*NO PROOF READING, PARDON ME FOR THAT*

Nandini's POV

It's been almost dinner time, still Manik wasn't here anywhere. He went with that Anjali and didn't even looked back. It took almost all my efforts not to call him and ask him about his whereabouts. But I was bounded. I myself pushed him away.

I sighed and closed my eyes and changed the channel of TV. Abeer was sitting beside me on the sofa, while I was angrily changing the channel of television.

"why are you sowing your anger on my television remote hmm?" Jiju asked me teasingly sitting beside me.

I glared him and didn't replied to him. I kept changing the channels.

I heard him sigh "Aa jayega wo. And waise bhi he doesn't affect you right? So?" he said in a casual tone.

That made me think on my behaviour. Why on earth I am behaving like that? Why should I care whether he is here or not? Why is it hurting knowing that he must be with another girl who was clinging to him earlier?

Am I jealous? Why should I be jealous? He doesn't affect me; he doesn't matter to me now. yes...

But why he is even taking such a long time? Aggrrrr...... I can't understand myself only.

Suddenly landline number of the house rang. I instantly jumped out of sofa and announced "I'll pick it up"

I picked up the call and said "Hello?"

"Hello...? Nandini?" I sighed as soon as I heard his voice.

"Manik... yes... Nandini" I said.

"uhmmm... Actually tell Cabir that I might be a little late. And I won't be doing dinner with you all. Okay?" he said from the other side.

"But Manik...." Before even I could speak, I heard Anjali speaking in the background "Just put the phone down na Manik, come here"

And suddenly the phone got disconnect.

"Hello... Manik... Hello..?" I said over the call, but it was too late, the call was already disconnected.

I put the phone down again and looked at Cabir Jiju and Navya Didi who were standing a bit far away from me.

"Kiska call tha?" Navya didi asked me.

"wo... Manik... he will be late" I said in a dull tone.

"achha, chalo it's okay, let us do dinner at least" Jiju said.

"mujhe bhukh nahi hai." I said lowly and walked upstairs towards my room. I heard both of them calling my name, but I didn't stop.

I closed the door of my room and throw myself on the soft mattress.

I don't know why I am even feeling this way. I know Anjali must be just his friend, but the thought only him being alone with her haunt me. I don't really feel nice. I feel worst in fact. And he didn't even bother to talk to me properly. In the morning and noon, he was so sweet and suddenly he was changed.

In the morning he was saying sorry, doing all the crazy stuff for me, to make me smile. And suddenly on the arrival of her, he just ignored me. How could you Manik? Didn't you think about me? Didn't you think that I might not like it. Didn't you think that it might bigger the problems and misunderstandings between us? Didn't you think that I might again get angry on you?

But why should I be angry on him? What did he do? Going with a friend is not wrong right? But then why I am scared? Scared of losing him? Or scared of again falling for him?

I just don't know what to do and what not? I just know that whatever is happening is just hurting me more and more.

Manik's POV

I opened the main door silently, not wanting anyone to wake up. I looked around and saw no one. It was all dark just a small light was on to keep the whole house illuminate. I closed the door behind me and locked it. I check my watch and saw it was almost past 1.

I got really really late.

But it was not my mistake, Chandu uncle got me all busy in his talks. He is the most happening person I have ever met. Like seriously. Anjali got really lucky to have a father like him. He is the coolest dad one could ever have. Sometimes, Anjali really gets embarrassed about her own dad, but I always say to her that she is very lucky. And she just smiles.

So where was I? yes, I got late, because of him. Of course we were meeting after two long years. We had to catch up a lot. Like a LOT... as usual he complained me about Anjali not having anyone in her life. Yeah, he is just like that. Didn't I tell you guys that he is coolest. He always says to Anjali to get involve with someone, but Anjali on the other hand always say no to him. Reason is still unknown to me. Anyways, both father and daughter are the same.

