I didn't think I could update today, but thankfully, here it is..

A little warning, after this load of happiness, we must pack our bags and head in for some angst. So be ready,

And Enjoy Reading!

W

eekend rolled in sooner than she had expected.

Nandini knew it was because she was nervous. Opening up to Manik was one thing, but to open up and mingle with his friends on a dinner was something Nandini hadn't even thought about.

How was she even going to manage? Nandini feared she would mess it up, ruin Manik's image and she would never be able to face him again. She was just overthinking at this point.

The makeup was done, and she looked pretty once again. She had decided to go for a casual fit - blue pants and a baby pink sweater. She ended up curling her hair, and kept them open. They reached her mid back. Nandini smiled at herself, feeling some confidence booming inside which however flushed down the moment her phone pinged with a new message.

Manik.
"On my way, will be there in twenty minutes."

Nandini shook her head, walking out of the room and found Ruhi and Ananya in the hall. Ananya fell silent the moment she came in her view while Ruhi looked at her with wide eyes, gasping dramatically.

"Mumma looksh shoo pletty!"

She clapped her hands in excitement as Nandini bend down to kiss her head,"Ruhi's mumma has to be pretty no, like Ruhi."

Ruhi nodded with enthusiasm. It was a shame Nandini couldn't take her along. She didn't know how long it might take, and then she didn't know Manik's friends properly. She couldn't take the risk.

"Why did you curl your hair?" Ananya intervened making her frown.

"Why? Do they not look nice?"

"They do, but it is just a dinner, di. You didn't have to put in so much efforts to look younger," Nandini knew what she meant. Ananya only voiced it out soon,"Did you think curls would make you look of Manik's age?"

Ananya was not wrong. Nandini's heart sank to her stomach. Did she make it visible? Did Ananya had to make it obvious?

"Ananya,"

"It is okay, di. I am sure Manik would acknowledge it, if not appreciate." Ananya chuckled and for a moment Nandini wondered if it was really her own sister. So bitter, and so much hatred.

She felt sorry, for her and herself.

"I know Manik and me did you wrong, but do you have to be like this?"

"What do you mean?" Ananya frowned, anger taking over her features.

"Do you not see it? You are just ruining yourself, Ananya. Manik moved on, I am trying my best so why can't you? Why can't you move on? Is it so difficult for you to accept Manik has the right to chose who he wants to love?"

Ananya didn't have the time to respond for they heard the blaring voice of Manik's car's horn. Nandini looked at her watch, they were getting late. Manik didn't have enough time to come in.

She blinked back the tears. No, she wouldn't break down. She was just starting to accept her new life, and she wasn't going to let Ananya's hatred pull her down.

"Go on, your lover boy is here."

Yes. Manik was here. Nandini took a deep breathe. She nodded, looking down at Ruhi who seemed to have fallen silent owning to the tension between them.

Nandini let a fake smile grace her lips,"Ruhi, Mumma has to go out with Manik. Maasi will make you sleep today. Don't trouble her, okay?"

"Otay Mumma. Shay hello to Manit from Luhi!"

"Oh," Nandini gasped at the usage of words before laughing it off,"Fine."

Another horn and Nandini was rushing out of the house.

Excitement and nervousness bubbling inside her.

"You look pretty."

A compliment greeted her instead of a hello. Nandini blushed red, looking down and tucked a hair strand behind her hair.

Manik himself looked no less in the white shirt and blue stripped jeans. He left his hair messy today. A black watch on his wrist and a silver signature ring in his index finger that she had noticed many a times adored his hand.

He smelled of sandalwood, like always. Her cheeks warmed up, and she looked around to distract herself, feeling the heat pool between her legs.

Fuck. It was only the start and she was barely holding on.

"Did I do over?" She asked, Ananya's words getting the best of her. Even though Nandini told herself she wouldn't let it effect her, she knew deep down she couldn't help it.

Ananya was not entirely wrong afterall. Nandini did make some efforts to impress him.

"Ofcourse not."

