Time started passing swiftly but manik made sure that he met nandini everyday even if that was just for a few minutes!! Nandini was liking it all. To be treated with so much respect and care, is every girl's dream. Marriage preparations were on full swing and shopping expeditions had started. The worst effected was nandini, as she had to accompany everyone be it her own mother or her would be mother-in-law. Neyonika took her to her personal designer informing nandini that Neeta narula will be her personal designer too and so nandini informed Neeta about her taste and choices accordingly nandini's outfit for the ceremonies as well as dresses for her married life will be made. Neeta is a renowned designer in the film industry and fav among celebs , malhotras were her special client. She had designed dresses for neyonika and mukti and now after looking nandini , she complemented neyonika saying that " nandini is another gem added to the malhotra crown, she definitely carries a stature to be called a MALHOTRA and knowing manik personally I can say they make a gorgeous couple" neyonika felt proud on hearing the compliments wherever she went with nandini. Cloth was done, footwear designing was done, jewellery was done. Hah finally! Neyonika breathed a sigh of relief.
In between these shopping expeditions manik took nandini on a date , as promised on Sunday.
Nandini wore a little red dress which hugged her body on right places bringing out her slim and sexy figure. To top it all red was manik's fav colour. She wanted to surprise manik as he had always seen her dressing elegantly but never sexily.
Today she had dressed to seduce. She tied her hair in a messy bun with loose strands falling on her face and the nape of her neck.
A little eye-makeup to keep the focus on her red lipstick laced glossy lips, in the name of jewellery just a diamond stud in the ears and red heels.
When manic saw her for the first time while she was coming towards him , he forgot to breathe for a while. He was literally checking her out . after roaming all over her body for a while, his eyes stopped at her red full lips and a strange desire overpowered him , he wanted to kiss her then and there but his sane mind commanded him to control himself. Amidst his wild thoughts nandini reached near him and clicked her fingers in front of his eyes to bring him back from his thoughts . manic straightened himself and greeted her then he gave her the bouquet of red roses saying " this one for u beautiful lady" as nandini took the bouquet from him smiling wholeheartedly he said something which even he could not believe that he said that. He complimented nandini " u r looking hot and sexy" (imagine the way in which manic had complimented nandini in the show when she had wore that short dress during the campaign #ItsNotUsItsU) nandini blushed instantly as she had dressed up to hear this comment from him and she was successful. She replied "even u r looking no less Mr Malhotra (winked) and I guess we are unintentionally colour-coordinated" at that moment he noticed that the black suit he was wearing had a red piping, and he smiled and said "hamari choices kitni milti hain , ni?" to distract him she said "is the date here in your car?" he understood her sarcasm but before he could speak she said " I don't mind if it's in the car or a small hut or on the road itself, because as long as you are with me ,anything else doesn't matter" he was dazed by her pure confession but he composed himself and opened the passenger's side door for her smiling "shall we?" and she happily sat in slightly brushing her palm with his and an electric current passed through both of them but manic ignored that and came to driver's side and started driving .it was silence in the car. Manic spoke " umm nandini?? Music??" nandini replied "no I like the silence plzz" again silence prevailed. Manic looked at her, she was looking outside, enjoying the drive. Her right hand was on her exposed thighs. Manic moved his left hand held her right hand , nandini looked at him surprised, so he said " You are on a date with me, not the roads and the trees, so u should focus on me" she laughed on his cuteness. He asked her the reason for her laugh. Nandini replied "manic u r jealous of the roads and trees? Seriously?" and she again started
laughing. Manik was lost in her laugh suddenly nandini screamed "manikkk watch it" but before he could react she steered the wheel and they were saved from colliding with a truck. Manik had panicked hearing her scream but he composed himself immediately and focussed on the road. Nandini relaxed herself and seeing his dull face tried to cheer him up by saying "that was close but I guess from next time we will have to keep a chauffeur as both of us seem to lose self control when we are together" while saying this nandini placed her hand on manik's hand which was on the gear assuringly and it worked, he smiled finally coming out of his guilt mode. Manik drove holding her hand and she realised the date and manic were turning out to be exactly like she had expected all her life. She felt happy and content. Manik was too feeling the same. Soon manic drove into the driveway of one of his luxurious hotel. He didn't stop near the main entrance instead he went a little ahead and stopped near a small entrance. Nandini was perplexed but she didn't question him. A valet came running seeing manik's car , manic handed him the car keys and manic asked him "everything is ready?" valet nodded " yes sir" Manik then walked on nandini's side and opened the door and forwarded his hand to her. She held it and came out. Manik left her hand to hold her waist and pulled her closer to him. Nandini smiled and then Manik moved forward with her.
