Her eyes widened as she watched Manik dragging her away from Rudra. She didn't understand why Manik was behaving like this but her heart flutters seeing him getting jealous. She didn't fail to notice how his jaw clenched up as he stares glaring Rudra.

Her thoughts were broken by Manik who pulls them into corner away from the crowd and gazed her. He was still holding her wrist. Her eyes met his and they both intensely stared looking into each other.

Nandini was first one to broke the gaze and bitting her inner cheeks looks at Manik who didn't diverts his gaze away. His strong gaze made her blush so hard. Her stomach was filled with butterflies.

Nandini : Manik, why did you pull me like this?

Her voice made him come out trance and looking at her steps closer making her eyes widen as she realised how closer they were standing.

She took a step back only to stumble on heels. His arms immediately went around her waist preventing her to fall down. Her fingers fisted his blazer and her eyes shut in fear. He chuckles and something about her made him so crazy. His chuckle made open her eyes and looks at him.

Nandini : are laughing at me Manik? How mean of you? I didn't expected this from you. You don't my question Manik? Are you ignoring me?

Manik : no! I wasn't laughing at you Nandini. Neither I ignored you. How can I ignore this gorgeous girl? I had to pull you because....

He stops and looks at her who smirks waiting for his answer but he shook his head and leans forward making her startled. She looks at him with her eyes widen. His lips brushed against her earlobes as he whispers something to her making her blush.

Manik smirks as he stepped away and noticed her face turning into red. He holds her hands and softly calls her name out before placing a kiss on her hand.

Manik : may I have dance with most beautiful girl?

Nandini looks at him with a smile playing on her lips and placing her hand in his nodded her head. He smiles and holding her hand took her to the dance floor. He placed his arm around her waist gently and seeing her being comfortable with his touch he starts dancing along with the music.

Her heart was pounding so faster as she placed her hand on his chest and staring into their orbs eyes she danced matching his step. They were sync with the music and lost in their own worlds not acknowledging pair of eyes were adoring them.

They stopped dancing when the music stopped and smiling to each other separated away from. They both walks back to their family and stood there.

They didn't stopped stealing glances of each other between their family conversations. Manik couldn't take his eyes off from her. He felt so captivated towards her. He was literally gawking her entire time.

Mukti standing next to Manik smirks and nudges his shoulder making him look at her.

Mukti : Bhai what are you doing? You will kill that poor soul with gaze. Look how flushed she looks.

Manik glaring Mukti steals a glance of Nandini who was talking to her mother but her cheeks were crimsoned by his strong gaze.

He smirks and looked away as his phone rang. He took his phone out and looking at the caller id excused himself out from there.

Mukti: dad are going to hold a big holi party at our place?

Raj : why not? How can we broke our ritual princess? I have started making arrangements.

Alya : wow! I'm so excited for this holi. It will be so much fun. Nandini you have to come with us.

Mukti : yes Nandini. You should come. It's your first festive in India after long. You will never forget this holi.

Nandini looks at Abhi who was suppressing his chuckle. She threw a glare at him and nodded her head looking at Mukti and Alya who got excited.

Manik returns back after ending the call and glanced at Nandini who was still glaring Abhi. He chuckles and looks at Neyonika who was talking to ishita.

He calls Neyonika's name out and informs her about leaving urgently back to office to which Neyonika disproved and shook her head at Manik.

Neyonika: it's very late Manik. Why are even going to office now? What about dinner? Did you eat?

Manik : mom. It's very important otherwise I wouldn't go back to office now. I didn't feel like eating. I'll grab something on my way mom.

Neyonika nodded her head and Manik bidding bye to everyone walks away from there not before glancing at Nandini while looks at him.

Opening his car door he was to sit down when he heard a voice. He turns around and frowned when he noticed Nandini holding her dress running towards him. He got worried thinking what if she trips over the dress.

Manik : be careful Nandini. What are you doing? You could have fallen down. You need to take care.

Nandini : nothing happened. I didn't fall Manik. Are you really going back to office? I mean look at the time Manik. It's almost midnight. You shouldn't be working this late. You should go home and rest.

