Sorry🙏!!!! I know I am very late!!! Here's the next part.

Nandini smirked looking at Manik and thinking about her plan. Suddenly, she stood up saying, 'Guys, I think I should leave. I am not feeling that well.'

Listening to her, Navya too stood up worriedly. She came to Nandini and kept her hands on her shoulders saying, 'What happened Nandini? You were fine sometime back. What happened suddenly?' Everyone else was giving her concerned looks. Even Manik was looking at her intently. She was happy that she finally had Manik's attention.

She looked at him but then quickly looked back at Navya. She said, 'I don't know Navya. It's just a headache, don't worry. I'll be fine. I'm just going home.'

Manik didn't say anything but just kept looking at her. Nandini again glanced at him discreetly. Navya, though, was not convinced. She again said, 'Come, I'll accompany you.' Hearing this, Nandini quickly denied saying, 'Navya, relax! It's nothing serious. Just a headache. I can go on my own.'

Saying this, she glanced at Manik once again and then turned to leave. Though Manik was looking at her, he was not saying anything. Turning back, she said to herself in her mind, 'Now, time for stage 2.' She took a step towards the door and faltered deliberately.

'Nandini!', various voices cried out at once and a pair of hands immediately encircled her waist, providing support to her. She smiled to herself knowing well who it was. Everyone else surrounded her and Navya asked her, 'Nandini! Are you okay?' Now, she felt really guilty for making everyone so worried. She chided Manik in her mind for making her do all this.

She gave a small sheepish smile to everyone and said, 'Guys relax! I'm fine.' All this while, she could feel Manik glaring at her holding her from the back but still he hadn't spoken a word to her. Mukti sarcastically said, 'Yeah, we can see that. How much fine you are! You can't even walk properly! Do one thing, call your Chachi and tell her you're staying with us.' She then looked at Manik and said, 'Manik, take her to your room.'

Listening to this, Nandini's heart did a happy dance as she could see her plan succeeding. But she struggled to maintain a poker face. Afterall, how can Nandini Murthy agree to such a proposal! This thought itself made her cringe at the irony. What had become of her!! Courtesy Manik Malhotra.

She shook her head as everyone moved away to make way for her to go to Manik's room. 'No, no, its okay. I should go home. I'm fine. I'll manage,' she said making sure that her expressions give the impression of the exact opposite of her words. Navya was the one this time to support Mukti. She said, 'Arrey, how come? You're not going anywhere. If you won't call your Chachi, then I will. Give me your phone.' She stretched out her hand asking for Nandini's phone. 'No, its......' She bagan again but was interrupted. This time by Manik himself.

'Nandini. You're going to the room on your own or should I pick you up?', Manik said in a tone that said that he meant every word of it. Nandini's face immediately turned red and she moved away from him shouting, 'No!', as she knew he wouldn't think twice before lifting her infront of everyone. She looked at his face and found him looking at her with an expression challenging her to go against him.

She stuttered and said, 'N..No.., I mean.... Yes! I'm going,' and she turned and went towards the stairs. Finally, her plan was succeeding. But then she saw Navya following her. She widened her eyes seeing this. No! She has to leave! Not only her, everyone has to leave! How else was she supposed to execute her plan!

She stopped at the bottom of the stairs and turned around to face the rest. She said to Navya, 'Navya you and Mukti should go. It's getting late. In fact, all of you should go back. We had such a hectic day today. Go back and rest. We have lots to do tomorrow also.'

Navya made a weird face and said, 'Nandini, what has happened to you? It is just 7:30 right now. It's not that late. You don't want me to come with you?'

Nandini widened her eyes and shook her head vigorously saying, 'No, no, not like that! It's just........' Before she could say anything else, she was interrupted by Mukti. She jumped in saying, 'Ohho, Navya! You didn't get it yet? Of course she wants us to go. So that she and Manik can spend some time 'alone'. It's time for us to leave. We aren't needed here anymore.' Turning towards Aryaman, Dhruv and Alya, she said, 'Come on guys, let's go. Our job is done for tonight.'

Everyone gave Manik and Nandini knowing looks and made a move to go while Nandini was looking at them horrified. She looked at Manik who rolled his eyes when he saw her looking at him, but she didn't miss the glint of amusement in his eyes. Though he was trying to keep his face neutral, she knew he was trying to stop himself from smiling.

