Hello Fam. :)
Happy Reading...
Manik and Nandini were sitting peacefully and talking about some random things when Manik noticed something.
Manik(casually): Waise Nandu, tu yeh jeans mein mujhe propose karne aayi? Mujhe seriously laga yeh birthday planning hai.
Nandu(complained while pouting): Manik, main gayi thi shopping. I somehow managed with your dress but jaise hi main apne liye gayi, woh Soha ke sare sisters aa gaye, ‘may I help you’ karke and I left from there. And tu hi toh hai na, how does it matter if I am all dolled up or in a casual wear.
Manik nods in agreement.
Nandu(glared): Lekin, tune mujhe ab tak compliment nahi diya for selecting this shirt for you. Mera first time tha.
Manik(smiled widely): Haan, I know first time tha. I loved this one. In fact, I am thinking of making you choose all my shirts from now on.
Nandu(whined): Tujhe pasand nahi aaya toh bol deta na. Why are you giving me punishment?
Manik(teased): Nandu, yeh sach mein acha tha. I will keep this forever with me. Waise bhi mujhe nahi lagta mujhe second time aisa surprise milega. You know, you going shopping alone.
Nandu punched him lightly. Seeing the time nearing 12, he frowned.
Manik: Nandu, tumhara bday cake?
Nandu(proudly): I have everything prepared, Manik.
She brings a box seeing which Manik glares at her.
Manik(sarcastically): Nandini Murthy, mujhe cake ki jagah pizza box kyu dikh raha hai?
Nandu(coolly): Kyunki yeh pizza box hi hai, Manik. Now stop doubting your eyesight. Come let's cut it.
Manik(disbelieving): Are you seriously gonna cut a pizza on your birthday?
Nandu(seriously): Manik, remember I love pizza more than anything?
Manik(cheekily): Aur mere?
Nandu(staring in his eyes): I love you more than my pizza. (Chuckles) Manik, yaar, I already told this in the restaurant. Kitna acha coincidence ho gaya na?
Manik smiled widely and took a step closer towards her when she pointed the pizza box.
Nandu(declared): Come, let's cut it.
They together ‘cut’ the pizza and fed each other.
Manik(cupping her check): Happy Birthday, Nandini. After listening to your saath vachans to me, even I want to promise a lot many things to you but I am completely at loss of words today.
Nandu(sincerely): You have always kept your unsaid promises since I was born. You don't have to say those words aloud now, Manik.
Manik smiled emotionally and pecked her head. Finishing the pizza, he sat down taking her into a hug. Suddenly, remembering something he asks her.
Manik(frowned): Nandu, tu ek promise kar. You won't ignore me or push me away again.
Nandu(thinking hard): Hmm...lekin agar mujhe space chahiye toh?
Manik(sarcastically): Tujhe ek astronomy ki book gift kar dunga. Space hi space hoga phir.
Nandu glares at him, which he ignores. After minutes of silence,
Nandu(scaredly): Manik, I read an article that relationship mein bahut sare jhagde hote hai. Hamare bhi honge kya?
Manik(amused): Tu kab se yeh articles padhne lagi? Nandu, no article can define us. Hum apni article khud likhenge.
Seeing her still in some doubt, he takes her into a side hug.
Manik(advised): Murthy, let’s make a deal. Agar tera boyfriend Manik se jhagda ho gaya toh straight away come to your best friend Manik. You know right, your best friend Manik will sort it out for you?
Nandu smiles widely and gives a tight kiss on his cheek.
Manik blushed slightly making Nandu squeal.
Nandu(adored): Hayee, tu blush karte hue kitna cute lagta hai.
Manik laughed off seeing her. Composing himself, he promised.
Manik(sincerely): Nandu, I will always be your best friend first than anything else.
Nandu(squealed): I love you so much, boyfriend.
Manik(chuckles): Love you more, girlfriend. Ab ghar chale?
Nandu nods and starts packing the stuff into the car when she finds Manik, leaning onto the car, staring at her without blinking his eyes. She stood in front of him and clicked her fingers making him snap out of his thoughts.
Nandu(questioned): What are you looking at?
He doesn't say anything and leans forward, raising his hand as if trying to touch a hair strand when she pushes him lightly.