Manik felt something erupting in his heart when he heard her being concern and worried for him. His heart welled up so much.

Manik : is this why you came all the way to tell me this Nandini?

Nandini : yes! I don't you to work this late Manik. You shouldn't overwork. You also need to rest.

Manik smiles and walks towards her and stares her making her froze at her place as she noticed him standing so closer to her. She could smell his cologne. Her eyes widened as she steps back.

His arms went around her waist pulling her closer and his fingers brushed against her hair. He tucked few hair strands back of her ear and looks at her with a smirk playing on his lips.

Manik : did I tell you, how stunning you look? You absolutely look so elegant and mesmerising.

Her cheek heats up as she heard his compliment and her heart flutters. Manik smiles and winks at her while leaving her.

Manik opens the car and sits down looks at her who stood there being stunned by reaction. Her trance was broken by honk. She composed herself and looks at him who was smirking.

Manik : do you want me to drop you home? I have no intend leaving gorgeous girl alone at this time.

Nandini didn't respond but opening the passenger side door comfortable sat down and closing the door looks at Manik who looked surprised but nevertheless smiles as he watched her getting comfortable.

Nandini : how can decline this offer by you? Since you have offered to me drop me home, can I request you something?

Manik : what can i do for you miss Murthy?

Nandini: can we go for long drive?

Manik wasn't expecting this but he couldn't so no her so he nodded his head making her smile.

Nandini took her phone out and messaging Abhi she leans back opening the window letting the fresh air hitting her skin.

Manik glanced at her and shaking his head drove the car while turning the music on. They were empty roads when Nandini felt her feet aching. She leans forward and taking the heels off she felt much better.

The cold breeze hitting their faces and their smiles didn't leave their faces. They started talking randomly trying to know each other.

Nandini was talking none stop about her life in New York whereas Manik very interestedly listened to her and kept note of everything what she mentioned.

Nandini : I'm so kind of nervous about holi.

Manik : holi. Why? Don't you like holi?

Nandini : it's not that. I love holi but I catch cold really quick. I have always tried playing holi with my family only. And the way Mukti was telling me and Bhai was laughing didn't seem it to be normal holi to me. How do you guys play holi?

Manik: it's very different at our place. Dad and I normally arrange big holi and invite all our friends and family. It's so much fun. You will really love it.

Nandini : I really hope so Manik. This will be my first festival after returning back to India. I really want to enjoy it. I don't like being ill.

Manik : I'm telling you Nandini. You will have a blast in this holi and it will be unforgettable. Trust me.

Nandini looks at him and felt so much promising. She nodded her head and lowers the volume of music leaning back to her sit.

They looked so comfortable around each other. Nandini felt so protective around him. She wasn't sure why she feels so comfortable around him when the other boys around her made her uncomfortable.

Even Manik didn't know how he was being so soft to Nandini. He was surprised by his own his behaviour.

His trance was broken by Nandini who called him but he didn't answer because he was so lost.

Manik : huh! What were you saying? I'm sorry.

Nandini : oh god Manik. Did you even listen to what I just said? Now I have to repeat everything.

Manik: I'm sorry. I got lost somewhere. What were you saying?

Nandini: I forgot now. I tell you some other time when I remember. Now listen to me carefully.

Manik nodded his head while letting a chuckle out. Nandini again starts filling him about random gossips whereas he didn't bothered about those silly things but kept glancing at her in between and admiring her.

To him she looked flawless beautiful. He was so lost in didn't notice how long they even been driving on empty roads. They both were enjoying each other company.

Nandini stops blabbering when she felt her eyes drowsy. She unknowingly closed her eyes and fall asleep. Manik who didn't hear anything glances at her and found her asleep with arms around her body.

He quickly rolls the window up and pulling the car on side took his blazer out and placed gently around her body and thought how gorgeous she is sleeping right now. His heart couldn't take enough of her.

One day will he will become crazy with her thoughts roaming around his head. He turns the music off and starts drive back to Murthy's mansion.

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Hope you liked the chapter .

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