Outside Manjeet Lifecare Hospital

Nandu was moving towards her car, it was 6 pm and her duty got over. She was going to open her bag to take out the car keys but from nowhere a strong arm pulled her and covered her mouth.

Manik has come out to make a call, he turned only to wide his eyes in shock and ran and pulled Nandu and covered her mouth to prevent her from shouting. Yes it was Manik who pulled Nandu, while she was still shocked with a sudden pull which was understood by Manik.

Manik: Shh Nandu..its me Manik..

Nandu ( came out of trance ): Manik..tum..but..

Manik: Ahh..relax..wo sorry for pulling you like that..

Nandu: Its okay..but why did you pull me, I really got scared.

Manik: I am really sorry Nandu, I didn't mean to hurt you.

Nandu: Its fine..but why ?

Manik: Wo..your car..

Nandu ( confused ): My car ? What my car ?

Manik: You would have freaked out if I hadn't stopped you from going towards your car.

Nandu ( still confused ): What ? What do you mean by I would have freaked out ? I was just going back home..Saaf saaf bolo Manik.

Manik: Umm..I think you should just look at it..

Nandini was confused and found Manik's behaviour weird..but shooing all the thoughts she looked towards her car which was only 2-3 feets away from where they are standing. One look at her car and soon her eyes went wide, the stethoscope and coat which were in her hands fell down and her mouth opened only to scream " A BLACK DOG "..the next second she had climbed on Manik, her hands snaked around Manik's neck and since he was so tall her feet was not even touching the ground and it was difficult for Manik to balance but soon he caught her bare stomack as she was wearing a crop top and the moment she had raised her hands to hold Manik, her top was also raised revealing her milky, beautiful stomach.

Nandini's POV

I was scared of Black and heavy dogs. Once I have told about it to Manik and so he remembers, but I was so much into the dog and I just climbed on Manik to save myself from that thing, why does the Blacky has to come, poor Manik has to bear me now, thank god he balanced but the next moment I got shivered since his hands came in contact with my stomach. I have friends who are boys but never dated in my entire life. I always wanted my Bhayyus to find a guy for me as they know whats right and whats wrong for me. And I never found this decision of mine wrong since I never felt any kind of feelings for any guys other than friendship but the feeling that I get when I am with Manik is different. I never allowed any guy to touch me other than friendly hug, not that I am shy but because I found that only my SOULMATE has that right and I will be comfortable only with him but here I am in Manik's arms, its not just a hug, I am totally on him and he is holding my body but why am I not feeling uncomfortable ? In fact I am feeling safe, peaceful as if its his right !! But why ? Why do I get restless if I dont talk to him atleast once in a day ? Why does his mere phone call makes me happy ? Why do I get worried for him if I see him sad ? Why does he affects me like no else except my family ? Why ? What is this feeling ?

End of Nandini's POV

Manik's POV

I knew that Nandu was scared of Black or heavy dogs like German shepherds. She was more into puppies or kittens. So when I saw the dog on her car I was shocked as well as horrified cause she was just walking towards it unaware of it and would be freaking out. I just grabbed her and showed the dog, well as I told she freaked out but I never expected her to climb on me, thank god there were no people near the car park area to see us or else they would have thought something else , my hands automatically went towards her bare stomach, damn it was soo soft and beautiful. I mentally smirked when I felt her shivering under my touch. But this thought made me happy that I do effect her just like how she affects me. She looked straight into my eyes, they are soo beautiful, when she speaks more than her lips its her eyes who speak, sometimes they are pitch black and sometimes they look like dark brown, dove shaped..perfect eyes I have ever seen. And her nose, its soo cute, just like a baby's smallnose. Her lips..gosh they are soo tempting..GOD Manik control..she is your friend..yah I like her..But I have never even liked a girl before , even though I feel like its not just a like..its something more..but what ? What is this feeling ?

End of Manik's POV

They were still lost in each other's eyes but brought out of it when the dog barked. Nandu freaked out again and hid in Manik's crook of neck.

Nandu: Manik, please dont leave me..

Manik ( huskily ): Never in any of my life.

She looked up to him and he replied

Manik: Dont get scared, I wont leave you.

The dog was enjoying their ' maybe romance ' and he barked again just to make our Nandu to cling on him more making him groan " god her smell is soo divine, its kinda vanilla..ahh and why is she wearing such dresses which make me difficult to control myself from caressing her stomach..I would be asking her not to wear such things again..

Manik: Nandu, I will take you to car..

Nandu: No..no..no..Manik, he will bite us..

Manik ( chuckling ): Acha ? So you decided its a male dog ?

