Cupid isn't always fair because he's the God of love!

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"Wow you are looking so pretty Nandu!" Riya wolf whistled just before entering the Gitz. Nandini seemed extra cautious of the slight revealing outfit she had worn. She didn't want to wear it but her best friend wasn't taking a no. Moreover, somewhere she felt she should try something new.

Early in the evening, Nandini received a text message from Manik that the meeting has been postponed to 8 pm. She heaved a sigh of relief as she didn't want to hurt Riya. And she was glad that Manik had postponed for some personal reasons.

"Earth to Nandini! Where are you lost?" Riya's voice broke her chain of thoughts.

"Uh I'm thankful to God that we're going together." Nandini smiled adjusting her floral bodycon dress that ended a few inches above the knee. The plunging broad neckline made her conscious a bit, but she decided to let go of such weird thoughts. The dress hugged her body at the right curves giving her a sexy look.

Nandini's look

"Riya do you mind if I take the denim jacket along with me?" She creased her brows dreading a big no from Riya.

"Winter isn't here and you want to take a denim jacket?" A quick reply came as she dialled the cab driver.

"No it's just night time, you know a little cold in the mountains." Nandini spoke hesitantly.

"Stop making excuses Nandu. Do whatever you like!" Riya laughed before talking to the cab driver.

Nandini hopped into the back seat with Riya by her side after a few minutes. They reached the venue thirty minutes later.

"Nandu order something of your choice. I'll be back in a minute." Riya excused herself to the loo.

Nandini took a selfie of herself making a pout and through the corner of her eye she found Advik entering the restaurant. Riya too was coming towards the table at the same time. She smirked and thanked God for making her the cupid.

Smiling to herself, Nandini intentionally pushed Advik, who was then talking to the manager, so that he would bump into Riya coming from the opposite direction. Viola! Her plan did succeed. She stepped back mentally patting her back but unfortunately she herself collided with someone's hard chest.

A romantic scene was unfolding in front of her eyes but she didn't want to get entangled with some random stranger at a restaurant.

"Ouch!" She uttered as her foot twisted but thanks to the stranger she didn't meet the floor.

As her body bent down, it was swiftly grasped by two manly arms, her fingers perfectly interlocking with those of the slender fingers. As soon as she opened her eyes, her doe orbs met with that of chocolate brown. The mole near the chin that she was obsessed with around two years ago, confirmed her suspicion.

"Twice in a day!" He smirked straightening her up.

"Sorry! What are you doing here?" Nandini asked nonchalantly fixing up her dress.

"I came to-" His words stopped mid air as his eyes darted towards Nandini who was busy fixing up her bodycon dress.

"Yes!" She looked up and caught him staring brazenly at her.

Without saying a word, she turned on her heels, feeling conscious of his constant gaze. A swift tug at her wrist stopped her midway.

"You're looking haw-uh- gorgeous!" He stated scratching his neck. "I need to find my brother." He muttered before spinning on his heels.

Did he say hot? Nandini twitched her brows in annoyance.

Though he had corrected his choice of words but a compliment from him was next to impossible for Nandini. She never thought he would actually compliment her looks let alone admire her beauty. He had always ridiculed her for her looks. Shrugging off, she recalled being Riya's cupid and her lips curved up watching Advik and Riya seated at the table. They were engaged in an awkward conversation until Manik barged into their impromptu meet. Sighing, Nandini had to intervene.

"Manik!" She called out softly.

"Yes Nandini!" He creased his brows in confusion.

"Bro--" Advik uttered, his face fell because he was the one who invited his brother to dine with him.

"Excuse us Advik. I need to talk to your brother. It's urgent." Nandini smiled winking at Riya.

"Why did you wink?" Manik whisper yelled but Nandini almost dragged him out of there. No, she did lack courage in holding Manik's hands but her love for her friend outweighed her terror of Manik's anger.

~•~•~•~•~

"Are you okay Advik? I mean you seem disturbed." Riya asked with caution.

"I'm fine. It's just that I was the one who forced my brother to change his plans." Advik sighed.

"It's okay. I'm leaving. You enjoy your family dinner." Riya put on a forced smile and rose to her feet but a clutch at her wrist made her settle on the chair.

"Please don't get offended. I want to talk to you but I couldn't muster up courage since a few days." His eyes lit up with some sort of hope but the glint in his eyes disappeared as soon as it came.

"Okay. Carry on!" Riya said in a serious tone.

"I apologise whole heartedly for breaking up with you without your fault. I couldn't come to terms with myself since that day. Honestly, I couldn't forgive myself. I'm very sorry Riya." Advik's voice almost cracked up.

"Do you still love me Advik?" She asked out of the blue. He nodded looking away from her.

"Then you should have contacted me."

"I wish I could. But now when I met you face to face, I finally came out of the imaginary box I had hidden myself into. Will you forgive me Riya?" He waited for her answer with bated breath.

"Only if you understand my point of view and don't support your brother blindly. I know he's your brother but there are terrible things he had done in his life especially to my bestie Nandini." Riya said with a straight face devoid of any expression. She didn't want his brother to be the bone of contention between the two.

"I never asked Manik bhaiya about this. But I know you are right. He's under treatment and Mahima, his doctor too said everything about Manik how his condition brings the worst out of him."

Riya stayed silent without having an inkling about Dr Mahima and never knew about Manik undergoing any treatment. She had to divulge this information to Nandini. Little did she know that Nandini knew everything and had hidden things from her best friend.

"Riya say something please!" Advik's voice broke her racing thoughts. She cocked up an eyebrow and realized later on that he was waiting for her answer. She didn't know what to answer at that very moment but deep down she knew she had missed Advik, her medhak and the break-up didn't do anything good rather than hurting her and making her miss him more.

