''Muskuraane ki wajah tum hoooooo,
Gungunane ki wajah tum hoooo''
Nandini was singing loudly and off-key and Manik groaned as he pulled onto the driveway. She had been singing all the way back home after having successfully made him smile. 

He parked the car and got down, opening Nandini's door. ''Chalo, get down.. And for God's sake, stop singing now'' Manik commanded. Nandini shook her head and ordered ''Mujhe utha kar leke jao''. Manik sighed and picked her up. He carried her inside and went straight to his bedroom, dumping her on the bed. ''Abhi no natak. Get under the covers and go off to sleep.'' He said sternly.

Nandini stuck out her tongue at him like a naughty child and began jumping up and down on the bed, giggling all the while.

Manik clenched his fists and fake threatened ''Okay, Fine. Do whatever you want. I'm leaving.'' He turned around, and as he expected, Nandini ran and grabbed his hand, saying in a little voice ''Nooo, Pwease don't leave me. I'll go to sleep..''.

Manik smiled and mentally patted himself. She obediently climbed into the bed and Manik seated himself beside her, tucking her neatly under the covers. He then noticed tears brimming her eyes. ''Kya huwa?'' He asked in concern, wiping off her tears.
''Manik, mujhe Ayyapa promise karo ki tum mujhe kabhi chhod ke nahi jaoge.'' She said innocently, her big eyes looking questioningly at him.

Manik looked straight into her doe-like eyes, ruffled her hair and replied with full sincerity ''I promise, Kabhi tumhe chhod ke nahi jaunga''. At this, Nandini gave a joyful and content smile and placed her head on Manik's lap, closing her eyes. Manik felt a tug at his heart . She has made her way into my heart yet again.. Or maybe she had never left it.
He bent and softly kissed her forehead.

She's so innocent, and has a pure heart just like a child. She needs to be protected from this cruel world. I cannot let any harm come to her. I'll ask her out tomorrow, I think its time to take our relation to a new level.

Thus, silently promising himself, he too gently drifted off to sleep.
---------

The next morning, the sun's rays fell on Nandini's face and she cringed, trying to shade her face from the blinding rays with one hand. She opened her eyes to the most blissful sight - Manik's flawless face above her. He was asleep with her in his lap, and for a moment Nandini wondered if she was dreaming. She adoringly stroked his sleeping face and in an instant his eyes flew open. Nandini gasped in surprise and jerked up, shouting ''You..You're real!!!'' Almost immediately, she felt a throbbing pain, and she held her head with both hands, groaning. Manik shook his head at her and went out, returning in a few minutes with a glass of lime water.

''Yeh lo.. Issey pee lo. You'll feel better'' he ordered.

Nandini drank it, and sighed on getting some relief. Then, panic mode struck her. She turned to Manik and asked ''Main yahan kaise aayi ? Tumhare ghar pe? I-I don't remember anything''.

''Last night you got drunk.''

''What?! I don't drink and waise bhi, I didn't drink anything other than a fruit punch last night!'' She shouted in bewilderment.

''Your drink was spiked, Nandini'' Manik replied patiently.

''OH SHIT!! Manik, kuch huwa toh nahi na..?'' Nandini asked, gesturing towards the bed.
Manik threw his head back and laughed for a good minute at what Nandini was trying to suggest and Nandini stared at him impatiently. He finally stopped and responded ''Jo tum soch rahi ho waisa kuch nahi huwa hamare beech..''
Nandini sighed in relief.

''Lekin..'' Manik continued.

''Lekin..?'' She asked, her anxiety returning.

''Lekin ... kal raat tumne apna wild side mujhe dikha diya'' he replied, making weirdly sensual expressions. He was enjoying teasing her. Nandini made a disgusted expression and replied ''You must be joking. Mera koyi wild side nahi hai''.

''Acha? Toh don't you remember how you bit my hand and then kissed it to soothe me.. And then, to make me smile, you actually kissed the edges of m..''

''Ok.. Stop!!'' Nandini replied, her face as red as a tomato - Fragments of the incidents coming back to her as he recounted them. Manik smirked at her reaction.
Suddenly, she jerked, and shouted at Manik ''But you weren't talking to me!! Aren't you angry at me anymore?''

''Woh.. Last night you explained everything to me.. But that doesn't mean I'm not angry at you. I still am. Because you've been very careless with yourself regarding Harshad and see, in what state it had landed you'' He replied, no more in a mood to joke.

''Manik, how is Harshad related to this?'' Nandini asked stubbornly.

''Nandini, can't you see? Yeh sab ussi ne kiya hai! Ussi ne tumhari drink spike ki hai, and I'm not going to leave him for this.'' Manik responded angrily.

''Tumne dekha ussey meri drink spike karte huwe?''

''So you're actually defending him, Miss Murthy?'' Manik asked, his face a picture of rage and disbelief.

''I'm not defending him, Manik. Main bas tumhe bata rahi hoon ki bina proof ke mat act karo. Let's make sure of it first'' Nandini explained patiently.
Manik was about to retort, when Nandini gasped loudly.

