I Need u to be There.... For a little more than Always!!
Part 38:
Like any other weekend, this Sunday too Fab5 were going on with their usual practice session. And as soon as they ended the song, they heard a knock on the door.

Cabir opened the door and Nandini walked in,
Nandini: Ohk ohk.... Enough practice for today!! Lets go guys... I hv arranged some refreshments for you people.

Mukti: Thank God Nandini.... U r a savior!!

Nandini: I knw i knw... Now come...

Manik: No yr nandini.... Wait!! Guys, we still have to finish this off.... Nandini after some time plz!

Nandini: Manik.... U all hv been practicing for two hours now!! Its enough for today, lay back and relax.... U can finish it off tmrw as well, u still hv tym left.

Manik: But-

Nandini: No buts.... Now come, i know u r hungry too!!

Manik sighed in his defeat as all of them moved out of the music room and walked towards the end of the corridor to the front balcony. While Cabir said,
Cabir: Only u can handle this guy seriously!!

Manik gave a deadly glare to Cabir while they settled down and the servant served them. After a few minutes, Aliya closed her eyes and felt the cold breeze,
Aliya: Now these seems like a Sunday evening....

Cabir: Yeah... I just want it to be this way every week, with u all present around me!!
Cabir said as her turned towards the setting sun. But a voice interrupted him.

"And not me!!"
He smiled at the voice as he got up and hugged her, kissing her check.

Cabir: Of course u too..... But how come u r here suddenly!!

Navya: Nandu!

Cabir turned towards nandini who was smiling at them and passed a flying kiss to her. They again sat down when Manik smiled looking at Nandini and his phone started ringing, he picked up his phone and saw Dadi's call.

Manik: Hello Dadi... How r u??

Dadi: I m alright my son... How r u all there??

Manik: Everyone is good... We r sitting together only!! I miss u-
Manik was about to say something more, when Nandini snatched his phone and shouted,
Nandini: Hi DADI......

Manik looked at her sternly, but she was too busy to even notice him.

Nandini: Dadi I miss u so much... How r u?? Its been A MONTH since u hv gone... U know yesterday na.....
And it went on and on and on as Nandini walked back inside talking excitedly to Dadi.

While all Manik could do was to smile at her retrieving figure. Yes, a month had passed on after Dadi had gone to Dubai with his parents. And to be honest he did miss her, but not that much.

Nandini and Manik have grown a lot lot more closer in this one month. She had taken a position in his life, which he himself didn't know existed for anyone. Everything in his life was from her now and he wouldn't even complain.

His trance was broken by mukti as she threw a cushion over her.
Mukti: MANIK...... Get back to earth!!!

Manik just looked down and hid his smile while the others laughed.
Mukti: Yaar Manik seriously.... I don't get the two of u!!

Aliya: Me too... I mean really!! Its clearly, written on ur faces that u like each other, in fact Love each other.... U guys r together every freaking time, for like 24 hours a day.... U can't stop smiling at each other, can't spend even a few hours without the other and still.... Even after all this u r not together!!!

Mukti: Exactly... Come on yr Manik!!

Manik: So what's the problem in that?

Cabir: Mere bhai... If u don't mind, them plz enlighten us, when r u planning to propose her!! When u both will have two two little maniks and nandinis running after u or when u'll start needing a stick to walk😂😂

All of them burst out laughing at his choice of words, and Manik groaned,
Manik: Cabir man... Grow up!! What has happened to u!!

"What happened to whom??"
Nandini said as she walked back towards them.

Cabir: Woh actually na we were asking Manik about when was he planning to pro-
But before he could continue Manik interrupted.

Manik: NANDINI.....

Nandini: Yeah... What happened why r u shouting??

Manik: Umn... Nothing!! Come sit... I was just asking what was Dadi saying, and how r mom dad??

Manik held her hand and made her sit next to him as she started telling him while Manik gave a I_m_gonna_kill_u_someday look to Cabir, who simply shrugged at it.

