Nan: No means No.. u have to go matlab u will go.

Ab: Barbieee...

Nan: kuch Barbie warbie nai.. come on BB..aaj hee tumne Muku ko propose kiya..n what r u doing..sitting here..with all of us. U should take Muku for an outing. Dont b such an unromantic guy na. Kya bolegi Muku phir..k mene tumhe romance k baare me kuch nai sikhaaya. Meri naak kat jaaygi BB.

All were seeing Nandini with wide eyes..seeing her talking like this.
After Abhi's sweet proposal..all were sitting near the pool area..Abhi between Nandini n Mukti. Nandini was convincing Abhi to take Mukti for a drive..but he was refusing to leave Nandini alone.

Cab: behna..tum na..is Madhubala se thodi doori banaay rakho. Mujhe iske drama k effects tum me bhi nazar aa rahe hai.

Nandini n Navya both glare at him.

Cab(scared face): acha nai..saath hee raho..me to aiwayi mazaak me bol raha tha.

Nan: actually ek idea hai. Kyu na aap saare log baahar ghoom aao? I mean itna romantic mausam hai..go n have some fun na. Dhruv Aliya, bhai Navya n BB Muku.

Ab: haan to theek hai na. Sab saath me chalte hai. Me b to tabse yehi bol raha hu Barbie.

Nandini smacks her head..

Nan: uff Aiyappa..kaise samjhaau ise. BB..mera matlab hai..u guys as "couples" jaao..ek saath as a group nahi.

Nav: lekin Nandu..Abhi b theek bol rahe hai..chalo sab saath me chalte hai.

Nan: jee nai..ye mausam romantic hai...aise me friends ki party achi nai..balke couple theme acha lagta hai. Plz yaar..dont b so dumb all of u. Aisa mausam roz roz nahi aata. Aur hum log to kabhi b jaa sakte hai..we dont need any particular weather na.

Ab: Barbie..me tujhe akele nahi chodna chahta. Saath me chalte hai na..mazaa aayega.

Muk: haan Choti..Abhi is ryt..saath me chalenge.

Nan: muku..tum pehle meri friend ho n phir iski girlfriend..so iske haan me hasn milaane se pehle meri haan me haan milao. N raha akele rehne ka sawal..to me thoda araam kerke orphanage chali jaaungi. N orphanage me akeli nai hongi.

Cab: but Behna..

Nan: bas..ab no more discussion..tum sab baahar date pe jaa rahe ho n thats it.

Crossing her hands on her chest..she turns her head to other direction.

Cab: haan to me kab manaa ker raha hu. Me to ye bol raha tha k agar tum orphanage chali jaaogi..to Manik b kya tumhare saath jaayga?

Before Manik says something..Nandini says..

Nan: Manik kyu mere saath aayenge? He has other works too..mere liye wo sab kaam chode..i dont like it. Aur waise b..aaj kal college me kaam jaldi khatam hojaata hai..m sure wo ghar jaake aunty k saath time spend kerna chahega.

Manik feels bad on seeing that Nandini doesn't want to spend some lone time with him. He just nods his head when his friends look at him for confirmation.

Al: ok..so if thats the case..i dnt mind going out in such a romantic weather.
But usse pehle..Abhi..ab to tum Canada wapis nahi jaa rahe ho na?

Ab: actually..yes..m going back.

Dhr: what? But y now?

Man: ab to sab theek hai na..then y do u want to go back..n take Nandini with u?

Ab: guys relax..haan me Canada wapis jaa raha hu..not for shifting..but for wrapping up my work..so tht me yaha.. (looking at Mukti) permanently wapis aa saku.

Mukti blushes n looks down.

Al: wow...thts superb..

Nan: acha ab bas..bohot time hogaya..chalo..get going.

Everyone stand up n start leaving.

Nav: Nandu..tumhe pakka yakeen hai na tum theek ho? Tum chaho to hum yaha ruk sakte hai..hume poora bharosa hai..Cabir bura nahi maanenge.

