MUTUALLY MARRIED (#1)

FOURTEEN

"Manik i know you have done so much for me today but i really want to do something for you now." Nandini spoke holding his hand between hers.

"No Nandini you don't have to. It's definitely not needed." Manik denied shooking his head in a negative.

"Manik please. Let me. If i ask you something, will you give me that?" Nandini kept a hand over his cheek.

"Ofcourse. Nandini you just have to name it." Manik replied.

"Can i have a day of yours?." she asked, "Please."

"A day? I can't understand what-"

"Just one day without any other segments of your daily life and specially not office." Nandini requested.

"But Nandini office? We have a project to complete and you want it by-" Manik tried to deny but Nandini was persistent.

"I know what i said and we will but Manik please. Just 24 hours of your life." she insisted.

"Fine. You want 24 hours. I'll give you those. Happy?" Manik smiled as Nandini's face lit up with happiness.

"Very! And thank you so much. I promise i won't disappoint you." Nandini beamed with joy.

"I know you will. so shall we leave now? Uncle must be waiting, it's getting late." Manik lead the way to the table so that they can gather their stuff.

"yeah. I'll just call Cabir." Nandini grabbed her phone to inform her friend when Manik stopped her.

"No need. I'll drop you home." he spoke instructing the valet to get his car.

"Okay as you say." They both left the hotel in Manik's car. Even though the car ride was usual, but something had changed all of a sudden. Manik tried texting Alya but her cell phone was still unreachable. Nandini couldn't believe what all had happened, all of a sudden in her life in a week. She was in true terms on cloud nine or somewhere in her safe haven.

The car haulted at the red light due to a lot of traffic at the junction. Even though it was closer to midnight, the nightlife of the city had just began. Hence people were in a jiffy to enjoy their time after a long tiring day at work.

"urgg I hate traffic." Manik groaned honking at the car ahead him.

"I know it's annoying but such things have their own fun." Nandini laughed at his expressions.

"Traffic and fun? Nandini you definitely need to visit a doctor." came his sarcastic remark.

"I swear Manik. It can be fun too." Nandini tried to make him agree.

"oh really? And how is that?" Manik asked to which Nandini turned on the radio and said, " Simply by turning this on. You know you can listen to songs for so long without even wanting to change it again and again. Just go with the flow and moreover the fun in listening to a radio is during car rides only."

Manik chuckled on her cute behavior making Nandini eye him with suspicion, " And why are you laughing at me?" she folded her arms.

"You really need a doctor." said Manik before he bursted into a laughing riot.

They both sat in silence listening to the music while the traffic was on its peak when suddenly a song played that made Nandini jump up in excitement.

"This ones my favourite. Gosh took it long enough." Manik and nandini at the same time extended their hands to increase the volume when their hands banged with each other. It was "Steal My Girl" by One direction.

" She's be my queen since we were sixteen. We want the same things. We dream the same dreams. Alright, alright." Nandini sang on top of her voice making Manik giggle at her childish behaviour. Nandini nudged him to tag along but he just shaked his head until he finally agreed to join her at the chorus.

"I know, I know, I know for sure." Manik screamed as Nandini held a fake mic infront him, "Everybody wanna steal my girl. Everybody wanna take her heart away. Couple billion in the whole wide world. Find another one 'cause she belongs to me." They sang together totally enjoying the moment until the song finished.

"You know Nandini i actually learned to play this song on my guitar during school days. So dumb." Manik held her stomach that was probably hurting after soo much happiness.

"What dumb? That's actually cool. Will you teach me." Nandini asked her eyes twinkling in exictement.

"Ofcourse anytime." Manik nodded his head in affirmation.

"Okay so it's decided. From today onwards you're my 'guru', my teacher." Nandini folded her hands infront of him.

"Okay my student. I shall make you perfect." and both had a hearty laugh.

"Thank you." Manik spoke after a minute or two.

"Thank You for?" Nandini asked.

