Fab5 were practising in the Music room from the last two hours. And as always when it came to Music they forgot everything else until the Nandini peaked in through the door.
Nandini: Snack break Guys!!!!
All of them looked up at her when she pushed opened the door and entered followed by the servant pushing in a tray filled with food.
Cabir: Ohh God Nandini.... U r a saviour seriously!! I m famished.
Nandini smiled at him and asked the servant to leave. She walked towards the corner of the room and sat on the floor next to the 4 bean bags kept over there. All of them joined her while dhruv too sat on the floor. Manik sat on the bag right next to Nandini.
Nandini: So how is it going??
Mukti: So far, so good.... I hope it goes on in the same way.
Nandini: It will....
Nandini smiled while they all dug into the food.
They continued eating when Nandini said,
Nandini: Guys... Coffee??
Aliya: Yup... I need some energy!
Manik: So Do I!!
Manik said lying his head back closing his eyes after the long practise session.
Nandini picked up her phone and called the servant asking him to get coffee for everyone. Aliya and Mukti mentioned about some latest fashion week coming up and they started talking about getting up those dresses for their concert. While Manik decided to stay out of the conversation and rest for a while.
A few minutes later, the door was knocked when their coffee came, making him finally sit straight. The butler kept their mugs in front of them reaching towards Nandini at the last. Nandini nodded as he kept her cup after which he left. When Manik immediately picked up Nandini's cup.
Nandini: Manik thats mine....
Nandini turned towards him. Manik smiled at her and shrugged.
Manik: I know!!
Nandini tired to take ot back from him when Manik got up from his place and moved away.
Nandini: Manik yr... Gimme mine na!! U can hv urs.
Manik: Ohh... Madam, how do I like my coffee???
Nandini: Either Strong or black!!
Nandini blurted out normally making him smile.
Manik: Then why did u order a regular one for me??
Nandini realised her mistake looking at the other mugs while the rest four had amused expressions on their faces.
Nandini: Ohk fine.. But I hv seen u hving normal one at office, so why can't u have it now!!
Manik: Coz i hv a choice here....
Manik smirked as he took a sip from it.
Manik: Mmn.... Nyc!!
Nandini glared at him at it but turned around to sit back,
Nandini: Jerk!!
She muttered slowly though it was audible enough for them to hear.
Manik: Witch....
Manik said back making her look upto him in shock. As she stood up again.
Nandini: Dog!!
Manik: Bitch...
They continued cursing each other when Nandini shouted,
Nandini: Dick!!
Manik: Prick!!
Nandini: First of all, Prick means the same as Dick... And secondly, how do u think u can call a Girl that!!
Nandini snapped back at him immediately.
Both of them kept on glaring at each other for a few moments, having pin drop silence in the room before they bursted laughing out loud.
All the others too joined them as they laughed their guts out. A few minutes later, Nandini finally controlled herself as she stood there holding up her waist.
Nandini: U idiot... My stomach hurts due to laughing so much!!
Manik: U started it...
Manik said as he sat on his place again while she again sat on the floor right next to him as she faced him.
Nandini: U called me a Prick....
Manik: I couldn't think of anything else sounding similar to dick!!
Manik said making everyone laugh again.
Manik: And u called me a Dick...
He again turned to her.
Nandini: U stole my Coffee...
Nandini got back to the main point. This reminded Manik of the coffee, as he picked it up again and took another sip.
Manik huffed at it and looked away when he forwarded the cup in front of her.
Manik: Here.... Half of it is still left!! Stop sulking....
Nandini smiled to her broadest and took the mug from him as she took a sip and breathed out in relief.
Nandini: Finally....
Manik chuckled at her when they saw their friends staring at them.
Nandini: What??
Cabir: Umn... Did we miss something?
Cabir asked looking at them while Manik and Nandini looked at each other in confusion.
Manik: Miss... Missed what??
Mukti: U two....
Nandini: Yeah.. What about us?
Aliya: R u guys like together??
Manik and Nandini: WHAT???
Both of them looked at each other mirroring their expressions before they laughed again.
Manik: Seriously guys... Hv u gone mad!! We r just friends.
Nandini: Absolutely...
Nandini nodded at them when Dhruv shrugged.
Dhruv: Maybe... But its just that u don't look like "Just Friends"!!
Manik looked at Nandini through the corner of his eyes to see a teasing smile crept over her face,
Nandini: Actually Dhruv.... U know some things are so contagious that u always tend to see things around urself which u feel in ur heart!!
Manik saw Dhruv's eyes widen at her words before he suddenly said,
Dhruv: Umn... I guess u r right Nandini!! By the way, I was thinking.... Isn't it enough of practise for today guys?? I mean we all r tired, so....
