Nandini: Are u going to tell me, where are we going?
Nandini asked after about half an hour as Manik kept on driving the car.

Manik: U'll see...It's a surprise!

Nandini pouted at his reply and folded her arms in front of her.
Nandini: I don't like surprises...

Manik looked at her with his eyes raised, amused by her impatience,
Manik: U love surprises Nandini! U can't lie to me

Nandini: Well I m not loving it right now, am I? I just don't like this curiosity.
She replied making him chuckle as he took a turn ahead, before parking the car on the side.

Manik: I think u can manage for a few minutes more! We are here...

Nandini smiled broadly at this turned towards the door to open it when Manik held her hand stopping her.
Manik: Wait... I'll open it up for u!

He got out and moved around the car, opening up the door for her as he offered his hand towards her. Nandini smiled up at him and took his hand, getting out of the car as she teased her.
Nandini: It's nice to see u being quite a gentleman today!

Manik: Hey, I m always a gentleman! And I sure do want to make our first date memorable, don't want u running off just after one right?

Nandini: I would not be so sure about a second one if I were u, Mr. Malhotra!

Manik smirked at her, as he moved forward placing his hand at the small of her back as they walked ahead,
Manik: A man can hope Ms. Moorthy!

Nandini rolled her eyes at him as the two of them walked ahead. Nandini noticed hat they were in front of an old building and thought that they would be getting inside but instead, Manik led her towards the side of the building. She could hear the sound of waves crashing together and guessed that they were near the beach somewhere. Knowing well enough that asking would not get her any answer from him, she kept her silence and within minutes she found herself at a quiet beach.

Nandini: U drove for half an hour to get me to a beach when there was one hardly 5 minutes from our hotel?
She asked Manik making him chuckle as he shook his head at her choosing not to reply.

Nandini bent down to take off her heels, but before she could, she felt an arm around her thigh as Manik lifted her up in bridal style making her squeal.
Nandini: Gosh... A warning would have been good Manik!

Manik: What's the fun in that?
Manik asked shrugging casually as he walked ahead carrying her as if she weighed nothing at all.

Nandini wrapped her arms firmly around his neck, resting her head onto his chest, right over his heart enjoying the steady beats like a favorite song. The cool breeze from the ocean made her hair fly around in the back as Manik looked down at her peaceful face, a dazzling smile coming up on his face.
Nandini looked ahead in the direction where he was walking to find the ocean view being disturbed by a row of yachts and boats lined up one after the other. Manik walked ahead as the soft sand from the beach disappeared under the wooden platform leading them towards the fancier and more expensive yachts.

Nandini: Manik... Put me down, I can walk here!
Nandini said softly making Manik chuckle as he shook his head.

Manik: I like u here... And honestly, u are light as a feather Nandini, I seriously need to put more effort into feeding u!

Nandini: Feeding me? I m not a kid Manik! And I m perfectly fit, so thank u very much but I don't need u to eye on my diet now...
Nandini said appalled by his comment while Manik simply gave her an amused look. She noticed his enjoyment and gave him a stink eye. Opening up her mouth she was about to snap at him just as a guy came out in front of them.

"Mr. Malhotra! Good evening..." Spoke up the middle-aged man, looking somewhere near 35 or 40, dressed formally in some sort of a uniform making Nandini confused just as Manik let her down on her feet before he shook hands with the guy.

Manik: U must be Abhay! We talked earlier this evening..

Abhay: Yes Sir...

Manik: Ohh just Manik, please... So is everything ready!

Abhay: Yes Si- I mean Manik... Everything is ready as u had requested. I'll see u later in a few hours!

Manik: Thanks Abhay...
Manik said shaking hands with him again as he looked over at Nandini and gave her a small nod.

Abhay: Have a nice evening ma'am!

Nandini: Thank u...
Nandini replied with a polite smile as he walked away when Manik held Nandini's hand and lead her ahead towards a giant yacht right in front of them. He walked up the steps before jumping on board and then helping Nandini.

Nandini: Whose Yaut is this?

Manik: A friend's... I rented it for us today.
Manik replied to her softly as he led her up the steps towards the main deck. Nandini followed him upstairs and then towards the front of the boat only to gasp as she saw the front deck decorated all over with daisy lights and candles with the amazing view of the moon shining over the ocean. She saw a table for two laid in the middle of the deck with a beautiful bouquet of white roses with a single red rose in the middle, waiting for her on the table. There was a separate arrangement by the railing with a comfortable couch supporting a number of pillows. She moved her eyes from one end to the other of the deck taking it all in when she heard Manik's voice right behind her.

Manik: So, what do u think?
Nandini turned towards him at his voice, to find him looking at her expectantly, almost nervous for her point of view.

Nandini: I love it... It's all so beautiful!

She saw him relax visibly as he walked towards the table and pulled out a chair for her, motioning her forward towards it. Nandini walked closer and sat whispering a small thanks to him. Manik moved towards the couch when Nandini noticed a small speaker set on the side table. She watched him connect his phone to it as a soft melody started playing around them, making a nice background effect as Manik took his seat in front of her, picking up the roses and forwarding it to her.

Manik: For u, my lady!

Nandini: Thank u... These are beautiful!
Nandini said smiling at the flowers as Manik spoke up.

Manik: Not as beautiful as u...

Nandini's eyes snapped up at him before she burst out laughing, Manik joining her soon after.
Nandini: So cheesy Manik... Remember I once told u long back that u really do suck at flirting!