On his way the few employees of the hotel wished him and Manik just nodded like a boss. Nandini liked this avatar of Manik. They entered the lift and nandini asked him" Manik, why didn't we go through the main entrance?" Manik understood her curiosity and answered "nandini actually this entrance through which we came , is meant for us malhotras , the main entrance is for common people and staff, and moreover going through that entrance meant people would click pics and that's the last thing we would want at this point of time" nandini now understood this and the gates of the lift opened on the floor which was an open terrace restraunt. It was empty. Not a single customer.
Manik looked at her confused expression and said " I booked all of it, no disturbance u see!!" he winked at her. Manik held her hand led her forward.
Nandini was at loss of words when she got the view. The terrace was facing the sea and was decorated with flowers and candles. Nandini had once told manic that she loved decorations done with candles and flowers. Nandini realised Manik had took notice of this and the decor was done accordingly. In the centre of the terrace there was a table and two chairs. At some distance a music system was placed. The table had a bottle of fruit champagne and two glasses. Nandini had just one thought seeing the arrangements...this is the ideal date ...a date which she had dreamt of going some day. Manik led her to the table and pulled the chair for her to sit. And when he was sure that she is seated comfortably , he sat on his chair opposite to her. Nandini said " manic , this is beautiful, thank you so much" Manik asked her " u liked it" she replied promptly " I love it" Manik felt relaxed now. All through this time Manik was anxious if she would like it or not. Manik then said " ok so our first official date!! Lets mark it by popping the champagne" and he stood up , so did nandini. Manik shook the champagne and popped it.
Champagne overflowed . he took a glass and poured some in it and then the next glass . he placed the bottle on the table and handed a glass to nandini and took the other glass . they clinked their glasses saying "cheers" and took a sip each. Holding the glass in her hand , nandini moved towards the side to look at the sea, manic followed her and stood beside her. They both smiled at each other , enjoying the peace . soft breeze was blowing because of which nandini's loose strands of hair were dancing on her face . nandini was watching the waves and Manik was drinking her beauty through his eyes. Soon their glasses were empty so Manik asked her " want some more?" nandini shook her head , so manic took the glass from her and kept it on the table and came back to her and asked her for a dance, she happily agreed. Manik switched on the music system and took nandini's hand and brought her in the centre...
Sapna jahan dastak na de (as the song was soft so they moved their body slowly and rhythmically, Nandini
Chaukhat thi woh aankhein meri moved her hands around manik's neck and he held her waist. While dancing
Baaton se thi tadaad mein Nandini enquired "so Manik I m observing that you choose songs which convey
Khamoshiyan zyaada meri your emotions at that point of time, am I right??" manic smiled and answered
Jabse pade tere kadam "so you noticed this too!! Yeah u r right...nandini..music is just not my passion
Chalne lagi duniya meri or profession ..it's my way of life. Anything I do , music has to be there,
Somewhere. You don't like..." nandini did not let him complete and said " I like
Mere dil mein jagah Khuda ki khaali thi it" and he smiled on how she understood what he wanted to say.)
Dekha wahan pe aaj tera chehra hai
Main bhatakta huaa sa ek baadal hoon
Jo tere aasmaan pe aake thehra hai
Tu rooh hai toh main kaaya banu
Taa-umr main tera saaya banu
Keh de toh ban jaaun bairaag main
Kehde toh main teri maaya banu
Tu saaz hai, main ragini
Tu raat hai, main chandni
Mere dil mein jagah Khuda ki khali thi
Dekha wahan pe aaj tera chehra hai
Main bhatakta huaa sa ek baadal hoon
Jo tere aasmaan pe aake thehra hai
Hum pe sitaaron ka ehsaan ho (in this part of the song awkwardness prevailed between the two. Nandini
Poora, adhoora har armaan ho who was till now dancing looking in his eyes, suddenly looked down on
Ek dusre se jo baandhe humein hearing the lyrics. Manik who was till now lost in her eyes didn't
Baahon mein nanhi si ik jaan ho understood what happened. But when he heard "baahon mein nanhi si
Aabaad ho chota sa ghar jaan", he understood and saying he will change the song that it sounded
Lag na sake kisi ke nazar! (boring , went towards the music system. But till then the song ended! And next song in the loop started playing)
Mere dil mein jagah Khuda ki khaali thi
Dekha wahan pe aaj tera chehra hai
Main bhatakta huaa sa ek badal hoon
Jo tere aasmaan pe aake thehra hai
Janam janam janam saath chalna yunhi (this was a fast song so they danced to match the Kasam tumhe kasam aake milna yahin tune)
Ek jaan hai bhale do badan ho judaa
Meri hoke hamesha hi rehna
Kabhi na kehna alvida
Meri subah ho tumhi
Aur tumhi shaam ho
Tum dard ho tum hi aaraam ho
Meri duaaon se aati hai bas ye sadaa
Meri hoke hamesha hi rehna
Kabhi na kehna alvida
Aha ha ha...