Aliya: Yeah.. I m also very tired.. Its almost 6.
Manik: Cool then we'll continue tmrw!! But for now, tonight we r all gonna celebrate....
Mukti: Exactly!!!
Mukti woke up from her half slumber listening to it making all of them laugh.
Cabir: But where???
Manik: Get ready ppl, we r going to the club tonight....
Aliya: Amazing them lets head home and then we'll meet directly there at around.... Say 9??
Nandini: Great!!
All of them got up to leave while Nandini walked with them to the cars. They all were about to sit when Aliya stopped and turned towards Nandini.
Aliya: Nandini..... I know u don't like talking it out and we hv not been that close ever. But still I hope u really know that I do care for u...
Nandini smiled at her and hugged her tight. She broke the hug and held Aliya's hands.
Nandini: Aliya, u know that there are very few ppl with whom I even talk casually.... And u r amongst the top ones in those. I know u care!!! But I still don't wanna talk about what happened inside.
Aliya: I understand...
Nandini: Thanks..... But guys seriously, I know u might not see that but u all do mean a lot to me. I hv spent such time with anyone ever. Its not so normal for me.
All of them smiled at her when Nandini felt someone hold her hand slightly. None of them noticed it but she knew who was it without even looking to a side.
They all started getting into the car deciding to meet soon at 9 when Nandini entwined her fingers with the hand.
Nandini: And no one to ever call as my Friend.
Nandini said still looking at the front knowing at only he can hear her.
Manik: I m there for u, u know that right??
Nandini: I know.... But anyways that doesn't stop me from calling u a jerk Mr. Best Friend.
Manik chuckled as she lifted up the mood. Nandini left his hand when he smacked her forehead.
Manik: U r a single piece u know.... There is no one else like u!! Idiot...
Nandini: Listen U-
Cabir: Manik... Chale???
Cabir shouted from the car interrupting Nandini who was about to shout at manik.
Nandini: U know what, I'll see u at the club... Now go!!!!
Manik chuckled at her and walked away getting into the car.
-------------------------------
Later that day, Fab5, except for Cabir, reached the club and went to a table at the corner which was booked by Manik.
Aliya: Mukti, where is Cabir??
Mukti: Aliya he went to pick up Navya.... They should be here any minute!!
They all settled down when Abhi rushed towards them.
Abhi: Hello people... Whats up??
He kissed Mukti on her cheeks and took a seat next to her.
Abhi: U look gorgeous...
Mukti blushed at it when they heard a voice,
"I don't know when m I going to get used to seeing a tigress blush!!"
Mukti groaned listening to it and said,
Mukti: Cabirrrrrr....
All of them laughed at it when Cavya too took a seat while Navya greeted everyone.
Cabir: Where is Nandini??
Aliya: She must be on her way! Ohh there she is...
Aliya said as they saw Nandini getting inside the club. Manik turned around listening to her too see Nandini standing there in a nyc peach coloured dress added up with a black jacket over it. She was looking around trying to spot them when she finally noticed them and a smile crept on her face, immediately getting over Manik's as well...
Nandini: Am I late??
Manik rolled his eyes at her when he heard Cabir say,
Cabir: Ohh yes Nandini, how could u be so late!!! Do u even realise how important this meeting was?? And now we hv suffered such a big loss and that too all just bcoz of u....
As soon as he finished he received a smack on the back of his head.
Nandini: U know, I might kill u some day, so whenever that happens don't be shocked...
Cabir: Ohh really... Am I supposed to be scared them??
Nandini: Yes u do... Now plz shut up! Will u??
Nandini muttered taking the empty seat next to Mukti when she saw Navya.
Nandini: Hi Navya.... U look beautiful!
Navya: Thanks...
Abhi: Now that everyone is here... Lets order some drinks!!
Manik called the waiter as they placed the order of their drinks. 15 mins later, they all were on the dance floor, after hving a few drinks, jumping at the high beat songs and dancing together.
They danced together for a long time before retiring to their seats to take a breath and eat something.
They were all eating when Cabir said,
Cabir: Dhruv man, look around...... This place is full of hot girls, go on yr, take ur chance, u never know where u find someone.
He entwined his hand with Navya saying the last line making her smile as her cheeks turned red.
Nandini noticed dhruv look at aliya from the corner of his eyes while Aliya seemed to be staring at her plate after listening to Cabir.
Dhruv: I m sure Cabir, that someone for me is gonna be a person who knows me too well, rather than someone whom I bump into at a club.
Nandini: And when do u think u r going to find her??
Nandini asked him with a smile in which Manik too joined her.
Dhruv: Who knows maybe she is already in my life and has not yet realised it!!
Dhruv replied before turning his eyes away from aliya.
