Nandini was sitting in her room lost in her thoughts. Chachi who actaully walked in with snacks saw her all lost. Chachi frowned and called out for her.

Chachi: Nanduuuu

Nandini was too lost in her thoughts to even feel Chachi's presence. Seeing her not responding Chachi got worried and placed the snacks on her study table. She then sat beside Nandini and touched her cheeks to gain Nandini's attention. Nandini flinched.

Chachi: Nandu...bacche kya baat hai? Kahan khoyi hui hai tu?

Nandini: kahi nahi Chachi.....aap batao....aap ko kuch kaam tha?

Chachi: nahi beta.....main toh bas tere liye naashta leke aayi thi...maine socha tu college se aayi hogi bhook lagi hogi tujhe.

Nandini: nahi Chachi mujhe bhook nahi hai.

Chachi looked at Nandini suspiciously. The lost look on her face and the disinterested tone in her voice made Chachi realise that Nandini is surely disturbed.

Chachi: Nandu koi baat hai jo tujhe pareshaan kar rhi hai.

Nandini: nahi Chachi aisi koi baat nahi hai. Woh bas aaj ka day bohot boring tha.

To lighten her up Chachi smiled.

Chachi: boring toh hona hi tha, mera sona munda jo nahi tha tere saath.

Nandini didn't even smile, forget blush; at the mention of Manik's name. Now Chachi was sure something was troubling her.

Chachi: beta main jaanti hoon ki main kabhi teri amma nahi ban paugi lekin tu yeh baat jaanti hai na ki tu mujhe bata sakti agar tujhe koi baat pareshaan kar rahi hai toh.

Nandini: haan Chachi.....aap aur Chacha mere liye utne hi matter karte hai jitna Amma aur Appa. Aap please aisa kuch mat sochiye.

Nandini slowly lies down keeping her head in Chachi's lap. Chachi smiled and caresses her hair.

Chachi: kya baat hai bacche?

Nandini: Manik....

Chachi: Manik kya? Kuch kiya Manik ne? Ya kuch kaha usne tujhse?

Nandini: ni Chachi Manik ne kuch nahi kaha. Bas.....pata nahi Chachi kuch samajh nahi aa rha. Sab sahi lag raha hai aur Sab galat bhi.

Chachi kept caressing her hair.

Chachi: kya galat aur kya sahi beta

Nandini: Chachi aap jaante hai na ki Manik aur main......Hum......I mean woh aur main....

Chachi: girlfriend boyfriend ho yahi na?

Knowing there was no point denying when that was the truth she simply nodded. Chachi smiled affectionately.

Chachi: aise hi thodi main usse Shah Ruk jitna pyaar karti hoon.

Nandini giggled.

Chachi: Yeh bata ne ke liye tu pareshaan thi?

Nandini: ni Chachi.

Chachi: phir?

Nandini: Chachi Manik na ekdum se badal gaya hai. Matlab woh jo gusse wala Manik tha na woh toh jaise kahi gayab hi ho gaya hai. Main yeh nahi kehti ki isme kuch galat hai. Infact accha hai. Ab woh gussa kam karta hai aur shaant rehta hai. Lekin Chachi pata ni kyu mujhe kuch theek nahi lag rha hai. Matlab.....pata nahi Chachi ek ajeeb sa darr. Kahi yeh sab jo hai woh ek sapne ki tarah toot gaya toh?

Chachi being a mother understood exactly what Nandini was trying to say. She smiled and gently kissed Nandini's forehead.

Chachi: Yeh sab na tere pyaar ka asar hai. Yeh tera pyaar hi hai jo usse majboor kar deta hai gussa kam karne ko. Woh jaanta hai ki uski Nandini usse dard main nahi dekh sakti bas isiliye woh apne aap ko badal raha hai tere liye. Taaki woh tujhe khush rakh sake. Taaki woh tujhe duniya ki saari khushiyaan de sake.

Nandini smiled a little.

Chachi: tujhe pata hai iss duniya ka har mard na apni biwi ko humesha khush dekhna chahta hai. Aur yeh na iss duniya ke har ladke ki soch hoti ki. Aur Manik bhi bas wohi kar raha hai. Tujhe khush rakh ne ke liye woh bas khud ko badal raha hai.