Meri hoke hamesha hi rehna
Kabhi na kehna alvida..
Teri baahon mein hai mere dono jahaan
Tu rahe jidhar meri jannat wahin
Jal rahi agan hai jo ye do tarfa
Na bujhe kabhi meri mannat yahi
Tu meri aarzu, main teri aashiqui
Tu meri shayari, main teri mausiqi
Talab talab talab bas teri hai mujhe
Nashon mein tu nasha banke ghulna yunhi
Meri mohabbat ka karna tu haq ye adaa
Meri hoke hamesha hi rehna
Kabhi na kehna alvida
Meri subah ho tumhi
Aur tumhi shaam ho
Tum dard ho, tum hi aaraam ho
Meri duaaon se aati hai bas ye sadaa
Meri hoke hamesha hi rehna
Kabhi na kehna alvida
Aa... alvida..
O... na na..
Both are equally good dancers , so they danced really well and enjoyed a lot. Manic had kept only two songs. So the music stopped but they were still in a trance. Manic without breaking the passionate eye contact moved his hand to the back of her hair on the bun and took out the hair pin. Her hair fell open and danced with the breeze. She looked at him confused. Manic answered "I like your open hair" she smiled and tried to move back ,out of his hold but he didn't allow her instead he came closer to her and said huskily " u remember ..that I had asked u to give me a real kiss and not on the phone, I spared u these days because I wanted our first kiss to be special" nandini suddenly felt nervous and her body temperature started rising and her cheeks turned red. She did not know what to do. So to be on a safer side , she lowered her gaze. She neither denied nor accepted. Manic was waiting for her answer, but he noticed her nervousness and he cursed himself for bringing the topic so soon and making her uncomfortable moreover he had not confessed his love for her, "she might be thinking I m an opportunist!! Shit shit!! What did I do" he loosened her grip on her and moved back and said " listen nandini please don't take me wrong, I had no intention of making u uncomfortable. I m such an idiot , I don't think twice before speaking. It's so stupid of me..please please don't think wrongly of me, don't create a wrong image of me..." he was going on ranting and nandini was amused , she thought " The Manik Malhotra..I mean The MANIK MALHOTRA..is so nervous and justifying himself in front of the lady who is going to marry him and he has the full right to kiss her, yet here he is justifying himself for just asking a kiss , as if he has kissed and sinned" he had not stopped his ranting yet. She thought no use talking, it's time for some action. In between his ranting, she spoke " Manik kiss me" Manik didn't get her words and said " yes I know I am stupid but please..." nandini was baffled but she spoke again holding his collar " I said kiss me"... this time Manik came out of his ranting mode and noticed her words as she spoke so seductively bringing her face ever so close to his. But Manik thought she is saying this to bring him out of his guilt so he said " nandini you don't need to do this if you don't want to. I am okay. Don't worry" and he tried to move back but nandini again pulled him slightly and said in a fake annoyed tone "Manik Malhotra you are impossible!! Here a girl is asking u to kiss her and you are denying her!!" Manik understood that she really wanted this so he came close to her and removed the hairs which were falling on her face and placed them at the back of her ear and cupped her face and planted a kiss on her forehead, she closed her eyes as he moved towards her left eye and kissed it and then slowly moved towards her right eye and kissed it. He moved his head a little back to look at her face and she slowly opened her eyes to look at him. Both were lost in each other. In that moment , it was only him and her, nothing else. He looked in her eyes for approval and in order to answer him she closed her eyes and that was it for him he placed his lips on her. As their lips met, time seemed to have frozen then and there. Nandini opened her lips slowly and manic instantly took her upper lips for sucking and she sucked his lower lip. The kiss was slow and soft. KISS OF LOVE. Manik's desire was up in flames and he knew if he deepened the kiss, situation would go out of his control so he slowly ended the kiss with a soft peck and being breathless both touched their foreheads and stood in the same posture for a while . manik spoke " I guess it was good enough for a first kiss" nandini nodded her head shyly and smiled...
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Credits to the writer- Manini Mehra