Manik left two days ago, we didn't really got a chance to talk on the phone. He texted me a few times and it seems like he's pretty busy in preparing the opening of his company.

Today was my day off so I'm watching a movie. Well I'm mostly scrolling through Instagram while having the movie as a background noise.

I'm about to double tap on a photo when my door bursted open revealing Navya who was standing there with a huge grin on her face.

"Navya." I scream in happiness as I get up from my bed to jump on her.

We hug each other tightly before settling on the bed.

"How are you? How was Bali?" I'm so excited to hear her tales. She always ends up having the best memories whenever she goes on holidays.

Last time she went to Paris when she got tired of the Christmas celebrations. I still remember the look of disappointment on her mother's face when Navya didn't show up on the dinner that her mother had spent hours preparing. It took me 3 hours to get her to calm down and not take the next flight to Paris.

In Paris, Navya had found herself, what she described as the perfect one night stand, the man had blown her away with his expertise in bed. Till date she remembers the night with an amazed look on her face.

"Girl, Bali was mesmerizing. We need to go there together. I didn't get any sexual action though." Her tone suddenly sad like she was mourning over the lack of sex.

"Why? I'm pretty sure there are a lot of handsome guys in Bali."

"I got so busy exploring that I didn't get a chance to find myself a boy. Anyway, tell me about you and about your Mr. Malhotra. How are things with him? Do you really want to get an arranged marriage? He's basically a stranger."

I sigh as I lay down on the bed. My eyes move on the ceiling as I hear Smurfy's movements around the room.

"I honestly thought I would need a few months before deciding whether I want to get married to him or not. But Manik...he's different from all the men I've known. He wants to take care of me not the other way around. He's there when I need him. I'm not entirely sure if my decision is right but I want to give him a try. I think we'll make it work together. Besides my grandmother didn't even talk once to my grandfather before their wedding and look at them now, so in love with each other even after all these years."

My grandparent's love story had me hoping that maybe I'll be okay with Manik. Maybe I'll find my own love story with him.

"I don't want to judge him without meeting him first but his reputation isn't the best Nandini. He's known for his arrogant and ruthless image in the business world." Her face turning into concerned expression as she carefully chooses her words not wanting to offend me.

"I know. I thought the same but he is so different. Almost the opposite of that image he carries around. Manik has been nothing but gentle and sweet with me. He's a little dominant though which really concerns me."

"Dominant?" She frowns and says it like she is testing the meaning of the word.

"Dominant as in bdsm dominant or dominant as in controlling?" She asks me in all seriousness.

I stare at her with my eyes wide open. She can't be serious.

"Navya what the hell?" I finally ask her.

"What? It's a serious question?" Her eyes displaying confusion.

"How would I know about his bdsm habits? I didn't have sex with him." I pause before continuing.

"I meant dominant as in controlling people's actions and taking decisions for them. Anyway, he's aware that I'm not the person that is easily controlled."

"Nandini, I want you to remember that you don't have to tolerate any kind of behavior that you don't like. Please don't listen to the lectures of your mom on how to be a good wife which includes being obedient and ignoring every red flag and worshipping your husband like he's some sort of God."

I chuckle and shake my head. I would never do that. I can't be the typical obedient indian wife.

"But in all seriousness, what if he's into bdsm?" Her question brings me back from my thoughts.

I stare at her a few seconds. I inhale a deep breath and exhale quietly trying to clear my mind.

"I don't know Navya. I'm pretty sure he won't force me into it if he is."

"Good. You shouldn't do something you don't want to. But just so you know bdsm can be really fun. Anyway, did Arjun tried to contact you again?"

"No. I think he got the message. He's a nice guy Navya. I know he is. Arjun just let momentarily pleasure take over his mind. I'm obviously not trying to justify his actions but it's time to forgive him. I can't hold so much anger and disappointment against him. We're all humans, we make mistakes. I just hope he learned something from it and by the looks of it, I believe he did so that's all that really matters."

