7:15 pm, 22nd February, Galaxy Villa, Madh Island, Mumbai.

"Wow! That's a surprise! Congratulations, Nandini!" Raghav's voice blared in my ears.

I was still dazed when Manik came down from the stage, and walked up to me, stopping only a foot away.

"May I have this dance?" He asked, in a husky voice.

I was still thoroughly confused by his actions...he was supposed to hate me! Especially after my antics last night, and what I'd said in the video! Then-why the hell had he chosen me to dance with?!

"Nandini...go on..." Jeff whispered into my ears as she gave me a slight nudge.

I stumbled forward a little bit, but regained my balance soon enough.

As I looked up at Manik, I saw that his trademark smirk was on his face, yet again!

I swallowed, and hesitantly, placed my hand in his.

He smiled, and led me to the middle of the dance floor, which was at quite a distance away from the rest of the girls.

As I followed him, a strange sort of nervousness began to engulf me. I was a bad dancer anyway...and dancing with Manik definitely seemed like a bad idea!

When we reached the designated spot that would allow the best camera angles to capture us, the spot boys gave us the thumbs up sign and Manik wasted no time in placing his hand on my waist and pulling me close.

As soon as the music began playing, we started rocking to it, and I cautiously placed my hand on his shoulder in order to gather support.

I tried to avoid his gaze as far as possible by looking down, and praying that the whole ordeal would be over soon.

However, much to my chagrin, Manik bent closer to my face and whispered seductively in my ear. "You look gorgeous, tonight..."

I immediately looked at him with wide eyes. What was he up to?! I'd specifically done things in order to piss him off, and here he was complimenting me!

"Don't you have anything to say to me?" he asked softly, as we continued swaying to the music.

"Why did you choose me?!" I blurted out, before I could stop myself.

A large smirk appeared on his face yet again, as if he'd predicted my state of mind.

He bent his head once again, and murmured into my ears. "Because you're different...you're a challenge...and Manik Malhotra loves challenges!"

I immediately felt annoyed at his statement. I wasn't some random inanimate object for him to play around with!

"You're wasting your time!" I said with a hostile expression on my face.

"Really? Waise...I had to ask you something, in your video, you said that I look 'okay', so after seeing me today morning, has your opinion changed..." He said.

Before I could fully process his words, he immediately twirled me around twice, and pulled me in such a way that I directly went and crashed on his chest.

"...Or do you need a closer look?" He asked, his eyes piercing into mine, determinedly.

As soon as I realized the implication of his statement, I immediately blushed red like a tomato!

Fuck! He had seen me! He had spotted me, when I was watching him work out at the gym!

"I didn't see anything at the gym..." I said, trying to control my voice from shaking due to my mortification.

This just made his smirk grow wider, as he said. "I never mentioned anything about a gym..."

My face burned even more, when I realized that I'd slipped up! Shit! I was making a bigger fool out of myself than I'd thought possible! Our collar microphones were on, and if they telecasted our conversation, I'd be a laughing stock all over the country!

His next move puzzled me a little because he lifted me up gracefully, as we turned in unison. It was a few seconds later that I realized exactly what he was up to, as he fumbled around behind my dress, and finally switched off my collar mike, as if he'd read my mind.

When he placed me down again, he said, moving a lock of hair behind my ear. "No one is listening now...I'm still waiting on my answer...do you need a closer look?"

"I don't know what you're talking about..." I said, trying to deflect the question.

"Really?" He said, as his fingers trailed along my cheeks, caressing them in the softest possible way.

For a second, his touch seemed all too natural, just like that of a feather...and my cheeks heated up at the contact.

Was I actually enjoying his touch?!

When I looked up to meet his gaze, the intensity in his eyes made me feel uncomfortable. Was that purely carnal desire I saw in his eyes...or was it something else?

As he continued to trace the outline of my facial features with his slender fingers, I squeaked out forcefully. "You have to...stop..."

"Why?" He asked, almost as if he were pleading me to take my words back.

