Nandini's P.O.V:

After a hectic morning, I decided to head home. I couldn't deal with anymore questions from people on whether I was dating Manik! It was pathetic! I mean, can a girl and guy not be friends? I was hoping to find some peace when I got home, but alas peace was not written for me. As soon as I got home, I found my parents and grandparents watching the news channel. On the channel streaming was my interview. Great! Now I'll be loaded with millions of questions from my family. I mentally prepared myself for the endless questions. I walked in the room and greeted everyone with a smile. Dad immediately turned the TV off and they all stare at me.

"How are you kanna?" Amms said as she caressed my face.

"Good Amms!" I replied with a smile.

"How was the shift at the hospital?" Mum asked.

"Very good Mum!" I replied.

"Are you okay beta?" Dad questioned.

"I'm okay Dad!" I replied.

"Okay you know what, I know you are all eager to ask me questions so just do it!" I said as I dumped my bag on the sofa. I knew they all wanted to ask me questions, after all so much has happened.

"Kanna what is going on between you and Manik? Tell us honestly!" Amms questioned.

"What?" I asked with confusion.

"Di, what's the scene between you and Manik? That's what Amms is trying to ask." Rishab said with a giggle.

"Rishab! There is no scene between us. Amms, I have told you before and I will tell you now, we are just good friends!" I explained.

"Acha? A good friend misses his post match presentation for you! Those presentations are important you know!" Mum said.

"Mum, it was for the matter of five minutes!" I said in disbelief. My family is no less than C.I.D.

"Why does the media think there is something going on then?" Mum further questioned.

"Because they're the media, they need the gossip!" I stated.

"Nandini, please be more careful next time! If you say there's nothing between you and Manik, then I believe you! But please be careful next time, you can't have such news spreading about. What will people think?" Mum said.

"Why do we always care about what people will think? I'm tired of being careful about the life choices I make because what will people think?" I say irritatedly as I threw my hands in the air.

"Nandini beta calm down! That's not what your mum meant!" Dad tried to calm me down.

"I know Dad, but it's true right? You have always taught us to do what's right for us! So why should we bother about society?" I explained my views.

"There's no arguing with this girl! Chalo, freshen up! I'll make you breakfast!" Mum said as she headed towards the kitchen.

"No mum, right now I just want to sleep! That night shift really drained me out!" I said as I hugged her from the back.

"Okay get some rest then!" Mum said as she patted my forehead. I smiled at her and headed towards my room.

Manik's P.O.V:

I was practicing my batting in the nets when Sakshi walked up to me with Mahi bhai and Ziva.

"Hey there handsome! Practicing hard?" She said with her chirpy smile.

"Why thank you! A compliment coming from such a beautiful lady! Of course, gotta practice hard!" I said as I hugged Sakshi and then proceeded to lift Ziva and cuddle her.

"Uhum! If you two are done complimenting each other, then let's get to the point!" Mahi bhai said with a smirk.

"Mahi, I am talking to my best friend! Don't be jealous, you are still my favourite human on earth!" Sakshi said as she nudged him, they're so cute together.

"Haan, Haan, I see how it is!" Mahi bhai said with a pout.

"Don't worry papa, you are the most handsome man for me!" Ziva said as she blew her dad a flying kiss.

"My baby! Only you love papa!" Mahi said as he kissed his daughter.

"No papa, everyone loves you!" She corrected him, and she was right indeed.

"Of course, you are the nations favourite Mahi bhai!" I said with a smile.

"Enough buttering me up! Sakshi you want to tell Manik why you're here!" Mahi bhai said.

"Yes Of course! First of all, how's Nandini? After everything that happened with the media, I'm sure she's upset!" Sakshi asked with concern.

"She was upset, but she's handled this situation so maturely! I'm so proud of her!" I said with a smile.

"She is a very smart and mature girl!" Sakshi complimented her.

"She is indeed! Anyways, so why did you come here?" I asked.

"Manik, it's Ziva's birthday this weekend and we wanted to personally invite all of Ziva's chachu's for her party. So we came here because everyone is practicing today." Sakshi explained.

"Awhhh my Zivu baby is going to turn 5!" I said as I pulled her cheeks. I still remember when she was a tiny baby.

"Not a baby anymore chachu!" She corrected me.

"Of course, you are my big girl!" I said as I kissed her cute chubby cheeks.

"Ziva can you give the invitation card to chachu please?" Sakshi asked.

"Yup, there you go chachu. I wrote it by myself." She said as she handed me a unicorn themed birthday card.

"Wow! Lovely hand writing!" I said praising her.

"Thank you! And this special card is for Amayra! And this one is for Nandini masi! Can you please give it to her?" She asked politely.

"Awh Ziva, of course I will! I'm sure both Amayra and your Nandini masi will love it!" I said as I took the cards from her.

"Manik, after all this that has happened, I wasn't sure if Nandini will come or not. We all want her to come, especially Ziva! She hasn't stopped talking about Nandini since the day they've met." Sakshi said.

"Bhabhi I'm sure she will come! If not for anyone, then for Ziva. After all, she is her masi!" I reassured her.

