The sudden shaking and stopping of the elevator made both Nandini and Manik loose their balance. Manik was about to fall, but balanced himself by holding on to the railing beside the mirror on the elevator. Nandini on the other hand, had no such support, she fell landing on Manik. Even after the elevator came to a complete halt, they both were frozen in what looked like a hug.

Manik: Fangirls! All the same, want to through themselves on me.

Nandini moved away and responded.

Nandini: What did you say? Fangirl? Mister, I don't even know you or care about you or what you do. Do not ever consider me you 'fangirl.' Like why would a girl like me even listen to rock music?

Manik: Ah haan, so you do know me.

Nandini: No, I don't...

Manik: Oh then how do you know I am in a rock band?

Nandini was caught on her own lie. I am such a bad lier she thought.

Nandini: I saw you on the cover of MusicID magazine on the flight.

Manik: And...

Nandini: Nothing.

Manik: I mean, what did you think of me?

Nandini: How self obsessed can you be?

Manik: Whatever.

Nandini rolled her eyes and sat in one corner of the elevator, while Manik stood there watching her.

Manik: I hate girls like you.

Nandini: What did I do to to?

Manik: Who act as if they don't like me or my music.

Nandini: I am not lying when I say I have never heard your music or that I only saw your picture once.

Nandini checked her watch and it was nearly 7. It was time for the reception to start.

Nandini: Everyone will be having so much fun and I am stuck with this weirdo.

She mumbled.

Manik: Weirdo! Who do you think you are? Calling me such names!

Nandini: My cousin's reception is going on and I am stuck here with you. I need to be there for Navya.

Manik: So, that explains why you are dressed so elaborately.

Nandini found a help button on the elevator and pressed it, but nothing happened. She started to scream.

Nandini: HELP! HELP! HELP!

Manik: Stop!!!  so heres the deal. I will get you out of here and you have to come to my music concert tomorrow.

Nandini: And why would I want to do that?

Manik: Because you want to get out of here now...

Nandini: Ok fine, I will come to your concert.

Manik: Great...

Her cuteness and her craziness for calling for help when people outside couldn't hear intrigued Manik. He also wanted to prove to her that he was a good musician for some reason. Maybe because she didn't seem to care much for him, unlike most girls he had ever met. He moved closer to Nandini and placed his hands on her stomach, which was exposed through her sari.

Nandini: Leave me, what are you doing?

Nandini was affected by his touch. Nobody had ever touched her like that, she didn't know what to do. How dare he touch me, she thought.

Manik: Helping.

He tightened his grip and lifted her in the air. Nandini closed her eyes through the entire process.

Manik: There is a vent about, you are tiny and you can get through it.

Nandini opened her eyes and looked up and saw the small vent above her and then hit Manik on his shoulder asking him to put her down.

Nandini: Are you crazy, this is so dangerous and I am no James Bond. Put me down.

Manik obliged. As he brought her down, her hands reseted on his shoulder. They both stood in that position while Nandini was staring at him angrily for touching her and picking her up.

Manik: Your eyes convey a different emotion than the rest of you...

Pointing to her angry glare in a very intimate looking position. Nandini let go of his shoulders and moved away.

Nandini: Why did you pick me up like that?

Manik: I tried, at least better than your failed attempts by screaming for help when no one can hear us from inside.

Nandini: Oh ya, then what about this failed attempt by you?!

Manik: At least it was better than your screaming!

Nandini: Can me behave like adults and think of a good solution?

Manik: Ok fine.

Manik raised his hand for  a handshake.

Nandini: What?

Manik: Handshake... partners... Friends?

Nandini smiled and shook hands with Manik. This move made sense to her at least more than him picking her up.

Manik: So, I am Manik Malhotra.

Nandini: and I am Nandini Murthy.

Manik: Do you have your phone?

Nandini: I would have used it and called for help if I did! Do you have yours?

Manik: Left it in my room when I went to the gym.

Nandini: Who goes out without their phone?

Manik: Asks the girl who doesn't have hers with her.

Nandini: Touché.

Manik: So, Nandini if your cousin's reception is going on in the banquet hall, why were you lurking around elsewhere?

Nandini: I lost my Ammamma's earring. So, I was tracing my steps to find it.

Manik extended his arm and reached for her silky long hair.

Nandini: What are you doing?

Manik: Nothing, your hair looks nice. Close your eyes.

He said as he moved closer to her.

Nandini: No way.

Manik: I won't harm you. Trust me.

Nandini closed her eyes. Do I trust him? she thought...

He touched her earlobe and Nandini opened her eyes. He placed one of his palms over her eyelids to close them. He inserted a earring and let her open her eyes. She touched her ears and found her earring back in its place.

Nandini: How? where was it?

Manik: Magic!

Nandini smiled.

Nandini: It was in my hair wasn't it?

Manik nodded. Both of them sat on the floor tired of standing.

Manik: Why don't you like rock music?

