Present track.

It was 10 pm..all the staffs had already left..only Nandini was in office.

Nandini pov: Finally!! This work is completed!! Hmm..i have to give this to Manik..but i didn't see him since he gave me the work..! woh bhi chala gaya??!!! Am I alone in this office!? No no Nandu tu kuch zyada hi soch rahi hai..Manik knows that i'm scared of being alone..he will not go..haan!! .. but what if he had already left? Aiiyappa please give me strengh!
Pov end.

Nandini got up from her chair when suddenly the light went off

"Wha..th..the hell!!! Aiiyaappa please be with me" Nandini prayed.."Come on Nandu be strong..you can't fall weak like last time..! don't be scared..you're in office aur bahar watchman bhi hai so...breath in..breath out..haan good!! Now I have to go to Manik's cabin! Come on Nandu you can do it!"

Nandini went inside Manik's cabin was about to keep the files on the table when someone came behind her and tapped her shoulder

"Aaaaaaaaa.....bhoot!! bhooot helpp!!!" Nandini screamed and the files fell from her hand

"Shhhh....." Nandini heard him

"What shhh?? Bhoot trying to shush me? Weird! Noo!! Bhooot!!!!!!" Nandini screamed again!

"Shut up..! It's me!" He grabbed Nandini's waist and turned her to his side

"Haan! I know it's you! Bhoot!!! Aiiyappa please!! Look bhoot don't kill me.. leave me please!" Nandini shouted as she was pushing him away

"Just keep quiet!! Nandini!!" He said

Nandini: "Hun? How do you know my name! Omg..bho..."

"Shhh....don't! Don't say that again okay! It's me Manik!" Manik said as he shut her mouth

"Manik sir!" Nandini said as she removed his hand from her mouth..she realised how close she was to him..Manik instantly left her and she moved a little away from him

Nandini: Aap bhoot nahi ho! Thank god! Manik sir..you could have tell me earlier!"

Manik: I was trying to..! But tum tou 'Bhoot, Bhoot' chilane mein busy thi na

"Ohh..! But thankfully you're not a bhoot!" Nandini chuckled "But Manik sir..you didn't go home? I thought that I was alone in the office!"

"Knowing that you're scared of being alone in darkness..how could I leave you alone Nandini.." Manik thought

Manik: Haan..woh bas..I had some work to complete isiliye..

Nandini: Hm..mujhe laga..

Manik: Kya laga haan?! listen Mrs Kapoor jo tum soch rahi ho..vaisa kuch nahi hai okay! I just..i just stay back because of my work and..did you complete the work which I gave you? Where are the files?

Nandini pov: Hmmm so Mr Malhotra trying to ignore my question haan..I know Manik you stayed here just because of me! But i just can't understand you..kabhi tum mujhe Mrs Kapoor bulate ho tou kabhi Nandini..ugrhhh..
Pov end.

Manik: Hello..i'm talking to you..where are the files?

Nandini: Haan! Woh..I was scared tou mere hanth se gir gaye..it's dark na so I can't see where I dropped them

"Wait..!" Manik switched on his mobile torch "Aahh..found them!" He kept the files on the table "Lets go now.."

Both came out from the office..Manik dropped Nandini home..

"Nandini..beta you came so late today! I was worried..tumhara phone bhi nahi lag raha tha.." Koyal said while giving a glass of water to Nandini

Nandini: Haan sorry mamma..i forgot to tell you that I would be late but koi nahi..now i'm home na..

Koyal: Ghar kaise aayi?

"Arre Manik sir dropped me.." Nandini said as she drank the water

"Acha ye batao..ke..woh tumhai kaisa lagta hai? Do you like him?" Koyal asked and Nandini eyes widden

Nandini: Mamma! Not again please!

Koyal: Nandu..what not again..nahi ab nahi..I don't know him personally but seems like he is a very nice guy..he cares for you as I saw that concern in his eyes that day when you were ill and he dropped you home today also..hmm I think he likes you!

"Mamma..please!" Nandini said and went to her room

Koyal pov: Offo ye ladki bhi na! But koi nahi..I will talk to Manik! I'm sure that he likes Nandu!
Pov end.

Morning..
Malhotra Mansion

"Hmm..guess who is coming in the evening!?" Nyonika said while giving coffee to Manik who was sitting on the couch

"Who mom??" He asked as he had no idea

Nyonika: Manik..how can you forget!!??

"Mom..tell me frankly na..who's coming??" Manik said while sipping his coffee

"Acha! Tum bhul gaye na..now I will not tell you..yaad karo na" Nyonika said and sat on the couch

Manik: Hmmm....kon mom..?

