Malhotra's Farmhouse:

Malhotra's Farm House: 15th July Friday: 12 am:

"So it's time for our last couple...Manan....Oh..o...ho...oooo come on guys, lock your horns."

Cabir cheered while everybody hooted. Manik picked his guitar up and sat on the bar chair.

"I had composed this song last week but didn't tell you guys because I wanted to play this on some special occasion. And I think tonight is the perfect moment for it."

He said and laid his intense eyes on Nandini.

"This song is dedicated to the love of my life... Nandini."

He added potently and as usual, Nandini became crimson and stared down. Manik tuned his guitar and began the song.

"The moment we met...

I knew it's our fate.....( Guitar tune)

I never had a doubt...

That you are a real knock-out."

He cocked his head left with closed eyes and gestured a funny smitten by face. Nandini nodded with a shy expression.

"The moment we met...

Our destiny was set...( Guitar tune)

I always knew,

That it would be you...

A devil became an Angle's Beau."

He flew a kiss to Nandini and everybody whooped,

"Awwwwwwww."

"The moment we met...

I knew I can't wait...

To make you MINE...

As you were like a thirst to pine."

His eyes gleamed with desire. He started playing the guitar so passionately that everyone was spellbound. After an intense piece of music, Manik put the guitar aside and came nearer to Nandini who was lovingly gazing at him. He stood in front of her and made her stand by holding her hand.

"The moment we met...

I knew it's our fate......

Today I want to say it...

That you are in my every heartbeat."

He placed her palm on his left side chest.

"A million stars in the sky...

But you are the brightest...

That I can't deny."

Looked into her eyes passionately.

"Never leave my heart...

I'll be fallen apart...

Because I know,

The moment we met...

Our destiny was set."

Manik ended the song but there was pin-drop silence in the room as everybody was basking in a melodious trance. Both Manik and Nandini were adrift into each other. A few teardrops were brimming in Nandini's eye. She rested her both palms on Manik's chest and slowly trailed them up to snake his nape. In the very next moment, she banged into his solid chest and enclasped him. She was sobbing by digging her face in his upper body.

"Nandini, What happened? It was merely a song, Baby. Calm down."

Manik started fondling her hair and occasionally kept on pecking her head.

"So the clear winner is our Romeo Manik as Nandini reacted and HOW......"

Cabir yelled while Manik rolled his eyes to hear the tag.

"It was awesome Manik. We will definitely add it to our next album. It will be an instant hit."

Dhruv said enthusiastically.

"But as now it is revealed before realise, what if some other bands copy it?"

Aryamaan said sarcastically.

"Then they won't be hale and hearty to perform or record it for sure."

Manik said with a smirk while still holding Nandini in his bear hug.

"Oh really?.... If this is a threat for us then let me remind you, your beloved girlfriend is also a prominent part of this. So think before you do."

Aryamaan said teasingly.

"Stop your nonsense guys. We are forgetting that now it is Nandini's turn. So Nandini, be ready to challenge your boyfriend."

Aliya intervened. Nandini unshackled herself from Manik's grip and looked at him.

"I am ready."

She affirmed.

"I don't think you will be able to do it Nandini because as we all know Manik is a tough task. Better you back off."

Cabir teasingly said.

"Wait a minute Cabs. Don't bask in your bubble glory as you did in our turn. Nandini will win and with a bang."

Navya pointed her index finger to Cabir and said sternly and he made an expression of ' we will see'.

"Give me a minute."

Nandini said and headed to the room where her bag was kept. After a moment she came back with her blue-tooth mini speaker.

"Manik, you sit here."

She said and grabbed his arm to make him sit on a single sofa.

"Navya, please turn off all bright lights. Only let the dim lights on."

She asked.

"What are you up to Sisi? Don't tell me that you are going to show some magic to Manik and are expecting that he will be awestruck. He is not so much head over heels about you."

Abhimanyu said with a giggling sound.

"Shut up Bhai(Bro). Now if you all keep your mouth shut then only I can start my challenge."

Nandini yelled.

"Okay Nandini, go ahead. No one will disturb you till your work is done."

