Nandini rolled onto the side of the road as the truck drove off. Nandini had her eyes shut closed but she could feel the other person ontop of her, his breathing on her face. Slowly, she opened her eyes and saw....Manik. (LOL Yes I know I mentioned in Mafia Bride that the main guy saving the girl was cliche but truth is...sometimes cliche is good. I just didnt want Manik saving Nandini in BOTH stories as I had this one planned out before hand.)

"Manik sir...aap yahan?" Vicky asked as he and Zoya ran up and saw Manik. 

*Flashback*

"God Manik...look how many stitches you needed." Abhi shook his head. "Kya ho gaya tha tujhe?"

"Nothing." Manik replied shortly.

"Acha forget all that. Lets go home." Cabir said. 

"Yeah lets.....wait, phone kaha hai mera?" Manik looked in his pockets and couldnt find it.

"Oh shit...I think woh Nandini ke paas reh gayi." Mukti replied. " Actually I gave it to her jab hum yahan aa rahe they."

"Thats ok...hum kal le lenge usse." Abhi said.

"No..I need it now. What if I get an important call?" Manik said. "You guys go home..main Nandini se apna phone leke ghar aata hoon."

"But your hand..." Navya pointed out.

"Ill be fine."

So while the others went home, Manik went back to the office where he found out Nandini & Vicky went to a restaurant.

*Flashback Ends*

Manik got up and helped Nandini up. "What the hell is wrong with you? Itni badi truck tumhe dikhai nahi di? Kuch ho jaata toh? Tumhe chot lag jaati toh?"

Nandini opened her mouth to say soething but Manik kept talking.

"I mean, tum itna irresponsible kaise ho sakte ho? Raaste ke beech mein LaLaLa karte hue chalte jaa rahe ho."

"I wasnt LaLaLa ing. " Nandini spoke up. 

"Really...after everything I said, THATS all you have to say?" Manik gave her a look.

"Actually sir, its not Nandini's fault." Zoya spoke up. "This is a no truck zone....uss truck ko yahan hona hi nahi chahiye tha."

"Yeah and the stupid driver didnt even stop to see if Nandini is ok." Vicky added. Manik thought about it and found that weird.

"Tum dono ghar jao. Ill drop Ms Murthy off." Manik said.

"Ok sir. Take care Nandini." Vicky and Zoya went off. Nandini turned to Manik.

"Sir...aapne Vicky ki sawal ka jawab nahi di. What are you doing here?"

"You have my phone." Manik replied. Nandini's eyes almost popped out as she realized and quickly took the phone out of her pocket but the screen was cracked.

"Oopsi..." Nandini felt bad. Manik however, only noticed that her forearm was bleeding. He grabbed her hand and pulled her closer, making the phone fall from her hand to the ground...shattering the screen more. "Oh no! Aapka phone."

"I dont care about the stupid phone...your arm is bleeding Nandini!" Manik scolded her. He took her to his car which was parked across the street. "Chalo doctor ke paas chalte hai."

"Sir..this is just a scratch." Nandini assured him as she sat in the passenger seat of his car.

"You made me go."

"Haan lekin woh alag baat hai sir. That was a full on gash! Agar usme kaanch hota toh?" Nandini said.

"Nandini.."

"Aur upar se aapke haath se bohot BOHOT zyada khoon nikal raha tha...mine isnt that bad." 

"Nandini..."

"AND...agar infection ho jaata toh? Aapko paata hai agar infection zyada kharab hota toh shayad aapka haath kathna parta." Manik looked amused as Nandini let her imagination go wild. "And agar aapka haath kath jaata toh aap Sholay ke woh...woh kaunsa character tha?"

Manik opened his mouth but Nandini answered herself. "Thakur! Haan, Sholay ki Thakur ki tarah hote."

"Na-"

"Vaise I dont think you would look bad with only one hand...matlab ek jaise hi dikhte par aapke liye mushkil hota na? Adjust karne-"

Finally having enough, Manik grabbed the back of Nandini's neck and pulled her into an intense kiss. Nandini was stunned and her eyes went so wide her eye lids werent even visible anymore. 

Manik then let go for some air and Nandini gasped slight. "What-"

Manik just shook his head, pulling her in again. "Im not done yet."

This time the kiss was much softer and slowly Nandini closed her eyes and just melted into it and moved her lips along with his.

"Oopsi." Manik joked by copying Nandini as he let go again. Nandini chuckled softly but was blushing so hard. She looked away and softly touched her lips which were now red and plump from the kissing.

"Sorry...I know you have a boyfriend par-"

"Vicky's not my boyfriend." Nandini found her self quickly clarifying. Manik whipped his head towards her.

"Really?" Manik was visibly happy. "I mean...oh."

Nandini giggled. "Tabhi apne woh glass tod diya. You were jealous?"

"I was not jealous!" Manik defended himself. Nandini kept giggling. "Wait toh phir what was all that Vicku baby nonsense?"

"Arre I was helping Vicky out. He likes Zoya." Nandini told him.

"Who is Zoya?"