She shakes her head and slaps my arm.

"No. He's a jerk. You don't have to be so great and forgive him. Do you know what time it is? It is time for you to stop blaming yourself for his actions. It wasn't your fault, just accept that and move on."

I'm reminded of Manik's words. The right guy will wait for you to be ready. The right guy will show you how much you mean to him. And the right guy will never cheat on you. And I hope that right guy is me.

A smile comes on my face as I play his words in my mind again.

My phone buzzes somewhere in my room. I get up and look around. In my excitement to see Navya, I just threw my phone carelessly.

I frown as I see it nowhere on the bed. My eyes wander on the floor and I see it there.

Manik's name flashing on the screen as the phone keeps making the buzzing sound.

I grab it from the floor and I see Navya looking at me as I answer.

"Nandini." He calls out my name. My name has never sounded so good.

"Manik. Hi." I see Navya's eyes widening as a teasing look comes on her face.

"Hello Mr. Malhotra." She yells out.

"Who is that?" Manik's confused voice comes from the other side.

"That's Navya. She just came back from her trip." I tell him as I shake my head at Navya and gesture her to shut her mouth.

I move away from her before she says something embarrassing.

"How are things going with your company?"

"Everything is going well and as planned. Tomorrow is the opening."

"That's good. Are you eating and sleeping well Manik?"

"Yes ma'am." He probably has that amused look on his face right now.

"Good."

We talked a little more before he had to leave for a meeting.

I went back towards Navya who is laying down on my bed wiggling her eyebrows with a stupid grin on her face.

"Is my brother in law missing you?" She teases me.

I roll my eyes at her and lay down beside her.

Manik's POV

"I'll do the deal with you for 45% equity. It's non negotiable and I need the answer right now." I lean back on my chair and look at his face that loses all the color it had. He looks so pale that I'm worried he'll throw up any moment.

"Mr. Malhotra, I can't give away so much equity."

"I guess we're done here then because I'm not lowering the equity." I stand up and button my blazer.

As I'm about to open the door, he calls out for me. A smirk forms on my face as I turn around.

"I'll do that deal."

"Excellent decision." I sit back down to discuss things further and get everything signed.

"We'll make millions, I can promise you that. I'll get your product in every store. My team will contact you tomorrow with the advertisement and social media plans." With one last handshake, I walk out of the door.

John patiently waits for me to get in the car before closing the door.

"Is the jet ready?" I ask him as he settles on the driver's seat.

"Yes sir. Everything is all set for you." He looks at me through the mirror. I nod my head at him.

I'm going back to India after two weeks.

I look out the window as the conversations with Nandini plays in my mind.

I can finally see that we are getting somewhere. She is slowly opening up to me. Her calls and texts became more frequent after our conversation in my house.

She has begun to trust me enough to inform me about her troubles and worries.

I have a feeling that her best friend's return has something to do with it too. We talked once and she was very honest about her opinion of me which changed by the end of our conversation. She most likely put some sense in Nandini's mind thus the transformation.

Nandini has been stressing over her wedding dress. Apparently, Sabyasachi has lost his touch. At least that's what she said to me after she saw the samples and his ideas for her dress.

She had called me when I was in the middle of a meeting to inform me about it. She had cried over the fact that she won't look good on her special day.

For the first time in my entire life, I didn't know what to do or say. I didn't know how to console her and her teary voice wasn't helping much. It made me so uneasy. It was something I didn't want to experience again.

I remember how I had gotten up and left the meeting without saying a word. Sonia probably took care of it. That girl deserves a raise.

Nandini's tears didn't stop, well not until I had texted Navya to intervene. She had taken care of her while I was still on call.

Right after Nandini had calmed down, I had called up Sabyasachi and threatened him to make something unique and wonderful for my girl.

"Mr. Malhotra, we are about to land." John's voice brings me out of my thoughts.

I nod my head at him and fasten my seat belt. I look out of the small window. I can't wait for the wedding ceremonies to start.