Nandini: lekin Chachi mujhe Manik waise hi pasand hai jaise hai. Usse mere liye badal ne ki zaroorat nahi hai.

Chachi: haan bacche. Woh abhi bhi wohi Manik jisko tu apna Dil de bethi hai. Woh bas apni khamiyon ko sudhaar raha hai. Tere liye khud ko perfect bana ne ki koshish kar raha hai woh. Aur main bas itna kahugi tujhse ki iss waqt usse tere support ki sabse zyada zaroorat hai. Agar tune uska saath nahi diya na toh woh toot jayega. Bikhar jayega. Tu samajh rahi hai meri baat?

Nandini: haan Chachi. Lekin aap jaante ho woh already bohot perfect hai mere liye.

Chachi: ab yeh baat toh tujhe usse samjhani padegi.

Nandini smiled gratefully at Chachi. Chachi was about to get up when she stopped and looked at Nandini.

Chachi: bacche waise toh mujhe tujhpe aur Manik pe dono pe pura bharosa hai. Bas aisa koi kaam mat karna jisse kabhi bhi mera bharosa toote tum dono pe se.

Nandini: Chachi I promise hum dono ki taraf se ki hum kabhi aisa kuch nahi Karege.

Chachi: bas toh phir toh koi gal nahi hai. Aur haan meri taraf se tujhe puri puri chut hai.

Chachi winked at her making Nandini widen her eyes in shock.

Nandini: Chachi!!

Chachi laughed and moved out of the room while Nandini grabbed the tray and started eating from it. Her phone rang. Seeing it was Navya's call she immediately picked it up.

Nandini: hi

Navya: hum sab shopping jaa rhe hai. We will pick you up in 10 minutes.

Nandini: lekin mujhe koi dress nahi chahiye.

Navya: lekin hume toh chahiye na. Aur humne tumse pucha nahi hai. Hum bata rahe hai tumhe. Tayar rehna.

Nandini sighed: why is everyone ordering me today. Matlab jisse dekho sab mujhse woh karwa rahe hai jise karne ka bilkul bhi mann nahi mujhe.

Soon all of them gathered in the mall and started the shopping. Nandini was totally disinterested and was only answering when asked something. Out of no where, Alya came with a dress in front of her.

Alya: here this is the dress for you.

Nandini: but I don't need it.

Alya: but you have to take it.

Nandini: arrey but why?

Navya interrupted their conversation seeing that Nandini and Alya were still uncomfortable around each other.

Navya: arrey kyu ki hum bol rahe hai.

Nandini sighed: Navya sacchi I have a red dress. I don't need this new one. Aur guys tum log mujhse zyada apne looks pe focus karo na. I am just coming there as a companion to Aaryaman lekin tum sab ka toh officially first valentines hai na.

Navya: humne humari shopping kar li hai Nandini. Tum bas zidd mat karo. You are taking this and that's final. No more arguments.

Nandini: NO YAAR NAVYAAAA! AND PLEASE STOP FORCING ME FOR EVERYTHING. I DON'T NEED ANY DRESSES.

Nandini didn't even wait for anyone's reply and just walked out of the showroom. Cabir went behind her.

Aaryaman: Baap re yeh toh chhota packet bada dhamaka nikli.

Alya: I had told you guys it was a bad idea. Mukti you should have gone in front of her instead.

Manik who actually was on call with Mukti spoke

Manik: no Alya her outburst is not about that. It's altogether a different thing.

Manik who was driving back to Mumbai smiled knowing exactly why his jaana was so pissed.

Navya: haan Alya. Yeh tumhari wajah se nahi hai. Yeh isiliye hai kyu ki madam ko apne aashiq ki yaad aa rhi hai. Aur aashiq hai ki apni mehbooba ko subha se tadpa raha hai. Kyu Manik?

Manik blushed at the same time rolled his eyes.

Manik: Shut up black and white Madhubala.

Navya: hume toh shut up kar doge tum lekin Nandini ko kaise manoage.

Manik: mana lunga. Lekin abhi sambhalo tum log. Bye. And haan buy that dress and Navya ghar bhejwa doon usse.

Without even waiting for anyone's reply he cut the call. Aaryaman and Navya yelled together.

Navya&Aaryaman: naukar nahi hum/main iske.

