"Manik what is this?" I questioned.

"What was that?" He questioned as he pointed towards Hardik, anger was visible both in his voice and his eyes.

"I was dancing with a friend just like you were!" I said as I stared at Rose.

"Friend? Really? Since when?" He asked.

"Since the past couple of minutes!" I replied casually.

"Wow! I thought you didn't like him, I thought he gave you weird vibes!" He stated.

"I never said those things Manik. That's besides the point, you tell me what you were doing! I thought you found Rose too clingy and you tried to avoid her at all costs. So why were you getting so close to her today?" I questioned curiously.

"I was simply dancing! Like I was with the other women. Like I was dancing with you!" He exclaimed.

"Oh! So you're really gonna compare the dance we had to that! Unbelievable!" I said in disbelief. How could he even compare the beautiful dance we had to the one with Rose. You could tell he didn't want to be there but he was still dancing with her! Why? To make me jealous maybe?

"What? Nandini a dance is a dance!" He stated.

"No Manik! A dance isn't just a dance! The dance we had held a lot of emotions for me." I confessed.

"Acha? What type of emotions?" He asked with a smirk.

"You don't need to know Mr Malhotra! If you had felt it, you would know what I'm on about but clearly we're both not on the same vibe!" I replied sternly.

"Whatever! I don't want to get into an argument with you right now! Let's just get back to the party before some sneaky media person sees us and finds juicy gossip." He said as he looked around our surroundings to make sure all was clear.

"Mujhe bhi koi shokh nahi hai to be in the limelight always! But that does not mean I am done with you Malhotra!" I said as I turned around to go back to the party.

"What? Why? Nandini Listen!" He said as he called out to me but I paid no heed. I was soon back in the party and engrossed myself in talks with the ladies.

Manik's P.O.V:

After our little argument, Nandini stormed away and Virat soon joined me! I gave him a smirk and took him into a hug.

"It worked! It freaking worked! You could tell she was jealous!" I said as I squeezed him tight.

"Thanks! Its a full proof plan, works everytime. In fact, it worked with Anushka too." He said as he hugged me back.

"Really? Anushka doesn't seem like the type to be jealous!" I said as I pulled out of the hug.

"Neither does Nandini, but you still managed to make her jealous." He replied with a smirk.

"That's true! But I think I took it a little too far when I compared the beautiful dance we had to that uncomfortable and forced dance with Rose. She's damn upset about that." I said disappointedly.

"If you think you took it too far then apologise. I'm sure she won't forgive you!" Virat said with a giggle.

"Saalay! Friend ho ya dushman! You're supposed to be encouraging me. Ekdum gadhero che!" I said as I pushed him slightly.

"Hawwww Gujarati? Nandini is starting to rub off on you!" He said with a smirk.

"That she is! Anyways let me go, I have a girl whose frown needs to be turned into a smile!" I said as I looked in Nandini's direction.

"You go do that Manu! All the best!" He said with a smile.

"Thanks Cheeku!" I said as I pulled his cheeks and ran from there before he could get me back.

"Heyyyy, what's up?" I asked as I went and stood next to Nandini. She was with Anushka but Virat signalled her to leave.

"The ceiling is up! What else?" She said sarcastically.

"Ewh Nandini! Kitna ghatiya joke tha!" I said in disgust.

"What you did was also a gathiya mazaak!" She said as she turned to look at me with a frown.

"What did I do?" I asked innocently, I knew exactly what she was on about.

"The dance with Rose! That was a gathiya mazaak!" She said as she pointed to Rose who was now flirting with some random man.

"Nandini can we please not talk about this." I said softly.

"Then we have nothing else to talk about!" She flicked her hair and walked off.

She left, again! Gosh, she's actually really upset but that makes me kind of happy. No, I'm not happy because she's upset. I'm happy because it shows that usay fark padtaa hain! Whether she says it or not. Nandini, mai tumhare mu sai bulwaa kai rahunga that you care. That's a Manik Malhotra promise.

We spent the next hour cutting Ziva's birthday cake and smearing it across each other's face. Nandini stayed away from me all this time. It was soon time to leave and I wanted to speak to her before that. I was about to approach her when I saw Zo bhabhi and Adi bhaiya walk up to her.

