N A N D I N I

*flashback continues....*

"You're right. I am heartless. Because I had already fallen in love, in love with someone who destroyed me. Someone whom I shouldn't have ever trusted. Her love fucked me up", he said slowly.

My heart stopped beating and I stopped breathing.

He... already loved someone?

"It hurts to retail the entire thing now, but I can tell you", he smiled weakly.

"I always considered my mother as a queen. And if you know, the boys who grow up in the love of a queen know how to treat their woman like a princess", he laughed sarcastically. "I was in college when my mother introduced me to this girl, one of the prettiest I have ever seen, I wanted to stay away from her but my mother and my parents, they stuck her to me. I avoided her for a long time but I couldn't help but fall for her beauty. I.. I trusted her, and she betrayed me.. miserably. Earlier, she was the butterfly that stuck to me but then times changed. I became the moth attracted to her like a candle without knowing that she would burn me. She slept with my bestfriend for money, she let out all the passwords of Malhotra industry, we were destroyed. We could be on the road....".

I was beyond shocked. How can girl be so cheap?

"And then she left, without any explanations. Since then I changed. I changed terribly. I don't believe in love. I don't remember the last time I spoke to my parents properly. I don't believe in Happily Ever Afters anymore. I just mess around with girls, I use them just the way she used me", there was determination in his voice and a brokenness.

"So you don't believe in Happily Ever Afters?" I said and almost regretted it. How could I speak without thinking?

What will he be thinking? He just opened one of the worst secrets of his life and all I'm concerned with is a Happily Ever after?

He gave me an amused expression before a small laugh. "No I don't believe in Happily Ever Afters, who does, they're kiddish. Do you?"

I felt an unknown anger in me. I loved fairy tales right from childhood.

I frowned as I replied, "yes I do. And Happily Ever Afters do exist", I argued.

"Oh really. Then which literature character are you?" He asked, a small smile playing on his face.

"I'm Juliet, waiting for my Romeo", I said.

"But they both died", he replied almost instantly.

"Caught you. And you say you don't read books", I smirked and he flushed.

"Thoda-Thoda, kabhi-kabhi", he said in a low voice and mamma kasam he was looking so cute I wanted to pull his cheeks.

He was looking into my eyes and I was looking into his eyes. Behind the veil, I could see just another person, broken by his heart, waiting for some love to change his life.

"We're all broken from inside, waiting to be healed", I said quoting one of my favourite books, Destroying Myself.

"I don't think I can be healed. The scar my past has left on me seems beyond repair", he said, looking away, breaking the eye contact.

"Nothing is beyond repair, sir. Everyone can be healed by love", I said smiling to myself.

"Love can heal me?" He asked, shocked.

"True Love", I replied smiling.

He sighed and didn't reply anything. I slowly kept my hand on his. He didn't react anything at first, but then looked at me. I smiled in assurance, blinking my eyes. He replied with a weak smile.

I immediately drew back my hand, embarrassed.

He probably sensed that. He took his hand and touched mine, taking my hand into his.

I was shocked. But I didn't react anything, I didn't want to awkward-zone the situation.

Only if he knew the butterflies in my stomach and the weakness in every cell of my body with the magic of his hand.

I blushed a bit but tried to cover it by biting my cheeks.

"I think it's quite late. We should leave?" I said with a heavy heart. I never wanted this time to get over. Never.

"Yeah, sure", he said. He left my hand and I could see his smile fade away.

We got up. "I'd walk it from here. Thank you so much sir", I said sweetly.

"Walk? You? Here? Alone?" He replied in haste. "No way, you're my responsibility, I'll walk you back".

"Okay"

We walked in silence. Not the awkward silence anymore, the comfortable one.

"Will you heal me Miss. Murthy?" He said after a short break of silence.

I tumbled upon my heels as soon as I heard the word, my heart beating fast, my eyes and mouth wide open.

"Muh band karlo, varna machchar ghus jayega.." He said and I closed my mouth, embarrassed.

"But.. sir, you... need love... to heal you...", I said hesitating after each word.

"Exactly" He said and looked straight.

I didn't understand what he meant. Did he just ask me to love him?

I looked at him confused.

"Could you help me take like, tiny steps, baby steps, to help me heal myself?" He said, clearing my confusion.

But did that also mean I have to love him?

"Yes", I replied. My voice smaller than it intended to be.

We reached at my house. It wasn't really big or anything like Manik Sir's, it was a small villa in the row of many.

"umm Miss. Murthy, take a leave tomorrow", he said and I looked at him shocked. "Even I am on leave tomorrow and there isn't any much work in office hours", he explained. "Okay", I agreed.

"Instead, we'd have to go out in the evening", he said.

"Okay sir, with whom are we supposed to go. Which files should I prepare for?" I asked him and he looked flushed.

"Umm no it's not a formal meet..." he said rubbings his hand to the back of his neck. I looked at him confused with knitted eyebrows.

"youaremydatetomorrow", he said and I didn't understand anything.

"I'm sorry sir, I don't know this language. Please can you speak in English?" I said in a polite tone, requesting because I really didn't understand anything.

" you are my date tomorrow", he replied slowly, looking everywhere except me as he leaned on the car.

My eyes widened in horror and my heart started jumping everywhere in my body.

Did he just ask- order me for a date?

I stared in the same shock.

