#2 Strings Attached: MANAN FF/CHAPTER 51 on page 1/16th May

Nandini reached office and was in her office's parking when she heard her name from behind and turned around to find Cabir coming towards her.

"Hey Cabir." Nandini greeted him with joy but he didn't replied back.

"What happened?" Nandini asked in concern as Cabir's expressions were telling he is not in good mood.

"Don't you think, I should be asking this? Nandini what is wrong with you? You call me while crying so hard and disconnect the call the middle and when I try to reach you, you don't reply back. You have issues with Manik and then ask about him from me. Yesterday night you were not at your place and don't even try to say that you were with your friend because I'm not Navya. Manik resigns from office and this I come to know from Vaibhav. Wow, just wow!" Cabir shouted at her on her behavior of past two days but Nandini had no answers. She stood there with her head hung low.

"What's happening? Will you do the honors of telling me something?" He again stated in a sarcastic tone and Nandini looked at him. He raised his eyes in a gesture to ask her and she gathered some courage to open her mouth.

"Cabir, I know you are upset with me and have full right to know the reason behind this stupid and weird behavior of mine but please just this weekend. I promise, this Saturday you all will know everything. Please Cabir, it's just matter of few days." Nandini pleaded him and Cabir stared her with an expressionless face.

"Please Cabir." Nandini pleaded again.

"Saturday should mean Saturday." Cabir said in a stern tone and Nandini sighed a breath of relief.

"Promise." She said and moved a step closer but Cabir turning bit side passed ahead of her. Nandini turned and call his name but he didn't turned back and bearing a mischievous smirk on his face, left the parking area.

Nandini felt bad seeing her brother like friend being sad and hurt because of her but she had already made up her mind that she would announce this thing on the coming weekend so got relaxed a bit.

After a while, Nandini too moved out of the parking area and reached office. Soon they both were engrossed in work and didn't talk about the matter in the day.

At the lunch hour, Nandini received Manik's call and they talked for a while where she told him about Cabir asking her to give explanation. Manik relaxed her and assured that once everyone will know the truth, no one will be annoyed or angry on her.

In the evening, Manik met her on her way to her home in a cafe and they spend good one hour together where Manik tried his best to keep her happy. After that both came to Nandini's building but Manik returned back to his place and didn't went to her place.

When Nandini reached her place, Navya was already back. They chatted for a while and prepared dinner together. Navya didn't bug her about anything and they ate their dinner talking on random things.

Post dinner, both retired to their rooms and after Navya had a talk with Cabir and Nandini with Manik, both drifted into sleep.

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Rest of the week passed the same way, where Manik somehow managed to meet Nandini without letting anyone know about them.

Nandini arranged for lunch at her place and invited as she had to tell everyone about her and Manik.

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Saturday Afternoon.

Everyone reached at Nandini's place and where waiting for Abhi as he had an emergency in the hospital and was now way back to home.

Nandini, Navya, Mukti and Cabir were chit chatting with each other when the door bell rang.

Navya went to open the door to find Abhi there.

"Finally, Mr. Busy is here." Cabir said as soon as Abhi entered the living area.

"Sorry guys, but what to do. Doctor's job is like that. But still you all have full rights to blame me but please before that let me eat something, I'm starving." Abhi landed on the couch in a half lying position and Navya went to get snacks and drinks for everyone.

"Ok, now the mystery is killing me. Since Abhi is here now spill the beans fast. Come on. I can't take it more." Cabir stated in an anxious manner while they were munching snacks and everyone agreed with him.

"Ok." Nandini replied back with nervousness and went towards the main door. Everyone looked at her with confusion and after a minute she returned back only to find confusion and questions written on everyone's faces.

"Nandu, are you fine? I mean is your top floor ok? We are here asking you something and you went out and then came in. What's wrong?" Mukti stated in a humorous manner and everyone chuckled but soon their chuckling came to a halt when Manik came from behind and stood beside.

"Manik." Everyone stated in surprise.

All stood there in a surprise when Cabir suddenly spoke up. "Don't tell me you guys have patched up."

Manik and Nandini nodded their head in affirmation and all the them shouted with happiness and hugged them except Abhi.

"Guys, please." Manik said as they were not ready to back off from their hug. They heard Manik and backed off with wide smile on their faces.

"Actually I had to tell you guys something." Nandini stated nervously and everyone nodded.

She looked at Manik and he gestured her to speak. Gathering lot of courage she finally spoke up, "I and Manik like each other and are together."

Nandini managed to speak out the truth in one go with eyes closed but was surprised when received no response in return.

She slowly opened her eyes, only to find everyone staring at her. She looked at everyone with pinch of fear, and everyone except Abhi exchanged glances from each other and the next moment they burst out laughing.

Nandini was clueless with this sudden outburst of laughter. She looked at Manik and found himself controlling hard not to laugh. Everyone looked at Nandini and their intensity of laughter.

"What's wrong guys? Why are you all laughing?" She said and Cabir came forward.

"Look at your face Nandu" he stated while laughing, whereas Nandini looked at him confused.

Seeing her all clueless, Abhi came to her rescue.

"Actually Nanhi, we already knew about it. Way before you guys realised, we had an idea about it and when we saw that you are being stubborn and not Manik come close to you, we made this plan. This was all our plan." Abhi confessed and Nandini was baffled after listening to all this.

She ran towards the group and they started running here and there to save themselves from her. Nandini threw all the cushions towards them but their laughter was just increasing after every passing second.

After a while, Nandini caught hold of Navya and tried to beat when Cabir started laughing more loudly. Seeing him laughing this badly on her, she left Navya and ran towards Cabir.

"You just wait and watch. You are so gone today Cabir." She shouted and ran behind him.

"Manik, Abhi, save me guys." Cabir shouted but no one came to his rescue. Navya and Mukti stood in a corner whereas Manik and Abhi were lying on couch laughing seeing the ultimate fight between the brother sister duo. Cabir ran in the entire living room to save himself but Nandini was not able to catch him. Finally after getting tired Cabir fell on couch and Nandini started hitting him with the cushions. Manik saw this and he too joined in.

"Manik, are you mad? You should be saving me." Cabir shouted trying to save himself.

"Apparently I should, but you know it's not good to miss such golden chance." Manik said winking at him and Cabir glared back.

Soon Cabir too started hitting back with the cushion and the three forgetting about anything else, were indulge in the pillow fight.

Abhi, Mukti and Navya watched them with smiles on their faces.

"It's good to see them back, together." Abhi said and both happily agreed to him.

"Time out guys." Mukti shouted after few minutes when she saw that they were not ready to back off.

Three of them stopped their fight and looked at each other. They kept staring each other and burst out laughing. Three of them fell on floor and couch laughing and finally after a good laughing session, the trio hugged each other with smiles.

"Guys, we are also here." Navya remarked faking sadness and the three gestured them to come. Abhi, Navya and Mukti joined the hug and six of them shared the bond of happiness.

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