Manik felt a strong attraction towards the young woman, which clouded his thoughts and made it difficult for him to focus. He was eager to help her but was unsure of how to do so without causing any complications. His primary goal was to bring a smile to her face and see her happy.

 With this in mind, he decided to first establish a friendship with her before attempting to address any of her concerns. He wanted to approach her with admiration rather than pity. Her voice, filled with emotion as she sang, resonated deeply with him, and he recognized her immense talent as a musician. Driven by determination, he searched for her in the hall, but she was nowhere to be found.

Desiring to see her smile and be happy, Manik took a stroll in the garden and made the decision to become her friend first before offering any assistance. He was determined not to offer help out of pity but rather out of genuine admiration for her strength and talent. He found himself captivated by her voice, which conveyed a unique depth of emotion through her music. With his background as a musician, he could sense her remarkable talent and was drawn to her even more. With determination, he set out to find her in the hallway, but she was not present in any of the gatherings.

Feeling perplexed by her absence, Manik pondered her whereabouts, realizing she wasn't the type to engage in idle gossip or linger in crowded spaces. He surmised that she might be seeking solace in a quieter spot. With a frustrated sigh, he concluded that she was not one to conform to societal norms but rather preferred moments of solitude away from the noise of the crowd.

Manik: "Hello there, may I say, you look absolutely stunning tonight. Would you consider adding to your radiance with a smile? Remember, there's no tax on happiness, and even if there were, I'd gladly foot the bill for you."

At the charity event, Manik boldly approached Nandini, who stood alone, a solitary figure amidst the crowd.

Nandini: "You know what? I don't respond well to unwanted advances, so please, just leave me alone."

Manik: "Oh my, your charisma is truly remarkable. You're like a force to be reckoned with, just like an M16."

Nandini: "Enough with the flirting. If you continue, you might find it hard to see straight."

Manik: "Oh, darling, I'm well aware of my charm. But a little flirting never hurt anyone. It's good for the soul, like yoga. So, let's keep it light."

Nandini: "Enough! Or you might end up with more than just a stain on your not-so-perfect face."

Manik: "I'm not afraid of a punch, madam. It's love that truly makes my heart race."

Nandini: "You should know that red wine stains are not easy to remove."

Manik: "Ah, I'm well aware. Thanks for the tip, but I think I'll pass."

Nandini: "You might want to reconsider, considering your pristine white outfit might soon resemble a canvas for fine red wine."

With a mischievous grin, Nandini emptied the entire bottle of red wine onto Manik, who had only intended to engage in playful banter.

A voice from behind shouted at the young lady.

Mrs. Murthy: "Goodness, Nandini, what in the world have you done? You useless mess, can't you behave properly? Do you even care about my public image? What do you want?""I apologize, Mr. Manik Malhotra. Please disregard her; she's nothing but spoiled and lacking manners. It seems her mother failed to teach her any decency before her passing."

Manik was taken aback by the sudden outburst directed at Nandini. Although she may have been somewhat impolite, he knew she was not spoiled or worthless. He couldn't comprehend how she could be the same person who had delivered a heartfelt speech earlier, referring to others with such affection. It all seemed so fake. How could she be so cruel?

Nandini rolled her eyes and ignored Milly, walking away. Manik was surprised by her lack of response. He wanted her to give Milly a piece of her mind.

Determined to teach Milly a valuable lesson, Manik resolved to take action.

With the wine still on his suit he deliberately went and hugged Milly tight as if she was his life there by spoiling Milly's expensive dress

Manik's expression while hugging Milly

 Milly was taken aback; she couldn't push Manik away, knowing his influential family background made him untouchable. Reluctantly, she maneuvered away from him and politely inquired why he had hugged her.

Milly's expression 

Manik: Mrs.Murthy you are so pleasant , you agreed with my position even against ur little girl . You are so kind , you realize you are much the same as my mom Rich Posh Beautiful thus Caring

"Mrs. Murthy, you're truly delightful," Manik remarked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "You even sided with me over your own daughter. You're so kind, almost like my own mother—wealthy, elegant, and caring."

"Manik, you're going overboard with the flattery," Milly responded. "But how could I not support you? Let me take your blazer to be cleaned and sent back to you. I feel terrible that our guest had to endure this."

"No need, Mrs. Murthy," Manik replied dismissively. "Let's forget about it and grab a drink."

"Sure, why not?" Milly agreed.

"I'll join you after I change into another suit from my car. Hope you don't mind," Manik said.

"Not at all, Manik," Milly replied with a fake smile, praying that Nandini's prank wouldn't sour their relationship with the Malhotras.

Thanks to the mischievous schemes of Cabir and Mukti, a plan was set in motion to teach Milly a lesson for her rudeness towards Nandini. The wine incident was between Manik and Nandini, and he had no intention of letting anyone interfere.

Determined to shield Nandini from harm, Manik was surprised by her reaction but pleased to see a different side of her. He knew she was special and the one for him.

Deciding to bring joy to Nandini, he eagerly anticipated their next meeting. She was the only one who matched his level, not just swooning over his looks or family name.

He grew fond of the wine-soaked suit, choosing not to clean it, as it held memories of their first encounter. He looked forward to cherishing more moments with Nandini.

Feeling a connection to her pain through her song lyrics, he couldn't help but sympathize when he heard the words, "I draw the blinds, they don't need to see me cry.

On the opposing end of the room, Nandini stood witness to the calculated maneuvering of Manik, who purposefully enfolded Milly in an embrace, inadvertently transferring the stains of red wine from his own suit to hers. It was a subtle yet crafty move, one that left Nandini both impressed and intrigued by his strategic finesse.

 It had been a considerable span of time since someone had managed to captivate her attention in such a manner. With a quick glance at her wristwatch, she found solace in the realization that the end of the gathering was near, promising an escape from the trivialities and frustrations of the evening.

Filled with a sense of remorse, Nandini felt compelled to extend an apology to the anonymous individual upon whom she had inadvertently inflicted the embarrassment of a wine spill. She surmised from his attire, particularly the quality and expense of his suit, that he likely belonged to a well-to-do circle. However, the prospect of identifying him amidst the throngs of attendees posed a formidable challenge, particularly given her discomfort with engaging in social interactions.

 The fear of potential rejection and the daunting possibility of facing disappointment acted as formidable barriers, hindering her from taking decisive action. Despite these apprehensions, a glimmer of conviction resided within her heart, a silent assurance that the individual in question bore a genuineness that transcended superficial appearances. Though the desire to initiate a conversation with him tugged at her conscience, she found herself unable to summon the requisite courage.

In lieu of direct verbal communication, Nandini opted to convey her sentiments through the written word, composing a note wherein she cautioned against the pitfalls of flirtation and conveyed her remorse in an indirect manner. 

The constraints imposed by her status as "The Nandini" rendered a straightforward apology unfeasible, necessitating a more subtle approach to express her sentiments.

By that time Manik had changed his suit and now was very excited to start plan A of the revenge and for that  he had an amazing plan to show how lovely mother she is.

How was the chapter?

How was the wine splash?

What do you think Manik is planning for Milly?

How do you find Nandini till now?

What do you think might be in the note?

Precap: Manik's revenge and nandini's note

do vote and comment

xoxo

Vedika