His expression said, that he didn't believe my words and frankly-I couldn't blame him! I really didn't sound convincing, when I had asked him to stop!

As I thought of a good enough response, Aryaman's face popped into my head all of a sudden!

"I have a boyfriend!" I blurted out, once more.

Manik's expression changed immediately, as a sliver of confusion showed up on his face.

However, it disappeared almost as soon as it had appeared.

"So? You're here now..." He said, with frown lines on his forehead.

Since I'd already revealed this much, I realized that I might as well tell him the whole story. "Listen, I never wanted to come on the show! My family members forced me because they don't particularly like my boyfriend-Aryaman! So that's why I'm here..."

"So, I guess I should thank your family then..." He said, as he twirled me around yet again.

"Listen, I have no wish to be here! I had planned on getting myself eliminated on the first day itself! Aryaman's already very upset with me and I want to get out of here." I said.

I sighed as I prepared myself for what I had to say next.

"So can you please do me a favour? Can you please eliminate me? We don't much like each other anyway..." I said, quickly.

Before I could get an answer from him, the music stopped, and I heard the girls clapping for us, and Manik and I broke apart.

As all of them moved towards us, Manik slowly came towards me and whispered. "You don't know how wrong you are..."

His answer sent shivers down my spine...what did he mean by that?!

Before the girls could reach the dance floor, Manik's observably high-strung manager quickly rushed up to him and said. "Manik, what was that? It was going so well! Why did you switch the collar mikes off?!"

"I just felt like it..." He said, with an icy smile.

"Manik, you shouldn't have..." The manager began to say, but Manik cut him off in the middle.

"Agar ek aur shabd nikla, tere muh se, toh yeh collar mike tere gaand mein daal dunga!" Manik said through gritted teeth.

An involuntary chuckle escaped my lips as I saw his manager's bewildered expression.

So, the posh and classy Manik Malhotra could get vernacular as well! That was interesting!

When all the girls finally reached us, Rose immediately ran up to me and said. "Wow! You guys danced really well..."

"Thanks..." I said, stiffly.

Actually, I didn't deserve even a little bit of the credit! It was only because Manik was leading that our dance had turned out half decent!

I watched as Manik's manager went away dejectedly, gesturing both of us to switch on our mike again.

After following the instruction, I heard Manik say. "Girls, more dances later...first I need a drink...and I do hope you'll join me!"

"Of course, Manik! Whatever, you want!" Soha said excitedly as Inaaya scoffed at her reaction.

Nevertheless, all of us followed Manik to the bar, to get ourselves drinks.

All the girls opted for a glass of wine, except for me and Riddhima.

It wasn't as if I didn't enjoy a drink or two, but being here, around Manik...made me want to ensure that I had all my wits about me at all times!

I guessed that Riddhima still hadn't loosened up yet...

Just as Alya had lifted up her glass, Manik immediately took it from her hand and said. "Alya...you know what...yours was the second video that impressed me! You said that you love trying new types of cocktails, right? I have a special one for you..."

"Huh?" Alya said, all puzzled.

"You shouldn't have something as common as wine! I'll give you something else! Bartender, please hand her the cocktail that I'd asked you to make earlier!" Manik said, with a wicked smile on his face.

The bartender immediately handed over the cocktail to Alya and she took it grudgingly.

It was red in colour, and looked quite attractive. What the hell was it, though? A Bloody Mary, or something else?

"Come on, have a sip and tell me how you like it!" Manik, said happily.

Alya hesitantly, took a sip of the drink and started coughing almost instantaneously!

Shit! What the hell was in that mix?!

Alya immediately said, in a choked voice. "Manik I'd much rather just have wine..."

"Come on Alya, I've made it especially for you..." Manik said, tapping her shoulders in encouragement.

All the contestants looked fairly confused, but I had a pretty good idea as to what was happening! This lethal drink, seemed like the first weapon that Manik had deployed in order to torture Alya!

I observed Alya's pale face as she took another sip. Tears were already streaming down her face...

