(A/N: Yipee. Thanks everyone for all your support. Loads of love to all of you. The story will now be progressing at a relatively slow rate but you will see loads of MaNan and their different shades in every update. I hope you'll like the update. Vote. Comment. Follow :P And yeah, sorry for the delay. Loads of love.)

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Manik skid into the classroom, after running like a maniac on the corridors. He spotted his friends sitting on the last bench and he put his hands on his knees, panting.

"Hey bro, how was your night?" Cabir greeted him with a pat and Manik propped himself on the chair. He bent his head and put his hands in his hair.

"Terrible man. That girl is hell." He complained, running his fingers through his hand.

"Ooo. Looks like someone is pissed off. What happened? Too bad the night got over, huh?" Cabir teased and Manik whacked him.

"Shut up, idiot. I'm serious."

"Yaar, hota hai. Just chill. Let's go to the canteen, before that baldheaded professor comes." Mukti tried to cheer them up. They all walked out of the partially filled classroom and headed towards the canteen.

***

"Oh no. It's 9:02. Class must've started." I mumbled to myself and hit into someone. I apologized and ran to my class. Surprisingly, no teacher had come. I went to Navya's bench. Just then, my phone buzzed.

Navya: Nandu, I won't be able to come to college today. Sorry for not informing earlier. Can you get notes for me?

I thought for a while and then sent a reply message.

Nandini: Yeah sure. Agar tum pehle bolti toh I wouldn't have come either.
Navya: Sorry. Have to go now. Bye.

That meant no Navya for the entire day. What about Madhyam? He was the last person I wanted to face since yesterday. It wasn't until then that I realized everyone's eyes were on me. I shifted uncomfortably and some girls came to me.

"Are you pregnant? Why did you get married?" They lifted my hands and nudged me and I made uncomfortable faces. I jerked them away.

"Firstly, you are nobody to care about my personal life and second, it's my wish to do what I want to. I don't need to answer any of you bloody attention seekers." I yelled at them and their expressions changed from sarcastic to angry.

"Excuse me? Hey girl, mind your language, alright? Girls like you just want sex and you are ready to do anything for that permanent commitment of having a guy in your pants whenever..." She snapped but before she could continue, I slapped her right across her face. She fumed and raised her hand to slap me but Manik stopped her. He held her hand and shook his head. She smiled at him and walked back to her bench.

I sat without saying a word to anyone. The class started and I began jotting down the notes of my Physics class. Manik and I were never in the same class. It was only because Manik had power over the others in college, he could attend any class he wanted. I was in second year, a science student, doing my BSc. degree and he was doing his final year in BA. Probably he was going to do MA too but I didn't care.

Madhyam sat on the bench next to mine. He glared at my hands. It felt a little weird but in a nice way. I knew I had permanent support now. If anything happened to me, Manik was there. As much as I hated him all those days. I wouldn't deny I didn't trust him. He tried to be opportunistic and evil yet I knew he just did such things to intimidate me. He never had intentions to force me into anything and that was something that I respected him for.

***

"Bro, let's go to my place to party. I have like a mini-bar set up. Let's chill there." Manik suggested after his first class. They made it a point to attend only one or two classes everyday. The rest of the time, they focused on music and with Mom's help, they made sure they would score 80% and above.

"Okay." They all agreed and headed to our place. On the corridor, Manik felt his pockets.

"Shit! Damn! I left my keys at home." He palmed his face and the others just gaped at him.

"So what now?"

"I have to call Nandini." He picked his phone and dialed my number. My phone buzzed when I was in my Chemistry class. I declined the call and continued with my experiment.

"What the hell? She isn't picking." He cursed me under his breath with a few other words and dialed my number again. My phone was anyways on silent so I didn't bother. He stomped his foot in annoyance.

"Which class is she in now?" Alya asked and Dhruv sighed.

"I don't know."

"How ridiculous? She's your wife and you don't know where she is?" Mukti scowled and Manik sighed.

"Dude, you all know we hate each other. Stop pretending like you're clueless about everything."

"Ask Nyonika ma'am." Dhruv suggested a wiser option and Manik hugged Dhruv. He dialed Mom's number.

"Mom, where are second year science students now?" He asked without even expecting a reply from her. She checked the timetable and then gave him some information.
"Chemistry lab. Kyun? Anything wrong?" She sounded worried and Manik tried to compose himself.
"No Mom. You don't have to worry. All is fine." He assured her and cut the call.

He climbed the stairs and reached the 5th floor. He stormed into the room in the middle of our experiment and approached me. He dragged me out of the room despite my protests.

"Manik, what is wrong with you? Let me go. It's something important. You can keep your frowns and words for sometime later." I tried to go back in but he stopped me.

"Nandini, why can't you pick your damn phone? What if I am dying and it's urgent?" He put out stupid situations and I just crossed my arms. "Give me your keys."

"Why?" I asked, totally displeased by the order of priorities in his head. He dragged me out of that important experiment only to have his keys. How dumb?

"I left my keys at home. Give me yours." He extended his hand out to me and I felt exasperated. Since he had managed to nag me, I had to do the same to him.

"I won't. Unless you promise me..." I held my head high and then looked at him, to give him a sense of hope.

"What is it, Nandini? Shoot. Fast."

"Promise me you'll come to pick me up. Please? I can't go on my own." I made cute faces and he took a deep breath to control his temper.

"Fine."