"Hey Nandini! Do you mind dropping Manik off?" I heard bhabhi ask.

"Why? Does he not have his car?" Nandini asked.

"No, actually he came in my car. Me and Zoya wanted to go out for a bit and we were wondering if you could drop Manik and Amayra Home." Adi bhaiya said politely.

"Yeah sure. I'll do that." She replied. Deep down she was probably cursing me.

"Thank you so much. We haven't been on our signature beach date in so long." Zo bhabhi said excitedly.

"Matlab aap log bhi?" Nandini blurted out. This girl, if they find out I've taken Nandini to the beach they'll use that as another excuse to tease me.

"What do you mean by aap log bhi?" Zo bhabhi asked curiously.

"She means aap log kitne filmy ho. You know how in movies the couples always go on beach dates, you're like them. That's what she means. Right Nandini?" I said as I jumped in to handle the matter. Perfect timing, Manik! Perfect timing!

"Hmmmm!" Nandini replied.

"Right, anyway Manik Nandini will drop you and Amayra off. Me and Adi are going out for a bit. Hope you don't mind!" Bhabhi informed.

"Not at all bhabhs! You enjoy!" I said with a wink.

"Badmaash! Tum bhi zyada masti mat karnaa, just remember there's a 5 year old with you guys." She said as she pulled my ear. They then bid us bye and left. I went and grabbed Amayra, put her coat on and prepared to leave.

Nandini's P.O.V:

"Chalay?" I asked to which Manik nodded.

"Chachu can you please pick me up? I'm so tired!" Amayra said as she extended her hands towards Manik.

"Of course princess!" He said as he lifted her up and she rested her head against his shoulders. It was a cute sight to watch.

"Thank you!" She replied softly.

"Nandini masi!" She called out to me.

"Yes beta?" I asked.

"Thank you for saying yes to dropping us home." She said with a smile. She was a very polite child. Her upbringing is very good.

"Not a problem beta. Anything for a cute princess like you!" I said as I caressed her hair. We soon reached the car park and I unlocked my car. Manik placed Amayra in the back seat and fastened her seat belt. He then came and sat next to me in the passenger seat as I started the engine. We were soon out of the car park and onto the road. Thank god the media had left by now. The drive was extremely quiet apart from the occasional sound of the navigation system showing me the way to Malhotra mansion. None of us bothered to say a word. Partly because of the argument we had earlier and partly because Amayra had fallen asleep almost immediately once we sat in the car. After the 30 minutes awkward drive, we soon reached Malhotra mansion.

"You have reached your destination!" The sat nav said as I pulled up in front of Malhotra mansion.

"Already?" I heard Manik mumble. I shook my head and drove towards the gates where the guard was sat. As I pulled the window down, his eyes caught Manik's and he immediately greeted him. Manik greeted him back and gestured him to open the gates. The gates soon opened and I drove in murmuring a thank you to the guard. It was my first time coming to Malhotra mansion and I must say it was indeed extravagant. Alongside the drive thru were beautifully planted flowers and a water fountain was planted in the middle. It was a beautiful scenery. I stopped my car outside the main door and turned towards Manik.

"You have reached your destination!" I said mimicking the voice of the navigation system to which Manik giggled a little.

"Thank you but can I ask you for one more favour, please?" He asked softly.

"What is it?" I said sternly.

"No ones home so...."

"So what? I'm not coming inside!" I said immediately.

"Oh hello! Don't get any wrong ideas! Let me finish. No one is home so I'll need to unlock the doors myself but Amayra has fallen asleep so I'll have to carry her too. It'll be hard for me to carry her and unlock the door so if you could help me." He explained.

"Why don't you call the guard?" I questioned.

"If the guard comes inside then who'll guard outside?" He said sarcastically.

"True! Okay I'll come!" I replied.