Nandu: Yh, look at him, he is soo black which is making me soo scared and a female wont be looking like this.

Manik ( fake anger): So you mean, we guys are scary. You mean even I AM SCARY ?

Nandu: Arey when did I even say like that ?

Manik: Come on stop telling lies. You just told guys are scary.

Nandu: I didn't mean like that okay. I told its scary and females cant look scary so its supposed to be male as we have only 2 categories.

Manik: No..you meant the same..You think I am scary not handsome.

Nandu: Arey no..you are handsome..

Manik ( being innocent ): Really ? Then who was the one telling that Daadu is much handsome than his grandkids.

Nandu ( surprised ): You still remember it ( Manik nodded )..you are such a kid manik..your Daadu is better than you.

Manik ( annoyed ): Oh really ? Then let me put you down.

Nandu ( horrified ): No..please..Umm..I admit you are better than your daadu..

Manik ( smirked ): Nop, you have to admit I am the best and handsome.

Nandu: Uff yeh ladka, fine..I admit you are the best and the most handsome..happy ?

Manik ( grinned ): The most happy..

And he placed a tight kiss on her cheek and started moving, leaving our Nandu stunned. Poor girl, she was already lost in thoughts thinking why does Manik affects her and now he increased he thoughts by kissing her, even though its cheeks he has kissed her, not a single guy has kissed her even cheeks, except her Bhayyus. And here he was walking as if he got some business award and there is nothing more he could ask for.

Manik: Well, here you are..

He looked at her and found her still in shock, he knew why but he didn't wanna apologize for something he did intentionally, ofcourse he wanted to kiss her as she was making all those cute pouts and he couldn't control himself when he knew she is someone who got a place in his heart.

Manik: Nandu...

Nandu: Huh !!

Manik: We are here..

Nandu: Kaha ?

Manik ( sarcastically ): Paris mein..kyu acha nahi laga ?

Nandu: Hain ?

Manik: What hain ? Hum tumhare gaadi ke samne hai ab.

Nandu: Oh gaadi...wait what gaadi..

She hugged him again, not again Nandu...Manik thought in frustration..

Manik: Nandu..

Nandu: Manik..dont okay..I am really scared of him.

Manik: Arey baba..he is gone..see yourself..

Finally after lots of ' NO 's and ' NANDU LOOK ' s she opened her one eye and saw nothing on her car, she opened both of her eyes and roamed her eyes throughout the area and found him gone..bechara dog tho dar hi gaya, kya patha kuch zyada hi romance chalu ho gaya tho..

Nandu ( smiled in happiness ): WOW..he is gone..

Manik: Yeah, he is ..btw Nandu ( she looked at him still being in his arms ) Tumhe ghar nahi jaana ? Nahi, tum agar aisi hi rahegi tho ghar nahi jaa sakthi, I mean I have no problem in holding you okay.

She realized that she was still in his arms but she saw a smirk on Manik's face and got to know that he was teasing her, well 2 players could play right..

Nandu ( smirked ): Well, then you have to let me go first.
( she indicated by telling him that he is still holding her )

He knew that she was not like other girls, she was feisty as well as sweet..but he was impressed by her attitude..He slowly put her down, sharing an eye-lock.

Nandu ( smiled ): Thank you.

Manik ( glared ): Really ?

Nandu ( realized something ): Oops sorry..Manik Malhotra hates " thanks "..but what should I tell you then..Umm.." Will never forget what you have done for me today "

Manik ( grinned ): Pleasure is all mine..

They shared a hearty laugh n parted ways.

Next day

The Malhotras were supposed to leave today. Nandu has already done her check up and was sitting in her cabin treating other patients.

In Nandini's cabin

It was afternoon and Shekhar has already messaged her to take a half day leave but didn't tell her the reason. She came out of the cabin and went to the reception to sign her leave application. After signing she got a call and she smiled widely but hid it and picked her phone.

Nandu: Finally time mil gaya aapko ?

Person: Ab kya kare, iklothi beti jo hai meri, time tho nikalna padega na..

Nandu: Acha, tho jaiye mujhe nahi baath karna aapse Appa..

Shekhar: Acha ji ? Par kyu ?

Nandu ( huffed ): Jaise aapko patha nahi..

Shekhar: To ek kaam..umm..bahar aaja..

Nandu: Hain ?

Shekhar: Aaah..mujhe nahi patha tha meri bachi ko Hindi nahi aathi, koi nahi..let me translate..Come out.

Nandu: But why ? I mean..

Shekhar: Oho..tu bas hospital se nikal na..

Nandu: Ok......ek min...

