Nandini's PoV
I was really late to my office today and all this because of that stupid Manik. Bola tha meine tumhari khud ki company hai mujhe koi spare nahi karega lekin nahi he wanted to talk.

About Manik and me, we have been together since college. It has been 5 freaking years since we started dating and to describe it in one word it has been a dream. He just makes me feel sooo loved that its crazy. We have practically grown together physically, career wise and also mentally. Though we think in very different ways we try and come at some common ground. There have been ups and downs obviously but the best part is throughout these ups and downs also we have stayed together. I just love him sooo muchhh.

I shook my head and hurriedly ran out of my room to grab my breakfast.
"Nandini, itna bhaag ke kaha jaa rahi ho?" Maa called out before I could reach the table.

"I am really late today. I have to hurry." I grabbed an apple and ran out.

"Nandini ghar jaldi aana tumse baat karni hai." Dad said and I shouted a quick yes and ran out.

I exactly knew what that talk would be. 'Nandini I think it is time you take this seriously' 'Last wala ladka nahi toh yeh toh dekh lo, we promise he is the best for you' Are nahi karni yaar shaadi. Matlab karni hai lekin Manik se hi. Kaise samjhau yaar inko mein.

Biting the apple with one hand and the other busy in driving I zoomed out of our driveway. I don't rash drive ha, woh sirf aaj hi late hua hai mujhe. Well okay roj hota hai lekin aaj jara jyaada late ho gaya hai.

In between all my thoughts my phone rang. I connected it to my Bluetooth and answered. "Hello sweetheart." He said and I melted. I mean who won't?

"Manik tumhari wajah se aaj mein phirse late ho gayi." I complained and he chuckled.

"Acchaji...lekin humne toh kal sirf 12 baje tak baat ki thi. Uske baad who told you to watch Netflix." I bit my tongue. Ise humesha pata chal jaata hai. Huh!

"Nahi toh." I quickly denied and he chuckled.

"Accha woh sab chodo. I know you are driving toh mujhe tumhe distract nahi karna. So aaj shaam same place same time milte hai. Message me once you reach. I love you." He said and I smiled.

"I love you more and take care of yourself, jyaada kaam mat karna and gussa bhi mat karna khali fukat." I said and he hummed. We bid our byes and I concentrated on driving and eating my apple. What? I am a slow eater, don't judge.

I reached my office. I quickly parked my car and sprinted inside. "Good morning Mrs.Cooper." I shouted to which she laughed and wished me back but not before saying that I was late again.

"Ms.Murthy aren't you late again."

Busted.

Mr.Bakshi the company's CEO stood there with his hands folded.

"I am really sorry sir. I didn't mean to be late today. Aaj sir...aaj." I was cut off by him.

"Aaj traffic tha ya phir dad ko Hospital drop karne mein derr ho gayi. No wait you have used these excuses aaj kya dad ko operation mein help kar rahi thi?" He said and I made a crying face.

"I am really sorry sir. Aage se pakka yeh nahi hoga. I promise." I apologised. But who was I kidding he knew me well enough to not buy it.

"Nandini yeh roj ka ho gaya hai. You work really great but yeh roj late aana I cannot spare you everytime. That will be unfair to the others." He said and I nodded. This is the reason why I wanted to start something of my own. Mere se nahi ho ga to work under someone.

He burst out laughing while I looked at him in shock. He played me.....again? I glared at him and he patted my head. "Nandini I cannot lose an employee like you. Thoda late toh tum hoti ho but you are always on time with your work so this can be overlooked." He praised me while I smiled. "Accha now don't waste more time and get back to work." He said and left while I stood there. What just happened?

It was 7 in the evening when I left my office. I was supposed to meet Manik at our usual place so I left while I called him. "Hello Manik. I have just left. I'll reach in sometime. Where are you?" I asked as soon as he answered.

"Ok cool. I'm on my way I'll reach in 10 minutes. See ya. Bye." He bid bye and hung up while I concentrated on driving with the radio playing songs.

'Hello and welcome everyone. Aap sunn rahe hai Radio Mirchi 98.5. There are a lot of gossips today but first lets hear this new song by Fab5.' I smiled widely while I heard him sing and actually started singing along with him. You know the late late show. Huge fan of the carpool karaoke.

The song ended and a new song started playing but I reached the cafe. It was our hangout place. Mine and Manik's. We would come here all the time during our college. The owner was a very sweet old lady. Since it was in a very narrow lane nobody really knew of it so it wasn't crowded. Since it wasn't crowded it helped us to meet openly and not care so much and also Maria the owner would help us a lot so she would give us our own little space.