"Thanks!" He said as he got out the car and went to get Amayra from the back. He lifted Amayra in his arms and I closed the door behind. He gestured towards his blazer pocket and I pulled the keys out from there. I opened the front door and we walked in. I locked the door behind me and followed Manik up the stairs to Amayra's room. It was pretty dark, I didn't know where the lights were so I carried on following Manik. Once we reached Amayra's room, he placed her in her bed and tucked her in. He place a soft peck on her forehead and whispered "good night princess". After turning on her bedside lamp, he walked out and I followed him. He then turned on the hallway light and finally there was some light.

"Sorry I didn't turn on the lights before, she would've woken up!" He said quietly.

"Koi baat nahi! I should get going." I said as I tucked a hair strand behind my ear.

"What? No!" He exclaimed.

"Excuse me?" I questioned with his abrupt reaction.

"I mean its the first time you're coming to my house, you can't just leave like that." He replied.

"Manik it's okay. I'm tired, I should get going!" I explained.

"Nandini please, one coffee?" He said with a pout. How can one resist that face?

"Manik I can't!" I said hesitantly. So much had happened tonight and I did not want any more drama. I just wanted to go home. If I stayed, I knew he would bring up the whole Hardik and the dance topic again and I did not have the energy for that.

"Please?" He pleaded.

"Fine!" I gave in mainly because my weakness was coffee.

"Thank you! You'll love my coffee for sure! Come!" He said proudly as he held my hand and led me downstairs. Paagal chokro! As we reached the kitchen, he pulled out a seat for me near the counter and I sat down. He then grabbed the saucepan, poured milk in it and left it to boil.

"Sirf coffee banaana aataa hai yaa kuch aur bhi?" I said with a cheeky smile.

"I can cook a lot of things for your information." He said as he added a couple spoons of coffee to the milk.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yes! I've always been a foodie. Since I was a kid, I've always been curious about how food was made. Mum put me in a cooking class when I was 12 because she was tired of me asking her questions about food all the time. It's nice to know how to cook because I spend so much time away from home, you automatically miss ghar kaa khanaa!" He said as he added some sugar to the coffee and a sprinkle of saffron.

"Ghar kaa khanaa is love and of course so much more healthier too." I replied.

"Do you cook?" He questioned.

"I know how to make a few basic dishes. I don't really enjoy cooking as such." I confessed.

"Wow! We are very different people!" He said as he poured the coffee into the mugs.

"I know!" I replied.

"Coffee's ready! Come I'll take you to my favourite spot to enjoy coffee." He said as he walked ahead with the coffee mugs in his hand.

"Okayyyy" I said as I followed him towards the garden area. There was a little gazebo in the far end of the garden which was beautifully lit up.

"Beautiful!" I said admiring the gazebo.

"I knowww!" He said as he stared at me. Was he talking about me?

"Excuse me?" I said as I raised my eyebrow.

"The gazebo, it's beautiful. Credit goes to my hopeless romantic parents! This is their favourite spot and mine too. Actually we all love this spot, it's so cosy!" He said as he placed the coffee mugs on the table and we both took a seat.

"I can see why. It is indeed amazing!" I replied as I made myself comfortable.

"Nandini, I wanted to speak about what happened earlier." He said after a few moments of silence.

"Acha? I thought you didn't want to talk about it." I asked.

"I do now. It's better if we talk it out." He replied softly and he had a point. Keeping things to ourself would just make thins worse.

"But I don't want to talk about it now." I replied as I took a sip of the amazing coffee he had made. I love people who can make a good coffee.

"Why?" He questioned.

"Because I want to enjoy this moment. Let me just have 10 minutes to take in this beautiful scenery and this amazing coffee. We can talk about all that drama after that. Just 10 minutes, please?" I knew the conversation could go two ways. We'll either calmly sit and listen to each other or we'll start screaming at each other. With Manik and me, it's unpredictable. We're such different people that our opinions always clash and naa chahtay bhi we end up arguing.

"Of course!" He replied as he drank his coffee.

"Thank you!" I replied with a smile to which he nodded. I took a deep breath and enjoyed the cold winters breeze that hit my face. Coffee, good company, and this beautiful scenery was all I needed this winters night.

A/N: Chapter 24 updated! Not sure how I feel about this update, hope it wasn't boring. Do let me know what you guys thought. Thank you for your constant support. ☺️❤️ Lots of love xxx