In house-
Mukti- "Bhai!! Nandini, chalo na late ho raha hai college nahi jana kya??"

Nandini(coming down from stairs)," yes I'm coming... m coming..."

Manik," Comeon lets go.."

Mukti," Alisha kahan hai?"

Manik," Vo usko kuch kam hai toh vo badme ajaegi!!"
In college-
Everyone except Alisha ( Manik, Nandini & Mukti) came together to college , Alisha came late separately...
All 3 with Navya, Cabir, Dhruv & Aryaman were talking....

Cabir," Hi, Vo Alisha kaha hain?"
Manik," Vo bas arahi hai, lo agayi vo bhi."

Alisha was busy on phone... Everyone went together to practice session after attending their classes and practiced for 4 hours... Na3 and fab5 were practicing separately.

Manik," Guys lets take a break we have been practicing continuously for 4 hours, so lets go baki kal karenge.."

Everyone agreed and were sitting in cafeteria and Alisha got a call and she went to pick a call and Nandini felt wierd when she saw Alisha walking fast out of the cafeteria and she also followed her but she was a little far away from Alisha so that she doesn't get to know that she is following her. Nandini stand behind tree in garden and tried hearing Alisha's conversation on phone..."

Alisha," Haan hello, apse kal hi mili thi na main, ab itni jaldi kya hai apko bola hai na mat call kiya karo bar bar problem ho jaegi and hamara plan fail ho jaega bhai please ap bar bar call mat kiya karo main jaise hi free hua karungi main khud call kar lungi... Bhai kya zaroori bat karni hai apko aisi? Koi update hai abhi main plan bana chuki hoon and usko execute bhi karne wale hoon annual function night mein.... ."

(Nandini was concentrating fully on the conversation of Alisha, someone pat on her shoulder twice which she threw away as if she wasn't aware that someone caught her... Again the same thimg happened and Nandini turned behind in anger & yelled ,"what, can't you see i am busy? (without watching at the face she shouted). When she watched at face, she finds angry manik standing there and she was shocked and frightened to see him.)

Manik," Tum yahan kya kar rahi ho?"

Nandini," Tumse matlab tum yahan kya kar rahe ho mera peecha haan! Are you stalking me??"

Manik," what? Are you out of your mind! Main... peecha aur vo bhi tumhara..!! No way!! Main Alisha se milne aya tha, tum meri gf ki batein sun rahi thi haan?? Listen just stay away from her okay and from me too infact stay away from both of us!!.

Nandini," Mr. Manik Malhotra first of all mujhe tumhare mein koi interest nahi hai aur main koi tumhari gf ki batein nahi sun rahi thi main bas meri earing dhoond rahi thi yahan gir gayi thi see i found it here only..

Showing her earing by lifting her hairs behind her ears. Manik got lost in Nandini and suddenly air starts blowing, he holds nandini's hand which was near ears and very softly keeps it down and he touches her hairs and keep them behind her ear again and touched her earings and keep on staring her like he was lost in her beauty..... he came close..... very close.... there was no space in between them.. Both were able to hear & feel each other's breathing sound easily. Nandini tried escaping from there but she fails bcz Manik stops her by keeping his hand on the tree.) As shown in the pic below-

For few moments both were lost and had an eye contact. He goes near her ears and nandini keeps her hand near his shoulders and he moves his hands from trunk of tree and places them on her waist.... they were so close that they both were able to listen to each other's heart beats. Nandini closed her eyes and goosebumps flooded on her skin.

Manik (shouting near her ears)," Listen, whatever might be the reason just stay away from us, do you understand ??"
(When Manik was shouting on Nandini, Alisha watches them and in fear she disconnects the call and thank god that they both were lost somewhere and away from here and didn't listen to her conversation and she rushed towards them. Nandini pushes Manik away from her in anger. Manik goes away from her and makes an angry face and moves towards Alisha.. Nandini was staring angrily towards him..)

Nandini whispered to herself," When you will come to know the reality na them i will see what you will say huhh.."

(Saying this, Nandini left tapping her foot on the ground.)