I couldn't just stand by and watch! I knew that Manik was pissed at Alya with good reason, but that didn't give him the right to torture her physically! Besides, Alya had called me her friend, so what kind of a friend would I be, if I didn't stand up for her?!

I immediately went up to Manik, and pulled his arm to make him face me.

I tiptoed and hissed into his ears. "Manik, what the hell are you doing? What's in that drink?"

Manik's expression hardened immediately as he heard me.

He replied in an icy voice. "I know you have a habit of picking other people's battles, but just stay out of this one!"

He tried to move away, but I pulled him back and said. "Manik, just stop..."

"You of all people should understand why I'm doing this...I know that you heard Alya and me arguing! So just back off!" He hissed.

My grip on his arm slackened when I heard his statement. How? How did he know that I was there?!

I watched idly as he went up to Alya and said in a mocking voice. "Oh no baby, I thought you said that you can drink any new cocktail...and you can't even swallow this one!"

The taunt seemed to have given Alya a new incentive to finish the drink. I gasped in shock as determination took over Alya's face and she swallowed the rest of the drink in one large gulp.

As she kept the glass down, her face was white, and there was sweat on her brow! She looked like she would throw up at any moment!

And I was right! A few seconds later, she dashed out of the ballroom, presumably to go to the washroom...

"Oh that's just sad! I guess she needs some rest! Let's not spoil our party, because of just one person..." I heard Manik, say smugly.

I moved to the bar counter at once, and sniffed the residual contents of the drink that Alya had swallowed with great difficulty.

I was stunned when I realized that it was rum mixed with an overdose of Tabasco sauce and vinegar!

In short, it was absolutely awful! Alya had some serious will power, swallowing something as deadly as this!

I looked up to see Manik smirking as I examined the contents of the drink! How heartless could he be?! I threw him a look of disapproval and swiftly made my way to the exit in order to find Alya...

I walked a few steps until I reached the ball room's private washroom. I was almost certain that Alya would fall ill after having such a drink! I had to make sure she was alright!

I opened the door to the washroom and found Alya vomiting, in one of the stalls.

I immediately went up to her, and held her hair back, so that it wouldn't get dirty, by falling into the pot.

When she was finally done, I helped her up and took her towards the sink in order to help her wash up. She seemed too weak to object to the help...

She splashed water on her face and I cleaned her clothes up with a towel.

She was still coughing, so I patted her back and quickly handed her a mineral water bottle that was kept on one of the dressing tables in the fancy washroom.

She drank some water and began to calm down eventually...

I got a good look at her as her breathing normalized...the pallor was back on her face! She looked absolutely haggard and worn out! She had thrown up her entire lunch, just now! If she didn't eat anything, she would most definitely fall ill!

"Thank you..." Alya said, in a grateful voice as a fresh set of tears made their way down her cheeks.

I felt really sad for her, and wiped her tears immediately.

"Alya it's okay...I'm just helping out..."I said, as she sniffled even more.

"But you know what's not okay?! What Manik just did to you!" I said, in anger.

She looked a little alarmed when she heard my statement.

"No Nandini...I deserve this...I'm the one who hurt him...you don't know the whole story..." She started babbling, in order to defend him.

"No, Alya! No matter what you did to him, he doesn't have the right to torture you like this!" I said, determinedly.

"It's okay, Nandini, please don't get involved in this! I'll sort it out my way...please!" She requested. "Besides, I know that he'll never do anything that would actually hurt me..."

Her blind faith in him was a little surprising to me, especially after bearing witness to the incident that had just occurred.

"Are you sure?" I asked her, sincerely.

"Yes! I don't want him to take out the anger he has towards me on anyone else..." She said, guiltily.

"Fine! Then, go out there and be brave! Show him that he can't break you..." I said, in order to boost her confidence.

I handed her the kajal pencil, that I'd found in her clutch and said. "Here, fix your makeup. And after getting out of here, please get something to eat first! You have to keep your strength up if you're going up against that monster..."

She chuckled slightly and said. "Thanks for the pep talk..."

