MaNanff- I've always loved you! (Part 22) 22/08 - Page 31

I've done enough but I really doubt if people could understand my pov. But then due to my own problems, I can't dishearten those who really have hopes from my story like I have. Maybe they are also finding little happiness of their lives from the stories, fantasies they read just as I do. But one thing I wanna clear to my readers is that your words can never hurt me. Never ever, until those words of judgement and criticism turn into bashing. You guys have all the rights to judge my book, criticize and correct me if I've done anything wrong but I never gave the permission to bash me and I never will. So I believe you CAN vote and comment.

But alas...

Now enjoy the chappy!''''

~~~***~~~

Nandini, with her graceful steps, entered in the diner where Mukti had called her.

No doubt, she was the most elegant of all. Her stature itself told alot about her, alot more than what could be framed in words.

She scanned her eyes through the seating area and a pair of waving hands caught her attention.

Smilingly, she walked to the gang and this time it was Navya who embraced her in her sisterly arms first. And then so did the others too.

After a warm welcome and exchanging greetings with all, she settled down but only then she noticed someone was missing. Not someone, that was actually Manik.

"where is Manik?" Nandini asked, sitting with her back facing the entrance.

Navya, who sat opposite to her, had just parted her lips to spell out the reason for his delay when she noticed the door to the restaurant open and in came the dashing, charming hunk.

"did someone just call my name?" Manik dashed towards the table, with a smirk. And all eyes turned to him. All, included not only his friends but all the people from round the restaurant and especially ladies who gawked at this charming face with adoration and hopes building in their eyes.

Manik finally reached the table and everyone stood and hugged him. After another show of greetings, everyone settled down for dinner.

Fortunately for Manik, he got the opportunity to sit beside Nandini for a very obvious reason that all others were couples. Both, involuntarily rotated their eyeballs to each other's face and then even their lips could not help but form a delighting curve, presenting gratitude to the other.

"you got late today, Manik?" Nandini asked a moment later and her words caught a quick attention of the friends.

Manik was about to say but Nandini's ears heard Cabir's voice before than they could register Manik's.

"oho Nandini, a wrong question! You should ask... 'Manik, you came quite early today?' because Manik toh isse bhi late aata hai!!" and another shot at laughter. Even Nandini could not stop her giggles but then the kind hearted Miss did not want to embarras the poor guy who was experiencing a tough time since the first rays of sun this morning so she muffled her simper by her palm to avoid any sound.

And Manik, the poor guy was pissed under the 'deal' he made with his friends or rather was forced to.

Manik's whole was hardly interested to groan in irritation or roll his eyes continuously at his friends' remarks. He had endured enough for the day and now even his body parts retired from responding to anything shitty so he chose the ultimate mantra now. IGNORANCE!

Although, he was doing that since morning but now his andaaz changed!

"tune kuchh kaha kya cabir?"

"kyun Manik, some problems with your ears?"

"nahi... Not at all! It's just that a night from a few months ago came in my mind!! The club night!

You know Navya, what happened..."

And suddenly Manik's mouth was stuffed with lots of onions that were served on the table.

Bechara Manik!!!

At the drop of a hat, he puked out all the onions from his mouth onto the plate and gulped down a glass of water to recover from the bad taste.

All were perplexed with the sudden happening and shot glares at Cabir who no longer sat at the other end of the table but stood beside a coughing Manik, apologizing with a toothy sheep smile.

Nandini rubbed Manik's back to give him some relief from the coughing and finally when he was back to normal, she shrieked at Cabir the loudest that she could.

"what the hell??!! Cabir... Why did you do this to Manik? Who does that anyway? See...he is coughing so badly." and all others too supported her.

"am sorry Nandu!! Am sorry Manik and everyone else too!!" cabir walked back to his seat with a small face. He knew, in the heat of the moment he had gone really off edge with his jiggri yaar!!

But his life was in danger too.

As soon as he sat, Navya accused him with her eyes... And maybe she understood what was the earlier situation, she turned to Manik...

"Manik you're okay, right?!" and after earning a nod from him she continued questioning...

"so now tell...what were you saying to me that my this idiot boyfriend spoiled."

A smirk pasted on his mouth instantly and he opened his mouth, but just in time Cabir's pleading face came before his eyes. Manik crunched his eyes together at him and then scrutinized his bent low face which had guilt all over.

Just then, his phone beeped.

'ohh mere bhai... Kyun meri waat laga rha hai. Plz don't tell anything to Navya about that night. Its a secret between the two of us. Plzz.. meri izzat lut jayegi. It was a mistake yaar, just a dance that night but if Navya gets even a slightest hint.. Toh I will be Late Mr. Cabir Dhawan the very next moment. I will do whatever you want but plzz abhi chup ho ja!!'

Manik was delighted reading this message from Cabir. He finally had an upper hand on him... But then he too was tempted to have FUN!

"haan toh... NAVYAAA. Tumhe woh yaad hai na... The club night. Our laaast club night about a month or two agooo... Usme na..." Manik unnecessarily dragged his words longer and side by side fully enjoyed Cabir's improvised transitions of expressions.

"behno aur bhaiyon!! Mujhe na suddenly ek idea aaya dimaag mein. Manik... Mere dost, mere yaar, mere jigar da tukda... mene tujhe bahut tang kiya na aaj! Toh main soch rha tha ki ab na main tujhe azad kar hi deta hoon. What say guys? Manik, now the deal is off, brother. You are free! Now we will not tease you. Jaa, Enjoy kar...tu bhi kya yaad rakhega!!"

Suddenly, again breaking Manik's words in between, Cabir stood up and made a full-fledged announcement to his friends.

All their friends showered him with questions of 'what?' 'why?' etc. but an expert at actions and words, he efficiently turned them down.

Manik had understood, however, the hidden motive behind Cabir's words. He knew, Cabir had selfish reasons for pretending so dayawaan suddenly. Cabir did not want his secret of the club night to be spilled before his friends and the best way to prevent that was shutting Manik's mouth... So but obviously, bribery was necessary.

To stop any further discussion on the topic, Cabir ordered for dinner and soon the early hustle and the last club night was a forgotten business.