Nan: me bilkul theek hu Navu. Aur me jaanti hu Bhai bura nahi maanenge..lekin Navu..ye waqt na sabse zyada beautiful hota hai..bhale bhai kuch na bole..lekin wo b expect kerte honge k tum b kabhi apne mann se is baat ko jataao k tum b unke saath akele me waqt guzaarna chahti ho. Ek to pehle hee college me exams ki preparation se time nahi milta..aur jo milta hai..wo hum sab saath me guzaar dete hai. Aaj ek mauka mila hai..dont let it go.

Nav: ho to tum hum sab se choti..lekin baate..baap re baap..amma ki tarah kerti ho.

Both chuckle on this.

Nav: agar kuch zarurat ho..to hume phone kerdena..hmmm?

Nandini just nods her head. Everyone leave the penthouse..Manik being the last one.

Man: so...me..jaau?

Nandini looks at him n gives a small smile n nods.

Man: tum..akele...rehlogi?

Nan: aaj tak akele hee rahi hu. I m sure..kuch aur ghante manage ker sakti hu.

Manik finds Nandini's behavior a little strange. She was avoiding looking into his eyes..avoiding talking to him more than required.

Man: ok..to me chalta hu.

Nan: bye..

Man: bye.

Saying so..Manik too leaves. He sits in his car n starts driving back to his place.

Man (self talk): Ye Nandini ko achanak kya hogaya? Why was she avoiding me? N me kyu uske saath orphanage nai jaa sakta? It wasnt like the first time that i will b going to orphanage. Why was she so adamant to make everyone leave? But why was she only avoiding me? Baaki sab se to ache se baat ker rahi thi..apne BB se b.... ek min..kahi wo mujhse naraaz to nahi hai..coz i spoke against Abhi..about his fat ego n all? Shit..yehi baat hogi..i ddnt even apologize to her. Nandini is right..me aadi baat sunke hee react ker leta hu. Oh God..y dd u make me such a foolish person? Uff..use aise gusse me chod b nahi sakta. I need to go n manaaofy her.. Manaaofy??!!God Nandini..what r u doing to me? Meri baate b ab tumhari tarah hogai hai..ur term..meri zubaan.

Manik takes a U turn n drives back to Nandini's penthouse.

Here..after everyone leaves..Nandini sits on the couch n thinks about all tht happened. Mukti's outburst..Manik's blame..Abhi's confession..n lastly..her breakdown. How much ever she tried to hold herself strong..she knew she needed some alone time to wrap her mind around everything. Yet she couldnt stop her mind from wandering in the past..that past which is terribly painful..that past which is still under cover..that past which she very desperately wants to share..but is not able to..that past which she wished..and still wishes that it never happened at the first place. Thinking about her past brings her tears rolling down her cheeks. She shuts her eyes n more tears just roll down..

Flashback

Girl (crying): Hero...dekho na..mera teddy bear yaha se kat gaya.

Boy(worried): hey hey..Heroine..stop crying baby girl..its ok..teddy bear hee hai na. Me kal dusra le aaunga. Plz stop crying.

G: nai..mujhe dusra nai chahiye. Ye tumne mujhe diya tha..class me first aane k liye. This is very special for me.

B: acha theek hai..me ise theek kerdunga..but plz Heroine..stop crying. U knw..jitna bura aur hurt tumhe is teddy bear k cut ko dekh k lag raha hai na..usse hazaar guna zyada dard mujhe tumhare ye aasu dete hai. Do u want to give ur Hero pain?

G (wiping her tears): never Hero. Me tumhe kabhi pain me nahi dekh sakti. U dont like my tears na..i promise..aaj k baad i will never cry.. see..i m not crying now.

B (taking her in a hug): thats like my Heroine...

Nandini opens her eyes n wipes her tears..

Nan: i can never see u in pain..specially not because of me.

