M:Alyaa!

A: Congratulations Manik

Just then Nandini who was talking to Atharv, sees Alya

N:Alyaaaa!!!

A: Nandini!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Both hug like long lost friends making Manik get shocked

N:Shaadi pe Kyun nahi aayi?

A:Tumhe toh patha hai ki main aur Dhruv Paris Gaye the ek show ke liye...aur return flight mein kuch problem huyi u knw because of a hailstorm...toh aaj subah hi Aah sake hum

M:Lekin Dhruv Kahan hai?

D:Here buddy..... congrats Manik!

M:Mmmm... thank you

Alya and Dhruv join others after exchanging pleasantries

M:Tum Alya ke saath dosti bhi Karli? Mujhe nahi patha tha ki after the incident u became this 'close'...

N:Main tumhari tarah thodi na hoon...Connections rakhna, emotions share karna yeh sab toh Insaan log karte hai....apke tarah robots nahi karte..so don't worry...sirf wahan dekhiye aur pose maariye 😂

M:Huh!

Manik huffed

After clicking pictures Nandini dragged Manik along with her to meet people..
Manik who was least interested tried to get out of her hold,but Nandini was not letting him move!
Manik was getting irritated at Nandini's "wifey" behaviour..
She was clinging on to him toooo much
While they were talking to a couple ,Manik pushed Nandini's hand away angrily which led the wine in his hands to jump out leaving a stain in Nandini's dress...

N:Manik tumhara problem kya hai

Atharv who was near them notices their spat and moves to Nandini

A:Nandini are u ok?

N:Haan woh wine gir gayi aur dress thodi kharab ho gayi.....

A:Oho wait!

Atharv grabs few wipes from a table and starts wiping her dress...
The stain was in Nandini's midriff region...

This made Nandini a little uncomfortable and Manik clench his teeth!!
Like hw dare he do that?

N:It's ok Atharv...I can manage...

A:Acha ok

Atharv gives her the wipes and starts walking away..
Nandini moves to the washroom...
While Atharv walks away,he turns back and winks at Manik playing a sly smirk on his lips...
Manik shuts his eyes in anger!

..

Most of the guests were relishing the continental cuisine arranged for the party...
Nandini sat in a corner having a plate..
She was truly upset about Manik's behaviour
Navya was complaining to Cabir about the weather...
It was cold inside but she alone was sweating profusely!
Nandini smiled looking at her little sister and her cute little bump...

While she was busy in munching her food,Atharv came and forwarded his hand

Nandini was confused looking at him

A:Dance with me?

Nandini gives her hand with a small smile
They moved to the ball where everybody were dancing

🎵🎶
Dil mera hai na-samajh kitna
Besabar yeh bewakoof bada
Chahata hai kitna tujhe.. 🎶🎵

Atharv swayed lightly with Nandini holding her waist to the tune of the lyrics....

🎶🎵

Is dard-e-dil ki sifarish 
Ab kar de koi yahaan 
Ki mill jaaye isey woh baarish 
Jo bhigaa de poori tarah

Yaariyan ve… Yaariyan…🎵🎶

Atharv swirled her along completely lost in her...

🎵🎶

Kya huaa asar tere saath reh kar naa jaane 
Ki hosh mujhe naa raha 
Lafz mere thhe zubaan pe aake ruke 
Par ho na sake woh bayaan 
Dhadkan tera hi naam jo le 
Aankhein bhi paighaam ye de 
Teri nazar ka hi ye asar hai 
Mujh pe jo huaa

Is dard-e-dil ki sifaarish 
Ab kar de koi yahaan 
Ki mill jaaye isey woh baarish 
Jo bhiga de poori tarah 🎶🎵

Atharv hugged her and made small steps while Nandini was completely staring at Manik who was standing there watching them!
His eyes showed a different emotion which she couldn't decipher...

The second the song came to the end somebody pulled Nandini into his arms making her hair fall all over face

A new song played with the lights highlighting the couple of the day!

MANIK AND NANDINI

🎶💫
Jab-jab tere paas main aaya ik sukun mila
Jise main tha bhoolta aaya woh wajud mila
Jab aaye mausam gam ke tujhe yaad kiya
Ho jab sehme tanhapan se tujhe yaad kiya 💫🎶

Manik slowly moved the hair from her face gazing at her...
Her angelic face!

He pulled her closer making her gasp!
Air was finding it difficult to pass between them...

He twirled her elegantly...
They both couldn't hear the music anymore....only the racing heartbeat!
The music of their hearts beating as one....

🎶💫
Dil sambhal ja zara

Phir mohabbat karne chala hai tu
Dil yahin ruk ja zara
Phir mohabbat karne chala hai tu

Aisa kyun kar hua jaanun na main, jaanun na
O dil sambhal ja zara
Phir mohabbat karne chala hai tu
Dil yahin ruk ja zara
Phir mohabbat karne chala hai tu💫🎶

Yet there was a harshness,anger. Nandini couldn't care anymore.
She was melting in the heat of the moment.

Feet moving in sync; breath taken away
He skimmed his nose along the velvety skin of her neck making her shiver.