She looked back at her friends to find them halfway near to the main door. She panicked and cried out, 'No! Don't go!' Everyone freezed on their places and turned back shocked. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw even Manik jump a little at the tone she had used so suddenly. Alya spoke up keeping a hand on her chest, 'God, Nandini! You scared me! What's wrong?'

Realising her mistake, she first looked away embarrassed, then looked back at everyone trying to find an excuse for bursting out so suddenly. She started stammering, 'Umm,..... actually,...... that...... that.....' She couldn't form a proper sentence, when Mukti cut her off saying, 'Ohho, Nandini! Don't worry! We understand! We don't mind, you guys can very on. Like you said, it's late, we should be leaving. Good night, Nandini. Good night, Manik.' With this everyone turned back laughing and left.

When they were gone, Nandini glanced at Manik. He was looking at her amused. He opened his mouth to say something but Nandini turned around and ran up the stairs.

Manik entered the room only to find Nandini sitting on the couch, hiding her face in her hands. He lightly chuckled to himself and then cleared his throat to gain her attention. She looked up at him and keeping her hands in her lap, bowed her head and squeezed her eyes shut, as was her habit whenever she was embarrassed infront of him.

Smiling slightly to himself, Manik moved towards her and sat down beside her and looked at her. Nandini opened her eyes but was looking intently at her fingers as if they were the most interesting thing in the world. Manik shook his head and spoke, 'How desperate!'

Nandini got a feeling of deja vu and widening her eyes, she looked at him. Manik put up an innocent expression and said, 'Seriously, Nandini. Since when did you become so shameless! Now what will our friends think about us!'

Nandini narrowed her eyes looking at Manik while Manik was looking at her trying to keep up the serious expression but the mischievous glint in her eyes, gave him away. Nandini slapped his arm saying, 'You! I'll kill you! It's all because of you! What all might they be thinking about me! Oh god!' Embarrassed, she hid her face in both of her hands.

All this while, Manik was laughing looking at the cute expressions that she was making. Hearing his continuous laughter, she raised her head and glared at him. When it made no difference to him, she gave out a helpless cry and holding her head, she said, 'It's all because of you! I thought that since you were angry with me for not giving you enough time, we will be able to spend some time together, this way. But, here you can't stop laughing on me and there god knows what would they be thinking about me.'

Manik gradually stopped laughing and removed her hands from her forehead, turned her a little to face him. He was looking at her with a small, warm smile and soft eyes. He then said, 'Relax, Nandini! You are over thinking. They are our friends, they know us. They won't think anything wrong about you. And even if they do, do you think I care?' He gave her a mischievous smile and laughed when she looked at him shocked.

'Manik!', she shouted at him frustrated and turned her head away from him.

'OK, sorry', he apologized and made her look at him. 'So, you knew that I was angry at you and you wanted to spend some 'alone' time with me to make up for it?', Manik asked looking at her, while she just blushed and looked down.

Manik was amused at her reaction. He said, 'What? Now you don't want to talk to me, huh? Ok, then. Fine. I'm going.' Saying this, as he was about to get up to leave, Nandini held his hand and made him sit back. She simply leaned on his arm, holding it with both of her hands. Manik smiled at her actions and held her hand with his other hand.

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Manik put on his white blazer over his white shirt and gave a last look at his reflection in the mirror. He smirked at it approvingly. He wanted to see Nandini's reaction when she'll see him. Thinking about Nandini brought a smile to his face. He began wondering what would she be wearing for the party. Then he chucked the thought, telling himself that she looks beautiful in everything that she wears. He got a sudden urge to see her. He began thinking about ways how to. There was still some time for the party to start. Everyone was at their home getting ready. He picked up his phone and made a video call to Nandini.

Nandini carefully put the eye liner on her eyelids. She was done with one eye and was almost done with the second too. Suddenly, her phone rang and her eye liner smudged ruining her perfect makeup. She let out a frustrated sigh and looked at her phone. It was Manik on video call. She received the call without picking up her phone from the table.

Manik was happy that she had picked his call. He was half expecting her to decline his video call. But when the call connected, he frowned upon seeing the ceiling in the call. What was happening? He spoke, 'Nandini? Are you there?'

Her voice came from the other side, 'Yeah, Manik. What happened? Why are you calling now? You ruined my makeup yaa!'

He could imagine her rolling her eyes at him. He smiled hearing the complain in her voice. He said, 'Really? I'm so sorry, Nandini. But you don't need any makeup. You look beautiful anyway. Now, come on. Pick up the phone now.'

