Next morning ..

Nandini was getting ready to attend Rishab's birthday, both manik and mukti were unaware of this fact. She wore a simply leggings and kurthi (long top). After applying light makeup she came down and found mukti fiddling with her purse kind off finding something. She went near mukti and tapped on her shoulder. Mukti jumped a bit at sudden contact.

"God, nandu you scared me" mukti said keeping her hand on her heart.

"Chill I won't eat you, as far as I know your graduation is day after tomorrow soo why did you get ready so elegantly today" Nandini said making a suspicious face just to enjoy mukti's fumbling. Mukti looked everywhere except nandini, she certainly hated lying to her loved ones but she didnt want Nandini to get upset.

"Ummm ....I'm going on date with abhi after college so" mukti said with a nervous smile looking around.

"Ohh really umm...that's good but I wanted to see your college so can I come with you today " Nandini said enjoying mukti's condition. She felt bad though, but how can she leave such an awesome opportunity to see her friend getting all nervous.

"Do...don't you have college today" mukti asked getting all nervous. She didn't want to say no but rishab's birthday was more important right now.

"Yeah ! I do but I'm bunking so chill" Nandini said in carefree attitude.

"No, you shouldn't bunk your college Nandu. Go have your breakfast and leave for college" mukti said in fake authoritative voice.

Nandini smiled...

"Oki baba I will go, don't get so worked up " Nandini said keeping her hand on muktis shoulder stopping her teasing session.

Mukti gave a weak smile.

"Oki then I will leave take care bye" mukti said.

"Ba-bye" Nandini waved with an innocent smile.

Mukti came out of the house and heaved a sigh. Shaking her head she went to hospital.

As mukti went, manik came down. Looking at manik Nandini smiled yet innocently. Manik cringed his eyebrows at her innocent face. 'What is she upto' thought ran in his mind as he forced out a smile.

"Manik your going to office haa" Nandini asked grabbing her toast.

"Hospital Nandini, today is rishu's birthday" manik said raising his eyebrow before sitting on chair.

He grabbed his toast and Nandini smiled at his act.

"Ohh yeah I totally forgot" Nandini acted innocently as if she didn't remember at all.

"What is going on in your mind" manik asked in 'don't-act-innocently-infront-of-me' look.

"What !! In my mind...pfftt...nothing" Nandini said shrugging her shoulder waving her hand in air.

Manik raised his eyebrows at her.

"Why do I feel like you are upto something !!" Manik said eyeing her suspiciously.

"Who?? me!! little innocent me!!" Nandini said patting her eyelashes innocently.

"Now I'm 100% sure" manik murmured to himself.

Both ate their breakfast and manik bid bye.

Nandini knew manik won't go inside the room and attend the birthday party either he will stand outside or near that window where he made Nandini stand and see.

After manik left, Nandini took her clutch and left the house. on her way she brought a watch as gift for Rishab. She reached hospital and went in looking here and there so that manik won't get to know at least not so soon. If manik sees Nandini outside he won't let her in as everyone will ask nandini how she got to know and manik would get tensed thinking about what lie Nandini will feed them. For her luck manik wasn't there, he might be near doctor or something she thought cause saw maniks car downstairs.

She went near Rishab's room and what she saw inside made her smile. Not only mukti others like Cabir,navya,abhimanyu,druv and aliya even Arav were there helping mukti in decoration.

Mukti wanted to decorate the whole room all by herself, she didn't want to hire some workers for that. She wanted to feel satisfied when she will see the happiness in Rishab's eyes as he adores the decorations.

All were soo busy in their work that no one noticed Nandini standing at the door and looking at them except Arav who saw Nandini and screamed.

"Maaasiiii (aunty)" Arav screamed clapping his hands before running towards nandini.

Everyone's eye shot up at Nandini, their eyes went wide when they saw Nandini. Nandini smiled at Arav and carried him. Mukti was hell shocked looking at Nandini. Abhi shook her to get her out of trance. Mukti grew worried looking at Nandini. She didn't know what to do or what to say. She was confused how Nandini got here.

"Nandu " mukti spoke with hesitation.

"What!! you thought if you won't share, I won't get to know haa" Nandini shot at her faking anger.

"I...I'm sorry I..I didnt mean to..." mukti started feeling guilty. She was at edge of breaking down.

"Mukti" Nandini came in front of her hugged her. Mukti got confused at nandinis behavior.

"I'm sorry, I was just pulling your leg calm down I'm not angry at you" Nandini said breaking the hug.

"But ...how did you get to know" mukti asked looking down. She felt bad for hiding this from her.

"Umm..I kinda followed you" Nandini lied.

"Huh ??" Asked a confused mukti.