🎶💫
Jis raah pe hai ghar tera
Aksar wahan se haan main hoon ghuzra
Shaayad yehi dil mein rahaa
Tu mujkho mil jaaye kya pataa
Kya hai yeh silsila jaanun na, main jaanun na
Dil sambhal ja zara
Phir mohabbat karne chala hai tu
Dil yahin ruk ja zara
Phir mohabbat karne chala hai tu🎵💫

Inching closer, Nandini's lips quivered,her doe shaped eyes shut completely not able to handle his sharp gaze...
His grip on her waist got tighter with every lift.. Nandini's heart skipped at every second!

💫🎵
Kuchh bhi nahin jab darmiyaan
Phir kyun hai dil tere hi khwaab bunta
Chaha ki dein tujhko bhula
Par ye bhi mumkin ho na sakaa

Kya hai yeh mamla jaanun na, main jaanun na
Dil sambhal ja zara
Phir mohabbat karne chala hai tu
Dil yahin ruk ja zara
Phir mohabbat karne chala hai tu
Dil sambhal ja zara
Phir mohabbat karne chala hai tu🎶💫

Both were standing close...Manik's hand unknowingly held her face...a tear escaped Nandini's eyes....
Manik looked at Nandini's half opened lips...
Nandini slowly opened her eyes...
Her eyes were filled with tears waiting to flow down...
Manik felt the urge to wipe them out and just when he raised his hands...........
Everybody started clapping
The song had finished already and they had been standing there still for minutes...
Pulling away, Nandini displaying a smile quickly ran away
Manik not knowing what had come upon him stood there alone!

..

MALHOTRA MANSION

Nandini ran to her room followed by Manik running behind her.

She sat on the bed crying..she had shut her face crying....
Mani saw this..but didn't want to sympathize with her at this second

He was angry!
So angry that his wife crying didn't make any difference

He pulled her into her arms
He held her by her shoulders digging his fingers into the skin
Tear stains all over her face,mascara smudged around her eyes,Nandini looked shocked!

M:What is Ur problem Nandini?
Tum aise Kyun behave kar rahi ho jaise yeh shaadi asli ho...
U very well know about the deal!
Six months... don't u think that by doing all this cheap things u can stick with the Malhotras forever!!!!!
Mere liye kapde nikaalna, serving food, waiting for me in the night, flirting with me..mujhe yeh sab acha nahi lagta hai!!
Do u understand?
Aur us Atharv Ko bhi nahi chodte ho tum...oh woh tumhara backup hai kya? U knw after 6 months uske saath ja sake isliye?

N:Stop it Manik!

Nandini shouted

N:Stop speaking with Ur filthy mouth!
Tum kaun hothe ho mujhe yeh lecture dene ke liye?
U want to know why I am like this to u na?
Listen.....

Because I frickin love u

Yaad nahi hai kya tumhe? Us din jab maine agreement sign Kiya tha..what did I say?
I Love You...
Yes I was not joking.....main jhooth nahi bol Rahi thi!
Atleast for 6 months I can be with u na...
I just wanted a platonic relationship!
Mujhe bachpan se jo bhi chahti thi woh nahi Mila hai....
I know I sound desperate!!! Lekin kya karu main...
Navya bhi ab mere saath nahi hai...uski ek alag zindagi hai...
Tumhare paas sab kuch hai...parivar hai....maa baap bhai...sab hai
Mere duniya mein sirf do log hai....Navya aur tum
U might be thinking y I am being so nice to u...

Because I know that u don't have a any part in Ur father's mistake.

Lekin tumne ek Baar bhi nahi socha ki kya Nandini sach keh Rahi hai?
Tumhare papa bhagwaan toh nahi hai na?

Tumhe sirf shak karna aatha hai....pehle Rohan aur ab Atharv
Tum itna ghatiya kaise soch sakti ho...?

U knw what tum zyaada mat socho 6 mahine Baad main khud divorce papers laake de dungi tumhe..
Be happy Manik...always be happy...
Hamesha main hi galat hoon...khush?

With that Nandini moved to the washroom leaving Manik rooted to his spot

..

It was nearly midnight..
Nandini was asleep in the bed..
Manik couldn't sleep at all..
He stood in the balcony staring at the starry night.
So peaceful
But his mind was a roaring sea!

So many questions!
The dance at the party of course made him lose his mind
Seeing her with Atharv pricked his every nerve..
He wanted to rip him apart with his bare hands....

Her face when he danced with her....her love could be felt by him just by looking at her
He was an idiot to think that she was acting...
But whatever she said about his father!
Was it all true?
Did the Malhotras have a secret which was unknown to the whole world; unkown to him!

He turned to look at her sleeping....
He had to solve this puzzle.
For her. For him. For them.

..

Morning

All were sitting at the dining table while Karan made an announcement

Nandini had been cold towards Manik since morning
She didn't talk to him
By the time he woke up,she had already left the room but had kept out his clothes and served him his breakfast.

Ideal wife it seems.

K:So Manik honeymoon ke baare mein kya opinion hai tera

Manik thought that he should say yes

M:Hmm...I mean..kitne dino ke liye?

K:2 weeks in Greece

M:Ok

K:Nandini?

N:Sry..main nahi jaa sakthi Manik ke saath!

~~

Hi
The dance part was the most difficult one for me to write!
I request u all to listen to both the songs while reading!
Because I listened to them while writing the part!
It gives the right feel!
If u liked the chp pls vote
Varsha.