"just like that. Nothing specific." Manik shrugged his shoulders.0

"You are actually weird at times." Nandini slapped his forearm lightly.

"What's wierd in this? My heart just felt like saying that to you." Manik rubbed it to ease the sting.

"Then your heart is weird." Nandini joked.

"Oh shut up look the traffic's moving. Lets get home now" Manik ignited the car as Pallavi made a face with, "Oh noo"

"I know my personality can make any girl fall in love with my company but now Miss Nandini we gotta go home." Manik laughed.

"Ofcourse ofcourse. Mr world you are." Nandini taunted to which Manik said, " Jealous are we?"

They reached Nandini's home after a 15 minute ride. Both walked out of the car as Manik wanted to see off Nandini at her porch like a true gentleman.

"So this is it." he spoke quite nervous as he dipped his hands in his pocket.

"yeah this was great." Nandini smile dclearly nervous too.

"It was. It was." he replied still standing there

"So umm coffee?" Nandini asked not knowing what to say at such moments.

"No Thank you. Maybe some other time." manik gave a nervous smile.

"Ohkay soo good night." she waved at him.

"oh ya good night." manik rubbed the back of his head sheepishly turning around to leave but faced her again wanting to say something.

"Manik good night. You can leave if you don't wanna say anything." nandini giggled at his clumsiness.

"Ohh no i don't. Yeah sorry. Bye." Manik turned to leave but turned again and asked, "By the way Nandini. What's the schedule for tomorrow?"

"It's a surprise Manik. Now good night." she laughed shooing him off.

"Fine. Bye." Manik turned to leave but this time Nandini stopped him.

"Manik!"

"yes?" Manik turned bacck hopefully.

"Nothing."

"And someone was calling me weird a few minutes back." he shook his head as he sat inside the car while Nandini walked inside her house where her dad and Cabir were already waiting with a grin on their faces.

"What!" Nandini gave them a poker face, "I am tired goodnight." she moved as quick as she could to the stairs but Cabir was quicker.

"Romeo take me somewhere we can be alone." he sang.

"Oh rubbish! Let me go." Nandini tried moving past him.

"I'll be waiting." both Mr Singhania and Cabir sang in chorus.

"You swifties really need to tone it down. Byee." Nandini walked past them, running inside her room as couldn't stop blushing anymore. She danced her heart out and was completely lost in the shine of the ring whereas Manik on the other hand stopped his car at a lone place he was smiling since the time he dropped Nandini at her house.

MANIK'S POV

Manik you have gone insane. Why can't you stop smiling. This is so wrong. This Nandini! SHe! Urgg what is she? I wanted to be angry at her but i just couldn't. But i think right now i am angry at just one person, Alya, where the hell are you.

And what sort of i***t and selfish perosn i am that i didn't even tell Nandini the truth. Instead i have been enjoying the night with her, dancing and laughing around. If i had just told her the truth of this proposal then she wouldn't have been living in a dream bubble but why couldn't i?Why are her eyes so captive that i just lost myself in that moment. Right there. With her.

Everything looked so perfect! Why? Above that i have already promised her for tomorrow. Am i dumb? Who does that to a girl with whom you're going get married just for some property. Manik you need to get a grip over your emotions. Nandini is nothing for you. She is nothing. Neither was she before nor she can't be in the future.

AUTHOR'S POV

Manik reached back home and laid down on his bed trying to drift off to sleep which eventually graced him since the day had been tiring both physically and emotionally for him .

On the other hand Alya checked her phone after her jet lag in order to reply to Manik when she saw his calls and text including the surprise one.

"Oh My god. What the hell did you do Alya! Manik planned something for you. He must have been waiting for me to come and i didn't even picked up his calls but no worries i know i'll make it up to him soon as soon as i land back in the city. I'll make it up to him and he'll eventually give in like always.

Alya was unaware about what she has gotten herself into. Her one ignorance now will cause her great anger and maybe a separation too.