So sorry guys for the late update.
I was on an impromptu mini vacation with my family. I came back today and this what I could manage in a short span of time.
#NotEdited

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Mukti and Nandini had just settled besides everyone when Cabir called Manik. Seeing his call Manik put it on speaker

Manik: Bol

Cabir: Saale atleast formality ke liye toh hello bolde.

Manik: mujhse koi formality expect mat karna woh bhi tere liye toh bilkul nahi. Ab tu bolne wala hai ki nahi.

Cabir: I m feeling so blessed to have a friend like you.

Manik rolled his eyes.

Manik: dekh tere paas bohot balance hoga waste karne ke liye lekin mere paas bilkul bhi time nahi tujhpe waste karne ke liye. Isiliye jaldi bhauk warna main kaat raha hoon phone.

Cabir: KUTTA NAHI HOON MAIN.

Manik: usse kam bhi toh nahi hai. Ab bak na.

Cabir murmured curses.

Manik: I know you love me too much but will you speak up.

Everyone were simply rolling their eyes listening to the useless banter of the two buddies.

Cabir: Navya and I are going home.

Everyone:ooooohhhhhhh

On the other side Cabir rubbed his nape in embarrassment. He hadn't expected the call to be on speaker.

Cabir: sab ke sab gutter minds.

Cabir murmured but it was heard clearly by all. Everyone started laughing. Navya mouthed something listening to which Cabir nodded.

Cabir: Navya ke lectures cancel ho chuke hai toh we are going home since she needs REST.

Manik: ya ya we know she needs rest.

Nandini fished out her phone and saw that there was a message regarding cancellation of class. She smiled. Finally she will get to go home early and have some time with Rishabh.

Only if she knew!

Cabir: she really isn't feeling well and needs rest.

Cabir's no-nonsense tone made them all shut up. Simply humming they bade bye.

Nandini: chalo I will also leave.

Manik: oh hello! Kaha?

Nandini: tumne suna nahi Cabir ne kya bola...classes have been cancelled. Toh I m going home.

Manik: Maine Suna Cabir ne kya bola. Lekin tumhe kisne bola ki ghar jaana hai.

Nandini: kisne bola matlab kya Manik! I decided I am going home to spend some time with Rishabh. He has been a hell cranky these days.

Manik: haan toh chale jaa na lekin abhi nahi baad main.

Nandini: aur abhi kyu nahi?

Manik: kyu ki maine kaha.

Nandini: aur tumhe lagta hai ki maan jaogi bina kisi reason

Manik: tumhe har cheez main ek reason kyu chahiye can't you for once do something as I say.

Nandini: Ofcourse I can do something as you say as long as it makes sense Manik. And right now you aren't making any sense to me. Jab main bol rahi hoon ki I want to go home and spend time with Rishabh toh you are telling me to not go and when I am asking you why toh ulta toh mujhse lad rahe ho.

Dhruv being he all time peace maker tried to intervene when he was pulled back by Mukti and Alya.

Mukti whispered: Don't you remember Cabir's advice.

Dhruv whispered back: What advice?

Alya spoke in a hushed tone: Never interfere when the Monster and the Mini Monster are fighting.

Dhruv: O ooooo

Mukti: yeah. So shut up and sit down.

Meanwhile back to MaNan

Manik: main lad raha hoon

Nandini: Ofcourse.

Manik: tum lad rahi ho...bina baat ka issue bana rahi ho.

Nandini: main koi issue nahi bana rahi Manik. Tum illogical behave kar rahe ho.

Manik: haan meri toh har baat illogical hi hoti hai.

Nandini: maine aisa kab bola Manik. Mujhe tumse ladna nahi hai Manik Main jaa rahi hoon.

Nandini walked away from him. No sooner had she passed by him than she felt a tug on her wrist. Nandini turned around and looked at his face with raised eyebrows. Manik made pleading face. Simply puffing out some breathe Nandini looked at him with  seriously expression.

Manik mouthed: Please

Nandini didn't say anything and simply stood there. Knowing it was a angry yes. Manik smiled brightly and stood up from his chair.

Manik: see you guys later.

Not even bothering to wait for anyone's reply, he entwined his hand with her and dragging an angry Nandini he walked towards the parking. Guesturing her to sit inside he started driving.

