NANDINI's POV
"So, what now?" Manik asked. "I don't know" I said leaning back.
"This party is no fun yaar" Maink said and I nodded. "You came alone?" I asked him. "No, Mom and Dad are also here" he replied.
Just then an elderly man came near us. "Hello Manik" he greeted Manik.
"Oh hello Mr.Kapoor" Manik greeted back. They were talking about some business stuff and I stood there awkwardly.
"Who is this beautiful lady?" he asked looking at me. "Ohh she is..." Manik looked at me. Even I looked at him as how will he introduce me.
"She is Mr.Murthy's daughter, Nandini Murthy" Manik introduced. It's the first time he called me by my name. I looked at both of them and smiled.
"Ohh Mr.Murthy's daughter? Glad to meet you young lady" Mr.Kapoor forwarded his hand and I shook it. Someone called him and he left.
"Who is he? He knows Dad?" I asked Manik. "C'mon, don't tell me you don't know him" Manik asked surprised and I shook my head.
"It's his sons reception only. How did you come without knowing whose reception it is?" Manik laughed at me and I looked down with embarrassment.
"How will I know? Dad dint introduce him till now" I said looking here and there and he laughed more.
Music started playing and the host requested all the couple's to come and join the dance. Many of them went to the stage and started the couple dance. We were watching them while having juice.
"Hey Nandini" Vijay came from back and I rolled my eyes. I gave him a fake smile while Manik was smirking.
"Shall we dance?" Vijay asked forwarding his hand.
"No Vijay, I am tired" I replied him. "Just one dance, please?" he asked again.
" I am really tired. And I don't know have to dance" I replied innocently while Manik burst out laughing.
"Yaaa... she is a .....very bad dancer" Manik said between his laughs as he knows that I was lying.
"It's okay, I'll help you" he said again.
"Arrre bhaisaab, I don't want to dance" I shouted at him, gaining attention of few people near us.
I gave them a apologetic smile and they continued with their work.
"Bhaisaab?" Vijay asked horrified and I rolled my eyes.
"Dekho, if you won't leave me alone right now then I will make sure that I will come to your house and tie you Rakhi on the next Rakshabandhan" I said gritting my teeth and he went away getting scared.
I sighed and turned towards Manik to see him still laughing. "Kya hai? Why are you laughing so much?" I asked Manik irritatingly.
"You are impossible. Uska fuse uda diya thumne tho" he said. I glared at him but eventually started laughing with him.
After our laughing session was completed, Manik turned towards me. "Shall we?" he asked forwarding his hand.
I looked at his hands and then at him. "We both are bored. So, why don't we go and join the stage" he said shrugging.
I smiled and was going to forward my hand but realisation hit me. I looked at Manik and excused myself while he stood there confused.
I looked around and found Mom talking to someone. I went near Mom and took her to a corner.
"Kya hua?" Mom asked me with concern. "Woh...Maa... actually I...." I stammered and Mom raised her eyes. "I want to go and dance" I said closing my eyes. I opened slowly and saw Mom smiling at me.
" I understood. I'll make sure your father doesn't see you. You go and dance" Mom said caressing my hair and I hugged her tightly whispering a love you.
I left from there and went back near Manik to see him talking to someone. I went near him.
"Mr. Malhotra, shall we dance?" I asked forwarding my hand and he looked at me amused.
"But you..." he was going to say but I cut him off.
"Please?" I asked him and he smiled at me.
"You guys continue" the man with whom Manik was talking left while patting his back.
Manik kept his hand on mine and we smiled. We went to the dance floor where many couples were dancing.
Surkh wala, sauz wala, Faiz wala love
Hota hai jo love se jyada waise wala love
Ishq wala love
The song started and I kept my one hand on Manik's shoulder and he kept his one hand on my back. Our other hands entwined with eachother.
Hua jo dard bhi toh humko aaj kuch zyada hua
Ishq wala love
Ye kya hua hai kya khabar yehi pata hai zyada hua
Ishq wala love
Agar ye usko bhi hua hai phir bhi mujhko zyada hua
Ishq wala love
We both started swaying according to the song looking in each other's eyes.
Meri neend jaise pehli baar tooti hai
Aankhein mal ke dekhi hai maine subah
Hui dhoop zyada leke teri roshni din chadha
Ishq wala love
I moved a little back and he again pulled me back by my waist making me bump into him.