With an angry both again we track to their shopping. Mukti and Alya simply ignored them and went to the billing counter.

Outside Cabir walked and stood beside Nandini who was leaning on the railings trying her best not to cry. As soon as Cabir wrapped an arm around her shoulder, a traitor tear slipped out of her eyes. Cabir sighed and wiped her tear.

Cabir: agar humara first official valentine hai toh tera aur uska bhi toh first valentine hai. Aur main jaanta hoon ki you guys don't really have any good memories for valentine. Pagal hai woh. Tu na tension mat le. Jaise hi woh aayega na main khud usse do punch maarunga. Haan woh alag baat hai ki meri punch main Nandini Murthy ke unchanged jitni intensity toh nahi hogi lekin uss gadhe ki akal thikane zaroor aa jayegi.

Nandini smiled a little.

Cabir: hayeeee! Maar daalaaaa! Allaahhh!

Nandini giggled listening to Cabir's dramatic lines. Finally he had managed to calm her senses. First not having Manik around when all she could see was valentine preparation going on everywhere. In college. In mall. On streets. Everywhere. And the cherry on top was Manik not picking up her calls and not replying to her texts.

Nandini murmured: I m just missing him.

Cabir patted her head: I know. Bas thoda time he will be here.

Nandini: matlab?

Cabir: matlab aaj late raat tak toh woh wapas aane hi wala hai na.

Nandini:haan woh toh hai...

In the meanwhile the gang came out of the shop.

Navya: chale!

Cabir and Nandini nodded. After finishing shopping and forcefully dragging Alya out of the mall they all went to Nandini's house to get ready.

Cabir:(whispering to the boys) yaar yeh log na mujhe woh shaadi ke bandwalo ki yaad dila te hai.

Aaryaman: hain? Kya bol raha hai pagal ho gaya hai.

Abhimanyu: ya exactly itni acchi lag rahi hai 

Cabir: arrey yaar wo bandwalo ke kaise ek jaise uniform HOTE hai na waise hi unke dresses hai dekho dhyaan se. Red and black colour ke.

Cabir started giggling. 

Aaryaman: Abhimanyu hume na yeh Jaake Navya ko bata na chahiye. Kyun Cabir?

Abhimanyu: arrey Navya ko kya Nandini ko bata te hai best. Haina Cabir?

Dhruv: phir Cabir will also experience the famous punch of nandini murthy.

Cabir: saalo chup betho marwaunge kya. Meri valentines day se pehle death day aa jayega.

Abhimanyu Dhruv and Aaryaman smirked seeing Cabir scared. While descending Navya does not see the stairs and trips down. But she is saved on time by Cabir.

Abhimanyu: Navya are you alright ?

Cabir: PAGAL HO GAYI HO KYA?? Dekh ke nahi chal sakti. Abhi gir jati toh? And ek minute tum heels pehni hai.

Nandini: nahi cabir Jab hum shopping ke liye gaye the toh hum sab ne heels li thi lekin Navya ke liye humne compulsory flats liye the.

Cabir: ek minute.

Cabir lifts navya's gown so that he is able to see her feet. Everyone is shocked as well as angry with Navya.

Mukti : Navya ye kya hai. Hum sab ne mana kiya tha na phir kyun li heels. Accha li toh li pehn bhi li. Ruk jao yaar. It's just a matter of few months more.

Nandini: Navya this is not good na. Yeh galat hai. Tumhare health ki liye heels acchi nahi hai.

Dhruv: Navya you shouldn't do this you shouldn't forget that you are pregnant. How can you do this.

Navya: arrey yaar kya galat kar dia humne. Please na kuch ghanto ki baat hai. Please.

Everyone : NOOOOO. 

Cabir: abhi jao badal ke aao.

Nandini: Navya ruko. Ek toh tum ne heels pehni hai aur agar tum upar neeche karongi toh tumhare pair dukh jayenge. Tum ruko mein leke aati hoon.

After navya changes they all leave for the party. Entering the party in airs they all are crowded in one corner. Nandini still couldn't stop herself from calling Manik. Manik who was actually in college smirked seeing so many missed calls from his jaana. Even when he came back to Malhotra Mansion he couldn't stop himself from thinking about Nandini's reaction when she will see him in today's party.