Shooking my head smilingly, I walked inside. I whistled and played with my keys while walking. I reached almost to my room door, when suddenly I realised something. I walked back and stood in front of the door of the room which was just beside mine.

I opened the door very silently and went in. There was only one-night lamp was on. Beside the bed. I smiled. She flipped a little in her sleep and turned towards me.

I walked towards her bed and sat down on my knees in front of her bed. I watched her sleeping peacefully. I missed her so much in whole day, I realised. Her hairs were disturbing in her sleep. I smiled and tucked her hairs behind her ears, she flinched a bit but then settled instantly.

I pecked her forehead and watched her. she smiled in her sleep and snuggle more to the comforter. I smiled on her innocence.

"Good Night Nandini. I love you" I confessed stroking her hairs.

I walked towards the door and then turned back again to find her still smiling in her deep sleep. Must be watching a very good dream.

I shook my head and closed the door behind and walked towards me room to get some sleep.

-------

Next morning was usual, I got ready on my usual time and went down to fetch something. I saw Cabir and Navya didi already eating their breakfast.

"Good Morning..." I said turning my plate.

"A very good Morning... kya hua? Someone is looking very happy today morning?" Navya didi said giggling.

I smiled confusingly "You are talking about me?" I asked.

"aur nahi to kya? Ab plan successful hoga to khush to hoga hi na? nai Manik?" Cabir patted my shoulder.

"Plan?? What plan?" I asked confusingly.

They both raised an eyebrow at me and then looked at each other.

"Plan, which you did yesterday" Navya didi said.

I widened my eyes. "ab kya kiya maine? Shit... did I do something wrong... again...?" I palmed my face. Ab to mujhe kuch bhi karne se pehle 100 baar, nahi 1000 baar sochna chahiye. Ab kya kar diya maine. Oh God....

"means, whatever happened yesterday was not your plan?" Cabir asked me.

"I haven't planed anything. And what are you talking about please be clear with it" I said and looked around for Nandini. she must be really angry. Shit... Shit....

"jisse tum dhundh rahe ho, wo kab ki college chali gayi hai" Navya didi announced.

"itni jaldi, its just 8. College to 9 baje start hota hai" I said.

Cabir and Navya nodded their head.

"god, what is wrong with you two? Can you please tell me, what happened yesterday?" I asked.

"Jo bhi hua, bahot sahi hua. Nahi Cabir?" Navya didi nudged Cabir.

I looked at Cabir and he was in deep thoughts.

"Cabir... Cabir...." I called him.

"I am just thinking that, whatever happened if it was not planned, but we can still go with it. it's actually working" he said grinning like a puppy.

"God... Please for heaven sake tell me what plan?" I asked instantly.

"Anjali..." Navya didi said raising her eye brow.

"Anjali... ab inn sab me Anjali bich me kaise aa gayi? And Anjali...." Suddenly I remembered the events which happened after Anjali came to Cabir's house.

I remembered how Nandini was lost and her eyes had something else.

"Aeee.. Ek Second....  Is it what I am thinking?" I asked.

Navya didi nodded smilingly. I laughed in joy. God....

"She is... She is jealous? Like really?" I said still laughing.

"ahhaan... not jealous. Insecure" Cabir said sipping his juice.

I looked at him in confusion.

"me samjata hu" he announced and I and Navya didi listened to him carefully.

"jabse tum yaha aaye ho, London. You have been chasing her. you are all time behind her, saying sorry or anything. But suddenly yesterday a girl came and dragged you with her." he said.

"But Cabir, she is just a friend. And..." I cut him in between and he cut me too.

"we know that she is just your friend, so does Nandini" he said.

"but Cabir phir, why was she jealous?" Navya didi asked and I nodded in her question.

"that is why I am saying she is not jealous but insecure. Kal pura din tum nahi the, to chase her, to run behind her. she is insecure that she might lose the attention which she is having right now and that too from you. She thinks that you might now not chase her, you might not run behind her to get her back. Samjhe?" Cabir said.

