Throwing another dress away, Nandini stormed towards dressing room again just to grab another suitcase to her room. Well, dressing up for an open house wasn't a big of a deal. She could do it in her loose sweater and gumboots. But then it was a big deal now. Things had changed drastically. 

Opening the suitcase, she started to hurl the expensive dresses which her mother had bought her with a hope that she would wear them each occasion. That day hadn't come till now. She needed them all just to have options. Her forehead started to furrow as she didn't find one apt dress. She opened her mouth to call her mother but then she couldn't. She needed her today because she knew she sucked at this dressing stuff. She and her parents had grown apart to an extent where it was hard to be casual about things. 

Running back to dressing room, she opened another closet remembering how her mother had made servants set her wardrobe few months back. There were many pretty pieces but she couldn't carry a single one. That's where she and her mother differed. Her mother never accepted her the way she was. She always wanted her to become her elite daughter which Nandini was not. 

"Daadu," Nandini whined and closed her eyes. 

Daadu was out of town yet again and would not return till late evening. She had no one to ask. Walking back to her messy bed, she opened her laptop. That one name on Skype was her only aid now. She dialed Rishi's number thinking God knew what and he answered it within seconds. 

"Hey," He greeted with a grin. 

Seeing her confused pout, he dropped that smile. 

"I need your help," She told as if he was obliged to cater to her. 

"Oh..kay," He murmured unsure. 

"By the way, how are you?" He asked but she was gone. Window of her room was only visual in chat. She returned holding three dresses and he frowned. 

___________________

"No touching," Manik  warned Samit as Samit pounced to check out Manik's suit. 

"I have ironed it with so much care," Manik added wearing that I-am-warning-you-already face. 

"Niceeeee," Samit exclaimed seeing the well ironed midnight blue colored suit hanging down the hanger. 

"Don't touch," Manik slapped Samit's hand and glowered at him. 

Walking amid human mess, he saved his precious suit somehow. Reaching his bed, he saw Harshad tossing his jackets on his bed. 

"Clean it," Manik ordered and Harshad shrugged him off. 

Holding his own suit as one Which-cannot-be-crinkled entity, he threw Harshad's useless stuff on his bed. Laying his suit down, Manik smiled in content. 

"I am going to take a bath and if this thing got a single wrinkle, I am going to hold your neck," Manik instructed Harshad and Harshad made all possible bad faces at him. 

"Do you think you are the only one who needs to get ready?" Harshad asked mocking. 

"You are watching this," Manik ordered without paying any heed to Harshad's taunts and walked out of sight. 

Harshad looked at precious suit and then at human circus around, he was bewildered how to protect that piece of cloth amid that mess. Leaving his jackets, he sat by Manik's suit. Cursing the old Manik who had returned miraculously, he looked around only to find everyone getting ready. Harshad was clueless what had gotten into Manik since two days. He was back at being a ruthless jerk. If Harshad was asked, he loved the heartbroken puppy Manik more. He shook his head shutting the mean thoughts out. 

"I didn't mean it," Harshad mumbled to himself. 

____________________

Rishi struggled to keep that expert face on as Nandini returned with 37th dress. It was again a dress, well, they all looked same. Rishi had whatsoever no knowledge about these cocktail dresses but then his baby sister had never asked his opinion before. He was feeling most important person all of sudden. He needed to deliver no matter what. 

"This one is a bit too girly," Rishi said unsure and Nandini clicked her fingers. 

"Exactly," She said. 

For the first time in history of Murthy sibling-hood, they were agreeing way too frequently. And Rishi was getting more nervous with each passing agreement. It was like they could go on and on criticizing their mother's taste.  

"You should have told me before Nandu, I would have asked Gracie to help you out," Rishi uttered being not able to help Nandini. 

"Manik asked me yesterday only," Nandini replied absentmindedly. 

"So cadet is back in war-zone," Rishi quipped making Nandini all sort of uncomfortable. 

"Kinda," She replied awkwardly and then ran to grab 38th dress. 

Rishi heard her swearing and he chuckled. It was kind of cute to help out your sister in this hour of need. 

