. Manik moved away from her after sometime only to see Nandini looking up at him with a confused expression.

Nandini: Are u fine Manik?? U seem lost today.

Manik: Of course I m fine... What will happen to me?

Nandini: I don't know... But u hv been a bit different from the morning itself. And then u took me to the hill, and didn't even say anything.

A smile crept over his face at the irony as he held her shoulders.

Manik: I m completely fine Ohk... Don't worry!! Are u Fine??

Nandini looked up at him for a minute before replying back,

Nandini: U r there for me na..... How can I not be fine?

A dazzling smile took over Manik's face as he heard her words.

Manik: Of course I m there.....

Nandini: Good night Manik!! Go home.... Its already 12:30 am.

Nandini said again as she turned around and walked into the house while Manik smiled broadly.

He picked out his phone from his pocket as he dailed a number and waited for the call to be received.

Manik: Hello Rishab.....

Rishab: Yes Bhaiya!!

Manik: I hope I didn't spoil ur sleep.... But it was important.

Manik said as he got into the car and turned on the engine.

Rishab: No No Bhaiya... I was waiting for Di to return only.

Manik: Oh yes, I hv just dropped her back home... But listen, don't speak to her about the morning until she does. She is in a relatively good mood. And yes, don't tell her that I know about it all, just delete all my call logs from her phone before giving it to her. I wanted her to tell it to me herself. She hasn't yet, but I know she will open up soon!!

Manik instructed him as he drove towards his place.

Rishab: Ohk Bhaiya... As u say!!

Manik: Great... Good night Champ...

Rishab: Good night... And yes, Thanks Bhaiya!

Manik: Heyyy.... I didn't do anything that I didn't want to! U never need to thank me for anything ohk.... Chalo, see u tmrw morning, I will be coming to pick ur sister up!

Rishab: Okay... Bye!

Manik disconnected the call with a smile as he continued driving back home.
-----------------------------

A week passed away with all of them busy in their usual routines. Fab5 got an offer for a new album and they started practising daily to prepare the new songs.

Manik forced Nandini to join them for the practise sessions a few times but other than that she tried her best to avoid it some or the other way.

The entire week passed on, and even after spending almost the entire days together, Manik and Nandini didn't get back on the topic of her family. They had a busy week at work and that kinda helped them to keep the topic away.

It was Wednesday morning when Nandini entered the office in a significantly bright mood after spending about an hour at the Marine Drive.

She went directly to her cabin and started working. A few hours later, she attended a meeting in the conference hall and was returning to her cabin, when she realised that she hadn't met Manik since the morning and thus went towards his cabin.

Like her usual times, she pushed the door without knocking, only to stop as she found the door locked.

Nandini knocked the door softly a couple of times when a clerk said from behind her.

Clerk: Ma'am Mr. Malhotra is not in office today!!

Nandini: Ohh... When did he leave?
Nandini asked, in a small disappointed voice as Manik never left for any visit without meeting her or telling her. They had an habit to meet up everyday, without fail, no matter it was a working day or not. And somewhere inside, she was subconsciously missing him.

They had talked since the previous day as they left after work. Manik asked her to come to the practise, but she skipped it stating some lame office work which she had to complete.

Clerk: No Ma'am... He didn't come today!

Nandini frowned listening to his words as she had no idea about Manik's whereabouts.

Nandini: Ohk u get back to ur work!
Nandini nodded at him and picked out her phone to call him only to groan when the console stated it out of coverage area. She moved to the next cabin, i.e. Cabir's cabin.

Nandini: Why is Manik not here today??

Cabir looked up from his laptop, to see her standing in front of him with her arms folded in front.

Cabir: Umn... I don't know!

Nandini: U do... He had meetings today, and if he didn't tell me to handle them then he definitely told u!!

Cabir rubbed the back of his neck looking away, makin Nandini smirk.

Cabir: Nandini.... Listen, I can't tell u anything. All I can say is that he isn't gonna come today....

Nandini narrowed her eyes at him, trying to intimidate him as usual to get things out but Cabir simply sighed making her understand that something was wrong.

She simply nodded at him and left his cabin. The rest entire day passed on in a blur as Nandini tried to concentrate on her work while her mind kept on zooming back towards Manik's absence. There was no one to disturb her work or make her eat forcefully and somehow it all made her miss him even more.

She rushed back home from work, continuously trying on Manik's phone but still couldn't reach him. As soon as she got home, she freshened up real soon planning to go to his place. She dumped her stuff carelessly on her bed and walked into her closet as picked out a casual outfit and slipped it on.

She was standing in front of the mirror sorting out her hair when there was a knock on the door.
Nandini: Come in...

The servant walked inside and moved towards with her evening coffee that she had everyday after work.

Nandini: Thank u very much, but I m in a rush.... Just inform kaka not to make my dinner and neither to wait for me, I'll eat out.

The servant nodded at her and moved out but Nandini beat him to it as she picked up her purse and ran outside. She was almost at the door when she heard a voice behind her,
"Nandini, hang on... We need to talk!!"

Nandini turned around and smiled apologetically at him.

Nandini: I m really sorry Mr. Kapoor but this isn't the right time for me. I m in a hurry and I want my mood alright. Catch u later....

She didn't even wait for his reply as she turned around and ran away. Soon the car was heard moving fast out of the Mansion.
----------------------------

Nandini missing Manik....

Is something coming up?

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Do comment and share ur views....

Love
-Navya😘😘