Manik's words worked as an assurance. Nandini relaxed as they drove to the restaurant. Manik himself had choosen it and filled her in. It was the oldest restaurant around here and had amazing food.

A foodie has to know food places - Nandini had concluded with a teasing smile.

Manik just chuckled and pulled the car in the parking lot. Asking her to wait, he stepped down and walked to her side, opening it and giving her his hand to hold onto.

Nandini looked flustered with the display of affection, but nevertheless she took his hand, and watched him grin with red ears.

She laughed silently, watching him try to be a gentleman as he took two fast steps to open the door for her. Manik's friends - Abhimanyu and Aryaman with their respective girlfriends, Mukti and Aliya were already at the table.

The restaurant was filled to the brim, leaving only a table or two empty. The chit chatter from the table and the dim lights made the whole vibe cozy.

Nandini remembered Manik introducing Abhimanyu and Aryaman to her in their engagement ceremony, while Mukti and Aliya were unable to attend.

Mukti had an important family event while Aliya had her exams as she was studying to be a lawyer.

Greetings were done and they took places beside each other. Manik even pulled out a chair for her earing 'awe's' from Aliya and Mukti.

"Awe, haven't you became a gentleman Manik?" Aliya's tone was playful as she teased Manik. Nandini blushed feeling their heavy gazes on her.

Manik rolled his eyes at her remark,"Excuse me? I had always been one."

"Really? Let's ask Nandini," Nandini looked a little taken aback at the sudden attention. However, Mukti didn't mention it," Nandini, you tell us - Is your finance really a gentleman as he says?"

It was a stupid question. Manik was, had always been. He looked at her in anticipation, wanting to know what she thought about him.

While he had always been vocal about his feelings, about how he felt for her, Nandini replied in actions rather than words. Manik treated this as an opportunity to hear it from her.

"He is," Nandini found herself answering, watching from the corner of her eyes as Manik's lip twitch into a smile,"He is a gentleman."

Abhi and Aryaman hooted and the girls laughed. Manik couldn't help the smile of his face either.

"Awe, you two are so cute." Aliya complimented.

"I know right!" Mukti agreed too,"These two remind me of me and Abhi."

"Oh please, you were both always eating each other's face!"

Abhi rubbed his nape as Mukti glared at Aryaman for exposing them.

"We were still better than you and Aliya!"

"As if -"

"Guys, you are confusing Nandini!" Abhi interrupted them.

"Ah yes, Nandini," Mukti grabbed her attention,"Let me tell you an interesting story."

Nandini only looked at her with curious eyes.

Probably, Mukti's story consisted of a long introduction. Abhimanyu being the owner of one of his father's cafe and Mukti being the cashier there to Aryaman inheriting his family business and Aliya studying law. Oh, and Mukti and Aliya were distant cousins.

By the time she came to the main topic, Abhi was yawning in disinterest, Aryaman was scowling at her. Aliya seemed embarrassed but tried to laugh it off. Manik only face palmed.

"So these two had a massive misunderstanding back then!" Mukti informed.

"About?"

"Apparently, Aryaman and Aliya met through me as I told you. They used to steal glances all the time and we were so sure they liked each other. Actually everyone around them were damn sure except these two. So Aliya planned a surprise to propose Aryaman but somehow her love letter reached Manik."

"What? How -?"

Mukti laughed,"probably they were wearing the same color shirt and the kid got confused - but the point is - Manik reached the place instead of Aryaman and he had his back to her and she ended up telling him how much she liked him!"

"That was embarrassing!" Aliya muttered interrupting her.

"I know right! But fuck, Manik actually got so nervous and he gave a long speech how he was waiting for his love, and claimed that it was a misunderstanding."

"He was so scared and Aryaman who had misunderstood the situation as well ended up punching him for breaking her heart!" Abhi added, shaking his head. Aliya awed and blew a kiss at her boyfriend who pretended to catch it.

"What was I supposed to do? She was a friend!" Manik defended himself, and looked at Nandini who was controlling her smile,"I punched him back though."

Nandini chuckled,"I am sure you did."

Manik pouted, hearing others snicker behind him. He glared at them.