Manik (to Alisha)," Babe, what are you doing here? I was looking for you all over in the college? What were you doing here?"

Alisha ( was shocked because she was worried that Manik overheard her conversation and said in stammering voice )," Manik vo main... main... bas thoda suffocated feel kar rahi thi andar toh yaha garden mein agayi fresh air lene... And this is happening with me since few days so i was talking to Dr. and taking an appointment from there."

Manik (in worried tone)," Ohh you aren't feeling well!! Why don't you told me earlier, we have a family doctor and we don't need an appointment either she'll come herself and do all the checkup. Come on i call her and let's rush towards home!!"

Alisha (in calming tone)," Relax Manik I'm fine now and dont worry , i've already taken the appointment so i can't cancel it na and the best part is i got the first number in appointment because of our family relations. Don't worry i took appointment from our family doctors only, the Malhotras right." (She said smilingly and wrapped her both hands around Manik's neck in flirting way). As shown in the pic.... and further ask him) So Mr. Manik Malhotra what are you doing here, I'm sure you won't have come here to talk to me about this doctor and all."

Manik," what am i doing here? Actually yaar i just was passing by and i saw that nan..... (Alisha got worried and begin removing her arms from his neck, seeing Alisha worried, he stops in between and hold Alisha's hand from her elbow which was in midway while going down keep Alisha's hands back and hold her tightly from her waist with a slight jerk pulls her toward himself and said...)
This is our private time babe let's not spoil it talking about that Nandini."
(To this Alisha agreed by nodding her head in yes and she changed her expressions from worry and her lips spread with wearing a smile over it, and both came close to each other and they both kissed...)

(Nandini was thinking about Alisha)
Nandini," I can't believe ki that alisha is planning something, it means vohi thi us din washroom mein jo phone pe bat kar rahi thi, and she's not alone uska bhai bhi hai, dono milkar planning kar rahe hain, but kya plan and Pravah pe kya plan execute karenge vo.. Aisa kya hone wala hai us din...... Aiyyappa ab main kya karu, she's upto something kisse bat karun main, i think i should go and talk to Mukti but what if she tells this to Manik and abhi toh mere pas koi solid proof bhi nahi hai and Manik ne toh abhi abhi mujhe khud se and Alisha se door rehne ko kaha hai.... Par ayyappa ab batao aisa kaise ho sakta hai, yeh Manik mujhse hamesha itna rudely kyun bat karta hai, kabhi kuch nahi samajhta aur meri toh awaaz hi nahi nikalti hai uske samne and J toh maine jhooth bol dia usko jaise taise, i hope in future kahi usko sab kuch na bata doon, abhi uski us gf vo Alisha se itna door khadi thi tab uska yeh reaction tha usko uske bare mein yeh sab bataya tab toh pata nahi kya karega.." (making a crying face, closing her eyes and joining her hands)
Uff ayyappa ab main kya karu kisko bataun? I think pehle mujhe wait karna chahiye and aur batein sunni chahiye so that i can be sure of her. I should keep an eye on Alisha.... but haan us monster manik se bachke iss bar vo mujhe nahi chodega.....!!"

(In cafeteria)
(No one was present there except Mukti, who was waiting for them and she was tired & wanted to go home soon. She was sitting cupping her face as shown in the pic below-

Soon Aryaman reaches there and finds Mukti alone and went to her and sit on the chair, opposite to her...)

Aryaman," Hey Mukti, hi what are you doing here? And baki sab kaha hain?"

Mukti (in a dull and tiring voice)," Hi Aryaman, I don't know baki sab kahan hai yaar main kab se bhai and Nandini ko dhund rahi hoon, i don't know where these guys are man, I'm so tired yaar i wanna go home right now!!"

Aryaman," Hey hey relax relax, koi nahi Mukti vo ajaenge don't worry (he rotates his eyes everywhere around in the cafe and again starts a conversation.) Acha Mukti main vo actually, i wanted to talk to you about Nand.... (interrupted by Mukti)

Writer's Pov-
Mukti watched again towards Aryaman but soon notices Nandini coming. Nandini was taking small baby steps and she was lost somewhere. Mukti noticed Nandini and shouts meanwhile Nandini came and sit on the chair near Mukti.)