I smiled. Means she is just testing my abilities to run behind her. she just wants me to run behind her and if I don't do that, she gets insecure. Brilliant.

I nodded in agreement.

"So, basically, don't chase her now. she will come running to you. Getting what I am saying?" Cabir asked me.

I nodded, but my plan was different.

"no Cabir. Chase to karna padega madam ko. Ab jab galti ki hai to thodi saza to bhugatani padegi. And besides... already itni problems aa gayi hai ke ab aur ek galti afford nahi kar sakta." I said.

Cabir and Navya didi looked at each other and then looked at me "I am proud of you Manik. Seriously. There is no doubt that Nandini could find any better guy other than you" Cabir said smilingly.

I smiled instantly "well, madam ka muh phula hua hoga na kal se?" I asked.

Navya didi nodded "kal raat tumhara call ane ke baad se usne kuch khaya bhi nahi, aur aaj subah bhi jaldi nikal gayi, pata nahi ye ladki khane pe kyun gussa nikalti hai"

She didn't eat anything? Like seriously? And waha gusse me ek to lal ho rahi hogi.

"okay, I am leaving" I said getting up from the table.

"Are but breakfast?" Navya didi asked.

"I'll do that with Nandini. usne bhi kuch nahi khaya to main kaise khalu?" I said.

They both smiled and then nodded. I walked taking my car keys.

From behind I heard Navya didi shouting "a spicy bacon omelette and chocolate-banana waffles with maple syrup are her favourite from the corner of the street"

I smiled and shouted a 'thank you'.

------

I entered the auditorium in silence and looked around to find her. I could hear a music, I looked at the stage and there she was, dancing.

I stood there at a distance and watched her. she tried to dance but every time she failed. Must be really upset because of me. I smiled and walked towards her. she still hasn't any idea me being here. She was back facing me. She was leaning over the wall of the stage, murmuring something. I reached just behind her and heard her murmurings.

"why? why can't I just concentrate on my dance? Huh... if he doesn't care, I also don't care... huhh.. rahe apni friend ke sath hi... God... Why even I am thinking about him? Breath in... Breath out... you are here for practise, so yeah lets practise... yeah" she turned and instantly banged herself with me. She first got scared and widened her eyes in shock. I smiled on her reaction and not forgetting her self-talk too. She looked cute... Awww.. She was jealous... Can I dance instead of her...?

She looked up at me and then her eyes got more widened seeing me there smirking.

"Hellow... Miss Murthy..." I said smirking.

She looked at me angrily and then tried to walk towards her left, I put my hand on the wall and stopped her going. She looked at me huffing and then tried to go from her right side, I again placed my other hand on that side and caged her in between me and the wall.

She looked at me angrily and then leaned towards the wall looking at sideways, placing her hands near her chest.

I wanted to laugh on her situation, but I supressed my smile pressing my lips together.

"maine suna tumne kal dinner nahi kiya and phir aaj subah breakfast bhi nahi kiya. Kyun?" I asked making an innocent face.

She looked at me angrily and then again turned to other side.

"mujhse kyun puch rahe ho? As if you don't know anything" she said looking sideways.

I laughed a little and then looked down to see her huffing.

"You know what, mujhe na tumse baat hi nahi karni..." she said furiously and then tried to go away, but I held her and didn't let her go.

I pushed her on the wall and leaned towards her, she looked at me confusingly.

"Jealous?" I asked her smirking.

She looked at me with wide open eyes "Jealous... What.. Jealous.. Who jealous? I am not jealous okay?" she stammered.

She looked away from me, I tilt her chin to me and made her look at me.

"I can't believe you are jealous. But tumhe jealous hone ki koi zaroorat nahi hai" I said looking at her.

Her eyes became a little soft on my words.

"You know why?" I whispered.

"why?" she too whispered looking at me.

I leaned towards her more and said "Because..."

