Nandini's POV (flashback)

They reached the cafe and Manik opened the door for her. Reaching the table for 2 Manik pulled out a chair for her and Nandini sat down thanking him. He quickly gave their usual order and came back to Nandini.

Manik sat infront of her while Nandini looked at him. Manik patiently waited for her to start the conversation. While Nandini was finding proper words to frame the sentence.

After a brief silence Nandini opened her mouth to speak but all her courage got shattered as the waiter arrived with their order.

Placing it he left and Manik pushed her coffee cup more close to her.

Nan-thanks.....

And she sipped her coffee while Manik had his. She placed the cup back and again gathered the courage. Finally she spoke.

Nan-Manik.......

Manik sucked his upper lips with his lower to rub of the coffee moustache as Nandini called him and he replied.

Ma-hhhmm......

Nandini was playing with her fingers and said looking down.

Nan-that day.......

Ma-was all truth.

As he said that Nandini looked at him suddenly and then she hesitated and continued.

Nan-nhi......I mean.

Ma-hhmmm.....go on....

Nandini closed her eyes and exhaled a deep hard breath. She again looked at him and this time she looked confident.

Nan-Manik.......all that feeling you have.......I don't feel the same for you..... in fact I doubt k kabhi aisa kuch hoga bhi........look I don't believe in relationships and this love thing.......it's not that I had some personal experience or heartbreaks.......it's just that I never think aise kuch hota hai real life Mei...... but then with you.......I don't want to lose this friendship.........I was just avoiding this situation.......but I don't feel to ruin the friendship......just like that.

Her "just like that" came out like a whisper and then she looked down while Manik smiled at her honesty and then he placed his palm on back of her palm and said softly as his touch had made her look at him.

Ma-you know Nandini......jab mei India Mei tha.......mom har roz mujse kehti thi to get married......but Mei hamesha mana krta raha........even I didn't believe in relationships.....this love theory.

Nandini looked at him with confused eyes coz his words and his recent behaviours didn't match at all while Manik continued.

Ma-but then I saw you......and I fell for you instantly....... I want to marry you.........and then I realised that this feeling has a magic.......all those denial made sense......coz you were there in my destiny......

Nandini moved her hand back when he said that as she didn't wanted him to give any wrong signals and her this action made Manik understand their words and actions so he said.

Ma-I mean I thought like that.......all I want to say Nandini is.......that I don't want to force you to anything.......love is beautiful........ and it's my choice to love you....... and you want friendship......so it's okay for me.......kyu ki hum kisi ko bhi kisi chiz k liye force nhi kr skte hai.........so it's okay.......you don't have to worry.......

Nandini was relaxed after he said the friendship thing. A small smile crept on her face and Manik too smiled.

Nandini thanked him and they resumed to drink their coffee. After that they paid the bill and then came out. Manik got a call just when they exit the cafe. He excused himself and went a little away while Nandini waited for him just a little away from the door.

She was busy looking around when all of sudden she felt his hot breathes fanning on her neck followed by his husky whisper.

Ma-what if I challenge you that I will make you fall for me.

Everything went blank for Nandini as he whispered that. Her whole body felt scared. Scared of this feeling and happy that what if it was true. She felt numb to react to such feelings and angry to make her confuse to no extend.

Well by this time Manik stood infront of her and looked at her expressions. Nandini to looked at him and before anything could happen Manik started laughing.

Nandini frowned while Manik said btwn his laughter.

Ma-ohhh god Nandini.......you got so serious......Mei toh mazak kr rha tha..... like friends.

Nandini felt hurt coz she felt he made fun of her feelings but then she covered up and pushed him saying sarcastically.

Nan-that was not funny.

And started walking for her home but Manik ran behind her amidst his laughter and caught her quickly.

Ma-aacha sorry.......come let me drop you home.

Nandini denied but Manik apologised and Nandini agreed. They sat in his car and Manik drove to her home. They reached and again awkward silence took place btwn them.

Both were calmly sitting on their seats looking at each other. It was coz suddenly Nandini didn't felt like gng away from him while Manik's feelings were open and he didn't wanted her to go.

She didn't say anything coz if she said she might have to get down from car and neither did Manik say anything coz if he said she might leave.

They got lost in each other's eyes that they didn't realise the time. It has been half an hour and still Manan were same in statue position.

They were disturbed when Nandini's pager rang bringing them out of their land. Nandini looked at her pager while Manik looked at her.

After she was done checking it she pressed her lips inwardly and then said looking at Manik.

Nan-I should go......bye.

Unwillingly Manik agreed and said.

Ma-bye.....

Nandini got down and saw that it was the dusk time and she never realised as she was busy in Manik's eyes.

Manik waited for Nandini to enter in and then when she entered inside her house and closed the door Manik ignited his car.

