Love will Find The way

Chapter 8- Frenemies

''Can I have a minute with Manik before you decide, please'' Aryaman asked Nandini to wait outside. ''Jaane do usse'' Manik said recklessly. ''As per your bhashan just now, what will you say Dhruv and Siya about why she left? This Cabir is not even approving you, do you think he will accept to cast others. Remember, he selected Nandini only after rejecting hundreds of auditions'' Aryaman reminded. Manik came back to reality. ''I'll tell them that she left herself'' he said confidently. ''Tab tho usse jaake poochenge'' Aryaman was clever enough to answer back. ''You have only one option and that is ask apology and settle'' he left from there leaving Manik. Nandini met Manik after Aryaman left. ''I didn't know you were not okay with me, so its better I opt myself out of this'' she said. ''You don't have to, galti sab se ho jaati hai'' Manik said.

''Excuse me! Maine koi galti nahi kiya, even you have taken so many takes for a single shot'' Nandini burst out. ''What if I don't take back the agreement, as per this, you should act in this film, there's no way out'' Manik threatened her. ''I'm not backing out, but I have a condition'' she said. Manik waited for Nandini to speak about her condition. ''I wouldn't take a penny from you before I complete this agreement, I'll take it just before the shooting ends'' she said. ''I'm more than happy now, my money is in my hands and remember I can replace you whenever I feel you're not enough for this role'' he said. ''Ok I accept your challenge'' she said confidently. ''Ok then challenge it is! All the best'' Manik said and thanked god for saving him. He strolled out of his room and found something on the floor. He picked it up and remembered that it was the same bracelet she wore when he first met Nandini. He safely kept it in his pocket.

***********************************************************************************************'''He is being a douchebag, I'm apologizing on his behalf'' Aryaman said to Nandini. ''That's OK'' she said. Dhruv has organized a press meet to officially announce the launch of his new project. Media personnel has already come for the press meet. ''My first question is for Manik, what made you to announce this film under your own banner?'' a reporter asked. ''Because I got an instant connect when I heard the story'' Manik's answer was short and precise. ''Manik Malhotra is a successful actor but had 2 back to back flops, why would you take a risk with a debut director, own banner, the other 2 leads are drop outs from their first film, do you think this is a good sign?'' another reporter shot a question. ''This is because I believe in hard work and team work not in luck'' Manik said. ''You call Siya, your ladylove, but she is not there in this project, so do you think this debut actress will be your ladyluck?'' asked another one.

Manik looked at Nandini and thought, ''I don't know if she can be a lucky charm for this film''. ''Well Siya is on her another project which I cannot reveal it now, but yeah let's see what we have in store with this debut actress'' Manik said. ''When he was asked about being a producer and new director, he was confident, but he is hesitant with me'' she thought. She saw her hands and found out her bracelet is missing. She came out of the press meet and began searching for it. After some time, Aryaman joined her. ''What are you searching?'' he asked. ''I lost my bracelet" she said while searching. ''Mila tujhe?'' he asked. ''Maybe its not destined for me'' she said sadly. ''Don't say that! I will give you a call if you find it, can I have your number?'' he asked. ''You don't even know how my bracelet looks like!'' she eyed him.

''Ok I accept, I don't need an excuse to ask your number, we will work together after all, Whatsapp group ke liye chahiye'' he asked. ''You're right, you don't need an excuse, phir bhi tum bahana bane ja rahe ho'' she said as she gave her number. Nandini left for the day. Manik asked Aryaman if he can come home. ''No not now, I'll come some other time, aaj tho ghumna hai mujhe'' he said. ''Who are you going with?'' asked Manik. ''Mil jayegi koi ladki, or else I'll call Nandini, I just took her number'' Aryaman said. ''Was it so easy for you?'' Manik was shocked as Aryaman took her number. ''Bro, girls are like this, ladki patana tho bahut easy baat hai, we met today and I had her number, probably I'll ask her out tomorrow. Ye tumhare bas ka baat nahi hai, you're not our type '' he said. Manik has a weird feeling about Aryaman and Nandini.

Manik left from there and sat in his car. ''How on earth Aryaman asked her number? What does he mean I'm not 'their' type!'' Manik thought. He went home and Nyonika arranged dinner. ''Manik, will you take me out for shopping when you are free?'' Mukti asked. ''How can he Mukti! tumhe jo chahiye wo online order karo'' Nyonika said and Mukti is disappointed. ''If I wanted to buy it online, I would already have done it but I want to shop in the store, can't risk with the baby things, I should feel them before buying'' Mukti said. Manik calmed down both of the ladies at home. He went to his room and as usual started overthinking about anything and everything.

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Nandini received a call from Aryaman at about 11 pm in the night. ''Why is he calling at this hour?'' she thought. ''Hello'' she spoke as she answered the call. ''Ma'am, we are calling from blue stags pub, your friend here went out of control, can you please come over to take him home'' someone said from the other side. ''Yes, I'm coming'' Nandini started as they shared the location. She saw Aryaman lying on a chair as she saw him. ''Excuse me, I got a call from here'' she asked a bartender. ''Yes ma'am, my manager called you, please pay the bill and take him over'' he said. ''How much is the bill?'' she enquired. ''Its 30,000 bucks ma'am'' he said. Nandini was taken aback as she didn't have money then. She gave her credit card as she had no option. She took him out. ''Baby, your place or mine?'' Aryaman asked as he was seated in Nandini's car. She thought he is no state to understand anything and took him home.

''Ye kaun hai Nandu'' Nandini was caught red-handed by Satya.