Nandini gave him a look of disbelief. "The girl who was with us just now?"

Manik shrugged. "Yeah I saw...who is she?"

"Cabir bhai ki PA!" 

"OOOHHHH! Toh aisa bolo na." Manik finally understood who she was.

"Seriously sir? Woh Cabir bhai ki PA hai...woh bhi pichle kuch saalon se, how do you not know her?" Nandini said.

"Ok...Im sorry." Manik said. Nandini stared at him and her mouth dropped open. "Kya?"

"Aapko sir pe chot lag gayi kya? Jab hum gire they?" Nandini asked. "Cause, thats the second time aapne sorry bola...what happened to Manik Malhotra kabhi kisi se sorry nahi bolta!"

Nandini said the last part in a deep voice, mimicking Manik....or at least trying to. Manik just chuckled.

"Was that supposed to be my voice?"

"It was perfect." Nandini said. Manik leaned in very very close to her so their noses touched.

"Aapne boss ki nakal utharte hue tumhe sharam nahi aati kya Ms Murthy?" Manik asked. Nandini got flustered and couldnt focus with him being so close to her.

"Uh...I...main..aap...I.."

Manik smirked, happy with the affect he had on her and sat back in his seat. "So...that means your single....right?"

"Agar main Nahi bolungi toh aapko phirse jalan hoga kya?" Nandini joked. 

"Ms Murthy...usualy PAs apne Bosses ke saath aise baath nahi karte." Manik said.

"And usually Bosses apne PAs ko kiss nahi karte." Nandini replied back, shutting Manik's mouth.

"Ok you win." Manik sighed.

"Aadat dal lo Manik sir, I always win." Nandini winked. Manik smiled and took out a first aid kit from the glove compartment to treat her scrape. After cleaning the wound, Manik was about to apply some antiseptic when Nandini pulled her arm away. "No pls woh mat daalo...it stings!"

"Its medicine...of course it will sting a bit. Lekin zaroori hai Nandini." Manik told her. 

"No No No...mujeh nahi laagana." Nandini still refused to let him apply it so Manik thought of something. 

"Do you want to be my girlfriend?" Manik asked.

Nandini was so stunned at the question that she didnt notice Manik applying the antiseptic. When she finally did, he was already done but still Nandini made a face like it stung. "Ooh...thats stings! Maine manna kiya tha na sir!"

"Oh well." Manik shrugged as he wrapped her arm with a bandage. Nandini then looked outside the window upset...yes she was upset that Manik still applied the medicine by tricking her but alos upset cause she thought he only asked her to distract her. As if reading her mind, Manik turned her face towards him with her chin. "Vaise...I was serious. Kya tum...Ms Pagal Nandini Murthy, meri girlfriend banogi?"

"Hm...sochna parega sir." Nandini sighed. "I mean...aap mere kaabil hai bhi ya..."

"Nandini, main Malhotra Industries ki CEO hoon." Manik replied.

"I know that...mera woh matlab nahi tha." Nandini said. "I mean ki aap Mr Khadus ho...thode se akru ko...thode rude ho.."

Manik looked offended but Nandini didnt care.

"Oh dont give me that look...aapko bhi paata hai aap ho! Haan dil ke ache bhi ho, apne parivaar se bohot pyar karte ho...respectful ho and very very handsome too....lekin mere liye sahi ho ki nahi yeh kaise paata chalega?"

"Ill prove it." Manik said. Nandini thought for a bit. 

"You know sir, Im 24 ...shaadi ki umar hai meri toh Im not looking for a fling. Main aapko haan sirf tabhi kahungi agar aap mujhse pyar karte hai toh and agar aap pyar karte hai toh iska matlab main jo bolungi aap woh karenge." Nandini told him. "Karenge na?"

"I will. Kya karna hoga?" Manik agreed without missing a beat. Nandini smiled.

"Then...aaj se until the time I say otherwise....our relationship will be TOP SECRET. Matlab we cant tell anyone that we are dating, na Cabir bhai, Na Jeej...na Didu...Na Navya..na mere parents na aapke family....NOBODY...at all!"

"What? Why?" Manik asked.

"Kyunki number 1...its fun! Jab hum buddhe ho jayenge toh humare great great great gandkids ko kya love story bolenge? It should be adventurous na?"

"Great great great gandkids? Nandini I doubt we will live THAT long." Manik laughed.

"Haan you probably wont...bilkul bhi healthy habits nahi hai apake. Par mujhe toh bolne ke liye achi wali love story chahiye na!" Nandini said. Manik just rolled his eyes but agreed.

"Ok...and reason number 2?"

"Because I want to." Nandini shrugged. Manik just stared at her. "What? Aapne kaha main jo bolungi aap woh karenge to prove you love me...bola tha na?"

"Ok Ok...done. Top Secret hoga humara rishta...khush?" Manik sighed. Nandini squealed and did a little happy dance in her seat.

"EEE!! This will be so much fun!" Nandini hugged Manik.

--------------------------------------

Note: Thoughts on this chapter?

Thoughts on Nandini's craziness?

Thoughts on Manik's patience to deal with her?