He looked up to see the road and saw the dusk and realised that they were lost in each other. He felt a ray of hope in his heart after his time with Nandini and silently praying to god he drove away.

After their this meet Manik and Nandini would meet casually on alternate days. Basically Nandini was trying to make her relationship with Manik like common friends who don't meet everyday. Once in a weekend or so. So that she doesn't mess up their realtionship but Manik would find a way out to meet her. But whenever they met Manik never intruded his feelings any such type of conversation to make their friendship awkward.

Back to present. Thinking abt all this Nandini slept. Slowly slowly the days went on passing and Manik was losing himself more. His 2 important women of his life were not talking to him. Nandini and her mom.

But it hurted more coz his mom was not supporting him. He felt proud of nyonika when she didn't distinguish btwn Nandini and him as it was his fault but then if she would have been in talking terms with her it would have been easy with him to deal everything.

And for Nandini she was making herself strong. When ever she felt herself gng weak or tears making way in her eyes should would distract herself to get a grip of her tears.

Like this 5 months have passed. Both the families have moved on (not really) as they can't see their kids in pain. Nyonika have started staying ill or getting too much tired since a long time ago coz she is not talking to Manik and his pain is making her weak. But she needs to teach Manik a lesson and with great difficulty she makes up her heart when ever it falls weak as a mother.

Well moving on for families meant that now both the families were in talking terms to get mukbhi and dhrulya married. With time Dhruv and aaliya have grown stronger. Dhruv had confessed that after Manan's truth he felt hurt but aaliya had supported him all the way and now he realises that there was nothing in him for Nandini.

And Manik was also the one to suggest abt the wedding plan as he didn't wanted both the couples to pause the time of life. So everything was being planned.

Nandini was also informed abt the wedding thing as she have to be there as she is abhi's sister.

So almost everything was planned. Mukti and aaliya wanted that they both marry on the same day so the wedding functions of both the couples were scheduled at the same day and time except from wedding. Dhrulya will get married in morning and mukbhi was planned to get married at night.

Everything was full and final. Avantika mad informed Nandini as well and she was gng to arrive back at Mumbai a week before the functions starts.

It was one fine evening when Malhotra's were deciding abt the menu of mehndi ceremony. All were suggesting abt it. Well Malhotra's with cavya and aaliya were present over there. So as they were dcd the menu of what to cook. Navy's suggested that why don't they make a complete Indian menu. As in other ceremonies there are different type of food along with mixed things like continental,Italian,Spanish and all along with Indian.

And navya suggested that the complete menu should be Indian. And apart from food a separate chaat stall to be there as well.

All liked the idea so now they were thinking to dcd the dishes. All were getting confused as one by one many dishes was being suggested making a fuss of the whole menu. So raj suggested to make every single dish that all the 6 kids suggested.

All liked this idea as well so now one by one all suggested one one dish and it was written down on the paper. Last was Manik. They called him and he was lost somewhere. Dhruv pat his back gently to bring him out of his trances. And when he looked at them Mukti said.

Mu-bhai you suggest what you want in the menu.

Manik was still in daze and hearing Mukti he immediately replied.

Ma-bangan ka barhta......

All looked at him as if he was an alien while Manik didn't notice their gaze. Cabir said first.

C-shadi Mei bangan ka Barhta kaun kahta hai.?

Raj-aur tuje toh pasand bhi nhi hai na fir.......

Manik heard them and the came out of his daze as he heard them and then his realised what he said and then he said.

Ma-nhi.......I mean woh nhi.......

Raj-haan toh dusra kya bata........

Ma-kya batao.......

All looked at him with shocked eyes while Dhruv said.

D-bhai hum mehndi function ka menu dcd kar rhe hai......ab bhul Gaye kya.......ussi k liye you have to suggest ek dish......jo aapko pasand ho.

Manik looked at rest and they bobbed their head agreeing to Dhruv and then Manik realised that he haven't heard anything after Navya said to make Indian food coz with this he remembered something.

He looked here and there to think abt something and when he did get any idea he said getting up from his place.

Ma-kuch bhi chalega........

And before anybody could say anything he continued.

Ma-mei dadi aur nani ko airport se pick kr leta ho........unki flight ka time hogaya hai.....

And without waiting for a minute he left from there. While when he said that Dhruv tried to make him remember.

D-Dadi aur nani ki flight ko abhi 2 ghante baki hai.......

But Manik left without hearing that and then all the family members looked at each other. They all are aware of Manik. They all thought that with time Manik will move own but with passing time Manik have just lost himself more and more.

Well at dadi and nani. Malhotra's have these two elder women's in their lives. It's just that they both prefer to stay in their hometown as they fell the air there as fresh and they are comfortable over there that is why. And even coz they had their whole life there only.

So here is the update hope you like it....well I will try to post pics of dadi and nani in the next chp and share more details of them....for today enjoy this and do tell me how did you feel the chp through your comments.....good night bye.