Don't know why but Nandini could feel a strong gaze on herself but couldn't make out why she was feeling this. All the time she kept scanning the entire auditorium. She started feeling conscious of her outfit. She clutched Abhimanyu's hand who was standing on her left. Abhimanyu smiled and caressed her hands to calm her down.

Mood board credits:

She was already going through a tsunami of emotions. First she was missing Manik badly. Secondly her excitement to see him at late night and then celebrate their valentines together. She was also scared of Manik's reaction when he will get to know that she accompanied Aaryaman as his date. According to Nandini, she still hadn't taken an "official" permission from Possessive Manik Malhotra. The creepy gaze she was feeling was not making her feel better.

When the lights on the entire auditorium went off Nandini flinched. She tightened her hold on Abhimanyu's hand. The spot light that fell on the stage made her slowly loosen her grip on Abhimanyu's hand.

The toned well chiseled back, muscles that flexed through the velvet jacket, nicely gelled hair. As he walked forward his face slowly came into the view and she couldn't help but gasp loudly.

Mood board credits: ImLilMissComplicated

Nandini: MANIK!

Manik smirked. From afar he saw her lips move and call out his name. He winked and blew a flying kiss to her.

Manik: Tere qareeb aa raha hoon
Khud se main door jaa raha hoon
Yeh bewajah toh nahi hai
Tu jo mila…

Manik stepped down the stage and walked to where Nandini was standing. He stood right in front of her. She raised her hands and caressed her cheeks.

Manik: Dheere dheere se tera hua
Haule haule se tera hua
Rafta rafta tera hua
Tere bin main hoon be-nishaan

Manik's eyes blinked in assurance while he patted away the tears of happiness that slipped out of her eyes.
Bussing a kiss on her forehead he smiled widely. Nandini's smile only kept widening as she realised that he was here for her.

Manik: Dheere dheere se tera hua
Haule haule se tera hua
Rafta rafta tera hua
Tere bin main hoon be-nishaan

As her senses started absorbing the lyrics she couldn't help but blush. Manik simpered. He pulled her closer and started dancing with her.

Manik: Samjho zara, samjho ishaara
Tera hoon main saara ka saara
Jaise mujhe tumse hua hai
Yeh pyar naa hoga dobara

His moves were so perfect. Nandini was simply staring in his eyes that were speaking and conveying the message right from his heart. Manik's words simply made her feel out of the world and special.

Manik: Dil mein teri jo jagah hai
Uski koi toh wajah hai
Yeh bewajah toh nahi hai
Tu jo mila…

Manik patted his heart and then pointed to her. She turned pink amd simply hugged him. Manik kept swaying their bodies together. Slowly everyone joined on the dance floor. Every couple out there could feel the love radiating from the star couple. Inspite of having their own valentines in their arms, people couldn't help but stare at the perfectly heaven made couple in front of them.

Manik: Dheere dheere se tera hua
Haule haule se tera hua
Rafta rafta tera hua
Tere bin main hoon be-nishaan

Manik on the other hand was enjoying the feeling of holding Nandini's petite frame in his arms. How perfectly she fit in his arms! As much as he had enjoyed troubling her and as much as he had loved the happy surprise look on Nandini's face after seeing him; he still had missed her ardently.

Manik: Dheere.. dheere..
Dheere dheere se..
Dheere dheere se tera huaa
Haule haule se tera huaa…

The craving to hold her, cuddle her, fondle her, and most importantly love her only increased with every minute passing by. Both of them couldn't help but admire each other. Manik was in awe of how beautifully she looked dressed in colour of his love. While  Nandini was once again smitten by his sinfully handsome looks and attire which made him look godly and even more hot than usual.

As the song reached its end the lights turned dim and by the end of the song it turned completely dark. After some minutes when the lights were turned on Manik and Nandini were missing. People searched for them while Cabir rolled his eyes. He stepped on the stage and took the mike.

Cabir: Majnu Manik se yahi expected tha! Infact agar woh aisa kuch nahi karta toh shocking hota. Yeh toh normal hai guys! Don't worry thodi der main humari college ke Romeo Juliet yahan hoge. Tab tak let's enjoy the paaartaaaaayyyyyy!

Everyone burst out laughing.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
I hope you guys liked the update.
Do vote and comment.❤