Let Me Love You ✨|| Completed

7. Unexpected Encounter

~ they say when a girl is in love, nobody knows except the girl!
But when a boy is in love, everybody knows except the girl! ~

Manik malhotra was neck deep in love, he admitted or not that was his problem.  Because there is no other reason you dream all night about that one girl, you know nothing about, well nothing more than her first name, and still smile like an idiot throughout. But wait, how did anyone know he was smiling in his sleep? Umm, blushing to be exact. So, all credit to his mother, Mrs Nyonika Malhotra who took the pains to try to wake him up but instead took a picture of sleeping and smiling Manik, to embarrass him for life..!

And yet unknown of the little adventure that Nyonika had put him through, he woke up by the shrill alarm tone at 10 am, rubbing his eyes and yawning loud.

"Shit! I am late again!", He cursed before swiftly getting out of the bed. 40 minutes later, he was running down the stairs because he was hungry as well as late for office. But halfway down the stairs, it looked like the world stopped existing and he was transported to a parallel world with background guitar tunes, swiftly hair ruffling breeze and angels dancing side by side. All these wild yet vivid imagination due to that one hypnotic stimuli- that melodious laughter he heard from downstairs, the voice he could recognize even in a crowd! And one name escaped his lips- Nandini before he rushed down with the speed of alpha finally letting his eyes absorb her presence, and unconsciously a soft smile began to grace his face.

It was definately her- that black formal skirt and cream shirt with black blazer, the formal demoneaur, the doe shaped eyes- he was again mesmerized. It was definately a dream come true. But what shocked him was to see her conversing so easily with his mother. Did Nyonika found her out already- just with the help of her first name? Confused, he was staring at them, or her to be precise, when his mother noticed him and called him.

"Manik, come here", Nyonika called him and he walked to them baby steps. Nandini turned around to greet him but his face did definately shock her. Manik noticed her shock that stayed for a second before her formal demoneaur took over.

"This is my son, Manik Malhotra and Manik, meet Nandini Murthy , manager of  Singhaniya industries that I am working with", Nyonika introduced them and abandini gave a formal nod, extending her hand with a polite look.

"Nice to meet you Mr  Malhotra ", she spoke, every word wighed and Manik could read it in her eyes,her confusion to let Nyonika know about them or not.

"Seriously Nandini , that's how you would be greeting a friend? I mean, Mr Malhotra really?", Manik spoke with a smile, half teasing her half trying to decide why did she act like she didn't know him. Nandini was bewildered for a moment as she fumbled with the reply.

" You guys know each other?", Nyonika asked in confusion while a embarrassed smile made its way on Manik's face.

" Maa, this is the Nandini I told you about", Manik answered his mother, slightly blushing while Nyonika had a huge 'o' on her face. Nandini was looking down, not understanding what to make of it. She wasn't sure if she should speak anything or let the mother son duo clarify because she was honestly not expecting Manik to acknowledge her.

"Ohh you are that Nandini!", Nyonika shrieked and Manik mentally facepalmed himself at the sight of his over excited mother.

"Why didn't you tell me you know him?", She aksed with a cute pout and Nandini couldn't help but be downright amused.

" Umm, mam I had no idea you are his mother until now", she answered straight forward and Nyonika smiled sheepishly, chuckling.

"Ohk you guys sit, you had na that book to discuss with her, I will be back with the designs", she elbowed Manik and Nandini looked surprised that Nyonika knew about the book thing. As Nyonika moved in, manik asked her to sit down.

" So? Why didn't you recognize me?", Manik asked slightly confused while she bit her lip in embarrassment.

"I just thought you wouldn't want to acknowledge me in front of your mom", she answered eyeing the floor, not wanting to hurt him.

"What? I mean why would I not?", He asked completely shocked at her reply.

" Umm, I don't know. I mean you are Manik Malhotra alhotra and me, I am just a nobody. And I thought you would not want your mother to know that we are friends, maybe", she explained and he looked at her shocked. The way she stumbled, he knew she wasn't even sure he thought of her as a friend.

"Nandini, I don't choose my friends eyeing their social status, if that is what you are implying. And as you yourself said, we are friends right, so why would not I want my mom to know? There is nothing to hide anyways", he answered her and she simply nodded, though at the back of her mind she was still dazed that he actually told his mother about her, even before they really met.

Soon Nyonika joined in with the designs and the conversation shifted to work. Manik didn't go to office, just sat with them while both the ladies discussed the final blueprint. After they were done, Nyonika asked the butler for some refreshments and smiled at Nandini.

"So Nandini tell me about yourself. Manik told me you work at the library too?", She aksed her softly not trying to make her uncomfortable.

"Yes, I do. After office hours, I work at the central library", she answered meekly and Nyonika nodded with a proud expression instead of pitying her, which nandini was actually expecting!

"And who all at are their at home?", Nyonika asked again and Nandini smiled this time.

" My mother, Mrs Padmini Murthy . She works in a nearby school as a teacher. I have two siblings- twins actually, Navya and Rishab. Navya is doing law and rishabh is pursuing his BBA", she spoke with her eyes shining as she talked about her family.

Manik and Nyonika both smiled at her. Though she didn't mention her dad, both of them didn't ask as they understood it was personal for her.

"Okay so I guess you dont have office today. So stay here, you guys talk and then Manik will drop you to library. I need to rush" , Nyonika spoke, getting up and Nandini was all ready to deny her and go too, when Manik held her hand, indicating a no to her, requesting not to leave. She stood silent for a moment, before agreeing to him and Nyonika winked at manik, noticing the Silent exchange before moving out, leaving him all flushed.

Manik looked at nandini while she was already staring at her. His face broke into a wide 32 teeth smile.

"Until you?", He asked and she chuckled at his excitement.

"Until you!", She reciprocated!

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