Nyonika: Try to remember Manik!

"Oh damn!! Shraddha!!" Manik said excitedly. Shraddha?! New Entry!

Nyonika smiling: Haan..ab yaad aaya..

"Oh god..kaise bhul sakta hoon main..mom..I didn't buy anything for her! I have to!! otherwise gussa karegi..I'm leaving now..see you!" Manik said while getting up from the couch and quickly left for office

***

Manik and Barun were sitting on the couch which is in his cabin

"Kya hua Manik? You look tensed..any problem?" Barun asked a worried Manik

Manik: Haan yaar..Shraddha is coming this evening

Barun: Oh..Shraddha..wohi na your mom's childhood friend's daughter?!

Manik: Yeah

Barun: But why are you so tense? As I know ke you guys have become quite good friends now! So?

Manik: Arre wohi tou! She is coming from USA after 6 months! and I haven't bought anything for her..gussa karegi! I know she will gift me something! Mujhe bhi usse kuch dena chahiye na

Just the Nandini knocked at the door..and entered the cabin with some files

Nandini: Manik sir..ye files..

"Keep them on the table.." Manik said without looking at her and continued his conversation with Barun

Barun: Haan tou..tu ek kaam kar tu shopping karne ja na..buy some classy clothes for her

Manik: What? shopping? are you mad? I mean I don't know much about girl's clothes yaar aur vaise bhi she has many clothes..I have to buy something special!

"What are they talking about? For whom Manik wants to buy something 'Special'..?" Nandini thought

Barun: I don't know yaar..mujhe na iss matter se dur hi rakh..i'm going to resume my work..see you aur tum..Mrs Nandini Kapoor.. you're still here?

"Yeah..actually mujhe Manik sir se kuch baat karni hai" Nandini said and Manik looked at her

"Okay.." Barun left

"Kiske liye gift kharidna hai?" Nandini asked Manik

Manik: Woh meri..

Nandini: Aapki... Kya?

"I don't think it's important for you to know that!" Manik said as he stood up from the couch and starts checking the files which were on the table

Nandini: But

Manik: But..what?

Nandini: I can help if you need any..

"Manik Malhotra can do his work by himself..he doesn't need anyone's help" Manik said sternly looking at her

Suddenly without knocking..a girl came in his cabin..she immediatly ran towards Manik and hugged him.. Manik smiled

Girl: Hey Manik!!! I missed you so much yaar!!

"I missed you too Shraddha baby!" Manik said while Shraddha broke the hug

Writer's pov: Introducing Shraddha Mehta. Nyonika's childhood friend's daughter., she lives in USA with her mom and dad.. close friend of Manik

"Shraddha..? Baby? What's going on?!!" Nandini murmured

Shraddha irritatedly: Manik!! Don't call me Shraddha baby..!! I'm not a baby! Kitni baar bataya tumhai but you don't listen to me!!

Manik: Mere liye..you will always be my Shraddha baby!" Manik said and both laughed

Nandini was smiling seeing Manik laughing after so long but she was confused..she had questions in her mind

Manik: Acha ye batao..where is your luggage? And you were supposed to come in evening na so?

Shraddha: Arre..my luggage is in the taxi..main taxi se aayi hoon na..and I came early to surprise you! and see..you are surprised na?!

Manik: Yeaah! Very much surprised!

Shraddha: Where's my gift? I know you again forgot na

Manik: Yaar abhi toh aayi ho..abhi se hi gift? Mera gift kahan hai?

Shraddha: Manik..I will give you your gift when you will give mine! Okay!?

"Okay..!" Manik said and Nandini was just looking at the duo

"umm..Manik..who's she? Shraddha asked loooking at a confused Nandini

Manik: She's Nandini..my P.A"

"Oh..hi! I'm Shraddha..Shraddha Mehta..Manik's best girlfriend" Shraddha said as she came near Nandini and Nandini gave a faint smile

"Hi..I'm Nandini Kapoor.." Nandini said and both shook hands

Manik: Shraddha you must be tired na..

Shraddha: Yeah..lets go to your house..I wanna meet Nyonika aunty

Manik: You go..I have some work..I'll come later

Shraddha: Manik..no..come on chalo mere sath..main zyada important hoon tumhare liye or your works?

Manik: Ofcourse you!

Shraddha: So lets go

They went outside..Nandini was still in his cabin

Nandini pov: Manik ki girlfriend?..but..I mean he never told me that he has a girlfriend!