"What !! You were acting so weird from few days I got doubt so I followed you, when I came here i got to know about Rishab, remember my dad and uncle are friends so I kind off knew about rishu but I forgot as no one really spoke about him in these days" Nandini lied conveniently.

"I...I didnt mean to I'm sorry Nandu" mukti pleaded with tears in her eyes, holding nandinis hand.

Other stood there with soft look on their face. .

"Its Oki mukti I understand but can I join this celebration please" Nandini asked with a cute pout.

"Of course yar " mukti cracked a smile amidst of tears in her eyes.

"Aww thank you" Nandini chirped and hi-fi'ed with Arav.

"Oki then, is there any work left ??" Nandini asked in excitement.

"We need to hang this balloon over there come on help me " Cabir said showing balloons which he held in his hands. Nandini happily nodded.

After all the preparation, mukti announced that she will get Rishab. Everyone nodded and mukti exited to get rishab.

On the other end manik was having a brief talk with the doctors about Rishab's health and his growth matters. For his luck he got good news that Rishab is responding to their medicines well. Manik felt a bit light hearted when he got positive response from the doctors.

Here all were waiting for mukti to get Rishab. In a few minutes mukti walked in with Rishab in wheel chair, nurse helped in moving the wheel chair where as mukti covered Rishab's eyes. Nandini was excited as she will be meeting Rishab for the first time. Her smile reached her eyes when she saw Rishab. Slowly mukti removed her hand from rishab's eyes when everyone screamed.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RISHAB 🎉🎊🎆🎇🎁🍰

As soon as everyone screamed, party popper was popped on Rishab's head. His eyes shined at the sight in front of him. Soon a beautiful smile formed on his lips. He clapped his hands in excitement. All were left in awe looking at his innocent face.

Nandini was soo lost in the magical face in front of her that she forgot to introduce herself. Everyone one by one came in front and hugged rishab before wishing him happy birthday. Nandini was watching him in awe but something was disturbing her, she turned to her left to look at manik standing outside and watching Rishab from window with tears in his eyes and a small smile on his face. Nandini felt something stir inside her. She chewed her inner cheeks to control her emotions. Her thoughts were disturbed when druv pulled her near Rishab.

"Rishu this is nandu, our new friend say hi to her" mukti told softly stroking Rishab's hairs.

Nandini got on her knees...

"Hii Rishab" Nandini said cheekily.

"Hii" came a soft voice from Rishab as he showed his right dimple. Nandini was head over heals for that !!

"Oh my god! Rishab your soo cute if you were few years older then I wouldn't have missed a single chance to date you" Nandini said with a pinch of flirting.

Everyone chuckled where as Rishab gave a weak smile trying to understand what she just told.

"Come on now it's cake cutting time" aliya said in excitement.

Everyone started walking towards the table near the cake where as Cabir pulled the wheelchair. Nandini turned to go near them but stopped in the middle as her eyes got locked with her own monster who was spitting fire her way. Soon lines formed on nandinis forehead. She bit her tongue closing her eyes for getting caught. Now manik won't leave her . She immediately turned around and walked without sparing manik a single glance.  

All gathered around the cake.

Rishab was awestruck looking at the cake. His happiness was clearly visible in his eyes.

No one questioned about manik neither did Nandini. All could see manik standing near the window but no one asked him to come in cause he never did all these years.

All encouraged Rishab to cut the cake, mukti helped him cut the cake while others sang happy birthday song for Rishab. Rishab cut the cake and fed it to mukti and Arav. While others fed Rishab.

After cake cutting, everyone gave their gifts to Rishab. He who opened them in enthusiasm. Looking at his happiness everyone's heart warmed up especially mukti. She had tears in her eyes looking at rishabs happy face. Nandini placed her hand on muktis shoulder as a support. Finally Nandini gave the watch she brought for him. Looking at the watch Rishab smiled to his fullest showing his dimple. Nandini couldn't control so she pecked his cheeks which made Rishab blush. Nandini 'aww'ed.

After that, all started talking with rishab, telling him interesting things. Mainly Arav, he was explaining Rishab how iron man fought in Avengers : the civil war. All watched them in amusement the way Arav explained and at the way Rishab listened everything.

Nandini looked at manik who was looking at Arav and Rishab in adoration. But soon manik moved his eyes from Arav and Rishab to Nandini and his smile vanished and replaced by frown as he glared at her. Nandini straightened herself and turned away. All this was seen by Cabir who sat next to Nandini. Getting confused Cabir marched near manik who was straightening his suit ready to leave. 

"What's with the look manik" Cabir questioned as he stood in front of manik.

"Huh??" Manik gave a confused look.

"Why are you glaring at Nandini like that ?? What did she do?" Cabir asked with his hands around his chest.