Jhanke badalon ki jaali ke peechhe se
Kare chandani ye mujhko ittala
Leke noor sara chand mera yahin pe hai chhupa chhupa hua
Ishq wala love
He slowly turned me backwards. He was facing my back. I kept my hands on my stomach and he placed his hands around me on my hands. We both started swaying in this position.
Hua jo dard bhi toh humko aaj kuch zyada hua
Ishq wala love
Ye kya hua hai kya khabar yehi pata hai zyada hua
Ishq wala love
Agar ye usko bhi hua hai phir bhi mujhko zyada hua
Ishq wala love
He extended his hand and I twirled around his hand and again went back to our previous position. I can feel his breath on my shoulders.
Kyon na aise hota
Jo milte tum ho jaate gum saath mere
Hote hote hoga samjhaye hum
Tham jaa aye tham O dil mere
Toota jaata jaata taara jab gira
Zara zyada zyada maangu dil tera
Kabhi zyada zyada maane na dil ye sarphira
Ishq wala love
He twirled me around him while I caught his index finger. He again pulled me by my waist and slowly tucked my hairs behind my ear. We were so lost in eachother's eyes.
Bada ye dil nadaan tha, par aaj kuch zyada hua
Ishq wala love
Jo khone ka tha dar tujhe pata nahi kyu zyada hua
Ishq wala love
We just looked in eachother's eyes and were swaying according to the song. "Do you realise you called me by my name for the first time?" he whispered huskily in my ears and I felt my cheeks heating up for no reason. "And so did you" I replied in the same tone and he smiled.
Hua jo dard bhi toh humko aaj kuch zyada hua
Ishq wala love
Ye kya hua hai kya khabar yehi pata hai zyada hua
Ishq wala love
Agar ye usko bhi hua hai phir bhi mujhko zyada hua
Ishq wala love
He lifted me up by my waist and I put my hands around his neck. He twirled around and I extended my hands. He again placed me down slowly.
Surkh wala, sauz wala, Faiz wala love
Hota hai jo love se jyada waise wala love
Ishq wala love
We ended the song and continued looking in eachother's eyes.
Everyone started clapping and we came out of our trance. He made me stand properly and we gave everyone a awkward smile.
"You guys were amazing" Mr.Kapoor smiled at us and we thanked him. We left the stage and went near the empty chairs.
"Woahhh!! Mera beta dancer ban gaya" Manik's dad winked at us and he rolled his eyes.
"Raj don't" Nyonika aunty showed him eyes and turned towards us and smiled.
"Everyone are talking about your dance only. It was superb" Nyonika Aunty smiled at us and we thanked her.
"By the way, Nandini you here?" she asked me surprised. "It's Dad's invitation and I joined them" I replied and she nodded.
"Who is your father?" Raj uncle asked me.
Before I could answer my phone was ringing. I looked at it and it was Mom's call. I excused myself and went to answer the call.
Mom asked me to come near the dining area and I went there. Dad introduced me to Mr.Kapoor.
"I know her. We just met" Mr.Kapoor smiled and Dad smiled back.
"What are you doing beta?" he asked me and before I could reply Dad replied. "She is an successful fashion designer. She has her own company 'Nanz Creations'. It's one of the top fashion designing company" Dad said proudly putting his hand around my shoulder. I smiled at his proudness.
"You are truly lucky to have such a talented daughter. Actually multi-talented" Mr.Kapoor said.
"Multi-talented?" Dad asked.
Oh Noooo! He is going to talk about my dance now. I saw Mom and gestured her to stop.
"Yaa multi-talented..." Mr.Kapoor was going to say and Mom cut him off. "Raman, we need to greet the couple. Come let's go. We even have to go back home early" Mom said and Dad nodded. I sighed in relief.
"Ohh yes come. I'll take you to my children" Mr.Kapoor leaded us to the stage and we congratulated the married couple.
"Let's leave?" Mom asked and we nodded. Just then I realised about Manik.
"You both wait in the parking. Mein abhi aayi" I said and went inside.
I went near Manik who was now in the lawn talking in the phone. He ended his call and turned around.
"Mr.Malhotra I am leaving" I said to him. He rolled his eyes.