Nandini, who was removing the ruined eye liner, raised her eyebrow listening to his words. She smirked and leaned forward making sure Manik can't see her face. Then she said, 'Oh no, Manik. Your buttering won't work on me. You ruined my makeup, so this is your punishment. You can't see me before the party.'

Manik was shocked listening to this. He said, 'No! Nandini! You can't do this!'

But, Nandini simply chuckled and said, 'I can,' and cut the call. On the other side, Manik looked at his phone irritated and muttered, 'Nandini!'

He heard some noise from the hall so he moved downstairs to find out what was happening. Upon reaching there, he saw his father doing the last minute preparations for the party. He sighed looking at his father's excitement. From the time, the party had been decided, he had been busy with the preparations. He went up to his father who was checking the lightings and said, 'What are you doing? You don't have to get ready or what?'

Srikant turned towards him, smiled and said, 'Of course I have to. Why do you ask?'

Manik showed him his watch and said, 'Because, it is 7:50 right now. If you don't remember, then let me remind you, the party starts at 8, i.e., in 10 minutes. And you are still in your work clothes.'

Mr. Malhotra looked at his watch widening his eyes and said, 'Oh no! I'm late. People must be coming. I should better go and get dressed.'

Manik interrupted him and said, 'Dad! Calm down! You go and get dressed. There's still time. Aur waise bhi, 8 baje ki party mein 8 baje kaun aata hai?( Who comes at 8 in an 8 o' clock party?)' He smiled at his own words as his father went away shaking his head.

Manik looked around at the decorated house and remembered when Nandini had come to his house in the Diwali party and he had said the same thing to her as he just said to his father. Still drowning in memories, he went away checking the preparations.

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Nandini stepped out of the car sent to pick her up from her house, by none other than her dear Manik. She looked around to see some people dressed in their finest clothes, standing here and there in the garden, enjoying the party. She smiled looking at the decoration and moved forward trying to look for Manik.

She went inside the house and saw few more guests everywhere in the hall. She recognized some of them as students from Space but some she didn't. More guests were still coming. She looked at her phone. The time showed 8:35 p.m. She remembered the first time she had come to Manik's house for a party. She had reached exactly at 8, before everyone else. Manik wasn't even ready at that time. She could very well remember his expressions as he had asked her, 'Nandini, 8 baje ki party mein 8 baje kaun aata hai?'

She also remembered her innocent reply to him, that was, 'Main aati noon!' She chuckled to herself and looked around spotting Navya and Aryaman, chatting at a corner of the hall. She moved towards them and said, 'Hey guys! Where's everybody else?'

Navya hugged her and said, 'Hii! Woah! Someone's looking killer today! Show some mercy. Poor Manik! He's just been discharged from the hospital!' Embarrassed, Nandini hit Navya's hand lightly and said, 'Really, Nandini! You're looking very pretty. And to answer your question, Manik and Mukti are looking at the arrangements and Dhruv and Alya aren't here yet.'

Nandini frowned listening to his reply and said, 'Not here yet? Why?'

Navya answered her question saying, 'Actually, they had been here only, busy with the decoration and all till 7:30. After that, they went to get ready for the party. They'll be here in some time.'

Suddenly, Mukti approached them from behind and said, 'Hey, guys!'

Nandini turned to her and smilingly hugged her saying, 'Hii!' They pulled away from the hug as Aryaman and Navya also greeted her by saying hi's and Hello's.

While they were exchanging pleasantries, Nandini felt someone's eyes on her. She moved her head towards her left and there he was. Madhyam Singhania. Seems like he decided to finally attend the party. Their eyes met but he gave her a blank look and moved away. Mukti noticed Nandini looking at someone and looked that way. The person turned out to be Madhyam. She became angry looking at him. She spoke up, 'What the hell is he doing here! How dare he attend our party!'

She was about to go and give Madhyam a piece of her mind, but was stopped from going by the rest. They obviously didn't want any drama in the party. With some difficulty, they eventually managed to stop Mukti from going after Madhyam. Aryaman joked to calm Mukti down while Alya and Dhruv joined them at the same time. Nandini and Navya exchanged a look while exhaling a huge breath of relief as they saw Mukti getting busy with Alya and Dhruv.

So, here ends the first part. I know nothing much happened but wait for the next part. A lot is coming your way. Tell me what you think of this. But, till then, have you seen this:

OMG, OMG, OMG!!!! I can't believe this!! If this is true then I don't know what to say!! Hoping for it to be true🙇.

Till the next time, keep supporting and keep loving Parth.