"Manik, do you reckon I could speak to Nandini from your phone? I forgot to get her number!" She asked.

"Yeah sure! I'll just grab my phone!" I said as I walked towards my kit and pulled my phone out from one of the pockets.

"There you go!" I said as I dialled Nandini's phone.

"Thank you!" She replied with a smile.

"Manik why did you have to ring now? I was having trouble sleeping and I finally managed to get some sleep and you rang! Kya problem hai yaar? That night shift has tired me out so much!" I heard her blaring through the speakers to which we all giggled.

"Urm Nandini, it's me Sakshi. I'm really sorry, I'll ring you later." Sakshi said apologetically.

"Sakshi? I'm so sorry, I thought it was Manik!" Nandini explained.

"It's okay Nandini. Please don't apologise. In fact I should be saying sorry for waking you up!" Sakshi said with a smile.

"No please don't say sorry. Everything okay?" She asked.

"Yeah I actually rang to invite you to Ziva's birthday party this weekend. She's going to be 5 and we're throwing a party for family and friends to attend." Sakshi told her.

"Awh Sakshi that is so sweet of you! Thank you for the invite, I have only known you for such a short time yet you are inviting me to your daughters birthday!"

"Nandini you have built a special connection with me and my daughter. Being Ziva's masi, you have to be there!"

"I will definitely be attending. Thank you for the invite!"

"You are most welcome! Looking forward to seeing you there. Take care!" Sakshi said as she disconnected the call.

"Right I'll see you later then. I still have to give the cards to Virat, Rohit, and Hardik. Happy practicing!" Sakshi said as she hugged me.

"Thank you! Bye!" I said as I leaned in to give Ziva a kiss. Once they left, I pulled my phone out and dialled Nandini's number.

"Hey! Need your help!" I said as she picked up.

"Manik, let me sleep!" I heard her scream.

"Please, its urgent!" I requested.

"What is it? Unless you require medical help immediately, I am not leaving my bed!" She said sternly.

"Chill! I need help in choosing a gift for Ziva. I don't know what to get her!" I said.

"And why are you asking me?" She questioned sleepily.

"I don't know! I mean you're a girl and girls are good at giving presents!" I replied.

"Oh come on Manik! That's a very sexist thing to say!" She said irritatedly.

"Okay no offence! But please help me out!" I insisted.

"Right now I need to sleep! I feel like a zombie, so please let me sleep. Once I've had my beauty sleep, I'll think about what to buy her! Now bye!" She said.

"Okay that's fine! One more thing!" I said quickly before she could cut me off.

"What is it?" She said as she gritted her teeth.

"You sound very cute when you're sleepless and angry!" I said with a giggle.

"Oh my god Manik! Bye!" She said as she disconnected the call. I let out a giggle and put my phone away.

"Miss Nandini Murthy, I have never been smitten by a girl so much before! I mean no one has been able to distract me from my true love, my cricket, and then you came along! Instead of focusing on my game, I've started to day dream about you! You're one heck of a girl! There's something about you, something that draws me closer and closer towards you! You're amazing, but you're so hard to get! I mean, girls are crazy for Manik Malhotra, but you don't care! You're so hard to get, and that's why I want you more and more. Nandini Murthy, you're making me mad day by day!" I said as I stared at her picture in my phone

"Hard to get, but not impossible to get!" I heard Virat say.

"Shit! You can read my mind?" I said as I turned around to face him.

"I mean anyone will if you voice your thoughts out so loudly!" He said with a smirk.

"Damn yaar Virat! You don't understand, she's amazing Virat! Her smile, her eyes, her voice, they're amazing. But what I love the most about her is her confidence, her passion for her job, her positivity, and her sassy nature towards me! Virat I really like her and the more time I spend with her, the more I'm falling for her but she...."

"She keeps pushing you away? Manik if she pushes you once, you give her double the reason to come closer to you! Don't give up! True love always finds a way! I had the same issue with Anushka! She was this stern, confident, independent, and not to mention insanely beautiful actor! And I felt like I would never be able to call her mine! But I didn't give up, and now I'm at a stage where I can proudly call her 'my wife'." He said as he sat on the warm grass, and I sat opposite him.

"You and Anushka truly are couple goals. But Virat, true love? Is this really love? What if it's just a mere attraction?" I said in confusion.

"Oh boy trust me! You are completely bowled over by her! Manik Malhotra, you are in love and there's no denying! Now get up, back to practice! Captains call!" He said as he stood up and started walking towards the batting pitch.

"Of course captain! By the way, thanks for the advice captain! Manik Malhotra won't stop trying!" I said as I picked my kit bag and started walking behind him.

"That's the spirit!" He said with a smile.

A/N: Chapter 21 updated! I am so sorry for uploading after such a long time. I was having a writers block but now I'm back. Hopefully you will get more frequent updates now. Thank you to those who have waited patiently for so long. You guys are the best! ❤️ It was my birthday yesterday and I really wanted to upload yesterday, but I was busy with celebrations. But I've updated now so hope you all enjoy it. 😊 Lots of love xxx