As promised, Manik arrived at Nandini's house at sharp 7:30 to pick her up. Neelam & Rakesh invited him in and chatted with him for a bit. A few moments later, Manik looked towards the stairs after hearing footsteps and he was blown away.

There stood Nandini, wearing her mom's dark red chiffon saree. Her hair was left open and blowing gently due to an open window. Nandini herself, wore minimal makeup but looked absolutely gorgeous.

Manik's mouth hung open as he admired her. At that moment a hand reached out and lifted his chin to close his mouth.....it was Rakesh.

"Beta mujhe paata hai humari bachi bohot khubsoorat lag rahi hai...lekin tu aise muh khula rakhega toh makkhi ghus jayega na?" Rakesh teased with a smile. Neelam & Navya covered their mouths to giggle while Manik & Nandini were both red from embarrassment.

"Papaaaa!" Nandini gave Rakesh a look.

"Ha haha! Acha ok baba. Main kuch nahi bolunga....tum dono jao and enjoy." Rakesh replied.

"I'm so sorry about Papa." Nandini said as they sat in Manik's car. 

"Its ok...mere Dad bhi same hai." Manik chuckled. "Unka favourite hobby hi mujhe embarrass karna hai."

"So....plan kya hai?"

"You'll see." Manik drove Nandini to a five star restaurant. Before she could get out, he got out and went over to her side to hold the car door open for her. They entered & Manik walked over to the hostess. "Hi...table for 2? Under the name Manik Malhotra."

"Oh yes sir....we have reserved our entire rooftop patio area for you as you requested." The hostess replied.

"Manik...PURA patio? Hum sirf do hi hai...." Nandini whispered to Manik.

"Haan do hai iss liye toh privacy chahiye hoga na?" Manik replied. "Come...you will love the view."

Manik & Nandini followed the hostess to the patio area in the back which as she had said was empty apart from a table for two that was set for them.

"Wow Manik...yahan se toh pura shahar dikhta hai." Nandini gushed at the view.

"Hai na? And the food is great too.....wait, you're not allergic to anything are you?" Manik asked. "I can talk to the staff..."

"No...Im good. Don't worry." Nandini smiled at his concern.

They both sat down and ordered once a waiter came over.

After the waiter left, Nandini noticed Manik was admiring her. "Kya hua Manik?"

"Nahi woh....tum...tum aaj bohot khubsoorat lag rahi ho." Manik replied nervously.

Nandini smiled as she really like hearing him compliment her but she then decided to tease him. Quickly wiping the smile off her face, Nandini glared at him.

"Acha...matlab main bakki ke din Manjulika ke tarah lagti hoon??"

"Manju who? Yeh kaun hai? Humare office ke cafe wale lady?" Manik asked in confusion.

"No its- wait....tumne Bhool Bhulaiyaa series nahi dekhi?" Nandini asked in shock.

"No..." Manik shrugged. 

"Haye bhagwan! Yeh kaise uncultured insaan se meri shaadi hone jaa rahi hai!" Nandini cried dramatically. "Acha chalo....2 aur 3 nahi dekha woh phir bhi thik hai....those were eh anyways lekin tumne OG Bhool Bhulaiyaa nahi dekhi? God Manik...you have so much homework to do....varna meri filmy references kaise samajh ayega tumhe?"

"Ok Ok...Ill catch up." Manik replied. "Lekin yeh Manju hai kaun?"

"Manju nahi...Manjulika! Bhootni hai....here, I'll show you." Nandini took out her phone and showed him a picture.

"Woah....I swear Nandini...I never said tum bakki ke din iske tarah dikhti ho!" Manik got alarmed.

"Lekin tumhara matlab toh yehi tha." Nandini continued with her drama. 

"What? NOO! No...seriously I just meant ke tum AAJ khubsoorat lag rahi ho....bakki ke din toh maine notice hi nahi ki na!" Manik blurted out in a panic.

"WHAT! Matlab....main invisible hoon? Thats even worse!" Nandini pretended like she was about to cry.