"You didn't change no!" Abhi said and when Nandini looked at him with a frown, Abhi continued,"I mean, he has always been like this. You know, Manik had a nickname in the college - Romeo."

"Hey! Why would you bring that up?"

"Why not? Nandini should know too."

"Why?" Nandini asked,"I mean was it because he had many girlfriends?"

"What? No!" Manik spoke before anybody else could,"I swear I had no girlfriend before, Nandini."

Aryaman laughed,"He is right, Nandini. He didn't date," Aryaman paused and a teasing glint took over his eyes which only made Manik want to bury himself beneath the earth,"and you know why?"

"Why?"

"Because there was no Juliet," he told,"He is a hopeless romantic, had always been one. He used to speak about fairytales and all, all the freaking time!"

Nandini looked at Manik in question who just shrugged. She smiled.

"By the way Nandini, we told you so much about Manik, you tell us something about yourself too," Aliya looked genuinely interested,"Like how were you in school or college days?"

"Me?" She confirmed,"I was pretty much a loner. I mean I never had friends," She paused, sensing all of them going silent,"I never had the time. In school, I had to look after Ananya, make sure Appa took his meals and do well in studies. In University - I lost the interest. I mean I never liked making friends there, they were all too different from me. So, I never found someone who matched my vibe."

It was not a lie. People never sticked to her. They always found her too boring, too mature to deal with. She knew it was not the real her, but just didn't have anyone to tell to.

"Awe, it's okay," Mukti assured her, patting her hand that was kept on the table,"You know what, we can be your friends. Me and Aliya? We three will make a superb team!"

"Yes, And Nandini I really really need your fashion designer! You looked so pretty on your engagement! Let's be friends please."

Nandini laughed, glad they didn't comment on her little sob story. The last thing she wanted was Manik's friends pitying her,"Sure."

"Wait, why only these two! We are here too Nandini!" Abhi interrupted, probably to lighten up the mood.

"Yes exactly! Do you know for how long we had to wait for this Romeo to find his Juliet so we could team up with her against him?"

Nandini looked at them with amusement all over face as Manik only shook his head in embarrassment.

The rest of the night was a blur for Nandini. She could hardly take off her eyes from Manik. The way he threw back his head and laughed loudly, the way his eyes squinted when he did so. The way he moved in his seat to adjust, rubbed the corner of his lip and the way they moved whenever he spoke. It was all driving her crazy.

Dinner was not even her focus, she didn't even know what she ate, or if it was cold or hot. It didn't matter. She didn't want to stray away her eyes from Manik. She wanted to capture every bit of it. A happy Manik. Smiling Manik. Manik laughing. Every shade of him, she wanted to store in her memory.

So that when life flipped on her again - which Nandini was sure it would - she could treasure these memories her heart will hold.

The ride back home went silent, for most of the part. Nandini enjoyed the silence. It was peaceful. She had made friends today. She told them a part of her life. She let them in.

It was a step she hadn't plan to take, but with Manik beside her, it didn't feel burdensome. It was okay.

Nandini didn't realise when Manik pulled the car infront of Murty Mansion. He called out her name and when she looked at him, she couldn't hold the eye contact.

Seeing it, a smile came on his face. Manik leaned forward, eyeing the redness that covered her cheeks. Their faces were only inches apart, breathe fanning over each other's skin.

Manik leaned more, and suddenly Nandini kept her palm in between. Manik chuckled out loud but kissed her palm anyways before leaning back.

"Aren't you getting too bold?"

Nandini sounded embarrassed, and shy.

He shrugged,"Guess, it's all your fault. You let me."

"Right. I let you," he smiled back in return,"but you know," Manik didn't see it coming because it only took a moment for Nandini to lean forward and kiss the corner of his mouth,"this is how you do it."

Manik gasped, a hiccup breaking out of him. He simply stared at her with his eyes wide, not expecting it at all.

"Did you just kiss me?"

"No, I just let you know how to do it."

And with that, Nandini was unlocking the car and running away as Manik ruffled his hair with the biggest grin he could pull off.

Fuck, she was going to be the death of him.