"I mean it's my college friends party, he's just come back from London. And I need a date, so........", he tried explaining but the butterflies in my stomach were already doing sumersaults.

Manik Malhotra asking me for a date?

Wow! That's something.

"Okay sir!" I said trying my best to hide the excitement in my voice but the happydent smile on my face couldn't be hidden for long.

"Umm... okay then, goodnight!" He said and I smiled slowly.

Should I just hug him or something?

But I decided against it, and turned to leave, taking small steps towards my house.

"Miss Murthy!" He called out. "Yes!" I replied turning instantly as he walked to me.

"Close your eyes!" He ordered me and I gave him a confused look.

"Close", he ordered in a strict voice and I immediately closed my eyes out of fear but I'm sure I felt him smirk after that.

I closed my eyes and waited, but before I could open my eyes again, I felt his hot breath on my shoulder. I shivered.

His hands ran from my hands to my palms as he entwined both his hands with mine.

Entire cell of my body was active by the magic he was doing today.

"Thank you. Thank you for listening to me and not pitying me like others. Thanks for being there, thanks for understanding", he whispered in my ears slowly and huskily.

My heart felt it would pounce out any moment. I could hear my heart beat just like the way they show in movies.

Before I could reply him my ever so sweet welcome, I felt his lips on my cheek.

My eyes squeezed close harder, my lips parted a bit and my heart tried it's best to absorb the moment, the best moment of my life.

I had never expected him to be so close to me, his lips on my skin, our noses inches apart and our breaths mingling together.

What a perfect way to end the most beautiful birthday ever!

I could give my life away for this moment. Just this single moment.

He drew back his face and he looked embarrassed. I could tell it from his face that he was himself unaware of why e did that.

"I'd pick you up at seven tomorrow. Bye, goodnight", he spoke so fast as he ran away from there.

I couldn't help but laugh at him, smiling and blushing at the same time.

How can a boy be so cute? So, so cute.

_____

The next day started on a normal note. Mukti called up in the morning and took all the details and I obediently told her everything, except the kiss ofcourse.

That was my special moment and I didn't want to boast about my private moment.

Supposedly, she and Cabir were coming together, and so were Aliya and Dhruv. I was still going to get my birthday gift but I didn't want to ask about it and sound desperate.

I worked from home for some time.

It was six P.M when my phone nudged with 1 new message. It said:

"I hope you're putting all your efforts to get ready. I want my date to look the best ;)"

It didn't take me more than a second to realise it was Manik sir. He had messaged from an unknown number, I suppose it was his personal number that he didn't really share with everything. I'm glad I was getting included in his little world too.

That wink that he sent. Aaah! My heart fluttered with the thought of him winking. Winking for me.

I replied back:

"your date is anyway going to look the prettiest ;)"

My lips wore the prettiest smile, and the biggest one in quite a long time now.

"Is it? Then I can't wait to see my date. I hope she's not planning to kill me and half a dozen more boys there ;)"

Was he flirting with me?

Manik Malhotra. Flirting. With me?

"You never know. Your heart might just skip a beat ;)" I sent back.

Oh my god! I was flirting back with him! And I couldn't even stop this stupid smile on my face right now. My phone nudged again and I immediately picked it up.

"I don't think I have a heart. Remember, I'm a monster?"

Holy muffins! He knew? Wasn't he angry that I called him a monster? Now I was scared, would he eat me alive?

My phone nudged again, and with shivering hands, I opened it. Please don't be angry. Please.

"Stop overthinking Miss. Murthy. I'd see you in an hour ;)"

I think I might as well die today.

Putting all my thoughts away, I went to get dressed. I had an outfit that would perfectly go with the event, I bought it with Navya last year.

It wasn't something very special.

It was a red strapped plain gown with a deep neck and a slit that touched my thighs. It was backless from behind, supported by two thin straps.

I first took the make up. I gave a nude look to myself with smoky eyes and a glitter eyeliner with Matt brown lipstick.  I put my reading specs aside and wore lenses instead, that highlighted my brown eyes.

I kept my hair naturally open on both the sides, revealing He backless pattern of my gown.

I quickly got changed with white stills.

Was this even me? I wondered to myself when I heard the car honk.

I gave a final smile to myself boosting my confidence. I took my phone in my hand leaving the other empty as I stepped out.

Manik Sir was already there waiting for me, leaning on the car, typing something on his phone, still looking as dashing as ever. He wore a dark blue coat and a formal suit.

I coughed to get his attention. Just as he looked up at me, his moth hung open.

My gaze remained glued to the ground, looking at the mist streets as I blushed with his constant stare on me.

"Who are you? And where is my workaholic Miss. Murthy?", He said slowly.

Did he just say my Miss. Murthy? Oh my god, What is happening! I might actually die.

"It happened", he said with a sincere voice as I looked at him confused, my eyes meeting his.

"My heart... it skipped a beat...", he said still not breaking the eye contact. I couldn't hide my blush anymore, not this time.

I held his arm and he looked at me confused as I tip toed.

"What are you doing?" He asked, slowly. He looked scared and nervous.

"Returning the favour", I replied smirking near his face as I felt him shiver.

His eyes automatically closed as his hand involuntarily held my waist and pulled me closer, my lips touching his cheek.

~don't find love; let love find you; that's why it's called falling in love, because you don't force yourself to love, you just fall, and love just happens~