Shekhar: Ab kya Shona ?

Nandu: Aapko kese patha ki mein ab bhi hospital mein hoon ( Shekhar just smiled ) That means..OMG Appa..really ?

Shekhar ( annoyed ): Shonaa...

Nandu: Am coming..

She ran out of the hospital and reached

Nandu: Kaha hai aap..

The Malhotras were going towards Nandu's cabin to bid her bye but stopped when they saw her running, they to rushed to check whether everything was fine or not. Manik was about to call her name seeing her outside the hospital panting heavily but soon he heard whisper from his dad " SHEKHS " he looked his family to see them looking at a spot, he followed the gaze and saw a man who might be the age of his dad's, before he could ask something he saw Nandu crashing in his arms..He was surprised.

Nyonika: Shekhar...Raj..yeh shekhar hai na..?

The younger clan was surprised and shocked to know that this was their Dad's bff..they saw their dad nodding in tears. Manik kept his hand on Raj's shoulder..Raj blinked his tears.

Raj: Wahi mere buddy Manik..Shekhs..look he is still looking the same..hai na nyo..

Nyonika: Bilkul..

Mukti: Par wo dono ro kyu rahe hai ?

The saw them in tears, Manik got worried seeing Nandu crying. They broke the hug.

Shekhar: Arey meri shona ro kyu rahi hai ?

Nandu: Aap bohat bure hai..

Malhotras were stunned to hear it from Nandu.

Shekhar: Mene kya kiya ?

Nandu: Kuch bhi nahi kiya..2 din se call nahi kiya..wo koi galat nahi hai..

Shekhar: Arey wo..mene kiya tha..par..

Nandu ( glare ): Dont you lie Appa..

Shekhar ( defeated ): Acha sry..actually busy tha..meeting ke liye bohat presentation work baaki tha..

Nandu: Mujhse bhi important ?

Shekhar: Tujhse zyada important kuch bhi nahi iss duniya mein shona..par tere liye tho kar raha hoo na ye sab..

Nandu: Mere liye ? Mujhe kuch bhi nahi chahiye appa..padai khatam, ab mein khud bhi kamathi hoon phir ithna stress kyu le rahe hai aap ?

Shekhar side hugged her.

Shekhar: Ab mere bach ki sabse badi phase baaki hai..teri shadi jo mujhe dhoom dhaam se karna hai..tere liye sabse khoobsurat mansion banana hai..aur..

Nandu: Bas bas..mujhe patha hai mere leke bohat kuch dreams hai aapko par mujhe ye sab ke zaroorat nahi hai, aur mein koi aise insaan se shadi nahi karoonga jo mere appa ke paise dekhar aathe hai, jaise mere appa waisa husband chahiye mujhe..aur rahi baath ghar gifts, yeh sabke tho aap London ke best business man hai tho aapke paas paison ke kaha kami hai ?

Shekhar: Arey mere ma..haar gaya mein..sry, ab tho maak kar..

Nandini: Nahi milega maafi aapko..

She folded her arms with a fake angry pout.

Shekhar: Teek hai bol..kya chahiye tujhe ?

Nandu: Agar mere condition maan liya tho mein maaf kar doongi..

Shekhar: Aur condition kya hai madam ?

Nandini: Condition..mujhe aaj raat ya kaal raat..let it be any night par ek raath, midnight after 2 am mujhe ice cream parlour jaana hai

Shekhar ( shocked ): What ? Ice cream parlour ? Wo bhi midnight ? Tu pagal tho nahi na..tu bimar ho jayegi

Nandu: Nahi, mein precaution loongi, I am a doctor na..but you have to agree.

Shekhar: Umm..actually yaha koin parlour khulega nahi..

Nandu: Phir aap uss din mujhe bathaya tha na ki aap aur mumma midnight dates ke liye ice cream parlour jathe the..

Shekhar( face palmed ): Sathyanash ( muttered under her breath )

Nandu: Ho gaya..Sathyanash ho gaya..mene sun liya..ab maafi chahiye ya nahi..mujhe tho ghar jaana hai..

Shekhar: Fine..agreed..

Nandu ( excited ): Really ? Umm..( she forwarded her hand ) seal ?

Shekhar smiled and holded her hand

Shekhar: Nandini promise..

Nandu: Yay..( she hugged him and kissed his cheeks ) I Love You Appa..

Shekhar: I love you too Shona..

They broke the hug and hopped in Shekhar's car and left, while the Malhotras were quiet emotional to see Shekhar back and they were also quite amazed to see the SHEKHAR MURTHY getting defeated, which will happen only in front of Shamishti..