This is an alternate universe two-shot! Completely different settings and just an imaginary scenario! Part 1 today and Part 2 (also last) toms!!

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Mumbai-

A handsome hunk got dressed in a three piece Armani suit and exquisite Gucci shoes. After having checked himself out in the mirror one last time, he walked out of the room, emanating an aura of confidence.

"Kya lag raha hai tu bhai! She will faint at the spot!"

"Thanks Cabir."

"So, ready?"

"Ready? I was born ready for anything, my friend. Honestly, I just want to get done with this."

"Manik, you know it is a special day for you." Cabir said.

"Well, vo badme dekhenge." Manik tugged at his blazer one last time and entered the venue.

"Here comes, the man of the day, Mr. Manik Malhotra!"

Manik nodded at the guests gathered and stood in the center of the stage. He would have hated for this day to be such a fanfare but being Nyonika and Shrikant Malhotra's son warranted this treatment.

"Let's welcome Alya Saxena, our fashion icon and the woman who managed to steal our heartthrob's heart!"

Manik rolled his eyes discreetly. He looked at a gorgeous woman entering the stage, flaunting her blue body-fitting gown, hugging her at the right places.

"You look beautiful." Manik whispered in her ears while she smiled coyly.

"Let's get the ceremony started." Nyonika announced, not wanting to delay anything further.

Cabir and Mukti came up to the stage and handed over two boxes to both Manik and Alya. They took out the rings and gave back the boxes to their friends before facing each other.

Manik slid the ring around Alya's finger with a smile while she blushed before doing the same.

"Congratulations Mr. Malhotra and soon-to-be Mrs Malhotra!"

-----

Manik and Alya went around greeting and talking to everybody, thanks to Nyonika. After twenty minutes of annoying small talk, Manik let go of Alya's hand and walked out of the venue. While doing so, he was stopped by someone.

"What do you want, Nyonika?" Manik asked in a deadpan tone as he rolled his eyes.

"You can't just leave the venue like this, Manik."

"What more do you want? Ho gaya na engagement? Dad ke saamne bhi pretend kar liya, ab bas. Leave me alone and let me breathe in peace, damn it!" Manik pushed her away and left the venue.

"Bloody pretentious assholes, all of them." Manik lit a cigarette and was about to take a puff when it was snatched away by someone.

"Mister, it's a No Smoking zone, just in case you didn't know." A sweet voice interrupted him.

Manik turned to his right to see a petite woman in her 20s, dressed elegantly in a saree.

"Nandini Murthy?" He asked.

"Yes, Manik Malhotra. Sorry, I couldn't help but poke my nose into this. Don't want to offend you on such an important day." Nandini pointed to a board on which 'Manik and Alya' were written in Italics.

He clicked his tongue in annoyance and shook his head.

"Not important enough. It's just an engagement. Anyway, I didn't know you attended such pretentious social events, Ms Veena Vadini?" Manik asked smugly.

"I wasn't. I came here for my...fiancé's birthday party." Nandini replied.

Manik nodded.

"Congratulations on your engagement by the way." Nandini held her hand out.

"Thanks."

And then, an awkward silence loomed between the two of them.

"Don't you have to get back to the party?" Both of them asked each other at the same time and ended up laughing.

"Can I be honest with you?" Nandini asked.

"Yeah?"

"I got stood up by my fiancé. He got stuck at work and he just told me now. I was actually on my way out." Nandini said.

"Smaran Hebbar, right?" Manik asked, leaning against the railing.

"Right. Didn't know you keep up with gossip." Nandini smiled slyly.

"The news runs in circles. We are in the same industry, Murthy."

"Right."

"Love marriage?" Manik asked.

"Nope. Arranged by Amms, I mean, my grandmother." Nandini said.

"I see. Why did you agree?"

"Excuse me?" Nandini asked, feeling taken aback at someone who was still quite unfamiliar to her asking such a personal question.

"I mean, why arranged marriage?"

"Easy for you to ask, yours is a love marriage. Not everyone finds love, Manik Malhotra." Nandini replied, shaking her head while Manik rolled his eyes at the 'love marriage' part.

"Compromise...compromise is the word." Manik said, leaning onto the railing.