She closed her eyes and said unconsciously "Because..."

I smiled on my effect on her. I leaned towards her ears and blow some air there, she clutched my shoulder to support her sanity.

I placed a light peck over her ear and said huskily "because I Love You and only You"

I could hear her heart beat running. She was breathing heavily over my confession.

I pulled back a little and then looked in to her eyes, she too looked straight in to my eyes. At this time, I could say we are the Old Manik and Nandini, who were crazily and madly in love with each other. No one was at mistake and no one was at fault. It was special, the moment I wanted to live from so so long.

"Prove karu?" I asked her.

She just stared at me blankly, not knowing what to do. So I took it as a yes.

I tucked some hairs behind her ears and then leaned down to her level. I gulped a huge amount of saliva just to keep my raging hormones in control. I leaned more close to her, our lips were just few millimetres away. I was about to claim her lips

when suddenly..."Manik..." she spoke in between and pushed me a little. I looked at her, but she looked away. I took it as a sign that she didn't really liked it and she was again back to that after two years wali Nandini, who is angry on me and blah blah...

I pressed my lips and tried to control my emotions. I was hurt, very very hurt. But I controlled it.

"wo... why are you here?" she asked me.

"uhmmm.. haa.... Wo... I got the food for us. I thought you must be hungry aur gusse me kuch khaogi nahi aur practise karogi to bimaar pad jaogi, so brought some food" I said awkwardly showing her the packets of food.

She nodded and took the packets from my hand and sat down on the floor, I was still standing there understanding what would have happened if I kissed her then and there. She would be more angry or she would be happy? But why she pushed me? Aggrrrr...

"Manik..." I heard her calling me.

"Haan... haan" I said.

She gestured me to sit beside her smilingly. She smiled, so she isn't angry. Phew. I thought I crossed the line.

I smiled back and sat beside her, she opened the packet and placed it in front of me.

"Thanx for bringing breakfast. This is my favourite" she said munching her omelette.

"I know" I said and smiled. She too smiled and we both sat there silently eating food, not knowing what to say or talk about.

-----

Nandini's POV

It's been three days, since I and Manik had a very intense encounter. He was about to kiss me and I was about to give in, when senses came back to me and I stopped him. He looked disappointed at that time. But he didn't show it to me. I don't know why I stopped him. But I felt that I needed to stop him.

But from past three days, neither I or nor he talked about that kiss miss. We just behaved casual, very very casual. I now don't hide from him; he also doesn't bother me a lot. We greet each other in the morning, we talk during daytime, we even go to college together but definitely with some awkwardness.

I am right now standing out of his room, I needed to discuss with him the event details. I was gathering some strength so that I could face him again.

I looked inside and found him giggling looking at the laptop screen. I smiled seeing him smile, but then looked at the screen. It was Aarush. How cute he looked.

I knocked on his door, he turned to see me and smiled. I smiled back.

"wo... I needed to discuss event details." I said still standing at the doorstep.

He nodded and I walked in.

"so Aarush, Chachu and you will continue this game some other time okay?" he said turning towards the screen.

I looked inside the screen, Aarush was looking at me with a frown on his face.

"Tachu... Who?" he spoke looking at me.

Manik turned towards me and smiled sheepishly, I raised an eye brow at him.

I sat beside him and turned the screen towards me "Hi... Aarush... I am Nandini... and baby you are so cute" I said adoring him.

He smiled and then said "Tachu... Tachu.... Tachiii..." he clapped his hands and I looked at Manik. He looked at me and instantly looked away.

"ahh.. champ, I'll see you. Okay. Thanx. Bye" he said and closed the flap instantly.

I raised my eye brow at him and placed my hands on near my chest "what he was saying? You told him that I am his Tachi?" I asked.

"Chachi." He corrected me.

"same thing Manik" I yelled.