"Hello Maria. How are you today?" I hugged her and kissed her cheek.

"Hello darling. I am great.And you look really fine today." She complimented making me giggle. "You go your lover is waiting for you." She pushed me and left while I made my way inside.

"Yeh kya Manik. You started without me. Not fair." I pouted and put my bag on the floor and sat in front of him. He looked really cute stuffing his face with  Chicken Lasagne.

"I was reallly hungry yaar and you know how much I love this so I couldn't wait. I have ordered for you also. Maria might be getting it." He said not giving me any attention while I shook my head. "By the way, why were you late today?Kitni baar bola hai tumhe raat ko yeh Netflix mat dekha karo sunta kon hai meri. And learn from your boyfriend. He is soo punctual with his work." He said rolling his tongue and I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Hello, punctual toh mein bhi thi college mein. Woh toh you have started rubbing on me. Isiliye yeh haal hai mera." I shrugged.

"Sorry to disturb but here." She placed my lasagna on the table and left while I thanked her. I dug in immediately moaning as the goey cheese melted in my mouth. "What?" I asked my mouth full with lasagna.

"Kuch nahi. You are such a kid." He said and rubbed my lips with a tissue cleaning my mouth. "Accha kuch socha, how we are going to tell our parents?" He asked wiping his mouth with the tissue.

"Nahi yaar. Mera toh dimaag hi nahi chal raha. Aur toh aur aaj phirse they are going to start with the 'we have found a guy for you' conversation." I said shaking my head. Yeh kab khatam hoga bhagwaan.

"Perfect." I looked at him to see if he was sarcastic but no he was serious. "Perfect opportunity for you to tell them about me." He said and I looked at him with my eyes wide.

"No thanks. Mujhe jinda rehna hai." I faked a smile at him and he sighed.

"What then? Tum hi socho kuch." He said.

"Baakiyon ne kuch socha?" I asked.

"Nope. Everyone is thinking lekin kuch nahi." He shrugged making a sad face.

"Accha don't make these faces." I leaned forward and pecked his lips. "You told me daadu is cool right?" I asked and he nodded. "Unse se poocho na Manik. Tell him about me. Ask him if he can do anything?" I suggested and he thought for a while and then nodded.

"Good idea. It might work. And tumhe dekhkar I know he will love you." He winked and I blushed. "Aihaiiiii, finally I get to see that blush." He put his hand dramatically on his heart while I giggled looking at him.

"Chalo lets go. Its 8:30." I said looking at my watch. He nodded. I quickly kept cash on the table while he whined.

"Nandini yaar." He whined. He looked sooo cute with his eyes crinkled and his lips in the cutest frown I have ever seen.

"What? Don't act typical Manik. Its been 5 years. You don't have to impress me. I am already head over heels in love with you. And I know that you don't pay to impress me lekin come on yaar warna mein nahi aane wali tumhare saath." I said and he smirked.

"Accha you are head over heels in love with me?" He pulled me closer. Thankgod for Maria we had our little booth where nobody could see us.

"Do you have a doubt?" I asked snaking my hands around his neck while he shook his head. "Good." I said and didn't give him time to reply as I kissed him.

I was on my way back home. After numerous I love yous and kisses we finally bid bye. It was around 9 when I reached home. Aaj toh lecture pakka hai Nandini. I said and looked up. Bhagwaan bacha lena.

"Hello everyone." I entered to see my entire family sitting in the living room. "Yeh konsa bharat milap chal raha hai?" I asked sitting beside dad.

"Koi bharat milap nahi chal raha. Tera wait kar rahe the." Maa cleared an I nodded.

"Niru itna kya dekh raha hai?" I asked as he was engrossed in his phone.

"Diii, you know Manik Malhotra right?" He asked and nodded my head in a yes. "He has a concert in Mumbai on the 31st of March and I reallly want to go. Lekin in the first half an hour itself the tickets are sold out." He pouted and I made an ohh face. Manik didn't tell me about it. Idiot is going to be dead.

"Accha tu baith and keep sulking I'll be back." I said and ran upstairs. I threw my bag, connected my phone to the charger and went to freshen up. Once back in comfortable clothes and clean I called him.

'Aapke dwara lagaya number pohoch ke bahar hai kripaya.' I hung up and opened my messaging.

"Mujhe koi bohot bada lecture de raha tha cause I didn't tell you about a guy coming to see me. Khud ke liye bhi koi punishment dhundh ke rakho Manik." I pressed sent and keeping the phone on charge and silent I walked out.