~~~***~~~

"had a wonderful dine, peeps! I think we should do this more often." Mukti said as soon as all were out of the restaurant.

"yup!! Had an amazing time!!...

Chalo night guys!" Nandini exclaimed and then bidding bye, she moved to her car.

She had fastened her seatbelt and was ready for the drive when she heard a knock on her window.

"Manik!"

She whispered in confusion as she rolled down the window.

"hey! Come... Let's catch up?"

He asked as he leaned onto the window and coming face to face with Nandini.

"catch up??!! What do you mean?"

"means..." Without saying further he opened door for her but after interpretting Nandini's confused eyes for a minute, he thought of completing his sentence.. "just come out!"

"offo Manik!!! What is it?! Now don't tell me that you're dropping me home again coz am not accompanying you. I already have my car." Nandini cribbed but Manik literally paid no heed to her words and in the mean time she spoke, he switched off her car's engine and then locking up the car he started dragging her.

"ohhh HELLO!! What?"

Nandini jerked away his hand and then stood infront of him, crossed arms, anticipating his explanation.

"now don't tell me Nandini, you're gonna go home and sleep at 10:30 of the night??!!"'''

He too occupied a similar posture.

"no! But then there is office too na. And as much as I like sleeping late, I am a morning person too... Unlike you, which I've got to know enough times since morning."

"no...Nandini! No more teasings plz.

And now c'mon... We're going now." he made her sit in the passenger seat and walked back to the driver's seat, switching the engine the very next moment he rode the wheels on the still busy roads of Mumbai. All of this happened so swiftly, that Nandini could hardly interpret the seconds passed by.

"Manik!!! where are we going. Aur meri car??!! How will I pick that? Why are you acting like a jerk?" Nandini was hell pissed by now. She lightly punched on Manik's arm to which he yelped in pain... A fake one and then chuckled slightly. While driving, with one hand he kept rubbing his 'hurt' arm for a few minutes but not for once looked or said anything to Nandini.

She huffed at his gesture of ignorance and then again locking her chest between her arms, she turned to look out of the window.

"the tigress Nandini is in full mood, haan??!! achha Nandini ab gussa mat ho yaar. Don't you worry about your car, it will be safely parked outside your house before you exit tomorrow morning. Okay! And if you're really worried about office then you can happily take an off. Vaise bhi you've been to the site of construction, you've submitted your designs for the decor too, toh instead of getting bored at office, you must enjoy at home. And lastly, if you trust me... Umm do you trust your new friend, Nandini?"

Nandini keenly apprehended his each and every word but frowned as he stammered through his latter sentence.

Her heart was suddenly gripped with alot of tension. Past memories rushing back. She unwillingly attended a quick tour of all the happenings, incorporating all the bright friendly mornings, hours spent in each other's company, then the condescending remarks, the falling apart friendship, the breaking trust...

All together.

"I... I do. I do Manik, but...unless.."

She whispered her words gazing out of the window and slight tears covering her eyes like a translucent sheet.

"that unless will never come, Nandini. I won't ever let this come back between our friendship. Am really sorry for whatever I had done...I am sorry." he too apologized in a meek voice continuously looking at the road. He too was getting emotional with each passing second and by looking at Nandini, he could not let his vulnerable side expose out.

Nandini quickly wiped off the single drop that glided down her plum left cheek and then closing her eyes for a moment, relaxing the inner impregnable Nandini, she made brisk attempts at smoothening the air.

"I do trust you Manik!!"

She showcased her pearl white teeth altogether and Manik too, could not hold back from curling his lips along.

"so then here we are!!"

Manik took a sharp turn and halted the car. Nandini, was too surprised with suddwn turns that she clung onto the handle and eyes completely shut close. After a moment or two, she opened her one eye and the scenic beauty seemed to blow her mind.

"ahhh!! Marine Drive!! You're the best, Manik!"

Nandini erupted like a volcano... So loud that Manik had to literally insert his fingertips inside the eardrum to protect them from bursting.

He was sitting all scared for a moment and in the next nanosecond... his eyes were wide open, mouth hanging low and hand covering his left cheek.

______________________________________

Okay so here it is then. I hope it was long enough and if any mistakes... Plz overlook.

I don't really know what to expect from you guys but still I'll be waiting.

Thanks for your support

Byee lovelies!''