The evening passed by in a blur and soon everyone left after dinner. Nandini was in the kitchen making coffee for herself when she felt two warm arms around her stomach holding her from the back. A smile crept on her face immediately as she said,

Nandini: Didn't u mention that u were tired and that u wanted to sleep??

"Wow... That's impressive!! U hv started recognizing my touch as well..... Good going Ms. Moorthy!!"

Nandini: Thank u... But there are a lot many things that hv changed in this one month, so don't u think that this is just a slight change as compared to the rest, Mr. Malhotra...

Manik smiled at her and rested his chin over her shoulder,
Manik: Fair point made well as always!!

Nandini: Now answer me... Why did u lie??

Manik: Ohh that.... Nothing, i just thought that we might watch a movie or something together!!

Nandini gave him a r_u_serious look and got back to her work.
Manik: By the way, what r u doing here in the kitchen??

Nandini: Making a special coffee for myself...

Manik: Will I be privileged to hv one for myself??

Nandini: No u won't be.... I'll make ur favorite tea for u.

Manik: No.... I want to hv this coffee today!!

Nandini: I never make this for anyone....

Manik: Come on nandini thats not fair. U can make it for me at least....
Manik tightened his grip on her waist and pulled her closer as Nandini rested her head on his chest.

That was her personal place of peace, nothing could be more blissful for her than the protection and warmth that she felt in his arms.

Nandini: I'll ask simi to prepare one for u.

Manik: For u kind information... I hv sent the entire staff back to the servant wing!! So now we hv the entire Mansion just to ourselves.... And that means u hv to make one for me!!

Nandini nodded her head in disbelief and finally got to work as she made one for each one of them.
Nandini: Manik.... Will u stop it? U r distracting me.

Manik: What am I doing Nandini??
Manik said innocently as he again teased her moving his hand slowly over her waist in a seductive manner.

Nandini shivered and giggled at him but still continued her work. As soon as she was finished her work, Manik suddenly picked her up in his arms...

Nandini: Mmmanik...

Manik: Pick up the mugs will u??

Nandini smiled at him and picked up the mugs as he carried her all the way to his room. As they entered he made her sit on the bed and picked up the cd deck from a side.

Manik: So which Movie??

Nandini: As always... I don't know, u select!!
Manik: Why do i even ask u??
Nandini: Coz u r too cute..
Nandini said pulling his cheek..

Manik glared at her and continued selecting a movie which ended when they decided to watch ZNMD.

He turned on the home theater in his room as they both finally settled down next to each other on the bed.

Manik: Wow... This really seems special!!
Manik commented as he took a sip of the coffee.

Nandini: Thank u...

Manik: Well I should thank u for this... Coz now onwards I m getting this quite often!! Right Nandu!!

Nandini: Yeah yeah whatever... Now let me watch the movie!!

Nandini finished the coffee and kept the mug aside as she wrapped her arms around his right arm and rested her head on his shoulder.

This was their usual routine now a days.... Whenever they got a free evening, they used to sit together and watch a movie. Initially it seemed a bit awkward but with time, this was the thing that actually got them close. Nandini would now simply rest her head on his shoulder and enjoy the movie, while Manik enjoyed his time taking a glance at her face in every few minutes.

Dadi's absence did only one good, that Manik would barge into her room every now and then, without having any reason. As Nandini felt too shy to ask him a reason for his visit. With time, this went same for Nandini as well. So now, unlike earlier, they don't end their days sitting alone. They spend all their time together, even after getting home and would separate only when one of them was sleepy.

And not to forget the days when they fell asleep in each other's arms, while watching a movie. Though the next morning turned out to be quite silent, they both knew they liked it.

As expected, Manik was the more romantic one out of the two. And thus, he wouldn't leave a single chance to hold her or to be with her. His smile wasn't hidden from his employees or his friends, and everyone seemed to like the new and changed Manik.

Nandini was to much into the movie when she suddenly looked up towards Manik and found him lost in her.
Nandini: Manik....

