Nandini’s heart was beating very fast as Manik was very close to her. He raised his thumb and brushed it over her rosy lips, she sighed. He moved forward to kiss her lips, but she moved away. He held her hand and pulled her towards him. Nandini's back was attached to Manik's bare body as he held her by the waist. He putted aside her wet hair and kissed on her shoulders making her shiver.

Nandini got out of the trance and realized the situation. She inhaled heavily, removed Manik’s hand from her waist and ran away from there without even daring to look back at him.

By seeing her running like that Manik also realized that he had gone too far again. He held his hand and cursed himself “what’s wrong with me? Why do I lose control over myself when she is around? Now she will hate me even more! Damn it” said Manik as he punched the wall in anger.

Nandini ran to her room and closed to door. “Aiyappa, why are you doing this to me? Have not you done enough with me already? Why I just could not push him away? No I will not go close to him there is no such feeling as love. I am sure we both have a feeling of lust and I will not encourage it. I can’t suffer more” said Nandini as tears formed in her eyes.

In Morning, at the Guest room,

Nandini’s father was sitting beside Mr. Malhotra. “How are you feeling my friend?” asked Nandini’s dad.

“I am feeling much better now, sorry to trouble you guys” said Mr. Malhotra.

“What trouble? Come on! You are my friend and I am sure you would have done the same thing if you were at my place” said Nandini’s father.

“Dad, the car is ready, come I will help you” said Manik as he peeked into the room.

“You go ahead, I will come in a bit with my friend” said Mr. Malhotra.

“Why is he in a hurry to take you home? Are you feeling that good to go ahead?” asked Nandini’s dad.

“Don’t worry, I only told him that I want to go home, Nandini did my dressing again this morning. You are lucky to have a daughter like her” said Mr. Malhotra.

“Yes, I am, she takes care of everyone. I wonder what will happen to us when she will get married and will go away” said Nandini’s dad.

Suddenly Mr. Malhotra thought of something “Are you seeing someone for her?” he asked.

“I have got many proposals for her but not finding a suitable one” said Nandini’s dad.

“I want to ask something from you, it’s your most precious thing, promise me that you will not deny it. It is the only way by which I can tie up my broken family and bring a smile into my son’s life” said Mr. Malhotra.

“Sure, how can I deny for anything to you” said Nandini’s dad with a smile.

“Okay, I want to see Nandini getting married to my son! I want her to become my daughter-in-law. I know this is a big decision, so think over it and reply me but please don’t say no” said Mr. Malhotra.

Nandini’s dad was stunned for a moment but he told that he would talk with Nandini and her mother about this, he also asked him to talk to Manik.

Nandini’s dad helped Mr. Malhotra to reach the car. Manik said thanks to Nandini’s dad, uncle and chachi for helping them, his eyes were searching for Nandini but she had left earlier to avoid him.

Few days passed,

Manik and Nandini avoided each other completely. All were busy in practicing for the cultural function.

Navya was feeling very scared about her performance. Nandini was keeping some books in her locker when she spotted Manik she quickly hid behind the locker.

“Tu chup kyo rahi hai? Come on he is not a real monster and he will not eat you up” said Cabir as he tapped on her shoulder.

“What..mai kaha chup rahi hu and uss sadu sai nahi darti mai, it’s just that whenever I see him I get this bad headache so trying to avoid it” said Nandini.

Cabir laughed “you are so sweet” he said.

Nandini rolled her eyes at him “maska kyo mar raha hai? What do you want?” asked Nandini.

“tujhe meri aukad toh pata hai na, that day mai jiske saath date pe gaya tha na, I just found out that she is dating someone else” said Cabir sadly.

Nandini laughed loudly and Manik heard her laugh and stopped to look at her,he kept staring her for a moment and then realized that he should not be doing that and walked away.

“Accha hua, tere jaise kamine ke sath aisa hi hona chahiye” said Nandini.