"There must be something," He shouted and she cursed further. She was out of his sight but her not so humble words weren't. 

"Besides, you look good in everything you wear," He added genuinely and she laughed. Rishi laughed as well hearing her faint chuckles. 

"I swear I would wear oversize sweater if I don't find a dress," She yelled and Rishi shook his head. 

"Promise me you won't laugh at this one," She asked without coming in front of camera. 

"Why would I?" Rishi laughed and She hurled some nasty abuses his way. 

"I had bought this one a year back when mom had forced me to learn how to shop like a lady," She said sitting on chair. 

"Show me," Rishi asked and she picked up something stretching her limb. 

Both stayed silent as Rishi examined that dress like a fashionista. 

"This is it," Rishi stamped it and Nandini smiled in relief. 

__________________________

 Manik rang the doorbell for second time. Aroma of something delicious was alibiing how Mrs Singh was inside. Mrs Singh took the door and Manik smiled nervously. She examined the dressed up boy with a proud glint while Manik went on self conscious mode. 

"You look dashing, my boy," She replied and Manik sighed in relief. 

"Come in," She gave him way and he walked in. 

He was still unsure how he was going to ask her to lend him their car but he needed luck tonight. He didn't want to screw anything. He was glad how Colonel Singh was already gone for a small get together with his colleagues. At least, he could be a little less awkward while doing all the heroic stunts. 

___

Putting her wavy hair on shoulder, she got up only to ruin her lipstick by biting her lower lip yet again. Getting ready like a girl was difficult, she was already irked. She looked at clock. It indicated 6 in evening. She still had 10 minutes before that punctual man reaches there. He had called and left a message for her. She was already amused that Manik was being in charge here. She somehow liked the feel. 

If she was asked, she was looking pretty fine but then what to do with this newly evolved anxiety. She hated it and she cursed her cadet more. Things were changing and she hated it when she loved it the most. 

Putting the nude lip cream once again she walked to wear nude heels. Her bells-bracelet made sweet sound as she worked her wavy hair again. 

Honk of an old lady touched her ears and she looked at clock. It was sharp 6:10. Manik was there. She took one last glance at herself before running downstairs. 

Climbing down the staircase, her eyes roamed around to ensure how there was no one in sight. She walked to door as fast as she could wearing those heels but then a sharp gasp touched her ears. She turned around to see her mother gaping her with almost what shock could define. Nandini knew it was going to be awkward. Mrs Murthy forgot for a second or two how she was annoyed with her hellion tot because her little girl was looking more than one fine lady. Nandini twisted her legs trying to look as clumsy as she could but all was in vain. 

"Where are you going?" Mrs Murthy asked masking her awe. 

"I will be back soon," Nandini didn't reply directly and unlocked the door to run away. She skipped a step in haste to escape the scene and Manik skipped two or three breaths there seeing her do that. He was standing leaning on Ambassador waiting for her to appear and there she appeared taking his breaths away. 

Her optic white lacy dress jumped as she walked quickly in those heels. Her wavy wisps spread on both her naked shoulders as she looked utter nervous. She still didn't spare a glance and he prayed she doesn't do that for few more seconds. He needed to look composed. She had worn  off shoulder short sleeved white lacy dress which reached her thighs. It was hard to believe how that hellion had taken an effort to look that legible. Nandini looked up and there he stood with an slightly opened mouth. She forgot all her anxiety and chuckled seeing his face. He had worn a suit as usual but that high-necked-sweater beneath his midnight blue blazer made him look different. Nandini admired him unabashed while he anyway hadn't any rein on his facial expression when she was around. 

She reached him and he straightened clearing his throat. He looked here and there trying to look confident. Nandini held back her laugh trying not to disturb his clumsy act. He looked adorable being that poor of an actor. 

"Shall we?" He asked in artificial composed voice while advancing his elbow. Nandini held his arm and he escorted her to passenger seat like a gentleman. His stance was hilarious and that made Nandini more than excited for night. It was going to fun breaking his walls just to bring out real Manik. It was a lie that it was mere fun now. It was matter of warm knots in stomach, cold sweat on palms, sweet itching on lips and chills on nape. They being together was matter of all this. 

