In the Shopping Mall

Nandini and Soha were trying their best to cheer Sona as she was badly affected by Alya's words. Sona is an independent girl but she always kept distance from strangers since she was brought up by a strict father and without a mother. Her fathers has always taught her not to trust anyone but what her Papa never understood was his teachings made his daughter a very reserved and a soft hearted person that she doesn't want to get involved with anyone either through friendship or through enmity..

Nandini: Sona..try this dress..

Sona just took it from her and went to trial room while the girls sighed in defeat..

Nnaidni ( pressed her forehead): Alya Vedant..That girl is getting on my nerves..If she wasn't Ranvi papa's daughter, I would have murdered her..

Soha ( sighed): Its fine yar..we will make everything all right..

Nandini ( angry ): How soulie..how..? You very well know about Sona's character. She was always afraid to confess her feelings to Dev just because he was rich. And today, Alya's words might have pierced her heart..I hope she doesn't take any stupid decision..She makes only stupid decisions when she is upset..

"Beep""Beep"

Nandini took out her mobile to see a message..

" Its something urgent..Where are you " from Manik..

SHe got worried reading the word urgent..

" I am at Bercy Village..What's the issue..? " she typed and sent it with thumping heart..

But she didn't get nay reply..

Soha: What happened, soulie..?

Nandini showed the message to Soha..

Nandini: I am scared..What if Ranvi Papa has seen all those things..He will be upset and Soulie..you have even spoke about my relationship with Manik..did someone hear it..?

Soha ( held her hand ): No one was there yar..and if something such has happened then Ri aur Ritu might have informed us, anyhow..

Nandini nodded and soon Sona came out..

Sona ( expressionless ): It was fine..But, Its too expensive..I am not buy it..

Soha ( sighed ): Sona, we told you right..Its a gift from M5 for your relationship with Bhai..So, we are going to decide it..

Sona: No Soha, I can't take it..

Nandini ( sighed ): Fine, we will take what you like..is that okay with you..?

Sona just nodded and the girls started their shopping but Sona was just checking for some or the other thing that could reach to her expenses..

Nandini and Soha was just getting worried with Sona's behavior..

Voice: Mind if I join..?

The girls turned to the voice and got surprised..

Nandini: Manik...

Manik came and stood beside Nandini..

Manik ( awkwardly ): Um..is it fine if I join you guys..?

Soha stared at Nandini while she ( Nandini ) was looking at Manik with a frown on her face..Sona seemed uncomfortable because Manik is Alya's friend..

Nandini ( suspicious ): What are you doing here..? And what was that message, Mr. Mlahotra..?

Manik ( shrugged): Oh, that message..actually I had to get a business suit urgently so thought of taking help from you..

Soha ( raised her eyebrow ): Did your friends ditch you that you came to take our help..?

Manik ( nodded in No ): No..actually..none of my friends are free..Cabir is busy with Navya while the other 3 had to do some office work..

Nandini: When did I start giving home works..?

Manik ( glared ): You didn't but we started to do home works since we couldn't complete the work from office..Now, if you are done with the interrogation then can you help me..after all Paris' divas should have a very good taste in attires..Especially when we have a fashion designer..

Manik looked at Nandini while she stared at him and he could only look here and there..

Nandini ( thought): Kya baath hai..ab tho Manik Malhotra jhoot bolne mein bhi takleef athe hai..koi nahi, I will get the truth from you..

Sona: Um, Nandy and Sohu..I will take a leave..

Before the girls could protest, Manik interrupted in between..

Manik: I think, I should take a leave then, Miss Bose..

Sona ( surprised ): What..?

Manik ( casually ): Arey, I was just making you comfortable..You decided to leave when I thought to join you guys which clearly showed that you don't want me to join..

Sona ( awkwardly ): Um, No..its just..I didn't want to intrude..

Manik ( pointed at Nandini and Soha ): I didn't know that they were my friends not yours..

Sona looked here and there while the other two were silent spectators..

Manik ( narrowed his eyebrows ): Ya phir, wajah mein nahi balki Alya hai..

Sona snapped her head at Manik and so the other girls..They didn't know that fab 4 were present at that time..

Sona: Wh..what do..you mean..?

Manik walked towards Sonakshi and stood in front of her..

Manik ( smiled ): You know, I am not a person with words..My emotions will be showed through my actions. But someone asked me to express my feelings through words because it will make the latter understand that even I am capable enough to have feelings for someone ( Nandini stared at him in surprise ) I agree, i couldn't follow it but sometimes, I do try to become such a person and surprisingly I used to get succeed in it..( Sona couldn't understand anything ) Oh yeah, I know you aren't understanding anything..so let me make it clear..I heard whatever Alya said ( the girls widened their eyes ) Honestly, I have no right in saying that she was wrong because I was like her, in the past..Even, I used to judge people by looking at their outfits or class..Now, i don't know what kind of Person I am. So don't ask anything more about myself..But something I would like to say is never let anyone snatch your smile. As much as I know, your smile is Dev's happiness and if you become sad then you are making him sad and especially when the reason is utterly stupid. Every person has their own mentality, even Alya, she lived with money all around her so she forgot to learn the meaning of Love and relationship..She got everything without asking for it so she took everything for granted. Maybe, she will change herself one day but people like you have earned everything by your own so the smile that comes on your face shouldn't fade away just because someone's taunts affects you..I don't think neither Dev nor your friends would like to see you without a smile..