"okay... maine aisa kuch nahi kaha okay. Aur waise bhi bachhe bhagwan ka roop hote hai, ab shayad God ne use bataya hoga ke you are his Chachi." He explained me.

How ridiculous.

"Agggrrr... Manik Malhotra cannot behave normally right?" I yelled on him.

"Normally? Itne dino se normally hi to behave kar raha hu. Aur kya chahiye.? Kuch karo to problem, kuch na karo to aur bhi problem. Why are you so confused Nandini?" he too yelled at me.

I blinked my eyes for some moments, and then he looked at me "Sorry... I am so sorry" he said palming his face.

"yes. You are here for work. Give me the file, I'll check it. and abse we will behave NORMALLY only" he said and grabbed the file from my hand.

I stood there still in shock. I stared at him. But he was not at all looking at me, his all attention was on the file.

After like five minutes he raised his face from file and asked me "What?"

I shook my head and looked down. I made him angry again. Uffff... Aiyappaaa... why so many difficulties in my life.

"hmmm... I see, everything is fine and yah add 15 to 20-minute slot at the end of the event" he declared closing the file.

"Kyun?" I asked him immediately.

He raised his eye brow at me and said "who's the boss? Me right? So do as I say" he said.

"aur waise bhi, people don't ask such questions NORMALLY right?" he taunted me.

"Manik... woo..." I tried to speak but his phone rang. He handed me the file and picked up the call.

"Hi...." He said over the call.

"Anjali no please, I am in no mood" he said.

Anjali called. Why she called after three days. I stood there to hear their conversation.

"Anjali yaar... okay fine. I am in. yes yes baba. Pakka. Promise" he said and he smiled.

He SMILED. Aggrrrrr... he can't smile for me. Mujhpe to humesha gussa aur uske liye to 32 teeth wali smile. Jerk. Stupid... stupid Manik...

"Okay..." he again said over the call and looked at me raising his brow at me asking me 'What?'

I shook my head again.

"no. main akela hi aaunga. Yes. There is no one who can accompany me." He said looking at me.

"Yeah... it will be fun" he smiled again.

Where is he going? And why alone? Main hu na... but no... male ego...

"yeah bye. I'll see you" he finally put the call down and looked at me again.

"What?" he asked me.

"What?" I asked back.

"when people are behaving NORMALLY, they don't listen to other's private phone conversation" he said and put the laptop in his bag.

"what private phone conversation? You can't have any private conversation. Okay? And that too with that... Anjali" I said angrily.

"And why is that so?" he asked me coming near to me.

"I don't know. And where are you going? Last time tum gaye the aur late se aaye the. Pata hai Navya didi pareshaan ho jaati hai tumhe leke. You are not going anywhere." I said looking at the other side.

"kyun? And who are you to tell me that?" he asked me.

"you are not going alone, that's it. I am coming with you. Wherever you are going" I shouted at him.

He smirked and came near to me, but I was so much angry on him that I didn't move back.

"You sure miss Murthy? I mean sometime back you said you want me to behave NORMALLY. And Normally people don't go together late at night. You see" he said teasingly.

"Agggrrrr.... Stop teasing me. I am coming with you and that is final. And don't use this NORMAL word again on me. Get it" I spat on his face and went away in anger.

That Moron never leave a chance to piss me off... Aggrrrrr and now where we have to go, I don't know. But I can't let him be alone with that so called best friend of him... Anjali Ahuja...

"Tomorrow at 8:30. There's a party at Anjali's house. Be ready Nandu...." He shouted from my back.

I could clearly feel his smile in his voice.

He knows exactly how, when and where piss me off.

Moron Manik Malhotra.

-------------

Thank You guys for cheering me up..!!

you guys are LOVE.... Seriously...!!!

And another thing, Yes, soon everything is going to be okay and a few more here and there moments and there you go.

I am here to request you to please sit back and read what i have for you. Please TRUST me......

Again Thank You So Much...!!!

I am expecting very good amount of comments from you guys..!!!