Nandini: Manik

Manik: Hmmmm

Nandini: Tum bhi chalo na spend some time with Rishabh. You know he adores you a lot and loves your company.

Manik: I know Nandini. I love his company too. I love pampering him and he is just like my own younger brother. But even I love your company na. See agar main tumhe raat ko bulata toh tum mana karti kyu ki Chacha wouldn't like. Toh now that you have a leave spend some time with me na.

Nandini: I understand Manik. Even I want to spend time with you. Infact agar mera chale na Manik toh I would never leave your side. Lekin Rishabh......I can't leave him like this na.

Manik entwined his left hand with her right hand. Nandini kept her head on his left bicep. Manik kissed her forehead.

Manik: Hmmm....how about we go after lunch to your place and spend the rest of the day there. You know kha ke jayege toh Chachi ka experimental food nahi khana padega

Nandini laughingly: done deal.

Both smiled looking at each other. Manik continued driving.

Nandini: accha main atleast Chachi ko inform kr doon.

Manik nodded and continued driving. Not for once did anyone of them made a move to leave their entwined hands. They were growing comfortable with the closeness between them. Especially Nandini. She had started expressing herself more to him. While for Manik he shared his feelings, his confusion, his anguish, his inner thoughts with Nandini. They were taking one step at a time and were molding their relationship in a beautiful companionship.

Nandini: haan Chachi! Woh lectures cancel ho gye hai.

Nandini: pta ni bas message aaya

Nandini:haan.....ni ni actually woh.....

Nandini looked at Manik whose eyes were focused on the road. He was dancing his head to the tune playing in the background.

Nandini: haan haan Chachi I m listening.

Manik smirked. He was very well aware of his gaze.

Nandini: Ni ni Chachi woh Manik......

And immediately she bit her tongue.
Manik's smirk only kept increasing.

Nandini: Arrey woh matlab Manik Aur humare friends hum sab Manik ke ghar jaa rhe hai for lunch.

Manik looked at Nandini raising his eyebrows. His eyes sparkled in mischief and amusement. Nandini made an innocent face.

Manik mouhed:Joothi.

Nandini glared at him. Manik bit his lip to control his laughter.

Nandini: haan haan Chachi sun rahi hoon main.

Nandini: Lunchhhhhh

Now it was Nandini's turn to smirk looking at Manik.

Nandini: haan woh Manik toh bol hi raha tha ki

Listening to his name Manik frowned and looked at Nandini. With actions he asked her What to which Nandini nodded nothing. Yet the frown didn't disappear from his face.

Nandini: haan woh Chachi Manik bol raha tha ki usse toh aapke haath ka bhindi pasta bohot miss karta hai. Infact main toh bolti hoon aaj Shaam ke dinner main specially Manik ke liye wohi banaye.

Manik's eyes widened in horror. He in an instant pulled the breaks of the car and snatched the phone from Nandini's hand. Nandini was having a hard time suppressing her laughter. As soon as Manik saw her phone he realised she was pulling his leg. The phone had been cut long back. He looked at Nandini with a blank face.

Manik started driving again murmuring curses. They were just a few minutes away from the Malhotra Mansion. Nandini burst out laughing irritating Manik to the core. He stopped the car in the Malhotra's parking with a jerk.

Manik: khi khi khi.....Bohot maza aa rha hai na tumhe.

Nandini: bilkul aa rha hai maza. What are you gonna do about it?

Manik was shocked seeing this bold Nandini. He smirked and was about to grab her hand when Nandini opened the door and ran inside. Manik was hot on heels right behind her. Following her all the way upto his room. Once inside he locked the door.

Downstairs Mahir, who was leaving for a Board of Directors meeting regarding a new trustee of S.P.A.C.E. who could replace Nyonika, smiled listening to the shouts and giggles of the two. He inwardly blessed them and left the house giving the couple their own privacy.

Upstairs.

Manik: Nanduuuuu

Nandini: Monsterrrrrrr

Manik: ab kaha jaogi.

Nandini: bohot saari jagah hai. You know tumhara wardrobe itself itna bada hai to fit me.

Nandini took a step back shill Manik took a step ahead.