Cabir: Ohk so in that case... Manik, why don't u go try ur luck??
Cabir said turning towards Manik when Nandini burst out laughing. Manik looked up at her, as she was sitting right in front of him across the table.
Manik: Now why r u laughing??
Nandini: Come on Manik... I hv said this to u a number of times, u and flirting, its like cabir and serious..... U can never flirt!!
All the others laughed along with her agreeing to her words.
Manik: Ohh hello... Of course I can!! No girl can resist Manik Malhotra.
Nandini: Agreed... Probably, no girl can resist Manik Malhotra.... But what if I don't tell them that, then can u manage to pull it off Manik.
Manik: Are u challenging me??
Manik asked getting up with a smirk.
Nandini: Yes I m...
Manik: Ms. Moorthy just coz u don't hv it in u doesn't mean that others also don't.... I accept ur challenge...
Nandini: One minute... What did u just say, I don't hv it in me!!
Manik: Why?? Am I wrong... Then prove it, lets make it a double challenge. U pick a girl for me and I'll pick a guy for u, lets see who does it better.
Nandini: We r so On Manik...
Nandini smirked back at him.
Cabir: Wow.... The night just got interesting!! So Manik u go first. Nandini pick a chick.
Nandini glared at him for the word chick before looking around through the club. When she noticed a beautiful girl sitting on the other side of the dance floor.
Nandini: Ohh.. The girl over there, the one in the white dress!! Thats ur target.... Lets see!! Ohk so all u hv to do is to ask her for a dance, and make her interested in u, maybe if possible even get her phone number.
Manik: Thats it??
Nandini: Yeah... Thats it, but one thing, u r not Manik Malhotra! U r going to be some Cabir Malhotra who is in no way related to ur family.
Manik: Ohk then, just wait and watch ppl...
Manik said getting up while the others cheered loudly for him. With this he walked away. They saw him go directly towards the girl as he stood right beside her, he said something to her making her give him a 'Seriously' look at which he nodded.
Cabir: Why do I hv a feeling that he is gonna earn a slap very soon.
Nandini: I hope he is better than that cabir!!
Nandini said looking at him as she continued eating.
Just when they saw him say something and the girl bursted out in laughter.
Abhi: Funny pick up line may work for him.
And right on que Manik forwarded his hand to her which she accepted and held as he walked them to the dance floor. A slow romantic track was on as they entered the crowd and Nandini got a msg,
"Phase 1 clear...😉"
Nandini showed the msg to others as they laughed and saw Manik start dancing with the girl. They danced together without holding onto each other when the girl herself kept her hands on his shoulder.
Nandini: Looks like she finds him handsome enough.... Its working out guys!!
Manik smiled at her continuing dancing but didn't hold her back.
Mukti: Come on Manik.... Hold her, she is gonna feel insulted!!
Nandini: There goes his challenge Mukti. He has never done this before, I don't think he took her hint.
And as expected 5 minutes later the girl said something to him and walk away with a smile while Manik moved back to the group.
Manik: So Ms. Moorthy!! I hope that was enough to prove u wrong.
Manik smirked but mukti replied to him before Nandini.
Mukti: What excuse did she give to go away Manik??
Manik: She was getting late! Why?
Mukti: Coz u lost u idiot... U just proved Nandini was right. That girl was giving u hints and u just didn't catch any of them.
Cabir: Manik.... U really need to learn from me Man!!
Manik looked at them confused when Nandini got up and moved towards him. As she stood closer to him and moved a finger from his forehead to the side of his neck.
Nandini: Flirting and U, is not combination Manik!!
Manik saw her smirk as she moved a bit away,
Manik: Whatever.... I m sure u r no better. Provided u being an introvert and not talking much. U can't even pull that much!!
Nandini: Uh.. Huh!! U'll see..... Nandini Moorthy doesn't chase guys, its always the other way round. Lets make it more interesting, just to prove u wrong, I will not walk to the guy, but he himself will walk over to me!!
Mukti: Ohk them.... Nandini lets do this!! Manik now its ur turn to pick a dick...
Nandini: What is it with u two and rhyming words.... Chick and dick, seriously!!
Nandini turned and pointed towards Mukti and Cabir while Manik scanned through the entire area.
He saw quite a number of guys, but then he continued looking to find a fairly decent guy as he didn't want nandini to be in trouble. Finally he saw a guy standing near the bar going through his phone with a glass of beer in his hand. He was dressed casually and looked quite decent and handsome.
Manik: There.... He is gonna be ur pick!!
Nandini followed his gaze and spotted the guy, smiling at herself.
Nandini: Ohk then.... Lets do this!!