"Nooo! I....you....shit shit shit Manik...pehli date pe rula raha hai tu usse....such an idiot!" Manik scolded himself, smacking his forehead. Finally unable to hold it in, Nandini started laughing. Manik froze and looked at her.

"Haha haha! Oh god Manik...tumhara shakal dekhna layak tha! Bhoot Manjulika hai lekin pura safed tum ho gaye ho! Hahaha haha!" Nandini laughed.

"Nandini tum na....kaafi shaitan ho." Manik playfully glared at her.

"Main toh bohot kuch hoon Mr Malhotra...dheere dheere paata chalega tumhe." 

Soon the food came, Manik & Nandini chatted some more...getting to know more about each other.

"Manik??? Tu yahan?" Nandini heard a familiar voice from behind her. Manik's eyes widened as he saw his friends.

"Abhi...Dhruv..." Manik whispered in surprised. Nandini quickly took the pallu of her saree and covered her head and face....also using her hair as the saree was kind of see through. Meanwhile, Abhi & Dhruv walked over to their table. "Heyyyyy  guuuuyyyyssss.....tum log yahan?"

"Arre Dhruv ka birthday celebrate karne aaye hai...tujhe bhi bulaya tha yaad hai? You said you were busy....." Abhi raised an eyebrow.

"Oh busy...haan..woh...main busy toh hoon." Manik nodded.

"Yeah we can see that....date ke liye tune doston ko ditch ki Manik?" Dhruv teased him.

"Nahi Nahi...yeh date nahi....yeh toh meri bhabhi hai!" Manik just blurted out....trying to hide that fact that he was on a date. Hearing him call her his bhabhi, Nandini kicked his leg from under the table. "Aah Mummy!"

"What? Bhabhi ya Mummy?" Dhruv asked.

"Aur ek minute...yeh Bhabhi kahan se aa gayi? You're an only child." Abhi said.

"Wahi toh main bol raha tha ki...mera jo mummy hai...matlab Mom, Mom ki chachere bhai ki behen ki...bete ki......wife...Haan...unki wife hai yeh....wali bhabhi." Manik explained.

Nandini, who was trying her best to hide her face felt like banging her head on the table. "Pls for the love of god Manik...just stop talking. Pehli baar dekh rahi hoon koi jhoot bolne mein ITNA burra bhi ho sakta hai. Mangetar se seedha bhabhi bana diya isne mujhe!"

"Okkaaayyyy..." Abhi & Dhruv were still confused. "Toh tu....yahan apni Bhabhi ke saath akele kyun aaya hai? I mean...tera bhai kaha hai?"

"Woh toh maar gaya na!" Manik lied quickly. Nandini shot him a look from under her pallu.

"Seriously?? Ab main vidhwa bhabhi hoon???" 

"Maar gaya? Kab?" Abhi asked.

"Abhi abhi." Manik replied.

"Hein?"

Nandini again kicked Manik.

 "Ow- I mean....abhi ek mahine pehle. Isi liye tujhe manna karna para kyunki bhabhi....aur bhai ki marriage anniversary hai and bhabhi was feeling lonely so maine.....main.....kya kar raha tha bhabhi?" Manik looked to Nandini for help to complete his lie.

"Aap hi bata dijiye DEVARJI...itne ache se toh bol rahe hai." Nandini replied in a high pitched voice, gritting her teeth and glaring at Manik.

"Dude...yeh kuch zyada modern bhabhi nahi hai?" Dhruv whispered to Abhi. " I mean ek mahine pehle hi Pati ki death hui hai aur yeh laal saree pehen ke apne devar ke saath aise romantic ambiance mein....wine peene aayi hai."

"Come on Dhruv....manna hum bhabhiji ko nahi jaante par Manik toh humara dost hai na? manik kabhi apne bhabhi ke saath aisa vaisa kuch...I mean Manik's not like that. Shayad hum hi situation ko galat interpret kar rahe hai....maybe..." Abhi replied....not so sure himself.

To Be Continued....

Pls Vote & Comment.

Note: I was so busy with Kali Puja & then Diwali & Halloween parties last week....anyways, how was everyone's Diwali/ Halloween?