"What's up bro...!? I'm seeing you from the time we have come from the boutique...You were just smiling like a fool... What's the matter...!?" Mukthi asked tapping on Manik's shoulder who was just lost in his thoughts about Nandini.
It was just unbelievable for him that he got lucky to see her again, after 2 years.
He just wordlessly hugged his sister to which she frowned and wriggled in his hold and tapped on his head.
"What's wrong with you...!?" She asked with an irritated face.
But Manik just smiled and said "You have done the best thing since the time you were born...by taking me to that boutique..."
Mukthi frowned and thought the way he was reacting since morning and asked in a tone of doubt "Is it Nandini by any chance...!?"
Manik smiled shyly making her roll her eyes and nodded his head while she mumbled "No way...Oh my god...I can't believe this...Finally... You found her..." and then shrieked happily and hugged her brother to which he reciprocated with a wide smile.
"Toh what will I get for making you meet your dream girl...!?" Mukthi asked after their hug.
"Bolo kya chahiye..." Manik asked genuinely and Mukthi just smiled and said "I'll ask you when I want anything... There's nothing in my mind right now..."
The next day,
"Bhaii...Can you just give this blouse at the boutique...!?" Mukthi asked and smiled to tease him as she knows he won't say no.
He himself was looking for a chance to meet Nandini after all.
He stood at once in excitement and kissed his sister's cheek before running with the cover that she gave while their parents looked at each other in confusion.
Before they could ask anything, Mukthi excused herself in the name of Harshad's call and left from there.
"Manik...Heyyy..." Aliya waved at him when he was looking for Nandini at their boutique.
"Hey...Mukthi asked me to give this to you..." He said with a smile and gave the cover to her while his eyes searched for Nandini.
Upon noticing that, Aliya smiled and said "Nandini has gone to meet our other friends to check on the materials needed for the decoration... She will be here in sometime..."
Manik pressed his lips together and smiled at her awkwardly and asked "Was I too obvious...!?"
Aliya chuckled and nodded and he stood to leave.
"Waise...You can give me company until she comes..." Aliya said making him smile wide and he sat back.
Sometime later,
"I'm back..." Nandini chirped with her wide bright smile and was surprised seeing Manik there.
"Oh Hi Mr.Manik..." She said with a smile and he smiled back saying "Hi Nandini...Manik is better..."
She nodded with a smile and asked "So aap yaha...!?"
Aliya pitched in and said "Mukthi has sent her blouse for measurements...Just for accuracy..."
"Ohh" Nandini said and Aliya excused herself to look after another customer.
Manik smiled at Nandini and they looked here and there not knowing how to initiate a conversation.
Right from their first meet, they knew that there are sparks flying between them and feels something special towards each other but wasn't sure on how to start about it.
"Umm...Heard that you went to check on decorations..." Manik said and she nodded saying "Yeah the boys needed my help to finalize the theme according to the venue, space and everything..."
"Oh okay...I thought of asking about the catering service..." He said.
"Oh yeah...Even I thought to tell you about that... Whenever you are free, we can arrange for tasting to finalize the menu...And also, we need few more details..." Nandini said while taking her sketch of Mukthi's dress and scissors to cut the material.
He looked down and said slowly "You should have called me then..."
Nandini stopped in her tracks and looked at him and smiled teasingly and said "Call toh aap bhi kar sakte ho na Manik...I'm sure you would have got my number from your sister...I don't think you are someone who would give up if I don't give you..."
He looked at her and smiled saying "True that...I have got your number but...but I didn't feel it's right..."
She frowned and by seeing her, he continued "Your number must be shared by you... Calling you by getting it from someone else is like intruding your privacy..."
Nandini nodded her head with an appreciative look and then said "Baat toh sahi hai Mr.Gentleman Malhotra...But it's just that kabhi kabhi you should take the first step... Trust me you won't regret it..."
He gave her a surprised look at her words while she winked to tease him and smirked before getting back to her work.
He cleared his throat, rubbed his nape and licked his dry lips, and took a deep breath before asking "How about an ice cream...!?"
She raised her eyebrows and he pointed the parlour just opposite to their boutique and she made a thinking pose, internally smirking by looking at his desperate face.
"How about a hot chocolate...!?" She said and he smiled widely.
"Just a minute..." She said and excused to get the packed hot chocolate from her bag.
She went and gave one to Aliya and then came back with other cup saying "I actually forgot that I got this...Now when you said icecream, I remembered about this..."
He nodded with a dropped smile and looked at her while she forwarded the cup to him saying "I didn't know you are here...So just got for me and Aliya..."
"Then aapko...!?" He asked seeing the single cup and she asked with a teasing smile "Why...!? Won't you share with me...!?"
His wide smile got back on to his lips while she cleared her throat and said "I meant...Hot chocolate..."
"Of course..." He said with the same bright smile and sipped on to it before placing the cup in between them.
His eyes lingered on her as she took the cup and placed her lips on the opposite side of where he sipped and had her first sip.
They finished it with their blushy cheeks and teasing smiles, sip by sip and no words exchanged.
His phone rang breaking their moment and he stood to leave and said "Umm... Shall we go for the tasting and finalizing the menu on Saturday...!?"
She checked the day and said "Day after tomorrow...Sure..." with a smile.
"And... Icecream...!?" He asked biting his lower lip and she imitated his act and said "Of course..."
"Can we share that as well...!?" Manik asked and she teased him with a smirk and said "Let's see..."
Ignore mistakes...
So the chapter names goes like 'A hot and spicy one' and then 'A cold and sweet one'... Comment down such things which comes to your mind...