"Really? Haven't you guys been dating since school? Childhood sweethearts, they say." Nandini said.

"Someone's been keeping up with gossip too." Manik said with a smirk.

"I never denied." Nandini said and laughed it off.

"All I can say is, jo jaisa dikhta hai, waisa hota nahi." Manik said.

"Manik?" They heard a voice.

"Hey Cabir!" Nandini greeted.

"Hey Nandini, what's up?" Cabir hugged Nandini and Manik raised his eyebrows.

"Didn't know you guys were so close?"

"Arre, he was the anchor on the show I was a judge for!" Nandini said.

"The only judge I could tolerate, to be honest." Cabir said, side-hugging Nandini. She laughed in response while Manik smiled looking at her laughing heartily.

"Waise, tum yahan?" Cabir asked.

"Long story." Nandini said, not wanting to share her sob story again.

"I see. Achha Manik, andar aane ka plan hai? Nyonika is going to lose her mind." Cabir said.

Nandini widened her eyes, hearing Cabir call Manik's mother by her name.

"Oops, you aren't used to all this. Forget I said that." Cabir said and held Manik's hand.

"See you later Nandini!" Cabir said. She waved at him and looked at Manik with a smile while he nodded in acknowledgement, still thinking about Nandini, wondering what about her made him curious and intrigued.

~~~~~

That night, Nandini sat in bed after dinner. She took her phone out and checked her social media. A sudden urge made her search Manik's name.

And then, she found herself looking at his picture from three years ago when she finally realised what she was doing.

'Aiyyo Nandini! What is wrong with you? What do you hope to find by doing this?!' Nandini muttered to herself and tossed her phone away. She bit her lip and covered herself with her duvet, trying to get rid of her thoughts of Manik.

Next morning.

Nandini came down after brushing her teeth. She looked at Shanno making breakfast and hugged her.

"Good morning Chachi!"

"Good morning Nandu! Kaisi hai? Kal baat karne nahi mila, parlour main zyaada kaam aa gaya aur mere aane se pehle tum so gayi. Smaran ke saath dinner kaisa tha?" Shanno asked.

"Hmm, it was fine." Nandini answered, moving away and making coffee for herself.

"Kuch gadbad hai?" Shanno asked.

"Nahi toh." Nandini smiled and didn't say anything more.

She went to the living room and saw Venkatesh coming back home from his jog.

"Good morning Nandi! Yeh lo aaj ka newspaper! Main aata hu naha kar!" He left after keeping the newspaper on the table in front of her. While shuffling through the newspaper, she saw something familiar.

Manik Malhotra and Alia Saxena, finally engaged!

Nandini found herself reading the article, as if she didn't know anything about it.

'Ugh! What am I doing? Reading gossip? What have I become?' Nandini pushed away the newspaper and went to get on with her work.

~~~~~

Manik was in his study when his manager entered.

"Manik, did you decide whom you want to collaborate with?" Kunal asked. Manik leaned forward and placed his elbows on the table, smiling a bit.

"Manik?"

"Huh?"

"Collaboration?"

"Huh...yeah! I will send you the details in a while." Manik said, getting conscious. He looked away and randomly skimmed through a file.

"Okay."

He watched Kunal leave through his eyelashes and looked up.

"It's going to be interesting working with you, Nandini Murthy." Manik said and picked his phone up to make some calls.

~~~~-

Nandini reached the location where she was supposed to come. She walked into the building, admiring the architecture.

"Good morning ma'am! Sir is waiting inside." A receptionist greeted her.

"Thanks!" She said and walked into the conference room that was shown to her. She saw 2-3 people sitting there.

"Hey! You're here!" Manik said and got up. Nandini smiled and waved at him.

"So, let's get to the point, huh?" Manik said.

"Yes!"

"Manik here was thinking of a collaboration for his next album, and we already know Nandini is still enjoying the success of her last album."

Nandini shook her head, laughing at the flattery.

"So, why not bring the two singers who are trending together? I think your voices will complement each other." Kunal said.

"Indeed!" The studio manager said.

"That is a good idea. I have some songs in mind, what about you Manik?" Nandini asked.

"Same here. We can take a few days to figure that out. It'll be a bit tough since we haven't really worked together and I am pretty sure we have really different lifestyles." Manik said. Nandini knew what he meant.

"True. But we can work this out, right?" Nandini said.

"We will." Manik said with conviction. He was frankly surprised how easily Nandini agreed. Even in the email, she sounded eager for the collaboration. He had personally drafted the email, instead of making Kunal do it in his stead. He didn't really want to think too much about why he did that.