The girls could only stare at him. Each of them had their own reasons to gape at him..Soha was gaping at Manik thinking ' is he the same person who just hurt my soul sister ' , Sona was thinking that how could he just say that his friend was at fault and she shouldn't feel bad for it while Nandini, she didn't know what should she feel. The person who used to give a damn to the world, someone who knows only to vent his frustration on someone, someone who doesn't know how to be soft with people is speaking something sensible. He is actually making Sona feel better..

Manik: Now, don't gape at me like this..I am feeling uncomfortable..

The girls quickly got back into their senses..

Manik ( smiled ): I hope, you won't mind me joining with you girls, now..

The girls smiled and Nandini and Soha sighed in relief seeing Sona's smile..

Manik: Thank God, you guys smiled..Okay, now I will be in the men's section..if you can ( he stared at Nandini ) do help me..

He went away while the girls smiled at each other..Nandni seemed to be lost somewhere..Sona kept a hand on her shoulder..

Nnadini ( smiled ): Khush..?

Sona ( smiled ): I am..

Nandini hugged her..Sona cupped her cheeks..

Sona ( smiled ): I don't know much about your relationship with MANIK.. All I know is he became an idiot and couldn't have trust in your relationship but now I know something..Maybe, you are destined to be HIS..which is why you could never give his place to someone else..

Nandini stared at Sona with a blank face and nodded..The girls started shopping and Nandini went to Men's are after excusing from Soha and Sona..

She spotted Manik walking to and fro with an annoyed face. She moved to him and cleared her throat..

Nandini: Kuch hua hai kya..?

He turned to her after hearing her voice and glared at her..

Manik: Did you just forget that I asked you to help me in selecting the outfit..

Nandini: Nah..I was busy in helping the girls..

She started selecting an outfit while he just stared at her..

Nandini: Chalo, try these..

He was just lost in her and she had to shake him to bring him out of trance. She pushed him to trial room and waited outside..He came out after 5 minutes..

Nandini: Nope..the color, its too dark..

He went inside again and changed and came out..

Nanidni: Nope..

He again went back and it happened at least 5 times but he didn't complaint because he wanted to be with her and he enjoyed it.

He came out for the 6th time and now it caught her sight..

Nandini ( amazed ): Wow, this looks perfect on you..

Manik ( sadly ): So, done with shopping..

She din't notice his face as she was busy in admiring the way the dress fit him..

Nandini: Yep..we aren't gonna change this one..it really suits you..

Her smile just made him smile too..But then, he got an idea..

Manik ( innocently ): Nandini, this tie..I can't pull it off..

She looked at his face and saw he fake innocence in his eyes which was enough fro her to understand but she too wanted to know the truth..

Nandini: One sec..

She called someone..

Nandini ( on phone ): Steve..I am near men's trial room, I need you here..

Soon, the guy came..It was her bodyguard..

Nandini: make sure that nobody enters this area..

Steve nodded while Manik stood clueless..She came back to him and smirked and pushed him inside the trial room and got inside and closed the door..

Manik ( shocked ): What the...

Nandini ( fake innocent ): What..? Two can play the game, right..

He understood she got to know about his plan to get close to her..

Manik: So..my tie..?

She moved towards him and started opening the tie while he just stared at her..

Nandini: Manik..Why are you here..?

Manik: Trial room..to change..

Nandini( glared ): You know what I am speaking about..!!

Manik ( smiled): Dev is kinda like me..He loved only one girl through out his life and so someone hurting that girl will be like hurting him. I know that feeling because I never liked someone hurting you but neither I could stop since whoever had hurt you were my friends but now, I wanted to change myself..I knew hurting Sonakshi means hurting Dev and hurting dev means hurting you..

She stared at him with soft eyes..He has changed..he has changed a lot..he doesn't look like that arrogant monster..

Nandini: Why so much of change in you..?

Manik ( smiled ): I don't know..I am feeling something different in me since the moment I have realized it was me because of who we never had a life together with each other. Since the moment I realized my Dad does loves me..I feel like I want to live a life with you and Dad, a happily ever after..I WANT YOU..

She smiled widely..

Nandini ( with mist in eyes ): Pops is going to burst out in tears if he ever comes to know about your little wish..

Manik ( in tears ): I know..Raj Malhotra is just like me..Hard from outside but soft like cotton from inside..

She smiled..She stared at him to see him staring at her with Love filled eyes..She tip toed and stood on his feet and he grabbed her waist.

She kissed his eyes which were gonna shed some tears. He clsoed his eyes to feel her touch..She kissed his forehead and then his cheeks and whispered near to his face..

Nandini: Make me feel I am not gonna lose you again, I promise we will be together till our last breathe..

Manik ( cupped her cheeks ): So, make me feel that this time you are not gonna leave my hand even if I ask to, I promise I will never break this heart of yours again..

The kept their foreheads on each other's and smiled with so much of peace written all over their faces..

To be continued..