Nandini
I'm soooooo happy for navya. It feels so good to have the one you love, to know that he feels the same as you feel for him. This is such a magical feeling and I wish even I could experience it.
We were sitting in the canteen, busy teasing Cabir and making navya blush when that chipkali entered batting her eyelashes trying to gain manik's attention. Guess who am I talking about? Of course, the one and only soha khurana.
Aiyyappa!
"Manik baby I heard you are having a party tonight so if you need any help then I'm always available" soha said tracing her finger on manik's face trying to seduce him. She can act really disgusting and annoying at times. Manik quickly jerked her finger away and scooted close to me as I was sitting right beside him. I giggled at his behaviour. He took me in a side hug. "Sweetheart can you please do me a favour?" He asked me and I could do nothing but nod my head still surprised after all it was the first time in this acting thing of ours that manik had called me sweetheart so lovingly and was acting like a real boyfriend in front of our friends who were already aware that we were acting but then I realized that even soha was here so I composed myself and played along. Manik continued. "Guys (looking at others) can I steal my lovely girlfriend for some time?" He asked with a puppy face making me go all aww and winked at the end so that they play along. They nodded and he dragged me along with him behind the music wing which had now become 'Our Spot'. "Manik why are we here?" I asked as soon as we got there. "For this" he replied huskily pulling me towards him making me bang in his chest and his hot breath fanning my face. My eyes widened for a moment and my breath hitched. Forget the butterflies, I could feel the entire zoo dancing in my stomach. What is this feeling? He caressed my cheeks and put a hair strand behind my ear which was obstructing the view of my face. I just blushed looking down. His touch was sending jitters down my spine, his every touch was creating havoc inside me. Yes that's the effect he has on me. I suddenly felt his warm lips pressing on my already red cheek which instantly made me look at him at once. "Manik" I took his name in a whisper, softly still amused by his actions. He cleared his throat and started speaking "star...we'll have to act a little more cosy and you know lovy dovy because that soha still sticks to me. You know what I mean right?'' He asked skeptically. "Manik say it clearly na" "OK so.....the thing is that soha still sticks to me and tries to attract me towards her so to avoid that we will have to act a little more cosy so that you know....uh...." He trailed off. I smiled at him, he looked so cute when he is nervous. I had that sudden urge to pull his cheeks. He asked me 'what' through eyes and I immediately exclaimed "Manik you are sooooo sooo cute......my cutiepie!" I said pinching his cheek and he gave me an annoyed look but it soon changed in a smirk and he said "oh MY cutie pie huh.....aren't you taking this fake relationship thing too seriously Ms. Murthy?" He asked maintaining that sly smirk. "Oh no Mr. Malhotra.....its just that I have already started acting upon what you said you know...." I replied smartly in the same tone. "Oohh I like it" "you definitely do" and the next we know, we were laughing our ass off. God we can be really unpredictable at times! We are so crazy 😂😂It was then we realized our close proximity and distanced ourselves awkwardly. An uncomfortable silence prevailed between us. "Uhm.....nandu...I- I guess we should move for our next class....ya?" He asked awkwardly while I was busy blushing and staring at the floor still thinking about our recent encounter. Oh manik! Why do you affect me so much? What the hell are you thinking nandini!? He's your best friend for god sake. But that doesn't matter. Its not like I can't love my best friend right? But why am I thinking so at the first place? I groaned. I was really pissed at myself. I mean which person fails to understand his own self??? Wanna know? Then here I am, a perfect living example. Chuck it! I shooed away my thoughts and replied to manik "uh ya sure". I know he was feeling equally uncomfortable as I was. I just hope that things go normal between us. I really don't want any awkwardness or complications between us. We soon headed to our next class. The day ahead went well and we faced no teasing from our friends. We had good luck it seemed.