A strong thunder brings her out of her past. Soon..it started drizzling. Nandini goes to her room n changes her clothes into a swimsuit..she comes out n goes to the pool for a swim. It had started raining..but still..Nandini went into the pool..as if trying to mix her tears in the water of rain n pool.

Here Manik had reached the penthouse.

Man: kya karu? Bell bajaau ya khud darwaza khol du? I think ek baar bell bajaata hu. Nai..usne kaha tha she will rest for sometime..agar so gai hogi to? Ek kaam kerta hu..khud hee andar chale jaata hu. If she is sleeping..I won't wake her up..

Manik then enters the code n gets inside the penthouse. He was going towards Nandini's room when he hears some splash sound from the pool side. He goes towards the pool only to b shocked to see Nandini swimming under rain. But soon his shock is replaced by an amazed look when he finds Nandini swimming like a pro..sometimes underwater swimming n sometimes doing various types of summersaults.. but what catches his attention is Nandini's looks. That innocent face with a hot body..covered in a swimsuit which was hugging her curves perfectly..with water droplets covering her body..n having the fun to roll down her skin..was just attracting Manik towards her. Another thunder strikes..getting Manik out of his stance. He hurriedly walks towards Nandini..

Man: Nandini..kya kar rahi ho? Have u lost it? Its raining n u r swimming..! Chalo..baahar aajao..

Nandini just turns around n sees him.

Nan: Manik..aap andar chale jaayiye..i want to do 2 3 more laps n then i will come inside.

Man: Nandini...see..me pyaar se samjhaa raha hu na..chalo..come out..beemar padh jaaogi.

Nan: Manik..me aajaungi..

Nandini again starts swimming.

Man: oh God ye ladki...fine..wo baahar nahi aarahi na..to me hee andar chala jaata hu.

Suddenly Manik smirks. He starts unbuttoning his shirt n slowly starts descending into the pool from the other end..which was facing Nandini's back. He slowly goes underwater n swims till where Nandini is. Nandini on the other hand..turns around to see Manik..but when she doesnt see him..she thinks mayb Manik listened to her n went inside. She was about to swim back when she suddenly yelps out.

Manik had caught hold of Nandini's waist from underwater..carried her n threw her back into the water from over his shoulder.

Nandini emerges from water n looks at Manik in shock..whereas Manik was carrying his usual smirk..

Nan: fut the whak!!

Man: language Nandini...its "what the fu**"..

Nandini's widens her eyes more..she opened her mouth to say something..but closed it again on not finding any words..

Man: what..still want to play? Come on Nandini..its raining..chalo..lets get inside.

Manik was approaching her while walking in the pool..as the water wasnt very deep. As soon as he reached next to Nandini..she dives inside the water n pushes Manik's legs..making him stumble n fall into the pool.

This time when Manik emerges from the pool..he has that shocked expression whereas Nandini was carrying that smirk..

Man: oohkka...so u wanna play ryt..bring it on baby..

He catches hold of Nandini's wrist..carries her bridal style n throws her in pool..again..

They continue playing like this..with Nandini giggling n at times laughing out loudly when Manik was coming to carry her but slips on the way n falls deeper into the pool. The rain had now turned into light drizzling..but Manik n Nandini were so much lost into each other n into this game that they ddnt realize that. Finally Manik catches hold of Nandini from her waist..with her back facing him..n keeps his arms wounded around her waist n holds her tightly glued to his chest..

Man (breathing heavily): now what? I caught u.. n now u cant get free from me.

Nan: u cheated..

Man: really?? N how did I...

Suddenly a frown appears on Manik's face..making him stop mid sentence. He slowly moves Nandini's hair from her right shoulder to her left one..n his frown deepens on seeing a scar on her right shoulder blade. He ever so lightly touches the scar. Nandini..when feels his touch on the scar gets alerted..all the fun..all the smiles that was adorning her face till now was replaced by pain n anguish.