Manik: Huh...
He replied still lost in her. Nandini smiled notoriously at him and slowly moved up closer to his face. And.....
"MANIK...."

She shouted right in his ears.
Manik: What the hell??
Manik said blocking his ears while Nandini fell on the other side laughing her guts out.

Nandini: Hahahahaha....

Manik: Nandini what was that??
Manik asked angrily.

Nandini(still laughing): What was that??? Umn... Haha nothing!! The movie is going on there and u seemed totally lost so I just thought to get u down to earth.
Nandini said and lied down on the bed holding her stomach.

Manik moved towards her immediately and started tickling her.
Manik: U were laughing right.... Now laugh properly!!

Nandini: Manik... Stop!! Stop, i'll fall down, i m right on the edge...... Manik.... Heheheh...manik stop na!!

And as she said, she was about to fall off the bed but her hero saved her at the right moment as he grabbed her waist and got her to the middle of the bed.

Nandini: Monster Manik..... I Hate U!!

Manik heard her and jerked her hand towards himself, as he lowered down on the bed, right above her.

Manik: Hate.... Seriously Nandini!!
Manik said slowly moving further down closer to her as he caressed his hand and moved his fingers all through her arms to her neck.

All Nandini's laughter was long forgotten as she stared deep into his eyes, feeling everything that she could feel at that moment.

Manik: Come on Nandini... Tell me that do u really HATE ME!! Is that what u really feel for me??

As his fingers finally stopped at their destination, cupping her cheeks, Nandini's face turned red by her blush. The intensity in his eyes was contagious, she could feel her face warming up by her blush as his hot breath fanned again.
Manik: Say it Nandini.....

At that minute, all she needed was to hide her face from him, hide how much he effected her, hide how much she needed him in his life. Nandini immediately wrapped her arms round his neck and pulled him closer to hug him and hid her face in his chest.

Manik lost his balance on his legs and fell over her, putting all his weight onto her, not that she seemed to complain. He held her close to himself and rolled on the bed, taking her with him and now she was lying above him, with her face still dug into his chest.

He kissed her hair slowly tightening his grip around her as he felt his lips touch his chest, giving him a slight kiss over his heart.

Nandini: U can't trick me on this monster.... I m not saying anything!! All u need to know is that, U.... R VERY MUCH SPECIAL TO MEEE.....

Manik: I can't even describe in words what place u hv taken in my life Nandini....

Nandini: Shhh....
Nandini said as she broke the hug and kept her finger on his lips.

Nandini: Its us who needs to know what the other person means.... We don't need to name this bond between us and shout it to the entire world. This Time is ours, This Feeling is ours and no one but us needs to know its worth.

Manik smiled as there it came again. This girl amazed him always. She wasn't the one, who would turn back, push him away. She had her own way of being both shy and upfront on the same time. Unlike any other girl she didn't want him to tell the world what she is to him. She trusted him enough, that he wouldn't break her heart.

Manik kissed her forehead and hugged her again closing his eyes, when he heard her say,
Nandini: No matter how much I want to be here... The secretary in me is shouting, that u should go to sleep now as we hv an early morning meeting tmrw!!

Manik laughed out loud at her comment and loosened his grip around her, as she got up.
Manik: U really know how to spoil my mood...

Nandini: And u really know how to interrupt my movie time. I want to finish this movie the next time Ohk??

Manik: As u say Madam!

Nandini: So a very good night to u my Monster...
Nandini said smiling sweetly at him and got up only to be pulled back in his arms.

Manik: U know u can always satisfy ur heart by being here and ur mind also by making me sleep.

Nandini: Well lets just say, I would like to use my free will and go back to my room and sleep. Coz as per i remember there was some drunk Monster in Lonavala who told me that I belong here, in ur arms and that place is mine.... Just Mine!!!
Nandini said patting over his chest.

Manik smiled at her and left her when Nandini slightly kissed his cheek.
Nandini: Good night Manik!!

Manik: Good night Nandini.....

And the next minute she was out of his room while Manik lied down on his bed, smiling like an idiot!!!