“Yar, teri class mei who new girl ayi hai nah Riya, from Dehradoon uske sath mujhe fix kar de na meri jaan” pleaded Cabir.

Nandini smirked “abhi mai busy hu baad mei sochungi” she said and walked away.

“Mujhe pata hai tujhse kaise help mil sakta hai I need to get some information for you then only you will help me, akhir meri hi toh behen hai she is bound to be smart” said Cabir.

At Malhotra’s residence,

“I don’t have any problem with Nandini, but I don’t like her mom she is too nosy, anyways Manik will never agree for this so there is no point on further discussion.” Said Neyonika.

“Manik will not agree? For what?” asked Manik as he overheard the last part of the conversation.

“Oh Manik! Your dad wants you to get married, that too with Nandini, joke of the day” said Neyonika as she laughed.

“Listen..Manik” Mr. Malhotra could not complete his sentence when Manik cut him in “Dad, have you lost it? We two can’t even stand each other, we hate each other, how can you even think of it, just drop your bullshit idea” said Manik in a loud voice as he went up the stairs.

Neyonika gave a 'I knew it' smile and she also went out.

“I will make this marriage happen, no matter what it takes” decided Mr. Malhotra.

At Nandini’s house,
“tum pagal ho gaye ho? Mai apni phool si bacchi ko unn rakshason ke beech kaise bhej du? Nandini, Manik se nafrat karti hai and she is too young to get married. Meri beti ke liye aur vi acche rishte ayenge, uss Manik ke sath meri beti shadi nahi karegi. Tum unko mana kardo and Nandini se iss barei mei baat vi mat karna” said Nandini’s mom as she stormed out in anger.

Nandini’s had held his head “yeh toh impossible hai, Malhotra suna tumne” said Nandini’s dad in the Bluetooth headphone that was attached to his ear.

Mr. Malhotra replied “come and meet me tomorrow at my office I have a plan”.

Nandini’s dad said “all right”.

Cabir had heard the conversation and his jaw dropped open “Chacha and Uncle pagal toh nahi ho gaye, Manik aur Nandini yeh koi soc vi kaise sakta hai. I have to inform them” thought Cabir as he reached to Nandini’s room.

Nandini was listening to a song when Cabir plugged out the headphone from her ears and handed her a box of Aspirin.
“Yeh kya hai?” asked Nandini.

“Jo news mai tujhe dene wala hu, uske bad yeh puri box vi kam par jayegi tere liye” said Cabir.

Nandini looked at him blankly “oye nautanki, apni yeh sab tricks bandh kar aue mujhe bol hua kya hai?” said she.

“Hua nahi hai, hone wali hai, teri shadi. Ok let me cut into short mai Manik ka saala banne wala hu and who mera jija because you are going to get married to him!” said Cabir.

Nandini’s head spun by hearing that she felt that she would pass out. “Oye behosh mat ho jana” said Cabir as he held her.

“Behosh nah u toh kya karu, mujhe toh mar jane ka man kar raha hai” said Nandini.

“Aisi ashuv batein nahi karte, teri ma abhi tak zinda hai, teri papa ki man mani nahi chalegi mai yeh shadi nahi hone dungi” said Nandini’s mom as she entered the room.

Nandini hugged her mom “ma, save me” said Nandini.

Cabir smiled and whispered “bach gaya, agar inn dono ki shadi ho jati toh meri jaan chahi jati dono mera hi sar khate..God is great”.

Malhotra residence,
Manik’s room, Manik was all sweaty as he kept on punching his sandbag. He was angry on the fact that Nandini had the ability to make him forget everything, he thought that being like that would make him weak and he hated to be weak so he got angry on Nandini “how could he even think of getting me married to that intolerable and disgusting Nandini; I hate her, I don’t want to see her face. Whenever I see her I get weak, vulnerable and I can’t afford that. After my denial dad would never think over this idea again, it was good that I overheard their conversation and said no, on the spot. Nandini Moorthy, you are not at all allowed to enter in my life” said Manik.

To be continued 😑