Our home was not a mansion but it was a huge 6 bhk apartment. Dad had combined two flats together. It was on the 22nd floor and in the heart of Mumbai giving the most amazing view. It was classy but it felt like home at the same time and all the credits go to Maa. She is one hell of a woman.

"Maa,I am hungry." I said and she nodded. She asked the house help to set the table while we served ourselves.

"Toh Nandini we know you don't like such conversations on the table but you left us with no other option." Dad explained. Kyuki unhe pata hai beti ka volcano fatt jayega. "So as I told you in the morning we have found one more guy for you. We want you to atleast meet him once beta." He said and I immediately shook my head in a no.

"Accha give us one reason why you want us to not look for boys." He asked sternly making me gulp.

'Bata doon? Nahi nahi.' I was having a conversation of my own when I heard a gasp.

"Oh my god." He said taking pauses like he just came to a conclusion. "Didi kahi aap woh toh nahi?" He asked me. More like whisper yelled.

"Kya bol raha hai? I didn't get you." I said.

"Woh didi woh." He said with his eyes wide. "Lesbian." He whispered as if he was narrating some Atomic codes which are not supposed to be heard by anyone. He was loud enough for everyone to hear though.

I widened my own eyes and I slapped him on his heard earning an 'oww' but before I could say anything my maa interrupted.

"Nahi Niru I don't think so. I have seen her drool over shirtless pictures of Hrithik Roshan." My mother said as a matter of fact as my cheeks turned red in embarrassment. My dad was a silent spectator though he was trying hard not to laugh.

"Thank god." Niru sighed in relief. "What would I have called her?" He said. This is why he was tensed. He is one hopeless person.

I quickly had my dinner thanking Niru in a way cause he diverted the topic though that wasn't in my favour as well but I didn't had to answer Dad's question. I left to my room bidding good night to everyone.

I threw myself on the bed. I got ahold of my phone and unlocked it. 5 missed calls and 3 messages all from Manik. I smirked. Ab aayega maja.

I opened my messages. He replied saying 'What are you on about?' Mr.Malhotra has no clue what I am talking about.

"Ohhhhhhh....the concert." Thankgod he realised.

"Oh god Nandini. Yeh concert ka tumhe mein batane wala tha but kya karu you distract me toh mein bhul gaya🥺." And that made me blush. Nandini you gotta be angry at him. Gussa kar.

Nahi ho pata yaar mujhse.I cannot stay angry at him.Pata hai use.

My phone rang at that time and who could it be other than the Manik Malhotra. I answered it quickly. "I am soo sorry baba. It really slipped my mind. Mujhe yaad hi nahi raha." He apologised.

I burst out laughing. What?This is such a small reason to be angry at. "Babe relax I was kidding." I said and heard him sigh.

"Thankgod. Accha pata kaha se chala?" He asked.

"Tumhara saala jo hai he seems to be a big fan of you guys. So he was cribbing ki tickets were sold." I explained.

"Oh toh mujhe jyaada mehnat nahi karni padegi. He is already a big fan of mine." He said and I rolled my eyes at him.

"Don't be cocky. Maa and Dad are the toughest." I said.

"Accha lekin tumhe pata liya toh Maa and Dad ko toh pata hi lunga." He said and I smiled. "Accha if you want the tickets you know you can get him. Tickets mein de dunga." He said.

"I know Manik but he has no idea about us. And tickets bhi sold out hai toh he will be suspicious as to where I got the tickets from." I sighed.

"Nandini, we are anyways figuring out a way to tell our parents so lets start with our brothers." He said and I hummed. There was a knock on the door and I went and opened it. "Kaun hai?" Manik asked.

"Niru." I went back inside and he walked in closing the door behind him.

"Accha you talk to him. Bye. Love you." He said and hung up after I said bye.

"Bol kya hua?" I sat cross legged on the bed and he sat in front of me.

"You should thank me you know cause I saved you back at the table." He said and I nodded.

"Thankyou my boy. Tu nahi bachata toh mein kya karti." I said and pulled his cheeks and he slapped my hands away.

"Di you know right that we are bestfriends and that your secret is always safe with me." He questioned and I nodded.

"You know I don't like when people talk aise ghuma fira ke. Seedhe seedhe bol baat kya hai?" I asked.

"You have kept a secret di all these years." I looked at him in shock but I quickly put on a blank face. "I have known all along that you have been dating someone." He dropped the bomb on me and I gasped.What the hell!

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