~~~~~

Manik came back home after a tiring day. While he was drinking his beer, he recalled a conversation from two days after his engagement.

Manik was chilling in the lounge of his mansion, practising something on his guitar when the doorbell rang. Clicking his tongue in irritation, he got up to open the door.

"Dhruv?! Alya?" Manik was shocked to see Dhruv at his doorstep.

"Hi buddy." Dhruv said, a bit guiltily.

"Buddy?! Just-just come inside both of you." Manik said and let them in.

"Vo buddy I-"

"Don't call me buddy, Dhruv. I think we have lost the right to do so, a long time ago." Manik said coldly.

"Manik, please calm down." Alya said.

"What is it? Why are you two here?" Manik asked.

"I...huh...actually Manik ...uh..."

"Speak up Dhruv. I don't have all day." Manik said.

"Manik, Dhruv and I love each other." Alya blurted out.

Manik sat still, not knowing what to say. He looked Alya in the eye.

"Why?"

"Huh?"

"Why are you doing this Alya?" Manik asked, clenching his fists.

"I am sorry Manik! And I haven't cheated on you! Please don't think like that! We are not together, we haven't kissed or anything!" Alya started sobbing, looking at Manik's betrayed expression.

"Alya-"

"Manik, I can never cheat on you like that! It's just that...you remember I told you that I ran into Dhruv at a pub in Mumbai while partying with my colleagues? We started talking again and became friends. But on the other side, both of us were becoming distant...Dhruv was there emotionally, when you weren't." Alya said.

Manik didn't know what to say. It was true. He had detached himself from the relationship a long time ago. After a point, Alya had become his responsibility. The love had faded years ago.

"You could've told me before. Two days after our engagement, seriously?" Manik asked, gritting his teeth in anger.

"I was scared! I couldn't muster up courage." Alya said, shedding tears while Manik scoffed.

"This is messed up Alya. What now? We call it off?" Manik asked.

Alya and Dhruv looked at each other and then at Manik.

"Dhruv you really have the courage to come up to me and say that you are in love with my fiancée, after all that you spoke five years ago." Manik said.

"Bud- Manik....I apologized to you a couple of years ago. I am still sorry. I know it's not enough but-"

"Scratch that. I don't forgive people, Dhruv. You of all people should know. Anyway, I will call off the engagement in a month's time. It has to be planned well. Thank you, Alya, for the social embarrassment that you are going to put us through." Manik said and went inside his room while Alya sobbed on Dhruv's shoulder.

Manik sipped his drink while thinking about his life.

'What is going on? My fiancée is in love with my ex best friend. I seem to be obsessed with Ms. Veena Vadini.'

He shook his head to get these thoughts out of his mind and tried to shift his focus on something else, but it obviously did not work. He picked up his phone and called Nandini.

"Hey." He heard her voice and felt instantly relaxed.

"Hi. Are you free?"

"Umm...actually I am with..Smaran." He heard her say. It stung him but what right did he have to feel like that? And why did Nandini sound so regretful? It was so confusing.