"Not again. I thought you started calling me by my name" he said.
"Okayyy" I said and started to leave. He caught my wrist from back and I turned towards him.
"Call me by my name" he said coming closer to me. I felt my heart beats rising. I was not able to breathe. I looked at him and saw him looking at me raising his eyebrows.
Not getting any response he came more closer. "Call me Nandini" he said huskily and I felt butterflies inside my stomach listening to my name from his mouth.
"Okay" I said and he stopped and looked at me waiting. His phone started ringing and he looked at it irritatingly to get shocked.
"What the..." he said looking at me and I started laughing loudly.
"You... wanted me... to call you na" I said between my laughs and he rolled his eyes.
"You are too much" he said and I continued laughing. "Now I should leave. My parents are waiting at the parking area. Bye" I said laughing.
"I'll join you. Even Mom and Dad just left. I am also leaving" Manik said and we both went near the parking area. I introduced Manik to my parents and they greeted him.
"I'll take a leave now" Manik said smiling at us. "Yeah beta sure" Dad smiled back.
"Driver will bring your car back. You come with us" Mom said to me. "But only if you let me drive" I said and they shook their head in disbelief. I gave my keys to driver and took Dad's car keys.
"I will bring the car. You wait here" I said to them and went. Manik followed me till his car.
"I have a doubt. When you dont take your car back with you, why do you even bring it. Everytime the driver has to get your car back" he said. I laughed.
"It's the circumstances. What can I do?" I said shrugging and he smiled.
"Ok then" he said. "Yaa, actually thank you. The party was very boring but your presence kept me sane" I said and he smiled.
He side hugged me and left. I took the car and went near my parents.
I was driving while Dad sat in the passenger seat and Mom at the back. They were talking about the party.
"Why did Abhi leave so fast? He dint even meet the couple" Dad said.
"He has some presentation to complete Dad. And that Trisha was also back of him" I said rolling my eyes.
"Who Trisha?" Dad asked.
"Arre that Mr.Kapadia's daughter" Mom said.
"That Kapadia's are soo trouble. They just make people insane" Dad said.
"I agree. They were irritating" I said and they both chuckled.
"I thought to introduce you and Abhi to my best friend. But you were no where to be seen" Mom said.
"Yeah they were asking about you" Dad said.
"We will meet them next time na. Don't worry" I said shrugging.
We reached home. We went inside and saw Bhai sleeping on the couch in the living room. We smiled seeing him.
"Mera beta kitna kaam karta hai" Mom said slowly caressing his hair.
"Shh! Don't wake him up. Varna phirse kaam shuru karega" Dad said and Mom nodded.
Planting a kiss at his forehead and wishing me goodnight they left to their room.
I went and brought a blanket for Bhai and started covering him with the blanket. I too caressed his hairs and went to my room.
Thinking about Manik and about our dance, I smiled. I don't know what happened to my heartbeats and I dont know why I felt heaven listening to my name from his mouth. But it was all very good.
Thinking about the day, I slowly drifted to sleep.
MANIK'S POV
After coming back from the party, I hugged Mom and Dad and went to my room.
I saw Cabir's message asking where was I and I texted him back. I changed and went to the balcony and leaned back looking at the stars.
Today I started by day with listening to LoveGuru along with my friends. This has become my new routine I guess.
Asusual I drowned into her voice. I just don't who she is, but she is making me crazy with her voice.
And coming to today's party, it was amazing. Firstly, I felt bored but seeing Nandini there I was relieved to find a good company.
And then when she called be my name, I felt soo peace. I dint knew why but my insides were dancing.
I had a good time with Abhi too. We three had fun and after Abhi left, I and Nandini were left alone.
That Vijay guy has screwed himself today. Nandini was soo irritated by him. But I had a good time seeing her irritated.
And our dance, I don't why she left first and again came back asking for dance.
But there was something in our dance.
Some different feeling. We were in a different world throughout the dance.
Mom and Dad were surprised by our dance too.
Again in the lawn she started with her 'Mr.Malhotra game'. After that she played that stupid prank on me by calling me. She is crazy.
Her parents were sweet too. They looked like good and welcoming people.
I dint want the day to end so soon. I kept my thoughts aside and went back to sleep.
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