Manik: I don't suck at it, I just a little bit of practice! Moreover, it's not like I need it, all girls need is this...
Manik smirked pointing at himself from top to bottom.

Nandini rolled her eyes at him as she saw him bend over as he picked up a wine bottle from the ice bucket behind him. He popped open the bottle before pouring slowly into the glasses.

Manik: U take me for granted Ms. Moorthy! Just watch me walk out in the crowd, I have girls falling at my feet. A hotshot rock star plus businessman, it makes a deadly combination.

Nandini: Yeah, Deadly!! If we go on the word literally...

Manik chuckled at it before shaking his head as he forwarded the glass to her.
Manik: Cheers!

Nandini clinked the glasses together as she eyed the dishes kept in front of them.
Nandini: So, what do u have for us today?

Manik: Nothing special... I just hope it's still hot.
Manik said as he lifted the lid off one of the dishes.

Nandini looked at the contents before smiling broadly at Manik,
Nandini: Mac and Cheese?

A soft chuckle escaped her while Manik shrugged,
Manik: I may or may not have forgotten to arrange food for us until an hour back, so I just got the first thing that was available easily and also was ur choice. Is it fine?

Nandini: It's perfect.
Nandini told him with a smile as she served it onto the two plates.

They spent the next hour, enjoying their dinner ever so slowly, as Manik kept on refilling their glasses with the smooth chilled wine, while they talked about almost anything and everything. As the hour finished, Manik picked up the bottle again to fill in their glasses when Nandini stopped him from filling hers,
Nandini: No, not for me anymore, I guess I have had enough for the night.

Manik looked at her for a second before nodding softly as he filled up another one for himself but kept the glass on the table and walked over towards his phone, changing up the track and turning towards Nandini.
Manik: Dance with me?

Nandini looked at his hand smiling as the soft music started, and she got up from her chair holding Manik's hand. Manik pulled her closer with a jerk, making her bang on his chest as he wrapped his arms around her ignoring her soft glare because of his sudden action, just as the lyrics started.

Kaise bataaun tujhe ki dil mera kya keh raha
Rahe na faasle ye jo hai apne darmiyaan

Ho...
Kaise bataaun tujhe ki dil mera kya keh raha
Rahe naa faasle ye jo hai apne darmiyaan

Tere qareeb main ho sakoon
De de tu apni razaa
Paas bithaaun ye zulf sanwaroon
Aur baahon mein le loon tujhe main
Hai dil ki ye khwaahish
Ki sun le guzaarish
Aur de de tu khud ko mujhe

Ho ho...

Tujh se mohabbat hui
Hai meri hai bas ye khata
Tujh se main door rahoon
Yeh mujh ko gawaara kahaan
Main tere saath mein hi rahoon
Chhodo ye saara jahaan

Paas bithaaun ye zulf sanwaroon
Aur baahon mein le loon tujhe main
Hai dil ki ye khwaahish
Ki sun le guzaarish
Aur de de tu khud ko mujhe woh ho ho...

The two of them slow danced to the song, looking into each other's eyes, getting lost into each other for the n'th time. Nandini followed his steps as he danced her around the entire front deck. The soft murmur of the amazing lyrics in his melodious voice was all she needed at the time, as she rested her head on his chest, still swaying softly to the song. 

Ho ho...

Ho ho wo ho... Ho ho wo...
Teri adaaon mein doob loon
Doob loon main tujhi mein
Ho jaaun tere itne qareeb
Ki main dikhoon ab tujhi mein

Paas bithaoon ye zulf sawaaroon
Aur baahon mein le loon tujhe main
Hai dil ki ye khwaahish ki sun le guzaarish
Aur de de tu khud ko mujhe
Ho ho...

As the song finished Nandini looked back up at his face, the moon making her face shine in divine light as Manik glazed at her before whispering to her,
Manik: Do hell with behaving myself!

Before Nandini could realize the meaning of his words, he crashed his lips onto hers pulling her closer for a soulful kiss. His arm on her waist held her close to himself while the other made it's way to her face as he kissed her with everything in him, pouring out all of his love into the kiss. Nandini moved her arms to warp them around his neck, her fingers curling into his hair, tucking onto a few strands as she kissed him in equal fervor, making a groan to escape from the back of his neck. He broke the kiss resting his forehead onto hers as the two of them caught their breath, when Nandini suddenly burst out laughing, making his hold on her loosen up as he stared at her confused.

Nandini: Do hell with behaving... Seriously manik? What are u Christian Grey? Fuck the paperwork!
She said before laughing out again, this time louder while Manik rolled his eyes at her.

Manik: God... The fifty shades again? I seriously think u r obsessed with this series Nandini. Was this what u were thinking even while kissing me?

Nandini stopped her laughter somehow and raised her brows at him,
Nandini: What? It's not my fault that u like repeating his dialogues.

Manik: I Did Not repeat his dialogue!
Manik said with a pout making her chuckle.

Nandini: Whatever u say. And what if I was thinking about this while kissing u? It was u who decided that we didn't need to behave anymore.
Nandini replied to him in a soft whisper as she held his collar firm, before pulling her closer for another kiss.

-------------------------
Heyo people....

How are u all? It's been forever since I last talked well with u guys, not replying to many comments, even after reading them all. Anyways things are back to normal now. Will revert back soon.

Hope u all like this update!

Lots of love,
Navya😘