Manik: Mere paas wardrobe open karne ki keys hai.

Nandini: bathroom main.

Manik: uski bhi keys hai.

Nandini: upar se latch kr dungi.

Manik: I am strong enough to break it.

Nandini murmured: har cheez main tod fod karwa lo iss monster se. Kabhi shaanti se toh koi kaam kar hi nahi sakta yeh ladka. Doing something peacefully is against Manik Malhotra's ego.

Nandini was so lost talking to herself that she didn't realise that the one one step that she was taking back had finally made her dash into the wall. Manik who was taking long cautious steps towards Nandini caged her by placing his hands on either side of the wall.

Nandini gaped at his in horror while Manik smirked. He started tickling her. Nandini tried running away while Manik kept tickling her causing both of them to loose their balance and fall flat on the floor.

Manik:oh fuckkkkk!

Nandini: owwwwwwwww!

Both groaned in pain. Manik held his back with one hand and with another he held his head while Nandini was rubbing her head as well as her arms. For a second both looked at each other and then burst out laughing.

Manik: damn yaar. Matlab bistar couch sab chhod ke we choose to fall on he floor. Thoda aur zor se girte na toh pakka ek do haddi toh toot hi jaati.

Nandini: hahahaha....Sahi kaha.

Manik: main toh humesha sahi hi kehta hoon.

Nandini rolled her eyes. She got up and was about to sit on the bed when she heard her phone ringing. She pulled it out from her bag and sat in the bed going through her social media sites. Manik frowned. He pulled her phone away and slept on the bed with his head in her lap.

Nandini: such an attention seeker you are Manik.

Manik: woh toh main hoon.

Nandini: matlab thodi der bhi you can't bear anyone's ignorance na.

Manik: jab tumhe pata hai toh kyu mere hisse ka attention uss dumb smart-phone ko de rhi ho

Nandini:Manik tum ek phone se jealous ho rahe ho! Unbelievable!

Manik immediately sprang up and sat on his knees facing Nandini.

Manik: oh hello main jealous nahi ho raha. It's just I can't bear the fact ki mere hote hui bhi your entire focus is on the phone when I should be the one you should be focussing on.

Nandini rolled her eyes. Manik grinned and lied down again in her lap. Nandini smiled and started ruffling his hair. Manik closed his eyes.

Nandini whispered: kya soch rhe ho Manik?

Manik opened his eyes. Nandini was shocked for a moment seeing his red eyes. She bend down and kissed his forehead while Manik closed his eyes to absorb the moment.

Manik: I don't remember when was the last time someone caressed my hair like this.

Nandini didn't say anything. She again bend down and this time kissed his both the eyes and his nose.

Manik: I have always missed a mother's warmth. Do you know why I feel so attached to Chachi?

Nandini nodded her head in a no.

Manik: not because I want to impress her....woh toh Ofcourse karna hi hai

Nandini hit Manik on his bicep while they both chuckled.

Manik: actually mehnat karne ki zaroorat nahi she is already impressed with me. Waise bhi who can resist Manik Malhotra ka charm.

Nandini looked at him with a blank face that made Manik snigger. Nandini too smiled and again started ruffling his hair.

Manik: but you know what makes her special. The love that she has for me. I mean I am no one to her. But still she loves me equally as Rishabh. She doesn't consider me a guest or an outsider. You know after that Pandit incident when I was standing there she cried in front of me. Though I am bad with words and even worse at consoling people but still that day I felt hurt seeing her cry. And you know that day for the first time apart from you it was her tears that affected me a lot. I really adore her. But more than that I respect her.

Nandini smiled widely seeing him open up. She simply wrapped her arms around his neck and placed her chin on his forehead. Manik smiled. He held her palm that was lying on his chest and started playing with her fingers.

Suddenly Nyonika's words from yesterday rang in Nandini's mind. She abruptly jerked herself away from Manik causing him to open his eyes in confusion and look at Nandini. Nandini was looking lost. Manik stood up and held her chin and made her face him. He raised his eye brows asking what?

Nandini: I know what Nyonika said yesterday wasn't entirely the truth. Then what is the truth Manik?

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I hope you guys liked the update.
Do vote and comment.❤