"So what??..like you moved on from him..he can also move on from you!" Her Mind said

"Wrong! Nandini never moved on from him..! but how can he? No..Nandini remember he said that he can never get a better friend than you..!" Her Heart replied

Mind: Yeah..but that was past! everyone changes!! He has the right to have a girlfriend..he has the right to choose his life partner..Nandini you don't exist for him now because he has Shraddha..his new love!"

Heart: But..

Nandini: Yes...he has the right to have his girlfriend..he has the right to choose his life partner..he can move on..I shouldn't mind as it's his life! He can do whatever he wants to..

***

After meeting Barun..Manik and Shraddha went to Malhotra Mansion

"Auntyyy!!" Shraddha said and hugged her tightly

Manik: Shraddha relax! Let mom take a breath yaar

Shraddha: Sorry sorry

Nyonika: It's okay baby

"What aunty..now you also will call me baby?" She said and Manik chuckled

"For me..you will always be my baby" Nyonik said caressing her hair

Shraddha: Hmm..jaisa beta vaisi maa

Manik: No Shraddha..you said it wrong..it's 'Jaisi maa vaisa beta'

Shraddha: Haan okay..whatever..it's nearly the same..

Nyonika: Tum yehi rehna..humare sath

Shraddha: Ofcourse aunty..you guys are my family na!

Nyonika: How's your mom and dad? aur tum evening ko aane wali thi na

Shraddha: Arre aunty..I wanted to surprise Manik and you..mom and dad are fine..mom yani ki apki childhoodfriend aana chahti thi but she is so busy in her work na..

Nyonika: Haan..jaise Manik rehta hai..all time busy..mere liye tou iske paas time hi nahi

Shraddha: Hmm..so 1 weak you will not go to office!

Manik shocked: What? Shraddha are you serious?!.. I have so much works to do..I have to attend meetings and all..aur tum keh rahi ho

Shraddha: Acha for 3 days..stay at home na please..

Manik: But

"Manik..for me please??" She said with a puppy face

Manik: Okay..don't make that cute face..I will stay but only 3 days!

Shraddha excitedly: Great!

"Arre wah..how easily Manik agreed to stay woh bhi 3 days..!" Nyonika said as she went to kitchen

"Obviously aunty..Manik always listen to me..after all I'm his best girlfriend" Shraddha winked at Manik and he shook his head

Manik: Come Shraddha I will show you your room

Shraddha: Okay..

"How cute they both are looking together..they will make a great pair! Shraddha Manik ke liye perfect hai!" Nyonika said as she saw them going upstairs

***

"Woww Manik! Room is very nice yaar.." Shraddha said and jumped on the bed

(Guest room)

Manik: You liked it?

"I loved it!! Acha Manik sit here I wanna talk to you.." Shraddha gestured him to sit on the bed

"Yeah..say!" Manik said as he sat next to her

Shraddha: Koi girlfriend mili ya phir abhi bhi single haan?

Manik: Tum ho na..as you always say that you're a girl and my friend..so my girlfriend..

Shraddha: Arre..I'm talking about your real love Manik!

Manik: No..i'm not interested

Shraddha: What? Seriously Manik? you didn't fall in love with anyone? Acha koi baat nahi..mujhse se shaadi karlo..

Manik: You know it very well Shraddha..you know that..

Shraddha: Yes..I know you just can't get her out of your head..but you can atleast try to move on na like she did..I know you still think about her and I don't care Manik.. I know you don't love me..but I do!

Manik: Shraddha..it's just now you're saying this but then after marriage you will complain that I don't love you

"Manik..! That will never happen..I will give you so much love that you will forget all your pain..Trust me..!" Shraddha said while holding his hand

Manik: I trust you Shraddha..but you deserve a better guy! A guy who will love you more than his life!

Shraddha: Manik Malhotra..you're the best guy that any girl would love to have as their life partner! Pagal hai woh ladki who left you.. If I would have been in her place na tou I would have never..never leave you..

Manik: Shraddha..I just like you as a friend..I am very so..

Shraddha: Manik! Don't be sorry..it's okay..it's not your fault if you don't love me.. I'm not forcing you to love me.. I will wait for you..

"But what if I never fall in love with you..then?" Manik asked looking in her eyes

"Then....koi baat nahi tum nahi tou koi aur sahi..!" Shraddha replied in a dramatic way and both burst out laughing..

It's crazy how you want a person to love you as much as you love them.. but you can't force someone to love you..so just let go.. Someday someone will walk into your life and make you realise why it never worked out with anyone else..!

_______________

Pheww...! Again big update!
How was it? How did you find Shraddha?
Do Vote & Comment.