"I want you back in my life Advik. I love you and missed you so much!" She blurted all at once. Advik looked more than merrier after listening to his words. He thanked the lord for bringing her back into his life.

"Thank you so much." He said, grinning from ear to ear while holding her hand and squeezing it tighter.

~•~•~•~•~

"What's that with the wink Miss Murthy?" Manik asked emphatically.

"What a dumbo you're Manik!" She gritted her teeth.

"What the hell did you say?" Manik frowned.

"You heard that right. Don't you think your brother has a life too?" Manik's frown deepened as he glanced at Advik and Riya engaged in a deep conversation. "Look what a good looking couple they're. And you're acting like a third wheel." Nandini chortled amazed at her new grown confidence.

"Third wheel and me?" Manik seemed confused.

"Never knew the powerful Manik Malhotra is a half witted fellow in reality." Nandini mocked while glancing at Advik and Riya. She was just buying some more time for them and antagonizing Manik was something last on her list but she had no other option left.

"Fuck off Nandini!" He rolled his eyes, anger evident in his expression.

"Come on! Anyone could feel the spark between the two except his brother." She feigned a laugh this time.

"So you think they're dating?" He cocked up an eyebrow.

"They did but because of you they broke up." Nandini said nonchalantly."But you should try bringing them together you know." She added.

"Because of me?" Manik raised his voice.

She wasn't supposed to bring that up and now she was clueless about the answer.

"Sir what do you want to order for ma'am?" The waiter came up as a saviour to Nandini. She thanked God for this timely intervention.

"Well, FYI we're not on a date!" Manik stared at Nandini but quickly averted his gaze as soon as she caught him staring. She smiled and Manik did notice that from the corner of his eye.

"Anyways I'm so hungry. Bring me some chickpea soup, smoked kidney bean salad, white wine chicken with garlic and a bottle of mineral water." Adjusting his blazer, Manik spoke after skimming through the menu.

Nandini creased her brows listening to the names of the food. Rolling her eyes she ordered chole bhature for herself. She said a small 'thank you' to Manik for mentioning the waiter that it wasn't a date. It seemed a little weird to him for they never exchanged 'thank you' s ever.

"What happened huh? I'm certain you've never heard those names?" He smirked deliberately ignoring the little smile formed on her lips.

"I'm least interested!" She looked away from him, her smile disappearing in a splitting second.

"Fuck!" He muttered under his breath.

"So tell me why did Advik broke up? I mean why am I the reason behind the break-up?" He immediately came to the point after typing something vigorously on his phone.

"Sorry I am not supposed to answer that. You can ask your brother. Whatever be the reason, I think you should bring them back together. Look how compatible they're." She eyed towards the table in the corner where Riya and Advik were seated.

"Fine as you wish!" He didn't look up from the phone while typing something again.

The food arrived and both of them dug in before the food got cold. There was a pin drop silence on the table except the clinking of the cutlery and plates indicating how famished they were. Or maybe both avoided talking about the sensitive topic.

"Can't believe my brother brought me here and is busy with his ex." He muttered wiping off his mouth.

"Yeah never thought of dining with the devil." Nandini retorted back.

~•~•~•~•~

"Yes Maa I had called her thrice but she isn't coming today. Don't worry about food, I've reached the restaurant." Shrey replied to his mother's anxiety about her son not having food as the cook took leave for a few days.

"Did you say something to your girlfriend? Are you both planning to get married?" Her mother whisper yelled on the other side, while Shrey moved his phone away from his ears. This wasn't the first time she was asking. Since a few days she was continuously nagging about it.

"Maa it's a big decision okay. I just can't go and say like that."

"Means you don't want to marry her?"

"I didn't say that Maa."

"Then why do you love her if you won't marry her? Don't break her heart Shrey. I've already accepted her as my bahu. You can't break my heart as well." Shrey's mother continued blabbering on the phone as Shrey noticed something that changed his mood in an instant.

"I'll call you later Maa. Don't worry I'll not break your heart, or let's say her heart." Shrey said and hung up on his mother.

Taking a few long strides, he reached the table where Manik and Nandini were having their dinner. Looking up, Nandini seemed shocked was an understatement. Manik didn't utter a word but he was surprised too.

"What are you doing here with him Nandini?" Shrey yelled but lowered down his voice realising that people around him had already started watching him.

"It's not like what you think. It's just an office dinner with him." Nandini lied and instantly felt guilty for lying. Manik stared open eyed at her quite surprised that Nandini was lying to her boyfriend.

"Yes, uh, our client didn't arrive at time so we decided to have some food." Manik added to her lie.

"And where is your so called client Mr Manik?" Shrey cocked up an eyebrow.

"He will meet in" Manik glanced at Nandini who blinked her eyes in approval, "half an hour at my residence."

"So from restaurant to your residence. Do you really think I'm buying your lie?" Shrey growled.

"Shrey Manik isn't lying, because of the client we had to change our location." Nandini half smiled fidgeting with her fingers.

"Excuse me Shrey, we need to leave now." Manik stated having a look at his watch.

"Shrey!" Nandini held his hand and pulled him to match her height. "I'll explain everything once the meeting is over." Nandini whispered in his ears.

"Waiter bring the bill please." Manik voiced out.

Shrey didn't say a word but spun on his heels as Nandini followed Manik after the bill had been paid.

She knew trouble was near but she still hoped she would manage to control Shrey's anger though it looked difficult at the moment.

~•~•~•~•~

2308 words

Nandini's wish of playing a cupid landed her own relationship in danger. Will this create more misunderstanding between Nandini and Shrey?

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