The day came to an end and as decided we were off to manik's place. Me and manik were in a different car as we had a surprise for Cabir and navya. We headed to a bakery and bought a nice chocolate flavoured cake with cavya written over it with icing along with some snacks, not forgetting our surprise for them. Soon we were home. Everybody had reached already and were waiting for us. They were gossiping on random stuff and I even I got involved in their talks while manik excused himself to change and freshen up.
It had been some ten minutes but manik wasn't down yet and here I was getting bored as everyone was busy in their own world. You can imagine a little girl sitting with couples all around her.😥 I decided to check on manik and excused myself from the couples. Frankly, I had no interest in watching their PDA. I moved upstairs and peeked inside manik's room through the door and saw him lying on the bed, admiring the stars that were emitting from the lamp that I had gifted him. (Video in the media box. Ignore Alia part) I smiled and moved in. "Manik here you are sitting peacefully admiring these stars without any care in the world and there I'm....." I said walking towards his bed where he was now sitting as he saw me entering. Did I tell that he was sitting there shirtless? Well....never mind. I was literally gawking at his bare torso when I was standing at the door but then went in. I was blabbering and walking towards him when when one of his shirts came in my way and I tumbled upon it resulting in me falling on manik. Now I was hovering over manik, both of us busy drowning in each other's eyes. "Ma...." Before I could speak further, I was rolled over and now I was lying beneath manik and manik was over me. We had a deep,intense eye lock. We were slowly drowning into each other. I could feel the butterflies dancing in my stomach.....no no scratch that! I could feel the entire zoo jumping and dancing together in this chotu sa tummy of mine. But why do I feel this? Why does manik affect me so much? Why? I looked at manik, His eyes were dark, dark with some emotion in it maybe lov... Wait no! What am I thinking? He's my best friend. But.....but I can love my best friend right? I mean there's nothing wrong in it then why am I so confused!? Do I really love manik? No.....love is a strong word, I can't just use it like that. Maybe its just infatuation. Yeah its just a mere infatuation. But what if its not? What if you really love manik? My heart voiced. Don't confuse her Mr. Blood pumper. Nandini, listen to me and go with the flow. Don't be in a hurry this time Mr. Brain said. You have got a point thinking machine so I guess you win this time my heart confessed sadly and as always I decided to do what my brain wanted......just go with the flow. I snapped out of my thoughts when I felt my small fingers being entwined with manik's big ones while all I could do was get lost in his mesmerizing eyes which carried some hidden emotion. Suddenly I had the urge to discover him, to feel him, to get drowned in him but soon I realized what I was thinking and again tried to speak "manik" but,"ssh don't soil it nandu" he said in a husky voice, looking at me intently while caressing my bare waist which was exposed, courtesy my crop top which got lifted a bit when manik rolled me over. He was drawing circles on my bare waist, making me shiver and I not even for once felt uncomfortable with His proximity and gestures in fact, I wanted him to continue doing this...... But why? Manik slowly started leaning closer to my face but I turned it. It was becoming too much for me. He slowly gave an open mouth kiss on my neck just below my ear and I closed my eyes feeling his touch on my sweet spot. I wanted to hold him and manik understood my inner turmoil and freed my hand. I clutched his shoulder tightly, digging my nails in his skin but he did not wince even once. He was still nuzzling in my hair,inhaling its scent and I lied there losing myself in his every touch. It felt so.....so magical.....so right. Thank god that I was lying down or else I would have not even been able to stand without support. His torture had made me weak in my knees.
We were so lost in each other that we did not realize that our friends were waiting for us downstairs. It was only when Cabir shouted from downstairs that we realized our dazed state. "Manik....nandini kaha reh gaye? Neeche aane ka plan hai?" "Aaye!" We replied together and again shared a short eye lock. We quickly stood up and straightened ourselves. I was blushing hard, looking down all the time, not able to meet his gaze and manik stood there awkwardly not knowing what to do, just ruffled his hair. "Uhm....chale?" He asked biting his lower lip and I nodded, still staring at the floor and we left his room to move downstairs where everyone was waiting for us.