I winked at her and said. "What are friends for?"

*****************************************

8:00 pm, 22nd February, Galaxy Villa.

I scanned the ball room and saw that all the girls seemed happy enough, and unperturbed by the incident with Alya, so why did Nandini run after her?

I thought that if she had truly heard my argument with Alya, then she should have taken my side, right? But, no! I guess in her eyes, I could never do anything right!

Shit! Manik-why the hell are you thinking about her opinion?! It doesn't matter!

Honestly, my mood had deteriorated substantially, ever since Nandini had revealed that she had a boyfriend! I hadn't shown it upfront, but for some reason, it was irksome to me! Especially since I thought that our dance was going pretty well! She was looking so beautiful under the shimmery lights, and I felt like she was finally warming up to me when she dropped the 'boyfriend' bomb on me!

Well at least it explained her explosive behaviour to some extent...besides, there was no way in hell I'd actually listen to her and eliminate her first! I needed her...for the plan to torture Alya of course!

However, when I forced Alya to have that drink, I'd thought that I'd feel satisfied watching her suffer...but I had just felt hollow, instead.

I suppressed the thought of going and checking on her as I had another sip of my whisky.

"Manik?" I heard a voice say, snapping me out of my daydream.

I turned around, to find Vibha walking up to me.

"Hi V." I said, smiling.

"Manik, that scene was uncalled for! Why did you have to make her drink that?!" V said disapprovingly.

Ugh! She only called me Manik in that tone, when she was upset with me! First Nandini, now V! I felt like I had two new mothers all of a sudden!

"V, I said I don't want to talk about her!" I said through gritted teeth.

"M-I don't mean to pry, but I just hope you know what you are doing, or else you'll regret it later..." She said in a softer tone this time.

I was about to move away from there when I realized that V and I had a pending chat.

I immediately stopped short and said. "V, I have to talk to you..."

"Yeah?" She said, curiously.

"V, why are you on this show? I can't think of any reason for you to be here...It can't be money, since your family is quite wealthy, and you're not that type of girl anyway, so why are you here?" I asked candidly, since our mikes had been taken off until the elimination ceremony.

"Manik, I..." She said, hesitantly.

"V, don't even try lying to me..." I said, bluntly.

She sighed and said after a few seconds. "Fine, I'll tell you why I came here...actually, the truth is-my dad has incurred a huge loss in his business! And the only way we can save the company is if we get some decent investors! But, the problem is, no one's willing to invest in it, so..."

"So, you thought that you could get Mr. Malhotra to invest in your company by marrying me?!" I asked incredulously.

She looked down with a shameful face and said. "Yes! I had no other option, Manik! I know it's shameful, but you have to understand my desperation...I can't stand by and watch as my Dad's company goes under..."

I instantly felt guilty at my accusatory tone!

What kind of a friend was I? V was in financial trouble, and I wasn't aware of it!

"V, you should have just asked me for help up front! You didn't have to come on the show for that! Compromising your own happiness for a lifetime, just to help your Dad, isn't right!" I said, cupping her cheeks.

"Manik, I'm not compromising my happiness! My Dad always says that the foundation of a good marriage, is always friendship...love will come eventually, but if there's no friendship and respect then, there is no way the marriage will last..." She said, hesitantly, as a lone tear drop streamed down her cheek.

It hurt me to see her crying like that! But, how would I explain it to her?! I couldn't give her what she wanted!

"V, I'm sorry, but I can't marry you! I only came on the show because my parents forced me to! I made a deal with Mr. Malhotra-that he would start a music label in my name if I came on the show...I was never planning on getting married! I was just planning on faking an engagement to get what I need!" I said, as I wiped her tears.

"What?" She asked, alarmed.

"V, I'm not ready for marriage! I'm just too screwed up!" I said, trying to explain myself to her.

"But Manik, making such a deal with your Dad is highly risky..." She said, all of a sudden.

I smiled at her concern for me! Trust V to forget her own troubles and focus on mine instead!

"V, that's fine-I have it handled!" I said, smiling.

