Surprise Surprise Surprise 

Just making sure my birthday spirit brings u more joy 

Exclusive double updates and this one is a step ahead for Manan 

Full Manan Chapter is all yours let me know how you guys feel .....

Here is goes .....

The morning sun filtered through the curtains of Nandini's room, casting a warm glow over her meticulously organized space. Her desk was littered with sheet music, notes, and a planner filled with color-coded schedules. Every detail mattered to her, and today was no exception. She was determined to prepare for the upcoming music gala, and she had a checklist longer than her arm.

As she sipped her herbal tea, her phone buzzed. A message from Manik flashed on the screen: *Morning! Ready to rock today?*

Nandini sighed, setting her cup down. He was always so upbeat and carefree, and while that was part of his charm, it also made her anxious. *Not yet. I have a plan we need to follow.*

A moment later, his reply came: *Plans are for people who can't go with the flow!*

Nandini rolled her eyes, her heart racing at the thought of their differing styles. *We need to be organized! This is important, Manik.*

*It'll be fine. Trust me! Just meet me at the music room at 10?*

*Fine,* she typed back, frustration creeping in. *But we'll go over the arrangements first!*

---

At the music room, Nandini arrived a few minutes early, her planner in hand, ready to lay down the law. When Manik sauntered in, his usual casual demeanor was evident. He wore a loose T-shirt and jeans, his hair tousled like he had just rolled out of bed.

"Hey! Ready to get this party started?" Manik said, his grin wide and infectious.

"Party? This is serious, Manik," Nandini said, flipping through her planner. "We have to finalize the song arrangement, figure out the transitions, and decide who will take the lead on each part."

Manik leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms with a playful smirk. "Or we could just feel the music, you know? Go with the flow!"

"Music isn't just about feelings," Nandini countered, exasperated. "It's about structure, timing, and practice! If we don't get this right, it'll be a disaster!"

"Hey, I'm all for structure, but you've got to let loose a little," he said, stepping closer. "You're so focused on being perfect that you're missing the joy of creating."

Nandini felt her frustration bubble over. "This isn't just a jam session, Manik! This is a performance! People are counting on us to deliver!"

"Okay, okay! I get it. But maybe we can have a little fun while we're at it?" He raised his hands in mock surrender. "You could try smiling for once!"

Nandini glared at him, trying to maintain her composure. "This isn't about me smiling. It's about making sure we do this right."

"Look," he said, his tone shifting to something more serious. "I get that music is personal for you. It's a big deal. But it's personal for me too, in a different way. I want us to share that passion. Let's not turn it into a chore."

Nandini took a deep breath, realizing he was right. But her meticulous nature made it hard to let go. "I know it's personal for you, but you have to understand—I take it seriously. I can't just wing it."

"Maybe that's the problem," Manik replied, his expression earnest. "You're so focused on making it perfect that you're not enjoying the process."

She hesitated, contemplating his words. "Maybe. But if we don't prepare, we could mess up. It's my reputation on the line too."

"Trust me, I get it. But don't let it hold you back. The music is a part of you, and you can share it without fear."

Nandini felt a flutter in her chest, the weight of his words striking a chord. "I appreciate that you want to help me loosen up, but..."

"But?" Manik pressed, his eyes searching hers.

"But I can't just ignore my instincts. It's how I function," she confessed, a hint of vulnerability creeping into her voice. "What if it all falls apart?"

"It won't. Trust me. Just give it a chance."

Nandini felt a moment of silence settle between them, each lost in their thoughts. Finally, she nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Okay, I'll try to relax. But can we at least stick to a framework?"

"Deal!" Manik grinned, the tension lifting slightly. "Let's start with the chorus. Just play it, and we'll see where it takes us."

---

As they began to play, Nandini found herself slipping into the rhythm. Manik was right; the music felt alive. But every so often, she couldn't help herself from suggesting tweaks and adjustments, her planner hanging over her like a safety net.

"Let's try that part again, but this time, maybe a softer approach?" Nandini suggested, her fingers hovering over the strings.

"Why don't we try it a little louder? More energy!" Manik countered, his enthusiasm infectious.

Nandini sighed. "Manik, we can't just throw energy at it. We need to build tension first."

"Building tension is great, but what if we blow people away with a bang instead?" he argued, his playful grin returning.

"Not every performance has to be a spectacle," she replied, exasperated.

"But that's the beauty of music! It's supposed to move people, to surprise them! You're thinking too small," he urged.

As they went back and forth, the light-hearted banter soon escalated into a heated debate. They were stuck on a specific part of the song—the bridge. Nandini wanted to keep it simple, while Manik insisted on adding flair.

"I'm telling you, if we just simplify this section, it'll flow better into the next part!" Nandini said, her frustration evident as she played the notes again, more rigidly than before.

"Why can't you just let it breathe a little? Music is about emotion, not just rules!" Manik shot back, his voice calm trying to make Nandini understand his perception.