_______________

Standing in front of Bardsley's, Nandini waited for Manik. He had gone to park Colonel's Ambassador to a safe place. Nandini could hear house roaring already. She knew it was going to be fun unlike that boring ball night. Almost every cadet smiled at her as he walked past her. She knew the night was going to be tough on Manik. She smiled inwardly. Manik returned and saw Nandini standing where he had left her. This made him smile. He was all of sudden so proud to have her beside him. Feeling that she was his date, it was already boosting him up. He walked to her leisurely and feeling turned somewhat sour. His batch mates were passing flirty smiles at her and that meant bad news. He straightened crease of his coat just to walk as fast fast he could. Standing next to her, he told off one of his batch-mates just by shooting some daggers through eyes. His hand instinctively held her other elbow while he had This-Is-My-Girl session with his batch mate right there. Scene was hilarious, Nandini could laugh her heart out. Time was cruel on her cadet always. 

"He is a bad guy," Manik gave a justification to Nandini once that guy walked away. Nandini bought his words only to encourage the unveiling of real Manik. She didn't need to make any effort, Manik himself was capable to unmask himself.

Nanini wrapped her arm around his elbow and he smiled in glee. Both walked inside the pub. Place oozed heat amid frosty weather. It was a wooden tavern bathed in yellow of light and brown of wood. Nandini tightened her hold around Manik's arm as she silently exhaled the excitement. Manik was busy looking around glaring every man who could potentially eye Nandini. He was on duty after-all. 

"This is love," Nandini murmured drinking the beauty of place and Manik gazed her with a smile. 

"Indeed," He replied admiring her. 

Nandini looked at him and he looked away shyly. She leaned in and he tilted his neck trying to avoid the storm she was. 

"Thanks, Cadet," She murmured into his ear and he quivered under her scented breath. 

Before he could say something, she walked to nearby buffet leaving him off guard. He walked after her trying to preserve the flame she was.  

_____________

"Manik has brought such a hot...such a gorgeous date," Naman informed dramatically and Harshad stopped sipping his drink. His date was sitting right beside him posing to be center of universe. 

"Manik brought a date?" Harshad asked baffled. 

"What's so shocking, dude?" Naman asked as he ordered a drink. 

"I thought someone was going to stand under lamppost," Harshad murmured angrily. He was feeling betrayed already not knowing what Manik was doing recently. He got up and his date accompanied him as he made a way out of crowd to meet his friend. 

Some slow song played in background as tavern filled with smell of alcohol and sound of youth. Manik was official curtain  for the night because all he was doing to veil his girl. He stood covering the stool on which she sat while she had her first drink. Nandini leaned on his shoulder teasing the man on duty and he clicked his lips in protest. He hated the the idea of open house already. He would have loved her doing all the exclusive stuff she does if they weren't under a lot of gazes.

"Easy, Manik," Nandini said giggling a bit feeling his tight muscles through her back. 

"I am fine," He replied trying to be casual while she handed him drink. He took it absentmindedly. 

"Mr topper needs to enjoy the party," She said turning around. She rolled down his high necked sweater a bit so that he could breath a little. He relaxed a bit but his face remained twitched. 

"Easy," Nandini said and worked the revolving stool to order the bartender another drink. 

Harshad saw Manik standing at counter almost covering a girl. His anger intensified thinking how Manik had cried days for Nandini and now was being totally fine around another girl. He strode towards him making his mind to blast his jerk friend. 

"Manik Malhotra," He roared and Manik turned around to see Harshad fuming there. Manik had almost forgotten that Harshad would be around and how he had not told him that he and Nandini were fine. Manik's face went pale while Nandini turned around only to leave Harshad more baffled. 

"I am dead," Manik mumbled while Harshad gaped Nandini as if had seen a ghost. 

Night had kicked start and it seemed to feature fireworks. Fun and Manik could only come in a sentence when expense was the keyword. 

_______________________

Unedited*

A/N

Thank you for all your lovely reviews. I read and then smile to my heart's content reading each one of them. I shall reply to all the words I treasure as soon as I get some time. I am eager to reciprocate all the love.  

Loads of love <3