As the night wore on and the drinks flowed freely, Nandini found herself getting more and more intoxicated, her inhibitions fading away with each passing moment.

In her tipsy state, she couldn't help but display a range of adorable antics that both amused and endeared her to her friends.

Clinging to Manik like a koala to a tree, Nandini giggled uncontrollably as she wrapped her arms around him, her laughter ringing out like music in the air.

"Manik, you're my human pillow," she declared with a wide grin, pressing herself against him with a contented sigh.

Manik, surprised by Nandini's sudden affectionate display, couldn't help but smile at her antics. "I'm glad you find me comfortable, Nandini. But let's try to stay on our feet, okay?"

But Nandini was in a playful mood, her mischievous side coming to the fore as she teased Manik relentlessly.

"Oh, don't worry, Manik. I'll keep you upright," she teased, winking at him playfully.

As the night progressed, Nandini's playful teasing took a mischievous turn as she began to regale their friends with embarrassing stories from Manik's past. With a gleeful twinkle in her eye, she leaned in close to the group, her voice filled with mischief.

"Manik, do you remember that time in school when you saw a lizard and then tripped and fell in front of the entire class?" she exclaimed, her laughter ringing out like bells. "I swear, I've never seen anyone turn as red as you did that day!"

Manik's eyes widened in mock horror as he shot Nandini a playful glare. "Nandini, you promised you wouldn't tell anyone about that!"

But Nandini, undeterred by Manik's protests, continued to share stories from his childhood, much to the amusement of their friends.

Cabir, Mukti, Dhruv, Alya, Navya, and Abhimanyu erupted into laughter, teasing Manik mercilessly as he tried in vain to defend himself.

Amidst the laughter and teasing, Manik surprised everyone with his patience and calm demeanor, his focus solely on ensuring Nandini's well-being.

He gently guided her back to their group as she was running around, his touch gentle and reassuring as he kept a watchful eye on her.

Cabir, Mukti, Dhruv, Alya, and Abhimanyu exchanged surprised glances, never having seen Manik display such patience and tenderness before.

Cabir nudged Mukti with a smirk, his eyebrows raised in disbelief. "Would you look at that? Manik's turning into a real softie."

Mukti grinned in agreement, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Who would've thought? Looks like Nandini has a way of bringing out his softer side."

"Manik, you're being surprisingly patient with her," Mukti remarked, her voice filled with surprise.

Cabir nodded in agreement, his eyebrows raised in disbelief. "Yeah, I've never seen you this calm, bro. It's like you're a different person."

Manik shrugged, his focus entirely on Nandini as he guided her to a nearby chair. "She's my friend, guys. I just want to make sure she's okay."

"You know what guys," she began, her voice tinged with sadness, "I love him. But I can't tell anyone about him."

Her friends listened intently, their expressions a mixture of concern and curiosity. Manik, in particular, felt a knot form in his stomach at her words, a silent prayer on his lips that she wouldn't reveal his identity.

"Why can't you tell about him, Nandini?" Alya asked gently, reaching out to squeeze her friend's hand in a gesture of support.

Nandini sighed, her gaze dropping to the floor as she spoke. "Because... because my mother doesn't like the word 'love'. She's always been strict about it, and I don't want to upset her."

Manik's heart sank at her words, a pang of sadness washing over him as he realized the extent of Nandini's predicament.

"I understand," Navya said softly, her voice filled with empathy. "It must be hard to keep such an important part of your life hidden from your loved ones."

Nandini nodded, her eyes brimming with tears. "It is. But I don't want to disappoint Mumma. And I don't want him to have to hide it from his family either."

Manik's heart ached at the mention of hiding their relationship from their families, a pang of guilt gnawing at him. But as he watched Nandini struggle with her feelings, he couldn't help but wish things were different.

The bonfire continued to crackle and cast flickering shadows on the group, but Nandini's tipsiness was becoming increasingly apparent. She clung to Manik, her head resting against his shoulder, her words coming out in a jumbled mess of confessions and nonsensical musings.

"Manik, you're the best friend ever, you know that?" she slurred, her eyes wide and unfocused as she gazed up at him.

Manik chuckled nervously, casting a wary glance at their friends who were watching with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. "Thanks, Nandini. You're pretty great yourself."

Nandini giggled, her grip tightening on his arm as she swayed slightly. "You remember that time in school when you fell into the pool trying to impress a girl? That was hilarious!"

Manik winced at the memory, his face flushing with embarrassment. "Yeah, I remember. Can we maybe not talk about that right now?"

But Nandini was on a roll, her tipsiness fueling her walk down memory lane. "And then there was that time you got us lost during the field trip because you insisted you knew the way. Oh, Manik, you were always so sure of yourself!"

Manik glanced at the others, noting their growing interest in Nandini's stories. He needed to get her away before she said something she couldn't take back. "Alright, Nandini, I think it's time for you to get some sleep."

Navya stood up, ready to help. "I'll come with you, Manik. I'll help her get to bed."

Manik shook his head, his voice firm but gentle. "It's okay, Navya. I can handle it. You all stay here and enjoy the bonfire. I'll make sure she gets to her room safely."

Navya hesitated but eventually nodded, trusting Manik to take care of Nandini. "Alright, but call if you need anything."

With that, Manik carefully guided Nandini away from the group, her arm wrapped around his waist for support. Despite her tipsy state, she couldn't stop giggling and pulling at him playfully.