"Emotion doesn't come from chaos! It comes from understanding the structure! You're just throwing things around without thinking!" Nandini snapped, her hands clenching into fists.

"Maybe if you'd give it another look from my end , you'd see that there's more than one way to do this!" Manik replied still keeping his calm as he knew Nandini was right at her end but she needs to open up, let her music grow too. May be he could add a few colours to her life by adding flair to her music. 

Nandini felt anger bubbling up inside her. "This isn't just a game for me, Manik! I take this seriously!"

"I know you do! But that doesn't mean you have to control everything! You're shutting out the fun! Nandini give music a chance of being a happy space, let is even bring bright colours, I respect you a lot and want you to give it a thought and respect my musical talent too." he replied.

Silence hung heavily between them as the air thickened with tension. Nandini's heart raced, her mind swirling with a mix of frustration and disappointment. She turned away, her fingers tapping restlessly on the strings, trying to shake off the feeling of anger.

"Okay, let's just take a break," she suggested, trying to regain her composure.

"Fine," Manik said, his voice calmer. "But you need to understand that I'm not trying to undermine you. I just want us to enjoy the music together."

Nandini sighed, her anger fading slightly. "I get that. It's just... I've always felt that music is something I need to control. It's how I express myself."

"I understand that. But maybe you could try looking at it from my side," he offered gently. "Let's see if we can blend our styles. We don't have to choose one over the other."

Nandini glanced at him, recognizing the sincerity in his eyes. "You really think we can do that?"

"Absolutely. Why don't we try it? I'll take the lead on this section, and you can guide me on what works. We can meet in the middle," he suggested, his tone calm and inviting.

She hesitated but finally nodded. "Okay, let's give it a shot."

Manik smiled, relieved. "Great! Just remember, this is about collaboration. We're both in this together."

---

As they resumed playing, the atmosphere lightened considerably. Nandini found herself getting lost in the music again, and a smile crept onto her face. It was hard not to enjoy Manik's playful energy, even if it was frustrating at times.Manik started his harmless flirting praising Nandini and making sure the calmness doesn't disappear. He never wanted them to be in a position where his actions hurt her or even make is uncomfortable for her.

"Hey, Flirty Malhotra," Nandini said teasingly, breaking into the song. "Missed me calling you that?"

Manik paused mid-strum, looking at her with mock surprise. "I did! It's my favorite title. Really adds some pizzazz to my already incredible persona!"

"Pizzazz? You mean your self-proclaimed charm?" she shot back, raising an eyebrow.

"Exactly! You know I'm irresistible," he winked, causing her to roll her eyes, but she couldn't suppress a smile.

"Right, irresistible. More like annoyingly charming," she teased.

"Annoying? Oh, come on, I thought you liked my charm," he said, leaning closer, his playful grin widening.

"Sometimes it's a bit much," she admitted, trying to sound serious but failing.

"Admit it; you love the attention!" he said, his tone light, clearly enjoying the banter.

"Attention? From you? Please," she replied, pretending to be unimpressed. "I'm just trying to keep you grounded."

"Grounded? With a name like

'Flirty Malhotra'? Never!" he exclaimed, throwing his hands up in mock exasperation. "You should be thanking me for keeping things lively."

Nandini chuckled, the tension from earlier dissipating into the air. "Alright, I'll give you that. You do keep things interesting."

"Interesting is my middle name," he replied with a cheeky grin. "And 'Mediocre' is yours?"

"Ha! Very funny," she shot back, though laughter danced in her eyes. "You just wait until we knock this performance out of the park."

"Can't wait! But for now, let's get back to it. I promise to keep the flirtation to a minimum," he said, strumming his guitar with a flourish.

As they dove back into the music, Nandini found herself genuinely enjoying the process. The way Manik played added a layer she hadn't anticipated, and for the first time, she felt herself loosening up, allowing the music to guide her.

---

After a few more rounds of practice, they finally settled on a version that blended their styles seamlessly. Nandini felt a sense of accomplishment wash over her.

"See? That wasn't so bad," Manik said, looking at her with a sense of pride. "You did great!"

Nandini couldn't help but smile. "Thanks. I guess we make a decent team after all."

"Absolutely!" Manik grinned, his eyes shining with excitement. "You know, I think we'll be the surprise hit of the gala."

"I hope so," she replied, the weight of the upcoming performance still lingering in the back of her mind.

"Just remember, it's about having fun. No matter what happens, we'll rock it!" Manik said, confidence radiating from him.

Nandini nodded, her heart feeling lighter. "Okay, let's do this. Together."

With newfound camaraderie and a deeper understanding of each other's passions, they continued to refine their performance, their laughter echoing through the music room. And in that space, amid the chords and playful banter, Nandini realized that sometimes, the beauty of music lay not in the perfection of notes, but in the harmony of collaboration—and perhaps, in the flirtatious charm of a certain Malhotra.

---

Hope you guys liked it.

This is it for this week next update next week till then love always 

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