She sighed and said. "So, is there absolutely no chance that you'll get married soon?"

"No, V! And trust me when I say this! You are way too good to be here! You deserve better than me! You deserve love..." I said, firmly as I wiped the remaining tears.

"V, I'll do whatever I can to help you...but I can't marry you! It wouldn't be fair to you..." I said, as sincerely as I could.

She smiled at my statement and came closer to me and said. "That's always been your problem, Manik-you always sell yourself short!"

With this last statement, she kissed me on the cheek softly, as if to say goodbye...almost as if she had read my thoughts accurately...

**************************************

8:30 pm, 22nd February, Galaxy Villa.

It had been ten minutes since Alya and I had reentered the ball room. I had immediately forced her to eat something so that she'd receive the adequate nourishment.

When I'd spoken to Vibha, after I'd gotten back, she seemed a little distant. I couldn't put my finger on the reason though...

Meanwhile, Soha, Inaaya and Rose, seemed to be fighting about which fashion accessory was the best or something of the sort...

I sipped my soft drink and watched Manik chatting animatedly with Jeff. There wasn't an ounce of regret on his face about what he'd done to Alya!

I sighed in frustration and went back to my drink when I saw a spot boy come up to Manik and whisper something in his ear.

He seemed a little confused, but ultimately nodded in agreement.

I then observed both Manik and Jeff, move towards Riddhima. Manik appeared to be making an effort to speak to her, but as usual it seemed like she was giving him only mono-syllable responses.

Suddenly, Manik turned towards me and observed me sitting alone on a bar stool. I saw him smile and whisper something to Jeff.

Jeff giggled and immediately gestured me to come over.

Did she want to tell me something?

I immediately walked towards her and asked. "What's up, Jeff? Is there something you want to tell me?"

"Actually, Jeff and I were making a bet about you..." Manik said, coming closer, before Jeff could answer.

"And what may I ask, is this bet about?!" I asked in an annoyed voice.

"It's just that, since you're so tiny, I said, that your hand must be smaller than your face, but Jeff holds the opposing viewpoint..." He said casually, staring at his nails.

His words irritated me a great deal! I hated it when someone made fun of my height!

"My hand is bigger than my face!" I said, determinedly.

"Accha, so prove it, na!" Manik, said provocatively.

"Fine!" I said, firmly.

I immediately brought my hand up to cover my face, in order to compare their sizes.

Before I could say another word, Manik suddenly pressed the hand that was on my face, squishing my nose in the process! He pressed it just as if it were a button on a vending machine!

"What the...?" I exclaimed as I put my hand down.

I immediately found Manik and Jeff giggling, at my expense! I realized that I'd become prey to their stupid and childish prank.

"I didn't think you'd fall for that, Nandini!" Jeff said, stifling her laughter.

"Of course she would, I guess aisi simple cheezein science college mein nahi sikhate hain..." Manik, said.

"Listen, you..." I said, raising my finger up, but stopped in the middle when I saw Manik observing the marks on my wrists. The marks that he himself was responsible for...

His expression changed from a jovial one to a serious one, and I gulped as he made a slight move towards me...

However, his move was disrupted by a sound we'd never heard before! That of slight laughter...Riddhima's laughter!

I had completely forgotten that she was witnessing the prank that Manik and Jeff had played on me!

All of us stared at Riddhima, shocked that she had finally loosened up! My anger seemed to abate slightly upon seeing her laugh...

Manik immediately moved away from me and plucked a flower from the nearest bouquet, and walked up to Riddhima.

"You have a very pretty smile...you should smile more often! Here, this is for you!" He said brightly, handing over the flower to her.

She blushed slightly at the sudden attention, but accepted the flower with a slight smile.

"Will you dance with me?" Manik asked her.

She seemed a little surprised, but accepted his hand eventually.

Manik led her to the dance floor, and danced with her to a relatively fast number, spinning her around as if she were a top.

However, the smile never left her face...

As I watched their dance, I leaned towards Jeff and said. "Did the director blackmail Manik to dance with Riddhima, or something?"