Manik smiled at her taking his seat when everyone showed a thumbs up to her and she walked away. Manik looked down towards the food picking up a spoon and eating when a jacket was thrown on his face. He removed it and looked up to see Nandini at a distance as she winked at him and turned away.
Just looking at her made his jaw drop, she looked eternal with her petite figure as the dress was all backless right to her waist.
Cabir: Woah!!! Thats hot.....
Navya smacked cabir at it while manik seemed totally lost as he kept her jacket aside and saw her go to the bar counter. She didn't go where the guy was sitting and instead sat at the other end asking the bar tender for a glass of water. She had the water and picked out her phone.
Manik: Seriously... I was right, she is not even gonna get that far if she continues looking right to her phone.
Just then they saw a random guy walk towards her, he said a few things to her while she simply declined and he walked away. When Manik got a msg from her,
"The fish just got into the Bait😉😉😉 The game is on!!"
Manik looked up to find the guy looking at Nandini while she continued looking down only on her phone. He showed the msg to the others and they too noticed the same. Just then they saw the bar tender serve a drink to Nandini, she looked up puzzled until he pointed at the guy. Nandini smiled at him and raised the glass mouthing a 'cheers' to him before taking a sip and looking back down to her phone.
"I don't chase guys Manik, they chase me...."
She msged him when he saw the guy walk towards her and sit next to her. They talked a bit after which he asked her for a dance and Nandini walked to the dance floor.
"See u after u loose Manik😉😉"
With that she slid her phone in her sling bag as they reached the dance floor standing not too far from the group. They danced for sometime after which the guy placed his hands behind her back pulling her closer, while Nandini moved hers to his shoulders.
Mukti: And there she wins the challenge!! Manik....
Manik smiled at her sighing as he accepted his defeat and they continued eating, looking over at Nandini regularly.
She continued dancing normally with the guy until Abhi saw his hands move lower and land over her hips. Nandini stilled visibly.
Abhi: Guys.... Watch out!!
All of them saw up following his gaze as they saw Nandini give a tight smile to the guy as she held his hand and removed it from her hip.
The guy apologised to her as they saw him mouthing a sorry. Nandini nodded at him and said something at which he shook his head in a no, and she continued dancing with him this time a bit away.
Manik: Do u guys think, we should get her back??
Mukti: I guess she is looking for a right time to get away.... She has it in control Manik. Chill!!
Manik nodded at her slight but his eyes didn't move away from nandini even for a second after that. He saw her continue dancing while the guy too seemed to be in limits until he held her again. Though it was completely normal like before but this time Manik got on his feet.
Aliya: Manik??
Manik: I hv had enough of this now....
Manik said as he walked to the dance floor.
Nandini felt the guy's hand on her back again but this time she didn't respond, she was looking for ways to get away when she felt a hand sweep through her waist, before gripping onto her.
She didn't flick for even a second as a smile crept on her face knowing who it was. And before she knew he gripped her waist pulling her right into his chest, back hugging her.
She noticed the guy look up at the person behind her as she closed her eyes and leaned into his chest, still moving her feet to the Music. Even with her eyes closed she could imagine him shooting draggers at the guy. And the next thing she knew was that Manik too started moving along with her feet, matching onto the beats of the song. And she already knew that her so called dance partner was gone.
The two of them continued dancing, without even saying a word, while Manik still hugging her back with her hand firm on her waist. All their friends were looking at them from the table when Mukti said,
Mukti: Don't u guys think that these two r gonna make a superb couple...
Navya: Yeah... They look so cute together!! Do u think we should do something about it??
Cabir: No.... Guys, we r talking about Manik and Nandini here, and two ppl according to whom 'Love is Bullshit!!!'... I too hv noticed that spark between them but if there is someone who can make this happen then its just them. I don't want us to interfere and make things complicated.
Dhruv: I agree with Cabir... And plus, I m sure sooner or later they will realise it. I mean just look at them right now, have u guys ever seen Manik being so close to a girl ever again. He doesn't realise it now, but he definitely has a different comfort level with Nandini.
All the others nodded at it with a smile and then got back to the food.
While Nandini held Manik's hand loosening it around her waist and turned towards him, wrapping her hands around his neck.
Nandini: Thanks!!!
Manik smiled at her, holding her bare back.
Manik: Ur welcome...
They continued dancing for some more time when Nandini bent forward and whispered to him,
Nandini: I think we should get back to the table.... But Mr. Malhotra!! I Won......
She got away from him with a smirk as the two of them burst out laughing and moved towards the table.
------------------------------------
Tada tada... Thats it!!!
So guys, what do u all think about Manan??
Do u think they hv feelings for each other more than being just friends???
And if they do!! Are they going to realise it? Or will something stop them from realising it!!
Do share ur views!!
Love
-Navya!!