"You will? Really?" I asked him with hopeful eyes and he looked away.

"Yeah." His hands were on his waist, and he was being restless.

"Okay, I am trusting you. Don't fail me." I spoke slowly and as soon as he heard 'trust', I was assured I had all his attention. He smiled faintly and took my keys.

"Thanks." He waved and ran away. I smiled and went back to class.

***

He opened the door and the house looked like a mess. The juice had become sticky, grossing out the floor. The spatula was on the floor. The grapes on the floor were squished, making the floor sticky. The towel was lying on the couch and not to mention, the wet towel was over a chair, half-soggy. The hair dryer was on the dining table. He looked at his friends, who were giggling and palmed his face.

"Aise kya kar rahe the tum dono, kal raat, that you didn't care about the juice, the towels..." He pointed at the items and waved in the air and Manik sighed.

"It's not my fault. Nandini loses her head when we're around. She did all this." He conveniently passed the blame onto me and given that I wasn't present there, at that moment, I couldn't do much.

"Forget it. Our houses are worse. Let's just get to the drinks." Mukti pulled Manik to lead the way and he did. They went to the bar and got themselves some drinks. Manik just sat with alcohol but didn't take a sip.

"Manik, why aren't you drinking?" Alya shot and Manik came out of his wonderland. I am trusting you. Don't fail me. The words rang in his head.

"I have promised Mom that I'll visit her this evening so I need to drive back, you see?" He tried to manage an excuse but how was it that he could get away that easily?

"Everyone has to drive back home only. Chal. Drink." Mukti tried to force him but he denied.

"Guys, please." They just sighed.

"Fine; whatever."

***

"Navya, I wanted to talk to you. Kahan ho?"
"I am at home. Kya hua?"
"Voh hum milne vale the na?"
"Haan. You are in your new house na? Main vahan aa jaaun?"
"Haan okay. Be there in 30 minutes. Sharp 6:30."
"Okay bye."

Where was he? I looked around, leaning slightly forward and waited for him. Just then, I heard an engine turn off and he came towards me, dressed in a yellow shirt and jeans. He was adjusting his hair while approaching me.

"Hey. Am I late?" He looked all neat and I was kinda shocked.

"Not really." I just shrugged and he led me to the bike.

"Acchha listen. My friends are at our place. Okay?" He just warned and I nodded. He sat on the bike and I sat behind him, with my legs on either sides.

"You can take support, if you want." He suggested and I searched for the back handle. There wasn't anything like that.

"Uhh... Where do I hold?" I asked and he took my hands, put them around his waist and turned back.

"Don't mind. We are married." He said with a smirk and then drove off. I tried my best to distance myself from him but the more I tried, the more I failed.

***

"Madhyam and I had sex yesterday." She blurted and flashed her teeth. She closed her eyes tight. My eyes widened at the piece of information and I gasped. Thankfully we were in the bedroom and the door was closed. God knew what they would think if they heard her.

"What? Why all of a sudden?" I was confused. At least after yesterday's talk with him, it was certain that he pledged to never do stuff.

"He said he wanted to know how much I love him. And after last night, I am not thinking about anyone else. Nandini, Cabir and all aren't my type. I know I love Madhyam." She confessed and I felt bad for her. If only I could tell her what he told me.

"Why didn't you come to college then?" She smiled awkwardly and I rolled my eyes. Lovestruck teenagers. Urgh.

"I felt sore and tired. So I took a holiday."

"Oh." I didn't know what more to say. Did whatever she do mean something to him at all?

***

I was sitting on the bed, making a timetable when Manik popped the door open. I jumped.

"Manik, what is wrong with you? Couldn't you be a little subtle? Moron." He held the door and slurred in. He fell on the bed next to me.

"Nand... ini..." He stressed on my name as he took some support and leaned towards me. He peeped into my work and closed an eye to see better. "Kya karr rahi hoo?"

"Manik, move. We need to follow a strict timetable now. So here's the plan." I turned towards him and joined my hands together, not exactly making them touch yet trying to explain my point.

"Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, I get to use the bathroom first. That means you get an extra 20 minute nap time. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, you get to use the bathroom first. That means you have to wake up early because you won't be given extra time. Am I clear?" I nodded with proper pauses in between to make sure I made myself clear. He also nodded his head to every pause, with his hands crossed on his chest. After I finished, he looked at me in awe. "What?"

"Nanduuu... Aisa nahi hota. No! I don't... follow the rules. I... break them." He flashed his teeth and made adorable faces as he walked around the room, holding things to stand straight.

"Manik, listen to me."

"NO! Manik Malhotra ko change karna mushkil nahi, namumkin hai." He declared with pride and a cheeky smile and then stumbled onto the bed.

"Oh really? I will change you Manik Malhotra." He gaped at me and then chuckled to himself. He shook his head slowly, glancing at me. I pulled his tank top strap and he fell on me. I turned him over the way he did the other day.

"Nandini... Tum kya... kar... rahi... ho?" His voice began with a high pitch and then subsequently subsided as I inched closer to him. He was lost in his world while I leaned closer. I could feel his chest muscles pump at an uncontrollable rate. His breathing hitched up and gazed at me.

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(Did you like it? Did you, did you? :P And yeah, do check out the story by my Khoo ❤️ IwishInever It's called MaNan SS: My Bride Or Her Best Friend. It's a fantastic concept and she's little so do support her. And don't forget me also. 😦 Thanks.)