Jeff's answer surprised me a great deal...

"No, Nandini! The spot boy just asked him to come up and greet her since she was sitting alone! The plan to make her smile and dance with her-that was all Manik!"

I realised that maybe, I'd just gotten a glimpse of the Manik that Alya claimed wouldn't do anything to actually hurt her...

***********************************************

9:00 pm, 22nd February, Galaxy Villa.

"Okay, girls! It's time for the elimination ceremony! Get in line! And Manik, stand in front of the girls! Raghav, take your position! And action!" The director yelled.

My heart was beating a million times a minute! I was desperately waiting to see if Manik would truly grant my request or not! I really wanted to go home...and truthfully speaking, he didn't really have a good reason to keep me around here, right? He had enough options!

As soon as he took his position, I noticed a table with roses kept on it, next to him.

There were seven roses in all. I guessed that the girl going home today wouldn't be getting one!

Fingers crossed, Nandini! Let's hope, that girl is you!

"Welcome back to 'The Bachelor'-powered by Veet! So, we've all had a fabulous time tonight, but now the time comes where we have to say goodbye to a single contestant..."

The lighting immediately went dim, so as to dramatize the circumstances...how predictable could they get?!

"Manik, would you like to start?" Raghav asked in a somber voice.

"Yes, Raghav, it'll be difficult, but we have to go through with it...no point in waiting..." He said, in an outwardly sad tone which was oozing with sarcasm.

Inaaya was standing separate from us, holding her rose, because she was already safe. All the other girls who would be saved now, had to go and join her.

Manik picked up the first rose and said. "So, the first girl I'd like to save is-Rose!"

Rose immediately ran up and accepted the rose cheerfully, glad that she was safe from elimination.

As she moved away, Manik picked up another rose and said, "The next girl who is safe is-Alya!"

Well-this wasn't a surprise! Of course the monster wasn't done with her just yet!

Although, Alya seemed happy, I was concerned for her. How long would she be able to withstand Manik's tortures?

Manik then proceeded to save Riddhima, and she accepted his rose graciously with a smile on her face. I was happy to see that she was finally opening up...

The next person to be saved was-Jeff! Of course! It seemed like Manik and Jeff had become really close buddies, in a span of one day!

Soha shifted uncomfortably next to me, as the number of spots kept reducing!

Well she seemed unhealthily attached to Manik, so I understood her reaction...

When Manik called her name next, her joy knew no bounds!

She ran up to him, and hugged him tightly. Manik seemed slightly annoyed and broke the hug almost instantly!

I laughed at his reaction! At least there was one girl who made him uncomfortable...

I realized that there was only a single spot left and Vibha and I were the only ones who were unsafe!

Could it be? Could it be that Manik had actually listened to me and fulfilled my request?! After all, Vibha was his friend, right?! He wouldn't eliminate her in episode one, itself!

"And now we're down to our final two..." Raghav, said gravely.

Manik picked up the last rose on the table and walked up to both of us...

I literally crossed my fingers, as he stopped at a point equidistant from both of us...

Who would he go to?! The suspense was killing me!

I thought I saw him take a step towards Vibha, but he changed tracks in a split second and walked towards me!

No...no...no!

This couldn't be happening!

"Nandini, will you stay and accept this rose?" Manik asked in a seemingly sincere voice.

Only I could figure out the taunt behind his words! He had ignored my request and there was nothing I could do about it! For the second time tonight, Manik Malhotra had succeeded in shocking me!

I wanted to wipe that obnoxious grin off his face!

I looked to the side, and saw Vibha giving me a pleasant smile, as if she had known about the outcome beforehand...

I gulped and decided that there was nothing to be done now anyway! I'd just have to stay in this hellhole for an extra day!

I slowly raised my hand to accept the rose, but before I knew it, Manik pulled me by the palms, and smashed his lips on mine!

It took me a few seconds to understand what was happening, but when I did, it scared the hell out of me!

Why the fuck was he kissing me?!!