"First tell me this, what lie did Nandini feed you all, like how she got to know about Rishab" manik asked cringing his eyebrows.

"She told she followed mukti. Wait she lied. How can you say that ??" Cabir asked getting all confused.

Manik stayed silent at his question.

"Oh no !! manik you ...you told her. Didnt you?" Cabir asked in amusement.

Manik rolled his eyes looking at cabirs excitement.

"Yeah I did but I don't understand why did she come here, what if mukti gets to know that I told Nandini" manik said with a frown.

"Simple She will understand that her brother is whipped, that's it" Cabir chuckled.

"Ha ha very funny" manik made a bad face.

"Oki chill, everyone bought her lie, no one doubted her so your secret is safe" Cabir said locking his lips imaginary.

Manik twitched his lips and muttered bye and left not before glancing Rishab for a last time. Cabir smiled looking at maniks retreating figure. Finally his friend was changing !!!

Everyone returned home after having a awesome time as Rishab's treatment time occurred. Nandini spent most of the time with rishab, slightly flirting with him. Rishab smiled or answered one word whenever he understood what Nandini said. If he didn't understand he used to give a confused look to which Nandini used to smile and change the topic.

Mukti on the way back home was silent, she sat near the window and looked outside all the while. Nandini too gave her a lone time cause later mukti will be trapped in her plan. But nandinis problem was manik.

Both entered the house, mukti gave Nandini a smile and told her she is tired and went to her room. Nandini felt bad for mukti but shooed her thoughts. Changing her clothes Nandini went to maniks room repeating in her mind to act as if nothing happened.

As she entered his room, she saw manik gathering his stuff. Obviously he won't be going to office as Cabir told that on this day every year Malhotra industry won't be carrying on its work. Nandini cleared her throat to gather maniks attention. Manik who was gathering his files from the table turned towards the sound which caught his attention.

"Hey manik" Nandini said sitting on his bed with a face as if nothing happened.

Manik sighed at her acting.

"Quite acting Nandini" he said in bored tone.

"Wha ..what acting !! " Nandini said stammering.

"What would you do if anyone out there got any kind off doubt about how you got to know about rishab, tell me" manik started shooting his questions as he came near her and sat in front of her.

"I lied conveniently manik, no one got any doubt" Nandini said in high tone but at the end she fumbled.

"Nandini what was the need to go there" manik asked ruffling his hairs.

"What do you mean manik, why can't I meet Rishab " Nandini said feeling offended.

"I just didn't want anyone to doubt that's it, you told them that you followed mukti but still you got a watch as a gift how is that possible Nandini" manik questioned throwing some sense in nandini's brain.

"I ...I didn't think in that way" Nandini mumbled playing with her fingers.

"They were emotional at that time so no one questioned but please don't do anything like this in future" manik said holding her hand on his.

Nandini smiled nodding her head.

"Now can I get some time so that I can complete my work" manik said in small smile.

"By all means" Nandini said getting up and pecked his cheeks before leaving his room.

Manik sat there with a smile looking at the way nandini went with his hand on his cheek where nandini  pecked.

Evening 5 pm.

Nandini was sitting in her room finalising her plan.

"Soo now my plan is ready but where will I execute that ...umm ...(looking around her room) yeah this place it better. I might need my laptop, few books ..umm these two books (taking the books along with her laptop)"
Nandini murmured to herself.

She took her laptop and books to the living room and kept them on tea poi.

Now first step ....Nandini took her phone and messaged someone. With a wicked smile Nandini went to maniks room.

"Hey Mr. Monkey Malhotra" Nandini wished manik in cool attitude.

Manik who was sitting on his bed engrossed in his laptop looked up as Nandini came in and her statement made him grit his teeth.

"What did you just say" manik said keeping her laptop aside. He stood up and moved towards her in intimidating posture.

"I said 'hey Mr. Handsome Malhotra'. Didn't you hear properly ?" Nandini lied shrugging her shoulders.

"Your too good at lying" manik commented sarcastically before pulling her by her waist. With her hands on his chest.

"Didnt I tell you that before" Nandini beamed at herself.

"Note the sarcasm nandini" manik said rolling his eyes.

"Whatever!! Listen manik I need your help " Nandini said removing maniks hand which was around her waist and held it in her hand.

"What!!" asked manik getting confused by her behaviour.

"I will tell you come with me" saying this nandini dragged him out his room straight to her room.

"Nandini what is it why ar..." His words dried in his throat when Nandini pushed manik slightly into her room and locked it.

Manik was shocked would be an understatement. Before he could shout nandinis name, he heard.

"Bhai" surprised voice of mukti.

Manik turned around and only one word escaped from his mouth it's "mukti".

Nandini is sooo dead !!

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