"Manik, you know what?" she slurred, reaching up to tug on his hair. "You have such soft hair! It's so cute."

Manik winced slightly but smiled, trying to keep her steady. "Thanks, Nandini. Let's keep moving, okay?"

She giggled again, her fingers now pinching his cheeks. "And these cheeks! They're so squishy and handsome! You're so hot, Manik!"

Manik couldn't help but laugh, his heart swelling with affection. "Alright, alright. I'm cute, hot, and handsome. Now let's get you to bed."

Nandini's eyes sparkled with mischief as she poked his nose. "You know, you're also very serious sometimes. But I like that about you. Makes me feel safe."

He chuckled, guiding her around a corner. "I'm glad you feel safe with me, baby. I always want you to feel that way."

They continued down the hall, Nandini giggling at every little thing. She pointed out the paintings on the walls, marveling at their colors and laughing at her reflections in the windows they passed.

"Manik, look! It's us, but in the past! We're in the paintings!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with wonder.

Manik shook his head, amused by her antics. "Yeah, it's pretty amazing, isn't it?"

As they neared her room, Nandini pulled him closer, her expression suddenly serious. "Manik, you're my best friend. You know that, right?"

He nodded. "I know, baby, first we are best friends then lovers."

She smiled widely, her eyes shimmering with emotion. "Good. Because I don't want to ever lose you."

Manik felt a lump form in his throat as he unlocked her door and helped her inside. "You won't lose me, Nandini. I'll always be here for you." As they walked through the palace corridors, Nandini continued her drunken rambling.

"Manik, do you think I'm a bad person for hiding our relationship? I feel so guilty sometimes," she said, her voice thick with emotion.

Manik's heart clenched at her words. "No, Nandini, you're not a bad person. We're just trying to figure things out. It's complicated."

"I hate that it's so complicated," she muttered, her head drooping against his shoulder. "I wish we could just be together without all this hiding."

Manik sighed, feeling the weight of their secret relationship pressing down on him. "I know, baby. I wish the same. But we'll figure it out, okay? Just trust me."

Nandini nodded, her steps becoming more unsteady as they neared the bed. "I do trust you, Manik. More than anyone."

Manik gently and carefully lays her down on the bed. She looked up at him with a dreamy expression, her eyes sparkling with love.

"Nandini, it's time to sleep," he said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

But Nandini had other ideas. With surprising strength for someone so tipsy, she pulled Manik down onto the bed, wrapping her arms around his neck and holding him close.

"Manik," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion, "I love you so much. Everything about you. Our kisses, our hugs, our cuddles. Everything."

Manik's heart melted at her words, and he couldn't help but smile. "I love you too, Nandini. More than you'll ever know."

She sighed contentedly, her fingers tracing patterns on his back. "You're the best thing that ever happened to me. I love how you always make me feel safe and loved. Your kisses, Manik, they're the best. They make me feel so alive."

He chuckled softly, his hand gently stroking her hair. "You make me feel the same way, love. Every time I'm with you, I feel complete."

Nandini's eyes glistened with tears of happiness as she gazed up at him. "Promise me you'll never leave me, Manik. Promise me we'll always be together."

"I promise," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "I promise I'll always be with you, no matter what."

Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she pulled him closer, her lips inches from his. "Then kiss me, Manik. Kiss me like you mean it."

Manik hesitated, his heart racing. "Nandini, you're drunk. I don't want to take advantage of you."

She shook her head, her expression earnest. "Manik, I will never regret kissing you, whether I'm drunk, sober, or dreaming. You have the right to kiss me anytime, without asking."

He looked into her eyes, seeing the sincerity and love in them. His heart swelled with emotion as he leaned down, his lips brushing gently against hers. The kiss was soft and tender, filled with all the love and passion they felt for each other.

Nandini sighed against his lips, her hands tangling in his hair. "I love you, Manik. So much."

"I love you too, Nandu," he whispered, pulling back slightly to look into her eyes. "Now, let's get you to sleep. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow."

She pouted playfully but nodded, snuggling into the pillows. "Okay, but promise you'll stay until I fall asleep."

"I promise," he said softly, sitting beside her and watching as her eyes slowly closed, a peaceful smile on her face.

"Manik," she whispered, her eyes half-closed. "Thank you for always being there for me."

He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his heart aching with a mix of love and sorrow. "Always, Nandini. Now get some sleep. We'll talk more in the morning."

She nodded sleepily, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Goodnight, Manik."

"Goodnight, My Moonshine," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper as he watched her drift off to sleep.

As she drifted off to sleep, Manik couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude and love for the incredible girl beside him.

He knew that no matter what challenges they faced, as long as they had each other, everything would be alright.

He stayed there for a few moments longer, making sure she was settled before quietly slipping out of the room. As he walked back to the bonfire, he replayed her words and antics in his mind.

He feels a mix of warmth and concern. Despite the challenges of their secret relationship, moments like these reminded him of why it was all worth it.

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Hope u all like the chapter.....

Few words for Manik....

Few words for Nandini....

What were your favourite moments???

Nandini disclose some embarrassed scene of manik to their friends😂😂 let's know your embarrassed moments???😉😉😉

Guys any suggestions you want to give for upcoming chapters like you want to see something???

Thank u 🙂🙂

Love,
Kiara ❤️❤️