Mukti placed her finger on her lips and nestled more to Abhimanyu. Navya turned off all the bright lights. Now the room was dimly lit with a few night lamps which created a really romantic and mystic ambience. Nandini placed the speaker and her mobile on the centre table and stood at the centre of the room.

"I don't eat

I don't sleep

I do nothing but think of you."

The song started and so did Nandini. She slowly approached Manik with a sexy catwalk while he gave a lopsided smile.

"I don't eat

I don't sleep

I do nothing but think of you."

She leaned forward and brushed her palm on Manik's chest. He looked into her eyes.

"You keep me under your spell

You keep me under your spell

You keep me under your spell."

She came on the backside of the sofa and spread her hands and rubbed them sensuously on Manik's shoulders followed to his hands.

"You keep me under your spell

You keep me under your spell

You keep me under your spell."

"Hey!

Yeah?"

Whispered huskily in his ear, however, only Manik heard it and closed his eyes with a pound in the heart.

" I was wondering, do you know the difference between

Love and Obsession?"

Nandini flipped herself and then her back was rubbing on the back of Manik's head. She cocked a bit and rested the back of her head on his shoulder and looked at him. Manik also turned his gaze at her. She winked and gave a coy smile.

"No

And what's the difference between obsession and

Desire?

I don't know."

She was still in that position when lip-syncing.

"Do you think this feeling can last forever?

You mean like forever?

Forever?

Forever?

Forever?"

She straightened her back again and rolled herself to come in front of Manik who was intensely looking at her with desired eyes. Navya mumbled in Cabir's ear,

"Your Manik is gone."

Cabir turned to face her,

"Maybe for now but what about Nandini? She is gone for the entire night. She is doing a total blunder by waking a hungry wolf. Look at his eyes. God save our poor Nandini today."

He made a fake expression of praying with both hands together. Navya smacked his thigh with vexation. On the other side, Nandini was in a full passion.

"Sure

God, I hope so

Me too

I don't eat

I don't sleep"

She sat on Manik's lap with her legs on either side of his body and snaked her neck with her entwined fingers.

"I do nothing but think of you

I don't eat

I don't sleep"

She left his nape and trailed one finger on one side of his face from forehead to chin and halted on his lips.

"You keep me under your spell

You keep me under your spell"

She nudged her nose tip with his.

"You keep me under your spell

You keep me under your spell"

She bit her lower lip seductively.

"You keep me under your spell

You keep me under your spell" (Song - Under your spell by Desire)

She licked her upper lip with the tip of her tongue in an arch shape. The song ended. Both the challengers were looking into each other's eyes. None was blinking for once. Manik's clenched jaw and fist were proving how hard he was controlling himself.

"And the challenge is over. Uff it was burning hot. Nandini, What a tough competition you gave but unfortunately you lost."

Aliya said and got up from the sofa to clap which broke the trance of the lovebirds (Manan). Nandini rose from Manik's lap and stood aside with a bend down head. She was feeling a little bit shy about being so unusual, so bold unlike her.

"But Nandini, it was unbelievable. Look at everybody, we didn't even move a bit. I must say you are Cinderella by day............Sinderella by night."

Cabir teased what made Nandini more scarlet.

"Okay, Okay, I withdrew myself from this game because I don't think anybody would be interested in that after this sizzling hot performance. So we should call it a day for now and crash. After all, it's 1 am and we have to get up by 6 at least."

Aryamaan suggested.

"Yeah, we should. Aryamaan, You can take the ground floor guestroom as you are a celibate."

Manik said and winked to Aryamaan who glared at him.

" Others, take upstairs rooms and can share with your partners if you want."

He continued and shrugged.

"Why am I having an intuition that something is going on in Malhotra's twisted mind."

Cabir murmured unmindfully. As everybody was tired all agreed. Abhimanyu and Mukti shared a room and Dhruv and Aliya took another. Though Cabir wanted to stay with Navya, her " Don't even think of it" glare subdued his enthusiasm. Everybody settled in their room and the Malhotra's Farm House was enshrouded by silence for the day. Nandini was passing the lobby to enter her room when a strong hand yanked her into a dark room.

Author's note: Manik's song is my creation. Please do comment on how is it.