Nandini: Its not like I hate it or anything, I have never really listened much to it. It just seems too loud and disorganized compared to the kind of music I learnt.

Manik: You sing?

Nandini: Yes.

Manik nodded.

Nandini: When did you gain an interest in rock music?

Manik: Since I was a kid I guess. Our band, Fab 5 formed when we were in high school. Dhruv, Mukti, Cabir, myself and Alia...

Nandini stopped him on hearing Alia's name.

Nandini: Alia, your girlfriend?

Manik: haha, you too!

Nandini: Thats what the magazine said!

Manik: No, we are not together anymore. We broke up a while ago.

Nandini nodded.

Manik: So, do you have a boyfriend?

Nandini: No.

Manik: Smart, pretty and annoying... how come you don't have a boyfriend

Nandini: I am not into that sort of thing, and why did you call me annoying?

Manik: You love to sing right, then sing. Sing now, I will listen.

Manik changed the topic!

Nandini: I was right! You are weird. Why would I sing like now, stuck in an elevator.

Manik: Because we have time and nothing better to do.

Nandini smiled at him and sang a carnatic song. Manik was mesmerized by her voice.

Nandini: Sa Sa Sa Ni Da Ni Sa Da Pa Ma Pa Ma Ga Ri Sa Ri...

Manik: You sing so beautifully Nandini, I really think you should be devoting more time to music.

Nandini: I wish I could, but work.

Manik: You keep mentioning work, what do you do exactly?

Nandini: Well, I am an assistant to a businessman in Dubai.

Manik: Dubai... nice place.

Nandini: You have been there?

Manik: Yes, I had a concert there, just last month, and I saw you there waving to me.

Nandini: WHAT! I was not there in any concert!

Manik: Just kidding.

They sat there laughing, when Nandini heard something.

Manik: Are those people's voices?

Manik: HELP! HELP! HELP!

Nandini: Look whose trying my technique. They can't hear us, stupid!

Manik: Right!

No girl has even called me wierdo and stupid. Nandini definitely has some guts or she is so ignorant and doest know where I stand in terms of popularity. Its very refreshing to meet a girl like her though, Manik thought.

He might be crazy, stupid and self obsessed, but he is a nice guy like Nikita said. I should tell her, she would be both happy and jealous that I got to spend so much time with her imaginary bf, Nandini thought

Both of them were lost in thought when suddenly, the elevator jerked again. Manik saw Nandini's eyes light up, but something didn't seem right. He didn't want the elevator to start working again, because Nandini would walk away from him.

However, despite his wishes, the elevator moved again, the sudden movement brought Nandini and Manik closer than ever. He was on top of her, and she was gazing into his eyes. He brushed a loose strand of hair back behind her eyes and was about to kiss her, Nandini could feel her heart race. She wanted it too, somehow. She hadn't felt this way before. She liked Manik, she found him sweet but in that moment she forgot everything about reality. He was a star and she was a nobody. He would use her and throw her away, but yet she wanted him to kiss her. As he inched closer to her lips, they heard people from outside shout: MANIK MANIK MANIK...

There were cameras all around them, Manik and Nandini got up and Manik stood in front of Nandini, protecting her from the media glare. Manik's manager walked into the elevator.

Manager: What a story Sir, this will increase the press presence in tomorrow's concert. Great move.

Manik: It wasn't like that Nandini...

Nandini looked at him and started to cry. She pressed 3 and the elevator door closed. The elevator stopped at the banquet hall and Nandini got off and walked away without looking back at Manik. She was in tears as she knew what would appear in the papers tomorrow. She somehow felt used for some sort of publicity stunt.

Manik: Nandini...

Nandini turned and looked at him, but didn't speak a word. The elevator door closed and Manik tried hard to open the door. It went to the 2nd floor, when he pressed 3 again because he wanted to apologize to Nandini. He went to the banquet hall, and looked around, but he didn't see her. People were packing up.

Manik: Have you seen Nandini?

He asked a worker.

Worker: Nannu artha illa (I dont understand).

Manik sighed and walked around looking for her. He gave up eventually and went back to his room in the 4th floor. He felt something for her, he didn't know how to express it, but he felt bad that he hurt her. She didn't deserve this, he thought.

Nandini watched Manik look for her, but she hid from him and took another elevator to the lobby and took a taxi back home when she heard that the reception was postponed due to a power failure in the hotel. I was falling for him, I am crazy! Falling for a random guy in our first meeting, she thought.

Navya: Where were you girl? And why do you look like you saw a ghost?

Nandini: I think I fell in love with a guy in the elevator when we got stuck in there together.

Navya: Details please...

Nandini explained things to her with tears in her eyes.

Nandini: Please tell me that I was dreaming or this was just my imagination.

Navya: Listen, the way you describe things, looks like he cares for you too. Otherwise why would he come looking for you?

Nandini: Maybe for some other type of publicity stunt.