Manan OS - Staying apart is never an option for us

"Are u going to listen to me or not?" Manik asked again but this time with anger reflecting in his tone which would scare anyone, yet how would you expect Nandini to be affected by his looks and tone even when she is the one he is using his monstrous tone with. Obviously she gave him the most expected reply, "NO I am not listening to you" and sprinted before Manik could do anything. Nandu may be tiny as a mouse and timid as a rabbit but she is way too quick to respond mentally and physically! She knew he would pick her up and drag her out of the room, bewitch her senses by his gallant efforts and then cajole her into doing something she has decided against, so she did the best she could - run ! Manik was quick too. He immediately ran after her down the steps, into the hallway, around the table, through many doors and windows but this time he couldn't catch her that easily. She had decided, no matter what, this time she will not give in ! She is a woman with an independent thought process ! She is confident and poised. She is sure of what she is doing. She had decided she would do this after spending hours analysing the pros and cons and after all she was doing this for the betterment of Manik ! So she ran and kept running but she knew Manik was faster, so she dodged him as much as she could. When she couldn't run further she climbed out through a small window and when she got cornered between him, the table and the walls she whizzed away from under the table. Manik by now, was exasperated ! He was tired of this chase and wanted to get hold of her at the earliest ! He had tried every means of convincing her, he tried talking, arguing, he tried using Cabir and Mukti to talk to her, he even cooked payasam for her to have her under his effects, but Nandini did not give in. Who would imagine The Manik Malhotra to cook for anyone let alone for himself ! And yet this time around he did cook and cook what - payasam - such a difficult to cook delicasy - for his dear Love Nandu. When Manik is taking so many efforts, why isn't Nandini giving in. If Manik was stubborn, so was his Nandini. If Nandini was endearing, so was Manik. After all they are soulmates ! They were rubbing off on each other. They tried every possible way to convince the other of his/her own decision, yet neither backed down, neither of them gave up.

Finally, after seeing no hopes of getting hold of her Manik decided to use his last weapon - emotional blackmail. He yelled out to her in the lawn while she was shielding herself behind a tree trunk, "you know what I don't wish to talk to u at all. I don't wish to see your face, goodnight." And he walked off from there leaving Nandini behind, sure that this time around she will give in.

And it worked. Nandini at once left her place of hiding and ran behind Manik, but now Manik ignored her and ran up to his room and bolted the door shut.

Nandini banged the door hard begging him to open but he stayed put. She tried to get a spare key to open the door but he had double locked it from within and now the key wasn't of any use either.

The last thing Nandu can bear is Manik ignoring her and not talking to her. His silence is absolutely unbearable for her. It makes her feel shut out. It makes her feel he doesn't want her. It makes her feel lonely, helpless and depressed. When the fear of not having him around gripped her, she gave out a helpless cry and sat on the floor sobbing and pleading him to open the door but he didn't respond even then. Ultimately she gave in, she spoke whilst sobbing, "fine, I will listen to you. I will do as u say. We will follow your decision no matter how much I don't want to, but please open the door and talk to me Mani, pleaaassseee". The door opened and Manik saw his ickle baby sitting on the floor with soggy eyes and and a pained expression and he immediately picked her up and carried her to the couch and engulfed her into his arms to calm her down, " sshh shhh, pls stop crying Nandu, please. I didn't mean it. I can never stop talking to u and I can never ignore U. Plz stop crying love." He kept rubbing her back and pecking her head to soothe her all the while he spoke. Slowly the weeping stopped and she lifted her head to look at him. His eyes assured her of his love and reiterated his words. She knew he wouldn't and actually couldn't stay without talking to her. He loves her to an extent that cannot be expressed in words. She felt calm and a small smile played on her lips. The moment he saw her smile he knew she is now calm and under the effect of his love and decided to bank on the opportunity and convince her against her decision.

He prepared himself for a long discussion while she jus sat there in his arms on his lap looking into his eyes with immense love. "Nandu, ..." he started, "I jus left you alone for a few mins and did not speak with you and look what have you done to yourself, you have cried your heart out and pained yourself. You cannot live without me, you cannot eat without me and you cannot sleep without me. Dammit a mature and a strong woman like you cannot even think straight without me. How do u even possibly think that you can survive without me for 12 long weeks ???? Staying apart is never an option for us! Yes, I know that signing up with k-series for a music album can be a big milestone in our careers and rejecting it could bring us back to start. It would probably make other music labels believe that we r not worth a commitment and would not approach us easily for new albums. But that doesnt mean its the end of our careers. Obstacles are a part of life but we can always overcome them. But I cannot overcome them alone. I will always need u by my side. A tour around the nation is part of the deal with K-series and they won't call that off. If taking you along was an option then I would have signed up this deal with Fab5. But you have medical exams coming up and that cannot be skipped. However newer deals will come for fab5, that's Manik's promise to you. Please don't hold yourself guilty for us not signing this deal. Staying apart is never an option for us! Once your exams get done I will take u along with me for any tour organised for an album to be cut. And let me point out, if a stubborn woman like my Nandini Manik Malhotra cannot help but fall for Manik's charms, then trust me other music labels will come with better deals. Look at you love, you haven't even blinked", he ended with a smirk on his face and a twinkle in his eyes. Nandini blushed instantly and looked down, she was too shy to look into his eyes especially after being caught by him.

Although Nandini was staring at him all the time, she heard him attentively. He was right. Staying apart is never an option for them. They can deal with everything only if they are together.

She wanted the best for him and she wanted his music career to flourish. Fab5 came together after a long time clearing away all differences between them. Nandini did not want them to have any reason to fight over again and did not want them to give up music. She wanted them to bag the opportunity and carve a beautiful career for themselves. Manik was a successful businessman but music was his passion. She wanted him to enjoy a wonderful music career as well. She was ready to do anything for all this to happen, even sacrifice spending time with Manik, she even decided to stay away from him if reqduired. But she forgot, that staying apart is never an option for them. Manik and Nandini both would flourish and do well only whilst they are together with each other and go to sleep and wake up next to each other. They are oxygen to each other. Manik is right, for now, letting go of this opportunity is an optimum decision. Manik had once again made the right decision and she had to admit that. She mentally made a note that she will help fab5 bag a better deal and will be actively involved in their career and also made a note of thanking rest of the fab5 members profusely for being a part of this decision. They were truly the best friends anyone could ever have. But right now she had to thank her darling hubby for putting sense into her and taking the right decision for them. While she was busy thinking this all out, Manik lifted her chin up with his forefinger and made her look into his eyes again. While he waited for a reply she surprised him by taking initiative and placing her lips over his and pulling him more into herself to thank him leisurely for the rest of the night.