Nandu(screams): Manik, wait.
Manik(smilingly): Ab kya?
Nandu(stated): Manik, hum pehle Soha ko batayenge about us being in a relationship.
Manik(frowned): Why?
Nandu(declared): Kyunki yeh sab usi ki wajah se hua. Come, let’s go home now.
She hurriedly sits in the passenger seat. He chuckles and went to the other side.
Manik(teases): Murthy, main tujhe kiss nahi karne wala tha.
He removes a piece of paper that was stuck in her hair and hands it to her. Nandu gapes at him in shock.
Nandu(nervously fidgeting her fingers): Manik..main..
Manik took both her hands into his and squeezed it lightly.
Manik(softly): Nandu relax. Aaj tak maine aisa kuch bhi kiya hai kya that will put you in discomfort?
Nandu nods in a no.
Manik(promised): Aage bhi kabhi nahi karunga. You won't ever lose your comfort with me, Nandini.
She hugs him tight. Breaking the hug, she looks down.
Nandu(whispered): I am sorry.
Manik(cupping her face): Shh..You don't need to. This is a new phase for both of us. And as always we will survive this together but enjoying each and every moment of it. Ab chale, it's revenge time.
They both raced to home, shouting and screaming all through their way. They sneaked into Malhotra house together and knocked on Soha’s door. Standing apart, they made a really ‘sad’ face and ignored her when she opened the door, yawning.
Manik(sadly): Meri aankhon mein dekh kar ye baat bolo, Nandini.
Nandu(dramatically): Main tumhare aankhon mein nahi dekh sakti, Manik. Please don't force me to look.
Manik(pouts): Nandini, I promise mujhe conjunctivitis nahi hai.
Nandu(wailed): Conjunctivitis hota phir bhi main dekh leti. Lekin ab main nahi dekh sakti, Manik.
Manik(frowned): Kyun, tumhari eyesight itni kharab ho gayi?
Nandu(looking away): Nahi Manik. Nahi. Because….
Manik(almost cryingly): TV serials ki tarah suspense dena bandh karo aur because ke aage bhi kuch bolo Nandini.
Nandu(sniffing): Because you are not my best friend anymore, Manik.
Soha(mutters): Really?
Manik(shocked): Nahi Nandini. Nahi. Hamare itne saalo ka rishta tum nahi tod sakti.
Nandu(glared): Manik, tum meri puri baat kab sunoge.
Manik(glared back): Tum bina break diye kab bologi, Nandini.
Nandu(staring into his eyes): Ok now. You are not my best friend anymore because you are officially my boyfriend, Manik.
Manik(surprised): Really?
Nandu nods her head and jumps on him for a hug making Soha cringe. Breaking the hug, he wraps his hand around her neck.
Manik(announced): Chalo, aaj hum dono ek hi room mein soyenge.
Nandu(innocently): But tumhare room mein Aryaman hai na?
Manik(declared): Hum tumhare room jayenge, Nandu.
Nandu happily claps her hands and both leave to Nandu’s room leaving a ‘heartbroken’ Soha behind.
Nandu’s room
Entering the room both burst out laughing. Composing themselves they decided to sleep. Manik slept on the bed and Nandu climbed on him, resting her head on his chest.
Manik(amused): Ye kya ho raha hai?
Nandu(snuggling into him): Aaj se tu officially mera bed hai.
Manik(sarcastically): Aur tu kya meri teddy bear hai, jo main tujhe pakad kar soyu?
Nandu(patting his shoulder): Not bad, Malhotra. Mera boyfriend bankar kaafi improve ho raha hai.
Manik(whined): Nandu, this is not fair yaar.
Nandu(reasoned): Everything’s fair in love and war, Malhotra.
Manik(raising an eyebrow): And this is?
Nandu(chuckles): Of course, war. Your body fought with my bed and look who won.
Manik rolled his eyes. Being exhausted from the whole day’s planning and implementing the surprise for Manik, she went to sleep immediately. Manik nods his head in disbelief and hugs her tight with a smile playing on his lips.
Manik(pecking her head, mutters): Goodnight, Nandini.
Nandu(in sleep): Love you, boyfriend.