''Shhhiiittttt!!! Look at the time!! Pre-Musicana event ke final rehearsals ka time hogaya hai.. I can't be late! Byeeee.'' She ran out before Manik could stop her.

He stamped his feet. Yeh ladki mujhe pagal karke hi chodegi. Kya karu main iska?!

5 minutes later, his phone pinged. It was a message from Nandini - 'Don't worry about me. I will be very aware of Harshad's each move.' It made him smile, despite his mood.
She had come to know him really well.
---------

6:30 pm - SPACE auditorium

The stage was set for Pre-Musicana. The audience were buzzing with excitement, ready to experience one of the biggest musical fests in India. Nyonika, dressed in a long elegant blood-red gown gave a short introductory speech while the back-stage was in full commotion.

Contestants were in a rush, slipping on their costumes, making adjustments, tuning their instruments and doing last-minute evaluations. Nandini paced around anxiously while Harshad and Navya sat, discussing the performance. From SPACE, Fab 5 along with Omega were doing the opening act while NH3 and X-Pistols were to close the event with their performance.

Nandini tried maintaining even more distance with Harshad, owing to Manik's suspicion and warnings. This didn't go well with Harshad and his scheming mind was at work again, thinking of a fool-proof plan to make Nandini his once and for all - his obsession with her had reached new heights.

Manik was at another corner of the room, seated with Fab 5, tuning his guitar. Unlike the other participants backstage, these 5 seemed most unaffected and confident, talking and cracking jokes like it was just another day. Since morning, Manik hadn't seen Nandini because of performance rehearsals and the crowd and he had started feeling uneasy about it. He got up under the pretence of stretching out his arms, and his eyes luckily fell on her, across the room. He felt like he was robbed of his senses for a minute. There she was, looking gorgeous in a long white gown with intricate lace bodice and a slim pink band clutching her slim waist.

He then noticed she kept wringing her hands and looking around nervously. It's time to do what I've been wanting to for so long. He whipped out his phone and messaged her - ''Step Out for 5 mins. Need to talk to you.''
---------

Nandini's POV

Manik's message gave me a sense of relief. I think it was exactly what I needed. I was feeling extremely anxious and somehow, seeing him always gives me instant comfort. I quickly informed Harshad and Navya that I wanted to use the washroom and will be back soon. As I made my way out, I passed Fab 4. Mukti shouted out ''Washroom jaa rahi ho?''. I nodded . All the 4 burst out laughing at this and Cabir said ''Jao, jao.. Manik bhi 'washroom' gaya hai. But, please remember 20 mins mein hamara performance hai, Usse late mat hone dena''. I blushed and just stepped out.

I searched along the corridor, and found a light in one of the classrooms at the end of it. I went in and took a deep breath. Manik stood there, a cute and happy smile on his face. He looked stunning in a sky blue fitted blazer, a white tee and white trousers, his flawless features looking even more perfect because of the smile adorning his face.

''Manik.. Tumne mujhe yahan kyun bulaya? Kuch hi der mein tumhara performance shuru hone wala hai..'' I asked, despite the instant comfort that spread over me on just looking at him.

''Tum stressed lag rahi thi, So I thought I'll make you happy and reduce the stress'' He answered charmingly, stepping closer to me. ''How?'' I half-whispered, my heart-beat rising as the distance between us reduced.

''Does being with me make you happy?'' He asked. I nodded.

He smiled even bigger and bought out a rose from behind him , saying ''I feel happy with you too, infact I feel complete with you. Nandini, I think we should delve deeper into our relation - something more than friends now. Will you go on a small date with me tonight, after the event?''

I accepted the rose slowly, my heart bursting with joy and tears springing into my eyes. I had always thought myself not to be worthy of him. He noticed my tears, and cupped my face, asking ''What happened? Don't you want to go out with me?''.

''I- I do.. '' I replied, though my insecure feelings were confusing me.

Manik came closer to my face and kissed me gently on my forehead, making butterflies dance in my tummy.

''I'm confident you'll do amazing today. Don't worry'' He said assuringly.
I took a deep breath, letting go of all the questions brewing in my mind for now, just enjoying the moment.

''Manik, your performance is in 10 minutes, You should go'' I unwillingly spoke, noticing the time and turning around to leave.

''Just a minute more. Let me look at you to my heart's content'' He replied, pulling me back and looking straight into my eyes. I smiled, and let myself get lost in his soulful, expressive eyes too.

I have fallen for him head-over-heels. In such a short span of time, He has rescued me from goons, helped me get rid of nightmares, put up with me whether I was PMSing or drunk, made me feel so special and taken care of me like no other. I think he's the one.

----------

All this was being watched from the piece of clear glass embedded on the door by a jealous, seething Harshad. ''So, this is why, Nandini refuses to come close to me. She has feelings for Manik Malhotra. But, Manik, I won't let you win this time. Not this time. Not with music, neither with Nandini'' He muttered with vengeance, and locked the classroom door from outside before walking away.