Mukti (screams)," Nandini, where the hell have you been, i was searching you everywhere! Don't you know how bored i was here alone, aur toh aur na Navya hai Na Cabir hai amd ye Aryaman ye bhi abhi aya hai just yahan pe... "

(Nandini didn't say anything she was just lost and was staring somewhere below the table. Mukti pinches Nandini on her shoulders and Nandini screams)

Nandini," Ouch! Mukti it hurts man! Kya kar rahi hai yaar!!"

Mukti," Nandini, chuck that, tu ye bata tu kya kar rahi hai, I'm asking u something and you are not even listening to me! I mean what's wrong with you!!."

Nandini said," Nothing yar i was just in the garden to have some fresh air.

Mukti," Okay by the way bhai kaha hai?"

(When Nandini listen Manik's name she gets a flashback of Manik getting close him in the garden and says)," Vo Manik Alisha ke sath hai garden mein hi!!"

Mukti," Oh ohk.. By the Aryaman, you were saying something right! I'm sorry i forgot, say what were you saying?"

(Nandini and Mukti make an eye contact with Aryaman and Aryaman also looks at both of them one by one)

Aryaman ," Nothing yar Mukti i was just asking ke aj rehearsals kafi long time tak kiye apan ne!!"

Mukti," Ohh yeah, haan yaar main bohot thak gayi hoon yaar! That's why i am searching about bhai i want to go home and call bhi he's not picking."

(Meanwhile, everyone arrives near them and Mukti was staring angrily towards Manik)

Manik," What happened Mukti, why are you staring at me with these kind of angry expressions?"

Mukti," Bhai don't ask me ask your phone and check the missed calls i have done and you haven't picked it, i mean seriously how could you be so irresponsible bhai, earlier you were not like this! Even in America also yiu always picked calls.."

Manik (takes out his mobile ) ," Omg 15 missed calls, Mukti I'm soo sorry actually i was... ( he stares and Nandini first and reminds of the time he spent with Nandini) in the garden looking for Alisha so that we can go home soon!!"

(Everyone went together to the parking and said bye to everyone and left for their home......)

At Home
While having dinner and lying on bed, Nandini was lost thinking about Alisha which Mukti noticed and while they both were lying on bed, she asked her)

Mukti," Nandini what happened to you, main tumhe aj college se notice kar rahi hu tum cafeteria mein se bhi gayab thi, and phir dinner ke time bhi and abhi bhi tum kahi lost ho, what happened.. Is everything okay??"

Nandini(staring at ceiling) ," Mukti what do you think about Alisha? Do you like her?"

Mukti," Tum Alisha ke bare mein suddenly kyu puch rahi ho?"

Nandini," Just say na, what do you feel about her?"

Mukti (after thinking for a while) ," Amm.... nothing but i don't personally like her, i mean she's so wierd over acting karti hai... like sab planned ho uska?"

Nandini," So basically you don't like her tumhe bhi yahi lagta hai that she's upto something?"

Mukti," Mujhe lagta nahi hai, i just feel so!! But hua kya hai?"

Nandini," Aj usko maine kisi se bat larte hue suna, vo uska bhai tha and vo usko bol rahi thi ke she is planning something amd vo usko Pravah night pe execute karegi!!"

Mukti," Ohh... that, so let it be na may be koi surprise plan hoga jo vo dene wali hogi bhai ko, tum chodo let me sleep and tum bhi so jao kal college bhi jana hai.... Bye goodnight

(Everyone sleeps and Nandini thinks for a while about Alisha's plan and thinks that why she felt so strange when Manik came close to her. She was continuously thinking about that Alisha and Manik, but soon she got frustrated and fall asleep...)

So guys, here's another & long update of my story..... I loved writing each and every aspect of this chapter.... Hope u will like it... How do u found the slight romance of manik & nandini....... Plz do comment and do give feedback also as it enables me to know whether you are liking it or not and motivates me to write further.... Keep reading.... Keep supporting..... Writer Khushi