"Aha, not a problem. We'll talk later." Manik said and cut the call, regretting his impulsive decision. They weren't even proper friends! What was he thinking?!

~~~~~

From then on, Manik and Nandini tried to be professional with each other whenever they worked. For Nandini, Manik was Alya Saxena's fiancé while for Manik, Nandini was Smaran's fiancée. There was nothing that could and should happen.

One day, they were at the studio, working out on some tunes when Nandini noticed the weather.

"Manik, I think we should leave. Look at the weather. I saw the weather forecast this morning too. It said heavy rain!"

He nodded but deep inside, Manik wanted Nandini to stay. He didn't know why. He just wanted both of them to be there in that cozy room, huddled up together and making a new song.

"Uh..okay. If you say so." He said, disappointed and packed his sheets.

"I'll book a cab then." Nandini said.

"Cab? Kyun? Don't worry, I'll drop you." Manik said.

"Arre it's okay-"

"I said na, I will drop you. Just come." Manik said and led the way to the parking lot. By the time they reached the highway, it started pouring heavily.

"Damn, the traffic!" Manik exclaimed as he saw a long traffic jam.

"What now?" Nandini asked, very worried.

"There is a solution, I don't know if you would be fine with it. My place is just nearby. We can go there and wait till the rain subsides or the traffic starts moving smoothly. Only if you are comfortable."

"No it's okay, I will go home." Nandini said, slightly stubborn. She didn't want to be in situations which could make her fall weak. She did not want to give in to her impulses and regret later.

"Okay."

So, they waited. But, the traffic moved inch by inch. It was frustrating for both of them as they were hungry and pissed.

"Let's go to your house." Nandini suddenly spoke out of nowhere,

"Sure?" Manik asked, sitting up straight and getting a bit excited.

"Yeah."

"Cool." Manik took a turn after sometime and they reached Manik's house in 15 minutes.

"Nice house." Nandini complimented, looking around as soon as they got down.

"Thanks. What do you want to eat? I'll tell the cook."

"I'll make something, if you don't mind?" Nandini asked, sounding hesitant.

"Umm, your wish." Manik said and showed her way to the kitchen where the cook was cleaning the dishes.

"Good afternoon Sir, good afternoon ma'am."

"Good afternoon."

"She wants to make something for us. Help her, alright?" Manik said.

"Okay sir."

Manik watched Nandini quickly prepare some Pasta, just as he liked. He didn't want to leave her alone in the kitchen so he kept buzzing around.

"Here you go." Nandini served some hot, steaming pasta in front of Manik.

"Looks delicious." Manik said, complimenting genuinely.

"Thanks! Hot pasta in this cool climate. C'est la vie, my friend." Nandini said and fed herself. Manik cringed discreetly at the word 'friend'.

"How is it?"

"Really good." Manik smiled widely, tasting his favourite go-to food.

Nandini nodded with a smile and both of them gorged on pasta together, not addressing the tension between the two of them.

~~~~~

Manik gave her a tour of his bungalow, in which he lived alone. The house had come so close as to getting to be called a home, with Manik and Alya almost getting married, alas, it won't happen. Manik was surprised at how he had been barely sad about the broken engagement.

"So many trophies and awards. Must be difficult to stay humble." Nandini teased.

"Never said I was humble." Manik replied with a smirk, Nandini threw her head back and laughed heartily.

"I remember this. Both of us won the Best Playback singer male and female that day." Nandini said, pointing to an award.

"That's right." Manik smiled, he realised that they had an actual connection.

"I see a lot of articles here with stars. Even your guitar has a star charm. What is the obsession with stars?" Nandini asked.

Manik was surprised, he didn't know Nandini actually observed his house carefully.

"Well, I have always been attached to stars. They gave me company when my parents didn't." Manik said, with a dull tone.

Nandini didn't want to prod too deep into his life so she just hummed.

"I toh have a bitter-sweet connection with stars." Nandini said, looking outside the window.

"Why so?"

"Just...nevermind. Wait, it has stopped raining heavily. I think I should leave." Nandini said, looking out of the window.

"Are you sure?" Manik asked, not wanting Nandini to leave so soon.

"Yeah! Thank you for being such a good host!" Nandini said and smiled.

"And thank you for being a good guest and for the good food." Manik said. Nandini smiled and turned to leave.

While turning, Nandini tripped on the carpet and was about to fall when Manik caught her just in time. She was hanging in the air, caged in his arms. His alluring cologne hit her nostrils, as his fingers came in contact with her bare arms.

"Are you okay?" He asked, his voice sounding husky up close. Nandini also noticed the mole under his lip and wondered how it would feel to kiss it.

And then Nandini stepped out of her dreamland and stood up straight.

"Umm yeah! I...I should go!" Nandini mumbled hurriedly, not giving Manik enough time to even come up with a reply and went out running. She was too embarrassed to have thoughts like these about an engaged man while being engaged herself.

She hurriedly booked a cab and left his mansion as soon as she could.

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