MaNan FF : Blame Game

part 4

It was only then that she began her search.

Through clusters of guests draped in designer wear, past the laughter and polite networking, she moved with practiced ease. And then - there he was.

Manik Malhotra sat alone, At the far end of the hall, half-hidden behind the gleam of the marble bar counter.

One hand wrapped around a glass of whiskey, The amber liquid swirled lazily as he scanned the crowd.

his gaze distant, almost bored. The crowd behind him reflected in the polished bottles, but he seemed untouched by all of it - as if the entire celebration was happening on the other side of a glass wall.

He'd grown up in rooms like this - gilded walls, expensive suits, fake smiles. Same people, same rehearsed compliments, same desperate need to impress. Tonight was no different.

If anything, he'd grown bored of it all.

Nandini spotted him. Her heels clicked softly against the marble as she crossed the distance, the soft rustle of her silk gown following her. There was a faint crease between her brows-half concern, half exasperation.

She stopped beside him, her perfume subtly mingling with the sharp scent of whiskey.

"Manik," she said, tilting her head, her tone caught between scolding and coaxing.

"why are you hiding here? You should go and meet everyone. Our family's waiting for you."

He didn't even glance her way at first, just took another slow sip, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly. When he did turn, the faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth was anything but warm.

"Should I? Or will it ruin the little stage you've set up just for yourself tonight?"

Her lips parted in surprise at the sting beneath his casual delivery, but she refused to bite immediately. Instead, she let out a faint huff, closing the gap between them and rubbing his arm in a deliberately light, playful manner.

"Manik, it's not our wedding anniversary,"

she teased, her smile almost daring him to loosen up.

"It's your parents'. So You don't have to sulk today."

But instead of softening, his gaze sharpened, the smirk twisting into something edged.

"And Nandini," he murmured, voice dipped in sarcasm

"it's not your anniversary either. So you don't have to try and hog all the
attention. Let my parents get it for once."

The words pricked like tiny needles. She straightened subtly, her smile cooling.

"I'm not hogging anything, Manik," she replied evenly, lifting her chin, the warm gleam in her eyes flickering into steel.

"I'm hosting. There's a difference."

He rolled his eyes, taking another sip, as if her logic was just background noise to the clink of ice in his glass.

Deciding to not let the mood sink further, she smoothed her expression and leaned in slightly, letting her shoulder brush his.

"You still haven't told me," she said, her voice dipping into a mock-complaint, "how do I look tonight?"

Manik finally set his glass down on the polished counter, his eyes glinting with something between amusement and provocation.

"So," he drawled, his voice low but cutting through the party noise like a slow blade,

"should I tell you the truth... or lie to keep you happy?"