Man: Nandini..ye..ye chot?

Nan(after a pause): puraane zakhm ka hai..to remind me of my bitter past.

Manik frowns..but doesnt ask further. He knows that if Nandini wants to share..she would do it without his push. But he felt the pain that Nandini's voice was holding when she told about the scar. N he just wished to take away that pain..separate it from Nandini forever. He slowly n so slowly descends his face downwards..towards her right shoulder blade..n kisses a long deep kiss on the scar.

On feeling the kiss..Nandini shuts her eyes n her breath becomes heavy..n she squeezes Manik's hand that was on her stomach. She slowly moves her head to the right..just enough to see Manik's face close to her.

Man: from now on..this scar would only remind u of our moment..n whenever u will feel this..u will always get this blush on ur cheeks.

Nandini lowers her gaze n a shy smile makes its way on her face. Manik gently carries her in bridal style n comes out of the pool. He moves towards Nandini's room..while keeping an eye contact with Nandini. Nandini too..doesnt move her gaze from Manik..as if his eyes held her captive. He slowly n carefully puts her down..n lovingly caresses her cheek.

Man: change kerlo Nandini.

Saying so..he kisses her forehead n leaves from the room.

Nandini's cheeks were giving tough competition to tomatoes..but a beautiful smile was adorning her face. She quickly changes her clothes n rushes to the kitchen to make coffee for Manik n hot chocolate for herself. She was so lost in the kiss that Manik had given her in the pool that she ddnt even realize that Manik was standing right behind her..observing her smile..which was enough to make Manik happy.

Man: ehemm..

Nandini jumps at her place n turns around in a jiffy. Manik just raises his eyebrows n looks at her.

Nan: wo..wo coffee..

Man: wow..thanxx..i really needed it. Mujhe to thand b bohot lag rahi hai..aur bhook b..Nandini..is coffee k saath kuch khaane ko milega kya?

Nan: haan..wo mene pakode banaane ki tayyariya kerli hai..just 15 min..me pakode laati hu.

Man (happily): u r a saviour Nandini.. thanx..thanx a lot. Emm..me tab tak baahar film lagaata hu..aaj film dekh k pakode khaayenge. Aur haa...mene Abhi k kapdo me se ye kurta pajama le liya.

Nan: its ok Manik..u dnt have to ask me.

Man: who said i m asking? Me to sirf bataa raha tha. Dosto me no formalities.

Saying so..he winks at her n leaves the kitchen with his coffee. Here..Nandini starts preparing pakode n after 15 min..goes out to join Manik for film n pakoda party.

Half way through the film..Nandini started yawning n slowly slowly started slipping deep into the double couch where they both were sitting next to each other. No sooner..Nandini was fast asleep..by supporting her head on her palm n elbow on the couch. Manik turns to have a look at her n finds her sleeping like a baby. He turns off the tv..gets closer to her..n slowly takes her head on his lap. As soon as Nandini's head hits his lap..she adjusts herself more comfortably n sleeps. Manik smiles at her antics..

Man (self talk): me nahi jaanta Nandini k kya bitter past hai tumhara..but all i know is that i m ready to change all ur bitter memories into sweet memories. Aise memories jinhe yaad kerke tumhare chehre pe sirf smile hee nahi..balke ye cute si blush b aajaay. I wish me tumse apne pyaar ka confession ker paata..but i want u to b the same old Nandini when i confess..who lived her life to the fullest..n i can wait for that..

Man(whispering to nandini): sleep Nandini. I will watch over u.

Nandini smiles n releases a deep sigh..n sleeps with that cute little smile on her face.

############

Hello angels...
M really sorry for being late..
I dont know how this update turned out to b..trust me it wasn't what i had planned..but...here it is..

And....Thank u to alllllll of u for voting my story...
This update is dedicated to the birthday girl sowmyasowmya
Happy birthday dearrr...
May u have a blessed life ahead

Tc
Stay happy 😊